Fallen: William

by Tiffany Aaron

  “I’ll see what I can find out about Thompson. Maybe there is some information we can use to blackmail him. With guys like him, it will always come down to money. If we hit him in his checkbook, I’m sure we can make him see the error of his ways.”

  “Do that. I’ll try and keep an eye on her tonight.” He paid the bill as they walked out of the restaurant.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The door shut with a satisfying thud and Abby leaned against it with a sigh. It had been another long night of trying to keep Thompson’s hands from her ass. Sometimes she wished she wasn’t so good at her job. As a blackjack dealer, the high rollers who came to Reno to gamble requested her often. She enjoyed it most of the time; it was only when men like Thompson thought she’d sleep with them as well as deal for them that she hated it. A picture of William Bradford popped into her mind and she couldn’t help comparing the groping octopus to him.

  Now there was a man to make a girl sweat. His attitude said he didn’t care what others thought of him. She had a feeling if he asked her out and she said no, he wouldn’t hound her for a date. He could have any woman he wanted so he wouldn’t waste his time on one who didn’t want him.

  Didn’t want him? She smiled. She wasn’t fooling herself. She had wanted him the minute her eyes had run over that luscious body of his. She had spent last night tossing and turning, dreaming of him kissing her all over. She had dreamt of his mouth on her nipples and his cock inside her pussy. He did seem perfect, even down to the haunted look in his eyes that no woman could resist.

  She had seen him at the high stakes poker table that night. He was perfect except for his gambling. She had seen a hundred men like him come and go while she dealt the cards. These men had the fever crying out for the next turn of cards or the next roll of the dice. For her father it was the next super horse that was going to win a ton of money if he only got the right trip around the track. It didn’t pay to love a gambling man.

  The ringing of the phone was a shrill wake up call from her daydreams. She stared at the instrument and wondered if, for once, she wouldn’t answer it. The insistent ringing carried her back for a moment to the childhood she never had. It would start with the phone ringing. Her mother wouldn’t answer it and then a few days later, they would move again. She wasn’t that strong. She lunged for the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Abigail. How are you tonight, darling?” Thompson’s oily voice dripped over the telephone.

  “How did you get my number?” She was horrified.

  “Money talks and I’m willing to spend a lot on convincing you to go out with me.”

  “I’ve told you no a hundred times, Mr. Thompson. Why can’t you accept the fact that I don’t want to date you?” Her voice held a hint of desperation.

  “I know it’s only a matter of time before you quit playing this game. You’re playing hard to get and I like that. I’m so used to women throwing their bodies at me because of my money that it’s refreshing to have you present a challenge.” He sounded so smug she almost gagged.

  “Leave me the hell alone.” Slamming down the receiver, she quickly unplugged the phone from the wall before he could call back.

  Her hands were trembling as she sank onto her couch. She had gone to the police and her boss about Thompson’s constant touching at the casino but neither believed her. Money certainly covered a multitude of sins.

  Getting up, she moved slowly into the bathroom. She stripped and stepped under the steaming water. She felt so dirty just from talking to him that all she wanted to do was clean up and crawl under the covers. Maybe she would have great dreams to make up for the horrid real world she lived in.

  * * * *

  “You have to get closer to Abby.” Mika’il appeared in William’s living room.

  “God damn it!” William dropped his glass.

  “William,” Mika’il warned.

  “If you’d stop appearing out of the blue, maybe I wouldn’t take His name in vain.” He got some paper towels from the kitchen. “What the hell’s wrong now?”

  “You’re not staying close to Abby. I told you she needs protection.”

  He rocked back on his heels and looked up at the archangel. “Thompson grabbed her before I could do anything. I wasn’t close enough. There’s a fine line between protection and stalking. I only met the lady three days ago and on that occasion she insulted me. Now I’m supposed to be her best friend. I have a certain reputation in Reno, Mika’il, and being friendly with everyone isn’t part of it.”

