One Night Gamble

by Katherine Garbera

  He wasn’t sure that they would ever have more than this one night together, and from past experience, he knew that would have to be enough for him. So he’d make this last until morning, and then they’d both go back to their regular lives.

  But for tonight, she was his.

  He took her arm, nibbling his way down it as he walked around in front of her again. Her hand went to the buttons of his shirt.

  Her fingers were cool against his chest and he felt the brush of her nails against his skin as she slowly undid his buttons. She stopped when she encountered his belt buckle and then brought both her palms to his chest. She spread her fingers wide and swept them up and down his torso, caressing him. Then she flexed her fingers, and he felt the bite of her nails as she lightly scraped his nipple and then moved her hand down the line of hair that covered his chest, tapering down to his groin.

  His cock was full and strained against the zipper of his trousers and he shifted his legs to get some relief. But that only gave his erection room to grow. Her hand moved lower, brushing over his straining penis, and he groaned. A delicious sensation spread down his spine and he reached behind her to undo the catch that held her strapless bra in place. The fabric fell away from her body and to the floor. He turned them to face the mirror as her hand brushed his cock again.

  He wanted this to last. He hadn’t asked for her dress so that he could spill himself in his pants. He was always good at restraint, at playing the long game. He knew that sometimes it was better to let a winning hand go, taking a loss to win in the end. Though he knew that women weren’t like cards, he was sure he’d be better served if he drew this out.

  He turned her in his arms so that they both were facing the mirror. Her breasts were full, her nipples hard. With his fingers, he slowly moved his way up her body, cupping one of them in his hand, then rubbing his palm over her nipple. The distended tip begged for his lips but he waited. He took his time, teasing her as he let his mouth suckle on her neck. In the mirror, he saw her eyes close and her head fall to the side to give him further access.

  He shifted his hands, moving one up to her neck and the other down her stomach, pushing his fingers into the top of her panties, cupping her mound. The heat of her body was a brand on his skin and he parted her, searching for the center of her pleasure. Finding it, he touched her lightly and her mouth opened on a moan.

  She allowed her head to fall farther back against his shoulder and he lowered his mouth to hers, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth as he cupped her intimately, his finger dancing over her clit, driving her toward pleasure.

  Her hips rubbed against his engorged cock and he shifted himself away from her. But then, missing the feel of her buttocks against him, he thrust himself back against her and pushed his hand lower into her panties, until could trace the opening of her body with his finger. She was hot and wet and when he entered her, she tore her mouth from his and her hand moved to cover his where he held her.

  She pushed herself against him, rocking against the finger in her body, and he used his thumb to catch her clit with each thrust of her hips. Her head rolled back against his shoulder and her free hand came up to pinch her nipple. He brushed her hand aside and did that for her.

  She continued to rock against him until he felt her tightening around his finger and she cried out his name, arching against him as her orgasm rolled through her.

  …

  Talia had never experienced anything like being with Casey. She’d been so focused on school and working that there hadn’t been time to indulge herself in something that felt so good.

  She opened her eyes and saw that he was watching her in the mirror. Their eyes met and she smiled. He returned her smile, but then added a slight grimace. She felt his erection, still hot and hard, pressed against her backside.

  “That looked…hot. I knew once I got close to you, that fire you have was going to burn me.”

  She wasn’t sure how to take that, so she turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. His hands slid over her body, cupping her ass as she went up on tiptoe and drew his mouth down to hers.

  She wanted a kiss that showed him that she still wanted him. That the little appetizer orgasm she’d just had wasn’t enough. She wanted everything he had to give her and she wasn’t about to stop.

  He lifted her off her feet and placed her on the hall table, right on top of the diamond. The wood was cool against the back of her thighs and she shifted so she felt more secure. He stepped forward, his trouser-clad legs pushing her bare thighs farther apart.

  She locked her heels together behind his hips and reached up to touch his chest. He had a tattoo on the muscles over his left pec and she traced it. It was a winning card hand. If she needed further proof that this man was dangerous to her heart, this was it.

  Her arms fell away from him, but he caught her hand, lifting it to his mouth and pressing a kiss in the center of her palm. Sensation spread up her arm from the touch of his lips, and her nipples, which were already hard from his teasing, tightened.

  Her breasts felt so full and needy. He drew one finger down the center of her body, the backs of his fingers brushing against the sides of her breasts as he moved down toward her belly button. He wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her off the table and pulling her panties down her legs and off. He dropped them on the floor behind him and stepped back, his eyes never leaving her body.

  She had never thought of her body as pin-up worthy, but the appreciation in his eyes made her rethink that. She leaned back on her elbows and arched her back slightly so that her breasts were thrust forward. Then she parted her legs so that the feminine secrets between them were revealed and watched him as he studied her.

  His hand moved to his cock, stroking himself through his pants, and she smiled when he groaned as he realized what he was doing.

  “Are you on the pill?”

  “I am. But I still need you to use a condom,” she said. Her life was one big chaotic mess, and more often than not, she tended to stumble deeper into it. She wasn’t taking any chances.

