Swinging your hips, you strutted through the Black Sapphire as if it all belonged to you. In theory, that was even true.

The green of your tight-fitting dress shimmered in the golden light of the lamps, glittering like the scales of a fish. Two slits stretched so far up to your hips on the left and right that a single misstep would have shown everything, every curve of your body embraced by the silk, leaving little room for fantasy.

When Kurt caught sight of you, the white of his eyes immediately darkened. With a growl in his throat, he gripped the edge of the roulette table he was standing at.

You gave him a smile, took a glass of champagne from one of the waiters walking around and took a sip. Your black lipstick left a mark on the glass.

"Colonel~!", with a particularly sweet smile, you nestled against his chest, kissing him.

His hand was immediately on your hip. He growled. Around you, the guests at the table began to whisper. You smiled playfully, wiped the traces of your lipstick off his face and looked at him.

He had changed into a black button up shirt, but was still wearing the same black trousers and leather harness with the knife on his chest. And the combat boots weren't missing either.

In case he needed to kick someone's ass.

"It's been a long time since I've had such a beautiful sight.", you purred and breathed a kiss into the neckline of his shirt.

His muscles tensed as you tickled his skin with the tip of your tongue. He grabbed your hair with his free hand, forcing you to look him in the eye.

"Hardly back and you're already behaving the way you want.", his voice was rough but he smirked amusedly.

The colonel would have been the last person to complain about your behaviour. You chuckled.

"I have a lot of catching up to do."

Your gaze travelled over your shoulder to the others at the table. Some people walked away, avoiding your gaze. Others waited impatiently for the game to continue.

Except for two redheads.

Smirking with amusement, the woman watched you with curiosity in her eyes and a kind of analysing look on her face.

The shade of her lipstick was so dark that it almost matched yours although it was clearly meant to match the extravagant outfit she wore: black cotton pants and a matching see-through corset top. Over that she wore a mostly golden cropped jacket.

You smiled at her.

"We hadn't had the pleasure yet.", with a grand gesture you leaned far over the table and offered her your hand.

She laughed with amusement.

"Oh, how charming!", she had a thick French accent, soft and smooth as honey.

And so charming. Whatever she said sounded flirtatious.

Like the young man next to her, she had cut her hair short. Golden earrings sparkled on her ears.

"Kerry Eurodyne's designer.", you remarked delightedly.

Her golden eyes lit up immediately.

"Oh, the lady has taste!", she chirped and leaned towards you as if you were about to have a slumber party.

You smiled.

"Good things are easy to recognise.", you said with a wink, running your pointed fingernails over your décolleté. "He made me something very special for today."

Her eyes followed the curve of your breasts deep into your cleavage. Finally she laughed and winked at you.

"A really beautiful woman you've chosen, Colonel Hansen.", she said to Kurt, who was standing behind you and doing his best to keep himself under control. "So refreshingly different. And... sexy."

Chucking, you pulled away, but not without exchanging a glance with the man standing next to her.

Unlike her, he seemed to be the less talkative of the two. Instead, he watched Kurt closely as he folded his hands in front of his chest and inhaled deeply.

"There's a reason why everyone calls her the Lady Sapphire.", he replied.

You could clearly hear how he had to reorganise his thoughts after you presented yourself like that. He wasn't quite sure if he should be jealous or whether he was interpreting it as an invitation to invite the lady to your room at the end of the day.

Of course, the latter was just wishful thinking. You didn't share. Especially not him.

"I don't think we've had a chance to introduce ourselves.", just like the woman, the man had a French accent.

His voice was calmer, less resounding and more thoughtful. As if he always thought about what he said before actually saying it. Intelligence shone in his eyes.

You liked him. Both of them, to be precise.

"Ah oui, how could I forget?", she laughed. "Aurore Cassel. And this is my brother, Aymeric."

Aymeric Cassel nodded in greeting. You returned the gesture and smiled. He didn't smile, his expression remained serious.

"Skylight.", Kurt said as you looked up at him. "As discussed."

"Hmm~!", smiling, you took another sip of champagne. "I love getting to know the faces to the stories."

You snuggled up to Kurt's chest. And as usual, he wrapped a hand around your waist to pull you even closer to his body. Its warmth nestled against the curves of your own. It felt like you fit together like a puzzle piece.

"We've been told there's good business in Night City.", Aurore leaned charmingly against the edge of the table.

Aymeric watched the expression on your face, the pressure of his gaze weighing you down. You tilted your head, your eyes locked and winked at him.

His eyes briefly jumped to the colonel, but turned away again when Kurt made it clear with a twitch of the corners of his mouth that this was his casino and his woman and that neither of them could be disputed.

Wise as he was, the Frenchman took the warning seriously and looked at his twin sister instead.

"Please, we didn't want to talk about business.", you said with a shake of your head. "Not here. And not today either. Drinks?"

Intrigued by the effortless transition, Aurore laughed.

"A bourbon.", she said as you called a waiter. "Alas, mon frère doesn't drink."

"A water then?", you smiled at Aymeric.

He nodded.

"Pleasure.", with one last sip you emptied your own glass and joined the table. "Let's have some fun then. If you're not afire to play against the Colonel and his Lady Sapphire that is~?"

Aurore smiled.

"Oh not at all.", she met your gaze. "I love a good challenge."