p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben and Julie have been arguing cases for about a year now. It would take a blind man to not see the passion and sexual tension between the two, both in and out of the courtroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben wanted her from the moment she ran screaming for him to hold the elevator for her on the first day they met. The elevator stopped suddenly and she fell into his arms. The sweetness of her light perfume erased the mildew smell of the creaky decades old elevator./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"They've been out together for dinner and drinks and other events on many different occasions, and despite the obvious mutual attraction, neither one has made the first move for more than an extended arm around the shoulder or a friendly kiss on the cheek. They both call their "friendship" complicated, and at this point, neither will admit it's quickly becoming a relationship of something deeper than a friendship./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Case and point, Julie was invited by Ben to stay at his house while she had home renovations done for two weeks. Though they've never been sexual and they're in separate rooms, Julie feels as though she's doing something wrong by staying with him. What the neighbors must think! /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"She's now middle aged and love was never kind to her. She married and divorced young. The man she thought she couldn't live without broke her heart and she never really fully healed, nor has she opened her heart to another man. In her mind, sex and making love were two very different acts, but both are too personal to be irresponsible with, so after her divorce, there was no need for the physical aspect of a relationship without the deep emotional connection she craved. This wasn't to say she didn't have men fawning over her. Though she had many times of loneliness, she refused to give in to their advances. But, saying no to Ben's advances is becoming damn near impossible, as she herself was attracted to him from day one, and she has no idea how much more she can take before she gives in to him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben was on his way down state for a fishing trip when Bob Brooks ran into him at the store and approached him about his friend and dance instructor, Scott Lazar. The next thing Ben knew he was at the Police station questioning this young dance instructor about a murder one case./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After accepting the case, Ben was on his way home when he thought how much he may have needed these few days alone to reflect on his growing feelings for Julie. He was at the point where he wanted to share a bed with her, but even more he wanted to make love to her, and it was beginning to frustrate him, especially given she was sleeping across the hall from him for the next two weeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie is different from any woman he's ever met. She seems to be far too young to be as old fashioned as she is, but she really is; which is just one attribute Ben's attracted to in her. He finds it enduring and refreshing for a woman in today's world to share the same values as he does. The passion she shows with her career is one of the sexiest things about her in Ben's eyes. It seems the day after many of their outings they would find themselves in the hottest arguments in court, and he knew, at least for himself, it was due to wanting her and not being able to work up the nerve to show her how much he wants her, rather than tell her. It all boils down to not wanting to be rejected by her, a feeling he's never really felt before, not even with his late wife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked inside his house as quietly as possible when he suddenly banged his shin on what seemed to be a chair. "What the hell?" He shouted as he hit the ground and felt a sharp object break against his body. Then he heard Julie scream as the lights came on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""Oh, Ben! I thought you were an intruder! Are you OK?" Julie helped him up. "What's that chair doing in the hall?" Ben asked while brushing his hair back in place. "I'm sorry, Ben, I moved it because I thought it was misplaced in the living room."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben eyed her up and down as he gathered his senses about him. "Um…um", he/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"addressed her, pointing up and down at her. "You came down dressed in this little blue button down shirt, thinking I was an intruder?" Julie looked down at her at herself. "It's my nightshirt, Ben. What's wrong with it?" Ben made hand gestures at the nightshirt and said, "It's all shiny and….and sexy and… and …..it comes above your knees", he said with frustration. Julie stood in silence, /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"concerned with his obvious bad mood./spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""What happened to your fishing trip?" "This case came up." Julie shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sorry to hear that, you could've used a few days away."