Page 419 of Rock Me All Night
"All right." Drew pulls five twenties from his wallet. "I'll take three minutes."
"Thanks for believing in me." Tom rolls his eyes.
Pete fishes a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet. "Clock starts at the moment of insertion?"
Miles nods.
"Are we talking oral or intercourse?" Pete asks. "Makes a difference."
"What do you say, Tom? Got plans for how you're breaking your fast?" Miles laughs, reveling in the awkwardness of the situation.
"Lady's choice," Tom says.
"Oh? You have anything to say, Willow?" Miles asks.
I have a lot to say but my mouth is sticky. I shake my head and take another sip. The bite of alcohol isn't bad. Even if it warms my throat and chest more than I'd like.
Tom's eyes catch mine. They fill with something I can't place then go to the floor.
Okay, time to finish this drink. It takes two sips and I'm slurping melted ice.
"Fuck it. I'll call it now. Intercourse." Tom slams his drink in one long sip. "I'll take five."
"That's it?" Miles asks.
"A man should know his limitations. If we're taking bets for round two, I'll take twenty." Tom pulls a hundred out of his wallet and adds it to the pile. "Any other commentary?"
"Condom?" Pete asks.
"What kind of idiot do you take me for?" Tom asks.
"You can sneak in some sensation dulling bullshit." Pete smiles.
He's enjoying this way too much.
"Got some that are specially made for piercings. Normal sensation."
"Capitalism at its finest." Miles laughs. "How much do those run?"
"What do you care?" Tom shakes his head. "Never knew you guys were obsessed with my cock. It's flattering, but I don't swing that way."
Pete laughs. "I'll go up to one minute unless you want to call it, Willow."
I pass my drink to Tom for a refill. Okay. Might as well be a part of the action. "I'll take fifteen."
Our eyes connect. Something passes between us. Something intimate and not at all just friends. Almost like he's considering how long he'd take with me.
"Damn, Sticks. The girl believes in you. She tripled the highest bet." Miles looks at me. "I'm not offering any odds. You can bet six and win with 5:31. Bet fifteen and you need 10:01 to win."
The gambling statistics mean nothing to me. "What can I say? I believe in Tom. He can do whatever he puts his mind to." I drink until my cheeks are burning.
Miles collects the money and slides it into his pocket. "That's five hundred dollars for whoever gets closest. Tom is honorable enough to report accurately."
"You guys need new hobbies." Drew slams his drink and pushes out of his seat.
Drew's eyes lock with mine. He studies me, assessing whether or not I'm okay. I guess the answer is yes. Or maybe he's realized I'm an adult, and I'm able to make my own mistakes.
God, being here is a mistake. But being somewhere else, wondering how it's going, would be worse.
