Us: Book Three in The Everett Gaming Series

by Drew Sera

  One of the photographers grabbed a picture of Sydney and I as we made our way to our table as people were getting seated for dinner. Our table consisted of my Chief Operations Officer, Mitch, and his wife, my secretary, Leslie, and her husband, Anthony’s secretary, Hannah, and her husband, James and Neil, Sydney, Anthony and myself.

  Everyone at our table was seated and Sydney and I were the last to arrive. As we approached, all the men stood, and I nodded my greeting to them. I pulled Sydney’s chair out and sat to her right and Anthony was already seated at her left. Anthony kept his hands occupied at the table with glasses or wine goblets, and I know it was killing him not to be able to reach out and touch her. He winked at her though and got her to smile.

  As we ate dinner, everyone talked about their families and holiday plans. Many eyes were on Sydney and I, and while I loved it, I also worried about how Anthony was feeling. Anthony listened quietly to everyone talking about their plans and when Sydney spoke, he stopped eating and gave her his full attention. It gave him an out to be able to gaze at her without anyone wondering why he was looking at her. Anthony loved her and he deserved to be able to enjoy this evening with her too. It was just too fucking dangerous. We’d be subjected to rumors and criticism, and I didn’t want that for Sydney. Or Anthony.

  After dinner I went up to the podium and gave my short speech. I thanked everyone for a wonderful year and for being a huge part of our success in snagging the Cheng Hotels contracts.

  I returned to my table as the dessert was being served. Sydney had the chocolate pie that was loaded with whip cream and red and green white chocolate shavings while Anthony and I, along with most of our table, opted for the cheesecake. More conversations broke out at the table, and Sydney was listening intently to Leslie talking about an upcoming vacation her family was planning. Each time I glanced at Sydney, I could see that Anthony was looking at her. Some whip cream was on Sydney’s lip and as she reached for her napkin I saw Anthony’s hand start towards her but he quickly grabbed hold of his water glass and gazed at her while she dabbed her mouth with the napkin.

  Mitch stood up and looked over at Anthony and I. “Time to play Santa, boys.”

  Anthony, Mitch, and I then went around to all the tables as everyone was eating dessert and thanked each of them and passed out the Christmas gifts. I gave each of my employees $1,000 along with a Christmas card that Anthony, Mitch, and I personally signed. I didn’t want to leave Sydney by herself even though she would have been fine. It was the Dom in me not wanting to leave her alone or out of my sight. I gave her the gift bag with all of the Christmas cards to hold. She walked around with us and handed me the cards to pass out at each table. Just about everyone at each table greeted Sydney and commented on how pretty her dress was, or about her necklace or how well she looked. I was proud to have her at my side. Sydney was a part of the Everett Gaming family and was adored by everyone.

  The orchestra began playing, and people started milling about or chatting and dancing and drinking. I headed towards the bar to grab some water for Sydney and a beer for myself. I kept Sydney’s hand in mine as we made our way to the bar. I was glancing around trying to find Anthony when Sydney slowed her pace, and I stopped to see what was catching her attention. I thought it might be Anthony, but no. Off to the side was Karl sitting alone, drinking. He had arrived alone, and I had heard from Leslie that he and his wife had finally separated.

  “What, baby?”

  Before she could say anything, Karl stood up making eye contact with her and headed over to us. I stood up straighter and put my arm around her shoulder. He now stood in front of us and was looking between the two of us.

  “Merry Christmas, Karl,” Sydney said and smiled at him.

  Karl downed the rest of his alcohol and nodded. “Sydney, I’m very sorry about that morning. I think about it often.”

  “It’s okay, Karl. It was just a mistake. On both of our parts.” Sydney looked down and then back up at him. “And, I wanted to thank you for it, actually.”

  “Come again? You want to thank me for being a jerk and yelling at you?”

  “Yes. Um, it’s complicated. But if you hadn’t yelled at me, Colin wouldn’t have heard. If Colin hadn’t heard, he wouldn’t have come out to check on me. And then I’d still be trapped in a bad situation. So, thank you.”

