by Abbi Hemp
“You don’t fucking grab me like that. You understand?”
“Everything okay?” the older man wearing a blue uniform asked as he leaned against the front counter.
“We’re fine,” Kenneth yelled then turned to me. “Right? I’d hate for something to happen to your book contract.”
“I don’t need this fucking money, Kenneth. You know what?” I held out the envelope. “Take it. I don’t need anything from you.”
The expression on his face changed from anger to fear in a flash, confusing me.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a weak voice. “You keep it. I’m an asshole. It’s just…You’re so…And I…”
None of his incomplete sentences made sense, but I got the gist of his message. He was in love with me, but I wasn’t in love with him. Unrequited love was the worst, but I couldn’t lead him on.
“I’m leaving now,” I said firmly. “We’ll talk about this incident later, okay?”
“Yeah,” he said then sniffed. “I’m so sorry, Andrea…”
“Goodnight, Kenneth.”
Still clutching the envelope in my right hand, I turned and walked out of the restaurant. Back in my car, I sat behind the steering wheel and took a deep breath before starting up the engine. Screw Tony, Kenneth, Scott and all the other assholes in my life.
On the drive to my house, I swore I was through with all men until I finished my novel. The sooner I could quit my job at the newspaper the better. I did not want to depend on a corporation or a man like Tony who might lose his temper and take it out on me.
I would take care of myself like any strong, modern woman. The closer I got to my empty home, the more I realized isolation wasn’t the solution. Love mattered. Even if Tony and Kenneth were both not matches, someone right for me would come along eventually.
If I told myself that enough, I might actually begin to believe it.
TWENTY-THREE
Tony
I woke up with a hangover and vague, hazy memories of the night before. Andrea had come over right before the game started. The bet. Shit. My heart sunk as the realization of my half-million-dollar debt sunk in. Did I even have that much cash available in the bank?
My head pounded as I remembered drinking a bottle of scotch. They had kicked me off the team, my love interest had freaked out on me, and I’d lost half-a-million-dollars. If more bad news hit me, I wasn’t sure what I would do. It wouldn’t be pretty, that was for sure.
Before I had a chance to wake up, I heard someone pounding on my front door. What the hell? I thought as I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Rent is paid. Maybe it’s Andrea? Where’s my phone? Not seeing it, I stood up and headed downstairs.
“Hold on,” I yelled as the knocking persisted.
When I swung the door open, my heart sank. Jackson Cash, my bookie, stood dressed in the finest tailored suit. Two hulking thugs stood behind him on the porch, staring straight ahead. They were big even for someone like me.
“Hey, Jackson, how’s it going? Some game last night, huh?”
“No bullshit,” he said, looking up at me.
A full foot shorter than me, I shouldn’t have been intimidated by him, but I didn’t want to end up in the hospital or worse. Not over a gambling debt.
“You going to invite me in, or what? Don’t you wear clothes?”
I glanced down at the boxer briefs, the only thing I had on, then stepped back. Jackson and his two thugs walked in. They didn’t take their eyes off me as they stood like two mindless drones.
“You woke me up with your pounding. I wasn’t expecting you here so soon.”
“When you lose half-a-million-dollar bet, you can rest assured the organization will be interested in your well-being until the debt is paid.”
“Have I ever not paid you, Jackson?”
I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I’d thrown some clothes on first.
“No, but you’ve never made a bet this big. And you’re not playing professional ball anymore.” He glanced around. “A pad like this is probably setting you back a pretty penny, not to mention all the cars outside and in the garage. We know you’ll pay. This is just a friendly reminder.”
“Thanks,” I said sarcastically. “Can I go get dressed?”
“I’d rather you hand me a suitcase full of cash.”
“Cash? I don’t keep that kind of money around here,” I said. “Are you kidding me?”
“I didn’t think so, but like I said, this is just a friendly reminder that you owe us.”
“Look, I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but I’m doing fine financially.” I uncrossed my arms. “In fact, why don’t you give me double or nothing on my next game.”
He peered up at me, his eyes narrow slits.
“You can cover it?” he asked.
“I’ll have to ask the organization.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll pick a game coming up.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? It’s better to pay now. If you don’t have the money…”
“I have the fucking money,” I interrupted. “Now do you mind if I go get dressed? Your goons are staring at me inappropriately.”
“We’ll be in touch soon, Mr. Carlotti.”
“Great,” I said, walking over to the door.
I held it open as they walked through. Jackson stopped on the porch and turned around.
“Soon, Mr. Carlotti. No games.”
“You’re so fucking dramatic,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ll call you soon. Or call me. Just don’t stop by unannounced anymore, okay?”
“When you owe the organization as much as you do right now, we’re going to stop by whenever we want. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said then nodded my head.
I closed the door, my heart pounding quickly. While I may have been able to take one of his goons on a good day, with a hangover, both of them would have left me a pile of blood and bones on the floor.
