Risky Gamble (Risky Series Book 1)

by Vivian Ward

  Downstairs, all of the women are dressed in their sexiest outfits which hardly cover any skin at all. Leather and lace, silk and satin, they’re all dressed to fuck. The men are dressed in a range of outfits from leather and latex to casual slacks and dress pants—all equally ready to fuck.

  After making my rounds upstairs to keep up appearances, I sneak down to the club to check on things. Drinks are flying off the shelves, couples are kissing, and there’s plenty of sex and dancing, but the only thing my eyes focus on is Ally.

  The beautiful girl behind the bar. She might dress to kill, but she’s as innocent as they come, and I can’t wait to break her of that innocence.

  Several minutes later, there’s a brief pause in the crowd that allows me to approach the bar. She immediately notices me and smiles as she wipes down the counter, “Hi,” she says. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I think you know what I want,” I grin at her.

  “A Scotch?” she reaches for a glass.

  “That’d be a nice start, but I think you know what I’m talking about.”

  A member comes to the bar, interrupting our conversation to order a couple of drinks. Once she gets him situated, she returns her attention to me.

  “Here’s your drink,” she slides the glass in my direction. “And as for the other thing, I’m still thinking things over.”

  “Still thinking it over?” I ask. “What’s there to think about?”

  Leaning in close to me, she says, “For starters, I’ve never done this before. You obviously have if you’ve got papers already drawn up for this type of stuff. There’s also the fact that I work for you.”

  I motion for her to come closer, and she does. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know. You leave everything to me. All you need to decide is what Ally wants. What do you want to do? What do you want to get out of this?”

  “I don’t know,” she says. I can tell it’s an honest answer. “I’m not sure what I want, and I don’t know how much I can trust you. I barely know you, Colton.”

  “All the more reason to get to know me better,” I wink at her.

  Another wave of thirsty members arrive at the bar, eager to be waited on. Letting her get back to them, I take a seat on the wraparound sofa that lines the wall across from the bar and begin watching her. I don’t know if she’s aware of this or not, but every single movement she makes is sexy; from dropping cherries in a glass to smiling at the members. She could probably hiccup and I would think it was sexy.

  “Hello, Colton,” Brooke murmurs as she sits beside me and wraps my arm around her shoulder. “Long time no see.”

  “Brooke, what are you doing here?” I ask.

  “What do you mean what am I doing here? I’m a member of this club and it’s Valentine’s. You didn’t think I’d leave you alone tonight, did you?”

  “I-I thought you were on a cruise—the one your dad paid for.” I try to remember where she said she was going. “Wasn’t it in Europe?”

  She laughs, tossing her head back. “Yes, it was supposed to start at the beginning of February and go until next week, but I canceled it when I realized that you’d be at the club all alone tonight, fucking random wives and going home to an empty house.”

  “I wasn’t sure of the dates, I just remembered that you told me you were going.”

  “Well, I’ve missed you,” she says, looking up at me with those fuck-me-eyes. Those eyes are practically begging to get fucked out of her head. Normally, I’d happily do so but not now. Not since I’ve found Ally.

  Everything has changed.

  Leaning over, she rests her hand on my chest as she wraps her leg around mine and begins kissing me. It doesn’t feel the same as the kiss that Ally and I shared just two nights ago. My kisses with Brooke have always been filled with passion and desire, but my kisses with Ally were filled with pure want and need. When my lips were pressed against Ally’s, they felt like they belonged there instead of just stealing kisses from someone else for the night. My mouth and hands belonged on her body.

  Feeling a set of eyes on us, I glance up and see Ally staring at us in disbelief. Visibly upset by Brooke and me, I break the kiss and excuse myself from Brooke, mumbling something about taking care of another matter.

  By the time I make it to the bar, Ally is gone and so are her belongings. There’s no purse or coat where she sat them.

  “Where did Ally go?” I ask one of the other girls.

  She shrugs, “I don’t know. I didn’t even see her leave.”

  Making my way through the crowded club, I climb the stairs two at a time until I reach the top and begin to make my way outside, hoping I can catch her in the parking lot.

  Chapter 18

  Ally

  I can’t believe all of the trouble I went through to buy this dress and these stupid shoes for him to have some slut practically lying across his lap, and right in front of me, too!

  I did the only thing I could think to do, and that was grab my things and get out of there. Flying through the crowd with blurred vision from the tears in my eyes while wearing these stilettos was no easy feat, but I made do because embarrassment and hate were my fuel to get out of there.

  I’ve only been working for a short time, but I’ve gotten to know quite a bit of the members, and I’ve never seen her before. That’s not to say that I know everyone but it’s pretty close.

  But the kicker? The kicker was when Colton looked up and saw that I was watching him and that tramp. That was when he suddenly wanted to push her away.

  Because before that, they were being very friendly with each other; friendlier than I’ve ever seen anyone else act with him. I’d been watching them for quite a while before he noticed that I was.

  Maybe I was naive to think that I would never witness him with one of his past sexual partners or that none of them would ever make a public display the way she did. I mean, it is a sex club, and I know he’s slept with a lot of the people in it, but that doesn’t change how it made me feel to see the two of them together like that.

