The Gamble: A Novel (18 page)

Now completely exposed as I'm learning he likes me, he takes a moment to examine my tensing body. The hunger in his eyes briefly subsides. “You're nervous.”

Wouldn't you be if it was your first time and your boyfriend’s millionth. Oh. No. Wait. It's Luca, so probably billionth. Forgive me for miscounting.

I try to play it off. “No...”

He cocks his head with a crooked smile. “You're not very good at lying to be an agent's future assistant.”

“I don't like lying to people I actually care about.”

“Yet here you are doing it.”

Growling, I grump, “Fine. I'm a little nervous because....well because....”

“Because you've never had anyone taste that pussy before. I know.”

Quickly I snip, “And how do you know?”

You didn't fucking tell him, did you?

“Because if you had we would've been tongue fucking the first night.”

Poetic.

He gently runs his hands down my inner thighs, his thumbs grazing the wetness that's leaked from my pussy already. “Trust me, baby. I promise to take good care of you.”

The softness in his tone lets my shoulders relax.

“Keep your eyes on me. Understood?”

I give him a small nod.

Carefully, he sinks his body between my trembling thighs. My eyes attempt to shut and he demands, “Watch.”

After I nod again his tongue snakes out of his mouth. Luca licks lightly. The sensation instantly surges through me, but before I have time to relish it, he repeats the action, this time slightly harder.

Breathless, I beg, “More...”

“Patience,” he commands and starts teasing again.

Luca doesn't intend for this to become an argument by the way he rolls his tongue around my clit. Unexpectedly, the kid gloves are dropped and his mouth begins an erotic expedition. He delivers sucks and spins so strident it's as if he's stumbled upon an abandoned feast of the Gods and is trying to steal every single morsel he can before they return.

Shit...Why have I waited so long for this?!

I clutch the sheets desperate to shut my eyes and surrender to the satisfaction yet continue to watch the sexiest sight I've ever been a part of. Selfishly, he continues to indulge in my pussy, almost unaware of the moans reverberating off the bedroom walls. “Luca...”

He hums his approval, the vibration having me attempt to clutch my thighs together. With the new information he redirects more of his attention to my clit, hums again, and sucks softly. With celerity, he dedicates all of his efforts to creating a combination of tongue lashing to compliment the change of tempo he's chosen.

My moans slide into pleading pants, “L...L...”

Luca changes the pressure, alternating between hard and soft. My hips rock eagerly to meet each action, each time unsure of the delight that's going to be delivered, but certain my pussy will love it. After what feels like eons of his salacious torture, all the muscles in my body begin to strain, preparing for the inevitable blinding bliss, which is only breaths away.

Aware of the change as if he has studied a manual of my body, Luca removes his mouth but keeps the heat of his voice on top of my pussy. “You're about to come...”

Annoyed and frustrated by the abrupt stopping, I grouse, “I
was
...”

He toys with my clit momentarily to remind me he's still in control. “I can leave you like this...”

Instantly I pout, “No thank you.”

Luca's tongue lightly licks me again. “You want me to make this pretty pussy come?”

That's the point of oral sex, right? Is he looking for a trick answer?

“Yes.”

“In Spanish.”

“Si.”

He gives me another stroke with his tongue. “Again...”

Now caught on to giving him what he expects in return to giving me what I want, I playfully repeat, “Si.”

In one slick motion, his mouth resumes it's task and he's completely engulfed me once more. To my surprise it doesn't take long before I'm back to the withering, whining heap of whimpers I was.

“Si,” I whisper in another plea.

A growl trundles through him and accompanies his tenacious tongue.

My eyes fall shut as I fall over the orgasm brink. With my hands death gripping my sheets and my thighs clamped around his head, a fervid scream shakes the room. “Luca!” Shameless in my determination to seize every unbelievable thrum roaring through my system, I arch into his still engaged tongue, and allow for the rapture to rip me into a million pieces.

Finally finished, he releases me and I flop completely backwards against my pillows.

Am I...alive?

I struggle to refill my lungs and open my eyes. When I've managed to at least remember how breathing works, I lift my lids to see him leaned back and beaming.

Smug bastard.

With an annoyed expression, I sigh, “Seriously? Are you just sitting there, staring at my pussy?”

Luca lightly laughs. “I happen to be admiring my handiwork.”

“Ugh,” I gag.

Why doesn't this surprise me?

“We'll do this again in about...what? Five or six minutes?”

Bewildered, I shoot up onto my elbows. “What?”

“That's enough time for me to rehydrate.”

I move my mouth unsure of what to say.

What
can
I say? No thank you? One round of mouth hugs was plenty?

“You didn't really think this was a lick it and bounce did you?”

A little...

He expands his grin and slowly straddles me. “That was like a pre-work out snack. Just enough to start the day, baby.”

“St-st-start?”

