JR rose from his desk, walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. Moving back to the window to stare out at the Dallas skyline, he felt restless. Things with Sue Ellen weren't good and she was now occupying one of the guest bedrooms at Southfork as punishment to him.

He thought about her as well as the other women in his life and felt even more off kilter. He needed the warmth and company as well as the pleasure of a woman and he quickly decided that he wasn't going to get any of those things from his wife, at least no time soon.

Calling his usual escort agency was an option. Serena was pleasant enough company and always willing to do whatever he wanted. However, she didn't represent the challenge that he so desperately needed at that time.

Then he remembered her. He had contrived their first meeting by just happening to be walking by as she broadcast a piece on the Texas economy. She had stopped him and asked for a short interview and it was at that moment that he had been struck by her beauty. Minutes later he had been impressed by her intelligence and spirit as well. She hadn't told him explicitly but he had the message- they shared common enemies and a merger of their talents was likely to be on the cards.

He buzzed for Sly. "Can I help you, JR?" she asked as she popped her head around the door. "Get me Katherine Wentworth on the phone please, Sly?" he responded. The secretary nodded and returned to her desk. Minutes later his phone buzzed. "I have Miss Wentworth on the line for you, sir."

The conversation that followed was brief yet amicable and left Katherine intrigued. JR Ewing could certainly prove a useful ally, she schemed. She walked to the wardrobe and surveyed the array of colour co-ordinated dresses hung neatly on the rail. This was likely to be an important meeting, she decided, and she wanted to look her best for it.

She thought about him and wondered what he might want in return for his assistance? Far from stupid, she knew that everything JR did came at a price. He was attractive enough, she told herself and it wasn't like she hadn't used her feminine guiles before. That was how she had managed to gain her current employment, stepping over several fellow, more experienced colleagues in the process.

JR paced the length of his office before making his way to reception. He glanced at his watch and sighed exaggeratedly. It looked as if she wasn't going to show. Something must have spooked her, he decided. Walking back into the office, he was about to lift the telephone when she arrived. Knocking gently on the door, peering in the half light, she was quick to apologise.

"I didn't know if I'd missed you, JR. I'm ordinarily very punctual but the traffic this evening from my hotel over here was murder. I'm sorry if I have inconvenienced you." He stared at her intently, causing her to feel somewhat intimidated. "Good evening Katherine" he replied. "I'm not used to being kept waiting."

He smirked in satisfaction as her face visibly flushed with embarrassment. "I'm happy to rearrange if you have somewhere that you need to be?" she countered defensively. JR shook his head. "No, now's as good a time as any. Come in."

He approached, sizing up her appearance, before closing the door behind her and quietly sliding the bolt. There was no doubt about it, Katherine Wentworth was a very good- looking young woman, he mused. "Drink?" he asked, returning to his desk and popping the cork of a bottle of the finest champagne that he had cooling on ice. She shook her head. "No thank you." "Oh, come on, darlin. I got this in specially for you. You look like a woman who appreciates the finer things in life." Before she had chance to protest, he passed her a glass before pouring one for himself.

She took a sip before placing the flute back down on the desk and removing her coat. JR smiled widely as he took her in. She was wearing a mid-length navy blue dress, cinched in at the waist, which complimented her figure exactly, with perfectly matched high-heeled court shoes. She looked every inch the wealthy heiress that she was, he mused.

"Let's sit on the couch. It's more comfortable there" he told her. Unsure, she hesitated but then complied. She knew where this was going but felt powerless to stop it. Right there, she was more afraid of him than she had ever been of a man, yet at the same time weirdly excited. It might have been Bobby of the two brothers that she had initially preferred but there was just something about JR, something that she couldn't define, that she found attractive.

Clinking his glass gently against hers, he gazed into her eyes. "Here's to a successful union" he announced cryptically, causing a knot of anxiety to tighten in her stomach. Attempting to appear unphased, she returned the gesture. "You know what I want, don't you, JR?" He nodded confidently. "Of course, it's obvious. You want your interloping older brother and sister out of your father's company and you want me to help you. The question is what can I expect in return?"

"What do you want, JR? It can't be the money, it certainly isn't power…" He smiled wickedly and placed his hand on her thigh. "I want you, darlin, at my beck and call, doing whatever I want you to do." She shivered at his touch, aroused but at the same time slightly fearful." "You're married, JR. I don't go with married men. It isn't my style" she lied, playing for time.

With a rapid movement he grabbed her wrist. "Don't play games, Katherine" he warned her as she attempted to free herself. "I can help you or destroy you, your choice." "Let go of me!" she demanded angrily, frustrated by her lack of control. He shook his head and chuckled. "No way, Miss Wentworth. You belong to me now. You came here. What did you expect? You've effectively sold your soul..."

She struggled again but it was no use. Throwing his glass across the floor, he took her other wrist and pulled her to him. "Let's call this one of your advance payments, shall we?" Forcing her back in her seat, he kissed her roughly, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. At first, she refused to kiss him back which served only to increase his ardour. "Katherine…" he warned, breaking the kiss before immediately starting another. This time, she kissed him back, causing him to chuckle lustfully. Lulled into a false sense of security, she bit hard down on his bottom lip. He wasn't having this all his way, she decided.

He laughed loudly as he touched the wound. "You like it rough, do you?" he asked, more turned on by her than ever.

Tbc