Hi my little monkeys! It's RELEASE DAY here in the Kincade camp and I'm raising a glass of Moscato to honor all of you - lovely readers. Thank you for wanting Caleb and Samantha's story - I hope you enjoy it! Remember to leave an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads - these reviews are so very important, not only to me, but to other readers as well. :)
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Without further adieu, I give you Caleb Martin - in all his glory. I so love this man.
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.
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?”
* * *
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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