The Gamble

by Alice Ward

  When he kissed me, I could taste myself on his tongue and I sucked his lower lip into my mouth.

  “Tell me you want me, want this,” he said against my lips.

  “I do…” Those two words made me smile and he caught on, smiling too. Then he was kissing me again, and I was wanting and needing, on the edge of begging him to connect our bodies.

  He reached for a condom, rolled it on quickly, then… heaven. Inch by beautiful inch, he pressed inside me.

  Talen watched my face as the tip of his cock began to slowly press inside of me. He was so much bigger than Perry, and at first, it felt like I was stretching too much, too fast. At the same time, I yearned for more. And then, just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of him, he was sheathed to the root and our bodies were flush against each other.

  “You okay?”

  I looked into those beautiful eyes. “Yes. I’m good.”

  “Just good, huh?” Talen’s grin took on a mischievous glint. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”

  His lips came down on mine just as he pulled out and began a series of short, slow thrusts. I held onto his back, feeling the muscles ripple as he moved. He glided his tongue along my lower lip before snaking it inside my mouth to dance with mine. The faster he moved, the harder his lips devoured mine, the more intense everything became.

  I hooked my legs over his hips and urged him deeper, faster, harder, until the coiling tension in my belly would surely soon explode.

  My nails dug into Talen’s back. I was moaning, crying out his name, riding toward that delicious high of pleasure, and I knew. There would be no coming back from this.

  “Talen!”

  He growled as I screamed his name, his lips finding my ear as I came undone around him. But there was no rest. Instead, he lifted me from the bed and slammed into me from a new angle. I held on, nails digging into his back as I rode and was ridden to a new universe.

  I was blind. I was deaf. I was hit full force by a maelstrom of pleasure that took the very air from my lungs.

  “Fucking beautiful.”

  I felt beautiful as I watched him watch me come apart again, my body shaking and quivering of its own accord, my internal muscles clamping down on him like a vice.

  He roared my name, his face tight with his release. With a growling moan, Talen anchored inside of me, our bodies hot against the other. Following me down, he dropped me back onto the bed, covering me with his sweaty body.

  “Holy shit. Fuck,” he murmured in my ear as he licked the outer shell, causing me to shiver. “So intense. Tight. Fuck.”

  I smiled and held him close, glad to know I’d nearly rendered him speechless.

  I kissed his shoulder, tasting the salt and wanting more, so I kissed it again.

  When the waves of pleasure finally subsided for us both, Talen pulled out of me and rolled onto his back. The effects of my orgasm were still working their way through my body. My toes tightened and relaxed over and over again. When I finally caught my breath, I looked over to see that Talen’s eyes were closed. I didn’t know if he was asleep, but I didn’t want to wake him.

  I turned over and tried not to think. I no longer felt the effects of the orgasms or the wine. I wasn’t tipsy anymore, and my sober mind kicked into overdrive. My head ached with the intensity of my thoughts, and I tried desperately to push them away. They were insistent. They took me prisoner, and I soon felt like I was drowning.

  I couldn’t believe I’d just slept with Talen. It was amazing, more than amazing, but I just broke up with Perry. It hadn’t even been two weeks, and here I was, in another man’s bed. The fact that he was technically my husband only made me feel worse. I felt nauseated. As I lay there in silence, I didn’t know what to do.

  “You don’t have to sleep in here,” Talen said softly. “I mean, if you don’t want to.”

  I glanced over at him. His eyes were focused on my face, and I wondered how long he’d been watching me. His forehead was furrowed. I didn’t know what was bothering him, but I could only assume it was my presence.

  “There are guest rooms,” he continued. “Just down the hall. You can take one of those if you want.”

  Immediately, I realized why Talen was looking at me that way. He didn’t want me in his bed any longer. Now that the sex was over, he just wanted to fall asleep alone. My stomach sank, and I felt weak in the knees. I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid as to fall into bed with him. I knew what kind of person he was, and yet, I let myself get carried away. I got lost in his blue eyes and hard body, and I forgot to use my brain.

  Without a word, I climbed out of bed and grabbed my clothes. I hurried out of his room and down the hall. If he didn’t want me in his bed, then I wouldn’t force my presence on him.

  As I considered my options, I realized there was no way I could go home that night, not unless Talen wanted to drive me. I thought about calling a cab, but I knew I didn’t have the money for it. After taking a cab twice in one week, my bank account was dangerously low. Even the sale from my last art show wasn’t enough to sustain me for very long. I had no choice but to sleep at Talen’s.

  I found the first of the guest bedrooms and opened the door. The room was beautiful. It was all white with a big, fluffy blanket thrown over the bed. I was impressed, but I still felt too ashamed of myself to really appreciate it. I got dressed, not wanting to sleep naked, and crawled under the covers. My legs still felt weak from my orgasms, and the sensation kept me awake longer than I wanted. I wished I could just fall asleep and put this whole night behind me.

  Not only had I slept with Talen, but he kicked me out of his bed without a second thought. He didn’t say anything about what happened between us. He just wanted me gone. I felt like an idiot. For a second, I let myself believe he might actually care about me, but I was wrong. He was just horny and tipsy. That combination was dangerous in men like Talen. He only had sex with me because I was there. I was available.