/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" span style="font-family: Times New Roman;""Ah, it's late let's just go to bed." As he headed to the stairs, Julie stopped him when saying, "Um, Ben, I'm in your bed." He turned to her and she nervously bit down on her bottom lip. "Yeah?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, that's OK, I'll/span/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" take the room across the hall." "Oh no, Ben, I…" She was silenced as Ben's lips gently captured hers. "No, I insist", he told her tenderly. "Good night."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"The next morning, Ben walked into the kitchen to the smell of fresh bacon and eggs on his plate. "Good morning!" He said to Julie. "Well, good morning! How did you sleep?" Ben smiled wide, and said, "Oh OK….eventually", he added under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben sat in front of his plate. "Food looks delicious. Are you done with the paper, or at least with the metro section?" Julie smiled and handed him the paper. "Yes, just finished it". Ben began eating and reading as Julie watched him with a concerned look on her face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Finally she broke in carefully, "Ben, we have a problem." He looked over at her and asked, "We do?" She nodded. "Yes, it's the Scott Lazar case." Upon a raising of the eyebrows, he asked, "Oh you were assigned?" "Yes", she nodded again. He squared his shoulders back and replied, "I don't see the problem." "Don't you think I should move out?" "No", he said firmly. "We've argued cases before." "You don't think it would hurt our relationship?" She asked. "Well, no, it hasn't hurt us before. We argue a little, but who doesn't?" "Living together may make this more intense for us." Ben smiled, "Honey, first of all, you're only living here for the two weeks, and secondly, arguing is no stranger to us, we've had many intense arguments and it hasn't broken us before. We can just agree to disagree, not an issue."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"In the courtroom…./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie addressed the judge. "You're Honor, Mr. Lazar has no ties to this community, therefor, the Prosecution asks for no bail, or if bail is ordered, we request that it be no lower than $250,000. " Ben chimed in immediately, "You're Honor, that's ridiculous! Scott Lazar intends to stay in town to clear his name, and to see the real killer of the woman he loved to be brought to justice." "Oh hogwash!" Julie raised her voice. "Scott Lazar was living off of just one of many of his women, and while seducing her!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben and Julie both began shouting at each other, all the while the judge slamming his gavel, trying to take control of this arraignment. "That's enough, both of you! You address me, not each or I will hold you both in contempt! Please approach the bench now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"The judge covered his microphone, and said, "I want complete order and it best stay that way." But you're Honor", Ben chimed in. "We're only having a reasonable argument like always." "Well if that was reasonable, I'd hate to see if wasn't reasonable! Bail set at $250,000", the judge ordered as he slammed his gavel and dismissed them. Julie flashed a satisfied smile. "Thank you, you're Honor." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Walking back to their seats, Julie asks Ben, "Are you coming home for dinner?" "Yes", he nodded. "Good, I'll make you the best fried chicken you've ever had." Ben immediately smiled. "Sounds good!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After a long day of investigating the case, pleasurable moans escapes Ben's lips. "Oh, Julie, this is definitely the best Chicken I've ever had!" "Oh you're just saying that to be kind." "Oh, no, no, I mean it a hundred percent! This chicken even beats my dear mother's recipe." "Thank you", she smiled. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben took both plates to the sink and says, "About the case…" Julie chimed in immediately. "Stop right there, Ben. I don't want to argue this out of court." He shrugged. "All we will do is have a discussion, we don't have to argue." "But you know we will, because I feel he's a murdering gigolo and you don't!" "Look, Julie, all the evidence is circumstantial, until there's actual proof, Lazar is only a gigolo, it doesn't make him a murderer." Julie jumped out of her seat and as she headed out of the kitchen, Ben asked, "We are you going?" "I said I didn't want to argue so I'm going to take a shower!" "You already had a shower!" Ben raised his voice in return. Julie whipped around and shouted, "So I want another one, I like showers!