Betting on Love

by Alyssa Linn Palmer

  “More.” Alex shivered as Elly cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing her hardening nipples, tongue trailing up over her sternum to the pulse point in her neck, where Elly gave her a brief nibble. Alex’s skin tasted a tiny bit salty, and there was a touch of perfume too. Elly lifted her head and Alex kissed her, wrapping her arms around Elly’s neck, her warmth seeping through Elly’s thin shirt.

  Elly fumbled with the buttons on her own shirt, finally managing to get it undone. Alex pushed it off her shoulders and made short work of her bra, undoing the front clasp and helping it to join the shirt. She didn’t stop there, going straight for the button of Elly’s jeans. Between the two of them, both sets of jeans and Alex’s chaps fell to the floor and they moved to the bed, becoming a tangle of limbs as they embraced.

  Elly found herself on her back, her head half on a pillow. Alex bent over her, dropping kisses over the swell of her breasts. “I love your freckles here,” she said between kisses. “So cute, so you.” Her fingers traced over Elly’s ribs and down to her hip. “And here.”

  “I’ve always wanted to be rid of them,” Elly confessed.

  “Really?” Alex lifted her head in surprise.

  “Really. I’d rather be like you, with your English-rose complexion.” Elly smoothed a hand down Alex’s side, under the black cotton bikini panties she wore.

  “English rose? I’ve never heard that before.” Alex’s breath caught as Elly pushed down the bikini panties and stroked Alex between her thighs, feeling the damp curls and the hot, wet center. Alex’s hips tilted toward the touch and Elly crooked her fingers, pressing upward. Alex shivered, sliding back onto the bed. Elly slid with her, going lower, brushing over her stomach and then between her legs, tasting the flavor that was uniquely Alex, her tongue at first flicking delicately, then with more pressure.

  “You’re an English rose even here,” Elly murmured, taking Alex into her mouth, using her free hand to hold down Alex’s thigh as her legs tensed with the pleasure. She didn’t let up even as Alex moaned and shuddered; she loved knowing she could bring Alex to this state. She stroked Alex’s G-spot in time with her movements on her clit, and Alex whimpered and stiffened, giving a gasping cry as she came. Then her body went limp and Elly slowly withdrew, resting her head on Alex’s thigh. She felt Alex’s hand on her hair, a gentle caress.

  “That was…” Alex began. Elly lifted her head. Alex’s cheeks were flushed and her hair had partly come loose from its ponytail. “Incredible.”

  Elly moved up the bed to lie next to her. “Good.”

  Alex tugged at Elly’s panties. “Take these off. I can’t be naked if you’re not.”

  Elly shifted on the bed, lifting her buttocks and bending her knees, sliding her plain cotton panties down and off. “Better?”

  “Much. I’d hate for you not to come too.”

  “I don’t think it’ll take much tonight.”

  “Let’s find out.” Alex chuckled low in her throat. She rolled onto her side so they were facing each other and feathered a kiss over Elly’s lips as she hooked her hand under Elly’s knee, drawing her leg up, her fingertips skating up the back of her thigh. So close, and yet…

  Elly let out a disappointed breath, only to have Alex chuckle again as her fingers began the torturous climb upward once more. Closer, this time, along the edge of her wetness, then away. Elly could hardly stand it and she flexed her leg, her heel behind Alex’s knee, pushing her forward.

  “Oh no, not yet,” Alex said, giving her the gentlest of spankings.

  “Do I have to beg?”

  “Maybe.”

  This time Alex slid a finger into her, and Elly gasped at the welcome penetration.

  “Please, Alex…”

  Alex pressed her clit with her thumb and Elly closed her eyes, arching into her touch.

  A loud thud on the ceiling startled her back into awareness, and she heard the couple upstairs moving around in their bedroom.

  “Ignore them,” Alex said. “Look at me.”

  Elly shifted her attention back to Alex, to the dark-lashed eyes and the reddened lips.

