Dangerous Curves

by Larkin Rose

  Tears stung her eyes. To know that Ralph was now off the streets. That some of his friends were as well. That more could be following. Her heart swelled, and a lump rose in her throat. She looked down and pep-talked herself out of crying.

  Not tonight, dammit!

  “Okay, well, Ralph, want to see your section?” Patrick blurted when silence fell around them.

  Ralph stepped toward Lacy, and she looked up through blurry eyes. “There’s no one like you on earth. You’re special, Miss Lacy.”

  Lacy hugged him tight then watched him walk toward the side of the room.

  When she turned back to Sellars, she was closer, staring down over Lacy like a prized possession.

  “Did you tell my grandfather to hug me?” Sellars cocked an eyebrow up. “It was kind of creepy.”

  Lacy could only stare at her, too many things to say locked in her mind, so many things she knew she shouldn’t say right now. Right now wasn’t the time.

  Right now she wanted to crawl into Sellers’s arms. Just one more time, she wanted to feel Sellars’s weight pinning her down. Just one more fucking time.

  “You did that for them?”

  “Of course,” Sellars said. “Everyone has their own demon. Some just need a little extra help fighting them.”

  Lacy nodded, the need to kiss Sellars overwhelming. She looked away to help control the urge.

  Sellars stepped even closer. She cupped Lacy’s chin with her index finger and tipped her head back, forcing Lacy to make eye contact.

  “Will you kiss me now? Please? I’ve been working very hard to deserve it.”

  Lacy stared into those tranquil eyes and saw a future waiting for her on the other side. A future she never wanted. A future she never thought she could ever want. But there it was. In all its glorious form, from the bad to the worse, from the good to the better, it was within her reach.

  There wasn’t a fucking thing on earth she wanted more than to kiss this woman right now.

  She flung her arms around Sellars’s neck and crushed their lips together.

  From somewhere in the back of the room, she heard Gabby squeal with delight.

  Her heart swelled as Sellars wrapped her arms around Lacy’s waist and pulled her closer.

  For everything that had ever felt so wrong in her life, this minute evaporated all of them.

  Demons. Gone. Fear. Vanished.

  Love. Landed.

  Lacy possessively tightened her grip around Sellars’s neck.

  Forever, she wanted to hug and kiss her. Forever, she wanted to give her a hard time, on purpose, so Sellars would be forced to put her in her place. Sexually. Every day.

  And the way Sellars was holding on to her, kissing her, she wanted the same thing. Her actions with Ralph, out of the kindness of her heart, out of love, proved she wanted the same things.

  Sellars kissed her harder as the claps sounded around them.

  Later, when they were naked, on a mattress, depleted of oxygen, she’d let Sellars know that swear jars would be banned from their home.

  And that forever and ever, she would be at that finish line waiting for her.

  The End

  About the Author

  Larkin Rose lives in a “blink and you’ve missed it” town with Rose, her wife of twenty-two years, in the beautiful state of South Carolina. Together, they shared seven very active kids who weren’t allowed to read her books until they were married. They are now all grown up, married, and multiplied, making her a super Nana to eleven grandkids, too. They are still not allowed to read her books (or rather, admit it). After a four-year hiatus, she’s now back writing full time.

  The fantasies continue. The clatter of keys continues. And the birth of erotic creations shall carry on.

  To know more, visit Larkinrose.com.

  Books Available from Bold Strokes Books

  Dangerous Curves by Larkin Rose. When love waits at the finish line, dangerous curves are a risk worth taking. (978-1-63555-353-6)

  Love to the Rescue by Radclyffe. Can two people who share a past really be strangers? (978-1-62639-973-0)

  Love’s Portrait by Anna Larner. When museum curator Molly Goode and benefactor Georgina Wright uncover a portrait’s secret, public and private truths are exposed, and their deepening love hangs in the balance. (978-1-63555-057-3)

  Model Behavior by MJ Williamz. Can one woman’s instability shatter a new couple’s dreams of happiness? (978-1-63555-379-6)

  Pretending in Paradise by M. Ullrich. When travelwisdom.com assigns PR specialist Caroline Beckett and travel blogger Emma Morgan to cover a hot new couples retreat, they’re forced to fake a relationship to secure a reservation. (978-1-63555-399-4)

