Thankful — Michelle Love

Karin: James is the cure for my dead-end se* life.

 He's been after me since learning I am miserable with Terry, my dim-witted boyfriend.

I try to do the right thing and refuse James until I'm single.

However, breaking up with Terry goes to hell fast when he gets violent.

Out of the blue, James defends me from Terry and we getaway.

That night, he gives me a taste of everything in sex that I've been missing.

Naturally, I run away with him.

Goodbye, Terry; hello, James.

But James has a secret of his own: all the money he earns doesn't come from a usual occupation.

I could deal with the fact that he's a professional jewel thief -- but his crew scares me.