STORY EXCERPT

“You’ve got to be kidding.” A ball of dread formed in the pit of Lauren’s stomach, seething hot, molten metal searing her insides until it congealed into a heavy weight, solid and not going away soon. “Is it truly one of the requirements of employment I attend bonding camp?”

Lauren forced herself not to clench her hands into fists. She focused on keeping them elegantly crossed, one on top of the other, in her lap. It wasn’t easy. She’d heard about these corporate bonding camps, and it wasn’t something she was interested in doing. Lauren wasn’t into getting close to strangers. Sure, you worked with them but that’s what it was—work. Lauren kept her friends close, closer than most, but she kept them private. She had her reasons. That’s why she always kept work and her private life separate. But bonding camp?

Problem was…she really wanted this job.

Already chiding herself for the “you’ve got to be kidding” outburst, she waited for Justice Cane’s answer to her question and tried not to fidget. This was her fourth interview with Cane, Moss, and White, but her first with one of the partners. Justice Cane—the name suited his profession, to say the least. She wanted to give the impression of class and elegance, the exact qualities the firm was noted for. They were one of the most prestigious law firms in the Tri-State Area and were known nationally for some high-profile cases. It would only be a stepping stone for her, true, but a reference she would need if she wanted to move on to bigger and better firms in the larger cities. She wanted the name Lauren Brooke to be synonymous with elegance and hard-biting lawyer. A position with Cane, Moss, and White would be the first step toward achieving the distinction.

“Lauren…may I call you Lauren?” Mr. Cane asked.

“Of course, Mr. Cane.”

“Call me Justice. Mr. Cane puts distance between us, and here at Cane, Moss, and White, we like to keep everyone close. A connection of sorts between all of us, partners and associates included. It gives us a combined front when it comes to appearances, and we share a bond, a closeness, while working on sticky cases. It’s the reason we ask our newest associates to attend bonding camp. So they can be brought into the family, so to speak. Be a part of what it means to be one of us.” He leaned back in his chair, his mouth forming an easy smile. “That way we learn your strengths and your weaknesses. What makes you tick. What your passions are…”—he tilted his head—“…so we can handpick associates for specific cases.”

Lauren swallowed. He had an awesome smile, with dimples included. It was warm and inviting and…

Don’t go there. She could not allow herself to think of him as anything other than a partner in the firm, therefore her prospective boss. But, dang, this man was the definition of handsome. Dark hair, tan, trim with the hint of muscles beneath the suit, his warm brown eyes sparkled with energy and a bit of daring. The “daring” part was intriguing. Was he daring her?

“I try to keep my private life and my work life separate. Bonding camp seems so…personal.”

He threaded his fingers together and rested his hands on his stomach. “You’re right. It does get personal. The exact reason why we require it. We want to know you. Know your limitations. If it’s a problem—”

“I think I can do it, Mr. Cane…Justice,” she interrupted. “I know I can.” She really wanted this position. If bonding camp is what it took, she’d have to deal with it. Chalk it up to another step toward her goal.

“Good to hear, Lauren.” Justice sat forward and pulled an appointment book toward him. He flipped through a few pages. “Let’s see…Are you free this weekend?” He picked up a pen and poised it above the book. Looking at her, he raised an eyebrow. “Will that work for you?”

She took a slow breath in. It was almost as if he were asking her for a date. But she knew he wasn’t. So far, he’d been all business with no hint of attraction to her other than his smile. Then there was that mention of passion…Don’t go there. “This weekend, yes. I’m free,” she managed to say.

“Good. We’ll schedule a two-day bonding camp for this weekend.”

ADULT EXCERPT

He raised her hand to his lips, barely touching it to his mouth for a light kiss. “I would keep your secrets. So will the rest of the firm. We’re very big on that sort of thing.” He felt a sizzle when her lips parted slightly.

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Lauren…”

“Yes?”

“If you join us, will you tell us your secrets?” God, he wanted to kiss her.

She cleared her throat, hesitating.

Justice lowered her hand, this time into his lap. “I’ll tell you one of my secrets if you tell me one of yours.”

“What sort of secret?” she asked.

