Hard Times: Third Edition Sneak Peek
Greetings readers!
So, when I first began publishing in 2019, I had no idea what would happen. Honestly, I didn’t believe people would be all that interested in the type of content I like to write. Hard Times at the Futa Casino was one of the first erotic shorts I published. A very rough draft that, to be honest, I didn’t even proofread. I just created a cover, threw it up and did the same with two other stories. Left and forgot about them— only to discover that you did indeed enjoy the content.
Now, two years later and weeks away from the start of a new year, I’ve rewritten, edited, and updated my very first book in preparation for the Fertile Futa Billionaire series. It’s been a long time coming! So check out the third edition of Hard Times at the Futa Casino on KDP, going live in the next twenty-four hours.
Until then, enjoy this sneak peek! xoxo - Lilith
CHAPTER 1
Dani
Fantasy is a very powerful thing.
Power is having the ability to infiltrate the senses, swarm the soul, envelop the mind, and take over the body so that there is no control. But having control, the ability to shape fate and lives, is more powerful still. As a rule, Dani Laveau wielded both. She held sway over the fates and lives of thousands of people in the fantasy she created, in casinos the sexy futa owned across the country.
Dani provided illusions of lives made better, hopes born, and yet— those dreams were always crushed, leaving the dreamer desperate to try again after they’d held the illusion within their grasp, for even a moment.
That was how she maintained control from the moment she was wise enough to understand how priceless it was.
She always watched the patrons from the seclusion of her office- a glass balcony overlooking the casino floor. Her azure eyes observed the manners of men and women, young and old coming to put their hard earned money into penny slots. Blackjack, Gin Rummy, Poker, Roulette, Baccarat, Dice games, and on and on it went. You name it, and there was a place where one could lose their money hoping, without fail, that instead it would multiply.
It was pitiful really, how so many of them never seemed to learn and were drawn deeper and deeper into the fruitless cycle. All because they had too much fantasy and far too little control. And those poor bastards were still better off than those who borrowed from Dani.
It was a Devil’s Bargain where the only one that won was the devil.
A penny for a game, a year for a buck, hope for a soul.
Jeffrey Gaines was one such man who’d made a Devil’s Bargain. Not once, not twice, but four times in the seven years since he’d been gambling in her casino. Borrowing money to feed his addiction. She didn’t even think he actually believed he could win at that point. His luck was pitiable with minuscule wins here and there to continue feeding his madness. It was more of a compulsion, a desire to keep feeding the dragon of empty greed, and Dani fueled it despite the fact that normally she only allowed a patron to borrow money from the House once.
And if they couldn’t pay it back? Well, there were other methods to get a return on an empty investment.
But Mr. Gaines was different. Mind you, it had nothing at all to do with him. He was pathetic. A drunk who’d put himself into the danger of foreclosure after borrowing against his home. He couldn’t make payments, his cars had been repossessed, and most days he could barely pay his utilities. And all of that was before he’d borrowed from her the second time.
So, why did she take such a risk?
Because he had an eighteen year old daughter. Amber was a beautiful little thing, young and alluring with a body that was supple and toned in mouthwatering ways. Her skin was pale like porcelain, red hair like flames, and she had eyes so green it was as if a meadow itself were immersed within them. Her father had brought her in several times, only to leave her in the gallery of the restaurant where he’d give her twenty dollars and told her to stay in the buffet. She’d sat in a corner reading a book.
Dani’s attention was solely on her, partially out of concern, partially out of curiosity. When some brought their family, they at least left them together, or with friends. But not Mr. Gaines. The beauty was in hole ridden jeans, a dirty t-shirt and her hair was haphazardly braided. It made the casino owner both angry and filled me with desire to take care of her. Dani knew what it was to be left alone, to be considered unimportant or without value.
Her mother had died some time ago before the young woman was old enough to remember her, and she hadn’t had the best childhood. The maternal side of her desired to give Amber that, to hold her close, and comfort her at her breast.
The problem was, there was something about her that made Dani’s cock swell and harden. But for awhile she simply kept a careful eye, began to fantasize. Instinctively Dani knew the redhead was untouched, and she hoped that she remained that way as she stroked eight and a half inches of thick meat, breaths harsh and filling the room along with the sound of slapping skin.
Often she was so aroused she could scarcely see straight. She’d formed a club when she made her fortune. For those like her that possessed futanari gifts and a shitload of money. The other members teased her mercilessly as her disposition grew more sour with each day she didn’t pursue the red-haired beauty. Especially Sassy, another futa that Dani had rescued from obscurity when she performed a small gig at her casino.
Sassy, a beautiful sandy skinned songstress, caught her friend redhanded one day and knew the temptation she offered.
“If you don’t say hi to her. I will.” She’d smirked, earning a glare from the blonde.
“Don’t you dare. I’m too old for her anyway.”
“You’re 29 Dani, stop actin’ like you’re ancient. Go after her. No one could resist you.”
Well, that was true. Not even Sassy herself who leaned over to slide her hand into Dani’s slacks, her tongue tracing over the outer shell of the casino owner’s ear.
“But until then. . .I’m going to take care of this massive problem.”
She drove Dani to the brink of ecstasy, whispers in her ear sending the blonde spinning.
This became a repeated occurrence as Gaines brought Amber with him more often, more than likely to keep track of the money.
