The Game

Please enjoy this work of fiction. It is an original piece I have tweaked off and on. I would love to see what you think. I promise to post as quickly as I can...like my fictional counterpart, I'm trying to finish my degree.
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I woke up the next morning, groggy and disoriented. I didn’t recognize where I was or remembered what had happened the night before. I sat up as I scrubbed my hands across my face and neck; there were black sheets pooled around my naked body. I looked down and wondered where the red marks had come from; where the hell was I? The answer walked through the door, carrying a cup of coffee. Col smiled as he handed me the cup, “Well, good morning sunshine. Don’t you look just yummy?” I grabbed the cup out of his hands and gulped at the hot brew; I burned my tongue. “Let me guess…you don’t do mornings very well, do you?” he laughed. “I’ll have to keep that in mind if I want to keep you off-balance. You surprised the crap out of me last night.”

“What the hell happened last night? I’m having a hard time remembering anything.” I asked.

He sat on the bed next to me. “You have committed yourself to be mine for the next six weeks.”

“Did I?” I replied, deep in thought. Images and sensations drifted through my fogged mind as I started to recall bits and pieces of what had happened. “Was I drinking last night?”

“Not as much as you think. Sometimes, the body can overdose on endorphins and cause hangover like symptoms when you come down. A minor side effect, if you ask me. You were magnificent…beyond what I even dreamed about,” he said as he pulled open the front of his robe. I saw the red and bloody claw marks I had left in my frenzy of payback. He pulled the robe closed and took the empty cup from my loose hands.

“Whoops…did I hurt you?” I asked as I swung my feet to the floor.

“No, just my pride. In my supreme arrogance, I thought I could control such a savage creature like you. How are your wrists and ankles, by the way?”

I looked down and saw the raw marks that the scarves left behind. “I thought silk didn’t do that to skin. Isn’t that why it’s the ideal choice for tying someone up with?”

“True, but you weren’t willing to just lie there and take it. No more blindfolds for you either, I think. I may have had more warning as to what your mood was like if I could have watched them. Do you know they turn ebony black when your survival instincts kick in?”

I stretched my arms over my head as I stood up. I put on the clothes I wore the night before and looked at the time. I had long enough to drive home, change my clothes and grab my backpack before the first class started. I walked back out to the living room and followed my nose to the kitchen. He followed close behind me, still just wearing his robe. “Will you be on campus today?” I asked as I poured a second cup of coffee.

“Not usually; I don’t because I haven’t got a class but I’m making an exception for you. Will you be down playing Spades?” he replied.

I sipped the coffee slowly this time, “Yeah, I’ve got classes until ten o’clock and then a break until one. I’m usually finished for the day by two-thirty, at the latest.”

He walked me to the front door. “Okay so I’ll meet you in the breezeway at five minutes after ten. We can finish negotiating then.” He caressed my cheek and smiled softly. “Don’t be late…or else,” he whispered as he leaned in for a kiss.

I whispered back, “Or else what?” He pressed his lips against mine without replying, grabbed the half-full cup from my hands and pushed me out the door. I laughed as I headed for my car.

Morning classes passed quickly; before I knew it, it was ten o’clock and Col would be waiting for me. I was half tempted to see what he meant by ’or else’, but my curiosity didn’t get the better of me. I walked out into the breezeway and pulled out my cigarettes. I wore a long-sleeved, lightweight blouse to cover the marks on my wrists.

“God, aren’t you hot wearing long sleeves?” Diane asked from the usual Spades table. I pulled out my Zippo and lit my cigarette as I sat my backpack on the bench.

“No, not really,” I replied as I exhaled. Red pointed to the empty place across from where he sat, “Sit down and we’ll get a game going. I glanced at my watch; Col would be here in just a little bit.

“No, I’ll pass. I’m meeting Col in a couple of minutes,” I answered as I pulled the sleeve down to cover my wrist. Red stared at me, “You and him got something going on? How did the date go, anyway?”

Diane’s jaw dropped, “You had a date with Col last night? He doesn’t ever date girls from campus.”

I shrugged, “Technically, it wasn’t a date. He was just giving me pointers on how to improve my game.”

“Did you have dinner with him?” Red asked as he dealt the cards out. I sat down but didn’t touch the cards.

“Well…yeah, we had dinner.”

“Then, it was a date!” they chorused together.

I felt my face flush a tiny bit. Diane peered closely at my cheeks, “Are you…blushing?”

I pushed her face away from mine, “Hell no…I don’t blush.” I picked up the cards and started sorting them by suits. I glared across the table at Red.

“Why in the hell did you give Col my whole life story?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You know what the fuck I’m talking about. I didn’t even know I made Dean’s List. You work study in the Dean’s office and I’m sure you have the dirt on a lot of people.”

“Oh yeah…that.”

I snorted, “Yeah, that. Spill it or I’ll kick your ass so hard, you’ll be able to look over your shoulder to check for skid marks.”

“Just chill, woman. I wasn’t the only one he talked to. He also talked to Diane, George and Nessa. How the fuck were we supposed to know he was checking you out?”

