The erotic images in her mind vanished in a puff of smoke. As if a man like Cute Boy would want to punish her any other way. But man, it had made for a few very hot seconds, and the images and emotions were ones she was going to jot down as soon as she could. He might not be planning anything with her, but her next book was going to feature a smoking hot cop with a heavy hand.
Getting back into her car, she glanced into the rear view mirror to find that both cops were leaning back against the bonnet of the cop car, gazes on her as they spoke between themselves.
Now was not a good time to start jotting down ideas.
After checking the traffic, Sophie pulled back onto the road and commenced entering the city.
She’d have continued on to her cousin’s place but a check of her watch let her know that he wouldn’t be home yet as he’d said he’d be out until five pm, and typical of Sam, he hadn’t gotten around to copying a spare key and hiding it. But there was time to stop at a café and get a cold drink. And jot down her ideas.
Pulling into a service station that also boasted a small restaurant, Sophie refuelled the car before parking it under the shade of a tree and entering the café. Sitting down, she ordered a cup of coffee and a toasted sandwich, pulling out her notepad while waiting.
Hot cops. Cute cops. Cold-eyed cops. That just led to thoughts of handcuffs and punishment and all sorts of things. Not really into heavy BDSM, Sophie nevertheless let her imagination go a little wild as she allowed her thoughts to flow and wrote the ideas down, never mind how far-fetched or wild. Or dirty. One never knew what could come of letting thoughts just flow, and she’d found it to be a great way to get new ideas, fresh perspectives, and intriguing characters. It had certainly made her a successful author.
The coffee arrived and grew cold while she continued to write, and only the arrival of a family with a crying child finally propelled her to put the notepad away and sip at the coffee. Licking her finger, she collected the crumbs on the plate and glanced again at her watch. Sam would surely be home by now. If she bothered to keep her mobile phone charged she could phone him, but as usual the battery was flat. Not a fan of mobiles, she normally left it lying neglected somewhere. Unless her thoughtful friend, Ghost, had recharged it for her? A search of her small handbag produced no mobile.
Okay, it could be anywhere. Her suitcase, her glove box, even her bedroom back home.
Bummer.
With a shrug, Sophie stood and crossed to the counter, paying the bill before walking outside. Once at the car, she only checked the map to make sure she knew the route to Sam’s house, though it didn’t appear to have changed much since last time.
Sam’s house stood in a quiet street lined with weeping willows. The gardens were full of roses, flowering bushes and everything else to delight a gardener’s heart. The houses were old, built of stone and well cared for, lending the elegant street a stately air. It definitely had an old world air about it. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine carriages and horses instead of cars using the road.
The wide driveway led up to a closed double garage. Sophie pulled her little car to a halt in the small space just between the garage and the fence, out of the way of Sam and his housemate’s comings and goings. Getting out, she stretched slowly and peered around before picking up the handbag and slinging it over her shoulder. Bumping the car door shut with her hip, she crossed to the veranda and stepped up. After a couple of brisk knocks, she moved back and waited.
After a few seconds the door swung open but she couldn’t see past the heavily screened security door. “Sam?”
“Well, as I live and breath,” a familiar voice practically purred. “If it isn’t the speed hog and sex writer, Ms Willow.” The screen door swung open and Cute Boy grinned down at her.
Surprised, Sophie’s mouth fell open. “What are you doing here?”
“G’day, Soph.” He winked. “Who’d have guessed, huh?”
No longer in uniform, instead standing there in nothing but low-slung jeans and bare feet, it now hit her why he’d seemed so familiar. Smooth bare chest, tanned skin sculpted to lean, defined muscles, relaxed pose and twinkling dark eyes, the dark hair now dishevelled and flopping anywhere it pleased, and teeth flashing in a huge smile, yeah, it came back to her now. For sure he was older and no longer the lanky teenager, but that twinkle in his eyes and the laughter in his voice hadn’t changed.
“Alan Cooper?”
He spread his arms out. “In person.”
