The Gamble: A Novel

by Xavier Neal

  Disbelief cracks my jaw open as he turns to face the next part of the intermission show.

  What kind of man does that? What kind of father does that? What kind of person does that? What kind of person is willing to hurt those they love to simply...get ahead? Shouldn't you love your only son more than work? Totally explains why he's still sending Luca allowance like back pay hush money for abandoning his entire childhood and adolescence.

  The announcer mentions something about burgers and Luca tosses his head at the jumbo screen. “Look. They're doing the kiss cam thing again.”

  I shift my eyes up to it just as an elderly couple kisses. The sight makes me giggle seconds before it moves on to a child jumping up and down next to his mother. Once they notice they're on the screen she points to her cheek. He tosses his arms around her neck and over dramatically tugs her close to kiss her on the spot she directed to.

  “Aw,” I coo with the rest of the crowd.

  Camera rotates a few more times before landing on the two of us.

  Fuck. Me. Really?

  Horror crosses my face and I quickly shake my head. “No...No way...”

  The crowd cheers in encouragement, which makes Luca toss his head back in laughter.

  “No way am I kissing you on camera.”

  “Be a good sport,” his chuckles begin to simmer. “It'll be quick.”

  “Ugh,” I groan. “Fine.”

  The two of us lean over. His lips don't hesitate brushing against mine. As soon as they're linked, a soft hum helplessly seeps out. For a moment they simply stay pressed together without moving. All of a sudden, very cautiously Luca moves his mouth, parting mine to allow our tongues a brief moment to touch. The light connection ignites an unusual desperation to get a better taste. Luca's hand gently tugs me closer by the nape of my neck, drifting me closer to the cliff of ecstasy. His grip tightens. His tongue gradually pushes harder until my body is trembling in devotion. Slowly, Luca draws his mouth away from mine, the separation eliciting a thoughtless whimper.

  My mouth moves attempting to make words even though my vocal chords are paralyzed.

  I'm screwed.

  The clapping of the crowd of the announced winner for best kiss allows for a non-awkward transition of my eyes. Seeing the little boy kiss his mommy again makes me smile as the robbed air from my lungs rapidly rushes back to them.

  In a whisper I say, “Guess we're even now.”

  “Si,” Luca whispers in return.

  Slowly, I turn my head towards him. “See what?”

  At first he doesn't respond.

  Did he mean it like yes in Spanish?

  Luca's voice struggles to state, “See...it was quick.”

  I wait for his head to turn and face me. The moment he does there's an immediate urge to repeat the action. To feel his gentle lips guiding mine back down towards something I've never felt before.

  If that's the way he always kisses I'll never make fun of any woman who falls into bed with him again. I know it's just one more step in the program of seducing a chick into the sack, but it works. It really fucking works. It's successfully stunned every last one of my senses leaving me in a big, vulnerable, fall for any of his bullshit, mess. Kissing Luca was a sexy, beautiful mistake. And just like this date, it'll never happen again. For the sake of saving our friendship, it can't.

  Luca

  I fucked up. I mean I royally fucked up yesterday. Kissing Alexxa at that fucking hockey game was my mistake. If I wasn't about to fuck her right then and there, I had no business kissing her that way. What the fuck was I thinking? Can't believe I'm going to admit this, but I wasn't thinking. I was just being last night. My plan to take her out and sacrifice a small part of myself for the play back fired. Severely. I went in prepared to say all the little bullshit I figured would turn any normal woman into putty and ended up just being me. When I saw her in that damn lacy top, which for the record would look better on my floor, something inside of me got pulled. Like an un-stretched muscle four minutes into the game of the year. Then she threw the bullshit about my cologne at me and I knew, I knew I had to put the play book down for this one. Make moves and counter moves in the moment. Stop trying to predict her defense and strengthen my offense. To make everything worse the more Alexxa accused me of trying to execute the original plan, the more I exposed a side of me, I never have before. She broke me open like a pinata at a five year old's birthday party. None of what was said or done would have been a big deal if it wasn't for the fucking kiss. Who taught her how to fucking kiss, anyway? Some sort of fucking three time winning gold medalist of the Mouth Olympics? I've never kissed a woman who wasn't too heavy on at least one element. Alexxa is now the exception. Fuck me. She's always the goddamn exception. The underdog player no one ever sees fucking coming.

  My phone vibrates before I have the chance to put the keys in the door.

  Father: If you have time this weekend, give me a call.

  His annoying persistence forces me to roll my eyes.

  The absolutely last thing I need right now is to fuck up another stable relationship. We don't talk unless cash needs to be exchanged. Why ruin that?

  After shoving my phone back in my pocket, I enter her apartment, grateful when I realize Marie isn't home to give me shit about us going out again.

  This time it's not a date. No. Alexxa made that point completely fucking clear before agreeing to see a movie with me. I'm fucking fine with it. Trust me. After yesterday's fuck up, I need to regroup and figure out how the hell to fix this. Not giving up...Just need a new plan. Need to stretch and mentally search through the footage so I don't make the same mistakes twice.

