Reckless (Renegades #1) (36 page)

Authors: Skye Jordan

Tags: #Contemporary romance fiction

BOOK: Reckless (Renegades #1)

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“Hmm.” She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, silently thoughtful, a small smile playing on her lips.

Good god, what was she thinking now? Already, this kinky interview from hell had him ten degrees past aroused. His own fault for coming in here, really. It was way past time for him to leave.

But just as he stood to go grab what was unequivocally going to be a very cold shower, Abby sat back up and called out casually, “Hey, could you toss me my lotion?” She pointed at the dresser behind him. “My legs get so dry here in the summers without it.”

Such an innocent request.

That he didn't trust for one second.

He was sure this was going to be a look but don't touch deal with her lathering up those gorgeous legs of hers while he sat there like schmuck. Staring, no doubt. He narrowed his eyes and began silently listing all the ways he was going to pay her back for this when her two-week stay here was up. Slapping an unaffected look on his face, he passed her the lotion, forcibly blocking all the erotic lotion-inspired images that were attempting to take over his brain. Evil woman. Only a day into their no-sex agreement and already he was closer to begging than he cared to admit.

While avoiding direct eye contact with the skin smoothing extravaganza, his gaze strayed to the partially open plastic bag sitting atop her dresser. It was over at the other end but he recognized the hot purple logo on the bag immediately.

Just like that, every muscle in his body stopped working.

Well, save one, that is.

The bag was from an adult novelty shop his friend Kim owned just a little north of here. He could only make out two of the items in the bag but they were enough to send his blood pressure skyrocketing-the first was what looked to be the tiniest pair of sheer white panties that would effectively cover nothing and, Lord help him, a silver bullet vibrator. He was going to have a stroke.

Stifling a groan over how the word 'stroke' instantly made him think about rubbing one off, he gripped the edge of the dresser like a man possessed. The door was just a few feet away. He could make it. But first he needed to get some much needed air into his lungs. Breathe, you moron!

He dragged in a breath. And that's when he heard it.

The tiniest whisper of a giggle.

“Why you little-”

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Exclusive Sneak Peak: STOLEN CHANCES

(Book 4 in the STOLEN series)

by NYT Bestselling Author ELISABETH NAUGHTON

Coming September, 2013

Many of you may know that Elisabeth Naughton and I have been critique partners for many years now.

I just finished critiquing her latest in her fantastic romantic suspense and adventure series, STOLEN CHANCES, and adored it!

Her STOLEN series can be read in any order, so pick up whichever sounds most interesting to you! Or, of course, the whole set!

First three books in the STOLEN series
Available at:
Amazon
and all other major etailers

Exclusive Sneak Peak: STOLEN CHANCES
by NYT bestselling author ELISABETH NAUGHTON

First three books in the STOLEN series
Available at:
Amazon
and all other major etailers

Excerpt from STOLEN CHANCES.

“Is that true?”

“What?” The hair on the back of Maren's neck stood straight. Had he been listening to the whole conversation?

“About the shark.”

“Oh, um…yeah.”

She stepped past a booth, intent on getting away from him as fast as she could. But a hand closed around her arm, stopping her forward progress. She yelped as she was tugged into a dark corner, then gasped when her back hit a solid wall and Thad closed in at her front. “Wh-what do you think you're doing, Leighton?”

Was that her voice? It sounded breathless and-dammit-excited.

He braced one arm against the wall near her head and fingered the shark tooth at her throat. “Getting a look for myself. When did this happen?”

“Um…” She couldn't think straight. Dammit she was flustered. And hot. He was making her all hot and flustered. “About two years ago, I think.”

“And?”

Why was he hounding her? It was no big deal. And why had he cornered her in here like this? Perspiration slid down her spine. “You're crowding me.”

“I know. Focus, Maren.” His finger skimmed the tooth, and heat shot all across her collarbone where his hand brushed. “The shark.”

