by Ryan Michele
“Later. We should get back.”
Quinn nodded, fingers touching her lips lightly.
Our plates we cleared, and we were shown to the gaming table on the right side of the room. A dealer awaited us, palms down on the table. Each couple was a team playing as one. It was a tight squeeze around the table, but I was more than happy to cozy up with Quinn, sliding her between my legs as I sat on a stool. I patted my leg for her to sit, but instead she leaned into me, which was fine with me. She smelled irresistible—like vanilla and honey, coupled with the exotic scent of her hair. Two smells that were now on my top favorites.
The dealer, Jerry, eyed us all and set out the rules of Texas Hold ’Em. A royal flush was the highest hand, followed by a straight flush. Third highest was four of a kind, then a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two of a pair, and one pair. The game rarely came down to the highest card. Some of the couples looked confused, but not Quinn. She looked down at me on a smile. Yeah, we were going to kick ass.
Jerry dealt out the cards. Drew frowned as he checked his and Rebecca’s cards. Rebecca was too busy watching everyone else at the table. But I knew that face on Drew was so bullshitting. He was giving himself away as usual because that face told me they had a good hand already. One of the perks of learning the game together.
Quinn cupped our spread of cards in her hand, showing them to me. Seemed as though we were lucky ourselves.
The first hand we were given consisted of two cards, an Ace and a Queen of Hearts. The first community cards were dealt in the center, and Bruce automatically folded, making him and Laura the first losers.
They gave each other a small peck that even my grandma could have made a better effort at, and she had been dead ten years. Both looked like they’d rather kiss a dead fish, which made me wonder if they folded to get out of a more intimate kiss. Maybe their coupledom was a ploy for Rebecca.
“Boo. So lame,” Rebecca heckled them. Bruce’s middle finger shot up in response, and Rebecca glared. She really needed to pull the cob out of her ass.
That left Drew and Rebecca, Paula and Daniel, and Carley and Joe as our competition.
Daniel called. Drew raised the bet. I upped our wager. I could tell Quinn was anxious. Her foot was tapping, making me bounce along with her. My arm around her gave her a reassuring squeeze. Her foot stopped.
Rewarded with her smile, I knew no matter what I had to do I would to keep it there. I was in trouble where Quinn was concerned. Sooner or later we were going to kiss again. When it was going to happen was the question. Kissing her in front of all these jerks wasn’t how our first kiss should be. This audience shouldn’t be allowed to be part of that moment. It only made me happier I stole her away earlier so our first wouldn’t be in a room of people I couldn't give two shits about. Drew wasn’t included in that, but still—no way I wanted him seeing me kiss his sister. Loved the man, but that was over the line.
That kiss we shared was private and intimate. It was ours and ours alone.
The next round we lost Paula and Daniel. Their kiss was sloppy, wet, and all over the damn place. He rammed his tongue so far down her throat he probably tasted her dinner. There was nothing sensual or sexy about it, but it was a show. Not one I’d ever want to see again, thank you.
Drew and Rebecca were the next to fold. Drew made it good for her, even though she pouted at first. Cupping her face and moving in soft, slow, and sensual, he took his time and put some serious effort into it.
The strange part was Rebecca had her eyes open, glancing around the table to see our responses. With that the whole kiss was awkward because it appeared like she cared more about how we perceived them than actually focusing on Drew, her future husband, and having fun with him.
That woman was all about appearances. She was not the woman I would’ve chosen for my best friend. It made me sad for him, but I’d tried talking to him. He was in love, or so he said.
Finally, it was down to Quinn and me and Joe and Carley. They turned over their cards and had three of a kind.
I winked at Quinn as she peered into my gaze, her eyes a bit frantic. With that one move, she now knew there was nothing to be nervous about.
We had won. I flipped our cards up, displaying a royal flush. Lady Luck was definitely on our side tonight.
Quinn squealed and hugged my neck, her breasts pressing into my chest. Fuck, this woman was killing me. She had no idea how beautiful and sexy she truly was, and that made her that much hotter in my eyes.
