by S J Abbott
Gid shook his head. “Haven’t had a chance. I had a visitor.”
Gideon waited for his friends to jump all over him wondering who it was, but was disappointed and majorly confused when they shared a look but said nothing.
“Guys can you hear me? I’m not sure our connection is good.”
Aaron and Seth both nodded. “All good on my end.”
“Mine too.”
Gideon tried to respond with a smile but his brain was way too busy figuring out what that little smile they’d shared had been about to be able to execute it completely.
“So, you hooked up with the enemy I hear.”
That pulled Gid from his stupor. “Apparently so, but I really don’t think it’s going to be an issue.”
Aaron was the first to speak. “Me either. Lily has always been a force, but she’s not a bitch. I don’t think she set out to trap you or anything.”
Gideon nodded. “Yeah. She and I were discussing that just a few minutes ago. She claims she assumed I knew who she was like she knew me.”
Aaron and Seth both nodded. “Yeah. I bet she was surprised that you didn’t.”
“For sure.”
Seth jumped into the conversation before Aaron could speak over him. “So is she every bit as crazy in the sack as you’d expect from someone that owns a sex toy company?” He laughed as he fought to get the last few words out.
Aaron and Gideon laughed with him. It was one of the most common questions they got when people discovered what they did for a living, “So you must have an amazing sex life right?” It got really annoying after a while, trying to explain to people that they were just normal dudes; they hadn’t aimed for the adult industry, it had kind of fallen in their laps. But after living with each other for so long, they all knew that they had satisfied partners. It wasn’t something easily hidden when you lived in about nine hundred square feet with paper thin walls.
Sex wasn’t all they thought about. It was actually less about sex for them than anything else. Genesis Inc. was a business of passion, but they all had passion for the business. They loved the ebbs and flows of the market. They loved all the data they had to collect and analyze. The men of Genesis were businessmen, just like the businessmen that owned places like Nike. They had a product, they sold it, and they aimed to sell it well.
Gideon fought the last of the laughter down his throat. “I really think we’re good on that front. Lily seems great,” he winked at Seth. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“Me either, and Amanda agrees.”
“Dude! What the hell? You called Amanda?”
“Well, not me. Emma did.”
Gideon just shook his head. Seth was grinning like an idiot. As irritated as he was about the dude ratting on him to his girlfriend—who happened to be their lawyer—he was extremely happy for the guy. Seth and Aaron were like the brothers Gideon had never had, and he wanted them to have everything. He wanted nothing but the best for them, and in his opinion the ladies they now had in their lives were top of the line. Aaron and Julie were a perfect match … so much so that it sometimes baffled him that they never managed to hook up when they met way back in high school. Seth was great, but he was shy. Gideon had tried like hell to help him come out of his shell, wanting the world to be able to see how awesome his friend was, but he never felt he’d succeeded fully. Emma had come along during a period when Seth had been on a dangerous spiral. Gideon recognized it because he’d been there himself from time to time. She’d saved his friend from whatever had thrown him off the deep end, and for that he’d be forever grateful.
“Okay, I can’t talk to you two fuckers anymore. You’re downing my Vegas high. I’m going to go blow lots of money, and then win it all back.”
Aaron and Seth laughed and said in unison, “Don’t forget … W-W-G-D?” before they touched the button that turned Gideon’s screen from his friends faces to vacant black.
He shook his head and smiled after tossing his iPad aside, adjusted his shirt and headed for the door. His first stop, a warm up at the blackjack tables.
* * *
Gideon opened himself to the chaos that was the casino floor. It was completely overwhelming. The lights and sounds assaulted his senses and fired up his endocrine system, pumping adrenaline through his body. His heart rate increased and his breathing became more labored as he shuffled through the crowds sitting around the screaming slot machines before standing in front of the pit of blackjack tables. He closed his eyes, shutting down that particular sense and allowing himself to hone in on the others. A familiar tingle crawled over his body and pulled him in the direction he knew he’d follow. He opened his eyes, letting the sensation lead him to the table furthest from the slots. There was a graying man already playing, while a young blonde hovered over him with a martini in her hand. Gideon nodded to him and took the vacant seat next to him, looking directly at the dealer.
