Press Your Luck 26

That night Danny hadn’t managed to get any sleep as he racked his brain for a way to save Lucy. When he picked up Elana on that usual Friday she immediately took notice, "You look more like Lurch today, Atticus." She said as she sat in the backseat. "Is your girlfriend okay?" knowing the last she heard Lucy was in the hospital undergoing some surgery.

"Everything's fine." He lied.

Elana frowned, "Has anyone told you you're a terrible liar?"

"... Multiple people."

"You really should look into that."

"I'll do that."

"Great. Now tell me what's going on."

"You wouldn't understand it's-"

"What? Grown up stuff?" She fumed, "I'm eighteen you know! That's an adult in every state and the rest of the world too."

"Elana."

"I'm not some child."

"Elana."

"Just cause I'm still in school doesn't mean I'm a child. You know I thought we were friends but-"

"Elana!"

"What?"

"I was going to say it's complicated."

"Oh…. I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Elana fell into sullen silence.

After a moment of quiet driving Danny sighed, "Truthfully," he started and the young girl looked up from the floor, "I didn't want to say because I didn't want you to think I wanted to use you."

"Use me how?"

Danny explained their predicament, leaving out the personal details and the fact that Lucy and Harlow were the same person.

Now early one Saturday morning, Danny slept in until nine o’clock before waking and getting dressed for work and had a quick breakfast with Lucy. He had his usual waffle, eggs, and bacon, while Lucy had her usual green vitamin smoothie. Unlike most usual mornings, Lucy left with Danny after breakfast.

When Elana heard what happened she was just so upset for Lucy she insisted she join her on her return trip to the mall. "I heard about what that hijo de puta did to you.” She spat angrily. “How dare he invade your privacy like that.” She said after pulling Lucy into the backseat with her. “Why did he even go into your bedroom? Did he think another man was hiding under your bed?” She shouted, throwing her hands in the air and crossing her arms. “Gah, Daddy did the same thing to me once.” She grabbed Lucy’s arms, pulling her in closer as she whispered conspiratorially, “Course if he came in five minutes earlier he might have found my boyfriend.” She giggled, happy to see Lucy could relate as she joined her in giggling, “Can't believe these men that have no boundaries.”  “We are just so upset and I know how we can fix it. A little retail therapy is in order." She held out a shiny black card.

Lucy recognized the card from the few times she played in the high roller section of the casino. It was a card with no limit! The kind where you were contractually obligated to buy at least one ferrari. Most holders of such a card could afford a fleet of Ferraris. “I do need new shoes…but I can’t really afford anything.”

Elana giggled, “It’s so on me, girl.” Lucy giggled in what she thought was excitement.

“Are you sure your dad is gonna be okay buying me things?”

"I was telling Daddy how horrible all this was and he said: Elana,” She lowered her voice, pretending to be her father, “I love you. I want you to take the black card and cheer yourself up.” She giggled, sounding much girlier than before.

“I didn’t know your father was in town.” Danny said from the driver’s seat.

“He’s not,” Elana frowned for the first time since Danny had known her, “we talked on the computer. I don't know why he looked upset,” She quickly added, “it wasn't like I was doing anything bad when I went in his office. I heard him talking with someone so I went in to talk to him when Eduardo left. I had only been talking to him for a few minutes, he just kept looking at his phone instead of paying attention. Super rude right? Well he must have agreed with me because he always just tells me or my mom to get what we want when we talk to him about our feelings. He gets distracted all the time, but I love him. I bet your daddy was like that with you."

Danny watched Lucy’s face run through the gambit of emotions before settling back into her usual smile as she tucked hair behind her ear, “My daddy was great. He played games with me every night. He used to make these terrible jokes before school. And he had the best laugh.” Lucy slowed and wiped a tear from her eye, “He died when I was eight.”

“I’m sorry.” Elana said softly and pulled Lucy into a side-long hug.

