The Gamble (D'Arth Series Book 3) Read online

  "I don't get girls' obsession with footwear.”

  "That's because you're not a girl. I don't get boy's obsession with beer.”

  "How can you not love beer? It is the nectar of the gods.”

  "That's wine, I believe, or so the Romans said.”

  "That's because they couldn't brew a decent beer.”

  Alex shook her head. "There's more to life than beer.”

  "Beer enhances life. In fact, I am really talking myself into one right now.” He turned toward the waitress.

  Alex looked around. There were only a few people left in the bar now. "Where has everyone gone?"

  "Retreated back into their little cocoons.”

  Alex got a lovely picture in her mind of people snuggled up in cocoons. Christ, she was drunk. Marco moved and came to sit next to her and she felt the heat from his body. Why did he have to be so attractive?

  "So, who are you seeing now?" she asked.

  "No one.”

  "Marco D'Arth, are you actually doing work in the evenings? I thought you were all: swan in, flounce around and pull something out of your arse.”

  "I don't swan or flounce under any circumstances. And yes, you will get a run for your money.”

  "Tell me about your pitch.”

  "Tell me about your.”

  "Is that your plan? You're going to get me blind drunk so I will spill my beans to you.”

  "If you want, or your knickers. Either one will do.”

  "Are you hitting on me?" she said, surprised.

  "I'd have thought it was obvious by now,” he smiled cheekily.

  "I'm sorry; I am a little slow on the uptake. Here I was thinking you just like talking to me.”

  "I do, but you're also very distracting.” Marco's beer arrived. He ignored it for a while, instead watching her, his fingers absently stroking his lower lip.

  "Well, give it a minute and you'll have your beer goggles on.”

  "I don't need goggles.”

  Somehow they had gotten very close, sitting right next to each other, drawn in by their quiet conversation, which seemed to include more than verbal. Marco's fingers ran up the bare skin of her arm, teasing her. Her thought fluttered to Lacey, who was probably getting whatever payoff she sought good and hard right now. "No, there are definitely some terrible decisions to be made on a night like this.”

  "No, there's not.”

  "Really? Hitting on your best friend's ex. Doesn't that break guy code or something?"

  "No. If your mate is stupid enough to set free a devastatingly sexy girl, she's fair game.”

  "Game, huh?" but her mind was stuck on the devastatingly sexy part. Images flooded her mind and heated her body. It had been a while since she'd spent the night with someone, and a very long time since she'd had a first night with someone—only night, she repeated. "I am not the girl who sleeps with her exes friends," she said.

  "I won't tell anyone.”

  "What are we, fifteen?" she smiled.

  "No, we're two young, single people in a foreign country—lost and lonely, clinging to each other for comfort.”

  "Oh my god, the melodrama is killing me," she laughed. "Is that your best pick-up line?"

  "No. How about I tell you about the jealous part," he said, his voice deep and seeming to reverberate over her skin. "How jealous I was that Gavin was with someone like you, who is so far out of his league it's eye-watering.”

  "Out of his, but not yours?"

  "Definitely out of my league," he said, biting his lips, drawing her attention to his full mouth which was only mere centimetres away. The indentation made his lips seem soft, yielding to the hard surface pressing down on it. Reaching up, he stroked down the side of her cheek with the pad of this thumb. "Utterly beautiful," he said breathlessly. "Too smart by half and sexy. A cut above. I've never been with a girl like you and since I met you, all I wanted to know was: how does a guy like me get a chance with a girl like you?"

  He seemed to have her spellbound; she couldn't look away. Damn it, she said as he reached over, pressing those soft lips to hers. Sensation flooded her system, lighting fires. His hand came up around her neck, pulling her closer to him, holding her to his exploring lips. Pulling away, his breath was heavy on her cheek and her hand had unwittingly roamed up his chest. Damn it, she repeated, but this was just too enticing. Her body was on fire and it had been a while since she'd been this turned on. "Not bad as far as pick-up lines go," she admitted.