  “Get her to deal for you.”

  He stood and went to pour another drink. “I don’t play blackjack. She doesn’t deal poker.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake. You can win at any stupid card game you play. Why worry about what game it is?”

  “If I show up at her table, she’ll think I’m stalking her. She’s already going through that experience with one rich s.o.b. Why wouldn’t she assume the same thing with me? I can guarantee that’s not the way to win her confidence.”

  “Figure something out. Things have gotten more dangerous. Thompson called her tonight and it’ll only be a matter of time before he gets her address. You need to be with her before that happens.”

  “Are you going to tell me why this one redhead is so special?”

  “You don’t need to know. She’s worried. You can help her.”

  He didn’t acknowledge the archangel. He stared out at the lights of Reno. Helping mortals was what he had done for centuries, but none of them had affected him like she did. One meeting and he was already dreaming of her. He would wake up sweating and hard. His cock was aching to be inside her, but he knew Mika’il wouldn’t approve of him seducing her. He grinned. When had the head of His Host ever approved of any of the fallen angels? He rubbed his chest where the scar had been burned into his flesh. Maybe he should pay a little visit to her house.

  * * * *

  William stared down at Abby as she lay curled up in the center of her bed. Her glorious hair was spread over her pillows and he reached out and touched a lock softly. She must have sensed his presence because her eyes popped open and she stared at him in surprise. He waited for the panic and fear to surface but she studied him calmly.

  “I was dreaming of you.” She smiled.

  “Maybe you still are. I heard you had another run in with Thompson.” He didn’t move closer. Her light rose scent was making his cock harden and he wanted to bury himself between her thighs.

  Sighing, she rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “Yeah. Someone sold him my phone number.”

  “I heard about the call as well. How are you feeling about that?” William winced. He sounded like a damn psychologist, but his conversation skills were a little rusty. He didn’t normally engage in conversation while in a woman’s bedroom. He devoured her with his eyes. A light cotton sheet covered her from the breasts down, but he knew she wasn’t wearing any clothes. Her breathing had sped up while he stared at her causing her hard nipples to push against the sheet.

  “I was a little shaky. Why do you care?”

  William wondered what she would look like in the throes of passion. Would she be quiet or noisy? Would she eagerly participate or would he have to encourage her? “I guess you can consider me a guardian angel of sorts.” He laughed. He never would have thought a fallen would become a guardian.

  “An angel? Like Michael or Gabriel?” Her voice held a touch of skepticism.

  “Hell no. Not anything like them. I might have been close at one time, but since I fell, I’m just trying to help out when I can.” William eased down to sit on the bed.

  “Fell? As in Lucifer and all that?”

  “Yes. I’m one of those idiots who decided to rebel with Lucifer. All that got me was banishment from Heaven and an eternity on earth.”

  “Right.”

  “Don’t you believe in angels?”

  “I’m not sure I believe in God, much less angels.”

  “It has a
lways amazed me that mortals question His existence. What you believe doesn’t matter. He believes in you and that’s what counts.”

  He didn’t give her time to react to the phrase “mortal. “ He reached out and rubbed his thumb over her soft lips. Her tongue snuck out and tasted him. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers and a soft gasp opened her lips allowing his tongue entrance. He made sure not to touch her anywhere else. He stroked her tongue again imitating the far more intimate act he longed to perform with her. Several minutes later, he pulled away. Her eyes opened and she gazed at him. Passion and a hint of disbelief hid in the brown pools.

  “This will all be a lovely dream for you tomorrow.” He stood up and melted into the shadows around her bed.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The bouquet of two dozen roses arrived the next day. Abby didn’t even have to read the card to know who sent them. When she refused them, the deliveryman looked shocked. She was sure not many women refused that kind of overblown display. She couldn’t risk accepting them because it would send the wrong message to Thompson. She shut the door in the man’s face.

