Attraction Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by J B Heller

  Rolling her eyes she grinned, “So dramatic.”

  I bounced my brows, “Another one of those admirable traits I was telling you about.”

  “Indeed. So, tell me about yourself, Axel.”

  “I’m great in bed, have a six pack—” I lifted my shirt to show her then continued, “I have a very high standard of personal hygiene, although, I don’t carry around mouthwash.”

  She was laughing again, and I loved it, so I kept going. “I have two arsehole older brothers, I’m a self-confessed mumma’s boy, and I’m not ashamed. I’m a P.I which means I get to perv on cheating bastards, then console their devastated wives.” I paused, scratching my chin, as I thought of what else I should tell her.

  “Console their wives?” she asked with a frown while adjusting her glasses, “That’s gross.”

  I rolled my eyes, “With my words, Ashlynn, not my amazing body. Geeze, I thought I was the one with the dirty mind.” I said with a fake sneer.

  She blushed, “Oh, it’s just, well the way you said it made it sound dirty.”

  It was my turn to laugh, “I know, I like messing with you. It’s highly entertaining.”

  She humphed, then glared at me, “I’m glad I can be of some amusement to you.”

  I slid closer to her on the bench seat and threw my arm around her shoulders, “I just like to hear you laugh, I really like the sound.” Her shoulders relaxed with my honesty.

  “Oh,” she whispered and I caught the grin she tried to hide by dropping her chin and turning her face away from me.

  I reached over with my free hand and took her chin gently with my thumb and forefinger, swivelling her face back around to meet mine. “Don’t hide your smiles from me. I like them too much.”

  I was losing myself to this woman far too quickly. I could already feel myself getting attached to her, and I could see her in my future, which I’d never been able to do with any other woman before. It simultaneously invigorated me, and scared the fucking shit out of me.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Back at my car Axel did what he’d been doing all night so far, jumped out of his seat and rounded the bonnet of the car to open my door for me. It was very sweet, and unexpected. I took his hand when he reached for mine, “Thank you,” I murmured.

  He winked and lifted my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on my knuckles. I could feel my cheeks heat and the flush crawl up my neck from his sweet gesture. “And who said chivalry was dead?” I joked.

  Grinning he took my hand and looped it around his arm as he led me back around the front of his truck to my car. “I’m a gentlemen in every way that counts.”

  I felt like I’d been smiling all night. It was the perfect way to end my crappy day. “Thanks for tonight, I really enjoyed myself.”

  “Glad to be of service.” He winked, “So, when can we do this again?”

  I shrugged, I wasn’t sure of the protocol for new friendships, and this night definitely felt more like a date than just two friends hanging out. “I don’t know. How often do you hang out with your other friends?” I asked.

  He scratched his chin, “I work with my two closest friends. So I see them every day. We’re a pretty tightknit group. What about you? How often do you hang out with your friends?”

  Here came the embarrassing part, “I’m actually a bit of a homebody. A hermit if you will. I don’t really go out much, aside from work obviously. And to get groceries and that kind of thing.”

  Axel was frowning at me. “Why? I mean, you’re a pretty, young thing. I would have thought you’d be a social butterfly.”

  Tucking a few strands of hair that had come loose behind my ear, I averted my eyes. “I told you, I’m fucked up.” I whispered.

  He grabbed my chin, the way he had earlier that night, and turned my face towards his. “We all have a past, Ashlynn. Even me. What happened in your past is done and gone. Leave it behind you, where it belongs.”

  My eyes watered, “I’ve been trying to. For a really long time. But it’s easier said than done.”

  Axel grimaced as he cupped my cheek gently, “Trust me, I know. I’ve been there, in fact, if I’m being completely honest, some days I wake up and think all the bad shit was just a nightmare of epic proportions. But then I realise it wasn’t, and it comes crashing down on me all over again.”

