by Sarah Thorn
''Okay.'' Tonya hung up. Now she wanted to get drunk.
When Tonya arrived home, she had grazed knees. Riding a bicycle under the influence of alcohol wasn't easy, and she'd ended up in Mr. Johnson's well-manicured leylandii hedge. She'd go round the next day and apologize for the hole she'd made in it.
*****
On Monday morning, Tonya walked into work as usual, but it felt a very different place. It belonged to the man that she was going to date.
After morning surgery, before Marcus went to do his home visits, Tonya knocked on his door. She handed him a piece of paper. He looked at it. She'd written her bank details down for him.
''So you can make the transfers,'' she said.
''Thanks. Very thoughtful. The first amount will go in at the end of the month,'' he said.
''Thanks. So what do you want to do? Dinner or maybe a movie?'' she asked.
He reached down and took out a brochure from his bag. He handed it to her. Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.
''Great joke,'' Tonya said.
''It's not a joke. This weekend I'm taking my new girlfriend to Las Vegas.''
Tonya looked at the brochure and then at him. ''But Marcus, that wasn't the deal. The deal was no sex.''
''Who said anything about sex?''
''But this is a weekend away. What do you expect from me? It's all too soon.''
He took the piece of paper Tonya had given him and threw it in the trash. ''What are you doing?''
''If you don't want to continue with our deal, fine.''
She took the paper out of the trash and placed it on his desk again. ''Okay, but no sex, and stop blackmailing me. It doesn't endear you to me.''
When she was gone, Marcus put his hands behind his head and thought. He was being a bastard; he knew that. But he loved the game, and he'd played it so often he knew exactly how it would develop. She'd be begging him to make love to her soon enough. If not, he'd find someone else to play. There were a lot of women in desperate financial circumstances in Sandpoint. He had to admit, though, not all of them were as beautiful as Tonya, and he did really fancy her.
Tonya didn't know what to take; she'd never been to Las Vegas before. And how was she going to explain her sudden departure to her mother?
Lucy told her that she should take several different dresses and jeans and T-shirts in case he wanted to do something crazy like horseback riding. Lucy had been to Vegas a few times. Her report of it didn't fill Tonya with enthusiasm.
She told her mother Marcus needed her at a weekend conference and set off in her VW for the airport. When she got to the meeting point in the airport, she was exhausted. It had been a huge effort to carry her bag from the parking lot all the way to the airport lounge.
Marcus was waiting for her under the neon sign. He looked very attractive in jeans and a blue shirt.
''Hi, I see you travel light,'' Tonya said looking at his bag.
''It's only two days. You've come prepared for all weathers by the look of it. I can tell you t doesn't snow in Vegas.''
She was grateful when he picked up her bag and took it to check-in. While they were waiting for the plane, they sat at a cafe and drank coffee.
''How's your mom,'' he asked.
''As well as can be expected, I suppose.''
He liked what she'd done with her hair. At work, she wore it in a ponytail or up, but now it flowed down past he shoulders in long waves. She was certainly worthy of the Cosmopolitan cover, he thought.
''What about you Marcus? Do you still have your parents?''
He looked away, and she saw a chink in his armor appear. The normally super-cool, overly attractive doctor looked lost for words. ''I never had any parents.''
''Oh,'' she said apologetically. ''Forgive me for prying.''
''It's fine, you're my girlfriend, remember?''
How could I forget, she thought. A child came running past and tripped over Tonya's enormous bag. Its mother appeared and scowled at Tonya for blocking the path between tables.
''So you're an orphan.''
''Yes. I was found in an old pram in Boise. It was winter, so I was lucky I hadn't been there long.''
''My God. Do you think whoever left you there intended you to be found?''
''No idea. I'm just glad I was.''
''With such a poor start in life, how did you manage to become so well educated and wealthy?''
''I just found I was good at science. Then when I was a junior doctor, I went to Vegas and won three million. That set me up for life.''
Was he pulling her leg? ''How did you do that? The house always wins.''