  "Just brutal honesty.” He kissed her again, demanding entry to her mouth, rushing in when she relented.

  "This is a bad idea,” she said as he moved to the side of her neck.

  "It seems like the best idea in the world to me. Beyond the fact that Gavin was an absolute idiot for giving you up, what about this is a bad idea?"

  Actually, beyond Gavin, she couldn't really think of anything specific, only that Marco made her nervous. She shouldn't care about Gavin and she was definitely not doing this in some deluded attempt at getting back at him, even if that is what people would assume. She also shouldn't stop herself from doing something because of what people would assume. But then they were competitors. "We're after the same business.”

  "Screw business," he said. His hand was running up her dress, sending shockwaves of teasing sensation, crashing into the effects of his lips teasing down her neck. Suddenly self-conscious, she looked around the bar and saw that no one was watching them. Marco must have had the same thoughts, because he rose, pulling her with him. "Spend the night with me.”

  She really wanted to, but there was something in the back of her mind sending warning signals, even if she couldn't actually think of a reason why she shouldn't. She refused to be scared of men just because Peter was a jerk. Screw Gavin; he didn't deserve her loyalty after what he'd done. And it was only a night, likely of raw sex. Images flooded her mind.

  She didn't fight when he gently tugged her along. Straightening his slim black tie along his tight abdomen, he held her hand as they walked out of the bar. Excitement made her flush all over. She couldn't believe she was doing this, with Marco. If she was completely honest with herself, she would recognise the attraction she'd felt for him the moment he'd turned up in London.

  Alex had no idea how late it was, but the lobby was deserted. As the elevator doors closed, he pulled her to him, pressing her up to the glass behind them and claiming her in a bruising kiss. His tongue sought deep into her mouth, teasing and exploring, and his hands were cupping her backside, holding her firmly to him. She could feel how much he wanted this and she wanted to reach down and feel exactly how much, but they were too tangled up to let hands slip in between. A ping of the elevator and they drew apart. She felt the loss of contact as cold air rushed over her heated skin. Turning her eyes to him, he waited for her to step out of the elevators to his room. If she did this, it would be a night of pure sex. She could play it more sedate, but she wanted it uninhibited. She didn't want to care at the moment; she just wanted a night of carnality. It felt like an antidote to all the things she'd been through lately. No thinking, or feeling, just pleasure and sensations.

  When the door to his room closed, he pulled her to him again, drawing his arms around her and going straight for the zipper than ran down the back of her dress.

  "This damn zipper has been teasing me all day," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. It was an overly large, metallic zipper and she'd liked it because it was an obvious contrast with the material of her dress. The dress gave way, falling down her front and revealing everything to him. She hadn't worn a bra, not really needing one with the structured tailoring of the dress. "Damn," he said and leaned back on the door as she stood there in nothing but her lacy underwear and heels. His hand went to his neck, tugging the knot of his tie.

  Alex felt a moment of self-consciousness, but she also felt sexy. His eyes roamed her body and she felt goose bumps as his gaze travelled to every part of her. "You're perfect," he said and she couldn't lie to herself and say sh
e didn't like hearing it.

  Slipping off his suit jacket, he grabbed her backside and drew her to him. Heat from his body met her before the hard contours of his thighs. Holding herself back a bit, she let her hands roam down his matt black pants which hid the hardness of his erection. Leaning back, he observed her as she explored it, drawing breath sharply as she ran her fingers down its length.

  His hand travelled to his belt, undoing it. The sight itself was a promise and it sent a deep thrill through her. His hand tightened around her, kneading her to him and she suspected this wasn't going to be gentle. Biting her lip, she waited for him to be ready, and helped by unbuttoning his shirt. He was toned, but she knew that already. Letting her hands roam over his tight stomach, she sighed with pleasure.

  Stepping out of his pants, he was completely naked. For some reason, they'd been mostly silent throughout this exchange. It felt a little like she was doing something she wasn't supposed to and it just added spice to it.