  My God, this girl. She is so forgiving and had such a huge, generous heart. Karl looked at her before looking over at me. I’ve known that the morning that he yelled at her was something he’s regretted. It weighed on him and then when he heard some vague info as to why she took a leave of absence, it compounded the weight. Sydney took that heavy weighted feeling off his chest tonight and he looked forever grateful.

  “Thank you, Sydney. Take care and enjoy your holidays. You’ve made my night.” He looked up at me, nodded, and walked away.

  I turned and took her in my arms and looked down into her blue sparkling eyes. “You didn’t have to do that, baby.”

  “Yes, I did. It was an accident. He didn’t mean to yell at me. But I’m glad he did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have you and Anthony.”

  I bent and kissed her passionately - long and hard. I loved her and didn’t care if anyone I worked with saw. When we pulled apart over her shoulder a distance away, I could see Anthony watching us. His face was stressed as he looked away and then eventually walked towards a few of his finance guys. I knew that tonight would be difficult on him, and him witnessing that probably didn’t help.

  We walked around a bit more and I was pulled into conversations. Sydney sat down at our table to chat with Leslie and her husband some. I kept her in my sight as I talked to other people. Finally, I was able to relax and give my full attention to the people I was talking to when I saw Anthony appear at the table. He put his hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table and bent to say something in her ear. She blushed, smiled, and set her hand in his. I turned my full attention back to my conversation with Mitch and a few other guys from the office.

  25

  Saturday, December 14th

  Anthony

  She was sitting with Leslie at our table while Colin and Mitch were talking a few feet away. Colin’s attention wasn’t with his immediate company though. The fire in my stomach saw this as an opportunity. I walked towards Sydney and gazed at her shoulder blades as they peeked out of her dress. Her back was to me as she spoke with Leslie. I didn’t care if I was interrupting. I set my hand down on the table next to her elbow and leaned down and locked my other hand down on the back of her chair. It would keep me from touching her.

  “Since this is your first dress up party, is it safe for me to assume that you’ve never danced with anyone, sunshine?” My voice next to her ear startled her at first, and then she relaxed and her posture softened. Those fucking blue eyes flicked up and grabbed me by the balls. She was burning too, just like me.

  “Your assumption is correct. I’ve never danced with anyone.”

  I opened my mouth and her heated gaze wiped the words that I was going to say right out of my brain. I tore my eyes off of hers and turned to face Leslie and her husband. They were both giving me their attention.

  “Please excuse my interrupting. I’m going to steal her for a few minutes for a dance. Colin’s dancing is terrible and she shouldn’t be subjected to it. Please excuse us,” I said and returned my eyes back to Sydney. “Miss Burke…”

  Leslie smiled and said “how nice of him” to her husband. I held my hand out to Sydney and she placed her tiny hand in mine.

  “Mr. Graves,” Sydney said in a matter of fact tone with a smile plastered all over her face.

  When her hand touched mine I felt a surge of endorphins wash over me. I led her to the dance floor and turned to face her. I had to keep my face from looking so full of lust, but it was fucking hard. She was all decked out and her hands were in mine and my collar was around her delicate neck. At least I could touch her for a few minutes and no one would think anything of Colin’s be
st friend and right hand man taking Sydney out on the dance floor.

  “You can dance, Anthony?” she asked me, sounding astonished.

  I raised my eyebrow at her and smiled. I leaned in so only she could hear me. “Do you doubt your Dom, sunshine?”

  She turned pink and shook her head at me. I took her right hand and put it on my shoulder, and I curled my hand around her left hand. I placed my other hand on her side just above the chapped skin from the sandpaper and stared into the warm, dark blues.

  I loved her so fucking much that it hurt. It honest to God hurt. I took a steadying breath and hadn’t let my eyes leave hers.

  “Just move with me. Forget everyone else. It’s just you and me, sunshine.”

