Bad Girls and Sweet Kisses Read online

  Bad Girls and Sweet Kisses

  Two women embark on a secret summer of seduction that ends with sweet kisses and an unforgettable night.

  Previously published in Amor and More: Love Everafter, edited by Radclyffe and Stacia Seaman (Bold Strokes Books, 2013); republished in Best Lesbian Romance of the Year: 2015, edited by Radclyffe (Cleis Press).

  Bad Girls and Sweet Kisses

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  Bad Girls and Sweet Kisses

  © 2013 By Bold Strokes Books. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-507-3

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Bold Strokes Books eBook Edition: January 2019

  Previously published in Amor and More: Love Everafter, edited by Radclyffe and Stacia Seaman (Bold Strokes Books, 2013); republished in Best Lesbian Romance of the Year: 2015, edited by Radclyffe (Cleis Press).

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Radclyffe and Stacia Seaman

  Production Design: Bold Strokes Graphics

  Cover Design Melody Pond

  Bad Girls and Sweet Kisses

  “I thought you were going out on the lake with Mike,” Tess said to Leslie as she watched her pull on a pair of hip-hugger jeans and thick-soled black boots. “I think you’re going to be too warm out on the water in that.”

  “I told Mike I’d catch up with him later,” Leslie said, leaning toward the mirror hung on the wall over the small vanity opposite her bed. The window was open, and the warm June afternoon breeze, carrying the scent of pine needles and lake water, ruffled her shoulder-length, sun-kissed blond hair. She caught it back in a careless ponytail that made her sculpted cheekbones look even more model worthy and met Tess’s gaze in the mirror. Her aqua blue eyes sparkled. “Dev promised me a ride around the lake on her motorcycle this afternoon.”

  “She’s the one who brought you home last week when you were late working on the school paper, isn’t she?” Tess remembered the dark-haired girl in the leather jacket on the big motorcycle. She’d only seen her for a few minutes, and when Leslie had asked the girl to stay and meet Tess, she’d shaken her head, muttered something that Tess hadn’t been able to hear, and roared away.

  “Yes, she’s the one.”

  “Did she work on the paper too?”

  “Dev? No, if Dev had her way, she wouldn’t even show up at school.” Leslie laughed and rummaged around on the vanity. After opening a tube of lipstick, she swiped her full lips with the light pink gloss and smiled as if enjoying a private joke. “Dev is kind of a bad girl. Hopefully she’ll stick around long enough to graduate.”

  “I can’t believe it’s over sometimes.” Tess doubted her experience in the small rural high school compared to Leslie’s, but the ending represented the same thing—the first step toward the future and a life of her own.

  “I am just so glad that’s all over.” Leslie swung around and grabbed the big leather bag she carried everywhere. “I don’t know why we have to go a week longer than all the other schools around here. You’re so lucky you got out early.”

  “I’m just glad I had this job waiting and could move up here right away,” Tess said, the feeling of freedom something she hadn’t known she’d wanted until she’d arrived at Lake George to work for the summer at Lakeview, the resort Leslie’s family owned. She loved the farm and got along all right with her distant, somewhat sullen stepfather, and she’d never really thought about being anywhere else. But now that she was here, living in her own apartment—even if she was sharing it with another girl working there for the summer too—she’d come to savor the sense of being on her own, making her own decisions, and experiencing the excitement of meeting new people in a matter of days. Leslie Harris was practically an instant friend—they’d connected the moment they’d met, even though Leslie was the daughter of the resort owner and not a chambermaid like Tess. Leslie was warm and funny and open and welcoming, and Tess already looked forward to all the time they would spend together before Leslie went off to college and she went home to go to the community college and work the farm.

  “Well,” Tess said, squeezing out of the way as Leslie hurried past her toward the stairs, “sounds like a blast.”

  Leslie sent her a blazing smile over her shoulder. She didn’t act this excited when she was going out on a date with Mike. “It’s going to be great. I’ve really been looking forward to it.”

  Tess heard the sound of the motorcycle roaring down the drive and followed Leslie out on the wide wooden porch. As Leslie hurried across the grass, Dev slowed the bike, putting a leg down on either side to steady it while Leslie climbed on behind her. Dev handed her a helmet she’d detached from a clip on the back, and Leslie slipped it on, wrapped her arms around Dev’s waist, and leaned her cheek against Dev’s shoulder. Tess got a funny feeling in her stomach watching them, and for a second, loneliness crept in. She’d recognized the low ache in her midsection, having felt it most of her life. She had no siblings, had always been too busy for friends, and had quickly learned her hopes and dreams were something only she could understand.

  “Bye, Tess!” Leslie waved, her expression joyous.

  “See you!” Tess waved back and shook away the melancholy, enjoying Leslie’s pleasure secondhand.

  Climbing back to the porch, Tess leaned on the railing and looked down the sloping green lawn to the lake where speedboats made graceful curves on the surface as they navigated around the islands that dotted the broad expanse of water. She hadn’t had a chance to spend much time on the water, but she loved the way it looked and sounded and smelled. She loved everything about the lake, its constantly changing colors, the dense evergreens that grew right down to the waterline, the still-wild nature of the undeveloped forest preserves all around it.

