Thanks for all the lovely reviews, they've really helped improve a lousy few days. A short penultimate chapter to keep you going …

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Chapter 4

Jesus. Did she really mean it? For a couple of seconds they sat staring across the table at each other and then he spoke, hoping he sounded a lot more in control than he felt.

"Yer better stand up, then."

Slowly they rose from their respective chairs and moved towards one another until they were inches apart. Silver eyes stared down into hazel and he could sense her raw need and feel the heat emanating from her body. He wrapped an arm round her waist and pulled her against him and her eyes widened as his hard-on pressed against her stomach.

"Gene …"

She stroked her hands along his shoulders and down over his chest as though wanting to familiarise herself with his body, and then she leaned in and nuzzled his neck, breathing him in. He heard her sigh against his skin, and a shiver of desire ran through him. She looked up into his eyes seductively.

"Been wanting to do that all evening."

"An' I've been wantin' to do this …"

His mouth captured hers and she returned his kiss hungrily, their tongues stroking, entwining, exploring. He pulled her even closer and she moaned softly as her arms wound round his neck. Gene could hardly believe it. Alex Drake, the object of his erotic fantasies for so long, was actually in his arms and responding to his passion with equal fervour, clinging to him as though she could never get close enough.

When he finally broke away they were both flushed and panting, and her eyes were heavy-lidded with desire. He looked down at her heaving bosom and grinned.

"Need ter loosen that bodice, Lady Bols. Yer seem ter be having some trouble breathin'."

He removed the glasses and the bottle and gently lifted her onto the table, moving in between her thighs. He leaned in and kissed his way slowly down her neck before licking the sensitive hollow at the base of her throat and she sighed dreamily, stroking his hair.

"Mmmm … Gene …"

As though in a dream, he began to undo her basque one hook at a time and she fell back onto her elbows, shivering as his fingers brushed over newly exposed skin. When she was finally revealed to him in all her naked glory he gazed down at her in awe, eyes devouring her luscious curves.

"Best pair I've seen all night, Bols…"

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Alex closed her eyes and slipped onto her back as he traced the outline of her breasts delicately with his long fingers before dipping his head and running his tongue around a nipple. She gasped as he covered it with his mouth and sucked, gently at first and then harder as she pleaded for more.

"Gene! Oh please … don't stop …"

She'd never dreamed he would be such a sensitive lover, his clever mouth and fingers teasing her expertly until she was all one flame of need. He moved up to nibble on her earlobe, and she realised he was fiddling with something on the table behind her.

"Gene?"

He was resting on one elbow now, and she distinctly heard the sound of cards being dealt somewhere above her head. She looked up into his face through a haze of longing, writhing against him wantonly.

"Not boring you, am I?"

He grinned wickedly.

"Far from it, but we've got unfinished business. Two kings and not much else, luv. Yer wanna change three?"

"Are you serious?"

He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"The game's not over yet, Bols. Neither of us is naked. And we don' know who's won."

"Gene, I don't care. Just fuck me, will you."

He kissed her softly, and then smirked down at her.

"Oh, I fully intend ter. But I'll never hear the last of it if I don' beat yer, will I?"

She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. She could wait another few seconds, and victory would be so sweet.

"OK. Three it is."

She heard him deal again, and then he pouted down at her.

"Yer've got three kings now. Bugger."

Grinning, she raked her nails teasingly down his chest, and he groaned.

"Patience, Bols. Right, my turn. Hmmm. Three sevens. Dump two."

She heard him turn over a couple of cards and then a huge smile lit up his face.

"Full 'ouse, sevens and jacks."

He leaned down to whisper in her ear, the sensation of his warm breath against her neck making her shiver.

"Get 'em off, Alex. Or would yer rather I ripped 'em off …"

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Don't really think any of us would mind losing to Gene under these circumstances! More soon, I promise …