  His thumb stroked my cheekbone as he continued, “I’ve done and seen a lot of fucked up shit, Ashlynn. I have a good heart, I know I do, and that’s why I’ve done those things. Everything I’ve ever done has been for the greater good. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t haunt me.”

  He closed his eyes tight causing crow’s feet to appear around the edges and his brow to wrinkle. His hand slowly dropped away from my cheek and I reached up to smooth the creases around his eyes out with the pads of my thumbs. I couldn’t stand to see his pain, and I was shocked to realise it was every bit as real as my own.

  At my touch his features relaxed and he exhaled deeply. “Sorry for getting all heavy on you there. I don’t like to talk about my past for that very reason. It’s behind me, and that’s where it needs to stay. Just like yours.”

  My breath hitched when he finally opened his eyes and showed me the raw emotions swirling around in their depths. “I’ll try.” And I would. If he could overcome his demons, that by the sound of them were more horrendous than I could imagine, I could at least try a little harder to fight my own.

  A soft grin lifted one side of his mouth, “Good.” He stared at me so intensely the air around us became thick and full of intent. “I want to kiss you so bad right now. But, that would be crossing the friend line, more than I already have. I’m trying really hard to be what you need, not what I want. And you need a friend more than a fuck right now, so I’m going to behave.”

  Then his eyes darkened even further, “For now anyway. But make no mistake about it, Ashlynn, you will be mine.”

  A rush of air left my lungs as heat filled me from the inside out. My skin grew hot and clammy, I wanted his touch. More than I’d wanted anything before it. My breaths were laboured and I knew my cheeks were red with a mixture of lust and embarrassment.

  Axel’s body drew closer to mine until his lips were at my ear, “When you look at me like that you make things very hard for me.” He breathed against my ear as his pelvis pressed up against my body showing just how hard I had made things, things like the huge appendage I could feel against my hip. I couldn’t stop the quiver that rolled through me at the contact.

  I swallowed past the lump of nervousness that had formed in my throat, “My bad,” my words were a mere whisper as they left my lips but he heard them. I could feel his mouth against my ear as it lifted into a smile.

  When he finally stepped away from me I couldn’t stop myself from glancing down and sure enough, the outline of an impressive erection stood out against his thigh. By the time my eyes travelled back up to his gorgeous face he was grinning like a madman.

  My cheeks grew hotter, I was so busted. I cleared my throat and attempted to change the subject. “Well, thank you again for tonight. I really, really enjoyed myself.” Now I was grinning like a fool too.

  Axel took a step forward and placed a quick kiss against my cheek, “Me too. Now get in your car before I throw you in my backseat and take back everything I said about behaving.”

  I froze momentarily before I snapped out of it and scurried around to the driver’s side of my car and unlocked it, then threw my bag across to the passenger seat and climbed in right after it.

  Just as I was about to pull out of the parking lot and onto the road I caught sight of Axel in my rear-view mirror, jogging up behind me. I stepped on the break and wound down my window to wait for him.

  Leaning in through the window, he reached right over me and snatched my bag from the passenger seat and started riffling through it until he came out with my phone. He tapped the screen a few times then dropped it back into the bag.

  “What were you doing?” I asked curiously.
r />   “Making sure I’ve got your number.” He said with a wink, followed by another quick peck on my cheek. Then he was gone.

  The first thing I did when I arrived home was go straight to my bedroom, find my battery operated best friend, and burn off all the sexual tension that had built up in my body over the last couple of hours I’d just spent with Axel.

  Then, I showered and slipped into one of my favourite nighties. I had quite the collection, and none of them could be considered sexy. This one had Luke and Leia, holding blasters on the front. My other favourites included a hot pink one with white polka dots, and one with a crown across the chest area that pronounced me Queen of Everything.

  My collection was quite extensive, and I loved each and every one of them.

  Once settled in the middle of my bed surrounded by pillows I pulled up my latest one-click purchase on my Kindle, Game Player. I’d be lying my arse off if I said I didn’t have an addiction to that little button, but I’m perfectly fine with it.

