Curves Ahead: a romantic suspense novel

by Andi Jaxon

  He straightens up and takes a step inside. “I want to kiss you.” His eyes drop to my lips, his body tight, tense.

  He towers over me, making me feel so much smaller than my five-foot-two frame. Like a child before a giant. “Why?”

  “Because I can’t get your taste out of my head. Because I crave the way your body fits against mine.” His voice has dropped to a low grumbling timber, sending goose bumps shooting up my spine.

  My belly somersaults, butterflies tickling my insides. Acting on instinct, I step into him, gripping the back of his neck to bring his mouth to mine. My eyes are open when our lips touch, watching him so closely. His eyes close, the lines above his nose creasing. His arms wrap around me, pulling my body flush with his. The kiss is slow, his lips sliding against mine. A gasp opens my mouth, giving him access.

  Alex’s tongue plays with mine, sliding sensually, twisting, tasting. My other hand comes to press against his shirt and dumps hot coffee on him instead. Jumping apart with a curse, I slap my hand over my mouth. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!” Racing to the bathroom, I grab a towel and run back to him at the door. Just in time to watch him pull his shirt off. The stretch of muscles has me frozen to the floor in a daze. Damn.

  Alex smirks at me when he notices me staring, chuckling when I shake my head and shoving his shirt in to hang out of his back pocket. Standing in my entryway, no shirt, dark tattoos covering his arms, low slung jeans and a white t shirt hanging from his back pocket makes him look like sex on a stick.

  I don’t know what this is, what is happening, but it’s exciting. I’m curious about him, the real him. Taking a look around, his eyes zero in on the case file. “I knew I should have made you give that back.”

  I smirk, a knowing devious smile on my lips. “I didn’t bring it with me to dinner.”

  “You looked amazing by the way, at dinner.”

  “Thank you.” He winks at me, turning back to the papers on the floor. “Any theories?”

  Moving to stand next to him behind the couch, I lean against it and look over it all. “You mean besides there has to be someone on the inside that’s been helping him?”

  Alex lets out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, besides that.”

  “Well, I know Dan has been abusing Ben for over ten years. I have to assume it wasn’t his first time getting away with something, but he doesn’t have a record. Not even a sealed juvenile record.”

  “That’s right. On paper, dude is clean as a whistle until last years arrest. Not even a parking ticket,” Alex huffs, obviously frustrated.

  “Well, if I was going to be doing something highly illegal, I would make sure not to give the police any reason to look at me. Driver’s license, car registration, insurance would all be paid in full and on time. Any kind of burned out light bulbs would be replaced immediately, probably even go so far as to have extras on me at all times.”

  He nods, wiping his mouth. “Makes sense. Most criminals aren’t that smart.”

  “You’re rarely going to catch the smart ones. You’re too busy with all the dumb ones.”

  Alex chuckles, smiling at me. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  “Still, he had help. But from where? CPS? Seattle PD? Someone working at the call center?”

  “Well, when you would call to report the abuse, what number did you call?” he turns to face me, his hip against the back of the couch.

  “I want to say I called 911. The first time I called I was about twelve and I knew that was the number to call if you needed help right away.” The memory comes to me, sitting by Ben’s house for hours, waiting for someone to come and help him. I was supposed to be at a friend’s house, staying the night, but I snuck off when her parents weren’t paying attention. I was so disappointed when no one came. “I lost my confidence in the police that night. No one came to help my friend. I called and no one came.”

  My eyes squeeze shut and my breathing stutters. A strong arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest, into the spicy scent of his cologne. He kisses the top of my head, keeping his lips pressed to my hair. “I’m so sorry, babe. I’m so fucking sorry no one came.”

  I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him to me, pouring my pain out into the embrace. It hits me while I stand in my living room, arms wrapped around Alexander Bennet, that I trust him. I know that if I called him, he would come. It wouldn’t matter what was going on, whether he was in the middle of a shift, sleeping, having a beer with his buddies, he would come. He would help me.

  Lifting my head off his shoulder, I look up at him, a question on the tip of my tongue.

  “Whatever it is, just spit it out. Don’t get shy on me now.” Alex lifts and eyebrow and waits.

