Without hesitation.

“Throw them in Roslyn.” He ordered. No bewildered defense for her modesty or dignity. Not even a sympathy nod.

“What?!” She said with an intensity that startled her.

“You’re basically naked already, what difference does it make?” He answered nonchalantly. “Hand them over.”

It made quite a significant difference Roslyn thought. Without her panties she would be as naked as the day she was born. Apart from her boots, her auburn hair would be all she had left covering her, and that only reached down to her collarbones. At least for the dress she’d mistakenly believed Daniel was sure to win. There was no assurance she’d see those green panties again once she placed them on the table. Could she really be expected to give the prying eyes of all the patrons of this Casino unfettered access to every inch of her. They already had a good show of her breasts, but she shivered in embarrassment at the thought of her lower lips being as accessible as the ones on her face. People who didn’t even know her name would know all the folds and curves of her body illuminated by the warm glow of the casino. Roslyn looked to the Man in Green and his eyes were staring sharply across her. The wilderness of his eyes was starting to break free and spread across his face. A hunger was now lurking plainly within him. Or perhaps she only imagined it. Or wished for it.

She shook off the thought that had startled her. Just as before she knew there was nothing keeping her at the table. The pull of green eyes had replaced the lure of wealth that jaunted the gravitational well of the table. Roslyn desperately regretted throwing in the dress. When she could still walk out of the Casino as a dignified woman. While she could still up and leave, she knew the navy dress would be staying at the table. She would be leaving in only her tight green panties. She could not envision how she would be getting home. Perhaps a sense of empathy would return to Daniel, and he’d lend her his jacket, but even with a jacket the long journey home would be humiliating.

Staying stitch-less with the cover of the table was less immediately terrifying than getting up to leave and facing the hundreds of intrusive eyes behind her.

“Hand them over Roslyn.” Daniel demanded again.

Before her panic overwhelmed her. She quickly grabbed the lining of green at her waist. Without moving from her seat, she curled down under the cover of the table and smoothly slipped them down her legs. She had to turn slightly to complete the motion, giving some of the people behind her a glimpse of side-boob, but otherwise she successfully stripped off the vestiges of dignity without revealing more than she already had. She threw her panties on the table and climbed in closer to the table than before. The coolness of the leather stool made direct contact with her lower lips and she felt exposed anew. The air gripped her closely, with nothing between her and the elements. A shiver ran down her spine and an emotion that had been missing from the past several minutes returned to her: excitement. Roslyn didn’t know what to do with this feeling and packed it together with her nervous humiliation. The crowd behind her ogled at back of her exposed ass, but to the players in front of her, nothing had changed. The dealer handed out cards, and play resumed.

Roslyn’s hand clutched at bare skin. She was completely naked and surrounded by strangers. Though she could obscure the view of her body by cowering beneath the table, she could not escape the feeling of exposure. The electric sense of open air brushing on her skin. The lack of anything between her bare skin and the world. Her body was no longer a secret she could choose to share. All the people in this casino were in on it. Could know her.

“What do you want me to bid.” The Man in Green asked again to Daniel.

“The ring,” Daniel replied without hesitation. The ring?! As if expecting Roslyn’s outrage Daniel continued “It’s worth far more.”

‘More than what?’ Roslyn thought. Her dignity? Daniel could be dealt a royal flush and she’d still be leaving the table in only her panties and a ring. She nearly stood up in a furor but remembered her predicament before she gave another show. The air felt closer around her bare skin under the weight of knowing she was unlikely to leave wearing much of anything. At least her cardigan remained in a locker completely protected from the ravages of the game.