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PHOTO FINISH An Ellora’s Cave Publication, February 2004

Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc. PO Box 787 Hudson, OH 44236-0787

ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-84360-801-4 Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned): Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

PHOTO FINISH © 2004 MARDI BALLOU

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky. Cover art by Darrell King.

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Mardi Ballou

Mardi Ballou

Chapter One Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X. Alex deLuca cocked an eyebrow at the open book left lying, pages down, on his paralegal’s desk when she’d slipped out for a coffee break. Evidently he didn’t give her enough work. His eye fell on the artistic depiction of alien love slaves. Startling as that was, he got his real surprise when he glimpsed—and then stared at—the photo on the back cover. The print identified the author as K.C. Berrigan, but Alex instantly recognized Cassandra Harrell, opposing legal counsel in the Martin divorce case and the woman who’d invaded his nightly dreams for months. A tall, green-eyed blonde with the long legs of a dancer, a hot body he longed to liberate from her no-nonsense career suits, and a killer brain. Cassandra Harrell, AKA the hotshot ice princess of McLaine, Berman, and Arthur— the second most successful law firm in town, right after his own Levine, James, and deLuca. Was it coincidence or fate? Alex was about to face off against Ms. Harrell at the deposition of his client, Taylor Templeton-Martin. Alex chuckled to himself, rehearsing how he’d tease Cassandra about her secret identity. Lawyer by day, erotica queen by night. If he played his cards right, maybe her nighttime activities would soon include him. Her photo on the book hinted at undiscovered depths in her just inviting him to explore… Alex reined in his wandering mind and rising lust. He needed to concentrate on the deposition at hand. Though that wouldn’t prevent him from having a little fun with Cassandra…and maybe getting an entrée to knowing her on a whole new level.

*****

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The deposition did not go the way Cassandra Harrell had rehearsed and practiced with her client. Cassandra bit her lip with frustration. After all parties agreed to call a halt to the morning’s lack of progress, she packed her papers in her voluminous briefcase. Though her client, Parker Martin, swore up and down that his soon-to-be-exwife had off-shore bank accounts and other assets she wasn’t disclosing, Cassandra hadn’t been able to budge Ms. Templeton-Martin from her previous denials. Cassandra would be spending a lot of time later mentally rehashing the deposition. She was already trying to come up with strategies for what to do next and how to deal with the current setback. Worst of all, Cassandra felt like Alex deLuca, whom the Bay Area Single Women’s Coalition had nicknamed Alexander the Great, was undressing her with his eyes. His gaze even seemed to hint that he knew she was wearing black lace under her gray flannel pin-striped power suit. Alex deLuca always made her feel like an awkward tenth-grader with a crush on the senior class president/captain of the football team. And she hadn’t felt like that since she’d been an awkward tenth grader. Cassandra chided herself to get a grip and not to let her personal quirks mess up her life. She was not about to become another entry in Alex deLuca’s little black book. She glared at him with icy professional resolve, determined to prove to him and the world that she was immune to his tall, dark, Mediterranean good looks. Bad enough that he had thick black hair she wanted to run her fingers through. It was those smoldering blue eyes that just about did her in, that and his George Clooney type charm. Her attraction to Alex deLuca had almost made her turn down the Martin case when she’d heard he was representing the wife—even though she knew successfully representing Parker Martin would put her on a fast track for early partnership. And she was determined to come out on top. After years of financial struggle, AKA poverty, Cassandra had her eyes firmly on the goal of a gilt-edged life. Partnership in a top law firm was the best guarantee and shortest route to all she planned. Which meant

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repressing any desires that would involve her and the distraction of bad boys. It also meant sublimating all that sexual energy and horniness into work, work, work. The payoff would be more than worth it. For one thing, when she became partner, she’d finally be able to pay her sister K.C. back for everything she’d done for her. Cassandra planned to buy K.C. the house she currently rented—and help make her secure for life. Until Cassandra did that, every other area of her life was on hold. Except that, after today’s deposition, a niggle of doubt began to threaten her confidence. And then Alex deLuca leered at her. He’d leered at her as if he knew her deepest, darkest, most erotic longings—and just how repressed, not to mention horny, she was feeling these days. And then he asked, “So how’s it going, K.C. Berrigan?” Cassandra nearly faltered in stuffing her papers into her case. K.C. Berrigan? Why was he calling her that? As K.C. used a different last name, there was virtually no public link between them. Cassandra was hyper aware of everyone in the room watching and listening. So she took a deep breath and, in her frostiest voice, asked, “Why are you calling me by my sister’s name?” DeLuca snorted a laugh that made him look even more rakish and charming. “Your sister? You mean as in your evil twin?” She furrowed her brow. “What are you talking about?” He gave her a ‘come on, don’t try to pull my leg’ look. “I saw the author photo on the back of Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X. Looks like a great book. And a really wonderful shot of you. But why the different name?” She looked at him as if he had three, albeit gorgeous, heads. “A book called Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X? I don’t understand.” “I saw it right before I left my office.” She raised an eyebrow and willed herself to look calm and cool. “Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X? Is that what you read to prepare for today’s deposition?”

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He didn’t appear at all rattled. Instead, he laughed again. “My paralegal had it on her desk. Maybe she’ll let me borrow it.” “Knock your socks off, counselor. But I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Right,” he said. “For some reason, you won’t admit your authorship. Heck, I’d be proud if I could write a book like that. I think I will read it. Get to know a bit more about the enigmatic Cassandra Harrell, AKA K.C. Berrigan.” Still laughing, Alex walked out with his client. Cassandra balled her fists. She suspected the two of them were headed to a celebratory lunch. She, on the other hand, was going to take time off from a very busy day to pay a very unpleasant visit on her older sister, the one and only K.C. Berrigan. What had K.C. gotten her into this time?

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Chapter Two When she arrived at what K.C. called her enchanted cottage, the place she knew K.C. longed to own, Cassandra looked through the large picture window and watched her sister for a few moments. Wearing a royal blue caftan decorated with large yellow moons and stars, K.C. was hunched over her computer, her hand reaching into a dish of dark nut-studded chocolate and withdrawing pieces at a steady rate. Cassandra could also have sworn she saw something that looked like three miniature plastic people humping each other in staccato rhythm on the window sill over the desk. Probably another of K.C.’s so-called toys. Cassandra wouldn’t let it distract her, though there was something slightly fascinating about… She pulled herself away from the hypnotic motion of the figures to get down to business. Though she knew K.C. hated to be interrupted when engrossed in her work, Cassandra pounded at the door. When her first knocks got no response, she continued hammering away. “Be banished and disappear, whoever you are,” K.C. shouted after what felt to Cassandra like two full minutes of incessant pounding. “Let me in or you’re toast,” Cassandra shouted right back. She wasn’t going to leave until she’d extricated herself from whatever mess K.C. had landed her in this time. Looking ready to spit nails, K.C. opened the door. “You’ve just interrupted my hero and heroine at a critical time.” she growled. “What the hell do you possibly want that can’t wait while she’s poised on the edge of the orgasm that will save three universes?” As K.C. said her last word, the threesome on her desk stopped humping and fell to the floor. K.C. lovingly picked them up. “What in the world is that?” Cassandra asked. 8

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“Inspiration,” K.C. said, looking sly. “I’ve got lots of new toys to show you. And my growing collection of vibrators and dildos.” K.C. chuckled. “I just made a joke. Get it? Growing vibrators and dildos?” Cassandra didn’t laugh. “I’m so not interested in that stuff.” “Then I guess you really won’t want to see my new butt plug. But no matter why you’re here, I’m glad you’ve arrived—even at an inopportune moment. It’s lovely of you to want to celebrate with me—though a phone call or email would have sufficed.” “Celebrate what?” Cassandra asked, then realized she shouldn’t have asked that question the moment it landed in the air between them. She tried to think quickly. It wasn’t K.C.’s birthday, was it? Cassandra mentally conjured up a calendar and came up blank. K.C. exhaled and opened her arms to indicate the space around them. “The fact that I’m now a home owner. I closed on this place yesterday.” Cassandra gasped. How could she not have known? “Why didn’t you tell me?” K.C. glared. “Why didn’t you read your email or listen to any of your phone messages yesterday? I’ve done everything but send up smoke signals from my backyard.” Cassandra inwardly groaned, registering all the stuff she hadn’t gotten to. “I’ve just been so busy…” K.C. echoed the words “so busy” as Cassandra said them. Now that K.C. owned her cottage, Cassandra would no longer be able to prove her love and gratitude by buying it for her. Feeling like she’d had the wind knocked out of her sails in more than one way, Cassandra softly said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” K.C. shrugged. “I should have figured you wouldn’t take time out of your busy life just to hand deliver a house warming gift.” She pointedly looked at Cassandra’s empty hands.

