16
ZANDER
ZANDER: ZERO.
Eden: two.
I was losing.
I had never lost before, and I hated it, yet it was such a fucking turn-on.
Twice, I had laid out my hand only for Eden to outplay me.
The sad part was, she had no idea she was even playing a game, and she was still winning.
We were at war, and she was killing me slowly without even trying.
Flirt with the customers, I had said.
It will be good for business, I had said.
What a fucking bunch of bullshit that was.
Watching Eden smile sweetly at the customers was too much. Everything was too much when it came to Eden.
But when that fucker pulled her on his lap and started to grope her, I was done.
It was the day before the fight between Tony Rivera and Alex Gonzales. Empire Sevens was making millions off hosting the fight, but there was no way I would let Eden work during the fight wearing the new uniforms.
Hell, after seeing the hurt and angry look on her face after the incident with the guy pulling her onto his lap, I was determined she would never wear that fucking thing ever again.
After emailing Kade to let him know what happened, we both agreed we didn’t need that kind of hassle every night. I emailed Kennedy next to have the new uniforms packed away and to return the old ones to the girls. I was relieved when she didn’t send back an I told you so and simply said okay.
I FOUND OUT THE DAY of the fight that Eden would not be working that night. Instead, she and Kennedy were going to attend the fight together. Kennedy usually worked the floor, but she wanted to do something fun for her niece. She had even gone as far as getting her and Eden new dresses for the occasion.
The entire day flew by, and I didn’t have a chance to think about Eden throughout the day. I was needed in all parts of the hotel and casino as everyone prepared for one of our biggest nights.
At six, I handed the reins over to Brian, the assistant manager who worked directly under Kennedy when she went out of town or on vacation. And then I made my way through the hotel lobby to get ready for the night.
That was when I saw her.
I literally stopped in my tracks, holding my breath as Kennedy and Eden made their way inside. Neither saw me at first, which was probably a good thing because it gave me time to get my bearings.
I’d never seen a woman look so angelic in my entire life. Eden was wrapped in white fabric that clung to her breasts without straps and teased the smooth skin halfway up her thighs.
Her long legs were smooth and held a shine to them. She wore black heels, and her hair was down and straight.
I almost dropped to my knees right there and then.
Kennedy saw me first and frowned. “Why aren’t you dressed yet?” she scolded.
“Because everything decided to fall apart the first time you decide to take fight night off.”
I could see the panic on her face. Her first instinct was to take charge.
“What’s wrong? What do you need me to do?” she asked.
I smiled at her, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Eden watching me intently. She hadn’t so much as said a single word to me.
“Your only job tonight is to enjoy the night off with your niece.”
“Zander,” she started to protest.
“Nope. I won’t hear it, Kennedy. Empire will survive without you for one night. Brian has to learn how to do this if you’re going to New York next week.”
“What?” Eden said, speaking for the first time, but she was talking to Kennedy. “You’re going to New York? When?”
Kennedy glared at me. “Thanks.”
She turned toward Eden.
“I’m sorry I hadn’t told you yet. I wanted to make sure it was a for sure thing, and I just got the news today that it was. I was going to tell you tomorrow morning at breakfast.”
“How long will you be gone?” Eden asked.
“I’m not sure yet. I have to go help Kade. I’m hoping not long.”
Eden nodded, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
“You’re more than welcome to stay at the hotel while Kennedy’s gone if you want.”
Why the fuck did I just say that?
Kennedy and Eden both looked at me.
One shocked.
One relieved.
“That actually isn’t a bad idea, Eden. I would feel so much better.”
Eden dragged her gaze away from me to her aunt. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow, but I think I’ll be fine at your condo. Especially now that I have a car.”
Kennedy cringed. “More for me to worry about. You driving that rust bucket late at night.”
“Let’s not worry about it tonight,” Eden said, her eyes flashing briefly at me.
I knew she was uncomfortable talking about this in front of me.
Kennedy’s mention of Eden’s “rust bucket” had my curiosity piqued, and I made a mental note to investigate what kind of car she drove.
“Well, I need to get dressed. I’m sure I’ll see you ladies later tonight, but in case I don’t, I hope you have a wonderful time.”
“Thanks, Zander.” Kennedy smiled.
“Thank you,” Eden mumbled.
Walking away, I had to force myself not to turn back and watch Eden walk away.
When I reached the elevator, I pushed the button once and then four times to get it to hurry. I could see the distorted image of them through the gold shine of the elevator doors. They had stopped to talk to someone else, and as the elevator doors opened, I stepped inside and turned.
My eyes found Eden’s briefly, and then the doors closed.
I couldn’t do it anymore.
My body was weak. I would explode. Already, I had come in my pants once. I couldn’t do it.
I took my time getting dressed. The more time I took to get dressed, the less time I would have to be downstairs.
Once I finally made an appearance, I spoke to everyone and hosted just enough to be considered socially acceptable. When I was done with that, I disappeared into my office.
