All In: Betting on a Full House (Gambling With Love) Read online

  "Hey, Jess. How are you feeling?"

  "Good. Did you tell Tyler to call me last night?"

  "No. Cross my heart. I didn't talk to him after I left your place. Caleb didn't either after he went back to his apartment. Why? Did he call?"

  "Yeah, at like one in the morning."

  "Really? What'd he say?"

  "He was just checking up on me, said he couldn't sleep. I invited him over and he came and spent the night."

  "Wow. That's great! See, I told you to give him a chance."

  "Yeah, and then this morning he asked me to go to dinner with him tonight and to bring Jonathan too."

  "That's really sweet. Tyler's a great guy, and I want you both to be happy. With each other."

  "I feel bad about lying to him."

  "Hey, this is your best shot to answer the question of whether or not the two of you are right for each other, and you know it."

  "Yeah I guess. I'll let you know how tonight goes."

  "Can't wait to hear. Call me tonight or in the morning if he stays over again."

  "Sure, but it looks like regardless of what happens there won't be any action for several weeks."

  "Why not?"

  "Because he did some research and thinks I had a surgical procedure."

  "Aw, that's sweet that he read up on it because he was worried about you."

  "I guess, but I don't know how long I can hold out. The mere sight of the man makes me want to jump him. And it's not like I have to worry about him knocking me up."

  Lauren laughed. "Oh sweetie, your real life soap opera is even better than mine was."

  "Tell me about it."

  Chapter Ten

  Tyler

  I sent Jess a text telling her I was off work and on my way to the steakhouse. I was actually glad her brother agreed to come out with us, and didn't mind his choice of restaurant either. For some reason it was important for him to see me as more than just a jerk that's fucking his sister. A jerk who'd knocked her up and caused her hell, not that Jess had probably told him any of that.

  I parked and headed in since Jess's blue car was already in the lot. She and Jonathan were waiting in the sitting area at the front of the restaurant when I walked in. Leaning down I gave Jess a quick kiss before taking the empty seat beside her.

  "Hey, Jonathan. How's it going?" I asked the teenager.

  "Good, and you can call me Jon. Everyone else does except for my sis," he said with a smile before playfully kicking the toe of her shoe, to which she responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

  "You know, you two are lucky to have each other. I’m an only child, and it sucked so much growing up. After having no one around but imaginary friends to play with for the first five years of my life, I swore that I'd have at least two kids."

  Fuck. How'd I end up talking about kids for Christ's sake? On the list of things not to bring up, anything to do with kids was at the top. Jess looked down at her hands after my comment and I grabbed the closest one, giving her an I'm-sorry-I-have-a-big-fucking-mouth squeeze.

  She smiled up at me and shook her head. "You may say that, but you've only thought about the fun parts of siblings, not how they throw your cell phone in the toilet, or use your bra for a water balloon sling shot, or always play their music so loud you can't think."

  "I had not thought of those things, especially a sibling using my bra as a water balloon sling shot. But that sounds like a damn good time."

  "It was. The cups were perfect for a double launch attack," Jonathan said.

  He and I laughed, and even Jess had a smile on her beautiful face. "It's not funny, it's embarrassing when you're a thirteen-year-old girl and your seven-year-old brother and all the neighborhood boys are playing with your bra. Including T.J. Reynolds, who I had a serious crush on at the time."

  "A shy and embarrassed Jess? I can't even picture that."

  "She was so mad, she even went crying to mom and dad. Then dad beat the shit out of me."

  Jess covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry, Jonathan. I was stupid back then. I should've known that's what would happen."

  "It's fine. It's not your fault," he said with a shrug and a frown.

  I got the impression that their father's beatings may have occurred on a regular basis. Probably one of the reasons they moved out so young.

  "So tell me some more embarrassing stories about your sister," I encouraged Jonathan, trying to distract them from the darkness they'd both fallen into.

  ...