Gideon immediately sized him up, guessing that he was a well-to-do college kid that happened to find a job that was fun, and helped to pay for his beer money. Gideon smiled at the stories his mind was creating for the young man, envisioning him as a younger version of himself. He smiled as he slid a stack of chips across the table.
He soon learned that the older gentleman’s name was Phil, and that his female companion’s name was Sandy. Their dealer’s name was Billy, and Gideon had been right about his background.
Gideon was down about five hundred bucks when Billy flipped the jack of clubs and set it down in front of him. Billy turned the ten of spades for Phil and the jack of diamonds for himself. Gideon exhaled and laughed as he realized this was his last hand at this table. The mood had suddenly shifted, and though he’d enjoyed his time and it had been a great way to start the evening, it was time for him to put some real money on the line. He needed to get his heart pumping.
The hand in front of him made him smile and he pushed five hundred dollars’ worth of chips toward Billy. “Might as well … double or nothing.” He smiled, and Billy smirked as Phil slid his chips in too. Billy flipped the first card giving himself the nine of hearts, creating a tough hand to beat. Gideon exhaled as Billy flipped his card off the deck and watched it come down in front of him. It was the ten of hearts. Phil whistled and Gideon stood from his chair, pulling a large pile of chips back toward himself. “Later.” He picked his chips off the table. “Sandy. It was a pleasure.” He tossed Billy enough chips to equal the five hundred extra he’d just won, and left before the dealer turned the final card for Phil.
* * *
Gideon’s blood was pumping from that last hand of blackjack. He’d made back the cash he’d lost and then some. He was hoping it was the start to a great night. He approached the back room where a casino employee that he’d never seen before stopped him.
“Good evening Mr. Rees.” He opened the door and motioned for Gideon to pass.
“Thank you.” He put a chip in the kid’s hand.
The room was full of tension, and Gideon took it all in … absorbed it into himself, trying to own it. He loved the way the energy of high stakes made his body sit on edge. It was like hanging on the brink of an orgasm; he wanted to stay there forever and enjoy the moment, but needed to take the leap over the edge just as badly. He let out all the pent-up frustration the earlier parts of the day had created as he sat in the one open seat at the table.
They were playing Texas hold’em. Not Gideon’s favorite game, but one that was still enjoyable. Of the seven other men at the table, Gideon only recognized two of them, Jared and Travis. Both were high rollers that he’d run into several times in different casinos throughout the city. The three nodded at each other, and Gideon settled in, paying close attention to everything around him.
His senses were on high alert before the dealer even began to shuffle the cards again. The man sitting kitty-corner to his right was twitchy, and it made Gideon think he was way too eager. That was a man losing large amounts of cash he couldn’t afford to lose.
It was written all over his face. The two men on either side of him seemed to be leaning away from him. His energy must have been even stronger than Gideon could read from across the room.
Jared had finished raking in the chips from the last pot, and the dealer moved his button to twitchy man as he shuffled. He dealt a card to each of them, going around the table twice. Gideon practiced slowing his breathing and just taking in everything in the room like it was a daily thing. He was comfortable in chaos. Gambling suited him.
Big blind had been set at twenty G’s, so Gideon tossed the chips and watched the rest of the men pick up their cards. Each in turn, they looked and then tossed their chips in—all of them except the dark-haired man with his eyes wide, sitting directly across from Gideon. He folded his cards and sat back, lounging in his chair.
It was a rookie move when a newbie sat at the table. Gideon had just sat down, so this guy was waiting to see if he was legit or not. Well, Gideon would show him he was, even with pocket aces.
Gideon watched as the dealer flipped cards and waited. Gideon bet and observed. They’d been sizing each other up until it was just the three players familiar with each other remaining. Gideon knew he couldn’t win, but he had to make a statement to the rest of the men around the table. He was here to play. Gideon tossed a hundred thousand into the center and watched Jared turn over his cards. Straight flush. Travis was next with two pair. Gideon just tossed his back to the dealer.