  “Why do you let everyone dismiss you as nothing more than a tool bag trying to get laid?”

  He smiles at me, the rumble of his chuckle flitters through my body. “People assume I’m not paying attention, so they’ll talk in front of me. People also assume that because I’m easy going, quick to smile and give hugs, that I’m sleeping with every girl in a ten foot radius,” he sighs, takes a step back. “I like to laugh. I like being in a good mood. I love woman. I’m not ashamed of that.” He shakes his head. “I love all woman, all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. Having them love me back is a big damn perk.” He winks at me again, shrugs his shoulders. “So that makes me a tool, a man-whore, a skirt chaser. But I’m going to tell you a secret,” he leans in, close enough to whisper in my ear. “What people think doesn’t matter. I know who I am.” His breath against the shell of my ear has a shiver shooting up my spine.

  Alex leaves a quick kiss on my neck and steps back. He looks around the room then moves to sit on the floor where I had set up the file. “Pop a squat, Gorgeous. Let’s figure this thing out.”

  Alex

  WORKING NIGHT SHIFT MEANS most people can’t hang with me. I’m wide awake, ready to get shit done when they’re falling asleep on the couch. Kristen is no different. Looking over my shoulder at her, she’s leaned back against the front of the couch with her head on the seat, eyes closed, breathing steady. She’s so fucking adorable.

  Right now, asleep on her living room floor, she looks peaceful, innocent, soft. A complete contrast to the sass filled snark-fest she throws my way every chance she gets. What is it about her that I’m drawn so strongly to?

  I want to protect her from the things that haunt her dreams. I want to be there to celebrate her victories. I want to be the first person she calls with good news or bad, just because she wants to tell me.

  Scooping her up off the floor, her head lays on my bare chest and her breath tickles my skin. Finding her bedroom, I lay her down on the unmade mess of blanket and sheets. Shaking my head, I straighten out the tangled fabric and cover her before leaning down to kiss her hair. “Sleep tight, baby,” I whisper.

  Back in the living room, I take in her space. Really look at it, assess it all and what it says about her as a person. Pictures are limited to her and Ben and a few from her time at Cal Poly, it looks like. No pictures of her parents or family, I don’t see any baby or elementary age pictures. These all appear to be taken in the last few years, high school, and college.

  Damn Millennials and their love of selfies.

  All of her furniture matches and looks new, it almost looks staged with how perfectly everything seems to fit. Definitely a young woman’s living room, there’s no sense of masculinity in here. Everything is delicate, soft, and pastel. Unicorns, flowery stuff, blankets, and books are what this room is made up of.

  A soft whimper coming down the hall has me heading toward Kristen’s room. Peeking in the door, I can see her fighting off a nightmare. Her eyebrows pulled together, her breathing increasing, arms jerking. Going to her, I kneel down next to her head, running my hand over her hair to calm her.

  “You’re okay, baby,” my voice soft and low. “I’ve got you.”

  It takes a minute, but she calms, relaxing into a deep slumber. I love that she calms at
my touch. There’s a sense of pride that goes with knowing this tough girl who doesn’t show weakness to anyone, finds comfort in me. Even if she hates it.

  Standing up to leave, her arm reaches for me. Lifting my eyes to hers, they’re open and watching me.

  “Stay,” her request rough with sleep. Her cheeks turn pink like she’s embarrassed to have asked.

  “Anytime,” I kiss her forehead again, pull off my shoes, and climb into bed behind her. Kristen scoots back so she’s pressed against my chest, her hips flush with mine. Even through my jeans, I’m sure she can feel my dick harden.

  “Lift your head,” I instruct, so I can lay my arm down for her. Leaning us back a bit, her head rests on my shoulder, my arm around her to hold her against me. With a content sigh, she falls back to sleep.

  I lay here with her against me for hours, just listening to her breathe and thinking about Ben’s case. The different possibilities of how it could have all worked. Were people taking bribes to sweep her calls under the rug? Threats or blackmail? How many people would have to be involved in order for CPS, the school, and the local police to turn a blind eye?