  Several more hilarious stories, a salad, baked potato and steak later, I was happy and full to bursting, stretched out in Jess's bed. Her head was lying on my chest while we picked up on the GoT marathon. We started with the first episode, since we both fell asleep at the beginning and missed it the night before.

  While we were watching the opening song of the second episode, Jess looked up and smiled at me.

  "Thanks for letting my brother hang out with us tonight."

  "Sure. I like him. He's got some great stories about you."

  Her eyes lowered. "So, I guess you've probably figured out part of the reason why I took him and moved out when I was seventeen."

  "You were only seventeen?"

  "Yeah, and he was eleven. My dad was abusive and it was … about to get worse."

  "What about your mom?"

  "She is … how do I describe her? Fucking nuts."

  "Seriously?"

  "Seriously. She's certified crazy, and has actually been involuntary committed in the mental hospital several times."

  "Did your dad hurt her?" I asked.

  "Oddly enough, no. He, well, he loves my mom."

  "Didn't he love you and Jonathan?"

  "Ah, no. He made it clear he never wanted any kids. I was an accident, which is why he married my mom. Then several years later Jonathan was their second accident. My dad beat him worse than me, I guess because he was a boy and my dad thought he was tougher. I just knew we had to get out."

  "Is that why you went to work at the strip club?"

  "Yeah, but not at first. I waitressed before and after I graduated from high school, but didn't make enough to pay all the bills. Since going back home wasn't an option it was strip, work three minimum wage jobs, or end up homeless."

  "You seem to be doing pretty well on your own."

  "Now we are. It was hard at first. I worked a sleazy club and still had to waitress during the week too."

  "You're amazing, you know that?" I asked her.

  She turned her head away and sighed. "I just wanted to protect Jonathan, and couldn’t stand to see another bruise on him, or worse." She shivered, I assumed from the memories.

  I rubbed my hands over her arms, then lifted her chin to kiss her, placing three more soft kisses against her lips before sliding my tongue across hers. She moaned in encouragement and all the blood in my body rushed south. I knew we couldn't take things further, but that didn't stop me from enjoying every second of our kiss.

  When Jess straddled my hips and I felt her hand slide under the button of my jeans to undo them I groaned and pulled her hands away.

  "What are you doing?" I asked her breathlessly.

  Her lips moved down my neck, then, pulling away from my grip, lifted my shirt to kiss my stomach.

  "My hands are fine," she said sliding my zipper down. "And my mouth is even better."

  "Fuck yes it is," I agreed as her hand wrapped around my cock. The woman did blow jobs like no other. Which reminded me of her drunken comment the other night. Did she say something about watching porn and being a pro?

  Jess looked up at me as she lowered her mouth. Flattening her tongue, she rubbed it all the way up my length like she was licking a fucking popsicle.

  "Damn, woman."

  She grabbed me around the base and held my cock up to do the same along the underside, pulling more moans from my throat. Then she stopped teasing and closed her mouth all the way around me as far as she could go, sucking me. Hard.

  My
hips thrust up urgently, and with my hand in her hair guiding her, she moved faster to match my pace.

  "Fuck, that's amazing. Oh God. Finish me, baby, hand or mouth now," I groaned then my hips surged with an explosive release down her throat. My muscles tensed as pleasure spread through every single inch of my body.

  I came back down to Earth feeling Jess's hair across my chest and her open mouth kisses over the ridges of my stomach.

  "You have the sexiest chest and stomach I've ever seen. And I guess your long, hard cock is rather impressive too," she said without raising her mouth from her exploration.

  I chuckled and ran my hand through her long dark hair. "Be careful or you'll give me an ego."

  "I think it's too late for that," she said with a lick around my belly button.

  "Your mouth is incredible. How many porn stars did you watch to get so fucking good at giving head?" I asked.

  Jess went still and looked up at me wide-eyed. "How'd you know about the porn?"

  "You said something about it the night we were drunk. Why? It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's fucking hot."

