She rolled her eyes at Nancey Havens's words and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Surprise myself? With you? I highly doubt that." She looked at him with a mocking smile, while her eyes swept over his figure in an obvious way. "You really think you can handle me?" Maria deliberately leaned back on the sofa, emphasizing the curves of her body, trying to provoke Nancey Havens.

Maria's breath hitched slightly as Nancey Havens leaned in closer. Her gaze flickered between his eyes and his lips before she narrowed her eyes and pushed him away with a disdainful snort. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself. You think you're the first man to say something like that to me?" She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I've had far better offers than anything you could possibly provide, so you can keep your arrogant words to yourself." Despite her harsh words, Maria couldn't help but feel a small flutter in her stomach at Nancey Havens's closeness and the suggestive words. She cursed herself silently for even reacting to him.

Maria's cheeks flushed at Nancey Havens's bold words, but she quickly hid her reaction with a scowl. She stood up abruptly, pushing past him to create some distance between them. "Begging? Oh, you really are delusional if you think that will ever happen." She turned to face him, her chin held high, trying to regain control of the situation. "I'll never beg for anything from you, especially not for something as pathetic as your attention." However, inside, Maria's heart was racing. The way Nancey Havens looked at her made her feel things she had never felt before, and it both frightened and thrilled her. She vowed to herself that she would never let him see how much his words affected her.

Maria's breath caught in her throat as Nancey Havens closed the distance between them once more. She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure, but she could feel her resolve wavering under his intense gaze.

"You're wasting your time," she said, her voice sounding more breathless than she'd like. "Nothing you do will change my mind."

Despite her words, Maria couldn't help but lean back slightly as Nancey Havens approached, her eyes flickering down to his lips again. A part of her yearned to find out what it would be like to kiss him, to feel his lips against hers, but she quickly pushed the thought aside, disgusted with herself for even considering it.

"You really are disgusting," she spat, trying to regain control of the situation. "I don't know what you think is going to happen here, but it's not going to end well for you."

A shiver ran down Maria's spine as Nancey Havens's fingers grazed her skin, and she had to suppress a gasp at the sensation. She could feel heat spreading through her body, and it took all her willpower to push his hand away.

"I don't want to know anything about you," she hissed, trying to keep her voice steady. "And there's no way I'm going to be alone with you in this house for an entire month."

Maria turned her back to him, trying to put some distance between them. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She couldn't believe how much Nancey Havens's touch had affected her. It was wrong, completely inappropriate, and yet... she couldn't deny that a part of her wanted more.

"I'm going to my room," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "And I don't want to be disturbed."

Maria's heart pounded in her chest as Nancey Havens whispered in her ear, his words sending shivers down her spine. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment and a strange, new kind of excitement. She tried to tell herself that his words meant nothing, that he was just trying to get a reaction out of her, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to let go, to give in to the tension that had been building between them.

She hurried to her room, slamming the door behind her and leaning against it, trying to catch her breath. She knew she should stay away from Nancey Havens, that it was wrong to even consider his advances, but she couldn't deny the pull she felt towards him. She hated him, but there was a part of her that was drawn to him, that wanted to explore this new, forbidden feeling.

Maria paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing with thoughts of Nancey Havens and the way he made her feel. She knew she shouldn't go to him, that it was wrong on every level, but the pull towards him was too strong to ignore.

After what felt like an eternity, she steeled herself and made her way to the study. Nancey Havens was sitting in a leather armchair, a glass of whiskey in his hand, looking every bit the confident, seductive man he had been earlier.

"Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this doesn't mean anything. I'm just curious, that's all."

She sat down in the chair across from him, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she knew she was about to find out just how far she was willing to go to satisfy her own curiosity.

Maria's breath caught in her throat as Nancey Havens leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. She could feel the tension building between them, the air thick with anticipation. She knew she should refuse, should tell him that she had no interest in playing his games, but the way he looked at her made it feel like she was the only woman in the world. She couldn't help but feel flattered by the attention, even if it was wrong.

"Alright," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm warning you, I won't be easy."

She leaned back in her chair, trying to look confident and in control, but her heart was pounding in her chest. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but there was no turning back now. She was in too deep, and she knew that the only way out was to see this through to the end.

Maria's eyes widened as Nancey Havens's words hung in the air between them. She knew she should be scared, should run away screaming, but the thrill of the unknown, of the taboo, was too much to resist. She felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins, and she knew she was about to embark on a journey that would change her life forever.

"You're on," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions inside her. "But don't say I didn't warn you. I won't go down without a fight."

She stood up, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped closer to Nancey Havens. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the intensity of his gaze, and it made her feel alive in a way she never had before. She knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn't resist the temptation any longer.

Maria's breath hitched as Nancey Havens's fingers brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the butterflies fluttering in her stomach, and she knew she was in way over her head. But it was too late to turn back now. She had to see this through, no matter where it led.

"Fine," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I challenge you... to kiss me. Just a kiss, nothing more. But it has to be at least thirty seconds long."

She looked up at Nancey Havens, her eyes challenging him to refuse. She thought she might be pushing her luck, but she wanted to test him, to see just how far he was willing to go. And she had to admit, a part of her wanted to feel his lips on hers, to see if it would be as electric as she imagined.

Maria gasped as Nancey Havens pulled her against him, her body pressing against his muscular chest. She could feel every inch of him, his hardness evident even through their clothes. Her heart raced as she felt his lips against her jawline, his breath hot on her skin. She knew she should push him away, tell him to stop, but she couldn't find the words. She was frozen, lost in the sensation of his mouth moving slowly towards hers.

When his lips finally met hers, it was like fireworks exploding in her mind. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, all she could do was feel. His lips were soft and warm, and they moved against hers with a skill that made her knees weak. She didn't know how long they kissed for, but when he finally pulled away, she was breathless and dizzy, her heart hammering in her chest.

"That was...