0 comments/ 77289 views/ 4 favorites Lady Gambler Ch. 01 By: Sweetcheekss I love to play poker! With me, it was a passion. My father had explained the game to me when I was a young girl. I found it most intriguing. I compared it to chess only with money, sometimes lots and lots of money. Over the years I improved on my playing skills and techniques. Besides skill, I had one exceptional gift, luck. There were many games where I couldn’t lose, the cards fell my way. Of course, there were those times when I couldn’t buy a good hand. I had the common sense to get out of those games quickly, not even looking back. No sense throwing money out on the table just to see it get raked away. I always kept one thing in mind, money management. Although I hadn’t perfected the art of money management, I felt I was damn close. In college, I played every Friday and Saturday night. There was usually a game going on at one or another of the frat houses. If not, you could always find a game somewhere in one of the coed dormitories. I spend most of my school day evenings finding out where all the games were going to be. I only played for money, serious money, not nickels and dimes. I didn’t waste my time playing strip poker with a bunch of beer drinking guys either. I had my share of sex, just not while there was a game going on somewhere. Sex was my second passion. I couldn’t keep a boyfriend, most of them condemning me for being a “compulsive gambler”. Maybe I was, but as long as I was winning, I didn’t care. I spent four long years in college, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. I also earned a lot of money playing poker during those four long years. As you can see, money was also my passion. I wanted lots of it and I was willing to do whatever it took to make it. I couldn’t see doing the nine-to-five thing for forty years till I could draw social security and retire in some cramped apartment. I wanted the better things in life and I wanted them now while I was young enough to enjoy them. I interviewed with quite a few corporate recruiters during my last semester in college. I felt I was doing as much of the interviewing as the recruiters were. I asked more questions than they did. I often felt I had discouraged the people doing the interviews from being interested in me. I didn’t really care; I was looking for something that would allow me to pursue my real passion, poker. I needed to be close to the action if not right in the middle of it. I had enough cash on hand to support myself for awhile so I took my time finding the right situation. It got to the point where I didn’t bother attending some of the recruiting sessions. I just went when I felt like it. Most of the large corporations had made their pass through our campus. Some of my friends were lucky and got some fairly good jobs. There were others who were passed over. They felt their futures looked pretty dim in the limited job market. I felt sorry for them, offering words of encouragement, but my words often fell on deaf ears. I noticed a posting in my dormitory lobby informing graduating students of an upcoming job recruitment session. The recruiters were small businesses, not the large corporations who’d moved on. I was wasting my time even reading the notice. I did glance down at some of the business names and their locations. Nothing in Vegas, Reno or Tahoe so I went on up to my dorm room. I did make a mental note of the date and time just in case I might have second thought later on. I didn’t have any plans the day the small business recruiters came to our campus so I thought I’d kill some time by going over to the student center. I put on my make-up, high-heels and best dress, trying to look businesslike. There were quite a few tables and booths set up. I walked up and down the rows just to see if anything would catch my attention. I had just about made my way down the last aisle. I glanced at a sign posted on front of a table in one of the booths. It was an accounting firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. There was a young man and woman sitting behind the table. They smiled at me and I smiled back. “Hello.” The young man spoke. “Are you a graduating student?” “Yes, I’ll graduate in a few weeks.” I replied. The couple smiled and asked what my major was. I told them I’d have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. The looked at each other and then back towards me. They asked if I’d like to be interviewed. “Sure.” I replied almost hesitantly. “If you really think you might be interested.” I added. The young man introduced himself and his female co-worker. I introduced myself and we shook hands. The young man motioned for me to come back behind the table to another area they had set up for private interviewing. I walked behind him as he led me to the area. We sat at a table with two chairs next to each other. He asked if I had a resume of any kind or class documentations. I handed him a copy of both. He seemed a little surprised that I had any work experience. I’d worked for my father during the summers doing bookkeeping for his friends. I sat in a chair facing towards him. I made sure I had a good amount of leg showing without making it obvious I was using my body as bait. I often dressed sexy for poker games, finding the art of seduction and distraction worked in my favor. I often made little gestures or remarks just to keep everyone from concentrating on the game at hand. If it worked at poker, it might help me land a good job I where I wanted. It was worth a try anyway. I watched as the young man read over my resume and class records. I also noticed his eyes drifting over the top of the paper checking out my legs. He seemed more interested in my legs than the materials I had put together. He asked a few questions and I answered them truthfully. I crossed my legs and pushed my foot downward. The gesture tightened my leg muscles, made my legs look sleeker. I kept a hint of a smile on my face so I’d look friendly. I’d used the same gestures during poker games all over campus. Phillip, the young man conducting the interview seemed sincerely interested in me. He asked if I would have any reservations about locating to Phoenix after graduation. I told him I thought I’d love to live in Phoenix. In the back of my mind I was trying to figure out how far Phoenix was from Vegas and Reno. I sure didn’t want to ask Phillip. That question would have probably killed the interview. He reread my paperwork over again, occasionally glancing at my legs. I think the bait was working. I hoped it was anyway; my high-heels were killing my feet. Phillip talked about the accounting firm he was recruiting for. It was fairly small but growing as they brought in new business clients. It was a sound firm; some of the partners were graduates of major universities with Masters Degrees. He reviewed the job and what I might be doing. The chances for advancement and raises would be available but I’d have to earn them. The starting salary wasn’t the best, but comparable with some of the large corporations. I acted interested just to keep him volunteering information. The young lady, Marla who was sitting at the front table came back to the area and joined in on the discussion. She was attractive, her skirt rose almost as short as my dress had. Marla reviewed my class documentations. She looked over the top of her glasses as she scanned the papers. She seemed interested in pursuing the interview further but time was running short. The recruiting sessions were scheduled to close in a matter of a few minutes. I was expecting Phillip or Marla to offer me their business card and say they’d get back in touch with me. “I’m sure our firm would like to have you as an associate.” Marla stated. “That is, if you think you might be interested.” I told them I was interested. I could always tell them different later on, if I changed my mind. “Phillip and I are staying at the Clarkson Inn on Highway 30.” She informed me. “We‘d like to talk with you more before we fly back to Phoenix tomorrow morning. Would that be possible?” “Sure. I’d be more than happy to discuss the job with you further.” I replied. They asked me if I could meet them at their hotel later that evening. Phillip suggested we meet for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. It sounded good to me. I didn’t know of any poker games going on. Most to the other students were cramming for final exams. I agreed to meet them in the hotel lobby at 6:00. They asked if I needed transportation. I had my own car so I could drive myself. I thanked them for their offer though. I shook hands with Phillip and Marla and left. I hurried back to my dorm room and booted up my computer. I was anxious to find out how far Vegas was from Phoenix. I clicked on a mapping website, typing in the information I needed to find the distance. Vegas was less than three-hundred miles from Phoenix. I figured maybe five hours to drive the distance, an hour by commuter plane. I was close to the real action. Probably as close as I’d be able to find employment and still enjoy my passion for poker on a frequent basis. I had a few hours till my dinner date with Phillip and Marla so I took a short nap stretching out on my bed. I didn’t know where my roommate was; probably up in her boyfriend’s room, screwing his brains out. I dosed for about and hour or so. I showered and picked out something to wear. I figured sexy but still dressy would be my best bet. If I had to flirt a little with Phillip to get the job, I wanted to be dressed appropriately. I kind of suspected maybe Phillip and Marla might have something going on between the two of them so I’d have to play it by ear. I didn’t want to get caught between the two of them and blow this chance. I picked out a black leather skirt and white blouse trimmed in black lace. The outfit went well with my sandy blonde hair. With my black high-heels, I looked hot yet dressy. I checked my make-up, grabbed my purse and headed downstairs. I kept my car parked in the student parking lot where it was fairly secure. It wasn’t much, but I wanted to wait till after graduation before buying a better car. I drove north out of town on highway 30 towards the Clarkson Inn. It was about a fifteen minute drive. I pulled into the hotel’s parking lot and headed for the lobby. I was a little bit early but better to be early than late. I entered the hotel lobby, spotting Phillip and Marla as they stepped off the elevator. They waved when they saw me. I walked towards them and we exchanged greetings. Phillip complimented me on my attire. The restaurant was located right off the lobby so we didn’t have to walk far. We were seated at a nice table secluded in a quiet corner of the restaurant. We’d be able to talk without being disturbed. I glanced over the menu, deciding what to order. Marla ordered a bottle of red wine for the three of us to share before dinner. Wine was something Marla and I shared a liking for. Phillip mentioned that they were picking up the tab since this was a business dinner. I didn’t order anything expensive, not wanting them to think I would take advantage of their hospitality. We sipped the chilled wine and talked about my college years. I was careful not to mention anything to do with gambling. Gambling would be a definite turn-off to people in the accounting business. The waitress served our meals so we concentrated more on eating than talking. After dinner, Phillip and I drank coffee. Marla wasn’t a coffee drinker so she drank a little more of the wine. Marla and I chatted about Phoenix. I’d never been there so she described the city and the surrounding area. She made mention of its fairly close proximity to several of the lakes and Las Vegas. I asked her about the lakes, steering clear of her mention of Vegas. She had lived in Phoenix all her life so she knew her way around the entire state. The restaurant was filling up rather quickly, making it a little difficult to talk with much privacy. Marla suggested we find someplace quieter to continue the interview. I agreed it was a good idea. Marla casually suggested we go up to her room on the third floor. It would be much more relaxing and casual to further discuss the job. Phillip, Marla and I got on the elevator and went up to the third floor. We walked down the hallway to her room. Marla opened the door to her room using a security card instead of a key. I entered her room noticing the doors open to the adjoining room. Marla saw me take notice of it. “Phillip’s in the room next to mine, makes it much more convenient to work together.” She stated. I nodded, thinking it probably made it a lot more convenient for other things as well. Phillip went over to his room, returning with my folder of information. We sat at the table and Phillip asked me about some of the classes I’d taken. It was a friendly conversation, not like a typical job interview. I felt at ease, relaxing in the comfortable chair. I was looking at Phillip while he talked so I hadn’t notice Marla moving her chair closer to mine. I felt the back of her hand brush against my leg. My skirt was short but not a mini. I kept my composure trying not to react to Marla’s hand on my leg. It was becoming more and more difficult as she moved her hand back and forth. I realized I wasn’t in a good situation but I wasn’t going to be the one to call an end to the interview. I wasn’t going to blow this chance. Marla stood up and stepped behind me putting her hands on my shoulders. I bit my lip to keep from grinning. It was obvious what she was interested in. Phillip looked up at her. Although I couldn’t see her face, I was sure she was giving him some sort of signal. “Well. Do you think you’d like to join our accounting firm in Phoenix?” He asked. “I think we’d like to have you with us.” I took the last remark as “almost” an offer of the job. Almost, but not quite. I was sure there would be conditions I’d have to comply with. “Yes. I’d like to be part of your organization. I’d accept the job if it’s offered to me.” I asserted. Phillip got a big smile on his face as he rose from his chair. I stood up as Marla’s hands slipped off my shoulders. “I’ve got a bottle of chilled wine over in my room. Why don’t we have a drink before you leave?” He asked. “That would be fine.” I said smiling. I knew it was a ploy to keep me from leaving. I figured Marla had planned this all to open if the interview went this far. I was going to go along with it but only if I was promised the job. I wasn’t going to do anything without being given the job. The ball was pretty much in my court and I wasn’t going to let them play with it. Phillip hurried through the passage doors returning shortly with the wine and three glasses. He poured the wine, handing Marla and me our drinks. I smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, my way of tempting Marla to make her move. She didn’t waste any time. Phillip sat at the table as Marla sat down next to me on the bed. She put her hand on my leg and slowly inched it up towards the hem of my skirt. I had to remind myself to be the one to control the situation, not Marla. Marla’s hand inched up under my skirt pushing it upwards. I sipped the wine, my hand shaking a little. I let Marla get her hand well up under my skirt before I stopped her. I wanted her to think I was going to go along with her seduction. I got up off the bed and set my wine glass down on the table. Phillip appeared to be a little disappointed that I was preparing to leave. I turned back towards Marla and smiled at her. She had to force a smile, she looked disappointed too. “If you’d like to offer me the job, make it definite, you can call me at the phone number listed on my resume.” I stated boldly I sounded a little exasperated trying to force the issue. Marla rose from the bed and looked towards Phillip. She put her free hand on my waist, still holding the wine glass with the other. “The job’s yours if you want it.” She stated. I could tell she wasn’t too happy about having to make the decision without getting what she wanted first. “I’d be happy to accept the job.” I fired back at her, almost callously. It was a done deal! Marla smiled and set her wine glass down, putting her hand on my waist. She leaned towards me and I let her kiss me on the mouth. I didn’t flinch or act surprised. I kissed her back softly and passionately. I think my reaction took her by surprise. We kissed again, this time harder, more aggressive. I felt her tongue dart into my mouth, flicking at my tongue. I flicked my tongue hard on hers trapping it with my teeth. I put my hand behind her head and held it so she couldn’t pull away. Our lips ground hard on each other’s. I had to release my hold on her tongue with my teeth. She broke off the kiss and stepped back from me. It was evident she was breathing hard, harder than I was. Phillip walked past us towards his room. He didn’t shut the door behind him though. Marla cupped my breasts through the fabric of my blouse. I stood there letting her massage and fondle them. She was staring at them, smiling. “I bet you have beautiful tits. I’d really love to see them.” Marla said almost whispering. I started unbuttoning my blouse slowly, teasing her. I kept my eyes focused on her face. When I undid the last button, I slipped the blouse off my shoulders and down my arms. I tossed it on the table covering up my folder. Marla stepped back and sat on the foot of the bed, her arms at her sides supporting her. She was breathing hard, short deep breaths. I decided not to unhook my white lacy bra. Instead, I reached back and slowly unzipped my skirt. I slipped the skirt down my legs and stepped out of it. I tossed it on the table with my blouse. I stood in front of Marla wearing just my bra, panties and high-heels. Marla was excited, she was squirming her butt. I wanted to tease her that much more. I stepped back towards the dresser and turned around facing away from her. I knew her eyes were looking at my ass. I spread my legs a little as I reached up and unhooked my bra. I’m a little small-breasted, a 34B, but they’re firm and well shaped. I let the bra fall to the dresser. I turned around to face Marla. I noticed Phillip had come back into the room leaning against the doorframe of the passage doors. He was wearing tight white boxers. The bulge let me know he was enjoying the show I was putting on. Marla’s face was flushed, her fingers grasping the bed comforter. I looked down at my breasts and took my fingers teasing the nipples. The coolness of the room aided in making them stand out. I tweaked them, pulling on them just a little. “Oh God!” Marla muttered. “Please take off your panties……………please.” She begged. “Why don’t you get out of your clothes first?” I suggested, smiling. Marla got up off the bed, she was shaking a little. I knew I had control of her. I still had the ball in my court and I was keeping it there. I wasn’t sure where Phillip was going to come in but I’d worry about him later. Right now I was playing my hand and it had Marla’s beat all to hell. Marla slipped off her dress and unhooked her bra, slipping it down her arms. She kicked off her shoes and pulled her thigh-high nylons off. She was wearing black panties. She had a great body, beautiful breasts, long, slender legs and a nice shaped ass. I felt myself starting to get excited just looking at her. Marla stood there not quite sure if she should make the next move or not. She wasn’t aggressive now. I pulled the comforter off the side of the bed, letting it fall to the floor. Marla just stood there watching me, her hands behind her. I walked towards her, my face expressionless. I was breathing hard but Marla was almost panting. I cupped her breasts, massaging them. She let out a low moan. I kissed her hard, grinding my lips against hers. Our breasts brushed together. I pushed Marla back till she was pinned against the dresser. I stepped to her side, my hands still fondling her breasts. I flicked my thumbs over her nipples. They hardened immediately. I bit my lip to keep from grinning. Lady Gambler Ch. 01 “Nice tits…………bet you like them sucked, don’t you?” I whispered in her ear. Marla couldn’t speak, only nod her head yes. I played with her breasts then slowly lowered my hand to her flat tummy. I rubbed her tummy then lowered my hand to the elastic on her black panties. I slipped my finger under the elastic running it back and forth. Marla was quivering, her legs shaking. I wanted to get her off but I wanted to take my time doing it. I slipped my finger from the elastic on her panties and moved my hand down between her legs. Her panties were soaked. I think she might have already had a slight orgasm and I didn’t pick up on it. I rubbed her pussy gently, feeling her slit through the nylon. “Oh God, Michelle…………… stop………….. I can’t stand it…….. mmmmmmmmm.” She moaned, breathlessly. I knew she didn’t really want me to stop. I wasn’t going to stop till I was ready. I slid my hand from between her legs. My fingers were moist from stroking her panties. I took her arm and motioned for her to get on the bed. Her footsteps were forced, her legs still shaking. Marla got on the bed and stretched out on her back. I slid in next to her. I lightly massaged her tummy as I kissed her softly. He lips were dry so I licked them putting my moisture on them. Marla licked her lips. I reached up and cupped one of her beautiful breasts. I held it while I sucked on her nipples. She moaned softly as I worked the nipple with my lips, flicking my tongue across the sensitive nub. I sucked her breasts, feeling her starting to have an orgasm. I slipped my hand down inside her panties, quickly pushing my middle finger inside her pussy. Her hips gyrated then lifted up off the bed as her orgasm consumed her body. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…………….. ohhhhhhhh.” She moaned slowly. I kept fingering her till her orgasm started to slip away. Marla’s butt collapsed and she lay there motionless. Her chest heaved, her breathing was so hard. She slowly began to breath normal. She looked up at me and smiled. “I’ve never cum like that before!” She remarked. “God that was soooooo good!” I could have stopped right there, I’d given her several orgasms. Her hot pussy was gushing her juices. I wanted to give her one more orgasm, one she’d never forget. I knelt beside her and pulled on the elastic on her panties. I slipped them down her legs, her cum very evident on the black nylon. I tossed them on the pillow next to her head so she could see them. She looked over at them as I spread her legs far apart. I knelt between her legs and put my mouth on her pussy. I kissed the lips and then slid my tongue inside her. Marla tensed as my tongue swirled inside her. Her legs lifted off the bed for a moment. I worked my tongue up and down the slit of her pussy teasing her clit. Her body was convulsing, her juices dripping out of her. I darted my tongue up and down her pussy. I had her groaning constantly. I put my middle finger just below her pussy, getting it good and wet. I built her orgasm up till she started to cum. She pushed her pussy down on my mouth and I trapped her hard clit in my lips. I stabbed at it with my tongue. She came violently. Her back arched up raising her butt. I slipped my wet finger into the crack of her butt feeling for her tiny hole. Her long hard orgasm started to subside, she lowered herself down. I pushed my wet finger all the way up her tight butt and she orgasmed again. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……..… Rrrrrrrrrrrrr!“ Marla cried out. I kept my finger inside her till she went completely limp. Her strength completely sucked from her body. I slid off the bed and walked towards the bathroom. I cleaned myself up and took a long deep breath before going back into the bedroom area. Phillip was sitting at the table. He stared at me as I walked over to the bed. Marla was still lying on her side. She hadn’t moved. I climbed on the bed and tried rolling her onto her back but she wouldn’t let me. I got a little scared, thinking maybe I’d gone too far with her. “Marla. Can you hear me?” I whispered. “Are you alright?” She managed to nod her head. She couldn’t speak. Phillip handed me a glass of wine. We sat down in the chairs and I propped my feet on his muscular legs. Marla walked to the bathroom. She was still a little unsteady on her feet. Phillip handed her a glass of wine when she returned. Marla said she’d never cum so hard and so often. I felt good knowing I’d gotten her off. Her orgasms had been very intense. I had the better hand between her and I. Phillip was rubbing my legs. His strong hands felt good. I could sense he wanted a shot at me. I didn’t know if Marla would object or not. She didn’t seem to object to his rubbing my legs but having sex with me might be totally different. Marla got up from the bed and asked Phillip to stand up. He stood up and Marla pulled his tight boxers down his strong legs. His cock hardened immediately. He wasn’t too big, maybe 8” but it was thick. The bulbous head at the end of his cock was swelled. “Michelle, I want to watch you suck Phillips cock till he shoots his load.” She ordered. I stood up and walked towards him. Marla motioned for me to kneel down in front of him. She held his cock near its base. I put my hands on his muscular legs and put my mouth on the head of his cock. I kissed and licked it. I opened my lips as Marla shoved his cock inside my mouth. I almost gagged she forced it in so hard. I pulled my head back so I could breathe. Marla stroked his cock while I sucked on his hard shaft. I swirled my tongue around it, licking underneath the head. He moaned slightly letting me know he liked that. I worked my mouth back and forth on his hard cock faster and faster. Marla stroked his cock harder and harder. Phillips legs tensed as he shot his hot load in my mouth. I gulped it down just before he shot his second load of cum. Marla held the back of my head so I couldn’t pull away. I held the cum in my mouth while I licked his hard cock clean. I licked him clean. Marla released her hold on the back of my head and I stood up. She let go of Phillip’s cock. I put my hand on the back of her head and put my lips to hers. He mouth opened slightly. I forced my tongue deep in her mouth and spewed Phillips cum in her mouth. I kept my lips on hers, forcing her to swallow. Phillips eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw me force Marla to swallow his last load. She licked her lips and then she licked mine. She loved the taste of his cum. I’m sure she’d tasted plenty of it. I was getting worn out from all the sex. I needed some rest, maybe even a short nap. I wasn’t sure what time it was but it had to be late evening. I stretched out on the bed. Marla pulled the sheet up over me. She realized I was too worn out for anything else right now. I must have been a lot more tired than I thought. I’d been sleeping for a few hours. I woke up hearing one of the late night talk shows host doing his monologue on tv. Phillip was sitting propped up next to me on the bed. I could hear the shower running. I figured it had to be Marla. I slipped off the bed and headed for the bathroom in Phillip’s room. My hair was a frigging mess. I washed my face and rinsed my mouth out with warm water. I went back to Marla’s room and got my comb out of my purse. Marla was sitting on the bed toweling herself dry. I went to the bathroom and straightened up my hair. I went back into the bedroom. Phillip offered me a soft drink with lots of ice in it. I welcomed the offer, thanking him. I drank it down and he refilled my glass. Phillip put his hand around my waist pulling me towards him. I looked up at him as he kissed me softly. I put my hand behind his neck and held his lips to mine. I ground my lips against his and he responded to me. I slipped my tongue between his lips, flicking it side to side. We kissed briefly before stepping towards the bed. Marla got up from the bed and stood over by the dresser watching us. I stretched out on the bed while Phillip took off his boxers. His hard cock sprang out towards me. He had a grin on his face. I bet I’d be changing that grin to a grimace shortly. Phillip kissed me passionately forcing my head back onto the pillow. His hand brushed across my breast and down towards my tummy. I felt his hand rubbing my tummy very lightly. I like having someone do that. It’s very relaxing. Phillip lips started moving down my neck and over my breasts, sucking on my nipples. He flicked his tongue over them and they immediately responded. My breathing quickened the longer he sucked on them. I could feel his hand slide under my panties and lightly rub the mound of my pussy. I spread my legs a little to allow his hand to slip down between my legs. Phillip’s expert fingers found my little clit, rubbing it gently. He was a very gentle lover. He had me moaning. I lifted my ass up off the bed when I felt my panties being pulled off. It wasn’t Phillip who’d taken them off, it was Marla. She stood naked at the foot of the bed with my panties in her hands. Phillip pushed my legs farther apart and Marla slipped between them. Phillip kept working my clit with his fingers. I was almost ready to cum. Marla’s hot little tongue worked my pussy. She licked up and down the lips of my pussy. “Ahhhhhhhhh… ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I moaned. “Hmmmmmmm…… ohhhhhhhhh yessssss!” Marla’s tongue worked my clit while Phillip held it between his fingers. My hips spasmed against Marla’s face. It happened suddenly. Marla put her arms around my legs forcing her mouth harder against me. He tongue went wild, slipping deep inside my wet pussy. I lifted my hips off the bed as I had an intense orgasm. Marla’s mouth sucked on my pussy, sucking my juices. I relaxed and let he suck on me as long as she wanted. She slipped back off the bed when she finished. Phillip rolled me over on my tummy then lifted my hips till my knees were under me. I lifted myself up, my arms straight under me. Phillip was going to fuck me doggie-style but he was taking his time getting behind me. Marla got on the bed and slid underneath me in the sixty-nine position. Her face was right below my hot and ready pussy. I looked over my shoulder seeing Phillip kneeling between my spread legs. He put both his hands on my hips. Marla held his cock in position, rubbing the enlarged head against my dripping wet pussy. Phillip slowly pushed the head between the lips then paused for a moment. Slowly he began working the hard shaft inside me. Marla brought her knees up to my shoulders allowing me to lean on them. I slipped one hand around her leg and ran my finger up and down the slit of her pussy. Phillip pulled my hips back and forth till I had impaled myself on his hard cock. He fucked me slow and easy gradually increasing his tempo. Marla’s fingers toyed with my clit. Phillip began slamming his pelvis into me. We were making loud smacking sounds as he rammed his hard cock into me. I had an orgasm almost immediately and then another started building right behind it. My mouth was gaped open. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………… mmmmmmmmmm……….. Ohhhhhhhhhh!” I cried. I had an incredible orgasm, my hips gyrated. Phillip’s cock slammed in and out of me. His hands gripped my hips with increased force. He took on long, hard plunge deep inside me and then pulled his cock all the way out. I looked back at him as he shot his load. I looked down at Marla. She had the head of his cock in her mouth. Phillip was filling her mouth with his hot cum. I watched her take several gulps as she held his cock at its base. She really loved sucking cum especially Phillip’s. Phillip finally released his strong grip on me. I climbed off of Marla and headed for the bathroom. I cleaned myself with a washcloth. When I went back to the bedroom, Phillip was laying across the bed face down. He was still breathing hard. Marla was slipping on a robe. I found my panties and bra and started getting dressed. Marla was putting a packet of information together for me to take with me. She talked about me coming out as soon graduation was over. I was anxious for the next couple of weeks to be over with so I could get out to Phoenix. I was finally all dressed. I looked at my watch. It was almost 3:00am. Marla gave me a big hug. I walked over to Phillips stretched out on his tummy and gave him a hard smack on his butt. “See you in a couple of weeks!” I uttered to him. Phillip just raised his hand waving good-bye, too tired to roll over. I headed for the elevator and took it down to the lobby. It was raining so I ran quickly across the parking lot to my car. Lady Gambler Ch. 02 It was still dark when I got back to the college. I slept most of the day, not waking up till late afternoon. I figured Phillip and Marla were probably back in Phoenix by now. They were supposed to fly out sometime mid-morning. I walked across to the student cafeteria and got myself something to eat. I was getting tired of pizza and fast food. I ate alone, not really wanting anyone to interrupt my thoughts. After eating I headed back to my dorm room and booted up my computer. My roommate was on her bed studying for one of her final exams. We didn’t bother each other. I didn’t tell her about me getting the job in Phoenix. I checked out the apartment complexes in the greater Phoenix area. There was a bunch and in all price ranges. I looked at the surrounding cities figuring I might not want to live right in Phoenix, maybe on the outskirts somewhere. Scottsdale sounded good so I checked apartments there. I bookmarked a few for later reference. I checked out the accounting firm where I’d be working. They had a website and I studied it carefully. It all looked great. There were pictures of the major staff members. Phillip and Marla’s pictures and bios were listed. I discovered Phillip was the grandson of one of the owners of the firm and had worked there since he graduated college. He was also married with two young children. Marla had been with the firm only a few years. She had a very strong background in finance. All in all, I was very impressed with the firm and its staff. I surfed some of the automobile websites shopping for a new car. The prices were discouraging so I figured maybe I’d find something a couple of years older at a better price. I needed to manage my money so I’d have plenty to play poker with. I could use my winnings to buy something new down the road. I perused the casinos and hotels in Las Vegas. Many of the casinos offered packages, which included flight transportation. It would be a lot quicker to fly from Phoenix to Vegas, not to mention being less stressful. I surfed the Internet till late in the evening and then grabbed a quick shower before bed. The next two weeks dragged by slowly. I talked with Marla by phone several times. We sent each other emails every day. My parents attended my graduation. They were elated that I was finally graduating and getting my degree. Mom wasn’t too happy about me moving out to Phoenix for the new job. Dad made mention of it not being far from Las Vegas. I told him that was one reason I took the job. Dad loved gambling in general, I stuck strictly to poker. That was where my skill and luck was. I hoped my luck wouldn’t run out. The next morning after graduation I packed everything in my car and headed west towards Phoenix. I couldn’t wait to get out there. I’d rented a nice apartment on the north side of Scottsdale. The trip took me two days to drive the distance. I arrived at the apartment complex on East Mountainview and checked in at the rental office. The guy at the office had all the papers ready for me to sign. It took about fifteen minutes to complete everything. He handed me the keys and a packet of information and maps of the area so I could find about anything or any place. He showed me the location of the apartment on the grid map so I could find it easily. He was very helpful, not to mention cute. I called the accounting firm to let Marla know I’d finally made it to Phoenix. Her secretary informed me she was in a late meeting but she’d leave a message that I’d called. I left my new phone number so she could contact me. The phone rang about an hour later. It was Marla, we chatted for awhile. She was excited as me that I was finally out here. She said she’d stop by tomorrow evening after work for a visit and to let me in on some more good news. I had almost a full week to get my furniture and finish getting settled in. I was done by the weekend so I could relax before starting my new job on Monday. Marla and I went out for dinner Friday evening to celebrate and to relax. We had a good time and talked about the evening we’d spent together a few weeks previous. We talked about Phillip of course. She and Phillip had a thing going for the past year. It wasn’t anything serious, just casual sex. Marla thought it would eventually end hoping they‘d still be friends. Monday morning finally arrived. My first day at work. I left the apartment early allowing myself plenty of time to drive into Phoenix. I wasn’t sure how the traffic situation might be. I got to the office building almost thirty minutes early so I waited in my car for awhile. I saw Marla pull into the parking lot so I got out and walked towards her. She spotted me and waited on me to catch up with her. The office building was multi-story. The accounting firm had the entire third floor, lots of office space. Marla introduced me to the receptionists and several of the people standing around one of the coffee counters. The all seemed pretty friendly for it being a Monday morning. Marla showed me to my office. It had a window, which was great. At least I wouldn’t feel like I was working in a box. The view overlooked the side street, nothing interesting but it was a window. I sure wasn’t going to complain. The desk was cleaned off except for the computer monitor. There were several matching chairs around a small conference table in the corner. It was a really nice office. I sat down in the high back leather desk chair getting used to its feel. My work would be financial planning and investments. I wouldn’t be involved with accounting, as I‘d originally thought. Marla would be my boss. I had a hunch she done some fast-talking to get me into her group. Two of the three firm’s owners came walking down the hallway heading towards their respective offices. Marla introduced me to them. The smiled and shook my hand. I guessed them to be in their late fifties. We had a staff meeting with all the other associates at 9:00 every morning. It was 8:30 now. Marla and I sat at my conference table talking about some of the people I’d be working with. One thing she cautioned me about. Don’t trust anyone. There was a lot of backstabbing amongst the associates. Everyone was trying to get ahead and move up the ladder. I took her advice seriously. I wondered if that’s how she attained the position she was in. Marla and I attending the staff meeting. I was introduced to everyone in the group. The firm’s manager chaired the meeting. It wasn’t very often any of the firm’s owners attended the daily meetings. The manager reviewed some of the company policies and fielded a couple of questions from the staff. He adjourned the meeting, asking Marla and I to come to his office for a brief meeting with him. Jason Price was the firm’s manager, a position he’d held for over fifteen years. We sat at the conference table in his office. Jason directed his words to Marla as much as he did me. I was going to be picked to take care of a new client’s account. I wondered why he’d pick me, someone new, rather than someone with more experience to work with a new client. He answered the question before I got to ask it. All the other associates had turned the account down, not wanting to work with the people. I was beginning to suspect maybe this client was not one of our most upstanding citizens. What scared me even more was the fact that this account would be one of our largest. If I could make the client happy, the firm would be cashing in big time. I wondered what would happen to me if I didn’t make the client happy. I didn’t really have a choice, I was going to be assigned the account whether I wanted it or not. I told Jason and Marla I’d do my best to see to it this new client happy with us. I don’t think my bold statement had a big impact on Jason’s faith in me but I had to say something encouraging. Jason gave me a file folder with the client’s basic information. I glanced over it, noticing a lot of blank spaces. Important information was clearly missing. I suspected it was deliberately missing. Jason gave me a few words of encouragement before leading us to his office door. Marla and I walked back to my office in silence. Phillip was coming down the hallway towards us. He was headed for a meeting with Jason. He shook my hand saying he was glad to see I’d made the trip safely. He looked very handsome in his Armani suit. I had to force a smile, trying to overcome my nervousness with this new account. Marla and I walked into my office. Marla closed the door behind us. I sat down in my chair behind my desk. Marla sat across from me. “I know I should have warned you ahead of time but Jason didn’t want me to say anything.” She stated. “He wanted to tell you himself.” “What’s with these people that none of the other associates won’t go near them?” I asked. “Is their money dirty?” Marla didn’t have any idea how they’d amassed their money. She was confident it wasn’t from drugs or any other illegal activities. No one had been able to track the source of their money so everyone was shying away from getting involved with them. Her statements didn’t make me feel anymore comfortable. I could just picture myself playing poker with my fellow inmates in some federal prison somewhere. I quickly erased that picture from my mind. No sense in thinking the worse of these people. I hadn’t even met them yet. I’d just be cautious as hell. If I thought things were getting out of hand, I’d quit immediately. I told Marla exactly that. I wasn’t going to get involved in any kind of illegal activities. Marla nodded her head, she understood how I felt. The only thing she really knew about these people that was positive, was that they were acquainted with Mr. Henderson. “Mr. Henderson? I inquired. “Who’s Mr. Henderson?” Marla informed me he was the other partner in the firm, the third partner. Henderson rarely came to the office. He conducted most of his business at the country clubs and private golf courses. He was a bit of a playboy. Marla had to get back to her other duties so she excused herself. She wished me luck and said to keep her updated on my progress. If I needed any help, I was to ask her for it directly, no one else. I opened the folder and reviewed it several times. I damn near had what little information there was, memorized. I decided to call the only phone number listed and set up an appointment to meet with these people. I dialed the number but just got a recording. I started to hang up, figuring I’d call again later. I decided to leave my name and phone number, mentioning the accounting firm’s name so they’d know what it was about. My phone rang back in less than a minute. The woman on the other line confirmed by name and asked me to hold while she got transferred the phone call. “Hello.” A pleasant voice on the other end spoke. “Is this Michelle from Banks, Kellogg and Henderson?” “Yes, this is Michelle.” I quickly replied. The man apologized for me having to leave a message on the recorder. His secretary had left her desk briefly and missed answering the call. I told him that I didn’t mind leaving a message. Actually I hate those damn phone recorders. I’m not all that crazy about phone mail either. “I’m George Ferris. Brant Henderson’s a golf buddy of mine. He suggested I use his firm to do my financial planning.” I thanked him for giving us the opportunity to work with him. I was calling to set up an appointment so he could come into the office and we could sit down and discuss everything in person. He hesitated at my suggestion, saying he’d prefer to meet at his office. “We’d be more comfortable and it would be easier to discuss business.” He stated. I was more than happy to meet him at his office if that’s what he preferred. I had to keep in mind that my goal was to get this important and keep it. Ferris’s office was on the same property as his home. He lived in Fountain Hills, an exclusive neighborhood north east of Scottsdale. It wasn’t all that far from my apartment, probably less than thirty minutes. We set up a time for a meeting the next morning. He gave me his address, which wasn’t mentioned in his file. I thanked him and we said our good-byes. I filled in the address information in Ferris’s file. I hoped to be able to fill in all the blanks after tomorrow morning’s meeting. I phoned Marla and let her know that I’d made contact with this George Ferris person and set up an appointment to meet with him at his home office tomorrow morning. The news seemed to brighten Marla’s spirits. She gave me a few suggestions but I just made mental notes of them. I spent the rest of the day going over the firm’s investment background so I’d have some ideas to present to Ferris. My first day passed fairly quickly. Rush hour traffic in downtown Phoenix was slow at best. I finally made him home after fighting traffic for almost an hour. The air conditioner in my car wasn’t working too well. I really needed to look into getting something new. I’d try to do some shopping around this coming weekend. I took a quick dip in the apartment complex pool that evening just about dusk. The pool’s cool water felt refreshing and invigorating. I slept pretty well that evening even though I was slightly worried about the next morning’s meeting with Ferris. At the office the following morning, I packed all the information along with my laptop in my attaché and headed out to Ferris’s office. The homes in Fountain Hills are gorgeous. I noticed many were southwestern style homes, my favorite style. I drove through the neighborhood’s winding streets finding Ferris’s home at the end of the street. I pulled in the drive and down towards the house. It was magnificent. A southwestern style home, tan stucco with numerous flat rooflines. As I approached the house, a young man stepped out and motioned for me to stop. I didn’t know if it was George Ferris or not. Naturally I stopped. “Can I help you?“ He asked, leaning on the car. I told him who I was and that I had an appointment with Mr. Ferris. He opened the door for me and helped me out. He was quite the gentleman. I grabbed my attaché from the seat and the young man escorted me to George Ferris’s office. Ferris’s office was at the end of a winding walkway from the main house. I took a deep breath; you could almost smell money and plenty of it! We reached the office and the young man opened the door for me. I stepped inside and a woman in her mid-thirties greeted me. She introduced herself. I missed catching her name but I remembered her stating she was Mr. Ferris’s personal secretary. The young man who’d escorted me to the office took a chair in the tiny reception area. I had him pegged as some sort of bodyguard. I didn‘t see any kind of weapon, but I suspected he had one on him somewhere. The woman motioned me towards a set of double wooden doors that led to Ferris’s office. I followed her into the office. Ferris was standing against the far wall. It was almost all glass and overlooked a golf course. He appeared to be watching some golfers off in the distance. He turned as we entered and walked towards us. I introduced myself putting my hand out to shake his. “Mr. Ferris, I’m Michelle Gray from Banks, Kellogg and Henderson.” I stated, smiling at him. “Welcome to my home.” He said in a very pleasant voice as he shook my hand. His hand was soft but his grip was firm. “Please call me George.” He added, smiling. The soothing tone of his voice had a relaxing effect. He motioned me towards his desk. It was more like a big table rather than a desk. I sat down in one of the large, swivel, leather chairs putting my attaché and purse on the floor next to me. Ferris sat behind his desk putting his hands together on the top. I pulled out the file folder and asked if he minded if I filled in some of the blank spaces. “Certainly. Whatever information I can give you, I will.” He stated in a pleasant voice. His manner of speech caused me to smile. I was surprised at how easy he seemed to talk with. I asked him questions, skipping some I thought he wouldn’t answer, even under oath. I came to the area of the form dealing with investment amounts. All the spaces were blank. I’d have to ask, so I tried to make the questions sound casual. I asked him how much he thought he would be investing initially. I looked at him, gritting my teeth. Ferris leaned back in his chair for a moment and then leaned back on the desk. “Let’s say something seven figures to start. More, much more if things look like they’re going well later on.” Ferris stated. I just made seven “x‘s” in the first space, eight “x‘s” in the next blank space. I tried not to look surprised but inside I was dumbfounded. The rest of the blanks, I’d leave till later to fill in. “What do you feel you’d like to invest your money in?” I asked. “Remember we want to make sure you diversify so we reduce any amount of risk.” My question seemed to stump Ferris a little. I could see him waiting for me to make some suggestions. I pulled out an information sheet listing some of the firm’s current and past investments. I started naming them off slowly, raising my eyes toward him to see if I hit on anything. I didn’t seem to strike a nerve on anything except medical stock investments and real estate investments. Everything else seemed to get a very disinterested look from him. “Actually Miss Gray, I’m looking for something…………… let’s say…………. a sure thing!” He stated. A faint grin appearing on his face. I smiled at his remark, trying not to laugh. Ferris realized he’d made a funny remark. “I wish I could predict a sure thing, but I can’t.” I said. “There always seems to be a higher risk with a sure thing. You might be better off going with something secure with a good track record and staying in for the long haul” I know that sounded a little too cliché but it was better than not saying anything at all. I didn’t want him to know he was my very first client. I had to act professional. I was starting to get a little nervous. “What about a quick turn around on my money, even if there is more risk involved?” He asked. I was stumped for an answer. My mind went completely blank. I had a “brain fart.” I looked down at the investment sheet looking for an answer. My eyes couldn’t focus. “I know that probably sounds stupid of me, I realize that.” He stated, breaking the silence. “I’m a bit of a gambler. Just not a very good gambler.” His casual remark brought a smile to my face. I reminded him that an important part of any kind of investment was risk management. I didn’t want to make it sound like I was lecturing him so I kept the tone of my voice soft, maybe even a little sexy. It seemed to work. I again suggested he consider investing in the medical stocks and real estate. It seemed the least risky for the amount of return he might expect. “If this were your money, is that the way you’d go with it?” He asked wanting me to tell the truth. “Yes. I’d think I’d lean heavier towards the real estate investment, more towards residential and industrial. I wouldn’t think too much about commercial real estate. The medical stock investments seem stable with a steady rise in earnings.” I stated truthfully. “OK, let’s talk about it more after lunch. I’m hungry and I’m sure you could eat something too.” He stated. I nodded my head. I was hungry, not having eaten anything all day. I felt confident that I had convinced Ferris to see things my way. I sincerely felt it was in his best interest to keep risk as low as we possibly could. Ferris got up from his chair, briefly glancing out onto the golf course. “You don’t play golf by chance do you?” He inquired. “No, I’ve never played, never really had the time I guess.” I stated, casually. Ferris motioned me towards the door. I reached down for my purse but Ferris said that his “man” would stay at the office so my personal belongings would be safe. I smiled and nodded. Ferris opened the door for me and I walked back out into the reception area. The young man sitting in the chair started to get up. Ferris made a gesture with his hand and the man quickly sat back down. Lady Gambler Ch. 02 Ferris put his arm around my waist as we walked back up the winding path towards the house. We walked casually, not being in a hurry. Ferris made me feel comfortable. Thoughts of how he’d earned his money didn’t cross my mind. We walked towards the back of the house. There was a large patio, partially covered, that led to a two-level swimming pool. There was a young, attractive couple playing in the pool. They appeared to be in their mid-twenties. The guy and untied the top of the girl’s bikini. She was holding it trying to cover herself when she saw us approaching. We walked to the edge of the pool close to the young couple. George introduced me to them. Michael was his son and the girl was his wife, Janine. I stooped down to shake hands with them. Janine covered her almost bare breasts with her left hand. I noticed Michael trying to sneak a peak up my short skirt. I figured Michael was probably the “spoiled rich kid” and Janine was his “trophy wife”. I noticed a surgical scar barely visible under her right breast. She’d had implant surgery to enhance her breasts. The scars probably hadn’t completely healed yet. I didn’t find them attractive but I was sure Michael probably did. George and I walked over to the covered part of the patio. We sat down at a large patio table. The chair cushions were thick, very comfortable. A young woman brought us out some lemonade and took two drinks over to the side of the pool. She went back inside and brought George and I out two shrimp cocktails. This family really knew how to live I thought! We chatted about the house and living right on the golf course. He seemed like a very happy person. I’d be happy too if I lived like this. I watched Michael and Janine in the pool. I think he had her bikini bottom off and was fingering her. Janine’s head was resting against the edge of the pool and her mouth was gaped open. Michael had an evil looking smile on his face. I turned my attention back to George. I tried to position my chair so it blocked my view of the couple in the pool. George brought up the subject of antique cars. It was a hobby of his, collecting cars. I didn’t know anything about antique cars. I didn’t know all that much about the