“Fuck,” I muttered, wondering if I should just pay them the half-million and quit before I got even more behind.
On the other hand, if I won the next bet, I wouldn’t owe anything. The money would help me until I cleared my name and got back on the team or found another job. Things are going to work out, I told myself as I headed back upstairs to shower and get ready for the day.
TWENTY-FOUR
Tony
As I packed boxes and prepared to move out of the mansion, I wondered where all my so-called friends had gone. They were around for all the parties, but not a damn one of them showed up to help me move. Word was getting around that I wasn’t well-off financially.
Maybe it’s a good thing, I thought as I marveled at all the junk I had collected over a few short years. I wondered if I should have a huge garage sale and get rid of everything. It wouldn’t cover another five-hundred-thousand-dollar bet, but with no steady paycheck, anything helped.
Halfway through my day, as I separated stuff to sell in the four-car garage, I saw Andrea pull up in her car. While I didn’t think she would bolt because I had no money, I was sure our relationship would change in one way or another. Hell, maybe she’ll end up with that geek.
I walked out of the garage as she stopped. After getting out, she walked over, a cute, multicolored scarf around her neck. She looked even more beautiful than I remembered. She pressed her body against mine and stood up on her toes to kiss me on the lips. I kissed back.
She pulled back and smiled.
“Settle down, big man.”
“It’s good to see you,” I said.
“You too.” She peered around the garage. “You moving?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. Even with a paycheck, this place wasn’t a good idea. Now that I’m unemployed, I need to find somewhere else.”
“At least you’re not unemployable,” she said. “You have any leads on a job yet?”
“No, not really. My reputation is not the best.”
&n
bsp; “Can we go inside? It’s cold.”
“Yeah, let’s go. I can finish this later.”
I put my hand on the small of her back. We walked inside.
“I’m surprised you didn’t hire someone to do it for you.”
“Well, I’m trying to stick to a budget.”
“Good for you.” She turned to me in the mudroom. “About the other night…”
“It’s okay,” I said, cutting her off. “We both acted like idiots.”
“Speak for yourself,” she said. “I meant about Kenneth. You were right about him.”
“The publishing deal wasn’t real?”
“No, that was real, but he made a move on me the other night.”
“Really?” I said, not able to picture it in my mind.
“He tried,” she said as she unwrapped her scarf. “Where are you going to live now?”
“I’m not sure. You know of anywhere.”
She hung the scarf on a peg on the wall then turned to me.
“Well, what about moving in with me?”
I stared down and into her eyes, searching for the truth.
“Are you sure?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Well, we’ve been arguing, and it’s been a while since we’ve been together.”
“You miss me, did you?” she asked, pressing her body against mine.
“I did,” I admitted. “A lot.”
“I’m here now.”
“You are here.”
Instead of opening up and telling her the whole truth about my growing gambling debt, I bent my head and kissed her like it was the last time I would be able to lock lips with anyone. She wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me tight as our tongues swirled around blissfully.
I would tell her everything after I won the next bet. Living with her a few months, I’d have time to get back on my feet financially. I felt her hand on my crotch, squeezing my dick through my jeans.
“Last fuck in this house, we better make it a good one,” she said then resumed kissing me.
I picked her up and carried her into the kitchen. She took off her coat while I did the same. The rest of our clothes melted away like a yard full of snow on a sunny, warm day. Her hot, fit body captivated me.
Unable to wait or move to another room, I picked her up and set her on the marble countertop of the main island in the kitchen. She spread her legs as I stood in between them.
Her fingers ran through my hair as I kissed her breasts, teasing one nipple first then the other. She pushed my head lower. I knew what she wanted. It was the same thing I desired. Bending down, I spread her legs further apart before licking to the left and right of her pussy.
She squirmed on the marble as I teased her, wanting to enjoy every inch of her sex. When she wrapped her legs around my neck, I got the hint and licked her from bottom to top then back again.
Her moans filled the air like a song I’d never heard before. I put my left index finger in my mouth briefly before pushing it into her tight, wet hole. She moaned louder, arching her back.
I slipped the finger all the way in then resumed licking and kissing every inch, each fold of her vital sexual organ. The smell of sex filled my nostrils, causing Ugly Anthony to stir between my legs.
Pushing thoughts of my own pleasure aside for the moment, I concentrated on her pussy, using my many years of experience to play her like a fine-tuned instrument.
I added a second digit to the mix, sliding both of them in and out as I continued to poke and prod her clitoris with the tip of my tongue. Her moans increased in volume.
The beautiful pink flesh looked so inviting. I wanted to stuff it with my cock, fuck it so hard, but I held back, determined to make her scream with my fingers and mouth.
Her body let me know she was close as juices ran down my chin. I didn’t care, totally entranced by her pussy, the way it reacted to my gentle caresses.
“Faster,” she said, her breaths coming quickly.
