Karin Tabke - [Chronicles of Katrina 04] - The Consequence

The hardest thing is not to love but to be loved in return… What would you dare to do? Would you dare to do it again? Can you handle the truth? Could you live with the consequences…?

THE CHRONICLES OF KATRINA THE DARE What would you dare to do? (Book one, out now a free read!)

DOUBLE DARE Would you dare to do it again? (Book two, out now!)

THE TRUTH Can you handle the truth? (Book three, out now!)

THE CONSEQUENCE Could you live with the consequences?

www.KarinTabke.com www.facebook.com/karin.tabke.harlow

Author’s Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Coming Soon... About the Author Also by Karin Tabke Copyright

hank you once again to my amazing village: Virna, Tina, Janell, Victoria and my team at InScribe. Couldn’t have done it without you!

Dear Readers, Before you begin Kat and Simon’s final book, I want to thank all of you for your patience and for reading along with me as I wrote this amazing love story. I fell in love with Simon the moment he hit the page. My love affair with him has grown as epically deep as Kat’s. I know many of you feel the same way. I also hope you feel I’ve done both Simon and Kat justice with THE CONSEQUENCE. Thank you all again for taking this fun sexy ride with me! Karin* xo

imon’s ex-girlfriend, now widowed sister-in-law, glared at them from the kitchen. Katy stood silent for a long drawn out minute, weighing what she had been told about Amanda against the fact that she’d obviously had a key to get inside Simon’s house and now gazed at him with undeniable possessiveness. Either Simon was the biggest liar on the planet and Katy the most pathetically gullible woman in the world, or— “Amanda,” Simon said quietly behind Katy. “What are you doing here?” “What’s that woman doing here?” Amanda accused, sniffing back tears. Katy felt like she had just stepped into a really bad soap opera. “Is she the work that’s kept you away these past weeks?” Giving Katy’s hand a quick reassuring squeeze, Simon walked past her into the kitchen. He was still damp from his shower and the towel wrapped around his waist clung to his sculpted ass like a second skin. Possessive ire rose in her belly. That ass belonged to her, damn it! Carefully, Simon took the tray from Amanda’s shaking hands. As he set it down on the counter he asked her, “Where’s Livy?” Amanda sniffed. “Mom’s.” “My mom’s? Or yours?” “She’s my mom too, or have you forgotten that in your lust induced fog?” Curious as hell to find out where this crazy was coming from, but not wanting to watch this woman have what was beginning to look a lot like a complete emotional melt down or be insulted by her, Katy backed away.

“Stay, Kat,” Simon said. His gaze held hers when she looked at him. “Please.” She wasn’t running. Oh hell no, not when she had come this far. She was going to see this to the end. But she wasn’t as lacking in manner as Amanda. She was just giving them privacy. Simon looked lost, helpless even, but there was nothing Katy could do about that. To Amanda, she was the enemy and, as such, there would be nothing gained. And to Katy? She wasn’t sure how she felt about Simon’s sister in-law. Irritated, absolutely. Pity maybe? The woman obviously had it bad for Simon but there was more going on here than an old flame still carrying a torch. “I think it would be better if I stepped away and gave the two of you some privacy, Simon,” Katy said as she backed up. “I’d like you to leave my house,” Amanda firmly said. Katy pursed her lips, turned on her heel and walked slowly from the room. The last thing she heard Simon say was, “Amanda, when was the last time you saw Dr. Crenshaw?” As she made her way up the staircase, Katy allowed her emotions to surface. Anger not so much directed at Simon—well, maybe a little directed toward him—but mostly at Amanda. Then she felt bad. The woman had lost her husband and obviously had projected her feelings for him onto his brother. But she’d had a thing with Simon, too. How long ago, Katy didn’t know and it didn’t matter because it was obvious Amanda West was in love with her dead husband’s brother. And it was even more obvious Simon had no intention of severing ties with her. How was Katy supposed to deal with the fact that Amanda had deep emotional hooks in the man Katy was in love with? Her belly did several slow rolls. How could she compete with their history? Or even as unhealthy as it was, their present? Insecurities flooded her, but she was not going to run. Not this time. At least not yet. Instead, she stripped, turned on the shower and stood contemplative beneath the hot spray. Forcing herself not to read too much into what was happening downstairs, she let her heart and her gut guide her. Simon hadn’t lied to her about anything despite what she’d thought. Yet because of her own trust issues, she’d pretty much talked herself into thinking ill of him even as she’d known, at his core, he was a man of integrity. It was as much a part of him as his green eyes. Hanging on to that, she forced away her lingering fear that he would push her aside for his sister-in-law.

But when she stepped from the shower and heard angry voices coming from downstairs, her anxiety level spiked. Call her nosey, but she wrapped a towel around her dripping body, hurried to the bedroom door, and opened it wider. “You belong to me!” Amanda shrilled. Simon’s deep voice, though calm, held an edge of impatience. “You need to get a grip, Amanda, if not for your own sake then for Olivia’s.” “I have a grip!” she spat. “It’s you who needs to face reality and take responsibility for your actions.” “I have.” “Then why did you bring a woman here?” “This is my house; I can bring whomever I want to here.” “How long will this one last, Simon? Another week? A month? Have you told her what you did?” Katy’s heart thumped hard in her chest. What was she talking about? Amanda laughed mirthlessly. “I can see by your expression you haven’t. Shall I?” “Stay away from Kat,” he warned. “Stay away from Kat,” she mimicked. “Fine, Simon. I’ll wait this one out just like I have the others, but after she finds out and runs, I’m not taking the scraps you throw my way anymore.” Find out what? “Go home, Amanda,” he said, his voice suddenly weary. “We’ll talk later.” Backing away from the door, Katy waited for Simon to come upstairs. When he finally entered the bedroom, she held back the gasp that rose in her chest. He looked like a man torn in half. “Close the door,” she softy said. He did and leaned up against it. Resisting the urge to go to him and ease the hurt in his heart, Katy made her stand. “Do you love her?” she quietly questioned. “No.” “Do you want to be with her and play daddy to your niece?” “No and yes.”

“One or the other, Simon.” “No. I don’t want to be with her: yes, I want to be a father figure to Olivia.” Of course Simon wanted to step into his dead brother’s shoes as far as his niece was concerned. She couldn’t hate him for that. But the widow was a whole other matter. “She’s using your guilt as a leash, Simon. As long as you allow her to hold it over your head, you’ll never be free of her.” “I know that.” He knew? “Then you’ve accepted it?” Jamming his fingers through his damp hair, he exhaled a long sigh. “It’s not like that.” “From where I’m standing it is.” She started to get dressed. His eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means,” she said as she hooked her bra, “That I’m not going to be with a man who is so clouded by guilt it’s adversely affecting my relationship with him.” “You’re the one putting Amanda between us, Kat, not me.” “Really?” She accused jerking on her shirt. “She calls, boom, you stop what you’re doing and answer. She wants you for something, you go running. How would you feel if the positions were reversed and I jumped every time Evan called?” Dark brows crowded together over angry green eyes. “You know you wouldn’t put up with it for one second, why should I? For crying out loud, I can still hear her down there after you told her to leave!” Katy shook her head, exasperated by the entire situation. “If she doesn’t mean anything to you, then cut her loose.” She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. The minute she did, she inwardly cringed. Simon stood stone-faced staring at her. Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled. If he wasn’t willing to put her first, then she needed to do it for herself. “You know what, Simon? I’m going to give you something I’ve never given any man in my life.” He cocked a brow. “What’s that?” “An ultimatum.” She zipped up her skirt, and then slid on her heels. “A choice, me or her, right here, right now.” “You want me to go down there and tell my brother’s widow to hit the road?” “I want you to tell her you belong to me. I want you to tell her to back up and back out.”

She grabbed her purse, tucked it under her arm, and stared pointedly at him. “Amanda is no threat to you, Kat.” “As long as she’s trying to sabotage our relationship and worm her way back into your bed via guilt trips or flat out seduction, she’s a threat.” Raking her fingers through her hair, Katy finished. “I’m not asking you to choose, I’m asking you to draw a line.” He pushed off the door and stalked toward her. “No one tells me what to do, Kat.” She didn’t back down. “Perhaps it’s time someone did.” “This thing with Amanda is complicated.” “I can see that, Simon. Only you can un-complicate it.” His tight lips quirked at the corner. “You’re reading more into this than there is.” “I’m not reading anything into your side of this Simon, I believe you when you say you have no interest in her. It’s Amanda who needs to be set straight. And only you can do that.” The shattering of glass from the kitchen caused them both a moment’s pause. Simon shook his head. “I should have stopped this a long time ago but I just didn’t want to spurn Amanda and have her use Olivia as a pawn to get me back.” He tilted her chin up with his fingers. “You’re the last person on this earth I want to hurt.” He moved past her to his dresser and yanked out a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. Katy turned as he dropped the towel, not wanting to glimpse what she was afraid she may never savor again. But when he strode past her dressed in the PJs, yanked the door open and exited the room, she refused to force back the smile that twitched on her lips. Unable to help herself, Katy followed him out the door, but stopped short of going downstairs, hovering instead at the top of the landing. “Amanda,” Simon said his voice resolute. “Since you refuse to leave, we’re going to have that talk now.” “I don’t want to talk until that woman is gone.” “She’s not leaving, Amanda, you are.” “How dare you say that?” “I dare it because it’s been a long time coming.” “I don’t believe you.” “Believe it.” “But I need you, Simon.”

“No you don’t, you want me, and there’s a big difference.” “Of course I want you! I never stopped loving you, Simon. Even after you kicked me to the curb like an empty can.” “Love? We slept together twice, years ago. That’s not love.” “It is for me!” “Did you love Mark?” “In my way.” “In your way? Is that different from the way you love me?” “There’s in love and just loving,” she defended. Katy wasn’t buying it. Amanda didn’t love her husband, she loved his brother. There was a long pregnant pause before Simon spoke. “We both know why you married Mark.” “I loved him!” “I loved him too, damn it! He was my fucking brother not some sloppy second means to an end!” The sound of a hand slapping skin shot through the air. “How dare you say that to me?” “Because it’s true and you know it. Shame on me for allowing my guilt over Mark’s death to let you take advantage of me and my mother and use Olivia as your leverage to make us jump.” “You murdered my husband! You owe me damn it! You owe Olivia, too!” Katy held her breath at the horrid accusation. “I am responsible for my brother’s death,” Simon quietly said. The pain in his voice squeezed her heart. “I’ve never denied that, Mandy, and my guilt is my own to bear. I live with it every God damn day. And when I do step away from the guilt for even one second, you’re always there to remind me what I did.” “Simon, I don’t mean to, I love you,” she mewled. “I don’t love you, Amanda. I never did, you need to let it go.” “So that’s it? You’re abandoning us? Your own blood?” “I’m not abandoning you, I’m no longer allowing you to guilt me into putting my life on hold every time you want me to jump through hoops.” “You’ll never see Livy again.” When Amanda spoke, Katy gasped. Simon called it. What a

bit— “Don’t threaten me, Amanda, my friends are more powerful than yours.” “You forget what I have on you, Simon,” she sneered. “Stay out of my business,” he menacingly said. Amanda laughed, the sound reminiscent of the evil queen in Snow White. “Your little Kat is panting you for now, but do you think that’s going to be the case once she and I have a little chat?” “Don’t go near her.” “You can kiss her goodbye, and you can kiss Olivia goodbye too.” Simon’s voice became dangerously low. “Do not keep that little girl away from the people she loves just because you can’t have your way.” “I hate you,” she spat. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” He sounded as if he were walking away from her. “Simon, please, I need you!” she screamed. “I can’t—I can’t do this alone,” Amanda sobbed. She was so effective, Katy actually felt sorry for her, then annoyed with herself because she did. “You’re not alone,” Simon said earnestly. “You’re surrounded by a loving family. Just open your eyes and look around.” A long pause. “And Amanda? Stop waiting for me. I told you years ago I was never coming back.” Katy cringed. If Simon ever said those words to her, it would crush her. She couldn’t imagine how Amanda must feel at that moment. She didn’t want to feel sorrier for her, but she did. Loving Simon was heartbreak hotel. “You promised Mark you would take care of me,” Amanda cried. “I didn’t promise him I’d marry you.” “How could you do this to him?” “Leave my brother out of this!” Simon roared, finally losing his patience. “How can I when you killed him!” “Do you think he would have been here that day if you hadn’t told him his big brother fucked you first? Did that give you some sick sense of satisfaction?” “Of course not.”

“Why’d you do it, Amanda? Why, after we agreed to never do it, why did you tell him?” “Because he wasn’t you! He never was!” “You’re a cold-hearted bitch, Amanda.” Katy cringed at the icy contempt in Simon’s voice. “I’m that way because you made me that way!” “You’re right, I did. I allowed you come and go in my home, I allowed you to cry on my shoulder any time, day or night. I even let you pretend we had a normal life even when we both knew it was our way of dealing with Mark’s death. Yeah, I’m responsible for pulling the rug out from beneath your fantasy world and my denial. My bad for thinking I was helping both of us. I see now I wasn’t.” The sound of the front door opening was music to Katy’s ears. “Just remember, Simon, I know things.” The slamming of the door made Katy jump in her tracks. She stood silent for a long time, wanting to go to the hurting man downstairs, but Amanda’s words halted her. What did she know that was so damning to Simon? That he felt responsible for his brother’s death was out in the open. He’d told her that in Napa. Not the details but that he ‘killed’ him. In her heart, Katy knew it wasn’t intended, and as much as she wanted Simon to open up and trust her enough to tell her what happened, she refused to push that topic with him. He would tell her when he was ready. Did Amanda think Katy didn’t know that Simon and she had been lovers? Simon was not a criminal, so what else was there? Her need to comfort the man she loved hurried Katy down the stairs to him. She stopped short when she saw Simon standing with his fists planted on the island. The hard muscles of his back worked as he clenched and unclenched his hands. Lightly, she touched his shoulder. Starting, he turned around and grabbed her hand in a defensive move. “Simon!” she gasped. His tortured eyes held the world’s sorrows in them. “Simon,” she breathed wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his thumping heart. His body stiffened. “I feel like a piece of shit right now, Kat.” “I don’t know what happened to your brother, Simon, but I do know you loved him.”

“I fuck things up, Kat. Even when I think I’m doing the right thing for the right reason, it backfires.” She moved away, and spun him around. Okay, she didn’t actually spin him, but she forced him to turn around and face her, then she got up on her toes and in his face. “‘I fuck things up, Kat,’” she repeated. “You sound like a whiny little girl.” She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “Where is that hot captain who relentlessly pursued me until I gave in?” “He’s wondering if he should have left you alone.” “Oh, no you don’t. I know you’re hurting, Simon. I know you feel like you screwed up, but you didn’t. You forced me to talk about my issues, and stood by me when I did, now I’m turning the tables. Let me do the same for you. Trust me like I trusted you. Tell me everything, Captain West. Tell me now before I beat it out of you.” A spark lit his eyes. “I’d like to see you try.” She pressed full into him. “Don’t underestimate me. It will be your undoing.” He slid his arms around her and pulled her harder against him. His erection said a forceful hello. But he didn’t kiss her or make any other sexual move. Instead, he rested his chin on the top of her head, and said, “I do fuck things up, Kat. It’s why I’ve never been able to maintain a long-term relationship in my entire life.” She didn’t believe him. The Simon she knew may fuck things up, but not because he was an unrighteous bastard. Quite the opposite. Pulling back to look up at him she asked, “How long have you been a cop?” “Twelve years.” “And before that, what did you do?” “Four years in the Army.” “That’s two long term relationships.” “I meant emotional ones.” “You love your niece and she loves you.” His eyes softened. “She doesn’t know any better. Yet.” “That’s bull. Have you ever been in a committed relationship?” “Like exclusive, you have a drawer at my place and I have one at yours, committed relationship?” “Yes.”

“Not until you.” “How long has your brother been dead?” He stiffened and tried to push her away, but she held on tight. “I won’t let you, Simon. You can’t push me away.” “Two years.” “How old is your niece?” “Five. He died two days after that picture on my laptop was taken.” “I’m so sorry.” He took the opportunity to move out of her imprisoning arms. He walked over to the coffee pot and poured two cups of coffee. Into one of the cups he stirred a healthy dose of creamer and handed it to her, the other he kept black. He took a sip, then looked at her, then looked past her toward the front door. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll walk out that door right now and never look back.”

few days ago, Simon’s words would have frightened her, but she’d come a long way since then and she was not about to let all that newfound confidence go to waste. “Do you want me, Simon?” “Yes, damn it.” “Then fight for me.” “I’ve never stopped fighting for you.” His green eyes mesmerized. Setting his cup down on the counter, he moved into her. Grasping her around the waist he lifted her up and perched her on the edge of the island. “Why is it, even when I’m angry at the world all I want to do is fuck you?” Lifting her legs slowly, she wrapped them around his naked waist, pulling him into her. “Because I’m so fuckable.” Sliding his big hand up her back and along her neck, he sunk his fingers into her thick hair and cupped the back of her head. He smiled, and lowered his head, but instead of kissing her, he rubbed noses with her. “If I remember correctly, your skirts don’t come with panties.” Katy smiled and nipped his bottom lip. Drawing it into her mouth, she licked it. Simon’s manly groan sparked desire low in her belly. “But they do come.” “Mmm, yes, they do.” He slid his tongue along her bottom lip then gently sucked it. Katy sighed as her body liquefied. Simon’s deep rasp of approval warmed her to her toes. He did that to her. “Simon,” Katy sighed.

“Shhh,” he said against her dewy skin. “I just wanted to say, thank you for putting me first.” His fingers tightened around the back of her head, and from beneath lowered lids she watched him close his eyes and sharply inhale. His body stilled. Except for the erratic thud of his heart against hers. Unease spiked along her spine. “Simon?” When he opened his eyes, she gasped. His expression, a complicated mixture of fear and regret, registered on the sharp planes of his face. “Simon?” she rasped. “You’re scaring me.” “You’re scaring me, Cinderella.” “How?” “You make me feel things, want things, fear things I’ve never faced before. It makes me uncomfortable as hell.” He shook his head. “It’s a hell of a lot easier not to get tied up in emotions.” She grabbed his chin when he made to look away from her. “It is easier, but it’s also lonely.” She brought his lips to hers and kissed him. “And so much more boring.” When he didn’t respond with his earlier passion she pulled away from him, then pushed him out of her arms. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Simon?” “I don’t want you to end up hating me for things in my past.” “Why would you say that?” “Because I don’t.” “Be specific, Simon. What have you done or will you do to cause me to not love you?” He visibly blanched at the “L” word. “Does the “L” word make you uncomfortable?” “All of this,” he made a hand gesture indicating the both of them. “Makes me uncomfortable.” It made her uncomfortable too, but in an excited terrified way. “You’re a big bad, cop, deal with it.” “I’ve killed men without flinching. I didn’t give a rat’s ass how they felt. I knew I was doing the right thing. With you, Cinderella, I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing.” He brushed her bangs from her eyes. “And I don’t want to mess this up.” “I think you’re being too hard on yourself.”