  Recipe for Love by Aurora Rey. Hannah Little doesn’t have much use for fancy chefs or fancy restaurants, but when New York City chef Drew Davis comes to town, their attraction just might be a recipe for love. (978-1-63555-367-3)

  Survivor’s Guilt and Other Stories by Greg Herren. Award-winning author Greg Herren’s short stories are finally pulled together into a single collection, including the Macavity Award nominated title story and the first-ever Chanse MacLeod short story. (978-1-63555-413-7)

  The House by Eden Darry. After a vicious assault, Sadie, Fin, and their family retreat to a house they think is the perfect place to start over, until they realize not all is as it seems. (978-1-63555-395-6)

  Uninvited by Jane C. Esther. When Aerin McLeary’s body becomes host for an alien intent on invading Earth, she must work with researcher Olivia Ando to uncover the truth and save humankind. (978-1-63555-282-9)

  Comrade Cowgirl by Yolanda Wallace. When cattle rancher Laramie Bowman accepts a lucrative job offer far from home, will her heart end up getting lost in translation? (978-1-63555-375-8)

  Double Vision by Ellie Hart. When her cell phone rings, Giselle Cutler answers it—and finds herself speaking to a dead woman. (978-1-63555-385-7)

  Inheritors of Chaos by Barbara Ann Wright. As factions splinter and reunite, will anyone survive the final showdown between gods and mortals on an alien world? (978-1-63555-294-2)

  Love on Lavender Lane by Karis Walsh. Accompanied by the buzz of honeybees and the scent of lavender, Paige and Kassidy must find a way to compromise on their approach to business if they want to save Lavender Lane Farm—and find a way to make room for love along the way. (978-1-63555-286-7)

  Spinning Tales by Brey Willows. When the fairy tale begins to unravel and villains are on the loose, will Maggie and Kody be able to spin a new tale? (978-1-63555-314-7)

  The Do-Over by Georgia Beers. Bella Hunt has made a good life for herself and put the past behind her. But when the bane of her high school existence shows up for Bella’s class on conflict resolution, the last thing they expect is to fall in love. (978-1-63555-393-2)

  What Happens When by Samantha Boyette. For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster, and falling for mysterious waitress Zia is about to make life a whole lot worse. (978-1-63555-408-3)

  Wooing the Farmer by Jenny Frame. When fiercely independent modern socialite Penelope Huntingdon-Stewart and traditional country farmer Sam McQuade meet, trusting their hearts is harder than it looks. (978-1-63555-381-9)

  A Chapter on Love by Laney Webber. When Jannika and Lee reunite, their instant connection feels like a gift, but neither is ready for a second chance at love. Will they finally get on the same page when it comes to love? (978-1-63555-366-6)

  Drawing Down the Mist by Sheri Lewis Wohl. Everyone thinks Grand Duchess Maria Romanova died in 1918. They were almost right. (978-1-63555-341-3)

  Listen by Kris Bryant. Lily Croft is inexplicably drawn to Hope D’Marco but will she have the courage to confront the consequences of her past and present colliding? (978-1-63555-318-5)

  Perfect Partners by Maggie Cummings. Elite police dog trainer Sara Wright has no intention of falling in love with a coworker, until Isabel Marquez arrives at Homeland Security’s Northeast Regional Training facility and Sara’s good intent
ions start to falter. (978-1-63555-363-5)

  Shut Up and Kiss Me by Julie Cannon. What better way to spend two weeks of hell in paradise than in the company of a hot, sexy woman? (978-1-63555-343-7)

  Spencer’s Cove by Missouri Vaun. When Foster Owen and Abigail Spencer meet they uncover a story of lives adrift, loves lost, and true love found. (978-1-63555-171-6)

  Without Pretense by TJ Thomas. After living for decades hiding from the truth, can Ava learn to trust Bianca with her secrets and her heart? (978-1-63555-173-0)

  Unexpected Lightning by Cass Sellars. Lightning strikes once more when Sydney and Parker fight a dangerous stranger who threatens the peace they both desperately want. (978-1-163555-276-8)

  Emily’s Art and Soul by Joy Argento. When Emily meets Andi Marino she thinks she’s found a new best friend but Emily doesn’t know that Andi is fast falling in love with her. Caught up in exploring her sexuality, will Emily see the only woman she needs is right in front of her? (978-1-63555-355-0)

