Xanthus sat at his desk toying with his luxurious gold plated fountain pen.  He was irritated by the gnawing distraction consuming him rather too frequently.  There were urgent emails to respond to and calls to return but he was preoccupied by the memory of a satiny slim milk white body, silky hair that smelt of apricots and long slender legs that had wrapped delightfully around his hips.  He groaned loudly, stood up, and adjusted his trousers.  He was annoyed at the effect she was having on him.  It was uncharacteristic for him to be so easily side-tracked.  He used to be proud of his ability to calculate his every thought with precision ... but since he sets eyes on her and no fault of his ... all that went pear-shaped.  Xanthus cursed profusely.  He was famous for his iron will and single mindedness.  So what was happening here?  Clearly she had bewitched him.  Firstly  he had been at the bar minding his own business, and she ... she flirted with him and totally seduced him and if that had not been enough, already she was in his blood.  He could not stop thinking about her.  His eyes darted to the fancy platinum time piece at his wrist.  It was barely ten in the morning and he had sex on the brain.  Since when did Xanthus Laskaris relinquish control so easily? 

Sometimes it happens, like when a witch casts her magic spell on you.
 
The phone on his desk beeped discreetly.  He lifted up the handset and listened to his secretary. 

'Send him in,' Xanthus spoke immediately, thankful for the welcome distraction.

     
        Haley mulled over the idea of calling Xanthus.  She sighed heavily. Her heart pounded ecstatically just thinking about him.  It was only ten in the morning. Would she be disturbing him if she called him?  Should she try and reign in this runaway attraction she felt for him, but why quench it?  Why not let it run its course?  When she'd had enough of him, she could walk away ...right?

For now, she just needed to hear his deep, sexy voice.  She needed affirmation of that connection to him.  Precipitately she dialled his mobile.  Her heart began to race like the speed of sound as she waited for him to pick up.  Adrenalin surged through her like a high voltage electrical charge.

Xanthus felt the vibration in his chest pocket.  Excusing himself, he fished out his mobile and looked at the screen.  He curbed the satisfied smile that threatened to stretch across his face.  He saw the familiar number and deliberately hit the disconnect button. 

Haley's excitement dampened.  The call was not picked up.  Disappointment washed over her when she was routed to his voicemail server. 
He must be in a meeting ...

She cut the call, not feeling the inclination to leave a message.  He would see her number when he scrolled through his missed calls. She had hoped he would take her call, but obviously the multi-millionaire had priorities and she was way down the pecking order.

 Haley forced herself to continue with her day's duties.  Mechanically she worked through her schedule.  Time dragged by at an excruciatingly slow pace.  At lunch time her appetite deserted her, so she stayed in her office and worked through her lunch.  It was almost six when she stretched, rubbed her sore eyes and decided to pack it in for the day.  All in all, it had been a fruitful day, at least on the work front.

She was walking home, the crisp evening air gently beating on her face, when her cell beeped.  Expecting it to be one of the girls, she answered with a ready excuse, not to go out and was surprised to hear Xanthus' sexy accented voice.  She stopped walking, leaned against one of the building walls to focus on the conversation.  He was flirting, teasing, wanting her to go on a date with him.  No apology or mention of his ignoring her call earlier...as if she had not called him.  She vacillated a few seconds on whether to be angry with him or respond to his flirting; only a few seconds. 
She wanted to see him...wanted to be with him ... craved making love to him.  So what was the point of sulking?  She found herself responding in kind to his flirting, drank  in his throaty seductive laughter and when he offered to pick her up in an hour, her answer had been an unequivocal yes.

Haley dabbed a little perfume at the lobe of her ear and touched her finger tips to the pulse on both her wrists.  She looked in the mirror and liked the pleased as punch reflection that smiled back at her.  She was exultant.  Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.  She was looking forward to the evening and what lay beyond...oh yes.

'Is something wrong Xanthus?'

'Me synchoreíte ?' ... excuse me?

