The Gamble

by Alice Ward

  He groaned and forced his warm tongue deep into my mouth. With a slight shifting, I was on his lap, straddling him. His hands raced down my back, massaging my aching muscles.

  “Then I’ll let the fish get you.” He smiled and the world melted.

  “No, you won’t.” I tugged at his t-shirt and pulled it over his head to reveal his silky tight skin. It stretched over the thick muscles of his chest and defined rivets of his abdomen. “God, you’re sexy.”

  “All yours, baby.” He touched the side of my face gingerly and licked at his lips. “Tug off your jeans and I’ll work on mine. Just don’t tip the boat. It’s fucking freezing in that water.”

  I laughed. “I thought we were skinny dipping tonight.”

  “You thought wrong. That sounded hot until I stuck my hand in it back at the dock. We wouldn’t have to worry about the fish biting your ass. They’d be after me...” He let the conversation drop, but I couldn’t help but laugh loudly at him.

  He was too much. Too perfect.

  Carefully moving off him, I shimmied out of my jeans and pulled my shirt off as well. My matching bra and panties were only able to be seen due to them being white, but I was grateful for the contrast. He growled softly, and I knew he was as well.

  “Bend forward and put your hands on that bench up there. I wanna eat you out.” He urged me to move to my hands and knees and I did as he asked simply because I’d yet to do so and not be awarded with more pleasure than one person should be privy too.

  The boat rocked a little, and I yelped as my fingers wrapped around the wooded bench in front of me.

  “It’s alright. Just relax.” He lay down on his back and wedged my legs open before sliding in underneath me. “Sit back and let me taste you.”

  Nervousness rolled through me as I glanced down at the bottom of the boat to see him eagerly waiting for me to obey.

  “My panties are still on. Just a minute.” I started to move, but he swatted my ass softly and pulled me down to almost sit on his chest.

  “You’re perfect. Just enjoy me and let the beauty around you steal your heart.” His fingers tugged my panties to the side just before the warmth of his mouth pressed against me.

  I moaned loudly and pressed back, not caring about anything other than the need to seek the experience he was offering me. The sound of his groans mixed with the strong strokes of his tongue against me, lapping and sucking hard and then softly again were almost too much.

  “Delicious,” he murmured from underneath me and ran his hands over my ass and lower back, massaging as he took care of me.

  I jerked up as the orgasm hit me and spread my legs wider, not worrying about the pain that seared my knees from hitting them hard on the bottom of the boat. He mumbled encouragements against my flesh as I rocked against him, riding his face and letting myself enjoy the intensity of the position.

  The stars twinkled in the sky above me, and the lake danced in slow movements as I cried out over and over again.

  Zek squeezed my thighs and continued to lick at me until I moved off of him and let out a low groan.

  “Fuck. That was incredible.” I pressed a shaky hand to my face and turned to sit on the bench.

  He moved back to a sitting position before stretching out his legs and pulling his underwear off. “Come here and fuck me.”

  I didn’t hesitate to crawl toward him. He pushed my panties over the curve of my ass while I licked and sucked at his perfect mouth, losing myself in the ecstasy of simply being with a man like him.

  “Turn around, baby. The boat will flip if we’re not too careful.” He chuckled as I turned around and brushed my ass against him. His laughter quickly turned to a growl, which sent shivers dancing across my exposed skin.

  “I love you so much.” I reached back and slid my hand down the back of his head, cupping him tightly as he lifted me up by my hips and impaled me hard.

  “Good. Work me then. I wanna watch tonight.” He licked the side of my neck before biting down hard on my shoulder.

  I cried out at the pleasure found in the midst of my pain and reached over to grip the sides of the boat. He laid back and wrapped his strong hands around my hips, using his hold on me to help me lift up and slam back down.

  “God, you’re beautiful. You should see this from my angle.” He grunted loudly, but I couldn’t respond. Every part of me was on fire, and I wanted to please him more than anything else. It was frightening, and yet I knew exactly what to do to force a yell from his throat too.

