By Parker Kincade
Tagline
When the past won’t die…
Blurb
A man determined to protect her…
Caleb
Martin is no stranger to hazardous situations. He's seen enough bloodshed to
last two lifetimes. When an innocent evening takes a dangerous turn, Caleb
takes matters into his own hands. If she wants his help, it’s his rules, his
way. Period.
A woman who won’t be controlled…
When
it comes to relationships, Samantha keeps things casual, unassuming. Safe.
Caleb Martin is far from safe. His ‘my way or the highway’ attitude pushes all
the wrong buttons, and she’d sworn no man would have that kind of power over
her again.
A hunger that won’t be denied…
Protecting
Samantha from the man that stalks her shouldn't test his patience—or his
control—but her smart mouth and hot Irish temper stoke the fuel of his desire.
She is pure sin—a distraction he doesn’t need, a temptation he can’t resist.
Despite
their animosity, Caleb has starred in her fantasies for years. His ruthless
sensuality proves to be more potent than she ever imagined. As Caleb masters
her body, Samantha must keep a tight grip her heart.
Buy Links
Author Bio and
Links
Parker
Kincade is the award-winning erotic romance author of The Martin Family Series.
Her first novel, One Night Stand, won
the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic
Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest and was
named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of
Midnight contest.
Parker
lives in the southern United States with her husband, children and beloved
boxer sidekick. She loves reading, playing golf, spending time with her family
and friends, ice cream from the ice cream truck, taking her dog to the park and
watching old musicals.
Excerpt
He
turned to her. Heat pooled in her stomach as his gaze traveled slowly,
deliberately, from her face. He seemed to take in every inch of her before
stopping to linger over her bare legs. “I don’t sleep much. I’m sorry if I
disturbed you.”
“You
didn’t.” The devil in her insisted she cross her legs, exposing more of her
thigh to his view. She enjoyed his eyes on her, as if he saw the woman she was
instead of the pain in his ass he’d claimed her to be. She was tempting fate,
knowing that any second he’d remember who she was and that look in his eye
would change.
For
now, she’d use any means to distract him from his pain. Her pain would come
later, when she was alone again.
“Do
you want to talk about it?”
“Talk
about what?”
“Why
you’re still up.”
He chucked a thumb at the windows. “Daytime.”
She
clamped her mouth shut before she said something she’d regret. And he thought
she was stubborn. She pulled in a slow, steady breath. “True, but barely. On a
normal day, I wouldn’t be up yet.”
“Exactly.
Go. Rest.” He closed his eyes as if to shut her out.
She
could feel his irritation, but, this time, it wasn’t directed at her. It gave
her hope as she pressed on.
“Are you hungry? I could make us
some breakfast. If you don’t mind me searching through your fridge, I’m sure I
could find something edible.” In fact, she’d been surprised at the amount of
food she’d seen. She’d half expected him to only have beer and water and maybe
a stray bottle of ketchup. Like Alec’s fridge.
“For
the love of christ, what do you want? I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to
talk.” He sighed, apparently resigned to her company a few minutes more. “What
do you want, Samantha?”
Right now? To slap the shit out of you.
Hurt
invaded her chest as she stared back at him. Gone was the pain she’d seen
earlier, as well as the male interest. What remained was the Caleb she knew.
Cold, hard, angry.
She
shoved the hurt away and bit back the sharp retort he deserved. She softened
her features, allowing herself to appear vulnerable. It wasn’t much of a
stretch. “Can I stay with you?”
*
* *
Caleb
jerked, surprised by her request. “That’s not a good idea.”
Even
as he said the words, his cock came to life. It seemed the lower half of his
body thought it was a very good idea. And seeing her in nothing but his T-shirt
wasn’t helping. Jesus, he hoped she had panties on under there. A bigger,
harder, part of him hoped that she didn’t.
Samantha
shifted, exposing more of her delectable thighs. “It’s not like I’m asking you
to get a root canal. You can wipe that horrified look off your face.”
Caleb
checked his expression, doing his best to appear calm, bored even. She’d
surprised the hell out of him, coming in his room like she had.
He
was angry. Angry with himself and the past that wouldn’t free him. Angry at her
for being here, for looking as if she belonged here. This was his space, damn
it. How was he supposed to relax with her prancing around half naked, knowing
she’d pleasured herself and called his name?
He
wasn’t stupid. He suspected it was his fault she was awake, and now she was
here—checking on him as if he was a child who needed coddling. He didn’t need
coddling. His body demanded the satisfaction that would only come from pounding
his aching flesh deep into her soft, wet pussy.
As
tempting as that idea may be, he was still trying to wrap his head around how
he felt about her.
“You’re
tired. You don’t know what you’re asking.” And he couldn’t think straight. He
was low on sleep and even lower on patience. He shoved his hands into his hair
and blew out a breath. “You can’t be in here. Go back to bed.” Before he forgot
all the reasons he shouldn’t fuck her silly.
“Why
did I think… God, I’m such an —” She closed her mouth, her lips drawn into a
thin, tight line. Her cheeks flushed as she advanced on him. “I’m sick of you
judging me. Telling me what I should and shouldn’t do. If you hadn’t noticed,
my night sucked. Hell, the last year
has sucked. So, you can shove your overinflated male ego up your own ass. I’m
not asking you to have sex with me for chrissake.” She stumbled back and
planted her butt on the edge of the bed. “Just for once, Caleb, can’t you set
aside your feelings? Forget your stupid sense of responsibility where I’m concerned
and just be here for me like a normal
person?”
What the fuck?
“My
stupid sense of what?”
The
laugh that escaped her lips made him uneasy.