  I hated seeing her body snaked around his, like she owned him, but what really did it was the way the two of them kissed. It was so obvious that they have a strong history between the two of them. He didn’t even try to push her away.

  It makes me wonder if she isn’t one of them—one of the girls who’s signed an NDA with him. I had to ask myself if she’s one of his private projects because if so, I’m nothing like her. In fact, I’m the complete opposite of her.

  She’s fresh and hot, comfortable in her own skin, and has obvious been around the block more than once or twice. Hell, I bet there’s highway mileage on that girl.

  And then there’s me.

  Stupid Ally who’s only been with two boys her entire life. Vanilla as hell with no real experience. I’m not like the other girls in the club and maybe that’s why Colton was attracted to me. Maybe he wanted to see if he could change me, transform me into being just another club slut like all the rest of the girls.

  But what he doesn’t know is that this stupid Ally, the one who’s so naive and lacks experience, is also very brave and strong. I won’t put up with his shit and I won’t back down from my decisions.

  It was so stupid of me to even consider signing either one of his NDA’s—especially the personal one so he could use my body however he saw fit. I was so close to getting in way over my head that I’d started drowning before I could even take my first breath.

  Fumbling through my purse for my car keys as I stand in the biting wind that’s whipping past my almost naked legs, I hear Colton calling my name as he makes his way down the sidewalk after me.

  I try to dig faster, but the tears in my eyes prevent me from seeing and I can’t find them. Sniffing back my tears, I use my finger to wipe my eyes dry before he can see me and continue digging. The faster that I can get out of here, the better.

  “Ally, wait!” he yells, making his way around the chainlink fence so he can enter the parking lot. “Pleas
e,” he says when he stops before me. He’s completely out of breath from running the entire way.

  I almost feel bad for him, but then I remember him kissing her. I think about how he was just going to use me as a pawn in his game; just another piece. I’m sure as soon as he was finished with me, he would’ve moved on to the next piece in the game until he eventually finds his queen.

  Clearly, I’m not her.

  Instead of speaking to him, I turn my attention back to my purse and finally fish out my keys. Unlocking my car, he grabs my wrist, preventing me from opening the door.

  “Ally, I know what you saw back there and it’s not what you think. Let me explain.”

  “No, I don’t think there’s anything to explain Colton.” Smoothing my hair back, I toss it over my shoulders. “You know,” I laugh as I tip my head back, looking up at the moon. “I almost gave you exactly what you wanted. I almost signed your damn agreements. I almost said yes, but something deep in my gut told me that I should wait; that I should hold off on doing that. It turns out my gut was right and it paid off big time.”

  “It’s not like that, Ally. Please, if you’d let me explain, I can tell you everything you need to know.”

  Glancing down at my watch, I say, “You’ve got two minutes. It’s fucking cold and then I’m leaving, so you’d better make it good.”

  “That girl—Brooke—is, I mean was, one of my girls. I didn’t know she was going to be here tonight. She was supposed to be out of town on a cruise, and ever since I met you, I haven’t wanted anyone else.”

  “Ha!” I snort. “Goodbye, Colton.”

  “No, Ally, wait! You have to believe me. I’m telling the truth.”

  I look him square in the eye. “Colton? Men like you who are so damn good looking and have so much money are always players. You know why? Because you can. You know for every one woman you lose, you’re going to find ten more to replace her. Well, guess what? I’m not in your lineup and I won’t be in your rotation.”

  Without another word, I open my car door and get inside. Knocking on my window, I roll it down as I buckle up. I know I shouldn’t bother giving him any more chances to explain himself, but it’s kind of entertaining.

  “What, Colton?” I ask, putting the car in gear.

  “Ally, please, just listen to me. I’m telling you the truth and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”

  Yeah, right. Why would he care so much? We’ve only known each other for a week and it’s not like we were very close. No matter how much I want to deny what I felt between us, it’s so hard to walk away from him but it’s something that I have to do or I’ll hate myself forever.

  “Goodbye, Colton. Have a nice life.”

  Taking my foot off the break, I press on the accelerator to back out of my spot and put my car in drive. Watching him get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and it’s killing me inside.

  Hitting the steering wheel out of frustration, I break down at the next stop light and end up having to pull over.

  Why does this have to be so hard? Why am I so attracted to him? What did he do to have this kind of hold on me?

  Even though I can’t answer any of those questions, the one thing that I can’t forget is how bad I want his touch. My body craves his dangerous touch, but I can’t have it. It doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to all the other girls in the club.

  Chapter 19

  Colton

  I’m lost without her.

  Walking back into the club, I feel a sense of dread. Now I know why single people hate Valentine’s Day. I’ve always been single on this holiday, but never alone—until now.

  It’s only been five minutes but I already miss her. Seeing all of the other couples laughing, talking, kissing, dancing, holding hands, and having fun together serves as a reminder of all of the things that I don’t have.

  Instead of going back down to the club, I head to my office. I don’t want to be around Brooke or the others. I don’t care if they’re having the biggest orgy of their lives in that fucking basement.

