The Bet Read Online Free Page B

to the water running warm in the shower,
and jumped right in.
    Little
by little, Gabrielle’s muscles relaxed under the water’s veil. She reached for
the body wash that was in the shower caddy next to her. Pouring it onto her
washcloth, its lather was rich, relaxing and full of lush scent. She smoothed
the washcloth all over her, continuing to inhale its essence.
    Suddenly,
she felt two large hands wrap themselves around her waist… For real this
time .
    “Mind
if I help?” Chris whispered. Gabrielle rolled her eyes at yet another attempt
of seduction.
    “Yes.
But, I’m sure that you’re going to whether I want you to or not,” she said with
a wink.
    Giving
him the washcloth, Chris continued to massage the lather into her back and
shoulders. “Mm mm. Feels nice,” Gabrielle moaned.
    Walking
in front of her, he put his head underneath the running water raking his hands
through his long brown locks.
    He
asked her, “Doesn’t it, babe?”
    Gabrielle
couldn’t help but watch the water run over him. Droplets glistened over his
toned muscles and down his perfectly tanned six-pack abs. With every fiber of
her being, she begged herself not to give in to him. She had been holding up
perfectly. She had to stay strong.
    Chris
slowly turned around to reveal his corded backside. With impish intent, he
seductively took the body wash and poured it all over his body. The suds
outlined every muscle to precision.
    She
was so amused at the attempt, she began to clap wildly.
    Chris
turned toward her, looking surprised.
    “Well
done,” she said.
    “Huh?”
Chris said.
    “A
good try dear. Especially when you turned around just now,” Gabrielle added.
    “Gabrielle,
I came in here because I knew you’ve been stressed out lately. We’ve haven’t
been spending a lot of time together either…I’m just trying-” Gabrielle
interrupted him.
    “To
win this little bet,” she continued. “Chris, I’m all set. The shower is all
yours. Happy Valentine’s Day, babe.”
    Taking
the towel from the rack behind her,, she draped it over her, waltzing out of
the bathroom.
    ***
    Chris
turned his back again to the shower. He let the water rinse his thoughts away. He
had now become afraid of losing. He wasn’t ready to stay home and do nothing.
    Knight’s
Armor had just gotten back together after a brief hiatus before this tour. He
and Tate, both as songwriters and as friends, had never been closer. In fact,
the whole band was never tighter as a unit. The more he thought about the
future of the band, the more he was having second thoughts on this bet.
    When
they became a couple, Chris made a promise to her that everyone important to
him would come first. Since the band loved him, they had indulged him in those long
songwriting sessions and the occasional afternoon wake up call. Would it kill
him to stay home a bit more? In several years, he had never been home for more
than a month at a stretch. Maybe a long break wouldn’t be bad. But, there was
‘the pull.’ It was always driving him, wanting him to write something, play
something, and fix something. Lately, it was stronger than ever before. Afraid
that he would lose the most creative part of him because he would be at home,
the bet now bothered him.
    He
did have one last thing that he could try and that was in the lobby. Rinsing
off one last time, he couldn’t help but wonder how all of this would go over.
    It
could make things better, or his relationship could be over. Gabrielle was
open-minded about many things; maybe this last-minute Valentine’s Day gift
would do the trick.
    Taking
a couple of towels from the caddy, he decided to give it a go.
    Wrapping
one towel around him and drying his hair with the other, he sped out of the
bathroom and quickly put on jeans and a t-shirt.
    Puzzled,
Gabby sat on their bed, now dressed in a large, pink terry bathrobe.
    “Chris,
it’s late. Is everything all right?”
    “I’ll
be right back. I forgot something in the lobby. It’ll take