Survival Games

by J. E. Taylor

  Jessica dropped two cards as well and her lips spread in a grin. Ty glanced at her cards as she spread them on the table. She had two pair, ace high.

  The smile that spread over Ty’s face as he fanned his cards on the table made her positively shiver and her smile faltered.

  “Full house,” he said. He stood and turned the chair around, taking a seat with his arms folded over the back of the chair. “I told you, I never lose.” He peeled his shirt off. “Pay up, babe.”

  She sat back in her chair, silent at first and then an incredulous laugh escaped. She slowly stood and dragged her chair, setting it down behind him. She put her hands gently on his shoulders and began to work the knots out of his neck. “If I had won, would you have let me go?”

  Ty sat with his eyes closed, her hands working their magic. “I don’t know,” he said truthfully after a few moments. He put his head down on his folded arms and she continued rubbing his back, neck and shoulders.

  He turned his head to the side and glanced back at her. “You do have magic hands.” He closed them again, allowing himself to relax and drift off as she continued her slow deep massage.

  * * * *

  His eyes were the same color blue that she loved and Jessica broke out in a light sweat, the temperature rising with every stroke of her hands on his skin. She traced the scars on his back, kneading the muscles as she studied the traversing pattern. Despite the disruptions to the perfect skin, it was smooth, and warm and the muscles underneath well defined. Finding the kinks in his neck, she gently massaged them out and a small rumble of pleasure formed in his throat.

  Jessica watched him sleep on the table with a sweet smile on his face. She sat down in the chair, reluctantly pulling her hands away from him. His eyes fluttered open and he straightened, turning toward her, his eyes that deep penetrating blue.

  “I really should be going,” he said and put his shirt back on.

  She nodded and stood, pushing her chair back and stepping aside. “Thank you.”

  He paused and looked down at the table, a hint of regret traced his features. With a slight shake of his head, he reached for the deck of cards and he handed them to her along with the notepad and folded up the table. He folded the chairs next, picking them all up in one hand and opening the door with the other.

  The game was just beginning for her and as the door latched, Jessica smiled. If he had seen the grin on her face, he would have taken her on the floor just to spite her. Jessica was hell bent on winning the game she played with him and regardless of how much he melted her core, she wanted her freedom more. She wiped the grin off her face and turned back toward the cameras.

  Chapter 28

  The next morning when Ty came in with breakfast, Jessica held up the cards. “Rematch?”

  Ty smiled and nodded. “Strip poker?”

  Jessica laughed. “No. Rummy.”

  “Sure,” he said and returned with the table and chairs.

  Jessica shuffled and dealt the cards, her brow furrowed, debating what to ask him next.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

  “Why have you left me alone?”

  Ty bit his lower lip and met her gaze. “Would you prefer that I don’t leave you alone?”

  “No. I was just wondering what you are up to.”

  He smiled, tilted his head and picked up a card. He laid down three of his cards and put a fourth on the deck. “And here I’ve been wondering the same.” He reached out grabbing her hand and yanking her toward him, his eyes blazing with anger. “I recognize a game when I see one.”

  Jessica pulled her hand away and sat back in her chair out of his reach.

  “Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

  “One could only hope.”

  Her answer caught him completely off guard and he actually burst out laughing. “Touché,” he said. “Let’s finish the card game.” He straightened his back, staring at her expectantly.

  Jessica shook her head and chuckled as well, reaching for a card. This time she went out, happily placing the discard face down on the pile.

  “You ever play chess?”

  “No.”

  “Really?”

  “Nope, never played it.”

  “It’s a game of strategy. It would be very interesting to see how you do.” He smiled and shuffled the cards.

  “You’re much more talkative today.” She had no desire to discuss strategy points with him.

  He put the cards down. “I’ve got a game for you. Come here,” he said and turned his chair, pointing to the spot in front of him. “Bring your chair over here.”

  Jessica hesitated and then did as he asked, sitting facing him.

  “Put your hands out like this.” He put both hands out palms to the floor. Jessica did as she was told. “Ever play flinch.” He put his hands palms up under hers.

  Jessica shook her head a little.

  “You have to anticipate your opponent’s next move,” he said and like lightning slapped the back of her hand lightly. “You need to move the hand away the instant that your opponent makes his move. If you flinch and move it away before he actually moves his hand, then you lose.”

  “Kinda like chicken.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Bring it on,” Jessica said and watched his eyes instead of his hands. The first time he made a move, she pulled her hand away and he slapped nothing but air. She grinned. “This is easy.”

  “Oh really,” he laughed and the next move, he caught her. His eyes sparkled.

  “Ouch,” she said and shook her hand. She put them back out a little more hesitantly this time.

  He flexed his arm without moving his hand and Jessica yanked her hand away in anticipation of the slap. “You just lost.”

  “That’s not fair, you cheated.” Jessica pulled her hands away.

  “No I didn’t, you flinched.”

  “My turn,” she said and put her palms up. He obliged, putting his above hers with a silly grin on his face.