After taking out my fingers, I traced the entire damn alphabet twice with my tongue against her swollen, plump lips. So pink. Come for me, I thought, alternating between slow and firm to fast and soft.
“Tony,” she cried, pressing my face against her wet pussy.
I reinserted two fingers, wiggling them like snakes as I pushed them deep inside her tight, wet pussy hole. She cried out, piercing the stillness of the empty house as she came.
As her body shook, I pulled my fingers out, kissing her clitoris lightly. She scooted back and pushed my head away. I stared up at her, loving the look of ecstasy on her face as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Wow,” she said. “That was…How did you…”
I grinned as I stood up, holding my cock in my left hand. She moaned again as I rubbed the condom covered tip up and down her juicy slit, paying close attention to the clit.
“Oh, fuck,” she said.
With my hands on the counter beside her, I pushed my rock hard cock all the way inside her. So deep and tight, a magical place, the best I’d ever had before.
She looked into my eyes, a familiar look of hunger and lust as I penetrated her repeatedly, thrusting harder each time. I kissed her shoulder then her mouth.
Our bodies rocked and rolled together like they had been in a band for more than thirty years. She anticipated my every move, somehow enhancing the pleasure.
Her tight pussy clenched my cock tightly as her body shook with an intense orgasm. I continued pounding in and out of her, so close to coming myself.
“Yes,” she cried out.
I thrust into her pussy so wet as it gripped my condom covered shaft.
“Come for me, baby.”
The sound of her voice pushed me over the edge to orgasm-land. My mind cascaded down from the heavens slowly as intense pleasure shot through my body, centered on my cock.
As I filled the condom with my wet, warm seed, I kissed her on the lips. How can she make me feel this way? All the stress and problems in my life came rushing back, but I was able to push it all aside as I stayed deep inside her, never wanting to leave.
She wrapped her arms around me, holding tight as we kissed just as passionately as when we had started. Slowly, I pulled out and stripped off the condom.
“Damn,” I said. “It just keeps getting better.”
“Right?” She laughed. “I need something to drink.”
“Water?”
“Yeah.”
I walked over to the refrigerator, nearly empty, and removed a bottle of water for us to share. After tossing the condom in the trash with my other hand, I handed her the drink.
She took off the cap and lifted the clear, plastic bottle, swallowing the water down. I placed my hand on her back, rubbing it gently. I loved her smooth, silky skin so much.
“I’m going to miss this kitchen,” she said while handing the bottle to me.
I nodded my head then took a long drink. She hopped down and grasped my cock in her hand.
“We’re not done yet.”
“That’s what I like to hear, roommate.”
“Oh, we’re much more than roommates. A roommate would never do what I’m about to do to you?”
“Yeah?”
She nodded slowly.
“Yeah. Let’s go bid your bedroom goodbye with a blowjob.”
“You know how to cheer a man up.”
We made our way through several rooms of the house that night. By our third orgasm each, we were both beat. I laid next to her on my bed after a shower. Her head was resting on my chest with my arm around her back.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked.
She yawned. “About us?”
“Moving in together is a big step.”
“I think we’re ready.”
I yawned.
“Stop that,” she said then giggled.
“You know what I’m going to miss the most about this house?”
“What?”
“Spending tonight with you.”
“Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect.”
“Yeah, especially if you’re going to be looking for a job.”
“Yeah…”
I let my voice drift off. Before I could bring up my gambling debt or plan to get out of it, we both fell asleep, exhaustion finally catching up with us.
My dreams, while great, didn’t compare to the reality I’d shared with Andrea. Thanksgiving with her would be wonderful. We spent the holiday weekend alone at her house, making love at least twice a day. It was the happiest weekend of my life.
TWENTY-FIVE
Andrea
One Week Later
Why did I let him move in with me? The thought hit me as I stared at his dirty, disgusting clothes spread out over the floor. He snored next to me in my queen sized bed, blissfully unaware. I crawled out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.
His razors, shaving cream, after shave, cologne and other crap were all over. Why does he even have all this stuff? Then I remembered – he was always well groomed and smelled great. After taking care of business and washing my hands, I went to the kitchen to make coffee.
Dishes from the night before were piled in the sink even though he had sworn he would take care of them. I took a deep breath, trying to relax. If I didn’t approach him carefully, he might blow up. He hadn’t lost his temper in a week, but I didn’t want to set him off.
Why did I invite him to move in with me so soon? Even though he had lost his job on the team, he surely had a lot of money left over. We had sold almost all of the belongings in his house during the last week. Maybe I should ask him to move out? I wondered.
“Hey, baby,” he said as he walked into the kitchen.
I stood up from where I’d been leaning on the counter by the sink.
“Hey, Tony…”
He stopped in front of me, wearing nothing but a pair of swimming trunks.
“Uh oh. I know that tone.”
I smiled and put my arms around his waist.