piece of crap I was driving. A young man walked out onto the patio from the house. He was wearing jeans and a cowboy hat. I pegged him for a handyman or gardener maybe. He was very handsome and rugged looking, about my age I guessed. He looked at Michael and Janine and started back inside. George called him over to the table. “Rick, this is Michelle Gray from the accounting and investment firm.” George stated. Rick shook my hand. I noticed how rough and leathery they were. “Hi. I’m pleased to meet you.” He said, shyly. “Rick’s my youngest son, he dropped out of college a couple of years ago. He’s the laborer of the family.” George said, almost like it was a put-down. Rick slowly released my hand at the remark and walked back inside the house. I looked at George. He didn’t seem too happy with Rick, almost like he was disappointed in him. “Rick seems very nice.” I stated, realizing it was probably a stupid thing to say. How could I tell anything about a guy from a “hi” and a handshake. Ferris glanced over his shoulder at Michael and Janine in the pool. “Michael’s my number one son.” He’ll eventually take over when I’m gone.” He boldly stated. I nodded my head acknowledging his statement. I thought to myself, if Michael were my son, I’d disown his sorry ass and damn quick. Michael struck me as a guy who’d suck the life out of his father and not think a thing about it. I kept my thoughts to myself. This wasn’t my family. After lunch, George and I walked back to his office. His secretary wasn’t present but his “man” was still sitting in the same chair. What a boring job he must have, I thought. Ferris and I walked back into his office taking our seats. The phone rang and Ferris answered it. It sounded like someone was trying to talk him into playing a round of golf. He agreed to meet the other person at the country club in thirty minutes. I assumed the meeting was over so I reached down and picked up my attaché and purse. I was a little disappointed we hadn’t gotten as much accomplished as I’d hoped. Maybe he wasn’t as interested in our firm as I’d hoped. “Michelle. We need to talk more, a lot more.” He stated. “Would you be available tomorrow?” “Certainly, Mr. Ferris…George.” I quickly replied. “What time would you like to meet?” “Let’s say 8:00am. We can talk over breakfast.” He added, smiling. “I hope you don’t mind if we conduct business here. It works better if we continue our meetings here.” “That’s fine with me.” I answered. “I’ll be here at 8:00am sharp.” My answer seemed to be what Ferris wanted to hear. He shook my hand, a big smile on his face. We walked out of his office and up the winding path to my car. Ferris walked me out to my car and opened the door for me. I put my purse and attaché on the seat next to me. He stood there as I pulled away and back up the drive to the street. I headed back to the office. I was very happy. George Ferris and I seemed to have hit it off really well. I could smell the money! I couldn’t wait to tell Marla all about our meeting. I got back to the office around 1:00. Marla was sitting in her office talking on the phone. I stood outside in the hallway till she finished. She motioned me in but it was professional courtesy to let people have their privacy. Marla finally concluded her phone conversation. I stepped in her office. She could tell by the big smile on my face, the meeting had gone well. “Well, you look like you just struck gold.” She quipped. I started to tell her about it but she waved her hand. “Let’s go to your office.” She stated. “We’ll just have one interruption after another here.” We walked quickly down the hallway to my office. I unlocked the door and we stepped inside. Marla closed the door behind us. I sat on the desk, too excited to sit in my chair. Marla sat in front of me. I went through the whole scenario. I told her all about what we’d discussed and what I could about Ferris himself. I even told her about his son and daughter and their antics in the pool. I mentioned our breakfast meeting tomorrow morning. She felt the same as I did; we looked pretty good at locking in the account. I asked her if we should tell Jason how things went. She said she’d give him the update later. I noticed Marla had been staring at my legs. She rose from her chair and stood right in front of me. She put her hands on my legs, slowly inching her way up under my skirt. I quickly turned my head towards the door afraid someone would walk in. “Don’t worry. I pushed the lock button in when I closed it.” Marla stated. Her hands had pushed my skirt up exposing the crotch of my panties. I didn’t want anything to happen, not here at the office anyway. I grabbed her wrists and pushed her hands back. She could see I wasn’t going to permit anything to happen in my office so she backed off. I got off the desk and pushed my skirt back down. “You busy later this evening?” Marla whispered. “Not really. I just thought I’d go over Ferris’s file and make some notes for tomorrow’s meeting.” I answered. “Why don’t I stop over later this evening?” She said with a slight grin on her face. “OK.” I replied. “That sounds good.” Marla unlocked the door and walked back towards her office. I relaxed in my chair and opened the file folder. I wasn’t able to concentrate on it much, thinking about what might have happened if I hadn’t stopped Marla when I did. I left the office at 5:00. Marla waved at me as she drove past me in the parking lot. It was about 7:30 when Marla rang the doorbell to my apartment. I looked through the peephole in the door and saw her smiling face. She wasn’t alone. I opened the door to let her in. Jason Price was with her. I was surprised to see him. “Hi.” Jason greeted me, smiling. “Hope you don’t mind my tagging along with Marla?” “No, not at all.” I replied. “Come on in and sit down.” I motioned them towards the livingroom. Jason sat in one of casual chairs; Marla and I sat down on the couch. “Marla told me about your meeting with George Ferris today.” He spoke, a big grin on his face. “Looks like Banks, Kellogg and Henderson’s got our foot in the door.” I smiled, telling him I hoped tomorrow morning’s meeting went even better. He asked me if I needed any coaching. I felt comfortable with being well prepped; I told him I had my game plan ready. He acknowledged my sense of confidence. “How far are you willing to go to lock down this account?” He asked with a serious look on his face. “How far………..I’m not quite sure I understand what you’re getting at.” I replied. I knew exactly what he was getting at but I wanted him to be more specific. He leaned forward in his chair and cupped his hands together. “Well……… I’m sure this Ferris guy is only human.” Jason quipped. “He might be persuaded to let us handle his account if you…………. well, let’s just say……….. be very cooperative.” “You mean if I flirted with him a little.” I replied. “Maybe even consented to have sex with him.” I added sarcastically. Jason leaned back in the chair. I knew exactly what he was getting at. My bluntness didn’t shock him. “I doubt if that’s what Ferris has on his mind.” I added. “He seems to be interested in money and making more money. If it comes down to fucking him, I probably would.” Might even do him good to get his mind off business for awhile.” I added after a slight pause. Jason looked at Marla to see what she thought. I didn’t look her way so I don’t know what her expression was. I think Jason had doubts as to the sincerity of my statements. No one said anything. I decided to break the silence. “Would you two like something to drink? I asked. “I’ve got some wine, beer and soft drinks in the refrigerator.” Marla and I walked into the kitchen area to get the wine and a beer for Jason. She put her hand on my waist. “I think Jason might have a few doubts as to whether you can just fuck a guy and be so casual about it. Marla whispered. I sensed she was hinting I might have to prove myself to him. I wasn’t attracted to him in the least but I wasn’t turned off by him either. We carried the drinks back into the livingroom. I handed Jason his beer. We sat and talked about different things, skirting the Ferris account issue. Jason finished his beer, asking to use the bathroom. Instead of pointing out the one off the kitchen, I told him it was upstairs next to the bedroom. I heard him climbing the stairs to the second level, walk across the balcony and close the bathroom door. I grabbed Marla’s hand and pulled her off the couch. We ran up the steps and stood along the railing waiting for Price to come out of the bathroom. I started unbuttoning my blouse. Marla unzipped my jeans and pulled them down my legs. I just managed to get my blouse off and step out of my jeans when the bathroom door opened. Jason’s eyes grew bigger when he saw me standing there in my bra and panties. I put on my sexiest smile. He approached Marla and I, grinning. He walked up to me and I leaned up to let him kiss me. We kissed hard and passionately. His kisses weren’t soft at all. I pulled my mouth from his and stepped back till my butt was up against the railing. I reached up and untied his tie. Jason slipped off his suit jacket, tossing it on the railing. Marla walked towards the bed and pulled the comforter and sheet down. I walked over to her and turned so my back was to her. Marla unhooked my bra and tossed it on the dresser. Jason couldn’t take his eyes off me. He hurried out of the rest of his clothes. Marla slipped her fingers in the elastic of my panties and pulled them down. When she had them around my ankles I stepped out and kicked them away. My actions only excited Jason that much more. He was wearing briefs and it didn’t look like he was all that big, at least from his slight bulge. I stretched out on the bed, placing a pillow under my head. Jason stripped off his briefs and approached the bed; his cock was hard, nice and hard. He wasn’t big but nice sized. I looked at Marla, standing by the dresser. I could tell she was excited watching me. She had her hands firmly gripping the edge of the dresser. “Marla, aren’t you going to join us?” I asked with a smart attitude in my voice. “Oh, no. I’ll just watch.” She barely managed to answer. “I don’t want to interrupt you two?” “I don’t think so.” I quickly responded. “Get out of your clothes and come join us.” She started to say something but she hesitated. I had a strong feeling she didn’t want to make it a threesome with Price but I wasn’t going to let her off the hook. I knew she needed sex as much as I did. May as well get the both of them off, I thought. Marla started to slip off her clothes. Jason kissed me, this time softly and not as hard. I returned his kisses, letting him know I was willing to let him have sex with me. Marla climbed on the bed. She’s kept her panties on. She stretched out along my side. I pulled her head towards me, kissing her hard, grinding my lips against hers. Jason’s hand cupped my firm breast; his hands were soft as a baby’s butt. “Jason, why don’t we strip Marla’s panties off?” I said suggestively. Jason reached over and took hold of one side and I took hold of the other side. Marla raised up and the two of us pulled her panties down. Jason took them the rest of the way off, tossing them to a corner of the bed. He ran his hand over Marla’s butt, squeezing her cheeks hard. I pulled Jason back towards me, kissing him hard. His hand reached down between my legs, brushing lightly over my trimmed pubic hair. He slid his finger up and down my pussy, probing me with his middle finger. He stroked his finger in and out of me slowly. My moans were muffled by his lips on mine. Marla massaged and fondled my breasts, sucking on my nipples. They hardened immediately. She sucked on them teasing them with her teeth. My ass was grinding against the sheets. Jason put two fingers in my pussy and stroked them rapidly in and out. He wasn’t the most gentle lover I’d ever had. I pushed Marla’s head down towards my pussy. She knew I wanted her to eat me out. She eagerly complied. Jason pulled his wet fingers out of me and Marla’s hot tongue probed at my clit. She had my hips gyrating. My pussy was getting hotter and hotter the harder she worked me with her lips and tongue. Marla gave me an incredible orgasm. “Ohhhhhhhhhh…………. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh…………. Ahhhhhhhhh.” I moaned out loud. Jason’s hard cock was probing my side. I reached down, feeling it pulsating in my hand. I didn’t think he could last too much longer. I raised my right leg pushing Marla’s head back. I pulled Jason’s cock guiding him between my legs. He pushed his cock hard into me, almost too fast. I spread my legs wide allowing him to penetrate me all the way. My pussy was soaking wet so he didn’t have much trouble. He fucked his hard cock in and out of me slowly. I motioned for Marla to straddle my face. She seemed a little reluctant at first. She swung her leg over me and I pulled her pussy down to my mouth. I licked her pussy and probed inside her with my tongue. Marla began moaning immediately. I kept her moaning continually. I knew she needed to get off. My lips held her hard clit and I worked my tongue back and forth across it, teasing it. “Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………………. Oh God………….. Arggggggg! Marla cried out. Her hips bucked hard on my face and her legs tensed. I sucked hard on her clit till her orgasm subsided. She was panting hard. I let her butt settle back on my chest. I kept a firm hold on her legs. Jason was pumping his fuck shaft into me hard. I felt him shoot his load inside me and I moaned loudly, faking an orgasm. He hadn’t gotten me off. I had been concentrating to hard on giving Marla an orgasm. Jason thought he’d given me a good fucking. I didn’t want to let him know any different. I put on a good act but I think Marla knew the truth. Jason climbed off the bed and ran towards the bathroom. Marla and I hurried downstairs to the bathroom off the kitchen. I had to pee and flush Jason’s cum out of my pussy. “You fucking little bitch!” Marla exclaimed. “Why did you have me join you two?” I grinned up at her. “Actually it was just you and I. Jason was the one who joined us. Not the other way around!” Marla understood what I meant. It brought a smile to her face. Me having sex with Jason meant nothing as far as I was concerned. Strictly recreational! We finished getting cleaned up and headed back upstairs. Jason was almost completely dressed. I found my panties where I’d kicked them and put them on. I slipped on a robe, not feeling like getting completely dressed. Jason and I walked back downstairs. Marla was still getting dressed. Jason and I walked into the kitchen and I opened up a beer. I took a drink of it then handed it to Price. He finished it off. “Well, Michelle. I certainly don’t have any doubts about you now.” He said grinning. Marla came down the stairs and grabbed her handbag. She walked towards the door waiting for Jason to join her. I went to the door and kissed them both good night. Jason was still grinning. Lady Gambler Ch. 03 I slept like a baby right through the night. Nothing relieves tension like great sex. I awoke about 6:00am, two hours before my breakfast meeting with Mr. Ferris. I put on some coffee and grabbed a quick shower while it brewed. I sat at the dining room table, sipping my coffee and going over the notes I'd made early last evening. I fixed my hair and put on my make-up. I'd picked a light tan business suit to wear this morning. The skirt was short but not too short. I checked myself out in the mirror front to back, hoping Mr. Ferris would approve of my attire. I made the drive up to Ferris's house in Fountain Hills. I was right on time. The same man who'd met me yesterday came out and opened my car door. He escorted me to the front door of the house. The man opened the door for me and I stepped inside. The foyer was wide, leading down to a huge livingroom. I could see clear to the back of the house, which was mostly glass. It looked out onto the covered patio and the pool. Mr. Ferris came out of the kitchen area towards me. We greeted each other and shook hands. Ferris guided me through the house towards the small dining area off the kitchen. They had prepared a breakfast buffet style so you could pick what you wanted to eat. I eat a pretty light breakfast, if any at all, so I won't get drowsy later on in the morning. George and I sat in the small dining area off the kitchen and ate our breakfast. There was plenty of coffee. I'm a bit of a caffeine addict. When we finished eating and the lady had cleared the dishes away. I pulled Ferris's folder out of my attaché. "I worked on some investment strategies last evening and I've come up with some ideas I think we might want to discuss." I said, sounding professional. I handed Ferris the notes I'd written down and he looked them over. He scanned them at first and then read them word for word. After a lengthy review of my work, he looked at me and smiled. He started bouncing questions off of me as quick as I could answer them. I was trying my best to sound like I knew what I was talking about but I felt I was falling short. Maybe I was in over my head. Michael and Janine came into the kitchen to get some breakfast. Their presence distracted Ferris long enough to give my brain a chance to get back on track. Michael and his father chatted about some things Michael was to take care of while he was down in Tucson today. I suddenly felt Janine's foot rubbing up and down my leg. I didn't pull my legs away; I just let her have her fun. Janine finally got tired after awhile and quit toying with my legs. Ferris suggested he and I discuss things outside where we'd have more privacy. I thought it a little strange he didn't want to talk business in front of his son. Maybe he didn't want to talk with Janine present. Ferris and I walked out onto the patio and around towards the other end of the pool. There were some lounge chairs all around the pool. We picked out a couple and sat down. "Michelle. I'm not all that crazy about having your firm handle my financial planning. I don't really trust Frank Henderson all the much. He's a lousy golfer and I figure he's probably the same at business." Ferris boldly stated. I know Ferris could plainly see the disappointment on my face. I was at a loss for words. I didn't feel I was to blame for failing to lock down this account. I had Frank Henderson to thank for that. I expected Ferris to escort me to the door. I reached for my attaché and purse but Ferris put his hand on my arm. "I might be willing to let your firm handle my financial accounting if they would agree to my terms." Ferris said. "It's either my way or no way at all." Ferris went through a whole list of terms. Topping the list was that I would have to work exclusively with him, no other accounts. He didn't want me spending time on any other accounts. Ferris wanted me to make the transactions directly, eliminating any middlemen. That way he would feel comfortable the transactions were made the way he and I dictated them. That might be a problem. Everything would have to be processed through Banks, Kellogg and Henderson. I didn't think I could comply with that term. Ferris also wanted me to work at his home office instead of at the firm's office. I wasn't sure about that term either. The rest of the terms were fairly minor. I jotted all of them down and reviewed his demands. I told him I'd get with my superiors and see what I could do. I'd have to do some hard and fast selling. I knew I couldn't do the transactions directly. I wasn't a licensed stockbroker or real estate agent. Not meeting all Ferris's demands might kill our chances of locking down his account. He wanted an answer and he wanted it by the end of the day! I headed back towards downtown Phoenix to the office. I found Marla in her office. She could see from the look on my face, things hadn't gone well at the breakfast meeting. I briefly told her about Ferris's demands in order to get his account. Even then, it wasn't a done deal. She phoned Jason Price to let him know. He ordered us both to his office immediately. Jason met us at his office door. He looked pissed at best. He motioned us into his office and pointed towards his conference table. I could just hear the axe falling towards my head. I pulled out my notes and covered each one with both Jason and Marla. We could work some of the terms with Ferris but not all of them. Working with Ferris's account exclusively wasn't a problem. I would have been doing that anyway. Working at his home office instead of the firm's office could be worked out with direct computer connections to the firm's network. There was no way I could make the transactions directly though. I'd have to go through the firm's licensed stockbroker to buy and sell stock. There was no way around it. Banks, Kellogg and Henderson had their legal staff handle all real estate transactions. I'd have to run transactions through them. Jason felt Ferris was trying to skirt using the firm in order to eliminate paying the costs for handling his account. I was hesitant about telling them what Ferris had said about Frank Henderson. I decided they should know. Ferris's remark didn't surprise Jason or Marla. "Hell, no one trusts that bastard!" Jason exclaimed. "No one!" Jason wasn't happy with the way things looked, none of us were. We sat there for awhile trying to decide what our next step was. I suggested I get back with Ferris and tell him what demands we could and couldn't meet. At least, he'd know we'd tried our best to comply. All he could do was say "no". "Do you think Ferris is attracted to you?" Jason asked. "You mean. Do you think if I fucked him, I could get his account?" I asked sharply. "Well. That's where I was headed. I wasn't going to be quite so blunt." He replied. "I don't think Ferris is the type to let his dick to his thinking for him." I snapped. "If he was, don't you think I'd have already fucked him?" We finally decided our only recourse was for me to get back with Ferris and tell him what demands we could and couldn't comply with. There weren't any other alternatives. Marla and I went down to the food court on the ground floor and ate lunch. I was too nervous to eat so I just drank some ice tea. After lunch, I headed back towards Ferris's home. I knew I wasn't going to make him happy but at least he'd know I'd tried my best. I pulled into Ferris's driveway and proceeded down towards the house. His bodyguard met me when I pulled up in front of the house. I'd have to explain to him what I was doing back but he didn't ask. He led me around to the back of the house instead of the front door. George Ferris was in the pool, Janine was laying out on a lounge. George got a big smile on his face when he saw me and the bodyguard approaching. He swam quickly over to the edge of the pool. I leaned down so I could talk with him. Janine was far enough away so she couldn't hear our conversation. "Well, I've got some good news and some not so good news." I stated, waiting for some sort of facial response from him. "I don't really want to hear the not so good news." Ferris replied. I told him what demands we could comply with. That brought his smile back. I hesitated to tell him about the demands we couldn't. Ferris asked about the other demands, I tried to break the news to him as easy as I could, explaining the stock transactions would have to be handled by the firm's stock broker. I told him our legal staff could handle the real estate transactions. We wouldn't be using an outside realtor. The disappointed look on his face told me his decision about our firm. I pushed my hand out to shake hands good-bye. He just looked at it so I pulled my hand back. "You know I could have just taken your hand and pulled you in the pool fully dressed?" Ferris stated. "I know. Right now I wouldn't have really cared either." I replied. I stood up and started to leave. Janine lifted her sunglasses as I passed by her. "Hey. You like to swim?" Ferris shouted. I turned around when he shouted at me. I hesitated for a brief moment before answering. "Yes, I like to swim." I answered. "Why don't you have Janine get you something to put on? Come join me for a swim." He suggested. I was surprised at his suggestion. I didn't want to say "no" if it meant I'd have a chance to talk with him further. Janine got up from her lounge and directed me towards the house. We walked to a dressing room just inside. I put my purse and attaché in a chair. Janine went to a row of shelves and picked out a swimsuit for me. She picked out a thong bikini; similar to the one she was wearing. I looked at it but handed it back to her. "Do you have something other than a thong?" I asked her. She grinned and put the bikini back on the shelf. She handed me another bikini. It had tie sides and would cover more of my butt. I started to unbutton my blouse, figuring Janine would go back out to the pool. Instead she just folded her arms and watched me change clothes. I wasn't all that surprised that she wanted to get a better look at me. If a show was what she wanted, a show was what I'd give her. I stripped off everything and then put the bikini bottom on. I tied the sides and reached for the top. Janine came up behind me and offered to tie the back for me. Her long fingers slipped under the top, brushing my breasts. I bet she was smiling I let her do it. I checked myself in the mirror to see how I looked. I didn't have the tan Janine had. I'd only been here for a week though. I walked back out to the pool. Janine went to the bar to get us something cold to drink. Ferris watched me approaching the pool. He didn't take his eyes off me as I descended the steps into the pool's cool water. It was refreshing to say the least. Ferris made his way over to me. Janine came out with some lemonade and set the glasses by the pool's edge. We sipped the lemonade, his body brushing up against mine. We chatted about his account. I didn't want to push anything, feeling it was futile to try and get him to change his mind. "Michelle, are you a gambler?" He inquired. "Well, I played a little poker while I was in college is all." I responded. I didn't want to tell him I was a poker addict. That wouldn't be something you'd want to hear from someone who was going to do your financial planning. "How's your luck been running?" Ferris asked. "I do pretty well. I'm not a loser if that's what you mean?" I replied. "Well, I'm a lousy poker player, that's why I don't play." He informed me. "That's also why I need someone like you to do my financial planning." I told him he could trust me, I wouldn't mishandle his account and I wouldn't let our firm interfere with the transactions we wanted to make. My statement made him smile. He looked down at me. I thought he was going to lean in for a kiss, but he didn't. "I do have one more thing I'd like for you to do for me." He stated, grinning. "What's that?" I asked, smiling. "Would you spend some money and get yourself a better car to drive?" He said. "That all car of yours looks like it's on its last legs. You need to get yourself something sporty." I laughed, agreeing with him. He mentioned Janine's father owned a car dealership in Phoenix and he would make me a good deal on anything I wanted. I told Ferris I'd pay him a visit and see what I could find. "I'll expect you here at 8:00 every morning." He stated. "We discuss everything before we make a final decision. I want a daily report on how things are going. I'll need a financial statement detailing everything before you leave at the end of each day. Agreed?" "Agreed!" I quickly replied. Ferris had finally agreed to let Banks, Kellogg and Henderson handle his account. I was elated. I just needed to get his signatures on the contracts. I mentioned the contracts to Ferris and he said he'd like to have his attorneys look them over before he signed them. It made sense to me so I told him I could take them directly to them if he wanted. He thought it was a good idea so he agreed. We shook hands in the pool. It was a little awkward but it made the deal. Ferris and I swam a little and played around. He never made any sexual advances towards me. If he had, I wouldn't have objected. He was quite handsome and very much a gentleman. Nothing like Jason and Phillip. Ferris looked at his watch and mentioned he needed to get over to the country club for a business meeting. I got out of the pool. Janine asked me to sit down and talk with her. "So, did you get George to sign on with your firm?" Janine asked. "Well, Mr. Ferris will just need to sign the contracts. I'm confident that won't be a problem." I replied. Janine asked what I thought we'd be investing her father's money in. I was evasive without being rude. Ferris had kept our conversations away from her so I felt I'd better do the same. I tried to change the subject. I mentioned that Ferris had said her father owned a car dealership in Phoenix and that I was looking for a car. From the excitement in her voice, I could tell she loved cars. Then again, Janine loved anything expensive. She offered to call her father and let him know I would be coming into his dealership so I could deal with him personally. Ferris stopped by the pool to let us know he was leaving. Janine and I went inside so I could change clothes. I took off the bikini and reached for my clothes. I slipped on my panties and reached for my bra. "You don't really have leave if you'd like to stay a little longer." She said. "I hate being alone in this house." She sounded like she wanted to have some company, some one to talk to. I agreed to stay for awhile. Janine approached me and took my bra, tossing it back on the chair. She leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. I returned her kiss. We kissed a little harder and I felt her tongue slip between my lips. I let her tongue probe my mouth. I pushed against her tongue forcing it back. Janine was breathing hard, she was taking deep breaths. We stopped kissing so we could both catch our breaths. Janine suggested we go up to hers and Michael's bedroom. I shook my head "no" motioning towards the table in the dressing room. I picked up a large beach towel and spread it out on the table. Janine took her top off. Her enhanced breasts were out of proportion to the rest of her body. Janine was tall and thin with long slender legs. I didn't stare at them. It might make her feel uncomfortable if I did. I patted the table signaling Janine to get on the table and stretch out. I put several towels under her head, making a makeshift pillow. Janine put her hands down to her side. I walked up towards her head and leaned down. I kissed her softly and passionately on the lips. Janine responded to my kisses. I moved a hand down over her extra firm breasts. They didn't feel natural at all. I cupped and squeezed them till I had her moaning softly. Her hands were gripping the sides of the table. I put my lips on her breasts and kissed them all over, nibbling them lightly with my teeth. Her nipples were hard and very long. I put my teeth around each nipple and worked them. I sucked on them hard, harder than normal. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh...Ahhhhhhhhhh...Ohhhhhhhhh!" She moaned aloud. I took one of her nipples and twisted it gently while I sucked on the other one. She moaned again, her fingers tightening their grip on the table. Her eyes were closed tight. I worked each nipple till I thought I might be making them sore. I stood up straight and looked down at her long, lean body stretched out on the table. Janine gradually opened her eyes looking up at me. Her hands relaxed their grip. I brushed my hand across her flat tummy, gently massaging her. Janine was getting hotter the more I stroked her tummy. She was biting her lower lip. I slipped my hands in the waistband of her thong and eased it down her long legs. I dropped the thong to the floor. Janine kept her legs closed but not tightly closed. I looked up at her. She was wetting her lips, her eyes barely open. I stood at the end of the table and parted her legs. I grasped her legs and pulled her down towards me so I could reach her pussy with my mouth. I kissed the insides of both her legs, licking them with my tongue. I felt her leg muscles tensing. I put my lips to her pussy kissing all around the hot, juicy slit. Janine had an orgasm immediately. He whole body shook, I just held her tighter. She let out a long, slow moan as her orgasm slipped from her body. She was breathing hard, quick short gasps. I put my tongue at the bottom of her pussy and licked upwards, working my tongue side to side. Janine's hands gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles almost white. I reached her tiny clit and flicked it with my tongue. She almost jumped off the table. I kissed her clit and flicked it with my tongue, up and down and side to side. Janine cried out. "Ohhhhhhhhh...stoppppppppp...Oh...Goddddddddddd!" I wasn't about to stop till I had her completely exhausted. My tongue probed her pussy till I had her hot little ass up off the table. I had to hang onto Janine's legs tightly. I worked the inside of her pussy and then slid my tongue up to her hard, little clit. I started sucking on it hard. Janine bucked against me. She was cumming again. I made loud sucking noises with my mouth. That only drove her crazier. Her orgasm consumed her body. Janine shook violently. She cried out but her voice was silent. I kept my lips on her clit till the orgasm gradually subsided. I lowered her butt back down. Her legs slipped off my shoulders and dangled off the end of the table. I picked up another towel and wiped my face off. Janine lay there on the table breathing hard. I stroked her legs watching the juices run out of her pussy. Janine finally opened her eyes and looked down towards me. She smiled and I smiled back at her. "God, that was wonderful!" Janine managed to say. Her breathing still hadn't returned to normal. I slipped on my clothes. Janine finally managed to sit up on the edge of the table. She looked totally spent. I checked myself in the mirror. I walked over to Janine and kissed her good-bye. She was breathing better. "Hey, don't forget to call your father, OK?" I stated. During the drive back home, I thought about Janine and eating her hot little pussy. I was developing a taste for pussy like Marla had developed a tasted for guy's cum. It struck me as being funny. I called Marla at her home later that evening. I told her what Ferris and I had discussed and to get the contracts prepped so I could get them to his attorneys. With any luck, we might have his signature by the end of Friday. Marla was as excited as me, maybe even more so. I told her I was going to start working at Ferris's home tomorrow morning. If she needed me, she could call me on my cell phone. I slept very good that night. Sleeping good two nights in a row was pretty good for me. Lady Gambler Ch. 03 I woke up at my usual time the next morning and did my normal routine. Put on the coffee, grab a shower, fix my hair, put on my make-up and get dressed. I decided to wear a tan leather skirt this morning. I found a nice blouse that went well with it. I might do a little car shopping after work and showing a little leg to Janine's dad might get me an even better deal. It certainly couldn't hurt. I made the drive up to Fountain Hills to the Ferris residence. His bodyguard was waiting for me when I pulled in. He opened my door for me and informed me Mr. Ferris was out on the patio. I walked around the side of the house and spotted Ferris sitting at the table under the covered patio. He waved when he saw me approaching. Michael and Janine came out of the house carrying a tray of coffee. Janine poured Ferris and me a cup of fresh coffee. Janine's leg brushed up against mine, sort of a "good morning" signal. The coffee tasted great, although I'd already had two cups at my apartment. The four of us enjoyed breakfast together till about 9:00. Ferris seemed in an especially good mood, cracking jokes one after another. I informed Ferris that the contracts would be ready for his attorneys to review later this morning. I could still drop them off at his attorneys if he wished. He still liked the idea so that was our plan. I picked up my attaché and purse. Ferris and I strolled down the winding path to his office. His secretary, Charlene was already at her desk. She smiled when we entered the reception area. Ferris and I entered his office. He glanced out over the golf course to see how many players were out. There were quite a few on the course getting in a round or two before it got too hot to play. I took a chair in front of his desk as Ferris sat in his high back office chair. We talked about me doing some research over the Internet on the type of stocks I felt were the best return. I suggested we also use the Internet to investigate the various types of properties that we might want to invest in. "Even though I'll have a computer tied directly into Banks, Kellogg and Henderson's computer network, I think we should do all of our Internet investigations through another Internet service provider." I strongly suggested. "That way, the firm can't track what we're doing out here." "We'll work completely independent from them except to make our transactions." I added. "I can also monitor them to make sure the transactions are being performed exactly as we've dictated them." "Damn, I like the way you think!" Ferris exclaimed. "I'm glad we're going to be working together. You make me money and I'll make sure you're well rewarded. I smiled when he mentioned being rewarded. That had to mean money. I made numerous suggestions to Ferris about how we should set the computer system up and use the Internet to our best advantage. He never stopped nodding his head in agreement the whole time. I was doing good, damn good. The more I talked, the more excited he got. By late morning, my voice was starting to give out from all the talking. I needed to get down to the firm's office and pick up the contracts so I could get them to his attorneys. I suggested to Ferris I head back to my firm and get the task accomplished. Ferris looked at his watch. "I've got an even better idea." He said. "Why don't you take Janine with you? You two can have lunch together and then stop over at her father's dealership and see if you can find yourself a decent car to drive." That was a better idea. I had to agree with him. I made sure he didn't mind me being gone for most of the afternoon. He said he didn't mind. He thought he'd go over to the country club and have lunch with a friend, a long lunch. I wondered if Ferris had a lady friend he might be seeing. Ferris and I walked out of his office. Charlene was getting ready to leave for lunch herself. Ferris handed her a list of things we needed to get done, including another cable line for our computer modem. Charlene said she'd take care of it. Janine was watching television when Ferris and I walked into the house. Ferris asked her if she'd like to accompany me into Phoenix. She practically jumped off the couch to get her purse. I told Ferris I'd see him before the end of the day. I called Marla on my cell phone to let her know I was on my way. We drove into Phoenix; Janine hardly stopped talking the whole way in. I think she was starved for someone to talk to as much as she was starved for affection. We arrived at the firm's office. Janine accompanied me inside. Jason and Marla were waiting just inside the ground floor lobby. I introduced Janine to both of them. Jason was really checking out her breast enhancements, he couldn't take his eyes off them. Marla handed me the folder with the contracts. I took them and we quickly left the building heading over to Ferris's attorneys. They law offices were just a few blocks from our firm so it was a fairly quick trip. I suggested to Janine we stop somewhere for lunch. She knew of a nice restaurant up the street from her father's car dealership so we headed there to eat. Janine phoned her father on his cell phone and asked him if he could meet us there for lunch. He said he would. Janine and I met her father at the restaurant. Ted was very distinguished looking and quite handsome. You could see a lot of similarities between him and Janine. We ate lunch and talked cars. I was looking for something dependable. If it were sporty, so much the better. A sedan would be alright though. Definitely not an SUV. He assured me he'd have something at his dealership that would be just perfect for me. I smiled at his remark. He seemed very nice but I figured I'd have to keep the flirting to a minimum having Janine with me. We finished lunch, Ted picked up the tab, saying it was a business lunch. We headed down the street towards Ted's dealership. I pulled onto the lot feeling very out of place. I could see he had nothing but expensive cars. I guess it wouldn't hurt to look anyway. The three of us strolled through the lot. The more I looked, the more discouraged I got. We looked at everything he had. I finally remarked that maybe I'd come back another time and see if he had anything. That's not a remark a salesman likes to hear. People very seldom come back, they go somewhere else. Ted being the owner of the dealership wasn't about to let me get away. He acted like he was in deep thought; I figured he was thinking about how he was going to get my money. "I have a nice little Mercedes we just took on trade-in last weekend. It's back in the detailing shop." He stated. "I think it would be just perfect for you." "A Mercedes, I don't think I could afford anything like that." I said, laughing. Ted ushered Janine and me back to look at the car. It was a '95 SL500 convertible, red with light tan interior. Ted made the remark about my skirt matching the leather upholstery. Maybe it was a sign this was the car for me. I hated to ask the price, feeling I'd faint when he told me. He told me all about the car, except the price. I finally pinned him down, telling him I couldn't afford a big car payment. That made him think even harder. He'd have to hit the bottom line if he was going to get me to buy this car. It was hard for me to control my emotions. I wanted this car but I didn't want Ted to think I was all that interested. Ted suggested we take it out for a test drive. A salesman's way of letting the car do most of the selling. We took it out on I-17 heading north. I pushed the car up to 90 mph. It was exhilarating driving the little convertible. I had to grit my teeth to keep from smiling. Ted kept looking at me to see my reaction. When he wasn't looking at my face he was looking down at my legs. I raised my left leg a little so my skirt would rise. We finally slowed down and I turned around and heading back towards the dealership. Ted asked how I liked the car. I loved it but I just told him it was nice, but I felt way too expensive. I wanted to talk dollars; Ted kept trying to talk around that subject. We pulled into the dealership and I pulled up in front of the showroom. Ted looked my car over. I knew it was way too old to put on his lot so I wasn't expecting much of a trade-in. We walked inside. Janine was sitting in the waiting room with several of the salesman. I'm sure they were checking out her boob job. She loved their attention. Ted and I went back to his office. I handed Ted the keys to the Mercedes so he'd think I wasn't all that interested in the car. He told me the price and what he'd allow me for my old car. I didn't react so he didn't know if I was "on the hook" or not. I did a little quick figuring to approximate my monthly payments. I could handle them but I didn't let him know that. I finally told him I'd have to do some serious thinking before I made such an expensive purchase. He wasn't about to let me out the door if he thought he still had a chance to sell me the car. He pulled up some information on his computer. From where I was sitting, I couldn't tell what he was looking at. He rubbed his chin and looked towards me. I crossed my legs to draw his attention away from my face. He smiled and looked back at the screen again. He was going to have to come up with a hell of a deal or I wasn't going to waste anymore of his or my time. Ted asked me if he came down another $2000 on the deal, would I buy the car? That was the absolute best he could do. I looked down thinking. I should try for $3000, just for the hell of it. It was a gamble but what the hell, I'm a gambler. I smiled softly. "I'll buy the car if you'll knock $3000 off the deal and let me take you out to dinner." It was my way of saying, play your cards right and you might get lucky. My remark brought a big smile to his face. He didn't say "no" so I figured I had him on "my hook". He didn't know really what to say. I just had to reel his ass in. I stood up, smoothed my leather skirt down and tucked the front of my blouse in tightly to the waistband of my skirt. He bought it. "OK, it's a deal, $3000 off!" Ted exclaimed, grinning. We shook hands on it. Ted called back to the shop to have the little Mercedes washed again while he ran the papers through the computer. We had the papers all signed in about twenty minutes. I smiled, almost laughing when I put my signature on the documents. "We'll need the title to your car so we can sell it off to a wholesaler." He stated. "I can bring it by the dealership sometime tomorrow or you can stop by my apartment and pick it up, if you need it sooner." I said. Ted caught my invitation and jumped on it. He said he could drop by and pick it up around 8:00 if that was alright. I smiled, telling him I'd be expecting him. Janine and I jumped in the Mercedes SL500 convertible and headed back towards Fountain Hills. Janine turned on the radio and "Boogie Man" came blaring out of the speakers. The more it played, the faster I drove. We got back to the Ferris residence about 4:00. George wasn't back from his long, lunch meeting. I did see the cable company truck in the driveway. Charlene must have gotten them out right away for the computer modem hookup. Janine and I chatted for awhile and then I left, heading back to my apartment. Janine's father, Ted wouldn't be there till about 8:00 so I had time for a quick nap. It had been a very busy day and I was a little tired. My short nap lasted for more than an hour. I must have been more tired than I realized. I looked out the upstairs window at my little red convertible sitting in front of the apartment. I figured I'd be making a personal payment to Ted when he stopped by this evening. I fixed myself something quick to eat and then headed for a quick shower. I fixed my hair and put on my make-up. I picked out a nice skirt and blouse. The skirt was short and had zippers on both sides. Easy to put on, easy to get off. I checked myself in the mirror. I wanted to look sexy but not trashy. I still had some time before Ted would be stopping by. I searched through my personal papers and got the title out to my old car. I still had some free time, so I looked over the notes Ferris and I had put together this morning. It looked like we'd covered all our bases pretty well. The doorbell to my apartment rang a little before 8:00. I looked through the peephole in the door and saw Ted standing on the other side. I opened the door and smiled when he entered. Ted had a big smile on his handsome face. I motioned him towards the livingroom. I handed Ted the title to my old car. I'd already signed off on it. "Since you're here, would you like a glass of wine or beer if you prefer?" I asked him. "Oh, a glass of wine would really be nice." He said, smiling. I went to the kitchen and poured us each a glass of chilled wine. I walked back to the livingroom and handed Ted his glass. I motioned towards the couch and asked him to sit down. I waited till he sat down so I could sit fairly close to him but not too close. Ted and I sipped the wine and talked about cars. We had nearly finished our wine; I figured Ted would be making his move if he was going to make it. He set his glass down on the end table. I handed him mine so he could set it down next to his. Ted leaned towards me and I leaned in to kiss him. He put his hand at my waist and pulled me in closer to him. His kiss was soft and gentle. I put my hand on the back of his head holding his lips to mine. We kissed more passionately. Ted was fantastic at kissing. He worked his lips over mine nibbling on them. I felt his hand move up to feel my breasts. His hand was strong but gentle. He massaged my breasts, fondling them tenderly. He was taking his time working me up. I was panting from his kisses and his massaging hands. Ted put his hand on my leg and began rubbing it. He worked his hand up under my skirt along the outside of my leg. Ted withdrew his lips from mine and started kissing me on the neck. He had me purring like a kitten. I felt his hand well up under my skirt working his hand up and down my leg. Ted kissed my neck down to the opening of my blouse. His hands worked the buttons till he had my blouse undone. He kissed over my breasts, his hands on the outside of my bra. I pulled back from him so he could slip my blouse off. We started kissing again. I slipped my tongue between his lips brushing back and forth across them. I reached down and put my hand on his crotch. I could feel his hard cock through the material of his Dockers. I rubbed lightly over his cock, teasing it. Ted put his hand behind me and unhooked my bra, slipping it down my arms. He smiled when he looked at my firm, naked breasts. His hands cupped my breasts and he leaned down to kiss them. I felt his lips clamp onto my nipple and pull on it lightly. His tongue flicked out and teased it, causing it to harden immediately. I held the back of his head while he sucked on each of my hard nipples. He was so gentle; I didn't want him to ever stop. Ted noticed the zippers on my short skirt and pulled on one. The skirt immediately opened up. I lifted my butt up off the couch so he could pull it out from under me. He tossed it to the other end of the couch. I unbuttoned Ted's shirt and pulled it open. Ted slipped it the rest of the way off. He had a muscular chest with a little gray hair on it. Not bad for a guy in his late-forties, I thought. Ted looked down at my little white bikini panties and put his hand on the elastic waistband. I lifted my butt up and he pulled them off, tossing them on top of my skirt. I could see the bulge in his Dockers was even bigger than it was a little earlier. Ted kicked off his shoes then removed his socks and slacks. He stood in front of me in his white briefs. His cock looked like it was going to rip through the material. "Let's go up to the bedroom." I suggested, pointing towards the stairs. "Let's just fuck right here on the couch." He stated boldly. Ted was grinning as he pushed my legs apart. He held my legs as far apart as he could. He licked his lips and leaned down licking my pussy hard and fast. I gasped when his darted his tongue inside my wet pussy. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Oh yesssssssssss!" I moaned. Ted's tongue frantically worked my hot pussy. He put his lips on my hard little clit and sucked on it causing me to have a long orgasm. I felt my juices flowing while the orgasm took over my body. I was shaking. Ted held my legs farther apart. He was sucking on my pussy and using his tongue to swab between the lips. My butt was grinding hard into the material of the couch. Ted slowed down his sucking and kissed all around the slit. He let my legs down easily. I was still spread wide for him. Ted stood up and yanked his briefs down. He had a huge cock with a mushroom shaped head. Ted looked down at me and grabbed my legs lifting them up and spreading them. He put one leg over his shoulder while he guided the head of his cock to my waiting pussy. He gently pushed the head inside me. I gasped feeling my pussy stretching to accommodate his thick, hard cock. He grasped my leg on his shoulder and spread me apart. He slowly worked it in and out till he had it deep inside me. He fucked me with a few strokes and then pulled all the way out of me. I looked down between my legs at his wet cock. He smiled down at me and slipped in back inside me with one long stroke. He repeated it several times. I loved the way he fucked me. Ted began pumping his cock into me faster. I started to have an orgasm but he stopped his fucking. I looked up at him. His face was expressionless. I settled down and he started fucking me hard again. I felt myself cumming. I reached out but I couldn't reach him. I tightened my pussy around his hard cock. Ted just fucked me harder and harder. His pelvis slamming into me, making loud smacking sounds. I cried out loud as his cock fucked its full length deep inside me. "Argggggghhhhhhhh...