Author's note: These chapters reveal some of the exploits of an expert card-player, Greg, who uses his skills to get his way with married women. He never discloses that he has played poker at competitions in Las Vegas and, as such, has an overwhelming advantage over amateur players. Each chapter features a different female, written from her point of view.
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Paula watched him step out of the pool. It seemed unbelievable to her that, last night, she had stripped for that young man. Yes, he had killer eyes. Yes, he was handsome. Yes, he had a perfect body. But, they had only known Greg Smith for an hour before he suggested a game of poker. Looking back at last night, she remembered exactly Greg's words, his challenge to her and her husband. "If I win," Greg had said, "I want Paula to submit to being undressed by me."
She looked again at Greg as he stood 20 yards away, having just climbed out of the pool, and pushed his fingers through his wet long hair. At age 30. Paula was older than Greg by five years, but that didn't stop her admiring his physique: a 6-foot frame, dark eyes to match the colour of his hair, strong jaw. And those abs rippled as his damp skin caught the sun. She couldn't help her eyes fall to the bulge under his wet swim trunks, the cotton fabric having stuck to the outline of his cock.
"Like what you see?" asked her husband, Bob, who sat next to her on a lounger.
"What?" said Paula, playing the innocent wife.
"Greg, over there. The man who stripped you last night. The guy we fantasised about afterwards in bed." Bob chuckled.
"That was a fantasy, Bob. Nothing more." She certainly wasn't going to admit how turned on she had become last night. Turned on while Greg had painstakingly taken off every piece of her clothing. And turned on by Bob who murmured suggestions as they made love later in the evening.
Greg glanced over their way, smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. She reckoned Greg was mentally unclipping her bikini top to release her boobs, of average size although her nipples stood out like pencil erasers. There was a hint of his eyes dropping to her bikini bottom, and she imagined Greg pulling the tie-bow either side of the swim-costume. Yesterday, he'd seen her neat, clipped pubic hair, her ample bum and strong legs. His growl of appreciation had told her that Greg liked her.
Bob rolled on his side and propped himself up on one elbow. "Your secret desire can actually happen."
"No way." She questioned whether she'd told the truth. The thought of touching Greg was appealing but there was no way she was going to let Bob know. Wives have secrets they must keep to themselves, she concluded. Even though Bob and she had each come twice last night, Paula wasn't prepared to discuss her innermost dreams with her husband.
Greg sauntered over. "Are you guys alright?" His twisted smile sparked something in Paula. While she remembered how he stripped her, Greg talked with Bob. It wasn't she doing a striptease - it was Greg's technique in taking her clothes off her. Her one-piece dress, short, flared and belted at the waist was sexy. After losing the poker game she had to submit to being undressed by Greg. The simple act of Greg unbuckling her belt, slowly, his fingers spreading across her stomach, his eyes focused on hers, had been the beginning of dampness between her legs. It took an age for him to remove her clothing, even her panties.
With her thoughts elsewhere, the conversation between Bob and Greg went over her head. Bob got up from his lounger and suggested they all have a drink at the poolside bar. They sat on bar stools, Paula in the middle of the two men. They talked about the luxury holiday hotel - Bob and Paula were there for two weeks, Greg on his own for a week. His girlfriend had had to cancel at the last minute. Paula wondered if Greg preferred to be on his own, his natural charm made it easy to socialise. After all, it was how Greg had got invited to sit with them for after-dinner drinks last night - before the poker game.
Greg bought a second round of drinks. He said, "Fancy some more poker?"
"Absolutely not," said Paula and laughed. "You just want to strip me again."
"I've done that." Greg's voice rumbled. "I'm suggesting another bet."
Paula felt her heart thump. She looked at Bob who said, "Depends."
"Suppose I pay for your hotel bill, if I lose the poker game." Greg waited while Paula held her breath. "But if I win ... Paula has to strip me."
The silence was deafening. Paula wondered if she could do this. To allow her time to think, she said, "Prove you have enough cash to pay our holiday cost."
Greg fished out his mobile from the shorts he'd picked up on the way over to the bar. He thumbed access to his bank, put in a code and displayed the screen to Bob and Paula. She gawped, "That's a lot of money in a current account."
"Yes. But it shows I can transfer money to you any time."
"So, if we lose," said Paula in a low voice, "all I have to do is strip you? Nothing else?"
"That's right." His eyes smiled. "Come to my room and we'll play." He stood as a signal for them to follow. His charisma won over Bob. Although Paula wasn't so sure, she got up to go as well.
His bedroom overlooked the pool and the blue waters of the Caribbean. It was luxury. They sat on the private terrace in their swimwear at a round table, a bottle of wine from the bedroom fridge and a stack of cards. The game began. Paula couldn't work out whether Greg was just lucky or a world-class player. Either way, she guessed the outcome, and she was right - she, with her husband, lost.
Greg excused himself. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Paula lowered her voice. "Are you going to enjoy watching me strip Greg?" She paused as Bob hadn't reacted. "I'm not going any further than taking his swim trunks off."
"Greg's gone into his bedroom to put on some clothes. So, you'll be taking off a full kit." He giggled.
"It's not funny, Bob. Suppose he gets an erection?"
"I know for sure I'll have some wood. It'll be sexy."
"Don't start to play with yourself while I'm undressing Greg ... please." She thought of last night, after Greg had left, she and Bob had had intense sex. "After I see to Greg, we can go back to our room and do what we did last night." The talk of sex, and the thought she'd be touching Greg, made her damp between her legs.
Bob swallowed some wine. "I hope he has a condom."
"Fucks sake, Bob. I'm not getting involved with Greg."
At that moment, Greg came out onto the terrace fully clothed, took Paula's hand and said, "Come. Let's all go inside."
In the bedroom, Paula and Greg stood facing each other 12 inches apart. She noted his pullover, the long-sleeved shirt, his tie, chinos but no shoes nor socks. "Dressed up, I see!" said Paula. Meanwhile, Bob took up a comfortable position on the bed propping himself against the headboard.
Greg smiled. "I took you slowly yesterday. Your turn to do the same."
As she stepped closer, her stomach did a couple of flips. Paula took a deep breath and bit her lower lip. To take his pullover off she tried at first to push the front of the garment up but it was too tight. The only thing she could do was to put her hands under the cotton, sliding against his abs and drag the pullover up to his chest. Those abs felt so firm and ribbed, and caused her to linger a little too long.
Greg raised his arms which allowed her to push her hands over his biceps. Without intending, she squeezed them, felt their strength, felt their firmness. Bob called from the bed, "Nice guns?" She was too nervous to reply. Greg let his arms drop to help her complete the strip of his sweater.