All or Nothing

by S Michaels

  I sip my champagne gazing out of the window a lump forming in my throat, all around me people are talking and making plans for the next few days. Scott has stopped pretending to be interested in my welfare and is standing over the other side chatting to Jamie and SJ and I feel alone. I sigh gulping down the lump and take a swig of my drink to settle my emotions,

  ‘You ok?’ a voice murmurs quietly to my left. I turn and notice a man sitting in the middle seat observing me. He has the most gorgeous eyes I have ever witnessed, they are so green they remind me of a cat’s outlined with spiky black lashes. His hair is dark, trimmed short at the sides and back the top longer creating a slight quiff effect.

  ‘Yes….thank you’ I mumble embarrassed by the stranger’s empathy. He throws a comforting smile my way and my heart skips a beat. I take a deep breath and force my gaze back out of the window determined not to allow the tears to escape from behind my eyes.

  When eventually Scott returns to his seat opposite me I inform him, ‘I am moving into Bella’s when we return’ to which he shrugs his eyes hard and cold. I glance back down at my hands in my lap and take a breath, I just need to get through these next few days.

  I feel the stranger’s eyes on me at regular intervals during the flight but refuse to meet his gaze embarrassed by the predicament I have found myself in.

  We enter The Bellagio hotel lobby and I am astounded by all the activity, the ceiling has multicolored glass swirls the whole length creating such an effect that people stand gazing up at it in admiration. We check in and are given our key cards before the bell boy rolls our bags to our room on a gold trolley, this is pure luxury.

  The atmosphere is smoky and loud and the area is huge, a lot of the men head directly into the Piano bar leaving the women to unpack their belongings. Scott wanders off with them without a word leaving me alone, I decide to check the room out and change I feel grimy from the airplane. I tip the bell boy and walk through to observe the view, our room overlooks Caesars Palace and the hustle and bustle of the Vegas strip. Maybe I will just go exploring and leave him to it, I agreed to attend the wedding but the wedding isn’t until Wednesday.

  I shower and change into some skinny jeans and a vest top pulling my hair into a high ponytail and pumps. I take the elevator down into the foyer and wander around the casino, I have never been a gambler never having enough disposable income to afford to lose anything but enjoy watching people’s animated, hopeful faces on the tables.

  As I explore the hotel I notice the man from the airplane strutting towards me, he is so self-confident in his walk that it is a turn on to watch. I feel my insides tighten as his gorgeous green eyes focus on mine a small smile playing on his lips. He is wearing jeans and a white t-shirt obviously also having showered and changed. He stops before me and I automatically halt flushing at the intensity of his gaze.

  ‘Hi’ he mumbles in his deep velvety voice.

  ‘Hi’ I whisper accidently as my voice doesn’t quite find its way out.

  ‘He’s an arsehole’ he mutters gently.

  I flush aware that he heard our conversation on the plane.

  ‘It’s been on the cards a while’ I avert my eyes from his devastated at his pity.

  ‘Fancy a drink?’ he queries quietly his eyes assessing my reaction.

  ‘No thank you, I am going for some fresh air’ I shake my head.

  ‘Mind if I join you?’ I hold his gaze for a split second before replying.

  ‘Sure’ what? Why the hell did I say that? I am here with my boyfriend, ok well not quite my boyfriend but…..

  ‘Have you been here before?’ he probes.

  ‘No’ I shake my head ‘not quite my scene, I am here for a wedding’

  ‘Not yours I take it?’ his lips twitch slightly.

  ‘Definitely not mine’ I smile at his humor ‘what capacity are you here?’

  ‘Business’ he murmurs.

  ‘Have you been before?’

  ‘Yes’ he guides us out a different route from which I entered and for this I am glad, the thought of walking past the wedding party isn’t very appealing I am not sure he is aware or not of their location. We exit the hotel and I take a deep breath, ‘it is a little repressing all the smoke and no windows’ I utter quietly.

  ‘Yes, it can be. Where to?’ he mutters brightly.

  ‘I don’t know, I am a Vegas virgin’ I smile as I feel my mood lift in the open air.

