Anna

Oh God! It's Mario! He's standing there, in the door way, frowning at us with squinty eyes. What did he see? How much did he see? Oh God!

"Hi Anna, Sidney" he says carefully to us. "Anna, I think Jen is looking for you."

I take the out he's giving me and mutter an apology as I walk by him. I don't have the nerve to look either Sid or Mario in the eye. I carefully blank my face as I enter the locker room and look for Jen.

"Ah, there you are" she says to me. "Gather your guys please. We're almost ready to go."

I smile and then look for Geno, Rob and Kris. I find them but Sid isn't back yet. There is no way I can go look for him, absolutely no way, but I need to get my guys together. Oh God. This is getting as complicated as I feared it would be and I'm going to get fired. Oh God, I'm going to get fired. Mario won't sue me for breach of contract and he'll probably let me quit so that it doesn't look like I was fired. It wouldn't look good for my father if his daughter was fired from her one and only paying job. Oh God. The irony that my father would love how much I'm praying to God right now isn't lost on me.

"Everybody ready to go?" Jen says from the doorway.

I'm about to panic when I see Mario and Sid join Jen in the doorway. Sid quickly walks over to our group but won't make eye contact with me. That's ok because I can't look at either him or Mario.

Jen repeats the directions for what the guys have to do with very little heckling from the guys this time, probably because Mario is here, and then we're off. As we walk down the hall, I glance at Sid and he slightly shakes his head. It's going to be a very long night if I have to wait until the evening is over to know what happened with Mario. Ok, I need to pull myself together and focus on work.

Each of the players is introduced and then there's a pause before Geno and Sid are announced.

"You no ask me to go to bathroom" Geno tells me.

I can't resist so I ask "do you need to go?"

"Good thing you pretty. No funny" he tells me.

Only Geno could pull a genuine laugh out of me right now and he does.

"Oh Geno, you're funny enough for us all. We need to play to our strengths anyway" I tell him.

It takes him a moment but he gets what I'm saying.

"You say I no pretty? Girls all say different."

"Well, I'm a woman, not a girl."

"Ha" is all he says before he is announced and has to go out.

Sid and I have a few minutes alone. I look around to make sure there's no one who could hear us.

Softly I ask "do I still have a job?"

"Yeah" he says back.

"Can we talk later?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow's an off day. Come to my house tonight?"

"Sure."

Then we can't talk any further because Sid is announced. As expected, the loudest cheers are for Sid and he smiles and gives a small wave before taking his seat. The donors are already at tables waiting for the players. They'll rotate throughout the evening so that they get to sit with their favourite players. My job is to stay available to my players at the blackjack tables in case they need something.

I take a quick look at my phone as it vibrates. It's from Geno.

'You fault. I have to pee'

I can't control the involuntary laugh that chokes from me. He is so freaking adorable sometimes, seriously adorable, too much for his own good. That reminds me, I need to check with Mathew, my father's deputy chief of staff, and see if he has found out anything about Geno's brother. We've exchanged a few emails and Mathew offered to contact the Russian government to see what's happening but he knows not to go further than that. It would be spun in the press that my father is doing a rich Russian favours if he does any more than ask questions.

I notice that Sid has finished his bottle of water so I get a few from the bartender and walk around to the tables handing them out to the players. When I get to Geno, he decides to make me part of his entertainment.

"This my babysitter" Geno says to the crowd at his table. "Say hi Anna."

"Hi Anna" I tell the table.

"Maybe you funny" Geno tells me and goes back to dealing.

I leave him water and go to Sid's table. He's talking to the people at his table as he deals the cards. There's a girl at his table, probably his age, batting her eyes at him. She's blond and thin, of course, and probably tall to have those long legs crossed and shown off in the short dress. I hate her instantly. It doesn't matter that Sid is paying no attention to her, I hate her on principle. Of course this happens everywhere he goes in public. It seems that there are always girls throwing themselves at him. Hmm, it's interesting that I hate her but I'm not worried about her. Actually, I can't remember being jealous of any of the girls who flirt with Sid. Maybe I'm starting to believe that he actually wants to be with me. He could be with any one of them if he wanted, right?

