by Lying Eyes
Her eyes were watered down with lust and love. Yes, he saw the love there before she said anything at all. He felt it so strongly now and he didn’t have to be inside her slick folds to understand what it truly meant to feel loved by a woman.
“Max, love me.” She pulled him into the sweetest kiss ever shared with a man.
I already do. He wanted to tell her the same thing over and over again.
He pulled her over him and watched the little seductress slide right into her role. “Ah, baby.” His hands weaved through her hair as he kissed her, drew her closer and released her again.
His fingers rolled over her nipples, the sweet little gems staring back at him and he rose from the bed just to have a quick taste of them. Her breasts would never bore him. Natural and full, he’d had the fake ones before but these were different—ripe, sensual and beautiful—these were Audra’s.
“Lovely.” He licked his way over one before finding his place with the other. His teeth teased. “My sweetheart.”
Hands clasped. Her eyes closed.
His cock felt thick and wide as he wedged himself inside of her. He felt long and lean even, like he’d never reach the core of her but he did, he had and he would. Her thighs tightened then and he pinched her nipple once more before he sank back against the pillow.
Heavy pumping was one thing but erotic fucking and a slow screw between two lovers brought something far sweeter altogether. His fingers reached for her nipples and scraped by them again and again as he twisted them into beads of erotic zones and that’s when her cries came. Taking his uneven thrusts, her body was no longer her own. She begged for more, jerking against him stroke for stroke, and that’s when he fucked her into loving him all the more.
* * * *
“Max?”.
“Right here, sweetheart.” He gently eased himself over her and kissed her on the forehead.
“How long have you been up?” Her fingertips skimmed over his lips before she pressed hers to them.
“Not long. Maybe ten minutes or so.” He grinned. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
She reached for his member. “Really? Why?”
“I have this problem,” he began, “and only one way to solve it.”
“Ah….” Sarcasm dripped. She glanced at the clock. “You’re in luck.”
“Am I?” His hands pushed at his pajama pants and he pressed against her though the sheer coverlet.
“Yes. I have time to take care of you this morning.”
“I hope so.” He glanced at the time too. “But I’m not so sure.”
“You’re not?”
“No.” His hands fell under the thin blanket and he pushed her up toward the headboard.
“Oh, but I am.” She braced herself, pushing down on his shoulders, before positioning her mouth over his cock.
“Audra,” he breathed. “Turn about is fair play.”
“There’s no time for it. Besides, a lady always goes first.” She fisted his cock and drew him right into her mouth. And the things she did to him then didn’t exactly describe lady-like endeavors, but they were sinfully delicious all the same.
“Ah Audra, I’m starting this day a lucky man.” And he couldn’t help but think he was oh so right.
Chapter Fifteen
The crowd didn’t wait patiently for big player action, it danced with celebration anticipating the final hour. One minute, Audra was stopped and asked for an autograph and the next, Max was more or less herded over to the side as one woman or another offered more than a little lip action could guarantee. A woman here or there would grab at areas of his body—package and ass—and he would immediately shrug or smile at Audra as if to dismiss it as no big deal.
Once, he was sandwiched by two gals who looked like they were just all too eager to drag him off to a nearby hotel room. Audra was pissed off and it was mainly because Max didn’t do anything to ward off one approach after another. He was a crowd pleaser and part of his audience—his fan base—included the women who wanted to feel their way right into his good graces.
The dry humping and smooching became a big deal—at least to her. She quickly discovered how to get even. Whenever a forward advance headed her way, she took the opportunity and there were plenty of them. Once, she even allowed a twenty-something year old hunk to give her a kiss before he sent her on her way toward the final table. If Max could’ve fought the crowd and found the young sexy California surfer-type, the guy would’ve died before the announcer had time to so much as mention a shuffle.
After the stranger’s kiss, Max almost carried Audra to her assigned seat and more than one or two bloggers with their video cameras in tow made a point of zooming in really close to capture the tension. Audra couldn’t help it. She didn’t like being man-handled and she didn’t like Max allowing other women to paw their way into her action. In fact, her claws could easily be sharpened on their backsides after the romp he’d given her the night before.
The media stood ready. Bloggers everywhere stirred and provoked a commotion. Novice players from around the world stormed the area with dollar signs in their eyes while the elite of poker gathered around for the final show of champions. The onlookers included a who’s who list of poker—Duke, Brunson, Harman, and well, the crowd just had too many of them to single out. That’s when it hit her.
Max bent over her shoulder to whisper something to her but she was so mesmerized by where she was and how she got there that she really couldn’t focus then. It was more action than she bargained for and her runaway heart got the best of her. As if she needed anything more to make her heart leap and hands tremble, she spotted one of her all-time favorite players. Now, she was road kill.
He stood out in a room. Ben Affleck was next to Annie Duke and Audra tossed him a wave before imagining he waved back. If Max hadn’t tugged her away at just the right time, she felt certain he would’ve blown her a kiss or something—yeah, the something.