  The last thought has fire burning through my gut. As a police officer, you have made a promise to uphold the law and protect the citizens of your city. How anyone can make that promise then turn around and ignore abuse and a call for help is beyond me.

  I don’t know how long I’ve laid in here, Kristen pressed against me, twitching, and moving against me, but my dick is aching for relief. Looking at the window, I can see the sun is starting to come up through the blinds. That’s my queue.

  Rolling us back onto our sides, my hand moves her hair off her neck then slides down to cup her breast through her shirt. My lips find the sensitive spot behind her ear, the stubble on my jaw scraping her skin. Gripping her tit, I make the soft flesh dance and jiggle, her nipple tightening against the soft fabric as she gasps. Kristen’s back arches against my chest, her ass grinding against my dick.

  My hand glides down her stomach and into the soft shorts she’s sleeping in. My fingers sinking between her lips, gathering her arousal. Opening her legs to give me better access, Kristen moans on a whimper with her cheek pressed against mine. Forcing her head to turn, I capture sleep soft lips with mine, demanding entrance and conquering when she opens. Hips ride my fingers, chasing the high of an orgasm. I find a rhythm that winds her up but won’t let her fall. Frustration has her body tightening in my grasp, desperate for the seconds of mindless pleasure.

  “Take these off,” I growl in her ear, pulling her lobe between my teeth with a tug.

  Jumping into action, she shoves her shorts down to her knees then kicks them off. All modesty forgotten in the face of euphoria. Hooking my forearm under her chin, I release my cock from my jeans and open her legs wide. Both of Kristen’s small hands hold my arm when I drag the head of my cock through her lips, her wetness coating me. I torture myself and tease her entrance, putting just a little pressure before backing off.

  “Please…” her whine almost has me forgetting the condom, almost. Digging my wallet out of my back pocket, I pull the condom out and get myself sheathed.

  “Roll,” I order, following her as she settles onto her stomach. Straddling her thighs with mine, I pull her hips up enough to get me to her dripping pussy. With a grip on my dick, I slide through her folds again, line up, then push in. One long, slow push until my hips are snug against her ass. Kristen’s moan has my balls drawing up tight.

  Leaning forward on my hands, my cock drags along her inner walls, finding every little pleasure button there is to find and waking it up. Kristen reaches up and grabs onto the edge of the mattress. “Please…faster…”

  With a smile on my lips, I arch my hips and pick up my pace. Soon I’m riding her hard, slamming deep into her body. Kristen’s moans fill the room, the soft scent of her sheets filling my head.

  “You gonna come for me, baby?”

  “I can’t!” she cries, her body strung as tight as a bow string, breathing hard.

  “Aww, does your little clit need some attention?” I tease, grinding my dick into her as far as I can. Her only response is a sob.

  Pulling out, I flip her over, grab her legs behind her knees and push them to the bed next to her ribs. Quickly leaning down, my tongue drags against her sensitive flesh. Kristen arches her back, gripping my hair in her fingers while I suck her clit into my mouth. On a loud cry her body trembles through her orgasm.

  Not giving her time to breath, I climb her body and sink into her once again. Taking her mouth, I swallow her cries as I catch my own release. Her arms wrap around my neck, legs around my hips to keep me close. It’s only a minute later when I shudder and fill the condom, my assault on her mouth slowing.

  I don’t want to get up, but I have to dispose of the condom. Forcing my body to move, I pull out of her with a hiss and head to the bathroom. I’m not sure if she’ll let me take care of her this time, but I’m going to try. I’m not sure why it bothers me that she won’t let me, I’ve never really done it for anyone else, but it does.

  Tossing the condom, I find a washrag and get it wet with hot water. The warmth will be soothing on her sensitive flesh. I haven’t exactly gone easy on her, but easy ain’t my style either. I wring out the extra water and hurry back to her room before it has time to cool.

  Kristen is still laying right where I left her, legs still spread wide. The sight of her flushed and satisfied has my dick getting hard again. Walking as quietly as I can, her eyes remain closed with her arm over her face.

  Gently, I wipe her skin. Getting any stickiness off and making sure I didn’t hurt her. I’m so focused on what I’m doing, it takes me a minute to notice she tensed up. Moving my eyes up her body to meet her eyes, there’s vulnerability in her expression. The nervous smile, the shallow breathing, the widening of her eyes. I have to tread lightly, or she’ll shut down completely.