While the girls continued talking after a brief moment of silence Danny couldn’t help but scratch at a thought that bothered him. ‘Didn’t Valerie say her Dad ran off?’ He hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but the more he thought about it the more it stuck out. He had gone to the funeral with Harlow. Valerie had to be mistaken.

As he drove the gabbing girls to the mall he couldn’t help but remember the beautiful and cheerful woman sitting in his backseat just two nights ago had clung so desperately to him after he had delivered the unfortunate news to Lucy about Jefferson's renewed efforts searching for Harlow. Lucy stayed up well past midnight herself that night, just slowly tracing her fingers over Danny’s chest.

Later the girls scoured the mall for everything to make a cute girl like Lucy feel better. They spent a minimum of forty minutes in each store they dragged him into. Elana made Valerie look downright passive as she practically dragged Harlow into changing rooms to try on clothes together. ‘Thank god she’s eighteen.’ he kept reminding himself. ‘If anyone catches me in here they’ll just think I’m a perv. Not a sex offender.’

Harlow considered himself in the mirror as he removed the latest skimpy top she had forced in his hands. No one who saw him would think he was a man. Hell he had to remind himself when he was getting ready to shower that morning. Looking from his colored toenails up across his hairless legs that looked a bit thicker than he recalled. He chalked it up to sitting around for weeks, not considering what hormones might be doing to his body. His gaze moved up to his small waist, much smaller with the bottom ribs gone, to his massive chest that he had spent more than a few minutes touching when he had been alone in the shower that morning and up to his face with his big puffy lips and petite upturned nose and finally his long red hair. Not only did he not look like someone named Harlow, the girl in the mirror, Lucy could pass for Elana’s classmate if he tried.

By the end of the first hour Harlow now had another dozen heels and even more outfits. He would have to give Val some clothes just to make room for his new additions. ‘She was certainly happy enough to take my shoes.’

“How do I look?” Elana asked, striking a pose in a glittery golden dress.

“You…look, like, totally fabulous.” He cheered loudly, hating that he had to play up his persona even more but he needed to get in her good graces as quickly as possible.

“Obviously.” She and Harlow both giggled, “But look at you! Wow!” She gasped. Harlow wore a tight rhinestone black mini pencil skirt with a matching rhinestone sheer black top that strained against Harlow’s chest.

“You don’t think it’s too much?”

“You look great!”

“Sounds a bit much for just hanging around the house.”

“Then we should go clubbing!”

“Me and you?”

“And Atticus of course. With a fit like that you’ll have all the boys drooling. Girls too. Hell, you’re gonna make me question my sexuality if you’re not careful. Harlow blushed a deep red as he imagined all the men who would be turned on by him, “Don’t believe me? Go ask your man.”

“Where’s Daniel?” He asked, noting her giant’s absence as he stepped out of the changing room.

After a minute of searching they found Daniel talking to the cashier who had bagged over three dozen purchases from Harlow and Elana alone. “Ooh, girl.” Elana whispered, “You need to check your man.”

“What do you mean?”

“She is so flirting with him.”

Harlow watched as the young woman smiled and chatted away.

“I don’t get jealous.”

She wore black leggings that clung to her defined legs and perky bubble butt. Her loose pink t-shirt was tied off in a side knot, exposing a hint of her flat stomach while keeping her ample breasts on display. In short; she was hot and Harlow was jealous. He told himself he wasn’t, but he felt it when he saw the perky girl touch Daniel’s arm, her fingers lingering as she laughed at something he said.

“Uh-huh. When you go over there. Just put your arm around him and make sure she knows he’s your man.”

“Like how?”

“I don’t know, grab his butt? Get a step ladder and kiss him? Grab his junk if you have too.”

“What?!”

“You know you can’t let a big dog off the leash like that, someone’s gonna drive by and snatch him up.”

