Chapter 1

Alex Adams, newly wed for only three days, stood on a brightly lit, circular platform in the middle of a cavernous gambling casino as rivulets of sweat slowly trickled down his spine. A large noisy crowd had assembled about him. Alex wore a heavy, floor-length black velvet cape. Underneath, he was completely naked!

A woman whom Alex had never met sat in a chair beside him giggling in anticipation, her face in her hands. Two other men, similarly dressed, each bathed in blinding theatrical lights, stood on platforms on either side of Alex. The sea of faces that undulated around them appeared almost surreal.

Bells of countless slot machines droned in Alex's ears. A feeling similar to seasickness gripped him; his knees trembled; his hands were clammy. Strangely in all the hubbub, noise, and excitement, Alex was peculiarly aware of a single droplet of sweat that had collected first on his forehead, had eased slowly down his brow, and now was poised to drop from the tip of his nose. This heightened awareness fascinated him in an oddly irrelevant way despite the fact that, in a moment, he would be required to remove the cape... and stand nude in front of everyone.

In the crowd gathering at Alex's feet stood his new bride, Julie. She stared up at him, hand over her mouth, head shaking back and forth in disbelief. In any other place or time, such a situation would have been inconceivable, especially to Julie Adams. But, at the Casino du Roturier, such a scene was almost normal. Alex and his cohorts simply had lost "special" bets against the house. Now it was time to pay!

Across the casino, Beverly Morgan, a striking middle-aged beauty with dark auburn hair and a voluptuous figure, sat pondering a bet at a usually quiet, calm $5 Blackjack table. A bright red light flashed above her dealer's head. A moment earlier, the second card dealt her from the dealer's shoe had been emblazoned with a large red star on its back. The front of the card had read, "The holder of this card is entitled to play Revelation, a house game worth $1,000. Ask your dealer for details."

The dealer had explained that, as a result of drawing the red star card, the house was willing to bet $1,000 against Beverly's bra! House rules were, one, that she had to decide whether or not play without seeing her second card, and two, if she lost she had to remove the bra while standing at the table and present it to the dealer.

"A 'Blackjack, ' of course, doubles the payoff," reminded the dealer. "Do you want to play?"

Beverly, a housewife from Atlanta on a dream vacation with her husband, George, stared at her first card, the Ace of Clubs. The more she contemplated winning a couple of thousand dollars, the more her hands shook. The flashing red light overhead signaled that a "special" game was underway at this table, but Beverly was oblivious to the crowd slowly beginning to assemble behind her.

A couple thousand dollars will pay for our plane fares, thought Beverly. But, if I lose... oh, my... I'll have to show my tits in order to get my bra completely off. No man but George has ever seen my breasts.

I have almost a one-in-three chance at a Blackjack... God, where is George when I need him? I have an ace under... I can win this hand! But... I'll die if I lose!

Outside the casino, a taxi, actually a golf cart with a light on top, wheeled up to the casino's entrance carrying a heavy load-Mr. Jefferson "JJ" Johnson, long-time professional football player and well known personality. Crowded into the seat beside him with no room to spare was his petite wife, Ingrid, a would-be model with long flowing blond hair and a head-turning, mind boggling figure.

JJ had heard from his teammates that gorgeous women were all over this island and all of them were in a party mood. JJ Johnson lived his entire existence in a party mood. He moved in life's fast lane and he wanted everyone around him to recognize that fact.

JJ flashed his million-dollar smile, complete with bright gold tooth, at the doorman. The doorman, who happened to be white, sprang forward to help Ingrid out of the taxi. JJ drank in the stunning scenery that surrounded the casino, along with the doorman's subservient behavior.

He thought to himself, JJ, my man, you have come a long way from Mendenhall, Mississippi. If you had stayed there, you would be the one carrying the bags and holding the door.

Indeed, he had come a long way. The son of a sharecropper growing up African American in the Deep South normally would not have had a chance in hell, but JJ Johnson had made his own chances and his dreams had come true. Now he had money, respect, and a gorgeous, sexy, white wife. After a grueling football season, his ninth as a pro, he was ready to have a little rest and relaxation, a lot of exciting gambling, and, perhaps, a little strange pussy, if the opportunity presented itself.

Just as JJ and Ingrid stepped out of the taxi, a completely naked young woman sauntered out of the casino. Her soft breasts, brown nipples pointing skyward, jiggled and bounced as she quickly made her way into the now vacant golf cart taxi. JJ and Ingrid stood spellbound.

"ClubMed, please," she shouted to the driver and off they went.

I can tell that I am gonna love this motherfucking place, yes sirree, thought JJ.

"What was that?" gasped Ingrid.

"Looked like a naked woman to me," laughed JJ.

John Cord grinned as he watched Alex and the two other robed men as well as Beverly Morgan via several closed-circuit televisions in his La Domaine Riche (The Room for the Rich) high atop the casino. La Domaine Riche was a gaming area reserved by invitation only for John's wealthiest, regular clients. Though Casino du Roturier was famous for its "special" wagering games, only the opulent few knew about the La Domaine Riche, the place where the really serious gambling took place.

"If only those guys in the robes knew what was coming next," laughed Cord to himself. Then in a loud voice he proclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, gather around, please. Betting on the next game is about to begin. By the way, free champagne is available at the bar or from one of our lovely wait staff."