  “That’s better,” Alex said. She moved forward and Elly met her halfway, eagerly anticipating the kiss. Alex’s fingers thrust inside her and Elly moaned into Alex’s mouth, but Alex didn’t let up on the kiss, or on her thrusts, managing to stroke tiny circles on Elly’s clit. Elly broke off the kiss to gasp in a breath, her head falling back, her eyes closed once more. A delicious quiver started in her belly and moved up her torso and down her legs until she couldn’t stand it anymore. She spasmed around Alex’s fingers, a guttural groan escaping her, the perspiration prickling along her spine.

  There was a shuffling step above them, and a quiet laugh. Elly felt the flush growing, starting at her cheeks and spreading down onto her chest. She’d been so loud. She buried her head in Alex’s shoulder.

  “All right?” Alex asked, stroking her hair.

  “They heard, didn’t they?” Elly said, her words muffled.

  “And you’re worried? I’d bet money they’re jealous. Don’t worry about them, El.” Alex wrapped her in a hug, and Elly loved being skin to skin with her.

  “But still…what if I see them?”

  “So what? You think the woman that lives downstairs from me hasn’t heard sex noises before? And so have the people above you. That’s just the way of it. If they’re polite, they won’t say anything.”

  “I know, I do.” Elly lifted her head and looked at Alex. “I’m just not used to it, with so many people around all the time.”

  “It’s not so quiet as a farm,” Alex agreed. “You could have a screaming orgasm and no one would hear you. Just the chickens.”

  “Yeah.” Elly remembered the night they’d had there. She hadn’t worried about being overheard, knew there hadn’t been anyone nearby. “Maybe we could go, next weekend?”

  “To the farm? Well…” Alex paused. “What about Thursday night? We could take the bike, stay overnight, and then come back Friday in time for me to work.”

  “If I don’t have any interviews those days, that’d be perfect. But on the bike?” Elly felt the familiar nervousness creep in.

  “Unless the weather’s bad, then we can take your car,” Alex said. “It’s a beautiful ride. I think you’d like it. City riding sucks, anyway. Riding on the secondary highways is the best.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Elly said. She relaxed into Alex’s embrace.

  “Let me know by Wednesday,” Alex said, “and I’ll make sure the bike’s ready for the ride.” She stroked Elly’s back, then shifted away, sitting up in bed. She swung her legs over the side. When she began to pull on her clothes, Elly sat up in surprise.

  “You’re going?”

  “I have an early morning tomorrow,” Alex said. “I want to get in a few hours of riding before my shift.”

  Elly’s heart sank. It had been so cozy just then, and they’d been so intimate, yet here Alex was leaving. Again. “Stay anyway?” After last night, she knew it was unlikely, but she had to ask. She’d hoped it had been an anomaly.

  Alex had her jeans on and buttoned, and was fastening her bra. “Not tonight.” She paused, her shirt in her hands, her stance softening. “I just don’t stay. I haven’t changed since yesterday.”

  “Oh.” But wasn’t that what lovers did? She’d been hoping for something more, thought that there’d been more to them than just the physical spark of lust. “I understand.” She didn’t, but it had been a long while since her last relationship, and maybe she hadn’t read the signals right.

  “I’ll call you when I get back into town,” Alex said, resting her hand on Elly’s knee. “We can have a bite to eat before my shift.”

  Elly looked up. Alex seemed apologetic but not about to change her mind. “Sure, let’s. I’ll be spending tomorrow sending out resumes again.”

  “And you’ll need the break.” Alex bent to kiss her, and Elly accepted the kiss, though it stirred a painful longing in her. When they b
roke apart, she rose from the bed and pulled on her robe that hung on a hook on the back of her bedroom door.

  Alex preceded her from the bedroom, heading straight to put on her boots and shrug on her jacket. She scooped up her helmet as Elly waited, leaning against the wall. “See you later?”

  “Call me when you’re back.”

  Alex opened the door, resting her hand on the knob. She leaned over and they kissed once more, briefly. “Good night, El.”

  Then Alex was gone.

  Elly shut the door and locked it, and paced back to her room, her arms wrapped around herself. Her bed seemed lonely, the sheets skewed and rumpled, taunting her with what had just happened. She lay down on the bed and Alex’s scent rose from the sheets. How had she misread Alex? If she wasn’t interested, then why had she come over?