“Pfft, no way.” he giggled anxiously, “Besides, we, like, totally have a secure relationship.” Danny laughed at something the woman had said, “He’s a good guy, he would never cheat.” Danny gestured largely with his hands and the woman laughed, slowly touching his arm again. “Still, I should, like, introduce myself.” Harlow walked briskly to the cashier, his heels clicking on the tile floor with each step coming just a little faster than the last

“Uh-huh.” Elana said as she went to change in the dressing room.

When Harlow approached both the woman and Daniel were still laughing about something. Even more than he usually did, Harlow forced a smile to his face. “Hiiii.” He cheered as he wrapped one arm around Daniel’s arm and placed the other on Daniel’s chest.

The woman eyed Harlow suspiciously before looking back up at Daniel, “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“Actually, I’m Lucy, his girlfriend.” Harlow smirked. “How embarrassing for you.”

“Funny, he’s never mentioned you.” She smirked back with mischievous glee.

Harlow looked up at Daniel who ran his free hand through his hair and watched awkwardly as the women squared off. “Uh, Tyra, this is Lucy. My girlfriend. Lucy, this is Tyra, we used to go to the same gym.”

“A pleasure.” Tyra said smugly as she offered Harlow her hand.

“Same.” Harlow stared at Tyra and shook her hand as his mind warred with his body. Tyra’s athletic form and ample chest was the exact kind of woman he would have mercilessly hit on six months ago. Visions of the two of them in bed as they fucked like rabbits danced through his mind. While another, and for some reason, enraging thought of her and Daniel played against the other vision.

“So how long have you two been an item?”

“Two years.” Harlow said smugly.

“Six months.” Daniel answered mistakenly at the same time as Harlow.

Harlow glared up at Daniel who refused to look down at the enraged pixie on his arm. Tyra smirked wickedly, “I’m surprised you haven’t brought your little friend to the gym before.”

“I would have…but…like I said I had to quit the gym because of money troubles.”

Tyra looked over the expensive outfit Harlow now wore and her expensive tits, “So I’ve noticed.”

“Besides, Lucy isn’t really a gym rat.”

“No, Daniel and I, like, prefer challenges of skill.” ‘Daniel’s, like, never mentioned her,’ Harlow thought, ‘obviously because he wants her!’ And if that was true, she was a threat…to his cover story. “Besides, if we want to work up a sweat we just totally go to our bedroom.”

“Is that right?” Tyra felt sorry for Daniel who blushed a deep shade of red, he deserved a girl that shared his interests and not one that was so obviously insecure.

“That’s right. This one’s taken.” he smiled. “But you know,” his phony smile turned into a wicked smirk, “he does have a totally cute friend named Harry who is single. You look like his type.” Harlow noted Tyra’s chipped nails, her hastily applied makeup, and unkempt hair tied in a bun. ‘I make a better girl than she does.’ he giggled to himself.

“Thanks but no, I think I’ll wait.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I’ll wait until his little fling is done with.”

“I am not some fling!”

“You two can’t be too serious if Daniel never mentioned you to me.” Any pretense of formality immediately fell away as Tyra, this skank, called Daniel by his proper name like she was already his girlfriend!

Daniel, who remained confused, finally knew what to say, “Tyra we’re just fr-”

“Keep dreaming bitch,” Harlow’s hand fell swiftly from Daniel’s chest and quickly groped Daniel’s cock through his pants. ‘Sorry buddy.’ “I love him and he loves me!” Even distracted by his fury Harlow could still feel Daniel’s dick begin to swell.

“Lucy!” Daniel shouted angrily as he backed away and pulled her hand away from his crotch. “What the fuck?” He stormed out of the store, upset and aroused and then upset at himself for being turned on by the girls fighting over him and Lucy grabbing him. He left, leaving the two to fight over him alone.

“How embarrassing for you.” Tyra whispered.

