Killer Curves

by Regina Carlysle

  “Mm. You can do better than that,” he whispered against her lips. “Gimme more, darlin’.”

  “The bags.”

  “I’ve got ‘em. Kiss me. I missed you.”

  Carrie responded by taking her kiss deep and he felt every muscle tighten when she swept her tongue inside his mouth, tasting him. His cock pounded behind the fly of his jeans. She looked so pretty today in her short, flippy dress. She wore sandals and he’d noted she had those dainty toenails painted a bright pink. J.T. wanted to set down the bags he held and strip the slip of a dress over her head and bury his aching erection deep inside her body.

  He hadn’t been this hot for a woman since he was a horny teenager. Drawing back, he looked down at her, pleased to see the flags of pink that raced over her cheeks. Promising. “Come on. Let’s get this stuff put away. I have big plans and they all involve messing up the sheets on that big bed of yours,” he murmured.

  Carrying the sacks into the kitchen, he set them on the giant kitchen table and plucked a head of lettuce from a bag. “Any trouble?”

  She shook her head and gave him a smiling glance over her shoulder. Her arms were burdened with bags and cans as she loaded things onto the shelves of her panty. “I had lunch with a girlfriend. Played with her kids.”

  J.T. stilled and looked at her. “You like kids?”

  “Mm, very much.”

  The thought of her belly getting round with his baby was a form of eroticism all its own. He wanted a future with this woman and a normal life and children were all part of the little fairy tale he’d built in his mind. Truth was, driving was his career but, where Mark had loved all the attention, J.T. had never understood the appeal. Maybe he would always be a small town guy at heart. The endless bullshit was tiring. Having something normal and sweet held a place in his heart that was impossible to deny. He put more stuff in the refrigerator and closed the door.

  “How about you, J.T.? Do you think about settling down?”

  He turned and leaned again the island bar in the center of the room and watched her steadily. “Yeah. I think about it a lot.”

  Carrie turned to face him fully and he thought his heart would stop at the look of uncertainty that flashed, just for a second, in her blue eyes. Finally, she looked away and busied herself but he saw the fine trembling of her fingers. “Mark didn’t seem interested in all that. Think he was just too busy screwing other women for anything normal to cross his mind.”

  “Like I said, Mark was a dumbass.”

  “Do you—”

  The phone started to ring and Carrie stopped mid-sentence. Frustrated with the interruption, he raked his fingers through his hair. She had things in her hands. “Want me to get that?”

  She blew out a breath. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  J.T. picked up the phone and said hello.

  “Is this the Salem residence?”

  He frowned at the sound of a deep, male voice. “Yes, it is. May I help you?”

  “Um. Yes, is Carrie available?”

  “Sure.”

  J.T. held out the phone, heard her speak. Her eyes widened and she turned away looking just a tad guilty. A flash of jealousy whipped up through him and he clenched his teeth. Something told him it wasn’t a telemarketer calling.

  “Oh, hi,” she said into the phone. “I’ve been meaning to call you. I need to…um…cancel our plans. I have company.”

  Plans? Didn’t she mean cancel a date? A flash of unreasoning anger caught him off guard and it left him shaking. Her words barely registered but he wasn’t stupid. He got the drift of what was going on. When she hung up the phone and turned to face him, he saw the embarrassment clear as day on her face.

  “Thought you said you weren’t seeing anyone,” he said.

  She shook her head and tucked a length of hair behind her ear. “I’m not.”

  “Sounds like it to me.” Yeah, he was acting like an ass but he couldn’t help it.

  “Stop it, J.T. You’re acting like a child. I made a date with a local man, if you must know. You just showed up unexpectedly and now the date’s off.”

  He grit his teeth. “Want me to leave?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  J.T. stalked toward her backing her up against the nearest counter. He leaned close, breathing in the scent of her as a combination of arousal and anger curled low in his belly. “Were you gonna let him fuck you, Carrie?”

  She thrust out her chin. “Maybe.”

  “What the hell! Do not plant that image in my head. I don’t think I can stand it.”

  “You were the one asking that question, J.T.”