  It didn’t take me long to quickly fall in love with the characters, Matt was the typical man-whore extraordinaire, with a massive penis and all the smarts when it came to using it and his fingers wisely.

  Which only made me think of Axel again…I bet he knew what to do with both his penis and his fingers. That thought had me bookmarking my page and reaching for my vibrator again.

  I had expected Axel to call or text me the next day, but he didn’t. When I went through my phone I saw that he had added his number to my contacts and called himself to get mine. I briefly thought about calling him, but I didn’t know what I would say.

  In my nervous ramblings I’d probably end up outing myself as a sexual deviant, who had pleasured herself to thoughts of him all night.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Not wanting to come across too eager, even though I totally was, I waited until Saturday afternoon to call Ashlynn. She’d been on my mind all day. I practically had every date I wanted to take her on planned out in my head, and we weren’t even really dating. Fuck it, I was counting this as the start of our relationship, so I was making every moment count.

  She answered on the third ring, “Hello,”

  “Hey, it’s me, Axel.” I explained and felt like a complete dick doing so.

  Her soft laugh came through the phone, “I know, you saved your number into my phone.”

  “Oh, yeah. Guess I was just making sure you hadn’t deleted it. Anyway, what are you doing tomorrow? I was thinking we could hang out again.”

  The line was quiet for a moment, and I kicked myself for probably coming on too strong. I’d only seen her last night and I wanted to see her again before the weekend was over.

  But she put my fears to rest with just a few words, “I’m free tomorrow.”

  I couldn’t hide my excitement, “You are? Awesome. I’ll pick you up around eleven, yeah?”

  “I can just meet you.” She suggested.

  “I don’t mind picking you up.”

  Silence again, then, “Axel, I’m sorry but I’d rather meet you.” She paused and I heard her release a deep sigh, “I know it’s probably stupid but I don’t know if I want to tell you where I live, not yet.”

  Shit, I hadn’t meant to make her feel stupid. “No, that’s cool. I get it. Stranger danger, you’re just being smart, Ash, not stupid. How about we meet up at the library and you can get in with me from there?”

  I could practically feel the smile in her voice, “Sounds perfect.”

  Relief quickly followed by excitement flooded my body. “Awesome. I’ll see you then.” I said as I ended the call.

  I fucking loved and hated that Ash was so aware of fucked up people. There were some psychos out there, and it was smart of her not to give out her address so freely, but it ate at me that she obviously had her reasons for being so cautious.

  Pulling in to the library parking lot ten minutes to eleven I rolled down the windows and let the fresh air in then turned off the ignition. I decided to get out and sit on the curb while I waited for her to arrive, it was a really nice day, sunny and warm. Closing my eyes, I leaned back on my elbows and soaked up some rays.

  I heard Ashlynn pull in a few minutes later and stood up to go open her door for her. Since she mentioned chivalry the other night, I thought I’d keep it up. She clearly liked it.

  Opening her door I held out my hand for her, when she took it she looked up at me from behind her sunglasses and I wished she wasn’t wearing them so I could see her gorgeous green eyes. “Hey,” I said as she smiled at me.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  I helped her out and lead her over to the passenger side of my truck, “How was your morning?”

  She chewed the edge of her bottom lip then said, “It was umm, good. Yeah, it was good.”

  “Okay, you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself it was good, not me” I noted.

  Her shoulders slumped, “I just got some unexpected news, that’s all.”

  I raised a brow, “Good unexpected or bad unexpected?”

  After she’d climbed up into her seat she turned her face to me, “Just unexpected.” Then looked away as she fastened her seatbelt.

  I waited until we were on the road to ask, “Want to talk about it?”

  She shook her head, “Not really. I’d rather forget about it actually.”

  “I can help with that.” I said with a wink in her direction.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Her smile wasn’t as bright as it had been on Friday, and it made me worry. I was a nosy bastard and I wanted to know what she’d found out this morning that could dull her beautiful smile.