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stood in shock as she left the kitchen. "Damn", he groaned under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stood in thought as he looked out the living room window at the brightest and largest full moon high in the sky. He wondered if there wasn't something deeper to Julie's seething anger when it came to Scott Lazar. She's always passionate in her arguments, but this one seemed so personal for her. He felt there must be something he isn't seeing clearly, or hearing from her. He needed answers and he was going to get them for once and for all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom to Ben's bedroom. She sat the desk and started reviewing her notes on the case, but she found it hard to focus as her thoughts scattered through her mind. She wondered how Ben could defend this gigolo in all good conscience. She shook her head in disbelief while wondering why she's so angry at this man, a man she doesn't even know - after all, this isn't the first jerk she's ever encountered, why does this feel so different and almost personal to her, but then it hit her…. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As she rose from the chair to get dressed, Ben knocked at the door and then walked in. "Ben!" She squealed while clenching the top of her towel. Though he couldn't see anything, this was the first time he's seen her with only a towel on, a towel that rested just above her knees. Ben tried to reel in his immediate surprise at what he was seeing. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""I'm sorry", he told her, while keeping his eyes on her wrapped in the towel. I just came in to apologize and say good night. "Well you should have waited for me to respond to the knock at the door!" He noticed she wasn't running back to the bathroom, so he felt she may just be OK with standing there in only a towel before him and that she is finally coming around to falling in love with him as he was in love with her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"He carefully walked over to her. "I will abide by what you want in not arguing this case out of court. He gently caressed her cheek and moved in for a kiss. Once their lips parted, he tenderly told her, "I'm sorry." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie's heart began pounding so hard, she felt the throbbing in her throat, and with her voice shaking she said, "I'm sorry too." He tenderly took her hand and quietly told her, "I just feel there's something personal about your feelings on Scott Lazar." Suddenly she felt the tears well up. "You may be right. When I see Scott Lazar, it takes me back years ago to Donald March, my ex-husband." The tears fell as she said, "He broke my heart…. and I never really recovered….. I was never enough for him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Upon this confession, Ben took her in his arms. "I'm so sorry, darlin", he whispered against her ear as he swayed with her in his arms. He listened to her shattered cries against his shoulder, as he wondered what kind of man could inflict such hurt on her. "Let it all out, honey." He told her tenderly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Her cries finally calmed. She lifted her head and looked up at him - broken. "Your heart is safe with me, honey. Please let me in, baby." She said nothing as he drew back in and tenderly captured her lips to his. To his surprise again, she wasn't just giving it back to him, but she wasn't leaving to the bathroom to get dressed either. As their kissing became heated, she moaned, "Oh Ben, we shouldn't…" His hands wandered down to the small of her back as moans escaped his lips. "I'm just saying goodnight." "Goodnight", she said breathlessly as they continued kissing heavily. His hands remained on the outside of the towel while stroking the small of her back, and swaying them towards the bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Once again, she told him breathlessly and in between kisses, "We need….to say….goodnight. "Just tell me…tell me you don't want me, and I will…I will stop." He told her. She moaned louder and heavier as she continued to repeat over and over again, "Oh dear God, Ben, we can't…we shouldn't." "Tell me you don't want me….tell me, baby." "I can't…." she cried. "God help me I can't tell you…." She relented as he lowered her to the foot of the bed. He removed his tie and shirt and hovered over body, kissing her up and down her neck and then moving to her lips again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"He slipped to his side next to her and began running his hand down the towel along her hip. His fingers hit the bottom of her towel, and then finding his way underneath. He pulled her to her side and lifted the bottom of the towel, caressing underneath from her thigh to her hip, grasping and stroking her ass with heated passion as she continued to cry his name, driving him out of his mind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As her moans and cries of passion escaped her lips, Ben continued to ravish her with heavy kissing and stroking. He enjoyed her cries of pleasure as he found the opening of her womanhood and gave her what she craved with his thick southern fingers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After all of the buildup of sexual tension and passion, he was finally able to have the woman he loved. He rolled her to her back and ripped the towel open, fully exposing her. He dove into her breasts, giving them both proper attention. "Oh, God, Ben", she cried out over and over again. He hovered over her and undid his belt and unzipped his pants. While the kissing and passion between them showed no signs of slowing down, he entered her carefully, not wanting to hurt her. As she took his full length, she