Read The Gambler Online

Authors: Jordan Silver

The Gambler (7 page)

BOOK: The Gambler
3.59Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

After the chocolate debacle he decided they needed some distance between them, but she had other ideas. She sat with him while he worked and got into everything on his desk. She took over his chair and he figured he’d better see about getting her one of her own
, and maybe one of those two-seater desks, so she could play on her toy while he worked on the other side. That’s if she let him get any work done.

He found himself
, instead of looking after his business as he did each day about this time, playing video games with her, or listening to some story she just had to tell him. He’d missed this; even with all that he’d surrounded himself with, he’d been missing this and hadn’t even been aware. That sweetness that came so naturally to her was a complete contrast to the man he was. How would their lives play out he wondered? After the dust had settled and the smoke had cleared, who would they be?

One of the first things he wanted to do as soon as he nixed the fuckers that were after them, was take her back to The City and let her play with the slots to her heart’s content. He would have to look into getting one in the house if that were possible, and if it wasn’t, then he’d just find a way to make it happen. From now on he would see to her every need.

When evening started to fall, he had another dilemma on his hands. Last night he’d stayed in the room with her for necessity’s sake, but what about tonight? He found it strange that she hadn’t asked for her mom, in fact she acted as if they’d always been together.

There didn’t seem to be any fear of the unknown, which is something he would’ve expected after his experience with Alice. Jenna seemed content enough to be there with him. Then he started to wonder if being left with strangers was a regular occurrence
, but the thought pissed him off so much he squelched it. No sense in getting heated until he knew the facts. Which would entail having another talk with the mother.

 

He ran her a bath; only this time he had the knowledge of what she tasted like on his tongue still clear in his memory. When she stripped down in front of him his body reacted stronger this time than the last, and he felt like a dog for the thoughts running through his head. You will not touch her Stefan you fuck. He swore to himself even as he took his seat in the chair across from the tub.

With his hands clasped between his knees
, he listened to her regale him with stories of her day. The same day they’d shared, but had seen through such different eyes. She remembered ducks on the pond and the pretty things he’d bought her. He relived the car chase and taking the lives of two men. If there were any fairness in the world it would always be that way; she would ever remain untouched by the darker side of reality.

He’d have to shape up his business dealings somewhat. Not that he was a master criminal or anything, but certain legs of his business enterprise were less than above board. That was all fine and well when it had been just him, now with his new treasure
, there needed to be a change. He didn’t wonder at his readiness, or the easy capitulation, he knew what he’d been given. There was no way in hell he was going to lose it to anyone or anything.

“Angel.”

“Yes baby.” She always seemed to get a kick out of him calling her that and it made him grin. She puckered her lips again like she’d done earlier. He knew it was just something new to her, and that for the next little while at least, until she found something else to latch onto, she’d ask him to repeat it. Or maybe it could be that she enjoyed the experience as much as he did.

He kept the kiss as light as he could. He couldn’t forget that beneath the mountain of bubbles was the body of a siren. Or that she was without doubt the most beautiful creature he’d ever held. Easy Andros. He repeated that mantra to himself as he pulled back
, but couldn’t resist a few last nibbles of her lips.

He returned to his seat and decided to distract himself by fiddling with the new iPod he’d bought her. She seemed to like music and one of the things he’d learned from her mom was what she liked to listen to, what calmed her. When her bath was over
, he helped her out of the tub, not that she needed him to. She had an independent streak a mile wide as far as he could tell, and was very capable of doing it herself. He just wanted to.

 

Angel chocolate.”

“Okay baby one more before bedtime.” He was faced once more with the question of their sleeping arrangements. Had he not kissed her would he be even now dealing with this? It was too late for what-ifs and though it was way too early for his bedtime, he knew she’d had a long day and needed to rest.

She chose one of her new girlie nighties to sleep in after plastering herself with the sweet smelling shit the saleslady had suggested. He swallowed a good half a dozen times as she rubbed the lotion over her thighs, totally oblivious to the hell she was putting him through. Innocent as a fucking lamb! Maybe it was a cosmic joke, something to test his mettle. He was pretty sure he was going to fail the test; it was just a matter of time.

She climbed into bed and turned those bright eyes of hers his way and with a frown ordered him to join her. He kicked off his shoes as he approached, cautioning himself once more to stay above the covers. There was no way he was touching her for fuck sake, he’d probably scare her to death.

“I’m only gonna stay with you for a little while until you fall asleep Jenna okay.”

She didn’t seem to catch his meaning, all she cared about was the fact that he did as she asked. When he climbed in and she rolled over to him he almost jumped off the fucking bed. Shit, who the fuck thought it was a good idea to put her in this satiny smooth shit, and what was that scent? I’m gonna kill that fucking saleslady, couldn’
t she see that this girl was a…

A what Andros? She ain’t no child and you are royally fucked.

Chapter 9

 

 

He spent the first few minutes gritting his teeth, as she got settled against his hard chest. Counting sheep wasn’t working for this shit; he had to come up with something else. He took her hand when she started exploring. “Angel sing.” Well shit, he wouldn’t begin to know how.

She picked her head up and looked down at him when he didn’t comply right away. In the sliver of moonlight coming through the window she looked so fucking beautiful he ached. He couldn’t resist playing his fingers through her hair, and when she closed her eyes and hummed in innocent ecstasy, he felt the first pearl of pre cum at his tip. This was not good. It was way too soon.

Still, he didn’t pull back when she lowered her head for his mouth. He could see the fever brightness in her eyes, she was feeling something he was sure she’d never experienced before. He only hoped that he had the strength to hold himself in check.