  As he stepped closer, she felt his skin against hers, warm and smooth, covering hard muscles. He pulled at the sides of her knickers and let them drop to the floor. They were both naked and she sought out his eyes, hoping she didn't see anything nasty in them. Instead, she saw raw need. Grabbing her by the wrist, he whipped her to him so she turned, impacting into him with her back to his chest. His arm held her around her waist and the warmth of his skin ran along her entire back. He kissed her neck, making her sigh with the intimacy of the action. His hand came up her front to her neck and his fingers splayed across her chest, slowly stroking down, across the mound of her breast. Alex’s whole body tightened and heat pooled in her belly. Her bum fit perfectly in the crook of his hips and his excitement was evident.

  Soft lips moved along her shoulder as his hands returned to her breasts, teasing the tips until they were tight and aching. Moving her to the wall, her hands supported her as his hand slowly travelled down along her spine. Goose bumps rose where his hands explored. His fingers traced along her hips and then moved to her sensitive stomach, edging further down towards where she ached for him to touch. But he didn’t go that far. Instead, kissing her along her back and shoulder blades, her skin contracting where his warm lips touched. Heat flowed through her body, radiating out through her limbs.

  His mouth travelled to the small of her back, his tongue teasing her sensitised skin, then between the dimples just above the flare of her backside. Kisses trailed lower as he crouched down and let his hands explored along her thighs. His tongue travelled along the line that demarked between her bum and thighs, making her moan. He was merciless in his teasing. Her core ached to be touch, pulsed with anticipation and slowly his hand travelled up her inner thigh, progressing so slowly, she wanted to cry out. His fingers made tentative contact with her moist folds and sharp pleasure reverberating through her along with the sharpness of the little bite he gave her bum.

  Biting her lip, Alex withheld the groans forming in her throat as his fingers found her clit, pressing firmly. She couldn’t help her hips arching back, allowing him better access to her most sensitive part. His fingers explored her folds, making her core ache in anticipation, pressed into her, pushing in and out until even biting her lip wasn’t enough to hold back the small cry caught in her throat. She felt him move, felt as he gripped her hips. She’d never felt such complete abandonment of inhibitions, just wanting him inside her. Urging her legs apart slightly, he shifted and she felt the tip of his cock at her entrance and she held her breath. Her core pulsed forcefully with anticipation and she arched back further to meet him. Intense heat and pleasure radiated from her core as he slowly pushed inside her. She was normally not quite this uninhibited, but she hadn’t been this turned on before either. His hardness pushed further into her and her body yielded. His hands around her hips drew her to him, which was necessary as she wasn’t entirely sure her knees were sure enough to hold her.

  Deep groans rumbled through his throat as he pulled out of her and pushed in again, their hips fitting perfectly together. Alex’s body was drawing together into a powerful orgasm and she convulsed around him. He slowed, buried deep inside her as her core contracted around him, then pulled out leaving her still aching for him.

  "A little too much," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Can't have you thinking this will only last a minute.”

  "It only lasted a minute for me.”

  "As it should.”

  Turning around to face him, she reaching down, curling her fingers around his still rock-hard length.

  "Don't," he said with a smile, grabbing her by her backside and pulling her to him again. "Tease.”

  Smiling, he grabbed her around the thighs and lifted her up, parted her legs around him until he let her sink down on him again. Alex immediately felt the tension grip her once more as he moved in and out of her. Any less gentle and she would tumble into oblivion yet again, drawn back into pure pleasure. Stilling completely, his eyes sought hers, his lips rushing to her mouth, demanding union. Gasping, he ground into her repeatedly, gently, steadily pushing deep inside her. Her core pulsing in conjunction, until it slipped out of her control, conjuring another forceful orgasm and she arched into him, drawing him yet deeper. Her powerful pulses drew his release and he groaned loudly into the crook of her neck as he came.