  I slip into Alexxa's bedroom to hear the sound of the shower running. With a small smile, prepared to make fun of her for being tardy like a normal chick, I crack the door open revealing the last thing I would expect.

  Through the steamed glass door of her shower, I see her luscious, curvy body leaned against the wall, with one hand nestled snug between her thighs.

  Are you fucking with me right now?

  Completely powerless, I watch as the vision of what my own jerk off sessions have been constructing for weeks actually comes to life.

  Not even sure if it was this hot in my head. Fuck. My dick is crying in my jeans.

  Knowing this isn't meant for me and knowing if I keep watching winning this stupid fucking bet will only get even fucking harder, I prepare to back out of the room. All of a sudden Alexxa whimpers, the sound as effective as the bat signal in Gotham. Logic and subtly cease to exist as my feet drag me across the bathroom floor. Without second guessing myself I tug at the only blockade standing between making my fantasies a reality.

  Alexxa instantly gasps, removes her hand, and shouts, “What the fuck, Luca! Get out!”

  Typically, the high pitched tone would be enough to send me back at least a few steps while maintaining my unapologetic disposition. Not now. Not when everything I want is so fucking close to my fingertips.

  Literally. So. Fucking. Close.

  “Out!” She shrieks again.

  My eyes drink in the sight of her soaking wet, heaving tits before consuming the remainder of her lustrous body. Everything about her is perfect. The way her nipples are slightly darker than her skin and now hardened from my gaze. Her cushioned hips my own wouldn't bruise from knocking up against for hours. Her full thighs, that are almost sweet enough to distract from the flawless, hairless treasure between them.

  Every time I fuck her, I'm gonna make sure waxing her pussy for me is worth it.

  “Luca,” her voice loosens in firmness.

  I release my cock's eventual destination from my stare and look back up. Rather than argue with her or plead some sort of case for why my exiting is not about to happen, I simply demand, “Come here.”

  There's hesitation in both her eyes and body.

  My dick gets harder as does my tone, neither are used to sexual defiance. “Now.”

  Alexxa's wet body slinks over. She
remains silent.

  I ignore the splashes of water hitting my shirt as I move myself closer. “Put your leg on the bench.”

  With her eyes analyzing mine, she slowly does, the shaking of her body so fierce it's almost distracting.

  Just me watching her movements isn't a good reason to be quivering, but you can bet your ass I'm about to give the best reason to.

  Once she's where she was instructed, I leisurely drag a finger down her tit, lightly teasing her nipple. Helplessly she whimpers, commanding all my self- restraint to clutch onto the edge even tighter. My anxious finger continues its path of exploration further down. The feeling of soft, slick skin only causes my cock to complain louder.

  I shouldn't be doing this. Fuck...this isn't how this part of the game is supposed to go.

  Seconds before my touch reaches her clit she whimpers again, “Luca...”

  Like an engraved invitation is presented to me, I brush across it and pierce her pussy with a slow push of two fingers. A sharp gasp escapes. She arches her body into the stilled contact. My cock knocks rapidly against my jeans, begging to be tapped in. Begging for a turn at bat. I nudge deeper into the hot heaven I demanded access to, keeping the movements slow and controlled. Alexxa gradually begins to rock into my touch. I watch as her hips discover a pattern of pleasure without assistance. The moment her hands fly to grip my shoulders for balance I push deeper, letting my fingers lightly brush against her clit. Each feathered touch of the special spot causes her nails to dig deeper into my shirt covered flesh.

  Fuck, I wanna feel those on my skin.

  I intently continue to watch while she fucks herself on my fingers. After only a few minutes, Alexxa's pussy begins slow, harsh squeezes like an erotic flare going off. Unexpectedly she attempts to shift her body as if trying to stop the process.

  Instinctively, I growl, “No. No te muevas hermosa.”

  The sentence stuns her in place. She lowers her face to allow me to see the arousal and apprehension alike.

  My fingers continue to pump, whispering to the orgasm she tried to scare away. I softly command, “Adelante. Come for me.”

  Alexxa's body resumes rocking until she's back on the brink. However, this time when her pussy offers signs of the inevitable, I grip her hip tightly, directing her actions. She lets her head gracefully fall back, burning an image into my head I know I'll never be able to expunge.

  Not that I want to.

  In a titillating unison her pussy pulsates and her lips plead my name, “Luca....Luca...Luca....”

  A guttural groan is grabbed out of me, “Fuck...”

  She continues to come on my fingers successfully erasing every other woman I've ever seen in this position until she's embedded in my memory as the only chick to ever be associated with the word coming.

  In rapid deep breaths, her body begins to cool down, and so does the water. Unhurriedly, I remove my fingers, desperate to enjoy every last tremble I can before they're free. I let out a deep exhale and take a step back. Now both free, we simply stare at the other unsure of exactly who should talk first.