She swallowed hard. Tried not to look into his dark eyes. Focus on his chin or throat or something besides his eyes. “I-I was working a wreck off the reef, and this tiger shark came along, thought I was a tasty morsel. My dive partner happened to see him eyeing me and came to my rescue.”

“He didn't get you?”

“No, Raoul got to him first.”

“Raoul?”

Something in his tone made her relax. He hadn't heard her talking about Isabel, she was sure of it, and she hadn't mentioned Isabel by name, so there was nothing to stress over. That gave her the balance she'd been missing. She lifted her eyes to his and smiled sweetly. “Handsome Australian marine archaeologist. With a body like Russell Crowe and a voice to match.”

“I doubt that.”

Her smile faded. Was that hurt in his voice? Irritation? She couldn't tell. And since he was looking down at her shark tooth necklace and not into her eyes, she couldn't read him.

But she could feel him. Warm. Solid. All man. She was as close to him as she'd been since arriving in Mexico, and the way he had her boxed in was making her breaths come faster, her pulse beat quicker, and his familiar scent was doing crazy things to her libido.

Keep it together. Don't freak out…

His finger trailed from the shark tooth at her throat to the silver chain lying across her collarbone. Electrical pulses arced across her skin. “I wonder what's at the end of this.”

She didn't immediately register what he was talking about. Then he brushed his finger down the left side of the chain, heading for the locket hidden inside her shirt.

Panic closed in. She slapped her hand over his. Surprised, he stilled his fingers against her overheated skin and looked up into her eyes.

“Don't,” she whispered.

One side of his lips curled in a wicked for-her-eyes-only smile. The same smile he'd given her hundreds of times when they'd been tangled together nine years before. The same one that still made her knees weak today.

“I have this strange feeling you're hiding something from me, Blondie.”

She was. Everything.

She narrowed her eyes and worked for blasé when inside she felt anything but. “You have an overactive imagination, Leighton.”

“I may not have the fancy degrees, but I'm good at uncovering secrets. And I've already figured out yours, Maren.”

Maren's breath caught. “I…I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Yeah, you do.” Beneath her hand, he traced his finger over the edge of the chain again, inching slightly lower until he grazed the top of her breast. Tingles spread from the spot, straight to her nipples. “I'm talking about this. You and me. And all that bullshit about being colleagues. You can spew as much of it as you want, but I know the truth.”

Her brain felt like it was short-circuiting. When he touched her like that, she couldn't remember where she was. What she was doing. Couldn't remember anything.

“And-” God, there went her voice again. Weak, pathetic…aroused. She cleared her throat. “What's that?”

“That the girl you used to be is still in there. And as much as you're trying to be all professional and detached, I know that girl's dying to come out and play.”

She stared at him. Didn't know what to say. Didn't know anything except her thumping heart and racing pulse and the hundreds of butterflies alive in her belly. “Stop being cute, Leighton.”

He smiled again. Slow. Sexy. Dangerous, because he was the worst kind of temptation. “You think I'm cute?”

“I think you're trouble.”

He chuckled. “That doesn't sound nearly as bad as I know you want it to sound. In fact, it sounds kinda fun.”

Her jaw clenched at his obvious amusement. And because…he was right. It sounded like a helluva lot of fun to her right now, too.

First three books in the STOLEN series
Available at:
Amazon
and all other major etailers

Dear Reader,

Thanks for reading
Reckless
, book 1 in the Renegades series! I hope you enjoyed Jax and Lexi’s story. This was a very fun, sexy book to write, and I look forward to writing more books in this sexy series. Books two and three in the Renegades series will release late 2013 and early 2014. So stay tuned for more stories from the sexy Renegades.

If you enjoyed
Reckless
, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.

Recommend it.
Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.

Review it.
Please tell other readers what you liked or didn't like about this book by reviewing it at one of the major retailers, review sites or your blog.

Until next time,

Skye

About the Author

USA Today
bestselling author Joan Swan writes hot contemporary romance under the pseudonym Skye Jordan. She lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.

Visit her on the web as Joan Swan at:

Or as Skye Jordan: