“What the hell?”

Detective John Sheppard's steps faltered when he saw the door to his office was open. He stopped for a moment. The lamp on his desk had been turned on and there was someone standing behind his desk looking at the Johnny Cash poster pinned on the wall. The figure stepped back slightly and he saw the lush curves of a woman with long, curling hair the color of dark honey.

John scowled. He knew that he didn't have any appointments today. Unless there was someone his boss had sent in his direction and didn't bother to tell him about. It sure as hell wouldn't be the first time that had ever happened.

He was still standing there wondering who the hell she was when she suddenly turned her head and looked at him. His stomach clenched and he was suddenly finding it a little difficult to breathe.

Andi McCall.

Shit! What the hell was she doing here?

Andi had been the Mistress of The Tower, one of the biggest S&M clubs in Vegas. At least she had been until some of her employees had started doing some rather naughty stuff behind her back. When word of some of their nasty hi-kinks had reached the ears of the city brass, it had been John's job to shut it down.

John shook his head took a deep breath. He'd thought that he'd never see her again after the trial but now here she was, looking as beautiful as the last time he'd seen her. He closed his eyes for a second and tried to keep the memories of the last time he'd had a run in with this woman out of his mind.

But somehow, the images of a leather clad Andi whipping a Chinese business man chained to an enormous brass bed, refused to be forgotten.

He steeled his nerves and took a step into the room. “How the hell did you get in here?”

“John Sheppard!” She turned around and looked at him. She walked over to him, smiling like she was actually glad to see him. “I've missed you.” She put her arms around him, wrapping him in a warm hug and he felt his whole body harden at the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest.

“Feels like you're happy to see me too.” She laughed and brushed her lips across his cheek.

“How did you get in here?” He unlocked her arms from around his neck and pushed her away.

“Still got that one track mind, I see.”She laughed and her gray eyes sparkled with mischief. “Your door was open. How else could I get in here?”

“Knowing you, anything is possible and no, it wasn't.” John tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Andi sighed. “Are we really going to stand here and argue about this?” She ran her hands lightly over his arms. “There are so many better things we could be talking about.”

He looked at her for a minute and then his mouth twisted like he'd just tasted something nasty. “Haven't changed a damn bit have you, Andi?”

She pressed her cheek against his and then kissed him lightly on the lips. “It's nice to see you too, John.” She let him go and stepped back, giving him a once over look. “I'd say you were looking good if you didn't look like you'd slept in your clothes all night.”

“Cut the bullshit, Andi. What the hell are you doing back in Vegas?” He walked around his desk, pulled out his chair and sat down. The light from his desk lamp cast a hard shadow across his face.

Andi gave him a coy smile. She settled down in the chair across from his desk and crossed her long legs, making sure that he got a glimpse of her smooth creamy thigh. Sheppard was staring at her and she almost laughed at the look on his face when she caught him looking at her legs. It was too good and she couldn't resist tauting him just a little.

“See something you like, Detective?”

His face flushed and he made a little sound in his throat.

“Is that a yes or a no?” She taunted him again.

“Just answer the damn question.” He kept his eyes on her face and tried not to let his hormones make him lose what little control he had.

“I'm glad to see that you haven't lost your wonderful sense of humor.” She laughed and then gave him a coy grin. “And if you really have to know, I've got business here.”

“Business?” He snorted. “Didn't I shut your business down last year?” He opened a drawer, pulled out a file and laid it on his desk. Opening it up, he flipped through some papers. “Something about prostitution?”

“What I do has nothing to do with prostitution, Sheppard.” Her eyes sparkled dangerously. “And you know that I had nothing to do with what went on. Hell, I didn't even know about it until you came busting through the door with your little goon squad.”

“Goon squad. “ He sneered. “Very funny. You tried that innocent act in court, Andi. It might have worked with the DA but it's not gonna work with me.” He looked down at the file again. “You owned the damn club, Andi. How could you not know what the hell was going on right under your nose?”

