TrickorTreat Read online

  “Proves my point!” She wasn’t sure it did, but… “So, Katie, what do you do when you’re not building web sites, or shopping for kinky toys?”

  “I wasn’t shopping for…” Hell, she had been. “For a ‘day job’ I work retail. It pays the rent, and gives me health insurance.”

  “Retail? Hmmm… Not at the Rose and Leather?”

  “No way! I’d never even been there before.”

  “Big bad cousin leading you astray?” His eyes twinkled. “Tell me what did you buy?”

  “Handcuffs.”

  “Ever had them used on yourself?”

  “Good grief, no!” That sounded ridiculously prim. “They’re for my cousin, as a gag gift for her shower.”

  “If it’s a ‘gag’ gift why not get her a gag?”

  “They sell gags? What for?” Dumb question.

  “Same reason as handcuffs, chains or ropes: to restrain a lover.” Had to be something about his voice, but her throat went tight and she felt the bag beside her crackle as her fingers gripped the top. ”You think your cousin would like that?”

  Highly unlikely! “It’s just for fun. She'll never really use them.” It was actually hard to even imagine prim Sally making out, but…

  “Why not? People do, you know. It adds to the excitement and pleasure.”

  “Being made helpless?” This was approaching incredible, and fascinating.

  Jud nodded. Three seconds later, Andrew arrived with a tray and three mugs. She almost hugged him. Jud was making her nervous, but on the other hand if they now started talking basketball, or football…

  They talked about cats, or specifically, Andrew’s pregnant one.

  “Katie’s holding the fort for me while I’m away. She can be godmother to the kittens if she likes.”

  She didn’t really like. “I’m going to will that cat to wait until you get back.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” Jud said. “If you need help delivering, just give me a call. My mother bred dogs, cats can’t be that different.”

  “I might just call you to come over so you can worry for me.”

  He’d obviously been waiting for that. He produced a printed business card, and wrote a number on the back. “Here’s my cell phone.”

  “You make house calls?”

  “Any time.”

  This was getting out of hand! Trouble was, she wanted this Jud she barely knew to make a house call… and stay the night. She was nuts! She knew nothing about him, other than he was one of Andrew’s friends-or maybe just an acquaintance. “I’ll remember that, Jud.” She slipped the card in her jacket pocket, finished her latte, and reminded Andrew she had to get home.

  They didn’t talk much on the way back. She sensed he was waiting for her to say something-about Jud perhaps. She didn’t. Not having any idea what to say, and wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about him. He rather unnerved her.

  “See you at the shower,” Andrew said as he dropped her at her front door and drove away.

  Chapter Two

  Aunt Sarah’s house was packed when Katie arrived.

  “Katie! I’m so happy you’re here. Come in and get some wine.” Sally was glowing with joy, as she hustled Katie into the kitchen where, Tim, her intended, was dispensing jug wine, and talking to Mary, her cousin Jason’s very-pregnant wife. Yes, the family was increasing.

  Katie took the offered wine, and Mary grabbed a can of pop before they both elbowed their way towards the living room. As Katie noticed and waved at her also pregnant sister, Susie across the room, Uncle Jimmy, Sally’s father, called from the doorway. “Okay! Everyone in the living room and get a seat. Time to open the goodies! Part the crowd please and let Sally and Tim through!”

  Balancing her wine, Katie moved sideways. Mary followed turning her belly as best she could.

  “Excuse, me,” a voice said behind them. Katie turned and stared. Jud smiled. “I thought it was you, Katie.” He smiled at Mary. “I think in your condition, you deserve a chair. With a courtly bow, he stood and offered her his.

  Mary was no fool, eight months gone and swollen ankles. She sank into the wing chair with a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” Jud said, and closed his hand over Katie’s and eased them both away.

  Smooth mover was an understatement. They were squashed in a corner, and as more people moved into the room, she found herself penned in behind the sofa.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here. You know Sally and Tim?”

