View this author's other titles

LENGTH:Mid-Novel
SENSUALITY:Carnal

Cover art (c) Alex DeShanks 2007
ISBN: 978-1-60394-086-3
Download: $5.50
(s&h not included in price)

Lawyers Erika Arnold and Mark Lincoln have had a rough time of it. Best friends for years, they've always been there for one another and both Erika and Mark deserve a treat for everything they've gone through-something sweet-something nice ….

For Erika it would be tall, dark, and muscular with bright blue eyes. She fell in love with lawyer, Jack MacAddison the minute she met him, but she knows there's no future with him-she only has to ask his girlfriend to clear up any confusion there. Jack doesn't even seem to like her, so why does she crave being with him?

For Mark, it would be green-eyed, well built, with smooth skin and satiny mahogany hair. Mark's unsure of what his future holds, but he knows that the new love in his life and his friendship with Erika are really all that really matter.

Rating: Erotic-Adult language and situations. Gay sexual encounters.

SWEET TREATS

By

J.J. Massa

© copyright September 2007 by J.J. Massa

Cover Art by Alex DeShanks 2007

ISBN 978-1-60394-086-3

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

Chapter One

"Have you met Devon's niece?" Erika Arnold heard one man at the front of the elevator ask another. "She's pretty nice looking."

Her best friend, Mark Lincoln, glanced down at her and winked at the comment of the man in the front of the elevator to another man. She wrinkled her nose at him and waited to hear what the other man would have to say.

"I haven't met her yet, but I've seen photos," the tall, well-built stranger in front of her replied.

His voice stroked across her senses like malted whisky and silk, and she had to fight not to moan. The sexy, deep Scottish murmur kept her mind firmly in the bedroom. The air around her seemed to hum while Erika fought the urge to purr. She listened, rapt, as he continued speaking.

"I don't know how bright she is but she's definite eye candy, that one," rumbled the man in front of her, his voice raspy and warm.

Erika frowned as she stepped forward, intent on objecting. Before she could form a word, the door to the elevator opened, and Mark clapped a hand over her mouth, maneuvering her to the front of the small space and out the sliding doors before anyone could really get a look at her. Quickly, he pushed her into an empty office and closed the door before they both dissolved into fits of laughter.

"Eye candy!" she choked, trying to contain the tears of mirth that threatened her eyeliner. "That's a new one. I think I like it."

"Come on now, my little lollipop… gumdrop, chocolate chip!" Mark guffawed.

"You're just jealous because nobody mentioned your sweet round gumball derriere!" she countered, delivering a stinging slap to her longtime friend's posterior.

Mark jumped away playfully and chuckled. "You know, Erika, you could have used your 'radar' to find out who that guy was…."

'Radar' was how she and Mark referred to Erika's ability to listen to other people's thoughts. There were certain, self-imposed rules that she applied to her radar, and getting information about hot guys was a big no-no in her book.

"I didn't need my radar for that, bright eyes! How many guys with a voice and an accent like that do you think are wandering the hallowed halls of Duncan, Devon, and Rice? I'll find him. Besides, you know I only use that for finding out if people are lying to the court or their lawyer!" she stated piously.

"Yeah, sure, and I'd better start calling you cherry because that sounds sweet, but we both know you're full of it!" Mark crossed his arms and shot her a mock glare.

"How could you say such a thing to me? Me! Your dearest friend. I'm hurt!" She leaned back and tried to look wounded, failed miserably, dissolving into another fit of giggles.

"Okay, bubble gum, time to pull yourself together for our meeting with your uncle. He said he had our next year's assignments ready for us. We have to meet our department counterparts, too, don't we?" Mark was becoming nervous, and Erika stood still while he fussed with her hair and the neckline on her dress.

When he turned his attention to his own appearance, Erika tried to calm him. "Don't worry, Mark. We know he's going to give us separate assignments, but we did well working for the District Attorney's office these past three years. We've proven ourselves," she reassured him.

She knew that Mark was a compulsive worrier. She also knew that her uncle would do his best to place him in an interesting department. While many young lawyers came to the prestigious law firm of Duncan, Devon, and Rice directly from law school, Erika and Mark had chosen to work outside the firm and establish strength and credibility before joining her uncle's practice.

They had both risen steadily through the ranks of Manhattan's District Attorney's offices and had gained confidence in themselves and their abilities. Erika knew that Mark hoped to work in criminal law while she was more interested in international law.

"I know you're right," Mark agreed, turning toward the door. "I guess now we're fashionably late, huh?"

Erika slid her hand through the crook of his elbow and led him toward her Uncle Charles' office.

