Taken (12 page)

Her heart skipped a beat as she studied the painting. Then she smiled and moved closer, studying every detail. He’d captured every ounce of her essence, from the look in her eyes to the expression on her face. “Craze.” The whispered word was followed by a deep sigh. She was mesmerized, intoxicated by the beauty of the two of them. Could they share something again so amazing?

“Oh wow. That’s incredible. That’s you!”

Jess swallowed before turning her head toward Betsy. “No one can know.”

“Stop worrying. The painting is beautiful. Who did this?”

She shook her head. “A very special man.”

“Interesting since you also have a visitor.”

“A visitor?” Jess tipped forward, her legs shaking. “Who?” Oh God. This couldn’t be happening.

“He wouldn’t say, just asked if you were available for a few minutes.”

“This wouldn’t be the judge by any chance?”

“Uh no, I don’t think so.” Betsy frowned. “I think you just need to come out here. I don’t think he’s going to take no for an answer.”

Jess nodded. “Please don’t tell me I’m being served with some lawsuit.”

“I have no idea, but if they’re using a service with guys who look like this, I think I’ll break the law.” Betsy chuckled as she walked away, leaving the door open a crack.

She exhaled and moved toward the door, her thoughts all over the place. A quick look at her very boring grey suit made her grumble. After jerking off the jacket, she tugged the pin from her hair, swinging her hair up and down then fluffing with her fingers. If she was going to be sued then she might as well look her best. There was no way Craze would come here. He’d know better. He would, wouldn’t he? Now she was panting.

Rolling her eyes, she walked toward the door, opening as if she was taking command. The entire staff seemed to be standing in front of her door, drinks in their hands. They were laughing, happy given the win. She weeded through, accepting congratulations as she smiled and pushed harder. When she finally was able to break through, she glanced around the room. There was no sight of anyone who didn’t belong.

“Betsy. Did he leave?”

“I’m right here.”

The voice, the sensuous tone, made her pussy clench. Jess turned to her right, a smile curling on the corner of her mouth. “What are you doing here?” Craze. Craze.
Craze!
She looked down the length of him and almost melted into the floor. Dressed in faded skin-tight blue jeans, a red tee shirt, a leather jacket and biker boots, he was the epitome of a bad boy, her bad boy.

“I had to come, congratulate the best prosecutor in the city.” Craze walked forward, his hands behind his back.

“I was just doing my job.” Suddenly all conversation in the room stopped. Her face heated, she inched closer, careful not to trip over her own feet. She glanced to her right and Betsy’s face was positively ashen.

“You did yourself proud.” Craze closed the distance. “Did you like the painting?”

“It’s amazing,” she whispered. “I can’t accept.”

“I insist,” Craze stated, the tone authoritative. “A woman so beautiful deserves to be captured.”

“Who is that?” A voice from the crowd asked.

“I think that’s Judge Mitchell,” Betsy whispered, the sound reverberating.

Jess swallowed hard as Craze’s eyes twinkled. “Thank you. You didn’t have to come down here just to say that or give me a present. Besides, I can see you’re busy, on a ride.” Why did her voice sound so submissive?

Craze shook his head. “I didn’t come just to congratulate you and I had the painting sent yesterday.”

His hot breath cascaded over her face and for a few seconds she wanted nothing more than to drop to her knees, press her face against his groin. “Then why?”

He leaned closer. “I came to claim you.”

“Claim?” Jess managed. She couldn’t look around her but knew everyone in the room was leaning forward, curious as to what was going on.

“Yes. You’re coming with me, but not until I give you this.” Holding out a velvet box, he gave her a look of utter domination.

Everyone in the room exhaled.

Jess glanced down at the box, her hand brushing across her lips. Tentatively she took the gift, rubbing her hand over the soft velvet. She looked down and tried to think of something to say.

“Open it,” Betsy insisted.

Half smiling, she opened the box. The sterling silver choker had a single dangling ruby. She sucked in her breath as she fingered the piece. A tiny lock was hidden behind the jewel. “Are you certain?”

