Dirty Laundry
Series: Tucker Springs (a series written with Lori Witt & Marie Sexton)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Winner, Best LGBT Erotic Romance in the 2013 Elisa Rolle Rainbow Awards
Amazon
Synopsis
Sometimes you have to get dirty to come clean.
When muscle-bound Denver Rogers effortlessly dispatches the frat boys harassing grad student Adam Ellery at the Tucker Springs laundromat, Adam’s thank-you turns into impromptu sex over the laundry table. The problem comes when they exchange numbers. What if Adam wants to meet again and discovers Denver is a high school dropout with a learning disability who works as a bouncer at a local gay bar? Or what if Denver calls Adam only to learn while he might be brilliant in the lab, outside of it he has crippling social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Either way, neither of them can shake the memory of their laundromat encounter. Despite their fears of what the other might think, they can only remember how good the other one feels. The more they get together, the kinkier things become. They’re both a little bent, but in just the right ways.
Maybe the secret to staying together isn’t to keep things clean and proper. Maybe it’s best to keep their laundry just a little bit dirty.
Excerpt
Adam closed his eyes, head lolled back onto Denver’s shoulder, and when he spoke, his voice was so subdued he almost slurred. “It’s not that I don’t want you.”
“I figured that one out.” Denver cupped Adam’s erection, teasing his fly undone with his thumb.
“It’s just not… safe to be alone with someone like that. That alone and vulnerable.”
Had something happened to Adam? Was that why he was so nervous, bopping around like a rabbit? The idea made Denver hot to find whoever had hurt Adam, made him so afraid, and pound them into oblivion. He pulled Adam in tighter, turning his fondling of Adam’s cock into a caress. “You tell me what you want, baby. Tell me what is safe, and I’ll give it to you.”
“This.” Adam’s hands rose up and back to clutch at Denver’s head, knocking at his hat and rubbing against the bristles of his cheeks. “God, this.”
“In the hallway, right by the door?”
“Yeah. Against the wall, you behind me. They can see me, but they can’t touch me, because you’re here. Like with the laundry. You won’t let anyone fuck with me.”
The words rushed through Denver, making his whole body swell with pleasure, pride. “Just me.” He pulled Adam’s cock out of his pants and stroked him meaningfully. “I’m going to fuck with you, though. Fuck you, baby. Right into the wall.”
“Yes.” Adam’s hands clutched harder at Denver. He was so lost he was barely there. High on mineral water and Denver. Denver fucking loved it.
“I want to fuck your mouth.” Denver growled this into Adam’s ear, stroking him harder. “I want you on your knees in front of me, looking up while I fuck that sweet mouth.”
Fingernails cut into Denver’s neck. “Yes.”
God help him, he almost did it right there. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had fucked on the main floor, maybe even at the front door. He could have whipped it out and rutted fast, burying into Adam like he was asking for, knocking some good moans out of him so enough people heard to look and admire. The very idea of it filled him with such a rush it made his teeth ache, made him want to turn animal and just do it. But even if Jase wouldn’t hang him for it, or the cops, who felt the need to nip in and make sure the world wasn’t coming to an end via public exposure, he didn’t want people seeing Adam that way. He got the feeling this wasn’t something Adam did on a regular basis, and he wasn’t sure Adam understood that if Denver fucked him against the wall, others would try to repeat the performance when Denver wasn’t around—they’d ask, but again, he just had this feeling that Adam didn’t quite know how to play this game.
Adam had decided Denver would protect him, so Denver would. Resisting the urge to fuck him into the wall, at least right here, seemed to fit into that scenario.
He kept Adam snug against him as he walked into the bar, waving at Kevin to get his attention. Taking a break, he mouthed, jerking his head at the storeroom.
Kevin paused in midpull of a draft, looked meaningfully at Adam, who was breathing hard with his cock hanging out of his undone pants. Kevin rolled his eyes. But he nodded too, which was all Denver needed. Pushing aside drunken patrons and a few who made approving or jealous sounds as they got a good look at what Denver was doing, Denver covered the distance to the storeroom door.
The harsh fluorescent lights cast Adam in a sickly, pearlescent glow. His hair had been done in that carefully mussed style, but now it was simply mussed. His lips weren’t swollen, but they were damp and parted. His eyes weren’t bloodshot, but they were unfocused and drunk with lust. No terror, though. Not a drop of fear lit those pretty brown eyes.
Denver ran his thumb over Adam’s lip, soaking in the image. Then he placed one of his huge hands on the top of Adam’s head, pushed him onto his knees, and gripped his hair, drawing his head back as he pulled out his cock and ran it over those sweet, parted lips.
This was a pretty damn good image too.
4 of 5 Stars
This is the first book I’ve read in the series and even though previous characters are mentioned, this can be read as a standalone. I am interested in going back to read the previous two books now that I’ve met those characters though!
I absolutely love these two together and there is a lot to love about them! Adam is the nerdy grad student who is continually bullied while Denver is the high school dropout night club bouncer. Denver is the perfect Dom for Adam as he is naturally mindful of Adam’s needs. As they navigate a relationship, Denver discovers ways to make a relationship work while pushing Adam slowly out of his comfort zone to patiently help him work through his neurosis and anxiety. Conversely, Adam supports Denver and helps him achieve his goals without making him feel like less than the amazing man he’s proven to be in their time together.
Their sexual chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS and their sex is HAWT – especially the public sex! (I bought the audio so I could listen to this!) There is kink so if this bothers you beware.
As I mentioned above, the characters from books one and two make appearances, and I liked what I read of them, so I’ll be going back to read their stories. The ‘Bug Boys’ seem to be decent – except Brad. Brad needs to f*ck off forever. I was not opposed to Denver knocking him out. I see he has a book but at this point I am vehemently opposed to reading it. Louisa is amazing!
Definitely a must read!
Read the Series
About the Author
Author of over thirty novels, Midwest-native Heidi Cullinan writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because she believes there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. Heidi is a two-time RITA® finalist and her books have been recommended by Library Journal, USA Today, RT Magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading novels and manga, playing with her cats, and watching too much anime. Find out more at heidicullinan.com.
Author Guest Post
I’m on a mini tour right now to talk about my latest re-release, Dirty Laundry, but today I’m going to use my tour time to talk about another author’s book.
I hope you’ve already read American Dreamer by Adrianna Herrara, but if you haven’t, please pick it up as soon as possible. American Dreamer is a gay romance between a Dominican man from New York who goes to Ithaca to make his Afro-Carribean food truck dream a reality and the local librarian trying to launch a mobile library. The book has that cozy small town vibe complete with busybody bullies who can manipulate local services, but the community portrayed in the novel is vibrant, warm, and welcoming to any reader looking for a meaty but comforting meal.
What I loved about American Dreamer the most, though—well, what I loved after all the descriptions of food—was the way the relationship played out. Herrara goes all-in for courtship, all the while spinning conflict around the couple that they’ll then have to navigate their way out of, both individually and together. I loved the way Herrara made sure to show the struggles the couple had as a couple without ever making me truly nervous for them.
It’s seriously the gift to give yourself when you want a comforting, delicious read. And there are more books to come in this series with different couples, which makes me so happy. Because I was not done in this world, and I can’t wait to go back.