Whoo-hoo! I'm back yet again. I am having so much fun writing this fic. I hope you all continue to like it. Alright, enjoy the next chappie and please read the last A.N. YAY! CHAPTER TEN! DOUBLE DIGIT!

Chapter Ten

The Bet on Desire

Seto stared at her, standing the doorway, arms crossed, a frown on her face. But he could already see signs of weakness in her facade just by one look from him. He kept his dark look, eyes looking ready to hunt and kill at one more wrong word and he stalked towards her.

By the time he was there, there was fear in her eyes. He wasn't surprised, but right now he was not happy with her response.

He stared down at her and placed a hand just below the ear so his thumb touched her jaw line and the rest of his long fingers could curl around and begin to feel the hair at the nape of her neck. Anzu was trying to avoid his eyes but he forced her head up.

"Listen, Anzu..."

His voice was so cool so silky, it was all she could do not to shiver. It made her heart race. Damn him and how sexy he was! Even she could not deny that much. And right at his moment, the way his hand so perfectly cradled her head, fingers stroking her nape, thumb running against her sensitive jaw, was it any wonder that desire was beginning to form? She bit her tongue to fight the feelings growing inside of her.

"What do you think you're trying to pull?" he continued, a cruel smirk on his face. "I can tell by your reaction to my touch that you want me." She felt panic rising up inside. "Imagine if I actually held you, kissed you. Would you be able to resist me?" he whispered, running a finger over her soft lips. They felt as soft as rose petals.

"Fight it, Anzu. Fight him!" She pulled back from him, ignoring the urge to go right back.

"Shut up! You think you know everything, but you don't! I might be somewhat attracted to you, but it's only physical." She glared. "And let me tell you, there are millions of men out their as handsome as you, so just because I might want you a little bit now does not mean I don't hate you. Lust and love are completely different things."

"And who, may I ask, said anything about love?" he asked icily. Damn it! He was getting the wrong idea. Damn him! And damn her for saying something so idiotic without thinking it through first!

"You know what I mean." She turned away from him slightly, praying he'd let it go. Wrong.

"No, I don't. Enlighten me."

"If you're too stupid to figure it out, why should I waste my breath explaining." Seto paused and Anzu watched him from the corner of her eyes. He seemed to be lost in thought. She hardly noticed the slight perk of realization in his eyes before he gave an evil smirk.

"Oh...I get it." His moves were so sudden. She was trapped by his arms around her, practically binding her arms. "You're scared. Scared you might fall in love with me."

"That's not it at all!" she snapped, trying to wriggle free. No good, his arms were too tight around her.

"Isn't it?" he whispered into her ear. Something stirred in her stomach and she gasped for breath. One hand slid down the side of her body and she tried not to show how it was making her blood pound.

It stopped a little above the hip and she knew he was smirking again.

"You really are lovely, Anzu." He traced the other side of her waist, more delicately with his other hand. "Beautiful face, body, too bad your attitude doesn't match." She pulled free again and whirled around, a truly angry look on her face.

She had never been so pissed at anyone (not counting Yoshinori) in a LONG time.

"You pervert!"

"Trust me, what I just did was nothing. I touched the sides of your waist. There are many places my hands could have wandered that would have paralyzed you with shock and then have you exploding mad."

"I AM EXPLODING MAD!"

"Then you have the worst temper I've ever seen in my life, worse than mine." She moved to slap him, but he caught her wrist to stop her.

"I hate you!" she spat.

"Really?" he dropped her hand. "I see." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"What does that mean?" He turned and walked back into the room. She followed him, even though it was probably a mistake. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"

"Anzu, tell me something."

"What?"

"How disgusted are you at the thought of sleeping with me?" Seto asked, give her a dry look. Anzu blinked and then regained her grouchy expression.

"I'd rather eat my own arm, if that's what you mean." He chuckled.

"That much?"