  She curled into a ball, the robe dragging around her, though she tried to tug it down to cover her legs. Their first time, at the farm, had been so incredible, and even the last time had been great, aside from having to go home. She knew she shouldn’t take it so personally, but she couldn’t help it. Three times they’d made love, but Alex wouldn’t stay.

  An image of Alex flirting at the bar floated in front of her closed eyes and Elly pressed her lips together. It was silly to cry, but that didn’t stop her eyes from burning with tears. She swallowed hard, and turned her face into the pillow.

  Chapter Five

  Monday morning was crisp and chill when Alex left, heading south out of Calgary, darting through the early morning traffic, leaving the city on Highway 2A toward De Winton. The sun was low in the sky yet, and though she hadn’t slept overly long the night before, the energy surged through her the farther she went from the city. She kept the chin vent open on her helmet, and left the visor cracked so she could breathe the fresh morning air. On such a day, she was tempted to head as far south as Pincher Creek and take the number 22 back all the way north to Bragg Creek. She might make it all that way. It was early.

  Alex slowed as she reached the outskirts of Okotoks, a town growing thanks to its proximity to the city. Sometimes she used to stop there, but now, she wanted to avoid cities and traffic as much as possible. The bike purred under her, urging her on. Usually Will would be with her, but he’d scored some hours at a construction site for the next few days, and he needed the money too much. But she was fine on her own. She’d been riding for years, and it was as natural to her as breathing.

  She kept heading south. Green farmland stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted by high power lines. The road ahead was empty and she shifted gears, opening the throttle and letting the bike fly over the pavement. The speedometer climbed—100 kilometers an hour…110…120…but still she pushed it, the speedometer clocking 150 kilometers an hour before she had to slow down, seeing the outskirts of Nanton.

  When she hit the town, she slowed, cruising down Main Street and looking for a place to stop for a coffee. She’d left so quickly this morning she hadn’t wanted to waste time. She pulled into a parking space near the Tumbleweed coffee shop. The open sign flickered in the window and she dismounted, removing her helmet and pushing the hair off her forehead. When she walked in, all eyes turned to her.

  “Good morning,” she said to the waitress as she took a seat at a free table, placing her helmet on the chair beside her. The woman came over.

  “What can I get you?” She was on the plump side, an almost-grandmotherly type, her graying hair pulled back in a bun.

  “Coffee, and some bacon and eggs,” Alex said after glancing at the menu.

  “Sure thing. Over easy?” When Alex nodded, the woman made a notation on her pad and headed back behind the counter. “Earl, eggs and bacon, over easy!” She came back with the coffeepot and filled Alex’s cup, placing a bowl of creamers next to the sugar.

  “You headed farther south? You were in here a few weeks ago with your boyfriend, weren’t you? You look familiar.”

  “Yeah, I probably was. Will and I come out here a lot. I’m not going much farther, maybe to the Chain Lakes. Why?” Alex leaned back in her chair. Will wasn’t her boyfriend, not exactly, but she wasn’t about to explain the particulars.

  “Heard there was a wind warning down Lethbridge way. Probably not that good on a bike.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.” Alex smiled. “Did they say anything about Pincher Creek?”

  “Not sure.”

  “Pincher has the warning too.” A man nearby leaned over, his face tanned from years working outdoors, a grizzled beard gracing his cheeks. “You’d be better off heading west from here, if you’re going to the Chain Lakes. No sense going farther south than you need to, girlie.”

  “Thanks.” Alex unzipped her jacket and hung it over the back of her chair.

  “You got a nice bike there,” the man said, nodding to where the Ninja sat, green and black and small amongst the pickup trucks.

  “A 2013 Kawasaki,” Alex said automatically. “Lots of power in it.”

  “Maybe a little much for you?” the man asked. “My son’s got a Harley, you see, but those sport bikes are too zippy for his taste.”

  “I love it,” Alex said honestly.

  “Long as you can handle it,” the man added. “Surprised you’re not riding with your boyfriend or something.”

  Alex laughed. “He can’t keep up with me.”

