"Don't want to be on top of your list,
Phenomenally and properly kissed
We overcome in 60 seconds with the strength we have together.
But for now, emotional ties they stay severed.
And where there's trust there'll be treats
When we funk we'll hear beats,
Karmacoma

You and her walking through the suburbs
No, not exactly lovers
You're a couple, specially when you're body's double.
Duplicate and then you wait…"

Tricky—"Overcome"

Erik stepped back from Maria the moment he felt his cell vibrate. Pulling it from his pocket, he unfolded the thin frame and swiped Athena's avatar.

"I'm about to order appetizers, are you on your way?"

"Yeah, give me a minute."

Erik watched Maria wipe her lips from where he smeared her lipstick. She eased back from him and her eyes looked everywhere else except for his face. He ended the call and went to his bathroom and washed his hands and mouth.

"Athena is ordering appetizers-"

"Erik…"

"I didn't mean to make this weird…I was just…fuck, I don't know what I was doing…"

"It's okay. I don't feel weird. My mind is all over the place right now."

"Let's go."

The ride down the elevator was quiet and when they reached the lobby, Erik spotted Kevin at the bar. Maria saw him too and she turned her head away.

"Maria!"

Kevin ran up to her and Erik blocked access to Maria by stepping forward.

"I've been trying to reach you," Kevin said.

"My phone is on mute, sorry," Maria said.

"Can we talk, please?"

Kevin had earnest eyes and Maria bit her lip before glancing at Erik.

"Okay," she said.

Erik stepped back giving Maria space.

"You sure?" Erik asked.

"Yes."

Erik watched Maria follow Kevin back to the bar.

Trying to process what he felt at that moment, he walked over to the host manning the hotel restaurant entrance and was directed to Athena's table.

"You alright?" Athena asked.

"Yeah."

"Where's Maria?"

"Ran into Kevin. They're talking at the bar."

"Uh-huh. Interesting."

He picked up a menu as Athena ate a bit of artichoke and spinach dip.

"God, this is so cheesy and good."

Erik reached for the garlic pita chips that went with the dip and took a big sample. The hot cheese and salty taste of the chips made Erik even more hungry. And reflective. Why did he kiss that girl at her most vulnerable? Maria was a sincere friend and he never saw her as someone he wanted to get with. The type of woman that revved him up did not fit Maria at all. He wanted to comfort her, try and get her to see beyond a bad sexual encounter, but his first reaction was to kiss her? Perhaps it was the vulnerable look in her eyes that enticed him. Maybe he wanted to make it up to her for having a wack ass first time. Her reaction to his kiss came off bashful and awkward. The sweetness of it made him feel even more protective when Kevin showed up.

Eating more dip, Erik focused back on Athena.

Shit.

She had eaten a bit of dip and her tongue tried to catch a ropey string of cheese and she missed. The cheese dropped onto the deep cleavage of her breasts and she grabbed the cloth napkin from her lap and tried cleaning it up gracefully. Her fingers removed the offending mess and when her eyes caught his staring at her chest, she laughed.

"My bad, hard to not watch," he said tossing his menu back on the table.

Athena's middle and index finger lingered inside the depths of those two heavy breasts that had Erik shifting in his seat.

He was horny as fuck.

Relief fell on him. His reaction to Maria was just him projecting what had been bothering him since he took the internship. He wanted some sexual healing. Hadn't had it for nearly three months because of his schedule.

"Uh oh, are those heart eyes you're giving me, boy?"

Athena reached for the martini glass next to her plate of pita chips.

Erik's eyes darted around. The restaurant wasn't full and they were in a section that was isolated from a lot of staff and customer traffic.

A plump waiter walked over and handed Athena a large whiskey glass.

"Are you ready to order?"

"Give us a little more time," Athena said, her eyes never leaving Erik's.

"Heart eyes?" Erik asked when the waiter left.

Athena glanced at her thin clear cell phone that was given to all the interns courtesy of Stark Industries. She swiped it and brought it to her ear.

"Hey, Maria…"

Athena pushed the whiskey over to Erik.

"It's good," Athena whispered to him, "learn something."

Erik took a sip but his ears were wide open. Athena spoke into her phone.

"Okay. No worries. If you change your mind come on back down."

"So?"

"She's going to hang out with Kevin…what?"

"I ain't say nothin'-"

"Hmph."

"So you know what went down?"

"Yes."

"Me too."

"Let's mind our business—"

"Bet."

"How is it?"

Erik circled the glass in his hand.

"Strong."

"As it should be. Glencairn glass. The base is separated from the bulb so your hands don't warm up the liquid. Twenty-one-year old single malt scotch. Seventy dollars a glass. Sip it slow. Enjoy the flavor. Let it rest on your tongue…"

Erik did as she instructed and when her eyes rested on his lips, he let his tongue swipe his top lip. Athena leaned in toward him.

"Like it?"

"Yeah."

She took the glass from him and sampled the goods. She closed her eyes and gave a low moan that made his skin tingle.

"Perfection in a glass."

"You should buy a bottle."

"When I make some serious money, I'll drop a thousand at one meal then."

They ordered Lobster and black truffle Mac n' Cheese and Erik joked about Athena trying to make him constipated with all the cheese they were devouring that night. Their per diem wouldn't cover a third of the bill and Athena used her personal credit card to cover the rest. She walked Erik to his room afterward so he could change his shoes for dancing and they met up with some other interns out on the prowl. Within an hour of joining the small entourage, Erik was ready to bounce. Athena grabbed his arm and dragged him along to their first subway ride of the night.

Sight-seeing commenced and then a bit of clubbing in establishments that had awful music, but Erik hung in there because Athena wanted to hang out longer with the others.