  “Of course,” he said.

  “Will you stay here…just as you are…while I go and get something?” he asked.

  She nodded and he pivoted on his heel, walking down the hall and disappearing through one of the doorways. He was back not even a minute later, bare-chested, with a box of condoms in hand.

  He was all tanned skin and muscles. The tattoo which had put her off earlier, she simply ignored. This was a hookup. Sex. Nothing more. It didn’t matter to her if he lived his life on the roll of the dice, because in the morning she’d be gone.

  He put the box on the table behind her and took one out of it, placing it right next to her. Then he stepped back between her legs, as if no time had passed. Putting his hands on her hips, he drew her forward until she felt the ridge of his cock against her center.

  Then, finally, he lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was deep and took everything she had to give. He left no room for doubt or thinking. This was carnal and real. She firmly shut her mind off and focused on the way he felt. On the sensation of his hands moving up and down her back as his tongue pushed deeper into her mouth. She felt him rubbing himself against her and reached between their bodies, undoing the button that held his pants closed and then lowering the zipper. She pulled her mouth from his and pushed her hands into the back of his pants, until she could shove the fabric down and out of her way.

  He wore a pair of gray-colored cotton boxer briefs that hugged his body and left nothing to her imagination. He stepped back, kicking the trousers off his feet, and then shoved his underwear down his legs.

  She couldn’t tear her eyes from him. His erection was thick and long, and she couldn’t resist reaching out and putting her hand around it, moving it up and down. When it jumped in her hand, she rubbed her finger over the tip and then pushed her hand lower to cup his balls.

  He moaned again, and she felt the moisture at his tip. Caught it on her finger and
rubbed it into his head.

  He groaned again and pushed her hand off of him, then reached for the condom.

  “Sorry, love, but if I don’t get this on right now, I’m afraid it’s going to be a one-man show tonight. And I’m not interested in playing solitaire.”

  She had to smile at his words. “I’m not interested in that, either.”

  “Good,” he said with a lot of enthusiasm as he tore open the condom packet and rolled it down the length of his cock. He stepped toward her and opened her thighs to make room for him.

  But he didn’t surge forward. Instead, she felt the brush of his lips against her collarbone as his hand came up behind her, holding her with his arm against her back.

  His other hand was on her hip, drawing her closer as she felt his lips on her body. His mouth moved down her side and his hand on her waist drew a pattern against her stomach.

  She arched against him, feeling the need building in her again.

  …

  He was trying to take his time, but honestly, only because the anticipation felt so good. What he wanted was to bury himself deep inside of her and keep thrusting until he came. But he also wanted to make this last. And he had always been good at delayed gratification.

  Though he had to admit, with her, it was a bit harder.

  He focused on her body, on exploring her curves and learning all of her secrets. Her hands tightened on his shoulders as he moved down her torso, lingering over the sensitive skin under her breast and then biting gently at it.

  He nibbled on her and held her under his hands, telling himself that he was in control. But the ache in his groin proved him wrong. Her nails dug into his shoulders and he felt his cock jump. She leaned up, brushing against his chest, urging him on.

  He drew his hand down her spine, tracing his nail carefully down the line of her back and stopping at the indentation above her backside, which he could see in the mirror. He’d moved her so that her back faced the mirror. Already, he knew he’d never forget the memory of seeing her arch up toward him on the table.

  Hell.

  He was never going to be able to enter his home again and not see her here, wordlessly begging him to take her.

  Her eyes drifted closed as he drew his finger around her nipple. It was velvety compared to the satin smoothness of her breast. He brushed his finger back and forth until she bit her lower lip and shifted in his arms.

  She moaned his name, and it went right through him. There was so much need and longing and demand in her voice. He wanted to give her everything he had, but not here. Not on the table.

  “Wrap your legs around my hips.”

  She did as he asked and he cursed under his breath as her center rubbed over his cock. He grabbed the box of condoms, guessing that once wasn’t going to be enough with her, and then held her close to him with one arm as he carried her up the sweeping staircase to his bedroom. He walked straight to the king-sized bed and sat on the edge. She shifted, dropping her knees on the mattress beside him, then rubbing her center over his erection. He nearly came right there.

  Trying to regain control, he scraped his fingernail over her nipple and she shivered in his arms. He pushed her back a little so he could see her entire torso. Her breasts were bare, nipples distended and begging for his mouth. He lowered his head and suckled.

  He held her still with a hand on the small of her back, burying his other hand in her hair and arched her over his arm. Both of her breasts were thrust up at him. He felt as if he had a winning hand, but couldn’t reveal it to anyone else. She was his partner in bed, but his dealings with women had taught him not to show any vulnerability. But hell, it was hard not to.

  Her eyes were closed, her hips moving subtly against him, and when he blew on her nipple, he saw gooseflesh spread down her body.

  “Are you going to make me wait all night?” she asked teasingly, her hand going to his erection.

  “Not another moment,” he said, shifting between her legs and pushing up into her.

