My mind screams with need. It orders me to take her, that I could fuck her into oblivion and forget my own troubles for a short time. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had sex and she’s here, offering me relief. But my heart protests against it. My mind and heart are at war, but my body needs release and so I shut out my heart and pull her closer to me. I press my lips to hers, taking her mouth with force.

She locks her hands behind my neck and undulates above me, her breasts rubbing against the fabric of my shirt, her center pressing against my erection. My body hardens even more, wanting what she is offering. I wrap my hand around her hair, knotting it into my fist, holding her in place so I can claim her mouth the way I want.

“Yes, Damien,” she whispers. “That’s it.”

I pull her hair harder. She leans back, shutting her eyes on a sigh. My eyes rake her once again and I press my mouth to the top of her breast. In that moment, my heart roars that the woman in my arms is wrong, that she’s not the one for me. I raise my head and shift back. Wrong! Wrong! The word repeats itself from inside my soul. That single word takes over my mind and suddenly the entire room swims in front of my eyes. My desire for Celia dies and I move her off me and immediately stand up, holding my head. I take a few deep breaths to settle myself. Fuck! What was I doing right now?

“I need you, Damien! Don’t leave me like this,” Celia begs, lying across the sofa, spreading her legs. Every inch of her body is on display.

The events of the last hour replay in my mind and I see the whole situation for what it is. The frantic phone call, the empty wine bottle, the house bereft of staff and only the fireplace for light. It was all a setup for seduction and I almost fell for it.

I back a step away from her, refusing to look at her. “I can’t do this, Celia. I’m sorry, but I can’t. This is wrong. I didn’t come here tonight for this. I thought you needed a friend.”

She stands up and walks towards me, her eyes narrowed to slits. “What I need is for you to come back and finish what you started.”

I shake my head, putting a hand out. “NO! Fucking me is not the answer to your problems.”