  Glancing at her from the corner of my eye, I finally noticed what she was wearing. It was a white sundress. It fit tightly around her full breasts, and flared around her hips, below a thick brown belt, ending just above her knees. Fuck, it was sexy. I swallowed hard as my perusal travelled further down her long smooth legs to her brown wedge heels.

  As discreetly as possible I reached down and adjusted my hardening cock before she copped an eye full. I swear she was trying to kill me with that outfit. And her hair, it was in a loose braid thing that hung over her shoulder.

  She was a vision. My vision. I told myself she’d worn this outfit just for me, whether that was true or not, I didn’t really care, in my mind, it was all for me.

  We’d been driving in comfortable silence for about twenty minutes when Ashlynn turned in her seat to face me and asked, “Where are you taking me?”

  “The lake. I thought we could go on one of the boat tours then chill out in the café for a bit.”

  The smile I’d been missing earlier filled her face, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to do that. I read about it a while ago. Did you know they let you feed the ducks?”

  I was awesome.

  Perfect date number two, in the bag, and we hadn’t even arrived yet.

  “While I’m glad I’m taking you to do something you want to do, I’m curious as to why you haven’t? It’s not that far away, really. I thought most of the locals had done it at one time or another.”

  “Oh, I’m not exactly a local. I only moved here about two years ago. I have a whole list of things I want to do I just haven’t mustered up the courage to go do them on my own yet.” She blushed as if she’d admitted something embarrassing.

  I couldn’t help it, I reached out and touched her pink cheek, “I like it when you blush, it’s beautiful.” I murmured, then turned my full attention back to the road before I drove off into a tree.

  “I hate it. All I have to do is think an embarrassing thought and my cheeks catch fire.”

  I shrugged, “Well, I still like it.”

  Parking the car I got out and rounded the hood, opening Ashlynn’s door for her and holding my hand out for her to take as she climbed down. She took it reluctantly, that blush spreading across her cheeks again.

  We walked side by side down the steps that led to the café. Ash tried to pay for her own ti
cket for the boat cruise, but what kind of douche would I be if I let her pay. I shut down that idea straight up and she stood awkwardly off to the side while I purchased our tickets.

  Her green eyes glistened the whole time we were on the boat. She listened to every word the tour guide said and shushed me whenever I tried to throw in my two cents worth. After a while I started doing it just to get her to bite.

  When the tour was over I hooked her hand through my arm and led her up the path from the pontoon to the café, picking a table by the window. I ordered the signature scones with jam and cream that this café was famous for and a couple of coffees.

  Watching Ashlynn eat was quickly becoming one of my favourite past times. I swear my dick about jumped out of my pants when she licked the cream off her lips.

  “These are so good.” She groaned after finishing her first scone. “We should come here again, and soon. But we don’t need to do the boat ride again, I just want more of these.” She pointed to the scone left on her plate.

  I’d already finished both of mine, “They are pretty awesome.”

  Ashlynn frowned, “Did you inhale them? How have you finished already? They’re huge.”

  Grinning I reached over and swiped the corner of her bottom lip catching the little bit of cream she’d missed with the pad of my thumb, then proceeded to lick it off. “What can I say, I’m good with my mouth.”

  She burst out laughing, “You’re so cheesy.”

  I shrugged, “Admittedly that wasn’t my best line.”

  “So, how many lines do you have in your repartee?”

  “I don’t know, it’s not like I have a little black book with my best lines written down for future reference. I live in the moment, and I have no filter.”

  Her green eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, “Alright, lay one on me. A good one though, not I’m good with my mouth.” She said in a deep baritone.

  I crinkled my nose, “I hope that wasn’t you trying to impersonate me, ‘cause that was piss poor.”

  A pink flush crept up her neck, “I’m not so good at impersonations, okay. So sue me.”