Thanks for the lovely reviews, so glad people are enjoying it. The battle of the sexes continues …

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Chapter 3

Alex didn't think she'd ever felt more sexy or powerful in her life. The expression of pure lust on his face when he'd seen her stockings just confirmed what she'd thought all along. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him, and there was only one way the evening was going to end now. Her stomach felt as though a flight of butterflies was running riot, and there was a strong pulse beating between her thighs as she watched him deal again.

Two queens and very little else. She traded three cards, but it didn't improve the hand, she'd just have to hope he was struggling also. He could only manage a pair of tens and she breathed a sigh of relief, watching as he silently removed his tie and dropped it to the floor before undoing the top two buttons on his shirt. She gazed at the newly exposed triangle of skin and it was all she could do not to crawl across the table and nuzzle into his neck. He dealt the next hand. Two low pairs. She traded one card without further success and held her breath. Smugly, he laid down three jacks one by one.

She leaned back and slowly unhooked one stocking, pointing her toe while she rolled it slowly down her leg. His eyes followed her every move avidly, and when she tossed the stocking to him he caught it and played with it, running it through his long fingers while she watched, her throat suddenly dry. She imagined those elegant hands stroking their way slowly up her calves and over her thighs and shook herself mentally as he dealt the next hand. Focus, Alex.

A pair of aces beat king high, and she sat back, taking a sip of her wine and trying to appear cool and collected.

"So. What's it to be then, Gene?"

His eyes never left hers as he began to pop the buttons on his shirt to reveal yet more skin, and she was practically drooling as he slipped it off and dropped it to the floor. Muscular forearms, smooth chest and a hint of belly, no six-pack but he oozed testosterone from every pore. There was a cute mole next to his right nipple and she had a sudden urge to lick it. In fact, she wanted to lick him all over. She felt rather warm suddenly.

"Not bad, Gene, considering the lifestyle you lead."

He grinned, clearly pleased at the compliment.

"I've shown yer mine, Bols. Care to reciprocate?

"Not unless you beat me fair and square …"

He dealt again, and her eyes slowly devoured his naked torso. One more hand and he could be down to his boxers, and a shiver of desire ran down her spine at the prospect.

She picked up her cards. Nothing above a ten, and no pairs, dammit. She traded four and ended up with a pair of sixes as against his pair of nines. He leant back and crossed his arms, and she removed the other stocking even more slowly, dropping it to the floor.

She almost felt like losing the next hand just to see his face when she finally took off her blouse, but there was some pride at stake here after all.

Two aces. She was shaking as she traded the other three cards in, but couldn't improve the hand, laying it down more in hope than confidence. His lips twitched and he placed two fours down. And then a third one.

Her hands were shaking as she slowly undid her blouse and slipped it off her shoulders revealing a figure hugging black basque and a tiny matching thong. His jaw dropped in mute admiration as his eyes raked over her, darkening with desire.

"Holy hell, Alex. I think I just died and went ter heaven. I need a fag …"

"Out the window please, Gene."

He stood with his back to her as he smoked, and she drank him in greedily. Broad shoulders, smooth back with a nice smattering of moles and freckles tapering down to a tight backside. She'd love to spend some time making a mole map, she thought, smirking to herself.

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Gene returned to the table and picked up the pack again. God, he'd needed that fag, his nerves were in shreds and he hoped she hadn't noticed that his hands were shaking slightly. When she'd slipped her blouse off his heart rate had practically doubled, and if she lost another hand he was going to need to call the paramedics. He tried to concentrate on his cards. It wasn't looking good and he watched as she rubbed her nose, a little tell he'd picked up that gave away the fact that she had a reasonable hand.

He traded all five cards but still only ended up with ace high, and she beat him easily with two pairs. Now he was in trouble. The erection he'd been battling with for the last half hour or so refused to go away and he either had to concede the game or strip down to his boxers. She was looking at him expectantly, and he tried to drag his eyes away from that magnificent cleavage.

"What are you waiting for, Guv? Get 'em off. Or do you admit defeat?"

He narrowed his eyes, making his mind up. She'd asked for it, now she was going to get it.

"No chance, Bols. I haven't seen yer tits yet."

He stood with a lot more bravado than he actually felt and began to unzip his trousers. As they fell to the floor he saw her eyes widen at the healthy bulge in his boxers and she bit her lip, colouring when he raised an eyebrow.

"Sergeant Rock meet with your approval then?"

She tried to shrug nonchalantly, but it didn't quite work.

"More interested in beating you than getting an eyeful of the goods, Gene."

He grinned and sat down again.

"Course yer are, Bols."

He dealt again, meeting her eyes before dropping his gaze obviously to her cleavage.

"So this is it, then. Finally, I get an eyeful."

He could see the slight tremor in her hands as she dumped three cards, and she didn't touch her nose this time.

"Or I do, Guv."

"I think not."

He laid down a full house, three queens and two sevens and then sat back, crossing his arms. His heart was pounding in his chest now with anticipation: would she admit defeat or have the nerve to go through with it?

"Beat that, Madam Fruitcake."

He saw her stiffen, and then she dropped her hand face down on the table and looked at the floor, her face flushing red. He turned the hand over and inspected the cards.

"Nice pair, Alex. How very appropriate. I take it yer will be conceding at this point?"

She raised her eyes to his defiantly, and there was a fire burning in them.

"Oh no, Gene. Just one request, though. I'd like you to undo me …"

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Hot and heavy from here on – look away if you have a delicate constitution!

All reviews very welcome as ever.