Dare To Love Series: Daring Ink (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Avery Flynn

  “She’s more than just some girl.” She was Penny. His Penny.

  “Are you telling me you’re in love?”

  Was he? He felt a little deranged and he was more than willing to make a total ass of himself in front of God and everyone to get her back. It definitely wasn’t the kind of thing they wrote about in greeting cards. “Something like it.”

  D’Andre laughed. “Good luck to you man. I’m outta here.”

  His best friend let himself out while Sawyer looked around one last time. This was crazy, but it just might work. He hit play.

  *****

  For the third time that week, Penny lay naked in her bed and promised herself she wouldn’t cry herself to sleep. Inhaling a deep breath, she let her eyelids drift shut and tried to picture skulls and bad rose tattoos rather than the honey-brown happy trail dusted across Sawyer’s six pack abs or the way her heart kicked into high gear whenever he walked into the room.

  Skulls and bad roses, she chanted to herself, skulls and bad roses, skulls and bad ro—

  Music blared through her wall and she jackknifed into a sitting position. The noise was everywhere. Heart pounding against her ribcage, she spun around on her bed and scrambled off of it, then rushed to the doorway to turn on the lights. She slapped her hands over her ears and looked around for the source, but the only thing unusual was the way her paintings bounced against the wall dividing her bedroom from Sawyer’s.

  Sawyer…

  Still keeping her hands over her ears, she tried to pick out the lyrics blaring through the drywall. The song had a solid thump-thump beat followed by a man with a Scottish accent promising to walk 500 miles to fall down at a woman’s door. That if he was getting drunk it would be with her. That if he was lonely, it would be because he was without her. That if he dreamed it would be of the time he was with her.

  Emotion clogged her throat and tears sprung to her eyes as the singer went back to the chorus about walking so many miles to be with the woman he loved.

  Sawyer…

  He’d fucked up. He’d been trying to make up for it, but she was scared. Falling in love, if that’s what this was, wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t neat. It was ugly and hard and scary but absolutely breathtakingly thrilling at the same time. She grabbed a T-shirt from the hook by the door and put it on.

  Could she dare to risk giving Sawyer a second chance?

  Could she dare not to?

  A pounding echoed up from her floor and it wasn’t musical. It was the person in the condo below her banging something against their ceiling but she didn’t care. She was already out the door.

  *****

  The song came to an end and Sawyer turned off the speakers. The silence was more deafening than the blast of music. A dull, throbbing ache pounded against his sternum as he sank down onto his bed and surrendered to the inevitable.

  He’d tried.

  It hadn’t been enough.

  Penny didn’t want him.

  Someone knocked on his front door, loud and fast. That wasn’t the cops. He’d done the law-enforcement-open-up knock too many times not to recognize it. Adrenaline spiked in his veins and he sprang off the bed. Penny. It had to be Penny. He sprinted through the condo to the front door, then yanked it open.

  “You asshole.” Penny stood on the other side in that same oversized Daring Ink T-shirt she’d worn the first night he’d seen her, but tonight she had tears running down her face. “You woke me up.”

  Okay, that wasn’t ‘I’m giving you a second chance’, but he could work with it. He had to. There was no way he was giving up now. “I couldn’t think of anything else to do to get your attention.”

  “Well you have it for the moment.” She strode into his condo just far enough to allow him to shut the door.

  Panic and confusion mixed with the adrenaline already making his heart race, the combination of which turned his brain into one vast wasteland. He couldn’t think of a thing to say. He had the woman he wanted two feet away from him and he’d lost his vocabulary. Then she turned and looked at him. His Penny. The woman who showed him that it was time to stop trying to get lost in other people and find himself. He blinked and all of the words came rushing back.

  “Penny, I’m sorry. I was an idiot and I should have never made that bet and once I did I should have told you about it.” He closed the distance between them, not touching her, but close enough that he could feel her anyway. “I know you have no reason to trust me right now, but if you give me a second chance you won’t regret it. You don’t want a boyfriend? Fine. I’ll be whatever it is you want me to be, just let me be with you.”