  * * *

  Chapter 8:

  * * *

  Placing a fried tomato on his plate, Marco moved down the breakfast buffet. He was hung-over and tired, but he knew he would bounce back after a meal. He hadn't slept much the previous night, having spent it doing naughtier things. Smiling to himself, he still couldn't believe he'd pulled Alex last night. Images intermittently flooded his mind and his body reacted. He still couldn't believe some of the images ingrained in his mind. Alex was perfect, and he particularly reacted to the images of seeing pure desire in her eyes, her lips parted, caught in the maelstrom of sensation between them. There was something fundamentally seductive about seeing her want him.

  Alex wasn't the least problematic hook-up he'd ever had. She was his friend's ex and Gavin would not be happy, but they were both single and Gavin couldn't hold claim on someone he'd let go.

  He wanted to grab her and drag her upstairs again, but they were here for work and they didn't have the liberty of blowing it off, even if he'd managed to pull the best girl ever. Sitting down, he watched Alex across the dining room, sitting with her own team. There were some green-looking people in the room, having imbibed too much last night, particularly the older ones, taking advantage of the rare night away from their families and responsibilities.

  A coffee would finish off the meal and complete his recuperation, but he waited for Alex. He wanted to speak to her and it wasn't likely he would get the chance during the day. Finally, she rose and headed back towards the buffet table.

  Marco sought her out. "What time are you flying back?"

  "I'm on the six-thirty. You?"

  "Same,” he lied.

  "I'll see you then," she said, coffee in hand.

  He wanted to touch her, but he couldn't. Instead, he had to rein in the urge and returned to his table, where he pulled out his phone and changed his flight.

  Arriving at the airport after a long day, he followed his team into the lounge after paying the check-in girl an extra fifty euro to ensure that he was seated next to Alex.

  "How come you're on another flight?" Charlotte asked.

  Marco shrugged. "I guessed they were fully booked.”

  "I'm sorry you have to stay here all on your own for half an hour," Charlotte said with an exaggerated frown.

  "I'm a big boy. I think I'll manage.”

  "So who was that you were getting into last night?" Charlotte asked, leaning over the conjoined chair, ready for his story.

  Marco only grinned.

  "Was that her?" Charlotte asked in a rush. "The girl at Grossman Altitude?"

  Marco didn't answer again.

  "You're a bad boy," Charlotte said with a chuckle. "You are
unbelievable. She's quite pretty, isn't she?"

  "Yes," he confirmed.

  The call for the flight came through and his team stood up, readying to leave.

  "See you on Monday," Charlotte said and gave him a wink. "Have a good weekend.”

  "I will," he said to Charlotte's retreating back. Looking around, he couldn't spot Alex, but he wasn't worried; he would have an hour or so of her exclusive attention in about half an hour's time. There was no reason for him to be greedy. Instead, he read the Economist magazine he hadn't had a chance to touch since he'd arrived in Dusseldorf. Likely, Alex would arrive in the lounge any minute, but he would forgo seeing her now for later.

  He waited until last to walk onto the plane, after everyone else had jostled their way in, and he found her right where he expected her to be. She was surprised to see him and looked around guiltily to see if anyone was watching her.

  "Small world," he said, dropping his magazine on the seat and lifting his small carry case into the overhead locker.

  "Isn't it?"

  "How was your day?" He shoved his magazine in the pocket on the seat in front and buckled himself in.

  "Amazing," she said. "There really is too much to take in.”

  He listened to her talk about some of the things she particularly noted about the show.

  "Are you going to change your pitch from what you've learnt over the last few days?" he asked.

  She smiled slyly. "No. Are you?"

  "I might have gathered a few ideas that I'll test out.”

  "Oh?"

  He wasn't going to elaborate further, but he liked teasing her. The flight took off and they were quiet for a moment as the plane rose and the lights of the dark city stretched outside the window. "Got any plans for the weekend?" he asked.

  "Not really. Was just going to take it easy. You?"