The night goes by quickly and I don't get a chance to see Sid when the evening ends. The players aren't speaking with the media but the heads of the different foundations, the Pens' CEO and Mario will have pressers and need someone to support them. The fates hate me because I'm assigned to Mario.

I lead the press to where Mario is standing and take my usual position a few feet away but close enough to hear everything. He could probably do this kind of presser in his sleep so I don't anticipate needing to be actively involved.

I watch Mario as he answers questions. He appears confident, casual and friendly. It's the perfect persona for someone who is both an owner and a former player. I can see that Sid has taken on some of Mario's characteristics. It's easy to see why Mario has been successful as a former-player and now owner.

Within ten minutes, the presser is finished and Mario and I are alone in the hall. I want to run as fast and as far as I can right now; but, I would also like to find out what Mario has to say to me, if anything, rather than waiting for Sid or being uncomfortable every time I see him. It kills me but I stay where I am and maintain eye contact with Mario.

"Why don't you see if Jen needs you further? If not, why don't we have a chat?" Mario says.

"Ok" I respond.

"Good, I'll meet you in my office" he tells me and then turns to the elevator.

Shit, he wants me to meet him in his office. That can't be good. Sid said that I won't be fired but there are a lot of other things that can happen that are also horrific.

"Thanks for your help tonight" Jen says when I approach her. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else from me tonight?" I ask.

"No, it's been a long day. I'll close up the media room and make sure the press is gone. Go home and have a good day off tomorrow."

"Thanks Jen, goodnight."

I go the elevator so that I can meet Mario in his office. My incredibly bad luck continues because Meagan is there too.

"How was Mario's presser?" she asks but I can hear the sarcasm in her voice.

As we get into the elevator, I choose to ignore the sarcasm and reply "it was good. Not much to do since he's been doing these for years."

"Yeah, you seem to get all of the easy assignments. Didn't take you long to go from Geno to Mario. You leaped right over Sid huh? Why fuck the captain when you can fuck the boss?"

I'm stunned silent by her words. I can't seem to find my voice to even make a noise. She is actually saying that I'm sleeping with Geno and Mario. She's not just insinuating, gossiping or alluding to it. She has come right out and accused me of sleeping with Geno and Mario to advance at my job. How do I respond to something so outrageous, offensive and potentially damaging to me, Mario, Geno, the list goes on and on?

"I don't even know how to respond to that Meagan. You've been rude and belligerent toward me in the past but this is incomprehensible. Whatever makes you think that I'm sleeping with Geno or Mario?"

"If you're not fucking them, and I still think you are, then you must be getting the assignments because of your daddy! Why else would you be getting things that no intern ever gets? Either way, you're a whore."

I didn't think I could be any more shocked by her and then she calls me a whore. The elevator doors open and Meagan leaves but I can't even move my feet.

"Are you coming out?" one of the administrators says to me.

"Oh, sorry, yeah" I say and quickly step out so that she can get onto the elevator.

I slowly walk down the hall to take my things to my desk and sit down. I know that Mario is waiting for me but I need a moment to collect myself. The day just keeps getting worse and worse. My phone vibrates and I see a message come up from Sid. He's reminding me of the code to the gate at his house and that he picked up some dinner for us.

Right, Sid. I'm supposed to go to his house tonight. I don't see how I possibly can. I shake my head and take a few deep breaths. I'll deal with that after Mario.

As I walk to Mario's office, I see that the intern area is empty, including Meagan thank goodness. His door is open but I knock anyway. Mario is on the sofa in his seating area and on the phone. He gestures me to sit down as he finishes up his call.

"Lauren asked me to say hello to you" he tells me.

"How is she?" I ask automatically from engrained manners.

"She's good, loves school, or so she's telling me" he chuckles. "Are you ok Anna? You are very pale. Can I get you some water?"

I decline his offer. Right now I couldn't possible keep anything down I'm too upset by Meagan and nervous about what Mario is going to say.

"This is an awkward conversation for us both to have Anna" he begins. "You work for the organization, I know your family and Sid isn't just our captain but part of my family as well. I'll be honest, if it was any other player and any other intern then I'd let Jen and Jim handle everything."