  A whip of frustration made him reach for her. Ruthlessly, he pulled her against him, felt her breasts against his chest. Her nipples were hard beneath the flimsy fabric of her dress and he felt them burning against the planes of his chest. He rubbed against them and heard her intake of breath.

  She was breathing as hard as he was and J.T. wanted her. Right now. Reaching down, he filled his hands with her beautiful ass and squeezed his fingers against the firm flesh. Caging her against the counter, he crowded her, knowing he was behaving badly but he just couldn’t help it. The thought of her with another man tore him apart.

  His erection pulsed in tandem with the pounding in his chest. Bending close to her ear, he bunched the silky dress in his fists until he could slip his thumbs under the elastic of her panties. “You’re wet aren’t you? I can smell your passion and it’s tearing me up. I need you and I want you to feel the same way so tell me the truth. Is your pussy wet for me, darlin’?” Her head fell back leaving her throat exposed and J.T. buried his lips against the pulse beating there. “Tell me.”

  “Yes. God, yes. You piss me off so badly but yeah.”

  “Mm. Let me feel you.”

  “God!”

  The word burst from her lips the second he began to stroke that silk and cream. He groaned low, loving the warm, wetness of her. Carrie’s sweet little clit was swollen and he pinched it lightly. Her gasp of response encouraged him and he rubbed harder, then teased lightly. The scent of her passion called to him on every level. Eager to wipe every thought of another man from her brain, he ripped the soaked panties from her body and buried his fingers in her exposed flesh. She creamed against his hand, arching wildly.

  “Fuck, you’re sweet.”

  When she slid her hands under his tee shirt and began stroking his belly, he thought he’d lose it. Growling low, he whipped her dress over her head and threw it on the floor. He filled his hands with her breasts and knew it wasn’t enough. Would never be enough. Gripping her waist, he lifted her onto the countertop and watched the play of afternoon sunlight on her naked body. She was a sexy handful of soft curves that was intoxicating. He knew he’d never get his fill of looking at her.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  His gaze settled on her full breasts and soft belly. But it wasn’t enough. He put his hands on her knees and opened her fully. The lips of her pussy were swollen, her pink flesh was wet with juices and he slipped his fingers over her, heard her sigh. He dipped them inside her tight channel and heard her moan.

  J.T. wanted to feel her flesh to flesh and tore his tee shirt over his head and sent it sailing. He plucked a condom from his hip pocket and tossed it on the counter. The zipper on his jeans rasped, sounding loud in the sudden quiet of the room and suddenly he was as naked as she. He stepped between her thighs while clasping her hips to drag her closer to the edge of the counter.

  “Touch me,” he whispered surprised by the shaking quality of his own voice. “I’m gonna die if you don’t. Do you have any clue how much I need you?”

  “Need you too. Hurry, J.T.”

  Sounded like a good idea to him. He plucked up the condom and covered himself quickly, then bent to suck a nipple into his mouth. His need made him rough but she didn’t seem to mind as she squirmed in his arms and pushed her fingers through his hair bringing him close. His fingers played between her thighs, parting and pleasurin
g her, teasing her clit with a slow circling motion. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He released her swollen nipple from the suctioning pull of his mouth and took her hips.

  He plunged deep, gratified by the soft, keening sound Carrie made. Her legs went around his waist as if to hold him tighter. Whipping through the depths of her hot, clinging flesh, he looked down, watched his cock slip in and out, watched the pink center of her body seem to eat his cock, inch by inch. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen.

  “Look at us. It’s perfect.”

  She moved a little and he knew she was watching them together. He felt her tremble as he increased his movements, plunging deep and hard.

  “Oh,” she breathed. “Oh, yes.”

  Vaginal muscles gripped tight, wringing a curse from his lips. He could stay here forever, just like this, buried deep in her body but nature had other ideas. His balls drew up tight and he locked his knees in an effect to keep from coming too soon. Repeatedly, she squeezed, milking him as he plunged. Carrie trembled in his arms then cried out when he reached down to tease her clit.

  Suddenly, the world flashed like a white-hot light and they were at the epicenter of the storm. A ring of pleasure swept over him. As if from a distance, he heard the sounds Carrie made as she seemed to fly apart in his arms.

