Will you two please excuse me? I need to go upstairs and take a nap. Us old folks just can no longer get through the day without at least a two-hour nap. Dante, offer Ava some iced tea and peanut butter cookies," she smiles as she slowly climbs the stairs.

"I would much rather offer you something else," a naughty grin forms on his handsome face. I quickly stand to leave, but his hand grabs mine.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Ava?"

"I just remembered I have a ton of things to do," I reply.

"Really, like what things? He asks.

"Like so many things that I have been putting off doing long enough, Dante."

"I have a feeling you're lying to me, Ava. That requires a punishment," he whispers next to my ear sending a tingle surging between my legs.

"Wha, what the hell does that mean? You can't punish me, Dante," I stutter out the words. His hands firmly grip my hips and he turns me to face him. He then pushes me gently back against the door. My eyes look up to see his dark brown eyes looking right into mine. He is so good-looking he's almost intimidating.

"I won't lie, I would love to punish you, and do so many other fun things to you, Ava. I had really thought I left that part of my life behind me once I moved here, but meeting you at the club last night woke up that part of me again. You, Ava, make me want to see how this plays out, you also make me want to see how far I can push you to your limits," he whispers as he gently places his hand around my throat.

"Dante, we literally just met last night. I don't know what you think, or what you're hoping will happen between us, but I'm old enough to be your mother. You should be out there wanting to meet a girl your own age, or close to your own age. I'm forty-five years old. I no longer have the body of a twenty-year-old," I say. His eyes roam down my body, then back up to my eyes.

"Well, maybe you're forty-five, Ava, but trust me when I say, I love feeling your body next to mine, and I do have a firm grip on your beautiful body, so nice try trying to convince me you're too old, and out of shape, because from what I'm feeling, I want more from you," he grins. I place both hands on him and push him back.

"Why do you have to be this damn good-looking?" I whisper. His fingers lift my chin and our eyes lock onto each other.

"Remember what I told you, Ava? All you have to do is go back to the club. I'm thinking you're just as much attracted to me as I am with you. Your words can say this isn't right, I'm too old for you, I can't possibly be attracted to someone who is young enough to be my son all you want, but your body language doesn't lie, Ava. I now have you craving every part of me. I now have your body craving for my body to pleasure you."

"Thi, this is insanity. I don't crave any part of you, Dante," I snap and soon feel his hands back on my hips pushing me once against next to the door.

"That's punishment number two. Okay if you want to play it this way, we will play this your way, for now. Let's see how long you can keep resenting me, Ava."

"Fine, Dante. I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to give you what you want me to give you. I can walk out this door and never give you a second thought."

"Okay, fine. Let the game begin," he says before stepping back and running upstairs.

"Okay, I wasn't expecting him to give up they easily, but oh well, it got him to back off. I can do this, I can live my life without ever giving into him, I sure the hell won't give him what he wants from me," I smile as I shut the door behind me.

One Week Later****

This week hasn't been all that bad. I got some major house cleaning done, I did some gardening and planted some veggies, and I bout myself a new car. If I'm being honest, I did all this to keep myself distracted from the good-looking guy across the street, luckily for me, he had to unexpectedly go out-of-town, but I saw he got back early this morning. I try not to think about his words, his hands firmly on my body because it just isn't right.

"I refuse to give him what he wants from me," I say as I sip my hot tea. As I place my cup on the table, I hear the doorbell.

"That might be Lydia, wait, she never knocks or rings the doorbell," I say as I open the door to see Dante and this dark-haired, green-eyed lady standing next to him.

"Dante? What are you doing here? And who is she?" I ask forcing a smile.

"Good evening, Ava. I really wanted to introduce you to Gina, my lady friend."

"Your lady friend, and what exactly does that mean?" I glare at him.

"Hello, Ava. It's so nice to meet you. Dante was so sweet to go all the way to Ohio to move me back here. I had forgotten how sweet he can be when we dated a few years ago," she informs me. I feel my face turning hot with anger.

"Your ex-girlfriend. Isn't that just so great you two trying to rekindle your past?" My angry voice snaps as I continue to glare at him. He steps forward and whispers.

"I told you to let the games begin, Ava. Let's see how long you handle seeing me with another woman," he snaps back.

"Gina, will you please excuse me and Dante for just a few moments? Please, go in the kitchen and help yourself to some coffee."

"Umm, okay, sure, she says as she enters the house and makes her way to the kitchen.

"Have you lost your damn mind, Dante? You think using her will get me to give you what you want?"

"Yes, I do, Ava. We both know how much you want me."

"No, I don't want you, Dante. And you should be ashamed of yourself using that poor girl to get what you want."

"Oh please, she is also using me to get what she wants. Ava, I will be at the club tonight, if you are absolutely certain you don't want me, have no desire to be with me, then stay at home and continue to live your boring life, but if you decide to give into your erotic desires, you know where to find me.

"I have no desire whatsoever to go to that club tonight, Dante. And, I have no desire to be with you in any way,"

"That's punishment number three, Ava, I can't wait to get my hands on you tonight and hearing you scream my name." 

"I won't be screaming your name, Dante,"

"No, my pet, not Dante. Either sir, or master."