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...!" I felt Ted's cock swell as he shot his first hot load inside my pussy. He pulled almost all the way out of me and then plunged back into me hard, shooting another load of cum. I clenched my pussy muscles around his cock, milking the cum out of him. Ted's arms relaxed letting my legs come down and back together. My leg muscles hurt so bad they started to cramp. Ted eased his cock out of me. I could feel his cum dripping out of me, down onto the couch. I was too exhausted to get up. I was breathless and weak. Ted leaned over me and gave me a loving kiss. He held me in his arms till I almost drifted off to sleep. We finally managed to regain our strength. I pointed Ted to the bathroom so he could get cleaned up. I ran in behind him to wipe myself off. I went to the kitchen to get some paper towels and cleaner so I could clean the cum spots off the couch. I soaked the material good. Ted came out of the bathroom. He looked totally spent. He got dressed, grabbed the car title and walked towards the door. I slipped on a robe and kissed him goodnight. After he left I grabbed another shower and went directly to bed. I slept like a baby till early morning. I'd had sex with Janine yesterday morning and sex with her father this evening! I felt I was doing pretty well in the sex department. Let's just hope I'd be as lucky in Las Vegas. Lady Gambler Ch. 04 I got out of bed the next morning feeling refreshed but with a little bit of soreness in my thigh muscles. Ted had spread me hard last night, farther than my leg muscles were used to. I walked down to the kitchen to put on some fresh coffee. I checked the couch as I passed by it, to see if any of the cum stains remained. They hadn't but the couch's material was still a little damp from the cleaner. I figured it should be dry by the time I got home this evening. I grabbed a quick shower and went through my morning routine. I sat at the dining room table sipping the fresh, hot coffee thinking seriously about driving up to Vegas this weekend. I hoped to get in some poker action before my gambling skills dulled. I lifted the deck lid on the Mercedes and put the top down. The deck lid closed securing the top below it. It was another beautiful morning in Arizona and I wanted to make the most of it. I made the drive up to Fountain Hills, arriving at Ferris's home a little earlier than usual. I saw his Ferris's bodyguard approaching me. He grinned as he opened my car door. "Good morning, Miss Gray." He spoke. I returned his greeting as I picked up my attaché and purse from the passenger seat. I noticed him looking at my little red convertible. We headed towards the front door of the home. "Since I'm going to be working here everyday, it would be nice if I knew your name." I stated. "It's Scott, ma'am." He replied. "Scott." "Good morning Scott." I quickly responded, causing him to get a really big smile on his face. "That car is really you!" He said. I smiled back at him as he opened the door to Ferris's home for me. I descended down the few steps to the living area, proceeding towards the kitchen. Ferris was sitting out on the patio as usual. "There's my girl!" He stated. "Grab yourself some breakfast and come out on the patio." I was hungry, hungrier than usual, so I got a little more than usual. I walked out to the patio table and joined Ferris, Janine and Michael. We exchanged greetings as I sat down to eat. The servant brought me out fresh orange juice and coffee. Janine looked at me a little strange with the hint of a smile. "You look like you had a good night." She smarted. "You didn't by chance get lucky last night, did you? I didn't say anything, just smiled. Thinking, if you only knew how lucky I got last night you'd have a heart attack. Michael was reading the morning paper so I didn't see much of his face. That didn't bother me in the least. I didn't really care for him at all. Janine, Ferris and I chatted about my car. George wanted to go out and see it so he left the table, walking around the side of the house. Janine put her foot against my leg and started brushing it up and down. I knew what she wanted but it wasn't going to happen today. Ferris and I had way too much work to get done. George came back to the table. He was grinning from ear to ear. "That car says Michelle, not just Mercedes." He stated. "I feel much better now, knowing you're driving something more dependable." Ferris and I finished our breakfast and headed down the winding path towards his office. Charlene greeted us at the door. She was wearing a bright red business suit this morning. She'd even put on some make-up. Her dark brown hair was even styled a little different. She really looked attractive when she wanted to take the time to fix herself up. Ferris showed me to my new office just behind Charlene's area. It was all carpeted with windows along two walls. The windows along one wall were extra wide viewing out towards the back of Ferris's home. I had full view of the patio and pool. The other windows were high up on the wall. You had to stand on a chair to see out them. They were mostly to let light in I guess. There were a couple of tables, some office chairs and a desk. The cable company had wired everything for our computers and installed an extra line for a television set. I just needed to rearrange the furniture to my liking. When we had that chore accomplished, George and I decided to go computer shopping. Charlene called up to the house to get in touch with Scott, Ferris's bodyguard. Scott was to bring the car out to the front of the house where George and I would meet him. I needed to use the bathroom before we left to go shopping. When I returned, George was in his office with Charlene. He had his arms around her, kissing her. I stepped back out of sight and tiptoed towards the main door. I stood there until Ferris came out. At least I knew Ferris liked women. I'm sure Charlene was his favorite, even though she did wear a diamond wedding band. Ferris and I walked towards the front of the house. Scott had pulled Ferris's car, an S600 Mercedes next to mine. The rear doors were already opened. I got in the car sitting next to Ferris. George didn't give Scott any directions; he seemed to know where we wanted to go. We drove down to Scottsdale to one of those computer-television superstores. Ferris was more interested in those HDTV units than computer systems. Along with the computers, George purchased two of the new televisions. We arrived back at the house shortly before noon. Ferris asked if I was ready for lunch. I wasn't really hungry but I figured George was. I told him I could eat if he was ready for lunch. George told Scott to drive over to the country club. We'd eat lunch there. It was a real treat eating at the country club. The waiter took care of our every need. George ordered a bottle of wine, but I only drank a glass or two. Some friends of Ferris's were at a nearby table. They came over just to say "hi". Ferris introduced me to them. One of the men was Jack Henderson, one of the firm's owners. "The lousy golfer" as George referred to him. After lunch we head back to Ferris's again. The delivery truck was just pulling up as Scott pulled the Mercedes sedan into the driveway. Scott jumped out of the car and directed the two deliverymen towards the office. George and I went on down the winding path towards the office. Charlene was sitting at her desk. She smiled when we entered the office. Charlene said she had an appointment she needed to keep so she'd be gone for the rest of the day. Ferris grinned when she made the statement. "I'm going to walk Charlene up to her car." He stated, smiling. "I'll be back shortly." I told him I'd show the deliverymen where to put everything. I don't think he was paying attention to what I said though. Ferris never did come back to the office. When I left at 5:00, he still hadn't returned. I laughed when I thought George might be kissing her lips, not the ones on her face, the ones between her legs! I worked the rest of the day getting the three computer systems set up and online. The cable modems were many times faster and more dependable than the old dial-up ISP's. I left the office a little after 5:00pm. I saw Michael out on the patio and told him I was leaving but I didn't have a key to lock the office doors. He handed me his keys so I went back down to the office and made sure all the doors were locked and secure. I thought the least Michael could have done, was come down and locked the office up for his father. I took the keys back up to the house. Michael was grinning as I approached. "Going to spend the evening alone?" He smarted off. I didn't answer his smart remark. I tossed the keys to him, making damn sure they fell short so he'd have to get off his lazy ass to pick them up. I heard them jingle when they hit the patio's concrete surface. I smiled; knowing it probably pissed him off. I got in my car and pulled out of the driveway, heading back to my apartment. I spent the evening alone, sitting out on the patio looking at the lake. The thought about driving the convertible up to Vegas this weekend crossed my mind. I arrived at George's right on time the next morning. George was sitting alone on the patio reading the morning paper. He got up as I approached. He was smiling. I wondered if he slept well last night after his probable rendezvous with Charlene. George didn't say anything about not making it back to the office yesterday afternoon and I didn't mention it. The servant lady brought out the orange juice and fresh coffee. I lit up a cigarette. I was starting to smoke more, almost up to a pack a day. I was getting hooked on the habit. We ate a fairly light breakfast. I didn't see Michael or Janine. I figured they were both still in bed. Ferris and I discussed what we should work on this morning. I suggested we check online and see how the stock market was doing this morning. The market had already been open a couple of hours. We might see some trends starting even though it was still early. "By the way. I'm having a little party Saturday evening." Ferris stated. "Just some friends and business acquaintances. I'd really like it if you could make it. It'll start around 8:00." Ferris looked at me for an answer. I thought, "Well there goes my Vegas plans!" I told him I'd be happy to attend, even though I wasn't. I had to force myself to smile. Ferris was pleased with my answer, so that made it a little easier. "There'll be a lot of important people at the party." He added. "It'll give me a chance to show you off. I'd like you to look your best." I nodded, telling him I had the perfect dress and accessories to wear. That remark made him really grin. As long as I was making Ferris happy, I was happy. "I've got some of the guys coming over tomorrow evening for a little poker." George mentioned. "I thought you didn't play?" I asked. "I play... just not worth a damn!" He quipped, laughing. "It's more of a social thing, nothing really high stakes." All of a sudden, I got real hungry to play. I asked a few off-the-wall questions, like I was just curious and not really interested. I didn't want Ferris to sense I was hinting for an invitation. "Frank Henderson's going to be there. I'd like to beat his ass at poker like I do at golf!" Ferris stated. "He's just too damn lucky." "The game of poker takes a lot more than luck to win." I said. "It takes a good bit of skill." George looked at me with a questioning look on his face. He asked me if I'd like to sit in or even just watch. I acted like I was thinking about it even though I knew right off; I was going to accept his invitation. "Well, I don't really have anything planned for Friday." I stated innocently. "I wouldn't mind stopping by for awhile." "Great! We usually start around 9:00 and play till everyone gets tired ... or until the sun comes up!" Ferris stated, laughing. Ferris and I spent the rest of the day on the NYSE website. We tracked several stocks that we were interested in. I used one of the other computers to investigate some stocks that seemed to be doing quite well. I jotted down some information on them and downloaded some public information that was available. I like to look at the company's profile, especially who's in key management positions. Ferris turned on the new tv in my office. His attention drifted back and forth between the television and the stock market. I couldn't really execute any transactions until Ferris had signed the contracts with our firm so it didn't really matter that I couldn't keep his attention focused on the business at hand. Friday morning, Ferris and I checked out several real estate websites for properties that might be good investments. I pointed out to George we should consider residential housing and industrial properties. I didn't really want to get into anything commercial or business oriented. We'd probably have to sit on the properties for quite awhile in order to see any recognizable profits. Friday afternoon, two men came to the office. Charlene came into my office and mentioned their names to George. He got up and followed her out. I heard the door to George's office close and figured he'd be tied up for awhile. About thirty minutes later, Charlene came in and informed me Ferris wanted me to join him in his office. I entered George's office and saw they were all sitting around George's conference table. I spotted our firm's folder in front of Ferris. George introduced me to the two men. They were some of his attorneys. They had approved the contracts. All Ferris had to do was sign them. He opened the folder and put his signature on all the papers. It was a done deal! We could start working together officially. I just needed to get the contracts back to Banks, Kellogg and Henderson and into Marla and Jason's greedy little hands. I couldn't keep from smiling knowing I'd succeeded in securing Ferris's account. "I want those agreements and other forms here no later than Monday afternoon. OK? Ferris stated to the two men. "Yes sir. We'll work on them this weekend so we can make sure to meet your deadline." One of the men stated. I didn't know what that was all about. It wasn't any of my business. I was impressed that his attorneys were willing to work the weekend to meet his demands. Ferris did wheel a lot of power and authority. I phoned Marla and told her I was on my way in to the firm with the signed contracts. She screamed with joy at the news. I shut down the computers for the day and picked up the contracts. The men left the office heading back up the winding path towards the house. George met me at Charlene's desk. I told him I should be getting the papers into the firm's hands before anything happened to them. "Good idea." Ferris said. "Still coming to the poker game tonight, aren't you?" He asked. "Yes. I'll stop by around 9:00 and see how you're doing." I replied, trying to act nonchalant. I waited till about 9:30 before I left the apartment to drive up to Ferris's home for the poker game. I didn't want to appear too anxious. I wore black leather slacks, snug but not tight. I had to wear a thong underneath them so I wouldn't show any panty lines. I did wear a scoop neck top and an uplift bra to show some cleavage. I wanted to distract the men as much as possible without it being too obvious. I put on black high heel shoes to give my 5'7" height a boost. I looked ready so I got in the convertible and headed towards Fountain Hills. I arrived about 10:00. The driveway in front of Ferris's house had several cars parked in front of it. Scott, Ferris's bodyguard, came out and opened my car door for me. He seemed to always be at the house. "Good evening Michelle." Scott greeted, smiling. "Mr. Ferris is expecting you." Scott escorted me to the front door and opened it for me. I could hear some men talking far off in a lower level of the house. I followed their voices till I saw them. George was sitting at the table facing the hallway. He had already folded on the game there were playing. He smiled, motioning me to come in and meet everyone. George introduced me as Michelle Gray, his financial planner. He put his arm around my waist and gave me a slight hug. The men, mostly in their late forties to maybe early sixties shook my hand. They all seemed friendly. Frank Henderson was at the table; he clenched my hand a little harder than normal. His way of showing authority I guess. I was hoping he'd saved enough strength to carry his balls home with him. My purpose, other than winning, was to beat Henderson and beat him bad. I knew that would make George happy. "You want to sit in on a few hands?" One of the men asked. "I'm sure she does!" Ferris answered for me. "Take my seat. I just hope my bad luck doesn't rub off on you." I sat in Ferris's chair. He took what few poker chips he hadn't lost and put them in the pocket of his dress slacks. I was sitting directly across from Henderson. I could watch his eyes while he played. Ferris said he'd act as the banker. I handed him ten one-hundred dollar bills. "Hon, this is a friendly game. You sure you want to put this much on the line?" George asked, smiling. I nodded my head and Ferris gave me several stacks of chips. There was a $5.00 per round limit except for the last round. I figured each pot would be around $200. I was drooling inside to get started. Ferris brought me a glass of wine. I would have to nurse it, not wanting to get too relaxed. The game was Texas Hold 'Em, my favorite game. The first two hands I played till the second card was dealt face up. I folded on both hands. Just the start of the evening I kept reminding myself. It'll get better. Frank Henderson was doing pretty good. He won the two hands I'd folded on. I watched the other players to see how they held their cards and how they bet. They weren't rookies but they weren't real gamblers either. I played the third hand. I quickly glanced at my cards. I had a pair of sevens. I always leave the cards on the table instead of in my hand. I bet $5 and everyone called. The first card dealt up was a 4. I bet again, everyone called. The next card was another 4, I bet again. Everyone called. The third card dealt face up was a 10. I bet $5. I looked at the each man's face as it came his turn to call or fold. Two of the men were busy eyeing my chest so I knew they weren't concentrating on the game. Everyone called. I watched Frank Henderson especially close. The fourth card dealt was another 10. I bet $5. One of the men folded, the other four called. The last card dealt face up was a 7. I had a full house, 7's and 10's. I bet $5 and everyone folded except Frank Henderson. He raised when it was his turn. I looked at him. He was grinning but his eyes kept looking at the cards on the table. I raised him back. Henderson looked surprised. George was sitting on a barstool behind me. I could feel him looking over my shoulder but my cards were still face down on the table. Henderson raised me back, except this time he raised $20. I hesitated like I wasn't sure what to do. It was a ploy; I knew I was going to call. "I'll call." I muttered. "Full house, 4's and 10's." Henderson proudly announced. I turned my cards over one at a time. "7's and 10's." I said softly. I could see in Henderson's face he was fighting the rage back. I didn't gloat that I'd beaten him. I just raked the chips towards me. "Damn girl! You gave ole Frank a taste of his own medicine." One of the men remarked loudly. I gritted my teeth to keep from smiling. Lady Luck was with me tonight! I played several hands winning a few straight. The guys didn't seem to mind losing if I was the one winning. When Henderson would win a hand, he acted like he'd hit the lottery. That doesn't go over well at a "friendly" poker game. We played for a couple of hours and then everyone wanted to take a break and get some fresh air. I know I was in favor of the suggestion. Ferris started to get me another glass of wine, but I motioned him not too. "You're quite the poker player!" George exclaimed. "Ole Frank's really pissed!" I asked him how far he wanted me to push it with Henderson. He was one of the owners of the accounting and investment firm and my boss after all. "Push the bastard till his heart has a blow-out!" Ferris gloated. "I don't care if he dies right on the table!" George and I joined a couple of the other men. I smoked several cigarettes, mainly because they seemed to keep me calm. Next to sex, the cigarettes were one of my life's little perks. It was almost midnight when the game resumed. Two of the men left shortly around 1:00am. Ferris sat in and he lost every hand he played. He wasn't a poker player, but he wasn't thinking clearly either. George had been drinking beer constantly all evening. He finally pulled out of the game altogether. He just sat at the table and watched. It was almost 3:00 in the morning when Ferris called "last hand". The cards were dealt. I had a 3 and 5 of diamonds. I bet $5, everyone called. First card up was a 6 of diamonds. I bet and everyone called. The second card was an 8 of spades. I bet and everyone called. The third card was the 4 of diamonds. I bet, two men folded, Henderson and one other man called. The fourth card was the 2 of diamonds. I bet $5. Henderson called, the other man folded. It was just Henderson and I on the last hand. The last card dealt was the Jack of Diamonds. Henderson jumped when the card was dealt. I figured he had a flush but I had a straight flush. Henderson relaxed in his chair but he'd already given his hand away. Lady Gambler Ch. 04 "Let's make this interesting, Sweetie." He said, grinning. "I'll bet $100!" I looked at George. He looked at me, like he knew Frank had the winning hand. I knew better though. I hesitated and looked down at my cards. Just killing time, make this bastard wait a little, I thought. Michael and Janine came into the game room. They'd been out nightclubbing from the looks of their attire. "I'll see your $100 and raise you another $100." I said, hesitantly. Franks face tightened. "I'll see your $100 and raise you ... say $500." I looked at Janine. She had a firm grasp on Michael's arm. Ferris stood up and walked away from the card table. He looked nervous, extremely nervous. "I'll call." I boldly stated. "Flush, all diamonds." Henderson announced. I looked over at his hand, just to make him wait to see what I had. I slowly turned my cards over throwing them on the five cards already face up. "Straight Flush, all diamonds." I said, smiling like a sly fox. Henderson's face turned beet red. His hands gripped the table tightly. I didn't look at him. I didn't make a move to rake the chips in either. I thought he might actually slam his fist down on my hands. George was grinning from ear to ear. I had to look away from him to keep from grinning back. I bit my lip till Henderson regained his self-control. "Well... it's been one hell of an evening!" Frank Henderson muttered. I just nodded my head, still biting my lower lip. Henderson got up from the table and gathered his chips up. Ferris started cashing him in. I headed for the patio door to get away from him. Michael and Janine came out behind me. The two of them were both grinning. "A straight flush! Wow!" Michael exclaimed. "You fucking won some money on that hand!" I was breathing hard but inside I felt good, damn good. I lit up a cigarette and took a long, hard drag off it. Ferris came out onto the patio and hugged me till I thought he was going to squeeze the life out of me. We heard a car squeal its tires when it pulled out of the driveway. Ferris and I sat down in the patio chairs. He could see I was worn out from playing. Janine brought me a glass of wine. I drank it down in two gulps and smoked a couple more cigarettes. "Michelle. You sure you're alright." Ferris asked, in a concerned tone. "I'm alright. Just tired." I replied. Ferris suggested I spend the night at the house. I hesitated but I did think it wasn't all that bad of an idea. Ferris asked for my car keys. They were in my purse. He said he'd give them to Scott so he could put my car in the garage. Michael and Janine showed me to a spare bedroom upstairs. I grabbed a shower and slipped into bed. I couldn't sleep. It was a strange bed and I needed a little relief, sexual relief. I was just too tired to do it myself. I dozed off for about an hour. I looked out the terrace off the bedroom. It was still dark outside. I slipped out of bed and walked over to my purse to get a cigarette. I opened the doors to the terrace and stepped out. I stood at the railing looking out at the darkness. I could see the security lights over at the country club off in the distance. I was just wearing my black thongs but no one could see me. The cool night air felt so refreshing. It was making me sleepy. I smoked the cigarette and then went back inside for another one. I stood on the terrace for almost an hour before going back to bed. I slept till noon. Ferris, Janine and Michael were in the pool. I walked out towards them. They wanted me to join them but I told them I needed to get back to my apartment. "Loved that thong!" Michael muttered to me. "Guess you couldn't sleep either." I didn't reply to his remark. I just smiled at him. I told George I'd see him around 8:00 that evening. He said he couldn't wait till I came back. He said it sincerely so I took it as a compliment. I walked out to the front of the house. My little red convertible was sitting back out front. Scott walked up to me and handed me the keys and opened the car door for me. I started getting ready for the party almost two hours before it was to start. I spent extra time on my hair and make-up. If Ferris wanted to show me off, I wanted to look my best while he did it. I put on my best dress. It was a white dress with a drape across the front over one shoulder. It was cut just above the knee so it wasn't short. I put on white high-heels and my thigh-highs. I hate pantyhose so I never wear them. I had a rhinestone necklace and earrings to match. You could tell they were fake but they really sparkled and reflected the light. I checked myself in the mirror. I looked great, just hoped George would think the same. I didn't leave my apartment till 8:00 so I wouldn't get to Ferris's before a lot of the other guests had arrived. I left the top up on the convertible so it wouldn't blow my hair. I pulled in the driveway and parked my car just off the drive. There were a lot of cars sitting in the driveway, lot of really expensive cars! Scott was acting as the doorman, although he was probably keeping an eye on everyone's car. He spoke as he opened the door for me. I thanked him and called him Scott. He smiled even more when I called him by his name. Ferris was chatting with some couples so I made my way around to the bar out on the patio. I noticed several people watching me, probably wondering who the hell I was. I saw Michael and Janine talking with some gentlemen. All the guys were wearing suits. Everyone looked very nice. Janine came over and welcomed me. I could tell she'd already had a few drinks. Her voice was a little slurred. Doubt if anyone paid any attention to what she said anyway. Her tits were practically jumping out of her low cut dress. George spotted me and hurried over towards Janine and me. He wanted to introduce me to his friends and associates. He stuck out his arm and I held it as he guided me around. He introduced me to about everyone. We made idle conversation with most of them before moving on. He finally let me cruise around on my own. I walked out to the bar and got myself another glass of wine. I saw an empty chair on the patio so I sat down. My high-heels were snug and pinching my toes. I sipped the wine and just watched other people milling around. There was soft music playing and several couples dancing on the patio. It was a super nice party. I saw a guy standing across the other side of the pool. He was by himself and he looked like he didn't really care to be there. It was Rick, George's younger son. He was quite handsome. I remembered meeting him my first day here. He was fidgeting with his tie and shirt collar. I could tell he wasn't used to wearing a tie. I sauntered over towards him slowly. He saw me approaching and looked down. I could see he was the shy type. "Hi. You're Rick, aren't you?" I asked. "Hi. Yes. You're dad's accountant or investment counselor, aren't you?" He stammered. "Michelle, Michelle Gray. Your father's financial planner." I replied, smiling softly. I put out my hand and Rick shook it. His hands were rough from doing manual labor. He released his grip on my hand but I held onto his. I wasn't going to let go of it. He seemed to relax a little being with me. I noticed his tie needed attention. I said something about it. "Oh I hate wearing a tie! Just glad Dad doesn't have these parties very often." He exclaimed. "He makes me attend, don't know why, he just does." I turned him around so his back was towards everyone. I untied his tie and retied it. He seemed a little surprised by my attentions towards him. Rick didn't mind it in the least though. We stood together looking out towards the gold course and the country club off in the distance. He was a little shy at conversing so I asked him what he did out at the ranch he worked on. That was all I needed to say. He loved his work and he loved talking about it. I found him interesting and very down to earth. I guess I got engrossed in what he was saying. I looked across the pool. Ferris was looking towards me trying to get my attention. I excused myself and walked towards George. He was smiling as I took his arm so he could introduce me to some more of his friends. "I don't want you to think you've got to keep Rick occupied." He whispered. "He's just not one to mingle with the other guests." I told Ferris I enjoyed talking with Rick. He seemed a little surprised when I made the remark. I met several more couples including Janine's father and mother. Ted acted like he didn't know me all that well except for buying the car from him. I played along, not wanting Janine's mother to think any different. She was quite nice and I'm sure she had no idea Ted was fucking around on her. Ferris asked me to dance so we did. George was a great dancer. We danced through several songs. Ferris needed to mingle with his other guests, being the host. I walked over to the bar and got another glass of wine. I'd have to be careful how much I drank. I needed to be sober enough to drive home later on. "Dad finally let you go I see." Rick exclaimed as he walked towards me. "I think he just wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time." I replied. A slow song was coming across the speakers and I asked Rick to dance. He said he hadn't danced since he was in high school. I took his hand and pulled him out onto the patio. I put both hands on his shoulders so he'd have to put both his hands on my waist. He pulled me in close and I pressed against him. I don't know what kind of aftershave he was wearing but it was making me feel dreamy. We danced for quite awhile before going back to the other side of the pool to find a place to sit down. Rick went over and got us some food to snack on. For some reason, I was really attracted to Rick. He was the exact opposite of his brother, Michael. Their only similarities were that they were both very handsome and muscular. Rick and I spent the rest of the evening talking. We talked about ranching, financial planning, investments, horses and cattle and the stock market. Rick kept steering me away from talking about his father. He seemed so distant from George. I know the two of them didn't see eye-to-eye on his choice of occupations. I felt there was something much bigger that had them at odds with each other. It was a little after midnight. I didn't really want to call it a night and leave Rick's company. I yawned slightly and told Rick I should be going. He looked disappointed that I was going to leave. We walked over towards his father. Ferris was chatting with some guests. "Mr. Ferris, I'm going to have to be going." I stated. "I really had a good time. I appreciate you inviting me. I had a wonderful time." George smiled, hugged me and kissed me lightly on the cheek. He thanked me for coming. I told him I'd see him at 8:00 Monday morning. I squeezed George's hand, a little show of affection. I stepped back towards Rick who was standing a few feet away from us. I put my hand through his arm. Rick walked me through the house and down the driveway to my car. I wanted Rick to go home with me but I couldn't just ask him. We got to my car and I leaned against it instead of opening the car door. "I'm glad we got to spend some time together this evening." I told him. "I really had a good time." Rick thanked me for coming and making his evening bearable. He was trying to think of something to say to delay me. I didn't want to say goodnight. I didn't think Rick did either. I finally gave up, opened the door and got in the car. Rick leaned down to say something but he was still stumped for words. I had to laugh, I couldn't hold it in. "What's so funny?" He asked smiling. "Oh... nothing." I said. "Why don't you drive me home?" I had to say something. "Why don't you drive me home?" was all I could think of. Rick opened the car door and I got out. I got back in on the passenger side of the convertible. Rick got behind the wheel and I handed him the keys. I told him what apartment complex I lived in. He knew where it was. We drove to my apartment, neither one of us saying anything. I directed Rick to my apartment when we entered the complex. He pulled into the space in front of my door. Rick turned the car off and handed me the keys. I took them so I could unlock my apartment door. We still hadn't spoken since we'd left his father's home. Rick and I entered the apartment. I closed the door behind him. I figured I'd have to make the initial move since he was so shy. I motioned him towards the livingroom. I put my purse in the kitchen taking my cigarettes out. I asked Rick if he wanted something to drink. He didn't, I really didn't either. Rick sat on the couch and I sat at an angle close to him. He did put his arm along the back of the couch, his hand almost on my shoulder. I was stumped for something to say, a total loss for words. I wanted to seduce him but I was afraid I might scare him off if I was too aggressive. I put my hand on the back of his head, running my hand through his sandy blonde hair. It was just a shade lighter than mine. I assumed the sun bleached his hair out like it did mine. He didn't flinch. I lowered my hand to the back of his neck and leaned towards him. Rick slid his arm off the back of the couch and put it around me. We kissed, softly pressing our lips together. I felt myself myself melting into him. We kissed a little more passionately. I started grinding my lips hard against Rick's. My breaths were coming in long, deep gasps. I pulled Rick's body close to me. I could feel the heat off his body as it consumed me. I didn't want to stop kissing him. Rick's hand at my waist was almost pulling me on top of him. We finally stopped kissing so we could catch our breaths. "Can you spend the night?" I whispered, out of breath. "Yes, if you want me to." Rick replied, breathlessly. I took Rick's hand, pulling him up off the couch. I headed for the stairs to the balcony bedroom. I flipped off the lights in the livingroom. Rick and I ascended the stairs in the dark. The only light we had was the moonlight coming in through the upstairs bedroom window. When we got to the bedroom, I started pulling Rick's suit jacket off. I was frantic to get him undressed, almost out of control. I tried to untie his tie but finally just loosened it enough to get it off over his head. Rick was trying to find the zipper on the back of my dress. He was having a difficult time getting hold of the tab. I unbuttoned his shirt, almost tearing the buttons off. Rick's chest was muscular, hardly any chest hair. Rick still hadn't got my zipper down. He was getting frustrated. I unbuckled his belt and started to unzip his pants. Rick pushed me back towards the bed. When I was fairly close to the bed, Rick picked me up by my waist and tossed me down on it. I landed on my back looking up at him. Rick kicked off his shoes and took off his socks. He unzipped his slacks and took them off, tossing them in a pile on the floor. He was wearing white briefs that accentuated his tanned body. Rick reached for my hand and pulled me up off the bed. He turned me around and found the zipper tab on my dress. He jerked it down and slipped the dress from my shoulders. He held it while I stepped out of it. Rick tossed the dress on top of his slacks. I felt his strong hands unhook my bra and pull it away from me. I was breathing hard, my breasts heaving. Rick's hands reached around and cupped my breasts, pulling me back against him hard. He massaged my breasts gently while he kissed all around the back of my neck. I was quivering in his arms. I was totally in his control and I loved it. Rick pushed me back down on the bed on my tummy. He slipped my shoes off and pulled my thigh-high nylons down my legs. I just had my panties on. Rick climbed on the bed and straddled me. His strong hands massaged my shoulders, then traced down my back. He moved off to the side and kissed all down my back. I felt little tingles every time his lips touched my skin. Rick's hand toyed with the elastic on my panties. I lifted up so he could take them off me. Rick's strong hands spread my legs apart. I felt his hand slide down between my legs reaching the warm lips of my pussy. My moans were muffled by the sheets. His hand rubbed along the sides of my already wet pussy, teasing me till I cringed. Rick slipped his middle finger inside me slowly, teasing my body. I had an immediate orgasm. I almost kicked him when I raised my feet up. Rick stroked his finger in and out of my pussy. I loved the way he was working me. I tried to turn over on my back but Rick kept me pinned face down. Rick positioned himself between my legs and raised my butt up. I felt him blowing his hot breath on my pussy. The folds of my pussy were reacting. Rick's tongue teased the lips of my pussy, licking them up and down. He flicked his hard tongue on my clit and I almost screamed out. I felt my hands gripping the sheets harder. "Ohhhhhhhhhh... aaaaaaaa... mmmmmmmmm" I raised up moaning. Rick sucked on my clit harder, making little noises. I came so hard, my body was vibrating. Rick's strong hands held me tight against his mouth. I couldn't get away from him if I'd wanted to. Rick worked my pussy more, sucking on my juices. I was panting, wanting him to fuck me good and hard. I managed to roll over onto my back looking up at Rick. Rick slipped off the bed long enough to take his briefs off. His hard cock sprang out. It was magnificent, long and thick with a swollen crown. I licked my lips, wanting to suck on it but wanting it inside my steaming pussy even more. Rick smiled softly at me and climbed between my legs. I lifted my legs to his waist but he didn't make an effort to penetrate me. Rick held my head in his hands and kissed me, nibbling my lips with his. He wasn't just teasing me; he was making love to me. I'd never felt anything so wonderful before. I was moaning softly as his lips kissed, then gently suckled on my nipples. They grew harder as Rick's tongue toyed with them. He looked up at me as he started to slip his hard cock inside my pussy. My mouth opened wide, gasping as he slipped the crown of his cock into my pussy. He worked his hips slowly until he had his steel rod deep into me. I felt his huge balls against my ass. Rick supported himself on his arms. I entwined my hands around them and we slowly and rhythmically fucked each other. Our bodies were in unison, our passions matched. Rick leaned down, we kissed passionately. I started fucking Rick hard and faster. He increased his strokes, long hard strokes. He was pounding his cock into me. I was bucking against him. I was building up to an orgasm. I wanted to cum the instant Rick did. I was trying to hold back but I couldn't. "Ohhhhhhhhhh... Argghhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Aahhhhhhhhh." I screamed as I came. Rick plunged his cock deep into me and gyrated his hips. It only increased the intensity of my orgasm. Rick came seconds later, exploding his hot, thick cum deep into my pussy. I held him tight against me, my heels digging into his tight butt. My legs tightened their grip and I locked him to me. We bucked into each other. I felt him pump another load inside me. Rick cried out into the sheets. I held him tight till his body started to relax. I kept my legs wrapped around him. I ran my hand through his hair. I didn't want the moment to ever end. We lay locked together for quite awhile. Rick held me in his strong arms. I was almost drifting off to sleep, my body totally satisfied. Rick pulled out of me slowly, our cum mixed together, trickling out of my pussy. I got up off the bed and headed for the bathroom. Rick came in a few minutes later to clean himself up. I looked towards the shower, so did Rick. We both had the same idea. We turned on the shower soaping each other up. I couldn't keep my lips off his. We kissed and held each other in our arms. We stayed in the shower until the water started to cool. We dried each other off with the thick fluffy towels. Rick and I never stopped smiling the whole time. Lady Gambler Ch. 04 Rick pulled the comforter on the bed down and I climbed in. Rick stretched out on his back putting his arm out to hold me. I slept in his arms, not waking till early morning. Lady Gambler Ch. 05 I woke up early Sunday morning. Rick was still holding me in his arms. I moved my hand across his muscular chest, massaging him lightly with my fingertips. He was snoring lightly. I looked at Rick, thinking I wanted to develop a relationship with him but I was skeptical. If things didn’t work out between us, how would it affect my working relationship with his father? I didn’t want to destroy what I’d worked so hard to attain. I didn’t want to hurt Rick’s father, George either. I thought too much of him to ever do that. I should try not to put my personal interests ahead of my business interest. It would be hard for me but it would be best. I wished Rick wasn’t Ferris’s son. I slipped out of Rick’s arms, found my panties and headed downstairs to put on some fresh coffee. I lit up a cigarette as soon as I got the coffee on. Rick had woken up and was coming down the stairs. He’d slipped his briefs on. I felt my body reacting to the sight of him. Rick came up to me and put his arms around me crushing my breasts against his bare chest. We kissed softly but passionately. I felt myself waning towards wanting a relationship with him. I was trying to fight it off though, knowing better. Rick and I sipped coffee at the dining room table. “I probably should be getting back to the house so I can get my stuff together.” Rick stated. “I need to get back up to the ranch.” I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted to spend more time with him. I was disappointed that he had to leave. Maybe he wanted to leave. I couldn’t keep from frowning. I held my coffee cup in front of my lips to hide it. “I guess we should get dressed so I can drive you back.” I said, reluctantly. I smoked another cigarette while we finished our coffee. I looked away from him towards the wall. Neither one of us said anything. I was trying to get over the fact that Rick wanted to leave. I knew he had to get back to work but I wanted him to be with me. My disappointment was growing. I tried my best to hide it. Rick and I walked back up the steps to the balcony bedroom. I picked up my dress and hung it on a hanger in the closet. I took a deep breath, closing the sliding closet door. Rick walked up behind me. He was still just in his briefs. He put his hands on my waist. I loved it when he touched me. It felt so different with Rick. “What time do you have to be at work tomorrow?” He asked in a soft voice. “8:00.……..I have to be at your father’s at 8:00.” I replied, almost in a whisper. “That just gives us twenty-four hours to make love.” Rick whispered in my ear. His remark brought a big smile to my face. I turned around and kissed him hard, grinding my lips into his. I wanted him more than anything. I put my hands on his hips, finding the waistband of his tight briefs. I pushed them down, my hands brushing hard across his tight butt. Rick stepped out of them, not breaking our kiss. I felt his hard cock poking my tummy. We walked towards the bed, our lips still locked together. This time I pushed Rick down on the bed, no easy task with his strong legs. I climbed on top of him, pinning his arms over his head. I leaned down, kissing Rick, forcing my tongue into his mouth. I flicked my tongue at his, making him stab at mine. I sucked his tongue into my mouth, holding it with my lips. I started massaging his chest and kissing his nipples, grating them with my teeth. Rick’s arms were still over his head. I kissed all the way down his chest to his tummy. I licked his tummy, tasting him. I tried to put my hand around his long, thick cock. I held it at its base. I kissed the crown of his cock and licked all over it. I could hear Rick moaning softly, his legs tensing. I pulled his legs apart so I could rub his balls with my other hand. I slid as much of his cock into my waiting mouth as I could. Rick jerked when I started vibrating my tongue around his hard shaft. I stopped long enough to take a breath and then forced his cock back into my mouth. I licked all over it, my tongue swirling back and forth. I worked his cock with my mouth as I slowly stroked him. I massaged his hard balls gently. Rick was reacting to me sucking him off. I wanted to make him cum in my mouth. I worked my mouth faster up and down his rigid shaft. My hand still stroking him slowly. His legs stiffened and he lifted his butt up off the bed. I sucked on him that much harder. He grabbed my waist and squeezed just as he shot off his first load. I gulped it down preparing for the next hot load to flood my mouth. He held my waist tight as he bucked his cock into my mouth. His second load shot deep into my throat, almost choking me. I kept my lips locked on tight till he settled back down on the bed. I felt his body relax. I licked his still hard cock clean, not letting a drop of his cum escape my mouth. My hand was still stroking his cock. I finally lay back next to Rick’s spent body. He put his arm around my shoulders pulling me close. We shared a passionate kiss and caught our breaths. We lay there for more than thirty minutes, just holding each other tight. I felt so different with Rick. I’d never felt this way with anyone else. If it was love then I hoped he shared my feelings. If it was just lust, then I’d know sooner or later. We made love later in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. We couldn’t seem to get enough sex with each other. We fucked in every position, making it last as long as it could. My pussy was sore, not used to an almost continuous workout. Rick’s cock had to be sore. We went to bed shortly after dinner; trying to catch up on some much needed rest. We woke up early Monday morning. I grabbed a shower while Rick fixed the morning coffee. My pussy was still sore but I was happy. Rick and I drank coffee at the dining room table. I smoked a few cigarettes, one after the other. We drove to Fountain Hills. Rick talked about getting up to the ranch at Prescott. I didn’t want to see him go but we both had to work. I didn’t know when I’d get to see him again. I pulled into the driveway at Ferris’s home. Scott started approaching my car till he saw Rick was with me. He stayed at the front door of the house. I grabbed my attaché and my purse. Rick came around to the front of the car. I think he wanted to kiss me but he wouldn’t with Scott watching us. He held my hand and we just stared into each other’s eyes. “I’ll call you every chance I get.” Rick said. “I miss you already.” His words brought tears to my eyes; I had to fight them back. I wanted to kiss him so bad but I knew it would embarrass him. I felt Scott would understand if I did. I restrained myself. Rick and I entered the house. He walked up the stairs to get his things gathered for his trip. I stood there till he was out of sight. I could see George sitting at his usual place at the patio table. He waved when he saw me. I grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and joined him at the table. We talked about Saturday evening’s party. I told him again that I’d had a great time. Michael and Janine came out to the table and joined us. “Rick’s running late this morning.” Janine remarked. “He must have overslept!” I didn’t say anything or even look her way. Ferris and I walked down to the office and started to work. We watched the stock market for awhile before making some decisions on our investments. Charlene came in and brought us some more coffee. I was smoking and drinking coffee like I had just minutes to live. I had to keep fighting off thoughts of Rick. George mentioned he had a meeting to attend at the country club at noon. I figured I’d work on some other investment interests while he was gone. We worked steadily through the entire morning. I wasn’t really hungry so I stayed in my office. Charlene came in and sat down to see how I was doing. She was dressed very professionally although a little bit too conservative. “I hope you know Mr. Ferris won’t be back till later this evening.” Charlene remarked. “I thought he just had a meeting at the country club.” I replied. “Well…………he calls them meetings.” She spoke, hesitating. “I call them something else.” I looked at her, curious about her remark. Charlene explained that George was having an affair with someone who probably worked at the country club. They usually left in separate cars and went to a hotel in Scottsdale where they’d spend the afternoon together. Charlene figured whoever it was, was married but she didn‘t know who it was. She seemed to have their routine figured out. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything. George preferred married women. He didn’t trust any single women his age. I could see Charlene was upset about his “meetings“. “What about you?” I asked her cautiously. “I saw you and George in the office the other day.” Charlene played with the hem of her skirt nervously, explaining that it was just a “perk” for her. She and George would spend an afternoon together every couple of weeks. Her husband hadn’t paid any attention to her for the past few years, so George was taking care of her sexual needs. She mentioned he was quite a good lover. I hadn’t thought of George that way. The attorneys stopped by the office sometime around 3:00 with the papers Ferris was so anxious to get. They didn’t seem too surprised to find him gone for the day. The rest of the day went by pretty uneventful. I ran the reports for Ferris and put them in my attaché. I was getting ready to leave for the day. Charlene was locking her desk up when my cell phone rang. It was Rick. I wanted to talk with him but not in front of Charlene. I told him I’d call him back in a few minutes. Charlene locked up the office and walked up towards the house. We chatted a little. I felt we were going to be good friends. I phoned Rick back as soon as I got into my car. We talked about how our day had gone. Rick said he had a lot of work to catch up on but he’d try to come down Wednesday evening if I wanted him too. I didn’t know if I could wait that long but I didn’t have much choice. I asked him if his dick was sore. He said it was. We laughed about it over the phone. The next morning Ferris and I checked on our stock purchases. They were up in price; George seemed well pleased at our selections. We surfed the internet for real estate investments that looked attractive. Charlene was late getting to the office. George kept trying her cell phone number but he wasn’t getting any response. Charlene finally got to the office just before 10:00. She didn’t look too happy. Later in the afternoon, I heard the two of them arguing in George’s office. George left shortly after that, going up to the house. I left the office with Charlene a little after 5:00. She didn’t say much as we walked towards our cars. Wednesday morning finally arrived. My first thoughts were of meeting Rick that evening. I hurried through my shower and got dressed. I didn’t bother with coffee figuring I’d wait till I got up to Ferris’s home. I pulled in the driveway expecting to see Scott. He didn’t come out from the house. It really seemed odd that he wasn’t there. I went to the front door but it was locked. I walked around to the patio expecting to see George sitting at the table. He wasn’t there. The cook spotted me through the window and came out on the patio. She informed me Scott had driven George down to Tucson for a meeting. George had left her orders to let me know he wouldn’t be back until earlier that evening. I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed down the path to the office. I had plenty to do. I really didn’t need Ferris looking over my shoulder. Charlene was sitting at her desk putting her things away. She seemed in a much better mood this morning. I went into my office and booted up the three computers and turned on the television to catch the latest morning news. Charlene came in and sat down. “You alright?” I asked her. “Yeah………….I’m alright this morning.” She said. I could tell she didn’t really mean it. We chatted for awhile before Charlene went back to her desk. I checked in on the NYSE to see how things looked. Our stocks were still climbing, slowly but steadily. I checked out some properties I’d bookmarked on the internet and read more about them in detail. The morning went by pretty quick. It was almost lunchtime. I thought I’d see if Charlotte wanted to go out and get something to eat with me. My cell phone rang. It was Rick and from the tone of his voice, I could tell he wasn’t happy. One of the foals was having some problems. The veterinarian had given him medication to administer every three hours. Rick wasn’t going to be able to come down to Scottsdale this evening like we’d planned. He was as unhappy about it as I was. We both needed to be together but it just wasn’t possible. We made tentative plans for the coming weekend. I told him I’d drive up to Prescott if he wanted me too. I lost my appetite for lunch so I figured I’d just work. Charlene stood in the doorway to my office. “Hey, you want to go get something to eat?” She asked. “It’s almost noon.” At first I was going to say no but I got notion Charlene wanted some company. We went down towards Scottsdale and stopped at an Italian restaurant. They were fairly busy but we got seated right away. Charlene wanted to talk so I listened. She told me she and George had argued about his “meetings”. She told him that she wasn’t going to see him socially anymore; their personal relationship was over. She actually seemed relieved that she’d ended it. “Well, what are you going to do now………………for sex.” I asked her. “I don’t know.” Charlene replied. “I’ve thought about trying to find someone online over the internet.” She laughed. “Maybe I’ll just switch to batteries and forget men altogether! Hell, maybe I’ll switch to women!” I laughed with her at her remarks. I didn’t think she was serious but I couldn’t really tell. Although she was smiling, I could tell she was a little pent up sexually. We ordered a glass of wine to go with our dinner. I think it helped us both relax. We drove back to the office after lunch. Charlene brought up the subject of online chatrooms. I asked her if she’d ever been involved in one. She tried denying it but it was obvious she was lieing. I suggested she be careful if she did meet someone online. There were probably a lot of weirdoes on the internet. We laughed at the prospects she’d probably run into. We got back to the office a little after 1:00. I checked on the stock market to see how things were going. I was still disappointed about not being able to see Rick this evening. I needed sex as bad as Charlene. I got a really weird thought that made me laugh out loud. Charlene heard me and came back to my office. “What’s so funny?” She said, smiling. “What am I missing out on?” I stopped laughing and looked at her standing at the door. I hesitated to say anything but I was feeling a little devilish. She was attractive. I hoped I looked that good when I was in my mid-forties. “Oh……………You feeling horny?” I asked, almost laughing. Charlene laughed at my question. “What do you think?” She replied, smiling. “I’m horny damn near all the time anymore.” “Take off your clothes for me.” I ordered, trying to keep a straight face. “What………..what did you say?” She replied, surprised. “You heard me.” I repeated. “Take off you clothes. Let me see that body of yours.” Charlene stepped back a step or two as I got up from my chair. I walked towards her slowly, teasing her. I put my hands on my hips trying to act authoritive. Charlene hesitated for a minute before putting her hands up the zipper on the back of her dress. She was shaking. I couldn’t believe she was falling for my little trick. She was having difficulty with the zipper. I told her to turn around. She obeyed my command. I pulled the zipper all the way down to below her waist. Charlene didn’t move. I put my hands on her shoulders and slipped the dress down her arms. I held onto it as it slipped down her legs. Charlene managed to step out of it, holding onto the doorframe to steady herself. I was surprised at how great a body she really had under those conservative clothes she usually wore. She was wearing thigh-nylons instead of pantyhose. Her white bra and bikini cut panties highlighted her tanned skin. The high-heel shoes made her leg calf muscles taut. She was damn good looking. I couldn’t see her ever having trouble finding a guy to fuck her brains out. Ferris was a fool if he was letting her get away. “Let’s go into Ferris’s office.” I ordered her. Charlene walked towards Ferris’s office and opened the door. I followed her in and closed the door. Charlene looked over her shoulder at me. I pointed towards George’s desk. She walked towards it and stood in front of it, facing the windows looking out over the golf course. “Michelle……………what are you going to make me do?” She asked, her voice shaking. I didn’t answer since I didn’t know what I was going to do. She started to turn around but I told her to face towards the windows and put her hands on the desk. I had her under my control. I was getting hot just thinking about what I could do to her or should I say, for her. I slipped off my blouse and skirt, tossing them in one of the chairs. I noticed Charlene glancing at the chair. I pushed my body up against hers, pressing the front of her legs into the desk I put my hands on her shoulders and slid them her arms. I kissed her on the back of the neck. Her body trembled in my hands. I knew I’d pushed this joke way too far to just stop. I had to go all the way with her. I reached around and cupped breasts in my hands. She had on a lace trimmed bra. From what I could see, Charlene had beautiful breast. From what I could feel, they were also quite firm. I massaged her breasts gently not wanting to scare her. Charlene was moaning, her body trembling as I fondled her. I noticed her bra had the clasp on the front so I unhooked it and held it together with my hands. I slowly pulled the cups apart; her breasts didn’t sag at all. Charlene had her eyes closed. I slipped the bra off and tossed it on a chair. I kept pressing into her. I could feel the heat radiating off her body. I put my hands gently up under her breasts and pulled her back into me. I kissed her ears and back down to her neck. Charlene’s body was tense. I moved my hands rubbing her breasts gently, massaging their firmness. I noticed her dark brown nipples growing erect even before I tweaked them between my fingers. I twisted them gently. Charlene’s body shook as she had a small orgasm. I held her firmly against me, my bra pushing into her back. “Ohhhhhhhh………Michelle…………ohhhhhhh” She moaned. I let her regain control of herself. Charlene put her hands over mine, forcing me to massage her breasts harder. I was afraid to work her breasts too hard so I pushed her hands away. Charlene leaned her hand back, turning her face towards mine. I strained to kiss her on the lips. She had to almost twist around but I wouldn’t let her. I kissed her on the lips again before releasing her firm breasts. I didn’t think anyone on the golf course could see us and I didn’t really care. I stepped back from Charlene, running my hands slowly down over her sides. I rubbed the cheeks of her butt hard. She was loving it! I slipped one hand down over the front of her panties towards her pussy. I held her waist firmly with my other hand. Charlene was pushing her body back against me. I slipped my hand down over her pussy, rubbing gently in little circular motions. “Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm” She gasped. I felt her panties getting wet. I slipped my hand down inside her panties and brushed across her sparse pubic hair. Charlene’s mouth gaped open as my fingers slipped down to her pussy. I thought she was going to cry out. Her pussy was soaking wet. I fingered her pussy stopping just before she had another orgasm. She was so fucking hot, it was incredible! Lady Gambler Ch. 05 “Time to lose those fucking panties!” I exclaimed, acting domineering. “Strip them down!” Charlene didn’t waist anytime getting her panties off. I grabbed them from her hand and tossed them across the room. My actions seemed to frighten her a little. I put my foot between hers and kicked them apart. “Spread those legs!” I commanded. “I want to see that hot little pussy of yours!” Charlene moved her legs apart. She looked back over her shoulder at me. I had to bite my lip to keep from grinning. “Spread them farther!” I ordered. “I want a good look!” Charlene spread her legs farther apart, putting her hands on Ferris’s desk to support herself. I knelt down behind her and spread her cheeks apart. He pussy was soaked, her juices flowing. I rubbed my fingers along the sides of her pussy, blowing into her slit. Charlene sounded like she was purring. I put my mouth to her pussy and slid my tongue up the tight slit. “Ohhhhhhhhhhh Godddddddddd……………ohhhhhhhhhhh” Charlene cried out. I flicked my tongue side to side as I worked up and down her pussy. Charlene’s butt was gyrating. I held her legs apart trying to steady her. I licked her hard, darting my tongue inside her. Charlene had a huge orgasm almost falling down across the desk. She could barely support herself with her hands. I sucked her clit till she came again, her juices flooding her hot pussy. Her butt was bouncing up and down till the orgasm slowly subsided. I let her relax, pushing against her back till her breasts were flat against the desk. I stepped to one side and slipped two fingers deep inside her pussy. I stroked her slowly wiggling my fingers inside her. I could tell Charlene couldn’t take much more so I increased my finger fucking into her. I pushed down, rubbing her clit as I fingered her harder. Charlene’s pussy tightened on my fingers and she almost collapsed when she had her last orgasm. I slowed my fingers down, easing them out of her as her final orgasm faded. Charlene was breathing hard, her body perspiring in the air-conditioned office. I put my hands on her ass to keep her from sliding off the desk. I massaged her cheeks gently, soothing her spent body. It was several minutes before Charlene was able to raise herself up from the desk. I walked over and picked her panties up off the floor. I tossed them on the desk. They landed close to her hands but she didn’t make any effort to pick them up. I walked out of Ferris’s office to the restroom to clean myself up. My panties were as wet as Charlene’s had been. I exited the restroom and walked back to Ferris’s office. Charlene was still standing at the desk. I walked towards her to see if she was alright. Charlene’s breathing was back to normal. She was just standing there staring out the windows. The front of her legs had dark red marks across them from being forced down on the desk. I rubbed them gently. Charlene looked at me smiling. “You scared the hell of out of me.” She muttered. I smiled and told her I was actually joking with her but I could see she was taking me serious. As long as she was going to go along with it, I was going to push it to the limit. She blushed when she realized she’d been tricked. I handed her panties to her. “You’ve got a great pussy.” I boldly stated. “Any man would think he was in heaven if he had you in bed.” I meant the remark sincerely and as a compliment. Charlene smiled almost grinning. She washed her panties out in the sink in the restroom and laid them out to dry. She put the rest of her clothes back on and sat down at her desk. I don’t think either of us got any work done the rest of the afternoon. We were both too exhausted. I drove home late that afternoon wishing I could find Rick at my apartment. I knew his work came first and I respected him for that. I just hoped nothing would come up that would keep us apart this upcoming weekend. The rest of the week was pretty uneventful. We contacted a realtor about inspecting some warehouse property he had listed. He wanted to show it to Ferris and I Saturday but I told him I’d be out of town. I wasn’t about to change my plans for any reason. We made arrangements to look at it Monday morning. George thought I’d made plans to go up to Vegas this weekend. I told him I just wanted to get away for the weekend. I did have plans but I didn’t want him to know they were with his son, Rick. I wasn’t sure how Ferris would feel if he found out were seeing each other. Rick had called me the night before. He was still doctoring the foal so we decided I’d drive up and spend the weekend with him at the ranch. He told me not to expect too much as far as accommodations. I didn’t care about that. I just wanted the two of us to spend time together alone. Friday, I kept watching the clock all day. I couldn’t wait to get out of the office and on my way up to Prescott. I decided not to wait until 5:00. It was 4:30, close enough to call it a day. Ferris had already gone back up to the house. I hurried past Charlene towards the door. “Hey, have a safe trip!” Charlene shouted. I turned around quickly, surprised at her remark. I tried to act like I wasn’t in a hurry but Charlene could tell different. “Say Hi to Rick for me. Charlene said, smiling up at me from her desk. “A…………….how did you know I was going to see Rick?” I asked. “I overheard you talking to him on your cell phone yesterday.” She replied. “Why the cell phone, why not your office phone?” I told Charlene that I didn’t want George to find out about Rick and me. He might not approve and I didn’t want to make him mad. There was just too much at stake. Besides, Rick and I might not continue seeing each other. We might just have an infatuation with each other, no real basis for a relationship. Charlene said she understood how I felt about Ferris not finding out but don’t let business get in the way of happiness. I knew where she was coming from. I’d remember her advice. It took me almost two hours to make the drive up to Prescott and out to the northwest side of town to the ranch. Rick had given me turn-by-turn directions. I saw the gates at the ranch entrance and turned in. I could see a house about a half a mile down the drive with covered corrals behind it. As I approached the house, I spotted Rick’s pickup truck. The house was dilapidated, almost like it could collapse at any minute. I had to laugh, Rick wasn’t kidding about the accommodations! I didn’t see Rick at first. He was standing between several horses in one of the corrals. He came over to the corral fence and leaned on the post as I approached him. “Hey there little lady!” Rick said, grinning. “Anything I can do for you?” I reached through the fence and grabbed his belt buckle. I was already breathing hard. “As a matter of fact there is.” I stated. “You got any cowboys around here I can ride?” I wanted to fuck him so bad, I could’ve almost climbed the fence to get to him. Rick pulled me close to him. We kissed hard and passionately, the corral’s fence separating our bodies. We ground our lips to each other’s till they hurt. I was breathless when our lips finally parted. Rick motioned towards the corral gate. Rick came out of the corral and we held each other tightly. We kissed, only this time softly but with increased passion. Rick smelled heavily of horses and sweat. I loved the smell of him. “I need a shower.” Rick muttered. “Let’s go to the trailer.” Rick put his arm around me and pointed towards a travel trailer that he was living in. I was relieved to find out he wasn’t living in the old house. Rick opened the door to the trailer and I stepped up into it. It was neat, clean and fairly spacious. It was very warm; Rick reached up and turned on the overhead air conditioning unit. Cool air immediately flowed down on us. Rick grabbed a couple of cold beers from the refrigerator and opened them. He started to get me a glass but I picked up the can and drank directly from it. Rick drank his down in four or five gulps. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go away!” He exclaimed, still grinning. Rick walked towards the rear of the trailer and started taking his clothes off. I looked around his trailer. Rick’s home was fairly plain and simple, nothing like his dad’s home back in Fountain Hills. I heard the shower running. I drank the rest of my beer and opened up two more. I walked back to the rear bedroom carrying the beers. The queen-size bed pretty much filled the bedroom, leaving just a narrow walkway around it. The cool air from the air conditioner was blowing directly down on the bed. I pulled the blanket off the bed and slipped off my clothes. I left my black bikini panties on, stretching out on the bed, sipping the cold beer. Rick stepped out of the shower, seeing me on the bed in just my panties. He tried to keep a straight face but he broke into a big smile. He dropped the towel to the floor. His beautiful cock was already hard. “I hope that’s for me!” I exclaimed, grinning. Rick didn’t say anything. He took the beer from my hand and took a big drink, almost finishing it off. I couldn’t take my eyes off his cock. I reached up for it but Rick pulled away. He was teasing me again. Rick climbed on the bed, straddling me. He pinned my arms over my head and leaned down kissing me softly. His tongue protruding, licked my lips. I darted my tongue out, trying to lick his. I wanted him to impale me with his rigid cock. I knew Rick was going to make me beg for it. “Hope you brought more panties?” He whispered, just before he grabbed the elastic and ripped them off me. He grinned as he tossed the ripped material to the floor. Rick held my arms above my head while he massaged and fondled my firm breasts. I was squirming on the bed. Rick took my hardened nipples between his teeth and flicked his tongue over them. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………arhhhhhhhhhhhh” I gasped. “Rick fuck me now……….please!” I couldn’t wait any longer. Rick’s strong hands massaged my tummy and brushed lightly across my trimmed pussy hair. I spread my legs, lifting my butt up off the bed. I couldn’t wait for him to sink his hard cock deep inside me. Rick slid his hand between my legs. My pussy was already soaking wet. His fingers teased my pussy. I came immediately when Rick pushed his middle finger inside my hot pussy. I pushed down on his hand. I was gyrating my hips while he stroked his finger in and out of me. Rick released my arms and positioned himself between my legs. He started licking my pussy; I had another orgasm in less than a minute. “Rick…………..Rick, fuck me ………….please just fuck me!” I cried out. Rick grabbed my ass and lifted me up. He pushed the crown of his cock into me pulling me towards him. Rick impaled me on his huge cock in one slow motion. My eyes opened wide as I felt my pussy stretching. I loved the feel of him inside me. Rick rocked me back and forth on his cock slowly. I’d never had a guy fuck me like that before. My back was arched up off the bed, my legs draped over his arms. Rick grasped my ass harder as he forced his cock deeper inside my wet pussy. I was feeling another orgasm building. I needed to come one more time. Rick laid me back down on the bed and spread my legs. He pulled his cock all the way out of me. I couldn’t stand him not being inside me. He plunged his stiff cock back inside me. I felt his hard balls slapping against my butt. He started fucking me hard and fast. I was holding onto his arms tightly so he could force his cock deeper into me. He pounded my pussy hard, making loud smacking sounds. My mouth gaped open. I couldn’t hold on any longer. I was being consumed by a tremendous orgasm. “AHHHHHHHH…….AHHHHHHHHHH……ARGHHHHHHHHH” I screamed. Rick kept pumping into me even as my orgasm started to fade. He was groaning, gritting his teeth. His face was red as fire, perspiration dripping off his forehead onto my breasts. I clenched my pussy down on his cock. Rick exploded his hot load inside me. I felt it splatter to my inner depths. “OH GOD…………………AHHHHHHH” He cried out. Rick plunged into me one more time, spewing another huge load. He gradually slowed down his fucking motions till he eventually stopped. He leaned back, letting my legs slide down his arms till my feet reached the bed. He sat back on his heels, breathing hard, trying to get his breath. I felt the cool air from the air conditioner blowing down on my breasts covered with Rick’s sweat. My pussy was dripping our cum down onto the sheets. Rick slowly got a grin on his face. “Now about that cowboy you’d like to ride!” Rick leaned down towards me. I put my arms around him holding his body close to mine. We just held onto each other not wanting to let go. We both drifted off to sleep, our breathing still labored. I woke up a couple of hours later. Rick wasn’t on the bed with me. I got off the bed and walked towards the living area of the travel trailer. I didn’t see him. I looked out the window. It was almost dusk. I didn’t see him until he came out from a large storage building. I turned on the interior lights and the exterior light by the trailer door. Rick came into the coolness of the trailer. He was just wearing jeans. He looked so rugged, so handsome. “I had to give that little foal another dose of medication. She’s coming along great.” Rick informed me. “She’ll be as good as new in a couple of weeks.” Rick went out to my car and brought in my overnight bag. I put on some panties so I wouldn’t feel completely naked. Rick seemed amused at my modesty. He’d gone into Prescott earlier that afternoon and picked up some groceries and fast food. I heated up some fried chicken and fixed macaroni and cheese to go with it. Rick said it was his favorite. After dinner we sat on the couch and watched television. Rick had a satellite dish so he could watch his favorite movies and sports channels. The travel trailer was nice and cozy, just like Rick. Rick kept his arm around me all evening. “I need to go check on the foal again.” Rick stated. “You want to go out with me?” I nodded and told him I did. I started to go put some clothes. “You don’t need to get dressed.” He said. “We’re so far away from anyone, nobody will see you.” I walked out towards the corral with Rick. I just had my panties, I didn’t care if anyone saw me or not. Rick had a flashlight since the corrals weren’t lighted. There must have been twenty or thirty horses in the corrals. They were all so beautiful. The little foal was penned all by herself. Rick took the medication from his pocket and got her to take it. He had some ointment he spread on her wounded leg. Rick took a lot of care with the little foal. I watched him as he tended to her needs. He seemed very happy with his work environment. I could see why he wanted to be here, it was what he really wanted to be doing. I held the flashlight so he could examine the little foal. He took his time with her. We walked back to the trailer. The air conditioner kept the travel trailer cool. It was still fairly warm outside. We decided to go to bed. Rick looked really tired. I took a shower in the small shower stall. By the time I got to the bed, Rick was sound asleep, snoring lightly. I could wait till morning for another ride with my cowboy. I turned off the lights in the trailer and stretched out beside Rick on the cool sheets. I put my arm around him and dozed off. Lady Gambler Ch. 06 It was about 2:00 am when I woke up. Rick was still sound asleep. I got off the bed slowly so as not to waken him. Walking to the livingroom, I took a cigarette from my purse, lighting it in the dark. The air conditioner was still humming, keeping the trailer cool. I slipped on a pair of sneakers I’d brought with me, deciding to take a walk out by the corrals. I stepped outside wearing just my panties. The air was much cooler than it had been earlier. The moonlight lit the corrals up bright enough for me to see. As I approached one of the corrals, a few of the horses walked over towards me. They put their heads over the top railing and I petted their foreheads and rubbed their noses. They loved attention. I talked with them like they could understand what I was saying. I finished my cigarette and headed back towards the trailer. I could hear a coyote, maybe two, howling off in the distance. Their howling sent shivers up my spine. I looked back at the corrals, hoping the horses would be safe. Returning to bed, I found Rick still sound asleep, snoring softly. Looking at him in the dim light, I wondered where all this was going to lead. I hoped lady luck would keep smiling down on me. Rick woke me up around 8:00 Saturday morning. He was already dressed, having already been out to take care of the horses and the foal. Rick had already put on some fresh coffee. I fixed my hair, not bothering to put on any make-up. Rick had the coffee poured when I got to the kitchen. I lit a cigarette and we sat at the little dinette table. Rick was smiling, glad that I was there with him. It was the first of many trips I’d make up to the ranch near Prescott. I just wished it wasn’t so far from Scottsdale. I mentioned to Rick about the coyotes I’d heard. He didn’t seem to be too alarmed when I told him about them. He said they rarely came within a mile or two of the ranch. I dressed in jeans and a t-shirt before we headed out to the corrals. Rick saddled up two horses and motioned for me to get on. I’d never been on a horse before so the experience was a little scary at first. The more we rode, the more I enjoyed it. We rode back up some long, winding trails through the hills. Riding for most of the morning, we returned back to the ranch around noon. There was a big horse trailer sitting next to one of the corrals. Two men were sitting on the corral’s top railing. Rick introduced me to them. One of the men was the ranch’s owner, Charles McGregor. The other man was his ranch foreman from another ranch up by Sedona. They were there to see how the foal was doing and pick up four of the horses. They didn’t stay long. I offered them some fresh coffee and they took me up on it. McGregor mentioned something to Rick about tearing the old house down. The men finished their coffee before driving down the long driveway towards the country road. Rick and I were finally alone again. We turned to each other, smiling and thinking the same thing. I nodded my head towards the travel trailer but Rick said he had a much better idea. We went to the trailer and packed some food and beer in a backpack style cooler. Rick went to the bedroom and brought out two blankets. He was grinning so I figured his idea must be pretty good. We strapped the backpack cooler and blankets to the horses and rode off up into the hills going in a different direction than we’d gone earlier that morning. We rode for over an hour coming upon a wide stream with a series of small waterfalls. There was a large shaded area completely surrounded by trees. Rick tied the horses to the trees while I took the backpack and blankets over by the waterfalls. I spread out the blankets while Rick opened up some beers for us. We ate, drank beer and talked for most of the afternoon. Rick talked about his hopes of eventually owning his own ranch up in Colorado. He didn’t want to have children right away, which I thought was a little odd but I didn’t question him about it. He was really opening up to me, so I let him talk. I felt very close to him right then. He held me in his arms as we listened to the sounds of the waterfalls. I didn’t want our time together to ever end. Rick turned my face towards his and kissed me. It was a long, soft kiss that grew more passionate. Rick pulled my t-shirt off over my head. I unbuttoned his denim shirt and slipped it off his shoulders. We stretched out on the blankets under the shade of the trees. Rick pulled my shoes and jeans off. I had to tug to get his boots off. He slipped off his jeans. I rubbed the bulge in his briefs. I’d never made love outdoors before. I wanted it to be memorable. Rick unhooked my bra and gently pushed me back down on the blankets. His hand brushed over my panties before slipping them down my legs. We kissed and held each other in our arms. I pushed Rick over on his back and rubbed his chest slowly working my hand down over his tummy. His huge cock stood straight up. I kissed his chest, licking my way down towards his cock. I held it with my hand and put my lips over the huge crown. I parted my lips slowly letting them slide down over it till I had engulfed it in my mouth. Rick was moaning softly while I worked my tongue along the underneath side of his cock. I held his cock firmly, taking it out of my mouth and licking his hard shaft all over. I wanted to lubricate his cock with my saliva so I could slide it up inside me. When I had his cock wet with my saliva, I climbed over, straddling him. He started to lift his shoulders up off the blanket but I pushed him back down, kissing him passionately. I raised myself up holding his cock between my legs. I pushed down feeling his cock penetrate the wet lips of my pussy. I slowly worked his cock inside me till I had it all the way in. I looked down at Rick. His eyes were closed, his face smiling. I worked myself up and down on his rigid cock slowly, making it last. We fucked for a long time. I didn’t want to make him cum too soon. I closed my eyes, listening to the waterfalls, while I worked my pussy up and down his shaft. I gyrated my pelvis to increase our pleasure. Rick held my ass while his hips bucked upwards, slow then fast. We fucked till we were exhausted. It was the first time we’d ever cum at the same time. I had a long slow orgasm, feeling Rick pump his load deep inside me. I leaned over and collapsed on top of him. We held each other for a long time. We lie together on the blankets till it started to get dark. The air was cooling down. Rick opened a beer and we shared it. I mentioned to Rick about heading back to the ranch but neither one of us was really in a hurry. Rick’s cock was getting hard again. I was getting hot just thinking about him fucking me again. “How about one more ride before we head back.” He whispered, smiling. I nodded my head, wanting him. Rick positioned me on all fours. He slid his tongue between the lips of my pussy. He was working my pussy with his hard tongue. I felt his tongue playing on my clit. I looked down between my spread legs, his cock was hard as steel. Rick probed inside my pussy, licking the inner walls. My ass was quivering when I came. I felt my juices flowing and Rick was sucking them out of me. I needed his cock deep inside me. Rick held my hips in his strong hands, pushing the engorged head of his cock between the lips of my pussy. I eased back towards him as he pushed forward. His cock penetrating me all the way. We fucked slow and easy then hard and fast. I had two orgasms, one immediately after the other. Rick kept holding back not wanting to cum. I didn’t know if I could hold out any longer when he started pumping hard into me. I felt myself cumming. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh………Hmmmmmmmmm” I moaned aloud. Rick felt my juices flowing; he fucked harder into me, finally pumping his hot cum inside me. I felt his body tense and then shake for an instant. We fucked slower and slower till we couldn’t fuck anymore. I lowered myself to the blankets, Rick lying on top of me. We lay there for several minutes before washing off in the waterfalls and getting dressed. Neither one of us wanted to leave but it was getting dark. The moonlight was all we had to see the trail by. We made it back safely and unsaddled the horses. Putting them in one of the corrals, we headed towards the trailer. The trailer was stuffy from being locked up all day. Rick turned on the air conditioner and the trailer quickly cooled down. We sat on the couch and talked instead of watching tv. I was curious as to why Rick didn’t want to have children so I asked him bluntly. “I don’t think I’d ever be any good as a father.” He stated. “I didn’t have a good father to teach me how I should be with my own children.” Rick went on, saying he wasn’t sure he’d even make a very good husband. Evidently George and Rick’s mother fought all the time. From what Rick told me, his mother must have suffered through a lot of verbal abuse from George. He got very upset talking about it. I tried to change the subject but Rick couldn’t get his mind off the topic. I suggested we go to bed. Maybe he’d get over talking about it by morning. Rick held me in his arms but we didn’t sleep very well. Rick tossed and turned most of the night. Sunday morning it rained so we were pretty much confined to the trailer. I tried to interest Rick in sex but he just wasn’t into it. We ran out and took care of the horses, getting soaking wet. When we got back to the trailer, I stripped down to my panties to try and taunt his interest. He just wasn’t paying attention to me. He was fairly quiet most of the day. I decided to leave around 6:00 for the two-hour drive back to Scottsdale. We kissed good-bye, keeping our lips softly pressed to each other‘s. Rick held me in his arms tightly for several minutes. I don’t think he wanted me to leave. I kept thinking about what he’d said on the long drive back home. I could understand why he wasn’t close to his father. George hadn’t been much of a father to him or to Michael. I phoned Rick on his cell phone when I got back to let him know I’d gotten home safely. He seemed really down. I considered getting in the car and driving back immediately but that sounded like I was overreacting. Monday morning started off fairly typical. George and I sat under the covered patio and ate breakfast. Michael came out with a cup of coffee. “Is she gone?” George asked Michael. “Yeah. She cleaned out her stuff Saturday afternoon.” I didn’t know what the conversation was all about. I wasn’t about to ask either. George wasn’t in a talkative mood so breakfast was quiet. We walked together down the path to the office. Charlene was at her desk. She had a big smile on her face, almost a grin. Ferris went into his office to make some phone calls. I went to my office and booted up the computer systems. Mondays are usually up and down days for stocks so I thought I’d wait till later towards market closing to see how we were doing. We had an appointment with the realtor at 10:00 to look at some warehouse property. I gathered up what information I had on the property and briefly scanned over it. Charlene came in to my office. She was still smiling. I had a hunch she must have had a good weekend. “So how did your weekend go?” Charlene asked. “Fine.” I said. “How about you? How was your weekend?” Charlene couldn’t wait to tell me about this guy she’d met over the internet. They’d met in one of the chatrooms and made a date to meet at a bar for drinks. He was an engineer for a communications firm in Phoenix. His name was Curtis. She went on to describe him and what he was wearing. Charlene was all excited so I let her talk about their evening together. She didn’t say whether they had sex or not. I had a hunch they didn’t. I’m sure Charlene would have told me if they had. At least she seemed happy, that’s what mattered. She’d met someone who’d pay attention to her and take care of her needs. “Did Mr. Ferris say anything about Janine this morning?” Charlene asked. I told her that neither Ferris nor Michael had said much during breakfast. She told me that Janine had packed her clothes and left sometime over the weekend. She was going to file for divorce from Michael. I asked her how she found out about it. She said Michael came down to the office Friday after I’d left. He just wanted someone to talk too. I was surprised at first but I knew Janine wasn’t happy about Michael’s playing around. It was almost 10:00 when Ferris and I left for our meeting with the realtor. We checked out the warehouse he had listed. It was near a large industrial park, which was a plus. Most of the structure was warehouse, not a lot of offices taking up space. That was another plus. We walked all through the interior. George got tired and decided to go back to the car with Scott. Just the realtor and I walked around the exterior and grounds. I told the realtor we’d think about it since I personally felt the price was a bit too high. I actually didn’t but I thought the remark might work to our advantage if we got to price negotiations. George was pretty quiet on the ride back to his home. He looked over at me and started to say something but he didn’t. I was worried about him. This wasn’t George’s usual behavior. Charlene and I went to lunch together. She had calmed down from her morning’s high spirits. She’d called her internet boyfriend while George and I were gone. They’d had a long conversation. She asked me if Ferris had said anything about Janine. I told her he hadn’t said much of anything and it was worrying me. Charlene asked me how my weekend with Rick had gone. I hesitated to say much but I felt I could confide in her. I told her what Rick had said about his father. She didn’t seem surprised by what he’d said. We drove back to the office. George was looking out the windows of his office at some passing golfers in the distance. I tapped on the door to get his attention. He turned and forced a smile. I asked him if he had time to talk. He motioned me in. I went over the warehouse property we’d looked at that morning to see what he thought. I don’t think he was paying much attention to me. He seemed to have something else more important on his mind. “Michelle, what do you think about the property?” Ferris asked. “I think it’s a good investment, even at the asking price.” I replied. “We might want to offer alot less to see if we can a rock-bottom price from the sellers.” We had leverage with cash so they might deal more our way in order to get the sale consummated. George wanted me to come up with a figure and make an offer. He was very nonchalant about the whole thing. We were talking more than a million dollars, nothing to be nonchalant about! “Mr. Ferris, is there something you’d like to talk about?” I asked, knowing I probably shouldn’t have. He swiveled his chair looking off. He looked at the door to make sure it was closed. I waited patiently for him to say something. He finally started talking about Michael and Janine. He wasn’t happy with either one of them. He never liked Janine, claiming she just loved Michael for his money. Michael didn’t really have any money of his own. George controlled it all. Michael wasn’t much better; he just leached money off him right and left. He never showed any interest in his business operations back in Florida. He was spoiled rotten. I asked him about Rick to see if he’d continue opening up to me. He did. He said it was too late for him to be a father to Rick. He felt Rick hated him. I wanted to say something but felt it best to remain quiet. George talked for another hour about Michael, Janine and Rick. I let him get it off his chest. I could see his depressed mood was slowly subsiding. I made a couple of positive comments to help cheer him up. At least, I got him to smile a little. “Oh, before I forget it.” Ferris stated. “Michael and I are going to be out of town till Friday afternoon. If you need me for anything, you can call me on my cell phone.” “Let’s get this warehouse deal wrapped up as soon as possible.” He added. George’s mind was finally back on the business at hand. I waited till he’d gone back up to the house before calling Rick. He wasn’t answering his cell phone; maybe he didn’t have it turned on or was some place where he couldn’t get the signal. I decided to wait till later in the evening to phone him. I managed to get Rick on the phone around 7:00. He sounded in better spirits. That was a big relief for me. Rick said he’d try to come down Friday evening if he could get McGregor to find someone to watch the ranch while he was gone. If not, I’d drive up to see him. Tuesday morning I got to work a little before 8:00. Charlene was just ahead of me when I pulled into Ferris’s driveway. We walked to the office together. Charlene was in a good mood, laughing and joking. Maybe she was just happy Ferris was gone until Friday afternoon. I put on some coffee and we chatted while it brewed. She and her boyfriend, Curtis had another date set for Friday evening. Starting my day, I scanned over the latest stock market quotes. I thought I’d spend the rest of the day putting together an offer on the warehouse property. I had some other investments in mind. With George in Florida with Michael, I wouldn’t be interrupted. Charlene was at her desk, chatting online with her boyfriend. She was bored since Ferris hadn’t left her with much to do. I asked her if she’d like to help me with some real estate investigations I wanted to look into. She didn’t hesitate to offer her assistance. I jotted down some ideas so she could get started. During lunch, Charlene filled me in on how she was progressing. She was getting quite a bit accomplished and enjoying the work at the same time. Maybe it was because it was so different than what she was accustomed to doing. She admitted her secretarial work had become very boring. “I’d really like to concentrate on Colorado ranch land more than anything.” I stated. “Anything around 500,000.” “You think that’ll interest George?” Charlene inquired. “Or is it for you?” “For George.” I responded. “I going to try and spark an interest in buying ranch property.” “Really!” She exclaimed. “I could never see George on a horse!” “Me neither.” I stated, grinning. “It’s somewhat of a hidden agenda.” “Hmmmm. Doesn’t have anything to do with Rick, does it?” She asked, smiling coyly. “Maybe, maybe not.” I answered, smirking. By the end of the day, I had my proposal for the warehouse ready. Charlene had put together a long list of ranch properties on the market in Colorado. She’d also compiled a list of real estate agents specializing in large acreages. “Tomorrow, I’ll need you to work on sending out emails to the realtors.” I said. “While you’re doing that, I look over the list of properties.” Charlene was enthusiastic about her new duties. I stopped by the real estate agent’s office on my way home, dropping off my proposal for the warehouse. He scanned over it rather quickly, remarking he’d try to get me an answer before the end of the week. Wednesday morning over coffee, Charlene and I planned out our day. Charlene got busy sending out emails. I checked the latest stock market activities before sitting back in my chair to look over the property listings in Colorado. My only interruption of the morning was an unexpected phone call from Rick. It was a most welcome disruption. We discussed plans for the weekend. Rick wasn’t going to be able to get away from the ranch as he’d hoped. I would drive up to Prescott so we could spend the weekend together. Rick wanted to get started on tearing down the old house before it fell over. After saying our “good-byes” I returned to looking over the list of ranch properties. Those that looked interesting, I highlighted. After lunch, Charlene completed her emails and the two of us finished reviewing the lists of properties. We had numerous possibilities that we discussed in greater detail. Charlene and I had accomplished quite a bit in a very short time. Lady Gambler Ch. 06 Thursday afternoon, I heard back from the realtor on my proposal for the warehouse purchase. The sellers, an investment corporation, had made a counteroffer. At least, I had an idea where their bottom line might be. I turned down their offer, holding onto my original proposal. I wanted the owners to come back with another offer. It should give me an even better idea of the lowest figure we could buy the complex for. Even though Ferris was anxious to wrap up the deal, it was my job to make the purchase spending the least amount possible. Friday morning, shortly after 10:00am, the realtor phoned again. The owners had come up with another offer. It was closer to our original proposal. I verbally agreed to their terms. By the end of the day, Ferris would have the written sales agreement on his desk, ready for his signature. George and Michael’s flight was due to arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at 1:45pm. I guessed them to arrive home around 2:30. That would give us plenty of time to get the documents signed so I could be on my way to Prescott. Their trip from the airport took longer than I thought. It was well after 3:00 before George and his son arrived home. I hurried up the winding path to the house shortly after I saw Scott put the car in the garage. Ferris was pouring himself a drink at the bar. He seemed in very good spirits. I handed him the purchase agreement, quickly reviewing the purchase price and terms. George didn’t bother to read any of it. He simply took my pen and signed it. “Now! Let’s you and I fly up to Vegas for the weekend!” He exclaimed, grinning. “Get into some hot poker game!” “I……I can’t Mr. Ferris.” I stammered. “I’ve already got plans for the weekend.” “Change em!” He responded. “I feel like partying and I want you to join me!” “I really can’t change them.” I said. “I would if I could but I can’t.” “I’ll make it worth you while.” Ferris stated. “I want to see you in action again.” I couldn’t very well tell George where I was going or who I had plans with. I couldn’t come up with an excuse fast enough. I was stumped. My mind went blank. “Tell you what.” George said. “I’ll give you $10,000 plus a percentage of whatever you win.” Reluctantly, the money made my mind up for me. I agreed to make the trip after I made a quick phone call. “I’ll need to run home and pack some things.” I stated. “What time is our flight?” “No need to pack. Just wear what you’ve got on.” Ferris replied. “Scott can pick out some clothes for you once we get to Vegas.” “The flight’ll leave when we get to the airport.” He added. I made a quick trip back down to the office to phone Rick. He wasn’t happy about my not being able to make it. I told him I wasn’t feeling good, maybe a touch of the flu or something I’d eaten for lunch. I hated lieing to him but I couldn’t very well tell him the truth. Scott sped through traffic, heading for the airport. Ferris had a black briefcase sitting on the seat next to him. Other than that one piece, there was no other luggage. I was curious if the briefcase contained money. I was almost positive it did. We arrived at the airport, entering into a secured, private area. Scott drove into one of the hangers, parking next to a Gulfstream II SP, twelve-passenger private jet. Two pilots were milling around near the door waiting for us to board. My excitement was building, but so was my concern for Rick. If he found out I’d cancelled our weekend together for a gambling trip with his father, he’d never forgive me. The leather executive chairs were comfortable, relaxing enough to cause me to doze off for a few minutes. Scott was sitting behind me, George sitting, facing me. We didn’t say much during the brief flight. I barely had time to finish my glass of chilled wine before we started our descent into the Las Vegas airport. I glanced at my watch. It was a little after 6:00pm, early for nightlife in Vegas! “We’ll grab dinner once we get to the hotel.” Ferris stated. “I’ll make a few calls, see who’s playing where.” “If you’ll make me out a list of things you’d like, I’ll do some shopping for you.” Scott offered, peering around the side of my seat. I nodded my head at both, acknowledging their statements. Everything was happening way too fast for me to absorb, let alone handle. George had arranged for a limo to take us to our hotel, the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. I jotted down a short list of items I needed, handing it to Scott. “You sure you don’t mind getting some of those items?” I asked. “I can buy the intimate items myself if you’d rather not.” “No, I don’t mind at all.” Scott responded, smiling. “I don’t get to do much shopping very often.” Arriving at the Mandalay Bay, the three of us were immediately ushered to one of the luxury suites on the top floor. I stood at the wall of glass looking down at the city below. I got dizzy for a minute from the extreme height. I sat down on the couch till I got to feeling better. Ferris was making phone calls from one of the bedrooms. I couldn’t overhear his conversations. Scott left to go downstairs to pick up the items I’d asked for. “Dinner will be up shortly.” Ferris stated, coming into the living area of the suite. “I’ve got us in a game later on, around 10:00.” “I’m going to take a shower while I’ve got time.” I responded. “Maybe a nap after dinner.” In the bedroom, I took off my clothes, laying them across the bed. The warm spray of the shower felt refreshing, making me a little drowsy. Ferris came into the bathroom, unannounced. The shower doors were translucent enough where he couldn’t see through them all that well. “We’ll be playing against some real pros tonight.” He stated. “Some even a little quirky.” “If you don’t feel comfortable with them, just let me know and we’ll find another game.” He added. “There’s always plenty of high-stakes games going on.” I didn’t reply. George watched me showering for awhile before exiting the bathroom. His presence hadn’t really bothered me. Ferris preferred women closer to his age, but he liked to look at all the women. Dinner was lobster, shrimp, crab and baked fish. I was hungry even though the worry about playing against people who I wasn’t familiar had me nervous. After dinner, I stretched out across the bed. I slept for about an hour and a half, enough to keep me going the rest of the night. Ferris woke me up around 9:30 to get ready. I fixed my hair and put on fresh make-up. Scott had bought me a dress, even though it wasn’t on my list. It was a beautiful blue sequin dress, floor length with a plunging back. The dress was slit up the side, halfway up my thigh. “You’ve got quite an eye for fashion.” I kidded Scott. “The dress is absolutely gorgeous.” “The dress is simply beautiful, you make it gorgeous!” Scott responded, making the compliment. I blushed at his remark, thanking him with a light kiss on the cheek. Scott helped me with a choker necklace, fastening the clasp for me. I checked myself in the mirror to see how I looked. I hoped I looked distracting! I was sure I’d need the edge to be competitive. Ferris, Scott and I rode the elevator down several floors before stepping off into a wide, well-lit hallway. At the end of the hallway, two men in suits stood outside one of the suites. One of the men opened the door for us as we approached. The suite, similar to ours was occupied by a dozen or so people. There were two scantily clad women behind the bar. George and Scott walked over and brought us back drinks. I was busy scrutinizing who the players might be. As George had stated, some were a bit on the quirky side. We milled around the room, chatting with several of the guests. Ferris was off somewhere so I slid my hand inside Scott’s arm. “Hope you don’t mind if I ask you to be my escort?” I said. “Not at all. It’d be my pleasure.” Scott replied, putting his hand over mine. Scott and I walked over to the windows but stood back enough so the height wouldn’t bother me. I was somewhat anxious for the game to begin. I spotted George coming out of one of the rooms with two other gentlemen. He motioned for Scott and I to follow him into another of the rooms. The poker table was set for six players. Everyone started picking their seats. I took one without a window behind me. Just a quirk of mine! The players were a mixture of young and old. Besides myself, there was only one other female player. Margaret was at least sixty-five. She wore way too much make-up for someone her age. I noticed she was also wearing trifocals. Her hands had rings on each finger. Way too much! The licorice gum she was chewing was another added distraction. One of the men wore a large black cowboy hat. He was in his mid-forties, salt and pepper hair with a short mustache. He was quite a handsome guy, actually. Most of the men were dressed casually, sport shirts and dress slacks. I noticed one was wearing a large diamond ring that looked fake. It caught the overhead light and sparkled a little too much! Carl took a seat off to my side and opened up the briefcase. He handed the cashier several bundles of hundred dollar bills. The man placed a tray of chips next to my drink. The host explained the minimum and maximum bets. The game was “Hold-Em Poker”. Everyone anted $100 and the cards were dealt. Minimum raise was $100, maximum was $500. I was in way over my head. Within a matter of several hands I was down almost $2000. I couldn’t even come close to winning a hand. Margaret and the cowboy seemed to have the luck running their way. I looked over at Ferris but he didn’t seem to be upset about my losing. Several more hands and I was down another $2000. I excused myself from the table to use the restroom. George followed me out of the room. “I can’t tell who’s working with whom but there’s something fishy going on.” I whispered to Ferris. “You think they’re cheating?” He asked. “Which one? I’ll have the bastard killed!” “Got to be that old bitch and the cowboy.” I replied. “Maybe that guy with the fake diamond too.” “You want to pull out and find another game?” George inquired. “Or try to beat them at their own game.” “Let’s go back for awhile and see if my luck’ll change.” I responded. I sat back down but folded at the start of each hand. It gave me time to watch the players while the rest of each hand played out. It took me awhile but I figured out two of the player were working together, the cowboy and the guy with the fake diamond ring. Margaret was discreetly marking the cards with little black smudges. She was casually licking her fingers. The black sticky substance from the licorice was on her fingers. She was marking the backs of the aces and face cards. After waiting till the hand played out, I asked for the game to be stopped. The host asked if there was a problem. “Damn right, there’s a problem!” I exclaimed. “Take the cards and shuffle them.” The host picked up the deck and shuffled the cards. He set the deck back on the table. “Now, spread the cards out in a circular fan, face down.” I ordered. The host quickly obliged. Some of the cards stuck together. I stood up and leaned over the table. One of the men was more interested in looking down the front of my dress than what I was doing. I figured him for “weak” player. “$5000 says I can pick out almost every ace and face card.” I boldly stated. “Any takers?” No one said anything but they all looked surprised. I didn’t look at Margaret but I knew she was watching me. I picked out sixteen cards, leaving them face down. “Would you turn the cards over?” I asked the host. He turned each card over, one at a time. All were Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces. “How did you know which cards were which?” He angrily asked. I pressed my finger on the back of one of the cards, right over the dark, sticky substance. When I lifted my hand the card stuck to my finger. “Licorice!” I exclaimed. Margaret was immediately escorted out of the room. Surprisingly, they let her keep her winnings! Another player took her seat and the host opened a fresh deck of cards. Ferris came over to me when I sat back down. “Damn! That was quite a show you put on!” He whispered in my ear. “Worth every penny too!” Play resumed. The cowboy was intently watching the guy with the fake diamond ring. He was getting signals as to what he had. The two would raise the bet according to how many flashes he’d send him. I don’t think anyone else noticed it but I was able to pick up on the signals. I played according to what I saw going on. Within an hour or so, I’d won back all I’d lost plus a few thousand. The guy with the ring finally dropped out of the game when he noticed me staring at him. Another player took his seat, a gentleman in his late 50’s. He’d been drinking a little too much to be playing for such high stakes. Within an hour, he’d dropped more than $5000. Shortly after midnight, the host suggested we all take a break. “I’m going back up to our suite and call it a night.” Ferris said. “Why don’t you stay if you want? Scotty’ll stay with you.” “Let me see what Scott wants to do.” I responded. “Maybe he wants to call it a night too.” Scott said he wasn’t tired, although I could tell he was. He seemed more than willing to stay with me. The game resumed with new players coming and going and some previous players coming back with newfound money. My luck was holding out so I played till my concentration started to falter. Scott was sitting out in the livingroom with his foot propped up on the briefcase. Around 4:00 in the morning, I decided to cash out and call it a night. We’d won a little more than $31000. For me, it was a new height. The host was quite gracious, inviting us back the next evening for more poker. I thanked him for the game and told him I’d let George know of the invitation. Scott and I left, heading down the hallway towards the elevators. “I need to put this briefcase in the hotel’s safe.” Scott stated. “I’ll take you upstairs first.” “That’s ok.” I responded. “I can go down to the front desk with you. I’m a little hungry anyway. Maybe we can get some breakfast.” Scott and I rode the elevator down to the hotel lobby. Scott checked the briefcase at the front desk. The hotel’s restaurant was just opening up their breakfast bar. After getting our plates filled, we sat down in a quiet corner of the restaurant. The waitress brought us a pot of coffee and fresh orange juice. Scott and I talked about the evening’s game and laughed about some of the players. He had quite a few humorous observations about most of the players. After breakfast we rode the elevator back to our top floor suite. George was sound asleep in his bedroom. There were only two bedrooms in the suite. The thought of where Scott was going to sleep crossed my mind. I fumble with the clasp on my necklace but had trouble getting it apart. I asked Scott to give me a hand, which he readily obliged. “I’m going to sack out on the sofa.” He said. “It looks plenty comfortable.” “Not much privacy out there.” I responded. “Why don’t you share my bed?” “Sleep with you!” Scott replied, surprised. “You mean sleep with you?” “Yeah, just