“It’s all you, boys.”
Gideon sat through several more hands. The tension built through each one. Gideon was down seven hundred thousand, and Twitchy Man was becoming almost obnoxious with his underhanded gloating. He’d obviously made what he was looking to make and had started to bet safe again.
Gideon had figured them all out. The blond to the left of Twitchy and next to Gideon limped under the gun and called things whenever it was safe to do so. He’d make moves if someone challenged him … except for Twitchy. He seemed to back down to him. The dude to Gideon’s left was extremely chill. He was a seasoned player that changed his game so much that he purposefully kept everyone guessing. Gideon liked him. He got under Twitchy’s skin.
It was getting late, and Gideon was starving. He hadn’t had time to eat before he called Seth and Aaron, and he’d bolted to the floor as soon he’d gotten away from them. He’d play one last hand, and return tomorrow to win his money back. Gideon gave Travis a pointed look that was returned with an ever-so-slight nod. The two of them had been out together on occasion. They’d hit strip clubs or get food once the tables went cold or they got sick of taking each other’s money. Gideon sat up a little straighter but leaned over the table slightly as the dealer turned cards and set them in front of them.
Gideon was much more pleased with his hole cards this hand than he had been all night. It wasn’t always enough knowing how to read people, knowing the odds and playing them well. You needed luck too. Luck had been evading him most of the night, ever since he’d left that blackjack table. Gideon had his favorite cards in his hand—the king of diamonds, and his buddy the king of hearts. Jared tossed in the big blind, and his neighbor, Travis, and the guy between Gideon and Twitchy folded and sat back to watch.
Gideon sat stone faced as the dealer turned the first three community cards to reveal the seven of hearts, the four of clubs, and the King of spades. He kept his expression solid and waited for the quiet guy to his left to make a decision. He folded, and when he did Jared tossed his chips in. By the time the dealer got to the turn it was just Gideon, Jared, and Twitchy man left in the game. Jared was trying hard to hide it, but Gideon had him. His eyelids had started to droop, and it was taking him longer to make decisions.
The turn revealed a jack, and Gideon thought Twitchy man was going to stroke out. He must have really had something, considering his carotid artery was bulging from his neck. Gideon decided to play his game; he made his face look a little defeated, moved a little slower. It was fun. Gideon tossed his chips in and knew that with his addition the pot had gotten up just over six hundred thousand. Jared folded and huffed out a breath so deep it seemed he’d been holding it the entire hand.
Gideon waited as the dealer shuffled the burn card to the side and artfully flipped up the river card. He contained himself as the four of diamonds joined the community cards to give Gideon a full house: fours, full of kings. Twitchy was officially bouncing obnoxiously in his seat. He sneered at Gideon with a shitty look on his face. Gideon couldn’t wait to make it disappear. Twitchy raised, and Gideon called. The pot grew to almost a million dollars, and Gideon stared down his opponent as the man turned his hole cards and yelled, “Gotcha, fucker!” when he laid down both the king of clubs and four of hearts.
Gideon kept his composure, because he wasn’t trying to embarrass himself, just the guy across from him. Gideon calmly turned over his cards and watched as defeat washed over Twitchy, quickly turning to rage. Gideon smiled just slightly as he felt a wave of happiness course through him that didn’t feel like it was completely his own. He looked up from picking up his chips and searched the small room with his eyes. He found nothing other than his red-faced opponent being walked out by the elbows between two of the casino’s security people. Gideon shook off the uneasy feeling and pushed his stiff body away from the table. “Gentlemen. It’s been fun, but I’m out.”
“Tomorrow?” Travis asked.
Gideon nodded. “If I’m still in town, I’ll be here.”
