JENNIE

"I need to tell you what happened to me today." I'd waited until nine my time to call Nayeon in California, but it killed me.

"That's how you answer the phone?"

Nayeon sounds tired. I slow down because she must have had one hell of an afternoon. She was fine at lunch when we texted. "I'm sorry. Hi, my love. How are you?"

Big sigh. "My day was total shit. I can't even tell you everything that went wrong."

I pause. Maybe now isn't the time to brag. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I'd rather forget about it. Tell me about your day. Did you take my advice?"

I nod, even though she can't see me. "It was the best advice. I had the most amazingly unbelievable experience at the museum. Great call on your part."

"Details."

I hear the engine turn so I know she's in the privacy of her car.

I can say anything I want. "I met someone."

"Like met met? Or like bumped into somebody that might be dateable?"

"Like met-and-fucked met," I say.

"Wow. Tell me more."

I launch into the story of how my mysterious lover approached me about art, and less than an hour later, we were downstairs fucking. "She literally took my breath away. Who goes to a museum to fuck? She does, that's who."

"See? I told you. I know things. And she was packing?"

"Oh, yeah. She was ready for sex."

"For you?" Nayeon sounds confused.

"Well, somebody."

"That's fucking hot."

"I'm not going to lie. I'm still delightfully sore," I say. I crawl into bed in case I fall asleep on the phone.

"What did she look like?"

"She's about six feet tall, dark short hair with side ways bands and get this, she has brown eyes. And she's very strong, even though she was on the thin side. Perfect skin. And a great lover."

"I'm already in love. How big was she?"

"Delightfully satisfying. I can't believe she was able to keep it hidden in her pants." I take a moment to recall the first time I noticed it. "Okay. Start at the beginning."

I leave nothing out. Everything this mysterious woman did to me, everything I did to her, and how we just went our separate ways when we were done.

"So, you didn't get her number or give her yours? Why the hell not?"

I think about that, and although regret pricks my mind for not giving her my phone number, I know it was the right thing to do.

I'm too busy for a relationship, even a purely sexual one, and she's seemingly just like me. She didn't press me for information. "We both got what we wanted. Plus, it makes for a juicy memory. I mean, years from now we'll be sitting at a bar comparing stories, and this one will always be, hands down, my best one-night stand."

"And it wasn't even that. And that's what makes it so brilliant."

Lust isn't anything I'm ashamed or proud of. It's something inside of me that growls like hunger pangs, and it's something I need to feed. Today I ate well. My anxiety is under control, and I feel invincible. I'm ready for tomorrow. No distractions, only my full attention.

"Jennie Bear, good for you. That makes me happy. And you're right. Best pickup ever."

"How's Ophelia, or Orville, or Othello?"

She laughs at my attempt to cheer her up. "He's doing well. It's weird. I look forward to spending time with him. It doesn't bother me when he calls or wants to hang out. He's a sweet guy. What's he doing with somebody like me?"

"You are beautiful, smart, powerful, fun, rich, and anybody would love to call you their girlfriend. I'm sorry you had such a shitty day, but I know it'll get better. You are Nayeon Fucking Im, lawyer extraordinaire. You kick ass and take names. You spit out criminals for a living."

"Well, technically evil empires, but keep going. This is exactly what I need." I hear a small smile in her voice.

"And you're beautiful, and Orlando Bloom is lucky to have you in his life."

A genuine laugh. "I wish it were Orlando Bloom. It's Orlando Thomas."

"Yeah, well, I don't think Bloom's wife is going to give him up without a fight."

"She can keep him. I kind of like mine," she says.

I hear her downshift the Porsche and know she's zipping in and out of traffic. "When was the last time you saw him?"

"This morning."

"Oh. Were you at his place or was he at yours?"

"I was at his place, and it's across town, so it took forever to go home and change. Then I was late to the morning meeting. Scratch that. I showed up ten minutes before it was over. And I just got off the phone with him. He suggested that I bring clothes over to his house for when this happens again."

And there it is. The truth. Nayeon is upset that she's falling into another relationship.