  Damn sure shouldn't be me. I will royally fuck up this very successful, very unpredictable win if I have to say anything.

  Thankfully, she whispers, “I'm um...I'm gonna finish showering off. I'll be out in a sec.”

  I nod and wait until she's shut the shower door before exiting the bathroom.

  The moment I'm back in Alexxa's bedroom, I flop onto the edge of the bed bewildered as well as fucking horny.

  What the fuck just happened? This wasn't part of the plan. These little tastes of her are not in the game plan! It's not winning the bet by sampling the shit. But fuck me, what an amazing fucking sample. If I hadn't been so focused on making sure she got off I probably would've came in my fucking pants like a confused eleven year old seeing his first pair of tits outside his science book. This shouldn't have happened. Acting like this isn't part of the strategy. Finger fucking is only a direct prelude to sex. It's a way to bridge the gap of letting a woman get off enough times that when I finally do she can't complain she's unsatisfied. This is how my sex life operates. What the fuck is wrong with me? What the fuck is she doing to me?

  My cock painfully pushes against my jeans again causing me to groan.

  And there's this needy bastard who hasn't enjoyed a stitch of pussy since I boned the neighbor who brought over our mail a couple weeks ago. Doesn't sound like it's a huge amount of time to go dry but when your dick is switched to a diet plan without it’s consent, every opportunity presented to it feels like the cheat meal you so desperately need. Make no mistake. Some part of me needs Alexxa.

  The vibrating in my pocket momentarily shifts my attention.

  Warren: Switched to the closing shift. Bring Alexxa by for beers after the movie.

  An unexpected growl gathers in my throat.

  He doesn't need to fucking see her tonight.

  I don't answer. I toss the phone on the bed beside me, adjust my dick again, and try to get my head back on. A couple minutes later, Alexxa opens her bathroom door dressed in a jean skirt and white t-shirt.

  Fuck. When did she start looking so good in basic hang out clothes? Is that shirt new? It's gotta be new.

  She casually begins to run her hands through the back of her hair to put it in a ponytail. “Are we gonna be late for the movie?”

  Momentarily distracted by how beautiful she looks conducting the action, I struggle to answer, “Um. Uh. Um...no. No. I came over early figuring we could grab a drink at the bar before it started.”

  She dries her hands on her skirt. “I can't fucking drink anything until I get something to eat. Haven't eaten since breakfast and that was an egg white omelet disaster Grant made for us. Marie gagged it down but I faked being late for work and bounced.”

  Chuckling, I stand up to follow her out of the room, making sure to grab my phone first. “Then let's definitely get you some food.”

  Impressed, confused, yet thankful she's acting so nonchalantly about what just happened I pull out my keys and listen to her ramble about her other job. The one I almost wish would change it’s mind about hiring her on full-time so I could keep her.

  She's mine, ya know? Wait. Fuck. Better phrasing needed. Give me a few. Brains still over fucking heated.

  We arrive at my car where I open her door before slipping around back to the trunk to grab a spare shirt.

  Always be prepared was another Larson lesson I learned by watching my father. He always kept a spare suit with a spare overnight bag packed and ready to go. Looking back at it now, I wonder if it was because he was cheating on my ma' or because he had a feeling there might be a day where she kicked him out without warning. Their divorce wasn't messy. Hell, I barely remember it happening. It was as if one day he just stopped coming home.

  Once I've got on a clean and dry replacement black t-shirt, I quickly get in the driver's seat. The minute I'm there, Alexxa is offering me a slip of paper. “This was in my seat. Looked like a phone number.”

  I fight the urge to cock a grin at the hint of jealousy in her voice.

  Huh. Guess I'm not the only one this shift in our friendship is fucking effecting. Can't lie. If I found a phone number just laying around her car I wouldn't even try to play that shit cool. I'd hit the fucking roof and then find him to punch him in his fucking face. I don't mind sharing on my terms and only on my terms. And as long as it's never Alexxa. She's my co-captain. No one else’s.

  “It is.” I take the paper from her and slip it into the console. “But it's not what you're thinking. Remember, I went to the doctor earlier this week?”

  “So it's the nurse's personal number?”

  I roll my eyes. “I wasn't trying to bone the nurse.”

  “Why? Was she too old?”

  Not exactly. She's only 48.

  “No.”

  “Married? Then again-”

  “Separated women.” I point a stern finger at her. “I don't fuck married chicks. Just separated o
nes, no matter how recently it is.”

  Alexxa gives me an unhappy look. “So she's separated or married?”

  “Married-”

  “Figures.”

  Frustration clamps down tightly on the back of my neck. “Will you just let me fucking finish?”

  Alexxa presses her lips tightly together.

  “It was the number and the extension the nurse gave me to get my results from my physical.” My eyes fall onto hers. “I went and got checked. I always wear a Jimmy hat but I'm not a fucking idiot. That shit doesn't always work. So...I got my vitals checked and tested for...any of that kinda shit.”