She tried to curb the ebb of uneasiness that prickled at the nape of her neck.  'You were very quiet all through dinner ---,' she wrapped her arms around his neck.  His expression non-committal, his eyes fixed on her, his attitude sombre...yet it had a contrary effect on her. Heat shimmered her flesh ...her skin flushed exposing her shameful lust.

He smiled, his hands lightly at her hips.  She pulled his head down, her lips teasing his sensuously.  She got carried away by the passion overwhelming her.

'It's been a long day for me Haley,' he took a step back, his hands still holding her.

'So you can't stay even --- an hour?' she whispered, her hands gripping his at the elbows, as she stole another kiss.  She deepened the kiss.  His hands curved around her waist tightly.  She leaned into him, sighed happily when the evidence of his arousal pressed against her pelvis.

'Forgive me Haley, but I cannot stay,' he set her away from him with swift determination.

Disappointment dampened her like a bucket of ice cold water thrown over her.  'Okay,' she sighed softly.

'I --- will call you,' he kissed her on the lips, turned and hastily left her apartment.

A litany of swearwords in his mother tongue escaped his lips as he hopped into his limo and barked instructions to his driver to take him home. 
Hell she is a witch all right...
How the hell did she creep under his skin so quickly?  What annoyed Xanthus more was the frustration of the heaviness in his pants.  She had been his for the taking.  And he had wanted her --- still wanted her, yet some demon in him sought to deny her and him the pleasure of making love.  Why the hell had he walked away?  He was not that tired.  He had no engagements for the rest of the night.  He could have given her an hour ... or the entire night. 
That had been his intention when he'd called her.  He was going to wine and dine her and keep her in his bed the entire night, but when he'd laid eyes on her body, felt all the blood rushing south, felt his hormones going all out of control, he sought to punish his libido.  He was no longer a teenager.  His body and emotions did not rule him. He controlled his body not the other way around and his mind was telling his body that he was developing an unhealthy attachment to her.  That's why he ran.

So then why was he frustrated now?  Why was he not celebrating his iron control over his libido?  Why was he tempted to instruct his driver to take him back to Haley's ripe and ready body that wanted him as much as he hankered for her supple flesh?  It irked him gravely that she had not sought to detain him or throw a tantrum when he wanted to leave.  He had seen the disappointment in her eyes before she looked away. Had observed how her hands had dropped heavily to her sides, yet she had calmly allowed him to leave.  He swore again with increasing frustration as he walked into his uninviting, empty apartment, ripped his clothes off and brought his body to submission under the cold shower.

         Haley was busy with her weekly radio slot.  She had five minute to go when a familiar sounding male voice threw her off course. 
It can't be ...
She tried to recall his question, but the voice had been so distracting she'd not paid attention.

'Dr Stafford ---you need to respond,' the show's producer prompted into her headphone.

Haley read the name on her screen. 'Can you expand a bit George.'

'I would like my girlfriend to be a bit more adventurous during our lovemaking,' the caller expanded.

'George, relationships are not about preconceived expectations.  There are boundaries we must respect.  If your girlfriend is not comfortable with something you're suggesting.  Perhaps invite her to confess her ultimate fantasy.  I'm guessing that could be adventurous enough to get you excited.'

'Thank you Doctor.  I shall try that tonight,' the caller hung up.

 'I lost you there for a moment, Dr Stafford.  What happened?'  The show's producer questioned with a smile.

'Sorry.'  Haley removed the headphones.  'Temporary distraction.'

'It happens,' the producer grinned.  'Same time next week?'

'Yeah.'  Haley nodded.  She picked up her handbag and left the studio to head back to her office.

It had been a long day and a longer week and Haley was thankful to see the end of it. 

'We should go out tonight Haley,' Tricia suggested.

It was Friday afternoon.  The guys were winged in Haley's office, polishing her expensive wine.  She did not know why they hadn't made plans with their boyfriends.

'I'm tired,' Haley made an excuse.  'I've left the office late every night this week.'

'Come on Haley.  We need to find you a man.  You last got laid like eleven months ago!' Tricia commented.

Wrong!  That's the problem when you confess too much to your 'colleagues.'