Danny barely spoke for the rest of the outing except when asked to carry bags or boxes to the car from one store or the other, and even then it was a simple, “Sure.” or “Okay.” After the moment’s awkwardness passed for Elana the girls resumed talking about fashion, favorite actors, boys at school she liked, or girls Elana didn’t. Danny wasn’t paying too much attention to them, instead focusing on his security duties. Despite what his official title was, Danny was absolutely meant to be Elana’s personal security. That meant after he dropped Elana off at school he had to stay close by in case of an emergency. Today was no different.

Lucy at least recognized she fucked up and didn’t push him to talk even after they took Elana back home. Her smile had returned as she talked with Elana about school and life but he was not so oblivious he didn't catch sight of her sad eyes whenever she would glance at him.

Afterwards, Danny stayed in the garage exercising until dinner. During dinner he went over Elana’s schedule for the following week on the small tablet he had been gifted at the end of his first week. He remained silent, save for a few grunts to his sister or Lucy until finally he went to bed early. Leaving his chair to Lucy so she and Val could watch whatever they wanted.

Alone in the room he shared with his girlfriend for over a month at this point, he went over the day’s events. Lucy had embarrassed the hell out of him by grabbing his crotch like that in public, worse, she clearly had done it to ‘mark her territory’ like some immature teenager just because he was talking to Tyra. Did she not trust him? ‘Okay, so what if Tyra is beautiful even without makeup and drenched in sweat?’ he thought back to the last time he saw her at the gym, she had just finished climbing the rock wall, ‘and she looks cute as hell when she gets chalk on her cheek.’ His cock swelled at the memory of her asking if she had gotten all the chalk off of her face and he ever so delicately wiped it away with his hand. They had flirted back and forth since they had met, but the timing never worked out, whenever he was single she had a boyfriend or vice versa. ‘But I’m not a cheater.’ He reminded himself. If either of them were, they would have done something by now.

All of that was enough to upset Danny and leave him angry the rest of the evening. But what truly stuck with him that night, and would stick with him for days after, was what Lucy said. “I love him.” He repeated. Had she meant it? She didn’t just say it to make Tyra back off. Right? And if she had meant it…did he love her back? They had only been dating a month. But…they were friends for years before that. Has Lucy been harboring these feelings all this time? Val constantly teased the two of them, calling them a couple ever since they were teenagers, did she see something he didn’t? If so…how did he know if he felt the same? She was sexy and beautiful, and he always liked being with her…but was that the same as love? Danny’s insomnia persisted for days as he considered his feelings for both Lucy and Harlow for the first time in his life.

Harlow left Daniel alone that first day, he at least could recognize he had gone too far. So he let him be that first two nights. The third night when Daniel let him sit in his lap again he assumed everything was back to normal. They were guys, they didn’t need to talk about things, no matter what Val said.

Seeing that Daniel had taken the garbage out before bed Harlow knew he had to refill the trash can with used condoms again so as Daniel lay in bed Harlow grabbed a condom out of the nightstand and straddled his lap, “What are you doing?” he asked flatly.

“...y-you know. I figured, like,” Harlow giggled awkwardly as he kissed Daniel’s neck.

“I’m not in the mood tonight.”

“O-oh.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh, oh. Pfft–” Harlow waved the apology away–“it’s fine. I was just doing it because I figured you wanted to.” Harlow smiled at Daniel but rolled over to face the wall with a pout.

Harlow let last night’s rebuff pass without much ado. The next two nights that followed began to put Harlow on edge both emotionally and physically. He examined himself as he disrobed from the night before in front of the mirror. Last night had been the third night Daniel had rejected him. ‘Why would Daniel keep rejecting me?’ He wondered as he slipped off the white five inch strap heels he wore to bed the night before. ‘Oh, I guess I don’t need to wear these to bed anymore.’ He giggled for a moment at his silly habit, ‘Why else would a girl wear heels to bed Daniel?’ he pouted as he threw the heel to the floor. ‘Seems totally obvious.’