  The first time she slapped his hand his eyebrows rose and she swore he sucked air through his teeth and when he shook the sting out of his hand like she had, she smiled. But he put his hands back with no hesitation and returned her smile. Jessica moved her arm but not her hand next time, like he had.

  He didn’t budge and she saw the humor in his eyes. The third time, she caught nothing but air, the frustration building. She caught his hand the next three times watching as his smile faded. Jessica laughed after she tagged him a dozen times, but to his credit, he never flinched when she tried to fake him out.

  Ty put his hands over hers again and as she tagged him, he grabbed both of her hands and the laughter in his eyes changed. He held her hands and they stared at each other. “I want you,” he said finally voicing what was on his mind.

  “I know,” Jessica answered, slowly pulling her hands away from him.

  “No, Jessie, you don’t know,” he said and backed away from her. He stood and left the room.

  He brought her lunch a few hours later and she stood as he entered the room.

  “I’m sorry if I upset you,” Jessica said while he folded the table and chairs.

  “I don’t want to play games with you,” Ty said and went to leave. He took a second to glance over his shoulder as he opened the door.

  “Then let me go.”

  He paused, meeting her gaze but said nothing.

  * * * *

  Ty closed the door behind him and walked into the hallway, heading straight for the control room and the bathroom beyond. Looking at his reflection, the truth hit him like a brick in the face.

  “I love her,” he whispered and closed his eyes.

  He leaned on the sink with his head hanging over and took a deep breath. He had no clue of what to do now.

  “Goddamnit,” he whispered in frustration and headed back to the control room.

  Chapter 29

  Ty sat in the control room rolling a pencil through his fingers starin
g at the monitors with his feet resting on the console. His mind replayed every encounter with her, every glance, every spoken word, every nuance of her body language and he shook his head. Why the woman wouldn’t admit to the feelings he saw in her eyes frustrated the shit out of him.

  He focused on her monitor where she sat, idly playing solitaire. She had no clue. No clue that he hadn’t touched anyone since the day he first put her with Chris and Frank. No clue that he had no inclination to find another release for the pent up sexual energy boiling in his blood. No clue that he constantly turned escape scenarios over in his head trying to find a way to get her out of this place without losing her. And she had no clue how dangerous the game he was playing would become if Frank ever doubted his actions.

  “Humph,” he grunted. If Frank found out what he was trying to pull, he would bury him alive.

  On more than one occasion, Frank tried to coerce him into joining the festivities, but each time, he declined with a lame excuse. He caught the sideways glares Frank sent his way, but up until now, he’d gotten away with it because he edited some first rate footage of Angela and Lisa and Mike. He wondered just how long that would last before Frank insisted on his participation or worse, insisted on Jessica’s participation.

  While he wasn’t interested in the sideshow sex with the girls, tormenting Mike still held a certain thrill. He’d occasionally play the video for him as a reminder, smiling when Mike freaked out, screaming at the camera.

  He glanced at the pile of Metropolis discs and sighed. If he could get that acquisition in the door, it might be enough to distract Frank and get her the hell out of here.

  The phone rang and he snatched it off the hook before the second ring. “What?”

  “I’m bored with Angela and Lisa,” Frank said.

  Ty took a deep breath. Oh shit! “What do you want to do?”

  “I want you to take care of them.”

  Ty raised his eyebrows. “Me?” He was used to watching the killing, not carrying it out, at least not personally. He was the planner, the idea man, rigging explosions that killed from a distance, not a hands-on kind of guy. While he didn’t have issues cleaning up after the fact, he had only taken a life with his own hands once and that was years ago.

  “Yes, you.”

  Ty hesitated and looked at the monitors. “You don’t want to help?”

  “I’ve got a board meeting and I want one of them gone today. Think you can handle it?”

  “I can handle it.” He hung up the phone and stood, glancing at the monitors trying to formulate how he was going to do what Frank asked. His gaze landed on Jessica’s monitor and he shook his head. This was Frank’s way to gain more leverage, and the next thing he’d be asked to do would involve her.

  Shit, shit, shit!

  “Which one?” He put his hands on his hips, still looking between the monitors, frozen in indecision. “Fuck it.”

  He turned and collected both Angela and Lisa, bringing them into one of the performing rooms, a bed sat in the center of the floor, with nothing else in the room. Both of them scanned him hungrily, licking their lips, thinking their next sexual encounter would include him.

  When he returned with a butcher knife, both women’s eyebrows creased in confusion.

  “Choose,” he said and put a knife on the bed between them.

  He stepped back, far enough that if one of them turned the knife on him, he could react.

  The girls looked at each other and back at him. “Choose what?” Lisa asked, her voice shaking. She looked at the knife and back at Ty.

  “Who lives and who dies,” he said and leaned against the door waiting.

  Angela looked at him. “What if we don’t?”

  He sighed, his gaze bouncing between the two of them. “Then you both die.”

  Lisa grabbed the knife off the bed and stood holding it with both hands in front of her. The blade wavered in her hands as tremors overtook her lithe form. “I don’t want to die.”

  “Then kill her.” Ty nodded toward Angela.

  Lisa looked at the knife, at him then at Angela. “I’m sorry,” she said to Angela and she advanced. As she rounded the end of the bed, Angela backed up against the far wall.

