NO STRINGS

by Caitlyn Willows

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  NO STRINGS

  by

  CAITLYN WILLOWS

  Amber Quill Press, LLC

  http://www.amberquill.com

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  * * *

  No Strings

  An Amber Quill Press Book

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously.

  Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

  Amber Quill Press, LLC

  http://www.amberquill.com

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

  Copyright © 2004 by Catherine Snodgrass

  ISBN 1-59279-329-0

  Cover Art © 2004 Trace Edward Zaber

  Layout and Formatting

  Provided by: ElementalAlchemy.com

  Published in the United States of America

  Also by Caitlyn Willows

  Body Double

  Caitlyn's Kisses, Volume I

  The Dating Pool

  Déjà Vu

  Graduation Day

  The Heir

  Her Bounty

  Hired Hand

  Hotel California

  Just Partners

  Love Potion #9

  Showtime

  The Star Series, Book I: Stargazer

  The Star Series, Book II: Star Traveler

  The Star Series, Book III: Star Chaser

  Teacher's Pet

  Treasure Hunters

  Warrior Princess

  White Lies

  Diversions

  Where the water diverts

  On a blue moon night,

  Forever you shall be

  Those lovers who unite.

  Chapter 1

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  Cruz Montoya had never met a more beautiful woman. Allison Sinclair was the epitome of style, grace, and lady-like poise. He'd recognized that from the second he'd first met her years before. For the rest of his life, Cruz would never forget that catch in his breath with that first glance. An over-the-hill-too-fast feeling had suspended his stomach, followed in quick succession by an all-consuming heat that flushed his skin and pooled in his crotch. There was nothing he could have done to disguise his reaction, so he'd just prayed no one else in the room noticed--especially the lady's husband.

  Allison had flashed him a bright smile that highlighted the blue in her eyes as she extended her hand with their introduction. Cruz had been half aware of smiling back, of noticing how white and perfect her teeth were, of how small and delicate her hand was in his. He'd fought the urge to wrap it in both of his and draw her close. In that brief space of time, he'd memorized each blonde strand in her shoulder-length hair, every pore of her creamy skin, and every curve of her heart-shaped face.

  Just as suddenly as it had happened, contact was broken. Cruz had blessed and cursed it, then cursed himself. She was another man's wife, his commanding officer's. His emotions were definitely misplaced and he'd be doing good to stuff them away. The best he could ever do was simply to be Allison's friend. And, God knew, Allison desperately needed a friend.

  Cruz was ashamed he didn't realize that right away. It took another man, a junior Marine, to open his eyes. Once the blinders were off, all the signs were there--no matter how much Cruz didn't want them to be. Allison was a victim of spousal abuse. Her tormenter was the pillar of Marine Corps society, a man slated to be general. A silver-tongued charmer who had managed to keep the rumors away while he terrorized Allison into silence.

  But Martin Sinclair hadn't counted on the determination of others to save Allison. Oh, he'd tried. Teddy Sunline's death was proof of just how far Sinclair would go to protect what was his. But he hadn't counted on others to replace Sunline--Cruz for one. The couple now poised to testify against Sinclair--Zach and Claudia Taylor. Naval Criminal Investigation Services agents Vic Brownell and Kirk Duncan. And Allison herself. On this beautiful spring Friday, they sat in a row of chairs just outside the military courtroom waiting for the court-martial to begin. Actually, the others sat. Cruz stood next to Kurt, too anxious to be still. He wanted this over with.

  It had been a little over six months since the showdown. Six months since forces had banded together to find Teddy Sunline's killer and save Allison from years of hell. Six months since Sinclair had taken Claudia hostage in a last ditch attempt to save his career and get his wife back. Six months of freedom for Allison. Six months since Cruz had realized the full extent of the abuse she'd suffered. It made him sick thinking about it.

  Cruz tugged down his olive-drab military blouse. Why the military called it a blouse when it was a jacket always mystified him. It was dress uniform today for the trial. He wondered if Zach felt as confined in it as Cruz did. Judging from the other man's casual demeanor, he'd guess not. But Cruz could tell Zach was far from complacent. It was obvious he took the proceedings seriously. It was simply the aura about the man, the way he'd look at the beauty by his side, as if his whole world existed with Claudia and the child she carried. Maybe it did. If Cruz was lucky enough...

  He reined the thought to a stop. After all Allison had been through, who was he to think he could make a difference?

  He studied the column of her neck as she chatted with Claudia in the row of seats before him. So slender, delicate. Her hair was shorter--just even with her ear lobes. It curled, seemingly of its own volition, cupping her ears, drawing his attention time and time again to her lobes. He longed to capture one in his mouth and flick the little piece of flesh against his tongue.

  Cruz drew in a sharp breath.

  Zach glanced up. "You all right, Major?"

  He offered a half-hearted smile and nodded. Zach saw through him easily enough. Only he knew the truth of how much Cruz loved and wanted Allison.

  No, Claudia would know, too. Those two didn't keep secrets.