He pauses for a moment and I nod. I really don't know what to say because he's right. I came here wanting to be like anyone else and I'm getting special treatment because of who I am. The problem is that, this time, it's my fault. I have no one else to blame. I knew the rules. I didn't care about the rules. I deserve whatever happens to me.

"I feel like I know you very well Anna. I've watched you grow up and, even though you've only been here a short time, you have grown into a competent and talented woman. We are very lucky to have you here. I also feel like I've watched Sid grow up and there are many things you have in common. The most important one is that neither of you do anything reckless. Sure, you've been impetuous as the young can be, but never, ever reckless"

He pauses again and I stay silent. The more he talks, the more confused I become about what he means and what's going to happen next. All I know is how badly I feel that I've put Mario in this position.

"Mario, I don't have the words to express how sorry I am that this happened. I can't even claim that it's a mistake. I'm fully aware of what's in my contract and I signed it knowing that I was not to have personal relationships with players. I have no excuse."

Mario moves so that he's sitting in the chair next to mine. I gather my courage and look up at him. He reaches and takes my hand with his.

"If you'll permit me, I'd like to talk to you like a father" he says. I nod. "Good. You and Sid are walking a dangerous path and I said as much to him. Yes, you have violated your contract, knowingly according to you, and Sid admits the same. It would be best if you decided not to see each other anymore."

I know that my eyes widen so I quickly look down. I'm not surprised that Mario said it, I expected as much, but I'm surprised at how much it hurts to think about not seeing Sid.

"I received a similar response from Sid when I made that suggestion. It tells me that this is more than a passing thing between you." My heart beats a little faster. Sid thinks it's more too? "I won't do anything further about what I've seen and what we've discussed. In fact, let's agree to pretend it didn't happen at all. Ok?"

I nod.

"Good then. Oh, try to be more careful please. You need to keep it out of the arena, ok?"

"Yes" I agree and walk to the door. Before I leave, I say "thank you Mario."

He smiles, nods and walk to his desk.

As I walk back to mine, I feel the weight of exhaustion on my shoulders. It's been a brutal day of highs and lows. The issue with Mario is gone but Meagan is still dangerous.

My phone vibrates again and Sid's sent me another message.

'ETA?'

I sigh. I can't see Sid tonight. He's going to know that I'm upset and then I'll either have to lie to him or tell him about Meagan. I want to talk to him about Mario but there is no way that I can tell Sid about Meagan and what she's said. I don't know what he would do.

'I'm exhausted, rain check?' I text back.

I wait for a response to my message. I'm half way to my car before he messages back.

'What's wrong?'

Oh Sid, please leave it alone tonight.

'I'm just exhausted and need to sleep. You make a girl tired x'

Hopefully, that will satisfy him and he'll leave it alone. My phone vibrates again. No such luck.

'Something is wrong, I thought you trusted me'

Of course he says the perfect thing at the perfect time. I sigh and give up.

'I'll be there in 30 mins'

'Drive carefully'

I have thirty minutes to decide what I'm going to tell Sid. How do I be honest but not tell him everything? It's ironic that I'm worried about being honest when I've been lying all along.

Sidney

I'm nervous. There's no other way to describe how I'm feeling. When Anna cancelled and said she was too tired to come over I felt my heart fall into my stomach. She was skittish to begin with and now Mario knows about us. The smart thing is to follow Mario's advice and stop seeing Anna and all my life I've always done the smart thing. So why can't I do that now? Why can't I do the right thing? It's not like I'm in love with her. We haven't been together long enough to know that but there is something different about Anna that isn't like any other girl I've known.

I can't talk to my friends about her because no one is supposed to know. Geno is the only one who really knows the details, although Duper suspects, but he's not the kind of friend I talk to personal issues. I could tell Duper everything but he's still dealing with so much shit about his health that I don't want to burden him. Anna is going to be here in thirty minutes so I need to figure this shit out quickly. I pick up my phone and call the only person who will always help and never judge. She picks up on the second ring.

"Hello Sidney" she says.

"Hi mom."

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean 'what's wrong'?"

"Sidney, I'm your mother and I've known you all your life. I can tell when something is wrong."