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House warming gift? Cassandra had wanted to buy the whole house. “K.C., you name it, I’ll get it for you.” She looked around. “Refrigerator, other major appliance.” K.C. folded her arms in front of her ample bosom. “That’s not why you decided to grace my hearth. Speak, sister. Tell me why you’re here.” Remembering her mission and her anger, Cassandra slitted her eyes. “Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X. What is it, and why am I involved?” K.C. glared back at her sister, but a slight smile twitching up the corners of her mouth softened her pose. “That’s my latest book. I told you about it. I even sent you an autographed print copy and an e-book. Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X is the reason I’ve finally been able to buy my place. Obviously, you haven’t even looked at either any more than you’ve paid attention to your messages.” Cassandra tried to shrug off her guilt at the way she’d ignored K.C. “You know how busy I’ve been. I’m up for partner…” K.C. nodded. “Yeah, Cassie, I know how busy you are.” K.C. was the only person who could get away with calling her Cassie. “Don’t change the subject. Why did opposing counsel this morning think I wrote your book?” Cassandra growled, trying to get back some of the upper hand. K.C. didn’t blink. “I don’t know. Could be because I used that great glamour shot you gave me for my birthday as my author photo.” Cassandra felt her knees wobble. “You did what?” Her voice rose to a very unprofessional and uncool shriek. K.C. caught her before she could actually fall. “As long as you’ve interrupted me, how about we have some lunch?” “After all the chocolate you’ve been consuming?” “Funny,” K.C. said, leading Cassandra into her cluttered kitchen. “You know my nut chocolates cover only two food groups: chocolate and nuts. No salt, grease, or alcohol. I believe in a balanced diet. How about pizza, fries, and a margarita?”

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Cassandra cringed, almost believing her crazed sister’s sense of humor. “What’s my second choice?” “I keep forgetting that you inherited all the health nut genes. Okay. How about soup I just made this morning, tomatoes right from my garden, and grilled cheese. Sounds like you need my special recipes.” “I’m not a health nut,” Cassandra said, “except in comparison with you. The soup and grilled cheese will be fine.” The prospect of her sister’s comfort food made holding on to her anger a challenge. Cassandra sipped fresh brewed herbal ice tea with mint leaves from the small pot on the sill over the sink as K.C. put their lunches together. When they were both sitting and eating across from each other at the round wooden table next to the large, plantfilled window, Cassandra resumed her earlier rant. “K.C., you can’t do this. You used my photo without my permission. How the heck did the publisher even accept the photo?” K.C. shrugged. “I told them it was an earlier view of me in a younger incarnation. There is enough of a family resemblance between us to make it plausible. You gave me the photo as a gift. I figured it’s mine to do with as I please.” “Yeah, but I never imagined you’d do anything like this after you coerced me into getting that glamour shot.” “Come on. It’s not that bad,” K.C. said, scarfing down her soup. “It’s that bad and worse,” Cassandra said, waving her spoon in the air to make her point. “In addition to make me a laughing stock and possibly ruining my shot at becoming a partner, what you’ve done is illegal. I could sue you.” She took a bite of her sandwich and, despite herself, savored its deliciousness. How did her sister turn the most ordinary meal into a feast? What looked like pain flared in K.C.’s big green eyes. “You’d sue me, your own sister?”

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Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Of course not. But is there any way we can get the books with the photos back? Maybe republish with your picture on the book instead of mine?” Now K.C. looked smug. “You really haven’t been paying attention. My book has sold out its entire hundred thousand copy print run and the second printing has been shipped to the distributors. Not to mention I’ve been number one on the e-book bestseller list for weeks.” Cassandra groaned. Her face was in one hundred thousand hands—and about to go to more—not to mention cyberspace. “Could we at least get the second printing back and stop the e-books?” K.C. looked about as sheepish as she could. “Then my publisher would sue me, and my fans would be disappointed.” “I’d defend you, free of charge, on any lawsuit.” “I know you would,” K.C. said, looking almost tender. “But the publisher would never buy another book from me. I’d be on the publisher blacklist, and my career would be over.” Cassandra suspected K.C. was exaggerating on this one. “Now that you’ve used my photo, it’s my career that might be over. You know how conservative McLaine, Berman, and Arthur is. Why’d you have to go and get me into this mess?” K.C. reached across the table to take Cassandra’s hand. “Precisely because I know how conservative McLaine, Berman, and Arthur is, and I hate what it’s doing to you. Look at you—instead of dressed for success you’re dressed to depress. My dear little sister, your life needs some excitement. I figured using your photo, in addition to adding sex appeal to my book cover, would be my signal to the universe that it’s time to get your life juiced up.” Cassandra scowled. “I have all the excitement I need in my life with my work, thank you very much. My choice. And why didn’t you use your own photo to jazz up your life?” 12

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Now K.C. lowered her lids and grinned wickedly. “I have all the excitement I can use in my life already—and more. It’s your turn.” Too bad Cassandra didn’t have time today to hear about that excitement. She had to begin damage control. And the place to start was with Alex deLuca. As soon as she got back to her office, she’d phone and insist they meet for a serious talk about appropriate professional behavior.

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Chapter Three Alex beat her to making contact. The moment Cassandra got back to her desk, she read his message, including an invitation to dinner at the swank Café de Paris at eight that night. Cassandra called him back to accept. He offered to pick her up, but she insisted on driving herself and meeting him there. She did not want to end up with no means of escape from Alexander the Great. That left her the afternoon to try to figure out how she wanted to handle the encounter. Should she act outraged at what he’d done at the deposition? Act cool like the consummate professional? Try to make him understand how it felt to be embarrassed publicly? Or, should she check out the possibilities of getting to know if he really deserved his reputation as Alexander the Great? She mentally slapped herself for letting her mind wander to the last possibility. She did not have the time or space right now to let her focus slip from her professional goals—even if K.C. had gone ahead and bought her house herself. Cassandra would have to find another way to show K.C. her gratitude. She also had to admit she admired K.C. for living out her dreams of being a successful writer—and of not letting her work life wreck the rest of her life. Cassandra wondered if there was any way she could meet her goals for money and success without having to give up everything else… Then she snapped her head back to the matters at hand. Deep down inside she suspected K.C. had been extremely lucky, and Cassandra would just have to slave away with blinders on ‘til she got where she wanted to professionally. Then she could start trying to have a life. Her head buzzed with a million details as she forced her mind back to maximizing the day’s billable hours. Then at three o’clock, Carlisle Arthur, one of the senior partners, summoned Cassandra to his office. Great. Just what she needed today. Carlisle Arthur had more than once hinted that meeting him for after hours “drinks” would

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speed her career track. As if. No matter how single-minded she was, Cassandra would never stoop to going out with Carlisle Arthur. Even if he weren’t married—and to a founding partner’s sister at that—Cassandra would be repulsed. She gritted her teeth. Knowing that a sexual harassment suit might get him off her back—or more probably would take years to resolve and sidetrack her career—she’d reluctantly shelved her principles and kept silent. Now Cassandra stood in the open door of Arthur’s office, watching his bald head gleam as he wrote something. He waved her to come in and sit in one of his large mahogany leather chairs. As she crossed to the chair, he looked her up and down in a way that made Cassandra wish she had a hot shower and strong lye soap in her office. She made sure her skirt covered her knees and as much more of her legs as she could. “Just wanted you to know I’m very pleased with your progress, very pleased.” He cleared his throat. “It’s no secret that your name is on the agenda next time we talk about partnerships. Meet me for a drink tonight, and we can plan how to get your name to the top of that agenda.” He ogled her. “I have plans,” Cassandra said, her flat voice hiding her anger at him for his sliminess and at herself for not having the courage to tell him off. “That’s too bad.” He frowned. “I was about to read your update on the Martin deposition, when I heard some disturbing information. According to my assistant who was there, deLuca made a big deal in front of the client about some racy book you wrote.” Cassandra felt a huge blush work its way up from her toes to turn her into a flaming red ball of anger and embarrassment. Worst case scenario that Carlisle Arthur should have something to hold over her. She willed her blush to cease and desist. “I didn’t write that book,” she said. “I’m going to make sure opposing counsel sets the record straight with everyone.” “Of course,” he said. “That’s what I was hoping. After all your hard work, I could never believe you’d let a blot on your reputation stand in the way of your becoming 15

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partner.” He steepled his fingers and leaned back in his swivel chair. Cassandra wished he’d tip it over and fall on his head. “You might want to reconsider having that drink with me sometime soon. You can let me know when.” When hell freezes over, she thought, making a noncommittal sound. His phone rang. He started a conversation, then waved her out. He’d called K.C.’s book a blot on her reputation. As if going out with Carlisle Arthur wouldn’t be more of a blot on anyone’s reputation. Being with him would be like wallowing in a mud bath with a swine. Cassandra headed back to her office determined to seal up any leaks in her life that could make her vulnerable to the likes of Carlisle Arthur. Her strategy for tonight had just solidified. She was going to teach Alex deLuca how it felt to be compromised in public. Then she’d buy back K.C.’s book from every reader and store, not to mention online sources. But hadn’t K.C. said there were more than one hundred thousand books out there? All right, so that wouldn’t work. Cassandra would have to come up with a Plan B. But first, she was going to get one Alex deLuca to back off—and get her libido to stop targeting him as the man most wanted.

***** “Thank you for agreeing to join me,” Alex said, rising when the maitre d’ escorted Cassandra to his table in what had to be the darkest, most secluded nook of the restaurant. She’d spent several hours debating with herself what one wore to a French restaurant with a hot guy who was about to learn a major lesson. From the look in his eye as he gave her a full head to toe appraisal, her simple black dress and killer black heels had been the right choice to get his full attention. “I appreciate having this opportunity to clear the air,” Cassandra said formally. Being across from Alex at what had to be a table for one nearly made her regret having

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come. What was with this place? With the prices they charged, they should be able to give people decent sized tables. Well, at least there was a floor-length tablecloth, which would work well for her revenge plan. Her knees were jammed up against his, sending waves of heat up her legs right to her throbbing clit. If her dress had been looser, she could at least have opened her legs to avoid touching his. No, the notion of opening her legs was definitely not where to go right now. She cleared her throat and buried her face in the menu. When the server had taken their orders and brought the bottle of Merlot they’d agreed to, Alex toasted her. She clinked glasses with him and sipped minutely at her wine. One thing she was not going to do tonight was drink enough to get her senses any more addled than they were. Which meant she should stop at three microscopic sips. “I really didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Alex said, looking deep into her eyes and swirling his ruby wine in the crystal glass. “Today. At the deposition.” Never mind his intention. He had embarrassed her, and she’d probably blushed almost as violently then as she was now. Great. That’s all she needed to do. Let him see how he was affecting her. Thank goodness the candles on the tables only lit the room to dim—or romantic, depending on your bias. He was sitting there so cool, despite the way their legs were jammed together. “It was almost more shock than embarrassment,” Cassandra said, gratified to find something reasonable to say. “Shock?” He dipped a piece of sourdough into olive oil and tore into it with even white teeth. A drop of amber olive oil lingered at the corner of his lips, and Cassandra had to bite her tongue to keep from lunging across the table and licking it away. She tore her eyes from his full lips and took her own piece of bread, which she proceeded to crumble obsessively as he watched, appearing to be amused. Cassandra sighed. “K.C. Berrigan is my older sister, a writer. To be honest, I haven’t read her book, the one you referred to at the deposition. I haven’t read any of her books. 17

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Been too busy. She’s evidently very successful in her… genre. And I’m glad for her— and proud of her. It’s what she’s always dreamed of doing, and she’s worked hard for years to get where she is. But I didn’t have a clue that she’d used my photo.” “I should have known there had to be a story there,” Alex said, waving his hands in cavalier fashion. “That our Cassandra Harrell, the gal voted most untouchable member of the Bar, couldn’t be the notorious K.C. Berrigan of Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X fame.” He polished off another piece of bread just as the server arrived with their appetizers. Cassandra slitted her eyes at him and nearly growled. What did he mean by that comment—untouchable? Who was casting ballots for that vote? She asked him that question in a low, slightly menacing voice, before sampling her foie gras, which was excellent. Alex was sucking an oyster out of its shell. Nice tongue action, Cassandra thought, feeling a throb in the moist lips of her cunt. Untouchable indeed. She closed her legs tighter and exhaled. How could such a stud muffin be such a jerk? “Oh, just some of the guys. At one of the Bar meetings. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” He had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable. “What did they mean by untouchable?” she snarled. “Maybe we should let this drop, enjoy our dinner.” He flashed her an innocent look, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight. “You’re the one who brought it up. I thought this dinner was all about clearing the air, but it seems to be getting murkier.” He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Uh, just that you appear to be kind of closed off from, uh, that sort of excitement…” “Don’t even go there,” Cassandra said, not at all pleased that he was starting to sound like her sister, using the “E” word. As if she couldn’t have all the excitement in the world—once she made partner and took the rest of her life off hold. She didn’t need

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her sister’s meddling, or Alex deLuca’s patronizing fumbling. And now she was going to show him exactly what she was capable of. He raised his eyebrows. “Once again I really didn’t intend to…” As Cassandra slipped her right foot out of her shoe and put her plan into action, Alex’s voice trailed off and his eyes opened wide, nearly crossing. He almost knocked over his glass of wine. Excellent, Cassandra thought, feeling good for the first time that night. She’d wriggled her dress up to thigh level and danced her toes up his leg. Thank goodness for the floor length tablecloth, which kept all under-the-table action hidden from prying eyes. Now she moved up to his crotch and caressed his quite hard cock and balls with her toes and the sole of her foot. Or perhaps she’d just missed his groin with her foot, and he carried a huge banana and some plums in his pocket for some reason. But no, from the way he was squirming and the beads of sweat coming out on his forehead, she’d hit pay dirt. Hmm. From what she was feeling, it was easy to see why he was called Alexander the Great. Really great. Much to Cassandra’s surprise, she was quite calm and really enjoying this. “You’re a woman of many surprises,” Alex choked. “Oh, yeah?” she asked, coolly licking her lips. “Not what the boys at the Bar thought, eh?” He cleared his throat. “Uh Cassandra, would you like to maybe cut dinner short and we could go to my place? Or your place? Or any place you want?” He ended up in a whimper. She pouted. “You’re reneging on buying me dinner?” He made a ‘your wish is my command’ gesture. “I’d never renege on anything,” he croaked. “We can have all the dinner you want. With any luck, I’ll live through it.” She furrowed her brows and looked concerned. “Alex, are you feeling ill? Your breathing has become so shallow.” 19

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He moaned. Cassandra hadn’t had this much fun in ages. Maybe K.C. had a point about getting some excitement in her life. Cassandra managed to behave herself whenever the server came by, and she kept Alex off balance by removing her foot and then replacing it at what she thought were opportune moments. Once she even applied both feet, stopping only when he nearly passed out. She wanted Alex deLuca awake and aware for every moment of this night. By the time they got through their main course and the server had asked Alex three times if everything was all right, Alex was begging to leave. Cassandra toyed with having a cream puff and some coffee, then decided she’d done enough damage. Knowing she was leaving Alex with a boner that would keep him sitting under the table while she made her getaway, she slipped her feet into her shoes and rose. “Thank you for dinner,” she said. “But,” he sputtered, “you’re not going to leave me like this.” “Exactly like that,” she said, lowering her eyes in the direction of his erection. “Why?” “Let’s just call it a short lesson in empathy. You now feel the way I have all day.” “Horny as hell?” Don’t go there, she thought. Hold on to the edge. You’ve earned it. “Embarrassed in public,” she said, her words crisp. “Don’t do anything like that to me or any other woman again.” Relishing the last word, she swept out of the restaurant. She thought she’d proven her point. She tried to ignore her regret at not getting up close and personal with what had to be one dynamite hard-on. Too bad Alex deLuca went with it.