Sophie Willow stared at him in shock, her big hazel eyes wide. He should have recognised her immediately when he’d pulled her over for speeding, but it was only once he had her license and was double checking her history that he’d suspected who she was, and that had been proven when he’d found that open box of steamy romances with the titillating titles, not to mention covers.
Little Sophie Willow, Sam’s cousin, was coming to stay with him and Alan for two weeks. Only Sophie wasn’t so little now. Oh, she was still a big chick, had always been a big chick all the way through primary school and into high school, but she’d changed a lot. Actually, he rather liked what he saw, regardless that big chicks didn’t usually ping on his chick radar.
Plus-sized she might be, but all those extra curves were in exactly the right places, rounded hips, voluptuous bottom, lush breasts and all. She just had extra of everything and it was all exaggerated by the indent of her waist and the wide belt she wore, which accentuated the way her waist dipped inwards between those lush breasts and rounded hips.
Alan’s gaze swept over her again, a grin crossing his face when he noticed her eyes narrow. Oh yeah, Sophie might be all grown up – and how – but she obviously still had a bit of a temper, he could see it starting to flare in those big hazel eyes.
Laughing, he stepped forward and embraced her in a hug, hauling her close to give her a smacking kiss on her temple when she squawked into his shoulder and grabbed his biceps.
Man, those breasts were pillowy soft against his chest.
“Good to see you, Soph.” Releasing her, he glanced over her shoulder. “Where’re your bags?”
“My bags?” A little flustered, she straightened the small handbag on her shoulder.
He moved around her. “Don’t tell me you lost them while speeding through the city? Aerodynamics and all that?”
“What? No!” She frowned up at him. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
“And spoil the fun of springing this surprise on you? Not on your life.” Ruffling her hair teasingly as he’d done when she’d been a child, Alan stepped off the veranda. “Give us the keys to your little jet plane and I’ll get your bags out.” He couldn’t resist turning to wink up at her. “And the box of sexy books.”
Oh yeah, her cheeks flushed. Her teeth clenched a little. Delighted, Alan rubbed his hands together. “Did you by any chance bring a box of, you know, toys, as well?”
“Toys?” She drew a deep breath before smiling sweetly. “Not for little boys to play with.”
“Good thing I’m not a little boy, isn’t it?” He plucked the keys from her fingers.
“I have no proof of that.”
“I’ll show you my little black book. You can dial the chicks and get verbal acknowledgement.”
“I’m sure.” Sarcasm practically dripped from her words. “Where’s Sam?”
“Right here,” a deep voice said from behind her. “Just listening to you and Alan exchanging verbal barbs like old times.”
Sam stood in the doorway, one hand holding the security screen open. As soon as Sophie turned around, Alan’s housemate grabbed her hand and yanked her to him for a hug. Only Sophie didn’t squawk this time, she quite happily returned it.
Figured, Alan thought, turning away to go to the little car. Sam and Sophie had always been close, even when her family had left the city all those years ago.
Popping the car boot open, he took out the suitcase, the overnight bag and the laptop, returning to the house to take them to the spare b
edroom in which Sophie would be sleeping. Back out at the car, he reached in for the box of books, only to stop and grin. Shy little Sophie Willow writing sexy books. Who’d have guessed it? He couldn’t resist riffling through the box, his brows rising in appreciation at some of the covers. Erotic covers, entwining bodies, a few bared bottoms, and some really hot embraces.
Picking up one of the books, he flicked through some pages, his eyebrows shooting up almost into his hairline.
Wow, little Sophie Willow had grown up. A lot. A hell of a lot, and he didn’t mean height or width, either, but sexually – hoo boy.
And how interesting.
Grinning, he popped the book back on top of the pile, flipped the flaps closed and took the box from the car seat, resting it on one raised knee as he beeped the car locks shut. Hefting the box easily, he went back into the house.