  His eyebrow raises and something in his eyes sparkles I think it is humor which promotes a smile from me, the first genuine smile I have produced in a while. His eyes darken and I stop smiling as I feel my insides flutter, I am attracted to this man. Maybe it is because I haven’t had sex in so long I feel turned on by merely looking into his cat-like eyes. His eyes pierce mine and I suddenly comprehend the expression his eyes penetrate my soul because at this moment this man is delving into my mind. I take a deep breath and he follows before exhaling the breath,

  ‘Wow!’ he mumbles and before I can enquire what exactly he continues ‘ok then Vegas virgin allow me to deflower you’ his eyes are dark and assessing and I flush at the images flashing through my mind. He smiles all-knowingly before whispering ‘tut, tut….what is your name?’

  ‘Abi’ I croak attempting to regain my composure.

  He holds out his hand ‘hi Abi, Grant’ and I grasp his hand in mine, my hand tingles as he refuses to allow me to release it instead moves it towards his lips and kisses it so gently.

  ‘It is a pleasure Abi’ he mumbles finally releasing my hand as I exhale the breath I have been holding.

  ‘The pleasure is all mine’ I almost pant.

  ‘If only’ he whispers hardly audible in the noise of the outside traffic. He lifts his mobile to his ear and directs someone to our location before a black sedan car appears beside us. He opens the door and gestures for me to enter. It isn’t until I am seated beside him that I suddenly realize what a foolish thing I have done, I am in a car with a stranger. I glance sideways and query,

  ‘You aren’t a serial killer or anything are you?’ I speak in an amused tone with a serious undertone. He observes me for a moment before grinning, ‘probably something you should have ascertained before entering the lion’s den Abi’

  I grin back ‘yeah probably’ and I relax he isn’t a serial killer ‘where we going?’

  ‘You fancy a drink with a view?’

  ‘Sure, I leave all the plans to you’ I assure him, ‘I just need to be away from the hotel’

  ‘Do you love him?’ He suddenly asks.

  ‘No’ I whisper ‘but I am sad that it resulted in this, I should have gone with my gut instinct’

  ‘Always a good idea’ he agrees ‘you sleeping with him?’

  I raise an eyebrow at his audacity ‘that is a bit personal is it not?’ he just regards me casually as though he asked as to whether I take sugar in my tea. Our gaze locks and I feel the sexual attraction there once again his eyes burning into mine. My hand moves to my stomach to calm my insides before I answer, ‘no, not for months’ and exhale a breath averting my gaze.

  ‘I am very attracted to you Abi’ he whispers.

  ‘Ditto’ I gaze out of the window avoiding his eyes.

  We are silent until we pull up outside The Stratosphere Hotel and the driver opens the door for me, ‘thank you’ I smile at him and he nods.

  ‘If you can wait in the vicinity please’ Grant nods to the driver who answers with a,

  ‘Of course sir’

  I raise my eyebrows I thought he was a cab, ‘is he your driver?’ I query.

  ‘Yes, for the duration’ he places a hand on my lower back as we enter into the hotel which leaves an imprint even after he has removed it.

  ********

  I feel as if I am sitting on top of the world, what an amazing place. We are seated in the revolving restaurant of the hotel observing the views as we drink champagne and eat nibbles, Grant is sitting beside me indicating points of interest that I may be intrigued b
y.

  ‘Thank you’ I exclaim shyly.

  ‘For what?’ he gentles.

  ‘For deflowering me’ I grin sideways at him ‘it could have been a very lonely experience’

  His eyes move over my face before settling on my gaze ‘it has been a pleasure’ he purrs ‘the thought of deflowering you Abi….’ his eyes darken as his eyes find my lips before his mouth follows. He places his lips on mine gently as if to test my reaction before tilting in to me further, I gasp at the jolts of pleasure that shoot through my insides to my sex as he sucks on my bottom lip. I groan and he moves away reluctantly, ‘so, are you vocal in the bedroom Abi?’ he whispers his eyes dark his face tense ‘I like that very much’ before moving back in his seat lifting his glass to take a drink.

