Mona stares into her coffee cup, stirring a little and there is an awkward silence. I had hoped she would call me after that disastrous party we survived together, but I didn’t expect her to call me so soon.

“So, I thought about it yesterday and I might be willing to give you another chance, if you still want to?” she asks, and I think I hear a little nervousness in her voice.

I’m not sure I should be testing my luck, but I kind of want to know how far I can push this.

“Maybe…” I tell her, dragging the word out a little, gaging her reaction.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to. I’ll find someone else if need be, just thought I’d ask you again since I we shared something the other night” she speaks calmly and takes a sip of her coffee.

Damn, she recovers quickly.

I look around her kitchen a little as I consider her words. My eyes fall on large painting hanging on the wall out in the hallway. Its colors remind me of the ocean, the motif an abstract of a woman with hair flowing around her face like seaweed.

How do I turn this situation around? How do I get her to treat me like an equal and not just like a sex-toy?

“You could do that easily” I tell her, “and yet you decided to call me here. Why?”

My question clearly surprises her, but her poker-face quickly returns.

“You are good in bed, that’s all” she says indifferently and takes another sip.

I squint my eyes looking at her. I think I’m beginning to understand how to handle her.

I stretch out my hand to touch hers and she jolts but doesn’t withdraw her hand.

“That’s all?” I ask her as I start to caress it.

“That’s all” she says, but I can feel her tremble as she does.

“I want to be with you, and I want more than just sex” I tell her, staring into her eyes.

She withdraws her hand and says: “But I only want sex”

I can see a light flush appearing on her cheeks and a slight tremble on the handing holding her coffee cup and suppress a smirk; I’m getting to her now, I can tell. So, I’m going to be bold.

I get up and place myself behind her, putting my hands on the table on either side of her. Then I lean in and nibble her ear making her jolt, and I can tell she’s breathing faster.

“I want you, go out with me” I whisper in her ear.

“No, get off of me” she says, trying to sound stern.

I put my hands around her wrists and lower them to make her put down her cup. Then I let them slide up her arms to grab her shoulders and start kissing her neck.

“Go out with me” I whisper, and I feel her shiver.

“No”

I grab her chair and pull her around to face me, her eyes wide with surprise. Then I grab her by the hips and throw her onto the kitchen counter.

“What are you- “, she begins her protests, but I interrupt them with a kiss. My hands trail down her back onto her thighs and I spread them slightly to position myself between her legs.

“Go out with me” I whisper as I start kissing her neck, soft moans escaping her lips.

“…No”

God, she’s stubborn. Her body is practically begging me, but she won’t give me what I want most. My hands start running across her chest, fumbling to make perch. It’s not enough.

I pull up her shirt and bra to expose her breasts. With one hand I grab her hair and with the other I start caressing a them, and she moans with pleasure. Then I bend down and she gasps as I start kissing her nipple, making it hard as I lick and bite it.

“Go out with me” I ask her again.

“No”

I lift my head to look at her, her expression hungry with desire. I’m equally aroused, but also frustrated; Why won’t she give in?

I sigh.

“Fine” I say and back away from her, “Thanks for the coffee”.

Then I turn around as if to leave.

“Wait” she calls out behind me and I can’t help but smirk.

“What?” I ask and glimpse over my shoulder.

She’s sitting on the counter with her legs spread, her breasts exposed under her lifted shirt and an aroused and confused expression.

“W-we can talk about a compromise. It’s probably not unreasonable to listen to you a little”, she stutters.

I turn around to face her. That was all I wanted from her – all I came to hear. But then I started this little game and now those words won’t satisfy me anymore.

I take a step forward and put my hands on the counter beside her, leaning in.

“It’s all or nothing” I tell her and stare deep into her eyes.

She swallows as she meets my gaze.

“Go out with me.”

Her silence is killing me then, ever so slowly, she starts nodding her head.

“Fine” she whispers, and immense joy starts bubbling up inside me.