A Seven Year Hitch by Mary Beeken

would support her. She felt desire build in her from her tingling breasts to the throbbing in the very core of her. He continued the kiss, entwining his tongue with hers and sending them both into a spiral of longing that threatened to engulf them both.
    Trevellyn moved his hand to caress and fondle her breast and for a split second, before conscious thought took over, Erica exulted in his touch and then dawning horror at what she was doing and with whom; made her break from the kiss. She tried to step away but he followed; continuing to hold her so that she found herself pinned between him and the balustrade.  
    “That was very revealing, wasn’t it sweetheart ?” Trevellyn reverted to his teasing tone in a desperate attempt to conceal from her the fact that he was still reeling himself from the impact of that kiss. His body was raging with desire for the curvaceous woman still pressed against him and he was struggling to get it under control. He had over the years sated his lust with many women but never had that lust resembled anything like he was experiencing with this annoying, beautiful handful he now held. 
    Erica tried to free herself but to no avail and eventually through gritted teeth, demanded her release before adding, “You are loathsome.”
    “You were kissing me back and I definitely heard a moan of pleasure, sweetheart .”
    “I am most definitely not your sweetheart, and I did not moan with pleasure but with dislike,” Erica threw at him, sounding pathetic even to her own ears.
    “You cannot fool me, sweetheart. Your desire matched mine and although your lips deny it you r delicious body says otherwise,” he laughed, and then in a more serious tone and with a voice hoarse with longing, he continued, “Remember yesterday when I said I had no intention of seducing you?”
    Erica nodded.
    “I lied!” he smiled wolfishly “I am going to seduce you and soon, very soon. You said earlier that you don’t scream but believe me, you will.  You’ll scream with pleasure and beg for more when I fill you and take you to heights you cannot hope to imagine.”
    “You will not succeed. Forewarned, as they say, is forearmed and there is no way you can entice me into bed with you,” Erica was regaining her fighting spirit.  “I have no intention of losing either the war, My Lord, or my virtue.”
    “How much would you like to bet on it my darling?” he brushed his lips against her neck, reawakening the tingling sensation throughout her traitorous body.
    “You would be throwing away your money.”
    “I will give you very good odds, say one hundred to one? Just name your stake!” he said persuasively, nibbling on her ear.
    “Alright. A hundred guineas, My Lord, that you cannot seduce me before the end of this house party, or ever!”
    “A hundred guineas it is, my darling. I only hope you can afford to lose so much.”
    He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, which remained firmly closed, and released her with a sigh.
    “I look forward to our next encounter ,” he said sardonically and laughed as she stormed past him and out of sight.
    He thought it prudent to wait a while until returning to the house. God knew, his parents were already aware of his interest in her and he did not want others to notice. Irate relatives would only complicate matters. Of-course his parents were not aware of his nefarious intentions towards her, which set him to wondering exactly what their thoughts might be. They had introduced him to Charlotte as a possible bride, which he had been prepared to seriously consider yet now, or so it seemed to him, they were smiling benevolently on his pursuit of Erica.
    His own feelings were also proving a little difficult to unravel and he was not at all sure he wanted to try too hard. His lust for her was not in doubt and he relished the time spent in her company.  He definitely enjoyed their sparring matches as he recognized in her a worthy opponent. Could this be love he asked himself?