  My heart is hammering in my chest as I mirror his action and gulp down a huge mouthful of my champagne. I glance around suddenly aware of my surroundings but find people are oblivious wrapped in their own bubbles of happiness. I take a deep breath once again shaking my head slightly. I hear a chuckle and turn to find Grant regarding me amused, ‘you know many people in Vegas?’ he teases me and I join him with a grin.

  ‘So what do you do? You say you are here for business?’ I enquire relaxing

  ‘Property’ he murmurs uninterestingly ‘you?’

  I shrug ‘I am a PA’

  He nods regarding me ‘in London?’

  ‘Yes, you?’

  ‘Based in London yes’ he is watching me closely.

  ‘You married’ I query casually.

  ‘No, I wouldn’t be here if I was married’ he informs me seriously.

  ‘How long are you here?’ I question hoping that he is here longer than a day or two.

  ‘Not sure yet, it depends on how my meeting goes tomorrow, what about you who’s wedding?’

  ‘My b…ex-boyfriends colleague. I don’t know any of the guests they are all arseholes who he believes are above my intellect for some unknown reason. From where I am sitting I consider them to be tedious, ill-mannered pricks’ I reply politely anger rising once again within me of how I have been treated.

  ‘Didn’t any of them invite you into the circle?’ He frowns slightly amused by my language.

  ‘No, they aren’t comparable to my friends, I only attended because he refused to be embarrassed by my no show’

  ‘What do you care of his discomfort?’ he queries ‘I am glad you did accompany him I hasten to add’

  I sigh, what does it matter I will never see this man again ‘because he paid for the trip and threatened to send me the bill if I failed to appear, I do not have access to those kind of funds so….’ I flush mortified by my admittance.

  ‘Good people you mix with’ he raises an eyebrow ‘he doesn’t seem to want you around is he just punishing you do you think?’

  ‘Yes, that is exactly what he is doing’ I murmur ‘anyway, I do not wish to give him and his wonderful friends any more airtime’ I smile sarcastically.

  We finish our champagne and Grant and I enter the elevator, I glance up and he is regarding me carefully.

  ‘What?’ I flush at his expression and he tips my chin once again placing his lips on mine nibbling the bottom lip, I gasp and he strokes his tongue inside my mouth I groan pulling him deeper into me as I battle his tongue with mine. His hands find my hips bringing the length of my body flush against his. The elevator pings and the doors open but I am oblivious until Grant slows the kiss down moving away from me. I blink up confused before noticing our arrival at reception, luckily there are no guests waiting for the elevator. His face is serious and he looks as shell-shocked as I as we stare at each other, the door begins to close once again before he moves quickly to open it smiling gently indicating for me to exit.

  We move to the front of the building where the driver is waiting and enter the car, Grant directs the driver to the New York Hotel. I am sitting close to Grant his arm casually thrown across the back of the chair. My insides are churning with excitement. I have never before experienced an instant attraction as I do with Grant, I have had good sex but never felt the intensity of such sexual tension.

  chapter Three

  We arrive at the hotel and Grant smiles, ‘now a bit of a thrill’ he murmurs as we ascend the escalator to the top floor. When I glance at exactly what he is referring to I grin, ‘I love scary rides’ he smiles seductively at me and I find myself blushing then chuckling.

  As we sit on the rollercoaster I am animated and nervous, I glance at Grant who is observing me with amusement, ‘do you like scary rides?’ I flirt towards him.

  ‘I like all rides’ he murmurs his hand finding my thigh and I gasp, he strokes up and down slowly and I find myself mesmerized by his green eyes and his gently touch. Forgetting where we were I lean in and bite his bottom lip before sucking it running my tongue across it slowly, he gasps and grasps my hair pulling me into his space thrusting his tongue inside my mouth. The roller coaster jolts and we are suddenly flung apart, I am a disorientated but grab the bars as we get tossed from pillar to post off of the outside of the hotel. I am screaming and giggling by the end of the ride Grant merely grinning and holding a hand to his ear in mock deafness at my loudness.