  He held her hips steady and entered her slowly, deeply until he was fully seated. Her eyes widened with each inch he gave her. She clutched at his hips as he started thrusting, holding him to her, her eyes half closed, and her head tipped back.

  He leaned down and caught one of her nipples in his teeth, scraping it very gently. She started to tighten around him, her hips moving faster, demanding more. But he kept the pace slow, steady, wanting her to come again before he did.

  He suckled her nipple and rotated his hips to catch her pleasure point with each thrust, and he felt her hands in his hair clenching as she threw her head back and let her climax rip through her.

  He varied his thrusts, finding a rhythm that would draw out the tension at the base of his spine. She scraped her nails down his back, pulling him to her. His sac tightened and his blood roared in his ears as he felt everything in his world center on this one woman.

  He thrust into her again and again, until he was completely drained, and then fell back on the bed, bringing her with him. She lay her head on his chest, her face turned away from his tattoo, and he held her tight as their breathing slowed.

  She snuggled closer to him. Though he knew he should soon ask her to leave, that things would be more complicated if she stayed, he wanted to keep her with him for a bit longer. Wanted this winning streak—and tonight had definitely felt like one—to last.

  He shifted her head onto a pillow then got up to deal with the condom. When he came back, he saw she was sleeping and climbed into the bed next to her, pulling her into his arms.

  He had played the game too long to believe the feeling inside of him was anything other than temporary. Like every winning hand he’d ever had, he knew the next one would be a challenge, not something that came easily. But as he watched her sleep in his arms, he forgot all about that.

  Chapter Five

  She couldn’t believe it! Here she was, sitting in the corporate office of the Jokers Wild Casino, meeting with the three owners. And wasn’t it just perfect that one of the men interviewing her was Casey—the guy she hooked up with the night before.

  It looked like she had the same luck her father had, which was to say, none at all. That was why she never placed a bet, never took a chance at anything.

  And normally, she didn’t. But Casey… He had those gorgeous eyes, and a body that was made for sin. But he’d been so tempting, and she was so tired of this careful life she was living.

  She glanced at the door and thought about running. He arched one eyebrow at her, almost as if he was daring her. But what did he want her to do? Leave? Stay?

  She thought of all the things she’d managed to do in her short life, things that might have broken another woman. Like working out a deal with a loan shark to save her grandmother’s home, and going to college at night to finish her degree while working two crappy jobs to make the payments.

  Casey was just a one-night stand. Nothing more. But this was her future and she wasn’t about to walk away.

  He was very professional during the meeting. She had to give him that. In no way did he indicate that he’d seen her naked the night before, or that she’d kissed every inch of him.

  Seeing him in his suit and tie made her realize that he was the full package. And of course, now that she knew his full name, she might have been able to guess at who he was. But he always wore dark shades and a hoodie pulled up around his face during all of the high-stakes matches he’d played. In fact, his promo picture had him posed that way.

  So, in a way, it wasn’t her fault.

  Ugh.

  Now she sounded like her dad, justifying the bad decision she’d made.

  “Ms. Spencer?”

  “Hmm?” she asked. Was it a rule that all three of the men who owned the casino had to be hot? One of the other partners spoke to her. He had close-cropped hair and eyes that were an icy shade of blue. Dressed all in black, he had a quiet presence about him. Him she knew. If she’d met him in a club, she wouldn’t have slept with
Nicholas because his posters actually showed his face.

  “We were wondering what ideas you had about building a community aside from the typical gamer rewards,” Nicholas asked.

  She got a hold of herself. She was going to get this job. “Well, I’d start by reaching out to other established fan bases, like the magic community and the motocross community. We’ll want to offer them something other than just gambling, because for a lot of them, a Vegas vacation includes their families.”

  “Good. I like that,” Nicholas said.

  “I like that as well. Darien wants to set up a mid-morning session for anyone interested in learning how the stunts are done, and we are in talks with our insurance company as to how to do it. But we might be able to work with you on that project as well,” Rio Mitchell said. Rio had been introduced to her as Darien’s younger brother.

  He was skinny and had the look of someone who hadn’t yet matured into their body. His face was lean and he had a boyishness about him when he smiled.

  “Sounds great. This type of community building is something I am really good at,” Talia said. She’d worked as an intern last year for one of the biggest social media marketing firms in the country and had learned a lot from the experience. She planned to use everything she had to get this high paying job.

  They continued to question her and she answered everything they threw at her. When the interview was over, Ms. Adana, the hiring manager, escorted her back downstairs. Talia handed over her security badge and thanked her for the interview.

  “We will be in touch in the next few days. Everyone wants to move quickly on this and it’s in your favor that you can start as soon as we need you,” Ms. Adana said.

  “Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you,” Talia said.

  Ms. Adana went back to her office, and Talia turned to leave, not lingering in the hotel lobby section of the casino or glancing at the rows of slot machines just off the lobby. She just needed to get outside so she could breathe. She hadn’t been aware of how tense she’d been until she stepped out into the July Nevada heat and took a deep breath.