  Taking a woman while he was angry wasn’t his style but damn, this was good. Hotter than hell and he wanted more. Body tensing, he let go as pleasure ripped through his composure. He growled his pleasure, clutching Carrie in his arms, and knew he never wanted to let her go. Before he was finished with her, she would never again think of taking another man to her bed.

  Decided on his course of action, he scooped her from her perch on the counter and carried her to her room. Time to mess up those sheets.

  Chapter Six

  “Come with me.” J.T. whispered the words against her ear as they lay in bed. He was leaving the next morning and Carrie couldn’t bear it. She loved him so much, she ached with it. Tears burned behind her eyes. It was dark and she hoped he couldn’t see.

  “To Fort Worth?”

  “Yeah, come watch me race, honey. I don’t know if I can stand being away from you.”

  She lay on her back and J.T. had his heavy thigh draped across her legs. His big, rough hand lazily caressed her breast. How could she answer him? What could she say? Should she confess the thought of seeing him in any kind of accident caused her to shake with fear? Yeah, she should just tell him she was a complete coward, she thought, giving a mental eye roll.

  Finally, she turned in his arms, reaching up to run one hand over the broad length of his shoulder. “I feel the same, J.T. but I just can’t. “ Her heart was breaking. She’d thought an affair with J.T. would be enough for her but these days spent in his arms, laughing with him, talking about nothing and everything had changed her life. Still, she was afraid.

  Memories of the past reached up and grabbed her by the throat. No, she couldn’t travel that path again. Not even for J.T. and she loved him. She loved him more than she’d thought possible.

  He reached out and ran the tip of one finger over the line of her eyebrows. “I love you, Carrie. I’ve loved you for years. Don’t tell me now that you’re too afraid to take a chance on us.”

  “I’m not going to watch you get in a faster-than-hell car and risk your life, J.T. I’ve done that before and I won’t do it again.”

  J.T. sat up in bed, the sheets pooling around his naked hips. “This is about more than that, Carrie. This is about Mark. His damn ghost is laying in this bed with us right now, honey, and don’t deny it.”

  Feeling weary and sad and twisted up inside, she rubbed her eyes. “I won’t. He’ll always be between us, J.T., and before you say it, I know you’re not him. You’re nothing like him. But, J.T., you can’t deny the lifestyle. It is what it is. I’m over it. Done with it.” Finally she looked at him and saw the hurt in his eyes. She hated knowing she’d put it there.

  “Can’t we just go on the way we have been?” she continued. She saw a muscle bunch in his jaw and wanted to stroke, to soothe. “These past two weeks have been more wonderful than anything, but an affair is all I have to give you.”

  “Then you’re just giving up on us.”

  She blew out a breath. “Like I said, this is what it is. An affair. A wonderful, amazing, sexually mind-blowing thing. No, I don’t want to give it up but you have to understand the rules.”

  “Fuck the rules. I’m not the kind of man to live by rules or I wouldn’t be a driver.”

  “That’s just the problem. Don’t you see?” Why couldn’t he understand? “You talk about wanting something real and normal, but you can’t have it all, not with the career you’ve chosen.”

  J.T. got out of the bed and stood beside it, anger radiating from his long, rangy body. “Lots of drivers have a normal life, Carrie. They have wives and kids and mortgages. They pay taxes and go to movies. Just like real people. This is bullshit.”

  Carrie didn’t want to end things like this. She wanted him to get back in bed and hold her close. She needed him to make love to her. “You’re leaving in the morning. Please. Don’t do this. It’s all happening too fast.”

  He leaned over her, almost nose to nose. “Nothing about the way I feel about you has been fast. Don’t you get it? I’ve wanted you for years. Years, Carrie! You’ve been the source of every dream I’ve ever had. First Mark had you. I couldn’t do anything about that until you came to your senses and saw he was never going to change. Now fear has you in its grip and I’ve lost you all over again.”

  When J.T. stalked naked from the room, she followed him, shrugging into her nightgown as she went. He went into the guest room and grabbed his duffel from the closet.

