Ride With the Seal
Leslie North
(Norse Security, #1)
Publication date: May 24th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
When ex-SEAL Camden Thursday enters the garage at two in the morning, he’s intent on grand theft auto. Instead he’s confronted with more than a hot car—there’s a sexy mechanic too. His high school crush, wrench in hand, projects a “Dangerous Curves Ahead” warning far more tempting than any joy ride, but Camden isn’t here to try the road less traveled. He’s here to jack a car and prove he can do more than manipulate computer code for the black ops service he works for: Norse Security. So while Camden is looking to get physical on this job, he was hoping for someone to punch, not someone to plunder…
Everly Knight is the baddest bad girl in town. As the daughter of a mobster and a name in the auto industry for hot cars, she could rest on her laurels and let her reputation proceed her. However, Everly has a deep dark secret: she wants nothing more than a shiny, new, legal garage all of her own. She’s just a few thousand away from cashing in and figures that one last illegal car theft could finance her legal dreams. That is until the geek from her past shows up as a hunky hero; letting Everly see that it’s possible to become more than just a tough girl.
Camden may be all muscle, but it’s Everly who can stall the entire operation. She holds him hostage and offers an ultimatum: Take her on the ride or find himself a sitting duck for the mob. It’s not a hard choice when the bombshell revs his engine. But with warring goals and secret missions, they’ll find themselves fighting for their futures and racing toward a love they never saw coming.
EXCERPT
The sound of the bells jingling on the front doors warned of approaching danger.
“Shit.” Cam inched back along the side wall of the building, tugging Everly along with him, until his rear hit the dumpster in the corner. Nowhere else to go and he’d be damned if he’d leave the Aeon here unprotected anyway. He’d worked to fucking hard to get it, to get this solo mission, and he wasn’t about to fail now. “Did you recognize either of those goons?”
“No,” Everly whispered from the shadows. “But then again, all the soldiers start to look alike after a while.”
It took Cam a minute to realize she wasn’t talking about military soldiers like him. She was talking about the low-ranking guys in the mafia. The Aeon was a bit too far away to make a dash for it now, judging by the sound of the footsteps headed in their direction. What they needed was a distraction then, something to throw the guys off the scent of the car and keep them from finding it. On impulse, he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it around Everly, then took her hand. “I’ve got an idea, but I need you to trust me.”
She was silent for a moment, so long he feared she’d tell him to fuck off again. Then she sighed. “Fine. Whatever it is, make it quick. They’re almost here.”
That was all the encouragement Cam needed. Before Everly could say another word, he had her in his arms and kissed her for all he was worth. At first, she struggled against him, but then she relaxed slightly, her lips softening beneath his. He took advantage and swept his tongue along her lush lower lip, discovering at last the answer to a question that had plagued him since high school—what did Everly Knight taste like? Sugar and spice and everything naughty, that was what. There was a hint of pineapple and garlic in there too from their pizza. It all mixed together to form a combustible cocktail of pure awesome.
Still, Cam did his best to keep a modicum of control. After all, he was only kissing her to create a distraction, or at least that’s what he was telling himself. Peeking one eye open, he picked Everly up and her arms went around his neck and her legs around his waist. Moaning loud, he stumbled down the sidewalk with her and around the corner, running smack into the two goons in the funeral suits.
Keeping one hand on the back of Everly’s head to press her face into his neck just in case these guys had recognized her, Cam gave them his best astonished stare. “Oh, shit. Sorry guys. Guess we got a little carried away.”
The two men stood like a solid wall of black doom. They exchanged a look then tried to peer around Cam to the area where the Aeon was parked in the darkness.
“C’mon, baby,” Everly groaned, her hot breath scorching the side of his neck and making his damned cock twitch to life. She ground herself against him in blatant invitation, her fingers twining into the hair at the back of his neck. Cam’s knees shook before he steeled himself. This was all for show, not real. Not at all. No matter how it felt at present. “I wanna fuck you all night long.”
Cam gave the two goons an embarrassed grin. “Women.”
Goon number one nudged goon two and their stiff posture relaxed slightly. Without a word, they backed away slowly. The door to the shop opened and out came the pregnant waitress with a pizza box in her hand.
“Order ready,” she said, handing it to the two guys.
Okay, so maybe the goons really had come for food. Cam glanced at their sedan again. It was old and rusted and hardly government-issue. Not what he’d expect a bunch of mafia guys to ride around in either. The two men handed the waitress a fifty then continued to back toward their car. And it was entirely possible the waitress had been on the phone because she was taking their order. It all fit. Maybe too well. That knot of tension that had loosened when he’d kissed Everly now pulled tighter again.
He didn’t breathe again until they’d pulled out of the parking lot. She squirmed out of his arms and handed him back his jacket.
“What the hell was that all about?” She stared as the sedan’s red tail lights faded into the night. “Who were those guys?”
“No idea.” Cam took his jacket from her and licked his lips, still tasting Everly there. Distracted, he rushed back to the Aeon and entered the passcode before starting the engine. Everly climbed into the passenger seat, her expression concerned. “But we need to get out of here.”
“Where are we going to go?” Everly huddled into her corner of the seat, looking as confused as Cam felt. “Can’t go back to the shop.”
“Nope.” Cam flicked on the headlights then pulled out of the gas station. “You’ll see.”
Author Bio:
Leslie North is the pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
The truth of the matter is she loves her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her normal, day-to-day persona! Her bestselling books focus on strong characters and particularly women who aren't afraid to challenge an alpha male. Inspired after years of travel, her stories are set all over the world, from the tough streets of Russia to the beautiful beaches of the middle east.
Leslie fell in love with romance when she first picked up a scrappy, dog-eared romance book from her local library. She began writing soon after and the rest, as they say, was history. She now lives in a cozy cottage on the British coast and enjoys taking long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don't hesitate to contact her via e-mail: leslie@leslienorthbooks.com.
I love books that have SEALs!
ReplyDeleteRide with the seal sounds like a good read. Thank you
ReplyDelete