Chapter 01: Back in Business

Water trickled down the etched lines of Gavin Stark’s hard body as he stood beneath the warm spray. His fingers combed through his raven black hair, allowing the soap to wash through. Alexa sat perched upon the sink, watching as he moved his tall frame further beneath the nozzle and suds turned to clear water as he lifted his face to let the shower rain down on him. 

Heat flared to life within Alexa as she imagined those hands gripping her thighs and rudely exposing her most intimate parts. As if reading her thoughts, Gavin’s dark lashes opened and the depths of his steely blue eyes locked onto hers with a look of desire and that delicious smirk. “You know, you could have joined me,” he said, his voice echoing around the small room. 

“Yeah but, we both know where that would have led.” His head tilted back with a laugh and he caught his lip between his teeth as he slowly raked his eyes down Alexa’s curves. She was scantily dressed in a shirt and panties. The white tee she wore, his white tee, clung to her chest and he could see her bare nipples poking up and begging for attention.

Gavin turned off the water and snatched open the door, allowing his wife to fully appreciate his body before graciously accepting the towel from her hand. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Not bad; just lengthy.”

“That’s what she said.”

“Oh ha!” Alexa grinned at the cheesy smirk on his face. “Still.”

“Right. And we don’t have the time because…?” He’d forgotten. She knew he would. Her eyes narrowed and she waited until he picked up on it himself. It wasn’t long before she recognized his ‘ah-ha’ moment and nodded. “Shit. Bus.”

“Mmhmm,” she nodded. It was their daughter’s first day back at school and she had begged them to allow her to use the school’s transit system. Apparently, it wasn’t cool for eight-year-olds to have their parents drop them off; despite driving souped up muscle cars. “You should have told me you were heading up; we could have started sooner.” 

“Damn,” Gavin hissed.

“It’s ok. I’ll let you make it up to me later,” she said, wriggling her eyebrows.

Gavin took three dominating steps toward the sink. The intensity of his blue eyes never leaving Alexa’s. The white towel wrapped snugly around his lean hips, catching drops of water as he leaned closer to her. The swirling black lines of the tattoos along his forearm brushed against her skin. The luscious warmth of his body surrounded her when his arms pressed to either side of the sink near her thighs, caging her in until his face was just an inch from hers.

“Or, maybe I’ll let you make it up to me now.” Alexa’s breath hitched and Gavin took notice. She didn’t need to express the desperation of her thoughts; he knew. His hungry attention scanned her face, pausing on her mouth for a brief moment before moving back to her eyes.

The tip of his tongue rolled across his bottom lip as his thumbs made contact with Alexa’s bare thighs, stroking slowly up and then down, creating pleasurably soft friction. It was the smallest touch, but it burned right into her, removing all decision. Full lips sealed to hers and Gavin moaned into her mouth as Alexa’s fingers wove tightly into his hair.

He leaned even deeper, pinning her to the mirror with the hard planes of his chest. Warm hands grazed over her hips, slowly skimming along her ribs, pushing firmly over her breasts until she gasped into him. “Gavin…” she moaned, trailing her fingertips over the defined muscles of his abdomen. A thin line of hair steered her fingers lower until they settled on the fabric obstructing their sexual progress.

Gavin hooked his thumb into the hem and swiftly released the towel from his waist. His hard cock bounced against her hand and she closed her fingers around him, jerking him off and watching his eyes close in pleasure.

“There’s no way this can wait for later,” he growled, slipping her panties down her thighs and discarding them over his shoulder. Her top was next.

“But Willow will be home soon,” Alexa said as Gavin slid her down from the sink and turned her in his arms. His hands squeezed the firm, round globes of her buttocks as he leaned forward, peppering kisses across her shoulder.

“And I’m sure you’re telling me that for some reason,” Gavin replied, propping his head against hers, his voice breezed across her neck, making the tiny hairs stand on end and she leaned back against him. 

“Just thought you should know,” Alexa sighed, enjoying the feel of her husband’s hard body pressed so close. Gavin’s hand reached around to rest on her belly, his fingers splaying out to secure her tighter against his chest.

Roughly, he pushed her forward, his hand gripping his cock as he slowly rubbed himself between her legs, teasing her soft center. “Yes!” Alexa gasped feeling his head stretch her open as Gavin slid himself in halfway. He pulled back, and thrust in another inch. Their simultaneous moans echoed against the walls.

The front door slammed shut, making them both jump. “No!” Gavin growled as his head fell onto Alexa’s shoulder. He softly whimpered and pulled himself out, closing his arms around her. 

“Like I said,” Alexa started, claiming her husband’s lips as she turned to face him, “Later.” Reluctantly, she pulled away from the comfort of Gavin’s body and crossed the last few paces that safely separated the magnetic draw between them before redressing. “I’ll get her lunch started. You want a grilled cheese too?” Gavin nodded his head with a grin as he searched his bureau for boxers.