“You need to be harder on me.” “I’d like to say that I could never hate you, but I know that isn’t true because you have the power to hurt me more than any person alive. If you do hurt me? I’ll hate you for causing me such pain.” She shrugged and continued, “But like that saying goes, no pain no gain.” “What do you want to gain?” “I’m a greedy girl, Simon, I want everything.” “What if I can’t live up to your expectations?” “Then I drop you for the next hot guy that comes along and strikes my fancy,” she teased. He was not amused. Amanda’s threat as she exited Simon’s house, echoed in her brain. “What’s Amanda holding over you?” He laughed caustically. “Her misery.” “She’s in charge of her own happiness, Simon, that’s not your load to bear.” Though his features still remained tight, his eyes softened. “I don’t want you hate me for other reasons, Kat. Reasons I can’t explain right now.” “Oh, that sounds diabolic. Maybe part of your grand plan is to take me for all I’m worth?” She looked around at the well-appointed house. “Hmm, maybe not because it looks like even on a cop’s salary you’re doing ok. So I’m going to guess you aren’t using me for my money?” “I have plenty of money.” “Then maybe you’re using me for my friends in high places?” “Rosie terrifies me.” “Ah, then perhaps you’re using me for my research secrets?” His face tightened for just the briefest of seconds before it passed. She stiffened, wondering if she had hit a nerve. “If you want to know something about my research, Simon, just ask me.” “I’m not interested in your research.” “Then what?” “I want to know how a sexy little lab bunny like you has managed to get so far under my skin, that she’s making me second guess everything I say and everything I do?” “Maybe you do the same thing to her.” He reached out and slid his fingertips along her cheekbone. “You make me want to be a

better man, Katrina Winslow.” “And you, Captain West, make me want to be a bad, bad woman.” She slid off the counter top, and moved into him. Not touching him, she reached out and yanked the string tie to his flannel bottoms loose and pulled them down his thighs. His semierection thickened before her eyes. She dropped to her knees, and he groaned. “Shame on me, Simon,” she whispered. “For what?” he asked, his voice low and throaty. “All this time, all these orgasms between us, and never once have I tasted you.” She slid her fingertips along the underside of his thick shaft. The powerful pulse of his heartbeat thumped beneath her fingertip. His hard heat thrilled her. “I love that you get so hard so fast for me.” Grasping him at the base of his shaft, he groaned and, arms fully extended, he leaned backward, gripping the opposite counter edge. “Yes, Simon, like that, fully exposed and at my mercy.” She looked boldly up at him. “The only thing that would make this better for me is if you were tied up.” “Never going to happen,” he roughly said. Gently she stroked him. “Hmm, I’m intrigued that you are so adamantly opposed.” With her free hand she softly stroked his tight balls. “Jesus, Kat,” he ground. “I want to slam you down on the floor and fuck you into next week.” “Oh, that would be too easy for you,” she murmured as she slid the tip of her tongue around the base of his cock. He hissed in a sharp breath. She licked him higher, leisurely lapping him like a slowly melting ice cream cone. As she wrapped her tongue around the sensitive skin just below the wide head, she sucked him there, flicking her tongue. “Kat,” he sighed, his voice quaking. She licked a long slow trail around his head then slowly sucked him into her mouth, sliding her tongue in languid swirls around the plump warmth of him. His salty precum added lubrication, and inch by inch she sucked him until she took him all the way in, the head of his cock sliding down her throat. His balls tightened as she continued to stroke them. His muscled thighs constricted as his fingers dug into her hair. His loud groans of pleasure had her soaking wet and nearly coming while on her knees. She loved that she excited him so thoroughly. She loved that she could work him up so quickly and so passionately. She loved

the power she wielded over him, not only sexually but emotionally. But it was a two way street. Because while he was at her mercy, she was also at his. “Kat,” he moaned roughly. He thrust into her mouth, her saliva offering more than enough lubrication so that when he drove deep into her, she didn’t gag from his size. His hot, hard heat filled her mouth. “That feels so damn good.” His hips drove relentlessly against her. To steady herself, she grabbed his thighs then reached around and dug her nails into his hard ass. “Jesus!” he cried. She sucked hard at each of his thrusts, taking all he had to give, loving that she drove him this crazy. Digging her nails deeper into him, she held on as his hips rocked. His breath was loud and ragged, her pussy was on fire, she wanted him inside of her, she wanted— His fingers tightened around her head, pulling her hair, holding her against him. His dominance over her made her wetter. She moaned as his cock slid in and out of her mouth. “You like it when I control you?” he breathlessly asked. Caught up in the moment, she nodded careful not to hurt him. “Get on all fours,” he roughly said. When she hesitated, he pulled her head away, reached down and scooped her up. In three long steps he set her down on the carpet in the living room. “All fours, now.” “Simon,” she gasped not relishing their disconnect. But even as she protested, she dropped to all fours. “Quiet, Cinderella,” he softly commanded, “Pull your skirt up and turn around. I want to see your honeyed cunt.” “But—,” Unsure where he was going with his commands, she gazed up at him. The passion in his eyes held hers. “Do you trust me, Kat?” he softly asked. “Yes,” she breathed flicking the short skirt up over her backside. His eyes burned with passionate fire as she exposed herself. Despite being on all fours, Katy felt empowered. He wanted what she had, and he would do almost anything to have it. More than that, she would do anything to give it to him. He bent down and swatted her exposed bottom. “Then do as I say,” he dangerously crooned, “Or I’ll take you over my knee.” The thought scandalized her as much as it titillated her. He must have caught the gleam in

her eye, because his lips turned up into a wicked smile. “Would you like that, Kat? You spread out over my knees as I spank that sweet little ass of yours silly with one hand and finger you with the other?”

he could barely admit to herself, much less Simon, that the thought thrilled her. What was wrong with her that the thought of Simon’s big palm spanking her tender bottom while he slid his finger in and out of her as she shamelessly begged him for more, made her nearly come on the spot? Simon dragged the string tie from his flannel bottoms and smiled as he moved in toward her. “Hands behind your back.” “Si-” “Now,” he growled, not waiting, he stood her up and pulled her arms behind her back then tied her hands at the wrists. Gently he picked her up and moved across the room to a large ottoman. He sat down and with her prone on his lap, he nudged her head down and lifted her ass up, spreading her knees so that she was completely exposed. “You’re soaking wet,” he roughly said. “Simon,” she breathlessly begged. Gently he rubbed his big hand across her sensitive bottom. “Tell me what you want, princess, and I’ll give it to you.” “I want—,” She held back. How did you tell a man like Simon West you wanted all of him to yourself? His fingers tightened along her skin. “Tell me.” She moaned as his fingers dug in deeper, then slid between her ass cheeks to her slick cleft. “God, Simon,” she gasped. She’d never been as engorged as she was at that moment.

He spanked her bottom with his right hand then slid his left across the afflicted flesh. “Tell me, Katrina, what do you want?” Her body tightened when she realized she wasn’t brave enough to tell him, something that disappointed her even as she wanted what the penalty for her silence would be. She rubbed her bottom against his hand. He spanked her again. “That’s cheating.” He spanked her again, this time harder. “Simon,” she gasped on the verge of exploding. His thick erection dug into her belly. Her juices seeped down the inside of her thighs to his. “You are so fucking wet.” He slid a thick finger along her seam, and she struggled against the ties, arching her back, offering him her wanton pussy, too shy to demand he have his way, any way he wanted with her, so long as she came hard and long. “Your cunt is begging me to fuck it, Kat. But not until you say the words…” He spanked her again, and this time his fingertips caught her swollen labia. She nearly came. “Simon—,” she pleaded. “God, please, make me come.” “Why?” “Because,” she gulped for air. “I love the way it feels.” He spanked her swollen lips, and cupped her firmly. “This is mine.” Squeezing her eyes shut, Katy held her breath. “Say it, Kat. Say your sweet little cunt belongs to me.” “M-my sweet cunt belongs to you, Simon.” “This is mine.” He nipped her ass cheek. He slid a finger deep into her, and she nearly jettisoned across the room. “This is mine.” “Yes, Simon, all of me, it’s all yours.” “I’ll never share you. You understand that, don’t you?” “Yesss.” God she wanted to come. “Don’t ever give me an ultimatum again, Kat.” Danger edged his words. She shivered violently, loving his boldness. “I will always keep you safe, never doubt that.” His words evoked such a strong reaction from her that she could barely breathe. “Never,” she breathlessly said. “Now tell, me Dr. Winslow, what do you want me to do to you?”

“Make me come.” “How?” “Finger me as you spank me.” “Spank what?” “My sweet cunt.” God she’d said it, and she meant it. As the words expelled from her mouth, she never felt so dirty, so in control or so turned on. “Jesus,” he groaned and did as she demanded. He spanked her hot bottom with one hand, catching her swollen lips as his talented fingers swept slowly back and forth along her seam in perfect cadence to his spanks. As each spank intensified, his finger sunk deeper into her pussy while his thumb gently penetrated her anus. Unable to stand the overload of sensation, wanting to get away but wanting more to stay, Katy ground her chest into his thighs. The steel hardness of his cock dug into her belly, and just as she was about to come, he lifted her from his lap, turned her around to face him and brought her down on his throbbing cock. She exploded around him before he buried himself balls deep into her. Impaled, she screamed as the orgasm racked through her in one tumultuous wave after another. He grabbed her by the back of the head, pulled her hair until she arched into him, and then lowered his lips to hers. As he came in a frantic release, he consumed her with a death defying kiss. Deep sobs erupted, filling her chest before escaping her lips. Hot, sweaty, with every nerve ending in her body on fire, Katy hung helpless in the enigmatic Captain’s arms, knowing there would never be another man on the planet that she trusted enough to do what she had just allowed Simon to do. As their breaths finally fell into a normal rhythm, Simon softly asked, “Are you okay?” “I think so,” she murmured. “Are you?” “I don’t know.” His fingers deftly untied the string binding her wrists, and as she worked the kinks out of her shoulders he helped her by rubbing them. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.” Shaking the hair from her face, she smiled sheepishly. “You didn’t do anything to me I didn’t want you to do.”

“I wish you could have seen the way your ass pinkened each time I spanked it or the way your pussy swelled and glistened with each stroke of my hand.” He caught her lips in a slow kiss. “I’m getting hard again just thinking about it.” “Next time, I get to tie you up.” “Not going to happen,” he adamantly said. She sat back and cocked her head. “I trusted you not to hurt me, Simon, don’t you trust me?” “I trust you, Cinderella, it’s just not my thing.” “Have you ever tried it?” She prayed he had not. “No.” “Have you ever spanked a woman before?” “You’re my first.” She smiled sheepishly. “And you liked it?” “I loved how excited it got you.” He smiled. “Have you—” “No, I’ve never come close. I’ve never trusted a man the way I trust you, Simon.”

he shrill ring of the telephone on the kitchen counter yanked them back to reality. When Simon made no move to answer, Katy nudged him. “Whoever it is will leave a message or call back,” he hoarsely said. When Simon’s deep voice on his voicemail message instructed the caller to leave a message, the frantic voice of a female did just that. “Simon, it’s Mom. Amanda is here and she’s threat—” Simon was up and answering the phone in an instant. “What’s going on?” Katy could hear the frantic tone of his mother’s voice but not the words. “Ok, settle down, let me talk to her.” Simon’s voice was calm, but measured. Suddenly cold, Katy smoothed her skirt back into place and wrapped her arms around herself. Her gaze caught and held Simon’s worried eyes. “Amanda?” he said. Striding toward Kat, he pulled her into the protective embrace of his left arm. That he kept her close to him despite what was going on made her feel wanted and secure. “Amanda, stop!” he commanded. “Stop now or I’ll have you 5150’d before you can take two steps out of there.” “How dare you!” Amanda shrilled. “Try me.” He tightened his grip on Kat. There was silence on the other end of the phone, then Simon’s mother spoke again. “Simon,” she said. “I need you here.”

“Now?” “Now.” “Okay. Give me a few minutes and I’ll head over.” Katy felt as if the air had been kicked out of her lungs. She didn’t want him to go, but she didn’t want to be selfish either. Simon nudged her chin up to look at him. “My mom is fifteen minutes from here. I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her soundly on the lips, sprinted up the stairs, and came back down a few minutes later dressed in worn blue jeans, a white tee shirt and running shoes. “Don’t go anywhere, princess!” he said over his shoulder as he left the house. Two hours later, Simon had not returned and he had not called. She felt foolish. She called a cab, and as they headed north on 101 toward the city, her foolishness turned to anger. This was not how she wanted her life with Simon to be. Always at Amanda’s beck and call. And this was all Amanda’s doing. The wily sister-in-law knew Simon’s mom would call him and he’d leave Katy in order to come running. So who had him now? Another hour later Katy stood in front of her building. Still no call from Simon. It had been three hours since he’d left. So much for being right back. Overnight bag in hand, bypassing the elevator, Katy walked up the stairway to her apartment. Just as she was about to open her door she remembered the mess the feds had left her apartment in. Not what she wanted to come home to. Expelling a long breath she unlocked her door and prepared to roll up her sleeves and get to work. Instead, she stopped short. Everything in the foyer was in its place. As she walked through her apartment, she smiled. Her entire apartment was spotless. Everything exactly where it should be. Only one person had access to her apartment and that same person knew her way around it almost as well as she did. Rosie was the best. Katy jumped in the shower. When she stepped out, dripping wet, she checked her phone; no call from Simon. Scowling, she dried off, threw on a pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt then headed down the hall to her friend’s apartment. Rosie’s husband Elliot answered with a smile. “Hello, doll,” he brightly said, reaching out and giving her a big hearty hug. For such a slight man, Elliot gave hugs that rivaled a bear’s. “Hi, Elliot,” she said. Smiling against his shoulder, she hugged him back. “Where is that crazy woman you married?”

He laughed and stepped back. “She’s down at the Co-Op Market, she’ll be back soon.” He ushered her in and closed the door. “I was just fixing myself a chai, would you like one?” “No, thank you. I just popped in to thank Rosie for cleaning up my place. I was dreading coming home to that mess.” “She was happy to do it. But she cursed your ex every minute she was in there.” He chuckled. “I can’t ever remember my wife wanting to do such gross bodily harm to a person before.” Katy shivered wondering how she could have been so blind and foolish. “He deserves it. And he’s going to get his due. Do you know where Rosie put my laptop?” “It’s in the potato box in the pantry under the stacked newspaper. I’ll get it for you.” “Fix your tea, Elliot, I’ve got it.” After digging through the mountain of neatly stacked newspapers, Katy smiled as she pulled her aluminum foil, saran wrapped laptop from the bottom of the box. “She thought if the feds came busting in here they’d think it was something other than the obvious,” Elliot explained, rolling his eyes. “I should have never asked Rosie to take it. I wasn’t thinking how it could compromise you. I’m sorry.” “Not to worry, doll. You’re like a daughter to us. Feds mess with you, they mess with us.” He smiled and raised his tea cup. “Now tell me how you really are.” Katy inhaled deeply, and then slowly let it go. “Angry, confused, in love and frustrated.” “Whoa, go back to the in love part.” “Oh, c’mon, Elliot, I’m sure Rosie told you all about my hot cop. He drives me crazy!” “Want me to have a talk with him?” “It’s not him; it’s his crazy, widowed sister-in-law. She’s got a thing for him and she’s using her daughter to control him and it’s driving me up the wall.” “A good man stands by his family, Katrina.” “I know,” she groaned. “I want to be mad at him, I am mad at him, but I’m madder at her.” “Tell him how you feel then give him some time and space to come to his own conclusion on how to handle it.” “I did, sort of. At least the telling him how I feel part. Not so much the giving him some time and space, but that’s not what he seems to want from me.”

His grey eyes softened. “Rosie says he’s as dominant and high strung as a stallion. A man like that needs his head and your patience. Pull him back and he’ll bolt for sure.” Katy giggled. Stallion? Leave it to Rosie. “He’s um, high strung for sure.” And dominant. Warmth sluiced through her veins. She missed him. Damn Amanda! Maybe Katy needed to have a heart-to-heart with the wily widow? Tucking her laptop under her arm, Katy kissed Elliot’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy, for the advice. And for keeping an eye on my laptop. And for your amazing wife.” “Anytime, doll,” he said. Two minutes later as Katy walked into her apartment she heard the Hawaii Five-O ring tone she assigned to Simon. Rushing for her phone, she tripped on the edge of the living room carpet and nearly face planted into the wall. By the time she had recovered, the ring stopped. She had several texts from him. The first one was ten minutes ago. Where are you? Two minutes after that one: Answer the question. A minute after that one: You’re pissing me off now. Five minutes later: Is this your way of punishing me? Damn it Kat, pick up! Her voicemail chirped. Katy listened to the message Simon just left. “Katrina, I have enough bullshit to deal with at the moment, I don’t need you playing evasive games with me right now. When I call you, I expect you to answer.” He hung up. For a long minute Katy stood staring in disbelief at her phone. The simmering anger from his texts overflowed with his voicemail. Was she expected to be at his beck and call? She wasn’t some trained bitch to drop whatever she was doing when he snapped his fingers, damn it! He was the one who left, said he’d be right back and here it was nearly four hours later and he was just now calling her? Bull. Angrily, she texted him: For your information, Simon I was down the hall NOT ‘punishing’ you. Excuse me for not taking my electronic leash with me! That was all the explanation he was going to get. She tossed her phone onto the sofa, picked up her laptop and strode into the kitchen where she set it down on the table and began

to unwrap it. She ignored the chirps of her cellphone alerting her to numerous texts. Grrr, finally she got up, strode into the living room, picked the cell up from the sofa where she had tossed it, and without looking at what he wrote she texted: NOW I’m punishing you. Not for abandoning me, but for your bullying texts and voicemail! A minute later Simon’s ring tone alerted her. “Hello,” she curtly said, wishing she had the will to completely ignore him. “Where are you?” his deep angry voice demanded. Just hearing him, despite her frustration, sent shivers bouncing along her skin. She envisioned him standing in his kitchen, his tight ass wrapped in those snug jeans, barefoot and shirtless. Her body parts tingled. It was hard to stay mad at Captain West. “My kitchen.” “Why did you leave?” he softly asked. His husky voice had changed from angry to concerned and with it she melted a little more. “Why didn’t you come back?” She threw at him. “I had a lot to straighten out.” So did she. “I have a lot to do to prepare for Veronica.” “Liar.” Running her fingers through her damp hair, Katy sat down on the sofa. “Simon, I do have a lot to do, and so do you.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I think—I want us to take a few days to collect ourselves and regroup.” “I’m collected.” “I’m not.” “So you’re going to turn into Houdini again?” Her spine stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means when the going gets tough, Katrina Winslow disappears.” “Don’t even pretend to know me that well, Simon!” “I know you better than you know yourself.” “You’re arrogant to think so!” “Am I?”