Hearing voices in the kitchen, he glanced in as he started to pass the doorway. Sophie was leaning back against the kitchen bench, a glass of iced coffee in one hand and a biscuit in the other as she chatted to Sam. She glanced at the doorway as Alan paused, and he couldn’t resist giving her a slow wink before continuing down the hall and depositing the box on the floor of her bedroom.
“I work a lot of nights,” Sam was saying as Alan walked into the kitchen. “But I’ve got a spare key cut for you, so you can come and go as you please.” He fished in one pocket of his shorts, fished in the other pocket, patted the non-existent pocket on his t-shirt, turned and checked the bowl on the end of the kitchen bench, then paused to push his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “Huh. I’m sure I put them down here somewhere.”
Amused as always by his absentminded roomie, Alan glanced at Sophie to see a big smile curve her lips, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
“No point asking where you last put them.” She laughed.
“I swear I put them close to hand, Soph.”
Still laughing, she moved up beside him and stuck one finger in the bowl of knick-knacks, stirring them around as she gazed into it. “Are you sure you put them in here?”
“Well, yes.” Adjusting his glasses, he bent down to gaze into the bowl.
Alan poured out a glass of iced coffee from the carton that Sam had left on the sink. Bracing one hand on the bench, he leaned forward to gaze down into the bowl as well. “Did you check your sock drawer?”
A strand of Sophie’s hair which had escaped the elastic band she’d tied it back with tickled across his chin.
“Why would he look in his sock drawer?” She queried, holding up a set of keys and looking from it to Sam, who shook his head.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Alan replied.
“Because he wouldn’t keep keys in his sock drawer…” Sophie’s head jerked up and she looked at Alan.
He grinned back at her.
“You are such an arse,” she said. “You haven’t changed at all.”
Leaning comfortably on the bench on his elbow, Alan rested his chin in one hand and smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Sam moved from the bowl to start riffling through the junk drawer on the other side of the bench, his much bigger frame crowding Alan, who simply shifted a little further down.
A breeze ruffled the curtains, bringing the faint scent of her perfume wafting through his nostrils. Nice. He did like women’s perfume. On a woman, of course.
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. She’d always had pretty eyes, the ends tilted slightly upward giving her a faintly exotic look. His gaze dropped to her mouth. He didn’t remember those lips being so lush, though, all plump and pink with a faint sheen of lipstick.
“I wouldn’t,” she replied. “How the hell did you become a cop with your attitude?”
“My attitude is just fine.” He winked. “I’m a professional at work.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“With your writing, too?”
“Huh?”
Enjoying himself immensely, Alan lifted the glass to his lips while locking his gaze on hers. “How professional are you in regards to your writing?”
“What do you mean?”
Oh ho, she knew, all right. Those little apple cheeks were going a faint pink.
Alan took a sip of iced coffee before quirking a brow. “I mean, how much research do you do for your books?”
Almost immediately her expression became shuttered. “Enough.”
Sam was now rummaging in the cupboard below the sink. “I know I put the keys somewhere.”
“You have some pretty spicy stories in that box.”
“Couldn’t resist snooping?”
“Couldn’t help but seeing when we searched your car after stopping you.”
Sam’s head popped into view from behind the bench, his brow furrowed as he looked across at Sophie. “Were you speeding again?”
“No.”
“Liar,” said Alan. “She was. Mike and I caught her.”
“Tell-tale-tit,” Sophie shot back.
“Sticks and stones and all that shit.”
“Cripes.” Sam straightened. “How much did you get fined, Soph?”
“Nothing. I got a warning.”
“I only warn once.” Alan smiled slowly, unable to resist adding, “Next time it’s handcuffs.”
“That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?” Sam opened a cupboard above the sink. “Where are those damned keys?”
“What’s with the handcuffs?” Sophie asked.
“Punishing Laura.” When she looked blankly at him, Alan winked. “Page forty one.”
Her eyes widened. “You read it?”
“Browsed through it before I brought the box in. Very interesting.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “So, shy little Sophie Willow, just how much research goes into your books?”
Arms folded in front of her, she took a step back. Hmmm, even more interesting.