  Together we moved slowly on the dance floor. She was doing just fine, and as the second song blended to the third and the third to the fourth she relaxed in my hands. I kept my eyes on her. I wanted to tell her that I loved her but I bit it back. This wasn’t the place. While I was hanging out by the bar with my Coke, I doodled her name on a napkin with my declaration of love surrounding her name. I have it safely tucked in my suit. I gazed into her eyes and saw love. She loved me. I knew she did, and I could feel it in the way she touched me. My eyes were practically screaming at her, declaring my love for her. I knew the second I let those words leave my lips, that I’d want to kiss her. And I couldn’t. Not here. Right now, I was her lover’s best friend and business partner. I couldn’t let on anything else. I had to keep myself under control. I was at least touching her.

  “Do you know how badly my fingers have itched all night to touch you, to feel your hand in mine? To have you close enough so all I can smell is your vanilla scented body. To feel the warmth of your body as I hold it against mine. It’s been driving me crazy,” I whispered to her. It took every ounce of control for me to not pull that earlobe into my mouth.

  Sydney was looking up at me like she wanted me to touch her more. She continued to smile at me and gaze in my eyes. I realized that she is not as controlled as Colin and I can be. I didn’t want her to attempt to kiss me on the dance floor. The closer we danced and the more we gazed at one another, I felt it was a possibility. The air between us sizzled and the fireworks were closer to going off. She tilted her head and gave me a flirty smile when she felt my erection brushing against her. She opened her mouth to speak but I stopped her. I scanned the room and found Colin talking with Mitch at the bar still.

  “Sunshine, do you see Colin over by the bar? He’s with Mitch.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Sir.

  “Go over there and stay with him.”

  I let go of her and headed out of the ballroom.

  26

  Saturday, December 14th

  Colin

  Sydney appeared by my side and I pulled her close. She looked confused about something, and I glanced around for Anthony but didn’t see him. While I was talking to Mitch, my cell phone vibrated in my suit jacket. I pulled my phone out and read the text from Anthony.

  AG: 18th floor, room 1844. I need her.

  I smiled and handed Sydney my cell phone and returned my attention to Mitch.

  “Mitch, Sydney and I need to be going. Please give my best to your wife. I’ll see you next week.”

  I gathered up Sydney and led her to the tower elevators. Once we were in the elevator I punched the button for the eighteenth floor and then pressed her against the hand rail. Her hands were holding onto the railing, and I covered them with mine while I devoured her lips. I ran my hand over her breasts and nipped her lower lip.

  “Baby, Anthony had a hard time keeping his hands off you tonight. I was greedy with you.”

  “I know, Sir. He told me it’s been driving him crazy tonight while he danced with me.”

  I smiled at her. I had seen Anthony take her to the dance floor and watched him slow dance with her. I knew it was murder on him not to be able to get any closer to her. His needs list must include that he is able to touch her. I’m going to talk to him about making sure he communicates that to Sydney.

  “Baby, you two looked great on the dance floor.” I took her face in my hands and looked in her eyes. “You were amazing tonight. Everyone was happy to see you, and I was so happy that you were by my side.” I kissed her again and only parted when the elevator chimed at arriving on the eighteenth floor. We found room 1844 and I knocked on the door.

  Anthony opened the door looking needy and agitated. His hair looked like he had been running his hands through it. I suppose it gave him something to do with his hands for the evening. His tie was loosened and suit jacket was draped over a chair. I followed inside behind Sydney, shutting and locking the door behind me.

  Anthony had Sydney against a wall and was taking her lips by the time I turned around. He was needy after a night of having to keep his hands away from her. Seeing how badly he needed her caught me off guard a bit. He was making a lot of swift and rough movements. He was rough with taking his tie off and unbuttoning his shirt and his hands were running up and down her abdomen, squeezing and rubbing as they went. He needed to slow down and calm down. This was a glimpse of intense Anthony.

  From his pocket, he pulled out her play collar and let it dangle in front of Sydney. Her reaction was unmistakable. I could see the heat and excitement in her eyes.