  Suddenly she moved back up my body to cover my mouth with hers.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jess

  My pulse was racing uncontrollably, and I needed to stop Tyler from asking any more questions. I didn't need reminders of the shit I kept locked tightly away in Pandora's box with a flashing neon, "Keep the Fuck Out" sign hovering above it.

  It was easy to let all those thoughts go and concentrate on the man in front of me. Hell, he oozed sex from his head down to his toes, making me feel things I'd never felt before. I was so hot and swollen between my legs that it was starting to hurt. And damn it, there was no relief in sight. Just kissing him with the erotic tangle of our tongues was taking me higher and higher. I could probably get off just dry humping this fine ass man. A needy moan escaped me when I lowered myself over his growing erection, still free of his pants. My thin cotton pajama bottoms were a thin barrier that aided in my all mighty quest for an orgasm.

  I guided Tyler's hand up my braless shirt, and thank fuck, his teasing hands on my sensitive nipples sent me over. I couldn't hold back the staggering pants that escaped from my throat and went into his mouth when I came.

  "Did you just …"

  "Come? Yes. I had to or I was going to die. Oh God," I gasped and laid my head limply on his chest. His heart steadily beat underneath my ear, and for whatever reason it made me think of our babies. Our babies. Damn those words sounded so … odd.

  "When do you go back to the doctor?" he asked. I almost passed out thinking he'd read my mind until I figured out what he was referring to. I decided to answer honestly, even though the appointment was with an obstetrician, not Planned Parenthood.

  "Two weeks. Why? Are you in a hurry to fuck me again?"

  "Yes. Minus the alcohol and with condoms."

  I could only nod against his chest in agreement.

  Tyler rolled us gently over until he was hovering above me, his knees on either side of my legs, and hands beside my head. He looked down at me silently for several heartbeats. When he exhaled I knew he was finally ready to say whatever was going on behind his beautiful blue eyes.

  "I understand the reasons for your decision, especially now that I know more about your family, but I really wish you would have told me. Talked to me. I just feel like we should have handled it together, you know?"

  Tears slid quickly from each of my eyes down the sides of my face.

  "Don't cry. I'm sorry," he said, swiping his thumb across both lines of moisture. "It was my fault. I was stupid to get drunk and be so irresponsible with you. I'm not mad at you. I'm just … I don't know how to explain it."

  "Just tell me." I searched his face for what he was trying to say.

  "I'm disappointed and feel guilty and … impotent because you didn't give me a chance to even try and change your mind when that baby was mine too. And now I feel like I'm ... irrevocably heartbroken. But I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through. How are you doing with everything?"

  A sob escaped, and I had to cover my face with my hands. He wanted me to have his baby, and now he thought I was a horrible person, which actually I was for keeping the truth from him.

  "Oh, Jess. It's okay. I shouldn't have said anything. God, I'm so sorry I've put you through this."

  Tyler pulled me over until I was lying on top of him. I felt like shit for not telling him, and I knew I was stupid to even consider us ending up together with a family. That sort of happy ending wasn’t meant for me, and never had been.

  …

  Tyler

  I was taking asshole to a-whole-nother level. When it came to dealing with this sort of thing I was lost. I was so damn tired and felt like a crushing weight was drowning me. I finally fell asleep after Jess relaxed against me, and slept until my alarm went off the next morning.

  When I raised up to turn the phone off Jess grabbed me and pulled me back to her. She buried her head against my neck and kissed me until I was rock hard and rolling on top of her. Jerking her shirt up, I took her one of her breasts into my mouth while cupping the other one in my hand. She moaned and squirmed underneath me, arousing me even more.

  "God, you feel good," I told her when I had to come up for air. "Are you okay?"

  "Yes."

  "I don't want to leave but I'm going to be late if I don't go now. Can I see you again tonight?" I asked.

  She looked away before answering. "It's Thursday."

  "And?"

  "I have to work tonight."