“Knowing how I like to come doesn’t mean you know the essence of who I am.” “Oh, there you are very wrong, princess. Knowing how you like to come exposes your essence.” His voice dropped several octaves. “And I love your essence.” “It’s just sex.” “It’s much more than sex, don’t try to pretend it isn’t.” “Ok, it’s really good sex.” “Is that all I am to you then, a good time?” She wanted to be so much more to him. “You know you’re more than that.” “Then let me up.” “Go home, Simon.” “Where you are is home.”

er heart lurched against her chest. Katy closed her eyes fortifying herself against Simon’s potent persuasion. “Don’t.” “Don’t what?” “Don’t use words like that to get under my skin.” “I mean them. Now buzz me up or I’ll kick this damn door in.” He would too. She buzzed him up. She couldn’t remember if she locked her front door or not. Just as she walked toward it, Simon strode in with a garment bag over his shoulder and a small leather duffel in his right hand. He tossed both onto the Dante divan, shut the door soundly behind him, locked it then turned cagey eyes on her. “When I tell you to stay put, you stay put.” “You can’t tell me what to do.” He stalked closer, like a panther watching, taunting, anticipating his prey to bolt so that he could chase it down and ravish it. “I can. You know why? You like it.” “Not in everything.” “No, just everywhere that counts.” Warmth infused her nether parts. “Don’t touch me, Simon,” she cautioned as she backed up. She needed to know she could control him and herself. “I’m not going to lay a finger on you.” Her chest rose and fell in shallow heaves. She swallowed. “You’re not?”

“No.” She swallowed hard again. “Good, because I have work to do.” He looked past her to the laptop. “You’re breaking the law by having that.” “So arrest me,” she challenged. His green eyes blazed. “I should.” She held out her arms, wrists together. “I dare you.” “Do you want me to cuff you and take you in?” “Cuff me, maybe...” She hid her smile when Simon’s eyes dilated at her words. She didn’t know why she taunted him except that she never had a real say in what happened between them. Even sadder, she wasn’t sure she even wanted one and that couldn’t be healthy. “Taunt me with one and I’ll do both.” She shook her head and dropped her arms, disappointed that he didn’t turn her around, hook her up, bend her over the sofa and have his way with her. The image her mind conjured, of him roughly taking her from behind as she dug her nails into the sofa fabric, shook her. Breathless she said, “No you won’t.” If he did, it would only prove that when it came to sex with Simon West, Katy was powerless to resist him. Did it matter that she was angry or hurt? Apparently not. “When it comes to you, Cinderella, I never know what I’m going to do until I do it.” “Me either.” Sucking in a deep breath she exhaled in a slow measured breath. He smiled his wickedest smile. “It seems like we have the same problem when it comes to keeping our hands off each other.” “I hate that even when I want to smack you, I want you to pin me up against the wall and…” Her cheeks heated. He moved in so close the warmth of his body cocooned her. But he didn’t touch her. “And what?” Digging her fingers through her hair, Katy moved away from him. “Everything, damn it!” she cried. Then softly, “Everything.” Feeling vulnerable by her addict-grade attraction to him, she whirled around and heatedly said, “I don’t want to end up like Amanda!” Oh, my God, she’d actually said that. He scowled. “If you mean a widow, I’m not planning on dying any time soon.” “Oh, my God Simon, that’s not what I meant! I don’t want you to drop me like yesterday’s

news. Ever! I don’t want to grovel or become a pathetic excuse for a woman when you do.” His eyes darkened to a stormy jade. “I didn’t drop Amanda because we were never a thing to start with.” “What were you then?” “She was a one night stand that turned into a two night stand. I never made her one single promise. She knew from the start I wasn’t looking for a relationship.” “Just a hook up?” “Yes.” “You seem to hook up with a lot of women who can’t accept that you’ve moved on, Simon. I don’t want to be part of that club.” “So you think you’re going to cut me loose before I do it to you?” She cringed at his abrupt words. But she made a spur of the moment decision and nodded. “Yes.” She did not want to become an Amanda clone. And she would, hell, she already was one. Ha, and here she’d thought she had come so far in the self-respect department. She’d regressed. He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her hard against his chest. “The hell you are. We’re going to ride this one out together, princess, and if that ride takes us around the world and we’re still crazy about each other then we’ll go again and again until we both want off.” “What if I never want off?” He stared at her. When he didn’t respond, she put it all on the line. “I want a family, Simon, not an E ticket ride at Disneyland.” Slowly he grinned. “Stick with me, kid, and maybe I’ll give you both.” Katy’s belly plummeted. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying, I want what you want and I’m willing to give it a shot, but I don’t want to rush things.” “But what if someone better than me comes along?” Ugh, did she just say that? How embarrassing. “There’s no one better for me than you.” His grip loosened and his big hands slid down her back to rest on her ass cheeks. “Now, if you don’t back up and crack open that laptop, I am going to pin you against that wall and do everything to you.” She returned his smile. “Maybe that’s what I want you to do.”

“Maybe I do, too, but right now, I want to help you put together the information you promised Veronica.” “Won’t you get in trouble?” “Let me see what you have and then I can answer that.” As she finished unwrapping her laptop, hugely relieved to see her flash drive still inserted, Simon said, “I could eat a horse, Kat, how about we order some of that great pizza?” “Mmm, that sounds good. The number’s on the menu in the drawer to the right of the sink.” As he ordered enough pizza to feed an army, Katy booted up her laptop. As she waited for it to load, she said to Simon, “I um, managed to get a copy of Evan’s texts.” “I don’t want to know how.” “I couldn’t tell you anyway.” He raised a dark brow as he sat down beside her at the kitchen table. “Kaaat?” She shrugged and brought up the flash drive files with the copied texts and turned the screen toward him. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” Scooting her chair around beside his, she pointed to the cypher-text. “I haven’t figured out what he’s based his code on, but once I do it’ll be simple enough to crack.” Simon expanded the first line. “What was that douche into?” “Like a hobby?” “Hobby, work, personal.” “Evan was a total geek with expensive taste.” “What did he bring to the lab?” “Chemistry.” Simon smiled at her. “Aren’t all of you scientists chemists?” “Yes, but Evan was a molecular chemist.” “Which means?” “He worked on genotyping. It’s the process of determining the variations in an individual’s DNA by comparing it to a DNA reference sequence.” “How did that tie in with what you were doing?” “It plays an important part in the study of viruses and bacteria which can either improve treatments or develop better ones.”

“But you were working on cancer gene research not viruses or bacteria.” “He was fascinated with my sequencing research and we were good sounding boards for each other.” Simon scowled. “Yeah he was fascinated with more than your sequencing.” Katy warmed. She knew jealousy was a new emotion for Simon. And while he didn’t like to feel it, she was kind of glad he did. “Are you jealous, Simon?” He closed his eyes, and when he opened them the green flared. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to leave you with him in that hotel room that night?” Her heart jumped hard against her chest. “I didn’t want you to leave.” “I stood outside your door for almost a half hour making sure you were okay.” “You did?” Her heart fluttered. “That was so sweet.” “I’m hardly sweet, Kat. When it got quiet, I left. Pissed I wasn’t the one in there with you.” Smiling she stood up and moved behind him. Wrapping her arms around his rigid shoulders she snuggled up against his back. “Trust me, you were still in there with me. And Evan knew it. Totally infuriated him.” Simon pulled her arms down as he turned in the chair bringing her onto his lap. Clasping the back of her head with his big hand he brought her lips to his. “If I ever see him again, I’m going to hurt him.” “Oh, Simon,” she purred, sliding her lips across his. “He’s not worth the trouble.” His lips opened possessively, taking control of hers. His arms tightened around her, as his kiss deepened. She loved this side of him. Possessive. Strong. His hand slid down her waist to her hips then beneath the little cammie top she was wearing. Her sensitive skin flushed warmly beneath his touch. Softly she moaned, tightening her arms around his neck. As his fingers traced across her hard nipples, Katy moaned again and arched, giving him greater access. Just as he slid his hand beneath her bra, his cell phone rang. It was a new ring tone, a caustic beep beep, and by the stiffening of his body, she knew it wasn’t a call he wanted to take. He ignored it. But Katy couldn’t. “Simon.” “It’s Amanda.”

xhaling loudly, Katy pushed off Simon, grabbed the phone and answered, “Simon can’t come to the phone at the moment.” “Uncle?” a little girl’s voice excitedly said. Katy’s belly dropped. How was she supposed to compete with an innocent five year old? “Hold on, sweetie, I’ll get him for you,” she carefully said and handed the phone to a baffled Simon. “What?” he said, exasperated, expecting Amanda. “Oh, Livy!” he excitedly said. Katy’s heart melted as she watched Simon’s features go from hard to soft and loving in the space of one heartbeat. Her womb did a funny little hippity hop. The sudden and unexpected urge to make a baby with Simon caught her off guard. She wanted a family, she had told Simon as much earlier, but she hadn’t meant anytime soon…or had she? Kids had always been one of the things she had hoped to have but never with a specific man in mind. Until now. As she watched and listened to Simon speak so animatedly to a little girl who loved him like she loved her daddy, Katy realized no matter how long she was with Simon, Amanda would always be a part of their lives. Good or bad, she was Olivia’s mother and they were a package deal. “I want to see you too, pumpkin,” he softly said. “How about if I pick you up from school tomorrow and we have lunch at CoCo’s?” Delighted squeals erupted from the phone. Simon grinned at Katy. She got all gooey inside when he said, “I have a friend I want you meet. You’ll like her as much as I do.”

A split second later, Amanda’s shrill voice blasted from his cell phone, “Absolutely not! I forbid you to bring that woman anywhere near, Olivia!” Gentle Simon morphed instantly into Don’t-Fuck-With-Me Man. “Go there with me, Amanda, and I’ll sic Veronica on you.” “You wouldn’t dare!” “Try me.” Simon stood and walked into the living room. “I promised Livy I’d pick her up from school tomorrow, and that is exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll bring her by HQ at 4 when you get off.” HQ? She must have acquiesced because Simon said, “Thank you.” He hung up and tossed his phone onto the sofa. For a long moment he stood rigidly still, staring out the window at the setting sun. “It’s Morse code,” he said. “What?” Katy said standing up. She wanted to know what Amanda had said and what HQ was. Simon turned around and strode toward her. “The cypher is in Morse code.” “Slow down, cowboy, first tell me what’s going on tomorrow.” “I’m taking a half day off, and picking my niece up from school at one, taking her out to lunch at her favorite place and then probably taking her shopping for more dolls.” “That sounds like a lovely day.” And Katy would love to join them. “I’d like you to come with me, Kat, and meet the other woman in my life.” Katy smiled so big her cheeks hurt. “I’d love to.” “Good. Now, let’s see about cracking duffus’s Morse code texts.” As they sat back down at the kitchen table, Katy asked, “What’s HQ?” “Headquarters.” “Like in your police headquarters?” Simon looked up from the laptop screen. “Yes, Amanda is the county’s task force liaison between other county, state and federal agencies.” Jealousy dug its nasty claws into her. So Amanda knew the ins and outs of Simon’s job, and was probably considered one of the ‘guys,’ while she, Katy was a complete outsider. “So she’s not only your ex-lover and your sister-in-law, but she’s also a coworker.”

Simon’s jaw tightened. “Yes.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Because it’s irrelevant to how I feel about you.” “But what if—” “—things were reversed?” he abruptly interrupted. “Yeah, it would bug me. No, it would piss me the hell off, but then I’d have to get over it and trust you when you say that you’re over it.” He leaned into her. “Because if I kept obsessing about you working with an old flame who wanted back into your panties, it would drive me crazy and fuck up what I had with you because you would get tired of reassuring me that I had nothing to worry about.” Katy’s lips parted as she was about to throw a sarcastic rejoinder at him but she bit her tongue. He was right of course. And she felt foolish. Instead she looked at the laptop screen and said, “Morse code is too archaic—too simple. Evan’s self-absorbed brain would have made it much more complicated.” “Morse code may be archaic but it’s not dead. You’d be surprised how much it’s still used today.” “Do you know it?” “Damn straight. My dad used to tap out our chores for the day in code on the table with a spoon to me and my brother every morning. We had to decipher what he told us before we could leave for school. The Army taught it as well.” Simon looked around the kitchen. “Do you have a pen and paper?” Katy pulled out the drawer next to the sink and took out a pen and a legal pad handing them to Simon. Quickly he went about writing the message. His brows furrowed. “It’s code but not English.” “I knew he wouldn’t make it so simple,” Katy said going back to the computer screen. Thinking out loud, she said, “Evan was a chemist, so instead of another language what if he used coding sequences to spell out words then converted them to Morse code?” “What sequencing has an alpha pattern?” Katy thought about it. Nothing specific came to mind. “What about a periodic table?” Simon suggested. Brilliant! “Yes, the elements!” she sat down and looked at the words Simon had written

down. “They’re too short.” “Maybe he abbreviated?” “We used shorthand for all of our written notes! I bet that’s it, Simon, he used the periodic table for his letters, but wrote the words in shorthand then converted them to Morse code!” “Genius.” Katy smiled smugly and tapped her temple with her index finger. “This is your genius right here, baby. Evan’s IQ is fifteen points below mine.” Simon smiled and soundly kissed her. “I’m a total sapiosexual.” “Oh, Simon,” she sighed, batting her eyelashes. “You know just the right words to make a girl swoon.” They laughed then started when the downstairs door buzzed. “Pizza!” Simon said, pushing out of his chair and jogging to the front door to buzz the delivery guy up. Two hours later, stuffed from pizza, and brain drained but smug, Katy and Simon toasted. Evan’s texts had been cracked and oh what a plethora of information they held. “I can’t believe this, Simon. Evan had us all fooled. I’ll bet this latest transaction of his, selling my research patent, is just the tip of the iceberg.” When his face tightened, she blinked. “What’s wrong?” “You cannot discuss this with anyone.” “I won’t. You can have it all.” “Problem is I can’t use any of this.” “Now’s a hell of a time to tell me that! Why not?” “Because I knowingly abetted you.” “No you didn’t!” “I didn’t confiscate your subpoenaed laptop, Kat. I should have. In so doing or not doing, for the purpose of using this evidence in a court of law, I can’t.” “But I gave it to you of my own free will.” “But you used an illegal app to obtain it, an arrestable offense, and then you knowingly and willfully violated a subpoena.” “So? I did it, not you, and I’ll take the hit.” Simon stood up and began pacing the kitchen.

“Absolutely not. You’re staying out of this,” he resoundingly said. “What? Are you crazy? This is my reputation on the line! I’m not going to sit back and wait for it to go away. Why do you think I did what I did in the first place?” Simon shook his head, and stopped his pacing to look hard at her. “You have no idea the enormity of something like this, Kat.” A harsh chill rent her body. “Wha-what do you mean?” “International espionage. Billions of dollars are at stake here. Not to mention national security.” He swiped his hand across his chin. “And innocents like you who know too much are disposed of.” “You’re scaring me, Simon.” “Good, I want you scared, especially if it keeps you from doing something stupid like spying on Evan.” “If I hadn’t done what I did, you wouldn’t know what you know. Now you’re the smart ass cop who’s going to find a way to use this evidence, legally so you can put Evan and his friends away and I can go back to work!” “I want you to pack up and stay at my place for a few days.” Ignoring his request, Katy’s mind ran with ways Simon could legally use the information she had illegally obtained. “What if I print these texts out and drop them off at HQ? Then you can say an anonymous source tipped you off, make the arrests, bada bing bada boom, end of case.” “This is too incriminating not to use but I won’t take a chance of any of this being traced back to you. Now that I know the extent of Evan’s involvement, I’ll need a subpoena, which is going to take a few tricks and some smooth talking. I want this case to go to court and the only way we can use any of this information is if we obtain it legitimately.” Katy stiffened. “I wasn’t aware that you were that involved in this.” Simon’s eyes narrowed. “I became involved when you became involved.” Katy smiled feeling that little nag of trepidation disappear. “That first time I bumped into you, Simon, I knew I wanted something with you. I never imagined it would involve you standing in my kitchen helping me prove I’m not a thief.” Simon gathered her in his arms. “The first time I bumped into you I wasn’t thinking of the future, I was thinking of the expression that would be on your face when I sunk into you for

the first time.” Her heart thumped as she recalled that moment he took her from behind and she watched him in the mirror. “I relive that moment daily.” It was Simon’s turn to stiffen. “You still think about him?” he asked, an edge to his voice. Katy looked up. “About Evan?” He nodded curtly. “The only thing I think about is how much I can’t wait to see him go to jail.” “That’s not what I meant.” “I know it’s not what you meant, but seriously, Simon, asking me if I think of Evan in any other context than wanting to see him pay is like me asking you if you think of Amanda or Veronica or all of the other hundreds of women you’ve slept with.” His dark brows shot up to his hairline. “Hundreds?” She nodded and poked him in the chest. “Thousands then.” “Neither,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. “How many then? Roughly.” He smiled and shook his head. “That’s like asking me to pour gasoline on a fire.” “I want to know how many women you’ve slept with.” “Kat, c’mon.” “Ballpark.” He exhaled loudly. “I’m not the man whore you think I am. I don’t just fuck to fuck. Okay, I take that back, I have in the past, but I pick my partners with care. I can count on one hand the women I’ve picked up in bars.” Her cheeks warmed. “I picked you up in a bar.” “And I have never been so glad to be picked up.” “Have you ever, um, done it with more than one woman?” His full lips quirked. She rolled her eyes and tried to get out of his arms, but they tightened around her. “Don’t ask the question, Cinderella if you can’t handle the answer.” She stopped squirming. “Did you like it?” His eyes twinkled. “What do you think?” “That you liked it. A lot.” He kissed her nose. “It was a lot of work.”

“Yeah, but someone had to do it.” “Kitty Kat, why are you so interested in my past?” She shrugged. “Because it’s part of who you are.” “So what does my past say about me?” “That you like women, like to fuck, like the chase, like the adrenaline rush and you like variety and no moss grows under your bed.” “Is that a bad thing?” “Not for you, but from my perspective it makes one a little gun shy. It should be a foregone conclusion that there will be a woman behind me and one after her and so on.” “But what you have failed to realize is that I never felt for any of those women what I feel for you.” “Does that mean you trust me?” He nodded. “Completely.” “Then why haven’t you told me how your brother died and why you hold yourself responsible?”

aty regretted the words the instant they left her mouth. The light faded from Simon’s eyes and his big body sagged. “Because I relive it every time I talk about it.” Katy shook her head and swiped back the sudden rush of tears. His pain was palpable. She had caused it by pushing. “I’m sorry, Simon. Sometimes my stupid insecurities get in the way of my manners.” “Don’t be sorry, Kat. We’ll talk about it one day, I promise,” he softly said then walked over to where he had tossed his cell earlier. “I need to jump on that subpoena.” He made a few quick texts, and then said, “I need to go for a few hours. While I’m gone I don’t want you to leave this apartment. Pack your bags and when I return, you’re going home with me.” “I appreciate your concern, Simon, but I’d rather stay here tonight. I have a meeting with Veronica first thing in the morning, and a few errands to run if I’m going to make lunch with you and Olivia.” His eyes narrowed. “If the invitation is still open.” “Of course it is.” He moved back to the kitchen table and asked over his shoulder as he sat down at her laptop. “Other than the USB where else do you have those text files?” “My cell.” “Nothing here on your laptop?” “Just my research notes and personal stuff.”