  “I love the way you stretch me. Forcing your way deep inside of me.” I groaned and gripped the boat tighter as I rolled my hips in the middle of our fucking.

  “Oh shit, Alisa. I’m not going to last long like this.” His panting was combined with mine, and within a few minutes, I my desires were granted.

  He cried out and bucked against me as I calmly continued to work his body with my own.

  “More,” I whispered and jerked my hips forward harder as he cried out again.

  “No. Not more. Not more.” He popped my ass hard and let out a strangled chuckle. “You’re going to be the death of me, and then I’ll have to get you good.”

  “You have to catch me first.” I reached back and pulled my bra off before standing and jumping into the cold water that rocked us back and forth.

  It was beyond cold, but felt good against my heated skin. I broke the surface and ran my hands over my sides rhythmically. Why water made skin feel so silky, I’d never know. But it was sexy, enticing.

  “No way I’m getting in there. I’m on the edge of having a heart attack as it is. I’d never survive that.” He reached down and ran his hand over my hair as he watched me. “Get back in here and we’ll get up to the cabin and start a fire.”

  “Nope. Not until you get in.” I jostled the boat a little as he grunted and gave me a look. The moonlight played across the lake, and the way it brushed across his features left me wanting to crawl back into his arms and force him to promise me forever. To be loved by a man like Zek Kellington and not have him forever was a travesty few would understand. A twinge of fear burst through me at the thought of him leaving me, but I had to let it go. He was mine at that moment, which was more than I ever thought possible.

  “Alright, but you’re asking for it. Those fish ain’t got nothing on me.” He stood and jumped into the water right beside me, splashing me in the face.

  “Hey!” I moved back and swam toward the shore a little as he resurfaced. “That was uncalled for.”

  “Oh yeah? How about this then?” He disappeared under the water, and I yelped, kicking backward hard. There was no way I’d let him get me while we were out in the middle of the lake. I remembered the boy who liked to dunk everyone far too well.

  He grabbed me as he moved up from under the water and pulled me against him. “Mmmm, somehow this was always one of my fantasies. To get sexy little Alisa Beeler naked and in the water with me. Then I could dunk her a few times under the guise of getting to touch her.”

  His fingers brushed over my nipples before running down the side of me and back up. He moved in to kiss me, and I wrapped my arms around him, enjoying the press of his strong body to mine far more than I should. There was no way in hell that I would ever grow accustomed to having him against me. It was too good, too much to handle.

  “So that’s why you dunked me all those times?” I lifted my eyebrow and wrapped my legs around his waist.

  “Hell yeah. I didn’t want to, but it seemed like a good way to press myself against you. Then saving you as you were sucking in water was always a hero move, right?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “You have ethics.”

  “I told you that already.” He brushed his nose with mine as his hands touched every part of me just below the surface of the water. “I want to go see your folks. It’s been too long, and they should know that I’m in love with you, and that I’m a changed man because of you.”

  Tears burned my gaze at his words. My parents al
ready loved Zek from all the years of half-raising him, but he wanted to visit on a new pretense, one that was a bit risky for him as well as his ego. His bravery and humility warmed me.

  “Okay. We’ll go see them soon.” I yelped as something nipped at my butt. “Get me out of here. There are fish!”

  He laughed hard. “No baby... that was me.”

  “I hate you.” I pushed away from him as I paddled to the shore as best I could.

  “No you don’t, but the fish was just the beginning. Wait until I pull out the snake.” He laughed hard, and I couldn’t help but laugh myself as I disappeared below the chilly surface. He was everything I wanted and so much more.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Zek

  Three days later…

  Our time at the lake was needed and well deserved. It settled me back down to believing that I could do anything, and that the last few years were part of the past, not a foreshadowing of the future. I dropped Alisa off at her brother’s so that she could start working to gather up all of her stuff. She would be moving in with me over the next few days, and the reality of that left my heart on fire. Things were moving forward in all areas of my life again, and I wanted to keep the progression in motion.

