Rock Bottom (Tristan & Danika #2)(24)

Frankie wasn’t having it. She was nice to the girl, but not at all flirtatious.

“It’s hard to explain a preference like mine,” Frankie explained when the girl had finally flitted off. “I’m attracted to Estella. She’s highly f**kable, but that is not the point. I couldn’t be who I need to be with her, and I won’t settle for less.”

“How do you ever find anyone? It’s hard enough finding decent people to date and then throwing something like that in the mix…”

“It’s not easy. Not at all. But I’ll tell you what, I won’t ever be finding that somebody at a college bar. I’d rather be celibate for life than try vanilla again. Does nothing for me.”

“So you have tried it?”

“Not with a lot of success, and not since I was too young to know better. A preference like mine…it’s a dark thing, in a way, but when I get it right, God, there’s nothing like it. Regular sex could never compare. Has all the excitement of a board game to me.”

“How long has it been since you’ve, yanno, found someone?”

“I parted ways with my last sub over a year ago. Like I said, it’s not easy for me to find someone that’s compatible.”

I felt like a jerk for asking so many questions, because suddenly, she sounded very sad. “It’s none of my business. I was being nosy. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re my friend. I make it a point to be open with friends. I want you to know who I am, and my sexuality is a huge part of that. It’s unusual enough that it is part of what defines me. I’ve made peace with that. And dating sucks for everyone. I’m far from alone there.”

“Very true.”

Estella came back, smiling at Frankie and holding two martinis. I’d thought she’d gotten the hint, but I saw that I was wrong.

“I love tattoos,” she told Frankie, handing her one of the drinks.

“Oh yeah?” Frankie asked politely, taking a sip of the drink. “I have a tattoo parlor. If you’re ever thinking about getting ink, you should come to me.”

Estella blinked, looking fascinated. “I was just talking about the ink you have on you. I didn’t realize you were an artist. I’d love to come look at designs. Where is your shop? I’m new in town. I don’t have, how do you say, connections?”

Frankie looked more drawn in with every word the other woman said. Estella did have a sexy accent. “You don’t need to have connections to get a tattoo.”

Estella giggled, and the way Frankie smiled at that gave me the tiniest sliver of hope.

“I meant directions, not connections.” She giggled some more. She really was adorable.

She leaned into Frankie, touching her arm. She was interested, and not even trying to hide it. “I’d love to be your canvas. I think ink is art.”

If she’d known Frankie for years, the girl could not have had a better pick up line for her.

“That’s actually my motto. It’s even on my cards.” Frankie reached into her pocket, pulling one out. “The address is on the card, but my joint is up in the mall at the Cavendish casino. You can’t miss it.”

Estella bounced a bit in her excitement, and I saw Frankie’s eyes glue straight to her generous chest. “The Cavendish Hotel? How exciting to have a parlor there! It is a beautiful casino.”

“Do you watch a lot of TV?” Frankie asked her.

“Television? I used to watch a lot. It helped me with my English, but I don’t have time to watch it anymore.”

Frankie looked relieved, and didn’t mention her own reality show. I didn’t blame her. It had to be hard not to attract the wrong people, being that high profile.

“What do I owe you for the drink?” she asked.

Estella waved her off, giving her a very friendly smile. “It was my treat. Unless, of course, you want to kiss me. I never turn down a kiss from a beautiful woman.”

Frankie’s mouth twisted ruefully. “I don’t give out kisses for drinks.”

“Then it is free. Will you kiss me now?”

Frankie shook her head, looking more uncomfortable than I’d ever seen her. “It doesn’t work like that with me. Don’t get me wrong. You’re beautiful, but I don’t do easy hookups.”

“Who says this is easy? I want you. I don’t see the point of hiding it, but that doesn’t make it easy.”

Frankie grabbed Estella’s wrist, pulling the other woman’s body against hers. Being nearly the same height, they lined up perfectly. They were a striking sight, two beautiful women embracing, looking like they were about to kiss. I knew I wasn’t the only one in the bar staring at them.

Frankie didn’t kiss her though, instead putting her lips to Estella’s ear.

What she said to the other woman, I could only imagine, but Estella wasn’t pulling away in horror. On the contrary, her jaw went slack, her eyes glassy. I would have bet money she was turned on.

It was several fascinating minutes before Frankie pulled back, making very solid eye contact with Estella before she grabbed a handful of the woman’s wavy brown hair, dragging their mouths together for one of the sexiest kisses I’d ever seen in my life.

When Frankie finally pulled back, she smiled at the other woman. Something in that smile, in the way her expression had changed, made me think she’d taken control of their dynamic, gone from prey to predator.