I sigh. This is subconsciously why I called her. I knew mom would know something was wrong without my having to say something.

"It's a girl" I tell her.

"Really!?"

"Yes really and you can get that surprise out of your voice mom."

"Excuse me but this is the first time you've ever come to me with a girl problem. I'm surprised."

"Yeah, I know but this time it's complicated mom."

"Ok, start from the beginning."

I tell my mom everything. Well, I don't tell her everything, instead I start at the beginning of the season. I may be calling my mom for help but she doesn't need to know that her little boy had a drunk fuck with the Governor's daughter that he doesn't remember.

"Well, you certainly have a complicated situation sweetie."

"Yeah" I tell her and rub my hand over my face.

"Do you love her?"

"I don't know mom."

"Well, you didn't say no, that doesn't mean that you don't so she's important to you. You wouldn't be calling me if she wasn't important to you Sidney."

"Yeah, she is mom. It's so weird that she means this must to me when I haven't known her for very long. This has never happened before. God, I don't even like to date during the season usually and now I'm in some secret relationship."

"Not so secret anymore" she says.

"Mario won't say anything and neither will Geno."

"That's two and Pascal makes three."

"Yeah, I know. It's getting complicated."

"So make it simple Sidney. Do you want to break up with her?"

"No" I answer immediately.

"So you want to keep seeing her?"

"Yes."

"And you might be falling in love with her?"

"Maybe."

"Do you trust her?"

"Yes."

"I think you have your answer sweetie. When was the last time you said that you trusted someone so quickly and easily?"

She's right. It usually takes years for me to completely trust someone and yet I completely trust Anna. Maybe mom is right and that's my answer. If I trust her then she's worth it.

The doorbell rings and I'm surprised that I've been talking with mom for a half hour.

"That's Anna at the door mom. I have to go."

"Ok sweetie. Do you know what you're going to do?"

"Yeah, I do. Thanks mom. I love you."

"Love you too Sidney."

I hang up and go to the front door. It's unlocked but Anna wouldn't try it and come in. Opening the door reveals an apprehensive Anna who is worrying her fingers together. She's here so that must mean something. We'll talk and work everything out.

I step back to let her in and she brushes against me as she walks past. Her fragrance lightly reaches me and I'm drawn to her in a way I've never been with another girl. Again. We can talk later.

I spin her around and push her against the wall. My lips find hers instantly and she responds quickly moving hers over mine. My hips push into hers and she pushes back against me. I groan when her fingers dig into my scalp and twist in my hair. Her taste makes me crave more and more. My hands pull her shirt out of her skirt looking for her warm flesh. I quickly find it.

I pull away to pull her coat off and then her shirt over her head. Before my mouth can find hers again, she pulls at my tee shirt and I raise my arms to help her take it off of me. When it's lying on the floor with her clothes, I turn Anna around so that she's facing the wall. She pushes her ass back against me seeking more contact. It gives me the opportunity to pull her skirt up over her stomach and slide my hand into her panties.

"Ahhhh" she cries out.

I slide my middle through her folds from front to back and then front to back again. Her mews and cries are so fucking hot. I use two fingers and continue to rub only this time I pause when I hit her clit. First I push down, then rub around, then flick with the tip of my finger. I repeat the actions over and over and Anna's breath comes louder and faster. Her hips rotate and she pushes down against my hand.

"You are so fucking hot" I whisper in her ear and then lap up her neck with my lips and tongue. "Moan for me again baby."

I slide my two fingers inside of her and am rewarded with a low, long moan. Seriously fucking hot. I almost explode in my jeans when Anna begins to grind against my hand while she moans. Before I completely lose myself, I pull back and Anna cries out and reaches back for me. I turn her around again and lift her in my arms. She deserves better than being fucked against the wall.

I don't stop until I'm beside my bed and I let Anna slide out of my arms and stand in front of me. I reach around and undo her bra then lean down to kiss her. She puts her hand on my chest and pushes me away. I drop my hands and take a step back.

I look at Anna. Her lips are swollen and wet from mine, her hair has fallen out of its bun by my hands and one of her hands is holding her bra in place so it won't fall off since I undid it.