  Mark and I were meeting for lunch at a little deli he loved and I hated just outside of the mall near the middle of downtown. I parked the Lexus in a secured lot and walked through the city streets as people in business suits moved by me at a million miles an hour. The humor of me being someone much like them only a few years ago wasn’t lost on me. I’d always been a success junkie, looking for my next high and not giving up or giving in until I found it.

  My biggest mistake was quickly turning into a blessing in disguise. I wouldn’t have Alisa beside me, nor the new outlook I was gaining on life. There was far more to living than slaving away in my office every day. Success was a fun mistress because she gave back to those who worked her hard, but she was demanding and addictive.

  My thoughts moved to Jon Mills and to Ronnie Dellup. Both great men who I’d come to know over my years at Kellington, but now each of them were meeting their ends, much like I had. A thought swirled inside of me, but I let it go. The need to help men like myself see the error in their thinking before it was too late ran across me for the tenth time that day.

  I didn’t need to start speaking publicly about my story and how I’d taken the wrong path. I could do that in the future, but for now, I wanted to stay focused on me and Alisa. She was my priority and I wouldn’t let anything shift my focus from her.

  “There you are. I got you a roast beef with cheddar. You’re welcome.” My older brother yelled half way across the sandwich shop, and while I should have been embarrassed, I was far too used to him and his antics.

  I sat down in the seat in front of him and snagged a chip from his plate. “Thanks. I love roast beef.”

  “No shit, and stay off my chips. You got a whole plate of your own. Jeez.” He lifted his drink to his lips and gave me a look. “Did you guys stay at the lake for the rest of the week? I haven’t heard a word from you.”

  “Yeah. I took Alisa hiking and fishing. She’s a natural, but I’m not surprised. The woman can run circles around just about anyone.” I picked up my sandwich and took a deep bite of it.

  “Maybe around you, but there’s not a woman in the world who can take me down.” He rolled his shoulders and snorted before choking on something.

  “Right,” I mumbled and sat back in my chair as I wiped my mouth. “I’m going to look at rings after this. You wanna come?”

  “Oh really? It’s about fucking time. Lizzy told me to talk shit to you today until I badgered you into getting a ring.” He laughed.

  “No need. I realize what I have, and I’m not losing her. I gotta call her old man this afternoon, though I would rather do it in person. I really need to get this thing moving forward. I just feel like it’s the next step in everything. Once we’re engaged, I’ll start focusing on where I want my career to go and all that jazz.”

  Someone tapped the window next to me, and I turned to see a handful of press agents standing outside of the restaurant, most of them snapping pictures of me and Mark.

  “What the hell?” Mark got up, and I started to stop him, but there was no reason to. He was a big guy, and could be quite scary when he put his mind to it. The press was waiting for me to blow up and give them another story to work up, but if my brother acted like an ass instead of me, no one would care.

  I took another bite of my sandwich and gave the guy closest to the window a shrug as Mark walked into the middle of them, yelling and throwing a fit. I chuckled softly and grabbed a few more chips from his plate. He needed an emotional release, and I was glad to let him take one of my turns. I was beyond tired of them.

  He dropped back down in the seat across from me a minute later and let out a long sigh as his eyes moved along the table in front of us. “You fucking stole some of my chips, didn’t you?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. You’re being paranoid. It’s the reporters. They’ll make you feel like everyone is out to get you. I’m your brother. I didn’t steal your chips.”

  He grabbed a few of mine as I swatted at him. “You’re a damn liar. I went out there to save you and you eat my food? What kind of thanks is that?”

  “Thanks.” I winked at him.

  “For dealing with the press?”

  “No, for sharing your chips. They were delicious.” I laughed and moved back as he reached for me. We were far too old to be causing a scene in the middle of the sandwich shop, but life was too short not to live it.