Just one kiss Andros, one last taste before the night was over. She rolled over fully on top of him when he held her head in place
, with his hand wrapped securely in her hair, and the other around her waist. His eyes flew open when she put her tongue in his mouth. Where the fuck had she learned that? Take it easy there Andros, she’s just repeating what you did.

It was the longest fucking ten minutes of his life; thank heavens she was too green to know what she was doing. If she had any more heat behind her little experiment he would be hard pressed to fight his own impulse to take her. As it stood
, he was already in a bad way.

She liked playing with his tongue and having hers suckled. She laughed and pressed herself harder onto him as he teased her mouth. Her new game was going to give him blue balls, it was a given. He was caught between a rock and a hard dick.

There was no way he was gonna take her before he thought she was ready. But with her natural exuberance, and her body that was made, he was convinced, to drive him out of his fucking mind, it was going to be rough sailing from here on out.

He finally got some peace after she grew tired of her new game. She settled down in his waiting arms and sighed as she drifted off, while he was left staring at the walls with the hard on from hell. He hugged her close and kissed her forehead as he prepared himself for a night of sweet torture.

 

 

In the morning they went through their routine. She got herself dressed, in one of the cute little summer dresses she’d picked out the day before, and then she gave him the brush to fix her hair.

She chatted away a mile a minute
, while he got lost playing in her hair. What the fuck did he know about hairpins and shit? But she wanted some in her hair and he figured it out.

Downstairs he had a cup of coffee
, while Sue made her breakfast. He knew he was gonna have to watch her eat for the next little while to make sure she was getting enough. If left to her, she’d probably have chocolate at every meal.

He was ready when she asked for her mother. He would’ve been surprised if she hadn’t. He kept his attention focused on the call to make sure there was nothing said that would upset her, but when she just smiled and told her mom about her new dress
, he figured he could relax a little.

He took the phone from her when she was through and walked a little ways away from the table. “Andros here. Did you know that the Bonatas put a hit out on your daughter?”

“What, that’s not true they would never.”

“What would you call it when they try to take me out with her in the car? You tell that fuck for me that I’m gonna cut off his head and piss down his fucking throat. Where’s your son?”

“Please, just stop this nonsense right now, I’m sure Alec might’ve just lost his temper for a minute. He’s been under a lot of stress lately, but he would never hurt his sister, he loves her.”

“You’re full of shit
, and this right here only convinces me more to keep her the fuck away from all of you.”

“You can’t do that, you can’t just take my kid. We have laws in this country…”

“I’ll tell you what, you get that law to come to my fucking door, better yet, send your boy.”

He hung up the phone because there was nothing more to be said. If Jenna wouldn’t freak the fuck out
, he would cut off all communication with the mother as well. What the fuck did she mean he was under stress? That made it okay? The fucker hadn’t seen stress yet.

He was in a hurry to get the day started; there was a lot of shit that needed to be done. He checked that her security was in place
, before lifting the shield he’d put on the house the night before when they went to bed.

He was giving serious thought to bringing in dogs, but he wasn’t sure how she would react to their presence. Maybe he’d bring it up and see, for now
, the twenty or so men he had combing the grounds should be enough.

“Come Jenna Angel has to go to work.” He tried setting her up in the corner with her iPad and other shit
, but she wasn’t having it. As soon as he was seated she plopped down in his lap, and he resigned himself to working around her again today.

He answered all her questions
, and gave her kisses when she asked, all the while hoping she didn’t know what the lump under her ass meant.

The guys were still combing the house for any surprises the
Minnelli bitch might’ve left behind, so he didn’t have to deal with their bullshit along with everything else; but he was gonna have to figure something out fast. No way was he gonna get shit done with her this close. Not after he’d learned her taste and the feel of her under his hand.

That afternoon
, they had their first fight. She wanted to stay outside after he’d taken her down to the little pond on the property to see the new birds he’d ordered for her, and he didn’t want her outside for any length of time, lest someone had eyes on his place.

She threw a fit when he told her no. Something he wasn’t accustomed to, he was in the habit of having his every need met
, and everyone going out of their way to carry out his orders.

His strong-arm tactics weren’t going to work on her though, because she was stubborn as fuck. “No Jenna let’s go.” He kept his voice even as he tried to steer her back towards the house.”

“No, Jenna stay.” She stomped her foot and turned her angry face up to him. Just one little thing set her off, and here he was thinking she was going to be so easy to handle.

Still, he couldn’t have her disobeying him; it was for her own safety. When she dug her heels in and refused to budge
, he picked her up and headed back inside. She screamed bloody murder and Garrett and Jameson came running, guns drawn.

“We’re fine guys
, put those away.” He carried her up the stairs to their room, out of sight of the others, since he didn’t know how long, or what form her tantrum would take.  He knew from experience that it could last for hours, or blow over in a matter of minutes like it never was.

Laying across the bed
, he held her close while she stiffened up on him. Stubborn little shit. “Jenna baby, please calm down before you make yourself sick.” He kept his voice soft and level, while running his hand up and down her back. He understood she was testing the boundaries and though he had no intention after last night of treating her like a child, he would never allow her to endanger herself.

Not even if it meant her getting mad at him. Her sobs tore at him though, and he wished like hell he could give her what she wanted. Then he started to sing and wondered when the fuck he’d lost his fucking mind. Chump.

BOOK: The Gambler
3.59Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Dark Days Rough Roads by Matthew D. Mark
Lhind the Thief by Sherwood Smith
Cynthia Bailey Pratt by Gentlemans Folly
Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes
Coming Home to You by Fay Robinson
Tengo que matarte otra vez by Charlotte Link