Lucifer's Game

by Rachael Tamayo

  “Hello,” I sigh, sitting on the bed as my friend re-enters the room with red heels. Don’t sound so eager.

  “Hey. You got a minute?”

  I mouth to her that it’s Andrew and she nods, leaving the room.

  “I guess so.”

  “I know I haven’t called to check on you, just wanted to make sure you are alright.”

  I sigh. “I’m making it. What else can I say? I tried to call a few times.”

  “I know. I’m not trying to avoid you. I just can’t handle another fight right now.”

  I feel my face wrinkle in a frown. “So you just leave me hanging here alone? You can at least answer and tell me that.”

  “We just needed some time to think. Something had to change, Cora. It doesn’t mean that I don’t-”

  “Why are you calling me? If you just wanted to hurt me again, well done. Please don’t presume to know how I feel about your leaving me.” My face burns with unshed tears. I don’t want to cry. I wish I wasn’t so angry. I hate all this turmoil he’s causing inside me. Can’t I just be happy again?

  He sighs. I don’t want to admit to him how much I’ve missed his voice, or the way he says my name. I want him to come home and talk to me, work this out. Not call me just to clarify what I already know.

  That he doesn’t care about the same things I do anymore.

  I miss his hands on my body, his lips on the back of my neck. The way he used to sneak up to me in the kitchen, nibble on me, and play with me until clothes started to come off. I’ve missed it for a long time. Way too long. The dreams I’ve been having haven’t helped either. Sex every single night. It’s the damnedest thing.

  Honestly, it’s been a great stress relief.

  I just want my husband to look me in the eyes and tell me that he’s here no matter what. That it’s me and him until the end.

  “I think we’ve both made mistakes,” his voice is a low rumble.

  “That goes without saying. Look, I’m not sure why you called, but I’m okay. I’m safe and alive and the bills are getting paid.”

  “Okay then. Well… um… call me or whatever if you need anything okay?”

  “I will. Bye.” I hang up before the tears stinging my eyes reach my voice and he knows that I’m crying.

  I almost hate that I miss him so much. His voice hurts, because he’s not here.

  Standing up, I put on the shoes and grab my purse, walking out of the room to find Marilyn in the living room.

  “Ready?” I ask.

  “Sure. What did he want?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. To check on me? To argue? Let’s just go.” It doesn’t even matter. If he cared that much, he’d be here on my doorstep not calling me on the phone.

  ***

  Two hours, and too many drinks later, we walk into our third bar of the evening, giggling. Her friend ditched us in the last bar for a guy she liked. So, now, it’s just Marilyn and me.

  The place is classier than the last dive we were in. Behind the bar are three bartenders moving around like hummingbirds trying to serve a throng of people packed into the area, asking for drinks. Bottle upon bottle of every alcohol imaginable lines the mirrored wall behind them as they work.

  “What do you want this time? It’s crowded, it’s going to take forever to get served in here.” I head for the bar.

  “To find a guy to buy us drinks for the night.” She scans the room. “Maybe we should find a table.”

  I roll my eyes. “Again? Are you broke or what?” I glance down at my wedding band again. She told me to take it off. I can’t.

  “No, but why should I pay for my own drinks when there are men in here waiting to spend money on me? Come on, check out that table. Three of them… and holy hot damn I’ve never seen three sexier men at one table together in my life.”

  I follow her gaze to a booth in the corner. Recognition immediately lights up my brain.

  “Hey that’s my new doctor! Zwicke. He’s the blonde in black.”

  “That is your doctor? Holy Crap! Come on.” Taking me by the hand, she starts to drag me in their direction.

  I hold back.

  “He’s my doctor, wouldn’t it be weird?”

  I meet my friend’s brown eyes. She laughs at me. “Please, just to hang out? He’s a person, isn’t he? You said he was cool, not like other doctors.”

  I glance over towards the table. The good doctor sits across from an equally, handsome guy with black hair. In the corner is a second guy, also blonde but with shorter hair.