"Look. He's a great guy, right? Don't fight it, sweetie. Let it happen. It sounds like maybe this is a good idea."

"But I'm not ready to settle down."

"You're not settling down. You're just dating, sticking with one person. You aren't getting married or moving in together. Just headed toward a monogamous relationship," I say. It's something she's good at but, for whatever reason, fights against. My lifestyle fits me. My lifestyle doesn't fit her. Maybe Vegas was a bad idea.

"How about I fly out there over Labor Day and meet Mr.Bloom?"

Another stress-relieving laugh. She's starting to shake off her bad mood. "Let me check with Big O and get back to you, but I could really use a friend."

"If my life wasn't in complete and total chaos, I'd fly out this weekend. Who moves during a new job?" I can't believe how shitty the timing is.

"But it's going to be fabulous, and soon you'll forget about the headache. Okay, thanks for cheering me up. Go to bed. Rock the black-robe look. Make the city a better place."

I end the call feeling a little stronger about tomorrow after talking about today. My day was surreal. I wanted to get out and have a flirty time, but in my wildest dreams I never thought I'd meet somebody who wanted the same thing—raw, lustful sex. I can't stop thinking about her. Not because I want something that isn't there, but because something's there that I don't want.

"How do I look?" I turn to one of my law clerks, April, for her approval or impromptu pep talk, whichever she can spare. I'm not her first judge, and she's been very helpful.

"Very professional."

She barely glances at me, busy with something on the computer.

I stand in front of her desk until she gives me her full attention. Her fingers slow on the keyboard, and she looks at me again for longer than three seconds.

"You look very strict. I like the glasses. Lose most of the lipstick. This is court, not a bar."

I smile at her honesty. It's exactly what I need. "Thank you."

I have seven minutes before the court introduces me. I'm wearing a sexy cream-colored suit under my robe because it makes me feel confident and powerful. My heels aren't sensible, but they lift my ass up. My hips and legs are sore from yesterday, but I have to dress for success. I refuse to be the judge who wears tennis shoes and elastic-waistband pants under my robes. I dab my lipstick off and straighten out my collar.

"We're ready for you, Judge Kim."

The bailiff nods and introduces me to the court. "All rise. This court is now in session. The Honorable Jennie Kim presiding."

I enter the courtroom with my head held high and focus strictly on getting to my chair without falling. First impressions are everything. Once I'm settled, I look out at my courtroom for the first time. I inherited Judge Tulver's docket and am excited that this arson case is my first.

"Thank you." I straighten out my papers. "What's on the docket?"

The bailiff announces the first case. I scan the crowd and stop when I see a pair of brown eyes I know entirely too well. I look away, but my body reacts, and I pray nobody notices. My mysterious woman from yesterday who fucked me hard and thoroughly is sitting in the middle of my courtroom, in uniform. Panic flutters up from my stomach and rests heavily against my heart, forcing it to beat faster. It occurs to me that she is involved in this case. She's wearing a fire investigator's uniform. I dig through my paperwork until I see the witness list. I hate that I don't know her name, but thankfully only two fire investigators are on the list. Hoony Lee and Lisa Manoban. Lisa. It's a great name and fits her.

"Will counsel please approach the bench?"

Both lawyers look confused but walk up to me. I cover the microphone so the court can't hear me. "I need to see you both in chambers." I bang the gavel and ask for a ten-minute recess. Even the bailiff looks confused. Everybody stands when I leave, and both lawyers follow me to my office.

"Thank you. Have a seat."

"Judge, what's going on?" The prosecuting attorney speaks first.

I don't know if I'm right on this. "I'm familiar with one of the witnesses."

"You've had this list for weeks now. Why are you bringing this up now?" The defense attorney smirks, knowing full well that I might have to recuse myself from this case.

"I didn't know her name until today. I recognize her in the courtroom. I had a chat with her during an art exhibit, but we didn't introduce ourselves."

The defense attorney reviews the list I hand him. "Lisa Manoban?"

"Yes."

"Would you say you're friends?" he asks.

"More like acquaintances. I didn't even know she's a fire investigator." I'm sweating profusely and hope it's not visible to counsel.