“I want you to back up everything on this lap top then destroy the hard drive and your cell too.” “Why?” “Because I don’t want your cyber footprint anywhere near those texts.” “But—” His green eyes flashed fire. “No buts, just do it.” “Simon, you’re scaring me.” He stood and grabbed her by the arms. The hard angles of his face tightened. “You should be afraid, this information has global implications. If anyone knew you had this information, you’d be dead.” “I don’t understand. It’s just research to help sick people that he’s stealing and selling.” “And some of that research can kill millions with a single germ.” She gasped. “The bacterium lab break in?” Simon nodded. “There’s more but I can’t get into that right now, Kat. Just trust me when I tell you to destroy the hard drive and your cell.” “How do I do that?” “Get a drill from Rosie’s husband and drill the drive a few times, you can fry your phone or short it out.” “Okay.” He caught her up in his arms and kissed her soundly. “I won’t be gone long, but I’ll call SFPD and have them send over a uniform to keep an eye on your building while I’m gone. Don’t open the door to anyone you don’t know.” “I won’t.” Then he was gone. An hour later, with her laptop backed up on several flash drives, Katy strode down the hallway with it under her arm and knocked on Rosie’s door. When there was no answer, she frowned. That was odd. It was ten o’clock on a Sunday night. Usually the two of them were holed up in their living room watching Law and Order reruns. As she was walking back to her apartment, the elevator dinged as her floor number lit up. Her heart rate accelerated. Instinctively she knew it wasn’t Rosie or Elliot and it was too soon for Simon who didn’t have key to the front door of the building. She ran to her apartment

door and hurried in just as the elevator doors opened. Body shaking, she watched through the peephole as Evan stepped out. Clasping her hand over her mouth to keep her surprised gasp quiet, she shivered. He looked leaner. Meaner. A stranger. Her heart hammered against her rib cage. What did he want? Did he know she had stolen his texts? How did he get up here? Ugh, he still had the key to the downstairs door. When he knocked on her door, she jumped. “Katy?” he called when she didn’t open it. “It’s Evan. You remember me, don’t you?” His voice was rough, confident, and not very nice. It made her skin crawl to think of what she allowed this man to do to her. He knocked again, louder. “I know you’re in there. Open up, it’s vital that I speak with you.” Impatiently, he shifted from one foot to the other. Why wouldn’t he leave? Hugging the laptop to her chest, Katy choked back a gasp when she realized that Evan knew where she left her spare key in the planter by the elevator. He realized it the moment she thought it and made his way over to it. She hurried to her cellphone and quickly called Simon as she rushed back to the door. Grabbing an umbrella from the closet, she slid it through the door handles, then shoved her face back to the peephole and watched as Evan dug around the planter looking for the key. “Hello,” Simon’s deep voice said. Backing away from the door, Katy whispered. “He’s here, Simon, Evan’s trying to get in my apartment and he knows where I hide my key!” “Barricade the door then run to your bedroom. Lock the door then lock yourself in your bathroom, I’m sending men right now. Don’t hang up, baby, stay calm.” Hastily she dragged the kitchen table and chairs in and shoved them against the door then hurried to her bedroom, locked the door, then locked herself in the bathroom. “I’m locked in my bathroom.” “Good girl. Did you take care of what I told you to take care of?” “Elliot isn’t home.” “Do you have the items with you?”

“Yes.” “Fill the bathtub with a few inches of hot water, turn the devices on and dump them in the water.” Katy did as she was told. When it was done she got back on the phone. “Mission accomplished.” Loud banging on her door startled her. She screamed. “Those are my men, princess, open the door,” Simon calmly said. “Are you sure?” “One hundred percent.” Katy had never been so happy to see cops. Not that she didn’t like cops, she did, especially her hot cop, but sometimes cops had a way of being intrusive. They moved her kitchen furniture from the foyer back to where it belonged then settled her and reassured her she was safe. Just as she was about to ask the Sergeant where Simon was, he strode in. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. His commanding presence shadowed those of the uniformed officers. She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms and holding on for dear life. His warm strength and low reassuring words were the soothing balm she needed, but it also made her realize how vulnerable she was. What if Evan had broken in? If he knew what she’d done, he’d do anything to protect his own butt. According to Simon, he’d probably try to kill her, and she’d have no clue how to defend herself. “Did they catch him?” she asked. Shaking his head, Simon answered, “He must have taken the stairs when he heard the elevator bell. There was no trace of him when the officers arrived, with the exception that your door was unlocked and slightly ajar.” Katy pulled back and looked up at him. The strong column of his throat tightened. “I put an umbrella through the door handles on the inside.” She turned to where it lay on the tile near the front door. “He must have used the key, and slid it out,” Simon said. “There was no sign that he tried to force entry.” “He knew where it was in the planter,” she said. “I need to get my locks change tonight.”

“I had one of the uniforms call a locksmith, he’s on his way over now. Evan won’t be able to get into your apartment with a key. But the downstairs door is another story.” “It’s electronic. I should have had his key deactivated. I’ll have Rosie do it tomorrow.” She looked shyly up at him. “Would you like one?” “Key?” “Yes.” His features softened. “I thought you’d never ask” “We’re all clear, Capt’n.” One of the uniformed cops said. “Thanks for getting over here so quickly, Kinder.” “Just doing my job, Captain.” The cop nodded to Katy then headed out. “Those are San Francisco cops. Why do you call them ‘your guys’ if you work for Santa Clara County?” “We’re all on the same team, Kat.” “I thought you were going back to Santa Clara. Where were you?” “At the federal building, presenting my case for a subpoena.” “Oh.” She was no dummy, but—“So this thing with Evan, you’re personally working on the case?” “There’s been a task force in place for several years. Stone is one of several primary persons of interest.” “And you’re part of it?” “Of the task force, yes.” “Oh.” She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel about that. Did he suspect Evan before they had met? “Were you investigating Evan when we met?” “We were watching BioGen and had Genomtec on the radar.” “Oh.” Exhaling loudly, Katy was oddly relieved he had not been investigating Evan before they met. “Why didn’t you tell me all of this earlier?” “Aside from the fact that I’ve been working an undercover angle this past year, I didn’t want you involved. But things changed when you involved me,” he seriously said. And he was dead serious about his work. Gone was the teasing Simon she loved. In his place stood one

bad ass dude with a badge and gun. A knock on the door jarred them from their conversation. It was the locksmith. Simon gave him quick instructions and soon the elderly gent was changing the locks. “Excuse me,” Katy said to the grizzled grey haired man. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like two dead bolts and a heavy duty chain lock as well as replacing the existing locks.” Simon stood behind her and honestly said, “None of it would keep me out if I wanted you bad enough.” “Simon! You’re supposed to reassure me, not scare me.” “It’s the truth. I don’t know why Evan was here, but whatever the reason, it was no good. You’re safer at my place than you are here.” “I can’t go to your place tonight. I have to be at Veronica’s at nine. I don’t want to fight the 101 traffic tomorrow morning from your place when all I have to do is take a cab downtown from here. Maybe tomorrow night?” She was dying to ask him to stay the night with her. Instead she asked, “Are you going to arrest Evan?” “I think it’s better if we don’t show our hand just yet.” She didn’t like that Evan had come to her home. He wanted something from her and whatever it was, she was sure she didn’t want to give it to him. She shivered, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Simon pulled her into the warm cocoon of his embrace. “I don’t want you to worry, princess. No one is going to hurt you. I’ll die making sure that doesn’t happen.” Her heart did a funny thump-thump and she got all flushed at his gallantry, but then the vision of Simon’s cold lifeless body lying in a pool of his own blood chilled her to the bone. “Don’t say that even in jest!” “I’m not laughing, Kat.” Looking up into his fierce eyes, she bit back a cry of surprise. His primal aura scared her as much as it excited her. Heat pooled low in her belly. “Simon,” she breathed, “Stay with me.” “I’m not letting you out of my sight.” She hugged him tightly and wished the locksmith would hurry up.

ust after eleven that evening, Katy left Simon with the locksmith and went to bed emotionally exhausted. By the time Simon’s big warm body slid beneath the cool sheets beside her, the clock next to her bed indicated over an hour had passed. When he gathered her into his arms, she rolled over and pressed her lips into his neck. His pulse beat strongly beneath her lips. And just that easily, warmth flooded her. There was just something about Simon… “Simon,” she whispered against his warm skin. “Hmm,” he answered. “What’s going to happen?” “Before or after I ravish you?” She smiled against his neck. “You have a one track mind.” But then, so did she. “I can’t help where my mind goes.” “When you came striding in after the cops and took control, I just wanted to jump your bones.” “I always want to jump your bones.” She rose up on an elbow and looked at him, the soft moonlight wafting through the open curtains gently stroked his face. “You like being a cop?” He nodded without hesitation though a long release of breath came with it. “There are parts I don’t care for, but are necessary to close a case. Though the good parts far outweigh the bad. I love it. It’s who I am, what I do.”

“If you couldn’t do it, what would you do?” “Pull the trigger.” “Simon!” “I’m teasing, but I’d want to. Being a cop, just like being a soldier, fits. There is nothing else I want to do and nothing I do better.” “Why didn’t you go career military?” Simon sighed then said, “Mark was getting in trouble. My dad died my first year in the Army and mother worried herself into several heart attacks, so I did my four, got my brother squared away, went to college and became a cop.” “What about you? When this is all over, will you go back to the lab?” Letting out a long sigh, she laid back and stared at the shadows on the ceiling. “I’m not sure. I mean I love research, but I think I need a break from it. And frankly, I doubt my reputation will come through this ordeal unscathed enough for me to return to work. In my profession, the fact that I’m a woman with a decadent past makes me a laughing-stock.” Simon smiled and moved over her. “Oh you’re more than decadent. You’re a closet submissive.” Heat flushed high in her cheeks. “I am not.” “Would you like me to prove it to you again? Because that would be my pleasure. And yours.” His hands slid down to hers and brought them above her head. “Simon,” she breathed. “Don’t speak again until I tell you to speak,” he rasped. She opened her mouth to object, but shut it. He slid his fingers beneath her panties and pulled them down her thighs to her ankles before slipping them completely off. His teeth glittered in the moonlight as he snapped her panties in half then used them to tie her hands to her headboard. Katy squeezed her eyes shut. “Eyes open, Kat,” Simon commanded. Instantly, she obeyed. A wicked smile twisted his handsome lips. “You know what I love most about tying you up?” Wide-eyed, dry-lipped, and hungry for Simon, Katy shook her head.

“I love how hard my control makes you come.” He lowered his lips to her neck, his warm breath caressing her sultry skin. “Because when you come, princess, it’s a beautiful thing.” “Simon—,” she panted. He nipped her. “The next time you speak out of turn, I’m going to spank you.” A funny squeaky sound slid from her throat. “Watching you come,” he continued as he slid his tongue between her quivering breasts, “makes me so hard all I want to do is sink balls deep into you.” He flicked a nipple with his tongue then gently sucked it into his hungry mouth. Katy moaned. It felt so good. “I love the sounds you make.” He reached down and grasped himself. “Look at how hard I am for you, princess.” Her eyes caught his fierce gaze before they looked down. Nerve endings caught fire. His big hand wrapped around his big cock turned her on as much as his touch. She opened her mouth to ask him for it but slammed it shut. If she spoke out of turn after he just warned her then he would know how much she enjoyed his spankings. “I’m going to make you come with my tongue, Kat. Just my tongue.” Her entire body shuddered. “Does that excite you?” “Yesss,” she hissed. “It excites me too.” He licked a long wide swath down her belly to her smooth mons. “You’re soaking wet and I’ve barely touched you.” He flicked her clitoris with his tongue then caught it in a tight swirl before dragging that lascivious tongue of his around it again. Her body strained. Blazing sensation flooded her. She spread her legs wider for him. He grabbed her thighs, digging his fingers into her skin. She bit back a cry of pleasured pain. “I didn’t tell you to move.” He pushed her thighs back together. “That’s better.” He licked deeply between her cleft. Katy’s fingers grasped at air while her body thrummed for more. More touch. More tongue. More cock. More everything. He worked his tongue in and around her pussy, stroking and spanking her clit. The waves built and just as they crested, Simon moved to the inside of her thighs. “I forbid you to come until I say you can come, Kat.”

She bit back a low groan of bittersweet pain, but his words made her hotter for him. “Do you want to come, baby?” “Yes,” she panted. “How?” “Like you were doing.” “Tell me exactly how you want to come.” “Simon,” she pleaded, “I-it’s hard for me to ask for it.” “Trust me, princess. Trust me with your words. Trust me with your body.” He leaned over her and swept his lips across hers. “Trust me with your heart.” Hot tears stung her eyes. She loved this rare side of Simon. The vulnerable lover who needed her trust to validate that he was worthy of her. And he was more than worthy. “I trust you with my life, Simon,” she admitted. “Now trust me and tell me how you want to come,” he whispered against her cheek. “With your mouth on my pussy and clit. I want you to suck an orgasm out of me,” she panted, and felt no shame. “I need you to do it now.” “Like I said before, it will be my pleasure. And yours too…eventually,” he rasped and proceeded to ravage her. And once again, just as the wave built to a blinding crescendo, he pulled away. She screamed her frustration as her body undulated, begging for that last vestige of stimulation that would send her careening into oblivion. Simon leaned in and blew on her hard swollen clitoris. It was the final straw. As she unraveled, he sat back on his knees and stroked himself to her orgasming cadence. As the waves slowly subsided, he moved between her legs again and tenderly kissed her swollen lips. If it were possible, they swelled fuller. He suckled her clit as his tongue lapped deeply between her swollen folds. She came again, and he rode it out holding onto her, gently sucking the orgasm out of her, just as she asked. She pulled against the lace ties, her body twisting and writhing, her hips pumping the air. His mouth gentled on her. Hot, sweaty and out of breath, Katy lay spread out on her bed as the warm fission of the orgasm slowly receded back into her body. Blazing green eyes held her stare, and she knew from his motion he was stroking himself.

“You’re a greedy little kitten, Kat. I’ve never met a woman who wants cock the way you do.” “Only yours, Simon,” she panted, licking her dry lips. Rising up on his knees, he moved into her and offered her a taste. Like a hungry bird she opened her lips ravenously taking as much of him into her mouth as she could. Simon’s manly groan supercharged her desire for him. She wanted to please him as he had pleased her. Holding the thick length steady as she sucked him, licking the precum from his wide head, Simon swelled hotly in her mouth. When he withdrew, she cried out. “I want you, Simon.” “You have me,” he whispered. “But now I have to punish you for speaking.” Katy moaned, tightening, anticipating his big hand on her tender bottom, but what he did next surprised her. “I’m going to make you beg for it, Kat. Scream for it.” Sliding down her belly, he spread her thighs and pressed his hand against her swollen lips. Wanton, her body responded to him. He skimmed a thick finger along her cleft just barely going inside of her. God, she wanted him inside of her. “And just when you think I’m going to give it to you,” slowly, he slid his finger into her. Arching, she bit back a deep moan of pleasure. Yes, God that felt good. He withdrew. She bit her bottom lip to keep from begging him to touch her again. Only this time, deeper, longer, harder. “I’m going to take it away.” Tracing his hot lips across her smooth mound, he licked around her stiff clit. “You are so swollen, Kat,” he slid his finger into her again. Sublime. He sucked her clit in the same slow rhythm as his finger went in and out of her. Her body rushed up to meet his, the tension building to flash point. He withdrew the instant before she was to combust. Panting, undulating, she licked her dry lips, her need for Simon intensifying to unbearable. Biting back a plea, she gulped for air. Please, she silently begged, take me. And he did. He pressed one finger gently into her anus, the sensation catching her off guard. She was so wet, so primed and so loose he slid right in. “I love how you cling to me, baby.” Then he did the same with another finger, this time sliding to the core of her. “Your pussy is just begging for it, Kat,” he said, an edge of amazement in his tone. She wanted to tell him that only he did this to her. She’d never been so wet, so pliable so

willing or so in need with anyone but him. As his fingers slowly began their cadence, his lips dropped to her swollen nether lips. “You are as succulent and sweet as a ripe peach.” He sucked her clit and surrounding area into his mouth. Low groans of pleasure as he enjoyed the fruits of her flesh fueled her fire to new heights. “I love tasting you,” he rasped. “So good.” He caught her clitoris between his lips and sucked, increasing the pressure of his fingers, working her into a frantic undulation. Perspiration flashed across her skin, slickening it. Barely able to breathe, Katy closed her eyes as a monster wave reared deep within her. It quickly built, cresting, and just as it was about to crash, Simon pulled out of her and off of her. “No!” she screamed. “No, Simon, please,” she begged. He rolled her over, and lifted her ass so that she was on her knees, arms pulled tight and extended over her head, and her face against the pillow. He swatted her. Katy cried out in sexual bliss. His fingertips had caught her swollen labia, the friction scintillating. Spreading her knees wider, telling him with her body and not with the words that would earn her another spanking, Katy moaned loudly into the pillow when he dipped a finger into her. His big body leaned over hers. The hard heat of his cock pressed against her ass. “Simon!” she screamed into the pillow. He spanked her hard, his palm cupping her pussy and his fingertips tapping her clit. It sent her careening off the edge. As she came apart, he spanked her pussy, not hard but with just enough friction to keep her orgasm jettisoning higher, and higher, until—she screamed when he finally deeply into her, giving her what she wanted most of all. The insurgence of his thick rod deep inside of her catapulted the already incredible orgasm into the stratosphere. He thundered in and out of her, wildly riding her as her body came completely undone.

imon’s big body tightened behind her, telling her he was close to release. But she wanted to look into his eyes when he came. “Simon,” she gasped against the pillow. Her body was jellified from the multiple orgasms he’d given her, and she barely had the strength to say his name. He sensed what she needed, rolled her over onto her back and when he sunk into her again she brought her legs up and wrapped them around his hips. His strong arms reached above her and snapped the lace ties apart. Her arms came down around his neck and shoulders. Overcome with emotion, she sobbed his name. Cupping her head in his big hands he slowed his manic pace, and pulled her hair so that she was looking directly into his fierce gaze. Tears stung her eyes as his searched hers in wonder. “Jesus, Kat,” he rasped. “You own me.” He thrust deep. Reverently she accepted all of him, knowing they had both crossed into uncharted territory. It scared the hell out of her. She’d never been in love before. It was wild and euphoric. There was nothing she would not do for Simon. He came then, in a wild, wonderful, primal expression of emotion that touched her soul. It took them both a long time to come down from their high. Entwined in Simon’s arms and legs, Katy was restless and contemplative. Simon was just…quiet. She wanted to talk about what just happened but she wasn’t sure how to approach it. How about, ‘Hey, in case you’re wondering what made that the most amazing and emotional sex of my life, it’s because

I’m in love with you. Was it the same for you?’ Ugh, talk about cornering a man. Granted, she was making an assumption about how he’d feel, but Simon, while good with words, wasn’t emo word guy. Expelling a long breath, she resigned herself to the fact that she was too chicken to talk to Simon about how she felt because one, she felt foolish and two, she was afraid that while she ‘owned him’ (how cool was that?) he wasn’t really the kind of man who could be owned. Maybe rented or leased? “Spit it out, Kat,” he softly but firmly said. Exhaling again she rose up on an elbow and looked down at him. His dark hair was sex mussed, his lids heavy and hooded, his eyes soft and satisfied and his lips kiss swollen. “You look like a sated cat.” His lips twitched. “I am. For the moment.” She kissed the column of his neck and smiled when his pulse leapt against her lips. “I love touching you, Simon.” She kissed him just below his earlobe. “I love being touched by you.” His arm tightened around her waist. “The feeling is mutual but you’re avoiding my question.” “Fine,” she said shaking her long hair over her shoulders. Catching his stare she said, “Sex is amazing with you. I love it. I crave it. If I could walk around with you inside of me all day I would,” she confessed and giggled as she envisioned that. “Again the feeling is mutual.” “But tonight, it was different, it was—I don’t know, more emotional. I felt like we were connected on every plane.” Her cheeks heated. “And even though we were kind of kinky, because of the emotion, I just feel like it was better. The best.” He nodded. But didn’t offer any follow up. Instead he rolled her over and pinned her to the mattress, his face only inches from hers. Smoothing her hair back from her face he slowly said, “I’m not a wordsmith. I’m not one of those guys who brings his girl roses and chocolates and recites poetry. I’m the kind of guy who brings his girl his heart, his body and his soul. I’m offering you that, Kat; in return I want yours. But I also want your thoughts, your dreams. I want you to let me inside you, where no one else has gone.” He kissed her wildly pounding jugular. “I want your pulse.” He grazed his lips across her bottom lip. “I want everything.” Katy didn’t know what to say. She wanted to pinch herself because she had to be dreaming.