  ***

  “Which one?” I picked up two rings that I thought might look good on Alisa’s hand and held them out toward Mark.

  “Neither. Those are big and gaudy. This isn’t about showing her that you’re still wealthy and can buy her the world. The wedding ring is supposed to whisper the truth that you know her... really know her heart.” He shrugged.

  I was at a loss for words for a minute. Where was my shallow brother?

  “Wow. That was deep.”

  “Yeah. It was on a commercial this morning.” He chuckled and pointed to a much smaller ring with a spray of tiny diamonds encircling a larger one. “That looks like Alisa to me. She’s beautiful and sweet, but the complexity of her personality is vast. I think that ring speaks to that. Honestly.”

  I picked it up and smiled before handing it to the saleswoman keeping an eagle eye over the expensive rings. “You’re right. How did you get away with being so sensitive and me not knowing it?”

  “I didn’t want to be bullied by you, you brute.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Come on. I’m ready to get out of here. I’m starting to feel like I need to buy Lizzy something.”

  “You should.” I put the ring on the counter and smiled at the lady standing behind the register. “I need a size five. Can you check to see if you have one?”

  “I sure can.” She smiled at me before looking over to Mark. “Did you need something checked too, sir?”

  “Yeah, my sanity.” He chuckled and turned his attention back to me. “I’ll get Lizzy something once everything settles down. She’s interested in moving forward with her idea of a private firm with Alisa, but I know you guys have a ton going on right now.”

  “We’ll always have a ton going on. You guys will too. That’s life.” I turned back as the woman approached and paid her. After tucking the ring into my pants pocket, I walked out into the main part of the mall to find Mark on the phone. The smile on his face told me that he must be on the phone with Lizzy. No one else had the power to affect my brother so much.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and found a comfortable place to sit before calling Alisa’s dad. Her mother answered on the second ring, her voice bringing back innumerable memories of me and Clark getting into trouble.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mrs. Beeler. This is Zek Kellington. I’m not sure you remember me, but—”

  �
��Are you kidding me? How could we not remember you? You half grew up over here, silly boy.” She chuckled as a smile lifted my lips. “How are you? Alisa tells us that the two of you started dating and that you’re a free man now.”

  I cringed at her words, but simply went with the conversation. “That’s right. Thanks to Alisa’s hard work in defending me.”

  “Well, we’re quite proud of our girl.” Her mother’s tone changed a little. “Speaking of... is she okay? You’re not calling because—”

  I cut her off. “No, ma’am. I mean yes. I mean... she’s fine.”

  “You seem nervous. This is almost comical.” Alisa’s mother chuckled again. “What’s going on, Zek?”

  “I need to come visit you guys, but I thought maybe I could just call first. I bought a ring today, and I was hoping that you and Mr. Beeler would let me ask for Alisa’s hand in marriage. I’ve loved her since we were kids.”

  “I knew it!” Her mother’s excitement left my insides warming. “Honey. Get in here. Zek is on the phone and he wants to ask us if he can ask Alisa to marry him.”

  I glanced up as Mark walked toward me and mouthed, ‘who is that?’

  “Alisa’s parents.” I covered the phone to respond.

  “Hey, boy. It’s been a long damn time. What gives?” Her father’s voice filled up the phone and it was my turn to laugh. Clark and I had gotten into more trouble with his old man than anyone knew, including his pretty wife.

  “I’m outside the jewelry store, and I’m hoping you aren’t going to make me go back in there and return this pretty ring I just bought for Alisa.” I held my breath, hoping that I had the right to joke with him after all these years.

  “Well, hell no. She’s just like her momma and would likely come after all of us if we took that opportunity away from her. She’s been in love with you for far too long for us to stop it. Not that we would.” He cleared his throat. “People make mistakes, boy. We all know that. Just don’t make them again. Once you get married, it ain’t just you. You got a woman to think about, and a family too after a while.”