Wager

I couldn’t walk naturally. I felt exposed, despite the steamy dress Ethan had bought for me. My skin flushed as crowds suddenly swarmed the space. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure. Several men looked my way, their lustful eyes making no effort to hide the fact that they were undressing me where I stood. I tightened my grip on Ethan’s arm. When I looked up at him, his expression was predatory. He glared at the onlookers as if he were a predator ready to give chase. The air was thick with the sounds of the floor. The rhythmic shuffling of cards, the mechanical chime of slot machines, and the spinning of wheels. Occasional low applause broke out from clusters of spectators. This was a world ruled by men. My muscles tensed when Ethan let out a low, animalistic snarl. I blamed him for this—he was the one who had dragged me here. I looked around, bewildered. Why were we here? Did he even know how to play these games? “Ethan.” I tried to catch his eye, but he looked away. It