“You
heard me, horseman.” She eased back
to her feet and sauntered toward him. “You think I don’t know how you feel
about me? Let me see … troublemaker, instigator, bad influence.” She ticked off the words on her
fingers. “Oh, and my personal favorite … menace.
Really, Caleb. Menace? That’s a little strong don’t you think?” She fisted her
hands on her hips, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “I know you don’t
like me. If it weren’t for Amanda and Alec, I wouldn’t be here and we both know
it.” Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession as she glared at him. “And I’m
sick of being your charity case.”
Caleb
fought the urge to look away. She hadn’t lied about the words he’d uttered to
describe her over the years, but to have them slung back at him just pissed him
off.
“You
want to know what I’m sick of,
Samantha? I’m sick of you pushing my buttons. I’m sick of your stubborn-assed
attitude when it comes to your own safety and I’m fucking sick and tired of you
calling me horseman!” His shout
rattled the windows, but he didn’t care. He was on a roll now, like a fucking
train wreck, unable to stop.
Crossing
his arms over his chest, he glared down at her. “If you and Amanda hadn’t
decided the woods were the best place to partake in a little underage drinking,
the boys and I wouldn’t have had to saddle up to go find your drunk asses
before some wild animal made you a snack. Did you ever think of that, Samantha?
During your little adventure with my baby
sister, did you stop to consider the consequences? Do you ever?”
Samantha
made a noise of disgust and stormed from the room. “This is what I get for
trying to be nice,” she yelled.
Caleb
went after her, following her into the spare room. “Nice? Nice?” The floodgates
were open, his anger and frustration leaving any sense of self-preservation in
the dust. “You think calling us the horsemen of the apocalypse is nice? Is that fun for you? Because all it does is remind me of being scared out of my ever-loving mind that something was
going to … that Amanda …” No, he wasn’t going back there.
Not.
Going. There.
“And
as for my stupid sense of responsibility,
I protect what’s mine, damn it!”
Samantha’s
sharp intake of breath drifted through his angry haze and punched him in the
gut. She sank back to the bed and wiped the tear that escaped the corner of her
eye.
It
was like ice water to his soul.
This
woman tested his restraint. No other woman, save his sister, had ever pushed
him so hard. It was infuriating and intoxicating at the same time. She left him
off balance, out of control—two things that spelled disaster where he was
concerned.
Caleb
ran his hands through his hair, settling his palms on the back of his neck.
“Samantha.”
His
heart skipped a beat as emotion played out on her face. Sadness, regret, and
finally … resolve.
“Get
out.” Her voice was soft. “God, what was I thinking? Just get out.”
He
stood there, unable to move as he struggled to comprehend the vulnerability
pouring out of her. His gaze traveled over the delicate features of her face,
the line of her shoulders. The rise of her breasts, her slim waist, and long
legs. Her feet were bare. Her toenails were painted a rich red that spoke of
fire. Passion.
She
shifted on the bed and winced, making him feel like a total ass. Again. Her
night had sucked. With her tough-as-nails attitude, Caleb hadn’t considered she
might actually need comforting.
He took a deep breath. “I’ll stay.”
Her
eyes, blue and blazing, snapped up. “Of course you will. Because why in the
hell would you listen to me?”
“You
asked me to stay.”
“I
asked you to leave.”
“As
you so diligently pointed out earlier, I don’t listen.” And he still had things
to say.
She
rubbed her temples, as if their argument had given her a headache. “Fine.
Whatever.”
“Samantha.
Look at me.” When she didn’t move, he crouched in front of her. He tilted her
chin until she looked at him. “I don’t dislike you. I need you to know that.”
She
offered him a sad smile. “The gesture is appreciated, Caleb. Thank you.” She
pulled her face away.
Refusing
to let her retreat, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupped
her face. Soft, warm skin greeted his palm. He brushed his thumb across her
cheek, amazed by its smoothness. “It’s the truth. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean —”
She
put a finger to his lips and he barely resisted the urge to open his mouth and
taste her.
“Yes,
you did. And it’s okay. We may not get along, but at least you’ve never lied to
me. Please don’t start now. I’m a big girl, Caleb. I can take it. And I owe you
an apology. I’m sorry for not considering your feelings where Amanda is
concerned.”
Her touch rocked him. Revamped his desire to
have her wet and screaming his name. “I’m sorry for all that.” He offered her
what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m so used to you calling me horseman
now, I’m afraid I’d never answer to anything else from your lips.” Those sweet,
succulent lips. “What is it about you that makes me so crazy?” he murmured.
She
chuckled. “I’m too tired to fight anymore, Caleb. The best course of action
would be to find the evidence I need to bury Matteo. Then we can move on.”
The
mention of her stalker snapped his brain back to attention. He had a job to do.
Eliminate the threat and protect Samantha.
Best
he remember that.
Distractions
led to mistakes. He couldn’t afford any more mistakes.
He
forced his voice level, undemanding. “It’d be a lot easier if you’d let us
help. Let me help. Trust me to take
care of this for you.”
Asking
for her trust was a long shot. In truth, he probably didn’t deserve it. But, he
had to try. Needed to try. He would protect her.
“Trust
you?” She seemed to consider his words. After a moment, she surprised him by
nodding. “I can’t promise miracles, but I’ll do my best to follow your lead …
until this is over.”
Caleb
resisted the insane urge to pump his fist in the air. “So, we have a deal
then?”
She
caressed her fingers over his jaw. He leaned into her gentle touch, feeling it
all the way to his bones.
“Oh,
now you’re willing to make deals?” She looked him dead in the eye. “All right
then, but once Matteo is caught and the threat against me is gone? You’ll go on
with your life and I’ll go on with mine, and hopefully, we can stay out of each
other’s way. That’s the deal.”
She
dropped her hand to her lap.
“After
this, Caleb, we’re done.”
********
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