It’s
release day! And I’m thrilled to share Hard
As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here
today! Hard As You Can follows the
surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to
regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a
waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger
sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn
down.
Today,
I’m excited to share Shane and Crystal’s first kiss! Don’t you love first kiss
scenes? Gah! I so do. *grins* Here we go:
“Tell
me not to,” Shane said, his voice a raw scrape.
“I
can’t,” Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to.”
Shane’s
body took over then, all urgent need and basic instinct. The rest of the world
be damned. He pulled her in and kissed her, his lips devouring, his tongue
exploring deep. Nothing held back. Nothing denied. Not even as her lips reawakened
the sting from the cut on his lip. Totally worth it.
Crystal’s
arms came up around him. She trembled against him, and Shane wasn’t sure if it
was caused by adrenaline or fear. Unable to tolerate the thought that she might
feel forced, he eased off.
She
moaned and held him tighter, like his retreat had made something snap within
her. Their kisses deepened, and her body moved against his, sinuously,
maddeningly, desperately.
They
tasted one another again and again, giving in to the heat that had sparked
between them from the moment Crystal had collided with him at Confessions.
Little nips and bites of lips and teeth warred with long, sensual strokes of
tongue that stole his breath and made him instantly hard. The sting in his lip,
the throb of his GSW, the aches from Nick’s asskicking, every bit of it faded
away—no, her touch made it all go away.
The
few times they’d spoken, Crystal had most often been guarded, tentative, fearful.
Just as she’d been when he first kissed her. But, now, she was revealing a
passionate woman who could be fearless, giving and receiving openly and without
hesitation. Christ, the thought that this fierceness was the real Crystal
slayed him because it meant she was burying and denying her true self, not because
she wanted to, but because she had to.
No,
because someone forced her to.
The
thought reminded him of the bruises on her arm. Shane had known this woman for
three days, and twice in that time she’d been hurt by another man. And both as
a consequence for things Shane had done.
A
crack of thunder echoed from the heavens, making Crystal jump and gasp into his
mouth.
“I’ve
got you,” he rasped around a kiss.
Part
of him wanted to say more, to tell her he had her and he’d keep her safe. But
he couldn’t make himself give up her heat, her sweetness, her obvious
hunger—for him.
So
he made her a silent promise instead.
Never
again, Crystal. He’ll never hurt you again. Not on my watch.
Because
Shane McCallan had made a mistake like that once. And, as bad as his sister’s
disappearance had been, something’s happening to Crystal would actually be
worse because Shane knew it was coming. The one break he’d ever given himself
over Molly was that he’d had no way to know she’d be abducted. Didn’t excuse
the role he played in allowing it to happen, but he couldn’thave known. But
with Crystal, while he might not know when or how this Bruno asshole would
strike out to do the ultimate damage, it was all but a done deal at this point.
Always was with guys like him. And Shane would go to the grave before he let it
happen, before he failed another female for whom he cared.
Because
he did care. Made no damn sense given how long he’d known her. And the timing
was beyond piss-poor. But there it was all the same.
So that’s Shane
and Crystal starting to give in to what they feel for one
another – I hope you enjoyed! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!
~Laura
“Edgy, sexy, and
full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets
About Hard As You Can:
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.
Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan
strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he's shown a knack for
getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister's sake, Crystal can't get
too close. Until her job and Shane's mission intersect, and he reveals talents
that go deeper than she could have guessed.
Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.
Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.
Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard
As It Gets
OHMYGAWD! I was reminded why I love military romance while
reading this book! But there was so much more. Plenty of suspense, lots of
steam and just enough violence (this is military men we’re talking about) and
you have one fantastic story!
Crystal is stuck working a job she hates and “dating” a guy
she can’t stomach, to repay the debts her father made before his death. She
doesn’t belong in the strip club and she doesn’t deserve to get beaten but at
the moment, she doesn’t have a choice. There is nowhere to go and her sister’s
seizure medicine isn’t cheap. She knows the guys she works for aren’t good men.
So what possesses her to help the grey eyed stranger? She also knows he shouldn’t
be in that part of the building.
Shane can’t stop thinking about the scared woman that helps
him escape the club before he and his men are killed. He has enough to worry
about and now all he can think about is the woman that asked him to hit her. It’s
the only way she will be able to explain his escape.
This all happens in the very beginning of the book! And
honestly, it really doesn’t let up. I quickly learned the depths that Shane and
Crystal will go to protect the ones they love. And the way Shane worked to
protect Crystal and in turn hoped to get her out of the hell in which she lived
daily…I couldn’t get enough of him!
I have not read the first book, Hard as It Gets, but it didn’t
matter. Laura provided enough background that I knew what was going on without
feeling lost. And if you have read it, it will not be information overload. I
enjoyed all the characters and I’m looking forward to reading about them in the
future. They are fiercely protective of their own and a true family unit; blood
relation or not.
The guys are also working to uncover the mystery of what their
former Colonel was involved with; the whole reason these guys were kicked out.
They are finding clues and hopefully a little closer to getting answers. You
will know what I’m talking about if you read book 1. So now, I’m more than
curious to find out what’s happening there.
As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I can’t
wait to see what’s next for Laura Kaye!
About Laura
Kaye:
Laura
is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in
contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family
believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and
evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and
all things paranormal. She
lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and
appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
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