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Chapter Four When Alex could walk again, he left the restaurant, got into his car, and drove home. If he spent much more time with a woman like Cassandra Harrell, he’d be at serious risk of death from blue balls. She’d tortured him with her foot, then left him hard, hot, and bothered. Even if she hadn’t played killer footsies with his cock, he’d have been hard as a rock just looking at her. Too bad such a gorgeous, bright woman was also such a nut case. In search of relief, Alex started to phone another, more compliant female companion. Then, for no rational reason, he instead found himself dialing Cassandra’s number. What the hell? He’d never before considered himself a masochist. But dammit, she’d gotten to him. Not just with her looks. Yeah, he wanted to fuck her. But that wasn’t all. There was something about her that intrigued him, teased him, made her stand out from the many other women he knew. Tonight just added to the mystery and the appeal. She made him feel like he was a high school nerd again, working up his nerve to get a date for the prom. Alex almost hoped she wouldn’t pick up the phone because he didn’t know what the hell he’d say to her. If she wasn’t there, he’d definitely call someone more…normal. But, to his surprise and chagrin, she answered on the second ring. “Cassandra,” he said, trying to sound like the cool, sophisticated professional he was most of the time, “you left before you had dessert.” She snorted. “Why are you calling me?” “Because I promised you a meal, and that includes dessert. How can I provide one to you tonight?” She snickered. “Are you crazy? Didn’t you learn anything?” 21

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“Probably to the first question. No to the second. Now what’s your answer to my question?” “Come on, Alex. Even without dessert, we’re even. You embarrassed me. I made you uncomfortable. Admittedly I couldn’t figure out a way to reciprocate in a professional setting, though I wish I could have…” He really had to get to know this woman. “I’d have liked to experience this evening’s, um, entertainment, in a professional setting.” He started to laugh—and then had a eureka moment when a plan came to mind. To his surprise, she joined him in the laughter. The sound set his heart to galloping and made him determined to try his plan out. “Anyone ever told you that you have a weird sense of humor?” she asked. “That’s just one of the many accusations I’ve heard,” he said. “But I’m serious now. Dessert. Your place or mine? I’ve just had a thought how to make your wish come true—sort of. And mine.” “What do you mean about making my wish come true?” she asked. “I can only tell you that face to face. Your place or mine?” She paused. He could almost hear the wheels of her mind turning as she weighed and measured options like the blind statue of justice in the local court’s lobby. He noticed she had ignored his comment about his own wishes, but hoped she’d be intrigued enough to agree. “My place. But I don’t have any dessert here.” “No problem,” he said, suppressing an urge to let out a “Whoopee!” “It’s my idea, so I’ll bring dessert. Won’t be up to the Café de Paris standard, but it’ll do. Do you have coffee?” “Of course. I’ll put a pot on. We talk, you run your idea by me. If I don’t like it, you’re out of here.” “And if you like it?” “We’ll see.”

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“You’ll like it. Where do you live?” She told him. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

***** He arrived in fifteen. She had changed from her nightshirt into jeans and a T-shirt— after debating with herself whether she should wear something slinkier. Should she give in to her attraction to Alex—not to mention her raging horniness and lust—or should she just tough things out with him. Cassandra had been in complete control back at the restaurant. Now, she suspected, she might no longer be—even with them meeting on her own turf. But damn, she was curious to see what he’d come up with, and impressed that he was coming back for round two. Cassandra had barely gotten coffee brewing when Alex came in, looking buff in jeans and a T-shirt and carrying a plastic sack from a Safeway and a black attaché case. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the attaché case. He put down the case and held out the sack to her. “This here is cake, ice cream, and some whipped topping. Why don’t you put them away in the fridge…for later.” He’d stepped very close to her as he said the last, and his words tickled her ear and raised interesting goose bumps under her T-shirt and jeans. She stepped back without taking the sack. “I thought you wanted to have dessert now.” The aroma of the brewing coffee wafted over from her small kitchen. “I do,” he said, closing the gap between them. “But later. You in a rush to eat?” Cassandra stepped back and shook her head. “But I do want to know exactly what your plan here is.” He raised an eyebrow and moved closer to her again. “Take me to your fridge.” Glad to have a reason to move away from him, Cassandra led him the short distance across her living room to the kitchen, where he handed her the sack. She opened it, put 23

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everything in her freezer, then turned around—and found herself surrounded by Alex’s arms. She gasped from surprise and tried to pull back, but the fridge behind her didn’t leave much wiggle room. “Let’s finish what we started back at the Café de Paris,” Alex murmured into her ear. He was strong and firm against her, his erection pressing temptingly, his heart hammering almost as fast as hers. Reflexively, her arms went around him. He fisted his hand in her hair and raised her face to him for a kiss. His tongue probed into her mouth for a long, lingering dance that she wanted to stay at all night. She wanted to melt into him, to obliterate any tiny bit of space between them. But she struggled to hold on to a shred of sanity. This was Alex deLuca, the prototype bad boy who’d mess with her head before he went on to the next idiot who fell for him. “Alex,” she said, planning to put her hands on his chest to push him away but unable to get her arms to cooperate and let him go. “Stop! You said we were going to talk.” “Bed is my favorite place for conversation with beautiful, hot women who turn me on at fancy French dinners. So take me to your bed.” She stiffened. Things were moving way too fast for her, no matter how much her pussy was saying yes and moistening her panties. “Leave. Now.” Alex released her and stepped back several inches. “Just give me this one chance, Cassandra. Let me show you what I’ve brought. Hear me out. And then, I’ll do anything you want. Leave. Write letters of explanation to your clients, your partners. Hell, I’ll take ads in all our professional publications to apologize.” “All right. I’ll give it a try,” she said, walking past him into the living room. “I need to show you this in the bedroom,” he said. “Why?”

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“You’ll understand when you see it—trust me,” he said, with a gleam in his eye. She snorted. “I’ll give you five minutes,” she said. “The bedroom’s through here.” “I just need to get my case from the living room,” he said. “What’s in it?” “You’ll see,” he said. Part of her was sending up red flags of danger—Alex deLuca in her bedroom. The other part of her was leaping up and down in delight. She tried to throw a wet blanket over the jumping jack Cassandra—but couldn’t totally cool her off.

***** Alex’s cock was doing a happy dance as he followed Cassandra to her bedroom. He’d been waiting for this moment since he’d first met her. Finally he was going to have the luscious Cassandra Harrell exactly where he wanted her. Under him. She leaned against her dresser, about as far from her bed as she could get in the small room. Alex put his case down near the bed. “I’ll get my surprise out.” Watching her the whole time, he extracted a pair of handcuffs and held them up in front of her. “What are those?” she asked. “Come on, counselor,” he said. “You know what they are.” “Handcuffs?” “Bingo. Got it in one guess,” he said, his voice thick with sarcasm. He rolled his eyes. She pursed her lips and looked annoyed. “And you brought them here tonight because…” “Because,” he said softly, “I want you to listen while I explain what’s going on with me.” 25

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He figured bringing the handcuffs was a long shot, but Alex was a gambler. And he sensed something in Cassandra that would challenge her to go along with something so radically different from her usual daytime persona.

***** “I’m listening,” she said, willing herself not to stare at the open cuffs, which were beginning to intrigue her. He shook his head. “No, not really.” He came over and patted the top of her head. She bristled at his comment. “Come on, Alex. I don’t have all night. And I don’t appreciate your telling me that I’m not listening. I get the feeling I’ve listened more than I should.” She folded her arms in front of her. Now he was cupping her chin with his delicious fingers, which did make it more of a challenge to focus on what he said. “I want you to open that fantastic mind of yours and hear what I’m saying with more than just your lawyer’s brain.” I’m listening with my clit, she thought. He was way too scary this close to her. She should never have invited him to her place. “But before I talk to you, I want to make love with you,” he continued, and every nerve in her body sprang to full alert. “What!” she sputtered, tossing her head to get his hand away from her chin and pushing him away. “And you said you were listening,” he teased. “I was, am listening. But I still can’t believe my ears. Where do you get the nerve to want to have sex with me?” She was practically shouting. “Cassandra, Cassandra, Cassandra. Where do I get the nerve? After the way you used your feet, arousing my body while seducing my soul with your beauty over dinner. Would you expect any red-blooded man not to want to finish making love after a start like that?” 26

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“What happened back there was for a different reason, and you know it.” “I’m happy to discuss all that, but I’m a first things first guy, Cassandra. And I need to make love with you first so we can really listen to each other.” Her traitor legs wobbled. Before she could further protest, he continued, “And after the way you had me as a captive audience back at the Café de Paris, I figured using handcuffs was the only way to return the favor.” He held them out to her. She chuckled dismissively. “Do you seriously expect me to let you put my hands in those?” She opened her eyes wide and looked at him to see what kind of game he was playing. God, he looked more delicious than ever. Those cuffs glittered in his hands like the brass ring of a merry-go-round, tantalizing her to grab them. She could enjoy having him cuffed and helpless before her… But the thought of being at his mercy sent shivers up and down her spine. “Yeah, I do.” He gazed deeply at her. Between the intensity of his eyes and the metal cuffs swaying in the air, she knew he was out to hypnotize her. She stared at him, then turned away, reminding herself to resist. “Right,” she said after several seconds. Her voice sounded light, airy, and totally unconvincing to her ears. “And do you also go around buying bridges from people on street corners?” “Only if they look like you. Come on, Cassandra. Haven’t you always wondered what it’s like to be cuffed?” He waggled the cuffs rhythmically in front of her. She swallowed hard. “Touch the cuffs first, before I put them on you,” he purred, making her nerve endings stand up and salute.