Never, not in a million lifetimes did she ever expect to hear those words from a man like Simon West. Hot tears blurred her vision. “Simon,” she softly sobbed, “I don’t know what to say to that.” “You don’t have to say anything. You know where I stand.” Tightening her arms around his neck she brought her lips up to his. “I think I fell in love with you the moment you let me wipe my snotty nose on your sleeve.” He grinned. “Yeah, I know my way around a lady’s heart.” He looked past her to the clock. It was nearly two in the morning. “I have an early call, Cinderella, let’s get some sleep.” He kissed her on the nose and rolled over, bringing her with him. She fell asleep like that…with a shit-eating grin plastered across her face. Katy woke to her alarm and an empty bed. She hurried to the bathroom, finding the air still warm and humid from Simon’s shower. She peed, then grabbed her robe and padded to her kitchen. Empty. The coffee was on with a note propped up beside her coffee pot. Didn’t want to wake you (as if I could, you were snoring like a drunken sailor). Headed to the office. Livy is sick so lunch is off. I’ll call you in a few. S Her cell phone that she had left on the kitchen table pinged that she had a text. PS don’t talk to strangers PPSS miss u She smiled. No, Simon did not wax poetic, but his infrequent words were more meaningful than a book full of sonnets. She simply texted back xo An hour later, making sure she was not being followed, she was standing in the ante office to Veronica’s office. She’d been called away on an emergency but Veronica’s assistant gave Katy an envelope. “There are several papers she’d like you to review, then sign.” “Does she want them back today?” “She wants you to take your time, so the end of the week is fine.” As Katy made her way down to the lobby, she realized her cellphone she had left with Veronica was in the envelope. Immediately she wondered if Evan had sent more texts. Hurrying to the ladies room she locked herself in a stall and quickly turned on the phone and

waited impatiently for it to boot up. Tapping the app she smiled as it alerted her to several more cypher texts. Looks like Evan had been busy. She frowned, despite the possibility of having more dirt on him. Unfortunately she didn’t know Morse code, but Simon did. Smiling, she slipped the phone into her purse, called her car service and in no time was heading south, destination the Santa Clara County Sherriff’s Department HQ. Simon had said he’d be at the office today; she’d surprise him by showing up. Even though he said lunch was off with Livy, Katy took that to mean he was still taking that half day, so maybe she could surprise him by taking him out for a bite and share the news that there were more texts to decipher? That’s what two people in love did for each other, right? When the car pulled up in front of the multi-level brick and glass building, Katy started to second guess her actions. Maybe he was really busy? Or maybe he wasn’t allowed to have visitors? Nonsense, he was a captain. He called the shots, not the other way around. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be, John, so please wait.” “Yes ma’am.” As luck or bad luck would have it, just as Katy reached for the front door of the building it opened and she nearly collided with, of all people, Amanda West. While she was aware Simon’s sister-in-law worked in the same building, she didn’t expect to bump into her. They were both about to offer apologies when they realized who they had bumped into. And like any good Mexican standoff, the two women, each in love with the same man, stared at the other, one knowing she had no chance of winning him back and the other terrified the other knew her lover better than most people and would somehow destroy what she and Simon shared. “Simon isn’t here, if that’s why you’re here.” Katy swallowed, threw her shoulders back and notched her chin. “Actually, I’m here to see you, Amanda.” The blonde’s eyes widened. “Really?” she said like a cat about to dig its very long, very sharp claws into you. “Yes, I’d like to discuss a few matters with you.” Amanda wrinkled her nose like she’d smelled something bad. “We have nothing to discuss,” she said, then started to walk past Katy.

“I can cut him completely out of your life, Amanda, or we can work together for Olivia’s sake. You decide.” Amanda whirled around, her red lips twisted in a nasty sneer. “Do you actually think you have any control over Simon?” “He loves me.” Amanda threw her head back and laughed, the sound cold, malicious and knowing. The hair on the back of Katy’s neck sprung straight up. “He loves you? Are you kidding me?” she spat. “Simon loves no woman. You’re nothing but a means to an end, Dr. Winslow.” Katy’s stomach began a free fall. “What are you talking about?” “You really have no clue do you?” “About what?” “Do you think he picked you up at that bar by accident?” “He didn’t—” “He was there at that hotel because you were there. He set you up from the beginning.” “You’re lying,” Katy choked, refusing to believe it. “He’s part of a state wide sting operation. He needed you in order to get to the piece of crap you were fucking.” Amanda’s glare swept Katy as if she was the most unworthy opponent on the earth. “And you made it so easy for him didn’t you?” Katy couldn’t speak. It wasn’t true! Simon was not that person! “He must not have pumped all of the information he needs from you; otherwise he would have kicked you to the curb by now.” When Katy didn’t respond in any way, Amanda hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “Don’t believe me? Ask Simon. And if he denies it, come see me, I’ll be happy to show you your file.” With a smug smile on her rotten lips, Amanda literally pranced past a stunned Katy.

aty’s heart and head were an emotional meat grinder. Of course she was in denial. Simon was a man of extreme integrity. He’d told her last night he’d given her his heart, body and soul. She’d believed him. She still believed him! Amanda was lying, trying to dig an irreparable wedge between her and Simon. But Katy was a scientist. She looked at what was real, not emotional reasoning or conjured fantasies. Simon had all but outted himself last night when he admitted he was on the task force. Oh he had skillfully skated on the edge of the truth. Katy knew he and his men were there because of the symposium. A symposium where she was the key note speaker! And the entire time he’d been pretending? Making her fall in love with him to get information out of her? She refused to believe it. But how could she not when the facts screamed the truth? Anger flashed. Did he really think she was involved with Evan’s duplicity? Inwardly she cringed. She should have known Simon was too good to be true. A sexy stud like that interested in her? An introverted lab rat? She slumped back into the seat of the town car and stared aimlessly out the window. Her heart was not broken it was shattered. Deep sadness consumed her. You could only beat a good woman down so many times before she could not get back up. And right now, she was that woman. Defeated. Done. Destroyed. By the time they pulled up to her apartment, she accepted that she was not even the consolation prize this time, but simply a means to an end, a pawn in a game she had no idea

she’d been a player in. As she closed her apartment door behind her, and realized what a fool she had been, again, she got angry all over again. Son of a bitch! He was not going to get away with this without his comeuppance. “Damn you, Simon West!” Instead of seething in her apartment, Katy changed into her workout attire and headed for the gym. She ran blindly on the treadmill for an hour. Still unsettled, she lifted weights then killed it on the Stairmaster, but she was loaded for bear. Confused, angry, and hurt, she racked her brain for anything that might disprove what Amanda had said about Simon’s motives for getting involved with her. After all, he’d never approached her. How fortuitous for him that Evan dared her to take him back to her room for a threesome. She’d handed herself over to him on a platter. She’d been such a fool! She stepped harder when she thought that she could deal with all of it despite him targeting her. Him having sex with her, and him making her fall in love with him. If he had just come clean about it! Was it all a farce? She refused to believe it. Simon cared about her. He had to! No one was that good of a liar. Just as furious with herself as Simon, she punched the air. She wanted to hurt someone. She took her hurt out on the heavy bag. So intently was she punching and kicking it, she didn’t notice she had an observer. Not until she was a sweaty, gelatinous mess. Wiping the sweat from her brow with her gloved hands, she caught her breath when her eyes clashed with Evan’s. He was staring morosely at her. “If I didn’t know any better Katy, I’d say you were a little angry.” He unwound himself from the wall where he had been standing as he watched her and stalked toward her. Looking around, she didn’t panic. There were plenty of men nearby if she suddenly found herself under attack. “You lost the right to inquire about my business, Evan.” She yanked off her gloves and tossed them to a nearby bench. Grabbing her towel from the rack she had set it on, she wiped her face, then wrapped it around her neck and moved past him. His arm shot out and he grasped her, his fingers biting into her arm. He picked the wrong day to get physical with her. She jerked around and brought her free arm up then down on his forearm breaking the contact. “Touch me again, Evan and I’ll geld

you.” “For a woman with everything to lose, you’re acting like a bitch.” She grabbed the ends of the towel around her neck because if she wasn’t holding something, she was going to punch Evan. “I’ve lost more than you can imagine, Evan. Because of you. I’d say I’ve earned the bitch title.” “I can give you back some of what you’ve lost, Katy,” he quietly said. She laughed in his face. “Evan, you have nothing I want.” “How about your boyfriend’s job?” “What are you talking about?” “ A little birdie told me your cop is chin deep investigating me for corporate espionage.” “If you’re referring to Captain West, he never was nor currently is my boyfriend.” “So you’re just fuck buddies?” His words cut her to the quick. “Considering how we met, we were destined for nothing more than sex, Evan. Another chapter in my life closed.” He shook his head tsk tsking. “Poor Katrina Winslow, always picking men who exploit her.” “Fuck you.” “I’d happily fuck you. That was one thing I never lied to you about, Katy. Even though I couldn’t get you off, you were a good lay.” Katy turned vicious eyes on him. “You were never man enough to get me off, Evan.” “But that cop was?” “You were there, you tell me.” “Oh, I remember vividly. In fact, I replay that moment in time over and over.” He laughed low, the sound mirthless. “You do know your knight in shining armor wasn’t at the symposium hotel by accident?” She moved into his space. Was she the only person on earth who hadn’t known Simon was using her? “What did I ever do to you that was so horrible you insist on hurting me?” His face tightened, his hazel eyes sharpened. “Do you have any idea how it felt taking a back seat to the renowned Dr. Winslow? I’ve put in twice the lab time that you have and have nothing to show for it. You waltz in and in less than four years revolutionize code

sequencing.” “So it’s my fault you’re a failure?” “Hardly. You’re the one who’s a laughing-stock with no lab.” Katy shrugged it off. She was a duck now. Given Simon’s apparent betrayal, nothing could hurt her now. It was all just running off her back. “Go away Evan.” “I’ll go away when you tell me what your fuck buddy has on me and Genomtec.” “Even if we were still fuck buddies, he’s never discussed his case with me and you are the last person on earth I’d do a favor for.” “You don’t need his permission. Find a way back into his bed and dig through his phone and his computer.” “No.” Evan pulled out his cell phone and moved to the nearest corner. “Remember our little game of truth or dare? That was no accident either. I saw the way you and that cop ogled each other in the bar. It also occurred to me that your usefulness was coming to an end but I’m a visionary, Katy, I looked ahead. I needed some insurance.” He tapped the screen. “My little policy.” He tapped the screen a second time and there in living color was her getting fucked from behind by Simon in her hotel room, while Evan watched. Her skin chilled when she heard Simon’s deep voice say, “Sweetheart, you’re so damn tight and wet, let me set the pace or I’m going to explode.” Jaw agape; she continued to watch as she came hard. Evan tapped the screen shutting down the video. “It’s rather simple, Katy, get me the information, otherwise this is going viral, and when it does, I promise you, your boyfriend’s superiors will be the first to see it, and what comes after that will be entirely your fault.” Simon would lose his job! His identity. What he loved more than life itself. Furious, humiliated, livid, she snatched the phone from his hand and threw it against the wall where it shattered into pieces. Evan grabbed her and shoved her hard into the corner. “You stupid little cunt. Do you think I didn’t back it up?” “I despise you.” She blinked back hot tears of anger. How dare he blackmail her? How did she not know he was recording them? God, she hated herself for being so blindly naïve. “Is everything okay here?” one of the trainers asked, grasping Evan’s shoulder. “Yes, Tony,” Katy softly said, turning her head away from both men. As much as she’d like to see Evan tossed out on his ass, she didn’t want to make a scene. Not yet. Swiping her hand

across her eyes she looked back at Tony and nodded. “I’m good.” “I’m right here, Dr. Winslow, if you need assistance.” “Thank you,” she breathed as Evan released her and backed up. “I’ll be at the Opera House fundraiser this Saturday night. I want the information on a flash drive.” “What if he has nothing on his phone or personal computer?” “Get me what he does have and I’ll be the judge of what I can use. If you fail to deliver, the video goes live at midnight.” He strode past her, leaving her standing numb and alone. It took a supreme amount of effort to move. In a stupor, Katy walked home. She was sucked dry. As she rounded the last corner to her apartment, she shivered and had that uneasy feeling again that she was being followed. But when she turned around, the sidewalk was clear except for the little old lady who walked her Scotty every day at this time. She turned her cell on and as soon as it booted it alerted her she had two missed calls and several texts. Only Simon, Rosie and Veronica had her number. The first text was from Simon two hours ago. Don’t forget to pack your bags. The second text was from Rosie asking how she was. The third text was from Simon an hour ago. Dinner? Then thirty minutes after that, 86 that. Then, Answer your phone plz. Then Kat, I call, you answer! God he was a control freak! But that sparked a plan in Katy’s head. It was a do or die plan, but if executed properly she would have the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And along with the truth from Simon, whatever it was, she wanted Simon’s job protected because he was good at what he did and people would benefit from him staying a cop. But just as important, the truth would set her free—free from Evan, Genomtec, and yes, Simon. Then she could rebuild her life completely on her terms. She called him. He answered on the first ring. “Where the hell have you been?” he gruffly demanded. “I’ve been worried sick.” “Aw, that’s so sweet of you, Simon,” she purred. “I’ve been at the gym.”

He exhaled loudly. “Sorry, it’s just with everything going on, I’m worried about you.” “Oh, Simon, you don’t need to worry about me, I’m going to be just fine.” “You’re already fine” he huskily said. Katy’s heart tightened. “When do you think you’ll get out of there?” “By seven, and I’m hungry now.” “Me too. Famished actually.” “I’ll take you to Milano’s.” “Hmm, I’d rather eat in.” “Then I’ll call an order in and pick it up on my way home.” Home. Her heart constricted. He’d said home. A man who didn’t have an emotional connection to her would not have used that word. “That sounds perfect, Simon, I can’t wait for you to get home.” “Me either.” When Katy hung up she smiled but didn’t feel particularly funny. But she set her emotions aside. She was going to get to the bottom of Simon’s motives and at the same time save them both a world of future hurt. This princess was going to save herself and her prince charming at the same time. Even if her prince might turn out to be the villain in the end.

n hour later, Katy was showered, dressed, and standing in her bathroom applying lip liner then gloss to her full lips. She was dressed in the exact outfit she’d been wearing that infamous day she bumped into Simon coming out of the elevator. Even her hair was pinned up the same way, same glasses, and beneath her basic beige uniform of sweater and pencil skirt, she wore the same pink bra and panties she had worn that day. There was only one thing that hinted at the tigress that smoldered beneath her bland exterior. Her red hot lips to match the soles of her four-inch, black, peekaboo Louboutins. Checking her ass out in the mirror as she turned to one side then another, she smiled. Despite the boring color of her skirt, it was couture and clung to her curves. In the heels, she pretty much rocked it. Flicking off the light switch, she strode to her kitchen, pulled one of the oak chairs from the table, and dragged it to the middle of the room. Humming, she poured herself a glass of the merlot she had opened and allowed to breathe before she’d hopped in the shower. She decided some mood music would be good to go with her wine. Just as she selected a smooth jazz station, the front door buzzed. She smiled and sauntered to the front door and pressed the button, “Yes?” “It’s me, Cinderella.” Her heart thumped and her belly did a slow nervous roll. “Front door’s open.” She buzzed him in and cracked the front door to her apartment. Moving back to the kitchen, she took out a bottle of room temperature Guinness, just the way he liked it, and

opened it with the bottle opener. She set it down on the table for Simon. The sound of the door closing then the deadbolts being turned alerted her to Simon’s presence. Warmth skirted along her limbs. Inhaling deeply, she slowly exhaled. When she turned to see him entering the kitchen she smiled a greeting and watched his brows rise as his gaze swept her attire. He was dressed in a dashing black suit, crisp white shirt and black tie. His lips cracked into a slow smile. He set down the delicious smelling brown bag he was carrying on the counter, then loosened his tie. “You were wearing that the first time I met you.” Handing him the beer, she smiled and reached up to his tie and slowly untied it. “Tonight we celebrate, Simon. Who knew that day we bumped into each other outside of that elevator we’d be such—fast friends.” He took a long draught of his beer. When he pulled the bottle from his lips he smiled down at her, wrapping a strong arm around her waist. “Destiny.” “You really think so?” she asked, backing out of his embrace. Reaching for her wine, she took a thoughtful sip and cocked her head to the side as she watched him watch her. His brows drew slightly together. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Kat?” Taking another sip of her wine she set it down on the counter. “Do you trust me, Simon?” “I think you know the answer to that.” “A simple yes or no, please.” “Yes.” “Then I’d like you to sit down here,” she patted the seat of the chair sitting in the middle of the room. “Take your jacket off first, please.” He tipped the beer back and drained it. Setting the empty bottle down on the counter he shrugged off his jacket exposing his shoulder holster. “You can put that on the counter.” Warily he watched her as he unsnapped it then slid it off and set it on top of the jacket. “Do you have handcuffs?” she casually asked. He reached behind his back and unsnapped the small leather pouch on his belt then handed them to her. A small smile twitched at the corner of his lips. If he thought she was playing, he was in for a big surprise. Extending her hand toward the seat like Vanna did with the letters, Katy invited Simon to sit.

