All Chapters of Secret Curves (Dangerous Curves 5): Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

He flicked on the bathroom light now, tugged her close. His large hands slid under her shirt, inched it up. She tensed, just a bit, and he paused.“You good, baby?” he asked, his eyes soft with concern.“Yes.” She took a deep breath. “I’m just – I know it’s stupid after what just happened, but I’m… I’m nervous about you seeing me totally naked for the first time.”Curtis stared down at her, his whole face warm. “I love you. That makes you the most fucking beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, sweetness. Don’t you know that?”She smiled and relaxed. “Oh. Is that how it works?”"Damn right,” he said, his voice husky. “You’re gorgeous, Tessa, inside and out. Let me see you, baby. Let me see all of you. Don’t be afraid.”She looked at him for a few seconds. She knew that she had to learn to think of herself as beautiful, as desirable. As enough, just as she was. This seemed like a good place and time to start, and God knows, she’d never meet a man more convinced that she was both beauti

Tessa was trapped between his massive body and the wall, and she couldn’t think of anyplace on the entire planet that she’d rather be. God, the look on his face when he’d come: every one of Curtis’ defensive walls had crumbled around him, and that hard, emotionless face had been ablaze with arousal and want. And she’d done that to him; she’d made this amazing man look like this.“Tessa,” he said, so damn tender and soft, still leaning on his huge forearm. “I love you.”“I love you, too.” She pressed a kiss to his chest, ran her tongue over the ugly scar there. “I love making you happy.”“Oh, baby.” He half-laughed, half-groaned. “You so did.”She smiled and ran her fingers over her sticky skin. “I can feel it.”Curtis opened his eyes now, moved back to look at her. He reached for the soap, coated his hands with fragrant bubbles. She sighed with sheer bliss and a bit of regret as he washed her, washed away the evidence of his pleasure.For a long time after, they stood under the water,

"Oh, Mom was a close second in the punching bag pecking order, so he spread the misery around pretty well. An equal-opportunity abuser, that was my sperm donor.” He was quiet now, keeping his rage in check. No need for her to see how deep and dark it went, after all. “We were fucking terrified all the time, and the only time we ever felt safe and slept the night through was when he was in jail for something. We could breathe then, and relax. Didn't have to worry about growing eyes in the back of our heads, and sleeping with one eye open, you know?”“He was in jail a lot?”“Hell, yeah, and thank God. Mostly petty crap, like bar fights and public drunkenness, but he also did dumb shit like holding up convenience stores with a toy gun.” Curtis shook his head. “He was a goddamn moron, no two ways about it, but he was an alcoholic and he had a temper and he was huge, and all of that’s a bad combination. Especially for a woman and kid trapped in his personal space, and with no choices or wa

“I’ve never hurt a woman, baby. Never raised my hand to one, never shouted at one, and I fucking never will. I’d die before I’d do to any woman what he did to Mom… but I haven’t been able to really let anyone in, either. Not until now. Not until you.”Curtis stroked her golden curls, still not totally able to believe that she was here with him. Safe, and warm, and naked under his t-shirt.“I’ve loved exactly two people in the whole of my life.” Curtis’ voice was shaking with emotion, and she started, knowing that he was totally wide open to her now. “One is dead, the other is here with me. And when I saw you hurting yourself so badly? I – I couldn’t stand it. I thought that I’d lose you, too. And if I had? I don’t think I’d be able to love again, sweetness. Not anyone, not ever.”“I’m not going anywhere, Curtis,” Tessa said firmly. “I promise you.”He nodded, started to say something, hesitated again. She waited, knowing that he’d tell her when he was ready.“I still hate him,” Curtis

"Who was there with you?”“Tex, Tank, Valentina, and Quinn.”She gripped her coffee cup hard between shaking hands. “Anyone hurt?”“None of my people, but I killed a man.” King paused. “Another one.”“I’m sorry, Matt.”“I am too, but I’m also not. You know? I hate taking human life, I promise you… but I also have no desire whatsoever to get my own life taken. I do what I have to do to come home to you.”“I know.”He lowered his arm now, nailed her into place with those incredible eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”“For – for what?” she faltered.“For not talking to you. For leaving you all alone. For worrying you. For pulling back, and shutting you out.”She reached out slowly, needing to touch him. And God knows, he needed her sweet, gentle touch. He lifted his chin to meet her seeking fingers, and when they stroked his unshaven cheek, he shut his eyes again, this time in relief.“Are you going to stop doing all that?” she asked. “Is that why you’re talking to me now?”“No.”Her touch st