by Ivy Nelson
She jogged up the stairs and into her room where she sat on the edge of her bed. How the fuck had she let him get under her skin like that? Going all in had been an idiotic move. Analyzing her gameplay, she realized she deserved to lose, but that didn’t make it sting any less. Even the knowledge that she would leave here in a month with two million in her bank account didn’t soothe the sting of such a brutal loss at the table. And in front of so many of his friends too. Maybe it was a good thing she didn’t have an audience of her own. It had been an embarrassing loss.
Twenty minutes later, her door opened, and Memphis leaned against her door frame.
“I’m sorry if that loss was hard for you.”
“Any loss is hard, but that one was especially brutal,” she admitted. “I don’t know what happened.”
He gave a shrug. “You can’t control the cards. It was a good game. You sure you want to stay?”
She nodded. “I’m sure. I just need to call my family and let them know I’m staying in Vegas for a few weeks.”
“I’ll give you some space then. I have some business to take care of and there will be some people here later tonight to help me get settled here. I’ll need you to stay up here while they work, but we’ll talk soon.”
“What about the guys?” she asked.
“I’m setting them up with a different poker instructor and I’ve moved them back to the strip. It’s just us, Ace.”
She swallowed as he turned and walked out. She’d been expecting him to order her to strip or something. Now she was going to be on pins and needles until they talked.
♥♦♣♠
Memphis climbed the stairs, intent on taking Rylee to bed after a long day. His house arrest started tomorrow. So far, he’d managed to keep that little part of this from Rylee, but he wasn’t sure how long that would last.
He paused outside her door as he heard her voice raised.
“Mom. I can’t help that my tournament got rescheduled. I’m staying here until it’s over. That’s the most financially responsible thing I can do. If I’m here, I can play in smaller tournaments and keep my game sharp. Maybe I’ll earn enough to get you out of your mess before the tournament.”
He frowned. Was her family in some kind of financial trouble?
She sighed. “I know the mess you’re in isn’t entirely your fault, but we’re not having this argument again. I’m staying and that’s final. I’ll call you when I can.”
He pushed the door open and she jumped, whirling to face him.
“Hang up the phone,” he said, knowing that’s what she was doing anyway.
She sucked in a breath but dropped the phone on the bed.
“Do you need money?” he asked as he crossed the room and put his hands on her hips.
She shook her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “I’m not satisfied with that answer, but I’ll let it go for now. But only because I’m ready to bury my cock in you and talk about the rules.”
“Rules?”
He nodded. “Did you think we were going to do this without some kind of rules negotiation?”
She gave him a sheepish look. “I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect.”
He pulled her closer until his hand rested on the small of her back and she was pressed against him. “Right now, you can expect me to fuck you until we’re both exhausted, and then we’ll have dinner and negotiate.”
She swallowed but nodded.
“Strip, Ace,” he said as he stepped away from her. “I’ll sit on the bed and watch.”
She grinned and backed away from him while he settled onto the plush mattress.
He hummed as she dragged her shirt up and over her head. It swished to the floor as she reached for the button on her jeans.
He stopped her. “Bra first. I have a thing for topless women in jeans,” he admitted.
She lifted one eyebrow and gave a shrug but brought her hands to the clasp on her bra and slid the straps down her shoulders. Her nipples puckered as the pink lacy bra plopped to the floor.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured as he crooked a finger at her. “Come here.”
She walked to him in her bare feet and jeans, stopping directly in front of him. He lifted his hands to the button at her waist and worked it loose.
“For the next four weeks,” he began as he tugged the pants past her hips. “You don’t wear anything unless I tell you to get dressed.” She frowned as he worked her jeans down her legs.
“Step out,” he encouraged as his hands fluttered back up her thighs to the waistband of her panties.
“If you’re uncomfortable being naked all the time, I’ll provide you with a robe to wear, but it comes off when I walk into a room you’re in.”
She nodded. “That’s acceptable.”
His hand drifted from her waist to the curve of her ass where he cupped and squeezed.
“The correct response is Yes, Sir.” He landed a sharp smack as he spoke, causing her to yelp.
“Yes, Sir,” she said as she reached back to rub her stinging cheek. He gripped her wrist and placed it back at her side.
“I spank you because I want it to sting, Ace. If I want you to rub, I’ll tell you.”
She nodded and his fingers returned to the waist of her panties. He peeled them down her thighs and watched as they pooled at her ankles. She stepped out without his instruction and he nodded his approval.
“Much better,” he murmured. Now let’s go to bed. I want to explore my new acquisition.”
He guided her onto the bed before he kicked off his socks and shoes and stood to unbutton his shirt. She lay naked watching him, as he shed his slacks and boxers. He’d dug a condom out of his pants pocket and laid it on the bed next to her.
Rylee sat up and crawled to the edge of the bed where she reached for his cock. He caught her wrist and shook his head.
“I said I was going to explore you. Not the other way around.”
