Chapter 355 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 6 - The Bronze Token (II) (2/2)

The Widower looked surprised before she chuckled and sat down with ease in the seat opposite Mathius, ”No, but he did always insist on me tasting his attempts at cooking. It still makes me shocked that he would leave this earth before I”.

At her laugh, Mathius chuckled with her, knowing that within an hour, he would be tasting her blood.

***

Talo grinned at the man opposite him who looked nervously over to the man on his right. He was about to lose the ten silver he'd bet with. Talo could smell it. He looked over at the one they were all waiting for to play his hand. He was more thoughtful and composed this one, but Talo could smell that he was one bad judgement away from losing too. The man looked back at Talo's confidence, self-assured grin, then sighed.

”I'll raise two silver,” he said, throwing the coins into the centre of the table.

Talo sat up straighter and took two of his own coins, ”Call”.

The nervous man bit his lip, then picked up two of his coins. Compulsive gambler, who was quite inept at keeping his expression calm, ”Call”.

The table and onlookers turned once more to the other man. He looked at Talo, then sighed and revealed his hand. Two pairs.

Talo nodded with an impressed expression, then looked across the table at the nervous man who looked surprised for a minute, looking between his money and his cards before he looked at Talo.

The other man clicked his teeth in annoyance as Talo smiled across the table.

The man, unable to avoid his fate, carefully put down his cards. A single pair.

Talo smiled, ”Well, I think I'm done for the day, thanks for the game, gentleme-”

Talo had the sense to move his arm as a rather busty and voluptuous young woman with a daring amount of cleavage landed in his l.a.p, ”So soon, Mister? Surely you can do that again, you look like you're pretty good at this!”

She pouted.

Talo caught the smirk of his more confident opponent that was quickly hidden as he turned away. Much to the woman's surprise, Talo leaned forward, caging her between himself at the table, ”Mighty bold of you sitting in my l.a.p like that, are you usually this...” Talo took the opportunity to stare down her cleavage. He was positive he could bury himself between her generous swells and die a happy man ”…forward, or am I just a lucky bastard tonight?”

The woman was good, she collected herself mighty quickly as she leaned up to him and whispered into his ear, ”Win another game and I'll gladly celebrate any way you want”.

Talo smiled as he turned to her, ”What? Without even a prior promise? I might be going home to someone right now, I hardly think-”

He was cut off as she took the opportunity to tangle her fingers in his hair and plant her mouth on his, her tongue diving in.

Oh yeah, she was an experienced one for sure. Not that Talo was complaining. He kissed her back, whistles of appreciation floating around the bar before she pulled back with a satisfied smile, clearly impressed by his return of the kiss, ”That promise enough?”

Talo put his hands on her h.i.p.s, lifting her slightly to reposition her on his knee as he looked over to the dealer, ”One more round couldn't hurt”.

The woman wrapped an arm around his shoulders, leaning down to nibble on his ear lobe. Oh, she was playing a dangerous game there.

Talo took his cards, then, like the sound of a fan, he clicked through them. The other two, both holding their hands and sorting them, looked at him in surprise. Talo took his newly rearranged winnings and pushed them out, ”All in”.

The entire room went silent. Stupefied. The young woman paused, ”Ah…are you sure?”

Talo turned to her, a smile on his lips, ”Why wouldn't I be?”

”You barely glimpsed at your card-”

Talo turned to the man opposite him, indicating that it was his turn.

The man looked at Talo's mound of winnings, then his own, cards before he gave a determined huff and pushed his earnings forward.

Then they both turned to the calm man. He was not looking so calm now. Now he looked genuinely confused, and a little rattled. He glanced at the woman in Talo's l.a.p. Talo didn't even need to look at her to know that she had no response to his silent question. Then the man released a breath with a sigh before he gathered himself and pushed his earnings forward as well. Talo put down his cards. Five of a Kind.

Talo turned to look at the woman in his l.a.p who looked just a little bit impressed beyond her shock.

”I'm headed off now, care to follow through on that promise of yours?”

The woman looked at him, then gave a barely perceptible glance away to somebody else before she smiled and leaned in close, ”By the warmth beneath my skirts, I'm positive I'm quite impressed and willing, Mister”.

Talo smirked, bagging up his winnings as she climbed off his l.a.p and clung to his arms.

Talo grinned as he left the bar, wondering if he got a bonus for bringing home monetary winnings as well.