  “I don’t know, he’s with his friends. It’s going to be weird.”

  “You’re such a coward,” she sighs.

  We head to the bar. Not a moment later, I hear a low voice in my ear just as I’m about to order.

  “Hey there, stranger.”

  Turning, I look up into the blue eyes of Doctor Zwicke. He grins at me as he leans beside me.

  “Hi Doctor. I thought that was you sitting over there.” I gulp, catching the scent of expensive cologne. I’m unable to stop myself from noticing the way his biceps bulge in the long sleeved shirt, or the way his long hair falls in his face and he tucks it back out of the way, framing his stunning face.

  “Call me Devin. Yeah me and a couple of old friends. Why don’t you two join us?” He leans over the bar, calling to the bartender. “Their drinks are on my tab, all night.”

  “Oh, you don’t…,” I start.

  “Oh, ignore her. I’m Marilyn.” She smiles at him, shoving her way past me.

  “Nice to meet you.” He takes her hand in his huge one, shaking it. “Come on, let’s go sit.”

  So, I trudge behind them to the corner table. Seems I’m out voted.

  “This is Xander.” He points to the one with dark hair. The guy leans back and meets my eyes with his bright green ones. “Xander, this is Cora and Marilyn.”

  “Please Sit, Cora,” Devin offers, ushering me into the booth with a wave.

  Xander moves and lets Marilyn in beside him as Devin squeezes his hulking frame in beside me, close enough that I can feel the heat coming off his body.

  “And this is Haden.” He nods to the other, seemingly quieter blonde. This one has a goatee and a smile as he takes a swig from a beer, shooting us both a lazy smile.

  Devin’s body brushes mine as he scoots. I can’t take my eyes off him and, frankly, it’s a little unnerving. He’s stunning. His long hair brushes my bare arm and goose bumps raise on my arms and legs. I know I need to get a grip and stop staring at him. He’s my doctor for God’s sake.

  “What are you drinking, gorgeous?” he asks, leaning closer.

  I look up into his eyes and remind myself to breathe.

  “Uh… beer.”

  He gives me a slow smile, and I bite my lip.

  It takes some time, but after a couple of rounds and some casual conversation, I finally start to relax. Giggling at this guy and absorbing all the attention he’s paying me seems to be just what I needed to forget all my troubles, at least for an evening. Marilyn is off dancing, and I’ve honestly got no idea where the other two went. So, right now, it’s just me and Devin at the table.

  He leans over me, his fingers grazing mine. He takes my hand and fingers the ring.

  “You’re separated if I remember correctly. Is that right?”

  My mouth goes dry as he plays with my ring, traces my fingers. Something like an electric current rolls through my body as large, hot hands move over the lines of my fingers over and over again. When I look up into his face, the current shoots straight into my panties.

  Holy hell.

  “Yeah… for about two months,” I hear myself say.

  “That’s a shame. Happens though. Maybe you just need some time just for yourself.” He holds my gaze. “Time to take care of your own needs.”

  “That’s what my friend said. She lectured me about wearing the ring out tonight.”

  I watch his fingers while biting my lip. I can only imagine what else these fingers are
capable of.

  “Cora.”

  I look up at the sound of my name on his lips and in my mind I can almost see the flashes of him, hands tugging at my panties… pushing my thighs apart.

  Where did that come from? Have some self-control.

  “Cora, if you’re not ready to take it off, it’s no big deal.”

  I nod.

  “I guess that’s true.”

  “He probably takes his off. I bet he’s having his fun, too. Who says you can’t?”

  I didn’t even think of that. Would Andrew do that? Be out at some bar, brushing up on some woman he’s never met? Buying her drinks and touching her? A sick feeling builds in my gut at the thought.

  “You think so? He called me today.”

  Devin reaches and touches my hair, tucking it behind my ear. He lets his fingers graze my neck and I swear to God my eyes almost close at the heat from his touch. He plays with the thin strap of my dress, eyes caressing my neck and shoulders.