"Can we talk Sid?"

Those are four very scary words. She can't want to break up with me now that I've decided that I want to be together. My brain finally focuses.

"Definitely, hang on a minute" I tell her.

I duck into my walk in closet and grab the first dress shirt I see. Anna is exactly where I left her when I come back to the bedroom.

"Here, you can put this one" I say and hand her the shirt.

To give her a few minutes to dress, I go back into my closet and grab myself a tee shirt. I take a little longer than I need so that she's comfortable. When I go back into the bedroom, she's sitting on bed, cross legged, and I see her skirt and bra neatly folder on my bedside table. She's not going to break up with me if she took off her skirt and is on my bed, is she?

I join her on the bed and wait for her to talk. She initiated this conversation and I really need to hear what's going on in her head.

"I'm sorry" she tells me.

"Sorry for what?" I ask with trepidation.

"About, well" she gestures to where we were last standing together.

Oh, that.

"You never have to apologize for wanting to stop Anna, never."

"Oh, ok" she says and looks down at her hands.

I've come to learn that's how Anna gathers her thoughts when she's nervous. She always looks down at her hands before she speaks.

"Sid, Mario wanted to talk to me after the event ended" she begins.

"Ok" is all I can say.

"He told me that he advised you that we should break up. He said the same thing to me."

"Oh, and what did you say?"

"I guess the same thing that you did; no."

I feel all of my trepidation and fear melt away. She said no too.

"Yeah, I told him that I appreciated his advice and I was sorry that he was caught in the middle of this but that I wanted to continue seeing you."

"Why?" she asks.

She asks the one question that I'm not sure that I can answer. Then I think back to the conversation with my mother and I know what to say.

"I trust you. The rest is the usual stuff that happens when you're getting to know someone that you really like; but, the difference for me is that I trust you Anna. I don't trust easily and I don't trust often but I trust you. Right now, that's why."

I watch her eyes fill but I can't figure out if they are good tears like when my mom or sister are emotional or if it's something else. It's starting to feel like something else but then Anna shakes her head as if to rid herself of a thought and wipes the stray tear that has fallen.

"I know how hard it is to trust others" she tells me. "I know because it's the same for me. I trust you too Sidney. I don't think I've trusted anyone in my life as much as I do you."

I'm quite suddenly overcome about the implication of her statement. It's not that she trusts me, although my heart swells at the thought, it's that she has no one else in her life that she can fully trust. I need be cautious and careful about who I let in but I have my family always and even the Lemieuxs one hundred percent in my corner.

"I am so happy to hear that" I tell her. "I was worried when you said you were too tired to come over. I thought you wanted to break up with me."

"Oh Sid" she says, slides closer to me and takes my hand. "I was confused and upset but I most definitely do not want to break up with you. I promise."

I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss it softly. Anna then cups my cheek and brushes it with her thumb.

"I'm glad. I don't know where we're going but this connection is too strong. I've um" I hesitate for a moment but I guess it's time to lay everything out. "I've never had this kind of connection with another girl Anna. I'm falling for you, big time."

Anna's eyes darken and dampen. Her lips form in a perfect smile. I feel excitement and contentment at the same time.

"Can I make love to you now?" I ask softly.

"Yes please" she replies and gives me a shy smile.

I tug Anna's hand so that she tilts off balance and I can pull her sideways onto my lap. She leans back into my arm and I cup her cheek with my other hand. This time I go more slowly, sipping at her lips, rubbing softly with mine. I pull back slightly and lick her bottom lip, then one corner, then the other. Anna sighs beautifully and I feel it deep inside of my heart. Right now I might answer my mom's question differently. I'm falling in love with Anna.

We may have almost spontaneously combusted downstairs but I want to savour her right now. We've basically emptied our hearts to each other and committed to growing this relationship. All we need to do is keep this quiet until the end of the season and then everything will be perfect.

I slide Anna down to the bed and lie alongside of her. Slowly I slide open each button of the shirt to reveal warm, soft skin and feel Anna shiver as my fingers continue to graze over her skin. When it's completely open, and falls away from her skin, I see that she's still wearing her panties. I start at her neck and leave soft kisses on her skin, down her neck, between her breasts, over her stomach and then over her panties at the junction of her thighs. I retrace my path back up over her stomach noticing this time that she pulls her stomach in.

