The Gamble: A Novel

by Xavier Neal

  I don't apologize.

  Our eyes stay locked, which is when a playful gleam pops in his eyes. “That is unless it wasn't for show. Unless you're actually falling for her. Are you?” He pushes. “You fallin' for her or is this just a giant Luca Larson Hail Mary pass to bring home the win?”

  My instinct is to confess that's all it is, but even I know it would be a lie. Don't get me wrong. I wanna win the bet. I've never wanted Alexxa tangled in my sheets with my cock stretching her for days more than right fucking now, but I know it's not just because it's a conquest requiring extra effort. Even if I don't wanna own up to it to anyone other than you, I know I want more than just sex from Alexxa. A week of having to attempt to function without her proved it. Fuck.

  There's a long unexpected groan over my shoulder. The two of us divert our attention the direction of my bedroom where the virgin subject is wobbling out. “My head hurts...”

  “That’s what happens when you drink an entire six pack in 103 degree heat on an empty stomach,” Warren scolds.

  Promptly, I'm on my feet, rushing over to help steer her towards the couch. “Warren's right.”

  “I must be dreaming if you're agreeing with him,” she jokes as she slides into her favorite corner.

  “You want me to take a turn watching over Drunkarella?”

  His offer is quickly denied with a shake of the head. “Nah. I got her.”

  “Alright,” he says softly. “Brought you some food.”

  She groans and gags.

  “Yeah, yeah, you'll be hungry soon enough,” he grumbles and grabs his keys. “I'm going back down to the pool. Hope to see you before the fireworks start.”

  She groans again.

  Warren exits and I take a seat on the opposite end of the same couch. “You need to re- hydrate and eat.”

  “Pass.”

  I let out a sigh, “We need to talk.”

  Another groan. “Hard pass.”

  Frustrated I snap, “Fuck. Fine. Then I'll talk and you listen.”

  “Double down pass.”

  Her eyes fall closed and for a moment I simply stare.

  Alexxa's mocha colored skin I've always loved is now crisper from the hours in the sun. The less tanned flesh is peaking from underneath, beckoning something primal deep inside of me. I don't want anyone else to see that skin. I don't want anyone else to see her firm ass in her string bikini bottoms. I don't want to share any part of her with anyone. Ever. Fuck me. What the fuck am I supposed to do with this shit? Tell me you'll help coach me through whatever the fuck this is.

  I sigh, “You're fucking stubborn.”

  “Um hello? Is that you kettle? Should I just forward you to voice mail?”

  “It's always about race with you.”

  Her eyes pop open in a huff. Whatever snippy retort was coming vanishes as her head clearly throbs at the swift shift in movement. She groans while I chortle. “Ugh..You did that on purpose.”

  “I did.”

  “You're such an asshole.”

  “But you love me this way.”

  Alexxa reluctantly smiles.

  “Look, I'm just gonna fucking say it.”

  She lifts her eyebrows and remains silent.

  “I can't go back to being just friends with you.” Slowly shaking my head, I lean forward and rest my arms on my legs. “I don't even want to go back to being just friends with you.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  “I'm saying...I'm saying I want my girl back. I wanna watch ESPN with you while you pretend to have a mustache you made with your finger. I wanna eat cereal at 3 a.m. after a fucking Happy Days marathon. I wanna hold your fucking hand in my car and kiss the shit out of you like I'm the only one who gets to because I'm the only one who should.”

  Alexxa's mouth twitches yet nothing comes out.

  “You're worried about the fact I've always been about only fucking and never dating. That's who I am. You've always known that. But you also know me better than anyone else, Alexxa. You know when I want something, I'll do whatever it takes to get it, and I want you. In every single fucking way possible.”

  Huh. I really can be completely fucking honest with her. Great. Now she can wear my testicles as jewelry since I apparently won't be needing them any fucking more.

  In a whisper she says, “I'm not sleeping with you any time soon.”

  I shrug. “I don't fucking care.”

  My response is met with a look of skepticism.

  Wipe it off your face too.

  “Fine. I do care, but I don't mind waiting.”

  “That sounds like bullshit.”

  “For you Alexxa,” my correction is more sincere than I first realized. “I don't mind waiting for you. You don't wanna fuck, I'll cope, as long as you don't mind letting me worship that pretty little pussy until those lips,” I point down at her crotch, “are saying my name as much as these.” I gently brush my index finger against them.

  As if it's her natural instinct, Alexxa snakes her tongue out to tease it.

  A heavy groan escapes. “If we're not gonna be fucking for a while could you at least play fair?”

  A wide grin crawls on her face at the same time she shakes her head.

  This is going to be my complete undoing. This brown skinned curvy beauty, with a foul mouth who plays dirtier than a MMA fighter packing brass knuckles. Why did I fucking wait this long to come after her?

  “You can have me in every way possible,” her sultry voice coos, which causes my cock to throb. “But I refuse to share you.”