 Haley wrinkled here nose.  Any other day ...she would have jumped at the offer.

'It's going to pass its 'sell by' date soon,' Stacy taunted.

'Guys stop it!  Just go home to your lovers, all of you.'

'But you're going to be alone then,' Lizzy touched Haley's arm.

'I need some down time,' Haley sighed.  'I've had a hectic week.'

That was no lie.  When she was not answering #AskEmma emails, or spending unproductive time drooling about Xanthus, she was furiously writing chapters for her new book well into midnight hours.  She was amazed her face did not show evidence of sleep deprivation.

 'I think I'll call it a day,' Haley switched of her laptop and stood up.  'I'm going for a run and then I'm going to sleep for like twenty four hours.'

'We're going to catch the game,' Lizzy provided.

'Go Sox!'  Haley stuck her tongue out cheekily.

 Lizzy and Seth were Major League Baseball fanatics, die-hard New York Yankees fans to be precise.  On occasion when they all went to a game, Haley would deliberately tout for the opposition just to annoy Seth.  When he would call her a traitor, Haley would quietly remind Seth the Yankees owe their fame to the legendary Babe Ruth who transferred from the Red Sox and was arguably the game changer for the Yankees.  Publicly, Haley pretended her allegiance to the Red Socks, but privately her blood was blue and gray.

 'I guess I'm stuck with Greg, tonight,' Stacy pouted.

There was a chorus of laughter.  It was obvious to all and sundry that Stacy adored her high school teacher boyfriend, but she pretended otherwise.

'What!' Stacy glared at her best friends.  'Now I have to go cook for him.'

'Greg loves Chinese,' Haley reminded Stacy.

'We had that last night,' she grumbled.

'What you doing Tricia?' Haley asked as she slung her handbag on her shoulder.

'I'm going over to my man,' she grinned, 'but Mark and I will think about sustenance after midnight.'

Everybody laughed as they rode the elevator down.  They exchanged hugs outside.  The girls who had to travel further than Haley, hopped into different cabs.  She chose to walk the two blocks to her apartment.  She was looking forward to her run.  She had a lot of pent up energy to burn.  She was getting a few wolf whistles in the skin tight jeans shaping her buxom derriere and her designer stilettos made her look rather sexy.  She ignored the attention, looked ahead confidently, as she neared her apartment.  The temperature had dropped a few degrees.  There was a slight chill in the air.  Haley contemplated grabbing some takeout for dinner, then squashed the idea.  After her run, she would make herself some instant soup. 

 Inhaling heavily, she let out a deep sigh.  On very rare moments, or were they not so rare when she allowed her mind the luxury of indulging on X-rated thoughts of the rugged, fetching, eye-catching Xanthus Laskaris.  As she strolled now, she granted her mind leave to pander.  Xanthus...drop dead gorgeous, hot blooded, sexy as a demi-god.  He re-defined the art of love-making, in Haley's opinion.  Where have you been all my life, my Greek god?

 Haley sighed for the umpteenth time as she climbed the stairs to her West 16th Manhattan town house over- looking Central Park, almost stumbled on the last stair at the delightful sight ... manna from sex heaven, casually leaning against her red brick wall.  He was grinning, tickled that she'd almost lost her balance.  She fumbled awkwardly.

'It's not often I catch a burglar attempting to break in,' she narrowed her eyes at him.

 Raw masculine hunger surged through him.  She looked hot in her skin tight jeans.  It fitted on her like a second skin.  Sexual arousal slammed through him.  Desire corded through him like a violent tornado unleashing its sheer strength.  Yet he was weary of her cool reception.  She hadn't run into his arms with evident optimism at the sight of him, he noted.  Xanthus lifted his hands defensively.  'I was just passing by ma'am.'

 Haley shuttered her eyes.  Gone was the cold exterior, for now it seemed. 
'I thought you were only returning from Greece tomorrow,' she walked towards him.  He'd texted her about going away on business. He was a man of immense wealth, power and charisma but none of that made her hunger for him as the potent sexuality of his body did. Heat suffused her, like the caress of a velvet fire. Would he ever believe she'd never experienced such an instantaneous physical reaction to another man previously or did he suspect she picked up men every second day at the pub?