grabbed at the bedspread and cried out louder and louder, which only added more fuel to him. "You feel so good, darlin…so very good", he said breathlessly while he continued with his deep, but gentle thrusting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben rolled off of Julie in exhaustion. "Oh my god", he said breathlessly. "That was worth the wait…simply amazing." Julie wrapped herself in his arms, still trembling from her intense explosions. "It's been so long", she said to him. "I could tell as soon as I entered you, which was why I was so careful." She stroked his chest while she rested her head on his shoulder. "You were very gentle, thank you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stroked Julie's bare hip under the covers as he held her close, contemplating on what to say to her. He didn't want to bring up anything inappropriate just after they made love, but he wanted to be that shoulder for her, and he wanted to make her understand she could talk to him about her past without fear of judgement. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As Ben and Julie rested silently in each others arms, the sound of rumbling thunder was off into the distance. It was then when Ben felt tears hit his chest. "Hey", he said softly. "What's wrong?" She clung to him tighter and said, "It's just been so long for me, and we have been arguing so hard the last few days…." He held her tighter and whispered, "I know, sweetheart." "Ben, you must understand, as amazing as this was, I promised myself I would never let another man this close. My feelings for you, and what just happened between us is just so overwhelming, but….please know I don't regret it, I just need time to reconcile with the emotions I've been going through." Ben stroked her cheek and told her, "You have all the time you need, you've been hurt badly, and I don't want to push you. Just know I'm here when you're ready to talk." Julie looked up at him with a small smile and pressed her lips against his. "Thank you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben continued his investigation in the Scott Lazar case, and Julie got herself together….at least she did temporarily. She did, however, continue on with her passionate case against the man who had a hand in reopening old wounds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"At the courthouse…./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked over to what seemed to be a very shaken Julie who was urgently wiping the front of her dress. "Hey, hey", he addressed her gently as he touched her shoulder. "Take it easy." She angrily replied, "You're client spilled his soda all over me, and now I have to go into court looking a mess!" Ben gently took her hand and led her into the broom closet. "Come on, honey, please relax." Julie looked up at him and immediately broke into tears and then fell into his arms sobbing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben held her close and gently spoke to her. "Darlin, he's not Donald March." "I know, I know!" She cried out. Ben stroked the small of her back and told her, "Look, no matter what happens in court today, you're still the finest and sexiest prosecutor in the entire state." Upon hearing his words, she giggled. "Oh, Ben." He caressed her cheek and drew in for a tender kiss. "I'm serious, everything's going to be alright."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben had just finished questioning Mrs. Barbara Raymond, one of the many women Scott Lazar had as a dancing student, but she was the one who claimed they were lovers, and because he didn't return his love to her, she murdered his married lover and framed him in the process. Once again, Julie loses her case to Ben. His client, though a gigolo, he wasn't the killer. It was time for her to let it all go….the case she lost fair and square, and now to put her broken heart to rest in regards to Donald March. She finally sees a man who adores her, and who she wants just as much as he wants her. More than that, Ben was a man she could trust with her heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben's heart sunk when he saw Julie had left the courtroom without a word. Was this the beginning of the end for them? Not if he could help it, especially now that they had made love. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked into his house to find Julie in the living room with the fireplace going full throttle, candles lit around the room, and champagne chilling on ice. "What's all this?" Ben asked while keeping his emotions in tact. "Well, I think congratulations are in order." Ben flashed his wide smile. "Thank you." Julie asked, "You do like champagne, right?" He nodded, "Well yes I do." Julie raised her glass, and said, "Congratulations." They clanked glasses together and he said, "Thanks. You put on a fine case." She returned the smile and said, "Thanks, and you put on the best defense." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"They both drank their champagne down and then Ben poured more for them. He looked over at Julie, who was suddenly silent. "Are you alright?" Tears flooded her eyes. "I just want to spend the night in your arms." He cautiously moved over to her and tenderly took her in his arms and said, "What a coincidence, I want to spend the night just holding you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben wanted her from the moment she ran screaming for him to hold the elevator for her on the first day they met. The elevator stopped suddenly and she fell into his arms. The sweetness of her light perfume erased the mildew smell of the creaky decades old elevator./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"They've been out together for dinner and drinks and other events on many different occasions, and despite the obvious mutual attraction, neither one has made the first move for more than an extended arm around the shoulder or a friendly kiss on the cheek. They both call their "friendship" complicated, and at this point, neither will admit it's quickly becoming a relationship of something deeper than a friendship./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Case and point, Julie was invited by Ben to stay at his house while she had home renovations done for two weeks. Though they've never been sexual and they're in separate rooms, Julie feels as though she's doing something wrong by staying with him. What the neighbors must think! /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"She's now middle aged and love was never kind to her. She married and divorced young. The man she thought she couldn't live without broke her heart and she never really fully healed, nor has she opened her heart to another man. In her mind, sex and making love were two very different acts, but both are too personal to be irresponsible with, so after her divorce, there was no need for the physical aspect of a relationship without the deep emotional connection she craved. This wasn't to say she didn't have men fawning over her. Though she had many times of loneliness, she refused to give in to their advances. But, saying no to Ben's advances is becoming damn near impossible, as she herself was attracted to him from day one, and she has no idea how much more she can take before she gives in to him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben was on his way down state for a fishing trip when Bob Brooks ran into him at the store and approached him about his friend and dance instructor, Scott Lazar. The next thing Ben knew he was at the Police station questioning this young dance instructor about a murder one case./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After accepting the case, Ben was on his way home when he thought how much he may have needed these few days alone to reflect on his growing feelings for Julie. He was at the point where he wanted to share a bed with her, but even more he wanted to make love to her, and it was beginning to frustrate him, especially given she was sleeping across the hall from him for the next two weeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie is different from any woman he's ever met. She seems to be far too young to be as old fashioned as she is, but she really is; which is just one attribute Ben's attracted to in her. He finds it enduring and refreshing for a woman in today's world to share the same values as he does. The passion she shows with her career is one of the sexiest things about her in Ben's eyes. It seems the day after many of their outings they would find themselves in the hottest arguments in court, and he knew, at least for himself, it was due to wanting her and not being able to work up the nerve to show her how much he wants her, rather than tell her. It all boils down to not wanting to be rejected by her, a feeling he's never really felt before, not even with his late wife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked inside his house as quietly as possible when he suddenly banged his shin on what seemed to be a chair. "What the hell?" He shouted as he hit the ground and felt a sharp object break against his body. Then he heard Julie scream as the lights came on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""Oh, Ben! I thought you were an intruder! Are you OK?" Julie helped him up. "What's that chair doing in the hall?" Ben asked while brushing his hair back in place. "I'm sorry, Ben, I moved it because I thought it was misplaced in the living room."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben eyed her up and down as he gathered his senses about him. "Um…um", he/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"addressed her, pointing up and down at her. "You came down dressed in this little blue button down shirt, thinking I was an intruder?" Julie looked down at her at herself. "It's my nightshirt, Ben. What's wrong with it?" Ben made hand gestures at the nightshirt and said, "It's all shiny and….and sexy and… and …..it comes above your knees", he said with frustration. Julie stood in silence, /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"concerned with his obvious bad mood./spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""What happened to your fishing trip?" "This case came up." Julie shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sorry to hear that, you could've used a few days away."/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" span style="font-family: Times New Roman;""Ah, it's late let's just go to bed." As he headed to the stairs, Julie stopped him when saying, "Um, Ben, I'm in your bed." He turned to her and she nervously bit down on her bottom lip. "Yeah?