Excerpt of Love is the Drug by K.E. Saxon

Three hours later, nearing seven-forty five Vegas time, Jason held a still-tipsy Julie up as he jammed the card key into the slot of their hotel room. The one-bedroom suite had been a last-minute decision: a) because the hotel was booked solid due to some eighties hair band’s 20-year-reunion tour kicking off there the night before and this was all that was available; and b) because he thought he’d better keep an eye on his travel mate, at least until she’d sobered up. He figured he’d worry about the sleeping arrangements when and if he had to. Hell, it wasn't unusual for him to stay out all night gambling when he came here, anyway.

He walked through the door with her leaning heavily into his side and holding him tight around the waist. She was still a little too unstable to walk on her own. She’d had two more whiskey & 7s on the plane, and he hadn’t stopped her. Because with each drink, she’d relaxed even more, made him feel like he hadn’t caused as much damage to her as he’d begun to believe. And, yeah, his conscience was riding him for that, too.

“That burger I bought you at the airport doesn’t seem to be sobering you up,” he said. Stopping in the entryway, he dropped his carry-on to the floor and looked down at her. “Maybe you should lie down for awhile—take a nap—before we go down to the casino.”

Julie’s gaze was pretty bleary when she turned it up to him. She blinked and stuck out her lower lip. “No. I wanna have some fun! Live on the edge! You promised.” She put her face closer to his. “Hey, has anyone ever told you how pretty your eyes are?”

“Pretty? No. That’s—”

“--Well, they are.”

“—not a description a guy usually wants to hear about himself, if you know what I mean.” He grinned down at her. “But thanks. I think.”

“I like your lips, too. Keanu Reeves lips. Mmm. Sexy.”

“Keanu Reeves? You mean that dude from the Matrix? You like him?” The flash of jealousy took him by surprise.

She plopped her other arm over his shoulder and said, “Yeah. I always wondered what it’d be like to kiss those lips.” Then she planted one on him. Tongue and all.

And he returned it. In a flash, he had her up against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist and his hands on one of his three favorite places: her sexy, hot little ass. And this time, when he pressed the ridge of his erection against her center, it answered that pressure with the fire, the answering motion, that should have been there earlier, but wasn’t. Thank you, God.

But. She was three sheets to the wind. Probably wouldn’t even remember this later.

And if she did—he'd be in the doghouse again, for sure. Shit! Jason broke the kiss.

He rested his forehead against hers. They were both struggling for air. After about the fifth intake of breath, he could finally speak. “You still want to go down to the casino?” He was weak, he knew it. But, he swore to God, if she said no, he’d take her to bed right now. Doghouse, be damned.

Unfortunately—or fortunately, he couldn’t say which at this moment—the burger must’ve finally kicked in, because she nodded and said, “Yeah, sounds great.”

“Okay.” Even to his own ears, there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm in his voice.

He stepped back and slowly dropped her legs until she was standing on her feet again—this time, with no support. “I’ll take you to one of the stores, too, so we can get you something to wear to dinner tonight.”

“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”

He strode over to the door and opened it. “Ready?”

“You bet.”