She was blushing, just a hint of rosiness to her cheeks. What is she thinking? he wondered. “Any sort of secret.”

She lowered her chin coyly. “You go first.”

“Okay, one of my secrets.” He drew her hand further into his lap. She didn’t pull away. “I like to be in control during sex. Now, your turn.”

* * * *

Lauren felt heat rush up from her center to her face. She fought not to pull her hand from his just to fan herself. He liked to be in control during sex. Whew! That was very personal and to the point. But oddly, it didn’t bother her in the least. As a matter of fact, it intrigued her.

“I’m not sure how to respond to that,” she said, figuring she should not reveal too much since this was supposed to be a job interview, so to speak. “That’s very personal, and I’m glad you feel you can trust me with something that is so personal but—”

“You don’t feel you can trust me, is that it?” he asked, interrupting.

“No, it’s not…Okay, here’s something personal about me. I don’t like to be in control during sex. I like to be controlled.” Butterflies were beating their wings wildly against the walls of her stomach. She had never admitted that to anyone except a few people, and one of them had betrayed her with that information. But Justice felt like a person she actually could trust. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt some sort of deep connection to him.

“There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked, a smile lighting his face. He leaned forward, his eyes traveling over her face, his gaze hesitating on her lips before moving back to look her in the eye. “So I like to be in control, and you like to be controlled. Sounds like we’re very compatible.”

Kiss me. Take me. Here. Now.Her thoughts burned sizzling sparks through her body. “Yes, it does.” Her throat was so tight with need she could hardly speak. “But, what does this conversation have to do with me being an associate at Cane, Moss, and White?”

“It has everything to do with it. If you can trust me, and the others, of course, then we can trust you. We can confide in you, and you will respect our confidences. As we will respect yours.” His voice was low and soothing. “And…we can share things with you, things we share with no one else. Things that bond us together.”

He was close now, had moved closer with every word he spoke. Lauren could feel his breath against her lips, warm and moist. Warm. Moist. Exactly like she felt inside. She searched his eyes. There was heat in his gaze.

“This is what bonding camp is about?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

“This and more.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers.

She closed her eyes and swayed toward him.

“Are you willing to bond with us, Lauren? Are you willing to let us get to know you? Completely?” he asked.

Her breasts felt swollen, nipples tingling. There was only one answer. “Yes,” she breathed.

His mouth closed over hers, his tongue sliding past her lips. Lauren moaned, giving in to her desire for him, her need for him. His tongue explored her mouth, tasting, tangling with her own. She felt a rush of heat spread over her, circling her waist then diving down lower.

“You like to be controlled,” he said, breaking the kiss.

She blinked, her vision blurred in a sexual haze. “Yes.”

“Then you shall get what you like,” he said. “If this goes too far, if you feel you’ve had enough or are at your limit, just say stop. Agreed?”

She nodded, her insides trembling with the need for him to take her and make her his own. “Agreed.”

Justice leaned back and took her hands. “Stand up.” He rose from the couch, pulling her up with him.

Lauren’s legs felt watery. She placed her hands on his shoulders, wanting to dig her fingers in, wanting to pull his mouth down to hers again. She wanted him to take the lead…

“Turn around,” he said, his voice low and forceful.

She turned, her back now to him.

He stepped up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist. His hands splayed across her stomach then slid upward, cupping her breasts.

Lauren leaned her head back against him and bit her bottom lip, closing her eyes as his fingers grazed her nipples through the fabric of her dress.

“Raise your arms and put them around my neck,” he instructed. “Then spread your legs.”

She snaked her arms around his neck, the movement shoving her breasts forward. She parted her legs, widening her stance. She felt his erection, hard and full, nestled against her bottom. “Like this?” she asked.

He rolled her nipples between his fingers, sending sparks shooting through her breasts. “Yes, like that.” One of his hands moved down, down to the hem of her dress, and pulled it up. “What do you have under here?” he asked. Then his hand was at the waistband of her panties, sliding inside them. “Are you ready for me?” His finger dipped into her cleft.

Lauren shuddered. “Yes. Yes, I’m ready.”