Free More Than Lust (Courthouse Connections Book 1) by Ann Jacobs Page A

horseradish and habanero peppers. Marcy, whom Andi had noticed eating sparingly when they went out for lunch during trial recesses, put away almost as much as the men.
    Marcy grinned. “Yeah, I sometimes splurge and forget my figure, especially when Sam brings me here. We’ve been coming to this place since high school—I’m a sucker for their shrimp, especially the hot, hot sauce. Good thing for me that Bennie’s doesn’t serve this, or I’d probably weigh two hundred pounds.”
    Sam reached over and patted Marcy’s tummy. “That would never happen, sweetheart, unless you should get pregnant with triplets. I’d still love you, though, even if your amazingly hot body should go to pot.”
    When Marcy laid a hand on Sam’s thigh and said something obviously meant just for him, Andi remembered Gray saying that Marcy and Sam had been together since high school. What they had together was rare—a couple who were obviously not only in love with each other after so many years, but whose desire for each other was palpable even to the most casual observer.
    Could even casual acquaintances feel the sizzling chemistry that flowed between Gray and Andi? She found that possibility didn’t embarrass her as she’d thought it might. She wanted Gray as she’d never wanted any other man—and she didn’t care if others could see the feelings that had to be obvious from the way they looked at each other, in the casual touches that promised so much more.
    Their boss’ declared lack of need for a live-in lover had made sense to Andi, until she met Gray and discovered a sudden need to pair up. “Marcy, do you think Sandra really doesn’t want a long-term relationship with a man?” she asked when curiosity got the best of her while Gray and Sam had gone to speak with one of the guys in the band.
    “You’re kidding, aren’t you? Haven’t you seen that very unusual choker she always wears?”
    “Yes, I’ve seen it. What does that have to do with our boss’ not being on the lookout for a lover?” Andi didn’t understand.
    “Sandra Giancone is into BDSM. She has a master—he’s the only one who can unlock that choker. From what one of the older assistant state attorneys told me, the man’s a general contractor. He’s seen them together at that posh, private sex club down in Ybor City—really together, as in having sex in public.”
    Andi could hardly believe her ears. “BDSM? As in whips and chains and rubber bodysuits?”
    “I don’t know about that. I don’t envision our boss being a masochist, since she’s anything but that on the job. My impression is that she’s into sexual submission—and that her partner is a Dominant. To each her own, I say. Sometimes it’s fun when Sam tells me what to do in bed, but I wouldn’t go so far as to put up with domination in other areas of our life together.”
    Andi glanced over at the men, who were deep in conversation with the lead guitar player. “Sam? I’d never imagine that he’d be into kinky games.” She had no trouble imagining Gray stepping over the line from forceful lover into handcuffs and other fun and games. What surprised her was that she got turned on, thinking about him tying her up and banishing her inhibitions.
    “Well, he’s not into kink, at least not by what I’ve heard goes on at those clubs. My parents would die a thousand deaths if they thought their little girl was going to that club and having sex where everybody could see—not that I think Sam would ever take me there.” Marcy grinned. “So would Sam’s parents, for that matter. Sandra’s local too—from one of the old Sicilian families that settled in Tampa years ago—but I guess she’s been on her own too long for her parents to pay much attention to what she’s doing or with whom.”
    “My parents might not say anything, but I’m sure they’d be disappointed if I suddenly started frequenting sex clubs.” Disappointed was an understatement—Mom and Dad would be shocked