“I don’t believe you’re that interested in my books, Alan. In fact…”
He nodded encouragingly.
“In fact…” Bracing both hands on the counter, Sophie leaned forward.
Chin still in one hand, Alan found himself face to face with her, and she was very close. She leaned right in until he could see the flecks of green in her hazel eyes and her perfume teased his senses, and damn, when had her lips gotten so lush?
Entranced, he could only watch as she lowered her gaze to his mouth and slowly, ever so slowly, lick those plump, pink lips. Those thick, black eyelashes swept down to cover her eyes and when they rose again so she could look at him, his heart felt like it stopped in his chest.
Thunk. Just stopped. Right then. Because the heat in her eyes, the blatant sexual invitation, just took his breath away.
The clock on the far wall ticked the seconds away.
Jesus, when had Sophie Willow gotten so…so… Every thought blurred as she leaned closer, and closer still, until he could feel the warmth of her breath on his lips, across his cheek as she moved closer, and then her cheek brushed his, silky smooth, and her breath was in his ear, and God above but he felt that moist breath all the way down to the tips of his toes.
Not to mention his hardening shaft.
“In fact…”
Jesus, she’d just blown lightly across the skin just below his ear, making an involuntary shiver go right through him. His hold on the glass tightened. His heart decided to resume beating, only now it was going thud thud thud and gathering momentum.
“In fact…”
“Yes?” His eyes closed as he savoured the scent of her, the warmth, the feminine presence, the strong hint of sexual heat.
“I think you’re just a perverted little boy, as you always were.”
His ear was given a hard jerk and his elbow skidded across the bench. Without the support his chin almost hit the hard surface and he only just managed to stop his slide to pain.
Pushing upwards, he stared at Sophie. Hands on hips, she had stepped back out of reach and was watching him with one eyebrow raised in amused disdain.
&nbs
p; Okay, that should have been like a bucket of cold water to his libido but he could still feel that moist, warm breath in his ear and smell her sweet scent. One thing he was sure of though-
“Here!” A set of keys appeared before Alan’s eyes, the big hand holding them giving them a shake. “I knew I’d put them somewhere.”
Reaching out to take the keys, Sophie smiled her thanks at her cousin before smirking just a little at Alan.
Yeah, one thing he was sure of, and that was that Sophie Willow wasn’t shy little Sophie Willow anymore. This Sophie Willow was a lot more sophisticated, earthier, and obviously sexually experienced. And those sexual experiences, going by her actions and those of her book characters, bordered on all kinds of delicious, erotic, a little – possibly a whole lot more – kinkier kind.
Sophie Willow was no virginal, shy woman. Yep, sweet little Sophie Willow, the girl he used to tease mercilessly in school, had grown up, and he wasn’t certain if it was for the best. In fact, he didn’t know whether to be disappointed or not. With almost any other woman he’d have been delighted. For the first time in his whole life, Alan was actually confused.
And Sophie, damned her voluptuous hide, knew it. Those lush lips smirked, the gleam in her eyes one of pure evil.
“Come on, Soph, I’ll show you to your room.” Placing his hand on her shoulder, Sam steered her towards the doorway. “Get you all settled in. After a two day drive with one stopover at a motel, you must be feeling a little weary.”
All Alan could do was raise his glass in salute to her and try to be cool.
Sophie smiled sweetly at him and left the room with Sam.
Sweet. Yeah. Not. Sweet Virgin Girl had turned into Exotic Sex Queen.
~*~
That had been a close call. Luckily she could draw on a character she was writing about right now, slip into their mind and mode and act on it. On the character. Act the character. It wasn’t the first time that Sophie had faced down a bloke who thought he could be sexually suggestive just because he’d read her book, seen the cover, maybe even just read the blurb on the back of the book or seen his girlfriend or wife, sister, whatever, read it. It had happened a time or two. Not to mention, she’d faced a few of her relatives and workmates, and people who’d bought her books from her back when she’d first self-published and had been marketing herself.
The Virgin Sex Queen Page 2