  "Hell no. You aren't seriously going to work two days after … Shouldn't you take a few days off?"

  "No, I can't afford to take a few days off."

  "Damn it, I can loan you some money. Just call in at least for this weekend."

  She shook her head. "I need to work. I'm fine. Really."

  "Right," I conceded, then stood up to get dressed.

  "Tyler …"

  "No. You've made it clear you're going to do whatever the fuck you want."

  Once I was dressed I turned back to Jess who was sitting up in bed, looking sad and hurt, zapping my anger.

  "So when can I see you again?" I asked, taking a deep, calming breath.

  "I'm off Sunday," she said quietly.

  "Sunday?" Three goddamn days from now. "Well, if you want to see me then call me or text me."

  "I'm looking for another job."

  "Really?" I asked hopeful.

  "Yeah, so if you see anything available let me know."

  "Okay, I will," I told her, breathing a little easier.

  I felt stupid for getting mad at her when she was only doing what she had to. It just hurt that she wouldn't accept my help or consider my opinion on anything. Maybe I was still a little ticked about the abortion, and I wasn't sure if she'd ever trust me to be there for her. Then again, I couldn't imagine what her childhood had been like, when the two people who were supposed to take care of her and comfort her caused her pain instead. That would probably make it hard to trust anyone but yourself.

  I went over to her side of the bed and bent down to kiss her bye. "I'm sorry if I was a jerk. I just wish you'd let me help you when you need it, or hell, just talk to me."

  A flash of guilt crossed her face before she nodded. "I'm working on it," she finally replied, raising her eyes back up to mine.

  "Good. So I'll see you Sunday?"

  "Yeah. I hope so."

  Leaving Jess's apartment I tried to think of what I'd do to get through the next three days without being able to see her, knowing a bunch of men would be looking at her dancing naked.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jess

  Ugh. Tyler was right. I should have taken the weekend off, but I couldn't. I needed the money and it's not like I'd actually had a medical procedure. Although it did feel strange stripping now that I knew I had two kids inside me. The whole thing was somehow … inappropriate. Regardless of how I felt, I had
work to do. I put on my cowboy boots, hat and white t-shirt, then it was show time.

  Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar On Me came over the speakers, indicating it was my turn. I strutted out on stage, feeling as though everyone could see my pregnancy, which was ridiculous. They would be able to soon, but right now my children were nothing more than blips on an ultrasound.

  I finished my routine, which consisted of letting a man from the audience pour a bottle of bubbly over my chest, soaking my white t-shirt, before I removed it, then headed for a quick shower. Instead of the shirt, I redressed in a white thong bikini with my brown cowgirl hat and boots, then went out to mingle with the customers to try and sell a few private dances.

  I couldn't hide the surprise on my face when I looked up and saw Will and Dylan watching me from one of the tables.

  "Well, look what the pussy cat dragged in," I said when I approached them.

  "Hey Je-" Will started but I interrupted him.

  "It's Eve, and only Eve here guys."

  Both of their cute little faces blushed. Their shyness was really adorable.

  "So what'd you think of my routine?" I asked, just to frazzle them more. Both of them blushed even harder.

  "It was awesome. Especially the whole upside down thing … you know on the pole," Will said, staring at my barely covered breasts.

  "I like the boots," Dylan remarked, his eyes continuing to move up and down my body like hijacked elevators.

  I looked down at the brown cowboy boots, the only thing I kept on during the performance and shrugged. "Yeah, all guys have a thing for boots or high heels. Something about imagining them wrapped around their waist while fucking."

  Heat lit up their gazes like firecrackers, pulling a laugh from me. The fact that my naked body aroused men didn't bother me quite as much anymore. It was something I'd learned to deal with a long time ago. Not that it would arouse anyone much longer. Soon I'd be fat, and have stretch marks. Oh fuck.

  "How about a round of beers on me tonight? I owe you for all those shots the other weekend," I told them.