They needed to use the condoms to keep up the ruse that they were a loving couple. Was he done with pretending? He couldn’t fault the big lug but what happens if they make another surprise visit? As much as his male pride hated to admit it, he could not fit in the condoms they had gotten for Daniel. ‘Sure Tyra was hot and it would make sense Daniel would want to have sex with a real woman but…I’m so much prettier than she is.’ he moaned as he soaped his new breasts and his fingers found his newly sensitive nipples, 'I mean, like, that's just a fact at this point. My boobs are so much bigger than hers.' he twisted in the shower and watched the water cascade down his butt, "My butt is, like, even hotter than it was before because of those workouts Val has me doing." A number of the women he had been able to bring to his bed with or without money changing hands had always complimented his ass. And with his now slimmer waist he had now had given him a shapelier rear end. Harlow stopped short, realizing he had been spending the last few minutes simply caressing his newly altered body when he felt a familiar tearing pain from his lower body. ‘And that skank didn’t, like, even try to dress up nice to steal Daniel away from me! And I’ll be damned if I let someone who doesn’t even, like, care enough to dress nice take Daniel from me.’

After his shower Harlow did his makeup, taking great care to accentuate his new look with what could only be considered sultry. He searched his closet for something suitable for the day, not for Daniel of course. He didn’t care if Daniel got excited or not, but if he did that would certainly be a bonus. Harlow took out one of the new outfits that Elana had purchased for him the other day and slipped into the wine colored long sleeve strapless bandage dress top and matching skirt. For a moment he stared at his feet, it was hard to believe they were smaller now. Without anyone to compare them too they looked almost…normal. It wasn’t until he compared them to Val’s one night while painting their nails that the size difference was obvious. Harlow shook his head and placed his smaller feet into a pair of five inch red velvet mary janes that Elana said were “Dolce and Gabbana. So obviously the best!” He knew women went nuts over these name brand shoes but he never understood why. His old shoes, the ones now living in Val’s closet, weren’t cheap but they were nothing compared to the shoes Elana insisted he get for Lucy. Essentially they were the same shoe…but they felt so…much more than his old shoes. Clouds wrapped around his feet as he glided into the kitchen to start breakfast.

Harlow placed a plate in front of Daniel, giving him an eyeful of his new cleavage. Daniel’s eyes couldn’t help but follow the silver heart pendant that lay just at the crest of her welcoming bosom, when he finally tore his eyes away from the perfect view he saw a yearning look on Lucy’s face.

Daniel blushed a deep crimson and turned away, rubbing the back of his head.

Harlow smirked when he saw the redness envelop his friend’s face, and a familiar twinge in his glued pantied prison. Instead of getting himself his usual shake, he sat across Daniel's lap, hooking one arm around his neck, "Uh…Lucy? What are you doing?" Daniel asked as he watched Harlow take Daniel’s hand and place it on the smooth thigh high stay up stockings. Harlow could feel the desire in his friend rising and in himself. As much as they both enjoyed seeing women in stockings, feeling it against his own skin was a hundred times better. “L-Lucy.” Daniel stuttered.

“Shh.” Harlow cut a piece of pancake and gently whispered, "I'm your girlfriend." He said simply as he scooped up a small chunk of pancake.

"Yeah?"

"So, I'm supposed to, like, dote on you, right?"

"Don't you do enough already?" Daniel rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as he searched for help, but it was only the couple at that hour. Since Danny had to start getting up earlier so too had Lucy to make herself presentable for Daniel while Valerie slept.

"I can do so much more." He giggled, holding the forkful of pancake up to Daniel's lips.

Daniel couldn't help but glance at Harlow's erect nipples poking out of the skimpy dress he wore. "Lucy." He sighed, lifting her off of his lap as he stood up. "I'm not a baby. I can feed myself." He said as he placed her heeled feet on the floor.

"I…" Harlow giggled nervously, "You're right. I'm stupid."

"I didn't say that."

"Forget it. You should eat." He kissed Daniel gently on the cheek, "I have to get ready and so do you."