“Please put your hands behind you, around the chair back, please.” “Kat?” She cocked a brow and put a hand on her hip. “You said you trust me. So trust me.” Exhaling, he did as she asked. When he did, she moved behind him and slid his loose tie from around his shirt collar. “I’m going to tie your hands to the chair back, Simon, and you’re going to let me.” “Baby, you do whatever you want to me,” he easily said, a laugh in his voice. Hmm, he wouldn’t be so amused in a minute. “Thank you, I hope you don’t regret that invitation.” Once she had the tie snuggly tied around his hands, she took his handcuffs and as she had seen cops do on television she cracked them open around his wrists, then secured them before he’d registered what she was doing. “No cuffs, Kat,” he firmly said. “I’m sorry, Captain West,” she said leaning over his shoulder from behind, “But that option is off the table.” “I don’t like this.” “Oh, I’m sorry, sir but sometimes we have to endure things we don’t like.” He twisted in the chair to look at her and raised a quizzical brow. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re pissed at me right now.” She smiled like the Grinch just before he stole Cindy Lou Who’s Christmas. “You would be correct in that assumption.” He exhaled and shook his head. “What did I do now?” She moved past him and picked up the black silk scarf she had put on the table earlier. Gently she wrapped it around his head covering his eyes. But when she tied it she was less considerate. “All I have to do is stand and crack this chair in half, Kat, and your little party is over.” “If you do, you will prove to me you don’t trust me.” She took two more scarves and tied one around each of his ankles then securely around the chair legs. “Why are you angry at me?” Standing, she leaned down and began to unbutton his shirt. His sharp hiss of breath jolted straight to her core. As she slid it back and over his shoulders exposing his very fine, very

muscular chest she resisted the urge to lick every exposed inch. “You are a magnificent specimen, Simon,” she murmured half to herself. “I can see why women jump off bridges when you say, good bye.” “No one has jumped off a bridge.” “Amanda jumped off the mental bridge. Who knows how many others followed her?” “Amanda has nothing to do with us, Kat.” “Do you know the first time I bumped into you, I had to go back to my room and change my panties?” He grinned. “So did I.” “Did you really?” “Then I jerked off.” “Oh, my.” The vision of him standing naked in front of a mirror with his big hand wrapped around his bigger cock, stroking it madly as he thought of her sent shock waves to her core. Resolute with her mission, Katy didn’t let his words or her imagination blow her off course. Tracing her finger down his chest to his belly button she undid his belt, unbuttoned the top button of his slacks, and then slowly palmed him. He was very hard. “Speaking of people we don’t want to talk about, I bumped into Evan at the gym today.” Simon’s big body jerked hard against the cuffs moving the chair. “What did he want? Did he touch you or hurt you? Why didn’t you call me? And damn it, why did you go to the gym? You should have come back here directly after your appointment with Veronica.” “He did put his hands on me when I broke his cell phone, but Tony, one of the trainers made sure he didn’t hurt me.” Simon’s face turned a murderous shade of red. “I’m going to kill that mother fucker.” He twisted, trying to free himself. “He showed me a video, Simon. Of the three of us.” He stilled. “Uncuff me,” he said, dangerously. She almost did given his tone was so menacing. “Give me a minute.” “Now, damn it!” “Hear me out first.” “Did he threaten you with that video?”

Katy nodded then realized he couldn’t see her expression because of the blindfold. “He’s holding it over my head threatening to show it to the world if I don’t give him what he wants.” “Which is?” “You.” “Fuck that!” “He wants me to find out what you have on him and Genomtec. He’s given me until midnight Saturday to give him that information or he’s going viral with the video, first stop, your superiors.” Simon laughed. “He’s blackmailing you with the video and the threat of me losing my job?” “Yes.” “What did you tell him?” “To shove it.” Simon grinned. “That’s my girl.” “Now that we have that out of the way, I want to know why you were in San Diego?” “What?” “Why were you in San Diego and at the same hotel as me the day we met?” He swallowed hard when she traced a finger along his pulsing jugular. “I was there to be briefed on an operation.” “What operation?” “The sting operation I was working on.” “Tell me about it.” “The details are classified, Kat, but you know the gist of it.” “Tell me the gist again.” She leaned across his shoulder rubbing her breast against his cheek. He turned, trying to capture it with his mouth just as she moved away. “Corporate espionage.” “And what were you tasked with?” “Heading up the Nor Cal division.” “Hmm, and what did that entail?” “Beefing up our investigation.”

“Which meant?” “Putting men on the principles, digging harder for information.” “Sounds cloak and dagger.” She slid a finger along the straining zipper. As she slowly pulled it down she asked, “What’s a principle?” Simon sucked in a breath when she slid his underwear down exposing his luscious cock. Pushing his knees apart, she blew on it. “Christ, Kat,” he groaned, jutting his hips into the air. She flicked the tip of his swollen head with her tongue. “Answer the question.” “It’s a primary person of interest.” She licked a long swath from his base to just below the head. “Were any of your principles in the hotel during the time you were there?” She wrapped her hand around his thick rod. His pulse vibrated through her. “Yes, damn it,” he hoarsely said. With his cock in her hand she leaned into him and whispered in his ear. “Anyone I know?” “Damn it, one of the task force guys was assigned to get up close and personal with you.” “Not you?” “No, but after we bumped into each other and I realized who you were, I knew I had to be that guy.” “Ah,” she purred as she stroked him tightening her fingers around him. So tight he was turning purple. Simon set his jaw, his body straining under the tension of interrogation and manipulation. “There was even a female cop assigned to engage Evan to glean information from him but he wasn’t biting.” “But I did,” Katy softly said. “It wasn’t like that, princess. I was there to shadow you, I had no intention of exploiting you sexually or emotionally.” “You fucked me!” “You invited me to your bed!” “But you thought I was a criminal.” “No baby, you were a person of interest. We knew Stone was in deep and we knew the two

of you were intimate. We were hoping to spring a few facts on you to get you to come over to the dark side.” “Oh, so you were going to ask me to fuck information out of Evan?” “No!” He shook his head, his frustration building. “Take this damn blindfold off.” “No,” she said, hopeful that Simon would prove that he wasn’t the beast his sister-in-law and Evan painted him to be. But settle once and for all that he was the man she thought he was, and the one she had fallen in love with. “I’m a gut man, Kat, you know that. And my gut told me Evan was playing you. I was right.” She was still stuck on the sex part. “It was a threesome for God’s sake, Simon. Would you have done it if it wasn’t me?” “I did it because it was you. I wanted to get you away from that douche. I despised him on contact.” He stopped struggling against the cuffs and ties. “Do you know how much I wanted to tear him apart in that room? How much it killed me to watch him touch you?” He made a low growling sound. “Please, take the blindfold off.” She did. His green eyes, warrior fierce drilled into her. “I’ve never lied to you and I’m not now.” He took a deep breath then exhaled. “Cinderella, you make me do things, say things, feel things I’ve never felt or said for another woman. I’m thirty-four years old. I’ve been looking for you all my life. Now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting you go.” She pushed away from him, wrapping her arms around herself. She was suddenly very cold. God she wanted to believe him. She turned back to face him. “Thank you for coming clean, but even with the truth, I—I’m letting you go.” He jerked against the chair. “The hell you are. We belong together damn it. Stop being so stubborn and admit it.” “Every time I turn around, I find out something else. What’s next, Simon?” “I can’t predict the future, Kat. I can only predict that I would never do anything to hurt you.” “I believe you, Simon. Really I do, but you’re so overpowering sometimes and I feel as if I don’t really have a say in anything.” “I can be domineering, but I’m that way because I’m protective and,” he grinned. “Sometimes I know what you want before you do.”

“I want a part in arresting Evan.” “That’s my job, princess.” “I have to be a part of it Simon. He destroyed my career, I want a part in getting it back and I know how we can get him.” “So do I, and it’s legal.” “So is my way. Just wire me up so I can get Evan to confess to everything.” “No fucking way.” Crossing her arms over her chest she said, “I’m not budging on this Simon. Either I do it with you or I have Rosie come up with a contraption and I’ll do it myself.” “When I get out of these cuffs, I’m going to spank you within an inch of your life, Katrina, and then I’m going to lock you up out of harm’s way until I have that bastard dead to rights.” Katy couldn’t suppress the smile that twitched at the corner of her lips. “Oh, I’d like to see you try.” Her heart thumped wildly. She didn’t know who she was kidding, there was no way she was letting this man go. Even though he had the absurd idea he could tell her what to do all of the time. Oh no, he had come clean and in the end he really didn’t do anything wrong, and she only allowed him his bad because she knew in her heart that even though he hadn’t said it yet, he loved her. Liking the control, she picked up the black scarf and tied it around his head again. “I’m not going to warn you again, Kat,” he growled. “Uncuff me now or pay the consequence later.” She knelt between his legs and pushed his knees apart. “I’m going to give you a few minutes to rethink that, hot shot.” She stroked his cock to rock hard. “And while you do, I’m going to enjoy this rare moment of control.” To give herself greater access, she pulled his pants down. As she stood up, she lifted her sweater and unsnapped her bra. As she let it sink to the floor, she slid her panties off and dangled them in front of his nose. His nostrils flared. Her power thrilled her. “Do you know what that is, Simon?” “Your pussy scent isn’t going to change my mind.” “Oh,” she purred, “That’s too bad.” She rubbed a nipple against his cheek to his lips. Steadfast, he refused to take her bait. She licked his bottom lip, then slid her tongue along the tight seam of his lips. “Oh, Simon,

why are you playing hard to get?” “I—,” the second he opened his mouth, she slid her tongue along his lips. He groaned and tensed, but turned his head away. “Stubborn man can’t have his way, so he doesn’t want to play,” she purred and kissed her way down the hard contoured planes of his chest until she came to his happy camper. When she licked the bead of precum from him, she smiled. “Happy Gilmore here has a mind of his own.” Pushing his thighs wider apart she settled herself in-between them and proceeded to suck him until his hips thrust wildly at her. But she had to hand it to him he didn’t make one single sound of pleasure. She was going to take care of that. Lifting her skirt, she straddled him and as she lowered her dripping wet pussy onto his rock hard waiting cock, she said, “Tell me you don’t want me, Simon, and I’ll stop.” His jaw ground as he strained toward her. He wanted in, so she gave him a taste, just an inch. He groaned. “That feels good doesn’t it, baby?” She gave him another inch. He swallowed hard. “Say you want me, Simon or I walk away.” His body strained against the cuffs and ties at his ankles. “You can’t get away from me, West,” she taunted and nipped his earlobe. “You can’t even crawl away.” Digging her fingers into his thick hair she turned his head upward toward her and ravished his lips. She had not given him any more than the two inches. Straddling him with just the tip of him inside of her as she controlled him was wildly thrilling. Captain Simon West, heart throb lady killer was at her mercy. It made her so wet she was dripping. “I’m so hot and wet for you, Simon, all you have to do is say the words, ‘fuck me, Kat,’ and I will.” His hips jerked against her. “Oh you like it when I talk dirty to you?” She kissed him long and deep and, although he didn’t kiss her back, he didn’t refuse her. “I love your cock, Simon, It’s so thick and full, and—,” she gave him another inch. “Willing to fuck me.” His slick body trembled. “You’re as helpless to deny me as I am you. You said I owned you, but Simon…,” she kissed him. “You owned me the minute I looked up into your green eyes.”

His body shook with tension. “That’s it, baby, shake and shimmy for me. Hold yourself at bay.” She nuzzled the spot behind his ear. “Because when you finally say the words, fuck me Kat, and I slide all the way down on you, you’re going to cry out my name.” She licked the shell of his ear. “Because we both know there is nothing more sublime than the feel of that deep delicious first thrust.” She thrust her tongue into his ear and swirled it around. His body capitulated at the same time he rasped, “Fuck me, Kat.” She answered with her body. And as she predicted, the moment she impaled herself fully onto him the first time, he cried out her name in a harsh primal gasp. He did the second, third and fourth time too.

imon’s big body was drawn taut, his muscles shaking, his skin slick, his breathing labored as she slowly fucked him. She gave him no quarter. Moving up and down, grinding onto his cock, she gave then took then gave some more. Her hands clasped the back of his head and she savagely ravaged his lips. He was powerless to stop her. She took, undulating slowly against his hips, her breasts sliding against this chest, her lips eating his with a fervor she had not known before. Throwing her head back, she arched, tightening her thighs around his as an orgasm tore through her. “Ah, Simon,” she cried. “That feels so damn good.” Fierce tremors rocked her to her core as she rode him and the orgasm out. She loved that he could make her feel this way. Breathless and slick she grasped his face and kissed him long and hard. He groaned beneath her assault, and truly that is what it was. Because she was in control now. She had to be. Not only did she need to know that Simon trusted her enough to give her this control, but she needed to trust herself enough to know that her instincts, though swayed by those who wanted to hurt her, always came to roost as true. All along she knew in her gut Simon would not use her and in so doing, not hurt her. They sparked at their first meeting, not because of his job but because of their natural chemical reaction to each other. And now they were on fire. As she felt his body prepare to release, she pulled off the blindfold. His eyes were a dark thundery green. She smiled at his stormy expression. Cupping his face between her hands she said, “I’m going to make you come so hard, you’re going to howl at the moon.”

He growled as his hips thrust up into her. Throwing his head back, his jaw tightened. He bit back a deep primal moan. Katy ground her hips into his. “Now, Simon,” she breathlessly commanded, “Come with me now!” Wildly he thrust, animalistic sounds erupting from his tight lips as he came in a violent explosion inside of her. His body jerked so hard, the force of it nearly toppled them. “Kat,” he hissed, “I fucking love you, baby.” Her orgasm shattered into a beautiful bright light inside of her, the intensity so sublime, tears stung her eyes. When she looked down at Simon in wonder, he looked at her with the same expression of amazement. Collapsing against him she caught his lips with hers and together they slowly came down to earth, reveling in the warm embers of their passion. With her clad only in her skirt and Simon half dressed, they clung to each other in her kitchen. Katy smiled as she imagined taking a picture of Simon in his disheveled condition. “If that smile has anything to do with keeping me tied up, forget it,” he roughly said. Slowly Katy lifted herself off of Simon. He slid out of her, still semi hard. “Does that thing ever go to sleep?” “Not around you it doesn’t.” She smoothed down her skirt and reached for her bra. “I like the view,” he said. She smiled as heat flushed her cheeks. He grinned. “After that you’re blushing?” “Go figure.” She knelt down and untied his ankles, then the tie from around his hands. “The key to the cuffs is in the case on my belt.” She reached around and opened the little leather case and found the key. Grinning she wagged it under his nose. “How bad do you want to get loose?” He stood and raised the chair high behind his back. “No! No, don’t break the chair! I’ll uncuff you, turn around.” Once he was free of the chair, she leaned into him and handed him the cuffs and the key. “I liked that.” He raised a brow and buttoned his trousers. “You liked controlling me?” “Yes, and all indicators point to the fact that you liked it too.” He kissed the top of her head and shrugged his shirt back on. “I plead the fifth.” When she moved to get dressed he held her tighter. “Kat, I swear I didn’t set out to use you but damn if

I could help myself from accepting your offer.” “Simon—” “No, listen, I know I should have told you I’d been assigned the case when we met, but I didn’t want to lose you.” He grazed her lips with his. “It just comes down to me wanting you that badly.” “And you were willing to accept the consequence if I found out?” He grinned that bad boy grin that undid her every time. “I figured by then you’d be so hung up on me it wouldn’t matter.” “Oh really?” “Yeah, but I what I didn’t count on was being as hung up on you and it mattering like hell that you trusted me not to hurt you even when I came clean, and I need to you believe me when I say I would have.” “Simon, I never doubted you, I doubted my own judgment. I need to start believing in myself a little more.” “You’re doing great so far.” “Thank you.” When she reached for her bra again, he frowned. “I’ll concede the bra but I never want to see that sweater on you again.” “That’s cashmere!” “It’s ugly.” “Fine.” She tossed it into the trash can. Simon nodded his approval then pulled his shirt off and settled it around her bare shoulders. “Much better, now let’s eat, I’m starved. Then we’re going to have a long talk.” Sitting arm to arm and thigh to thigh on the sofa, they dug into dinner. “Oh my God, Simon, this scaloppini is crazy good,” she said with her mouth full. As she swallowed she pointed to the half-eaten container of gnocchi with her fork. “So are those.” He had ordered several entrees that they shared. She could never remember being so hungry. He smiled softly, “I’m glad you’re enjoying them.” She returned the smile as her gaze swept his bare chest. “I’m enjoying the view too.” He leaned into her and kissed her. “You taste good.”

When there was nothing left in any one of the containers, Katy set her empty plate down on the table, then sat back feeling like a stuffed baby Buddha. She’d never eaten so much food in one sitting. “Simon, I can’t move.” After putting his plate down on the table beside hers, gathered her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. “That’s okay, because I just want you to listen.” She swallowed hard, not caring for the seriousness of his tone. “Are you going to break up with me because I handcuffed you?” she teased. “It would take a lot more than handcuffing me, then having your way with me while I was cuffed, to get rid of me.” Smiling, she said, “Because you love me.” His eyes softened, then became serious. “Being loved by me may not be the easiest thing you’ve ever done in your life, princess. I predict lots of overprotective chest beating in your future.” “I can handle it.” “I hope so.” Cocooning her in his protective embrace, he settled back into the cushions and said, “My brother Mark was a year younger than me, but he always tried to act older.” Katy’s heart thudded as she realized he was finally going to open up and tell her about his brother. Entwining her fingers through his she hugged his arms tighter around her. “He mirrored everything I did. I tried to be a good big brother but like a lot of little brothers, he annoyed the hell out of me. I had my group of friends but he wanted them too. Finally, I just threw my hands up and let him in. I’m glad I did. That was the best time of my life to that point. But I’d committed to the Army before dad got sick. I felt bad leaving mom with Mark and an ailing husband, but I wanted to go. Had to go. And I loved it, Kat. I loved the structure, the camaraderie, and most of all my deployments. I loved jumping. I thrived at war, I was a damn good soldier, I would have gone career. But then dad died, and Mark started causing problems. I told mom if things weren’t better when my four were up, I wouldn’t reenlist.” He let out a long sigh. “Things with Mark were worse. I managed to talk him into joining the Army, but he only lasted a year. By then I had been hired by the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office on top of taking a full college load. I tried my best keeping on top of

Mark, and making sure mom was okay, but it was hard. Then my little brother decided he wanted to be a cop, too.” He reached to the bottle of Guinness on the table and took a long swig. “I met Amanda in college. She was helping me study and hell, I took what she was offering. It was over in one night. A few months later we hooked up again, and that was the last I saw of her until Mark brought her home with a ring on her finger.” He took another long swig. “I had every intention of telling Mark about Amanda if she wouldn’t. But she begged me not to tell him, she said it would not only destroy their relationship but mine with Mark as well. Mark looked up to me, trusted me, and he always competed with me. I always won. If he knew I’d had Amanda first, he’d feel like he lost to me again. So I let that sleeping bitch lie. We agreed never to tell him. And we didn’t until the day he died.” Simon’s heart thudded dully against her cheek. “It was supposed to be me who died that day, Kat. Instead,” his voice choked, “My little brother caught the bullet with my name on it.” “What happened?” “I’d been working a big human trafficking case in the South Bay. I busted the ring leader Jae Won Moon, a Korean boss who was importing little girls and selling them to the highest bidder. It was a crazy trial. I don’t know if you remember it but there was jury tampering, one of the clerks was assassinated as well as a jurist’s wife. But damn if that jury didn’t suck it up and convict that prick. When the verdict came down, Moon stood, turned to me and swore in open court that he would destroy me. “Things with Amanda and Mark had hit a rocky patch. Hell, from the beginning it wasn’t right. But he loved her. The day after the trial, Amanda and Mark got into it, and to hurt him, she told him I had slept with her. He was furious and drove out to my house to kick my ass. I don’t know if he was pissed I didn’t tell him or pissed I’d slept with her. I’ll never know. As he came storming up the sidewalk to the front door, one of Moon’s henchmen drove onto my fucking lawn and, thinking it was me, gunned him down.” “Oh, Simon,” Katy softly said. How horrible! Hugging him close she pressed her cheek tightly to his chest. “It wasn’t your fault!” “I should have gone with my gut the day he brought her home and come clean with Mark. He may have disowned me but he’d still be alive today if I had.” “Simon, you didn’t pull the trigger. You’re not responsible. It was a terrible, unfortunate

chain of events. You had no control over any of it. Please, you have to let go of the guilt.” His arms tightened around her. “It’s been two years and I’ve let the guilt eat away at me. Every time I look at Livy, I see Mark and the dad she will never know.” “And to compensate for that, you’ve allowed Amanda have her way with things because it eased your guilt.” “Yeah. It didn’t matter to me, her always being around.” He reached down and nudged her chin up. “Until you stumbled into my life.” He grinned. “I’ve never been so happy to be bumped into as the day you came out of that elevator.”

m glad we bumped into each other too, Simon.” She smiled and snuggled into him wanting to move away from the sad subject of his brother’s death. There was no reason to push him for more because there was nothing else to say. She was thrilled that he had finally opened up to her and laid his heart on the table. Now he needed to work through his guilt issues and she would be there every step of the way. This was the first hurdle, him talking to her and sharing how he felt and why. She would take special care of his trust. His arms tightened around her. For a long time they sat quietly holding each other. But Katy’s brain was a whirlwind of activity, pondering ways to bring Evan down and save Simon’s job. “I want you to wire me,” she said, turning out of his embrace and looking up at his hooded eyes “What?” he asked not understanding what she was referring to. “Wire me,” she determinedly said. “I go to the gala this Saturday with a flash drive that has his texts on it and say, ‘this is what the cops could have on you. If I choose to give it to them.’” “No.” He scowled, pulling her back into his arms. “Why not? When he freaks out, I draw him into admitting what he did, then tell him I want half of the money since it was my research he sold.” “No.” He just as determinedly said.