Joe and Carley put on quite the show, going beyond heavy petting once they got deep into their kiss. There was no doubt touching going on under the table. Joe pulled back, and Carley bit her lip and moaned. Someone was getting laid tonight.
“You ready to get out of here?” I asked, leaning into Quinn’s ear, feeling her body slightly tremble.
“Please.” Quinn was blushing, and I wished I knew what was going through her head at the moment. If it was anything like mine, we were in trouble. The things I wanted to do to her. I wanted to explore more than kissing with her, that was for sure.
I escorted my gorgeous date to the room, hand at the small of her back the entire time.
Quinn stood in front of the closet, struggling with the zipper, hand stretched behind her back. “Allow me.” I placed my hand at the small of her back, letting her know I was behind her. I felt her shiver and heard her sharp intake of breath.
Part of me wanted to spin her around and kiss her right then and there, but in the elevator a decision came to me. One my cock wasn’t happy about, but I knew what I wanted. How I wanted to play this.
I wanted Quinn to lose control for once. Even young she kept a tight hold on everything around her. Her closet was organized just as her suitcase was. Even her toiletries in the bathroom were lined up and in order.
To see her let loose and be wild with desire. It was in her eyes as I looked at her in the mirror. She wanted me—for the night or more, I had no clue. Finding out became the goal for this trip. It was an opportunity that if played right could work in my favor. I was all in to find out.
“Thanks.” Her voice was low and so damn sweet; the sound traveled straight to my cock. Hell, everything had me turned on while in her presence.
Gathering her hair in my hands, I wanted to yank it, tug her head back and claim her lips, but I held back, barely. It was pure torture.
Instead, I placed the locks over her left shoulder as her eyes grew with desire in the mirror. My fingers met their purchase, dragging the zipper down at a leisurely pace, tormenting myself with the action and exposing her flawless back, except for a freckle on her right shoulder that was shaped like a teardrop. I had wondered if the angels wept when she was created; guessed I had my answer. We both stood frozen as she clutched the front of the gown to her middle.
My lips watered to kiss that teardrop and taste her skin.
Her throat cleared, and she disconnected our gazes. The loss was like a physical punch. “I’m going to go change. Thanks for a great evening.” She darted to her suitcase, grabbing something quickly.
“No problem. That’s what I’m here for. I’m at your disposal.” In the mirror, I rolled my eyes at how lame that sounded in my own head. Moron.
Quinn retreated to the bathroom, and I took advantage of the moment alone, stripping down to my boxer briefs as they tented from my erection. A shower in the morning was a must. My hand was getting a ton of action his trip.
I turned down the lights and got into bed, knowing I wouldn’t be getting much sleep. At least not with Quinn so close and yet still so far away. I wanted her so deeply, desperately. If she didn’t kill me during this trip it would be a miracle.
I had been playing this game of pretend with her for years and was tired of hiding my emotions toward her under the surface. I knew the kind of man she deserved. Before, I wasn’t ready to be that man, but what if I could be now?
Quinn
IF YOU FALL, I’LL BE THERE. SIGNED, the FLOOR
Oh, what
will today bring?
It was day two of the challenge and, knowing Rebecca, she was probably going to have us give our man head in front of everyone or something stupid. Not that I’d do that, but her challenges seemed to have a sexual undertone.
Lord knew what today was going to be.
Right after breakfast the guys were whisked away to go and play golf, a sport I could do without. My skin still tingled from when Conner squeezed my shoulder upon leaving. Not having him here felt cold. I missed his presence already.
I kept replaying the scene in our room last night over and over again in my head. Seeing him in the mirror, his eyes dilating, breathing coming harder, Conner stealing my breath away with the simplest and gentlest touch when he volunteered to undo my zipper. The heat of his hand on my lower back seared me. The tender touch of his finger brushed over the birthmark on my shoulder with reverence. His breath fanned over my neck, warming it because he was so damn close.
