Free Bird (Anna Series Book 1)

by Lee Alan

  Anna marveled at the sights surrounding her as they strolled arm in arm underneath a rose‌–‌covered trellis, leading away from the landing platform and onto a gravel path, which continued through a roof garden. At its center stood a golden fountain with gilded cherubs cheekily urinating into the pool.

  “Feeling lucky?” He asked, while she enjoyed the fresh air and solid ground beneath her feet.

  Upon first realizing that their final destination was a casino, she’d been surprised and excited by the prospect of the guilty pleasure ahead. “But I don’t have any cash on me,” she replied. He shot back a look conveying exactly what he thought of such trivial considerations.

  A male attendant wearing a red blazer with a pyramid logo on the breast pocket greeted them. He stood beside a set of metallic elevator doors built into the main structure at the end of the path. “Mr. Young, it’s been far too long,” he said with a warm smile.

  “Luis, how’s it going?” Corey replied, taking the man’s hand and shaking it. “I’ve not had any willing victims to corrupt for a while, but I may have found one.”

  The man laughed and then turned to Anna. “May I enquire who sir’s enchanting companion is?” He asked.

  “Miss Price,” Corey answered.

  “Welcome, Miss Price. May I say how beautiful you look.” He gave a slight bow. The compliment went so beyond the norm that all Anna could do was smile.

  “Please follow me.” He pressed a discreet button. The silver doors opened to reveal a mirrored elevator car.

  During the short descent, Luis chatted with Corey like they were old buddies. They emerged into a plain lobby, with every surface and wall colored a dazzling, unadorned white. A single female staff member sat opposite in a small booth, flanked on either side by two men wearing traditional, black tuxedoes. Discreet ear pieces emerged from their crisp lapels, betraying the real purpose of their presence.

  “Good evening, Mr. Young. Would you care to purchase some chips on your account?” She asked.

  “Yes, please. Two hundred each should be plenty to get us started.”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  The woman entered a code into a keyboard on the white desk before her, and a cube‌–‌shaped object rose from its inner workings. She proceeded to press her thumb into the square surface. In response, a small hatch popped opened to reveal stacked multi‌–‌colored tokens inside.

  “Are chips worth ten okay, sir?” She enquired.

  “Perfect,” Corey replied, giving Anna another happy glance.

  Inwardly, she felt a little disappointed that all the showy build up led to a rather miserly four hundred dollars.

  Oh, well, she thought. It’s how these guys get rich. Watch the pennies and the dollars, take care of‌‌—‌‌

  “There you go, sir: four hundred thousand dollars. On behalf of the Grand, may I wish you both the best of luck,” the attendant said with a smile, pushing the chips over.

  Anna stifled a cough. Four hundred thousand! She stared in amazement at the twenty little plastic tokens representing more than her entire earnings for the past decade.

  ***

  It seemed to Anna that an entire floor had been dedicated to a small number of elite guests. She observed no more than a dozen other couples strolling among the many Poker tables, Blackjack boards, and other high‌–‌stake games of the extravagant gambling plaza. The décor gave off an aura of supreme wealth: crystal chandeliers twinkled above the opulent, gold trim of blood‌–‌red carpets and polished, hardwood surfaces. Sounds of laughter greeted their arrival, mixed with an occasional well‌–‌mannered curse. The sense of exclusivity was further emphasized by a discreet team of house staff who doled out free drinks to their pampered guests.

  “So, what’s your poison?” Corey asked, gesturing at the games surrounding them.

  Anna pondered the question while observing an ancient man wearing an oversized toupee, rub a pair of dice against the pouting lips of his young, lady companion. Following the bizarre ceremony, he rolled the newly‌–‌blessed objects onto the green Craps table.

  “How about Poker?” Corey suggested.

  “I haven’t got a clue of how to play,” she confessed.

  “Me neither.”

  Anna laughed, causing the elderly gent to shoot them a flat stare‌‌—‌‌ presumably for interrupting his pervy ritual.

  “Blackjack?” Corey ventured.