sleep.” I answered. “I sleep better with someone else in bed with me.” I wasn’t sure if Scott wanted to sleep in the same bed with me or not. He knew I didn’t have anything sexual in mind. I just wanted someone to hold me. After getting undressed, we slipped into bed together. Scott held me in his arms. The sun was just starting to rise as we slowly floated off to sleep. It was early afternoon when I woke up. Scott was in my shower. I slipped on one of the hotel robes and proceeded to the livingroom, taking a cigarette from my purse. Checking George’s bedroom, I found it empty. I checked the rest of the suite but didn’t find him. The television was on so I tuned in to the latest news. “You want me to call down for some lunch?” Scott asked, entering the livingroom. He wore a white towel, tightly wrapped around his waist. He was strikingly handsome without his clothes. Other than earlier that morning, it was the first time I’d seen him without his suit on. “How about some sandwiches or something?” I suggested. “And iced tea. Don’t forget the iced tea.” I showered while Scott made the phone call down to room service. Slipping the robe back on, I went back out to the livingroom. Scott was dressed in a fresh suit. His tie was a little crooked so I took the initiative and straightened it for him. Scott always prided himself on his appearance. We sat on the couch in front of the television, eating our lunch. “Wonder where George is off to?” I said. “He might be off somewhere on business.” Scott replied. “Then again, he could be down in the casino.” It was early evening before Ferris returned. While he showered and changed clothes, I got dressed. Scott had purchased another dress for me to wear. It was a long black dress with a rhinestone belt that glittered. Besides being low cut, it was quite form fitting. I remarked to Scott about his taste for clothing. He had quite an eye for fashion or at least what he liked to see me wearing. I mentioned to Ferris about the invitation to the poker game but he had other plans. George, Scott and I rode out into the desert to a private residence. There were several limos parked in front of the huge southwestern style home when we arrived. I glanced at my watch when we stepped out of our limo. It was 9:00pm. The lights from far off Vegas sparkled in the night. Ferris had a firm grip on the black briefcase when we entered the home. I had my hand through Scott’s arm as we headed to the bar. Scott ordered me a glass of red wine without my asking. George excused himself from us and drifted off out of sight. He returned empty handed, without the briefcase. I assumed he’d secured it somewhere in the house. Scott and I mingled with some of the other guests. Most seemed quite friendly. Scott and I stepped out onto the terrace so I could smoke. The terrace offered a great view of the desert. “Games are ready to start.” George stated, coming out to the terrace. “We’re at the back table.” We walked back into the house and up a wide stairway to the second floor. Entering a large area overlooking the livingroom below, I noticed two tables. There were six chairs at each table with stacks of black and white chips at each seating. The players began choosing their seats. I chose a seat with my back towards the windows so it would be less distracting for me. I was the only female player at our table. There were two women players sitting at the other table. The observers stood back from the tables. Many leaned up against the railing or stood outside the area, talking in low voices. Scott and George stood so they could observe me. “White chips are $100. Black chips are $500.” The hostess announced. I had been briefly introduced to the middle-aged woman when we arrived. I only remembered her first name, Rachael. She was quite tall, maybe 5’10” or taller. She was exquisitely dressed in a floor length red evening dress. The diamond necklace around her neck were definitely the real stones. Her long hair was elegantly coiffured. She spared no money on her appearance. “Players may only play till all your chips are gone.” She added. “Of course, you may quit at anytime.” The first hand was dealt. I checked my cards before observing my fellow players. I didn’t notice anything unusual. At least no one appeared to be cheating. One player, an elderly gentleman was anxious for the play to speed up whenever he had a really good hand. His actions were a dead giveaway. I wasn’t the only one who noticed him either. Whenever he won a hand, the pot was fairly small, maybe $2000 at the most. My luck seemed to have run dry. I couldn’t buy a good hand! After thirty minutes I hadn’t come close to winning a hand. I looked at Ferris to see if he wanted me to quit. He didn’t seem bothered at my losses. He and Scott were whispering back and forth so I continued to play. Shortly before our first break I won two hands in a row. I’d cut my losses by almost half. It certainly made me feel better but I could see a long evening ahead. “I’m not doing all that well.” I said to Ferris. “Maybe I used up all my luck last night.” Lady Gambler Ch. 06 “Keep going!” Ferris responded. “I just love to see you win a hand and blow away these jokers!” During the break, I drank a glass of red wine and choked down a couple of cigarettes out on the terrace. Scott stood next to me, offering me reassurance. I hoped he was right. Play resumed after about thirty minutes. My luck was on the upswing. The more often I won, the more I noticed the other five players playing more cautiously. It wasn’t the amount of the win, just the frequency. I found that if I raised my bets on the last two cards dealt, most of the players would fold. It became a game of bluffing more than card playing. We played for another hour before taking our second break. “Credit us for half the chips at our seat.” George stated to the hostess. “Leave the rest on the table.” She nodded her head and motioned for one of her assistants to follow her. I noticed several of the players at the other table following suit. A few cashed all the way out, having played as much as they wanted. I didn’t want any more wine to drink so I opted for a glass of water. After smoking a few cigarettes, we headed back to the tables. While two players had left my table, two more players from the other table joined us. My luck held out till the next break. I won several really large pots, losing just a few smaller ones. I was getting tired and I felt a headache coming on. After another hour of play, I excused myself from the table. “I’ve had all I can handle.” I muttered to Ferris. “Let’s cash out now and call it a night.” “I want you to keep on playing till you clean a few of them out.” He responded. “Then you sit down and play.” I stated. “I’m not playing another hand.” Ferris wasn’t too pleased but he didn’t argue. He knew he was lousy at poker. If he played, he’d probably lose it all. While George took care of cashing me out, I sought out the hostess. She was sitting downstairs, talking with two of the players who’d dropped out earlier. “I just wanted to thank you for having me at your game.” I said. “I had a really great time.” “Hon, you were worth the price of admission.” She replied. “You should think about turning pro.” “Before you go, I’d like to give you my business card.” She added. “Why don’t you follow me to my office?” I followed Rachael to another part of the house. Her office was definitely executive level, appropriate for any corporate CEO. She took a business card from the holder on top of her desk and handed it to me. “If you ever get tired of working for ole Ferris, call me.” She stated. “I wouldn’t mind having you work for me.” I thanked her for the compliment as we exited her office. We stood in the hallway chatting. Her hand at my waist drifted down my leg as she stepped closer. I relaxed, knowing she was leaning in for a kiss. I barely wetted my lips before hers were pressed against mine. We kissed softly at first, our lips barely touching. Rachel’s hand reached around, caressing my butt, as our kiss grew more passionate. I put my hands on her waist, pulling her hard against me. Plunging my tongue between her lips, I swirled my tongue in her mouth. She was immediately moaning. I put one hand at the back of her head, pulling her mouth hard against mine. I felt her body tense, then quiver before finally relaxing against mine. Our lips gradually parted. We were both breathing hard. “I’ll double whatever Ferris is paying you.” She muttered. “Just make sure you call me.” “Ok.” I murmured. “I will sometime.” Rachael and I walked back through the house to where the quests were gathered. I shook hands with Rachael. Her hand was quite warm, much warmer than it should be. Ferris and I left the house. Scott was standing by the limo, waiting for us. George had gotten over his being upset with me. He was smiling and jovial. I eased back against the cool leather seats and closed my eyes, trying to shake off the headache. “You made one hell of an impression tonight.” George stated. “Rachael even remarked about you.” I took several aspirins when we got back to our suite at the Mandalay Bay. My headache gradually subsided shortly after I went to bed. Scotty’s muscular arms held me close to him. His warmth made me feel secure as well as comforted. Sunday morning, I woke up before Scott. I slipped out of his arms, being careful not to wake him. I could hear George out in the little kitchenette. The suite was much too warm to put on a robe so I didn’t bother. If Ferris wanted to see me almost naked, he was going to get his chance. I sauntered into the livingroom, taking my cigarettes and lighter out. I lit up a cigarette and walked towards George, sitting at the bar. He poured me a cup of coffee as I sat down on the barstool next to him. “Like your attire.” He said, grinning. “Maybe you should dress like that at the office.” “I don’t think running around in just my panties would be all that appropriate.” I quipped, smiling. “Might be difficult for anyone to get much done.” “What’s on the agenda for today.” I inquired. “I’ve got a meeting to attend later on. I‘ll need Scott to go with me.” George responded. “We’ll fly back to Phoenix later on this afternoon.” “You can do whatever you’d like.” He added. “I’ll give you your money now in case you want to do a little shopping.” “Just hold onto it till we get back.” I replied. “I’ve got enough ready cash for now if I need it.” Scott finally woke up, joining Ferris and me at the bar. After drinking a cup of coffee, he ordered breakfast for everyone. “You two slept well, I take it.” Ferris smarted. “I didn’t hear any noise coming from the bedroom though.” Neither Scotty or I responded to his remark. George didn’t hear anything because nothing happened between the two of us. The phone in the suite rang late mid-morning. Ferris quickly answered it. His conversation was brief. “It’s for you.” He stated, pointing the phone at me. “Rachael Coulter.” “Good morning!” Rachael greeted. “Was wondering if you had time to come out to the house before you flew home.” “Yeah, I’ve got time.” I replied. “I’ll have a driver pick you up, say in an hour or so.” She stated. I agreed, telling Rachael I’d be ready. I quickly showered and fixed my hair and make-up. Going through the unopened packages of clothes, I found a white leather skirt. The skirt, I complimented with a bright blue satin blouse. Scott had even purchased a pair of white high-heels for me. Again, quite the shopper, I thought. The front desk called, informing me my driver was waiting in the lobby. I told Scott and George I’d see them later on as I left the suite. Rachael’s driver was waiting for me at the front desk. He smiled as I approached. I briefly caught a glimpse of a handgun, shoulder-holstered beneath his suit jacket. It made me feel a bit uncomfortable. After exchanging greetings and introducing himself as Glen, he walked me out to the car. He started to open the rear door but I asked him if I could ride upfront with him. The drive out through the desert to Rachael’s residence was almost a half hour drive. Neither Glen nor I said a word the entire time. Rachael met me at the door wearing black leather slacks and a tailored blouse. In the daylight, I could see much more of the house. It was absolutely gorgeous, much larger than I had previously thought. I loved the architecture, complimenting her on it. We walked through the house, towards her office. “Would you like something to drink?” She inquired. “Perhaps coffee or a soft drink.” “Iced tea or a soft drink would be fine.” I responded. Rachael asked her Hispanic servant girl to bring us two glasses of iced tea. We sat down together on the comfortable couch in her office. After the servant brought us our drinks, she exited, closing the door behind her. We sipped our drinks before setting them on the coffee table. Rachael put her hand on my leg, slowly slipping it beneath my skirt. She was halfway up my thigh before she stopped. “I asked you to come out to reemphasize my desire to have you come work for me.” She murmured. “Without all the guests to take care of, I thought we could talk more.” “Your desire.” I quipped, smiling coyly and looking down at her hand beneath my skirt. Rachel returned my smile, slowly brushing her hand up and down my leg. Noticing an ashtray on the coffee table, I lit up a cigarette, offering one to Rachael. She shared mine instead of lighting one for herself. “I’ve got a great thing going here.” She said. “I make damn good money every weekend.” “George tells me you handle all his investments.” She added. “The poker’s just a sideline of yours.” “I love to play, although I’m not used to such high stakes.” I responded. “George just likes watching me play with his money.” “What’s the chance of hiring you away from George?” She inquired. “I’m serious, just name your price.” “Actually, I work for an investment company.” I replied. “Mr. Ferris is the only account that I take care of.” “Even better!” She exclaimed. “Why don’t you give them two weeks notice and move here?” “I’m afraid it’s not all that easy.” I answered. “I’m involved with someone and moving this far away would jeopardize that relationship.” “Don’t tell me it’s that son of Ferris‘s, Michael!” Rachael exclaimed. “Not that son of a bitch!” “No, definitely not Michael.” I stated. “I keep as much distance from him as I can. It’s someone else.” “Is it another woman?” She blatantly asked. “No, it’s a guy, a very nice guy.” I muttered. “We’re just very close friends.” “I see.” Rachael said. “So it’s not a serious relationship.” “I’m not sure.” I responded, lighting up another cigarette. “I’d like for it to be.” “You’re in love with him?” She asked. “Yes, I am. Very much in love with him.” I answered. It was the first time I admitted my feelings about Rick to anyone. Rachel’s hand slipped further up my skirt till I felt her fingers brushing lightly across my panties. “How would he feel about you being here with me like this?” She inquired. “Would he object?” “He’d probably have a fit.” I replied. “I’m not sure if he’d understand or not. I seriously doubt it.” My remark caused Rachael to pull her hand back. I took her arm, pulling it back beneath my skirt. Her hand immediately began massaging my pussy. “Hope you’re not a tease.” I whispered, leaning into her. We kissed passionately, our lips grinding over each other’s. Rachel’s breathing immediately quickened. My hand reached up, cupping her breasts. The more I fondled her, the more heated she became. Rachael was getting hotter every second. Her hand was rubbing my pussy harder and harder. “Why don’t we find someplace more comfortable?” I suggested. “Someplace where I can spread those long legs of yours.” Rachael gulped and her eyes widened at my unashamed remark. She gestured me to follow her upstairs to the bedroom. We ascended the stairs and walked down a long hallway to a bedroom at the far end. The master bedroom was quite beautiful, lavishly furnished with a large brass bed along one wall. I started unbuttoning my blouse, staring at Rachael. She watched me undress, not making an effort to take off any of her own clothes. Taking off everything but my panties, I walked slowly towards her. Rachael’s eyes were focused on my bared breasts. I put my hands on her waist, pulling her close. Our lips meshed in a heated kiss. Slipping my tongue between her lips, I darted it hard against hers. She immediately responded to my oral manipulations. Her breathing became quite labored. “Why don’t you slip out of your clothes so we can get down to business?” I smarted. Rachael started unbuttoning her blouse while I worked at getting the tight leather slacks down her long legs. She was wearing a black thong beneath them. Kneeling behind her, I held her slacks while she stepped out of them. I tossed them on a nearby chair but they slid to the floor. Rachel unhooked her bra, sliding it slowly down her arms. She tossed it on top of her slacks. Still standing behind her, I put one hand on her breasts while my other hand slid down the front of her thong. I could feel just a wisp of soft pubic hair. Kissing Rachael on the back of her neck and shoulders drove her to new heights. She was moaning loudly as my hand slid down farther between her legs. I had to hold her tight to keep her steady. Her legs were quivering, trembling as my fingers found her wet slit. My hand massaged her breasts, teasing her nipples till they hardened. She almost pulled away from me. “Get on the bed, face down!” I ordered. Rachael climbed up on the brass bed and stretched out on her tummy. I knelt beside her, slipping her panties off, tossing them to the floor. Rachael’s legs spread slightly. I moved between them, spreading them as much as I could. My hands and lips traced upwards from the back of her knees to her well-shaped ass. Massaging her butt hard, I spread her cheeks apart, revealing her wet pussy. Her juices were flowing, dripping down onto the comforter. I blew my hot breath on her pussy. The folds of her pussy blossomed immediately. I worked my tongue up and down her pussy, tasting her fluids. Rachael was moaning loud enough for her servants to hear. I kept licking and sucking her pussy till I made her cum. Her orgasm violently shook her body. I grasped hold of her legs, not letting her pussy escape capture. Sucking on her clit brought her to another orgasm. Rachael screamed out. I let her come down slowly; massaging her legs and lower back. She lay exhausted on the bed, trying to catch her breath. She managed to roll over on her back. A slight smile on her face let me know she was alright. I straddled her with my pussy right above her face. Raising her knees and spreading her legs apart, I slid two fingers deep inside her swollen pussy. Rachael’s pussy was flowing juices, coating my fingers with her cum. I gently masturbated her while she licked savagely at my pussy. My ass was quivering when she got me off. My orgasm was long but faint. It slowly subsided, leaving me weakened. I collapsed on top of Rachel before managing to roll off onto my side. Rachael’s lips and hands lightly brushed across my legs, soothing me. We lay there for a few minutes before I got up to go to the bathroom. I left Rachael on the bed, almost asleep. Returning to the bedroom, I found Rachael still stretched out on her back. The Hispanic servant girl had brought us two more glasses of iced tea. Evidently, the sight of the two of us wasn’t anything new to her. She didn’t act at all surprised. She smiled as she walked past me, exiting the bedroom. “Why don’t you stay here with me for a few days?” Rachael muttered. “Let George and his bodyguard fly on back.” “I can’t.” I responded. “I’ve got things I need to take care of tomorrow morning.” “I do appreciate you offer though.” I added. “Maybe another time.” “Have you got time to talk business before you have to leave?” She asked. “I’d really like to discuss some things with you.” I readily agreed to stay and talk with her. Rachael informed me she was raking in more than $60,000 a week on her little gambling operation, almost a quarter million a month. She was looking at investing the money in legitimate business ventures. She had no clue as to what was safe yet profitable. I was hesitant to give her “free” advice so I tossed out general ideas, nothing specific. I could see my words were sparking her interest. I licked my middle finger and slipped it inside her pussy, working it very slowly. I wanted to entice her without causing her to lose interest in our conversation. I was stimulating her physically as well as mentally at the same time. “Let me call Ferris and tell him I’m hiring you away from him.” She stated, excitedly. “I just can’t let you go back to Phoenix.” “No. I can’t let you do that.” I replied. “I have to go back.” “Let’s work things out my way.” I added, smiling. “There’s no reason I can’t work for both you and George.” I suggested she let me set her up on my computer back at my office. I could stay in contact with her over the internet. Working together, I could make investments for her that we both agreed on. For my services, I would charge a percentage of the original investment. Rachael still wasn’t giving up on me working solely for her but she agreed to my terms on a temporary basis. I fingered her pussy hard and rapid till I brought her off one more time. Her hands gripped the comforter, almost tearing it when she came. I stuffed her panties in her mouth to muffle the screams. Slipping my finger from her pussy, I licked it clean. I leaned down and kissed her softly, my lips barely grazing hers. I dressed and walked back down to the livingroom. Glen, Rachael’s driver was standing in the foyer. He opened the front door for me and led me out to the car. We drove in complete silence back to the hotel. Glen escorted me into the lobby, leaving me at the elevators. Lady Gambler Ch. 07 Ascending to the top floor of the Mandalay Bay, I contemplated Rachael Coulter’s job offer. Other than loyalties to George Ferris and Banks, Kellogg and Henderson, my main reason for not accepting the job was Rick. The distance between us was bad enough now, more than doubling the distance would make it that much more difficult. George and Scott were sitting in front of the television, watching a ballgame when I entered the suite. Ferris picked up the black briefcase. Scott and I carried the shopping bags of clothing. Other than occasional conversation between Scott and me, the ride to the airport was pretty quiet. Ferris seemed quieter than usual. We boarded the private jet, taking the same seats we’d flown down in. Scott was sitting behind me, George sitting, facing me. “How was your meeting with Ms. Coulter?” George asked, breaking his silence. “Fine, we talked about poker and her gaming operation.” I responded. “Did she ask you to come and work for her?” He questioned. “She asked me about helping her with some investments.” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “Just remember who you work for.” Ferris said in a threatening manner. “I work for Banks, Kellogg and Henderson.” I remarked. “And I can quit anytime I want.” Ferris was pissed at my statements but it was the truth. I merely handled his account. I didn’t work for him. My salary was paid by the investment firm. Ferris merely slipped me a bonus every now and then. The ride from the airport to Ferris’s home was in complete silence. Ferris opened the briefcase and took out two bundles of hundreds, $5000 per bundle. He handed me the bundles along with two additional bundles. “Ten grand for going, ten grand as a bonus.” He stated. I didn’t say anything, just stuffed the money in my purse and lit up a cigarette. “Looks like your son, Rick is here.” Scott announced, pulling into the driveway at George’s residence. I looked over Scott’s shoulder and out through the windshield. Rick’s truck was parked in the driveway right behind my car. I knew I was in deep trouble, having forgotten to cover my tracks. Scott pulled up to the front entrance of the house. George and I entered the home, hearing loud shouting coming from the rear of the house. Michael and Rick’s voices were clearly recognizable. George and I hurried to see what all the commotion was about. Michael was leaning up against the kitchen counter, so drunk he was barely able to stand up. Rick was right in his face, shoving him back. He was livid with anger, his face bright red and perspiring profusely. “What the hell’s going on?” Ferris shouted. “You bitch!” Rick screamed at me. “You fucking little bitch!” Rick stormed past his father and lunged at me, knocking me backwards against the wall. His arm across my chest, kept me pinned back. “Sick! You weren’t sick!” He screamed. “You were up in Vegas, gambling you damn ass off! “Rick, let me…….” I tried to say. “You’re just a fucking whore like the rest!” Rick interrupted. “How many guys have you fucked? How many?” Scotty entered the house through the side door, immediately seeing I was in trouble. He grabbed Rick from behind, pulling him off me. Rick tried to swing his arms to break free but Scotty had a firm grasp, holding him tight. “What about Janine, you goddamn lesbian?” He exclaimed. “And what about her father?” Scott picked Rick up bodily and threw him hard to the floor, pinning him down. Rick turned his head sideways looking towards me. His face was bright crimson. Sweat was pouring off him, his torn shirt soaked with perspiration. “Michael, get out of here!” George ordered. “Go up to your room and sleep it off! Now!” Michael stumbled past me, holding onto the wall for support as he tried to make his way to the stairs. “Michelle, you alright?” He asked. “Might be best if you left.” George added. “I’m alright.” I responded. “I want to talk to Rick first.” Scott still had Rick pinned to the kitchen floor. I knelt down beside him. Both he and Scotty were still breathing hard. “Rick. Let me explain.” I tried to say calmly. “I don’t want to hear anything you’ve got to say!” He muttered, still having problems breathing. I asked Scotty to let him up so he could get his breath. Rick sat on the kitchen’s tile floor, his breathing gradually returning to normal. Scott stood right over him, in case he came at me again. “Rick. I haven’t been with anyone since we started seeing each other.” I stated. “That’s the truth. I wouldn’t lie to you.” “I don’t believe a fucking word you say.” He mumbled. “I worried about you so I came down. This is what I find out about you. Michael told me everything.” “Get away from me.” Rick added, choking out the words. “Just get away from me.” It was futile to try and talk with Rick. I slowly stood up and walked past George. I picked up my purse and headed towards the front door. My entire body was shaking. Ferris stopped me in the foyer. “Why don’t we go downstairs and cool off a bit?” He suggested. “I think we could both use a drink.” It was all I could do to get my feet to track down the stairs. George stepped behind the bar to fix us a drink. I sat down on the couch across the room. My hands shook trying to light a cigarette. “Here, drink this down and I’ll get you another.” George ordered. I took two big drinks of the Scotch. George handed me his to sip on. The alcohol started to gradually calm me down. I puffed nervously on my cigarette. Ferris sat down next to me on the couch after fixing himself a drink. “How long have you two been seeing each other?” He inquired. “For awhile, not long.” I replied. “How come you never mentioned it?” He asked. “I wasn’t sure if you’d approve or not.” I responded. “I felt it best to just keep quiet about it.” “Did you really fuck Janine and her father?” Ferris boldly asked. I didn’t answer, just nodded my head ‘yes’. After lighting up another cigarette, I finished my second drink. Not asking, George poured me another. “How serious is it between you and Rick?” He inquired. “We weren’t serious, not serious at all.” I replied. George finally quit asking questions. I dozed off on the couch, waking sometime later in the evening. George had covered me with a light blanket and let me sleep. I stumbled up the stairs through the darkness. My car was still sitting in the driveway. Rick’s pickup was gone. I drove home, not even aware of what time it was. Sometime after midnight, I presumed. I arrived at Ferris’s home the next morning shortly before 8:00. George was sitting out on the terrace eating his breakfast. Stopping in the kitchen, I poured myself a cup of coffee. I glanced down at the kitchen floor where all the scuffling had taken place. It was freshly mopped. George and I chatted briefly before heading down to the office. Charlene hadn’t arrived for work yet so it was just the two of us. “Let’s go into my office and talk.” Ferris suggested. I sat down across the desk from George waiting for him to speak. “What do you want me to do about Rick?” He asked. “Do you want me to get a restraining order or do you want me to try and get you two back together.” “I don’t want either.” I responded. “I’d prefer you and Rick get together as father and son.” George smirked. “That’ll never happen.” He stated. “He hates me and that’ll never change.” “It’s never too late to change.” I spoke. “Rick doesn’t hate you. He just feels you weren’t the father he wished for.” “What do you mean by that?” He asked. I told George what Rick had said about his fear of ever becoming a husband, let alone a father. George seemed quite surprised. He admitted he wasn’t the best father figure. He’d neglected both of his sons. George wasn’t happy with the situation but he wasn’t sure how to change things. “Why don’t you consider putting them both in legitimate enterprises?” I suggested. “Michael’s always wheeling and dealing. Maybe something in real estate or let him manage this new warehouse you just purchased?” “What about Rick?” George asked. “All he’s ever shown any interest in is horses.” “Rick told me he hoped to own his own ranch someday.” I stated. “Up in southern Colorado somewhere.” “Really!” He exclaimed. “I didn’t know that. He never mentioned it to me.” “You could make it happen for him.” I said. “Charlene and I have been doing alot of checking into ranch land in southern Colorado.” “You mean, something I should invest in?” George asked. “Sort of a business venture.” “Yes, exactly.” I responded. “You and Rick working together. Just like you and Michael working together.” “How much money are we talking about?” He asked. “A million, more or less.” I replied. “You think Rick would be willing to go into business with his ole dad?” Ferris inquired. “I think he will if we present it to him in the right manner.” I answered. “We’ll have to use some enticement, I’m sure.” “If I say yes, will you guarantee me you and Rick will get back together?” He asked. “I can’t make that guarantee.” I replied. “It’s not up to me. I feel it’s over between Rick and me. But, it doesn’t have to be over between you two.” George gave me the go-ahead to further investigate the ranch properties. It wouldn’t have made any difference. I was going to proceed on my own with or without his permission. Now that I was going to work with Rachael Coulter on the side. Real estate investment over the long term seemed the safest and most rewarding. Rachael was interested in long term investments with little or not risk. George was more interested in shorter-term investments for quick money. Higher risks, like gambling, weren’t one of his concerns. When Charlene finally made it into the office just before noon, I told her what Ferris and I had talked about. She was quite happy; hoping Rick and his father could work their differences out. I didn’t tell her about the big fight at the house or about my job offer in Las Vegas. I wanted Charlene to concentrate on work and not worry. Rachael phoned me late in the afternoon from Vegas. She was still adamant about me coming to work for her. I wasn’t ready to quit working with George but moving to Vegas, especially for alot more money, wasn’t out of the question anymore. Rachael understood my situation, agreeing to be patient with me. Tuesday, Charlene and I decided to fly up to Colorado and check into some ranch properties. Charlene made all the reservations. Leaving Wednesday, we’d fly from Phoenix to Denver, then catch a commuter flight down to Pueblo. From there, we’d rent a car and drive south to a town called Walsenburg. The realtor had several properties in mind for us to look at. The flights were uneventful. I took the time to work on my laptop while Charlene gazed out the window. The drive from Pueblo south to Walsenburg was quick, less than an hour. Walsenburg was a quiet little town, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the Rockies with a population of less than five thousand. After checking into our motel on the outskirts of town and getting something to eat, we drove around checking out the sites. The mountains surrounding the area were very picturesque, a perfect place for a ranch. Thursday morning, we met with the realtors, a married couple who were lifelong residents of the area. They were quite pleasant and eager to help us find what we were looking for. From the pictures and information they’d emailed us, we’d narrowed our search down to two possibilities. We rode out to look at the first parcel of property. It was quite nice, gently rolling terrain with lots of trees. It was a little ways off the paved roads, which might limit its access during the winter months. The second property we looked at was much larger, located a few miles west of town along the main highway. Like the first property we’d looked at, the terrain was gently rolling with lots of trees and grasslands. The views of the surrounding mountains were breathtaking and so was the price! A million, two-hundred thousand for eight-hundred acres. The realtor could see I was interested but the price was more than I was willing to go. “If you’d like to make an offer, we’d be more than happy to write it up for you.” The woman stated. “We might even be able to get you a quick answer.” “I’m not willing to offer anymore than a million flat.” I stated. “I’m hesitant to even offer that much.” In actuality, I was willing to write them a check on the spot but I didn’t want to seem anxious. Offering less than the asking price probably meant $14000 less for their sales commission. “I seriously doubt they’d accept the offer but I’m willing to write it up if you want.” The woman responded. “Won’t hurt to try.” “We’re willing to pay with a cashier’s check or electronic transfer immediately if they’ll accept the offer.” I said. “See if that tantalizes them any.” The realtors drove us back to the office and prepared the purchase offer without hesitation. They were to contact us at our motel and let us know the outcome of our offer. I wasn’t through shopping around for property so Charlene and I left to do more sightseeing. Most of the property we saw was rangeland but it still held promise. Friday morning we drove back out to the property and took another look around. We hadn’t heard anything from the realtors but I wasn’t surprised or worried. Charlene and I walked up to the top of one of the hills, taking in the view. “This would be a perfect place for you and Rick to raise a family.” Charlene remarked, smiling coyly. “That’s never going to happen.” I remarked. “It’s over between us.” “Oh my God, what happened?” She exclaimed. I told her what had happened Sunday afternoon at the house, when we got back from Las Vegas. She was quite shocked to say the least. More so at my telling her about Janine and her father. “Doesn’t Rick understand that was all before you two started seeing each other?” She asked. “And why did Michael have to tell him anything?” “Michael was drunk. He probably just wanted to shoot his mouth off.” I answered. “Even though it was all true, he shouldn’t have been the one to tell him.” I added. “So, is this ranch something to make up for it or something else?” Charlene inquired. “Rick told me he dreamed of someday owning a ranch in southern Colorado.” I replied. “Some place where he could raise registered quarterhorses.” “You’re just trying to fulfill his dreams then.” She said. “That and maybe work things out between Rick and his father.” I responded. “What about you?” Charlene asked. “You’re not giving up on Rick, are you?” I took Charlene into my confidence, telling her about the job offer I’d gotten over the weekend. “You’re not going to take it, are you?” She asked. “You can’t just up and leave George and your work here.” “I’m not sure what I’m going to do.” I replied. “I’m seriously considering it. I could still work with George, just from a long distance.” “Sounds to me like you’re just running away.” Charlene stated. “This job offer in Vegas is just an excuse to get away from what you’ve done.” I couldn’t reply to Charlene’s remark. Maybe there was a bit of truth to her statements. We sat down on the hill for awhile, breathing in the clean fresh mountain air, polluted only by my incessant smoking. Late in the afternoon, we drove back to the motel. The phone in the room rang shortly after we got in. The desk clerk informed me the realtor had been trying to contact me on my cell phone but wasn’t getting a response. I checked my cell phone; the low battery light was barely visible. I phoned the realtor, with fingers crossed. The sellers had agreed to our terms providing we were prepared to close within a week. I told them I’d return the following Friday with a cashier’s check prepared to close the deal. I was greatly relieved that we’d successfully made the deal but getting Rick to run the operation for his father was still an obstacle that lie ahead. Charlene and I flew back to Phoenix Saturday morning. She was anxious to get back and be with her boyfriend, Curtis. She talked quite a bit about him, sounding more serious than ever. He treated her good and according to Charlene, was quite the lover. Monday morning at the office, Charlene and I met with Ferris in his office. I showed him digital pictures of the property and quite a few scenic pictures of the mountains. He was quite impressed and happy we’d made the deal for $200K less than the asking price. When Charlene went to her office, Ferris and I discussed several other ideas I had for investing his money. We talked till almost lunchtime. Ferris left for the rest of the day, probably for a liaison with his girlfriend. Charlene and I worked together compiling information I needed. Thursday afternoon I left to catch my flight to Denver. I had my attaché packed with investment information along with the cashier’s check for the ranch. My plans were to fly from Denver to Las Vegas after closing the deal on the ranch. I asked Charlene to work on some projects for me while I was gone. Keeping her busy made her happy and took her mind off the possibility of my leaving. The realtors had set up the closing on the ranch property at one of the local Walsenburg banks for early Friday morning. I met the sellers and their bank representatives. Along with the cashier’s check, I furnished the bank with a copy of my power of attorney for George Ferris. In less than thirty minutes, we’d closed the deal. We all shook hands and chatted briefly before I left, hurrying back to Pueblo to catch my commuter flight. By late Friday afternoon, I was checking into the Imperial Palace. The room was fantastic, every amenity I could ask for. It wasn’t a suite, but I didn’t need a suite, just a place to rest and sleep. After grabbing a quick shower, I phoned Rachael at her home. She invited me to attend the evening party, offering to send a car for me. I was tired from all the travel and excitement of the day so I declined, setting up a meeting with her for noon the next day. That evening, after dropping two-hundred dollars at the blackjack tables, I grabbed a bite to eat before returning to my room. I didn’t sleep well, feeling nauseated. Sitting on the couch, watching television made me feel better. After smoking a few cigarettes, I drifted off to sleep, stretching out on the couch. I awoke early Saturday morning, my nausea had returned. I debated canceling my noon meeting with Rachael Coulter. The shower helped me feel better so I decided to eat a little breakfast. Glenn, Rachael’s driver was right on time, picking me up at 11:30. I caught a brief glimpse of the handgun beneath his suit jacket. Rachael had lunch already prepared when I arrived. Greeting me at the door, wearing a skimpy little pink bikini, she looked damn sexy. Glenn carried my attaché for me. The two of us sat under the shade of a large table umbrella, eating fresh fruit and drinking lemonade. My upset stomach was gradually returning. I had a feeling the lemonade might be the cause. After finishing lunch, Rachael and I retired to her office. I had several good investment ideas in mind that I felt was suitable for her. We discussed real estate ventures, which I felt was the best in the long term. “I don’t know all that much about real estate.” Rachael stated. “Why do you feel it’s best for me?” “With real estate, you’d be investing large chunks of money at one time.” I responded. “The risk is minimal, almost non-existent. You’ve got leverage with cash, that’s your bargaining power. And, land purchased at the right price can only appreciate.” “What about the stock market, you think it’s too risky?” She asked. “I’d recommend staying out of the market.” I replied. “Too much volatility and you’ve got to keep your eye on it constantly for changes and trends.” Lady Gambler Ch. 07 “Any business ventures you think might be good?” Rachael inquired. “Anything not related with gambling!” “Construction, maybe a small service business or two.” I answered. “Anything long term, forget about anything going short.” “Whatever you decide on, it’ll have to be away from Vegas.” I added. “The casinos and hotels pretty much have everything covered.” “Out of state or just away from Vegas?” She asked. “Off hand, I’d recommend, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and California.” I stated. “I think that’s where the best chances for growth are right now.” “Sounds like you’ve really done your homework.” Rachel remarked. “How do we go about getting started?” “I’ve been thinking about that.“ I responded. “You let me know how much you want to invest. I’ll make recommendations but you’ll have to make the final decision. I’ll execute the investment from Phoenix and take care of all the legalities. “From Phoenix.” She remarked. “I take that as a statement you won’t come and work solely for me.” “I’m not saying that won’t change.” I responded. “I’ve got a few loose ends to tie up before I consider your offer.” I was still putting Rachael off on a decision. How much longer she would persist, I wasn’t sure. I was going to have to make a decision soon and stick to it. “How about coming to tonight’s game?” Rachael asked. “You don’t have to play, just be here with me.” “I’d like that but I’m leaving later on this evening. “I quickly replied. It was a lie but I wasn’t feeling up to doing any partying. Glenn drove me back to the Imperial Palace. After taking a few aspirins, I spent the rest of the day and evening in bed. Sunday afternoon, I was back at my apartment in Scottsdale. My nausea had completely subsided and I was feeling much better. Not having been to the grocery for awhile, all I had to eat were frozen tv dinners. At least, they were something I could microwave. Monday morning, I woke up early. I skipped coffee, deciding to wait till I got to the office. I showered, fixed my hair and put on my make-up. I was feeling much better; maybe the flu bug had decided to find another victim. Entering Ferris’s residence, I heard laughter coming from the terrace. I stopped in the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee. The cook offered me a fresh bagel but I was hesitant about eating anything. Approaching the terrace, I saw George and Michael sitting at the table. The other person was Rick! All three seemed in a good mood for some reason. Stepping out on the terrace, I quickly turned towards the path to the office. “Hey Michelle!” Ferris shouted. “Come and join us for breakfast.” “No thanks, I’m going on down to the office.” I quickly replied. There was only one chair left at the table. It was right next to Rick. It would be awkward for us to sit at the same table, let alone so close. Entering the cool air of the office was instantly refreshing. The heat walking down from the house had gotten to me, making me light-headed. I sat my coffee down on my desk and proceeded to boot up the computers. I heard the front door open and close. “Charlene, I’ve got those closing papers in my attaché.” I shouted. “Would you make some copies so we can get the originals to the bank?” I didn’t hear Charlene’s reply, just footsteps approaching. I turned to see Rick standing in the doorway. “I thought you were Charlene.” I said. “Charlene’s up at the house, sitting with Dad and Michael.” He stated. “I asked her to wait while I came down to talk with you.” “I don’t know that we’ve got anything left to talk about.” I smarted off. “I think you’ve said more than enough already.” “I want to apologize for what I said and for attacking you.” He muttered. “I wasn’t in my right mind.” Being at a loss for words, I changed the subject to avoid saying the wrong thing. “Did your father mention anything about you attending a meeting here Friday morning?” I inquired. “Yeah, yeah he did.” Rick responded. “He didn’t say what it was about though.” “You going to be there?” He asked. “I’ll be there.” I replied. “You just make sure you’re there.” Rick approached me but I put both hands up as a sign for him to keep away from me. He hesitated, then turned and left my office. It was the last time I would ever see him. Leaving work early Monday, I stopped at a local drugstore to pick up something over the counter for my nausea. I drifted back and forth between the aisles looking at every product. A sales clerk helped me find something after I described my symptoms to her. Tuesday morning, I awoke feeling pretty good. My strength and energy seemed to have returned. The medication I’d taken the night before seemed to have done the trick. After taking care of things, I took a quick shower and dressed for work. I smoked one cigarette after another during the half hour drive to Ferris’s home. George, Charlene and I worked on the presentation we’d make to Rick. Ferris had not objections to making arrangements to set up expense and business accounts for the ranch. George was willing to spare no expense if it meant getting his son back. After the meeting, which lasted till late morning, I made a few phone calls. Charlene and I went to lunch although I wasn’t really hungry. I barely ate anything. Charlene looked worried that something was wrong. “You want to tell me what’s the matter?” She inquired. “You don’t look like you feel well.” “I took one of those pregnancy test this morning.” I muttered. “It showed positive. It damn near glowed in the dark!” “Michelle, you’re pregnant!” She exclaimed. “That’s wonderful!” “No, no it’s not.” I stammered. “I can’t be pregnant, not now anyway.” “You need to go to a doctor and make sure.” Charlene suggested. “Get prenatal care.” I told her about my appointment with an ob-gyn for the following day. If she confirmed my fears, I was going to leave Phoenix before anyone found out, especially Rick. Charlene couldn’t understand why I wanted to keep my pregnancy a secret. I finally told her everything about how Rick felt about marriage and kids. I wasn’t about to dump my problems on him, not after all that had recently transpired. Wednesday was a busy day. The doctor had me going from room to room, running tests and scans. After several blood tests, my arm was really hurting. One of the nurses gave me a couple of aspirins. I finally was allowed to get dressed, then told to wait for the doctor to review the results with me. After being scolded for drinking and smoking, the doctor handed me a thick packet of information containing diet and prenatal information. “How far along am I?” I nervously asked. “Six weeks, eight at the most.” She replied. “When I see you next month, I can be more exact.” I left the office in a daze. My feet didn’t feel like they were touching the ground. I lit up a cigarette, knowing I’d have to eventually quit. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Leaving Phoenix as soon as possible after Friday morning’s meeting was utmost on my mind. I skipped work Thursday altogether. I made a phone call to Charlene to let her know I wouldn’t be in. It was impossible to avoid answering her question as to whether I was pregnant or not. She was happy to hear the news although she realized it would soon bring drastic changes. My other call was to Rachael Coulter in Vegas. I explained my situation, telling her I felt it best to come up with an alternate plan to work on her investment portfolio. She still insisted she wanted me to handle it personally, stating we could work around my pregnancy. We finally came to an agreement that I would move to Las Vegas and work from there. Friday morning, I sat with George and Michael at the patio table sipping coffee. My mind kept going over the presentation for Rick and later my news to George that I was leaving immediately for Las Vegas. Scott came out and sat down with us. It was getting close to the time for the meeting. Rick hadn’t shown up yet. The phone inside the house rang several times before Michael could answer it. Michael came back out the terrace after a brief conversation. “That was Rick.” He stated. “He’s caught up in traffic on I-17 just north of the loop. “Well, why don’t we go down to the office where it’s cooler?” Ferris suggested. “We can wait for him there.” It was rather warm for being so early in the morning. The idea of sitting in the air-conditioned office sounded like a good idea. Charlene was already at the office. George and I walked together down the winding path. George had his arm around my waist. Little did he know that his hand was just inches away from his grandbaby. He was elated about everything. Michael was walking behind me, Scott behind him. I’d forgotten my attaché sitting by the patio table. I started to go back after it. “Scott, would you ran back and get Michelle’s attaché?” He asked. We were within a few yards of the office when Frank Henderson suddenly leaped out from the side of the building. In his right hand was a handgun. Henderson’s hand shook violently as he raised it, pointing it right at us. “Ferris, you bastard!” He screamed. “You’ll never fuck my wife again!” The handgun went off, firing several rounds. Ferris pulled me backwards but two of the bullets struck me, one in the shoulder and one in my neck. Ferris fell to the ground in a heap, pulling me halfway down. Another bullet struck my left hip. Several more rounds fired, then silence. I heard Charlene screaming as she ran out of the building. Several more rounds fired, maybe five or six. I cringed at the sound of the gunfire. It felt like my body was on fire. I felt pain all over and my breathing was in quick gasps, choking on blood. Blood was running from my shoulder, down my arm, drying on the heated concrete walkway. Charlene knelt down near my face. He face was flushed and soaked with tears. She held me close. “Take care of Rick.” I whispered, choking out the words. The noon news on all the local networks covered the story. The news anchor read from the teleprompter. “Three people were slain in assassination of reputed underworld figure, George Ferris. Early this morning, at his home in Fountain Hills, George Ferris, his son Michael and a female business colleague, Michelle Gray were gunned down by Frank Henderson. Henderson is a partner in the investment firm of Banks, Kellogg and Henderson. He was shot but not seriously wounded by a bodyguard for the Ferris family. The victims all were pronounced dead at the scene. Details are still sketchy at the moment. We’ll have more details during the evening news.” Lady Gambler Ch. 08 Rachael walked hurriedly through the busy airport terminal looking for her driver, Glenn. Her high-heels clicking as she walked on the hard, terrazzo floor. Even she noticed the uneven tempo, her steps quick, then slow. Her legs were shaken, having just stepped off the plane after attending Michelle’s funeral in Phoenix. Rachael’s shoulder bag felt like it weighed a ton, her whole body was tired. “Rachael! Over here!” Glenn shouted, waving his hand in the air. Rachael forced a smile to her drawn face, waving back to acknowledge his presence. “Car’s out front.” He stated. “I’ll get you luggage and meet you.” “No, I’ve got to sit down.” She responded, grabbing his arm. “I’ll wait on you. I really need a drink.” Glenn quickly retrieved Rachael’s suitcase from the conveyor and guided her to a bar in the busy terminal. Sitting at a table away from the bar, he ordered two double scotches. “You shouldn’t have gone.” He muttered to Rachael, sitting across from him. “I had to go.” She replied. “I had to say good-bye to Michelle. I’d never be able to forgive myself if I didn’t.” “Was it a big funeral?” Glenn inquired. “How’d she look?” “Maybe a dozen or so people.” Rachael answered. “It was a closed casket. They had a picture of her beside it. God, she was so young and so beautiful!” “She would have been 24 next month.” Rachael added. “That’s too damn young to die!” “How did her family take it?” Glenn asked. “Her family!” Rachael exclaimed. “There wasn’t any of her family there, not one God damn person! Her boyfriend was there. They finally had to take him out of the room. He was such a mess. I think everyone was crying as much for him as they were for Michelle.” “I met Charlene, Michelle’s secretary and her boss’s bodyguard.” Rachael added. “They were handling it pretty well, all things considered. Charlene made arrangements to have Michelle cremated. She said that‘s what she would have wanted.” Rachael couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Putting her hands to her face, she broke down. Glenn rose and walked around to her side, comforting her. After a few minutes, Rachael was able to regain control of herself. Her face was puffy and her make-up a mess. She rushed into the restroom to make repairs before leaving the bar. Glenn drove Rachael to her desert home, neither of them saying a word. Rachael welcomed the silence, not wanting to discuss Michelle Gray‘s death any further. Six months have passed since the untimely death of Michelle Gray. Rachael is still operating her weekend high-stakes poker games at her desert home, less than a half hour from the bright lights of Las Vegas. Rachael’s net monthly income is almost a quarter of a million dollars. Still apprehensive about making investments using her own judgment, Rachael is putting the money in certificates of deposit and money markets. The interest rates are low but the risk is minimal. It was mid-afternoon on a Wednesday when the phone rang at Rachel’s home. Rachel was lounging by the pool, enjoying the sun. Juanita, the Hispanic servant girl, brought the cordless phone out to her. “It’s some lady from Phoenix.” Juanita stated. “Says her name is Charlene Stevenson.” Rachael anxiously took the phone. “I just wanted to call and see how you were getting along.” Charlene said. “I’m doing good.” Rachael replied. “How’s things down in Phoenix?” “Still busy.” Charlene answered. “Trying to get the last of George Ferris’s estate and holdings taken care of.” “How’s his son doing?” Rachael asked. “Wasn’t his name Rick?” “Rick’s not doing too good.” Charlene responded, sounding very disappointed. “He won’t talk or return my calls. He’s still working at that ranch near Prescott.” “He’s never going to ever get over Michelle.” Rachael said. “There’s times I can’t stop thinking about her myself.” “I know what you mean.” Charlene stated. “It’s been difficult for everyone.” “The reason I’m calling is that I’m in town, staying at the Monte Carlo and was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me this evening?” “Yes! Yes, I would!” Rachael exclaimed. “Great! How about 7:00?” Charlene stated. “I’ll meet you at the front desk.” Rachael was happy to hear from Charlene. Although she’d only met Charlene at Michelle’s funeral, she felt like they were close friends. Michelle Gray was their common bond. Arriving at the Monte Carlo a few minutes before 7:00, Rachael spotted Charlene talking with the desk clerk. The two hugged briefly instead of shaking hands. “I was wondering if you’d care if we ate in my room rather than one of the restaurants.” Charlene suggested. “It would be so much quieter.” “Yeah, that sounds good.” Rachael answered. Arriving at Charlene’s room on the twelfth floor, the two shared a glass of chilled wine. After ordering from the room service menu, Charlene gestured for Rachael to sit down at the small table in the corner of the room. Charlene set her attaché case on the foot of the queen-size bed, unzipping the main compartment. Taking a file folder out, she placed it in front of Rachael. “Michelle would want you to have this.” Charlene said. “She just finished working on it the day before she was killed.” Rachel opened the file folder, her hand slightly shaking. It was an investment proposal for some ranch land in southern Colorado. Rachel glanced up at Charlene before reading the document over. Memories of Michelle clouded her eyes, making it difficult to read. In her hands she held one of the last things her close friend had touched. Rachael’s fingers brushed across the document. Tears fell from her cheeks, staining the paper. Charlene handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. Memories of Michelle, their intimate time together and their friendship crossed her mind. Eating dinner was difficult for Rachael. Her eyes kept glancing at the file folder. Finally, after finishing their meal, Charlene pushed the cart out into the hallway. Pouring two more glasses of wine, the women continued sitting at the table. Rachael picked up the investment proposal and read it thoroughly. Owning a ranch in Colorado stirred an excitement in her she’d never realized. To Rachael, it was more than a business proposal; it was Michelle speaking out to her. Smiling at Charlene, she boldly stated. “I want to go with this. I really do!” “I thought you might.” Charlene responded. “Michelle and I looked at it but decided on the larger acreage for Mr. Ferris and Rick.” “The 640 acre ranch is a little off the beaten path and it’s been on the market for almost a year so we might be able to get the land for much less than the asking price.” Charlene added. “How do I go about purchasing the property?” Rachael inquired. “I can handle everything for you including the closing.” Charlene responded. “How do I go about paying for it?” Rachael asked. “When we get ready to close, you can do an electronic transfer.” Charlene replied. “I’ll get the documents to you right after.” “It all sounds so easy.” Rachael said, smiling. “Michelle had that same manner.” “You just need to give me the official go-ahead and I’ll get things underway.” Charlene said, with a sense of authority. “You’ve got it! Let’s do it!” Rachael exclaimed. “Just keep in touch and let me know what I need to do.” After a long chat, reminiscing about the past, Rachael phoned Glenn to pick her up. Charlene stood in the lobby with Rachael waiting for her driver. The two women hugged good-bye when Glenn drove up. The following Wednesday afternoon, Charlene phoned Rachel at her home. The sellers had accepted a lower offer than their original asking price. She told Rachel how to go about making the electronic transfer and a power of attorney statement. Late Thursday morning, Rachel received another call from Charlene. “It’s a done deal.” Charlene gleefully stated. “I’m going to FedEx the documents to you.” “Why don’t you fly back to Vegas and bring them.” Rachael suggested. “We can have a little celebration. If you‘d like, you can stay here a few days before going back to Phoenix.” Charlene eagerly agreed, stating she would change her flight plans. Late Thursday night, Glenn picked her up at the Vegas airport. The two talked briefly about her trip during their drive to Rachael’s home. Rachael greeted Charlene at the door. The two women were happy to see each other, embracing for several moments. “I’m so glad you came.” Rachael said. “I’m anxious to hear about how things went.” Charlene and Rachael sat out on the terrace, talking about the ranch purchase. Glenn joined them, bringing out a chilled bottle of French wine. The three toasted Rachael’s successful investment. “To the one who made it all possible. Michelle, we love and miss you.” Rachael toasted. Charlene handed Rachael all the paperwork for the ranch purchase. She scanned through the multiple pages of each document. “I’ll look it over later, when I’m not so excited.” Rachael stated. “Are you still interested in making more investments?” Charlene asked. “When I haven’t been working on Ferris’s estate, I’ve been working on some investment strategies.” “I’m interested.” Rachael eagerly responded. “I just want to keep the risk as minimal as possible.” “Yes, I remember Michelle saying you were only interested in long-term investments with as low a risk as possible.” Charlene stated. “Michelle felt service industries and real estate were your best options.” She added. “That reminds me, I need to pay you for your services.” Rachael said. “Michelle and I had agreed on a ten percent investment fee. Is that alright with you?” Charlene hesitated before answering. “Yeah, that’s alright with me. But not on this one, maybe future investments.” “Are you sure?” Rachael questioned. “$60,000 is an awful lot of money to turn down.” After lengthy coaxing, Charlene reluctantly accepted the money, stating she’d make sure it got to the right hands. Rachael didn’t quite understand Charlene’s remark but she didn’t want to ask her to explain it. “What ever happened to Ferris’s bodyguard?” Rachael asked. “Is he still in Phoenix?” “No…………he’s working as a bodyguard for a woman in Taos, New Mexico.” Charlene replied. “We still call each other several times a week, just to stay in touch.” “He’s the one who shot the guy who killed them isn’t he?” Rachael asked. “Yeah. He shot Frank Henderson in the butt twice.” Charlene answered. “Should have shot the bastard dead and avoided the trial!” Rachael, Charlene and Glenn sat out on the terrace till late in the evening. “I really should be getting to bed. It’s been a long day and my neck and shoulders are killing me.” Charlene stated. “I’ll show you to your room.” Rachael said. “Maybe a good massage is what you need. I’m sure Glenn wouldn’t mind.” “It’d be my pleasure.” Glenn quickly remarked. Charlene lay stretched out, face down on the massage table, covered with a large white towel. After pouring some massage oil over her back and shoulders, Glenn’s strong hands worked the oil into the tense muscles. Charlene felt relief almost immediately. Charlene’s face was mere inches from Glenn’s crotch. Her mind wondered what his real connection was with Rachael Coulter. Was he just her driver or was he one of her lovers. “You’ve got great hands.” Charlene murmured. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s given me a massage.” “Rachael taught me.” Glenn responded. “She’s quite the masseuse herself.” After massaging Charlene’s neck and shoulders, Glenn’s hands worked slowly down her back, pushing the towel back till it barely covered her butt. Charlene wasn’t objecting in the slightest. Glenn’s hands felt wonderful. Rachael entered the room, standing next to the table. “He’s got the greatest hands, doesn’t he?” She said. “He sure does!” Charlene answered. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in years!” Rachael poured some warm massage oil down the back of Charlene’s legs, gently working it in. Glenn excused himself, leaving the room. Rachael’s hands worked their way upwards from Charlene’s ankles, over the back of her knees, coming within inches of her pussy. Charlene was almost asleep, feeling completely relaxed. Rachael’s fingers gently brushed over Charlene’s pussy, causing it to blossom. A low moan, escaped her throat. Noticing Charlene offered no resistance to her intimate touch, Rachael continued massaging her pussy. Charlene’s legs spread slightly apart, allowing Rachael’s hand to further explore. Inserting her middle finger just inside her pussy, she gently moved it in a circular motion. Charlene’s pussy sucked on her finger. Rachael continued working at Charlene’s pussy till she got her off. “Why don’t you turn over on your back so we can get your front?” Rachael whispered. Rolling over on her back, Charlene saw Glenn standing at the foot of the table. His muscular body totally revealed. He was completely naked; displaying the biggest cock she’d ever seen, not only long but also extremely thick. Glenn stroked his cock slowly, teasing Charlene. “My God!” Charlene exclaimed, grinning. “I hope that’s for me!” Glenn pulled Charlene’s butt to the edge of the table, spreading her legs and supporting them in the crook of his arms. Rachael guided the enormous head of Glenn’s cock between the wet folds of Charlene’s pussy. Pressing against her hard, he spread the lips open, forcing his cock into her. A loud gasp escaped Charlene’s lips, feeling her pussy stretched to its limits. Glenn took his time, not forcing his cock. Hurting Charlene was the last thing he wanted. Working his cock slowly in and out, he managed to fully penetrate her. Rachel’s well-oiled hands worked over Charlene’s breasts, pinching her nipples. Glenn stroked his cock slowly in and out of Charlene’s pussy. She was in pure ecstasy. Rachel’s lips softly kissed Charlene‘s, their tongues wetting each other’s lips. Glenn’s tempo increased gradually. He was fucking his huge cock in and out of Charlene’s lustful pussy. Her loud moans along with Glenn’s filled the room. Rachael held Charlene’s hands tightly. Charlene’s orgasm was rapidly building. “OH Goddddddddddddddd Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkk Meeeeeeeeee” Charlene cried out. Glenn fucked into her hard, his huge balls slapping against her ass, lifting her off the table. Charlene’s incredible orgasm ravaged her body. Glenn gripped her legs tightly against him to keep her on the table. Her body shook for almost a minute till the orgasm slowly started to subside, leaving her weakened. Glenn fucked her hard, harder than ever, till his cum exploded inside Charlene. Glenn stood paralyzed for several moments before he slowly withdrew his cock. Thick cum dripped out of Charlene’s pussy, pooling on the tile floor. Glenn supported Charlene’s legs, slowly lowering them till they dangled off the table. Charlene had almost passed out from her orgasm. With Rachael’s help, Glenn pulled Charlene to a sitting position at the edge of the table. Holding her against him, he kissed her softly on the lips. “How about a quick shower before bed?” Glenn asked, smiling. Rachel led Charlene to the shower. Charlene’s arms were around Glenn’s neck to help steady herself. The warm spray of the shower on her back almost put her to sleep, feeling totally spent. The two showered, stepped out of the shower and dried each other off. Entering the bedroom down the hallway, Rachel was turning the bed down for them. Her smile, the sign it was alright for the two of them to sleep together. Charlene slipped into bed, stretching out alongside Glenn. Rachael left the room, turning off the lights and closing the door. With the room in complete darkness, Charlene could feel Glenn’s warm body holding hers close. Their sleep interrupted one time during the night for another lovemaking session. Glenn fucked Charlene doggie-style till their bodies lay collapsed on the soaked sheets. Charlene slept till late morning, waking up alone. Showering and getting dressed, Charlene descended the stairs to the main level of the house. She heard voices coming from the kitchen. Glenn and Rachael were standing in the kitchen discussing plans for the night’s poker games. Glenn poured Charlene a fresh cup of coffee. “Why don’t we go out on the terrace?” Rachael suggested. “Breakfast will be ready shortly.” The trio sat outside under the shade of a large umbrella. Juanita wheeled their breakfasts out on a large serving cart. “Any chance we can talk you into staying the weekend?” Rachael inquired. “We’ve got alot going on this weekend.” “I would but I really should be getting back to Phoenix.” Charlene replied. “The trial starts Tuesday and I’ve got quite a bit of work to get done. Maybe I’ll come back when I can stay longer.” “You’re always welcome to come anytime.” Rachael responded, smiling. “I hope you’ll come back often.” Late Friday afternoon, Charlene boarded the short flight to Phoenix. Glenn sat with her in the waiting area at the airport to keep her company, giving her a soft kiss before they parted. Charlene phoned Scott when she got back to her home in Phoenix. The two talked about the upcoming trial. Scott was the prosecutor’s star witness, having been the closest to the scene and the one who brought Henderson down with two shots. He hoped the trial would be brief and not drag on for weeks. Henderson’s attorneys, hired by the investment firm, would probably use every trick in the book to get him off. “I’m sure the DA will probably call on us first.” Charlene stated. “I just wish the whole thing were over with.” “I should have aimed a little higher.” Scott responded. “Two shots in the back would have dropped him for good. It’s just not the way I was trained in the military.” “Make sure we sit together in the courtroom.” Charlene said. “We’ll need each other for support.” Monday dragged by slowly. Scott flew in from Taos late in the afternoon. Staying at one of the hotels near the courthouse, he invited Charlene to dinner. Rick, George’s son and the upcoming trial were the main topics of discussion. “How’s Rick doing?” Scott inquired. “Have you seen him?” “I still can’t get him to return my calls.” Charlene responded. “I hope he’s alright.” “He’ll be at the trial tomorrow.” Scott stated. “Henderson’s defense attorneys subpoenaed him.” “I feel so bad for him.” Charlene muttered. “He’s lost so much.” The courtroom was almost filled, few seats remained. Frank Henderson was led into the crowded courtroom by three sheriff’s deputies. Sporting a fresh haircut, he wore a light gray suit with a dark blue tie. Everyone stood when the judge entered the courtroom and took her seat. Charlene gripped Scott’s hand, squeezing it gently. The clerk read off the charges against Frank Henderson. Instead of Scott being called as the first witness, the defense attorneys asked to approach the bench. Both the defense attorneys and prosecuting attorneys approached the judge for a private conversation. They looked back over their shoulders at the filled courtroom several times. After returning to their respective tables, the judge ordered the entire courtroom be cleared including the jury. Charlene and Scott managed to work their way through the crowded lobby outside the courtroom to where Rick was nervously standing. A smile appeared on his face when he saw them approaching. Shaking hands with Scott and giving Charlene a hug seemed to calm him. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to hold up through much more.” Rick murmured. Charlene held his hand, saying. “I know, I know. This has all been a hell of a nightmare.” The bailiff came out of the courtroom, announcing everyone could reenter. Rick sat next to Charlene and Scott. Frank Henderson and his defense attorneys were not present at their table. The DA and his team sat quietly, not looking back at the crowd as they filed into their seats. After the doors were closed, the crowd quieted down. The judge announced that Frank Henderson had changed his plea to guilty of murder on one count and manslaughter on another. His defense team had plea-bargained his sentence down to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Lady Gambler Ch. 08 For Rick it was a disappointment. He wasn’t about to settle for anything less than the death penalty. He felt the district attorney had let him down, not so much for his father and brother as much as for Michelle. Charlene and Scott stood outside the courtroom, trying to console Rick. Two well-dressed men and a woman approached them. They asked to speak with Rick. Scott recognized them as some of the people George Ferris had conducted business with during their frequent trips to south Florida. Scott stood between them and Rick, keeping them apart. “Please, just leave us alone.” Charlene pleaded. “We’ve all been through enough.” The trio nodded and quickly walked off. Charlene suggested Rick accompany them back to Scott’s hotel so they could talk. Reluctantly, Rick agreed. Sitting in Scott’s hotel room, Charlene reviewed with Rick what she’d accomplished regarding the liquidation of his father’s estate. “I was lucky to sell the house for half the market value. Charlene stated. “It was difficult to even get anyone to look at it.” “I’ve managed to sell off all your father’s investment assets except for the warehouse he’d recently purchased.” She added. “You need to keep it along with the ranch in Colorado.” “No. I don’t want any of it.” Rick mumbled. “Get rid of it all.” “Well, I won’t argue with you.” Charlene said. “If you’re absolutely sure that’s what you want, I’ll take care of it.” “I’m sure. Sell everything.” Rick muttered. “I don’t care about anything anymore.” It was useless to try and talk any sense to him. His grieving was overriding his sense of better judgment. Rick left the hotel room to return to his job at the ranch just outside of Prescott. His leaving felt so final for both Scott and Charlene. Charlene couldn’t hold back the tears as they streamed down her face. Scott put his arms around her but it was of little help. “What now?” Scott inquired. “What are you going to do after all this is over?” “I’m not sure.” Charlene responded. “I don’t have much of a reason to stay here. You left, why shouldn’t I do the same?” “Keep in touch.” Scott said. “You’ve got my cell phone number. You know where I’m at if you need me.” Charlene drove home, not sure of what she was going to do. Getting away from Phoenix and all that had happened seemed the most logical. Once Ferris’s last two assets were liquidated, she’d be out of a job. Charlene awoke early Wednesday morning. After eating a light breakfast, she sat in the livingroom contemplating her next move. “The warehouse Ferris had recently purchased was an incredible investment.” She thought. “Maybe Rachael would be interested in buying it at the original purchase price.” It was still early in Vegas. She thought it best to wait till late morning to phone Rachael in case she was a late sleeper. The thought of selling the ranch off was hard to think about. Maybe she’d stall for awhile, just in case Rick might change his mind later on. After much thought, that’s what she decided to do. It was almost 11:00am in Las Vegas when Charlene phoned Rachael Coulter. After some idle chit-chat and answering Rachael’s questions about Frank Henderson’s trial, Charlene brought up the subject of the warehouse she was liquidating for Rick. After reviewing the revenues and purchase price, it didn’t take much convincing to stir Rachael’s interest. “Why don’t you come up for a visit?” Rachael suggested. “Bring the information on the warehouse with you so we can discuss it further.” “Let me know your flight number and I’ll have Glenn pick you up at the airport.” She added. “I think I’ll drive this time instead of fly.” Charlene responded. “That way I’ll have my own car while I’m there.” “I want you to stay here at the house with Glenn and me so don’t make a reservation at any of the hotels. OK.” Rachael insisted. Charlene agreed to stay at Rachael’s desert home, informing her she’d leave the following morning. After gathering up all the material and information on the warehouse project, she spent the rest of the day doing laundry and packing for the trip. She carefully packed Michelle’s laptop in her attaché. It was the only thing, except for a handful of pictures; she’d kept of Michelle’s. The next morning, Charlene took her time making the drive up to Vegas. The passing desert scenery seemed endless. Arriving in Las Vegas just before noon, Charlene turned west towards Rachael’s home. Glenn answered the door; his smiling face presented a warm greeting. After giving Charlene a brief hug and kiss on the cheek, he led her into Rachael’s office. Rachael was sitting behind her desk, going over some paperwork. “Let me have your car keys and I’ll bring in your luggage.” Glenn suggested. “I’m glad to see you made it alright.” Rachael said. “I hope you’ll consider staying longer this time.” “Well, maybe for a few days.” Charlene responded. “I’m not in any hurry to get back to Phoenix.” “Why don’t we eat some lunch before we discuss business?” Rachael suggested. Over lunch the two women discussed the latest news and what was going on in Vegas. The subject of Ferris’s son, Rick came up. “He wants me to sell the ranch in Colorado but I’m going to stall on it for awhile.” Charlene stated. “I’ll keep the taxes paid up on it. He’s got so much money just sitting in the bank now, he’ll never know.” “You think he’ll ever change his mind?” Rachael inquired. “Maybe after a few years.” Charlene answered. “He’s still grieving for Michelle.” “What are your plans?” Rachael asked. “What are you going to do?” “I’m not sure. Maybe move back east.” Charlene replied. “Would you consider working for me?” Rachael inquired, coyly smiling. “I need a full-time assistant to help me.” She added. “And with your investment background, you’d be a valuable asset.” Rachael’s offer sounded very tempting but Charlene wanted to think about it before making a decision. Rachael hadn’t mentioned money. Maybe that and a few benefits were negotiable. The two women returned to Rachael’s office to discuss the purchase of the warehouse project down in Phoenix. Rachael reviewed the material and looked at the pictures Michelle had taken when the building was originally purchased. After asking a few questions, Rachael made her decision to make the investment. “What do I need to do now?” Rachael asked. “Let me get the ownership transfer papers prepared, then you can just execute another electronic transfer of funds.” Charlene responded. “You make it all so easy!” Rachael exclaimed. “You really need to consider my job offer.” Charlene nodded her head. She was considering it and very seriously. That evening, Glenn drove Rachael and Charlene into Las Vegas to attend some stage shows. Afterwards they enjoyed a late dinner at the Luxor. It was well after midnight before the trio returned to Rachael’s home. “Would you like a little company tonight?” Rachael whispered when they entered the house. “I’m still a little sore from the last time!” Charlene quipped. “Hmmmmmm. Well, it wasn’t Glenn I had in mind.” Rachael retorted, grinning. “Sounds intriguing.” Charlene replied. “Your bedroom or mine?” Rachael led Charlene to her bedroom. After undressing and grabbing a quick shower together, the two stretched out on the cool sheets or Rachael‘s bed. Rachael’s lips teased Charlene’s, soft gentle kisses. Charlene’s passions slowly rose as their kissing continued. Her breathing became quite heavy. Rachael’s hands brushed over Charlene’s firm breasts. Her nipples immediately responded, blossoming. Rachael’s expert lips suckled on her nipples, lightly pulling on them. Charlene’s lips emitted deep moans. Rachael’s hand moved between Charlene’s legs, spreading them slightly. Her fingers eased over the wet slit, teasing it. Charlene’s legs sprang open, allowing Rachael easier access. Her hips bucking, Charlene was nearing orgasm. Rachael’s tongue licked at Charlene’s pussy, flicking at her clit. Straddling Charlene’s face, Rachael lowered her pussy. Charlene’s mouth kissed and nibbled at Rachael’s pussy, driving her close to the edge. Sucking hard on her clit, she got Rachael off. Her orgasm quivered her body uncontrollably. Rachael buried her face between Charlene’s legs, muffling her moans. Charlene continued working Rachael’s pussy, using two fingers to stimulate her clitoris. Rachael retrieved a huge penis-shaped dildo from the nightstand. Spreading Charlene’s pussy open, she lubricated the dildo with her saliva, before gently inserting it. Charlene’s butt lifted off the bed, feeling the dildo spreading the walls of her pussy open. Rachael plunged the dildo in and out, rotating it. Charlene’s fingers worked feverously on Rachael’s clit. Both women neared the throws of ecstasy. Coming together, the two women almost rolled off the bed. Charlene’s orgasm was implausible, her juices flowed from her pussy, dripping down on the soaked sheets. Rachael and Charlene, both gasped for breath. Rachael gently kissed the mound over Charlene’s pussy, slowly sliding the huge dildo from her pussy. Both Rachael and Charlene lie motionless on the soaked sheets, their bodies totally spent. Gradually they fell off to sleep. The cool air slowly dried their sweat-soaked bodies. Awakening the next morning, Rachael noticed the two had been covered with a light comforter. Figuring Glenn had checked on her sometime during the night, as was often his habit, it must have been him. Charlene was still sound asleep. Rachael eased off the bed, slipping off to the bathroom for a shower. After drying herself off and checking on the still sleeping Charlene, she put on a robe and walked downstairs to the kitchen. Juanita was working in the kitchen, fixing breakfast for Glenn who was sitting out on the covered terrace. Smiling at the young Hispanic girl, she poured herself a cup of coffee. “Should I fix another breakfast for your guest?” Juanita inquired, returning her smile. “Let’s let her sleep till she wakes up on her own.” Rachael replied. “We’ll see what she wants then.” Rachael passed through the open French doors, stepping out onto the cool surface of the tiled terrace. Glenn watched her approaching him, pushing out one of the chairs at the table. “I take it, you slept well last night.” He quipped, grinning. “I take it you checked on me last night.” Rachael bantered back, sitting down in the chair. “I know how you get when you sleep without being covered up.” Glenn responded. “Your head gets all stuffed up and you’re miserable for much of the day.” “You worry too much about me.” Rachael said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You think Charlene will take the job as your assistant?” Glenn asked. “Or has she already made up her mind?” “I hope I helped make her mind up for her.” Rachael quipped, grinning. “We have alot in common.” “Doesn’t she have a boyfriend down in Phoenix?” He inquired. “Some guy she met over the internet.” “Charlene said he broke up with her right after the shooting.” Rachael replied. “Guess he got scared off.” “Have you talked to her about managing the escort service?” Glenn murmured. “No! Not yet!” Rachael exclaimed. “Let’s get her to agree to be my assistant first. I may have to sweeten the offer to make it more tempting. Charlene’s no dumb-ass!” “I think you see alot of Michelle in Charlene.” Glenn stated. Nodding her head, Rachael responded. “Yes, and that’s why I want her working for me.” It was almost 9:00am when Charlene woke up. Noticing she was alone in the bed, she took a few moments to get her bearings before walking down the hallway to the guest bedroom. After showering and getting dressed, she looked through the house for Rachael. Finding Rachael in her office going over some bills, she knocked on the doorframe before entering. Rachael gestured for her to come in. “Juanita’s out in the kitchen.” She said. “She’ll be more than happy to fix you some breakfast.” “Oh, thanks but I hardly ever eat anything of a morning.” Charlene responded. “Usually just a cup or two of coffee is about it.” Rachael and Charlene walked through the house towards the kitchen. Juanita poured them each a cup of coffee, offering to fix breakfast for Charlene. Charlene thanked her, politely declining the offer. The two women sat out on the terrace sipping the hot coffee. Rachael was hoping for an answer from Charlene about the job offer but she didn’t want to appear overly anxious. Charlene sensed Rachael’s anxiety, playing it very cool. “If she really wants me to move here and work for her, she’ll have to make me a damn good deal.” She thought. “That’s the way Michelle would have played it.” “We’re having alot of guests coming in tonight and tomorrow night for some high-stakes poker.” Rachael stated. “I’d like for you to be in attendance, kind of mingle with the guests and help me out socializing with everyone.” “Sure.” Charlene replied. “I’d be more than happy to help out.” “What should I wear?” She asked. “Did you happen to bring something dressy or formal, maybe an evening dress?” Rachael replied. Laughing, Charlene responded. “I don’t even own an evening dress. I didn’t think about bringing anything formal.” “That’s not a problem.” Rachael said. “I’ll have Glenn take you into town for some shopping. He knows where I have accounts.” Charlene thanked Rachael for her offer; feeling it was just another step to entice her into accepting the job offer. Charlene decided to do a little probing and find out more about the job. “As your assistant, what kind of work would I be doing?” She asked. “Well, naturally I want you to continue working on my investment portfolio. That would be your main job.” Rachael responded. “I’ve got another business enterprise that takes up more of my time than I like.” “I’d like for you to take over managing the operation.” Rachael added. “You’ll be working closely with Glenn and Crystal.” Charlene sensed Rachael was doing her best not to come right out and state what the “business enterprise” was. Remembering back to working for Ferris all those years, she wasn’t about to put herself in the same situation again. Not wanting to jump to any conclusions, Charlene decided to press for more details. “What kind of managing will I be doing?” She asked. “What exactly does Glenn do and who is Crystal?” “Glenn is sort of my money man, a banker of sorts.” Rachael stated, trying to sound coy. “Crystal is my office manager. She takes care of making all the arrangements.” Charlene didn’t reply, deciding silence would force Rachael to give her more details. “It would involve you managing my escort service.” Rachael finally spoke. “It’s all legal and above board and we are licensed.” “So, it’s not prostitution?” Charlene inquired. “Nothing involving call girls.” “No, nothing like that at all.” Rachael replied, doing her best to keep from smiling. Charlene wasn’t buying it, not one word of it. Serious doubts about even considering the job filled her mind. Rachael sensed her deep apprehension. She had to think of something quick. “I’m willing to make you a generous proposition.” Rachael added. “We haven’t discussed salary or benefits yet.” “Ready to go shopping?” Glenn asked, approaching the two women. “Yeah, I guess.” Charlene answered. “Get her some nice clothes.” Rachael stated. “And stop by that new jewelers in the Imperial Palace!” Glenn and Charlene spent the rest of the day shopping in some of the most exclusive shops in Las Vegas. Unlike most men, Glenn enjoyed shopping. Charlene was conservative when it came to clothes. Even though she had great legs and often wore her skirts well above the knee, she was far from the mini-skirt generation. At one of the clothing stores, Glenn picked out three evening gowns he wanted Charlene to try on. He carried them into one of the large dressingrooms. “Try this red dress on first, the one with all the glitter.” He ordered before stepping to the side. “You planning on staying in here with me?” Charlene asked, slightly grinning. “You don’t mind, do you?” He replied, smiling. “I may need to help you with a zipper or button.” Since Glenn had more than seen her naked, she didn’t hesitate to get undressed in front of him. The red dress with swirls of glitter fit great and looked fantastic. Charlene smiled, looking at herself in the full-length mirror in the dressing room. Glenn really liked it, complimenting her several times. The slit up the side was more than halfway up her left thigh, showing an ample amount of leg. “Try the other two on so I can see how they look.” Glenn commanded. “Especially this white, sequin dress.” Charlene tried on the other two dresses. They both looked great on her. It was hard to make a decision on which one she liked best. Glenn entered the dressing room with another dress, draped over his arm. She had to try it on, just to please him. It was a long sheath dress, which fit her perfectly. “What do you think?” Charlene asked. “I like the red dress with the swirl.” “They all look great on you.” He complimented. “I’m not making the choice.” Charlene took the long sheath dress off hanging it back on the hanger. Standing in her underwear and high-heels was a little more than Glenn was willing to pass up. He slipped up behind her. With one hand on her waist, he brushed Charlene’s shoulder length hair to the side with the other. His warm lips kissed the back of her neck lightly. Traveling down over her shoulders, his hot breath and kisses sent tingling sensations down her back. “Glenn, not here!” She murmured. “People might hear us.” Glenn wasn’t about to stop. Pushing Charlene’s panties down to her knees, he moved her feet apart. His right hand slipped around in front of her, pulling Charlene back to him. Slipping down over her soft pubic hair, his fingers pressed between legs. Charlene’s pussy was getting wetter the more he rubbed her. Charlene was gritting her teeth to keep from moaning out loud. One of Glenn’s fingers slid deep inside her pussy, making a swirling motion. Charlene’s legs were quivering. Glenn held her tight against him, supporting her. Teasing her sensitive clit, Charlene had an incredible orgasm, moaning aloud. Glenn quickly put his hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. Charlene’s ass bucked back into Glenn till the orgasm subsided. Glenn waited till she regained control of herself and her breathing returned to normal before releasing her. “I just couldn’t resist the temptation.” Glenn whispered in Charlene’s ear. “Making you cum is such a turn-on.” Charlene didn’t reply. She just turned around and kissed him passionately on the lips. It was her way of letting him know, she wasn’t upset by his actions. After getting dressed and checking herself in the mirror, the two exited the dressingroom. Glenn carried the four dresses up to the clerk, purchasing the lot. “You’re not buying all of them, are you?” Charlene asked, surprised. “I told you I couldn’t make a choice.” He responded. “I liked them all.” After eating a late lunch in one of the restaurants at the Imperial Palace, Glenn guided Charlene to a fashionable and expensive jewelry store that had just opened in the hotel. When the clerk asked if she could help them, Glenn asked to see earring and necklace sets. Charlene stood to the side while Glenn and the clerk looked over the selections. Charlene nixed everything the two picked out. It all looked too gaudy or was way too expensive. When it came to jewelry, Glenn’s taste leaned towards the extravagant. After a little coaxing, she finally agreed to let Glenn purchase a diamond dinner ring for her. That seemed to make him happy. Dressing for Friday night’s party, Charlene decided to wear the long red evening gown with the glitter swirl. Guests and poker players were arriving by limo and private vehicles. Standing next to Rachael at the door, she assisted in greeting everyone. Glenn was directing some of the guests up to the large game room on the second floor. Rachael excused herself to take care of the players. Most carried briefcases, which Charlene surmised contained lots of cash. Lady Gambler Ch. 08 Charlene spent the evening mixing with the guests, making sure they had everything they desired. She noticed quite a few of the men had wives much younger than themselves. It wasn’t surprising, just something she picked up on. While a few of the men and poker players showed more than a casual interest in her, Charlene played it cool, not knowing who was married and who wasn’t. It was early morning, almost 3:00am before the last of the players left the desert home. Charlene was tired, her feet more than anything, from standing most of the evening. “How about a drink before turning in?” Rachael inquired. “That sounds good.” Charlene responded. “Maybe a glass of wine.” Glenn fixed the three of them drinks. Sitting in the expansive livingroom, they discussed the night’s activities. From the conversation, Charlene concluded Rachael had taken in alot more than usual, more than $45,000! It was after 4:00 before Charlene got to bed. She fell off to sleep immediately………and alone. Sleeping through the morning, it was just almost noon when she awoke. The house was quiet except for the cleaning service performing their tasks. Charlene took a long, leisurely shower. The warm streams of water cascaded over her body, refreshing her. Drying herself off and getting dressed, she proceeded downstairs. Rachael was sitting out on the terrace reading the morning paper. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, Charlene decided to join her. “You feel like talking about the job offer?” Rachael inquired. “Well, I’m willing to hear what you’ve got to say.” Charlene responded. “How about $2500 a week?” Rachael suggested. “And ten percent on investments you make for me.” “Is the offer negotiable or is that your best offer?” Charlene asked. “It’s the same offer I made to Michelle.” Rachael replied. “Can you give me a little more time to make up my mind?” Charlene requested. Reluctantly, Rachael agreed to wait until later in the day for Charlene to make up her mind, hoping for a positive response. Sitting on the foot of the bed in the guestroom, Charlene used her cell phone to call Scott in Taos to get an opinion on Rachael’s offer. After a brief discussion of the job details and salary offer, she decided to accept the job offer. Scott suggested she wait till the last minute to inform Rachael of her decision in the event she might throw in a benefit or two. “Maybe she’ll throw in one of those escort studs of hers as a bonus!” Scott kidded her. “One! Hell, I need more than one!” Charlene joked back. Late in the afternoon, Charlene informed Rachael of her decision. She was thrilled at hearing the good news, giving Charlene a warm hug. “I know the two of us are going to work great together.” Rachael said. “I feel you’re someone I can really trust.” “Monday, we’ll need to sit down and discuss things in more detail.” She added. Saturday evening’s party went smoothly, plenty of poker players and invited guests filled Rachael’s desert home. Charlene, wearing the white sequin evening gown, attracted much of the attention, especially from the male quests. Rachael was beaming, introducing Charlene as her new assistant and investment counselor. Charlene mingled with the guests, helping Rachael keep everyone happy. Quite a few men close to her age showed more than a passing interest in Charlene. Late in the evening, Charlene stepped out on the terrace, walking out towards the pool. Sitting down in one of the lounge chairs, she was approached by a gentlemen stepping out for a smoke. “Good evening!” He greeted. “I just had to come out and meet you.” “Oh, and why’s that?” Charlene inquired with a friendly smile. “For one reason, you seem very intriguing but mostly because I find you very beautiful.” He complimented. Charlene blushed at his compliments, something she hadn’t done for quite sometime. “I’m Ron Coulter, Rachael’s brother.” He introduced himself, putting his hand out. “Hello Ron, I’m Charlene Stevenson.” Charlene responded, shaking his hand. Ron Coulter was in his early forties, tall and slender. His tanned face was most handsome with beautiful steel blue eyes. His dark gray hair made him look older than he actually was. “I understand your going to be Rachael’s investment counselor.” He said. “And also her assistant.” “Yes, at least for awhile anyway.” Charlene responded. “For awhile, that sounds so temporary.” Ron stated, softly smiling at Charlene. “Well, I’m not sure how long I can take all this nightlife!” Charlene quipped. “It’s a little overwhelming.” “Not all of Vegas is nightlife.” Ron stated. “There’s lots of things going on besides gambling and entertainment.” “Maybe you’ll give me the opportunity to show you around.” He added. “That would be nice.” Charlene replied. “After I get moved and settled in, I may take you up on your offer.” Waiting till Ron finished his cigarette; the two strolled back towards the house. Ron put his arm around Charlene’s waist pulling her close to him. He took advantage of the darkness to kiss Charlene softly on the lips. Charlene offered no resistance, enjoying both his touch and his lips. Lady Gambler Ch. 09 Ron and Charlene spent as much of the evening together as they could. Charlene, acting as co-hostess, was busy trying to keep everyone happy as well as keeping their glasses filled. When the chance arose, the two would find someplace quiet to talk. Charlene was quite taken by Ron's gentlemanly charm and overwhelming handsome good looks. Ron Coulter, Rachael's brother, was a food supplier to many of the restaurants in Las Vegas. Along with several hotels and casinos on his customer list, he supplied many of the independent restaurants on and off the Strip. "For someone in the food industry, you've managed to stay very trim." Charlene stated, smiling. "Well, I rarely eat at home." Ron responded. "With my two daughters away at college, the house is a little too quiet for me to stay home. I usually just grab a bite to eat whenever I get a chance." "I know what you mean." Charlene said. "I'm a quick-fix, microwave person myself." Ron and Charlene seemed to have alot in common. Both were single parents of kids in college, both enjoyed their work and both were subconsciously looking for someone special to spend time with. Although Charlene felt herself quite attracted to Rachael's brother, she was skeptical as to his real attraction towards her. "Maybe Rachael asked him to spend time with me." Charlene thought. "Maybe this is just all a set-up to keep me entertained." Saturday evening's party ended shortly before 3:00am. Seeing most of the guests to the door, Charlene walked out with Ron to his car. Ron pulled Charlene close to him, kissing her long and lovingly on the lips. She could feel her body melting into his. Her skepticism momentarily waned; hoping the handsome guy holding her was sincere about his attentions. "I thought about running over to Lake Mead later today and checking on my boat." Ron said. "I don't suppose I could talk you into going with me, could I?" Charlene didn't hesitate to reply. "Sure, I wouldn't mind going. I love the water." "Great!" Ron exclaimed. "I'll pick you up around 11:00 or so." Ron and Charlene kissed for one last time before he left. Their kiss more passionate, lasted for several moments. Entering the house, Charlene found Rachael in the kitchen pouring two cups of coffee. She smiled, handing one to Charlene. "You and Ron seemed to really hit it off." She stated. "Hope you realize how great you two look together." "Your brother's quite a gentleman." Charlene responded. "Something you don't find very often." Rachael and Charlene talked while they sipped their coffee. Instead of the night's income, Ron was the sole topic. Rachael talked about her brother extensively, mentioning his two daughters and his ex-wife. The more Rachael talked, the more enamored she found herself becoming with Ron. "I have to tell you. The thought that maybe you'd set me up with Ron, crossed my mind." Charlene modestly confessed. "Actually, it was the other way around." Rachael stated. "I had to coax Ron to approach you. He's quite shy around women." "I knew you'd bring him out of his shell." She added. "He needs someone in his life who'll treat him like he deserves, not just someone who only thinks about his bank accounts." Charlene sincerely believed Ron's attentions towards her were his own. Not because she wanted to but because she had a much better understanding of him. Like hers, Ron's life had been far from happy. Charlene slept well, clutching a pillow close to her body. Thoughts of making love to Ron crossed to mind only to be shattered by thoughts of him finding out about her sexual activities with Glenn. "Not only Glenn." She thought. "Suppose he should find out about her and Rachael's sexual experiences together. He'd be decimated!" Awaking around 9:00, the thought of canceling her date with Rachael's brother crossed her mind. Knowing full well that if she cancelled, Ron might take it the wrong way. Hesitantly, Charlene decided to keep the date and see how things progressed. Ron arrived early for his date by almost thirty minutes. Giving Charlene a light kiss on the cheek, he escorted her out to his car, a new Corvette convertible. Sitting next to Ron in the red sports car, she felt more apprehensive than exhilarated. Ron sensed she had something on her mind but was hesitant to ask. After stopping at a convenience store to pick up some snack items and a cooler filled with soft drinks, the two proceeded out towards the marina where Ron had his boat docked. Ron's boat, a Fountain 38 foot Sportcruiser looked intimidating nestled amongst the other boats. Helping Charlene onboard, she helped stow their purchases below deck. Charlene was impressed with the absolute luxuries the boat offered. "I keep calling it an investment." Ron stated. "Just something to waste my money on actually." "I can see by the smile on your face, it makes you happy." Charlene responded. "I'd call it a good investment in your life. That's certainly not a waste of money!" Ron nodded his head; his smile grew to a grin. "I never looked at it that way." He said. "But, I guess you're right." Cruising far down the lake, Ron finally pulled close to the rocky shoreline before cutting the rumbling engines. The boat floated briefly before coming to a complete stop. Ron lowered the anchor over the side, tying it to one of the cleats. Charlene prepared a lunch of sandwiches and chips. Ron opened the cold soft drinks, placing them on a small table by the rear bench seat. Sitting together, they enjoyed their lunch, looking out over the water. "I have a feeling you've got something on your mind." Ron murmured. "Is it something I've said or done?" "No, it's nothing like that." Charlene replied. "It's not you. I've just got other things on my mind." "If you want to talk about them, I'm more than willing to listen." He responded, his hand playing with the ends of Charlene's hair. "I'm not sure what Rachael may or may not have told you about me." Charlene muttered. "I don't want you to end up disappointed and upset." "Disappointed! Why would I be disappointed?" Ron inquired. "What exactly to you know about me?" Charlene asked. "Probably not much!" "Rachael told me about your former boss, George Ferris and about the shootings outside the office." Ron answered. "She mentioned some girl getting caught up in all the gunfire and getting killed along with some other guy." "Sounds like she sugar-coated most of it." Charlene stated. "There's alot more to it than what Rachael told you." "I'm all ears." Ron quipped. "Let's hear it." Charlene told Ron everything about the Ferris family and what she knew about their business dealings. She admitted she knew about the drug dealings, smuggling operations, prostitution and stolen goods being shipped to South America. Ferris's one weakness was having affairs with married women and playing poker. "Wow, Ferris was really into everything, wasn't he?" Ron exclaimed. "And in the end it was some guy's wife that got him killed." "What about the girl that was with him?" He asked. "For some reason, Rachael really took her death pretty hard?" "Michelle, she was Ferris's investment counselor." Charlene stated. "She was also my best friend." "The first time I met her, I took an immediate disliking towards her." She added. "Over time, we became the best and closest of friends. When she was lying their bleeding, I held her in my arms, begging God to spare her life." Ron pulled Charlene close to him, holding her in his arms. After a long period of embracing, Charlene pulled away. She forced a smile to her face, but it was difficult. "Why don't we go for a swim?" She spoke, softly. "I brought my bikini just in case we were tempted." "I've got a swimsuit below!" Ron exclaimed. The two swam in the lake's cool water staying fairly close to the boat. Drying off, Ron and Charlene stretched out on the front deck, enjoying the afternoon sun. "I've got a great idea." Ron said, smiling. "I wouldn't want you to take it wrong though." "What is it?" Charlene asked. "I'll try not to be offended." "There's a marina a little farther down the lake." Ron stated. "I thought maybe we could stop and pick up some supplies, food and ice. Maybe spend the night out on the lake." "Guess that sounds a little stupid." He added. "No. It doesn't." Charlene replied. "But I do have a meeting with Rachael scheduled for tomorrow morning." "Oh, what time?" Ron inquired. "We never set a time." Charlene answered, grinning. "Whenever I get there, I suppose." After making a brief stop at the lakeside marina, Ron steered the boat farther down the lake to a small cove. Drifting up close to the sheer rock walls, Ron tossed the anchor over the side. Sitting on the back of the huge boat, the two held hands watching the slowly setting sun. Late in the evening the two decided to turn in. "I can give you one of my shirts to sleep in if you want." Ron said. "That's up to you." Charlene quipped. "I thought I'd let you keep me warm." Keeping Charlene warm wasn't a problem. Within minutes after climbing onto the bed below deck, Ron had Charlene's temperature on the rise. Kissing her warm body all over, he had her passions peaking. Tonguing Charlene's pussy with a frenzy, he brought her to an orgasm that had her screaming out his name over and over. Grasping Ron's body with her ankles locked tightly behind his back, the two fucked each other with a slow, gentle rhythm. Ron's passionate kisses grew more intense the nearer he came to climaxing inside Charlene's wanton pussy. For them, it was just raw, uncontrolled sex; it was intense, purposeful lovemaking. Climaxing together, Ron and Charlene held their intimate embrace till they gradually drifted off to sleep. Sometime during the night, Charlene awoke, discovering Ron wasn't lying next to her. Getting up from the spacious bed, she walked to the stairs leading to the main deck. Ron was sitting on the couch seat near the rear of the boat. The moonlight barely illuminated him but she could see he was smiling as she approached him. "What's the matter? Couldn't sleep?" Charlene whispered. "Just woke up and thought I'd come out here and smoke a cigarette." Ron answered. Charlene sat with her back to him, nestling into his arms. Ron's arms held her gently, his hands softly rubbing up and down her arms. "It's beautiful out here at night, so quiet and peaceful." Charlene said. "Even more beautiful with you in my arms." Ron added. "If you've got something on your mind, now would be a good time to bring it up." Charlene whispered. "I was just thinking how much different you are than anyone I've ever met." Ron muttered. "Is that good or is that bad?" Charlene inquired. "It's wonderful." He replied. "You're a very special woman." Neither one said anything more. Charlene drifted off to sleep in Ron's arms. Waking again at sunrise, Charlene slipped on her bikini before preparing breakfast in the galley. Ron poured the coffee, taking it up to the main deck. Sitting at the table, the two enjoyed their breakfast, smiling continuously at each other. "What's your plans for the day once we get back to dry land?" Charlene inquired. "Probably check in at the office and see what I need to stick my nose into, then down to the warehouse to check inventories." Ron responded. "What about you?" "I'm not sure how long the meeting with Rachael will last." Charlene replied. "I've got quite a few questions to ask. Thought I'd go look at some apartments afterwards." "Apartments! Aren't you going to buy a house here?" Ron exclaimed. "I know most of the realtors." "No, I'd just have to turn around and sell it in a year or two." Charlene answered. "You're really serious about not staying around for very long, aren't you?" Ron stated. Charlene noticed a look of disappointment on Ron's face. She had to come up with a good reason to back up her remark. "Rachael's not going to need me working for her forever." Charlene said. "She's smart enough to eventually learn how to make her own investment decisions." "Rachael's not as smart as you think." Ron stated. "She's more lucky than smart." Charlene didn't ask Ron to explain his remark. She wanted to find out for herself. Hopefully it wouldn't be the hard way! The two women sat in Rachael's office discussing future investments and the escort service. Rachael disclosed to Charlene her thoughts about what might be going on with the escort service. She didn't trust Crystal, her manager. "I've got a feeling there's some money being drawn off." Rachael stated. "I need you to get really involved and find out if it's true or not." "What about Glenn?" Charlene inquired. "Do you trust him?" "If it weren't for his dick, Glenn would be out on the streets, hustling his ass off!" Rachael exclaimed. "I don't think he's got enough meat between the ears to come up