  Escape to Pleasure: Lesbian Travel Erotica edited by Sandy Lowe and Victoria Villasenor. Join these award-winning authors as they explore the sensual side of erotic lesbian travel. (978-1-63555-339-0)

  Music City Dreamers by Robyn Nyx. Music can bring lovers together. In Music City, it can tear them apart. (978-1-63555-207-2)

  Ordinary is Perfect by D. Jackson Leigh. Atlanta marketing superstar Autumn Swan’s life derails when she inherits a country home, a child, and a very interesting neighbor. (978-1-63555-280-5)

  Royal Court by Jenny Frame. When royal dresser Holly Weaver’s passionate personality begins to melt Royal Marine Captain Quincy’s icy heart, will Holly be ready for what she exposes beneath? (978-1-63555-290-4)

  Strings Attached by Holly Stratimore. Success. Riches. Music. Passion. It’s a life most can only dream of, but stardom comes at a cost. (978-1-63555-347-5)

  The Ashford Place by Jean Copeland. When Isabelle Ashford inherits an old house in small-town Connecticut, family secrets, a shocking discovery, and an unexpected romance complicate her plan for a fast profit and a temporary stay. (978-1-63555-316-1)

  Treason by Gun Brooke. Zoem Malderyn’s existence is a deadly threat to everyone on Gemocon and Commander Neenja KahSandra must find a way to save the woman she loves from having to commit the ultimate sacrifice. (978-1-63555-244-7)

  A Wish Upon a Star by Jeannie Levig. Erica Cooper has learned to depend on only herself, but when her new neighbor, Leslie Raymond, befriends Erica’s special needs daughter, the walls protecting her heart threaten to crumble. (978-1-63555-274-4)

  Answering the Call by Ali Vali. Detective Sept Savoie returns to the streets of New Orleans, as do the dead bodies from ritualistic killings, and she does everything in her power to bring them to justice while trying to keep her partner, Keegan Blanchard, safe. (978-1-63555-050-4)

  Breaking Down Her Walls by Erin Zak. Could a love worth staying for be the key to breaking down Julia Finch’s walls? (978-1-63555-369-7)

  Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by ’Nathan Burgoine. Cole always has a plan—especially for escaping his small-town reputation as “that kid who was kidnapped when he was four”—but when he teleports to a museum, it’s time to face facts: it’s possible he’s a total freak after all. (978-1-63555-098-6)

  Friends Without Benefits by Dena Blake. When Dex Putman gets the woman she thought she always wanted, she soon wonders if it’s really love after all. (978-1-63555-349-9)

  Invalid Evidence by Stevie Mikayne. Private Investigator Jil Kidd is called away to investigate a possible killer whale, just when her partner Jess needs her most. (978-1-63555-307-9)

  Pursuit of Happiness by Carsen Taite. When attorney Stevie Palmer’s client reveals a scandal that could derail Senator Meredith Mitchell’s presidential bid, their chance at love may be collateral damage. (978-1-63555-044-3)

  Seascape by Karis Walsh. Marine biologist Tess Hansen returns to Washington’s isolated northern coast where she struggles to adjust to small-town living while courting an endowment for her orca research center from Brittany James. (978-1-63555-079-5)

  Second in Command by VK Powell. Jazz Perry’s life is disrupted and her career jeopardized when she becomes personally involved with the case of an abandoned child and the child’s competent but strict social worker, Emory Blake. (978-1-63555-185-3)

  Taking Chances by Erin McKenzie. When Valerie Cruz and Paige Wellington clash over what’s in the best interest of the children in Valerie’s care, the children may be the ones who teach them it’s worth taking chances for love. (978-1-63555-209-6)

  BOLDSTROKESBOOKS.COM

  Looking for your next great read?

  Visit BOLDSTROKESBOOKS.COM

  to browse our entire catalog of paperbacks, ebooks, and audiobooks.

  Want the first word on what’s new?

  Visit our website for event info,

  author interviews, and blogs.

  Subscribe to our free newsletter for sneak peeks,

  new releases, plus first notice of promos

  and daily bargains

  SIGN UP AT

  BOLDSTROKESBOOKS.COM/signup