****

Jack resisted the urge to turn and look when he heard the office door open. He knew it would be Charles Devon's niece, Erika. He'd just been informed that she would be working with his department, International Law. He would litigate here on the home front, and she would gather information needed.

"Ahhh, here they are, now," Charles announced happily, sweeping his arm to indicate Mark and Erika.

Turning to look at her, Jack forgot to breathe for a very long minute. Erika Arnold was five feet and five inches of silvery blond perfection. As if from a distance, he heard his mentor and employer begin the introductions.

"Jack Mac Addison, I'd like you to meet Erika Arnold. She'll be spending a few days with your department here and then will be working with you on International cases from our offices in the Middle East." Charles' cultured voice barely registered with Jack as he took the young woman's hand.

Soft-so very soft, and she smells like…. Is that vanilla? Or maybe the scent is some kind of flower? Vanilla flowers! Yeah!

"Huh, hmm!" Erika cleared her throat. "Excuse me? Mr. Mac Addison?" The young lady's voice was clearly amused. Jack let his hand drop as the flush of embarrassment swept over him.

In an effort to avoid the gamut of arousal to humiliation, Jack looked away from Erika and glanced at the two men speaking quietly next to him. Another partner, Hugh Willingsput, who headed up the criminal defense division of Duncan, Devon, and Rice, was shaking hands with a handsome young blond man.

Turning back to Charles and Erika, Jack was reminded that she was the niece of his senior partner. It would definitely not do to get too interested in her. No, it just wouldn't do at all. In fact, it could be hazardous to his career and possibly his health. Everyone knew that Charles was proud of his niece and fiercely protective. Given his solid build, it paid to take him seriously.

"I hope you'll get something out of your short time here with us, Miss Arnold. With any luck you'll go to the Middle East with a clear sense of how we litigate from this end." Jack knew he sounded a little pompous. That was much better than sounding like he felt which was hot, hard, and hungry for the petite blond woman, very hungry.

Somewhere between the mischievous sparkle in her big gray eyes and the twitching of her full lips, Jack began to think she was laughing at him. He coughed to clear his dry throat.

He was a little surprised when she extended her hand to him, offering something he couldn't see in her closed fist. Automatically, he opened his palm and let her drop her offering into it.

"Don't worry, it's just a blue peppermint." Her grin displayed two enchanting dimples. "It'll help your dry throat." She looked at the candy in his hand and looked up into his eyes. "Would you look at that? It's the exact color of your eyes!" She began to turn away and then turned back. "Enjoy your eye candy, Mr. Mac Addison!"

****

Mirabel looked speculatively at the blond haired man and woman who'd garnered so much attention. She already knew she didn't like them. They were just too good looking. Not only that, they were too pleasant and friendly.

She didn't hate pleasant and friendly people in general, and she had plenty of appreciation for good-looking men, the problem with this particular good-looking man was that he was apparently a very good friend to that good-looking woman, and probably nothing more. Something about the way they acted together made that crystal clear to her. She suspected he was gay.

The problem with that was that the woman, Erika Arnold, would be working closely with Jack Mac Addison. Mirabel had had her eye on Jack for quite a long time. He was already a partner with the firm. She'd already done quite a bit of work learning about him and setting the stage for him to notice her, date her, and ultimately marry her. Now it looked like she had even more work to do.

Mirabel believed that she could convince Jack Mac Addison to marry her if she only had enough time. She could be what he needed, she was certain of that. What worried her now was that this little blond would be working closely with him, and Mirabel knew how weak men were with blonds. All blonds were sleazy and easy-it was so unfair!

"This is Mirabel Grady," Hugh Willingsput murmured to the firm's latest partners. "You're a junior partner in Contracts, isn't that right?"

Mirabel fought the urge to cringe when she heard the words 'junior partner'. It sounded worse in his clipped, British accent. Still, she'd be nice. "Yes, sir, I am," she smiled coolly.

"This is Erika Arnold and Mark Lincoln, both new partners," Hugh beamed at them. "Mark will be working with me in Criminal, and Erika is joining Jack in International, right Erika?"

Mirabel shuddered internally and startled at the raised eyebrow from Erika. "Pleased, I'm sure," she murmured, shaking Erika's hand.

"I'm sure." Erika smiled in response, returning the handshake.

I HATE blonds, she told herself, I DESPISE them….

Erika leaned over and whispered something in Mark's ear, and he stuck out a hand to Mirabel, a wide smile on his face. "Mirabel, I just know we'll be the best of friends," he said sweetly. His smile reminded her of a hungry snake.

Hugh Willingsput aimed a pleased smile at her. "I'm sure we will," she said, teeth clenched.

I REALLY hate blonds, she thought as she glared at Mark and Erika, and walked away.