  She recalled playing once as a child with her parents. “Sure, I’m an expert at the ol’ Blacky Jacky.”

  “You just made that up.”

  “Yup.”

  They took their seat at a large table where a bow‌–‌tied dealer greeted them. Following Corey’s lead, she laid one of the red chips in the betting box. It seemed obscene to be laying down ten thousand dollars on a silly card game. If the money were hers, she would have scoffed at such insanity. This wasn’t her cash, though, and there was an alluring aspect to the idea of risking such huge sums on a whim. Beside her and Corey, two other players stood at the table, watching the dealer intently. The first was a grey‌–‌haired elderly woman in a flower‌–‌print dress, looking like she would be more at home in the local garden center. The second, a serious‌–‌looking Asian man in a pinstripe suit, sipped half‌–‌heartedly at a glass of whiskey while staring at the main deck, as if his life depended on it.

  The dealer began to whip out cards in a blur from the shuffling machine in rapid succession from left to right, before also leaving one in front of himself. Anna wished she’d paid more attention to the rules as a youngster, fearing looking a fool. She turned her card over to reveal a three of clubs. The dealer had turned over a ten of diamonds.

  I’m supposed to stick on a number higher than him, without going bust at twenty‌–‌one. She thought, dredging up vague memories.

  “Hit,” Corey stated. She replicated the command, and the others followed.

  After the third pass, she’d been left with a total of fifteen.

  “Hit,” she said. The grinning face of a jack landed in front of her, making her bust.

  ***

  By ten PM, lady luck had not been kind to Anna. After a series of losses, she’d won a few hands‌‌—‌‌enough to regain the twenty chips she’d started with. But even that small victory eroded as they hit the Roulette table. She appeared to possess the rather dubious gift of unfailingly selecting the opposite color of where the little white ball landed. Despite her cursed efforts, however, she enjoyed the thrill immensely‌‌—‌‌particularly after drinking liberal amounts of the excellent fruity wine on offer.

  Corey chatted with her between games. “Yowzer! Did you break a mirror today?” He observed, after an especially eye‌–‌watering loss.

  “Yeah‌‌—‌‌I looked into it.”

  “Now you’re just fishing for compliments, naughty woman.” He slurred his words, clearly also worse for wear.

  “I am shameless.”

  “Shameless and looking great, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Anna stuck her tongue out.

  They strolled arm in arm, talking about trivial matters and enjoying the atmosphere. There’d been one awkward moment when she’d had to skirt around the subject of her previous relationships. She refused to risk soiling a wonderful experience with the mere mention of Tony. So, after vaguely alluding to a split months ago, she’d turned the subject onto his past loves. Surprisingly, Corey had never been serious with anyone‌‌—‌‌his work proved to be an all‌–‌consuming mistress, it seemed.

  Maybe until today, she reflected with a smile.

  By midnight, she’d whittled her multi‌–‌colored booty down to one last, lonely token while Corey had increased his winnings.

  “Oh, well, maybe next time,” he sympathized. “You win some, you lose some.”

  “Easy for you to say, cheeky swine,” Anna exclaimed, the irony of the situation not lost on her.

  “I just don’t know what to do with all this cash,”
he agreed with a mocking sigh. “But, I suppose it’s always handy to have a few grand lying around, in case the Estate gets chilly during winter and we run out of fuel for the wood burner.” Anna punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Ouch! That hurt!”

  “Big girl,” Anna said. Her state of being tipsy had long since given way to outright drunkenness, not that she cared in the slightest.

  They unsteadily strolled toward a huge slot machine in the shape of a pyramid surmounted by a squatting sphinx. “The Grand ‌–‌ Million Dollar Drop!” The words flashed across the body of the mythical beast. She noticed the machine accepted the chips issued by the house, rather than the usual cash.

  “What do you think?” She asked Corey, holding up her last, red token. “I can’t possibly do any worse.”

  “Do you feel lucky, punk?” He replied, attempting a terrible impression of Clint Eastwood.