  What is happening here? Am I really this worked up? I can’t seem to make my mouth tell him to stop, or move away. I’m aching. Squirming in my seat as fire lights between my thighs and I imagine dragging him off and doing dirty things to him.

  “He’s a guy. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you or whatever, just… you know. Like a temporary release from jail. You got one, too. Free for now, answering only to yourself.” He leans in, lips almost touching my ear. “When was the last time you just did what you wanted… consequences be damned? How are you feeling right now, Cora?”

  He whispers my name. His breath feathers on my skin and I hear a whimper come from my own throat. I don’t know how to answer him. The fire has become an intense throbbing, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. My breathing starting to come in short, shallow breaths as I turn and meet eyes that are so close it makes my lungs seize up.

  His eyes have fire in them; they seem to be darker than they were moments ago. Must be the lighting.

  “Tell me what you want.”

  “I…,” I stammer, unable to form a sentence that can possibly reflect how I’m feeling right now. I’m not even sure I want to. He can’t possibly mean what I think he does. Don’t doctors take some kind of an oath?

  “It’s okay to feel it, I do. Can’t you tell?” He drops a hand to my bare thigh.

  I can’t believe this man, this gorgeous creature, is trying to pick me up.

  His hot hand on my thigh makes me groan. It’s a low, sexy sound that I can’t believe I just let out, but I sit paralyzed, watching his hand slide over my skin, up to the hem of my skirt.

  “Don’t you feel it?” The words are spoken so softly, I barely hear them, and yet, they caress my ears just as his hand is caressing my skin under my skirt.

  “But, aren’t you a doctor…,” I squeak, softly.

  His lips touch my ear when he speaks again.

  “I’m not a therapist. I can do what I want. Come play pool with me.”

  Standing, he holds out a hand for me. My arm drifts up, as if of its own accord, and is taken into his huge hand, swallowed whole in his grip.

  Devin leads me by the hand to the back of the bar, a room filled with pool tables. Releasing me, he retrieves cues and balls. I watch him, mute, as he racks the balls on the table. I take in how his body bends over the table, how his muscles flex with every move. I catch his eyes over the table, realizing he’s staring at me as he takes his shot and I blush.

  My turn comes and I bend with a slight tremble in my legs. I can’t believe a man that looks like this is staring at me with such heat.

  “Wait, let me show you,” he calls out, moving behind me.

  His body pressed behind me as he moves my hands on the cue.

  “Here,” his whisper is close to my ear. “Like this.”

  I suck in a breath. He bends with me, positioning me and the cue behind the ball. With his help, I sink the ball.

  Standing, I turn and find him inches from me. I stare up into his face, mind racing as his eyes fall to my lips. He tucks his long hair behind his ear and glances up to my eyes.

  I have no idea what to do, or say. Should I move? Or do I stand here and let him ravage me with this dark gaze that seems to have my feet planted into the floor like they are glued there? He moves closer, still staring at my face as if mesmerized.

  How can a man that looks like this be so hypnotized by me? What is happening here?

  Chapter Four

  Cora

  “Hey, quit eye fucking each other. Whose turn it is?” Marilyn’s laugh breaks my eyes contact, and starts my breathing again. She grabs the pool cue with a knowing glance my way.

  “No kidding, just go fuck for real in the back of the truck and come back so we can finish the game.” Xander chugs a beer and grins at his friend.

  I feel my face burning; surely a deep crimson blush that I can’t hide is blooming across my face and down my neck. I don’t dare look up at Devin but, when I do, I find him watching me with a smoldering gaze that makes my skin grow even hotter.

  “In the back of the truck? Hell no. I need a bed.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me.

  Oh.

  My.

  God.

  “No you don’t. Not for a quickie,” Marilyn offers, taking a shot. She smiles at Xander when he checks out her ass as she bends over the table.

  “Who said anything about a quickie?” Devin retorts.