  “Open,” he said as he tapped Sydney's chin while running his fingers over her lips.

  When Sydney opened her mouth, Anthony placed an end of the play collar in her mouth. He reached around to undo the clasp of her necklace and handed it to me while he placed the play collar around her neck. Their eyes never left one another. Anthony's fingers moved between the collar and her neck to ensure it wasn’t too tight, and he tugged her closer until his mouth consumed hers. Again he had her against the wall and was making a lot of swift movements.

  I walked over and pushed on his shoulder to get him walking ahead of me, and I took hold of Sydney’s hand and tugged her to follow us.

  “Anth.” I turned and looked at Sydney. Her eyes were still clear and her cheeks still felt nice and warm. “Go stand by the window, baby.” I stood between the two of them but faced Anthony, blocking his view of Sydney. If nothing else I thought it might give him a minute to compose himself and slow down. He had been taking some deep breaths, and I knew he knew, that he needed to calm down. “Anth, take it easy. She’s right here and you can take your time. No need to rush.”

  He looked at me, catching onto me telling him that he could take his time instead of us. I was going to let him take the reigns tonight. He had to pick up after my mess at Irons the other night. On top of which I had a couple drinks tonight and never played with alcohol in my system. I put my arm around his shoulder as we both looked at Sydney.

  “Our gorgeous girl is standing there waiting for your instructions.” I slapped his shoulders and went over to sit on the couch to watch. Anthony can be very intense when he goes in full Dom mode. Sydney hasn’t seen it yet and I hoped that when she does see it, that it won’t scare her. She’s built quite a bond with Anthony, and she knows he’d never hurt her.

  Anthony stood there in his suit pants and partially opened shirt as he kept his gaze on Sydney and slowed his breathing. I figured he just needed to get her in his hands and then he’d be okay. But his stare was very intense, and then I could tell with the sound of his voice that he might try to push things tonight. I was glad I was here.

  “Remove your dress.” Anthony stayed at the distance where I left him at by the foot of the bed and was about ten feet from Sydney.

  Sydney’s eyes were glued to Anthony’s as she reached behind her and unzipped her dress letting it fall off her shoulders until it slid down her body and pooled at her feet.

  27

  Saturday, December 14th

  Anthony

  Fuck me! I wasn’t expecting the new lingerie to be hiding under the sexy dress. I wasn’t going to last long. I shut my eyes and took some additional deep breaths. When I opened my eyes again,
her lethal eyes were staring at me, begging me to take control.

  Could she handle it? I wanted and needed to test those waters, but I was nervous to do so tonight. It’s been a great evening and I’d hate to scare her or push her too hard. But the reality was that eventually, Colin and I needed to know where the boundary line was at. She looked so good standing there wearing our play collar around her neck.

  The lacy black bra screamed at me to touch her and rub her breasts over the fabric. I could see right through the lace at her soft skin to the pink of her nipples and saw how hard they were already. The matching panties were see through lace and allowed me to see her bare skin. She stood there in that black lace with the picturesque Las Vegas Strip dazzling behind her beyond a curtain-less window. In that moment, she was every addicts worst temptation and I was the addict.

  “Turn around. Let me see your ass.”

  As she turned I could tell pretty quickly that she was in a thong. Fuck. I swallowed hard.

  “Turn back around. Take your bra off.”

  Ever so slowly she unhooked it and let it drop to the floor. She stood in her thong and heels and her eyes hadn’t once dropped or given me any indication that she was afraid. The charm on her play collar shimmered on her neck. I could tell that she was turned on and eager, and I was getting lost in her eyes. Lost in her soul. My voice remained raw.

  I sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at her. My eyes traced every inch of her sexy body from top to bottom with the electric glow of Vegas caressing her. I parted my legs more and pointed to the floor between them. Without hesitation, Sydney walked over to me and knelt between my legs facing me. I gazed in her eyes but wanted her to face Colin. I wanted him to sit there and ache and burn like I had tonight. I motioned for her to turn so her back was to me as she knelt there.