  I lean into her, slowly covering her lips with a soft kiss as I finish cleaning her. Her hands hold my face, and she’s trembling against me. Releasing her lips, my nose runs along hers. “What is it, Gorgeous? Why are you shaking like a leaf in the wind?”

  Her brows pulled low over her eyes as she regards me. “How long are you going to be here before you move on to the next girl?” Her voice soft, unsure. Almost like she didn’t mean to say the words out loud.

  “As long as you’ll let me.”

  Kristen

  OPENING MY EYES, THE sun is up, and Alex is snoring quietly next to me. Stretching, my muscles are sore from their sudden use. Muscles I didn’t know I had are sore. When Alex started touching me this morning, I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or not. I mean, I’ve never had a sex dream before but there’s a first time for everything.

  Carefully sitting up, I look over my shoulder at him, hugging the pillow underneath him. He looks so calm. No smartass comment loading in his brain, no sexual innuendo, or spouting off at the mouth. He actually looks like a nice person and the more I’m around him, the more I think he is.

  I don’t know what this means. Him coming over here, cuddling with me, mind blowing sex, then falling asleep. Is this how he normally is with his harem? Doesn’t he normally hangout with them, cuddle, sleep? If he didn’t, why would they keep coming back? Do they come back?

  Grabbing my shorts and panties off the floor, I pull them up and head to the kitchen to make coffee. Seeing it’s only eight am, I don’t make Alex a cup. I need to write an article, research statistics from the neighborhood Alex lives in so I can finish that one. Ben’s case is still spread out all over my living room floor and that’s what I truly want to work on.

  With my laptop and coffee in hand, I settle down on the couch to work. My fingers fly across the keyboard, the story of Alex’s neighborhood pouring out of my heart. The kids learning trade skills, staying out of gangs, graduating high school, the adults that need help to make it in a world so expensive they can’t afford to feed their kids.

  Milo, JJ, a
nd the rest of the boys I had a water fight with, Ivy protective of her home turf, Jen brought to tears telling me about the things Alex has done for all of them. By the end of the article, hope blossoms in my chest. Alex is the kind of man I want to be with. His motives are pure, no hidden agendas. He loves people.

  Maybe I could get used to seeing him in uniform. Maybe.

  Stretching my arms over my head to release the tension in my back, neck, and shoulders, I groan when my back pops.

  “I thought I was the only one to get that sound out of you.”

  Whipping around, Alex is leaned against the hallway entrance, sexy smirk on his lips. My eyes trail down his naked chest, tattooed arms, washboard abs. The longer I stare, the more his boxers tent, so the harder I stare.

  “See something you like, Gorgeous?”

  My cheeks heat, embarrassed at being caught blatantly starring at his groin. On a whim, I set my laptop aside and stand. Stripping my t-shirt over my head and pushing my shorts and panties to the floor, I strut toward him. Alex bites his lower lip, cocking an eyebrow as he watches me.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Wrapping my arms around his neck, I jump up and wrap my legs around his waist. His arms quickly wrap around me, gripping my ass tight and using it to rub my pussy over his cock. My head drops back on my shoulders and he takes advantage of my exposed skin to bite and suck on my neck. I’m sure I already have hickeys, but I just don’t give a fuck. I want everything he’ll give me so when he breaks my heart, it’ll be worth it in the end.

  Moving us to the kitchen, he sets me on the counter, the cold surface making me shiver. Goosebumps erupt on my heated skin, my nipples tightening. Dropping my hands to the waistband of his boxers, I push them out of my way and grip him in my hand. Alex drops his forehead to my shoulder with a groan when I stroke him. It’s a heady thing, the power you have over a strong man when it comes to sex.

  Lifting my feet to the counter, my hips scoot down to the edge of the counter. I use my hold on his magnificent, thick cock, to tease myself with the tip. A whimper escapes as electricity pulses through me, setting my veins on fire. I can’t wait any longer. Lining him up with my opening, I look up to see him watching me. Every move I make, desire drives him higher.