The Gamble

by Alice Ward

  “I could do that several times a day. Every day.” He swatted my ass and got up, pressing himself against me. “See how much you turn me on? It’s always been you, Alisa.”

  I nodded, closing my eyes and simply enjoying the intensity of his erection pressed between the curves of my ass. I’d been a bit wild in college, but never anything too erotic. I wanted to let him explore every untapped inch of me.

  “You like that.” He rocked against me, and I cried out again, loving it.

  “No,” I whispered and smiled.

  “Liar.” He popped my ass again. “Come to the bedroom with me. I want to spend the night learning how your sexy little body works. You’ve been a tease our whole lives. Time to put out.”

  I laughed and moved away from him as I tugged my skirt down. “You’ve been the tease. I’ve always been ready to open myself up for you.”

  “This is true. We should exploit this idea of opening you up.” He walked toward me as I took careful steps backward to move us to the bedroom. The way he watched me was tantalizing. My body pulsed with the need to let him have me for anything he wanted, but it was too much to offer.

  “Maybe I’m not interested in giving myself to you anymore. Maybe you eating me out was enough for the night.” My legs hit the bed, and I let out another yelp.

  “No. That’s just the beginning.” He smiled wickedly and reached for me, pulling me firmly against him as he leaned down to nip at my mouth. “I wanna hear you scream my name about fifty times. Then we can get some rest. Can you do that for me?”

  “No, you cocky bastard, but you can do it for me.” I pulled him down for a long kiss as he worked the zipper to my skirt down. The taste of my pleasure on his lips was far more sensual than I expected, and I found myself yearning to give him a bit of attention in the same manner.

  “Turn around. I wanna grip your ass while I fuck you.” He tugged my shirt over my head and leaned down to kiss the tops of my breasts as he worked himself out of his slacks.

  “Use a condom.” I turned and slid my hands on the bed in front of me. He would take my panties off if he wanted them off. My bra would stay in place until we moved to another position and the greedy bastard wanted access to my breasts.

  “I got one, baby.” He massaged my ass for a few minutes and moved back.

  I closed my eyes and undulated my hips, lifting my ass into the air and panting softly at the idea of him taking me roughly. I wanted all his aggression to be laid out across my skin, his marks to be left along my body. I didn’t dare tell him, but the images in my head drove me toward the edge of depravity. Something about him made me want to leave everything behind and dive in deep... so deep that I might not be able to come up for air.

  The firm press of his cock against my swollen flesh was too much. I cried out and every muscle in my body locked.

  “Baby...” He brushed his hands up my back just before leaning over and wrapping his strong arms around me. “You alright?”

  “Just overwhelmed.” I took a shallow breath and pushed back. “I want you so bad it hurts.”

  “I understand. Let me take care of you.” He moved and pressed one hand against my lower back, pushing it up my spine and gripping the back of my neck tightly as his other hand wrapped around my hip. “Tell me if it’s too much.”

  I started to respond, but didn’t get the chance as he thrust inside me with force, filling me up completely. The mixture of my cries with his delicious groans left me weak and far needier than I could ever remember feeling.

  “So tight and wet, Alisa. So fucking beautiful. You have no clue how hot you are.” He pulled out and slammed into me again. “You want me to make love to you or fuck you tonight?”

  “Fuck me. Please.” I dropped my head to my hands and moved away from him to get on my hands and knees on the bed.

  He regained his grip on me, and took my request to heart.

  The deep, hard thrusts almost lifted my knees off the bed, and I reveled in his power, his size as he fucked me far passed my third orgasm. His grunts slid across my wet skin and his fingers teased every part of me that his cock wasn’t pounding into.

  It would have been better to make love than to have him work me like I needed to be worked so damn bad. It was addictive, and I couldn’t imagine not having him fuck me every night like the wild animal he was.

  “I’m gonna come. Join me once more.” His thumb pressed against my ass, sliding inside of me as he forced me backward to take all of his cock.

  I screamed as fire ignited in my stomach. “Fuck.”

  “Yeah. Fuck me, Alisa.” He jerked back and used his hold on me to work me past anything I’d ever experienced. I tried hard to stay cognizant as lust dragged me down into a deliciously tight hold. It took him a little while longer, but when he came, I closed my eyes and memorized the sound of his ecstasy for later when he was gone again.

  He collapsed over the top of me and wrapped me in a tight hug, his body still tucked into mine.

  “I could never get enough of you.” He kissed the side of my face. “You’re everything I want. Everything I need. Please don’t doubt that. Ever.”

  I nodded and waited until he moved off me to turn. He cleaned himself up and got back in the bed, reaching for me and pulling me against his side as he lay on his back.

  “Come here. Let me hold you while we sleep.” He wrapped his arms around me, and pressed his lips to my forehead.

  I wished that I had the strength to deny him. He needed to go so that I could cry myself to sleep and get over my desire to beg him to stay with me forever. All my resolutions from the day before came crashing in, but I left them alone as a soft sob left me.

  “Baby.” He turned to face me and pulled me in tightly, wrapping his big strong body around mine. “You okay?”

