Page 30 of The Gambler

“I highly doubt that.” While there were A-sexual people indeed, he didn’t think Tess was one. He placed a finger under her chin. “Sex is a team sport. If it isn’t working out, it usually isn’t one person’s fault. If it can be called a ‘fault’ at all. Sometimes people just don’t have that synergy.”

She gave him a doubtful look. “I just told you I’ve had three lovers in my life. That amount isn’t exactly enough to conclude an experiment within the sense of the social sciences, but I still think those numbers speak for themselves.”

Facts and numbers. He was starting to learn more and more about how her brain worked. “Fine. Let’s analyze this further. Tell me what happens when you were with Trevor. Though, honestly, one look at the prick and I can’t think of a single woman who’d get hot for him.”

She fidgeted in his lap, as if only now she was aware of where she sat. Right on top of his semi-hard dick.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “I should probably—”

“You should probably just be brave and not change the subject. Go where no man has gone before, or something like that, right?”

She scrunched her nose. “Please don’t go there.”

“BadStar Trekimpression?” he guessed.

“Not entirely, but I’m aStar Warsfan.”

“Aren’t those two the same thing?”

Her eyes widened in horror. “Wow. Just wow. I don’t even know where to start tackling that one.”

He laughed at her indignant look. However, he got what he wanted. She was lying, relaxed in his arms. There was no more talk about her going to bed.

Unless it’s with me.

Shit. Don’t go there. Remember why you’re doing this. You owe her. You can’t give her back her freedom yet, but you can help her out with this.

“So, Ms. Gibson, answer my question.” He wasn’t going to give her the chance to change the subject again.

“Fine.” She frowned. “I just find it difficult to relax. It’s like I’m always thinking of something. My mind works overtime, even when we made out. Come to think of it, we usually talked about work anyway, even when we had a supposedly romantic dinner. Guess this break-up was long coming. Especially after the last thing he pulled, selling my software to Big Pharma. That was the last straw.”

“Ah yes. Why the hate for Big Pharma, anyway?”

For a moment, her body froze, as if she was bracing herself. Then she started talking.

“They killed my mom. I mean, she got cancer and was in a clinical trial. And everyone knew she could be in the placebo group, but that wasn’t what happened with my mom. She received the so-called cure. It only shortened her life. Turned out, the manufacturer knew the high risks, but of course, didn’t tell anyone. By the time we found out, my mom was already a goner. She died the week after finding out about it. The pharmaceutical company, of course, lawyered up. They went broke on paper. We didn’t receive a dime. And it’s not about the money. No amount of cash will ever be enough to replace someone you love. It’s the fact that they got away with it that ate at me. At the time, I was just a teenager. I didn’t have the computer skills I have nowadays. They just… played with her life and got away with basically killing her. Trevor knows all this. And still, he sold my program to Big Pharma, right under my nose.”

He was beginning to understand what drove Tess Gibson. “You’re the reason that program has a bug, aren’t you?”

Her ‘duh’ look made him smile. “Of course. Like I would ever leave the rebel base into the hands of the Empire.”

“And that’s not all you’re going to do, is it?”

A lovely blush covered her cheeks. “Well...”

“Tell me what evil plans you have plotted to make Trevor pay.”

“What makes you think I—”

“Tess…”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “As of tomorrow, I might have frozen his bank account. Deleted the dissertation he’d been working on for months. Sent him an eviction notice. Granted, that last part won’t hold for long, but it’s a bitch to get it sorted out.”

“Remind me to never get on your bad side,” he joked.

“You really shouldn’t,” she said earnestly.

He couldn’t help himself. His finger trailed over her upper lip, making a full circle on the plump bottom half.

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