All I wanted in that moment was for him to spin me around, grab me close, and kiss me. No man had ever made my heart beat as fast or wild as Conner Davenport could.
Did he know how much I adored him? That no one could ever make me feel the way he did. While I was grateful he didn’t kiss me in front of the group, I wanted him with every fiber of my being. The words to tell him this wouldn’t leave my lips. I wanted him to make a move last night in the room, but this was new territory for both of us. This was Conner and me. We had grown up together. I had dreamt of him for years, and now I had finally kissed him, and it was out of this world.
Nothing compared. I was scared that nothing ever would if this went south.
Rebecca announced we were supposed to dress in something we could move in. Maybe spin class? Lord only knew with her. Throwing on black leggings and a white crop top that hung off my shoulders, I swept my hair into a ponytail ready for what the day brought my way. I slipped on my sneakers and met the other girls in the lobby.
They were relatively dressed like me. Rebecca, though, had on booty shorts that left little to the imagination with how high they were cut and a sports bra. It wasn’t surprising considering she loved to be the center of attention anywhere she went, and she wanted every man in the place staring at her ass.
This rubbed me very wrong as she was getting married to my brother. I held my tongue, but it was damn hard. The way she was making a show of herself was disrespectful to my brother. She was eating the attention up, acting ridiculous. Licking her lips and bending over to do stretches in front of the audience that was gathering.
Heat crept up my neck. I was getting pissed. Even her best friend was giving her a what the fuck are you doing look.
There was a car waiting, and we got in. From there Rebecca announced, “We’re going pole dancing!”
At first, my stomach dropped, not being the most coordinated person in the world. But quickly after, excitement hit me at this new adventure. It was something I’d never done, but I’d watched Jennifer Lopez do it in a movie, and she was hot.
We were served mimosas on the way. I grinned, making the best of feeling like a fifth wheel to their close party of four. Part of me wished the guys were here, so I’d at least have Conner and my brother as a buffer between us. But no, I was on my own, wishing too that Carrie was here. If it were us taking these classes, we’d have a blast. She loved stuff like this.
Arriving at the studio my palms were sweating, and my stomach was burning. The poles in the center of the room were intimidating as hell. Sure, I loved to dance at a bar or something, but I had never attempted a sexy pole dance in my life.
We were divided up into two groups, and lucky me I was stuck with Rebecca. “Don’t be shy, Quinn,” she taunted me, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. This would be what it would be, and I for one intended to make the best out of the situation. If she wanted to be bitchy, that was on her.
There were two instructors. One began stretches, and I prayed that I didn’t pull a muscle or break a bone. With my luck it was a grim possibility. One instructor, Sheila who started stretches, was fit and made it all appear so seamless and fluid as she moved. There was a definite grace to her. I was in shape, but I wasn’t sure I had the upper body strength required to flip this ass over on a pole.
After stretches, we broke into our groups. Sheila was our instructor and Shelly was the other.
The pole was smooth against my hand, and I walked around it several times getting my steps together. Thank goodness Sheila started off slow. Watching in avid fasciation, Sheila took to the pole in a routine that made me want to do what she did. It looked fun and incredibly sexy.
Practicing it, though, wasn’t pretty.
Glancing over at the other girls, Paula wasn’t fairing much better. Shelly was attempting to lift her ass up while she tried to climb the pole. She had zero upper body strength.
Laura, though, was a natural. She graced the pole like she had been doing it for years. Elegant, graceful, and sexy as all hell. I wondered if she had ever been a stripper or had a private pole at home.
I managed to get up the pole a bit, but the moment I leaned my head back to swirl my hair, I slid, my thighs rubbing the metal on the descent and making that horrendous shrieking sound.
That was definitely going to chafe. There was nothing sexy about raw thighs. Sheila told me to clamp my thighs more to hold on, and the fourth attempt, I was able to flip my hair like a crazy woman. I felt empowered.
