As I strode over to the concierge desk, I realized that I was already at a point where there wasn’t much I wouldn’t do to make Autumn happy. Even if that meant introducing her to a good-looking (panty-melting, according to Knox’s sister, Belle) rockstar. I’d contracted Griffith Thorne for a month-long gig tacked onto the end of his latest world tour. We’d become good friends, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t kick his ass if he tried anything with Autumn.

I escorted her to the large concert arena attached to the back of the hotel and took the back way up to the seats reserved for me and my guests. Autumn looked a little shell-shocked as she took in everything around her. Her dark, expressive eyes held admiration but were also full of questions.

I opened my mouth to explain about being the owner of the hotel, but was cut off when the lights suddenly went out and an electric guitar started to play a low intro.

Autumn shrieked and clapped with everyone else, her attention riveted on the stage. The band entered, and I sat back to enjoy the show, though I watched Autumn more than anything else. Damn, she was fucking incredible. Gorgeous, smart, funny, energetic…I could go on and on.

The concert ended, and I stood next to Autumn as she clapped loudly before putting two fingers in her mouth and letting out an ear-splitting whistle. My mouth split into a grin. This girl was fucking awesome.

After the crowd calmed and started to disperse, Autumn spun around and threw her arms around me and planted a kiss squarely on my lips. My hands fisted in her shirt at her lower back and my head tilted to the side, changing the angle and deepening the kiss.

A few catcalls from the seats around us broke the spell, and I reluctantly tore my lips from hers. “Come on, sunshine,” I encouraged as I grabbed her hand. We made our way down to the backstage entrance and I nodded to security as they stepped aside to let us through.

“Wow. You didn’t even have to flash a badge or anything?” Autumn observed with muted curiosity. I shrugged without comment and continued to lead her through the hallway, down to the green room. When we walked through the door, Autumn came to a dead stop and I laughed at the frozen expression of disbelief on her face. “Holy shit,” she gasped. “I’m in the same room as Rising Phoenix.”

“Drew!” My head swiveled at the sound of my name, and I gave Griffith a chin lift as he strode towards us. My hand impulsively tightened around Autumn’s and I pulled her possessively into my side. I heard, but chose to ignore, her muted chuckle. This was a side of myself that I didn’t recognize but apparently, Autumn brought it out in me.

“Great show tonight, man,” I told the rocker as we shook hands.

“Thanks,” he accepted with a grin. His smile widened as his eyes landed on Autumn, and I fought the instinct to take her and run away as fast as possible. “And who is this stunning, woman?” he asked with a wink. I couldn’t help the growl that escaped my lips and both Autumn and Griffith looked at me with surprise. To my disbelief, I felt my cheeks heat. It quickly morphed into annoyance when my friend’s smile turned mischievous.

“Autumn meet Griffith Thorne,” I introduced grudgingly. “Aptly named as he is constantly a pain in the ass.”

He grinned widely and lifted Autumn’s free hand so he could kiss the back. “Great to meet you, Autumn. I hope you enjoyed the show.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “You guys were awesome! I’ve heard you put on a great show, but this was better than I imagined.”

“Want an autograph?” he offered, his eyes laughing as they darted to my face and he clocked my hard expression. “I’m happy to sign anything, body parts included.”

“Watch it,” I barked, making him throw his head back with laughter.

After a minute, he caught his breath and said, “How about a T-shirt?”

“That would be great!” Autumn beamed, then bit her lip a little nervously. I was suddenly incredibly jealous of her teeth. I couldn’t wait to nibble on those plump lips. “Could I possibly get two?” she asked hesitantly. “My best friend would flay me alive if I didn’t ask for one for her as well.”

I was about to insist that Griffith agree, but I should have known better because he winked at her and answered, “Of course! Anything you want. Besides, Drew basically owns my ass right now, so I should keep him happy.”

Autumn cocked her head to the side, her face a mask of confusion. “What do you mean?”

This was not the time or place to get into the discussion about who I really was, so I jumped in before he could say anything else. “I negotiated his contract with The Lennox,” I explained, trying to sound casual.

Griffith raised a pierced brow but didn’t remark on my cagey response. He turned and asked one of the roadies to grab a couple of shirts and other memorabilia. We shot the shit for a few minutes with the whole band until the young kid returned to the room. The guys all signed the items and then shoved them in a bag and handed them to Autumn with bright smiles. Then they said goodbye and headed to their dressing rooms.

When we were left alone, Autumn faced me with twinkling eyes, and raised onto her tip toes to kiss the underside of my jaw. “You’ve officially blown away every first date I’ve ever had. Honestly, some seconds and thirds as well,” she proclaimed with a delighted giggle.