“Lucy I-”

“No, hey,like, it’s okay. For real, just, like, totally finish your breakfast. I’ve got, like laundry and stuff.” Harlow hurried out of the dining room and into the room he shared with Daniel.

Danny wanted to follow Lucy, knew he should, but the phone on his alarm was already going off telling him he had to leave in five minutes. Not enough time to talk to Lucy, not enough time to tell her all the things that were bouncing around his brain this last week and still be on time. Slowly he walked to their bedroom and found Lucy picking up dirty clothes off of the floor. “Lucy I wanted to…for us, I think we should, uh…”

“Daniel,” She cooed, tossing the clothes onto their bed and stepping closer to him, “you’re going to be late. You should go.”

She was right. He knew she was. Danny crooked her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting it further upward as he leaned in closer to kiss her sweetly on the lips. “We’ll talk later tonight.” He said after breaking their kiss a few moments later.

“Can’t wait.” She cooed again in the way only a lover could. With a final kiss to her forehead Danny left Lucy to her work.

That night after dinner, after watching a movie together, after brushing their teeth for bed, Daniel waited for Harlow in their bedroom. Unaware of what was waiting for him in the bathroom. Harlow adjusted his breasts in the mirror, he had grown accustomed to the weight thanks to the breast forms but now their weight carried a sense of realness he still hadn’t come to grips with.  He wore a turquoise contrast mesh negligee with a lace bodice and curved v neckline and matching thong. Just staring at himself in the mirror he already felt that familiar twitch from his lower half. He would have to try and find a better way to secure his tuck, one that didn’t threaten to tear away flesh every time he thought about sex at least.  Steeling himself he put the final touches of shimmery lip gloss on his cherry pink lips. “Now. Try and reject this.” Harlow leaned over the counter, kissing himself in the mirror, before sneaking out of the bathroom and into their room.

Danny was stunned when Lucy sauntered into their room, locking the door behind her. Lucy’s nightie billowed with each slow step she took towards him. Her soft white heels contrasting with her lingerie. As she crawled atop him he realized just how see-through it was. His brain short-circuited for a moment, giving her opportunity to kiss Danny fully on the lips. Slowly. Sensually. She pulled herself to sitting on his lap, her hand massaging the growing bulge in his boxers. He would be forgiven to forget what he wanted to talk to Lucy about in that moment when he could barely remember his own name. Finally feeling her delicate fingers grip his exposed erection he pulled away from Lucy, breaking their kiss. “Is this what you really want?”

Harlow stopped when Daniel grabbed his wrist. His nails had been buffed and polished white, hoping to borrow on the innocent look his face now featured to entice Daniel even further. When he felt Daniel’s bulge he couldn’t help but feel a familiar sensation that once he associated with pain but was quickly beginning to associate with pleasure. “What?” He asked, confused. What did he even say to that skank? Certainly nothing that Daniel would want him to say to him.

“Is this what you really want?”

Harlow glanced at the empty garbage can, it had been nearly a week since they had used any of the condoms and those bruisers could come back tomorrow if they wanted! “Yes.” He reached to the nightstand, pulling out a condom when Daniel grabbed his wrist again with a fiery look in his eyes.

“What if I wanted you to say to me what you said to Tyra?” he demanded. Harlow looked confused for a moment, “Tell me you love me.” his voice gentle and pleading.

Harlow froze for a moment. While Harlow needed to do this to survive, Danny needed to pretend there was something more, something tangible, something deeper than what they had, like some of the things escorts had told him during their time together.

Letting the condom fall away before cupping his hands on Daniel’s face, “I love you, Daniel.” His voice was soft and sweet as he profaned his love.

Danny’s smile threatened to tear his face as he kissed Lucy with renewed vigor as he attacked her with every ounce of sexual energy he had been repressing all week, pulling the sexy girl's body into his own, his member stabbing into her flat stomach as it screamed and begged for satisfaction.