And Dani continued to watch her. For 365 days she watched and her own fantasy began. But it wasn’t just sexual fantasy, although that was rampant. It was a desire to spoil the young woman, claim her, possess her. . .love her. The concept felt strange. Love was never something she and the other members in her club believed in. Even Isabella, who was married to a man of all things. Relationships were convenience. Arrangements. And highly unlikely. . . until finally when Amber was 19 years old opportunity presented itself. Someone dared to wander over to her as if there was a neon sign blasting ‘Fair Game’ over her head.
It had been inevitable.
The moment Dani saw the guy making a beeline for her, she cut her usual stroking short and groaned as she tucked her straining arousal back into her slacks and boxers. Straightening her blazer, she headed down to the ground floor.
Once she reached them it didn’t take someone intuitive to see that Amber was uncomfortable and Dani cleared her throat. One of the young regulars turned to face her, prepared to mouth off until recognition dawned in his eyes.
“Oh, Miss Laveau, I—“
“…was just leaving? I know,” Dani answered coldly. Her eyes were like steel as the intruder shrank back and nodded. He cleared his throat once, briefly looked back at the beautiful girl, and took off.
Dani glared after him before she returned her attention to Amber. The older woman settled down in the chair across from her, expression morphing into a warmer disposition as she murmured, “Men. They can be so—demanding.” She smiled and reached to offer her a hand. “Dani Laveau.”
Amber’s expression was understandably wary. A naive creature would misinterpret Dani’s warmth for kindness immediately, but the younger woman was shrewd. Undoubtedly life had taught her that. The casino owner could see it when Amber looked at her with eyes searching for motive.
Dani was a predator and she was the prey.
Yet she didn’t flee as Dani had suspected she would, nor shrink back with the kind of shyness in most women, born of intimidation and fragility. It agitated the blonde to no end.
But Amber stared at her with sharp emerald eyes before finally reaching out to take the older woman’s proffered hand.
“Amber. And they can be, I suppose.” There was a moment of deliberation before she stated rather than asked, “You own the casino.”
Dani was pleased that Amber seemed to recognize her, but her brow ticked up in surprise. She tilted her head, eyes flickering down to their joined hands. Hers were soft and smooth, like warm silk.
“Yes, I do. I assume your father has mentioned me.”
“He hasn’t, but I make it a point to keep a record of everyone he owes money to. Most of the time it’s you, since he gambles here the most.”
The statement was bluntly delivered and the redhead withdrew her hand, though she still didn’t look away.
Hmm, shrewd and scrupulous with money it seemed. She couldn’t have possibly gotten that from her father.
Dani feigned a sympathetic expression. It was easy since she did -on some level- feel partially responsible for how difficult Amber’s life must have been over the years, even before the blonde knew of her existence.
“It must be very difficult for you with his…problems. You’re nineteen now, right?” The words were casual, almost idly conversational. If one were to believe it.
“Twenty actually, as of last week.” Amber offered no further elaboration. She was waiting to see what Dani was playing at.
“College?”
This time it was Amber’s brow that ticked upwards, “I’m considering a university, but I can’t really afford it right now.”
“You mean he can’t afford it,“ Dani corrected. ”So—you’re nineteen, college ready, and yet…” the blonde gestured around them. “You’re here with your father.”
“He needs someone to take care of him.” Amber said, her tone defensive.
“And who takes care of you, Amber? Your father is a lost cause and while your responsibility for him is admirable, you’re his daughter — not his wife. Speaking of, where is his wife?” The words rolled smoothly off of Dani’s tongue, and she saw that a spark of interest in Amber’s eyes quickly quelled as she lowered them to stare at the book in her hands.
“She died a long time ago, so I kind of have to take care of my dad. He’s a good man, he just has an addiction is all. With all due respect, Miss Laveau, what is it that you want?”
Dani affected a sympathetic expression, “I’m sorry — truly. You have my condolences. But what I want is simple. I have the power to give you what you desire. And that desire, I think, is to erase your father’s debt.”
She lifted intense green hues to Dani’s once again.
“What do you mean?”
“I can erase his debt and even get him into a facility that would provide him the help he so desperately seems to need. Down the line when he’s recovered, he’ll have a nice little nest egg and a job.”
Dani now had Amber’s attention, but the wariness intensified.
Oh, how her intelligence delighted Dani. And the way she tugged her cardigan tighter to conceal the way her ample breasts strained against the thin material of her t-shirt. Her nipples were taut from the cold air and vivid evidence that she wasn’t wearing a bra.
And she could definitely see the way Dani looked at her, the way she was probably accustomed to being looked at.
Amber was a walking billboard of innocence, and a vessel of lust that the blonde wanted to shatter and consume. Her cheeks deepened in color, a pale pink that made the freckles that dotted the canvas stand out more prevalently.
“Nothing like that comes free. So what do you want in exchange?”
“Oh, you’re a smart girl. But that’s a simple answer. I want you,” Dani answered. “I need a secretary. You’re smart, and you’re familiar with the casino. How it works. And clearly you’re good with money.”
Amber wasn’t so easily fooled.
“You could hire someone with actual experience and education if you needed one so badly.”
“It’s not experience I need, little one,” Dani rasped
There was no need to explain when the intent hung so heavily in the air that it pressed down upon them like a weighted blanket. Still, the anticipation of her response, the deepening of color and the way her breath hitched in her chest—it was better than any aphrodisiac Dani had ever taken part in.
“What would I have to do?”
“Nothing you wouldn’t want to do again and again—trust me.”
Amber hesitated before shifting in her seat. Dani could see how shallow her breaths became, though she did her best to even them, and the silence stretched on for what felt like moments before she finally nodded her consent.
Checkmate.