  Claudia was a class act herself today. Her long blonde hair was twirled into what Cruz's mother called a French twist. She was cool, calm, collected. The defense counsel wouldn't rattle her in the least. In fact, he'd be lucky if Claudia didn't have him for lunch.

  Allison was the big question mark. Her confidence had grown in the past six months. But she hadn't seen Sinclair during that time. Even their divorce was uncontested--no need to appear in court. Heaven only knew how she'd react when faced with him today. The Article 32 Investigation shortly after his initial arrest had been hard on her. The hearing had been a necessary formality to determine if Sinclair's case would go to general court-martial. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that day that Sinclair was going to go down for his crimes.

  Arm in a cast, Allison had forced her testimony through quivering lips. But, God love her, she never once broke down into tears, even though Cruz knew she wanted to. She'd summoned the courage Sinclair had beaten out of her and detailed the life she'd lived, as well as her knowledge of the criminal acts he'd committed. The instant she was finished and the results known, Cruz drove her back to the woman's retreat in Big Bear so she could continue the healing process.

  Sinclair didn't have a clue where she was. Confined to base, his career teetering in the balance, he didn't dare try to follow. Days later, it was with great pleasure that Cruz accompanied Claudia to Sinclair's quarters where she served the divorce papers on him. Rage had boiled in the man's dark eyes, but he never said a word.

  A gasp from Claudia pulled everyone's attention her way. Laughing lightly, she rubbed her belly.

  "Sorry. She's a kicker."

>   "Like her mother." Zach gave her a wink.

  "You're sure it's a girl?" Allison asked.

  Claudia nodded. "Absolutely. One hundred percent."

  "First girl born in my family in four generations." Zach poked his thumb in his chest. "And I did it."

  "Yes." Claudia sighed. "I just laid there."

  Zach followed with a noncommittal grunt. The gleam in his eyes said otherwise.

  "She's tumbling today, that's for sure." Claudia continued to rub her stomach.

  "May I?" Smiling, Allison reached a tentative hand her way.

  "Of course." Claudia gently pulled the other woman's hand forward.

  Allison's face lit with wonder as the baby rolled beneath her touch. It stabbed Cruz right through the heart. She had to be thinking about the baby girl she'd lost. The bastard on trial had seen to it Allison never got far enough along to feel the child move.

  Cruz's jaw clenched with his fist. Zach glanced his way and gave a barely perceptible jerk of his head. He wanted Cruz to move forward, to sit on the other side of Allison. Should he?

  A nudge from Kirk added incentive. Obviously, someone else knew. Or were his emotions written all over his face? Nevertheless, it was either sit beside her, or have the other men jerk, nudge, and wink until the women noticed. Allison had enough to worry about without having to deal with his feelings. And the last thing Cruz wanted to risk was their friendship. As things were, at least he got to bask in her aura over a quiet dinner or the movies. Anything more...well, he just didn't know how to proceed.

  He slipped into the seat beside her. Allison blessed him with a smile. Pleasure rippled through him as it always did when he'd made her happy. Her smile faded when Martin Sinclair strode into the hallway, his defense counsel by his side.

  Allison tensed. Marble wasn't as stiff as she was. Her blue eyes widened, her lips parted ever so slightly. Fingers gripped her thighs.

  Cruz wanted to jump up and beat the man within an inch of his life. Instead, he took a leap forward in their relationship and wrapped Allison's trembling hand in his.

  "It's going to be all right," he whispered.

  "I hope so," she quietly replied.

  "He'll never hurt you again. I swear it." He squeezed her fingers, but didn't let go. More importantly, neither did she.

  Sinclair flashed a glare their way. Cruz gave him one right back. If he ever got his hands on the bastard...

  * * * *

  Allison clutched Cruz's hand like a lifeline. That's exactly what the brawny Hispanic had been for her these last months. She didn't know what gods had blessed her with him, but she thanked them every day.

  At some point, once the shock of her ordeal had lessened, she realized his feelings went beyond friendship. If hard pressed, Allison couldn't exactly say what had opened her eyes. It certainly wasn't anything Cruz did or said. It wasn't anything anyone told her. She simply realized that his constant presence and concern went beyond the bounds of friendship.

  Her reaction? Complete and utter panic. She'd just escaped the hell of her fifteen-year marriage to Martin Sinclair. The last thing she needed was to hook up to another man, no matter how sweet, considerate, and appealing he might be. She had to come first. She had to heal her mind, her soul.

  Allison didn't even possess the courage to tell Cruz to take a hike. She was thankful of that cowardice now. He was still here, in her life, by her side, still her friend as he had been from the moment they'd met...a friend and nothing more. He'd even helped her escape the devil now glaring at them all.

  But lately, being friends didn't feel like enough. The trouble was--how could Allison take that step forward she needed for continued recovery? And if she did, what guarantee would she have doing so wouldn't cost her a friend or, worse yet, tie her to another nightmare? But she knew she had to try. One of them had to speak. She had to force herself to take a chance and start living again.