  “No. Sophie’s out of town, so Andrew brought me instead.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “Think anyone noticed the difference?”

  He nodded with mock seriousness. “I suspect so, but three bottles of good Merlot helped ease the way.”

  “Is this sort of affair your idea of an evening out?” She was here half on sufferance. She’d have heard about it from her mother until Christmas if she hadn’t put in an appearance.

  “I understood you’d be here.”

  He was direct. “I might not be staying.”

  “You see a way out?”

  Short of climbing over the back of the sofa and stepping on the four people occupying it-no. “This wasn’t accidental, was it?”

  “Not much that I do is accidental.”

  Sheesh, what had she ended up with? Besides a voice like warm Kahlua, and looks to stop traffic or change the weather. “Planned it all out did you?”

  “Yes.” She was tempted to shove him for his arrogance, but elbow space was at a premium right now. “After I got home Thursday, I called Andrew right away, and he said you’d be here. I came. Waiting for you to call was too iffy. I was afraid you’d chicken out.“

  She almost spluttered red wine all over Aunt Mildred’s new hairdo. Jud offered her a handkerchief. It was perfectly ironed, hemstitched linen, darn good thing she didn’t really need it.

  “Thanks.” As she handed it back, their fingers brushed, his dark eyes watching her intently. His gaze bothered her, or more precisely, excited her. She turned away, making a point of looking intently at the stack of wrapped and ribboned gifts. “They should start opening them soon.”

  “Can’t wait to see them open your present,” Jud said, “and to watch your reaction.”

  “My reaction?” It was what the entire family would say when Susie opened it that was bothering Katie. And heaven help her! Her mother was now standing by Susan, and at a nudge from Susan, Mother looked across the room. She waved, her eyes all but popping out on stalks when she noticed Jud. Katie groaned inwardly, she was headed for the maternal inquisition now. “Hi, Mom, Susie!”

  They both waved back, eyeing Jud as if he were the first man they’d seen in twenty years. And he, drat the man, nodded politely and smiled! Susie simpered in reply. Darn it, her sister was married with two and seven-ninths children, she had no right ogling her man. Hey, wait! Jud wasn’t hers. He was just the man imprisoning her in the corner behind a rather nice, chintz-covered sofa.

  “Your mother?” Jud whispered, his breath warm in her ear.

  She nodded. “And my sister.”

  “Am I the only person present who isn’t a blood relative or in-law?”

  “Yes.”

  “That gives me an edge, I hope.”

  “I don’t think it gives you anything!”

  Since Robbie, Sally’s brother called for quiet just then, Jud was saved the trouble of replying. Everyone settled expectantly to watch Sally open her gifts.

  But first they had to divide into three teams and blow up condoms until they burst. Since everyone else was suitably impressed at Jud’s condom bursting ability, she pretty much had to be. Fair enough, he did burst their team to victory.

  “That was interesting,” Jud whispered “Do that often at family gatherings do you? Some sort of fertility rite?”

  She not only stopped herself from laughing, she even managed to look him in the eye and reply, “Yes. It’s a family custom.”

  “Hmmm.” He raised his dark eyebrows
and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I can think of much better uses for them.”

  “If they pop that readily I’m not sure I’d ever trust one around you!”

  “I’ll get super strength ones.”

  And Mom was smiling benignly in their direction. If she had half a notion what he’d just said, she’d have a conniption. “Think you’ll need them?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want to get you pregnant, until you’re certain you want to have my baby.”

  She asked for that one! But, she had to admit, she’d never had so much entertainment at a family gathering in her life. And she’d be up there with the angels, if she didn’t get a charge out of all the admiring and curious glances cast their way. She was spared from answering by the start of the grand gift opening.

  “I like the black lace one,” Jud whispered as Sally opened yet another tap pants and camisole set.

  Keeping her eyes fixed on Sally and Tim surrounded by wrapping paper and gifts, Katie shook her head. “I prefer the red satin one.”

  “It’ll look good on you, but even more, I’ll enjoy taking it off.”