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, that's OK, I'll/span/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" take the room across the hall." "Oh no, Ben, I…" She was silenced as Ben's lips gently captured hers. "No, I insist", he told her tenderly. "Good night."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"The next morning, Ben walked into the kitchen to the smell of fresh bacon and eggs on his plate. "Good morning!" He said to Julie. "Well, good morning! How did you sleep?" Ben smiled wide, and said, "Oh OK….eventually", he added under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben sat in front of his plate. "Food looks delicious. Are you done with the paper, or at least with the metro section?" Julie smiled and handed him the paper. "Yes, just finished it". Ben began eating and reading as Julie watched him with a concerned look on her face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Finally she broke in carefully, "Ben, we have a problem." He looked over at her and asked, "We do?" She nodded. "Yes, it's the Scott Lazar case." Upon a raising of the eyebrows, he asked, "Oh you were assigned?" "Yes", she nodded again. He squared his shoulders back and replied, "I don't see the problem." "Don't you think I should move out?" "No", he said firmly. "We've argued cases before." "You don't think it would hurt our relationship?" She asked. "Well, no, it hasn't hurt us before. We argue a little, but who doesn't?" "Living together may make this more intense for us." Ben smiled, "Honey, first of all, you're only living here for the two weeks, and secondly, arguing is no stranger to us, we've had many intense arguments and it hasn't broken us before. We can just agree to disagree, not an issue."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"In the courtroom…./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie addressed the judge. "You're Honor, Mr. Lazar has no ties to this community, therefor, the Prosecution asks for no bail, or if bail is ordered, we request that it be no lower than $250,000. " Ben chimed in immediately, "You're Honor, that's ridiculous! Scott Lazar intends to stay in town to clear his name, and to see the real killer of the woman he loved to be brought to justice." "Oh hogwash!" Julie raised her voice. "Scott Lazar was living off of just one of many of his women, and while seducing her!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben and Julie both began shouting at each other, all the while the judge slamming his gavel, trying to take control of this arraignment. "That's enough, both of you! You address me, not each or I will hold you both in contempt! Please approach the bench now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"The judge covered his microphone, and said, "I want complete order and it best stay that way." But you're Honor", Ben chimed in. "We're only having a reasonable argument like always." "Well if that was reasonable, I'd hate to see if wasn't reasonable! Bail set at $250,000", the judge ordered as he slammed his gavel and dismissed them. Julie flashed a satisfied smile. "Thank you, you're Honor." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Walking back to their seats, Julie asks Ben, "Are you coming home for dinner?" "Yes", he nodded. "Good, I'll make you the best fried chicken you've ever had." Ben immediately smiled. "Sounds good!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After a long day of investigating the case, pleasurable moans escapes Ben's lips. "Oh, Julie, this is definitely the best Chicken I've ever had!" "Oh you're just saying that to be kind." "Oh, no, no, I mean it a hundred percent! This chicken even beats my dear mother's recipe." "Thank you", she smiled. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben took both plates to the sink and says, "About the case…" Julie chimed in immediately. "Stop right there, Ben. I don't want to argue this out of court." He shrugged. "All we will do is have a discussion, we don't have to argue." "But you know we will, because I feel he's a murdering gigolo and you don't!" "Look, Julie, all the evidence is circumstantial, until there's actual proof, Lazar is only a gigolo, it doesn't make him a murderer." Julie jumped out of her seat and as she headed out of the kitchen, Ben asked, "We are you going?" "I said I didn't want to argue so I'm going to take a shower!" "You already had a shower!" Ben raised his voice in return. Julie whipped around and shouted, "So I want another one, I like showers!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stood in shock as she left the kitchen. "Damn", he groaned under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stood in thought as he looked out the living room window at the brightest and largest full moon high in the sky. He wondered if there wasn't something deeper to Julie's seething anger when it came to Scott Lazar. She's always passionate in her arguments, but this one seemed so personal for her. He felt there must be something he isn't seeing clearly, or hearing from her. He needed answers and he was going to get them for once and for all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom to Ben's bedroom. She sat the desk and started reviewing her notes on the case, but she found it hard to focus as her thoughts scattered through her mind. She wondered how Ben could defend this gigolo in all good conscience. She shook her head in disbelief while wondering why she's so angry at this man, a man she doesn't even know - after all, this isn't the first jerk she's ever encountered, why does this feel so different and almost personal to her, but then it hit her…. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As she rose from the chair to get dressed, Ben knocked at the door and then walked in. "Ben!" She squealed while clenching the top of her towel. Though he couldn't see anything, this was the first time he's seen her with only a towel on, a towel that rested just above her knees. Ben tried to reel in his immediate surprise at what he was seeing. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;""I'm sorry", he told her, while keeping his eyes on her wrapped in the towel. I just came in to apologize and say good night. "Well you should have waited for me to respond to the knock at the door!" He noticed she wasn't running back to the bathroom, so he felt she may just be OK with standing there in only a towel before him and that she is finally coming around to falling in love with him as he was in love with her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"He carefully walked over to her. "I will abide by what you want in not arguing this case out of court. He gently caressed her cheek and moved in for a kiss. Once their lips parted, he tenderly told her, "I'm sorry." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Julie's heart began pounding so hard, she felt the throbbing in her throat, and with her voice shaking she said, "I'm sorry too." He tenderly took her hand and quietly told her, "I just feel there's something personal about your feelings on Scott Lazar." Suddenly she felt the tears well up. "You may be right. When I see Scott Lazar, it takes me back years ago to Donald March, my ex-husband." The tears fell as she said, "He broke my heart…. and I never really recovered….. I was never enough for him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Upon this confession, Ben took her in his arms. "I'm so sorry, darlin", he whispered against her ear as he swayed with her in his arms. He listened to her shattered cries against his shoulder, as he wondered what kind of man could inflict such hurt on her. "Let it all out, honey." He told her tenderly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Her cries finally calmed. She lifted her head and looked up at him - broken. "Your heart is safe with me, honey. Please let me in, baby." She said nothing as he drew back in and tenderly captured her lips to his. To his surprise again, she wasn't just giving it back to him, but she wasn't leaving to the bathroom to get dressed either. As their kissing became heated, she moaned, "Oh Ben, we shouldn't…" His hands wandered down to the small of her back as moans escaped his lips. "I'm just saying goodnight." "Goodnight", she said breathlessly as they continued kissing heavily. His hands remained on the outside of the towel while stroking the small of her back, and swaying them towards the bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Once again, she told him breathlessly and in between kisses, "We need….to say….goodnight. "Just tell me…tell me you don't want me, and I will…I will stop." He told her. She moaned louder and heavier as she continued to repeat over and over again, "Oh dear God, Ben, we can't…we shouldn't." "Tell me you don't want me….tell me, baby." "I can't…." she cried. "God help me I can't tell you…." She relented as he lowered her to the foot of the bed. He removed his tie and shirt and hovered over body, kissing her up and down her neck and then moving to her lips again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"He slipped to his side next to her and began running his hand down the towel along her hip. His fingers hit the bottom of her towel, and then finding his way underneath. He pulled her to her side and lifted the bottom of the towel, caressing underneath from her thigh to her hip, grasping and stroking her ass with heated passion as she continued to cry his name, driving him out of his mind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As her moans and cries of passion escaped her lips, Ben continued to ravish her with heavy kissing and stroking. He enjoyed her cries of pleasure as he found the opening of her womanhood and gave her what she craved with his thick southern fingers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"After all of the buildup of sexual tension and passion, he was finally able to have the woman he loved. He rolled her to her back and ripped the towel open, fully exposing her. He dove into her breasts, giving them both proper attention. "Oh, God, Ben", she cried out over and over again. He hovered over her and undid his belt and unzipped his pants. While the kissing and passion between them showed no signs of slowing down, he entered her carefully, not wanting to hurt her. As she took his full length, she grabbed at the bedspread and cried out louder and louder, which only added more fuel to him. "You feel so good, darlin…so very good", he said breathlessly while he continued with his deep, but gentle