"Look! I might find you handsome, but I do NOT want to get into bed with you and be your little play thing." She crossed her arms. "I want more than that, after being trapped in the Clan for so long. One," she held one finger up, "I want to be ready. Two," she held up a second finger, "I want to love the man. Three," she held up a third finger, "I don't want to be sold to him!" Her hands formed into tight fists.

"Yes, that's fair, I suppose."

"So why don't you just pay me and let me leave early?" she asked, half sarcastic, half serious. Seto looked thoughtful again.

"I think I might have a better idea..."

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning.

"Hear me out."

"Fine." Seto sat down on his bed.

"You claim you are completely disgusted at sleeping with me. That you do not wish to take part in anything of the sort." She rolled her eyes heavenward, thinking,

"Thank you Captain Obvious." But out loud she said, "Yes, that's what I said."

"Well, what do you say to a little bet?" he offered. This automatically sent sirens of warning rining in her mind. She still did not trust him.

"A bet? What kind of bet?" she asked, narrowing her pretty eyes.

"I can already tell you that I do desire you, but I won't pounce."

"Could've fooled me..."

"But you don't want anything to do with me except have me pay you at the end of your contract and let you go on your merry way."

"Right, so what are you getting at? I don't have all day." Seto pursed his lips.

"I bet...you do desire me."

"Excuse me?" He leaned back, smirking.

"You heard me. I give it two weeks that you give in and let me make love to you."

"Wait, wait one second. You're saying you give me two weeks. And if I suddenly go nuts and decide to sleep with you, I lose this bet?" she asked. Seto nodded.

"Exactly."

"How do I know you won't pin me down and force yourself upon me?" Anzu snapped. Seto sighed and stood up and went over to his balcony. Anzu followed him.

"Believe it or not, I'm not a bad man. I won't try to rape you or hurt you during the time you reside with me and I will release you from the contract and never bother you again."

"Hmph." He turned.

"But, I confess that I want you, Anzu." His face grew serious. "And I want to give you a fair chance to see what you want. Two weeks is not too long so it may be easy for you to win."

"There have to be limits as to what you can do to me!"

"I am not allowed to touch you in any way that is sexual or will make you completely uncomfortable."

"Every time you touch me I'm uncomfortable..." Anzu thought dryly.

"Furthermore, I cannot force you to do anything. It is all your choice in this matter."

"Fine, that sounds alright. But what if I win the bet?"

"You do not have to do anything here with me. You can reside in your own room, eat, live, and when the time comes, I release you from the contract and pay you and you will never see or hear from me again. However, during the bet you are to stay in the same room as me."

"How is that fair?"

"I won't try anything. And if what you say is true, you should be able to sleep next to me without feeling a thing. Or are you afraid you'll-"

"Shut up!" she snapped. "OK, I agree to that condition. And what happens if you win, like that will happen."

"You stay in my room and do as I tell you unless it is completely inconvenient and you have legitimate excuse." He smirked and leaned against the balcony railing. "Do you agree to the bet?"

"Heh, if it means ridding myself of dealing with you, of course I do. When does it start?"

"Right now. And in two weeks, at this time, the bet is over unless you cave first."

"Please." She rolled her eyes. "I won't lose this. It'll be an easy victory. I'm almost tempted to up the time by another week"

"We could make it a month if you think you're that willful."

"I'm not an idiot. But I'll give you a little more time to 'win.' Three weeks, and not a day more."

"Fine with me." He held out his hand. She grabbed it and shook before walking out of the room. Seto smiled to himself.

"Well...we'll see how this turns out." He looked out to his garden, buried in the snow. "Little does she know...I always get what I want and she won't be an exception if I have anything to say about it..."

HELP! OK, I planned this bet from the start. But who the heck is gonna win? I've gone over the results of what happens when either or wins and it works fine with the plot both ways! So can you all please vote?

Both are good. I just don't know which one to pick. And I cannot write out the next few chapters well unless I know who'll win. So please, VOTE!