  “Just a long shitty day.” I cried against his shoulder. He could believe that my tears were about the cases or whatever he wanted. They weren’t. They were for the inevitable future.

  For when I lost him again.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Zek

  She let me make love to her throughout the night, and by the morning, I had no clue how I was going to live without her. It was one of the best nights of my long life. The feeling of having her move against me, and not only keep up, but take me to new levels of pleasure was addictive.

  All those years of keeping away from her came crashing back in. I was strong in those moments only because I had no other choice. With her tucked against me, sleeping soundly, I was forced to accept the fact that she was mine. It was overwhelming and far too much of a burden for where I was emotionally.

  I needed to give her the world, to support her financially, emotionally, physically. The way she took my cock so good the night before left me without a doubt that she needed carnality in her life as much as I needed it in mine. How unfair to think that she would be willing to forgo having someone fuck her for two years, or ten. Who knew what I was up against?

  And yet the idea of anyone touching her but me left me murderous and filled with a dark rage I’d never felt before.

  I shifted a little and kissed her lips, wanting to see her pretty blue eyes open and have her know that I was there with her. She was beyond precious with her need to be my girl, but there was a strength and aggression to her that forced me away from the softness she offered and drove me toward a deep founded respect for her. She was every man’s wildest dream, and yet here she was... in my arms.

  “Morning,” she whispered softly as her eyes blinked open.

  I moved in for a long kiss, not caring about anything but her being in my arms. “Morning, baby. You sleep okay?”

  “Better than I have in years, actually.” She kissed me again and snuggled up beside me. The soft press of her breasts against my side as her legs wrapped around me caused my cock to harden, though I had no clue how. We’d fucked all throughout the night, taking our time to enjoy each other in each and every way possible.

  “I’m not sure sleep wa
s the right word, though.” I chuckled, experiencing a lightness in my spirit that I coveted. “It was more like a nap than a night of sleep.”

  “I’d take it every night over eight hours of sleep.” She brushed her hand over my chest and pressed her lips to my neck. “You were so fucking hot last night. Like my darkest fantasies come to life.”

  “Worth the wait?” I turned to face her and pulled her back against me so I could run my hand over the curve of her hip and squeeze her ass before we had to get up.

  “God, yes. Though I don’t think we should wait more than a week again.” She smiled, but I couldn’t muster up a positive expression to return. The thought of never feeling her beneath me, or tasting her sweet body left my heart shriveling in my chest.

  “Speaking of...” I brushed her hair back from her face and leaned down to kiss her a few times. “You know we’re possibly looking at me serving some jail time. I don’t want you waiting on me.”

  “That’s not your call.” She kissed me once more and rolled over, moving to sit at the edge of the bed. My view of her was stunning, and I once again questioned what the hell a bombshell like her was doing with a guy like me. “Besides... we have the option of a plea bargain if we need it.”

  “Like offering them something to get me less time?” I moved to get a better view of her as she got out of the bed and walked toward her closet. My eyes moved along her, and I growled low in my chest. “You’re beautiful. Did you know that?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “I feel beautiful when I’m with you.”

  “Shit... It has nothing to do with me.” I moved up to a sitting position, not wanting to miss one moment that I might have to watch her get dressed. If we ended up together, I’d have to make watching her get ready part of my morning routine. She was too stunning not to lay around and drool over her. She’d never let it happen, but I could dream.

  “So the plea bargain...” She walked out with a pretty blue dress and heels in her hand as she stopped by the bed. “We just need to gather evidence that Dane was the center of everything. You have to be ready to offer him up on a platter should the SEC be willing to negotiate at all. You up for that?”

  “I’m up for anything where you’re concerned.” I pulled back the covers and glanced down as my cock stood to attention.

  She reached over and stroked me once as she leaned in to kiss my lips. “Behave. We have to get through this next week, and then I’m hoping I can make your life one long orgasm.”

  “Fuck.” I dropped back on the bed and stretched out, giving her a full view of me. When I peeked up at her, her eyes were filled with lust. I laughed and rolled over, enjoying the fact that I could tease her so badly far more than I should. “Call in sick and come back to bed with me.”

  “No. Get up and make us breakfast. I’m starving from working you all night.” She turned and walked to her dresser. “I need to get into the office this morning. We’re having a quick meeting at ten over your new case. I guess there’s some additional information that Lizzy and one of the other attorney’s has pulled up that I can use.”

  “You want breakfast?” I got out of the bed and walked toward her shamelessly. After wrapping her in a hug, I pressed my mouth to her neck and bit down carefully, tugging a little. “What if I wanna eat you again?”

  “Stop it. Seriously. You know you’re my weakness.” She bumped her butt against my erection and pulled from me. I reluctantly let her go, but not without caressing her rear and popping it softly.

  “Yeah, cause that’s going to make me wanna stop.” I moved toward the bed and picked up my jeans. I pulled them on and walked into the kitchen to figure out what I could make us for breakfast.

  She might have to go to work for the day, but I was headed back up to the lake. I needed a little more time in my hideaway before the hearing that was coming up far too quickly.