  Lisa hesitated and turned toward Ty.

  He saw the flash of realization in her eyes as they traversed from the weapon she held to his empty hands. When her eyes met his, he knew he made a mistake.

  She lunged at him and he parried, blocking the knife with his forearm. The blade raked through his flesh, sending burning hot pain up his arm and into his shoulder. He grabbed the back of her neck and smashed her into the door, knocking her unconscious. The knife dropped from her hands and he slammed her face against the door again, smashing her nose and cheekbones, sending bits of bone into her brain, killing her instantly.

  Adrenalin still rushed in his veins and he tossed Lisa’s body across the room toward Angela. “Stupid bitch!” The roar filled the room and his angry glare landed on Angela.

  He swiped the knife off the floor and stormed across the room, pointing it in Angela’s direction. Angela pressed herself against the wall, trying to dissolve into the concrete away from him. He stopped when he towered over her, the knife centimeters away from her throat. The tip of the blade vibrated from the fury encompassing him.

  “P-p-please d-don’t k-kill me,” Angela cowered.

  He ground his teeth and spun around, tossing the knife on the bed and storming out followed by Angela’s wail.

  Chapter 30

  Ty walked into the control room and ripped his shirt off, inspecting the cut on his arm. It was deep enough to require stitches, but not deep enough to be life threatening. He looked at the monitors, her monitor, and shook his head.

  “It’s all about you.” Heading out of the control room, he finally gave in to his need. He pushed open her door and walked in, still shirtless and his arm dripping blood.

  She jumped when the door banged shut behind him.

  “Oh God, you’re bleeding.”

  He nodded and walked to her, leaving a trail of red droplets. She started to get up but paused when he shook his head and knelt on the end of the mattress.

  “Do you believe in redemption?”

  Jessica raised her eyebrows and tilted her head, searching his eyes before focusing on his arm. She reached out and took his bloody hand turning it slowly so she could see the wound. She sighed and raised her eyes to his, still not answering his question. Instead, she led him into the bathroom and motioned for him to take a seat on the closed toilet lid.

  Ty watched her and with every beat of his heart, his arm answered with a throb. When she dropped a washcloth in the sink and turned on the water, he raised an eyebrow. He hardly felt the swipes of the washcloth. Her gentle touch stirred his need, taking it to the edge of boiling over.

  “Do you believe in redemption?” he asked again.

  She didn’t say anything at first, just continued to clean his wound. “I don’t know,” she finally said after silence settled between them.

  “Why are you doing this?” he asked, pointing his chin at her.

  She shrugged. “Because you’re hurt and it’s in my nature to help.”

  “My nature is much darker,” he said.

  She didn’t say anything but nodded.

  He reached his good arm around her waist closing the minimal distance between them. “Much darker,” he whispered and crushed his mouth to hers and her lips parted allowing him access to the sweet depths. He plunged his tongue inside, tasting her, relishing the slow circles of the exquisite tongue dance. Pulling her closer, the kiss deepened, stirring the molten lava flowing through him, his bloody arm forgotten in the wake of the building sensual heat.

  Breathless, she yanked herself away and backed against the wall to the shower stall. Her eyes wide with surprise, her chest heaving. “I can’t,” she whispered.

  “Yes you can,” he said and stood.

  She moved out of his reach into the shower stal
l.

  Ty blocked the entrance to the shower and slipped his clothes off, never breaking her wide-eyed stare. He flipped the water on, drenching the nightshirt she wore and he stepped under the warm stream.

  “I know you feel the same things I’m feeling. I see it in your eyes.” His mouth found hers again and his hands glided down the wet nightshirt finding the hem.

  “God help me,” she whispered and the nightshirt slid up and over her head.

  He knelt, trailing kisses down the front of her as he tore her underwear off and his hands slid up the inside of her thighs, spreading them enough for him to roll his tongue over her clit.

  She gasped, running her hands through his hair, tilting her head back against the cool tile as he teased her. His lips glided over her skin, reveling in her, sucking, biting, licking, kissing until he found her mouth again.

  “Oh God!” she breathed when their kiss broke and he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and thrusting his hard member inside her. This time, her lips crushed his, taking his breath away.

  “Tell me you love me,” he whispered and kissed her neck pushing deep into her.

  She arched, letting a soft moan escape. Her hips circled slowly, seductively with him and she sucked his earlobe. “Tell me,” she said in a low husky voice.

  “Jessie,” he moaned and tore his lips away from her neck so he could see her eyes. She gently traced the line of his shoulders with her fingertips, her other hand embedded in his hair.

  She arched, pushing her hips into him and throwing her head back, her body tensing with the climax rippling through her. The moan of pleasure escaping her lips pushed him over the edge and he plunged deeper, his own orgasm exploding inside her.

  He gently set her down on her feet and stepped out of the shower, leaving her under the warm stream. She turned the water off when he handed her a towel.

  She wrapped it around her watching him do the same.

  He shook his head, spraying water around the room and then turned toward her, his wet hair hanging in his eyes, his bare chest rising and falling heavily with each breath.