with a scheme on his own." "I'll need to tap into your computer system and see if I can find anything that looks suspicious." Charlene stated. "I'll also need to go through the invoices and bills, even the phone records." "We don't have a network." Rachael responded. "We just have the one computer and Crystal has that in her office. I do have the bills and invoices but no phone records except for long distance calls." "Hmmm. I'm going to need some time to put a plan together." Charlene stated. "This is going to be alot more difficult than I thought. Getting past Crystal isn't going to be so easy." "The main thing is you've got to keep everything discreet and out of the public eye." Rachael warned. "I can't take a chance on anything leaking out." Charlene and Rachael left the house driving into Las Vegas to meet with Crystal. The escort service's office was located in a relatively small office park well away from the Strip. Crystal met the two women at the door, greeting them with a warm, friendly smile. Crystal, a woman in her early thirties, was very attractive. She was shorter than Charlene, maybe 5'7" and slightly overweight. Her shoulder length coal black hair and facial features were her most noticeable assets. After introducing Charlene and Crystal, Rachael showed her around the office. The office wasn't much bigger than a two-car garage, furnished with all the standard office furniture and equipment. Charlene noticed that other than the deadbolt lock on the front door, there weren't any extra security measures taken. For someone running a discreet business like an escort service things were too loose. Charlene opened one of the file cabinet drawers, glancing at what appeared to be personnel files. "If anything crooked's going on, it may not be going on here." Charlene thought. "I can't believe Crystal's running such a hap-hazard operation." Crystal sat behind her desk, informing Charlene about business procedures and day-to-day operations of the escort service. Charlene listened intently not bothering to ask any questions. If money was being drawn off the business, Crystal was calmly covering it up. The meeting with Crystal lasted for a couple of hours, frequently interrupted by phone calls from clientele. Rachael and Charlene left the office, driving back towards Rachael's home. Rachael suggested they stop for lunch at one of the nicer restaurants just off the Strip. Charlene asked the hostess for a booth away from the other customers so they could talk. "Well, what do you think?" Rachael asked. "Can I still trust Crystal or not?" "I sure wouldn't want her running a business for me." Charlene responded. "Other than the lock on the door, there's absolutely no security. Everything's too damn lax!" "I don't quite understand why you're leasing a one-room office for something you could run from a private residence." Charlene added. "That still doesn't explain the decrease in income from the business." Rachael responded. "No, it doesn't. But, it does show me how easy it would be to embezzle money." Charlene stated. "There's not enough control. You need to make some changes and the sooner the better." "Or just sell the business and get completely out of it." Charlene added. "That's what I recommend. There's alot more than just escorting going on!" Charlene's remarks were taken too well. Rachael was covering up alot more than she'd let on. Fearing Charlene would walk away from helping her, Rachael wasn't about to divulge any more information than she absolutely had to. "Let's put the prostitution end of the business off to the side and concentrate on finding out what's going on internally." Charlene suggested. "Let me work up a game plan. Till then, don't make any changes. Just keep a tight rein on Crystal ……… and Glenn too for that matter." Rachael felt reassured, hearing Charlene's statements. As instructed, Rachael promised to keep a closer eye on the business. "What're your plans for the rest of the day?" Rachael inquired. "Thought I'd check out a few of the apartment complexes, see what's available." Charlene responded. "I thought you'd buy a house instead of renting an apartment!" Rachael exclaimed. "Apartments seem so cramped." "I don't need much space." Charlene stated. "Just enough room for an office and a place to sleep." After dropping Rachael off at her home, Charlene drove back towards Vegas. There were numerous apartment complexes on the west side of the city so she thought she'd start her search in that area. After looking at several nice apartments, Charlene found it difficult to make up her mind. She decided to wait until she returned from Phoenix before making a decision. Ron Coulter's red Corvette convertible was sitting in front of his sister's house when Charlene pulled in the driveway. Ron and Rachael were sitting out on the terrace, sipping iced tea. "Thought I'd stop by and see if you'd like to go out to dinner." Ron stated, smiling. "Oh, sure. That sounds good." Charlene responded. After finishing off Ron's cold drink for him, the two left the desert home heading back into the city. Ron suggested dining at one of the restaurants in the Luxor Hotel. "How'd the apartment search go?" Ron asked. "Find anything you liked?" "I found quite a few I'm interested in. Too many in fact." Charlene replied. "Think I'll wait till I get back from Phoenix before I make a decision though." "When are you going back?" He inquired. "Thought I'd leave tomorrow morning." Charlene answered. "I've got alot to do when I get home." "Will you be back by the weekend?" Ron asked. "Thought maybe we could go back out to the lake." "It'll probably be early next week before I get back." Charlene replied. "I need to get my house listed with a real estate agent and get some other business matters taken care of." "Oh." Ron exclaimed, sounding quite disappointed. "I'm not that far away, less than five hours." Charlene stated, putting her hand over Ron's. "Why don't you drive down and spend the weekend in Phoenix?" "I'd really like that!" Ron exclaimed, smiling. "I could take off early next Friday so I can be there by evening." The two ate dinner, discussing possible plans for the upcoming weekend. Just spending time together was the main thing both wanted. Leaving the Luxor, Ron asked if Charlene would mind spending the balance of the evening at his home. Ron's million dollar plus home was located southwest of the city, less than a mile from one of the more prestigious country clubs. Showing Charlene through the house, she was in awe at its size and luxurious appointments. "You can see why I don't spend much time here." Ron said. "It's way too big for just one person." "Yeah, I see what you mean." Charlene responded. "But it's so beautiful." "I'd learn to compensate!" Charlene added, jokingly. Ron and Charlene sat out on the terrace near the pool. Ron asked how the meeting with Rachael and Crystal went. Like Charlene, Ron felt the escort service was just a more pleasant name for what was really going on. Lady Gambler Ch. 09 "It'd be much easier if she just closed down and got away from it." Charlene said. "She certainly doesn't need the money. It's alot more hassle and worry than it's worth." "I worry she'll get caught and lose everything she's worked so hard for." Ron stated. "She's let Crystal get out of hand." "I don't think Crystal's the only one involved." Charlene stated. "I think Glenn's just as involved." "I want you to be careful." Ron warned. "I don't want anything happening to you. Don't take any chances." "I won't." Charlene responded. "I'm thinking about asking for some help if I run into problems." "I'd be glad to help in any way I can." Ron offered. "You've got my cell phone number. Don't hesitate to call me anytime." Late in the evening, Charlene suggested she should be getting back to Rachael's. "I was kind of hoping you'd consider spending the night here." Ron suggested. "Hmmm. Would sex be involved?" Charlene asked, coyly. "No, I didn't mean it like that." Ron quickly replied. "Not even a guarantee!" She asked, grinning. "Oh! Well, I guess I could provide some room service." Ron responded, catching on to her remarks. "I need to shower first." Charlene said, slowly unbuttoning her blouse. Entering the bathroom off the master bedroom, Charlene saw a large two-person shower with multiple showerheads. "Looks like a good place to start a party." Charlene quipped, grinning. Once in the shower, Ron adjusted the water. Warm sprays cascaded off them. Soaping their washcloths, the two gently washed each, interrupted only by frequent kisses. After drying themselves off, they slipped into bed for a good night's sleep. "How about something to make you sleep better?" Charlene quipped. "Hmmm. Whatcha got in mind?" Ron muttered. Kissing Ron passionately, Charlene softly brushed her hand over his chest. Slowly, she moved her hand lower till she had his hard cock in her hand. Charlene's lips kissed Ron's chest, moving lower and lower. Capturing his rigid cock with her lips, Charlene gradually lowered her mouth over it, taking as much as she could. Her tongue danced all over it, lubricating his cock with her saliva. Ron's body tensed, feeling sensations he'd never experienced before. His hands gripped the satin sheets, pulling on them. Charlene's mouth bobbed slowly up and down on Ron's cock, sucking and licking till she almost had him cumming. Straddling Ron's tense body and holding his cock firmly in her grasp, Charlene lowered her pussy, impaling herself on his cock. Ron's hands cupped Charlene's breasts, gently fondling and massaging them. Charlene slowly rocked back and forth on his cock till she managed to engulf his cock inside her. Lifting herself up and slowly sliding down his stiff cock, Charlene felt herself entering a world all her own, filled with unlimited pleasure. Her hands dug into Ron's shoulders as she increased her tempo. Gyrating her hips as she lifted herself and slammed down on his cock, she felt herself nearing orgasm. Her mouth gaped open, emitting soft moans. Ron's hands moved to her butt, gripping her firmly, he lifted her up and down on his hard cock. His hips lifted off the bed, slamming his fuck shaft deep inside Charlene. Their combined moans filled the large bedroom. Rolling Charlene onto her side, Ron plunged his cock hard into Charlene, making her cum almost instantly. Her orgasm shook her body uncontrollably. Her legs flailed, spreading farther apart. Ron fucked Charlene's pussy with a vengeance, his balls slapping hard against her butt. Ron's climax was unequaled to Charlene's. His cock exploded, spewing his cum deep inside Charlene's pussy. Gritting his teeth, he groaned out loud, calling out Charlene's name. Catching his breath, Ron leaned down and kissed Charlene on the lips. The kiss was soft and loving, not sexual and uninhibited. Supported by his arms, he remained leaning over Charlene. Rubbing his shoulders with her soft hands, Charlene gently pulled him down on top of her. Her arms holding him close, they gradually drifted off to sleep. Waking early in the morning, she found Ron sound asleep with his arms still around her. Gently moving his arms, she slipped out of bed. Making her way to the kitchen she put on some coffee, deciding to grab a quick shower while it brewed. Ron was still sound asleep, as she got dressed. It was 6:00am. Charlene wasn't sure what time Ron normally got up so she thought she'd better wake him. After several moments of continually shaking him, she finally managed to wake him. Ron pulled her down for a kiss. "Darn! You're already dressed." He kidded. "It's 6:00am." Charlene stated. "I've got some coffee brewing. How about some breakfast to go with it?" Charlene fixed breakfast for the two of them. Sitting at the diningroom table, they talked about their plans for the week. Charlene had a few loose ends to tie up before leaving Phoenix for good. She was anxious to get started. Ron had his food supply business, which always kept him busy from morning till night. "It's going to be hard with you down in Phoenix." Ron said. "Just make sure it's hard when you come down Friday!" Charlene quipped. Ron drove Charlene out to Rachael's home. After a brief conference with Rachael about the escort service and assuming the investment on the warehouse, Charlene left on her trip back to Phoenix. It was early afternoon when she pulled into the driveway at her home. Checking through her phone messages, she found one from Rick Ferris. The message was brief, just asking her to call him at the ranch in Prescott. After numerous tries, she still was unable to get him to answer his phone. She decided to try later in the evening. Charlene placed a call to the real estate agent who sold the Ferris's home for her. She set up an appointment with him for the following day, Wednesday. Charlene's next call was to Scott in Taos. "How's that new boyfriend of yours?" She asked. Only a few people knew Scott was gay, George Ferris, Michelle and Charlene. "Jacob and I are doing good." Scott replied. "We're going out to dinner later on." Charlene reviewed with Scott the situation with the escort service. With his security background and experience, Scott was able to offer several ideas and suggestions. "It might be best if I came up to Vegas and worked with you on this." He suggested. "I don't think you should be working alone." "I'm planning on going back next Monday." Charlene informed him. "Can you get away and fly up there?" "Yeah, I can get away. That's not a problem." Scott replied. "Ok. I'll book a room for you at the Mandalay Bay." Charlene stated. Charlene spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening working on the warehouse investment for Rachael. She wished Rick would hold onto it but she wasn't going to try and talk him into it. She had enough coaxing to pursue on another matter. It was late evening when she got all the paperwork completed. She'd phone Rachael in the morning and set up the electronic money transfer to complete the deal. Shortly before going to bed, Charlene tried to phone Rick one more time. After numerous rings, Rick finally answered his cell phone. "Hi there!" She greeted. "I tried calling you earlier this afternoon but you didn't answer." "Oh, I walked out this morning and forgot to take it with me." Rick responded. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Charlene inquired, hoping he wouldn't mention the ranch. "I just wanted to talk to someone." Rick muttered. "I didn't have anything particular in mind. Just lonely I guess." "Well, how about I come up and visit you Thursday?" Charlene asked. "We can talk in person instead of over the phone." Rick didn't need any coaxing to get him to accept the idea. She could sense from the tone of his voice, he was still having difficulty coping with his life. Maybe she'd turn his life around or at least try to. Wednesday morning, Charlene phoned Rachael in Las Vegas to set up the funds transfer to close the warehouse investment project. In less than an hour, the transfer was complete and the money credited to one of Rick's numerous bank accounts. Later in the day, the realtor came to Charlene's home to take care of getting it on the market. Although Charlene was hoping for a quick sale, she wasn't about to let it go for anything less than its appraised value. If it took a year or better to sell the house, she was willing to wait to get the money she wanted for it. Leaving early Thursday morning for Prescott, Charlene arrived at the ranch by mid-morning. Rick was unloading a wagonload of hay in a covered shelter. Not wearing a shirt, his jeans sitting low around his waist and sweating profusely, Charlene could understand how Michelle could find him irresistible. The thought that Rick and Michelle should be together at the ranch in Colorado crossed her mind. Rick jumped down from the wagon and hurried towards Charlene as she exited her car. He was half smiling, half in tears. The held each onto each other for several moments. Getting Rick's perspiration on her didn't bother Charlene. She could feel Rick's heart pounding in his chest. "How're you getting along?" Charlene inquired. "I'm doing alright, I guess." Rick muttered. "You work like this all day, even in the heat?" Charlene asked. "No, I try to get as much done in the mornings, then finish up later in the evening." Rick answered. "It's too hot in the afternoons." Rick showed Charlene the covered corrals filled with horses. Being around the horses seemed to boost his spirits. Ranching was what he loved doing. He'd never have made a businessman like his father wanted. Sitting inside the camper with the air conditioning running wide open, Rick asked about the ranch in Colorado. "I haven't sold it yet." Charlene stated. "I'm holding off for awhile." "I did get another investor to purchase the warehouse in Phoenix." Charlene added. "I just completed the transaction yesterday." Rick didn't reply to Charlene's statements. He just hung his head, looking down at the floor. "You should go up to Colorado and look at the ranch." Charlene spoke. "That's what Michelle would have wanted." "I can't! I couldn't take being there without her." Rick exclaimed. "I'm not giving up on you." Charlene said. "If I have to resort to drastic measures, I will." Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears. It was useless to try to and talk any sense into him. Charlene got up from her chair and walked towards the door of the camper. "Where's you cell phone?" She asked, turning around to face him. "It's on the counter." Rick mumbled. "Keep it with you at all times." Charlene said in a threatening tone. "When I call you, you better damn well answer." Rick nodded his head. Rising from his chair, he clipped it on his belt. Charlene hugged him, holding him close. "Rick, don't quit thinking about Michelle." She whispered. "She never forgot about you." Rick walked Charlene out to her car. Not sure whether her visit had helped or not, she was reluctant to push Rick any further. "I'll call you from time to time, just to make sure you're alright." Charlene said, giving his hand a firm squeeze. Charlene drove back to Phoenix, her mind trying to formulate a plan to get Rick to see things her way. Late Friday afternoon, Ron pulled his Mercedes sedan into the driveway at Charlene's home. Charlene greeted him at the front door. The couple held each other tightly, sharing a passionate kiss. "I couldn't wait to get here." Ron said. "I missed you so much." "I thought Friday would never get here." Charlene responded. "You look a little tired from your trip." Charlene added, smiling. "Maybe you should lie down for a bit." Ron responded. "Oh………….oh, yeah, maybe I should lie down for awhile." Charlene led Ron to her bedroom for a few hours of rest …………. in various positions. Early in the evening, Ron and Charlene decided to cook out. Ron was anxious to show off his barbequing skills to Charlene. "How'd your week go?" Ron inquired. "Not too bad for the most part." Charlene replied. "I drove up to Prescott yesterday, spent the afternoon with Rick." "Ferris's son? How's he getting along?" Ron asked. "He's taking it harder than ever." Charlene answered. "I don't think he's ever going to get over Michelle's death." "I've done everything I could think of to get Rick to go up to the ranch in Colorado." Charlene added. "He won't go because Michelle can't be with him. Says he couldn't stand being there without her." "I can understand how he'd feel." Ron said. "It would be awfully hard for me to go on without you." Charlene kissed Ron on the cheek for expressing his sentiment. The two spent much of the weekend dining out, dancing and sightseeing. Mainly, they just wanted to spend time together. Ron left late Sunday afternoon on his drive back to Las Vegas. Charlene was planning on leaving the following day. Monday afternoon, after finishing up some last minute details, Charlene headed back to Las Vegas. Passing by the Prescott exit ramp on the interstate, she thought about Rick. After getting the escort service straightened out, he would be her next challenge. Checking into a suite at the Mandalay Bay on the strip, Charlene put her clothes away. She made a quick call to Rachael to let her know she was back in town and where she was staying. Scott's plane landed late in the afternoon. Charlene helped him get settled in to one of the bedrooms before going downstairs to eat at the hotel's dinner buffet. After dinner, the two returned to the room to plan out their strategy for the escort service. "From what you've told me, this Crystal woman has got to be involved." Scott stated. "If she's running the day-to-day operation, she's got to know what's going on." "What about Glenn?" Charlene asked. "I've got a feeling he's in on it too." "No doubt." Scott said. "Especially if he's touching the money anywhere along the line." "First thing I need to do is set up my laptop and get on the internet." Scott added. "Then I can start checking out phone numbers and records. What about computer records? Can we get on the service's computer system?" "Yeah. That's not a problem." Charlene replied. "Rachael says Crystal leaves the office every evening at midnight. I've got a key to let us in after she leaves." "Great, we'll go tonight!" Scott exclaimed. "I want to download the whole system onto another laptop. We may have to do it several times just to see what does and doesn't change. Charlene and Ron parked just down the street from the escort service's office shortly before midnight. Crystal's Lexus was sitting directly in front of the door. "Rachael must pay her people pretty well." Ron stated. "That Lexus looks new and top of the line." "Maybe she's got a rich boyfriend." Charlene responded. "Or else she's spending more than she's earning." Shortly after midnight, the two watched as Crystal left the office, carrying her attaché. Waiting several minutes before they approached, Charlene parked in front of the door. "While I run through the computer and make a copy of everything, you go through the personnel files and make a list of everyone." Scott ordered. "And check the fax machine. Run a list of all the faxes sent and received." Charlene made a list of all the male and female escorts in the filing cabinet. Afterwards, she sifted through the other material in the filing cabinets but didn't see anything that looked out of place or incriminating. Scott spent Tuesday sifting through the material he'd collected from the previous night's visit to the escort service. Charlene worked tediously sifting through the names in the personnel files, matching them up with addresses and phone numbers. "Call your friend Rachael and have her bring in all of last month's cancelled checks and bank statements." Scott commanded. "Ask her if she'll let me have her passwords to the bank accounts she uses for the business too." Although hesitant at first, Rachael informed Scott as to what the passwords were. The large table in the hotel suite was completely covered with information Scott and Charlene were gathering. After nearly a week of investigation, Scott felt he was getting closer to finding out what was really going on at the escort service. Not so much because of what he was finding but more on what he wasn't finding. "The computer's not doing us any good at all." Scott stated. "If she's using the office computer to embezzle money, she's operating off the cd drive instead of the harddrive." The cancelled checks and bank statements didn't lead to any usable information. There had to be other information the two were overlooking. Scott and Charlene decided to pay one more late night visit to the office. Parked down the street from the office, shortly before midnight, they saw a black limo pull up in front of the office. Crystal came out, locking the door behind her. Jumping into the back of the limo, it sped past Scott and Charlene, sitting in the dark. "Quick, pull farther down the street!" Scott exclaimed. "I don't want to be sitting in the same spot when they come back." Charlene drove almost a block down from the escort service's office. Within ten minutes, the mysterious black limousine sped past them, coming to a sudden stop in front of the office. Looking through his binoculars, Scott could barely make out the license number. Crystal stepped out of the limo and hurried to unlock the office door. In less than a minute, Crystal turned off the office lights, relocked the office door and casually walked towards her car. Scott was watching her through his binoculars. The security lights illuminated her as she entered her Lexus. Scott read off her license number. "Hey! Hey!" Charlene exclaimed. "The last numbers are only four digits apart." "Bingo!" Scott exclaimed. "If that's not Glenn in the limo, then there is another party involved." "What now?" Charlene inquired. "How do we find out whose limo it is?" "You forget. I've still got friends on the Maricopa County sheriff's department." He bragged. "I'll make a phone call or two in the morning and have the information in less than an hour." Sitting in a restaurant just off the strip, Charlene and Scott talked over coffee and a light breakfast. "You given any thoughts as to what you're going to do about Rick?" Scott asked. "Not really. I don't think threatening him will do any good." Charlene replied. "I think I'm wearing down faster than he is. You got any ideas?" "Nope, and I'm staying out of it too." Scott responded. Early the next morning, Scott was on the phone to the county sheriff's department in Phoenix. Charlene was in the shower when the return phone call came in. Excited, Scott rushed into the bathroom. Pulling the shower door open, he scared Charlene more than he embarrassed her. "Guess what?" Scott exclaimed. "That black limo and Crystal's Lexus are both registered to the Moonlight Limo Service! The Lexus is a lease. She doesn't own the car!" Drying herself off and stepping out of the shower, Charlene reached for a robe on the back of the door. "Moonlight Limo Service!" Charlene stated. "I don't recall seeing that name on any of the escort service's invoices." "That's because it's not!" Scott exclaimed. "Rachael's only uses the Excalibur and the Grumann Limo Services." "Now, all I have to do is find out who owns Moonlight." Scott added. "Maybe I'll intimidate them a little, see if they'll toss me a bone or two." "I need to run out to Rachael's." Charlene said. "You need me to do anything?" "Just make sure you don't say anything about this to Rachael and especially not to Glenn if he's there." Scott replied. "I don't want him getting tipped off till we wrap everything up nice and neat." Lady Gambler Ch. 09 It was early evening when Charlene returned to the suite at the Mandalay Bay. Scott was busy working at the table with Ron. The two were arranging items like they were putting together the pieces of a puzzle. "Figured it out yet?" Charlene inquired. "Or still working on it?" "Scott's got the scheme all figured out." Ron answered. "We're just not sure of how much money's been scammed off." "I'm betting at least twenty-five grand a month but I'm not sure for how many months." Scott stated. "At least five, maybe six according to Rachael." Charlene said. "And that's a conservative guess." "What's our next step?" Ron asked. "Call in the police?" "I don't think we want to do that." Scott stated. "If anything illicit's going on, it'll come out in the open." "So, what do we do then?" Ron inquired. "I want to keep Rachael as far away from all this as possible." After thinking it over for awhile, Ron came up with an idea. "Charlene, you call Crystal and have her come here tomorrow morning." Scott stated. "We'll confront her with all this proof and get her to fess up. If she doesn't come clean we'll threaten her with arrest for embezzlement. "What about Glenn?" Ron asked. "Don't we want to confront both of them at the same time." "Not with him carrying a gun, I don't!" Scott exclaimed. "We'll videotape Crystal confessing, then play it for him. That way I can keep a constant eye on him." "I don't want Charlene there when we confront Glenn." Ron stated. "Just in case he tries something." "Yeah, that's not a bad idea." Scott said, agreeing with Ron. "I don't think he will but you never know." "So how do we get all the money back?" Charlene asked. "We don't! That's the deal we'll make Crystal and then Glenn." Scott spoke. "We'll let them keep the money they've scammed to buy their silence. Charlene, as manager, you'll have to officially fire Crystal." Charlene nodded her head. Everyone agreed to the plan, take Crystal out first, then go after Glenn. Charlene phone Crystal at her home requesting she come to the suite at the Mandalay Bay Hotel at 11:00am. Crystal avoided answering any questions, cutting the phone call short. Ron had a video camera set up in plain view so Crystal would know she was being videotaped. Entering the hotel suite, Crystal immediately shown signs of nervousness. Charlene introduced Scott and Ron. Scott was wearing his gun exposed in a shoulder holster not concealed by his jacket. Ron led Crystal to the table so she could see all the evidence against her neatly laid out. There were copies of receipts where she'd paid cash for limo services at Moonlight. Cell phone records and bills directly linked her to Moonlight. "It wasn't my idea, it was Glenn's!" She exclaimed. "I just went along with it for the money!" "We know better!" Scott stated. "It's your boyfriend who owns Moonlight Limo Service. You're the one who talked Glenn into working with you." "Using Rachael's escorts, you ran your own little service on the side." Scott added. "Your boyfriend's limo service provided all the transportation. You just intercepted the calls and diverted the escorts whenever it was a cash transaction." Crystal broke down, slumping to the floor. She confessed to everything including how much money she and Glenn had embezzled, almost $180,000. "I've still got a little over $100,000." Crystal stated. "I'll give it all back! I promise!" "Where's Glenn right now?" Scott inquired. "He left to go out to Rachael's." Crystal responded. "You two stay here while Ron and I go out to Rachael's." Scott ordered, pointing at Charlene and Crystal. "We'll discuss getting the money back when we return." Ron and Scott drove out to Rachael's home with the video camera. Parking next to Glenn's car in the circular driveway, the two men walked around the side of the house instead of using the front door. Scott led the way, with Ron closely following. Scott heard loud moans coming from the terrace. Looking around the corner, he saw Glenn sliding his huge cock out of Rachael's gaping pussy. A long strand of cum dangled from his cock, breaking off and falling to the hot tile surface. Scott jumped out from the corner of the house with his pistol drawn. Rachael, startled and frightened, screamed out loud. Glenn took off running towards the interior of the house. Scott fired two shots in the air. "Stop or I'll blow your dick off!" He shouted. Ron ran past Scott rushing towards Glenn before he could make it inside for his gun. Rachael grabbed a beach towel to cover herself. "What's going on?" Rachael exclaimed. "Ron, what's this all about?" "If you weren't so damn busy being a slut, you'd know what was going on." Ron responded. Ron and Scott led the still-naked Glenn into the house. Scott kept his gun aimed right at Glenn's head. Ron tossed Glenn a towel so he could cover himself. Rachael stood close to her brother, still confused by what was going on. "We just finished videotaping Crystal confessing to your little scam." Scott stated. "We thought you'd like to see it." "Fuck you!" Glenn exclaimed. "I had nothing to do with it." "Let's see what Crystal has to say about that." Scott replied. Ron played back the video camera in front of Glenn and Rachael. Seeing and hearing Crystal's taped confession brought out the truth about Glenn's involvement. He was the courier, picking up the escort service's fees and depositing them in a shared bank account with Crystal. Glenn finally admitted his participation in the embezzlement before the videotape finished playing. Rachael was in tears, not wanting to believe that Glenn had betrayed her. Ron was about ready to deck Glenn who was acting quite smug about the whole thing. "If you're thinking about having me arrested, you better think again." Glenn said, grinning. "I'll tell the cops all about the escort service's real activities. If I go down, I'm not going down alone!" "I doubt if you'll be doing any talking." Scott responded. "Let's take a walk out back." Ron and Scott forced Glenn from the house, walking him out past the swimming pool and into the dense cactus area behind the property. "Take that towel off and hand it to Ron." Scott ordered. "Hey! Hey! You're not going to shoot me, are you?" Glenn nervously asked. "Is that a real diamond earring in your left ear?" Scott asked pointing the pistol at Glenn's head. Before Glenn could answer, Scott fired the gun, nicking Glenn's left earlobe. The diamond earring flew off into a distant patch of dense cactus. "Oh God, I've been shot!" Glenn exclaimed, grabbing his head and falling to his knees. Ron rushed to Glenn's aid, holding the towel to his bleeding ear. "Here's the deal, Stud." Scott stated. "You and Crystal take the money and leave Las Vegas. I don't care where you two go. If you ever come back, I'll blow you fucking dick off." Holding the towel to his ear, the three men walked back to the house. Ron ran into the house, bringing back a towel wrapped with ice. The gunshot had barely nicked Glenn's earlobe but it knocked the hell out of his smugness. Glenn got dressed and left Rachael's home, speeding back towards the city. Scott called Charlene at the hotel and told her what had happened and about the deal they'd made with Glenn. "I didn't think you were actually going to shoot him." Ron said. "I wasn't trying to hit him." Scott responded, grinning. "I meant to shoot over his shoulder." "I was hoping he'd hand over that diamond earring." Scott added, still grinning. "I kinda liked it." "Should of shot his fucking dick off!" Ron exclaimed. "Yeah, I thought about that." Scott quipped. "I hate straight guys with bigger dicks than mine!" Although Ron and Scott laughed about the situation, Rachael didn't find any of it funny. "What do I do now?" Rachael asked. "What about the escort service?" "You're going to close it down once and for all!" Ron exclaimed. "It's nothing but a front for prostitution." "Hang on a minute." Scott chimed in. "Let's not go off half-cocked. You two need to discuss things with Charlene first." "Whoa! Wait a minute." Ron stated. "I sure as hell don't want Charlene involved in some damn escort service!" "Maybe you should ask Charlene first and see how she feels about it." Scott suggested. "After looking at all the financial records, it's too good a business to just close down." Lady Gambler Ch. 10 Ron drove Scott and Rachael into the city, heading back to the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Ron was still adamant about not wanting Charlene involved in Rachael’s escort service but Rachael wanted to continue operating the business. Scott was thinking about the business’s financial statements, which illustrated a very profitable venture even though it had been embezzled out of $180,000. Charlene was sitting alone in the hotel suite when the three arrived. Crystal had left immediately after being fired. Where’s Crystal?” Rachael asked. “I want to see her.” “She’s gone. Probably at the bank right now making plans to transfer the money somewhere out of town.” Charlene responded. “Just let her go.” Charlene added. “Write off the loss as bad business management.” “Just write the whole damn business off.” Ron exclaimed. “That’s what you should do!” “I felt the same way till Scott and I looked over the bank statements.” Charlene stated. “It’s not as profitable as the weekend poker parties but it does net more than half a million dollars a year.” “It’s nothing but a high class call girl business!” Ron exclaimed. “Just a bunch of male and female whores!” “Ron, why don’t we try and discuss this matter calmly?” Scott suggested. “Charlene’s developed alot of insight into the business.” Reluctantly, Ron agreed to listen to what everyone had to say. Sitting around the small conference table, everyone spoke their piece. Except for Ron’s negative comments, everyone talked on a positive note. “Since this is Rachael’s business, it should be her decision whether to continue or not.” Charlene said. “I want to keep the business running.” Rachael quickly responded. “But, I don’t want to fall into another situation like this one.” “I say NO and I’m not going to change my mind! Ron exclaimed. “I’m totally against it!” Charlene suggested Ron leave so the three of them could discuss restructuring the escort service. Knowing his challenges weren’t going to get him anywhere, he left in a huff. “First thing we need to talk about is clearing out that office and getting things secured better.” Charlene stated. “That’ll save you eighteen grand a year in lease payments.” “Where would we run it from?” Rachael inquired. “For eighteen grand a year, you could buy a house and run it from a private residence.” Charlene responded. “Whoever runs the business could live in the house as part of their pay package. That would be another expense savings.” “I’ve been going through your personnel files.” Scott stated. “You need to look at your escorts, both the men and women. I suggest you run a background check on everyone.” “Why do I need to do that?” Rachael asked. “I haven’t had any problems.” “That’s good but that’s not to say you won’t down the road.” Scott replied. “Some of the files look suspicious to me. I’ve got a hunch some of these people aren’t what they represent themselves to be.” “Ok, whatever you think is best.” Rachael responded, reluctantly. “You should think about consolidating your business to just one limo service, not two.” Charlene stated. “It doesn’t matter which one, since they’re both competitive on cost and service. With one service, you can monitor the invoices much better.” Rachael nodded her head in agreement. She hadn’t realized just how carelessly the business had been operating. “Anything else?” She asked. “I’d encourage your clientele to use plastic instead of cash.” Charlene responded. “Try and eliminate handling paper money as much as possible. The more business you can generate with credit cards, the better your service rate at the bank will be.” “Ok. If this is how you want to run it, I don’t have any problems with it.” Rachael said. “Well ……. I’m not planning on running the business.” Charlene replied. “We’ll have to find someone else.” “I thought you’d run the business!” Rachael exclaimed. “We already agreed to it!” “I know but I’ve had alot of second thoughts.” Charlene muttered. “I’m not going to move her afterall.” “What! Why not?” Rachael asked. “Is it because of all that’s happened or ………..?” “Not really.” Charlene replied. “I’ve got other commitments I need to keep.” “What about my investment portfolio?” Rachael inquired. “What am I going to do now?” “I’ll do what I can to work with you on that.” Charlene responded. “I work out something.” Rachael was greatly disappointed that Charlene was backing out on their agreement. “I was counting on you to help me.” Rachael stated. “I thought the investments we’ve made so far were just a beginning.” “I know. I know.” Charlene replied. “I’m willing to help you but I’ve got another commitment I’ve got to fulfill. It‘s a promise I made to Michelle.” Rachael realized she wasn’t going to win the argument with Charlene. If she wanted Charlene to work with her on investing her money, it would have to be on Charlene’s terms not hers. Rachael’s thoughts returned to the escort service. “Who can we get to operate the escort service that we can trust?” Rachael said, breaking the silence. “Scott, how about you? Would you be interested?” Charlene inquired. “If the money’s right, I would.” Scott replied. “It’s going take some money on the table before I’d consider leaving Taos.” “I paid Crystal $2000 a week.” Rachael stated. “I’m willing to pay you the same.” “Toss in another $500 a week and the house to work from and we’ve got a deal.” Scott replied. “Ok, I won’t argue with that.” Rachael said, smiling. “At least I feel I can trust you.” “Great.” Scott responded. “I’ll start putting together a business plan. I’ll need to go back to Taos and take care of some things first.” After chatting for a brief period, Scott suggested the three of them go out for dinner. “You two go ahead.” Charlene said. “I need to find Ron and have a talk with him.” After Scott and Rachael left, Charlene dialed Ron’s cell phone. Ron was at his office, going over inventory data. “We need to talk before I go back to Phoenix.” Charlene said. “I’d rather we talk in person than over the phone.” “Are you going to manage Rachael’s escort service for her?” He inquired, feeling the subject was more important. “No, Scott’s going to manage it.” Charlene replied. “Well …….. as long as you’re not involved.” Ron responded. “How about we go out for dinner and then out to my house afterwards?” “I’d rather you come back to the hotel so we can talk here.” Charlene suggested. “Ok.” Ron replied. “I can be there in about half an hour.” Charlene spent the time preparing herself for what she was going to say when Ron arrived. “Best to keep it short and get right to the point.” She thought. “No sense beating around the bush.” Ron arrived at the hotel, taking one of the elevators up to Charlene’s suite. Charlene put the “Do Not Disturb” card on the outside door handle. Ron noticed her gesture, hoping she was in the mood for sex. Charlene was far from being in the mood for intimate contact with anyone. Sitting in a chair at the small conference table, she motioned for Ron to join her. “I didn’t feel telling you about my plans over the phone was appropriate.” Charlene stated. “I’m leaving in the morning and going back to Phoenix. I won’t be coming back.” “What do you mean, you won’t be coming back?” Ron asked. “I thought you were going to move here.” “I know. That’s what I was planning on but I’ve changed my mind.” Charlene replied. “What about us?” Ron muttered. “I thought we had a good relationship started.” “We did.” Charlene responded. “We still could. It’d just have to be a distant relationship.” “It’s up to you.” Charlene added, not getting a response to her statement. “I was going to suggest you move in with me.” Ron murmured. “I wanted us to be together as much as possible.” “Ron, I’m sorry.” Charlene said. “I don’t see that ever happening.” “I guess it’s over then.” Ron said, angrily. He stormed out of the hotel suite, slamming the door behind him. The startling noise, like a gunshot, caused Charlene to jump. A short time later, Scott returned to the hotel suite. Charlene had just finished packing her clothes, readying for her trip back to Phoenix. “You have your talk with Ron?” Scott inquired. “Yeah. He stopped by.” Charlene responded. “How’d it go?” He asked. “About like I thought it would.” Charlene replied, turning her back towards Scott. “You gonna be alright?” Scott asked. Charlene, not replying to his question, went back to her bedroom. Shutting the door behind her, she sat quietly on the side of the bed. Scott waited for a few minutes before entering the bedroom. “How about I call down and get you something to eat from room service?” He suggested. “I’ll get us a nice bottle of wine.” “Ok, maybe just a sandwich.” Charlene muttered. “I’m not really hungry.” Charlene decided to take a quick shower while Ron waited on room service to deliver the food and wine. Slipping into a silver satin nightgown, she walked out to the livingroom. Scott’s eyes and facial expression let her know how beautiful she looked. “Wow! I hope you know how beautiful you look!” He exclaimed. “You may not be sleeping along tonight!” His compliments made Charlene blush. Her hands brushed over the silver nightgown, smoothing it over her tummy. Room service arrived a short time later. Instead of a sandwich, Ron had ordered Charlene shrimp prepared in various manners. A very dry white wine complimented the seafood. Sitting on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table, Charlene gradually relaxed. Looking out the large windows of the suite, the lights of Las Vegas gradually came on. “Have you decided what you’re going to do about Rick?” Scott inquired. “Kinda.” Charlene responded. “Thought I’d stop by Prescott and see him on my way back. Maybe suggest we go into the ranching business together. At least till he gets settled, anyway.” “Hmmm. That might work.” Scott responded. “At least he won’t be all alone.” Late in the evening, the two decided to call it a night. Charlene slipped into her bed, listening to the sound of the shower coming from Scott‘s bathroom. A short time later, Scott entered Charlene’s bedroom, approaching her bed. He was wearing skimpy black briefs and a sly grin. “Thought maybe you’d like a little company.” Scott quipped. Pulling back the sheet, he slipped into bed beside Charlene. “Can I trust you?” Charlene kidded. “Not tonight, you can’t.” He whispered. Pulling Charlene close to him, Scott kissed her softly on the lips. Charlene’s arms held Scott at the shoulders. “Didn’t think you cared for women?” Charlene murmured. “Not all women, just a few I really cared about.” Scott replied. Their kisses grew more passionate. Charlene’s body responded to Scott’s hand caressing her breasts. His hands gently massaged and fondled them through the thin satin material. Charlene’s nipples grew erect when Scott’s fingers brushed over them. Reaching down, Scott eased the hem of Charlene’s nightgown upwards, baring her legs, then the matching silver panties of the nightgown. Charlene lifted her butt just enough for Scott to work the material halfway up her back. Lifting her body slightly off the bed, Scott removed the satin nightgown, tossing it to the floor. Scott’s lips slowly made their way to Charlene’s neck, kissing her lightly. His hands cupped her breasts, squeezing them gently. Charlene closed her eyes, feeling Scott’s lips traveling over her breasts. His tongue flicked at her nipples, exciting them even more. With his lips clamped on her nipples, he tenderly sucked on each one. Low moans escaped Charlene’s lips. Scott’s hand slipped beneath the satin panties, brushing over her pubic hair. Charlene’s legs spread slightly at his touch. Scott gently rubbed her pussy in slow, circular motions. Touching Charlene’s sensitive clit caused her hips to react, pressing her butt down against the sheets. Scott’s lips kissed downward over Charlene’s tummy. Pushing the material farther down, he exposed Charlene’s wanton pussy. Charlene lifted her butt off the bed, allowing Scott to pull her panties off. He tossed them to the floor on top of the nightgown. Spreading Charlene’s legs farther apart, he leaned down, kissing her pussy. Scott’s tongue licked slowly up and down Charlene’s slit causing it to blossom. Sliding his tongue deep inside her pussy, he brought Charlene to a quick and arousing orgasm. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Scoooooooootttttttttttt, Arghhhhhhhhhhhh” Charlene cried out. Scott continued swirling his tongue inside Charlene’s pussy long after her orgasm subsided, bringing her passions up again. Charlene was whimpering, silently begging for Scott to fuck her. Scott slipped off his black briefs, exposing his hard cock. It’s mushroom shaped head throbbing in anticipation of penetrating Charlene’s wet pussy. Charlene spread her legs wide, allowing Scott full access to her pussy. Scott pressed into Charlene, slowly forcing his thick cock inside her. Charlene’s pussy stretched to its limits. Lubricated by her juices, Scott’s cock pushed in deeper until his balls touched Charlene’s butt. Fucking her slowly but passionately, he gradually increased his tempo. Sensing Charlene was nearing orgasm, Scott slowed his fucking motion to long, deep strokes. Charlene’s expression let him know she was savoring the extended pleasure. Charlene’s hands gripped Scott’s upper arms as she felt the ultimate orgasm building. “Fuck me hard! As hard as you can!” Charlene begged. Scott pulled his cock out of Charlene’s pussy, then plunged in hard, jolting her body. Fucking her hard and fast, he brought Charlene to orgasm. Her mouth gaped open, emitting a loud scream. “AAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Scotttttttttttttttttttttttttt. Arrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” She screamed. Charlene’s body convulsed, her legs tightened around Scott’s waist. Lifting herself completely off the bed, Scott’s muscles were barely able to support the two of them. Gritting his teeth, Scott continued fucking Charlene’s pussy till his cum spewed deep inside her. A long moan escaped his lips as his face cringed with pleasure. Scott, weak and quickly losing his strength, lowered himself on top of Charlene. Wrapping her arms around him, Charlene kissed his shoulders and neck. Scott slowly climbed off her spent body, stretching out next to her. “You’re not really gay, are you?” She whispered, looking over at Scott. “No, I’m bisexual.” Scott admitted. Not saying any more, the two shared a kiss before drifting off to sleep. Scott held Charlene in his arms, feeling closer to her than he ever had before. The next morning, after showering and getting dressed, Charlene and Scott headed down to one of the hotel’s restaurants for breakfast. “About last night.” Charlene spoke. “Do you mind if I ask why?” “Because I always wanted to.” Scott responded. “I’ve always loved you but I could never just come right out and tell you.” “What about Michelle?” Charlene asked. “Did you love her too?” “Yeah, but it was different with Michelle.” Scott explained. “I loved her as a very close friend.” Charlene didn’t ask him to explain how he felt about her. She wanted to know but she didn’t want to have to ask him to find out. After breakfast, Scott helped Charlene get her car packed for the journey back to Phoenix. Charlene tugged the diamond cocktail ring over her finger. “When you see Rachael, would you give this back to her?” She asked. “I wouldn’t feel right about keeping it.” “Yeah, she’s coming by later on this morning.” Scott responded. “I’ll see that she gets it.” “Well ……… guess this is good-bye.” Charlene muttered. “I’m not saying good-bye.” Scott replied. “I want us to stay in touch with each other. Let me know how the ranch is coming along.” “Besides, Colorado’s not that far away.” He added. “Don’t be surprised if I come and see you two.” Scott and Charlene held each other, meshing their lips together for a long kiss. After agreeing to keep in touch, Charlene blended her car into traffic, heading southeast, away from the city. Approaching the Prescott - Sedona exit on I-17, Charlene hoped she would be successful in convincing Rick to move to Colorado. Pulling into the long driveway, she spotted Rick loading several horses into a trailer. Even at a distance, Charlene could see a big smile appearing on his face when he recognized her car. “Man, am I glad to see you!” He exclaimed. “I haven’t seen anyone for almost a week!” “I thought I’d stop by on my way back home and see how you were doing.” Charlene responded. “Maybe talk a little business.” Rick escorted Charlene into the camper, offering her a cold soft drink. Sitting together on the couch they chatted about the weather and the horses. Seeing Rick was in a good mood, Charlene decided to make her pitch. “I’d like to make you a business proposition.” She stated. “I’m planning on moving up to Colorado to start building that ranch of yours. I could sure use your help.” “Are you serious?” Rick asked. “Is ranching what you really want to do?” “Yep.” Charlene responded. “I’m tired of living in the city. There’s 800 acres of beautiful ranch land just waiting for us up there in the mountains.” “It’s going to be hard for me, being there without Michelle.” Rick said. “But, I’ve been giving alot of thought about going up there. I feel it‘s what she wanted me to do.” “I can be ready to leave in a week.” Charlene stated. “You tell your boss you’re quitting and the two of us will build the ranch together.” Hesitating for a few moments, Rick agreed to make the move. Charlene hugged Rick close to her, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ve got to get my house packed up, get everything put in storage.” Charlene said. “I’ll be back in a week.” “Ok.” Rick replied. “All I’ve got is my clothes and personal stuff, a few tools. I’ll be ready to go.” Later that afternoon, Charlene left to complete her drive to Phoenix. She made mental notes of things she’d need to take care of before leaving Phoenix for good. According to the realtor, quite a few prospective buyers had been looking at her house. Charlene felt a quick sale was in the near future. Midweek Charlene phoned Rick to see how he was doing. The tone of Rick’s voice let her know how excited he was about making the move. “I’ve got everything packed, just need to load up the truck and go.” He stated. “I’ve still got some business to finish up here.” Charlene said. “The storage company’s coming by Thursday morning to pick up my furniture.” “Great! Why don’t you come up Friday sometime?” Rick inquired. “We can leave early Saturday.” “That sounds good to me.” Charlene responded. “We could be there sometime late Saturday evening.” “I’ll make reservations at the motel on the outskirts of Walsenburg so we’ll have a place to stay.” Charlene added. Early Friday morning, Charlene packed all her clothes into her car. Taking one last tour of the house she’d lived in for almost fifteen years, she made sure everything was locked securely before leaving. A little over two hours later, she pulled into the dusty driveway leading up to the ranch in Prescott. Rick was just coming out of the camper as she drove up. Charlene noticed the corrals were empty. “Hey, where’s all the horses?” She asked. “We shipped them up to another ranch near Sedona.” Rick replied. “The owners haven’t found anyone to take my place yet. Said they may sell this ranch off.” “I just finished working on the truck.” He added. “Had to put on a new fuel pump.” “Will it make the trip alright?” Charlene inquired. “It’s almost 700 miles.” “Yeah, I think it’ll make it.” Rick responded. “I need to get a newer truck but I hate to give this one up. I‘ve had it since I was in high school.” Lady Gambler Ch. 10 Rick and Charlene spent the rest of the day and evening going over plans for the ranch. Rick wanted to live at the ranch, suggesting they purchase a large travel trailer to live in. Charlene wasn’t too keen on the idea, not knowing how well she’d adapt to living in small quarters. However, she was willing to look at travel trailers once they got to Colorado. Early Saturday morning, Rick and Charlene headed for the ranch. The trip would take them through Sante Fe and Albuquerque before proceeding north. The sun was just setting behind the mountains when the two pulled into the quiet town of Walsenburg. Both were quite tired from the long trip. After checking into the motel on the outskirts of town, Rick and Charlene went out for dinner. “We may as well wait till morning to go out to the ranch.” Charlene suggested. “We can go out early and make a day of it.” “I’d like you to walk the ranch with me.” Rick murmured. “It’s something I would have wanted Michelle to do.” “Of course.” Charlene responded. “I wish it could be Michelle with you. She would have wanted it that way too.” “I’m trying my best to get over Michelle.” Rick stated. “It’s just that she’s always on my mind.” “I think about her several times everyday myself.” Charlene responded. “She touched alot of people’s lives, ours more than anyone’s.” Early Sunday morning, Charlene and Rick drove west on highway 160. Less than a half-hour later Charlene pulled up to the locked gates of the ranch. She reached into her purse, pulling out the keys. “You should do the honors.” Charlene said, handing him the keys. Rick unlocked the gates and swung them open. The two walked up the hill, gazing at the mountains off in the distance. Rick held Charlene’s hand as they walked. Standing at the top of the hill, Charlene watched as Rick’s eyes took in the beauty of the ranch, the trees and the mountains. Charlene pointed in the directions of the property markers although; they were too distant to see without binoculars. “You ready to walk the ranch?” Charlene inquired. “Yeah. I want to see it all.” Rick replied. “You lead the way.” Still holding hands, the two walked the ranch for several hours. Charlene pointed out the stream that ran through the ranch. Rick noticed several lengths of fence that needed repairs. The smile on his face never faded or changed. To say he was pleased would have been a big understatement. “Guess we need to figure out where to build the house and barns.” Rick stated. “Probably should figure out where to set the trailer too.” Charlene let Rick talk freely. It was his ranch; he should be the one to make the decisions. Ranching was going to be another learning experience for Charlene. In the brief period of time she’d spent with Michelle, she learned the basics of investments. Now, Rick would be her tutor, teaching her the basics of ranching. Leaning against the door of her car, Charlene called Scott in Las Vegas on her cell phone. “Bet you can’t guess where I am.” She said. “Well, let’s see.” Scott responded. “I’d say you were probably at the ranch in Colorado AND Rick’s with you. Am I right?” “Yep.” Charlene replied. “Rick hasn’t quit smiling since we got out here this morning.” “I hope it all works out, for you as well as for Rick.” Scott said. “I’m still hoping to come and visit you if I ever get the chance.” How’s things in Vegas?” Charlene asked. “Hope you’re not sticking your dick in Rachael!” “No, but I may have to!” Scott quipped. “Strictly business, of course.” “Yeah! Right!” Charlene kidded. “Strictly business!” “We’re going house shopping tomorrow.” Scott said. “Something nice with a pool.” “She didn’t take you giving the ring back very well.” He added. “Think she took it more personal than anything.” “I wouldn’t have felt right if I’d kept it.” Charlene stated. “I couldn’t keep my commitment so I shouldn’t have kept the ring.” “She’ll get over it.” Scott said. “You’re still going to work on her investment portfolio, aren’t you?” “I’m going to try.” Charlene responded. “Everything I’ve got her into now was all Michelle’s groundwork. I’m on my own now.” Charlene knew making safe investments for Rachael was going to be difficult. It would take alot of research and careful thought before presenting a proposal. After looking the ranch over, Rick finally decided on a place to set the travel trailer. Charlene liked his choice. Sitting near the top of a hill and overlooking the ranch, it would offer a great view of the mountains to the north and west. Rick made the decision to build the house just to the east of the location with the barns a short distance behind it. “We’ll put the driveway between the house and the trailer.” He stated, pointing his hand and fingers. “Extend it back to where I want to put the barns and stables.” Charlene could see Rick’s excitement and enthusiasm increasing as he put his plans together. “It’ll be great when we get it all done!” He exclaimed. “But, it’s going to take a long time till we see it completed.” “Well, time is something we’ve got plenty of.” Charlene responded, grasping Rick‘s arm. Monday morning, the two drove up to Pueblo to look at travel trailers. Charlene acted enthused even though she still wasn’t crazy about the idea. Checking out the RV dealer’s inventory, Rick and Charlene found it difficult to make a choice. While Rick was just concerned with the basics, Charlene wanted as much room and conveniences as possible. Her idea of camping was a nice room at the Holiday Inn. “Charlene, I’ll let you decide.” Rick stated. “You pick whatever you want.” There were so many travel trailers to choose from, it was difficult to pick one. Charlene started narrowing the choices down by process of elimination. By late afternoon, she’d made her decision, choosing a Holiday Rambler Presidential 36 foot fifth wheel. It offered everything they needed, space, conveniences and an abundance of luxuries. Doubtful that his truck would even budge the trailer, let alone pull it home, Charlene made arrangements to have it delivered. “While we’re here, why don’t we shop for a new truck?” Charlene suggested. “Something dependable. Something with air conditioning!” “I hate to spend the money for a new truck, maybe something used.” Rick responded. “Rick, with all your money, you could buy a whole damn dealership!” Charlene quipped. “We’ll buy new and get what we want.” “We could use a nice flatbed truck.” Rick stated. “Something we could haul stuff on.” “Ok, we’ll get one of those too.” Charlene said. “I meant we could buy a flatbed instead of a pickup.” Rick responded. “I know what you meant. We’ll buy one of each.” Charlene replied. “We may need two trucks.” It was late evening before Rick and Charlene made the drive back to Walsenburg. Eating a late dinner at one of the local restaurants, they discussed the next day’s activities. “We’ll need to get a generator till we get the power company to run us a line in.” Rick suggested. “Probably better pick up a water tank too. Hard telling when we can get a well drilled and a pump set in. “And a septic system. We‘ll have to have one of those.” “You’ve lost me. I’ll let you take care of that stuff.” Charlene responded. “I’ll take care of getting the trailer set up. That I can handle.” The next day, Rick and Charlene checked through the yellow pages, searching for contractors. Charlene made several phone calls to set up appointments for them to meet with Rick. “I’m going out to the ranch.” Charlene stated. “They’re supposed to deliver the travel trailer around noon.” “I’m going in to the farm and ranch supply.” Rick responded. “I made a list out of things we’ll need.” Charlene drove out to the ranch. Parking just inside the gates, she walked up to the crest of one of the hills. “Well Michelle, I finally got Rick here.” She thought. “But, I’m gonna need your help to get him to stay.” The loud sounds of air horns startled Charlene back to reality. Quickly turning around, she spotted the RV dealer pulling the new fifth wheel trailer through the gates. Motioning them up the hill, she pointed out where Rick wanted it set. While the driver and his assistant placed the trailer and set it up, the salesman and Charlene went through all the features, gadgets and gizmos. All the information was more than she could absorb. Before they left, the salesman handed Charlene a stack of manuals. “It’ll take me weeks to read through all this.” She thought. It was almost noon before Rick got out to the ranch. “Looks like you bought the store out!” Charlene exclaimed. “Is there anything left!” “Let’s get the generators unloaded first.” Rick suggested. “That way we can get the trailer powered up. I bought plenty of heavy duty extension cords.” Setting the generator off at a distance, Rick ran a power cord to the trailer. Charlene extended the two slide-outs, one for the living room and one for the bedroom. With the air conditioner running, the trailer cooled down within minutes. Early the next morning, Rick and Charlene moved out of the motel. Getting settled in the trailer before noon, Charlene drove into town to do some grocery shopping. That evening, Charlene prepared their first dinner at the ranch. After dinner, Charlene and Rick sat outside, under the large trailer awning, enjoying the peacefulness as well as the view. “Things are coming together for us.” Rick stated. “I can’t wait till we get all the utilities in so we can concentrate on the barns and the house.” “Don’t forget about the fence we need to replace.” Charlene responded. “And, you mentioned something about building corrals.” The two discussed the next day’s activities, letting time slip past them. It was almost midnight before they decided to call it a day. Rick refilled the gas generator so it would run till late morning. Shortly after going to bed, Charlene was awakened by constant howling. Not knowing what it was, she woke up Rick, sleeping on the couch. “Do you hear that howling?” Charlene asked, a frightened tone in her voice. “Yeah.” Rick answered, calmly. “It’s just coyotes, probably out hunting.” “They won’t bother us.” He added. “Go back to sleep. We’ll be alright.” Charlene went back to bed, but the howling kept her awake. She heard Rick ascending the stairs to the bedroom. The faint glow of his cigarette evident in the darkness. “Still having trouble sleeping?” He murmured. “Just having trouble getting used to the new bed.” Charlene whispered. “Scoot over.” Rick ordered, slipping into bed beside her. Charlene didn’t have a chance to voice a protest, not that she would have. Kissing Charlene softly on the lips, Rick put his arm around her, pulling her close. “You’re not going to try anything, are you?” Charlene muttered. “I was about to ask you the same thing.” Rick quipped. Charlene gradually drifted off to sleep, inattentive to the coyote’s howling. Rick’s arm around her offered her warmth as well as security. Waking early the next morning, Charlene found herself alone. Slipping out of bed, she looked down into the livingroom. The sleeper sofa was closed and Rick was nowhere in sight. The engine on the generator starting up broke the silence. Looking out the livingroom window, she saw Rick approaching the trailer. “Thought the generator would run till late morning.” Charlene said as Rick entered the trailer. “It would have.” Rick responded. “I just thought I’d fill it up while I had the chance.” “How about I put on some coffee?” Charlene suggested. “Sounds good.” Rick replied. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower.” Charlene turned on the built-in television set, slightly adjusting the satellite dish. The sound of water running in the shower barely audible. The thought. “Wonder if I should see if he needs his back scrubbed?” Crossed Charlene’s mind. Rick came down to the livingroom wearing a towel tightly wrapped around his waist. Charlene handed him a cup of coffee. After lighting a cigarette, he took a big sip of the hot drink. Charlene forced her eyes to look away from Rick, his muscular chest and arms stirred her inner desires. The thought of yanking the towel from his body crossed her mind. “The contractors should start showing up in a few hours.” Charlene muttered. “We better be getting dressed.” “That gives us a little time.” Rick murmured. “A little time?” Charlene questioned, not knowing what he was implying. Taking Charlene’s coffee cup from her, he sat it on the countertop. Rick put his hands on Charlene’s waist, pulling her against him. His lips kissed hers passionately. Charlene offered little, if any, resistance. Deep down, she felt it was wrong to be intimate with him, but her body fought back the urges to protest. Their mouths ground against each other’s. Charlene’s lips parted, feeling Rick’s tongue trying to penetrate her mouth. His probing tongue worked between her teeth, flicking against hers. An almost silent whimper escaped her mouth. Rick’s hand guided Charlene up the few steps to the bedroom. Working the nightgown up over her head, she stood before him completely naked. Rick pulled the towel from around his waist, revealing his hard cock. Charlene’s eyes gazed at his cock, her tongue moistened her lips. She knelt down slowly in front of him. Grasping his huge cock near the base, she put her lips around the bulbous head, running her tongue underneath it. Charlene’s mouth slid down the shaft, taking as much of it as she could. Feeling the head of Rick’s cock pressed against the back of her mouth, she licked it frantically, vibrating her tongue. Rick’s hands at the back of Charlene’s head kept her from pulling back. Slowly thrusting his hips, he fucked her mouth. Charlene’s lips made slurping sounds as he worked his cock in and out. Feeling himself about to cum, he pulled his cock out of Charlene’s mouth. Thick saliva trailed from the head of his cock to Charlene’s lips, before breaking off and falling to her breasts. Pulling Charlene to her feet, Rick gently guided her back to the bed. His lips ground hard against Charlene’s. The mouths meshed in a most passionate kiss. Rick’s lips slowly broke from hers, traveling down to Charlene’s breasts. Tugging lightly on her hard nipples with his teeth, he flicked his tongue back and forth over them, exciting them even more. Rick traced his tongue down from Charlene’s heaving breasts to her soft pubic hair. Kissing the mound of her pussy, his tongue dipped between her legs, held apart by his strong hands. “Rick! No, you can’t!” Charlene muttered. “Stop!” Rick wasn’t hearing anything but the rapid beating of his own heart. His tongue licked hard at Charlene’s blossoming slit. Probing his tongue deep inside Charlene’s pussy, he brought her to a sudden and violent orgasm. Charlene’s body shuddered. She bit her lower lip to keep from moaning out loud. Rick’s tongue swirled inside her pussy, bring her passions up again. Sucking on her sensitive clit, Charlene screamed as her body was consumed with another incredible orgasm. “Ohhhhhhhhh Ricccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk….. Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!” Charlene screamed. Sucking on Charlene’s pussy, he let her body tensions slowly diminish. Rick softly kissed Charlene, letting her taste her own juices. Holding her legs apart, he guided his steel-hard cock between the folds of her pussy. Pressing hard, he penetrated her, slipping the bulbous head of his cock deep inside her. Charlene’s protests turned to wanton desires. Her arms flailed before grasping Rick’s broad shoulders. She pulled him to her, wanting him more and more. Rick’s hips thrust hard into Charlene. His balls slapped hard against her elevated butt. Rick gritted his teeth, his body tensed with energy. Charlene came within minutes. Her cries filled the bedroom as her orgasm drew all the strength from her heated body. “Fucccccccckkkkkkkkk Meeeeeeeee….. Rickkkkkkkkkk” Charlene cried out. Rick fucked Charlene with a vengeance. His mind thinking of his own pleasures about to explode. Rick’s thick cum spewed deep inside her pussy. His second load, flooding her. Slower and slower, Rick’s thrusting motions became till he was able to stop. His profusely sweating body collapsed on Charlene, pinning her to the bed. They lie there in silence for a few minutes before either one said anything. “I’m sorry.” Rick apologized. “I just got carried away. Lost control of myself.” “It’s ok.” Charlene whispered. “It was better we got it over with.” “I don’t know how much longer I could have held back.” She added. Lady Gambler Ch. 11 After looking at several homes around the Las Vegas area, Scott and Rachael settled on purchasing a two-story home, northwest of the sprawling city. Located just a few blocks from the prestigious Painted Desert Country Club, the home offered many amenities, including a luxurious swimming pool with a waterfall feature. For Rachael, the home represented an investment. For Scott it meant living in absolute luxury at no cost to him. The five-bedroom home was significantly large enough to permit Scott to expand on the escort service’s original business format. His plans, still in their infancy, were something he wanted to discuss with Charlene before proceeding. Furnishing the house and setting up a home office for the escort service took almost three weeks. The secretary’s office would be located just off the main living area. Scott’s spacious office offered direct access to the terrace and swimming pool. One of the perks, he hoped to enjoy as often as possible. Skeptical of some of the men and women working as escorts, Scott has used his free time to run background checks on several employees. Finding numerous discrepancies in their employment files, Scott convinced Rachael to replace several escorts. “We need women with style, sophistication and education.” Scott stated. “And of course, great looks!” “What about the guys?” Rachael inquired. “I wouldn’t worry to much about education with the guys.” Scott responded. “Women are gonna go for looks first. If they’ve got style and sophistication, that’s just a plus, not a requirement.” “Women aren’t going to want to go out with some dumb-ass.” Rachael said. “I realize that.” Scott replied. “Women want someone who’s going to act like a gentleman, be entertaining and hopefully will give them the fuck of their life before morning.” “Maybe I should help conduct the interviews.” Rachael suggested. “Like hell!” Scott exclaimed. “I’ll do all the interviews, especially with the women. You can sit in on the interviews with the men if you want, but that’s all. Just sit in and keep quiet.” “Scott, you’re forgetting who owns this escort service.” Rachael boldly stated. “You’re forgetting that without me running the day-to-day operations and overseeing everything, you won’t have a business.” Scott retorted. “You damn near let Glenn and Crystal rob you blind and put you out of business.” “It’s going to be run my way or I’m walking!” Scott added. “I’d prefer you stay out of sight and away from the business as much as possible. It‘s for your own good.” Not arguing any further, Rachael conceded to Scott’s demands. With Charlene far off in Colorado, Scott was the only one she felt she could trust. She needed Scott alot more than he needed her. Scott knew it too and he wasn’t about to let her forget it. After Rachael left to return to her desert home, west of Vegas, Scott thought about calling Charlene to see how she was getting along. “How’s things on the ranch?” He asked. “Fantastic! Couldn’t be better!” Charlene exclaimed. “Really! Never figured you for the country type.” Scott responded. “But, you sure sound happy.” “I am. I really am.” She stated. “It’s alot of work, but I’m not constantly having to look over my shoulder.” “I know what you mean.” Scott said. “I can tell I’m going to have to keep a close eye on Rachael.” “How’s the escort service coming along?” Charlene inquired. “Ready to reopen for business?” “Yeah, but on a scaled down version till we hire more people.” He replied. “I’ve got to start interviewing for a secretary before I do anything.” “Someone sexy, I presume.” She quipped. “But not too dumb.” “Someone smart and sexy would fit the bill.” Scott responded. “Single and horny would be a plus.” “You keeping your dick clean?” Charlene kidded. “Not stroking it to Rachael, are you?” “Nah, she thinks I’m gay as hell.” Scott answered. “I’m going to let her keep thinking it too.” “When are you coming back for a visit?” Scott asked. “You can always stay here. This house is fantastic, almost as nice as Rachael’s.” “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get away.” Charlene replied. “We’re still dealing with contractors and Rick needs my help.” “You started on the house yet?” He inquired. “No, not yet.” She answered. “Rick wants to build the barns first. Then we can start buying horses.” “You gonna buy a horse?” Scott quipped, laughing. “Yeah, I am.” Charlene quickly answered. “And don’t laugh.” “Whoa! You really are into this ranching thing, aren’t you?” He exclaimed. “Yeah. It’s a nice, clean way of life.” Charlene said. “I may buy a ranch myself someday.” Scott and Charlene discussed a few business ideas before concluding their phone conversation. Charlene was anxious to get back to work and Scott had plans to go shopping for a car. After looking over the inventory at the Mercedes-Benz dealership, Scott narrowed his choice down to a beautiful black S430 sedan. Paying cash for the car, Scott drove it off the lot, cruising up the strip towards home. Beaming as he drove, Scott’s mind drifted to thoughts of hiring a secretary. “Maybe someone like that leggy receptionist at the dealership.” Scott thought. “She had a friendly personality and seemed quite intelligent. Not to mention being drop-dead gorgeous with legs all the way to heaven.” Arriving at home, Scott made a call to the dealership. The receptionist answered the phone, her sexy voice most distinguishable. “This is Scott Timmons.” He spoke. “I was just in an purchased a new Mercedes sedan.” “Yes, Mr. Timmons.” The receptionist said. “I remember you. You’re not having car trouble, are you?” “No, no! Nothing like that!” Scott responded. “I was just wondering if you’d be interested in a secretarial position I have available?” Silence between the two lasted for several moments before the receptionist replied to Scott’s inquiry. “Are you serious or just putting me on?” She inquired. “Believe me, I’m serious. Very serious.” Scott answered. “Well, I’m happy with my job here and I make good money.” She replied. “It would hard for me to just up and quit.” “I understand.” Scott stated. “I don’t suppose I could lure you away by offering you more money.” “Depends on what you’re offering.” The receptionist replied. “I’m guessing you make about $500 a week.” He assumed. “I wish!” She quipped. “Hmmmmm. How about if I were to double that?” Scott inquired. “Let’s say an even grand a week.” “We definitely need to talk in person.” She quickly replied. “I get off work at 6:00.” “How about dinner at Antonio’s in the Excalibur around 8:00 this evening?” Scott suggested. Without hesitation, the receptionist promptly agreed to meet for dinner. Scott called to secure reservations, not wanting to have to wait for a table. Till then, he had ample time to put his proposition together. Not sure how the girl would feel about working for an escort service, he needed to make the business sound upscale as well as stable. Arriving at the Excalibur shortly before 8:00pm, Scott found his dinner date anxiously waiting in the hotel lobby. Wearing an ankle-length evening dress, the young lady smiled when she recognized Scott. “I see you remember me.” Scott stated when he approached her. “I remember everyone I meet.” She replied. “Especially those that make an impression.” “By the way. My name is Melissa Walsh.” She added. Melissa stood about 5’9” with a fantastic figure. Her shoulder length blonde hair and ice-blue eyes accentuated her beauty. The long slit up the side of her dress parted slightly when she walked, allowing Scott a generous view of her perfectly shaped legs. After being seated at a cozy table and ordering cocktails, Scott asked Melissa about her background. “I’m originally from Tampa, Florida.” Melissa stated. “I graduated from Florida State three years ago with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. I’ve been working at the dealership for almost a year.” “Seems like a waste of time with my educational background but it’s not easy finding a corporate job that I don’t have to compete against a thousand other applicants.” She added. “Married?” Scott inquired. “Divorced.” Melissa replied. “Married for about a year, no children.” “Can you tell me what kind of business you’re in?” She inquired. “I’m restructuring an escort service here in Vegas.” Scott responded. “Restructuring?” Melissa said. “Adding some new male and female personnel, changing payment policies, keeping a tighter rein on everything.” Scott stated. “A general overhaul of the entire business.” “What’s the name of the escort service?” She asked. “Nightlife Escorts.” He replied. “It’s been in business for several years.” “Can you tell me about the job?” Melissa inquired. “You’re main duties would be scheduling the escorts to meet our client’s requests.” Scott stated. “Making reservations when required. Answering the telephone, of course. Most importantly, you’d be documenting all the activities and transactions.” “That is keeping a tight rein on the business!” Melissa exclaimed. “You’ll have to pass a drug test and a background check.” Scott stated. “If you’d like, why don’t you stop by tomorrow sometime and fill out an application?” “I could stop by this evening and take care of that, if you’d like.” Melissa responded, smiling. “Even better.” Scott replied, realizing she was definitely interested in the job. After dinner, Melissa followed Scott back to his home. Entering the luxurious home, Scott showed her the secretary’s office just off the living area. Melissa was impressed with the layout as well as the rest of the house. After completing an employment application, the two shared a drink on the terrace. “I could get used to working in these kind of surroundings.” Melissa quipped. “Well, if things check out, you could start as early as next week.” Scott responded. “Maybe I could start immediately.” Melissa spoke softly, leaning towards Scott. Melissa’s lips pressed lightly to Scott’s, nibbling gently. Her hand reached behind his head pulling Scott’s lips hard to hers. Scott’s tongue sliced between Melissa’s moist lips, slithering into her mouth. Working his tongue over Melissa’s, he quickly aroused her desires. Within moments, the pair’s lips were grinding against each other’s. “Maybe we should find someplace where we could be more comfortable.” Scott muttered. Taking Melissa’s hand, Scott led her back into the house and upstairs to the master bedroom. Entering the darkened bedroom, Melissa unzipped the back of her dress, stepping out of it as it fell to her feet. Not missing a step, she kicked off her high-heels as she approached the bed. Wearing nothing but black thong panties, Melissa stretched out on the bed, resting her head on a pillow. Scott undressed casually, never taking his eyes off Melissa. Her long legs, slightly raised, were even more gorgeous than he first thought. Stripping off his tight briefs, Melissa caught her first glimpse of Scott’s long, thick cock standing fully erect. Wetting her lips, she couldn’t wait to get her mouth on him. Scott climbed on the bed slowly, not wanting to hurry the moment. Stretching out next to Melissa, he pulled her warm body close to his, crushing her beautiful breasts to his chest. Their lips meshed together in a fervent kiss that grew more and more passionate. Scott’s hand cupped Melissa’s breasts, silently admiring their shape and firmness. “What a great set of fucking tits!” He thought. “Damn, their perfect!” Gently massaging Melissa’s breasts, her nipples responded to his touch. Scott’s lips, tugging gently on her nipples, teased them till they hardened. Melissa’s soft moans were the only sounds filling the large bedroom. Scott continued working on her breasts and nipples, making her inner passions gradually rise. Slipping his hand beneath Melissa’s panties, he found her pussy already secreting juices. Scott’s fingers slipped between her legs, forcing them to part slightly. Melissa’s moans grew louder as he leisurely worked his finger between the folds of her pussy. Her perfectly shaped butt pressed down against the cool sheets, slightly bucking against Scott’s hand. Rubbing his finger upwards, he brushed against Melissa’s sensitive clit, causing her to gasp aloud. Scott grasped Melissa’s panties at the sides, slowly sliding them down her long slender legs. The bedroom, barely illuminated by the moonlight, allowed him to see the neatly trimmed, light blonde pubic hair covering her pussy. Tossing the panties across the room, Scott focused his attentions on Melissa’s pussy. Spreading her legs, his lips kissed her pussy with a passion. Melissa’s hands tightly grasped the sheets, her fingers clawing. Scott’s tongue licked her slit, tasting her juices. Melissa’s body twitched as his tongue brought her close to orgasm. Penetrating her pussy with his tongue drove her over the top. Melissa’s cry of ecstasy filled the bedroom. “OHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh” She cried out. Scott sucked on Melissa’s hard little clit, prolonging her incredible orgasm. The juices flowing from her pussy, dripped down onto the sheets. Scott kissed the soft pubic hair of her pussy, slowly working his way upwards toward her heaving breasts. Kissing her soft lips, Scott felt Melissa pushing him off to the side, onto his back. Holding his cock firmly in her hand, she straddled him, guiding his long, thick cock to her pussy. Easing down on him, Scott felt his cock sliding deeper and deeper inside her. His hands held Melissa’s ass as she rode him. Her body rising till his cock was barely inside her then slamming down hard, grinding her pussy into him. Scott’s cock felt like it was as hard as oak. Melissa fucked herself for several minutes, hard and fast, then slow and easy. Her hands held Scott’s shoulders pinned against the bed. Feeling herself about to cum, Melissa increased the tempo once again. Scott’s hips bucked hard into her, forcing her to orgasm. Waiting patiently till her orgasm finally waned, Scott pushed her over backwards. Melissa’s head was hanging over the foot of the bed. Scott’s long cock, still buried deep inside her, plunged in and out. Taking long, deep strokes, he ravaged her body, fucking her with a vengeance. Melissa begged for more, begging him to fuck her even harder! Scott was most obliging, not wanting to ever stop fucking the beautiful woman. His balls felt like they were going to explode as they slapped her ass with each hard stroke. Scott continued his frenzied motions till his cock spewed his hot, thick cum inside her. Gritting his teeth to keep from screaming out, he felt another load exploding from his cock. Scott gasped for air, trying to catch his breath. His head was spinning as he collapsed on top of Melissa. The last of his cum, dripping from his cock, buried deep inside her lustful pussy. Lying on top of Melissa, the two of them tried to get their breaths. Melissa’s arms around Scott, held him firmly to her overheated body. Scott’s strength not sufficient to lift himself from Melissa, he remained motionless for several minutes. Melissa managed enough strength to roll Scott onto his side. His cock slipped from her pussy. Kissing him softly on the lips before she glided off the bed, Melissa headed for the bathroom. Returning several minutes later, she washed his cock with a warm washcloth. “If you’d like to stay the night, you’re more than welcome to.” Scott said, smiling. “I’d like to but I’ve got to be at work in the morning.” Melissa whispered. After several moments, she added, smiling. “I guess I could stay long enough for a short nap.” Cuddling up with Scott, the two drifted off to sleep on the king-size bed. Scott woke up early the next morning, well before sunrise, finding himself alone. Walking across the hallway to another bedroom, he peered out the window. Melissa’s car, a late model Trans-Am was gone from the driveway. Scott made his way to the kitchen to put on some coffee. Waiting for it to brew, he carefully reviewed Melissa’s employment application. While it was up to Melissa to get the drug test, Scott would run a background check on her through his contact in the sheriff’s department back in Phoenix. With Melissa’s degree in business, she could prove to be a valuable asset to the business. Even though she had no real experience in management, she had potential. “Brains and beauty, a hell of a combination!” Scott thought. Late Wednesday, Scott had the results from the background check on Melissa. Other than a traffic ticket for speeding, her record was clear. Friday morning, the lab had the results from her drug test, all negatives. Scott was both happy and relieved. Phoning the Mercedes dealership, he informed Melissa of the good news. “How soon would you like me to start?” She inquired. “Monday?” “Monday’s fine.” Scott responded. “Let’s say 9:00am.” “I’m going to be scheduling interviews for new escorts.” He added. “I’d like you to sit it on them.” “Do you need me to do anything this weekend?” Melissa asked, implying something not work-related. “No, not really. “Scott replied. “Not unless you want to stop by and use the pool.” “That sounds good.” She said. “I could work on my tanlines.” Scott’s phone call was interrupted by another call. Saying a quick good-bye, he answered the other call noticing it was from Charlene. “Hey there!” He greeted. “How’s things at the ranch?” “Couldn’t be better!” Charlene exclaimed. “Still working from dawn till dusk.” “You still sound awfully happy.” Scott responded. “Maybe this ranching stuff was what you were destined for.” “I’m beginning to think that too.” She replied. “Even though I don’t have a clue to what I’m doing. I just follow Rick’s lead.” “Bought any horses yet?” Scott asked. “No, not yet.” Charlene answered. “Been doing alot of shopping over the internet though.” “The contractors are just now starting to build the two barns.” She added. “As soon as they’re completed, we’ll start buying.” “How’s the weather there?” Scott asked. “Nice, in the low 80’s during the day.” Charlene responded. “Gets down into the 50’s at night.” “Staying warm?” Scott kidded. “With Rick, I don’t have a problem staying warm at night.” She quipped. “But I know that’s not going to last forever.” “Rick’s been sleeping with you!” Scott exclaimed, surprised at her remark. “Not every night.” Charlene answered. “Just when we need each other sexually.” “You‘re not jealous, are you?” She asked. “No!” Scott replied. “Just curious.” “Speaking of sex, how’s the business restructuring coming along?” She asked. “It’s coming along nicely.“ Scott answered. “Now that I’ve got myself a secretary, it should be easier too.” “Make sure she’s honest and stays that way.” Charlene warned. “I’m sure she’s attractive.” “Attractive, that’s an understatement!” He responded. “Melissa’s hot! Beautiful and legs like you wouldn’t believe and a great ass to go with them!” “Did you hire her or did you let your dick make the decision?” Charlene kidded. “It was a joint decision.” Scott quipped. “My dick really enjoyed the interview though.” “You’re not jealous, are you?” Scott asked. “No!” Charlene replied. “Just curious.” “She’s got a degree in business but no real experience.” He added. “Brains as well as beauty!” “Sort of like me only a much younger version.” Charlene kidded. Instead of getting a smart response to her statement, Charlene heard nothing but silence for several moments. Thinking about what she had just said, she had meant it jokingly. “I wish you weren’t so damn far away.” Scott said, finally breaking the silence. “I think about you every day.” “I think about you too Scott.” Charlene muttered. “I worry about you.” Lady Gambler Ch. 11 After another long moment of eerie silence, the two say good-bye. Late Saturday morning, Melissa arrived at Scott’s home. Greeting her at the door, she gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “You can change in one of the upstairs bedrooms if you want.” Scott stated. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.” “Oh! I kinda thought maybe you’d join me for a swim.” Melissa responded. “I may join you a little later.” Scott said. “I’ve got some work I need to get done before Monday.” While Scott tried to concentrate on preparations for Monday’s interviews, his eyes frequently glanced out towards the pool. Melissa was stretched out on a lounge wearing a white thong bikini. It was hard for Scott to concentrate on work with the nearly naked, leggy blonde lying right outside in plain view. Scott turned his chair so he was facing away from the patio doors. Propping his feet up on the bottom desk drawer, he went back to getting his work accomplished. Getting everything prepped for Monday’s interviews, Scott put his work away. Glancing out onto the terrace, he saw Melissa descending the steps into the pool. The sun sparkling off the water reflected on her body. Scott quickly ran upstairs and changed into his swim trunks. Stopping by the kitchen on his way out to the pool, he poured two glasses of iced tea. Melissa was at the far end of the pool, near the waterfall. She smiled at Scott as he approached her, carrying the cold drinks. Sitting down at the pool’s edge, he handed one of the glasses to Melissa. “Thank you.” She said, sipping the iced tea. “I was beginning to think you forgot about me.” “No, not hardly.” Scott replied. “I’m just one to put work before pleasure.” Scott’s eyes glanced down at Melissa’s exquisite breasts. The skimpy bikini had become translucent from the water. Her nipples were erect, appearing to almost poke through the thin material. Melissa noticed him looking. Reaching around behind her back with one hand, she unhooked the top, letting it float to the water’s surface. “Is that better?” She quipped. “Love those tanlines.” Scott responded, staring at her bare breasts. Melissa’s breasts were deeply tanned except for small pale triangles covering her nipples and half her breasts. Scott eased off the edge of the pool into the water. Grasping Melissa’s waist, he pushed her back behind the waterfall. His hands eased her bikini bottom down to her knees. Melissa, kicking her legs, worked the bottom off. It gradually floated to the surface before drifting away. Scott and Melissa’s lips meshed in a passionate kiss. Her hard nipples poking at Scott’s chest caused his desires to rise rapidly. Their lips ground hard against each other’s. Melissa slipped her tongue between Scott’s lips to explore his mouth. Scott responded by lightly grasping her tongue with his teeth, flicking it with his own tongue. Melissa’s hands clutched Scott’s shoulders, her fingernails digging into his flesh. Scott pushed his swim trunks down, exposing his hard cock. Grasping Melissa’s butt, he lifted her till his mouth was able to suck on her hard nipples. Melissa held the back of his head, forcing his mouth against her breasts. Holding her nipples with his teeth, he flicked his tongue back and forth across them. Melissa’s body reacted immediately, gyrating against him. Her breathing became deep and labored. “Fuck me!” She muttered. “Fuck me now!” Holding his cock, he guided it to Melissa’s wanton pussy. Melissa eased herself down slowly, penetrating herself. Keeping her legs wrapped around Scott’s waist, she slowly pumped her pussy up and down on his hard cock. Scott’s hands, clenching Melissa’s shapely ass, lifted her up and down. Waves of pleasure swept over the two as they fucked each other. Melissa’s tight pussy gripped Scott’s cock, lubricated by her juices and the cool water cascading from the waterfall. Scott’s eyes lightly closed, letting the pleasure consume him. Melissa, feeling her orgasm building, gyrated her hips to intensify her gratification. Scott, knowing he couldn’t hold out much longer bucked his hips into Melissa’s heated pussy. Her orgasm spiked, sending her over the edge. A muffled cry escaped her lips as her body trembled. Her orgasm lasted for an extended period. Her juices flowed, lubricating Scott’s shaft. Fucking hard into Melissa, his balls exploded their hot load into her, bringing her to another wave of pleasure. Slipping beneath the water, the two passionately kissed. Melissa surfaced before Scott, his cock slipping out of her pussy. Both gasped to catch their breaths, their strength weakened by sexual fulfillment. Scott and Melissa held onto the edge of the pool till they regained enough energy to swim over to the steps. Grabbing some towels, they casually dried each other off. Both focused on their swimsuits floating on top of the water. “I’m not going back in after them.” Scott joked, wrapping the towel around his waist. “We’ll just have to wait till they float close to the edge then.” Melissa responded, sitting down on one of the lounges. After soaking up some sun, Scott and Melissa went back into the house to cool off and get a cold drink. The two decided on having dinner together at the Garden of the Dragon restaurant in the Las Vegas Hilton. Melissa left for her apartment to shower and change clothes. Scott would pick her up later for their dinner date. During dinner, the conversation between Scott and Melissa covered many subjects including business, backgrounds and personal relationships. “What did you do before you took over Nightlife Escorts?” Melissa inquired. “I was a bodyguard.” Scott responded. “Bodyguard and chauffeur actually.” “That had to be interesting.” Melissa said. “Anyone famous, someone I might know?” “Infamous was more like it.” Scott replied. “Not someone you probably ever heard of.” “What happened?” She asked. “You just get tired and quit?” “No …………. he was shot and killed, along with his son and a woman I cared alot about.” Scott muttered. “Oh! I’m sorry.” Melissa said. “Was she your girlfriend?” “No, just someone I felt close to.” Scott replied. “She was a very dear friend.” “Is that why you moved here to Vegas?” She inquired. “No, not really.” Scott answered. “I moved to Taos, New Mexico for awhile. Did some security work for a hotel. I took this job strictly for the money and the benefits.” “So you don’t own the escort service.” Melissa asked, curiously. “No. I just manage it.” He replied. “The owner lives out of town. I’m sure you’ll eventually meet her sometime along.” “Really.” Melissa inquired. “What’s she like?” “Trouble!” Scott exclaimed. “Attractive but not too smart. Does her best work lying on her back.” “Oh!” Melissa responded, grinning. “One of those.” “I’ll let you make up your own mind about her when you meet her.” Scott stated. “Just remember ……… trouble!” “What about you?” Scott inquired. “You have someone special in your life?” “Not really.” Melissa replied, a frown appearing on her face. “I don’t have much luck with guys. Maybe that’s why my marriage was a failure.” “Maybe you just haven’t met the right guy.” Scott said. “Maybe. I don’t know.” Melissa murmured. “I’d just like to find someone who really cared about me. Someone who really loved me, not someone who just wants sex and then moves on. Someone with a job would be nice for a change. I‘m tired of letting guys take advantage of me.” “Why don’t we take in a show at the Mirage?” Scott suggested, trying to lift Melissa’s spirits. “That sounds like a good idea.” Melissa responded, a smile appearing on her face. “Maybe a little dancing afterwards.” “Disco!” Scott exclaimed. “No, not Disco!” Melissa replied. “Someplace with soft music. I like to slow dance.” Scott and Melissa attended a stage show at the Mirage, enjoying each other’s company. Afterwards they spent several hours at the “Light” nightclub in the Bellagio Hotel on the Strip. Monday morning, Melissa arrived for work shortly before 9:00am. Wearing a short, tan leather skirt with a form fitting black blouse, she looked terrific. Her tan high-heels made her calf muscles look taut yet shapely. Carrying their coffee into Scott’s office overlooking the terrace, the two discussed the first interview they’d be doing. “This’ll be my first time to interview someone for a job.” Scott stated. “I’ve been doing a little rehearsing.” “I’m going to see just how far I can get this first girl to reveal herself.” He added. “Reveal herself?” Melissa curiously asked. “Yeah, see if she’ll bring up the sex thing.” Scott responded. “I want to see just how much she’s willing to go along with.” The interviewee, Deanna arrived right at 10:00am. Melissa greeted her at the door, then escorted her to Scott’s office. She was a fairly tall brunette in her late twenties, impeccably dressed in a beige business suit. Her true figure was somewhat hidden by her attire. Sitting down across from Scott‘s desk, she amply displayed her shapely legs. “I see from your resume, you graduated from the Sussex School of Fashion Design in New York City.” Scott stated. “Yes, a little over four years ago.” Deanna responded. “I’ve been working for a business here in Las Vegas, designing costumes for some of the stage shows.” “Are you still employed by them?” Scott inquired. “Yes, but I work strictly on a freelance basis from my home.” She replied. “I don’t work a regular 9 to 5.” “Have you got any experience working as an escort?” Scott asked. “No, none at all.” Deanna answered. “I have a close friend who works for you so I know a little bit about it.” Scott noticed the name of Tracy Gilliam, one of Nightlife’s escorts, listed as a reference. Scott was familiar with Tracey‘s personnel file. She’d worked for Nightlife Escorts for several years and had a good work record. “How much has Tracy told you about being an escort.” Scott inquired. “She just mentioned it was great work and the money was good.” Deanna replied. “I assume the sex is optional.” “Yes, absolutely.” Scott quickly answered. “You’re paid for your companionship, nothing else.” “So ……… I don’t have to do anything or anybody I don’t want to.” She said skeptically. “Right.” Scott spoke. “Sex between you and the client or clients is strictly your option.” “Do you ever book anyone strictly for sex?” Deanna inquired. Her question put Scott on the spot. Not wanting to admit anything, he decided to avoid a direct answer. “We’re not a call-girl operation.” Scott stated. “We book male and female escorts for men and women. Occasionally, we book our escorts for couples.” Scott was sure Deanna was smart enough to figure out what the escort service’s operations were really all about. He didn’t have to spell it out for her. “Couples!” Deanna exclaimed. “Bet that’s interesting!” “I’m sure it is.” Scott responded, smirking. “You’ll need to dress appropriately.” Scott stated. “Evening dresses or something similar to what you’re wearing. Nothing sleazy.” “You mean I don’t get to dress like a hooker?” Deanna joked, laughing. “No. Definitely not like a hooker.” Scott responded, grinning. “Something sexy or appropriate would be much more suitable.” “I assume you want to see me without my clothes on.” Deanna stated. “Well, if you don’t mind.” Scott responded, biting his lower lip to keep from grinning. Looking over at Melissa sitting alongside the desk, Scott could see she was a little surprised by Deanna’s statement. Standing up, Deanna slipped her suit jacket off, tossing it over the back of an empty chair. As she casually unbuttoned her blouse, Scott glanced back at Melissa to see if she was watching. “I prefer women over men but I’m open for about anything.” Deanna stated, slipping off her blouse. “That’s not a problem.” Scott responded. “The more clients you’re willing to date, the better.” Deanna reached behind and unzipped her skirt. Holding it with one hand, she let slip down her legs to the floor. Stepping out of it, she tossed it on the chair with the jacket and blouse. Not hesitating for an instant, Deanna unhooked the front clasp on her lacy bra, allowing it to spring open. Her breasts were magnificent, firm and beautifully shaped. The areolas were a rosy tan in color, her nipples small but hardening quickly under Scott and Melissa’s gaze. “Well, what do you think?” Deanna asked, placing her hands on her hips and striking a pose. “Toss the panties on the pile and we’ll let you know!” Melissa exclaimed. During the entire interview, Melissa had remained silent. Her bold remark more than surprised Scott. Deanna slipped her panties off, holding them in her hand briefly before tossing them with the rest of her clothing. Her pubic hair was neatly trimmed to a narrow strip. “Turn around, so I can see your butt.” Melissa commanded. Deanna slowly turned around facing away from Scott and Melissa. After glancing at Deanna’s butt, enough to approve, Scott looked over at Melissa. Her eyes were traveling up and down Deanna’s exquisite figure. “Ok, you can turn back around.” Melissa stated. “Great ass!” “I think you’ll work out fine.” She added. “Don’t you Scott?” “Yeah, I think so.” Scott responded. “You’ll need to pass a drug test and background check.” “I have a recent lab report with me.” Deanna said. “I came prepared.” Handing a copy of the report to Scott, Deanna turned her attentions towards Melissa. “Anything else you’d like to see or should I get dressed?” She quipped. “Well, since your naked, let’s see how well you perform.” Melissa responded. Melissa walked out of Scott’s office with Deanna following close behind her. “You coming?” Melissa turned around and asked. “I’ll be along shortly.” Scott replied, looking over the lab report. “You two don’t need to wait on me.” The lab report in Scott’s hands was valid, dated less than a week prior. Scott phoned his contact in Phoenix to run a background check on Melissa, hoping for a positive result within a few days or sooner. Melissa could prove to be a valuable asset to Nightlife Escorts. She definitely had the body to go along with her education and sophistication. As Scott approached one of the upstairs bedrooms, he could hear continued moaning. Entering the bedroom across from his, he saw Melissa lying on her tummy with her legs spread apart. Deanna was fingering Melissa’s pussy, slowly stroking in and out, swirling two fingers deep inside her. Deanna smiled when she saw Scott entering the bedroom. “You wanna join us?” She quipped. “No thanks. I’ll let you two ladies have your fun.” Scott replied. “I’m content to just watch.” Deanna withdrew her fingers from Melissa’s dripping wet pussy. Putting the fingers to her lips, she savored Melissa’s juices. Lifting Melissa’s butt upwards till she was on her knees, Deanna held her legs apart. Deanna’s tongue protruding from her mouth, explored Melissa’s pussy, licking her hot slit feverously. Melissa’s ass was swaying, wanting more. Deanna slid her tongue inside Melissa, probing her. Melissa’s gasps and loud moans filled the bedroom. Swirling her tongue brought Melissa to an incredible orgasm. Her hands grasp the sheets, pulling on them hard, almost to the point of tearing them. Deanna continued her oral gratification on Melissa, sucking on her clit. Melissa screamed aloud as one orgasm was quickly followed by another. “Ahhhhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Arghhhhhhhhhhh” Melissa cried out uncontrollably. Melissa quivering body succumbed to her inner pleasures. Gradually, her body sank down to the bed, her knees sliding out from under her. Deanna wasn’t finished. Straddling Melissa’s back and facing Scott, she licked her finger before penetrating Melissa’s perfectly shaped butt. Stroking her finger in and out of Melissa’s ass hard and fast, she had her bucking frantically. Melissa body ravaged by numerous orgasms, collapsed on the bed, her strength completely spent. Deanna slowly pulled her finger from Melissa’s butt. After a brief visit to the bathroom, Deanna entered Scott’s office and proceeded to get dressed. “That was quite a performance.” Scott stated. “We’ll be calling you.” “Great!” Deanna exclaimed. “I can’t wait to get started.” After escorting Deanna to the door, Scott ascended the stairs to check on Melissa. “You alright?” He asked. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Melissa replied. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.” “I’ve got another interview scheduled to start in about thirty minutes.” Scott said. “You wanna sit this one out?” “Not while I’m on a roll.” She kidded. “Just no more in-depth interviews.” Carson, the next person scheduled for an interview, was a tall black male in his mid-twenties. He was quite handsome, standing a little over six foot tall and completely bald. His muscular build quite evident that he had been an athlete in college. Not able to compete professionally, he had turned to appearing in adult movies. “I see you’re from the Midwest.” Scott said. “Indianapolis.” “Yeah, I just moved out here.” Carson responded. “I’ve been working for a used car dealer till I can find something better. At least, something that pays better anyway.” “Have you had any experience at being an escort?” Scott inquired. “No, afraid not.” Carson replied. “Got alot of experience at sex. I made more than twenty adult videos.” “Some of our female clients may want more than just sex.” Scott stated. “They may just want some male companionship. Can you handle that?” “Sure, no problem.” Carson answered. “I can give the ladies anything they desire. If it’s just a social thing, I can deal with it.” “With Nightlife Escorts it’s always a social thing.” Scott asserted. “The sex is optional at the client’s discretion.” “Ok, that’s not a problem.” Carson responded. While the two men continued their discussion about working for Nightlife Escorts, Melissa reviewed Carson’s resume and employment application. Carson’s previous employment with Venture Productions intrigued her. “Melissa, do you have any questions you’d like to ask Carson?” Scott inquired, interrupting her train of thought. “Well …….. Would you mind showing us your body?” Melissa asked. “Not at all!” Carson responded. “For you, I’d be willing to give you a freebie.” “Just a show for now.” Melissa said. “I just want to see what we might have to offer our female clientele.” Carson proceeded to undress, tossing his clothes onto a chair. Stripping down to his tight boxers, his cock, already hard, was clearly evident. Melissa’s eyes took in his entire body. Her eyes were glued to his crotch in anticipation. Stripping his boxers off, Carson’s enormous cock sprang erect. Not only was his cock huge, long and thick, his legs and upper body were well defined. Holding his cock, Carson pointed it in Melissa’s direction. “You got a license to use that?” She quipped. “That looks a little dangerous.” “It’s only dangerous if it goes off.” Carson smarted, slowly stroking it. “I’ll take your word for it.” Melissa responded, with a stern look on her face. “You can put your clothes back on.” Although slightly disappointed, Scott followed her suggestion. Melissa left Scott’s office to return to her office just off the foyer. After a brief discussion, Scott showed Carson to the front door. “It’s been quite a day!” Scott exclaimed, entering Melissa’s office. “It sure has.” Melissa stated, grinning. “Wonder what tomorrow’s going to be like.”