  I rolled over on my side and punched the pillow angrily. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have fallen for his bullshit? Was I really the type of girl who would lose herself after just one kiss?

  I cursed myself and tried to think of something else. The only thing that crossed my mind was Perry. He didn’t deserve my time or energy, not after leaving me for another woman, but I couldn’t help it. Perry and I were together for five years. Despite his infidelity, I loved him for a long time. Perry was the only man I’d ever slept with until that night. I lost my virginity to him when I was twenty years old. He was my first, and until Talen, my only.

  My stomach rolled and I thought I might be sick, but I forced it back down. I told myself that I was overreacting. Perry didn’t matter anymore. He found someone new, and I was just someone from his past. I felt certain that he didn’t think about me after he had sex with his new girlfriend, so why should I think about him now? I told myself that I shouldn’t, that he wasn’t worth it, but it didn’t help. When I wasn’t feeling guilty about Perry, I was feeling awful about Talen. The entire night was spent with me flipping between the two emotions.

  For the past two weeks, my life had been taking wild turns. I didn’t know who I was anymore. Being dumped by Perry. Running away to Vegas. A drunken marriage. Agreeing to stay married for the money. Sleeping with my “husband.” None of these things were me. This wasn’t the person I wanted to be, and yet, I didn’t know how to stop it. I felt like I was stuck in a tornado, and it was blowing me all over the place. I was bruised and beaten, but it wasn’t done yet. Everything just continued to get worse.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Talen

  I didn’t sleep well that night. Just knowing Dani was down the hall was enough to keep me up and alert. After we had sex, I’d been ready to drift off to sleep. For the first time in a while, I was relaxed and at peace. Then, I saw Dani’s face, and all that changed. She was lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She looked like she was about to cry, and I immediately felt a pit for
m in my stomach. The regret etched on her face was enough to make me wish we hadn’t slept together. I never wanted to make her feel bad.

  So, I offered her the guest room, thinking it might make this easier for her. She seemed like she couldn’t wait to get away from me. I thought about driving her home, but I knew that wasn’t an option. It was too late, and I was too exhausted and had been drinking. I would never make it all the way to her place and then back again. Plus, if we were going to spend the next month together, we would have to get used to each other’s company. As much as I hated it, I told her about the guest room, and she left.

  I watched her leave my bedroom, still fully naked. Her body was captivating. I remembered what it felt like to be inside her, and I instantly felt myself get hard again. The erection didn’t last long. Once Dani was out of my sight, I no longer felt any excitement. Guilt was the only emotion coursing through my body. Dani wanted me. That much I knew. I wasn’t an expert on all women, but I knew when they were attracted to me, and Dani certainly was. She begged me not to stop while we had sex. That was enough to convince me that she was just as into it as I was.

  Still, I wondered why she looked so upset. Did she already regret our night together? Or did she just feel uncomfortable lying next to me? Either way, I hoped the guest room would be enough to put her at ease and relax her nerves. Everything would be fine in the morning. She would feel better, and we could continue with our plan without any problems. At least, that was what I hoped. I didn’t know if it would work. I was afraid of what I would find the next morning.

  When I woke up, I didn’t feel rested. The sun seeped in through my windows and woke me far too soon. I tried to fall back asleep, but it was no use. I had to get to work, and I was sure that Dani needed to get home. Her life didn’t revolve around me and our arrangement. I didn’t want to keep her from her life, so I showered and dressed, then headed down the hall. I knocked softly on the guest room door where Dani slept.

  She opened the door after only a few seconds looking tired. I didn’t think she’d slept much, either. It was obvious from the way she looked at me that she wasn’t happy. She clearly thought last night was a mistake, and I felt awful about that, but I forced myself not to show it. If anything, having sex would only make us more comfortable later. Showing physical affection in front of strangers wasn’t going to be easy, but now that we knew each other intimately, it wouldn’t feel as fake. We would be able to act naturally, and hopefully, avert any suspicions.

  “Hey,” I said, trying to smile. “I figured you might want to get home?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

  “Okay. I’ll drop you off, but I think I should pick you up tomorrow. We can go out again. Hopefully, we’ll get our picture taken, and the story will take off.”

  “I have plans tomorrow,” Dani said. “My mother needs me.”

  I wondered if that was the only reason but decided to take her for her word. “What about Sunday?”

  “That’s fine.” She sounded like it was anything but. Still, I refused to acknowledge her discomfort. I thought by ignoring it, I would help it disappear.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked as we walked into the living room together. “Do you want breakfast before we leave?”

  “No,” Dani said, shaking her head firmly. “I just want to get home.”

  I nodded again and led the way to the garage. We climbed into my car, and I drove her home. It wasn’t until we pulled up to her complex that she spoke again.

  “Thank you,” she said. “For the ride.”

  “Dani…” I laid my hand on her arm before she could jump out of the car. “Listen, about last night.”

  “We don’t need to talk about it,” she said quickly. Her eyes flashed with an emotion I didn’t recognize. I wanted to argue, to force her to talk, but I thought better of it.