  She pivoted so they were face-to-face and only inches apart. “Too bad I already have a boyfriend.”

  His stomach dropped to his toes. “What?”

  Looking up at him, she smiled. “He’s tall, is mostly intelligent except for a few bone-headed mistakes, is super sexy and he’s got the biggest, most beautiful dick I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  He let out the breath he’d been holding. Wasn’t that just like her, life with her would never be boring. “What a lucky guy.”

  “Because of his dick?” she asked.

  “No.” He cupped her cheeks and tilted her face up. “Because he has you.”

  He claimed her mouth as if this was just the beginning. The kiss was a promise—not to fuck up again, to always be someone she could trust, and for the future. She moaned against him as he glided his hands down her back to her pert T-shirt-covered ass and lifted her so her soft, wet core rubbed up against his hardness. Fuck. She wasn’t wearing a damn thing under the T-shirt. He’d been right that first night.

  Knock.

  Knock.

  Knock.

  Hard and evenly spaced, now that was a cop knocking on the door.

  He let Penny slide down his body as he lowered her to the ground and cut short their kiss. “I gotta get that.”

  “Don’t worry.” She traced a finger across his bottom lip. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

  The urge to ignore the door almost brought him to his knees, but he managed—just barely—to take the three steps to the door and open it.

  A uniformed cop stood on the other side. He nodded at Sawyer and Penny. “Sorry for stopping by so late at night folks, but we’re investigating a noise complaint,” the officer said.

  “Really?” Penny asked and looked up at him, batting her eyelashes. “I haven’t heard a thing. How about you, Sawyer?”

  “You know me, honey,” he played along. “I don’t hear anything when you’re around.”

  The officer chuckled, obviously not fooled for a second but not wanting to deal with any extra paperwork. “Let’s make sure it’s that way for the rest of the building tonight.” The officer tipped his hat. “Have a good night folks.”

  Sawyer closed the door, more than ready to have Penny all to himself.

  “You heard the officer.” She licked her bottom lip as she toyed with the hem of her T-shirt. “You have to show me a good time now.”

  He grabbed her shirt and yanked her closer. “Did you forget I’ve got a badge too?”

  She slid her hands down between them and cupped his fast hardening cock through his basketball shorts. “Does that mean you have handcuffs?”

  An image of her spread eagle in the middle of his bed, handcuffed to the headboard, and with her red hair spilled out all over his pillows, took him from stiff to iron hard in a heartbeat. “I do have handcuffs and I believe I’m gonna have to place you under arrest.”

  Penny spun out of his grasp. “Gotta catch me first, Officer Anaconda Cock.” With that, she ran to his bedroom, stripping as she went.

  Sawyer opened up the drawer in the entry table and picked up his handcuffs. He wasn’t sure whose wrists they’d end up around, but neither of them was getting away now. This was just the first of a million and one nights together.

  A Note From Avery

  Hey you!

  I really hope you enjoyed Penny and Sawyer.
They were a blast to write. If you have a second to leave a review of Daring Ink, that would be awesome.

  Please stay in touch (avery@averyflynn.com), I love hearing from readers. Want to get all the latest book news? Subscribe to my newsletter for book gossip, monthly prizes and more.

  Don’t forget to check out my other Dare World novella: Hot Dare and my other books. Plus, keep reading this book for a hot excerpt of An Inconvenient Dare by Bethany Lopez and Wish to Dare by Tracy Sharp.

  xoxo,

  Avery

  Books By Avery Flynn

  The Killer Style Series

  High-Heeled Wonder (Killer Style 1)

  This Year’s Black (Killer Style 2)

  Make Me Up (Killer Style 3)

  Sweet Salvation Brewery Series

  Enemies on Tap (Sweet Salvation Brewery 1)

  Hollywood on Tap (Sweet Salvation Brewery 2)

  Trouble on Tap (Sweet Salvation Brewery 3)

  Dangerous Love Series

  Dangerous Kiss (Laytons 1)

  Dangerous Flirt (Laytons 2)

  Dangerous Tease (Laytons 3)

  Novellas

  Hot Dare (Dare to Love Kindle World)

  Daring Ink (Dare to Love Kindle World)

  Betting the Billionaire

  Jax and the Beanstalk Zombies (Fairy True 1)

  Big Bad Red (Fairy True 2)

  Newsletter

  Subscribe to Avery’s newsletter for news about her latest releases, giveaways and more!