  Other than the few guests, early arrivals to the season, she had the lodge to herself. As soon as she and the other girls had finished cleaning the cabins and lodge rooms for the day, the girls had left to meet their boyfriends in town. With Leslie gone and her work finished, Tess didn’t have anything to look forward to for the rest of the night except her own company, which she was used to, after all.

  She’d picked up a book in town the other day and was looking forward to reading it. The cover had caught her eye—two young women leaning close, as if they were sharing a secret, or about to kiss. The blurb on the back intrigued her—something about the way it was phrased made her think the women had a romantic relationship. The idea was exciting, and had been for a while. She just hadn’t been ready to think about it too hard. Now it seemed she thought about other girls all the time.

  Ready to see if she was right about the book, she headed down the steps to the basement door of her apartment. She stopped at the door when the sound of the motorcycle returning caught her attention, wondering what Leslie had forgotten. A low-slung motorcycle slashed into sight, its rider bringing it to a sharp halt at the end of the footpath, kicking up gravel and bits of grass. The rider was about Dev’s
size, but not as lean, and dressed in the same black jeans and boots. Dev had worn a black leather jacket, but this person wore only a black T-shirt.

  This person, Tess realized as she slowly walked down the path, was a girl.

  When the girl pulled off the motorcycle helmet and shook back thick dark brown hair that fell to her collar, Tess stumbled a step in surprise. The girl, who couldn’t be much older than her, smiled at her as if they were good friends and not strangers, and she was—well, she was gorgeous…the unruly hair made her look a little wild, and her chestnut eyes glinted with bits of gold in the sun, like a big cat’s, and her face was all angles and soaring lines and…oh God, Tess realized, she was staring!

  Blushing, Tess halted a few feet away. “I’m sorry, are you looking for Leslie?”

  “No—Dev.”

  “Oh, she just left. They were going for a ride somewhere around the lake.”

  The rider rested her hand on her thigh, her fingers fanning along the inside of her leg. She leaned forward casually with her opposite elbow on the handlebar of her motorcycle, regarding Tess as if she was an object of infinite fascination.

  “Who are you?” the girl asked softly, making the question sound like an invitation.

  “I’m Tess. I work here.”

  “Doing what?”

  “I clean.” Tess felt her chin lift of its own volition. That ought to finish whatever curiosity this girl had. You didn’t ride a motorcycle unless you had the money to buy it and keep it running, something she would never have—at least not for a very long time.

  “Are you done for the day?”

  Tess frowned. “What? Why?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t want to take you away from your job.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The girl twisted around on the bike and unclipped a black helmet with a narrow leather strap and held it out to Tess. “You need to put this on if we’re going for a ride.”

  Tess stared at the helmet as if it might bite and automatically put her hands behind her back. The other girl laughed and Tess pressed her lips together. “I’m not going riding.”

  “Come on, it’s safe enough.”

  “The helmet probably is, but I’m not sure you are,” Tess said smartly. What was it Leslie had said about Dev—that she was a bad girl? Now she understood—this cocky, way-too-sure-of-herself girl was one too. A bad girl who was already more interesting than anyone Tess had ever met.

  The girl grinned, shafts of sunlight dancing in her eyes. “Oh, I’m definitely not safe. I’m Clay, by the way.” She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Tess.”

  Exasperated, annoyed that she would look foolish if she didn’t shake her hand, Tess returned the handshake. Clay’s hand was bigger than hers, her fingers thicker, warm and smooth and strong. Before Tess could resist, Clay tugged her a little closer to the bike. “Don’t forget to put your helmet on, Tess.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  A dark brow winged upward. “Why not?”

  “I don’t know you.”

  “Well, this would be a good way to start.”

  Tess couldn’t turn away, caught in the dazzling light from Clay’s eyes, and Clay’s gaze skimmed over her face and down her body in a way that no one’s ever had before. She felt exposed, and oddly, inexplicably, excited.

  “Come on, Tess. I promise I’ll return you safe and sound.”

  All her life, she’d been reasonable and cautious and careful. She’d grown up on a farm where the weather was fickle, and only meticulous planning and the vagaries of luck allowed for success. She’d been taught to be frugal with money, painstaking with her judgment, and close with her private thoughts. She wasn’t adventurous, she didn’t take risks, she didn’t long for excitement. Until she looked into those dark eyes and saw a world she’d never dared to imagine.

  Jamming the helmet onto her head, Tess took two steps toward the big motorcycle. “All right. What—”

  Clay held out her hand. “Climb on behind me, put your feet on the foot pegs, and wrap your arms around my waist. Lean when I lean, and get ready for the best thing you’ve ever felt.”

  Tess didn’t think. She just held on and let go.

  Clay wasn’t exaggerating. Every sensation was amplified—the smell of the woods, the brisk purity of the wind in her face, the startling blue of the sky, the heat of the sun on her bare arms. As Clay spun them around the lake on the twisting narrow road, the bike slanting into the curves, the sun glinting through the trees, Tess was one with the world the way she was alone on the farm at dawn, when all the world was fresh and new.