*****

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If Alex didn’t get near her, on her, in her within the next three minutes or so, he’d die. But he forced himself to hide his impatience. To his relief, she put her fingers on the cuffs and stroked them. His cock rose and began to twitch in excitement as if she were stroking him between his balls and the head. “Where’d you get these anyway?” she asked, her voice low and husky. She was now running her hand around the full circle of each cuff. He cleared his throat. “My buddy down at the precinct loaned them to me.” She looked up at him, surprise in her eyes. “I didn’t know you were tight with any of the boys in blue.” “I still hang out once a week or so with my former partner and some of the guys.” “Your former partner is a cop?” She raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? Was he a lawyer?” “No. I was a cop.” “You’re joking.” “Dead serious.” He looked at her for several seconds. “You didn’t know I was a cop before I went to law school?” “No,” she said, looking confused and not totally as if she believed him. “I guess the rumor mill hasn’t come out with everything about me,” he said. “So if you really were a cop, you must be experienced using these,” she said, jiggling the cuffs. “Just part of my wealth of experience,” he said. “Let me show you.” “Right,” she said. “Come on, Alex. I’m not in the mood to fool around any more.” He put down the cuffs and ran a finger around her mouth. She shivered. “I think you want to try them so bad, you can taste it. Only thing is, you’re scared,” he said, his voice very low. She edged away from him. “I do not get scared.” 28

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He held the cuffs up. “Prove it. Let me put them on you now.” His eyes gleamed with triumph.

***** Like an animal backed into a corner, she wanted to snarl at him. He challenged her, tested her, surprised her, turned her on, and made her laugh. Her brain gave her body permission to surrender. Her body nearly sagged with relief. “All right,” she said, sounding a lot less convinced than she was. “But if I say stop, you stop.” “Of course. If you’ll just lie down.” A tiny part of Cassandra couldn’t believe it. She was letting him handcuff her. To her bed. Was that more or less shocking than the fact that Alex had been a cop. Not at all the past she’d imagined for him, especially as he was really young to be a partner in a top law firm. Still slightly stunned, she lay down on her bed and extended her arms overhead, nearly laughing now from nerves as Alex cuffed her arms to the slatted headboard. The smooth way he moved convinced her that he really had been a cop. She wondered how many women he’d attached to headboards in the past—and how that possibly might have been part of his job. “Comfortable?” he asked. She tried to move her arms, testing her range of motion—which was tight. Despite being his “prisoner”, Cassandra felt amazingly free. “Surprisingly so,” she answered, looking up at him. “So, let’s talk.” “Later,” he said, stretching out next to her. “Cassandra Harrell, I need to touch you, now.” He turned her face to him and resumed the kiss she’d interrupted in the kitchen. As Cassandra opened her mouth to Alex, she felt something solid and harsh begin to crumble within her. His lips on her were unexpectedly soft and warm. With his tongue, he probed her mouth, and she found her tongue moving with his in welcome. 29

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He tore himself away from her. “Oh, Cassandra,” he sighed, “you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting…” “You’re right, I don’t,” she said, wishing now she could touch him with her hands. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” He was running his hands over her body, raising electric arcs where he touched her. “You seemed so distant, so self-contained. And rumor had it that you bit the head off any guy who…” “The same rumor that calls you Alexander the Great?” He chuckled. “I guess. That’ll teach me… Christ, you’re gorgeous.” He got on his knees, straddling her, and slid his hands over her still T-shirted breasts. Cassandra twitched with her need to have him touch her flesh. Thank God she hadn’t worn a bra. As her nipples were standing out a mile, he probably realized that, too. He hooked his fingers on the hem of her shirt and began to lift. Cassandra squirmed to help him, wanting his hands and his mouth in place of the thin cloth. He raised the shirt over the top of her breasts. “Is this all right?” he asked hoarsely. She moaned her response, wishing now she could press her body against his. She didn’t have to wait long for him to take her breast in his mouth. He tongued her nipple, and she felt it bead even tighter and harder in his mouth as he nibbled and sucked. He fingered her other nipple, teasing it, tweaking it and then nuzzled between her breasts, licking the sensitive flesh ‘til she thought she’d go mad. Cassandra’s legs lay open between Alex’s knees, pressing against his legs. At least she wasn’t constrained from moving her legs and hips, the way she was her arms, as he played with her breasts. She burned to get her hands free so she could touch his cock, see if he was as excited now as he’d been back at the Café de Paris. “Lie down on top of me,” she hissed. Alex raised his head from her breasts for a moment, smiled, stretched out on top of her and resumed playing with her breasts, his hands and mouth driving her to near frenzy. She gasped at the erotic heft of having him totally cover her, his cock now even 30

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harder than it had been before, poised over her mound. She wound her legs against him, pulling him tighter to her.

***** Alex fell into a kiss that he’d been waiting forever for. Cassandra’s lips tasted sweet and warm with welcome, soft. Her scent—musky spice with just a hint of some flower he wanted to pluck. Though Alex started off gently, the urgency of his desire for her rose like his aching cock, and he tasted her with his tongue, his teeth, his lips, moving between her luscious mouth and her full beckoning breasts. She was meeting him, thrust for thrust. Alex groaned into her, arching his screaming erection onto her. Alex straddled Cassandra, his rock solid cock tracing a path up and down her body. He should have thought to have them get naked before he’d cuffed her to the headboard—but thinking was definitely not his strong suit tonight. He wanted to be inside of her, but their clothes were a barrier. On the other hand, once he got into her, this delightful interlude would be over far too soon. And he might never get another chance to be in bed with Cassandra Harrell. So he postponed the moment when he’d enter her as long as he could. He let his hands and feet, his tongue and lips and teeth, explore the wonderful new terrain of Cassandra Harrell—his prisoner for these few minutes. Wherever he touched, Cassandra’s heat rose up to excite him even further. He wanted to spend time with his mouth joining hers, to get to know her primary lawyer’s tool. Alex’s tongue met hers and went into a duel better than any they’d ever had in a courtroom or over depositions. “Take off your shirt,” she said, her voice sounding mellow. “Why?” “You have my shirt up, and I want to equalize this playing field. As I can’t undress you myself…”

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“Your wish is my command.” He rolled away from her just enough to pull off his own T-shirt, then rolled back over her. Now they were skin to skin—at least above the waist. “Where do you want me?” “I want to kiss your breasts, too,” she said. He shifted into position so that her mouth could graze his chest. Though they still both had their jeans on, he had his cock wedged against her mound, trying to stay still as her movements aroused him. Cassandra tongued his left nipple, which instantly budded to a hard peak nearly bursting with pleasure. Then she alternated between both his nipples, sucking him to near ecstasy. Alex couldn’t stay still for long while Cassandra played. He wriggled and writhed, which quickly had her mirroring his movements as much she could. But fun as all this was, Alex’s rising need pushed him to lower his sights. “Too many clothes, Cassandra. We’re wearing too many clothes.” She gasped. “I couldn’t agree more, counselor. But I’m hardly in a position to…” “Allow me,” he said. He rolled off her, which was tolerable only because he knew it wouldn’t be for long. Moving quickly and carefully, Alex unsnapped the low-rise waistband of Cassandra’s jeans. She was so incredibly beautiful, with her tight abs and her creamy skin. He longed to massage her everywhere he touched, but first things first. He hoped they’d have another opportunity for more time-consuming games… Savoring the sound of the zipper as he freed Cassandra from her jeans, Alex yanked her pants and her tiny black lace panties down and off her and threw them across the room. He gazed at the blond curls of her pussy triangle from under half-lidded eyes. He touched her between the legs, feeling her wetness. She moaned. “Right,” he said, standing up and tearing his own jeans and boxers off and tossing them away. “Let me see you,” she said, trying to rise from her nest among her pillows.