Things picked up on the subway ride back to the hotel when the trains were packed because of a concert and Erik had moments of being pressed against Athena who didn't mind the closeness.

The rumble and tumble of the train rocked them all and when Athena leaned back against him because of the movement, Erik took advantage and whispered in her ear.

"You doing that on purpose," he said.

Athena turned around bold and forthright.

"If I were, you'd know it."

"I know it, Ma."

Her eyes were bright like shiny new pennies. He leaned in to kiss her and she was open to his lips. He made sure she was thoroughly kissed with his mouth and hot tongue. He knew he had her all the way when she grabbed onto his ass.

"Damn, you can really kiss," she said.

Her breath on his mouth made him want to tongue her down some more until his cell went off.

Stark.

"Where are you? I need a wingman."

Erik closed his eyes as his jaw grew tight. Every time…

"I'm rolling through Manhattan—"

"Get a cab and go to this address. Bring your Poker skills with you."

"Poker?"

Erik's phone glowed red as the address popped up on his screen.

"I know you've been cleaning up in after-hour games with the cleaning staff—"

"Just some friendly—"

"Stevens, I know a card shark when I see one. Get over here. I'm bankrolling you. What are you wearing?"

"Suit and tie like you told us to have for—"

"Be here within the hour. I have a couple million riding on you Stevens—"

"But this address…hello? Hello?"

Erik folded the cell and slipped it back in his pants.

He glanced up at the subway train stop map above Athena's head and saw the next stop was three minutes away.

"I gotta dip."

Athena snuggled closer to him.

"See, now you really playing," he said.

"Where are you going? Can I come with you?"

"I'm going somewhere kinda sketchy, so you better stick with the crew."

"How long will you be?"

"Might be pulling an all-nighter."

He felt the train slowing down and he watched the other interns plow their way through subway riders getting a head start on the exit rush. His eyes regarded Athena with simmering regret.

"Come see me after," she said.

"It's Stark, so you know…shit can switch up without warning."

"But, so can I."

Her mouth was hot on his lips again and the solidness of her body next to his made him think seriously of ignoring Stark's request. Up close and personal with her breasts let him see how really deep her cleavage was and the surge of blood to his nether regions had him feeling woozy but oh so ready.

"I might not get back until morning."

"We're free tomorrow. And we have room service."

"Let me make sure I'm clear. You're inviting me over for conversation or…?"

"If you're a talker, then talk that talk, boy."

"Words, Ma—"

"You said you had that deep dick, right?"

"Fuck yeah."

"Then prove it."

"Thought I was too young for you."

"Slow night."

"Damn. So I'm the slim pickings."

Athena turned toward the nearest exit and Erik followed her out of the train. They joined their crew and Erik bid them farewell. He watched the sway of Athena's hips as she headed toward their hotel.

Waving his hand high in the air, he flagged down a cab and was surprised he was able to claim one so fast. Must've been the expensive suit he had on. He gave the Eritrean driver the address and listened to sibrit music all the way to his destination in the meatpacking district.

Erik stared at the address on his phone and looked at the building that matched it. It was a hipster museum. He paid the driver of the cab and hopped out. Texting Stark, he glanced around to make sure he wouldn't get jumped.

At the front entrance, he was buzzed in and escorted by a lanky brunette who guided him past overpriced art pieces and into a backroom that had stairs leading to a series of offices until he was shown into a softly lit space with a professional-looking racetrack-shaped poker table. Stark was sitting next to a regal-looking white man with clearly hand-tailored Versace suit. The Spring Men's collection that wouldn't be out until the following year. The type of suit regular people would never have access to.

"There he is!"

Stark waved him over to his side of the table.

Erik took a look around and recognized four of the men from the Forbes 100 list. It was a billionaires only table. Except for the son of the sitting U.S. Vice-President.

"Prince Francesco, I'd like you to meet one of my newest interns…Erik Stevens. Erik, Prince Francesco Grimaldo of Monaco."

Searing blue eyes met Erik's gaze. He could feel all the eyes in the room on him.

"Sit down Erik. Stark says you can bring a good game to our little soiree," Francesco said.

"What are you playing?"

"Omaha."

Shit. It was hard to bluff with that game.

"Deal him in," Stark said.

The woman who brought Erik in slid him neat stacks of poker chips. The colors told Erik he was way out of his league. But fuck it. It was Stark's money.

"Drink?" The brunette guide was back by his side again. Erik looked at Stark. The man rolled his eyes.

"Scotch. Smooth."

"You got it."

"Thanks…?"

"Delores."

"Thanks, Delores," Erik said.

"You're cute," she said.

"I play cute too—"

"Yeah…um, Delores, we'd all like some drinks," Stark said.

Delores leaned into Erik.

"He gets grouchy when he's losing," she whispered in his ear.

Erik watched a man across from him in a dark suit begin to shuffle the cards. A professional dealer. These mofos were not messing around. Erik took the empty seat across from Stark and the Prince.

When his drink arrived, Erik let it sit on his tongue like Athena taught him to. It hit his throat hot and smooth. Looking around the table, he realized that was how he would have to play. Stark was fortunate that Erik knew how to play several varieties of Poker.

Prince Francesco picked up his cards.

"Shall we begin," he said looking Erik in the eye, the smug look of royalty painting his face. But Erik had royal blood in him and he sat up in his seat with his own regal bearing.

"By all means," Erik replied, the whiskey on his tongue reminding him of Athena.

Erik hoped to be lucky twice: at that table full of sharks and also in Athena's hotel bed.

Staring at his first hand, he was off to a good start.