  Sheesh, try to be ornery and the man took it as come on. “Dream on!”

  “Oh, I do, Katie. Don’t you? Imagining you has kept me awake the past couple of nights.”

  “That explains it, you’re sleep-deprived.”

  “It’s not sleeping I plan.”

  Across the room, she caught her mother’s encouraging smile. Mom wouldn’t be quite so complacent if she knew what Jud was saying-or would she? After their last, ‘Katie, do you think your attitude might be putting men off? You should try harder!’ She wondered, Right now, it was Jud who was trying-in every sense of the word!

  “After this, I’m going home to sleep-alone!”

  “Good. That means I don’t have competition!”

  He got a punch in the ribs for that.

  His hand caught hers. Very gently, he opened her hand, and stroked one finger across her palm. Quite against her will, her body broke out in goose bumps. He dropped her hand before she had a chance to pull it away.

  “You’re pushing your luck, Charlie!”

  “It’s Jud, and I’m looking forward to pushing more than that.”

  “You flatter yourself that you even have a chance.”

  “I know I do, Katie, and so do you. If you were really annoyed you’d have moved away. You’re enjoying wondering what outrageous thing I’ll say next.”

  She was sorely tempted to deny that soundly. But lying was a sin, so she settled for a glare, suspecting it wouldn’t have the slightest effect, and darn it, he was right! She was enjoying his company. This was one family get together she’d remember for the rest of her natural born days.

  “Alright, Katie?” Jud asked after they watched in silence while Sally opened a gift basket of massage cream and scented candles, and Tim opened an electric can opener. Obviously Aunt Anita and Uncle Joe hadn’t approved of the idea of a ‘honeymoon’ shower.

  Katie looked at Jud. His dark eyes were serious, not a glint of amusement or tease. He looked worried, unless he was very good at acting. “Why wouldn’t it be alright?”

  He smiled. “Shh, they’re opening your present now.”

  Damn it! They were. What had seemed fun in the shop wasn’t quite the same with her mother and aunts and uncles looking on. But Sally seemed happy enough. “Just what I need when Tim gets out of line!” she announced to a chorus of ribald laughter. “Thanks, Katie,” Tim added. “Let me know if you need to borrow them!”

  More laughter all around, then thankfully they moved on to Helen and Jimmy’s gift of The Joy of Sex.

  “You know,” Jud whispered, as everyone gave their attention to a long package wrapped in silver paper, “when you look at those cuffs, your breath catches, and your heart beats faster.”

  A denial rose to her lips, but the words never came out. “You imagine it!”

  He shook his head. “I noticed that evening in the coffee bar, and in the Rose and Leather. The thought of handcuffs and manacles excites you.”

  Talking about it was a bad idea. “Jud…” she began

  “I do understand, you know. They excite me too. Kidnap, hostage, princess in the tower, fair maiden in the dungeon are fun games to play.”

  “Children play games! You grow out of it.”

  “Some of us never do.”

  Jud took her hand again. Lightly. It would take no effort to pull her fingers from his. She didn’t.

  “I won’t disappoint you,” he promised. For some inexplicable reason, she was wet between her legs.

  Katie expected her mother to be hovering by the door. She was dead right. “Katie, dear,” Mom enthused. “You will introduce me, won’t you?”

  Since saying “Hell, no!” to your mother was not an option, Katie smiled. “Mom, this is Jud Carlton, a friend of Andrew’s. Jud this is my Mom, Angie Fairfax.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Mrs Fairfax.”

  Mom beamed at Jud. “Lovely to meet you! I hope we’ll see you at some other family gatherings.” Not quite an invitation to dinner, but why did Mom have to act so eager?

  A couple of gracious comments from Jud (she had to grant it to him, the man was slick) and they did the last round of good-byes and left.

  Together.

  She might as well have put an announcement in the morning paper.

  He walked her to her car.

  “Can I convince you to come and have a drink? Coffee?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not making it up, but I have to get home and work. I’ve…”

  “A client waiting for a rush job?”