He looked around as if he was about to reveal where the President kept the key to the nukes. ''You need to work yourself an advantage.''
''Er......sorry?''
''You're right the casinos have a built-in advantage. I'd saved hard, and the casinos were only too pleased to offer me great terms as a wealthy gambler. Did you know you can even ask them to change some of the rules in games like blackjack if they think you have enough money to lose.'' Tonya didn't have a clue what he was talking about, but let him continue. ''They're greedy. If you can get them to change enough things to your advantage, the odds swing in the gamblers favor.''
''I didn't know you could negotiate with them. That sounds strange.''
''They want wealthy people, and they offer them good terms. Sometimes they take their eye off the ball like they did that day I won so much.''
''Does that mean we're going to come back rich?''
He laughed. ''I doubt it. You can only do it once before your name goes on the list and they won't give you any more concessions. Then you're just like all the others, a mug punter.''
Tonya looked disappointed. She'd had visions of her leaving her clothes in Vegas and filling her suitcase with cash.
The flight was good, and they arrived at the Caesar's Palace Hotel just after six pm. Tonya had never seen such glitz. To her it was so far removed from her life in Sandpoint, it all made no sense. How could a place like that exist in the real world?
''Here's you key,'' Marcus said. ''Shall we meet again at seven thirty for a drink and dinner? That will give you time to freshen up.''
''Okay. Meet you back here.''
Tonya followed the man carrying her bag and gave him five dollars when they entered the room. He looked at his palm as if she'd crossed it with pig excrement. Obviously, five bucks wasn't enough. But she ignored him, and he went away. She worked hard for her money; she wasn't about to throw it down the drain.
The shower was refreshing. Tonya wrapped a huge fluffy bath towel around her body and pulled out some dresses from her suitcase. She chose a black one that showed off her breasts to perfection. While she was under the shower, she'd decided to be sexy and make him want her. Not because she wanted him, but because she wanted revenge. By the end of the weekend, he was going to be on his knees, begging her to let him take her to bed.
Marcus's eyes widened considerably when he saw Tonya approaching. Her shoulders were bare and her breasts large and inviting. Her skin was perfectly smooth and soft looking.
''Wow. You look beautiful,'' he said.
''Thanks. And you look handsome. Nice suit.'' He was wearing a gray herringbone three-piece suit with a white shirt and a blue tie. She noticed how he looked at her and was pleased to see a good amount of desire in his eyes.
At dinner, they talked about Marcus's childhood. She was amazed to hear he'd lived with five different foster families. Four for a very short time and one for longer. The family where he'd stayed the longest consisted of a man and wife with three of their own children. They were both doctors and wanted to do good, so they'd fostered Marcus. It had been their influence that had steered him in the direction of medicine. They'd supported him through med-school, but he'd paid them back when the money started coming in. He also told Tonya that he'd been engaged, but it hadn't worked out. Apparently his fiancée had decided he wasn't the one, three days before the wedding. He called it a
lucky escape. She was impressed when he told her he liked animals and ran a home for misused dogs and cats.
Tonya told him about her idyllic childhood and then about the death of her father and how that had devastated her mother. She was certain the shock had led to all the illnesses she now had. She told him that she was studying part time for a degree in management, but she was finding it very difficult to concentrate because of her mother's cancer. She told him she had a best friend called Lucy, and that Lucy had persuaded her to say yes to his offer.
''She's a very perceptive woman,'' he said.
''I don't know why you think that. She's put me in danger.''
''In danger of what?''
''Becoming involved with a dirty rotten schemer.''
The restaurant was full, and Marcus hoped nobody had heard her. ''I'm not that,'' he lied.
''We'll see,'' she said.
After dinner, they hit the tables. Marcus gave Tonya five hundred dollars. She was tempted to put it in her pocket and use it for food, but he told her to spend it on the casino or give it back to him. She put it in her purse and decided to watch Marcus to see what he did. He played blackjack and lost, then he went to the roulette wheel and lost again.