  She drained her glass in one long swig. “As my late father used to say, when the chips are down, Anna, don’t take no shit.” With that, she plopped the token into the machine and pulled the old‌–‌fashioned brass lever beside it. A small trumpet sounded, and three large reels began to rotate. She watched with a pleasantly floating sensation, as symbols continued to whirl for what seemed an age.

  Hurry and lose, you stupid thing. I need to go pee, she thought

  The first reel stopped on a pyramid. “Cool.” She murmured, crossing her legs slightly to ease her uncomfortable bladder.

  The second reel halted on another pyramid. “Interesting,” she observed, feeling less distracted by her urgent issue.

  The third reel landed on a pyramid, as well. Hmm. What does three pyramids mean? I’m going to have to tell Corey I need the bathroom…‌

  A deafening alarm sounded from the mouth of the sphinx, followed by multi‌–‌colored lights racing in rapid succession around the edges of the machine. For one horrible moment, she expected that the two imposing guards they’d encountered in the token room earlier would come bounding around the corner before wrestling her to the floor, at which point she would most definitely wet herself.

  “Congratulations, oh, mighty pharaoh! You’ve won one million dollars!”

  “Holy shit on a stick!” She cried in a most unladylike fashion.

  ***

  She remembered champagne, polite clapping, and laughter‌‌—‌‌so much laughter that it seemed the earth had turned on its axis and transformed into a world in which bad things never happened. Now, they stood outside her room, gazing at each other. She knew the time for uncertainty had passed, leaving a simple choice: should she bet on love one last time?

  Corey’s eyes looked dark and unreadable, echoing the same hunger in her.

  She reached across and pulled his lips onto hers, while strong arms enclosed her waist. Her body shivered in anticipation, as a feeling akin to liquid fire ran down her spine. His tongue entered her mouth tentatively, becoming more urgent as the need between them grew.

  Reluctantly breaking off the physical interaction for a moment, Anna turned and pressed the electronic key against the interface next to her door. It clicked and, without speaking another word, she took him by the hand and led them into the unknown.

  She caught a brief glimpse of luxurious surroundings, but the awareness was vague, for they clung to each other, grasping and touching. Faces pressed together with an intensity that caught her breath and left her panting for more. Her hand slipped downward around his firm buttock‌‌—‌‌a gesture that seemed to give him the courage to do the same. She revelled in the feeling of moving his taught flesh beneath her fingers. After several moments of the delightful exploration, Corey stepped back and gazed at her in the half‌–‌light with the look of a hungry animal. He began to unbutton his shirt. She instinctively unzipped her dress, allowing it to fall, leaving only underwear between her vulnerability and the sultry air.

  Corey revealed a muscular torso. It called to be touched, so she did just that, running her palm across his strong ribs and over a small birthmark next to his navel. Without thinking, she kneeled and kissed him there. Tantalizingly, she left the urge to keep moving her lips southward. But, before the temptation became too great, a gentle hand stroked her cheek, until he joined her on the floor for more kissing.

  This time, his mouth continued to move down her neck, and then further. Guessing where the exploration wished to go, she slipped one hand behind her back and released her bra. Corey must have noticed this, because he moaned in anticipation. His soft touch moved across her chest, removing the last remnants of clothing from her upper body and making her nipples swell. She blushed at such sensations of exposure. Her awkwardness faded quickly, though, for his sensual lips had settled around her right breast. He sucked, causing a wonderful tingling to grow.

  Not able to stand it any longer, Anna returned him to her waiting mouth, and then reached down and unbuckled his belt.

  “Wait,” he said suddenly. Surprised, she gazed at him, fearing a cruel change of heart. “Move to the bed.”

  Her disappointment turned to soaring pleasure at the words.

  They rose together, hand in hand, stepping over a dyed sheep skin rug, before reaching a dimly‌–‌lit, canopied bed. She fell back onto the soft sheets, willing Corey to follow, but, oddly, he remained standing. Anna rested on her elbows, staring at him, with longing coursing through her veins.

  “Are you ready?” He asked.