Instead of grabbing a glass, I grabbed one of the decanters on my bar and tilted it to my lips.
I was weak.
So fucking weak.
Crashing onto the black leather couch in my office, I reached down and undid the button on my slacks and slid the zipper down.
My cock was hard and angry, tight from the pressure of an unfulfilled promise.
I gripped it, hissing at the pleasure and pain. My balls ached, begging me to give in.
And so I did.
I tugged up, rolling my head on the back of the couch with a sigh. Stroking up and down, careful to put pressure where I wanted it most, I worked my cock until the pain in my balls slowly dissolved, leaving only pleasure.
I closed my eyes, envisioning Eden’s sweet smile. I imagined her looking up at me through her lashes and grinning.
She wanted me.
She wanted to taste me.
She wanted me to fuck her so hard and so fast that she screamed and came all over my throbbing dick.
In my imagination, she dropped to her knees and took me into her warm mouth, her tongue swirling around my engorged head before she tickled the hole a bit with the tip of her tongue.
She worked her hand down my shaft, her mouth following the path until she took all she could into her mouth. My tip sliding into the back of her throat until she began to gag a bit.
Her saliva coated me, warming my dick and lubing it as her mouth worked up and down on me.
“Yeah, angel, just like that,” I whispered. “Suck my cock, baby.”
If only my imagination was real.
If only she were there, kneeling in front of me like a virginal sacrifice and servicing me to the edge of insanity.
I pumped harder, the pleasure so extreme I was starting to feel dizzy. My breathing was rough and fast, my hips tense as I thrust into my palm.
In my mind, Eden was reaching down and palming my balls, massaging them as her sweet sucking and tugs pulled my orgasm from deep inside.
I was getting closer the more she sucked.
The harder she sucked.
She licked.
Massaged.
It was so fucking good.
“Fuck, angel. That feels so fucking good. You want me to come in your mouth, don’t you? You want to taste me? Want my cum to cover your tongue before you swallow it?”
In my mind, she nodded, sucking harder as I reached the end.
Then the sound of my office door echoed throughout the room, and I opened my eyes to see Eden standing there looking at me. Watching me jerk off while in my imagination she was blowing me.
I couldn’t stop.
I was too close to the end.
Too close to the pleasure I had denied myself for the past six months.
Surprisingly, she didn’t leave and slam the door behind her.
Instead, her eyes dropped to my hand, and her eyes went wide.
“Don’t move,” I said as I continued to pump my cock. “Just stand there and let me look at you.”
She obeyed, going stiff as she stood in the doorway of my office without moving.
Her eyes followed my quick movement, and she bit her lip like she was enjoying it.
“Do you like watching me?” I asked, not really expecting her to respond.
She didn’t, and I was fine by that.
Through her dress I could see her nipples hard and peaking, needing to be nibbled and sucked.
My fist tightened, and I pumped harder, feeling the slow rise of my impending orgasm as it crawled down my spine and tickled my hips.
Her cheeks were crimson. She was blushing so hotly, her body spotting in red flushes. She gripped her fingers together, the tips turning white from her strength.
Was she holding herself back from me?
Did she want me as badly as I wanted her?
I almost asked her to come to me, lift her dress, and let me fill her sweet little cunt with my juice, but I had already fallen too far. I didn’t want to make my relapse worse.
Her eyes shifted, turning away from me and landing on the wall beside my head.
“Don’t look away,” I demanded. “I want you to see the moment my cum spills for you.”
Her eyes went wide, but she listened, continuing to watch.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “Just your eyes on my cock while I jerk it is doing it for me.”
Her eyes dipped to my dick, and her tongue peeked out and swiped across her top lip like she wanted to taste me.
That was all it took.
I came.
I exploded so hard I growled like a fucking savage, which was appropriate since I felt like an animal.
Wild.
Uninhibited.
On the verge of total chaos.
It was the best fucking orgasm I had ever had in my life from jerking off.
The fingers of my free hand dug into the leather of the couch beneath me as my hot pleasure spilled over the edge of my cock, slicking my hand and shaft with sticky heat.
My balls lifted, tightening as I poured for her. My body was tense, my neck stiff from the pleasure. When I came down, my body went loose, and the sound of my rushed breaths was the only noise in the room.
My eyes clashed with hers, taking in her expression and wondering what her next move would be. I was sure what to expect.
Drama.
Hysterics.
But none of that happened.
Instead, she set something on the top of my desk and slowly backed away. Once she reached the door to my office, she looked over at me, her eyes slowly perusing my body before she turned, stepped out of my office, and slowly closed the door behind her.
A moment of clarity fell over me like a moist fog.
I couldn’t continue this way.
My past was haunting me. There were nights when I had nightmares of dead eyes staring back at me—accusing me of murder—putting me on trial for my dark and dirty thoughts and actions, but the way I was living was suffocating me.
I needed a release on occasion, and I wanted that release with Eden.
I was done fighting it. I wanted her, and I would have her. And when I was done with her, she would call me sir and beg for more.