Love Is the Drug by K. E. Saxon

house is not going to blow up.” He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “You’re a little worrier, aren’t you? Funny how we’ve worked so closely together these past days and I’m only realizing it now.”
    “I can’t help it. It’s just how I am.”
    “I think it’s kinda cute.” You’re cute, he thought. “But, seriously, you need to chill a little sometimes, ya know? Kick back; have some fun.”
    “Yeah, maybe.”
    “So? Do you wanna stay in Vegas another day and then fly to Houston on Thursday?”
    “I don’t know. Let me think about it.”
    “C’mon! There’s so much to do. You’ll love it, I guarantee.”
    “Have you forgotten? All I’ve got to wear are these shorts and this tank top. I can hardly meet your father for the first time as his partner dressed in these.”
    “There are clothing shops in every hotel on the Strip. In fact, I want to take you to a great Italian restaurant I know of tonight for dinner, so we can find you something to wear for that when we get there as well.”
    She gave him a disgruntled look. “Oh—fine—alright.”
    He just grinned at her. “You are going to have the time of your life, Julie Del Mar.” He grabbed an inflight magazine and settled back in his seat. “Just wait and see.”
    “ Yeah, as long as the plane doesn’t go down in flames.” She poked her finger into his arm. “And I am not flying from Houston to Dallas. I’ll rent a car and drive back.”
    He didn’t lift his gaze from the magazine, but he did smile when he said, “Sure, whatever.”
    * * *
    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