Mark and Amber had been roommates for five years. They had originally met when both were working together in a coffee shop. With little money and bills mounting they had decided to move in together to cut down on cost. Over the years they had both moved on to better jobs but continued to live together even though they could afford to live alone. They had become comfortable with each other and feared what life would be like living alone.
Amber had been single for the last eight months, an unusual occurrence in there life. Mark was almost always single, he found faults in almost every women he met. Mark and Amber had recently gotten into a routine of coming home from work and crashing on the couch, watching television, until time to go to bed. They had both stopped going out to bars and realized they were getting to old to party.
Amber had recently applied for a promotion at work and today found out she had gotten in. She was excited to rush home and tell Mark her big news. When she arrived home she found Mark laying on the couch watching a "Friends" marathon on the television.
"I got it, I got it!" Amber exclaimed.
Mark looked up at her, "Thats great. When do you start the new position?"
"I have to go through training, then start in two weeks. I'm super excited. I finally feel like a grownup," replied Amber.
"We have to celebrate, you wanna go out somewhere?" Mark asked.
"I've had a long day and just want to relax. We can just stay in. Find some wine and I'll change into something more comfortable," she said as she walked into her bedroom.
Mark hadn't really expected her to want to go out anywhere but he had hoped she would to break up the monotony of the routine they had gotten into. He got up and walked into the kitchen and found that there was no wine. They had drank the last of it a few months ago and never picked up more. All he could find was an unopened bottle of bourbon.
Amber came out out of her bedroom in an old pair of sweats and her favorite pink tank top. Mark couldn't help but notice that she wasn't wearing a bra. Even though it was a staple of Amber's attire around the apartment he always had to stop himself from staring at his beautiful roommate.
"All we have is bourbon," Mark told Amber.
"Thats fine. Pour me a glass, neat," said Amber.
Mark got out two glasses and filled them. Amber had already headed toward there couch. He grabbed the glasses and the bottle and headed to the couch and sat down beside Amber. Mark handed. Mark handed Amber her glass and held up his.
"To a bright and wonderful future," he toasted.
They laughed as there glasses clinked. They relaxed on the couch drinking, talking and watching the "Friends" marathon. After a couple of episodes they had drank over half the bottle and were both feeling a little drunk. As the marathon continued "The One at the Beach" came on. Shortly into the episode Joey suggested the friends play strip poker.
Amber looked over at Mark and said, "Let's play."
"What?" he looked at her in confusion.
"Let's play strip poker," Amber said slowly.
Mark still confused asked, "You're not serious are you?"
"Dead serious. I've never played and have always wanted to. I think it would be fun," she told him.
Mark couldn't believe it. They were best friends. It was like they hadn't accidentally walked in on each other a thousand times in the bathroom. But it was only for a few seconds each time that they had seen one another naked. Before Mark could say anything Amber was getting up.
"Its not like we haven't walked in on each other in the bathroom. I'll get the cards," she said as she ran off to her room.
Mark grabbed the glasses and bottle and headed into the kitchen. Amber came out as he was sitting down at the table.
"What are the rules?" he asked.
"Loser loses and article of clothing silly," she told him.
"What happens when one of us is naked?" he asked.
"You have to stay naked the rest of the weekend and be the winners slave," she replied.
Marks mind started racing. He knew he didn't want to sit around naked all weekend and do every little task amber asked. However he also knew that if she lost he would go crazy with her being naked for the weekend. Amber was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, there had never been anything sexual between them but he was worried he become tempted with the slave rule in effect. He grabbed his glass and chugged it.
"I'm in, deal," he said.
Amber dealt the cards. Mark looked at his hand and he had a pair of aces and a king high. He threw two cards back and Amber dealt him two more, Amber took two. He sill had the same hand.
She looked up from her cards "Show em."
They laid their hands down. Amber had a full house 10's and 2's.
"Dammit!" Mark yelled.