“I’ll also give him a heads up on getting out of the country fast because you know that he’s behind the bacterium lab break-in and you’re just waiting for a subpoena to confiscate all of his records.” “No.” His tone was adamant but Katy was going in for the kill. She pushed out of his arms and stood. Turning with her hands on her hips she demanded, “Why not?” “Because you have no training whatsoever and Evan Stone is a desperate man. Desperate men do desperate things. I will not put you in harm’s way under any circumstances.” “I’m not weak! Besides, Evan is a coward at heart. He won’t hurt me.” “He may be a coward who I will remind you put his hands on you in the gym, but the people he associates with are not.” “He was angry I broke his phone,” she defended weakly. He had been scary. “What do you think he’s going to be when you pull the rug out from underneath him?” “Simon, please. I want to be a part of this. I need to be!” “This is not debatable, Kat. I’ll find another way around this.” “Simon, this is the only way to get him for his crimes, and prevent that video from going viral so you keep your job.” “I could give two fucks about my job. If that’s why you’re so hell bent on doing this, thank you for worrying about me, but if I get fired for conduct unbecoming an officer, which I very well could if that video goes viral, I’ll deal with it. You getting hurt I won’t deal with.” Simon lifted her up into his arms and strode with her to her bedroom then into the bathroom. He reached in and turned the shower on, then stripped them both and pulled her in with him. “Simon, I’m going to do it, with or without you.” Grabbing her hands he drew them over her head and pushed her flush against the shower wall. “I have no doubt in my mind that you could get that turkey to sing. But that’s not your job, princess, that’s mine.” He dipped his head to her lips. “My other job is to protect you from bad guys, and you need to let me do that.” “But Simon I could—” “Shut up,” he roughly said, then kissed her senseless. Much later when Simon was naked and snoring in her bed, she slipped out to her kitchen.

Grabbing her cell phone and a yellow legal pad and pen, she began to decipher Evan’s texts using the Morse code cheat sheet Simon had made for her. An hour later, Katy blinked in stunned silence. Evan was expecting an info delivery from her this Saturday. He was also going to be exchanging more biological information with a certain Mr. Sung who would be giving him account codes to an offshore account. Fifty million dollars would be deposited after Sung validated the information Evan was going to give him. It was more important than ever that she catch Evan in the act because the info Evan was selling was the process to grow a deadly bacterium that had the potential to kill millions if inhaled. She shivered. If Simon knew, he’d be that much more adamant she did not become involved… Pacing the kitchen floor, Katy racked her brain trying to put together a plausible plan of action that Simon would approve of. He was afraid she would get hurt. She knew he’d do everything he could to protect her, but he’d have to be far enough away that Evan didn’t get suspicious. Maybe another cop could be her “date” to the ball? Someone from his team? Someone he trusted. “That’s it!” she squealed. She ran back to her bedroom and pounced on Simon. “Wake up, Simon, I know what we can do!” He grumbled, not the most pleasant man when he was abruptly woken from a deep sleep by a squealing woman. When she told him her grand plan, he hooked her around the waist with his arm and pulled her into the curl of his body. “One step ahead of you, Cinderella. I’m taking you in to meet the boys tomorrow. Now go to sleep.” For an hour she laid still and silent with a huge grin plastered against her face. Simon was bringing her deeper into his shadowed world. She couldn’t wait to meet the ‘boys!’

They were not boys, not by any stretch of any definition. These were full-grown, big shot, grown ass men. When Kat had walked into the testosterone-laden office, she quite literally felt weak at the knees. She was the only female amongst a half a dozen men.

Simon introduced them as: Avi, who was quiet with dark enigmatic eyes, Jack, who was one tall drink of water, Rigo with the million dollar smile, Flynn the golden Adonis, Cort the youngest and from the way his blue eyes sparked when he smiled at her, the naughtiest; and the enigmatic Maddox who nodded and quietly said, “A pleasure.” With the exception of Jack, who was a federal agent, all of them worked for a local Bay Area department and had come together as part of the task force. Simon nodded to Jack, who winked at Kat. She blushed at his audacity and Simon’s scowl. “Jack, should he survive this meeting, will be your date for the night, Kat. The rest of the team will be close by, mulling around you with their ‘dates’.” “Where will you be?” she asked not wanting anyone but Simon beside her, although she had to admit that Jack, who did not look like any FBI Agent she’d ever seen, intrigued her with his dark shoulder length hair, clear green eyes and teasing smile was a good second choice. “I’ll be parked out front in a listening van.” “We’re also working on a piece of jewelry that will have a small camera in it,” Jack said. “We’ll be able to hear what you’re hearing and see what you’re seeing for the most part.” Simon touched her shoulder. “You get into any trouble, the cavalry is right there.” She swallowed hard and nodded, suddenly not feeling so brave. He sensed that. “You can do this, Kat.” “I know.” “Now, let’s sit down and go through how we’re going to do this, step-by-step, over and over, until you can tell me in your sleep what you’re going to say and do.” Hours later, her brain jellified, Kat left the federal building with Simon. Sitting amongst his team, listening and observing them as they methodically strategized the take down of Evan Stone, she was in awe. But despite their seriousness, she could see the easy camaraderie and respect they had for each other. Wow, just wow. What she would not do to be a part of a team like this. She smiled. Well, technically she was. She bet Amanda didn’t get to ever wear a wire to bring down a corporate spy. “I like your friends,” Kat said as they drove back to her place. Simon cocked a dark brow. “So long as it’s not too much.”

“It’s kind of hard not feel in awe of all that testosterone. Holy hell, I can’t imagine all of the hearts those guys have broken. Are any of them married?” “Not a one.” “Dayum.” “If you don’t stop it, I’m going to get jealous.” Katy giggled and snuggled against him. “I kind of like keeping you a little off balance.” “I don’t like it at all.” “Welcome to everyone else’s world, Simon.” They parked in her designated spot, but instead of going straight up, they popped in at her favorite Thai place around the corner for a quick bite, then walked back to her apartment. “I still want you at my place until this is over, Kat.” “I can do that, but first I want to formally introduce you to Rosie and Elliot.” Simon shivered as if afraid. “Oh, stop! She doesn’t bite. Not hard anyway.” When Rosie opened the door she was decked out in her Tae Bo get up with Billy Blanks shouting encouragement in the background. Rosie’s smile faded when she caught and locked gazes with Simon. He put his hands up and said, “I come in peace.” Rosie harrumphed but stood back, opening the door wider. “Rosie,” Katy said, “I thought it would be a good idea if I formally introduced you to Simon and also gave you proof of life.” “I knew you were alive. These walls are thick, Katy, but not soundproof,” Rosie smirked. Heat flushed Katy’s cheeks. Simon chuckled. “You didn’t have to tell me that!” “Trust me, if I thought for one second those screams were in pain—I take that back, in duress, I would have come running.” She winked at Katy then grinned at Simon. “It’s not like you haven’t heard the same coming from here.” “I don’t tell you about it, Rosie, I just turn up my TV!” Rosie extended her hand past Katy to Simon, “I’m Rosie Lowenstein, my husband Elliot and I think of Katy as our daughter. You mess with my family, we mess right back.” Simon smiled, taking her hand in a firm grip and shook it. “Duly noted.” “Where is Elliot?”

“After your scare the other night, he’s back in his office reprograming the codes for the front door key cards. Which brings me to a little incident I want to share with you.” With Billy Blanks quieted, and the three of them sitting on the sofa, Rosie explained, “I caught your ex picking your lock this afternoon.” Katy gasped and Simon scowled. “Was he alone?” Simon asked. “Yes, but after I shooed him away, I took the stairway down and watched him get into a black Lincoln with two other men in it.” “Were you able to get a plate number?” Simon asked. Rosie made an ‘as if’ face. “Of course.” She retrieved a piece of paper from the kitchen and handed it to Simon. “Elliot ran it and it came up registered to a Mitch Rand.” “He’s the head of security at Genomtec!” Katy said. “Which explains why the bacterium lab was so easily breached,” Simon mused out loud. “My God was I the only person in that building not involved?” “It’s beginning to look that way.” Simon stood and brought Katy up with him. “I’m taking Katy home with me until this all blows over, Rosie,” Simon said. “I assume that’s okay with you.” “Hah, even if it weren’t you’d tell me to hit the road, but I’m in complete agreement. Get her out of here. Keep her safe.” Rosie hugged Katy tightly. “I’ll let Elliot know he can put his damn guns away.” Katy hugged her friend back hard. “Thank you for everything, Rosie.” “Any time, kiddo. Now get out of here and listen to what Simon says!” As Katy packed, she asked, “Simon, what do they want from me?” “Information. Information they think you have. Information you have but don’t know you have.” “I do have the pass codes to several data banks.” “Who else has the codes?” “No one, it’s my research data, therefore my codes.” “Did Evan know what you were working on?” “Most of my tenure was spent sequencing, but there were a few byproducts of my left turns.”

“Those left turns could be patented and whoever owns the patent would corner the market?” “Yes, but they weren’t fully realized.” “Maybe they were realized enough for someone else to figure out?” “Yes, that’s true. Most of it wouldn’t require any more than Evan’s level of capability to fully prove.” Simon smiled and shook his head. “It must have bugged the hell out of Evan that you have so much more gray matter than he does.” “I never realized his ego was so delicate until he showed up at the gym.” “Let’s keep that hot button of his in mind for our script.” “What if the bad guys know where you live?” “My information is off the grids. I never go home the same route from here. I never drive the same route coming here. I always have an eye on my rear view mirror. Despite all of that, if they do manage to find me, they’re going to have to get past me to get to you. Once I have you safely tucked away at my place, for both our peace of mind, I’ll post round the clock guards outside and dispatch a deputy to do regular drive byes.” Finally packed, he grabbed her suitcase, and said, “Time for my castle, Cinderella.”

t was late when they exited her building. Katy was anxious and on edge. Tension hardened Simon’s features. He reminded her of a hunter anxious to capture his prey, but wary. She was scared, and beginning to wish she hadn’t pushed to be wired. Men, dangerous men, were after information they thought she had, which technically she did, and then some, but they didn’t know about the “and then some” part. That part would surely get her killed. Simon wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulders and brought her into the secure fold of his body. “I give you my word, I will not allow one hair on your head to be touched.” Nodding, her courage soared. She knew as long as Simon had her back, she would be safe. Once he turned onto 280 instead of 101, Simon was a relentless soundtrack of do’s and don’ts. “If you think, for any reason, Evan suspects what you’re doing, use the kill word.” Katy steeled herself against the shiver pushing to rush across her body. “What is the kill word again?” she innocently asked. “Are you kidding me?” he demanded incredulously. “Yes, Simon. I know the kill word is cavalry. I know not to go into a dark corner with him where no can see me. I know not to taunt him. I know not to leave the building with him. I know if a second, third or fourth person shows up on his behalf to cut and run. I know what to do!” Abruptly he pulled over onto the shoulder of the highway. He pulled the brake and turned angrily toward her. “Do you know how fucking nervous I am about this? Do you have any

idea how much I don’t want this?” “I—” “No you don’t.” He jammed his fingers through his hair. “I lost my brother because of something he had no hand in, and here I’m putting you smack dab in the middle of a shit pile.” “Simon, I’m sorry, I—” “I know putting you in lockdown would have you hating me, and I know if I didn’t you’d do something on your own. At least this way I can control the situation. That and I have the best mother fucking team in the state. They’re highly trained. What’s important to me is important to them. Every one of those guys would take a bullet for you because you’re important to me.” Hot tears stung her eyes. “I see. You have confidence in them, but not me.” “It’s not that. You’re not a trained pit bull who can snap a man’s neck with one hand while taking out his backup with the other.” His job terrified her. She didn’t want to think about the future nights of worrying, of pacing as she waited for a word, a text, a call that he made it through yet another life and death situation. “That may be true, but I have something your team doesn’t have. A personal stake in this. Not only for myself but for the man I love. And while I may not be trained to kill, I have half a brain and I know what drives Evan, now more than ever. I know what buttons to push. So you’re going to have to put a little faith in this princess to do what you and your fellow prince charmings can’t do.” Simon reached out and cupped her behind the head and drew her to him. “You’re damn sexy when you get your dander up.” She resisted his sexual pull. “I want to you take me seriously.” “I do, more than you know.” She kissed him chastely then pulled out of his grip leaving him with a slight pout on those full lips. She cocked a brow. “Are you pouting, Simon?” “Yeah.” “Aww, that’s so cute.” She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. “But it’s not working. I’m not going to make out with you on the shoulder of 280. Let’s go, home. I’m tired and I’m hungry.” She grinned looking straight ahead, “And horny.”

He released the brake and put the Jeep into gear then merged onto the freeway. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with meeting my men would it?” “Only one turns my head.” “Which one?” he groused. “The jealous one.” He grinned as he got it. “Good, I like that guy.” “Me too.”

Though Simon was gone most of the day and part of the evenings, she felt at home in his space. She liked the casual comfort of his surroundings and his personal affects. He liked nice things, and everything in his home from his luxurious leather furniture to his cloud soft bamboo cotton sheets testified to that. He was neat, but not anal, structured but not rigid. He could cook and he cleaned up after himself. As compatibility went, they were simpatico on all the important things, down to their love of fresh ground coffee and adventurous romps in bed. No matter how their story ended, she would always cherish this time alone with him. And like clockwork, first thing each morning, Simon gave her self-defense lessons that she practiced throughout the day. She spent time in his home gym and a lot of time studying the floor plan of the Opera Building, memorizing every nook and cranny of the vast, complicated building. She familiarized herself with every designated safe place so that in case something went south and for some crazy reason one of the team couldn’t get to her, she could safely wait for the cavalry. Finally, Friday, the day before the gala, Simon took her in with him for a final briefing. Once again she was overwhelmed by the testosterone in the room, but this time there were female cops, who would not only pair with the guys as attendees, but also act as servers and security. From the moment Simon stepped into the briefing room, he had control of the room. There were several sly glances at him from more than a few of the women, a few nudges from the men, and with the exception of a few questions, Simon set the tone, laid out the final plan down to the nth detail and then stood back asking if there were any comments

or questions. When there were none, he nodded, closed his folder, and said he’d see them back in the briefing room tomorrow at three. As they exited the conference room, Katy was itching to get him naked and inside of her. As they passed a door marked “Utility”, Katy grabbed Simon’s hand and yanked him toward it as she opened the door. It was clean, and lit up when the door opened. “What the hell?” Simon said as she slammed the door closed and locked it. She dimmed the light and smiled as she pulled her form fitting shirt up and over her shoulders. She tossed it onto the small desk then sauntered toward him. Grazing her fingers along his suddenly rising trousers, she pushed him against the wall. Rising to her tip toes, she kissed him. It quickly ignited into a firestorm of desire. Simon slipped his arm around her waist and turned her, pushing her back against the wall as he unzipped his pants with the other hand. When he was done, he slid that hand up beneath her skirt along her bare thighs to her wet center. “Oh, Cinderella, you are so bad.” She wasn’t wearing panties. “Simon,” she breathed just wanting him inside her. “Please hurry.” “All I could think about in that briefing room as I watched my men lust after you was how you were mine and how much I wanted to climb inside you.” He thrust into her. “God damn that feels good.” She clung to him. “Shut up and fuck me,” she breathed. And he did. Fuck her like there was no tomorrow. Just in case tomorrow never came.

Saturday morning, Katy woke with an upset stomach. “It’s nerves, baby,” Simon said. “Let’s go for a run and get rid of some of that anxiety.” That sounded like a good idea and five miles later, sweaty but feeling better, she looked over at Simon who had barely broken a sweat. “I didn’t have you pegged for a runner.” “I run, but the ring is my exercise of choice.” “The ring?” “Boxing. I go to the Y in the city and a fight club in San Jose. And when I can’t get to either,

I beat the hell out of the heavy bag in my garage.” “You’re one tough guy aren’t you?” He leaned down and soundly kissed her. “The toughest.” He swatted her on the ass and challenged her to a race home. Of course he beat her. She pretended that she let him. Smiling happily, they made it back to the house by mid-morning…they had a lot to do. “I think I’m going to do my makeup and hair here, but should I dress at the office?” The team was meeting at three at the task force briefing room. They’d hook her up with the wire, and she and Jack would be picked up in a town car. It would be manned by a cop who’d drop them off across the street at the opera house where they would go mingle and bring down Evan’s house of cards. “Sounds like a good plan,” Simon said with a smile. He fixed her lunch, even though she said she was too nervous to eat. But as she ate the yummy grilled cheese, she caught him staring at her. “What?” He didn’t answer at first. Instead he slowly chewed the bite he had just taken, then swallowed. He set his sandwich down and wiped his mouth with his napkin then set it aside. He looked to be struggling for words, but she patiently waited for him to find them. “I told you not too long ago that I have a knack for screwing things up. I also told you I wasn’t one of those kinds of guys who waxed poetic. And those words still stand, but there’s an addendum you need to know about.” He reached across the small table and took both of her hands into his big warm ones. “I love you, Doctor Winslow. It scares the shit out of me. I want to run…far and fast, it scares me so much. But my heart is telling me to stay. It’s telling me you are the only one for me.” He turned over her hands and kissed each of her palms. “I promise I will never lie to you, cheat on you or intentionally hurt you, and in return I want your promise that you will come to me first and not believe anything anyone says, because I will always tell you the truth.” Hot tears welled in her eyes. She nodded. “Once this case is in the can, I’m taking some time and we’re going to fuck ourselves senseless on a warm beach somewhere.” Katy smiled as tears spattered down her cheeks. “I’d love that.”