Not even bothering to hide her disappointment when he didn’t answer the door, she crossed the hall and entered her own room, towing her bags behind her. She took a moment to absorb the beautiful room the Genesis men had arranged for her when they’d told her they needed her to go the conference. She had been a little surprised, butpleasantly so, that they’d wanted her to attend. She was looking forward to learning as much about the adult industry as she could. She felt she could only do her job properly by gaining as much information as possible. Being at the world’s largest sex expo was a giant leap into that territory.
The room was amazing, but she couldn’t help but wonder where Gideon was. She wished he’d waited for her to leave. Seth had told her that he’d had a meeting first thing so he had to take an earlier flight, but she thought for sure he would have returned by now. She slumped on the bed and texted her best friend, Julie:
HAVE ARRIVED. ROOM IS GREAT. THANK YOUR MAN FOR ME.
Shannon closed her eyes. She was exhausted. She’d gotten next to no sleep the night before; she hated flying, and had kept herself up and anxious most of the night. Combining that with the actual flying across the country, and she was spent. She’d also wasted way too much time and energy thinking about Gideon.
They’d both agreed that their relationship wouldn’t really be a relationship … they’d just have fun together and then move on. It was her usual M.O., and she’d never had an issue with it—until now. For the first time in her life she’d caught some attachment, and for the life of her couldn’t figure out how.
She ran through everything, start to finish. Their whole relationship, from the moment they’d met on her first day at Genesis. Seth had hired her, and though she’d met Aaron, it had been on a completely non-professional basis. She hadn’t met Gideon until her first staff meeting. She remembered being awe struck at the obvious closeness the guys shared. Anyone on the outside could have easily assumed they were brothers. She’d been thrilled to be part of their growing empire. She’d just graduated and had been flailing, searching desperately for an anchor; Genesis Inc. became that.
She often got looks when she told people where she worked, but she didn’t care. She loved the company, the business, and even the guys. They were each great in their own way.
Shannon’s thoughts flowed to her first late evening at the office. Aaron had left to have dinner with Julie, and Seth had been in Manhattan at the lawyer’s office straightening some things out. She’d decided to stay to make sure that all the paper-work the firm had asked for wa
s ready to go should Seth need it in the morning. She’d thought she was alone, but then the elevator doors pinged and opened, startling her. She looked up and saw Gideon stroll out from the lift. He’d winked at her and gone directly to his office. She’d melted in her chair.
When she’d finished she stood outside his door watching him pace, looking angrily at the phone in his hand. Butterflies tormented her stomach and her hand shook a little when she finally gathered the nerve to knock on his door. He wasn’t a scary guy, but boy did he have a presence. They’d never been alone together—had never even really talked, that she could recall—so when he opened that door and his face brightened at the sight of her, she’d been taken off guard. He had been just so … she tried to think of a word that would encompass all that Gideon was and failed. Her phone buzzed on her chest pulling her from her thoughts.
Have Fun. Don’t Dwell. What Happens in Vegas …
Shannon smiled into the empty room. She loved Julie. It always amazed her how she knew exactly what to say at exactly the right moment. She texted back a thumbs-up emoji, then pushed herself off the bed. She went to her hanging bag and started to dig through it. She might as well go find something to eat since she couldn’t find Gideon.
Shannon showered and fixed her airplane hair before donning a simple black dress and pumps. She’d made a plan; she was going to check out the gambling floor then find some food. She’d never been to Las Vegas, and she wanted to be sure she had the fullest experience. Maybe she’d even gamble a little, play a slot machine or something.
Gideon’s ass had gone numb sitting through so many games, and other than Lily and the girl behind the check-in desk he hadn’t spoken to a female since he’d arrived, so his brain had to be playing tricks on him. A woman that looked a lot like Shannon walked across the casino floor in a body-hugging black dress that made Gideon’s mouth water. It couldn’t be her though. Shannon wasn’t a casino girl. She’d never even been to Las Vegas. Plus, he was sure the jet wasn’t scheduled to arrive for a few hours still. His stomach rumbled, distracting him, and pulled him back into the moment. He needed food and a way to get Shannon out of his system … because as great as she was, Lily apparently hadn’t been enough to make his body forget.