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Alex got on his knees and proudly displayed his pulsing cock—that had her name written all over it. “I want to feel you touch me,” she said, and he bit his lip to keep from whimpering his need. As he leaned in to touch her glistening slit with his fingers, his cock nestled against her upper thigh. Willing himself to keep his cock where it was, he played with her slick pink folds, entering her with first one finger, then two, then three. She pulled his fingers into her hot sheath, arching her hips to draw him in deeper. His cock throbbed and rocked in rhythm with her. “I want your cock in me,” she said. She didn’t have to say it twice. Oh, God. He had his condoms in his pocket, and he’d tossed his jeans somewhere the hell across the room. “I have to get to my pants pocket to get a…” he started, making a move to leave the bed. “I’ve got my own,” Cassandra whispered, then licked her lips. “Right there, in my night table drawer.” He reached where she’d directed him and brought back an essential foil packet. For just a moment, he wondered whom else she’d used them with. Then his thought processes shut down.

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Chapter Five With the lights in her room fully on, Cassandra reveled in the sight of Alex as she took in all his other sensual delights—how he smelled, tasted, sounded, and, above all, how he felt. Despite her own need, Cassandra wanted to draw out their play, rubbing him with her hips upthrust, stroking him with her feet, tasting him, blowing on him. And then she couldn’t wait. Not any longer, and she told him so. She watched hungrily as he smoothed the condom over his gorgeous cock. Maximizing skin to skin contact, he once again straddled her. Even cuffed as she was, she marveled at the power she felt knowing how much he wanted her. He opened her up with his fingers then his thigh, sliding skin across her wet slit… “Come into me, now,” she said. “Oh, yes,” he said. He drew his thigh away and ran the tip of his condomed cock along the moist crack between her legs. When he got to her opening, he nestled for one second before she sucked him in tight. God. He began to move in her, slowly, deeply. And then his rhythm sped up. She raised up to meet him, not wanting to miss a moment or the tiniest bit of their contact. It was like she’d never been awake before, the way he brought every inch of her to life. She wanted to hold on to him, to never let this pleasure end. He was taking her on a tour of the stars and the planets, with light and sound swirling around her. “Alex,” she said, amazed that he was there with her every step of her climb to ecstasy. “Oh, Cassandra,” he whispered back. He was thrusting harder and deeper into her, and she writhed beneath him, wanting to show him in every way she could that she was bursting with the pleasure of his being in her. And then she was there, coming and near tears with the relief of reaching where her body had been aching to be all night.

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He called her name again, and then she felt him tighten and clench—and come, releasing a huge burst into her. He collapsed on her and hugged her tight, and she wanted the moment to go on forever. Too soon he moved off her for a moment and got rid of the condom. Before she could whimper how bereft she felt without him, he came back and wordlessly took her in his arms. They dozed for a while, entangled, then woke together. “So when are you going to let me out of the cuffs, counselor cop?” Cassandra asked, feeling ludicrous to still have her wrists attached to the headboard. “Not so fast,” he said, rising up from her. “Part two of being cuffed is that I want you to really listen to me.” “I don’t have to be cuffed to do that.” “No, but humor me on this. Gives me the illusion of being in control.” She chuckled dryly. “Better not get used to that. Okay, deLuca, tell me what you want to.”

***** “You seemed surprised before when I told you I used to be a cop.” She nodded. “Why did that surprise you?” She shrugged, a movement restricted by her cuffs. He resisted his impulse to free her—not until he’d said everything he wanted to. “Cops and lawyers are often on opposite sides on a lot of issues. I’d think that for a cop to become a lawyer is like going over to the enemy camp.” “That’s exactly what my family still thinks,” Alex said. “I come from a long line of cops—grandfather, dad, uncles, brothers. Proud history of serving. One of my uncles is even chief of his force.”

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“Have they disowned you yet?” Cassandra asked, smiling as if she were making a joke. “Pretty much,” Alex said softly. Cassandra looked instantly contrite. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your family situation.” He held his hands up to forestall her apology. “You couldn’t have known. Cassandra, did you notice who was missing when I told you about my family’s history in the police force?” “Sorry, counselor,” she said. “I plead ignorance of your family.” “Yeah. Well, the list doesn’t include any women. And I have a twin sister, Allison. When we were growing up, she wanted to be a cop as much as I did. Probably would have been a better one.” Cassandra’s eyes widened with concern. “Would have been? Alex, don’t tell me something awful happened to her.” “Yes and no. Allison’s fine and healthy, married and the mother of her own set of twins. But Cassandra, things didn’t always look good for her. After we graduated from the police academy, we got our first jobs in different towns. I doubt anything much would have been different if we’d been in the same place.” She furrowed her brows. “Tell me, Alex.” “My dear dedicated, hard-working sister ran smack into a solid wall that said ‘No woman gets past here.’ And she kept hitting her head against that wall. You know what that’s like?” Cassandra nodded. Alex had figured that at the law firm she’d joined, McLaine, Berman, and Arthur, Cassandra had butted into the glass ceiling more than once. Like Allison, Cassandra burned with fire and ambition and talent. “And then what made it worse, what I didn’t know at the time, was that the powers that be were closing their eyes to blatant sexual harassment. Allison told me she heard

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her partner joking about what the guys were doing to keep the women in line. You know, embarrassing pictures in the lounge and disgusting come-ons at humiliating times. All I could offer was to punch the guy out. Which, satisfying as it would have been for me, would have done little to help her.” “So what did she do?” Alex hit his right fist into his left palm. “Now Allison claims she never really wanted to be a cop all that much, but I don’t think she’s being fully honest. She gave up, said if she ever goes for another career, it won’t have anything to do with being a cop. So there are still no women cops in our family. After Allison’s experience, none of my other cousins is going to try.” “That’s too bad, if that’s what they really want,” Cassandra said. “The one thing K.C. drummed into me over and over is that you’ve gotta love your work. But I still don’t understand exactly why Allison just gave up like that.” Alex nodded. “Yeah, it’s tough. But she finally had to quit. The stress got so bad, she developed an eating disorder. She’s five ten. At its worst, she weighed less than a hundred pounds.” “How awful!” “Yeah, it was. But you know the worst part for me? Cassandra, I couldn’t help her. Not as a cop. To make a long story short, that’s when I decided to go to the other side— to become a lawyer.” Now Cassandra appeared wary. “I didn’t know that you specialize in sexual harassment issues.” “I don’t yet, but I’ve started building that part of my practice. Right now, I keep the pro bono work I do quiet,” Alex said. “I’m dedicated to making the playing field level for women in every line of work. That’s why I’m so sorry about what happened today. And that’s why I hope you’ll accept my apology about bringing up that book at the deposition.”

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“Oh, Alex, apology accepted. You couldn’t have known that K.C. had used my photo on the book.” “Even if you had written the book and that was your photo, I had no right to bring it up when and how I did. I meant what I said about making it up to you any way I can.” “I don’t know there’s any way to make it up. But I’m sure things will work out.” “I certainly hope so, Cassandra. But what I had in mind, specifically, was offering to represent you if you have any problems getting that partnership you’ve worked so hard for. Carlisle Arthur has a certain reputation…” “You know about him?” Cassandra asked, perhaps more surprised by this than anything else this night. “Oh, yeah. There have been rumors, and I’ve been waiting to nail him.” “Alex, thank you. That will more than make things up. I think I can handle him on my own, but I’m sure glad to have you available to back me up if I need to go after him.” “You’ve got it. Anything else I can do for you?” “Maybe now you can take off these friggin’ cuffs?” They both laughed. “Sorry about that. You’ve been cuffed for so long, it was beginning to look natural.” She mock growled. “Do not get used to having me restrained beneath you, counselor.” “A man can dream, can’t he?”