  “Modifications to the rush job.”

  “I’ll accept it’s not an excuse if you meet me for lunch tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow was her day for visiting Gran, as much as the old ladies would love the novelty, Katie was not taking Jud. But she didn’t want to brush him off. Ridiculously she was drawn to him, outrageous comments and all. “Tomorrow lunch is out, a family commitment, but if you’re serious about wanting to see me, give me a break from playing kitty doula the weekend after next.”

  “You feel Andrew pulled a fast one on you?”

  “To be fair, no, it was my mother.”

  Jud had a wonderful laugh, and out of the confines of the house, he let it roar in a wonderful rich peal that echoed in the frosty night. Heck, a couple of cousins turned from unlocking cars to listen. “I doubt many people refuse her. She gave me a good once over. I half expected to be asked my career prospects, and whether there was insanity or feeble-mindedness in my bloodlines.”

  It was her turn to laugh. “That will come when you get invited to lunch.”

  “What are my chances of getting an invitation?”

  One hundred percent, if she left it up to her mother. “Aren’t you going a bit too fast?”

  “Far too fast, but what have I got to lose? I made up my mind that night in the coffee shop. I want to see you again. No, what I really want to do is take you home and make love all night… but you have modifications for your clients rush job.”

  “Jud…” She made the mistake of hesitating.

  His knees brushed her thigh as he placed his hands on the car roof, either side of her shoulders. “Katie,” he whispered, his voice husky, while she stared up at him like a damn rabbit caught in the headlights. His lips came down, warm and moist in the October night. His mouth closed on hers with a gentle pressure that sent wild desire spiraling through her. Ridiculous! It was only a damn kiss, but his lips caressed, like a warm tide along a smooth beach. Each pressure on her mouth sent another rush of sensation flooding her mind and body. Wetness gathered between her legs, as he pressed his body against hers.

  Katie vaguely wondered about people passing by or traffic or Aunt Mary seeing, until his lips opened hers and her mind shut off. She couldn’t think, didn't have a need to. She opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue as it gently caressed hers. Blood pounded in her ears. Her heartbeat ech
oed inside her skull, as she wrapped her arms around Jud Carlton and pulled him close. Her legs parted at a tipping of his knee. She pressed into him, and he pinned her to the car with his body. He was hard. She was hot. And he deepened the kiss. She wanted this kiss to last forever, to spend the rest of her life locked in his embrace, but in a far corner of her reason, she knew there was more, much more. This man would take her to undreamed of places, give her unimagined pleasure, and with that hope, she kissed on.

  She was wobbly by the time he broke off.

  He too was breathing fast and looking down at her with glazed eyes. “We must stop.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I say so.” Her heart skittered at his hoarse voice.

  “Jud.”

  “Not here, Katie. What I want to do to you would get us both arrested, and utterly destroy the wonderful impression I made on your mother. I could take you home with me but…” The damn web site! She was two hairs from consigning her client to the devil but… “Business is business, Katie. You can’t let a customer down. We can wait. I’ll see you this weekend”

  “When?”

  “I’ll call you.” He took the keys from her sweaty hand, and unlocked the door. He even buckled her seat belt for her, and dropped a soft kiss on her cheek. “This weekend, be ready.”

  He shut the door and walked away while her confused brain processed what he’d said. She was half-tempted to call after him, but they’d put on enough of a display for one evening.

  Chapter Three

  “What have you done to Jud, Katie?”

  Andrew was darn lucky he was across town. As it was, she could only snarl down the phone. “What have I done?” her voice rose quite satisfactorily. “I went to Sally’s shower, and got opportuned!” Good word that.

  “Ah!” The way he laughed, he was lucky he wasn’t within kicking distance. “Like Jud do you?”

  “I really don’t know.” Might as well tell the truth. “He comes on a bit too fast.”

  “Is this the same woman who complained about wishy-washy men?”

  “There’s a wide range between wimpy and indecisive and Jud Carlton!”