Excerpt:

She didn't think about what she was doing, reaching behind him and gently tugging the band free. His black hair fell down to frame the chiseled lines of his face. He glanced up at her, surprise in his black eyes.

"Sorry." She flashed a nervous smile, fumbling the leather band in her fingers. "I was just curious how you looked without the ponytail."

His hand covered her fidgeting fingers, bringing them to a stand still. Hitching the pad of his thumb underneath her chin, he brought her gaze up to meet his. "Is your curiosity satisfied." A hint of hunger played in his eyes.

It wasn't. Not even close.

She nodded, unable to push a sound through suddenly dry lips. She held out the leather band, her hand tingling with warmth when his fingers brushed against hers to collect it. He shoved it into his jeans, never taking his eyes away. Her little stunt was about to start something she wasn't sure she could end.

She expected the kiss he graced across her lips, slowly lowering his mouth to hers. Starting slow and gentle, it deepened when he shifted his body to press against her side. He was already hard with need, pushing against her thigh. Knowing he wanted her so soon fueled her own desire.

She forgot they were sitting in public view of anyone who wandered by. Her hands graced over the corded muscles shaping his chest, her fingers massaging the lines creasing through the soft fabric of his shirt. One of her legs crept into place between his knees, her breasts brushing against his arm as she curled into his welcoming warmth.

He tasted like a mixture of wine and cheese, an intoxicating combination swirling with his spicy scent. The palms of his hands flattened along her back, urging her closer. She went willingly, tucking her soft curves tight against his hard body.

She wasn't sure if the groan escaping came from her or from Chase. They both shared the ripple of pleasure sparking to life. She wished he really was hers for the taking, without complications stripping away what he was able to do to her with a single look.

He felt so good, so right, tucked snugly against her. She wanted to know what it would feel like to have him buried deep inside of her, sharing the most intimate connection.

If only she could. Her hands tangled in the freed strands of his dark hair. What would it feel like, making love to this man who drove her senses crazy and lit her body on fire? It had been so long since she had shared herself in such a way, and the urges she thought she had buried were suddenly forging to the surface.

Chase's rough palms rubbed against her cheeks, cupping the sides of her face, slowly ending the kiss. "Much more of this and I won't be able to stop myself." His thumb stroked the line of her swollen lips, passing over the moisture his kiss left behind.

"We can take this inside if you would like?"

Author BIO: Cassandra Bella has been writing for as long as she can remember, and for as long as she's been letting others know. Just look back into her junior high and high school yearbooks - both proclaim "Author" as her career goal. She completed her first book, "Dear Diary" in her grandmother's family room on a manual typewriter at the age of 12 - that manuscript still holds a place of honor in her home.

Her current passion for romances stems from her love of stories that touch the heart. Her characters are born in many people, from old friends to grandparents to her "dear, sweet, loving husband." When it comes to heroes, hers usually have some sort of law enforcement background and their inspiration lies in her father, who made a life-long career of keeping the peace. You can find Cassandra's first published novel, KIDNAPPED HEART, in the summer of 2000, where it will be published by BooksonScreen (PageFree Publishing). Her second novel, RELUCTANT ANGEL, will be released this winter by Awe-Struck Ebooks.

Cassandra is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America and their chapters, the Colorado Romance Writers, From the Heart Online, and Kiss of Death. She also belongs to the World Romance Writers.

Cassandra was born and raised in Colorado, and currently lives there with her husband, who was her high school sweetheart, two sons and one daughter.