As the day wore on, I wondered when Rebecca was going to announce today’s challenge. This class couldn’t be all she had unless the plan was to tape the whole day and throw a viewing party for the guys. That was all I needed to make a fool of myself in front of Conner. He already thought I was a nut.
I pushed those thoughts away and ignored Rebecca as she twisted and turned on the pole, but not in a sexy way. More slutty than sexy. It was kind of gross the way she was humping and gyrating on the pole like a porn star. That wasn’t right—porn stars had way more talent than Becky.
Music was added, and we went through a few more steps. I was beginning to get the hang of it if landing on my head only twice counted.
Despite Rebecca being my partner and critiquing my every move, I was having fun. Witnessing her land on her ass, though, was the highlight of the morning. I didn’t even try to hide the laughter. It was impossible. Her friends were entertained by her flub as well. She wasn’t as amused and let us all know it with her sneers.
Then it all came crashing down when class switched and turned into a strip tease course all about how to take your clothes off and seduce your man. I always knew Rebecca was up to something dirty. She couldn’t just do the dancing; now we were to do stripping too. Lovely.
“Quinn needs all the pointers she can get.” Rebecca’s jab landed right in the center of my chest as she intended it to. How could this woman be so cold? If she thought her shit didn’t stink, she was in for a rude awakening.
Carley gave me a look of pity, but I ignored her. I didn’t need her or anyone to feel sorry for me. It wasn’t like I was horrible or anything. Something told me, though, that Rebecca was giving me a test. One to see if Conner was really my man or not. Hopefully, I was reading more into it than it was, but with Rebecca, one could never tell.
What I needed was divine intervention to open up the floor and swallow me because while Conner was bad enough, dancing in front of my brother made me want to puke.
After our class, we had a light lunch and returned to our hotel. I needed a shower desperately. If nothing else, today was a hell of a workout.
Conner was still out so I made use of the bathroom, feeling antsy and keyed up. Our challenge hadn’t been announced, but I wasn’t stupid and knew we’d be dancing and stripping. Knowing Rebecca, she was planning to try to embarrass me some way. It seemed to be her entire goal for this trip instead of spending time with her man.
In the shower, the water streamed down my body, relaxing my muscles. They were going to hurt lik
e a bitch tomorrow.
After my shower and getting dressed, Conner returned to do the same because we needed to get to dinner.
Tonight, I opted for a simple black party dress that had a bunch at the side along with the slit. Underneath I had on one of my favorite lacy black bra and panty sets. Something about sexy coordinating underwear made me feel empowered. I loved to hold surprises under my clothes, not that anyone saw them, but it was one of my quirks.
“Did Drew happen to mention what the couples challenge would be, or did we get the day off?” Yes, I was completely and totally hopeful that we wouldn’t be dancing in front of everyone.
“No matter what it is, babe, we got this. Just relax, cut loose, and enjoy the ride.” My breath hitched in my throat at him calling me babe. Conner was always calm, cool, and collected. The words just flowed from him like he’d said the endearment every day of his life. Why it hit me so hard, I didn’t know and didn’t have time to evaluate.
The phone rang and Conner answered, relaying that the car taking us to dinner was waiting. We went to some sushi place where we were served oysters and a variety of different sushi treats.
I was trying to do as Conner said and cut loose, enjoying my time with him. We had a few drinks at dinner that helped to take the edge off.
He lifted a bite of a sushi roll to my lips and fed me. While it was absolutely delicious, nothing compared to Conner actually feeding it to me. The act was sexy.
The car ride back to the hotel felt easy for the most part, but it was because Conner made it that way, talking about old times. We followed the group into a private room.
Rebecca’s face held that evil smirk she reserved for torturing me, and she announced that we were about to have our challenge. My ‘cutting it loose’ started to fade.
“Tonight’s challenge is dance for your man. Put the skills you learned today to the ultimate test, and show your man what you’re made of.”
My stomach dropped. While I knew it was coming, part of me hoped it was all a dream. Wrong! This was a nightmare coming true. Drew was here. My brother was here!