  “Like it?” Clay called, glancing briefly over her shoulder. Her grin made Tess’s heart lurch in the best way ever.

  Tess tightened her hold around Clay’s firm waist. “Yes. It’s wonderful. You were right.”

  Clay covered Tess’s hand with hers, squeezing lightly. The contact sent a thrill through Tess’s chest and into her stomach. Her cheek was against Clay’s shoulder, close to the back of her neck, and she could smell her—tangy, sweet, fresh, and oh-so-exciting. Clay was the most breathtaking girl she’d ever known.

  *

  “If we get caught taking this boat out, I’m going to get fired.” Tess looked back up the hill to the lodge. The big porch was crowded with guests enjoying the sunset, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention.

  “Don’t worry,” Clay said, “I’ll have you back before anybody even knows we’re gone. I brought sandwiches. We’ll have dinner on the island. There’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. And a full moon. It’ll be great.”

  “Well, Mr. Harris did say we were free to use the boats if none of the guests were using them. So I guess technically it’s all right.”

  “See? Nothing to get bent out of shape about.” Clay held out her hand. “Come on. Climb in.”

  Tess settled in the bow of the outboard while Clay maneuvered them away from the dock. Clay rowed them out twenty or thirty feet from shore and started the motor. The outboard was not that large, and with plenty of boats still on the water, no one was likely to notice the sound of their engine. Tess turned her face to the wind and stopped worrying.

  Soon they were bouncing over the waves as the sun sank lower, headed for one of the many uninhabited islands that dotted the lake. A few minutes later, they pulled up along a narrow strip of sand, and Clay tied the boat to a tree. She helped Tess climb out of the boat, and they found a clear spot under the pines to spread out their blanket.

  “Hungry?” Clay asked.

  Tess stretched out on her back, watching the sky turn pink, then red, then deep purple. “Not just yet. It’s so beautiful I just want to look.”

  Clay lay beside her and propped her head on her hand. “Yes. Gorgeous.”

  Tess smiled, the skin at her throat warming under Clay’s gaze. Clay had been looking at her that way a lot lately—like she was special. And sexy. Clay didn’t have to say anything to make her feel that way—she just had to look at her with eyes that grew dark and deep. Tess touched Clay’s face. “You’re not looking at the sunset.”

  “I know.” Clay’s grin faltered as she drew a strand of Tess’s hair through her fingers. “I’ve seen lots of beautiful sunsets, but I’ve never seen a girl as beautiful as you.”

  “You know,” Tess said softly, brushing her fingers over Clay’s shoulder, “it seems like I’ve known you for a lot longer than just a couple of months.”

  “It feels like you’re the only one who knows me,” Clay whispered, and she kissed her.

  Tess had been waiting for this moment, wondering what she would do, how she would feel, forever, it seemed. To be alone with Clay, wanting to touch her, having Clay touch her. No one ever had. She wasn’t scared, wasn’t nervous—well, not too much. Everything about being with Clay felt right. Clay was right—they knew each other.

  Tess tugged at the back of Clay’s T-shirt and pulled it out of her jeans. Clay’s skin was
hot, soft and smooth. She ran her hands up and down the strong muscles in Clay’s back, and Clay groaned softly. The sound surprised her—Clay was always so strong and self-assured, but the sound, almost helpless, struck at Tess’s heart and made her want to hold Clay, to protect her. She stroked Clay’s back, and Clay moved on top of her. Their legs entwined. Tess turned liquid inside.

  “Tess,” Clay whispered, her breath hot against Tess’s ear, “I want to touch you everywhere. It’s all I’ve been thinking about forever.”

  “I want you to touch me,” Tess whispered back, and then Clay was unbuttoning her shirt, kissing her neck and her throat and the valley between her breasts. Tess pushed at the waistband of Clay’s jeans, wanting Clay’s naked belly pressed against hers.

  “You feel so good.”

  “I’ve never—” Tess gasped.

  “I know. I know. It’s okay.” Clay braced herself on her arms and smiled down at Tess. “You’re perfect. You’re beautiful. I—I’m crazy about you.”

  And then she kissed Tess again, so gently, so tenderly, Tess’s heart shattered.

  Half-undressed, completely naked—body and soul—Tess held Clay close. As the summer sun blazed out in the blue-black waters of the lake, Tess knew what she wanted. Had always wanted.

  She wanted this bad girl with the sweet, sweet kisses, and now the bad girl was hers.

  About the Author

  Radclyffe has written over fifty romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters.

  She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance (Distant Shores, Silent Thunder) and erotica (Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments edited with Stacia Seaman and In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip written with Karin Kallmaker). A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA/FF&P Prism Award winner for Secrets in the Stone, an RWA FTHRW Lories and RWA HODRW winner for Firestorm, an RWA Bean Pot winner for Crossroads, an RWA Laurel Wreath winner for Blood Hunt, and the 2016 Book Buyers Best award winner for Price of Honor. In 2014 she was awarded the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Award by the Lambda Literary Foundation. She is a featured author in the 2015 documentary film Love Between the Covers, from Blueberry Hill Productions.