  The man chuckled. “I bet he can’t.”

  The waitress brought out the bacon and eggs. “Enjoy.”

  Alex dug in, her empty stomach happy to get food and coffee. The meal would keep her going for the rest of the ride. She didn’t linger once she’d finished, just got up and went to the till to pay.

  “Have a good day,” the waitress said.

  “You too.” Alex headed out, giving a wave to the man, who nodded his head and lifted his coffee cup.

  She went west as he’d suggested, heading through Nanton and on to the Chain Lakes, the rough foothills rising in front of her. The sun was high overhead when she got there, and when she pulled into the parking lot in the day-use area, she peeled off her leather jacket, letting the light breeze slide its fingers through her cotton shirt.

  She walked along the lakeside a short distance after hanging her helmet off the handlebar and found a spot to sit, leaning back against a picnic table, resting her elbows behind her. She tilted her face up toward the sun and closed her eyes. The gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore combined with the occasional squawk of gulls and other birds, and though she could hear the occasional vehicle, the place was peaceful, calm. If she could spend hours here, she would. Far better than hours in the bar, though she loved her job.

  Would Elly want to come out here? It wasn’t a farm, but it might be close.

  Alex opened her eyes. Where had that come from? She’d never taken girls out on her bike, not that many of them ever asked. The bike was her time, hers alone. Even if Will came with her, he understood her desires and held the same himself, the need for the adrenaline rush. But she had promised Elly she’d call.

  Alex dug her phone from the inner pocket of her jacket, checking the time. Mentally calculating the distance home, she realized she had better get moving. Breakfast in Nanton, quick though it had been, had set her back, and Highway 22 was slower than some of the others, thanks to traffic. But she loved the ride, loved the view, the rolling foothills, the copses of dark trees dotting the landscape. If she could, she’d live out here, at least in the summertime. She glanced at her phone once more. No calls.

  She rose and made her way back to her bike, shrugging on her jacket and zipping it up. She pulled her helmet off the handlebar and put it back on, threading the chin strap through the loops and snapping it closed. When she pulled out onto the highway once more, she found herself behind a slow-moving RV, and she itched to pass it, swerving out to check the lane, wishing for a broken yellow. She kept her feet still on the footpegs, though she wanted to tap her toes impatiently. Finally the double yellow broke on her side and she checked the la
ne, swerving out and accelerating, blowing past the RV like it had been standing still.

  She slowed back to the posted speed limit once she’d passed; the cops were known to watch this section of highway for speeders, and she had no intention of getting her bike impounded. Plus, the scenery along the road was breathtaking, one of her favorite parts of the province. She had enough time to enjoy it.

  At Longview, she pulled over and walked across the road to the café to get a cup of coffee and use their bathroom. The open metal snaps on the bottom of her leather chaps jingled and the thump of her boots sounded hollowly against the creaky wooden steps she ascended to the door.

  Alex didn’t linger, buying only a small coffee and drinking it on the porch. She pulled out her phone again. One missed call. From Elly. She frowned and dialed her voice mail, listening to Elly’s quiet voice.

  “Hi Alex, it’s Elly. I won’t be able to meet you later. Got a call just now from one of the places I’d put in a resume, and I have an interview late this afternoon. Give me a call back, maybe we can do it another time.”

  Alex deleted the message and sent Elly a quick text instead of calling. No problem, just let me know when.

  There wasn’t even a slight pang of disappointment; now she could take her time heading back to the city, instead of rushing. She finished the last of her coffee, then tossed the cup in the garbage and walked back to her bike.

  *

  Elly dressed in her most professional suit, black and crisply pressed. She straightened the collar of the white shirt underneath, checking carefully in the mirror before she left the apartment. Her hair had curled in multiple directions after her shower, and she’d smoothed it back the best she could with a clip, wishing she’d had more notice. But a job interview wasn’t to be sniffed at, even if an entry-level job at an oil company wasn’t exactly what she’d been looking for. Okay, it wasn’t what she was looking for at all, but she’d placed resumes for numerous jobs not entirely suited to her background, desperate for anything decent to pay the bills.