  How is this conversation actually reality? Is this man seriously thinking about this? Sex with me? Trying not to get caught looking, I glance up at him. He’s so handsome he could be in movies. This man could have any woman he wants, especially being a doctor. Looks coupled with a career like that? Come on, I’m just a simple social worker. Yet, here I am, and when I look over at him, he’s watching me with a heat in his cobalt eyes that makes steam rise between us.

  Suddenly, I can’t shake visions of his head bent, lips pressed to my flesh, panting groans and fisting the sheets.

  Holy shit.

  “Hey, you jokers, I’m a married woman,” I say, as if this whole conversation is a big joke.

  Xander looks up from where he’s taking his shot. “No, you’re separated, that’s what I was told. For a couple months. Big difference.”

  Marilyn parks herself on a barstool.

  “Actually, separation suggests a mutual agreement. That’s not what happened. He left.”

  I throw her a glare. Trust her drunk ass to spill my business out there like this.

  “She has a good point. If he left, then he’s just an asshole.” Xander shoots.

  “What happened?” Devin asks, cocking his head.

  I want to curl into a ball and just vanish. “Um….” How can he ask me this in front of everyone, especially since I don’t really even know him?

  “It was over the baby thing,” Marilyn answers for me, drawing Devin’s attention. “Such a jerky thing to do, don’t you think? He told her a bunch of bull about her not paying attention to him and being hung up on something that won’t ever happen and he took off. Two months ago.”

  “Marilyn… shut up.” I rise off my barstool.

  “No, I won’t. It’s true. He was an asshole to leave like that. You said you two never really talked about it and he just up and does this out of the blue one day. I say forget him and have your fun. If he comes around later… whatever.”

  Have your fun? What is she saying? She was my maid of honor in my wedding. This line of thought isn’t something I expected from her.

  I drag a shaking hand through my jet black hair in frustration. I know she’s right. She’s just drunk enough to lay it all out there, what I already know deep down to be true. He didn’t give me a chance to correct anything, just up and took off. Maybe he just doesn’t want the same things that I do anymore and doesn’t have the nerve to tell me.

  “She’s right you know.” Xander leans on his cue, looking my way. I meet his green-eyed gaze. “No one is saying that it’s over or anything, maybe it’s not. I’m sur
e there is a lot we don’t know, but the fact of the matter is he made his choice when he walked out the door and left you alone. He must realize that you might meet someone. It’s the chance he took. One he was willing to take.”

  I swallow a mouth full of beer.

  “It’s not like it was a shock or anything, I did know that it was a problem. We fought about it a few times. We were sort of drifting apart.” My words trail off at the end. I don’t know why I’m entertaining this topic of conversation.

  I glance over at Devin. He sits with arms crossed over his chest, biceps straining in a black button down with the sleeves rolled up, legs spread wide, and eyes devouring me silently.

  What am I going to do if this man makes a move?

  I’m in so much trouble.

  “So what are you saying?” Devin shoots at me.

  I turn my eyes to his, suddenly locked. Feeling as if the world around me fades away and it’s only us standing here.

  I don’t know what I’m saying. My mouth opens and closes like a guppy. “I… it’s… nothing… just,” I ramble.

  He stands up, forcing my eyes to caress him as he rises to his full height and rounds the table to where I’m standing.

  My heart slams into my ribcage. Devin reaches up, curls a hand around the back of my head and bends, kissing me. His lips touch mine and my legs almost give. His other arm crushes me against his massive body, his hair falling around my face as his tongue teases my lips, willing them to accept him into my mouth. His tongue tangles with mine, stroking a moan from deep in my chest as the invasion deepens, slows. A hand finds my ass and pulls my hips into his body.

  Pulling back just enough, I gasp for a breath and stare up into blue eyes framed by blonde hair that tickles my arms. The scent of his cologne is swirling around me.

  “So what are you saying?” he asks me again, in a whisper.

  “You don’t care that I’m…,” I start.

  He kisses me again. I whimper against him, fisting his shirt, and returning the strokes of a slow, hot tongue.

  “I don’t care,” he mutters, pulling my lip between nipping teeth. “He shouldn’t have left you behind for someone else to take.”