Electric!

Ava
McKnight

From the first smoldering kiss,
this hot, sexy office romance is in jeopardy.

For two years, Cassidy has lusted
after the office hunk, Chase. But Cassidy is neither interested in casual
flings nor in setting the rumor mill on fire. In a male-dominated field, she
has to work extra hard to prove her worth, and Chase is just one big, sexy
distraction she doesn’t need.

Flirting with Cassidy is one of
Chase’s favorite hobbies. Chase is blatantly in hot pursuit of Cassidy and he
ups the ante at a swank company party—only to discover there’s much more
between them than sizzling chemistry.

Lust, love and a job promotion hang
in the balance. But the high stakes won’t keep them from mixing business with
pleasure.

A Romantica®
contemporary erotic romance
from
Ellora’s Cave

“Sweet Jesus, that man is freakin’
hot
,” Meg Pierce
whispered under her breath.

Cassidy Reynolds didn’t bother dragging her gaze from the
veggie tray in front of her. She knew to whom Meg referred without having to
steal a glance over her shoulder at the latest addition to the festivities.
Chase Logan. Office superhunk. Devastatingly handsome. Wildly charismatic. And
totally off-limits to a good girl like her. So she continued piling carrots and
bell peppers onto her plate.

Standing on the other side of the buffet table at the swank
country club outside of mountain town Flagstaff, Arizona, Meg said, “That man
does things to me. Makes me all tingly inside.”

You and every other woman on the planet.

“I want to lick him from head to toe.” Meg’s voice turned
breathy. “Stopping at all the interesting spots along the way, of course.”

Oh yeah…

Liquid fire raced through Cassidy’s veins at the mental
image that popped into her head. Chase in all his naked glory. Cassidy on her
knees in front of him, sucking him hard enough to make him come.

Shit.

No. Fantasizing.

She’d never do the multitude of naughty things she’d
imagined on numerous occasions, anyway. She wasn’t the type.

“Bet he’s got a shaft so wide I’d barely get my mouth around
him.”

Cassidy’s gaze snapped to her assistant as sparks ignited in
her belly at the
enhanced
mental vision she now had. “Good grief, Meg,”
she said in a low, sharp tone. “Do you really have to say these things out
loud?”

With a shrug and a sassy smile, the perky blonde said, “Just
seeing if you were paying attention.”

Cassidy groaned. Sure, she was paying attention.
Too much
attention.
As was always the case when the topic of Chase Logan came up.

“Besides,” Meg continued, “it’s not like all the gals in the
office aren’t thinking the same thing at least a half-dozen times a day. Whether
they’re married, engaged or single. He’s just so…sinfully good-looking, you
can’t help but have wicked thoughts about him. And a million dollars says no
woman has ever left his bed without a smile plastered on her face and multiple
orgasms under her belt.” She winked.

“Let’s leave that between Chase and his conquests. Of which
I’m sure there are plenty.” Yet another reason Cassidy did her best not to let
the crafty spider lure the unsuspecting fly into his sticky web.

“The man’s got animal magnetism in spades, no doubt about it,”
Meg gushed. “He literally radiates sex appeal.”

That completely went without saying when it came to Chase.
He didn’t leave a dry thong in his wake. Cassidy knew firsthand. She tried to ignore
the moisture between her legs now, an innate reaction to the mere mention of
the man she’d been absolutely gaga over for longer than she cared to
acknowledge.

As opposed to Meg, however, Cassidy wasn’t merely hot for
Chase’s hunky bod. She’d worked closely with him for two years and had quickly
learned that not only was he savvy, he was damn smart. Everything about the man
appealed to her and that was the very reason Cassidy fought so hard to not cave
when he flirted with her or invited her out for drinks alone, without their
boss or colleagues to tag along.

Just say no
was a motto she embraced wholeheartedly
where he was concerned.

Sad as it was to admit, Cassidy knew she’d disappoint the
hell out of a man like Chase Logan. And it’d be really depressing on her part
to have to work with him after he discovered she could light up a boardroom
with her creativity, but not a bedroom. So, as usual, she pushed thoughts of
Chase to the back of her mind.

In a businesslike tone, she said, “Let’s keep this a
professional event, hmm?” Not only were they at a work function, Cassidy didn’t
need more fuel added to the fire when it came to her ever-burning desire for
the forbidden fruit perpetually dangling before her. “You’re practically
drooling on the crudités.”