"I don't have a problem then." The defense attorney shrugs at me. He knows it's my first case, and he's probably taking it easy on me because he's going to call in a favor in the future. Let the games begin."I don't either." The prosecutor hands me back the list.

"Then let's go have a trial," I say. Relief settles the tension between my shoulder blades, and I rub my neck on the way back to the courtroom. I take my seat and turn to counsel for opening statements. I can't look at Lisa yet. I need to get my head back into the game and keep my throbbing libido under wraps. I can't jeopardize my career because my pussy's needy.

The prosecution begins with their statement, and while it's a compelling beginning, I'm not blown away, but I can't show any reaction. The defense attorney for Seamus Williams is very theatrical, and I find myself interested in what he has to say. It's going to be a tough case to defend, but he sounds positive and strong. It's not long before the prosecution calls their first witness, then their second.

Lisa Manoban is the fourth witness, right after her boss. She stands, and I ever so slightly hitch my eyebrow at her in recognition.

She nods at me and takes the seat beside me, below me. I stare at her intently now that I know more about her. Yesterday was a stress reliever for both of us. Her voice is crisp and her answers direct. She commands attention. I stifle a shiver and tamp down the image of her buried deep inside me, her gray eyes roaming me appreciatively. I catch a whiff of her cologne and almost moan with delightful recognition. I mentally shake my head and concentrate on her answers. When she's done, I stop myself from watching her walk back to her seat.

I scribble notes because I don't want it to be obvious to counsel or her that she intrigues me. When I dismiss the court for lunch, I head straight for my office and shut the door. I tear off my robe and sit down to the meal April delivered. That's a nice perk, but my stomach lurches recalling my morning. I waver between pure excitement and pure dread at today's reveal. Of all the fucking luck.

My first case. One afternoon delight almost blows my entire career.

The fucked-up part is that I don't care. I want to be with her again. I poke at my lunch and tear off a piece of bread from my chicken-salad sandwich. I need something to calm the gurgling in my stomach so I pick up my phone and send Nayeon a text.

J: I can't even begin to tell you the craziness of today.

N: OMG. What?

J: It's so unbelievable that even you won't believe me.

Nayeon's face pops up on my phone with a FaceTime call. I dismiss the call. I can't risk being overhead. As soon as I hang up, I text her.

J: Sorry. I don't know who can hear me. My mysterious woman from yesterday is A WITNESS ON MY FIRST CASE

N: Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

I can't type fast enough . J: I cleared it with counsel. But what are the chances?

N: How did you clear it with them? Hey, I fucked a witness. Hope that's okay?

I drop several laughing emojis. J: I left out the fucking part but told them we were acquaintances.

N: I wish I had acquaintances like that. What's her name? I'll stalk her on social media.

Shit. Why hadn't I thought of that?

J: Lisa Manoban.

I jump on Instagram and fan myself at the hot photos she's posted of herself in uniform and working the job. There aren't many. Either social media isn't important to her, or she's got some serious privacy settings. I respect that. I have to be careful, too.

N: Wow. Seriously, wow. Look at her muscles. How tall is she again?

I smile at Nayeon's line of questioning.

N: OMG look at brown gray eyes! Are those contacts? That's amazing.

Ihad the same reaction only internally and in the heat of the moment.

N: Very sexy in uniform.

Nayeon's texts are interrupting my perusal of Lisa's Instagram.

Very sexy is putting it mildly. She looks fabulous in her blues. Like swoon-worthy fabulous. My clit throbs at the thought of her fucking me wearing that uniform. Normally uniforms don't excite me, but now that I've seen how good she looks in it, my need to have her again rages inside me. A knock at the door startles me, and I drop my phone.

"Yes?" I grab a stack of papers and pretend that I'm reviewing them. April sticks her head in. "You have ten minutes until you are needed back in court."

"Thank you." Shit, that was fast. Where did the time go? I text Nayeon that I'll catch her tonight and take a few more bites of my sandwich. I need some nourishment to get through the rest of the afternoon. I have a feeling it's going to be an excruciatingly long one for all the wrong reasons.