Her gawking definitely pissed off one of her opponents, the only one she really didn’t want to tick off at the time. Only because she happened to like his smile and she only had to focus on his mouth to remember what else. Damn, he was all man.
His tongue instinctively, or so he’d love for her to think, moved over the inside of his upper lip. It was more of a slide across than an in and out movement once she bothered to focus on it. She wanted to curse him right there for taking her back to their hotel room.
A slow gesture, an added wink and she remembered he was all player too. He wanted that bracelet just as much as she did and he wouldn’t hold back now just because she had the better part of his pleasure still tingling against her tongue for an easy reminder.
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, instantly aware of several facts all at one time. First, she was most definitely the only woman there. Second, all of the players there wanted her out first because she was the only woman there. Although, Max might have been the exception but she wasn’t sure because he also viewed her as an obstacle. Third, just walking away from the table meant she walked away rich but the longer she held out, the richer she’d be when she left. Fourth, all eyes were definitely on her more than any other player and finally, she didn’t come there for anything less than first place—the title, the money and the bracelet.
Phew, she had a lot to remember.
Max’s gaze stayed with her and at first it was somewhat unsettling until she became alarmed by the sudden flashes of lights and larger cameras pushing closer and closer. She felt her pulse racing and was bothered by the fact her chest seemed to rise and fall with the energy racing around the room. Someone said something to her, maybe asked her a question, and that’s when she lost him. He must’ve stepped away from the table and that’s when it hit her.
He’d become more important to her than she could possibly imagine. He was her security blanket and right now she needed his gaze draped over her or else she was going to die. She just knew it. She searched everywhere for him just by scanning the roo
m but she didn’t find him. There were too many people standing far too close. In fact, they were closing in fast.
“Looking for me?” He bent over and whispered in her ear. His lips were so close to hers when she turned around to face him that she almost thought he was going to give the tabloids something to run with. Nothing would surprise her.
“I was.”
“Calm down or you’ll leave first. These boys have all been here before—with two exceptions—you, and the kid from outer space.”
“You mean virtual space,” she reminded.
“Whatever.”
Max didn’t like the internet players for some reason. If she had to guess it was because he traveled the world over playing poker for a living and he felt like a lot of these men and women cut into his bottom line somehow. The how puzzled her because given the number of entries in the tournament, and the fact she and Max were both now at the final table, the best she could tell was that the only thing these folks did in the end was add a few zeros to their end results.
Nice. She gave those zeros a second thought.
“You’re okay, right?” He truly appeared concerned.
“Have you polled the other players to see how they’re doing?” she questioned.
“No. I hope they’re nervous as hell.” He smiled. “I don’t want you to have butterflies until we call it a day.”
“Then?”
“I’m going to give you one or two of them, but I reserve the right.” He winked, gave her neck a playful squeeze and turned around to greet another player joining them.
Audra settled down, for a minute anyway. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She thought it might help if she sat there behind her sunglasses with her eyes closed until someone from the crowd asked her if she was meditating. That’s when she realized she was acting far too peculiar—some threat she represented.
Sambo Grundle encouraged the players to take their respective seats and Max finally took a final trot to his position. She never doubted for a minute just where his chair was located. Straight in front of her, on the opposite end of the table, and now she had all the inspiration she needed to serve as a continual reminder.
He’d been perched at more than one final table and he looked like a natural. He thinks he simply belongs here. She giggled as she thought it and his brows gathered as if to question what was so funny. Before words were exchanged, the announcer spoke up and the crowd fell silent.
“The big day is here. The time is right now.” Sambo’s every word seemingly caught in the roof of his mouth before he released it with enough enunciation to drive home his point. “Thousands battled for their seat at the final table but only nine are left to wager the final wars. Will one of these men take home the most coveted bracelet in the world, or will this be the year of the woman? Enthusiastic fans are waiting and we’re ready to introduce our final table.”
After the introduction, the one Audra somehow did not hear, the dealer shuffled up quickly and dealt that first hand. She folded the first three hands and it was just enough to place one of the players, Danny Renaldo, at the front of the pack. He had a strong lead and gained it by nearly picking off each chip from Carlo Mancinni’s chip stack. If she had to place a wager then and there, she’d bet on Carlo for being the first one out. After watching him play, she wasn’t sure how he managed to slip through the tournament. Maybe luck did play an important role in poker.
Her pocket jacks in the hole, Audra decided to move and she did it with a raise.
“Raise one million.” She tossed in the bet and moved it closer to the dealer. As she often did with a raise, she returned her focus to her remaining stacks and pretended not to care what happened from there. Her chips rippled under her long, steady fingers. She acted the same way she would in any other gaming situation.
“Raise to four million.” The chip leader made another bold move.
She felt her chest tighten but she called the hand. She didn’t look up and as far as she knew, she didn’t flinch. After the dealer made a slight move to collect the chips and everyone else folded, the flop was dealt. Nothing significant, two of Hearts, five of Diamonds, nine of Clubs.