 His eyes were so intent, so piercing.  He was so close, the deep notes of his expensive cologne tickled her nostrils.  Her fingers craved to touch him, how familiar were her fingers with his face, his flesh, the burnished bronze of his skin.  She was stunned by her inability to rein in her emotions when he had been so cold and ruthless, almost to the point of indifference, the last time they were together.

 She was too quiet for his liking. 'Finished my business quickly so I could return to you.' He surprised himself with that frank admission as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her at leisure.

 She thawed a little at his answer.  She hoped it was true.  They were seeing each other 'unofficially' since she'd propositioned him in the bar, but she could not label their relationship; nor was there any talk of exclusivity.   Haley saw him when he allowed it.  He seemed to be a busy man, working fourteen hours a day, traveling frequently.  When they were together, he did not talk much.  When Xanthus spoke, it was mostly light banter, flirting with her and if they conversed, he kept it very general.  Haley had curiously once tried, whilst they were having dinner in her apartment, to find out more about him or if he had family here in New York, but he had neatly ducked the question, distracting her by unbuttoning her trousers, then all thought of conversation had been forgotten. 

So Haley determined since their last 'date' that she will keep her pants down as much as she could, her head tightly screwed on and send her heart away on holiday indefinitely.  She would entertain Xanthus for as long as he made himself available and when he moved on, she would summon her heart back from holiday.  And now that he was standing on her step, looking ravishing, Haley was going to do justice to her lustful intentions...later.  First she will make him sweat.

 'I was going to take a run.'

'Oh.' He sounded disappointed.

'Not far, just a few blocks, before it changes direction towards the Hudson.'

'Should I join you?'  He did not seem like he was interested in the run.  The only physicality he wanted, judging from his roving hands was in her bed.

Haley's eyebrows rose questioningly.  'You, run Xanthus?  You use a helicopter to commute from one borough to the other and a limo from one street to the next!'

Xanthus smirked.  'Time is money.  I can't spend three hours negotiating your traffic.'

Says the filthy rich. 

'Point taken.  I, could invite you in for dinner, Mr Passer By.' She offered abandoning the idea of a run, preferring his train of thought as far has physicality was concerned.

'That's the best idea I heard all week,' he grinned.

She nodded, not believing he had not fraternized with the sultry beauties back in his exotic country.  He was too good looking, had too much of a ravenous appetite to have been abstaining, all week.

'Only problem is, I don't think I have much to offer you.'  She knew there was not much in the refrigerator.

'I disagree,' he replied gruffly against her throat.  'How about we have dessert and then I take you out for dinner,'

Haley laughed.  'Xanthus, if we go to bed now, you will not leave until the morning'.

'I can skip dinner if you're not starving,' his lips were dipping lower beneath her top.

'You're staying over?'

'Tomorrow is Saturday,' he smiled handsomely.

Haley pushed him away, so she could dig out her keys.  'I don't normally approve of dessert before the main course Xanthus, but where you are concerned I am going to break with tradition.'

He took the key from her, slipped into the keyhole and had the door opened in a flash.  Before Haley could take a step, Xanthus hoisted her into his arms.

'Xanthus,' she laughed, 'don't you at least want a drink?'

'No.  Do you?'  He paused to hear her response.

'No.'

He nodded with obvious delight as he purposefully hastened his steps to her bedroom and set her down.  She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed him towards her bed. His undressing of her, had not been so leisurely.

 'Xanthus, you have the most beautiful body,' her fingers caressed his muscular chest, carving an erotic trail down, across his wash board mid drift.

'And I have a fascination for yours,' his tongue laved over her breast.  He took one aroused nipple between his teeth and gently nibbled.

'You drive me wild when you do that,' she cried out passionately.

Impatiently her hands dipped inside his trousers.  She freed his engorged member, caressing the rigged surface teasingly.

'Haley ---go easy,' he pleaded, contorting the muscles on his face. 