  As she got ready for work, she thought about the vivid dream she had the night before. She swore her lips were still tingling from William’s kiss. It had been a long time since any guy had turned her on that much even in a dream. Abby wasn’t happy that the first guy she was dreaming about in years gambled. She had made it a point to listen to the gossip the last couple of days ever since her run in with him. Burt was right when he has said William Bradford didn’t care what she thought. An incredible poker player, he won far more tournaments than he lost. The Nevada Gaming Commission had investigated him but couldn’t find any proof that he was cheating. People whispered he had the devil’s luck with cards.

  He didn’t have a steady girlfriend even though several gorgeous women had been seen with him. Tall, thin model types, she figured, without a brain among them. Of course, he struck her as someone who appreciated beauty for beauty’s sake, so maybe he didn’t need a smart date. He would never be interested in a small, overly curvy redhead who couldn’t keep her mouth under control.

  She shook her head. Get him out of your thoughts, girl, she reprimanded herself. He’s way out of your league. But it never hurt to dream, a small voice whispered inside her heart.

  * * * *

  Abby’s good mood disappeared as Thompson took a seat at her table. Her temper was rising. She didn’t acknowledge him because the man didn’t need any encouragement from her. A tap on her shoulder turned her around. One of the casino’s couriers handed her a note. Taking a moment, she unfolded it.

  “Please join me for a drink at Burt’s bar after your shift.” It was signed William Bradford. She felt a pair of eyes on her and she knew they weren’t Thompson’s because she didn’t feel slimy. Looking over her shoulder, she saw William standing across the room. Without thinking, she nodded and turned back to deal the first hand. When she had a chance to look again, he was gone.

  The next time she checked her watch, her shift was over. “Gentlemen, have a good day.”

  Her replacement showed up as she gathered her stuff to head for the staff locker room. Thompson followed her and grabbed her arm before she could get to the door. She grimaced as she swung around to face him.

  “Did you get my flowers?” Thompson inquired.

  “I refused them.”

  His face got red. “You refused them?”

  “I don’t want them. I’ve told you no. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

  He yanked her closer. She smelled the liquor on his breath. “Listen, bitch. I will have you. Don’t fight me on this. You’ll regret it.”

  “Oh excuse me.” A well-dressed man dumped his drink down the front of Thompson’s suit.

  Thompson shoved her away. He swore as he brushed the man’s hands away. “Damn, man. Pay attention to where you’re walking.”

  “I was.” The man’s accented voice was quiet, but she caught his words.

  She met the man’s blue eyes. A look of annoyance flared in the man’s eyes as a feeling of safety flowed through her. He moved his head in a slight nod and she realized he had run into Thompson on purpose. While Thompson continued complaining, the man gestured to the door leading to the staff hallway.

  “I believe you have an appointment.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank Bradford.” The man blocked Thompson’s grab for her arm. He grinned cruelly down at the smaller man. “Mr. Thompson, I have a proposition for you.”

  She rushed to change her clothes. Even though her arm was aching, she found herself eager to see William.

  * * * *

  “She’ll be here soon.”

  William turned to see Dominic walking towards him.

  “I got her away from him. Why didn’t you do something yourself?” Dominic signaled Burt for bourbon.

  “I can’t. The dealers are told not to get involved with the guests. Their integrity can be in question. Also, I’m known around here.”

  “Known? In what way?”

  “I have phenomenal luck with cards. They aren’t sure how I do it, so they keep a close eye on me. If she’s seen with me, they might think she’s helping me to cheat them out of their money. I don’t want the gossips to talk about Abby and me.” William sipped his whiskey. He savored the slight burning as it slid down his throat.

  “I never knew you to worry about what people said or thought.”

  “I don’t, but the man bothering her would see any interest from me as a challenge to him. I don’t want to give him any more reasons to bother her.”

  “Your woman’s here. If you need me again give me a call.” Dominic slapped his shoulder. He smiled at Abby as he walked past her.

