A little idea that came to me a while back after reading East of Fenchurch's excellent "Getting Down to It". I suspect there will be a couple more chapters if people like it. Sadly, I don't own these two. If I did, this would definitely have happened …

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

High Stakes

Chapter 1

There was a loud banging on the door and Alex rolled her eyes. Why couldn't he just knock like a normal person? She rose from the sofa, straightening her skirt and adjusting her blouse as she checked herself in the mirror. Good, just a nice amount of cleavage on display. She'd put a lot of thought into her outfit this evening: a blouse that clung to her figure, a tight skirt and some rather sexy underwear. She had plans, and this time she was determined they would come to fruition. Taking a deep breath, she went to let him in.

"You took yer time, woman. Bloody brass monkeys out here."

"Nice to see you too, Gene."

She grinned, looking him up and down. Grey jacket, striped tie and a blue shirt which brought out the colour of his eyes perfectly. Stop drooling, Alex, and let the man in.

He stood in the middle of the living room and rubbed his hands together.

"So, Lady Bols. Where do you want to do it?"

How did he always manage to fill a room like that? Granted he was a tall man, but it was more sheer force of personality. He gazed down at her, eyes gleaming with eager anticipation, and her stomach flipped.

"Hmmm. Kitchen table, I think."

Oh God, I wish. She had a sudden vision of Gene doing unspeakable things to her while she begged and pleaded for more.

"Lead the way, Bols."

"What? Oh, right."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He noticed she had a bottle of wine and two glasses ready on the table, and she poured a healthy measure for each of them while he produced a pack of playing cards and shuffled them expertly. She leaned towards him while she seated herself comfortably and he got a good view down the front of her blouse, swallowing and trying to ignore the first stirrings in his groin. She'd asked for his help, and he couldn't afford to get distracted. This was a serious business.

"So. The rules of Poker. How much do you know, Alex?"

She waved her glass around vaguely.

"Oh, you know. The basics. Sort of."

"Right. We'll start at the beginning, then."

Was that a little smirk he detected? Must have imagined it.

He launched into an explanation of the various ways of winning a hand, but noticed after a few minutes her attention seemed to be drifting. He was just extolling the virtues of a running straight when she yawned, toying with the stem of her wine glass.

"Am I boring yer, Bols? Only I thought yer wanted to learn how to play so yer won't look a total idiot at the Poker Tournament."

"I do, Gene. Can't we just get on and play, though? I mean, how hard can it be? Apparently, you and Ray can do it."

He sat back and crossed his arms.

"Oh, I see. If a pair 'o thickos like Raymondo and meself can play, it should be a doddle to a bird with a head full 'o brains like you?"

She smiled smugly.

"That about sums it up, yes."

Piercing blue eyes stared hard into hazel green before Gene dropped his gaze briefly to her cleavage again, and had a sudden idea. He sat forwards, eyes narrowed.

"Confident yer can beat me, are yer?"

"Pretty much."

She sat forwards too, holding his gaze. Her eyes really were an unusual colour he thought. Beautiful. He shook himself mentally.

"Let's make it more interesting then, Bols. Every hand yer lose yer shed an item 'o clothin'. Until you concede defeat. Quite fancy seeing what yer wearing under that blouse."

Her eyes widened in surprise and the colour rose in her cheeks.

"Strip poker? Don't be ridiculous, Gene."

He shrugged, taking another gulp of wine.

"Course, if yer chicken …"

She squared her jaw and he waited with baited breath, hardly believing he'd had the nerve to suggest it.

"Right, you're on. Hope you're wearing clean underwear, Gene."

He smirked.

"Spotless, Bols. But it won't matter. Yer not gonna be seeing it …"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As ever, all reviews are most welcome and very gratefully received. I suspect it will be rated M from chapter 2 onwards ...