“My mistake was saying yes to meeting the guys for a volleyball game later at the lake,” he starts, his forehead now against mine. “Yours was assuming one taste would be enough for me.”

My bad?

Luca sucks my bottom lip between his teeth. A sexual whine escape at the same time my pussy clenches ready for another round.

It would be rude to turn down such a wonderful service.

His hand slips two fingers inside the tense area. “Time for another Spanish lesson...”

I softly moan an objection. “What happened to five or six minutes?”

“Can't wait that long,” he whispers as he fuses our lips again.

Lord help me, I can't either. Every time we're not twisted in a fit of anxious touches and hungry mouths, I find myself desperate to be back in that state. We haven't even been doing this shit long! If I'm this greedy now, I'm a bit terrified what I'll be like once we start sleeping together. Well,
if
we start sleeping together. I really do know Luca as well as he knows himself and chances of him not growing bored with this change of life style before I feel like I'm ready are thinner than the underwear I wasn't wearing. It's bound to happen. The only thing I can do is enjoy the ride and hope there's a tiny possibility I'm wrong.

Luca

I roll my eyes at the text message.

Father: If I give you extra money on top of the extra money I'm already giving you next month, will you at least CONSIDER having dinner or meeting me for a drink?

Buying his son's affections is what he's best at. Despite his greatest efforts I'm still not giving up the chance to have dinner with my girlfriend to have dinner with him instead. I would appreciate it if he would get off my jock about father-son bonding. Fuck. The sooner I can get my business started the sooner I can cut off all communications with him.

I slide my phone into my pocket, adjust the gym bag on my shoulder, and walk into the apartment where my best friend is walking out of his bedroom tucking in his shirt while my girlfriend is on the couch watching.

This looks worse than it is. Let me rephrase that. This better fucking look worse than it is.

Casually I walk over to the couch, lean over the edge and demand, “Kiss me.”

Alexxa glances up, smiles, and does.

Had a 50/50 shot of her telling me to fuck off. One more thing I love about dating her. Never exactly sure of which response I'm going to get.

After our lips fall apart I question, “Why's he all sweaty?”

“I just got out of the shower jackass,” Warren snaps. “And you can ask me questions too. I am in the room.”

I give him a shrug. “Yeah, but this way pisses you off more.”

He turns his attention to Alexxa. “And this is the asshole you
want
to date?”

She giggles, “He's got a way with his tongue.”

Warren stops fiddling with his belt. “Please tell me you mean words.”

“Nope,” I answer with a smirk. “She means tongue.”

He groans and grumbles something before clearly stating, “I am off to work. You two want me to bring you home anything?”

“Cheese-”

“Nope,” my voice cuts off hers.

Alexxa turns around to glare at me. “Excuse you. I don't stand between you and your bad taste in beer. Do not stand between me and my great taste in Mexican food.”

“Tex-Mex,” I correct her.

There's a fucking difference.

“He doesn't need to bring us anything home because we've got a date tonight.”

“What?” They question in unison.

You didn't have to join them.

“With each other?” Warren says in a curious tone.

I shoot him my middle finger.

“Valid question,” she agrees.

“You know, I may not be the greatest at this boyfriend thing, but I do know you're supposed to be on
my team
during moments like this.”

Alexxa shrugs. “Eh.”

“Yes.” I brace my arms against my chest. “We have a date together. I planned something.”

The two of them cock their heads to the side as their eyes grow wide in fear.

“Fuck you both for the look.”

“You've never planned a date,” Warren sighs.

“I planned the hockey game date we went on.”

My roommate shakes his head. “That doesn't count. You bought the tickets and were gonna go whether you went officially or not. To classify that even as an accidental date would be pushing it.”

Alexxa nods.

Shouldn't she be on my fucking team about this?

“So like I said, you've never planned a date before.”

“I've also never had a girlfriend before either,” I remind the two of them. “Doesn't mean I
can't
.”

Warren's eyes struggle not to glare.

I'm about to pay his rent for another month and couldn't give a fuck about it if I tried hard enough, but this shit? This resentment towards me because now he
thinks
he wants her the way I have her? He needs to fucking drop it. And I mean that shit.

“You really planned a date for us?” Alexxa softly asks. “Like a real one?”

“Yeah.”

“Like something outside of our apartments?”

“Yeah.”

“Something other than a drive-thru?”

Slowly becoming irritated, I grunt, “Yes. Now stop asking questions. I need to shower before we go.”

Warren grabs his keys from the coffee table. “You win?”

“Yeah. 50 to 37.”

“Nice,” he compliments. “Alright, I'm out. You two enjoy your....date, if you're gonna call it that.”

I flash him my middle finger.

Warren briefly chuckles, exits the apartment, and Alexxa wonders out loud, “Do I need to go home and change?”

“Nah.” Leaning down so our faces are close together again I whisper, “But you're always welcome to join me in the shower.”

