THE WAGER

chapter 9

Several weeks passed, and Giselle made sure that they spent every possible moment together. She arranged strategic times and places where they would be alone just long enough for her to work her wiles on him, rouse him to a fever pitch, and then leave him.

Daniel was unaware of Giselle's devious planning. He was too enraptured with her and the world she was showing him. Each day seemed brighter,each moment happier since she'd come into his life. He thought of love and wondered if this was it.

One afternoon, seven weeks after he'd met Giselle, Daniel returned to his room after classes to find a note from her waiting for him.

"What is it?" Aaron asked casually, as he watched a slow smile spread across Daniel's face as he read the note.

"I'm meeting Giselle tonight."

"Don't you have a report due in the tomorrow?"

"I'll get to it."

"Daniel, I think it's time you and I had a talk."

"Why?"

"You've worked too hard to throw it all away. Think about what you're doing. You've been neglecting your studies."

"I'm still receiving passing grades," he argued.

"Daniel, there's something you need to know . . . . .  something I have to tell you before you ruin your life. It's about Giselle."

"What about her?" Daniel tensed as he turned towards his friend.

"She's no good. She's using you and she's going to hurt you.It's almost as if she takes pleasure in destroying men. you aren't the first one she's played with like this, and you won't be last."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"It's time you heard the truth. She's a slut . . . . . .. .

Aaron didn't get any further, for Daniel hit him with all his might, sending him sprawling backward onto his bed.

"Don't talk about her that way," Daniel ground out, standing over Aaron, furious.

"Listen to me . . . . "Aaron began again as he struggled to his feet, gingerly wiping the blood from his cut mouth with the back of his hand.

"Good-bye, Aaron."

"You're going to regret not listening to me . . . . "

"I already regret that i listened to what i did."

"Well you're going to the regret it even more!"

Daniel had already slammed out of the room, leaving Aaron staring after him, his heart heavy with the  fear that he'd lost his friendship forever.

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Giselle was waiting for Daniel when he arrived at their meeting place, her friend Anne house.

"I'm so glad you could come tonight," she said as she led him to the sitting room.

"Where is Anne?"

"Gone, and so is her whole family, and I've dismissed the servants. We have the entire house to ourselves. Are you hungry?"

"No. food's the last thing on my mind." He wanted to feel her body against him so he could erase the haunting harshness of Aaron's word from his memory.

Giselle, took his hand and then led him to the bedroom, she'd been planning this seduction for a long time and wanted every to be perfect. Closing the door behind them, she turned back to Daniel and began to unbutton his shirt.

"Tonight , it will just be the two of us, no one will interfere."

"Yes." His mouth covered hers as he brushed her hands aside and finished unbuttoning his shirt himself. That done, he sought out the button at the back of her gown and unfastened them. When the kiss ended, she stepped away from him and slipped out of her gown. She stood naked before him, and he was shocked and excited to discover that she'd worn nothing beneath it.

 Giselle walked to the bed and lay down upon it. She lifted her arms to him, shedding his clothes as he went. Daniel meant to be tender with her, but she will have none of it. The moment they  touched, she became a wildcat she moved restlessly beneath him, caressing him boldly, when at last he entered her, she moaned his name in ecstasy and raked her nails down his back, the pain she inflicted on him drove him on, and he thrust harder. Panting from the exertion of their violent mating, they collapsed together.

The night was a tumultuous one for Daniel. When he returned to the dormitory, he was glad to find Aaron asleep. He was in no mood to have another fight with him.

Days passed, and with graduation only a short time away,Daniel began to think about his future. He made his decision quickly.  The excitement he felt when he was with Giselle convinced him that they were meant to be together. He wanted to spend his future with her, so he went to a jeweler's and purchased a modest ring. He could hardly see her again, to ask her to  become his wife, and mother of his children.

A note from Giselle arrived , he was thrilled to discover that she wanted him to meet her in the garden of her house later that evening. Thinking this would be the perfect night to propose, he eagerly awaited the appointed hour.

When Jaime and Giselle had made their wager about Daniel, Jaime knew he would be the winner, whatever the outcome. Either alternative had suited him just fine in the beginning, but it seemed to him now that something had change with Giselle. He had also learned through one of his numerous sources that Daniel had bought a ladies ring, it had become obvious to him that Giselle was keeping a lot of things from him. She'd tamed him, but she enjoyed bedding him so much she hadn't wanted it to end.

It was the thought that had left Jaime rigid with anger, and it had been that anger that had driven him to write the note in his best imitation of Giselle's handwriting asking Daniel to meet her in the garden tonight. He was going to teach them both a lesson they wouldn't forget.