thrusting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben rolled off of Julie in exhaustion. "Oh my god", he said breathlessly. "That was worth the wait…simply amazing." Julie wrapped herself in his arms, still trembling from her intense explosions. "It's been so long", she said to him. "I could tell as soon as I entered you, which was why I was so careful." She stroked his chest while she rested her head on his shoulder. "You were very gentle, thank you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben stroked Julie's bare hip under the covers as he held her close, contemplating on what to say to her. He didn't want to bring up anything inappropriate just after they made love, but he wanted to be that shoulder for her, and he wanted to make her understand she could talk to him about her past without fear of judgement. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"As Ben and Julie rested silently in each others arms, the sound of rumbling thunder was off into the distance. It was then when Ben felt tears hit his chest. "Hey", he said softly. "What's wrong?" She clung to him tighter and said, "It's just been so long for me, and we have been arguing so hard the last few days…." He held her tighter and whispered, "I know, sweetheart." "Ben, you must understand, as amazing as this was, I promised myself I would never let another man this close. My feelings for you, and what just happened between us is just so overwhelming, but….please know I don't regret it, I just need time to reconcile with the emotions I've been going through." Ben stroked her cheek and told her, "You have all the time you need, you've been hurt badly, and I don't want to push you. Just know I'm here when you're ready to talk." Julie looked up at him with a small smile and pressed her lips against his. "Thank you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben continued his investigation in the Scott Lazar case, and Julie got herself together….at least she did temporarily. She did, however, continue on with her passionate case against the man who had a hand in reopening old wounds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 21.0000pt; mso-char-indent-count: 0.0000;"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"At the courthouse…./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked over to what seemed to be a very shaken Julie who was urgently wiping the front of her dress. "Hey, hey", he addressed her gently as he touched her shoulder. "Take it easy." She angrily replied, "You're client spilled his soda all over me, and now I have to go into court looking a mess!" Ben gently took her hand and led her into the broom closet. "Come on, honey, please relax." Julie looked up at him and immediately broke into tears and then fell into his arms sobbing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben held her close and gently spoke to her. "Darlin, he's not Donald March." "I know, I know!" She cried out. Ben stroked the small of her back and told her, "Look, no matter what happens in court today, you're still the finest and sexiest prosecutor in the entire state." Upon hearing his words, she giggled. "Oh, Ben." He caressed her cheek and drew in for a tender kiss. "I'm serious, everything's going to be alright."/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben had just finished questioning Mrs. Barbara Raymond, one of the many women Scott Lazar had as a dancing student, but she was the one who claimed they were lovers, and because he didn't return his love to her, she murdered his married lover and framed him in the process. Once again, Julie loses her case to Ben. His client, though a gigolo, he wasn't the killer. It was time for her to let it all go….the case she lost fair and square, and now to put her broken heart to rest in regards to Donald March. She finally sees a man who adores her, and who she wants just as much as he wants her. More than that, Ben was a man she could trust with her heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben's heart sunk when he saw Julie had left the courtroom without a word. Was this the beginning of the end for them? Not if he could help it, especially now that they had made love. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"Ben walked into his house to find Julie in the living room with the fireplace going full throttle, candles lit around the room, and champagne chilling on ice. "What's all this?" Ben asked while keeping his emotions in tact. "Well, I think congratulations are in order." Ben flashed his wide smile. "Thank you." Julie asked, "You do like champagne, right?" He nodded, "Well yes I do." Julie raised her glass, and said, "Congratulations." They clanked glasses together and he said, "Thanks. You put on a fine case." She returned the smile and said, "Thanks, and you put on the best defense." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt;"They both drank their champagne down and then Ben poured more for them. He looked over at Julie, who was suddenly silent. "Are you alright?" Tears flooded her eyes. "I just want to spend the night in your arms." He cautiously moved over to her and tenderly took her in his arms and said, "What a coincidence, I want to spend the night just holding you." /span/p
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