Her jacks were still considered good but were they good enough? She moved all of her chips in after a quick glance his way because if not, he would, and then she’d have to fold. “I’m all in.” She pushed in the chips and she took the customary stand after moving. Her expression never changed.
Danny Renaldo started his chatter. “All-in?” He looked over his shoulder at his family. His brothers were there waiting—all three were considered professional poker players.
Tommy Renaldo shook his head and the other two began rambling on about something but she didn’t pay a lot of attention. She didn’t focus on her breathing or how she felt about it, but instead, met Max’s gaze and held it.
Max. Not now. His lips turned up at the corners. Now, if she’d been an outsider looking in, his expression alone would’ve more or less suggested she had the pocket nines or perhaps he believed she held the top pair. Either way, regardless of what she did or didn’t have, an outsider, she believed, would’ve have assumed Max thought she had the hand won. Since a lot of speculation and a lot of gossip circulated during the tournament, some onlookers might assume Max knew the lady at the table fairly well and if so, they might follow his facial expressions, too. Right now he looked smug and full of pride.
She’d have to critique him later because she didn’t want to win or lose because Max gave her away. Then again, since she wasn’t holding the top rockets or the pocket nines, maybe he did her a favor.
Danny studied Max and then Audra. He looked back at the crowd and stood, too.
Oh shit! She thought it but she didn’t flinch.
He walked toward the crowd and then walked back again.
“Twenty million to call,” the dealer reminded.
“Yeah, I got that.” He was frustrated. His palms landed on the edge of the table and he glared down the felt at Audra.
He sneered then at Max, who still held back the deplorable smirk swelling his cheeks.
Danny wanted to make the call. He should have made the call. She played the hand poorly. Max and Audra locked their gaze and never moved it.
“Damn it! There ought to be a law against lovers playing at the same table.” He threw his cards in face-up. Queens. Audra pushed hers in without showing them. It seemed pointless to rub salt in the wound now. She won the pot, so why show off now?
“You didn’t have me.”
“She had you all right.” Max smirked.
By the balls. Audra laughed because she knew what Max would’ve loved to have added. The truth wasn’t quite so appealing. She suffered through his decision, every agonizing second before he made the decision to fold the hand.
Max winked. She creamed.
A few minutes later and Danny and Audra were head to head again. She was on the button and everyone folded around the table. Danny raised five million. She rippled her chips, looked at Max and made the call.
“Damn woman, do you and Reynolds have some kind of telepathic communications between you? Look at me or the dealer when you make the call.”
Max played fair, in his own twisted sort of way. “If it bugs you, we can make adjustments.” He winked at Audra and she blinked one right back.
“It bugs him,” another player noted. “I say keep it to a minimum. I’m afraid our cry-baby over here can’t handle it.” He sniffed.
The flop came down and sported a four of Hearts, a seven of Hearts and an Ace of Hearts.
“I’m all in,” he announced.
“Call,” she fired back and stood up.
“Turn them up,” the dealer informed.
He flipped pocket rockets, just like Audra suspected.
She showed her six-five of Hearts.
“Shit!” He screamed out his disappointment because even though he had trips with his aces, she had the flush already and for Danny, it went down from there
.
The turn card gave her the straight flush. The dealer dealt the board an eight of Hearts and then a nine of Hearts soon followed.
Max stood to shake hands with Danny and then moved fast to shake hands with Audra before everyone else there congratulated her. Now, she could sit back and relax for a moment. She hit the chip leader hard and sending one man home meant something. The eight remaining players just got a fat raise by being at the table a little bit longer, and since she just grabbed a significant lead, chances were good she’d get another one or two if she played her cards well. Ninth place paid out at a little over a million. She refused to imagine how much was left.
Ten more hands were dealt before Audra felt confident playing what she had. Five-six of Diamonds and Max checked to Stan who in turn checked to Audra.
The flop wasn’t entirely worthless. A five of Hearts, a six of Spades, and a Jack of Hearts—she had two pair.
“Raise it a million.” Max tossed in his chips and studied his neighbor. “Whatcha gonna do there, Stan?”
Stan shook his head a few times. Amazing. The yes-man was stumped.
“I’m going to fold to you, Audra.”
“You are? Just for me.” She winked at him. She liked Stan, even though she knew he wanted to see her out of the running just as quickly as possible. He was old school and women had their place—and it wasn’t at the poker table.
“Come to papa.” Max relaxed his palm next to his chip stack.
He was giving her an indication and now she was pissed off.
“Call.”
For some reason, this seemed to upset her opponent. He pursed his lips and looked away from her as the dealer dealt the turn card.
“I could’ve warned you.” He looked down at his chips and back up at the dealer.
“All-in.”
He did warn her and that’s why he went all-in on the turn when he was head to head with her. He wanted to teach her some kind of lesson.
Now really wasn’t the best time.
She glared at the card in the middle and rippled her chips faster. He looked back over his shoulder and said something to the man behind the camera, the one from one of the major networks now zoomed in closer. He expected her to make the call and if she made it and lost, she would leave the final table.