“Yeah, well your plate runneth over.”

Cassidy’s gaze dropped to the delicate bone china dish with
gold trim that she held in her hand. She’d nearly loaded the entire veggie tray
onto it.

“Crap.” She used the tongs to return half the bell peppers
and carrots.

Meg snickered. “You try damn hard to pretend otherwise, but
I know you secretly want him.” She paused, then amended her statement. “Actually,
it’s not a secret. Everyone knows the two of you have been lusting after each
other since the day Chase walked through MII’s doors.”

They were
that
transparent?

Oh hell, of course they were. For two years, they’d been
sniffing around each other at McClellan Industrial Insurers, with many an
innuendo muttered. Mostly inadvertently on her behalf. Directly on his.

But Cassidy didn’t do office romances. She didn’t do romance
at all. Her career consumed her life, not sizzling affairs with gorgeous
coworkers.

And here we are, back to thinking of Chase…

So much for avoiding thoughts of him. In fact, she tortured
herself further by asking, “What’s he wearing?” Because she knew better than to
turn around and scan the room for him. That screamed
obvious
! Not to
mention, she knew she’d lose her breath, solidifying Meg’s theory. Her secret
obsession might not be so secret, but no one needed to know the extent of her
desire for Chase.

Meg said, “Charcoal suit. Impeccably tailored.”

“Naturally,” she deadpanned.

“Black shirt, opened at the neck. Mm, yummy.” Meg sighed
dreamily. “I wonder if he has a fine, silky layer of sandy-brown hair on that
impressive pectoral ledge. Or if he’s a smoothie.”

“Smooth,” Cassidy blurted. Catching herself, she quickly
added, “Not that I’ve given it any thought.”

Meg laughed. “Right. Something tells me you’re wishful thinking
over there as to what that man looks like in his birthday suit, not a business
one.”

Yes, yes, yes! Okay already! I, Cassidy Reynolds,
fantasize about Chase’s hot ‘n’ hunky body all the damn time. His broad
shoulders, rock-hard biceps, sculpted chest, powerful thighs, tanned skin…

Ugh!

She’d ruminated many an hour over running her fingers
through his strategically mussed, light-brown hair. Dragging her tongue along
his strong jawline and whisking the tip over the slight indentation in his
chin. Feeling his hard muscles meld to her soft curves. Luxuriating over the
rush of heat flowing through her body as his hands and mouth caressed,
massaged, tickled, teased…

Another groan escaped her parted lips.
Stop now,
girlfriend. Or you really will be on your knees, because they’ll give out on
you.

She forced herself to focus on the food, not her wicked
thoughts of Chase. She moved along the table.

Meg moved with her, shifting to the left. “A girl could swim
in those ocean-blue eyes of his.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

“Liar.”

Cassidy added caviar and toast points to her plate. Along
with two oysters on the half shell.

On second thought…

She returned them to the elaborate ice sculpture that
comprised the seafood tower. She hardly needed the additional aphrodisiac. Her
body had gone into sensory overload the second Meg had so uncouthly announced
Chase’s arrival.

“Why don’t you two just do it already?” Meg asked, never one
to beat around the bush. “I mean, he’s hot for you too. Everyone knows it.”

“Jealous much?” Cassidy absently quipped.

With a pointed look, Meg said, “Yes, I am.”

Cassidy gaped. Quickly recovering, she told her friend and
assistant, “You know I was joking, right?”

Meg’s crimson-colored lips pressed together for a second. “We’re
both twenty-eight and in my entire adult lifetime, no man has ever looked at me
the way Chase looks at you. With fire in his eyes, sure. But also this intense
longing. Like he can’t fathom one more second slipping by without hauling you
up against his brick wall of a chest and kissing you senseless. And you know
what, Cassidy? When he finally caves, you had better not push him away, because
you could use a dose of explosive passion in your life. You work way too damn
much.”

“Hey now. That’s getting personal.”

“See? We can talk about the fantasy you refuse to let come
true, but you won’t allow me to mention that I fill out your time on the
company’s intranet, and no one should be putting in seventy to eighty hours a
week
every
damn week.”

Cassidy felt a twinge of aggravation. No one got her. No one
understood what drove her. No one knew that failure was not an option for
Cassidy Reynolds. And being a female executive in a male-dominated field meant
she had to go above and beyond every
day
to prove herself.

“You’ve made your point,” she said.