She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout, but she laid down again. He crawled onto the bed next to her and let his hand drift from her hip up to the underside of her breast.
“Your skin is like silk,” he murmured as he cupped her in his palm and let his thumb graze a nipple.
Her response was a shuddering deep breath as she jerked against his prodding thumb. He leaned over her and sucked her other nipple into his mouth.
She gasped and let out a low moan.
His fingers danced down her abdomen and came to rest above her pelvis before he moved his hand to hover between her thighs. He felt her tense as his fingers fluttered millimeters from her sensitive skin.
“Relax,” he breathed when he pulled away from her nipple.
When he saw her shoulders sink deeper into the mattress, he pressed his palm to her bare pussy. She was dewy with arousal and his finger slid easily through her folds and up to her clit.
Her thighs spread wider, as if inviting him in, and he would happily oblige.
He grabbed the condom and rolled it on before kneeling between her thighs.
With one fluid motion, he thrust himself into her and settled before burying his face in the crook of her neck to inhale her scent.
“God, I’ve wanted you for so long,” he murmured as he pulled out and pushed into her again.
The pleasured sounds coming from her throat fueled him on and he pressed into the bed on his forearms for leverage and began to move rhythmically in and out of her.
“You feel so good,” she said on a whimper as he increased the force he used to slam into her. Pulling one hand between them, he circled her clit and rubbed in gentle circles until he knew by her reaction that he was in the right spot.
“Let’s come together, Ace,” he murmured into her ear.
A final thrust and he went rigid as the orgasm shot through him. It seemed to flow into her and soon they were both free falling in a rush of heady bliss.
When they came down from their pleasure high, they both had a h
ard time catching their breath.
“God damn,” Rylee muttered a few minutes later. “You might not have had to bet me two million if I’d known you could fuck like that.”
Memphis laughed and it shook the bed. “At least I know the next four weeks won’t be dull.”
7
♣♣♣
Rylee made her way downstairs a half hour later in a short silk robe that had magically appeared on her bed when she got out of the shower.
Memphis was leaned against the island counter in the kitchen in a pair of black lounge pants and a dark purple t-shirt.
“Hi.” She felt her face grow hot under his intense gaze as he watched her walk into the room.
“Hi,” he said, his eyes never leaving her. “Any preferences for dinner?”
She shook her head. “I’m not a picky eater.”
“Lose the robe,” he said as he pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear.
“Go get us dinner from Mizumi’s. A California roll, a spicy tuna roll, the sashimi plate, crispy Brussels sprouts, and the Hawaiian snapper and Wagyu short rib. Enough for two please.”
It didn’t appear he waited for a response before he ended the call and put the phone on the counter. She let the robe fall down her shoulders, catching it in her hands. She draped it over the back of a barstool and stood awkwardly.
“It will probably be an hour before it gets here,” he said apologetically. “We’ll share a bottle of wine and talk while we wait.”
He leaned down and opened a small wine fridge below the kitchen island. Five minutes later, he led them into the massive living room. It looked so different than it had last night at Hunter’s party. The number of staff it must have taken to turn it around so quickly was mind boggling.
He handed her a glass of chilled white wine and nodded to the floor in front of the couch. “You can sit on the floor there, Ace.”
She rolled her eyes at his stereotyped nickname but did as he said, lowering herself to the floor and folding her legs behind her.
He settled on the couch and sipped his wine.
“How did you become a poker player?” he asked.
She shrugged and took a drink. “My dad liked to play. Weekend trips to Vegas were pretty normal for him but he only played in casinos. Never joined the tournament world. He taught me when I was about nine. Turned out I was surprisingly good at understanding advanced strategy, so when I turned twenty-one, he talked me into playing in a tournament. I won ten grand. It was a pretty intoxicating feeling and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I started studying all the greats and I used that ten grand to enter bigger tournaments. Eventually I got noticed and invited to play in an invitational tournament and the rest is history.”
He nodded. “I’ve always liked the game. My friends and I would play at Yale, but I was already headed for the family business so there was no way I could ever pursue a professional career.”
She narrowed her eyes. “So, Hunter was right, you didn’t really need lessons.”
He chuckled. “Nope. Those were for my friend and business partner, Collin.”
She nodded.
“You don’t feel duped or anything do you?”
She shook her head. “I had a feeling you knew how to play fairly well, or you wouldn’t have made me the bet that you did.”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “It wasn’t a sure thing that I could beat you, just so you know.”
“Poker is never a sure thing. I knew the risks. But really, for me there were no risks other than to my ego.”
“So, let’s talk ground rules,” he said abruptly changing the subject.
“Probably something we should have talked about before we started making bets. But OK.”
He scowled at her. “Don’t be a smart ass or we’ll start this negotiation off with a punishment. We’re doing something unconventional here and we’re both learning as we go.”
She nodded and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Ground rules,” he said again as he leaned over and put his glass on the side table. “We talked a little bit about your hard limits, but what about soft limits?”