Her face reddened and her eyes narrowed slightly . “You didn't have one shred of evidence to prove that I had anything to do with what they were doing.” She straighted up and gave him a haughty look. “And you didn't shut me down. I...retired.”

“Retired?” John snorted. “Now why don't I believe that?”

“I really don't care what you believe, Detective.” She shrugged slightly. “Besides what I was doing is perfectly legal.” She leaned forward slightly. Her blouse was open just enough that he would get an obstructed view of the lacy red bra she wore.

His gaze flickered ever so slightly and she knew that being a man, he hadn't been able to resist a look. She chuckled and he jerked his gaze away from her chest.

“Whipping and handcuffing a man to a bed could be considered an act of torture.” Sheppard gave her a steady look but he couldn't hide the slight flush that turned the tips of his ears red.

“He didn't seem to mind.”Andi gave him a wicked smile. “And from that look on your face, I don't think you would have minded it very much either, Detective.”

John tensed. “No, thanks, Andi.” He shut the file and leaned back in his chair. “I'm not into your kind of games.”

“Really?” She leaned forward, resting her elbow on the edge of his desk. “A man like you? A man that carries a pair of handcuffs and a gun?” She licked her lips and gave him a smile that could only mean pure lust. “To a woman like me...well, let's just say that a man like you was made for sin, John Sheppard.”

This time he did blush and Andi thought it was the most sexy thing she'd ever seen.

She laughed, got up from her chair and walked around to sit on the edge of his desk. Her knee brushed against his leg and he jumped slightly, but to his credit he didn't move. He just sat there staring at her, his eyes dark and hooded.

Andi leaned forward and placed her hand lightly on his thigh. His muscles felt hard and taunt beneath his tight jeans and she traced her fingers lightly over the well worn material. He tensed and she heard him suck in a breath but he didn't make a move to stop her.

“Why, John Sheppard...I was beginning to think that you were a prude.” One long finger nail scraped along the inseam of his jeans, stealing under the edge of his shirt and tracing up and over the edge of his zipper.

“Don't.” His voice sound rough and strained.

“Don't what?” She said softly. “Don't stop...or don't, because you don't like it?”

“Just...don't.” His eyes darted toward the open door.

“Afraid you'll get caught?” Her fingers slid along the waist band of his jeans and she felt his stomach muscles clench when she unsnapped and then started to unzip his pants.

“I said, don't.”

Strong fingers gripped her wrist but he didn't push her hand away.

For a long moment they stared at each other but when she started to step away his grip tightened until she winced from the pain.

“You're hurting me.”

“I know.” His voice was flat and cold but his eyes told a different story.

She knew that hungry look. She'd seen it plenty of times in the eyes of her client's. He wanted her. The smell of his need was practically pouring off of him and as much as she wanted to lean forward and get another sniff, she kept herself under control.

“Let go of me, John.” She kept her voice low and even.

They stared at one another for a long moment then he let go of her and pushed back in his chair.

“Happy now?” She rubbed at her wrist.

“Ecstatic.” He grumbled.

She got to her feet, watching his eyes as she ran her hands down the front of her skirt, smoothing down the clingy material. He looked up and caught her stare. A wry smile crossed her lips when she saw the challenge in his dark eyes.

Reaching into the pocket of her jacket, she pulled out a card and laid it on the desk in front of him.

“What the hell is that?” He looked at it warily.

“My business card.”

“What the hell do I want it for?” He picked it up and started to throw it in the trash can but she grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

“Meet me for dinner tonight.” She plucked the card out of his fingers, tucked it into the front pocket of his shirt and patted his chest lightly.

Then she turned away from him and headed for the door.

“Why?” He called after her.

She stopped and turned around. He met her eyes and felt a shiver run down his spine. The electricity snapping between them was like a live wire and he felt the hairs on his body stand up.

“You wanted to know why I'm back in Vegas?” She gave him a seductive grin. “Meet me tonight and I'll tell you why.”