The preening peacock threatened to return, so I stole a kiss from her lips, giving in to my urge to nibble at the sweet, puffy flesh. “The night’s not over, baby.” I twined our fingers and we walked side by side back to the casino floor.

“Ready to take some risks?” I asked as I gestured towards the Blackjack tables. My tone was heavy with innuendo and I swallowed hard as I waited for her to reply. She bit her lip again, forcing me to stifle a groan and try to discreetly adjust myself.

Autumn glanced in the direction of the pit and then back to study my face. Then she took a deep breath and whispered, “Yes, I’m ready.”

All the tension drained from my shoulders. Unfortunately, it traveled straight to my groin, causing my already stiff cock to painfully harden.

“Let’s start with a gambling lesson,” she proposed, emphasizing the word start then licking her lips suggestively.

I silently and sternly told my dick to stand down but he continued to strain towards the gorgeous female who was currently eyeing me like a piece of candy. Quickly, before I gave in to my rising libido, I put my hand at the small of her back and guided her over to a table manned by my best dealer and good friend, Becket.

“Surprised to see you on the floor tonight, Drew,” he stated with a nod of greeting. Then his eyes swept over Autumn and his expression turned curious. Not only was I rarely on the floor, except to schmooze high rollers, but I’d never been with a woman in my own casino. I didn’t mix business with pleasure. It hadn’t really been an issue in some time though since I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spent time with a woman beyond business.

“Autumn is learning to play Blackjack,” I said simply. He scratched at his scruffy chin as he studied me for a moment, then looked Autumn over one more time and smiled knowingly. I scowled at him and opened my mouth to say something sarcastic.

“I’m new to risk-taking,” Autumn jumped in with an evocative glance in my direction. “Drew offered to show me some moves.”

I pulled out her chair, strategically positioning myself behind it to hide my reaction to her words. She took her seat and as I scooted her in, I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I definitely intend to put the moves on you, sunshine. All fucking night long.”

Her breathing picked up and she shivered. I grinned, loving how she responded to me before tracing the shell of her ear with the tip of my tongue then straightening.

Autumn handed her card over to Becket who swiped it through a card reader that would subtract the amount she requested from her account. He looked to me and I gave him a barely noticeable head shake. He bobbed his head in acknowledgement and handed it back without recording a deduction. Then he pushed a stack of colorful chips in front of her.

Becket called for the initial bets, and Autumn glanced up at me nervously since this table had a one-hundred dollar minimum. I smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her an encouraging squeeze. She took a deep breath and placed the minimum bet in front of her.

As Becket dealt the cards to each player and himself, I softly instructed the basics to Autumn. He flipped over one card, revealing a King. She peeked at her cards revealing that she’d been dealt an Ace and a two. I told her that she would want to take another card and explained the strategy behind the move.

She was dealt a five, giving her a total of eighteen when using the ace as an eleven. She decided to stand and grinned when I nodded my approval.

When it was the dealer’s turn, Becket flipped his other card over to reveal a six.

“The dealer has to hit until he reaches seventeen or busts,” I murmured. He turned over another card, adding another six to his total.

Autumn’s eyes darted between her eighteen and Becket’s twenty-two. She squealed and bounced in her seat as she realized she’d won. I couldn’t help laughing at her innocent joy.

We played a few more hands, her pile growing slightly with my tutelage. Before long, she sighed and dragged the chips closer to her, asking to cash out. She grinned at me sheepishly. “As someone with a mountain of student-loan debt, I think I’ll stop while I’m ahead”—she pointed to her winnings—“this little extra will come in handy paying the bills while I’m in Africa.”

She played with a chip, trying to mimic the way my fingers manipulated the one in my pocket. It was a habit and most of the time, I didn’t even realize the little disc was in my hand. I smiled at her cute attempt until her words sunk in. “Africa?” My head started to spin and something strong clenched my heart.

“I’ll be leaving next week to spend a year with Doctor’s Without Border’s in Africa,” she said as she handed her card to Becket.

He swiped the card again, watching me surreptitiously. Probably, wondering at what I’m sure was an appalled expression on my face. Not only had I just been informed that my time with Autumn was more limited than I’d thought, I was suddenly picturing every horrible thing that could happen to her in a place like Africa.

Autumn sprang to her feet and grabbed my hand, dragging me towards the exit without looking back. I took the opportunity to ogle her delicious ass and though the disturbing thoughts were still in the back of my mind, I was sufficiently distracted by Autumn’s eagerness and the realization that my fantasies about her were about to come true.