I don't know what to do. I've only dated women who were athletic and had the body of an athlete. That doesn't mean that Anna isn't beautiful.

As I kiss up her neck, I whisper "you are so incredibly beautiful."

I pull back and run my fingers through her hair to fan it out. Then I lightly trace the bridge of her nose, her checks, chin, lips.

"So incredible beautiful" I say and kiss her again.

This time I take the kiss deeper and Anna's lips open to mine so that our tongues can explore. I feel her hands slide up my arms and hold onto my shoulders. She pulls me so that I'm covering her.

"I'm heavy" I whisper against her lips.

"No" she says. "I, um" she doesn't finish.

"You what" I reply and kiss her cheek and her neck. "Tell me what you want Anna."

Still, she remains silent.

"I can't give you what you need if you don't tell me" I murmur and continue to kiss her neck. "Tell me."

"I love the feel of lying beneath you. It makes me feel safe."

I'm blown away by her words. This girl who is so unsure of herself, who feels like she can't trust anyone in her world, not only trusts me but feels safe with me. It's overwhelming.

I readjust myself so that I'm lying between her legs and can hold some of my weight up on my elbows. I lie on her and still have access to her body. My hands slide into her hair as I capture her lips again.

This kiss lasts and lasts. Anna pushes her hips up as I push down and we grind into each other while our lips and tongue play. I shiver when her fingers run under and up my shirt. I leave her body just long enough to pull my shirt completely off and she takes that moment to pull off my dress shirt from her body. Skin against skin, I feel her nipples harden against my chest and need to taste them.

Slowly I slide my lips from hers, over her chin, down her chest to capture one of her nipples in my lips. Her fingers dig into my hair and tighten as I lightly use my teeth then lave with my tongue. I move to her other breast and repeat my ministrations. Anna's hips begin to rotate now a sure sign of how excited she is. I continue to slide down her body until I'm at the side of the bed.

Quickly, I remove my jeans and shorts, taking out a condom. For a moment I'm mesmerized by Anna. She's lying there with only her panties on, her hair is fanned out around her head, breasts full and heavy with nipples tight. With one knee up slightly, she's a siren tempting me back to her. I only pause long enough to pull her panties down her legs and throw them on the floor with my jeans.

I climb onto the bed and stalk up between her legs and slide my body over hers. She moans and that almost puts me over the top. I need to be inside of her right now. I slide my hand between us to see if she's ready and her hips press up to meet my hand. Unable to resist, I slide two fingers inside and push in as far as I can and then back out, in and the out. When I swirl and stretch, Anna cries out and begs incoherently. As extra insurance, I pause and play with her clit feeling her body slowly shake athen stiffen. I pull away, not ready for her to cum yet.

I sit up and grab the condom. After opening it, I feel Anna's hand on mine. She's sitting up now and takes the condom from me. She's biting her lip and her cheeks pink up but she's determined. It's endearing.

All thoughts fly out of my head when Anna grabs my base in one hand and positions the condom at the head. Her eyes fly up to mine and I realize that she doesn't know what to do. I'm going to be very lucky if I don't simply blow with her touching me like this. Her inexperience but boldness is incredibly erotic.

"Pinch the top to leave some room but no air and then roll it down" I tell her.

She refocuses back on my dick and bites her tongue while she follows my directions. Fuck. When she's done, she looks up at me and smiles. Very cute.

But I don't have the patience to appreciate it more because I have to be buried inside of her now. Anna's eyes change quickly from sweet to hot and she lies back on the bed with her legs open for me. How quickly she's gone from inexperienced to wanton. To torture us both, I slide up her body slowly and then position myself so that I thrust once and am deep inside of her.

Anna moans, I groan, but there is no more time to savour. I lead us in a steady pace, trying desperately to last for Anna to cum, but Anna grinds as I thrust. It's too much and I know I can't hold on much longer so I reach between us, find her clit and bring her to orgasm quickly. Another few thrusts and I'm there with her.