  “Same.”

  “And I get to decide when shit gets sexual. It's up to me. You go my speed or we don't go at all. It's already enough pressure knowing I'm the only chick you've ever dated. The last thing I need is you making it worse by pushing me to join a list I've prided myself on never being a part of.”

  My eyebrows scrunch. “Prided yourself?”

  “On not being one of Luca Larson's favorite fucks? Yeah.” Before I can grow offended, Alexxa crawls into my lap, and wraps her arms around my neck. “I don't wanna be one of your favorites. I wanna be your only favorite. The only team member you call on from the bench.”

  Fuck. She even knows the perfect phrasing for me. See what I mean about her being mine?

  “Can you promise me that? Can you promise while we're trying out this dating thing I'm the only one who gets to make this,” she rolls her hips on top of my stiff, swim trunk covered cock, “hard....and do something about it?”

  I wet my lips as my fingers firmly grip her ass. “Baby, you're the only one who even gets me hard anymore.”

  She smiles. “Sweet...but a total line.”

  “I fucking wish it was,” my sigh is met with another beam. “At least then I wouldn't feel completely pussy whipped.”

  Alexxa's body rocks on top of mine again and she whimpers. “You're pussy whipped for me already?”

  “Say that with less satisfaction,” I grumble. This time when she grinds against my shaft, I grab her by the nape of the neck, and drag her lips to mine. Our tongues only meet momentarily before I'm pulling away to ask, “Why do you taste like mouthwash?”

  She bites her bottom lip until I do it instead. Another soft cry comes out from my action and I have to restrain myself from doing anything about it. Finally she answers, “Grabbed one of your breath strips from your nightstand. My breath was seriously rank.”

  “No surprise after you vomited up enough to drown a small person.” As the realization of why she got so sick so fast hits me, I let my hand drop. “Speaking of, you need to eat. You're gonna need the energy...”

  “You think so?” She playfully counters. “One or two sweet lines and you assume I'm just taking my panties off?”

  Yeah. Wait. That's probably the wrong answer, right coach?

  Rather than possibly fuck myself over, I tease, “Technically you're not wearing panties and your swim bottoms are one pull away from showing me exactly where I wanna write my name.”

&
nbsp; Alexxa bites her bottom lip.

  “Food first.”

  “Then the fireworks.”

  I try not grouse. “Can't we...make our own fireworks instead?”

  She rolls her eyes, gives my chest a hit, and stands up. “You can do better than that.”

  “Give me better material.”

  “Oh so it's my fault you're spouting off C class pick-up lines?” Making her way to the kitchen, she continues to talk shit, “Are you saying I'm a C class girl, so I get C class lines? You're definitely on the wrong diamond if you think it's headed for the sex world series.”

  Thankful and relieved to have my Alexxa back instead of the cold, distant, moody one I've had all week, I simply laugh with her.

  Might I add I'm proud she's remembering sports facts better? It's kinda fucking hot.

  After the two of us stuff our faces full of BBQ chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers, we make our way back down to the pool where people are already watching the fireworks. The huge park not far from here shoots them off every year, giving us all the best show from the comfort of our own apartments or in this case from the comfort of the annual Fourth of July pool party.

  I swipe a cup of beer and drop down next to Warren who looks even more buzzed than when he brought the food up. He turns to me. “We straight?”

  “Yeah.” Alexxa leans against me and I drop an arm around her shoulder. “We're straight.”

  Warren glances her direction. With a simple shake of his head, he drops his voice down to a whisper only I can hear, “We're really gonna keep this thing going?”

  I hesitate.

  Calling it off wouldn't be quitting mid-season. It'd more like calling it a tie. Ugh. I fucking hate ties. There has to be a winner.

  Instead of shaking my head, I reluctantly nod.

  He lets out a deep exhale. “You're so fucked up.”

  Tell me about it.

  “Alexxa, you cool now?” Warren questions and leans his body around the front of me to see her.

  “Yeah, I drank way too much,” she confesses. “Probably shouldn't drive home tonight. Looks like I'll be crashing on your couch.”

  “You can sleep in my bed,” Warren volunteers. “There's always a place for you in it. You know that.”

  “You do have the best pillows-”

  “What the fuck?” I abruptly interrupt. “When the fuck were you in Warren's bed?”

  “Recently?” Alexxa innocently asks.

  “Ever.”

  “I've slept in his bed like hundreds of times,” she answers just as another round of the fireworks begins. “Look! They're going again!”

  The new found jealousy that doesn't seem to have trouble continuously sneaking in a lay-up, does so again. “What the fuck do you mean hundreds of times? Why? Why the fuck would you sleep in his bed hundreds of times?”

  Warren smirks as if getting exactly what he wanted.

  And I'm the fucking asshole?