All the time they kept looking at each other. They were like two boxers, eyeing one another up, neither wanting to make a mistake that would lead to the knockout blow.
Tonya decided that if she split her five hundred into smaller amounts, she could play for longer. When she put one hundred on black at the roulette wheel and won, she jumped in the air and looked at Marcus.
''Easy this game isn't it,'' she said. He smiled and put his arms around her as they leaned against the table.
It was the first time he'd touched her. They were supposed to touch as girlfriend and boyfriend, and she decided to reciprocate. She held his hand as she put her next one hundred on black again. She won again. She turned and put her arms around his neck in excitement. The scent of her young virile body made his manhood twitch and begin to get hard. He pushed himself up against the table to hide what was happening between his legs.
''Well done. Now increase your bet,'' he said. ''You've got seven hundred now.''
''F… it,'' she said. ''She put seven hundred on black and walked away. It wasn't her money anyway. She got five meters away from the table when she heard Marcus laughing.
''Come back, you're rich. You've just doubled your money.
She took the chips he handed her, and looked at him. It was a very strange feeling to have won in a few minutes what it took a week to earn at the surgery.
''I want to cash in now. I need the money.''
''Okay.''
She swapped her chips for cash and handed Marcus his five hundred back. She proudly put nine hundred dollars in her purse.
They left the casino and headed for the elevator. When they reached the third floor, they walked towards their rooms. At her door, Marcus looked longingly at her. Her body was teasing him. All evening he'd been mesmerized by her beauty, and now he wanted to explore her, discover her secrets and deflower her in the most energetic way possible.
''Good night Marcus,'' she said.
''I don't suppose you've changed your mind?'' he said nodding in the direction of her room.
''No. It was a lovely evening, but I haven't.''
When Marcus got to his room, he was sexually charged. He thought about watching a porno, but it wasn't the sight of any old female flesh he wanted. He wanted to see Tonya's beautiful body. The only option left open to him was a lonely masturbation session in the shower. He imagined Tonya in a number of sex positions, coming time after time as he thrust his massive penis into her. His orgasm came quickly but didn't satisfy his desire in any meaningful way.
Tonya dreamed about winning enough money in the casino for her to pay off her debts. Just before she woke up, however, her dream turned to Marcus. When she woke, she was devastated to realize she was out of breath and that her womanhood was aroused. No, she wasn't falling for him, it was just the excitement of wining money that had turned her on, she told herself.
The next day, they played in the casino and went for a walk along the strip. As they walked, they held hands.
''What do you feel?'' he asked as he handed her an ice cream.
''In what way?''
''About me. We've been holding hands for a while now.''
She thought for a minute. ''I like you. But you're still a blackmailer.''
''I like you too. I'm sorry. I regret what I did to you. It wasn't gentlemanly of me at all. You don't have to be my girlfriend anymore. I'll give you the money as a gift.'' It was a tactic that he hoped would work. If he politely rejected her, she would want him more, and before they had to go home open her legs for him.
''Oh.'' She didn't know what to say. When she thought about it, she was a little disappointed. She wanted to ask him if he didn't find her attractive or if she'd done something wrong. Why had he suddenly decided to tell her she didn't have to be his girlfriend? ''I'd prefer to carry on as we agreed,'' she said.
''Well, I'm really sorry I've changed my mind. I'll write you a check when we get to Sandpoint. I'm so sorry to mess you around. I won't do it again.''
He handed her an ice cream which she didn't want now. He'd rejected her just as she was warming to him. Didn't he know it sometimes took a girl a while to develop her feelings?
They walked further along the street. Tonya's mind was working overtime. Why had he stopped? Was she so bad? Was she falling for him? Then she heard her say something that shocked her to the core.
''Sex for all the money.''
He stopped. ''What?''
''I will fuck you if you pay off all the debt.''
She was a clever minx, he, though. She'd fallen for his withdrawal technique, but she had, at least, put her own conditions to it.
''Okay. When?''
''Tonight.''
''No, I want to fly home. I want you in your own bed, in your house.''
