Atlantis She didn’t mean to be uninterested, honestly. She simply didn’t take pleasure in gambling all that much, a fact she realized was quickly coming between them. But she was still old school, and money was precious to her. How Lance could sit for hours at the same blackjack table with his Jack Daniels in one hand, and a fistful of chips in the other was beyond her. Her eyes stung from the late hour, and her calves ached from standing beside him. Glancing at her watch, she sighed. Nearly three hours. “You okay?” he whispered, pausing to take a slow sip of his drink. “You want some money? Go play something?” “No, thanks,” she said, draping her arm over his shoulder. “How much are you down?” “Two bills,” he grinned, leaning his neck back against her chest. “Not as bad as last time.” Joey let out a loud groan and Lance laughed. “And apparently not as bad as Joe’s doing!” “Shut it,” Joey smiled, motioning for another hand. Laura bit the corner of her lip and bent down toward Lance’s ear. “I can think of about a million things that would be more fun to play with than cards.” She ran her tongue around the rim of his ear, hoping to God and all that was good Lance would get the drift, toss down everything and follow her like a puppy back to their room. “In a minute babe,” was his reply. “One more hand.” One more hand, Laura knew, meant at least another hour. Her agreeable nature was falling quickly, and she was dangerously close to hissing at him. “Fine,” she said tightly, turning her back on him. “I’m going for a walk.” Lance barely nodded before she let out a multi-layered growl, clutching her fists to her sides and storming off past the bodyguards. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, she thought, as a small trail of N Sync fans began to follow her. This mini working vacation that Lance promised to be bonding time between them. And while she was a realist, aware Lance’s work came first, she resented coming in second to a green felt gambling table with little plastic chips that shone like diamonds in Lance’s eyes. An addiction, she mused, as she swung out through the doors. She felt someone on her heels, and turned to face Lonnie. “What?” she snapped. “Lance told me to come after you,” he rumbled, rubbing his hand over his head. “You alright?” She lifted her head to the sky and composed herself. “Fine,” she lied, wise enough to understand airing dirty laundry would never do. And the last thing she needed was to be labeled difficult. So she flashed a smile and brushed her hair into an impromptu ponytail, snatching the scrunchie from her wrist. “I know you’re not,” Lonnie countered, folding his arms across his chest. “And Lance, well you gotta remember. He’s been single a hell of a long time, Laura. A real long time.” She studied the man mountain in front of her with narrowed eyes, and wanted to tell him that while she understood exactly what he was saying, it made her heart feel no better. She wanted to let him take a peek inside of her, and see how desperately she ached to spend quality time with Lance. She longed to let just one person visualize her fears of the entire relationship, and how much scrutiny it was under. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she looked away, refusing to cry. She had a wonderful man, and the chance at love she’d been patiently waiting for. So crying would serve only to smear her eyeliner and make her out to be ungrateful. Still, one escaped, and she swatted at it miserably. “Is it always like this, Lonnie?” she asked quietly. “I mean, does he always play for hours upon hours? Is this something I need to worry about?” Lonnie shrugged, sympathetic to her question, but unwilling to betray his boss. “He loves you, Laura. Ain’t seen anything like this in all the years I worked for him.” It lifted her an inch or so, always nice to hear, but her worries were still embedded deeply. Because she adored Lance, more than anything. She’d waited patiently for him to decide what he wanted, playing the buddy at home until he‘d been shocked into calling for her. Destructive behavior was just beginning to make it’s way into their relationship as walls broke down. Normal, she knew, but she didn’t want to be blind sided by false images. “Okay,” she said, inhaling deeply. “Then I’m gonna have to get mid-evil I guess.” Lonnie laughed deeply and shook his head. “Ms. Laura, no offense, but you are the kindest soul I’ve ever met. You and mid-evil? Nope. I don’t see it.” “Watch and learn,” she grinned, licking her lips. “That’s my man now. And he’s gonna learn to play nice.” She swept past Lonnie and re-entered the hotel casino, attitude in place. Ready to play. What was good for the goose and all that. It was no surprise, really, that Lance was still glued to his spot near the blackjack table, chips passing between his thumb and forefinger, his forehead creased in great concentration. Laura noticed the glass beside him was now empty and a rosy blush covered his cheeks. Tipsy, she thought -- very typical. Still, she had determination on her side, and a sweet longing to drag him back to their room and ply his lips with kisses. So she marched over, ignoring the stares and whispers that made their way from the small barricade of fans still milling about. And she hated the fishbowl more than life as she prayed for her poise to step in and take charge. Because no matter what, Lance was larger than life at times. Laura pressed up against his back and dropped her mouth to his neck, nuzzling the warm flesh. “Lance?” “Hmm?” He was intent, she could tell, his eyes fixed on the next hand. “I was