'No  I can't wait.'

Xanthus groaned softly, hurriedly slipped on protection.  He leaned over her, spread her legs apart and filled her with his engorged member.  She cried out loudly.  Her head flew violently from side to side.  She gripped his shoulders, begging for more.  The palms of his hands shaped her buttocks to his pelvis as he sunk himself deeper and took her to the heights of passion.

'Haley, wake up.'

Haley was still asleep on her tummy, one hand hanging limply at her side, dangling outside the duvet.   She drowsily lifted her head, compelling her resisting eyes to open. Xanthus was leaning over her body, wide awake.

He smirked, sensually traced his index finger over her curvy hip.  Haley smiled.  She shifted closer to Xanthus, brushing his destructive hand away from her hip.  The man had a voracious appetite.  Best she do something to curb his developing hunger.

Xanthus laughed.  'Haley is a beautiful name and the lady is strikingly beautiful too,' he complimented.

He could be so random.  Haley looked up into his slate grey eyes.  'Thank you,' she smiled and brushed her lips to his.  'Now, I'm wide awake.  What time is it?  She propped herself up against her pillow.

Xanthus lifted his wristwatch from her pedestal.  'Almost eleven pm.'

She'd dozed off after their epic love-making session. 'I'm starving,' she complained.

'How about we go out and grab something?'

'How about I order in?' 

'Come on sexy,' he smacked her bottom playfully.  'Let's go work up an appetite.'

'Xanthus it's almost midnight.  Do we have to go out?'

'New York never sleeps right?' he hopped out of bed and slipped into his trousers.

'I guess there's no changing your mind,' she moaned and dragged herself out of bed.

'You know what I feel like?'  He came up behind her, curving his arms around her naked body, pressing his lips to her throat. 

'What?' she laughed.

'A beef hot dog with all the saucy trimmings.'

'Are you serious?'  She thought this wealthy Greek only ate in five star restaurants.

'Yes,' he grinned.  'You up for it?'

'I guess so,' she smiled.  That was staple food for Haley.  She hopped into her jeans again, threw on a chunky sweater and opted for a pair of pumps.

Haley thought Xanthus would want to drive, instead, he pulled her closer to his body, draped his arm around her waist and pointed in the direction he wanted to walk.  She has specifically chosen this residential area for its low traffic appeal.  Surprisingly tonight was not unbearably cold. The air felt fresh and inviting.  Haley felt a sense of sheer exhilaration walking down West 16th, with her arm deliriously around her lover's waist.  They walked in companionable silence, passed a popular sushi spot and a few popular clubs, until Xanthus stopped at his preferred hot dog vendor.

'How about it?'  He smiled down at Haley, his eyes holding hers.

She felt the nerves tingling in her toes. 'Yeah,' she nodded.

'Two please,' Xanthus ordered, 'with everything on it.'

Haley's stomach was rumbling.  The aroma was making her tongue water.  She could just taste the creamy cheese sauce and grilled onions.  She snuggled up closer to Xanthus as a gust of cold air swept past.

'Are you cold?' He shielded her with his body, wrapping his arms around her. 

She nodded.  'It smells heavenly,' she leaned her back against his broad chest.

'There you go,' the vendor handed them their meal with a friendly smile.

'Thank you,' Xanthus removed a bill and handed it to the man.

'Thank you,' he beamed, when Xanthus declined the change.

'This is so good,' Haley bit into her hotdog.

Xanthus nodded, too busy gulping his own meal down.  Instead of walking towards her town house, he led her in the opposite direction.  They passed a delicatessen and he bought them a few savoury delights, which they munched as they walked.  Haley was thirsty.  They walked into an all-night café, sat down and enjoyed cappuccinos with calorie loaded fresh cream.

When they returned to her apartment, she asked, 'you're sleeping over right?' She had to get confirmation. 

'I can do,' he winked.  'I have no plans in the morning.'

'Good.  I can sleep in,' she circled her arms around his waist.

'My sentiments exactly,' he grinned, dipping his head to kiss her.

                                                            
        -end chapter three-