  “Okay.” I gripped the steering wheel tight with both hands to keep from touching her. “Well, I’ll see you Sunday.”

  Dani nodded once and jumped out of the car. I watched her until she reached her apartment door. She disappeared inside, closing the door swiftly behind her. I stared at the door for a few seconds, not wanting to leave. I hated the idea of leaving things unresolved between us, but I knew I would see her again in a couple days. If she still felt awkward about things, we could work it out then.

  I drove away, still preoccupied, but satisfied that everything would be okay. On the drive to the office, I thought about what to do on Sunday. Dani and I still didn’t know each other well, but I thought taking her to an art show might be a nice gesture. She would enjoy it, and it would be in keeping with our made-up story. If we met at her art show, then obviously I had to be interested in art. It would be the perfect opportunity to be caught by an eager photographer. Most of the time, I avoided cameras, but I knew I needed to get in front of them with Dani by my side as soon as possible.

  The day dragged by as I sat through hours of endless meetings, trying to focus on the work at hand. I approved marketing campaigns and dealt with FDA approval issues, but I didn’t feel the joy I usually did in it.

  It was nearly eight when I headed home, my eyes gritty from exhaustion. When I arrived at my apartment, my front door was open. I frowned and stepped inside. Brandon was lounging on my couch, flipping through channels on my television. His feet were propped up on my coffee table, and he grinned at me when I walked in.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, throwing my keys down on the table.

  “It’s Friday,” he said. “What are we doing tonight?”

  “Brandon, I can’t,” I said slowly. “Remember, I have to be good for the next month or so. Dani and I are technically married. I can’t let anyone see me out with other women.”

  “Oh, come on!” Brandon whined. “You haven’t even introduced her to your parents yet.”

  “But I will,” I argued. “And when I do, I have to make them believe it. My father will know it’s partially a ruse, but if I can convince him, then I can convince the investors. That all starts with cleaning up my image. From now on, I’m a respectable, married man. I’m a one-woman kind of guy.”

  Brandon rolled his eyes and continued flipping through channels. I knew this arrangement wasn’t going to be easy for him. He just wanted a wingman, and I was taking that away from him. Truthfully, I didn’t feel guilty about it either. For a while, I’d been questioning my lifestyle. Ever since I joined the Big Brother program, partying just didn’t seem as important. I felt like my life could mean more than just an endless stream of drunken hookups. Still, I didn’t like to see my best friend upset.

  “Cheer up,” I joked. “Now you won’t have anyone to compete with. All the eligible women are yours for the taking.”

  Brandon shrugged. “I guess. Still, it’s not the same without you, man.”

  “I know, but it’s only for a month. Then, it’s back to normal.”

  “Really?” Brandon raised his eyebrows. He didn’t seem to believe me. I didn’t even believe myself, but something made me continue the lie.

  “Of course,” I said. “Do you really think I want to stay home every night for the rest of my life? Come on, man.”

  Brandon nodded. “Fair enough.”

  “Trust me. This month is going to suck in so many ways.”

  “How’s it going with Dani?” Brandon asked. His eyes locked on my face, and I immediately felt self-conscious.

  I hadn’t told Brandon about the previous night. Having sex with Dani wasn’t part of my plan, but it happened. I knew Brandon would approve. He would say that it was the least she could do since I was paying her, but I felt weird telling him. Dani already regretted our night together. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about her behind her back. She didn’t deserve that. Besides, what happened between Dani and me felt private. Personal. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share it with anyone, especially not Brandon.

  “It’s going great,” I said. “We had dinner last night to iron out the details. We’re all
set.”

  “So, she’s totally on board?” Brandon asked.

  I nodded. “Completely. I think she really needs the money. Otherwise, why would she agree?”

  “Because she didn’t have a choice,” Brandon offered.

  I shrugged. “Still. I think this will help her too. She needs the money. Most people do. One month is a small price to pay for an easier life.”

  Brandon studied me. “What do you think of her?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. I was worried he suspected something. Had I given something away? Had I shown too much interest in her?

  “Is she cool? You don’t want to spend an entire month with someone who’s boring. Or someone who nags you, you know?”

  “She’s cool,” I said, keeping my tone casual. “I don’t really know her, and I don’t want to. This whole thing is a business arrangement. Nothing more.”

  “Really?” He cocked a brow. “That’s all?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “What else would it be?”

  “Well, you are married to her,” Brandon said with a bark of laughter. “You might at least try being friends with her.”

  “What’s the point?” I asked. “Once this month is over, the annulment will go through, and I’ll never see her again. We may be married right now, but she’s not my wife. She’s just a stranger.”

  The words felt wrong leaving my lips, but I said them anyway. I wanted Brandon to believe me, to believe that Dani meant nothing to me. Deep down, I hoped my words would somehow become true. Caring about this girl was never part of the deal. She was helping me out. That was it. The last thing I needed was for Brandon to start reading into things. He had a habit of complicating even the simplest of situations.

  Brandon shrugged. “Whatever you say, man. I just think a month is a long time.”

  “It’s short,” I argued. “It’ll be over in a blink.”