  Shock hit her like a slap.

  “You’re leaving? Now? J.T. Why?”

  He started stuffing his things into the bag as his jaw worked. He was furious, his body practically vibrating. “I can’t talk to you now, Carrie. I’m too pissed. Don’t make me say something we’ll both regret.”

  She ran to him and took his arm but he refused to face her. “Please.”

  Finally, he turned and his words lashed like a whip. “Damn it, Carrie. I don’t do things by halves but that’s what you seem to want. Okay. If my big choice is between a fucking affair and forever, then I choose neither one. Why do you get to set all the rules? Why do I pay for your cowardice?”

  Carrie sucked in a breath as tears stung her eyes. Air lodged in her throat and her heart pounded hard enough she thought it might fly from her chest. “Don’t do this,” she whispered. “I love you.”

  J.T. stilled, then turned his head to look at her, his dark eyes, intense and probing. “Tell me what that changes, darlin’?”

  It should change everything but in the end, she held her tongue. She was frozen in place with her fear and doubt. Sheer terror paralyzed her. But, oh God! She didn’t want him to leave her. “Stay.”

  “Uh-uh. I believe in self-preservation, too, and I feel a big wall of pain coming my way.” He shrugged into a pair of jeans, a shirt, and pulled on his battered cowboy boots while she stood there like an idiot. Finally, he zipped his bag and taking it, walked away.

  Like a zombie, she followed. “Don’t leave like this, J.T.”

  He turned at the front door and reached out to tuck her hair behind one ear. “You know how to find me, darling. When you stop being afraid of taking a chance, come to me. I can’t help you fix these issues you have. All I can say is I would never treat you the way your husband did. You’d be my queen. The queen of my heart.” His smile was soft, his eyes suddenly gentle as he stoked his thumb across her quivering bottom lip. “I haven’t given up on us, Carrie. Don’t think I can. I want you too much but you look like a woman who needs a little time to think things through.”

  J.T. lowered his face and kissed her and it was unlike any that had come before. Soft as a whisper and warm as a promise. It was about way more than sex. It was about love.<
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  Finally, he turned, and taking the front porch steps two at a time, headed for his truck. He tossed his bag in the bed of his truck and without another look at her, drove away.

  * * * * *

  Several days later, Carrie stared in the bathroom mirror and winced at her reflection. Her eyes were swollen, bleary from all the crying. She’d never taken anything harder than J.T.’s leaving in the middle of the night. Even Mark’s death hadn’t hit her so hard. She’d been ready to divorce Mark when everything came down but it was such a horrendous tragedy and of course she’d grieved.

  This was different.

  It was as if J.T. had ripped her heart from her chest and taken it with him, leaving a gaping, bleeding wound behind. She ached. Physically and mentally. Something deep inside her had died when he’d left and the words he’d spoken that night replayed in her mind like a tragic movie.

  He was right. Nope, she wasn’t a rocket scientist but damn it…he was right about everything. So was Teresa. She needed to get a grip on her life, stop hiding and reach for happiness with both hands. What was holding her back?

  Fear.

  Yeah, she knew she had to get over it but wishing wouldn’t make it just disappear. Maybe J.T. was right and she just needed to give it some time. She just hoped like hell that when she finally got rid of these fears, it wouldn’t be too late. Deciding to pull herself together, she headed into town to run some errands. She was distracted, barely noting her surroundings as she whipped over the familiar road leading into Mesquite Creek. Though the thought of food made her sick, she’d best hit the grocery again. Seeing Teresa was out of the question. One look and her friend would see how devastated she was and a pity party right now wouldn’t help anyone. J.T. was right about one thing for sure, she needed to think.

  She’d just reached the bottom of a steep hill when she glanced up, her eyes widening in horror. An older model pickup was cruising down the incline when the hood suddenly flew up preventing the driver from seeing. The truck careened wildly as the driver fought to gain control while driving blind. Carrie stiffened, grabbing the steering wheel with both hands, praying harder than she’d ever prayed before. Helpless to do anything else, she drove her little car straight into a ditch as the old truck sped closer and finally jumped the opposite ditch and rolled over onto its side.