He leaned across the table and kissed her. “Good.” He stood bringing her with him. “Now let’s get this show on the road.” A few hours later, dressed to kill in an electric blue empire gown of gossamer silk, Katy stood still as Special Agent Jennifer Rigatti aka the “Ball and Chain” who she’d met at yesterday’s briefing attached a lovely crystal flower broach to the fabric between her breasts. “The piece in the center is a camera,” she explained. “Embedded in the petals is the receiver.” Once it was attached, Special Agent Rigatti scowled and looked up to Simon. “No ear piece for her?” “No, can’t risk the target looking for one.” “And he will,” Katy said, her voice nervous. She shivered when she realized Evan would touch her and she’d have to be felt up to prove she wasn’t wired. “He’ll pat me down.” Simon growled. Strangely, so did several others on his team. She’d hate to be on the bad side of that. Katy grinned despite knowing what lie ahead, and looked past Rigatti to the assembled group. Most of the men were in formal wear, the ladies dressed beautifully. Support officers were dressed as event security as well as servers and management. They were all armed, dangerous and wired for sound. As Simon, Katy and Special Agent Jack Thornton exited the back of the vast building to the waiting limo, Simon pulled Kat into his arms. “I’ll be right outside, Cinderella.” He kissed her softly then handed her off to Special Agent Thornton who settled her into the back of the town car and slid in beside her. He squeezed her hand and smiled. “It’ll be over before you know it.” Katy exhaled loudly. “I hope so.” She clutched her small purse with the flash drive and her new burner cell in it like it was her lifeline. Once they were in the building, she gazed in appreciation at the architecture and decor of the grand structure. She’d always wanted to go to the opera, but felt funny going it alone. Evan could never be bothered to take her. Of course, she knew now that he had been a lie, and lies didn’t care about other people’s feelings. Maybe Simon would like to go? But, even if he didn’t, she decided she would. Gone were the days she needed someone to hold her hand. She smiled to herself. But she was happy to have Simon’s hand to hold.

Special Agent Thornton tucked her hand into his arm and steered her toward the bar. “Would you like a drink, Kat?” “No thank you, Special A—” “It’s Jack.” “—Jack, I’m afraid if I have a drink I might not stop.” He chuckled. “Simon just told me no drinks and to take my hand off you.” Katy smiled and giggled, touching Jack’s forearm. With his out of the box cop look, he was the perfect choice to be her date. “Oh tell him to stop being so silly. We have to look like we know each other and like each other.” Jack’s eyes smiled. “That’s what I say.” She was just about to agree to that drink offer when she saw Evan making a beeline for her. “Evan at my twelve o’clock and closing fast,” she whispered, digging her nails into Jack’s forearm. “Now kiss me like you mean it.”

e slid his arm around her waist, pulled her passionately to him, and laid one on her. She could just hear Simon sputtering obscenities and threats in Jack’s ear piece, but she had to hand it to Jack, he was a good kisser. In character, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back. It wasn’t a chore either. Jack Thornton exuded the same sensual power as Simon. He was damn good looking with his suntanned skin, dark soul patch and easy smile. When enough time had passed to be sure that Evan should have witnessed their kiss, Jack broke first; his deep green eyes, so much like Simon’s yet so indelibly different, danced. “West, you’re a lucky mother fucker,” Jack softly said. Jack winked at Kat who shook despite the warmth of the man holding her. “Easy does it, sweetheart.” Protective and playing his part, Jack brought her in close. Katy locked stares with Evan. Hatred ruined his handsome face. Her body shook more as she realized there was nothing she could do or say to soften Evan toward her now. It was just as well because if he showed the slightest bit of remorse she might feel sorry for him and stumble. “Relax,” Jack’s soothing voice softly said. “We’ve got this.” She nodded and in total character, she lifted up on her tip toes and whispered in Jack’s ear. “He’s coming straight for us, now laugh and do something sexy.” Jack chuckled deeply, and spun her around dropping a kiss on the curve of her shoulder. “Let’s get a drink, baby girl,” he cheerfully said.

Smiling she looked up at Jack who scowled as Evan approached. Evan dropped his mask of indifference even though it was obvious to her he didn’t like that she was with someone and a very hot someone at that. Not because he had any designs on her. No, she was not alone and, therefore, not as vulnerable. “Katrina,” Evan said, his voice light, his smile so conniving she wanted to rip it off his face. “Evan,” she saccharinely said with an equally saccharine smile. “What a coincidence bumping into you here, since you said you deplored opera. Are you here with your wife?” Evan looked up at Jack who didn’t have to say one word to alert Evan to the fact that he would kick his ass if he misspoke. Evan actually blushed as he looked down at his feet in perceived shame. “No, we—we split up.” “Oh that’s too bad.” Katy glanced up at Jack’s stalwart face. “This is my,” she smiled flirtatiously at her date, praying Evan believed her line. “My very good friend Jack, Evan, he’s my Karate instructor.” Jack extended his hand. “Jack, this is Evan, I dumped him when I found out he had a wife.” Katy knew Simon was probably blowing a gasket or two because she was totally off script but damn it, she wanted Evan to squirm as much as humanly possible. Jack dropped his extended hand, refusing to shake Evan’s. Evan’s color rose. Katy smiled smugly at him. “Was there a reason you came by, Evan?” “Yes,” he pointedly said, glancing at her brooding date. “Would you like a glass of champagne?” Special Agent Rigatti, dressed as a server, asked. Jack took two flutes from the tray and handed Katy one. He raised it and smiled then said, “Here’s to kicking this cheater’s ass to the curb.” They clinked glasses and turned to look at Evan who was fighting the urge to put his hands on her. “Katrina,” Evan carefully said. “I’d like a private word with you.” “Not happening, asswipe,” Jack said. Katy giggled at Evan’s stunned look. They were not making it easy for him. His hazel eyes narrowed dangerously, but he turned and stalked away. Katy let out a huge sigh of relief. Evan wasn’t going far. He knew she had the goods, he’d circle and come in again for another try. And when he did, she would be ready.

An hour passed and they maneuvered themselves around to the quieter part of the floor. “I’m going to the ladies room as planned,” Katy said. When she exited the restroom, it was expected Evan would be waiting and likely pull her aside to a private alcove and demand the flash drive. As Katy broke away from Jack who had not left her side and who she found highly intelligent and entertaining as he regaled her with tales of dumb criminals, she knew Evan would follow her just as one of the female undercover officers would follow her into the ladies room. She had to go so bad she didn’t wait to see if the officer had followed her in, but breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the restroom door open and shut just as she locked her stall door. A few minutes later stepping out of the stall, Katy smiled about to thank the officer when she stopped short catching her breath. Standing just inside the restroom at the door with the trashcan wedged beneath the door handle was not a female undercover cop, instead it was the man they were protecting her from. Her heart rate accelerated. She could do this. “Hello, Katy,” Evan purred, the glint in his hazel eyes triumphant. “Evan, really, you followed me into the ladies room?” She sounded irritated, not terrified. “It’s the only place that gorilla won’t follow you.” “He’s not a gorilla. Jack is a very nice man. And he’s not married nor is he using me.” “He’s your rebound guy?” “He serves his purpose.” “You’ve turned into a little whore, Katy.” She smiled and owned it. “I never thanked you for daring me to bring a man into my bed who could do it for me, Evan. So thank you for that. And after him I found another guy who could do it for me too. Who knew the world is full of real men?” Okay so that was a little off script, but damn if she as going to allow him to call her names and get away with it. His face reddened. “Give me the flash drive.” Katy shook her head. “Not until we strike a deal.” “No time for deals.” “Is Mr. Sung waiting for you?”

At the mention of Sung’s name, Evan’s face blanched white. Katy chuckled. “I thought that might get your attention.” “How do you know that name?” “My proposition first, then maybe, if you accept, I’ll tell you.” Evan checked his watch then said, “Make it quick.” “It’s simple. I want my half of what you sold my patent for.” His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?” “That was my work you stole, Evan. You sold my work. I want half of the money you got for it!” He strode toward her and grabbed her, manhandling her roughly as he ran his hands above and below her dress. “Jesus, Evan!” she gasped, twisting out of his grasp. “What are you doing?” He pushed her away. Thank God. “Do I have stupid stamped on my forehead?” he spat. “What does that have to do with feeling me up?” she asked knowing exactly why he did it. According to plan. “Checking for a wire, baby.” “A wire?” she dumbly asked. “Wire as in the cops listening in.” Katy shook her head making a disgusting sound. “I learned my lesson with cops, Evan.” He smiled nastily. “That captain really took you for a ride.” “Yeah, but I took him for one last ride and got a hold of his case files. Dumbass kept them on his laptop.” He held out his hand. “The flash drive.” “We strike a deal first.” “No deal.” As they expected. Greedy bastard. So Katy nodded, dug the drive out of her purse and handed him it to him. Evan pulled out a small tablet from his tux jacket and plugged it in. She watched his face go from gloating to furious to terrified in less than five seconds. His eyes bored into her. “How did you get this?” he hissed. “The how isn’t important, Evan; the fact that I have it is. And given that I do have it and

you’re being so uncooperative, I’ve just changed my mind. Not only do I want half of the fifty million you were paid for my patent, but I want in on the deal you’re about to broker with Sung for the bacterium. Half.” Not according to script but this way she could show him she was greedy too and with that hopefully buy into what she was selling. He threw the drive onto the tile floor and crushed it with his heel. Katy laughed just as he had laughed at her when she destroyed his cellphone. When he stared daggers at her, she taunted him further. “I might be naïve when it comes to men, Evan, but my IQ shits on yours when it comes to insurance policies. Now, do we have a deal or not?” “Yes,” he roughly said. “Good, now tell me who you’re playing with.” “That’s information you don’t need.” “Oh, there you are very wrong.” She sauntered toward him. “See I don’t have a job any more, and my reputation is ruined thanks to you. My income has been seriously compromised. I like nice things, really nice things that require a lot of cash. You fucked me once, Evan, you’re not going to fuck me again. I’m in one hundred percent on who, what, where and how, and for half the take.” She smiled. “I’m not going to be a selfish bitch about it, I’ll do my fair share of work, but I want complete disclosure from this moment on or you can take your little video and share it with the world because the cop and I are history, and I have nothing left to lose.” She slipped her cell phone out of her purse and wagged it at him. “You think you’re so smart? I could have been recording you the entire time on my cell phone.” She tapped a few icons then extended it toward him like a microphone. “Names, companies, what you stole, who you sold that information to and for how much.” When he hesitated, she sternly said, “I’m not going to make my offer twice, Evan. Now or I walk straight to the nearest precinct with your poorly encrypted texts.” She watched as her insults penetrated. His cheeks flushed angry red, and his eyes sparked hatred. When he was done rattling off the details of more than a dozen thefts as well as his accomplices, she was shocked at the depths of his duplicity and greed. “No one ever suspected you of any of this?” she asked dumbfounded.

He smiled blithely, and shook his head. The restroom door jerked. Someone pushed from the outside, but the trash can held it. “Hello?” a woman’s voice called. It was Rigatti. “Can someone please open the door? I have to pee!” Katy moved past Evan to let the cavalry in. He grabbed her arm, spun her around, and squeezed her hand holding the cellphone until she dropped it. Then he proceeded to step on it, crushing it to pieces. “What are you doing?” she gasped reaching down for the destroyed phone. He yanked her hard against him and sneered, “I didn’t give you all those details because I need a partner, I told you all of that so you could see that even though you might have a bigger brain, I’m smarter.” He shoved her hard against the sink. “It doesn’t matter what your cop has on me, Katrina, and it doesn’t matter what you have on me.” He grasped her around the neck and squeezed. “Because I’m going to stuff you into that trash can and walk out of here.” Panic exploded in her brain. Evan was going to kill her! She choked trying to say the kill word, but his grip was too tight. As the panic tore through her, Katy fought to maintain her composure. Simon had prepared her for this. Taught her how to defend herself. But in the heat of the moment it all went out the window. She tried to drop like he taught her, but Evan’s hold was too tight. She tried breaking his hold and twisting, but he was too strong. She kicked and pushed at his legs and chest as his hands tightened around her neck, cutting off her breath. She was suffocating. Couldn’t breathe. It infuriated her that it was Evan’s murderous eyes and vindictive smile that would be the last things she saw before she met her maker. “Si-mon…” she rasped as the room dimmed. Evan’s maniacal laugh as she continued to struggle against him infuriated her. But she had barely enough strength to— “Kat!” Simon’s desperate voice yelled above the pounding on the door. “Dig his eyes out!” Remembering how Simon showed her, with her last bit of strength, she closed her eyes, and dug her nails into Evan’s eyes. He screamed. She dug deeper. He screamed again, shoving away from her, finally giving her air.

The trash can was just about bent in half, hands grasped it from the other side trying to completely dislodge it. “Hang on, baby!” Simon called. Katy’s adrenaline spiked. Evan looked at the door, then to her, from behind bloody eyes. Katy moved toward the door. “The cavalry is coming, Evan,” she breathlessly said, “and you’re going down.” He lunged at her just as the door burst open and Simon, followed by his entire team, poured into the restroom. Simon punched Evan so hard in the face, he flew back against the sink, hitting his head with a sickening thud before falling to the floor as Jack and the rest of the boys swooped down on him like locusts on free corn. Simon dropped to his knees scooping her up into his arms. “Kat,” he said, his voice shaking with emotion. “Baby,” he choked as his eyes ran up and down her body, checking for damage. She choked back a sob as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her to him holding her so tightly against him, she could scarcely breathe. With her safely in his arms, he carried her out of the bathroom to the vestibule down the hall. “Are you ok?” Simon asked, his voice still quaking. “I’m fine.” And she was. “We did it, Simon! We did it!” Euphoric relief flooded her system. They did it! Her name would be cleared and Evan was going to jail for a very long time! But as happy and excited as she was, despite her near death experience, Simon was not nearly as celebratory. “Son of a bitch,” he said shaking his head. “It was killing me not running in there until we had his confession. Christ, Kat, I saw it in his eyes, the split second he made the decision—I knew he wasn’t going to let you out of there alive.” His voice shook, full of rage, fear and relief. “Jesus Christ, I thought I was going to lose you.” He hugged her close. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life.” He sat down on a divan, holding her tightly, his body still shaking. “I’m too old for this shit.” She tapped him on the shoulder and said against his chest, “Simon, I can’t breathe.” He loosened his hold, and looked down at her, his eyes misty with emotion. “You were great in there, Cinderella. Amazing, but damn it, never again! Never fucking ever again!”

She hugged him tight and wondered how he did what he did every day. “Don’t worry, Simon, I don’t want to ever do that kind of thing again.” Gently, he touched her tender neck. “I’m going to kill him for that.” Katy reached up and touched his face as gently as he had hers. “No you’re not. You’ll go to jail and I don’t do convicts.” Despite her try at lightening the seriousness of what just happened, Simon’s brows drew down into a frown. “Kat, this is my life. I live this on a regular basis.” “I can handle it. I can even handle Amanda.” And she could she decided. Simon’s frown deepened at the mention of her name. “I took care of that. She understands you’re off limits and she is to stay completely out of my business.” Katy smiled. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that.” He notched her chin up with his hand. His deep emerald eyes held hers, never more serious than they were at that moment. “The divorce rate is sky high in my line of work, Kat. Can you handle it?” Her heart stuttered a beat. “To get a divorce one has to be married first.” He grinned. “Yeah, about that…” Her heart slammed against her chest. “What about that?” “I know this chapel in North Shore…” “Do they have beaches in Tahoe?” He grinned. “No but they have fireplaces and bearskin rugs…” Katy smiled and wrapped her arms around Simon’s neck, “Are you asking me to go to Nevada and marry you, Simon West?” He shook his head, lowering his lips to hers. “No, I’m telling you.” “You’re not the boss of me.” “Yeah, I am.” Their lips met and she sighed against his. “Yeah, I guess you are.” Because whatever Simon said, was always in her best interest to do. THE END!

Let’s not say good-bye so quickly to Simon and Kat, let’s just wave and say, “See you later in the pages.” Because as Simon and Kat fulfill their happily ever after, they also say hello to more adventures with the Bad Boys of The Bay. Yep, you guessed it, my new hot cop series is coming soon and will kick off with one very bad boy of the bay, Special Agent Jack Thornton. Jack teams up with high octane, ex-lover, Detective Stevie Cavanaugh. Theirs is an emotionally explosive (she’s pissed, he’s just hot) reunion story that will singe your eyebrows off! Some of you may remember Jack and Stevie from the previously published, Stakeout, the lead novella in the THE HARD STUFF anthology that released many moons ago and is now out of print. I regained the rights to my very first published work and have not only reset and rewritten their love story but I’ve added layers of depth to these two crazy kids. Jack is a man on a mission, and Stevie is the one and only that he’s set his sights on. Bad Boys of The Bay is coming soon (as in a couple of months soon!) Check me out on fb for release information and just to hang out! www.facebook.com/karin.tabke.harlow

ational bestselling, award-winning author Karin Tabke isn’t just another author with steamy stories to tell, but a cop’s wife who has “seen it all and heard it all.” Some of the hottest stories come from behind the blue wall of law enforcement rather than from in front. Married to a street cop, now retired, Karin is intimate with both and proves it with her sizzling tales of hot cops. Not only are her cops hot, but so are her sexy knights and bad boy werewolves. Karin’s Blood Sword Legacy series is a must read for anyone who loves tales of yore when men were men and women were women, and love did conqueror all. Her dark, erotic Blood Moon Rising paranormal trilogy is best described as “Sons of Anarchy meets Rise of Lycans”. Her L.O.S.T. series (w/a Karin Harlow) is paranormal romantic suspense at its “chilling and sizzling”* best. You don’t want to miss any of Karin’s deliciously edgy tales of danger and passion!

ALSO BY KARIN TABKE: BLOOD MOON TRILOGY Blood Law Bloodright Blood Vow

BLOOD SWORD LEGACY TRILOGY Master of Surrender Master of Torment Master of Craving A Knight to Remember *Master of Deception

HOT COPS SERIES Bad to the Bone Good Girl Gone Bad Skin Jaded Have Y ourself a Naughty Little Santa Wanted

ANTHOLOGIES Y ou’ve Got Murder, co-written with Edie Ramer Men Out Of Uniform

CONTEMPORARY Rebel Rose, Book One in the Rebel Y ell series The Dare, Book One in The Chronicles of Katrina Double Dare, Book Two in The Chronicles of Katrina The Truth, Book Three in The Chronicles of Katrina The Consequence, The Final Book in The Chronicles of Katrina

PARANORMAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE w/a Karin Harlow L.O.S.T. SERIES Enemy Lover Enemy Mine *Enemy Sworn *Coming Soon

THE CONSEQUENCE Copyright © 2014 Karin Tabke LLC. All rights reserved. Editor: Christina Trevaskis Copy Editor: Janell Parque Cover Design & eBook Production: VMC Art & Design, LLC This book is an original publication of Karin Tabke LLC This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior written permission from the copyright owner. ISBN 978-0-9881879-4-8