She gives me a quick kiss. “You smell like eggs and ass. Pass.”

I needed the bump in protein before the game. Damn.

After a quick shower, the two of us are in my Audi heading down town for my surprise.

It's not exactly our first official date. We go out and do shit all the time together. My favorite bar. Grab a burger from her favorite joint. Hang out by the pool or float the river, but this is different. I
planned
for this one. I thought ahead. See. I can do this boyfriend shit sometimes. May not understand all the rules and regulations yet but at least I'm learning.

“Not that I'm ever opposed to coming home to that sexy ass of yours on my couch, but I thought you were working this afternoon, which was why you couldn't come to the game.”

Alexxa stops texting to respond. “I
was
working. I had to go into the office this morning to be trained about some clients by Ken's current assistant, but turns out she gets her morning sickness at noon, so I got to bail early.”

“But you knew I wouldn't be at the apartment. Why didn't you just go home?”

“Did you forget Warren lives there too?”

No. Sometimes I wish she would though. Jealous? What the fuck would I be jealous about? She's
my
girlfriend. She's calling out
my
name during foreplay. I just...I don't fucking like the idea of him being jealous of me. Or fucking up this bet, which would also royally fuck up this relationship. It's gonna sound lame as shit, but I don't really care about it anymore. But...let's just not talk about that fucked up pending doom right now. I'd like to have a good evening.

“Is this the part of the conversation where you tell me you don't want me hanging around with other guys?” Alexxa teases, dropping her phone in the cup holder. “Oh my God, is this where you give me some ridiculous cave man speech and I pretend I love it?”

I roll my eyes. “Blow me.”

Which she has yet to do for the record. Not complaining. Okay maybe a fucking little since this is the longest stretch I've gone without getting one. I will say this. Her hands stay busy and never fail to fucking get me off. She's batting a perfect game. Ha. So am I...

There's a small snicker before she says, “You're jealous I'm hanging out with Warren.”

“Nope.”

“Admit it.”

I give her a stern look.

“Ever since you found out about our slumber parties, you tense up when we're anywhere near each other for too long.”

Sometimes I hate how fucking well she knows me.

“Why didn't you ever tell me about 'em before?”

“Why would I? They didn't fucking matter then, they damn sure don't fucking matter now. The only thing that matters is you're the man whose name I scream like it's the fucking gospel.”

Her response makes me smirk.

The sex gospel of Luca.

“Warren and I are just friends. That's all we'll ever be. Let it go.”

I slip my hand over to fold with hers.

I wasn't feeling insecure. My A game wasn't shaken...

She gives it a small squeeze as if she can hear my thoughts. “Now, are you gonna tell me where we're going?”

“Nope.”

Alexxa pulls her sunglasses over her eyes. “How do you know I'm gonna like it?”

“You think you're the only one who knows someone in this relationship?”

“Sometimes.”

I shoot her a sarcastic stare.

A victorious smile slides on her face. “Seriously, though. What if I don't like it? You made me pass on perfectly good cheese enchiladas and I don't even know what for.”

“Those enchiladas aren't even that fucking great. My ma's are so much better.”

“I wouldn't know. I've never had 'em. Hell, until just this very moment, I didn't even know she made enchiladas.”

Taking the exit ramp, I suggest, “I'll make you a deal. If you hate this date, we'll bail early and I'll take you by the restaurant to get your fill of those pathetic fucking enchiladas. But if you love it, which you will, you spend the night at my place and make me breakfast in the morning.”

She hums, “You seem awfully cocky.”

“Confident.”

“No, cocky.” There's a long pause, but eventually she says, “Fine. You've got a deal.”

“Putting frozen waffles in the toaster doesn't count as breakfast.”

She mutters, “Damn it...”

See. I know her pretty fucking well too.

“For the record, growing up in my house, some days frozen toaster waffles were considered a gourmet treat. You try feeding five girls, making sure their lunches are packed and everyone has everything they need in their backpacks so you don't get the 10 A.M. call one of your kids forgot her pom poms.”

Hearing the slightly bitter tone in her voice tugs at more of the unfamiliar emotions.

She hated being the odd child out. I hated being the
only
child. Guess we're some sort of weird kindred crap or something.

“Or her extra shoes in case she got dirty digging for rocks again?”

Alexxa beams. “They weren't just any rocks. They were
crystals
. Basically diamonds to a seven year old.”

I pull into the paid parking area while she anxiously looks out the window, trying to figure out exactly what's to come. With a crooked grin, I toss the ticket on the dash, and find one of the last spots in the back.

As soon as I kill the engine she sighs, “A full parking lot. Super romantic.”

“We have to walk smart ass.”

“It's like 110 degrees outside.”

“It's actually in the low 90s. Be thankful.”

“I'm thankful for air conditioning.”

I shake my head on a chuckle. “Come on.”