***** After Alex got the cuffs off, he massaged Cassandra’s wrists and shoulders. And then he began to kiss all the places where his hands rubbed and soothed.

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“Mmm,” Cassandra said, letting her hands wander over him and make up for the time they’d lost when she was cuffed. Like for example, touching his big, hard penis, which was now ready for action again. “I could play all day with your cock,” she murmured. “All day, any day, you just name it, Cassandra.” She laughed. “Wonder if you taste as good as you look?” she asked. “Only one way to find out,” he said. She started to kiss her way down his body, when he stopped her. “But how about if we have a mutual tasting party?” “Sounds like a plan,” she said, putting her cunt where his mouth was. Alex caressed her pussy lips with his fingers, and then his nimble tongue went to work, playing with her clit and exploring her nooks and crannies. If Cassandra didn’t have her mouth full, she’d be moaning with the tingles of pleasure he was bringing to her most sensitive spots. But Alex was so delicious, that she tried to focus on pleasing him with her tongue and teeth and lips. She could feel his cock respond to her, and she loved having her hands free to clench his gorgeous butt to her. Cassandra wanted Alex to come with his cock in her cunt again, not in her mouth, so when he was near climax she pulled away from him. Alex reached for another condom, but this time she slipped it on him, really appreciating being able to touch him now. Those handcuffs had definitely taught her a whole new level of awareness of freedom and hands. But her greatest awareness was how much she wanted him—again. She stretched herself out on top of him, and savored the feel of his firmness and strength beneath her. She could do whatever she wanted, kiss him, touch him, move everywhere. They kissed, letting their lips and tongues mingle, their breathing in harmony. Her need and desire for him rose like a wild flame, hot sparks flying. When Cassandra was near bursting, she spread herself wide to him, pausing just a moment

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with his cock poised at the mouth of her cunt. And then she took the plunge, sitting on him, lowering herself so that he disappeared completely inside her. “Oh, Cassandra,” he whispered, arching up and thrusting deep into her. She lay down on top of him, feeling her large firm breasts pressed against his hard chest, their hearts hammering in tandem. She wanted the sex to be slow, a languorous mutual exploration that would lead them to an excruciatingly pleasurable… She couldn’t let her mind go there, not now, or nothing would happen as slowly as she wanted. “Is this good for you?” Alex breathed to her as he rotated his hips in the dance neither of them could have stopped. “Mmm,” she murmured, opening herself up even more to him. Alex was caressing her tight sheath with his cock, stroking her where she needed to be stroked, hitting all her surfaces, setting her muscles to rippling. His penis action was so good, he nearly took her breath away. Cassandra stopped her movement to slow things down because she sensed that if she came, he’d be right after. She pushed her hands against his chest so that she was back up in a seated position, both legs and her pussy straddling his cock. Oh, yes. In this position, she was feeling him in lots of other places she hadn’t realized she had. She felt like the queen of the cowgirls, astride the prize stallion, and she let out a whoop of joy. Alex half sat up, slightly withdrawing from his depth in her. “Cassandra?” he asked. She pushed him back down and threw her head back, letting loose a volley of pleasure cries. “Right there and there,” she called out to Alex. “Oh, yes.” He groaned in response, his eyes shut, his legs clamped around her butt like he wouldn’t let any force on heaven or earth part them. She wanted to lower herself so she’d be stretched out on top of him, skin to skin, when she came, which was about to happen. From her deepest core she could feel it. Trembling, she drew her body down as close to him as she could get. Each movement 40

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intensified her own growing orgasm and got him moving even faster and harder, thrashing his head side to side. “Alex,” she screamed out as she let herself ride the crest of an orgasm that had her quivering from head to toe. He kissed her, hard. She felt his cock tighten in her, and then he deepened his kiss, searing her mouth as he pumped his release into her. And then they both lay still, enjoying the calm after the storm and their new closeness. They lay quietly for so long that Cassandra suspected Alex had fallen asleep. But when she made a move to climb off him, he held her for another moment. “That was beyond words,” Alex said. She lifted her head and looked lazily at him. “And I thought lawyers were never at a loss for words.” He grinned back at her. “You see what you’ve done to me.” He carefully withdrew from her and took the condom off his still half-erect penis. He tissued himself off as she watched. Then they were lying face to face, their legs entwined. “Cassandra, I hope tonight is just a beginning…for both of us.” Now that Cassandra finally lay uncuffed and satisfied—in all senses—next to Alex, she began to wonder what she’d unleashed. His using the word “beginning” sure didn’t sound like the usual M.O. of love ‘em and leave ‘em Alexander the Great. “I’ve wanted to be with you since the first time we met. But you always seemed so distant, so unapproachable,” he said as they lay together in bed, cuddling. “Oh, is that why you’ve gone out with every other female in the Bay Area? From Marin to San Jose, your name is scrawled on the walls of women’s room stalls: For a good time, call Alexander the Great at…”

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He winced. For a moment, she wondered if she’d gone too far with her teasing just as he had—had it only been that morning? Before she could ask, he said, “All that’s greatly exaggerated.” “I don’t know about that,” she said. “You were pretty great.” He gave her his George Clooney grin. “Trust me, you’re in a much better position to know than most of the women who claim to be.” “Aw,” she mock pouted, “poor, misunderstood Alex…” He frowned. “You can scoff,” he said, slightly withdrawing his warmth and making her regret her comment. “But as it happens, I am highly selective.” “You’ve been saving yourself for me.” “Not exactly,” he said. “But I haven’t been out much recently. As I hear it, the woman who started all those Alexander the Great stories is someone I’ve turned down—often. “ “Really?” Cassandra asked. “Really,” Alex said, kissing her lightly on the lips. “I promise, I’m honest and direct. I’ve wanted to be with you and you know what?” “What?” she asked. “I’m really glad about what happened today, though I’m sorry it started off so badly for you.” She’d nearly forgotten the morning’s trauma. “Alex, I have to say that I’m glad for it all too.” He kissed her hand. “One more thing. I’m really grateful to your sister for putting your photo on the back of that book.” “Really. Why?” “Because that’s what broke the ice between us. First chance I get, I’m going to thank her. In person. I’m going to buy her book and get her to autograph it for me. Heck, I may even give my paralegal a bonus for leaving it on her desk.” 42

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“Oh, great,” Cassandra said. “Now I have something else to be grateful to K.C. for. As if I didn’t owe her enough.” “I want to hear about that. How about we go have some of that dessert I brought.” They got out of the bed fragrant with the scent of good hard sex, threw on their rumpled clothes, and headed to the kitchen. Deciding they deserved a fresh pot of coffee, Cassandra quickly brewed another. She nuked some of the frozen pound cake he’d brought and scooped out ice cream and whipped topping. They sat in the kitchen at her small white Formica kitchen table and ate. “Cassandra,” he said over coffee and the dessert. “I don’t want to mess up what just happened between us. But can you tell me now without my having to resort to handcuffs again, why the foot action back at the Café de Paris? I have the feeling it wasn’t really an invitation to your bed.” She’d hoped he wouldn’t bring up what happened in the restaurant, but she realized it was inevitable that he would. She shrugged. After they’d just made love, she really regarded it as insignificant. “I didn’t think talk alone would be sufficient to prove my point.” “Interesting comment from a lawyer,” he said. “Alex, I’m not going to apologize for what I did.” “Oh, an apology is the last thing I want.” He reached out to take her hand, but she pulled back. “Cassandra, although I’m not proud of what I did this morning, I don’t think it was bad enough to require such drastic revenge. Why were you so angry that you felt a need to prove your point so…dramatically? I don’t understand.” She shook her head, took a sip of coffee. “I can see that. Look, I really was embarrassed when you brought up the book title at the deposition. I didn’t know about the book beforehand, and I certainly hadn’t known my sister used my photo. At the time, I felt your behavior was potentially harmful to my career.” He studied her. “That’s not all that’s bothering you, is it?”