thinking,” she murmured, sliding her tongue out to run along the stubble toward his jaw. “How very nice it would be to head up to our room like now.” Her hand slithered down his back and hooked around his waist. “That big old bed.” Her heart was slamming against her, and she felt Lance sit up a little straighter as her hand brushed over his crotch promisingly. Lance tossed the chips down with a playful grin. “I’m outta here,” he laughed, pushing off the stool. Joey winked knowingly and he turned toward Laura. “You’re talking pretty big for a southern belle,” he reminded her. She could see the way his eyes swam, and knew it was equal parts drinking and lust. “Southern belle my ass,” she whispered, rubbing her lips against his. “So I take it you’re ready to leave?” Laura enjoyed the nod and sexy gaze he shot her, the way his eyes drooped just a hint, and he stared at her from under his eyelashes. ************ Lance felt guilty. He didn’t mean to gamble to such an extent. Since turning twenty one it had been a constant .. replacing loneliness, perhaps, on nights when he had no one, when a random fuck simply was not his thing. So he had dated lady luck -- only now he had Laura. As she guided him by the hand to their room, he was vaguely aware of fans oohing and ahhing over him. And while it didn’t exactly bother him, he could feel Laura’s grip tense. “It’s okay,” he whispered, snuggling against her neck. The alcohol had hit and he could feel it slosh in his belly. Warmness spread over him like syrup and he wrapped his arms around Laura’s waist as she dug for the room card. He felt giddy, completely happy to have her in his arms. Fulfilled and complete. The hum of whiskey slithered in his veins and he was glad she dragged him away from the tables. “You’re beautiful,” he said, kissing the back of her neck. Fans huddled against the wall down near the elevators and Lance smirked, challenging his smart ass personality once more. “Kitty, Kitty, Kitty,” he laughed, sliding his hand between Laura’s legs. “Any kitties near by?” Laura jerked away as heat slapped her cheeks. She glanced down the hall toward the giggling girls before shoving the door open ... and debated on locking Lance out. “What?” he laughed, stepping in. “What the hell, Lance? What was that?” “I dunno,” he shrugged, moving into the room. “I just love you.” He blinked up as his body crashed to the bed, wondering why she was miffed, what the expression meant. “Laura?” His heart sank as she kicked her shoes off and flopped down to the sofa. The sofa seemed so fucking far away, and he felt like a punished child. For so long it had been his rules .. he’d forgotten what another half did. “Come lay with me?” he asked, rolling onto his stomach. “So I can show you how sorry I am?” Laura’s gaze was not encouraging, and it sent Lance sinking lower. “What’s with you, Lance?” she asked, ripping the scrunchie from her hair. “Grabbing me like that? Spending all night gambling?” When Lance saw her eyes turn to glass, he wanted to die. “I’m sorry,” he gasped, sliding off the bed. On his hands and knees, he crawled to her. Because his heart kind of hurt, and it helped none that he was horny for her. But to see the disgust in her eyes .. that was by far the worst. “Laura?” He rested his cheek against her leg and pressed his hand to her waist. “Are you not gonna talk to me now?” The sigh made her chest heave, and Lance hoped it was expelling the bad. He remembered Justin saying that once -- a sigh was simply a way to get rid of negativity. “Laura?” He blinked up at her and smiled. “Oh, come on. I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Really, REALLY sorry.” There was a tinge of hurt still encrusted in her eyes, and it burned him. He fell away from her and hung his head, silently berating himself for hurting her .. for causing any kind of ache to her. Because she had brought him nothing but joy, and comfort. His temples began to throb, and he nicked off a list in his head of things never to do again ... because the way he felt was positively horrid. His stomach rolled, not from alcohol, but from her expression .. from the obvious way he’d made her feel by being selfish. “I love you,” Laura said quietly, sliding onto the floor next to him. She pressed her pinkie against his. “Since we were kids.” “I’m sorry,” he offered, linking his pinkie with hers. “I’m a guy. I don’t think.” “You think,” she snorted, climbing into his lap. “With your dick normally.” He blushed and tilted his head, ashamed that it was that and more. But she was pulling him close, and dropping her tone down. And when she threw her arms around his neck, Lance felt the anger subside. He pressed his face into neck and released his guilt, deciding instead, to cherish her. “I am sorry,” he said again, curling his fingers through her belt loops. “Yeah, yeah,” she smiled, cupping his face in her palms. “So you always say.” Lance blinked and leaned in to kiss her. “Let’s say it in bed then,” he suggested with a sly smile. Laura rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair before climbing off his lap, and Lance noticed the ease with which she grabbed his hands and yanked him up. The stare in her eyes that read nothing of any grudges, only happiness and resolve. “So you’re going to play nice with me?” she asked with a grin.  “Pay me some mind?” Lance felt comforting warmness spread from his belly to his limbs as he stared at her, completely in awe. “I’ll pay you some mind,” he whispered, pulling her to him. He brushed her hair away from her neck and kissed her gently. “All the mind you need.” * BACK *