''Marcus, that's impossible. My mom.''
''We'll find a way. But I want you in your bed, not in some seedy hotel bed.''
''What about your place?''
''No, your bed.''
Another twist, she thought. Why did he want her in her bed? Was it some kind of weird fetish or did he think she would be more comfortable at home?
*****
Marcus had told Tonya to tell him when her mother went to the hospital. Hospital appointments were usually lengthy affairs, and it would give them more time together.
All Tonya could think about was eighty thousand dollars. She'd invent some story or other for her mother to believe when she found out they weren't poor any more.
''She's got an appointment next week Wednesday. She'll be out all day,'' Tonya whispered as Marcus was leaving the reception area.
''Another week? It's driving me wild,'' he said.
''You'll just have to wait.''
Tonya knew that she'd reversed all her principles. Now she was going to be the best-paid hooker in the world, but just for one day. And it wasn't really prostitution. It was a friend giving her a present in exchange for a favor. Tonya didn't manage to convince herself, though.
Wednesday came, and Tonya waved her mom off in the taxi. She went upstairs and changed into her best lingerie. She put on a gown and went downstairs to wait for Marcus.
Funnily enough, she wasn't nervous. The more she'd though about it, the more she'd wanted to do it. He was very handsome, and he was going to pay her a vast amount.
As she expected, he wasn't late. When she heard his car pull up, she got up and watched him walking towards the door. Before he had time to knock, she opened the door. What he saw, took his breath away. She was perfectly made up, and the gown she had on was open, showing him all the treats she had waiting for him.
''Wow. You look fantastic,'' he said.
''Come in. Let's do it,'' she said enthusiastically.
As she led him upstairs, he watched her behind swa
y to and fro. At the door, she turned around and pulled him to her.
''When we are finished, please respect me. Don't go telling anyone at work.''
''I have a confession to make to you,'' he said. ''I haven't been fair with you. '' Tonya was listening intently. ''All this has been a game to me. Its' not the first time I've done this, I'm ashamed to say. I have paid debts off for other women in the past in return for sexual pleasure.'' He looked at Tonya for a reaction, but there was none. ''But I didn't reckon on falling for you. Tonya, I'm really not playing around now. Here's a check for the money. I'm going to go.'' He handed her a check for eighty thousand dollars.
She watched him turn around and take the stairs. When he was half way down, she shouted after him. ''And what about me? What about my feelings?''
''You've got the money,'' he replied.
''What if I have fallen for you as well? I was looking forward to today and not only because of the money.''
He looked back up at her. She let the gown slip to the floor and took the pose of a model in a lingerie shoot. He smiled and began to climb the stairs again.
''Then we're on the same wavelength at last,'' he said.
''Yes. It has taken me a while. But I still don't like your blackmail tricks.''
''I'm sorry. It as bachelors game for rich men. I'm sorry. I want you Tonya, and I won't fool around any more.''
''Then here is my bedroom,'' she said opening the door.
He looked inside and smiled. ''Cute, so girly.''
There was a double bed with a pink duvet and several bears on the dressing table. On the walls, pictures of boys that he guessed had been there for a few years.
''Kiss me,'' she said. He stood close to her and put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her face to his. She caught the same scent that so turned her on when she'd visited his consulting room. A mix of him and some expensive shower gel. When his lips crushed onto hers, she closed her eyes and felt his tongue looking for her. She ran a hand over his face and loved the coarseness of his chin.
''I can feel you want me,'' she whispered. ''Shall I help you a little?'' He groaned at the thought and watched as she lowered the zipper on his pants. As she did, her breasts wobbled in her half bra. When she put her hand inside his pants, she loved the warmth and the scent that escaped from them. His masculinity played in her nostrils, encouraging her to pull his penis out and look at it. Before she began to stroke him, she felt how long and smooth he was. She marveled at the pre-come on his tip, and the tightness of his balls as she massaged them. When she took him in her mouth, she felt a gush between her legs as her excitement raised to a higher plane.