  Judging from the rage in Marty's eyes, he saw the affection between them, too. Cruz's own deep brown eyes dared Marty to challenge him. Yet the hand that cupped hers never translated that anger into a harder grip. Had that been Marty, she would have sported bruises by now.

  Allison ripped her gaze away from that of her ex-husband's and turned it to the man beside her. Cruz was a patient man. If anything, she sure knew that. Not once had he crossed that imaginary line between them. Allison knew he wanted her, at least she thought she knew. He didn't have a girlfriend. She was his focus. Phone calls each night. Dinner twice a week. A movie every Saturday night. Surely she wasn't wrong.

  The trial counsel's entrance broke whatever spell froze them. He motioned the defense counsel and Marty toward the courtroom. They shuffled inside and shut the door. The trial counsel, a major, faced the witnesses still in the hall.

  "We're going to voir dire the members this morning. I don't know how long that will take. Please stand by. I'll call you as I need you." Then he ducked into the courtroom.

  Cruz's hand left hers momentarily. When it found hers again, the substance of his grasp changed. This time, he slowly traced circles along her knuckles.

  She had to take a chance. She just had to. If she didn't, she'd never fully sprout those wings to freedom and full recovery...and she'd regret the lost chance forever.

  Chapter 2

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  "I can't believe it's taking so long." Claudia stabbed at a piece of lettuce.

  At least she could eat it. All Allison could do was push the food around her plate. They sat in the Officers' Club having lunch with the men. Voir dire had taken longer than anyone had anticipated. It was starting to look like they wouldn't be called to testify today at all.

  Allison didn't know whether to be relieved or on edge because it still hovered on the horizon. And just like the nightmare she'd endured at the Article 32 Investigation, Allison's insides were in knots. She had to do something to shore up her confidence. That something sat beside her, dredging his seasoned French fries through mustard.

  She had it all figured out. Just a few little details remained--like summoning up the courage to ask Cruz, hoping her rendezvous of choice was available, then going through with it. Doubt surfaced. What if she was wrong about Cruz's feelings? What if he didn't have a woman in his life because he preferred a no strings relationship? She'd just deal with it is all. She'd have to, otherwise her growth would always be stunted.

  Allison was counting on the fact that men rarely turned down the offer of sex. She'd back it up by telling him there were no strings attached. She'd plead to his honor as a friend, telling him she needed this step forward. She'd had good sex before she married Marty. She just needed a reminder of how it could be. Hopefully, Cruz wouldn't let her down in that area. Now all she needed was some private time to approach him. She wanted this done...tonight. If things were successful, she had the weekend to reinforce herself for the trial to come next week.

  Zach glanced at his watch. "We've got about thirty minutes before the court-martial starts back up. I need to catch up on some paperwork real fast."

  Claudia dabbed the napkin across her lips. "I'll come with you. I can do a little poking around the PX for baby things. Coming, Allison?"

  She swallowed a drink of water. This was her chance. "No, you go ahead. I'd like..." Just spit it out, she told herself. "I need to talk to Cruz alone."

  That curved Claudia's eyebrow. Allison felt her cheeks heat. Were her feelings that transparent?

  Zach cupped his wife's elbow as she stood. "Then we'll see you later. I'll get this, and you can get the tip." He grabbed their bill from the table, leaving Allison and Cruz by themselves.

  "Something wrong?" Cruz asked softly.

  Allison shoved her plate away. "No...at least I hope not. I...uhm...I need a favor of you."

  "Anything. Just name it."

  Boy, he didn't know what he was asking.

  "Not here." She glanced around at the diners surrounding them. "Some place more private. Your office?"

  He tossed a
generous tip on the table. "I'll be inundated with questions at my office. Car, okay?"

  "Sure."

  She shook as they left the building. Cruz's cranberry red Dodge Stratus beckoned them. Always the gentleman, he opened the passenger door for her, then stepped smartly to the driver's side.

  "Where to?" he asked as the engine purred to life.

  Too bad there weren't any little parks on base to hide at. Those that did exist on the Marine Corps base always had sporting events or joggers this time of day and year. Everywhere you went, there were people. Twentynine Palms might be small, but it was packed.

  "I guess back to the Staff Judge Advocate's building. We can talk there just as well as anywhere else." And if he said no, she could quickly save face and leave the car without hesitation.

  It took no time for Cruz to drive the half mile. He pulled into a parking space as far from the others as possible and cut the engine.

  Allison took the plunge. "I want you to have sex with me, Cruz."

  His hand froze on the key. Shoot, his whole body froze. She'd really screwed up. Too late now.

  He leaned back slowly and turned wide, brown eyes her way. "What?"

  "Please don't make me say it again. It was hard enough the first time."

  She slipped her hand over his thigh. The muscle flexed. Cruz shifted his gaze to that touch, then back to her. What the hell was going through his head?

  "I need this," she forced herself to admit. "I need to exorcise Marty completely. This is the only way. Sex used to be something wonderful. He eventually stole that from me. I want it back. I'm not going to be able to get through this court-martial without that piece of my soul restored."