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“No,” she admitted. “I was furious with K.C. for using my photo the way she did. It’s typical of her. I know she loves me, but sometimes her way of showing that leaves me up a stream in a really leaky canoe.” “Sounds like having her around keeps life from getting dull,” he said. He took the last bite of his cake and ice cream, then looked around for more. “You can say that again.” Cassandra offered to get him seconds. When she put the dessert down in front of him, he said, “You don’t sound as if having your sister involved in your life makes you happy.” Cassandra sat back down and sighed. “I love K.C., but she tends to complicate my life.” “Like I did today?” Alex asked. “Not exactly,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But actually, a lot worse,” Cassandra admitted with a dry laugh. “Far worse than anything you could ever do.” “Maybe you need to tell her to back off—just like you did with me at the Café de Paris.” Alex made a hand gesture for backing off. “Well, maybe in a different style.” “That’s not so simple. And Alex, I have to admit that this time, unlike you, she may have a point.” He held up his hands. “I thought I had a point too, though I’ve forgotten it.” “Even though you caused me some professional grief, counselor, you did me a favor by getting me over to K.C.’s today. Not to mention…” “All expressions of gratitude accepted,” Alex said, his voice quite husky. “Far be it from me to push anything. But what small bit of today’s happenings are you thanking me for—aside from the best sex you’ve ever had?” Cassandra rolled her eyes. “You don’t suffer from attacks of modesty, do you?” He shrugged. “I’ve got nothing to be modest about.” “I can debate you about that,” she said. He looked mock hurt. “You don’t mean…” 44

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She laughed. “Seriously, I was talking more about the professional realm as to possible sources of modesty,” Cassandra went on. He winced. “You really are still sore about the deposition.” “Actually a lot sorer that you won’t let me finish what I was saying.” “Sorry. I’m all ears.” “You’ve got a few other relevant parts, but I’m not going to go there right now,” she said. “As I was saying before you sidetracked me, I went over to read K.C. the riot act. She in turn pointed out how out of it I’ve been in our relationship—for way too long. She’s said the same thing many times before, but today her words finally clicked. Alex, I haven’t followed her career or known about any of her success. Heck, I didn’t even know she’d made enough money to buy her own house.” “She’s made enough from writing her books to buy her house?” Cassandra nodded. “I’m impressed.” “Worst of all, she’s right about me. I’ve been so focused about my career that I’ve been ignoring her.” “Cassandra. Has your sister always been so, uh, controlling?” Cassandra chuckled. “Well, yeah. But I thought she’d gotten cured of trying to control my life when she became a writer. All those characters and worlds to manipulate.” She frowned. “This whole photo thing is a throwback. You see, K.C. raised me after our parents died. She worked lots of little jobs to get me through college and law school.” “That sounds like she was terrific.” “She was. And part of why I’ve been working so hard was to buy her house for her. But she doesn’t need me to. Now I’ve got to rethink why I do what I do.” “You’ve got a lot besides dessert on your plate,” he said. “Sorry I made things more complicated.”

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“Let’s say interesting.” Cassandra smiled. “But enough about me. I want to hear more about you being a cop. And why’d you have to borrow cuffs? I’d think an ex-cop would have his own.” He nodded slightly. “My things are in storage right now because my place is being repainted next week. But after that… Well, I have lots of toys at home, toys I only share when I get to know people very well.” His voice grew quite low. “You want to come see them?” “Maybe sometime,” she said. “I’ll hold you to that.” He pursed his lips. “Cassandra, sorry to say that I’ve got to leave now. I’d like to stay tonight, if that would be okay with you, but I’ve got a real early out of town appointment, and I’d hate to wake you at the crack of dawn.” Cassandra sat up, braced for the brush off. “No obligations, deLuca. I think we’re really even.” “Hey,” he said, stroking her face and looking deep in her eyes. “I meant what I said. Every word. I want more than a one night stand.” “Really?” She felt herself soften. “Yeah. And to start, I’ll take you out for a whole meal tomorrow, and then we can talk, and who knows… Maybe some time real soon, we can play good cop, bad cop, good lawyer, bad lawyer with some of my old cop toys.” She swatted him, and he grinned. “Don’t count on it,” Cassandra said. “We’ll see about that.” He kissed her. “One other thing. I really want to meet K.C. soon and thank her.” Cassandra mock grimaced. “Won’t be hard to arrange. But be prepared, Alex. You might show up as the hero of her next book—though you’ll probably be green or have a fourteen-inch…” “Fourteen inches, huh?”

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She winked. “And Cassandra,” he said, “I’m not about to give you advice or anything…” “Hah.” “But there’s no way I’d let Carlisle Arthur or any of those other senior clowns at your firm intimidate you.” He took her in his arms for a deep kiss that left them both nearly breathless. Then he said, “Get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He kissed her again and was gone. Before she fell asleep, Cassandra thought about how her life had been the last few years. Maybe having K.C. succeed on her own took some of the wind out of Cassandra’s initial goals in wanting to be partner, but she also realized she loved the work for itself. She just hated some of the compromises she’d been making as she tried to advance. Then she came to a decision. And she got the best night’s sleep she had in months.

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Chapter Six “You wanted to see me?” Carlisle Arthur leered up at her from his mammoth desk. His eyes narrowed as he took her in. “Looks like my lucky day.” That morning Cassandra dressed in her least conservative dress, a green silk twopiece the color of her eyes, and she’d pinned a flower in her hair. A French braid replaced her usual bun. “Yes, Carlisle.” “I like what you’re wearing. So are you here to set a date for a drink with me?” He sat back in his chair and looked like he wanted to light up his pipe, which he’d finally had to stop indulging in at the office. “No. I want to follow up on yesterday’s talk.” She thrust her autographed copy of Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X onto his desk. He looked from the book to her and practically drooled. Then he caught himself and masked his leer behind a stern expression. “Why are you putting that book on my desk?” Cassandra slitted her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “That book, as you say, was written by my sister, K.C. Berrigan.” “I wouldn’t go around announcing that.” He pantomimed lighting a pipe. “Well you know what, Carlisle? I’m going to announce my connection with K.C. from the rooftops. I’m proud of my sister. You want to know why? Probably not, but I’m going to tell you. She’s followed her dream of becoming a successful writer, she’s stayed true to her principles, and along the way she’s managed to be a great sister to me.” “I see,” he said.

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“I don’t think you do. But know this,” she said, jabbing her finger in the air. “My sister takes pride in her work, and I take pride in her. She’s a hell of a lot more honest than I am. And she’d never put up with sexual harassment. I’m not going to either.” Carlisle Arthur grew very red in the face. “Sexual har…? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Oh, I think you do. You’ve been harassing me for months, threatening to block me from becoming partner if I don’t go out with you. Heck, you even threatened to use my sister’s book against me—no doubt one more form of blackmail to get me to go along with you. Well you know what? The buck stops here. I’m not going to put up with your harassment any more, and I’m not going to deny my pride in my sister’s work. The two go together. Got that?” He collapsed back in his chair as if deflated. “I think you’ve misunderstood…” “I think I haven’t.” “Cassandra, I can let you know, though I shouldn’t, that we’ve voted to offer you that partnership by the end of the month. In fact, you had the highest number of votes of any associates we’ve considered for partnership in the past ten years.” He held out his hand, which she refused to shake. He looked almost humbled. “No way I want you to get the idea that I’d hold up your partnership. I was just trying to be friendly to a young associate. That’s all.” He was actually sweating. Cassandra got the idea that she could cause him some real hassles if she reported his behavior to his partners. Maybe he wasn’t so secure after all, even with his marriage. Now that she’d be moving up, she’d be in a position to make sure that Carlisle Arthur stopped harassing her—and any other female who came his way. “No one’s going to get the wrong idea as long as you stop hitting on me or any other woman here. Now. And I’m going to make sure the policy for zero tolerance for sexual harassment becomes a reality. Starting today.” He smiled weakly. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

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“As long as we understand each other.” She picked up K.C.’s book from his desk. Cassandra had to restrain herself from skipping out of the office. She had a million things to do, but first she had to call K.C.—and Alex.

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About the author: Exploring the erotic side of romance keeps Mardi Ballou chained to her computer— and inspires some amazing research. Mardi’s a Jersey girl, now living in Northern California with her hero husband—the love of her life—who’s also her tech maven and first reader. Her days and nights are filled with books to read and write, chocolate, and the pursuit of romantic dreams. A Scorpio by birth and temperament, Mardi believes in living life with Passion, Intensity, and Lots of Laughs (this last from her moon in Sagittarius). Published in different genres under different names, Mardi is thrilled to be part of the Ellora’s Cave Team Romantica. Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.mardiballou.com

Mardi welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at P.O. Box 787, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787.

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