  The one girl who I wanted more than anything is gone, and it’s all because of this club and what I’ve made of myself. Staring at the phone that I hope will ring, I ask myself why am I so fucked up? Why am I so sick? Why do I have this sex addiction? This obsession with being a sadist?

  If I could’ve just controlled my urges, none of this would ever happen. I would never be in this situation and then maybe I’d have the girl who I really wanted.

  A few moments later, there’s a knock on my office door and I leap to my feet, hoping it’s Ally. Swinging the door open, I’m disappointed to see Jenna standing in the doorway.

  “Yes?” I ask her.

  “I know this probably isn’t a good time, but Brooke asked me to see if you were coming back downstairs.”

  Looking out into the hallway to make sure she’s alone, I ask, “How did you know I was here?”

  “I went out to the parking lot and saw that you were still parked in your usual spot, so I thought I’d knock and see.”

  I nod, “No, I won’t be going back downstairs. Tell Brooke she can go home unless she wants to stay to play with other members. I’m finished for the night.”

  Her eyebrows shoot up as her eyes widen. “Oh, okay.” She turns to leave but stops herself. “Mr. Kaswell?” I nod and arch my eyebrows. “Are you and Brooke over?”

  I think hard about her question before answering and consider everything that’s been running through my head ever since I met Ally. “Jenna, I think everything is over at this point,” and then I shut the door.

  Three hours go by until I realize that the building is completely silent and I’m the only one left. I’ve been staring at my phone, waiting for a call or message to come through, but none ever do.

  Locking up for the night, I head out to my car and welcome the biting wind that chops against my face with each step I take. I hate myself right now but no matter what, I have to figure out how to get Ally to come back.

  Our relationship was short-lived, but it was the best fucking relationship I’ve had since Mel. No other girl has compared but that’s one of the things that makes Ally unique.

  She’s like a drug that my body’s addicted to, and I’ll be damned if I go through withdrawal.

  On the drive home, I swing by her apartment and sit outside as I stare up at her darkened windows. She’s most likely been asleep for hours now, but it doesn’t deter me from staying right where I am.

  I wonder what she looks like when she’s unconscious—sleeping—and what she’s wearing right now. Does she sleep nude or does she wear soft nighties? Part of me wants to break into her apartment—it wouldn’t be hard to do in the old building that she lives in, but I think better of it and slowly pull my car back onto the street.

  “Allison Hart, one day you will be mine. I’m coming for you, little girl.”

  Risky Pleasures

  Are you ready for the next book in the series?

  While Allison Hart is busy trying to restore her life to what it was before she met Colton Kaswell, he still dominates her thoughts and actions. She no longer wants any part of his world, but with the promise of a new arrangement, Ally finds herself drawn back into Colton's dark web.

  As she begins to realize that his risky pleasures are as sadistic as he promised, she tries to escape him but he won't let her go. She's signed herself over to the devil who must work through his own demons, and now Ally is confronted with the ghosts of his past.

  The pair must find strengths within each other to protect one another, otherwise, it will lose everything.

  Read Risky Pleasures

  A Note From Vivian

  You know, the only time I’ve ever written a note to my readers at the back of my books is when I published The Only Series. As I think about that, it’s kind of ironic that I’m writing another note at the beginning of The Risky Series, huh?

  I was really worried when I ca
me up with the idea for this series. It was hard writing my first series with Derek; albeit, each book was about different main characters, but a lot of planning went into writing three books about one couple so I hope you guys love this story as much as I do no matter which book you’re on. Leave a review and let me know what you think about my work. I love that shit.

  I’m actually starting this note while I’m writing the book. The whole time I was telling the story about the swearing third grade teacher, Mrs. H, I was grinning. That’s a true story from my childhood. I went to a private school (Most Holy Trinity) in North St. Louis and, although I won’t out the teacher’s name, she was one of my favorites.

  Mrs. H (yes, that’s her real last initial) would always cuss and later bribe us with Tootsie Pops. She was a great teacher and did an outstanding job teaching us multiplication. Those crazy shortcut videos you see floating around about the 9’s tables? She taught us those back in 1989-1990 (geez, I’m old!), so those aren’t anything new.

  I also had to laugh the whole time when I wrote about Ally feeling more comfortable writing rather than talking. Anyone who knows me knows that I never meet a stranger and that I never shut up. LOL I generally get along with everyone and love meeting new people. For those of you who are afraid to approach others for whatever reason, I want to give you a piece of advice that I gave my PA, Cheryl Maddox.

  If someone makes you so nervous that you’re afraid to say hi to them (celebrities might be the only exception if you’re meeting someone famous lol), there’s a reason why and you should listen to your gut. We tend to naturally migrate toward those who are like us. You know that saying, birds of a feather flock together? The same is true for people. So, if someone makes you pause to approach them, it’s because your intuition is telling you something about that person. Very rarely do I get that feeling, so when I do, I steer clear of them at all costs. I don’t speak ill of the person (that’s bad JuJu), but I do go out of my way not to have any interaction/confrontation with them.