  We settle in the back of the car for the extremely short journey back to the hotel, I have gone quiet now the reality of the situation settling in my brain. I am exhausted by the jetlag along with the champagne and roller coaster.

  ‘You tired?’ Grant enquires his eyes absorbing my face.

  ‘Hmmm, jetlag’s arrived I lay my head back against the back of the seat ‘I could do without all the crap now’ I sigh.

  ‘You sharing a room?’ he sounds strange so I glance towards him to find his eyes hard.

  ‘Yes but there will be no contact I can assure you’ I cannot remove my gaze from his ‘can he go around the block again?’ I whisper.

  ‘Can you go around the block Jonathon please’ he instructs the driver without breaking the eye contact.

  ‘Of course sir’

  He gazes down at me and the air is filled with lust, I turn to him and place my hand at the side of his head pulling him down to me, his hand moves me closer to him stroking up and down my hip, my sex is clenching and my nipples are pushing against my vest as I groan into his mouth. He sucks up my groan nipping my lip stroking my tongue with his. I am panting as he slows it down once more.

  ‘God Abi’ he tucks me into his neck ‘the things I want to do to you’ he whispers into my ear and I gasp at the images that enter my mind, my eyes are heavy and my face is flushed I have never wanted someone as much in my whole life. He stares down at me and my insides flutter ‘what I want you to do to me’ I whisper aware of the driver.

  He runs his hand over his face, ‘come back with me’ he suggests.

  ‘I would love to but you don’t need to be involved in all this Grant, it is fucked up’ I sigh ‘what time is your meeting tomorrow?’

  ‘Probably all day, what are your plans?’ he enquires.

  ‘Well I have the hen night tomorrow night’ I roll my eyes ‘that should be fun although I will just show my face then disappear, let’s face it no one will notice. It is also the stag night so they will be out all night no doubt’ I search his face ‘want to do something tomorrow night?’ my eyes convey exactly what I desire and he smiles.

  ‘I would love to’ he kisses my lips gently ‘give me your mobile number’ he demands and I type it in his iPhone, he calls it giving me his number in the process ‘any problems call me’ he insists.

  As I stroll across the foyer alone I am smiling for the first time in an age, I pass the Piano Bar where the wedding party were grouped earlier but it is deserted. I continue up to my room and that is also empty, Scott has obviously been there and showered before returning out with his friends of this I am relieved. I shower and climb into bed despite it only being ten o clock and am sound asleep within minutes.

  I awake and glance at the clock, it is seven in the morning that was quite some sle
ep! I stretch turning to notice if Scott made it home to find his side empty and unslept in. I release a breath in relief maybe he is going to sleep elsewhere which suits me fine.

  I lay contemplating my day yesterday and smile a fling is just what the doctor ordered. I am not going to feel guilty as far as I am concerned we are not together anymore and haven’t slept together for a couple of months now. What a mess though, I should have left before we moved in together.

  I call Bella, ‘hi Hun, how is it?’ she answers her voice anxious.

  ‘The hotel is great, the weather is good’ I inform her.

  ‘And the company?’ she tests.

  ‘Actually the company is very nice, I haven’t seen the wedding party since I arrived’ I tease.

  ‘Aw you aren’t wandering alone are you Abi? Come home, leave the bastard’ Bella is angry.

  ‘I am fine, any luck on the rooms to let?’ I press.

  ‘Yes, I am looking into two options at the moment we will sort it… have you informed him you are leaving?’

  ‘Yes, he doesn’t care he literally shrugged his shoulders’

  ‘You sound happy, everything ok?’ she sounds confused.

  I smile ‘actually more than fine I am partaking in a little holiday fling’ I cannot keep it to myself.

  She screams, ‘what??? Who?’

  I laugh, ‘I will tell you details later I need to get up in case Scott comes back to the room he slept elsewhere last night which I am thankful for’

  ‘No! Tell me now!’ she wines but I laugh.

  ‘Nothing much to tell now except to say that I am being escorted around Vegas by a gorgeous green eyed man’

  ‘Oh my god’ she gushes ‘I am so happy for you, be careful though he may be a serial killer’ she adds and I smile at our identical thoughts.