Diane looked everywhere but at me. “Et tu, Diane?” She shook her head at me. I looked at George and Nessa but they didn’t say a word.

“What you got, partner?” I asked sarcastically, trying to change the subject. It was hard for me to focus on what was in my hand; I didn’t sense when Col walked up behind me.

“How are you going to bid this mess?” he huskily whispered in my ear. Startled, I yelped and jumped up from my seat. The sleeves of my blouse rode up enough to expose my raw wrists; Diane’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. I jerked them back down and felt my face go red again. Everyone at the table laughed; I hated being the butt of the joke. Angrily, I smashed my half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and turned to leave.

Col grabbed my hand, “Oh honey, please don’t go!” I looked at Diane; she mouthed the word ‘honey?’ at Red and waggled her eyebrows. I wanted to lunge across the table and knock that smartass smirk off her face. Col felt my body tense, ready to spring; he pulled me down on his lap as he sat. He whispered in my ear, “If you don’t behave, I’ll punish you front everyone present. Hey…you are blushing!” He turned us so that we were facing Red once more. “I asked you a question…how do you plan to bid this mess?”

I still had the cards clenched in my fist. I slowly relaxed my hand and looked at the cards again. A mix of suits, all low, and two spades-also low. I sighed as I glared at Red yet again.

“Can you cover a nil?” I asked through clenched teeth. He smirked back at me,
“Sure…honey. I can cover you. I’ll put us done for a nil-six…honey.” Col snickered as we started to play. We made our bid and Col stood up, still holding me in his arms. He bent down to grab my backpack without letting me loose.

“Well, deal her out. We have some things to go talk about,” he said as he pulled me away.

“BYE HONEY!!!” everyone shouted as we walked over to an available table. I flopped down in a huff. Col sat across from me as he used his body to block the view from the Spades table. He grabbed my cigarettes from my open purse and lit two of them. He passed one over to me and stared through a light haze of smoke.

“I don’t think I could have planned my revenge any better. You hate it when people think you aren’t tough. Or is it weakness, in general, that you despise?”

I shot a heated glance in his direction but refused to rise to the bait. He continued to muse out loud.

“No, it must be that you don’t want people to see that you have the potential to be vulnerable. You’re a rough, tough creampuff. You can’t stand to be humiliated.”

I exhaled the drag I took in a rush, “Screw you…I don’t need this kind of crap. From you or anybody else…” I moved to stand when he tossed a small box across he table at me.

“Open it…it’s the token you asked for last night. Your ‘physical symbol’ to show I can play by the rules.” I snatched the small box off he table and opened it. Inside was a heavy silver ring with two gemstones: a diamond and a ruby. They were joined together by a tiny pair of handcuffs. I looked up at Col and cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Is this some kind of a joke? Where in the hell did you find a ring like this?” I demanded.

“I have a friend who does custom jewelry. I called him last night after you went to sleep. I believe the diamond is your birthstone; the ruby, obviously, is mine. You have your token; let’s talk terms.”

I took a final, deep drag off my cigarette before it was crushed out. “Six weeks-you crook you finger and I’m supposed to come running. Did I miss anything?” I asked sarcastically.

“You don’t fuck anyone but me; I can only fuck you. Any time, any day and any place. No permanent marks where people can see,” he looked pointedly at my exposed wrists. Stupid, fucking blouse… “And no scars. Other than that, anything goes.”

“I see…and the catch would be?”

“No catch except whoever sets the date, names the game.”

“What happens after six weeks? All bets are off after that?” I asked as I slid the ring on my finger. Dammit…a perfect fit. How could he have possibly known my size? He reached out and pulled the ring off.

“Yup…unless we figure that we would just curl up and die without each other,” he stated seriously. He gently lifted my hand and slid the ring back on. He then brushed a soft kiss across my knuckles. I jerked my hand away.

I snaked another cigarette. “How does yesterday count? The elevator had to be a fluke. And I can’t even begin to think how to count last night.”

“Yeah…the elevator was a fluke and we can call last night a test drive to see if the chemistry was there; it definitely was.”

“What about them? Do they get to find out?” I jerked my head in the direction of the group at the Spades table.

“Not unless you want them to. Personally, I’d rather they mind their own damned business. This is about you and me and what we can do for each other.”

I took a deep drag and exhaled slowly. I had to shake my head and smile; this had to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever done in my entire life. He raised an eyebrow of his own.

“Before I forget, no solo gratification. We agree to this and I get your toy box…no one fucks you, including you. No touchy, no feely on your own.”

“Whoa…no one said anything about my pocket rocket. I need that stupid thing; it helps me…sleep,” I stammered.

“No one, including yourself. I want you so hot and bothered, you’ll do anything I want you to so you can get off. So, do we have a deal?” he held out his hand for me to shake. I stared in utter disbelief; had I just sold my soul? I put my hand in his and we shook on it. He pulled a larger box out of his backpack. He tossed it on the table as he got up to leave.

“Be wearing this when I come to pick you, and your toy box, up at nine tonight. If you’re smart, you won’t keep me waiting,” he said over his shoulder as he turned and walked away. I opened the box: a black leather skirt, black silk top and a bottle of sandalwood oil. Oh shit…