  Street Team

  Join the Flynnbots and get sneak peeks at Avery’s latest books and more!

  Visit Avery’s website at www.averyflynn.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AveryFlynnAuthor

  TSU: https://www.tsu.co/AveryFlynn

  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/averyflynnbooks/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/averyflynn

  E-mail: avery@averyflynn.com

  An Inconvenient Dare

  (Excerpt)

  by Bethany Lopez

  “You seriously need to loosen up,”Ella said, her eyes narrowed as she watched Vanessa over the rim of her whiskey sour. “It’s been what … years since you’ve had sex?”

  Vanessa rolled her eyes to try and play off her best friend’s statement, but her hand tightened around the stem of her wine glass. “I’ve been focused on my career.”

  It was true. She’d spent the last six years working her ass off to learn as much as she could, and had worked her way up that ladder at Smithson’s PR back in Detroit. A few months ago, when a position opened up at Fine PR in Miami, she’d jumped at the chance to move closer to Ella, whom she met in college.

  “More like obsessed,” Ella accused as she tossed back the amber liquid. “It’s time to get a little crazy and achieve an orgasm with another person in the room. Preferably a hot male.”

  Vanessa bit back a sarcastic reply when she realized Ella had a point. When was the last time she’d been with a man? Had it really been two years? Beginning to feel the tingly glow of liquid courage, she looked around the party with as light frown.

  “I know most of these people from work, so even if I did decide to throw caution to the wind and pick up a guy, I couldn’t. I don’t mix business with pleasure, you know that.”

  Ella looked at her beautiful friend.Vanessa’s rich chestnut hair was loose and flowing down her back, and the little black dress she wore showcased her killer long legs. It really was a crime that Vanessa was always so focused on moving up to the next level in her career, that she never allowed herself a little fun. Ella was determined to change that tonight.

  “You never mix pleasure with pleasure,” she argued, biting back a smile when her perfectly posh friend stuck out her tongue in defense. “There has got to be at least one hot guy here who has nothing to do with your PR firm, or the MiamiThunder, and I’m going to find him.”

  “Wait,” Vanessa said, her tongue darting out to lick her lips nervously. “What am I going to do while you search?”

  Ella smirked at her friend and replied, “Drink up … I think you’re going to need something to grease those wheels.”

  “Gross,” Vanessa grumbled, then watched with mild panic as Ella left her and began to circle the room. Taking Ella’s advice, she knocked back the rest of her red, then casually walked to the bar to order another.

  “There’s the lady of the hour,”Vanessa’s boss, Derek Fine, said, reaching out a hand to stop her after her trip to the bar.

  “Just doing my job,” Vanessa said humbly, even though her insides were glowing at the compliment. She’d only been with Fine PR for a few months, and she already loved working there. Mr. Fine could be a tough boss, but that only made her respect him more.

  “Vanessa, you know Avery Dare.”

  Vanessa turned to the striking brunette with an easy smile.

  “Yes, we’ve met a few times.”

  Avery smiled back and said, “It’s nice to see you again.”

  The three chatted for a few moments,then Derek excused himself to go speak with Ian Dare, Avery’s brother and thePresident of the Miami Thunder.

  “I have to say, the ideas you had for that last marketing campaign were risky, but it totally paid off. People are still talking about it.”

  “Thanks,” Vanessa said, unsure of how to respond to the other woman’s praise. Derek had been skeptical about her ideas when she came on board, but she’d convinced him to give her the chance to prove herself, and luckily he’d agreed.