Meg let out a long breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I
worry about you.”

“That’s very nice of you and much appreciated. But I’m doing
exactly what I want to do, so please don’t lose any sleep over me.” She smiled.

Meg
harrumphed
as she loaded up her own plate, then
cleared her throat to grab Cassidy’s attention again. “Dreamboat alert.” She
wandered off.

Damn her.
So much for moral support, strength in
numbers and all of that…

In actuality, Cassidy hadn’t needed Meg’s warning. She’d
caught the hint of earthy cologne tinged with sandalwood that wafted her way. A
disturbingly familiar scent. One much more intoxicating than the finest
champagne—and certainly more arousing than the biting Ralph Lauren some of the
special agents and insurance adjusters favored.

She drew in a long breath, steeling herself.

“You should wear backless dresses every day, Cass.” Chase’s
deep, rich voice trickled down her spine like warm honey. Her nipples instantly
puckered. Her clit tingled.

For God’s sake. Get a grip.

Two years of mounting sexual tension, however, left her nearly
defenseless. But she fought the wave of desire threatening to crest over her.

Keep it professional.

“Thanks,” she said, mustering a cool tone. No easy feat. She
remained focused on the buffet table as she added, “Been working out.”

“I can tell.” Chase crowded her and bent his head to hers. “Damn
fine ass too. Your dress shows off all the backside assets. When are you going
to turn around so I can get a good look at the front?”

She ignored the erotic shiver rippling through her. “MII
does have a sexual harassment policy, Chase.”

“I know,” he said, his tone devilish. “I passed the employee
training with flying colors.”

“Hell of a sliding scale Human Resources must have.” She
stepped away from him and added foie gras terrine and torn chunks of baguette to
her plate. Another bad idea. Foie gras turned her on.
Shoot.
She couldn’t
return the blob to its dish without being obvious. As usual.

She rounded the table to inspect the fare on the other side.
Chase followed closely behind. Unfortunately for Cassidy, everyone who’d just
arrived huddled around the open bar, not yet making their way to the food.
Leaving her alone with Chase. Never a good thing.

“Your hair looks nice up,” he told her. “Exposes that long
neck of yours I’ve imagined kissing about, I don’t know, a gazillion times.”

Her pulse kicked up a notch. Or ten. She sighed inwardly.

“How, exactly, do you quantify that number?”

He snickered. “It’s a pretty simple equation. I’m constantly
fantasizing about you, so you know… It all adds up. Times a lot.”

“Stop flirting with me.”

“Oh come on,” he said with a smile in his voice. “This is a
company party. You’re supposed to get drunk, make an ass of yourself on the
dance floor, fuck the coworker you’re hot for or annoyed with—and don’t I fall
into
both
categories?—then wake up the next morning with a raging
hangover, the first words tumbling from your mouth being
holy shit, what
have I done
?”

She bit back a laugh. “How cliché, Chase.”

“Life is one big cliché, Cass.”

“Please stop calling me that. It’s Cassidy.” She’d only
reminded him just about every day for the last two years. “And I’ve never been
annoyed with you. Confused by why you continually put the moves on me, but
never annoyed.”

“Nothing to be confused about. It’s pretty much a
no-brainer.” He leaned in again, and his heat and scent consumed her. “But…calling
you Cass is too personal?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Because you like everything professional and straightforward.
Nice and tidy. Simple and safe.” He backed off just a touch. “I know you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Denial.” He made a soft
tsking
sound. “Anyway, I
wouldn’t fuck you.”

“
What?
” she demanded under her breath as she
pretended to debate whether she needed brie and crackers, hoping to not draw others’
attention to them in this corner of the room. Luckily, an eruption of laughter
at the bar assured her no one had noticed them. Yet.

“After we get drunk and make asses of ourselves on the dance
floor,” he pontificated further on the universal corporate-party tradition, of
which so many regretfully partook on an annual basis, mostly at Christmastime.
Cassidy always missed the holiday party, opting to spend time with her family
back east. But she hadn’t had a convenient excuse to miss this evening’s
impressive soiree.

With his voice still so low and intimate that her body
blazed, he said, “I’d make love to you. Slow and easy. Long and leisurely. Make
you come, say, three or four times. Maybe five. If you begged me.”

Her breath caught. He sexually charged her to the core of
her being. With nothing more than words and visual stimulants. Christ, he was
way too over-the-top for her.