  William waved for Burt to bring a drink for her. She sat next to him with a sigh. Her elusive scent filled his nostrils and his cock was ready to go. He ran his eyes over her body and her lush breasts made his mouth water. How he wanted to take them in his hands and taste her pert nipples. He forced his hands not to move. He wouldn’t touch her. Ah hell, he thought as he reached out to place his hand on her firm thigh. Denying his urges had never been something he was good at. He gave her a slight squeeze and started to pull away, but she grabbed his hand in hers. Her beautiful eyes met his.

  “Thank you, Mr. Bradford.”

  He knew what she was thanking him for. “I would have loved to have been the one to save you, but Thompson knows me. He already sees me as a rival at the tables and I don’t think it would be good for him to see me with you.”

  She nodded. “I understand. I wish he would just leave me alone. Why does he want me?”

  William stared at her in surprise. “Don’t you own a mirror?”

  Her cheeks flushed. “Yes, I do. I don’t see anything special when I look in it. Just me.”

  Cupping her chin, he lifted her face to his. His warm breath caressed her lips. “I know a lot of men who would love to have ‘just you’ in their bed.”

  He wondered if a man could come just from feeling a woman’s breath on his face. He felt a warm rush of heat pool in his groin. Holy cow, this woman was dangerous. He managed to swallow a groan of disappointment when he pulled back without kissing her.

  “Someday,” he whispered. “I won’t pull away. Will you be ready for it?”

  “I’m already dreaming of you. Why wouldn’t I be ready for it?”

  “A dream is safe. In the real world, things can get out of hand very quickly and you don’t strike me as someone who wants to lose control.”

  She focused on the amber liquid in her glass. “I didn’t have a lot of control in the way I was raised. We moved from town to town one step ahead of my dad’s bookies and others who wanted a piece of him.” Her eyes held a hint of the shame and pain she had felt while she was growing up.

  “Why be a dealer if you hate gambling and gamblers that much?”

  “Why not? It’s the one thing I’m good at. My dad made sure of that. I was deali
ng for his games when I was eight. He taught me everything he knew and he knew almost every possible way to cheat. You see, I was his ace in the hole and none of the men playing thought an eight-year-old would cheat. So I ensured my dad won those games. It’s too bad he didn’t stick with the games I dealt. I deal because I can spot cheaters in seconds.” Her brown eyes caught his. “I also know how to spot a man who will gamble everything he owns away.”

  He knew she thought he was that type of player and at one time he had been. Several years ago when a mortal woman he loved had died, he had lost a part of himself for a while. He had thrown money away and made stupid bets while trying to drown himself in alcohol and drugs. Fortunately for him, they had no effect on him except to make him sick. Finally Celeste had found him and had taken him away to help him deal with his grief. Even though he gambled every night, he didn’t have a driving urge any more. He knew he could walk away from the table whenever he chose. To humor her, he asked, “How can you know? What kind of signal does he give off?”

  “There’s a fever in his eyes and it burns brighter the closer he gets to the tables. His smile has a hint of desperation in it and there is a restless energy in him when he’s not at the table. He would rather hold cards in his hands than hold his child’s hand and unless his child can play poker or blackjack, he doesn’t know she’s around.” Abby’s eyes had unfocused and he knew she was looking into her past.

  “You’re tarring every man with the same brush. Your father was an asshole and you work around some of the weakest people in the world. No wonder you don’t have a high opinion of someone who bets a little money.”

  “A little money? The people I deal for don’t bet a little money. They bet entire fortunes. I’ve watched multi-millionaires lose their millions on one turn of the card. I’ve watched families become destitute because of the gambling disease.” Standing, she glared at him. “Yes, these people are weak and I despise them for their weakness.”

  He let her move away from him. Turning to watch her leave, he asked, “Do you see me as weak, Abby?”

  “You gamble, don’t you?” She walked out of the bar.