  She’d been overjoyed when Mr. Dare had loved her campaign.

  They were chatting about an upcoming project, when Ella came rushing over with an excited grin.

  “I’ve found him,” she said under her breath when she reached the women.

  “Avery, this is my rude friend,Ella,” Vanessa said instead of replying to her crazy friend.

  Ella looked sheepish.

  “Oh, sorry … It’s nice to meet you!”

  “You too,” Avery replied, then looked around the room with a conspiratorial smile. “Who’d you find?”

  “The man who’s going to break Van’s dry spell.”

  “Ella!”Vanessa exclaimed, embarrassed that her friend would bring up such a private topic in front of a client.

  “Oooh, point him out,” Avery said,leaning in closer to Ella, obviously not finding the situation inappropriate in the slightest.

  Vanessa took a healthy gulp of wine and tried to act like she wasn’t holding her breath waiting to see who Ella was talking about.

  “Twelve o’clock, dark hair, and dimples that have panties dropping on site.”

  Vanessa turned her gaze to twelve o’clock and was shocked to find a thrill run through her at the very tall, very tanned, and very gorgeous man watching her and her friends watch him. She looked down quickly, but it was too late; she’d already caught the cocky grin he shot at her. She’d felt it straight to her bones.

  “Wow, you’re not kidding,” Avery said under her breath.

  Vanessa had to agree with Ella’s assessment. She was ready to drop her panties at one glance. What the hell? She’d never had a reaction like that to a man before. Certainly not just from eye contact.

  “Well?” Ella asked.

  “I don’t even know if he’s single,”Vanessa began, her palms beginning to sweat at the thought of approaching the handsome stranger.

  “He wasn’t wearing a ring,” Ella answered. “There’s only one way to find out whether he has a girlfriend or not.”

  “I don’t know,” Vanessa said, then looked to Avery for a lifeline. “Do you know him? Does he work for the team?”

  Vanessa’s hope for an easy out vanished when the striking brunette shook her head.

  “I’ve never seen him before. Believe me, I’d remember.”

  “No excuses,” Ella cajoled. “I dare you…”

  Vanessa’s head shot up and she looked incredulously at her oldest friend.

  “We’re not in college anymore.”
<
br />   “No, but there’s no expiration date on taking a dare,” Ella said with a grin.

  They’d made a pact the first night they’d gotten drunk and played Truth or Dare in college. You had to accept all dares, or face the consequence. Which meant the other person would pick out the ugliest bra and pair of granny panties, and the welsher had to strip down ands treak in a public area. It was a stupid pact, but one they’d always adhered to, and since then, neither of them had ever turned down a dare. It may be childish and stupid, but it always reminded Vanessa not to take herself so seriously all the time.

  “We’re adults now, Ella, I’m not playing some silly game,” Vanessa argued, even though she was really warming to the idea of breaking her dry spell. Especially with a guy like that!

  “I don’t care if we’re eighty; a pact is a pact, and a dare is a dare.”

  Ella had her hands on her hips now,and Avery was nodding in agreement.

  Vanessa knew she was at least going to have to make an attempt. There was no way the other women were letting her off the hook, especially when Ella added, “I double dog dare you!”

  Jeez, it looked like her friend was never going to grow up.

  Vanessa downed the rest of her wine,handed the empty glass to her giddy friend, and took a deep breath.

  Game on.

  You can get the rest of An Inconvenient Dare by Bethany Lopez on Amazon in Carly Phillips' Dare to Love Kindle World!

  Find Bethany Lopez:

  On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethany-Lopez/214630865247702

  On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BethanyLopez2

  On Her Blog: http://bethanylopez.blogspot.com

  Her Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Rcmrn

  Wish to Dare

  (Excerpt)

  By Tracy Sharp

  “Damn it!” She’d put a run in her pantyhose. Leslie Benson and pantyhose didn’t mix. She could go through four pair in an hour. Somehow, she always managed to put runs in them. Today she’d been running late and hadn’t had time to stash extra pairs in her messenger bag.