“Mommy, there’s someone here to see you,” Willow yelled from downstairs. Briefly, her eyes met Gavin’s before Alexa was flying down to her daughter.

“Who?” she asked, seeing the tall figure waiting in the living room. Dressed in a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark blue jeans, the man loomed in the doorway, leaning against the wall. Faded blonde hair was cut close and his baby blue eyes lit up when he saw her but, the scruff on his chin gave Alexa the impression he hadn’t slept in days.

“Up to no good again?”

“Who me?” The familiar face broke into a huge smile and Alexa ran forward. Detective Curt Monroe scooped her into his arms, tightly embracing her as Alexa buried her face in his neck. “How’ve you been?”

“Not bad. I can see you’re doing pretty well for yourself.”

“We get by,” Alexa shrugged with a smirk. “I can’t believe this. What brings you here?”

“Well, that…”

“Alexa, who is it?” Gavin asked as his bare feet bounded down the stairs. He’d tossed on a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Gavin visibly stiffened as he looked into the face of a man he’d not seen in almost two years. “Detective.”

“Mr. Stark,” Curt smiled.

“It’s been a while,” Gavin continued, placing an arm around Willow as she came to stand beside him.

“It has,” Curt agreed, folding his arms in front of him. “I see you’re still making good on your promise and taking care of our little Lyric.” Alexa smiled, her eyes falling to her feet. It was at that point she realized she had greeted him in her underwear.

“Ahem, I think I’d better um…excuse me,” she said, rushing back up the stairs.

“And how’s Daddy been treating my little Wisp?”

“How come you haven’t been over?” Willow countered, staring up at the Detective.

“Well, I live really far away and work a lot,” Curt fielded the inquiry. “But I would love to come over more. Your Mommy has sent me a lot of pictures of you though, see,” he said pulling out his phone. It was an image of her and Gavin sitting together on the couch laughing. “This one is my favorite.”

“That’s when Daddy played a prank on Mommy,” she laughed. “He filled her slippers with Jell-O and whipped cream. She was so mad!”

“I seem to recall that being your bright idea and me just following along,” Gavin said, holding his hands up in mock surrender when Willow turned to shush him. “Oh, you’re right, it was all me.”

“And I still owe you for that too,” Alexa said, stepping around the corner. Gavin gave Willow a look, making her laugh harder and Curt joined in.

“Are you coming to my birthday party, Papa Curt?” she asked, quickly changing course. “We’re having it at the Domino Palace! Mommy rented out the entire place for me and my friends. There’s gonna be cake, pizza, video games. Daddy even hired a magician but, he said no to clowns. He hates clowns,” she spoke cheerfully, whispering the last part. “So will you come?”

“Uh…” Curt looked over at Alexa as if asking for permission before nodding. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“YES!” Willow threw her arms around Curt’s middle and gave him a firm squeeze. “I can’t wait to show you my high score in Hak 2 Skool.”

“Alright, Willow, why don’t you head upstairs and start homework and let Mommy catch up with Grandpa Curt? I’ll go and start lunch.”

“Grilled cheese and chocolate milk?” she asked, bouncing on her toes.

“Do you eat anything else?”

“Um…Mac ‘n’ Cheese, pizza, mozzarella sticks, nachos…” she started, using her fingers to count and emphasize her point.

“Anything without cheese, you little rat?” Gavin interrupted.

“Yeah right,” Willow laughed as the pair disappeared around the corner, “Like that actually exists.”

Alexa offered Curt a seat and dropped beside him on the sofa. “So, Curt, what did I do to deserve a face-to-face after two years? Don’t tell me something else popped up after…”

“Oh no, no, this has nothing to do with any of—that,” he said, referring to Alexa’s old career. “Well, that’s not entirely true.” Curt sighed and leaned forward on his knees as he gathered his thoughts. “A few days ago, my partner went down to Puebla, Mexico to run down a lead. See we’ve been investigating a local gang. They’ve been suspected of everything from arson to kidnapping to murder.”

“Just recently we were able to connect them to La Hermandad.”

“The Brotherhood. The Mexican Cartel who’ve slowly been branching out into the states these past years; I’m familiar with them.”

“Right. Well, a few days ago, I got a call from my partner. He’d found something big. But before I could fly out to meet him, he went dark. Then a day later, I got a voicemail.” Again Curt retrieved his phone. Placing it on the coffee table, he replayed the message that cost him a few nights’ sleep.

Curt, I found him, he’s in Puebla.

The message started.

In my files, look for the stuff on Douglas Crane. He was my CI and the reason I’m here. I know there’s more to this story and I know you’re the only one who can get to the bottom of it.

The message ended with Detective Fuller begging Curt to speak with his family and then a solitary gunshot. “Alexa, I know you’ve put all of this stuff behind you and I’m so proud of you for that, I am. And as much as it pains me to have to ask…”

“Curt,” Alexa said, waving her hand in interruption, “you’re like a father to me. Of course I’ll help.”