I loved the slow build of the romance in DECOY TRAINING, but that slow build leads to a big eruption of the need between Shane and Piper. In this scene, Shane has had a nightmare. It’s one that he’s had before only this time, something very important is different, confirming to him that the feelings that have been growing for Piper are both real and dangerous to what he wants for his life.
WARNING: Only for mature audiences!
Excerpt
PIPER BLOCKED HIS arm and took hold of his hand as he sat up in bed, bare-chested. His scars, both emotional and physical, revealed to her.
“You were having a nightmare,” she said and smoothed her hand across his chest. His skin was damp and chilled from the night air.
“I’m okay,” he said, but when his gaze focused and settled on her, he cupped her cheek, almost as if to confirm she was really there.
“You’re okay. Everything is okay,” she said, trying to reassure him.
Shane rubbed his head, as if trying to dispel the last remnants of the nightmare. He looked away for the briefest moment before settling his gaze on her once more.
“It was different this time,” he said and ran his thumb along her chin and the slight dimple there.
She squinted, trying to figure it out, but couldn’t. “How was it different?”
“You were in my nightmare,” he said, shocking her.
She laid a hand on her chest and squeaked out, “Me. I was in it?”
“You, Piper. You were there, trapped. I was trying to reach you, but I couldn’t,” he said.
“I’m here, Shane,” she said.
“You are,” he said and wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. As he lay down, he took her with him, and she ended up lying along his length.
His body was so hard beneath hers, calling to the woman who hadn’t experienced emotions like this since her husband’s death. But as she inched up to meet his lips with hers, she knew it was about more than physical longing. Shane had breached the walls of her heart and she could no longer deny what she was feeling.
She kissed him, moving her mouth along his. Taking in his breath as if she needed it to breathe. Dipping her tongue in to taste him because she wanted to know everything about this strong and caring man.
As he cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her nightshirt, her nipple beaded against his palm. Her breast heavy with need, she covered his hand and pressed it to her, moaned when he tweaked her hard nipple with his fingers.
*
HIS BREATH EXPLODED from his chest at the sound of her needy moan and the feel of her breast against his palm, beneath his fingers. The softness of her belly cradled his erection and he wanted nothing more than to strip off her thin cotton nightshirt and make love to her, but not like this.
Not when their emotions were running high from the danger threatening Piper’s life and his. He had no doubt that if the intruder needed to get to Piper, he’d kill Shane to do it.
“Shane?” Piper asked and leaned a hand on his chest to look at him in the dim light of the room.
“I… I care for you, Piper. I really do, but things are too unsettled now. We’re both not thinking straight.”
Her eyes widened at his words, and she scrambled off him, but stood by the bed for a halting second. “I care for you, too.”
Then she burst from the room, Chipper barking and hopping up and down as she chased after Piper.
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Starting on March 19, you can read Deadly Chase for free at Harlequin.com. In Deadly Chase, a K-9 officer and a DEA agent join forces to combat a deadly enemy and confront their own complicated past. You’ll get to meet Alex and Miriam, the two law enforcement heroes in this story, but also a number of the other heroes in the K-9s on Patrol Series which begins with my book — Decoy Training — in April 2022.