  “Calm down drama queen,” Alexxa insists at the same time another colorful burst fills the sky. “Sometimes when I fall asleep on the couch instead of leaving me there like you, he carries me to his room so I have somewhere more comfortable to sleep.”

  “Or if she's come over and we don't wanna listen to you fuck a hole in the wall, we'll hang out in my room where sometimes we happen to pass out in the middle of a movie.”

  Now I see his fucking plan. Transparent bastard. He knows exactly how much she hates the idea of ever being just another one of my hit it and quit its because he knows Alexxa as well as I do. Fuck, sometimes I wonder if he knows her better. I didn't know she was a virgin, which is still fucked up news to me. My virgin senses weren't throbbing at all. I've had my fair of share of first timers, the actual ones and the ones who say it because they think that's what dudes wanna hear. Yet he knew. Yet she told him. What else has she told him, she hasn't me? Why the fuck does she trust him more? That's something else that needs to fucking change.

  She leans in closer and giggles, “Oh my God, remember when we were watching 28 Days Later and I had that outbreak dream?”

  Unaware of any of this, I lock my jaw in an attempt to keep from barking my disapproval.

  “You couldn't go back to sleep until you were curled up on my chest like a damn cat!”

  Alexxa's laughter fills the air. “Right!”

  Suddenly, the conversation is invaded by Reggie, the guy who was grilling earlier who they beat at beer pong. “There's the champ. Feelin' better?”

  She sweetly nods.

  His eyes cut back and forth between us before he comments, “So she's your girl. I thought she was his.”

  The final blow breaks me. “She's not his fucking girl. She's not sleeping in his fucking bed any more. She's my fucking girlfriend and if you don't keep your set of blazed eyes off her tits, I will not hesitate to knock you the fuck out.”

  More fireworks crack like an applause for my outburst.

  Unless we're on the court or on the field, I'm usually a pretty even tempered person. As far as women are concerned, I've never had a reason to be defensive. I've dealt with my fair share of ex-boyfriends to ex-husbands and it always ends the same way. You want the chick I'm banging? You can have her when I'm finished. There's always a replacement waiting to be tagged in from the bench. But this is fucking different. Alexxa's the exception. She's always the fucking exception.

  “Either I'm not drunk enough or he's too drunk,” Reggie chuckles. “Either way that bullshit makes me want another drink.”

  “Yeah,” Warren grunts and stands. “Me too.”

  They wander off towards the keg while Alexxa's face sharply turns to me. After a beat or two, I turn to face the scolding I know I'm in for.

  Maybe I overreacted a little. But this shit is fucking new to me. It's like I'm playing a new fucking sport the rest of the population mastered years ago and I'm still catching penalties for misunderstanding the rules. What happened to you being my coach? Couldn't have warned me about the attempted position I just took?

  “Girlfriend?”

  I give her a short shoulder shrug.

  To my surprise she begins to smile. “Not enough points to get my mouth around your cock, but definitely enough to repeat last weekend’s actions.”

  A short chortle comes out of her as I pull her in closer. “That's not why I said any of that shit.”

  She moves her eyes up to the finale that's beginning. “I know.”

  Before I have a chance to say anything else, she drops her head on my shoulder. My fingers slowly stroke her arm while I try to regain the lost composure. This is the day hundreds of years ago my ancestors gained their independence yet today I lost mine. I've never been a boyfriend before. Fuck, I've never even been an only one chick fuck guy before. It'll all be worth it and not just for the grossed out look on Warren's face as he washes my sheets, which will be covered in sweat and cum, but because having Alexxa in my life, on my team, is much fucking better than not having her in it.

  Alexxa

  Luca grumbles to himself from behind his lap top on his side of my bed.

  Normal work in progress sound. No need to be alarmed.

  I continue to type a formal response email for my boss who's taken the weekend off.

  Working on a Saturday is not one of my favorite things, but I can't exactly complain. When I was offered the job to replace his assistant, he knew my during the week hours would be almost non- existent for the summer, which is why we agreed to a couple hours in the evening and at least part of the weekend. It's strange to think about how in just a few weeks I'll be working weekends and holidays regularly, late nights and fuck early mornings. Not exactly sure how it'll affect my new relationship with Luca or my friendship with Warren for that matter, but I like to believe we can find a way to make it work. We always do. That's what real friends do. Lovers too, I assume.

  My boyfriend grumps again and hits the delete button in a dramatic fashion.

  Once I hit send, I sigh, “If you break t
he delete key, how will you ever erase your internet porn history?”

  His lips curve mischievously as he turns to say, “I'm not an amateur, baby. Always open that shit in a secret window and have the automatic history erase set up to run as frequently as possible.”

  “I know logically it should make me gag how sleazy you are, yet all it does is impress me how many chess moves ahead you're always thinking.”

  He leans over and plants a small kiss on my lips. “Chess is a sport. I'm really fucking good at sports.”