“This nudity thing is definitely on the list,” she muttered. “It’s off-putting.”
He reached down and tweaked a nipple. “That’s kind of the point, Ace.”
She just frowned.
“Any other soft limits?”
“This part is hard for me,” she said with a shrug. “I’m not new to the lifestyle but I’m also not super involved. I’ve been to a handful of parties and I get kinky with the sex partners who let me, but it’s nothing too complicated.”
“So, you might say you’re learning as you go?” he asked with a wink.
She blushed and dropped her head. “Yeah. I guess so. What about you? What are your limits?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “What a delightful question. I don’t think I’ve ever had a sub ask me for mine before. There aren’t many. I don’t share my subs. Blatant lies are a deal breaker, and I think the rest of our limits align. I’m not a sadist. I don’t want to see you suffer. I do like to cause a bit of pain with the end result being pleasure, and I do enjoy challenging my subs. And I don’t have an issue punishing subs who disobey.”
“What kind of challenges?”
He grinned. “I guess you’ll have to just wait and see.”
“What does dominance and kink do for you?” she asked as she drank more of the wine. It seemed to make her bold.
“Aside from really great sex? That’s really the key thing. Finding unique ways to exert power for the purposes of intense pleasure for both of us. The trust involved automatically means our connection is going to be stronger and the sex is going to be hotter.”
“I guess I can see that. So why have rules and punishments at all? Why not just fuck my brains out multiple times a day?”
He grinned. “The trust, Ace. We both hold so much power when we play these games, and that power is definitely a turn on.”
The conversation lulled and they drank their wine in silence.
“How long have you lived in Vegas?” she asked, unable to bear the quiet any longer.
“Technically, about forty-eight hours.” Her eyebrows knitted together at his response and he chuckled.
“I’m usually based out of Phoenix, but some business has me in the state of Nevada for at least the next month.”
“My family lives in Avondale,” she said.
His eyes widened a bit at that. “So, you’re saying you’ve been in my backyard this whole time?”
She shrugged. “I went to school in California so not exactly.”
The doorbell rang and she scrambled to her feet, intent on getting her robe. His hand connected with her ass sharply. “I didn’t tell you to get up. I’ll get the door. You stay here and wait for me.”
She dropped back to her knees. The area they were in wasn’t directly visible from the front door, so she was safe from prying eyes. When he returned a moment later, he was carrying her robe.
“Come on. We’ll eat in the kitchen,” he said, tossing her the thin silk.
“Thanks,” she murmured as she stood and slipped it on.
She was still tying the belt when they entered the kitchen. Two people were pulling food out of bags and placing it on the table.
“Sit,” he commanded, pulling out a chair.
When the staff finished setting out the food, he pulled out his wallet and tipped them. “Give the chef my regards,” he said as they left.
When they were alone, he pulled something out of his pocket. “We’re going to indulge in something I enjoy,” he said as he stepped behind her.
The room went dark, and for a brief minute she panicked, but his voice soothed her.
“If you’ve never ate a meal in the dark, this is going to be a delightful experience for you.”
She inhaled deeply and waited for whatever was about to happen.
“Do you recall everything I ordered?” he a
sked. The sound of wood scraping against the floor seemed deafening in her darkened world. She felt him close to her as he settled into the chair he’d just moved.
“I think so, Sir,” she breathed.
“Hmmm. The blindfold certainly brings out your inner submissive. Perhaps I’ll use it more often.”
It wasn’t a thought she relished, she enjoyed being able to see him, but she had to admit she was very turned on.
“I’m going to feed you a little of everything and you’ll guess what you’re eating. For every item you get right, you earn a reward after dinner. Get something wrong and that’s a point for the punishment column.”
It sounded like a fun game to her.
“Open up,” he coaxed. Something cold touched her lips and she parted them.
The texture was a dead giveaway. She recognized the rice and avocado of the sushi. The crab was some of the best she’d tasted, despite it being such a small bite.
“California roll?” she asked when she’d swallowed.
“Very good,” he praised. There was a pause, followed by the sound of Memphis chewing.
Cool glass pressed against her lips and she opened them. Water slowly filled her mouth and she drank.
Her breathing felt ragged as another mysterious food item touched her lips. It was raw fish of some kind, but she couldn’t place what.
“Something from the sashimi platter?” she questioned.
He chuckled. “But what do you think it is?”
She opened her mouth for another bite. “Tuna?” she questioned.
“Very good, Ace.”
Some kind of cooked meat followed another drink of water, but she didn’t recognize it.
“And you were doing so well. It’s the Hawaiian snapper.”
“It’s delicious,” she said between bites.
By the time he’d fed her some of everything, she’d earned three rewards and three punishments, but he wouldn’t tell her what he had planned. Instead, he took her blindfold off and kissed her neck before setting an empty plate in front of her so she could dig in and get more of her favorites.
They talked about poker, Vegas, and ways they’d discovered their respective kinks while they ate.