“Are you?” he asked as he took her arm.

Jess nodded. “Very.”

Gathering her into his arms, he captured her mouth, pressing his tongue inside. As the kiss intensified, he pulled her to her tiptoes.

“My, oh my,” Betsy breathed.

“Hot,” a co-worker said quietly.

When he broke the kiss he took the collar, placing around her neck. His whisper was direct. “Mine.”

Her breath skipping, Jess fingered the jewel, the significance something only she knew. “Betsy. I’m going for a ride.”

“With the Judge?” Betsy teased.

She turned and winked. “With Craze, the man who owns me.”

The End

About the Author

Best selling author, Cassandre writes highly erotic romance stories and novels in the contemporary, science fiction, paranormal and thriller flavors. Currently she has over one hundred erotic romance novels published with Rebel Ink Press and several more under contract. Her recent titles include:
Uncuff Me
,
Unwrap Me
,
Like a River, Hot Summer Nights Collection, Dirty Little Secrets Collection, His Wrath, Done,
Unleashed
, and several m/m pieces including
Game Over, Power Struggle
and
Punch Back, Like a River
, and the recently re-released
Male Order
. Her m/m titles including
Punchback, Shattered, Hearts Forged in Fire
,
His Wrath, Done, Like a River,
every
Hot Summer Nights
and every
Sizzling Winter Nights
piece received silver stars from ARe within hours of their release. Her Domestic Discipline trilogy including
Anticipation
,
Decision
and
Discipline
, are best sellers.

She’s also had several releases with Naughty Nights Press –
Spankdown,
Red Fire – Surrender
,
Raging Shadows
,
Forced Fantasies
,
Mr. Mistletoe
and
Oral Sex – Hot Shots, Phone Sex – Hot Shots
with the second in the
Fire Trilogy – Blue Fire, Domination –
receiving a silver star and
Dazzle
and
Bad Things. Staged Whispers
and
Yellow Fire and Bad Things – Stalk
and
Bad Things - Ravage
released recently. Her spanking collection –
Spank Me
entails a corporate spanking environment with two in release. Look for the
Ice Collection
, a follow up to her best selling
Fire Series
in 2015

Recently released
Suffering in Silence, On Saying Goodbye
with Bitten Press is a firsthand account of her personal D/s journey.

She has several highly acclaimed self published pieces including
On Becoming His
,
On Becoming His – Lessons Learned
,
St. Nick – the Dilemma
,
Corporal Domination
,
Explicit Detail
,
Scarlet Darkness
and the
Crimson Tide
trilogy. She also has several books co-written with horror author Christian Jenson. Titles include
Toxic Leash
,
I Like to Watch
and
The Darkness Within
. Her D/s collections,
Submitting to a Spanking
,
Power Exchange
and
Honor and Obey
highlight the powerful journey.

In addition, she is a blog talk radio host on the World of Ink Network. The Edge highlights artists taking their works to the extreme and airs every other Sunday. As Bethany Halle she is also the Director of Communications for Rebel Ink Press.

She was a Passionate Ink finalist for their Passionate Plume contest with
Treats in a Plain Brown Wrapper
and has received several four and five star reviews for her work.
Bad Things – Hunger
received third place in the Paranormal Romance Guild’s coveted Reviewer’s Books of the Year for Erotica Paranormal Romance and second for in the Erotic Paranormal Romance Series. She also received an honorable mention from the Love Romance Café as the 2011 Author of the year and her book
Her Sinful Long Legs
was a best erotic contemporary romance of 2011 at The Romance Reviews nominee.

Member of:

Virginia Romance Writers

Romance Writers of America

Passionate Ink

EPIC

ARRA – Australian Romance Readers Association

Paranormal Romance Guild

Find Cassandre at:

[email protected]

http://www.cassandredayne.com

http://twitter.com/bethanyhalle

http://cassandredayne.wordpress.com/

http://pinterest.com/cassandredayne/

http://www.romancenovelcenter.com/cassandredayne