  ***

  I spent the day out at the lake, trying to recapture a bit of the serenity that had always belonged to me. The sun sat perfectly in the late afternoon sky as I took my boat out and fished until I was sick of the silence.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket as I pulled the boat back on the shore and started to walk back to the cabin, and I was a little surprised to see that it was my mother. She spoke with Mark all the time, and while I loved her, we weren’t particularly close.

  “Mom?” I dropped down on the wooden stairs that led up to my place and leaned back.

  “Hi, Zek. I just wanted to check in. Your brother was quite worried about you this morning when he and I spoke, so I thought I might need to call you. Are you doing okay?”

  I should have been bitter that she hadn’t called during the rape scandal, but she owed me nothing. She’d done a great job raising us by herself, and me taking care of her financially was my thank you back down the line.

  “I’m hanging in there. Just taking things day by day.” I let out a quick puff of air and glanced up at the sky. The fleeting feeling of freedom was heavy on my heart, but just being in nature helped to ease it a little. I would just do like I’d always done and pretend as if I were invincible. “I’m worried about Mark too, but then again, I always have been.”

  “True. You’re more like the older brother than he is.” She laughed softly, and I closed my eyes. “I’m here if you need me, but I know you like your independence.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Have you heard from Celia? I haven’t really spoken with her since everything went south, but she was pretty torn up during the trial.” Celia, my secretary had been my mother’s best friend for as long as I could remember.

  “She’s called more times than I care to count. She’s really upset about everything. I guess her ex-boyfriend, Jon, dragged her into the middle of all of that stuff. She’s just sick over it.”

  “I wonder why she hasn’t called me. My feelings are a little bit hurt by her not reaching out.” I got up and walked into the house to find a beer.

  “Your feeling? The one that you have?” My mom laughed and I joined her, enjoying our silly joke from me being a tough kid with little care for anyone or anything.

  “Yeah, that one. It’s bruised.”

  “She’s worried about how you’ll react if she calls you. I told her just to give it time. You guys can reconnect when you get everything settled.”

  “Alright. Well, I love you. I’m going to take a nap and then head up the side of a big scary mountain.” I smiled as she gave me a sound of disapproval. I used to live for that exact response.

  “Just don’t roll down it or jump off it. Too many of us love you to lose you.”

  “Never. I’ll come visit soon, Mom.” I dropped the call and headed for the bedroom. I needed a long nap after my night with Alisa. I could only hope that she was there, waiting for me in my dreams. I had a better chance of finding her there than I did in my reality. With the impending doom ahead of me, it was time to start unwinding my heart from hers. I’d given us both a night, and it was one I’d not soon forget.

  I only prayed that she did.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Alisa

  One week later…

  The last week had been spent in the office, working like crazy to try and pull all the various pieces together for Zek’s trial. It was a closed case hearing, and I was quite disappointed to find out that he wouldn’t have a jury, but simply a judge to determine the verdict. It was good and bad. With a larger pool of people, there were usually a few sympathizers to be found.

  Zek had started to emotionally pull back after our hot night a week before in my apartment, but I understood it. He was concerned with me putting my life on hold. Funny enough, I’d been doing that since I was a girl for him. It would be nothing new, and yet the more mature parts inside of me understood it well, and almost appreciated it. Almost.

  Lizzy invited us both to breakfast the morning of the trial, and though I was too nervous to eat, I wasn’t missing a chance to be with Zek. I drove to her house in silence as my stomach rolled with sic
kness and my chest ached with what-if’s.

  I was almost desperate to cling to Zek, but I’d been good about not being overly needy with him since our long night together. He was going to make his decision to cut me off if things went badly, and I knew I was taking on something that couldn’t be won. It would hurt my career, and sever my ties with him for a while, but it was a hit I was willing to take.

  Ben was out of the hospital and doing much better, which was the only ray of sunlight I had in my life at the moment. We were going to work on just being good friends. I’d explained where I was with Zek to him, and he seemed to support it, or pretended quite well.

  I pulled up to Lizzy and Mark’s modest house and found that Zek was already there. After checking my teeth in the mirror, I got out of the car and walked slowly up to the front door. It felt like life was staring down the barrel of a gun at me. Like today was the end of something truly great.

  There was no time for me to express just how much I loved Zek, but I would try to remind him in small bits and pieces throughout the day if he let me.

  Lizzy opened the door as I knocked and gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was worried too. We all were.

  “Come on in. Mark took off this morning to have breakfast with us too, so if you smell something burnt, it’s the pancakes. The man burns dry cereal.” She laughed, and I gave her a smile as I followed her into the kitchen. I hadn’t seen Zek in a couple of days because of having to pull such late nights at the office, but he didn’t look good.

  I moved toward him and bent down, not caring if the whole city was watching us. I wanted him to know that he wasn’t alone — not ever.

  “Hey. I’ve missed you.” I kissed him softly at first and then harder as he breathed me in and reached up to touch my face with one hand.

  “Me too. I know you’ve been busy with all of this stuff. I was trying to stay out of the way.” He smiled and kissed me once more before releasing me.

  “That I have.” I moved back and dropped my purse in an empty chair. “Lizzy, you need help with cooking?”