  Puzzled, she gave him a quizzical look. What do you think? Jesus, fella…‌ she thought impatiently.

  Without waiting for an answer, Corey reached into his pockets and removed two bulky objects.

  What the…‌ ? He’s into some serious contraception.

  Corey raised his arms above his head and threw the two objects toward her. Instinctively, she closed her eyes against the mysterious items cast into the air. But without any noticeable impact, she cautiously opened an eyelid only to widen it in amazement. Surrounding her, a thousand twenty dollar bills fluttered onto the bed.

  “Welcome to the millionaire’s club, Anna,” he said, laughing. “Sorry‌‌—‌‌I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  “Asshole!” She said, unable to prevent a smile. “Now, come here!”

  Corey didn’t need the command a second time. He moved to the end of the bed and then toward her on hands and knees, his motion sensual, like a panther heading for prey. Unable to prevent her carnal intentions from taking over, her legs parted, allowing him to come within her most intimate space. Pausing between her thighs, he continued to caress her legs before drawing closer to his ultimate goal. Her breathing became labored, while a wonderful tension built between them, like the calm before the fury of a thunderstorm.

  A single finger hooked the top of her panties and slid them down her legs with infinite ease. There was a pause, and, before she had time to think, he’d placed his face against her groin. It was glorious. He began to explore with his tongue, and something primal developed inside her‌‌—‌‌something uncontrollable and growing. The gentle probing became more vigorous, proceeding in its quest, while hitting her spot with an unfailing precision.

  “Oh, I…‌ I…‌” She started to mouth a final protest to halt the inevitable, before touching the side of his head with the vague intention of trying to remove him. Instead, she clutched his hair. The exquisite tension built unbearably, until, in a climatic explosion, she unleashed her ecstasy.

  It took some time for her senses to re‌–‌enter the world once more, only to be gripped again, this time by the sight of Corey removing his boxer shorts to display his manhood. The need in her that’d been temporarily sated returned with even greater demand. She grasped his member and pulled it toward her without hesitation. He entered her and she felt so beautifully full that her orgasm built with a speed neither of them seemed able to inhibit. He rose and then fell, all the time deep within her, pushing on and on. Ecstasy then burst like a dam within, leaving her enslaved to lust.

  So great were the passi
ons they’d awoken that the two lovers clung together, repeating the act many times into the early hours. Anna’s consciousness passed from dream to dream, all the time with the closeness of another nearby, offering a taste of paradise she’d not thought possible‌‌—‌‌until now.

  Chapter 15

  Julia had been more than a little intrigued by the mysterious text message she’d received the previous evening, indicating that Anna might not return home that night.

  “The congressman might finally pass his bill through the house!” She’d replied, assuming he’d finally managed to win her over.

  “Not with Jim‌‌—‌‌long story. Will talk soon.”

  She wasn’t sure what to make of the enigmatic answer, but it was unquestionably a shocker. “Damn, girl‌‌—‌‌you’ve got another fella on the go?” She wondered out loud. But who?

  She feared that this might mean some kind of reconciliation with Tony. Was it possible that they’d found a way to patch things up‌‌—‌‌even after the appalling way he’d treated her?

  Maybe she’s too embarrassed to admit it? Julia shuddered at the implications.

  A large part of her doubted it, though‌‌—‌‌the part that placed trust in the young, confident woman her sister was becoming. Anna had been traumatized by her experience, expressing nothing but regret about a past spent with a bullying scumbag. Surely it hadn’t all been a show?

  “She wouldn’t do that to me,” Julia muttered, taking a sip of warm coffee.

  So, what possibilities does it leave? If not Jim or Tony, who? Big Bird pondered. What about the rich professor guy she came home in a tiz about? Cozy late night study sessions, no doubt.

  Could just be studying…‌

  “It’s not the fucking dark ages, Julia,” she agreed aloud, challenging her old‌–‌fashioned thinking.

  But when it came to Anna, her inner curiosity refused to be silenced. She’d spent too long worrying for that. Inevitably, these thoughts led to her contemplating how she could extract the truth on her return.