Nothing is more important to Blake Anderson than the work he does with his brothers at Ace Security. At least that’s what he thinks until he meets the fiercely independent Alexis Grant. The security firm’s new intern pushes all his buttons—and makes his temperature rise. But giving in to temptation might be risky business.

Alexis can tell that Blake has his doubts about her ability to commit. But while most people look at her and see only a flighty rich girl, she knows he sees much more. Determined to prove herself to Blake, Alexis jumps at the chance to work undercover. And when her case takes a dangerous turn, she puts her trust—and her heart—in his hands.

Now, as Alexis digs into the deadly secrets of a local gang, Blake will lay everything on the line to protect the woman he’s come to love.

Exclusive Excerpt

Blake stayed right where he was, watching as Lex walked back to him.

Not back to the car. Back to him.

That’s how it felt. That she’d gone up against the devil and had come through to the other side unscathed. To him.

Blake stayed seated but popped the trunk so Lex could put whatever crap she’d bought as a decoy away. He watched in the rearview mirror as she put the couple of plastic bags inside and slammed the trunk shut. Then she walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and sat, turning to smile at him.

It was open and friendly. A bit triumphant. And exuberant.

Lex’s smile was the last straw. Between his feelings of lust from the second he’d picked her up, to his anxiety about the situation she was putting herself in, to his relief when it had actually worked, back to lust when he’d seen her skirt ride up her thigh as she once again sat in his car, it was all too much.

Blake reached for Lex the second the door closed behind her, putting one hand behind her neck to pull her into him and turning her shoulder to face him with the other.

His mouth crashed onto hers and she gasped at his actions. He took advantage and surged inside her mouth like a man possessed. Blake knew he wasn’t acting rationally, but he couldn’t stop himself. He needed to show her how much she meant to him. That she was his.

He ate at Lex’s mouth, relieved when he felt her tongue come out to tangle with his own. She was hesitant, and it was obvious she was acting more on instinct than actual experience, but she was with him, not pushing against him or freezing in his arms. It was all the encouragement he needed to continue.

Moving his hand from her shoulder to the other side of her neck, Blake used both hands to turn her head to just the right angle for his mouth. As he devoured her, he felt Lex’s hands come up and grip his forearms, digging her slight fingernails into his skin as he continued their kiss. He hoped she was leaving marks on his skin. He wanted her to claim him right back.

She made little noises as he wrapped his tongue around hers and sucked. When he drew back only far enough to nip her bottom lip, she groaned, which in turn made him growl low in his throat and thrust into her mouth again. Blake couldn’t get enough of her. She tasted like the mint she’d popped in her mouth before she’d gone into the store. Mint and Lex. It was a lethal combination.

Knowing he had to pull back, before he moved them both into the miniscule back seat and threw their backs out or, more likely, got them arrested, Blake eased away, thrilled beyond belief when Lex whimpered in protest when she lost his mouth. She leaned toward him, and he rested his forehead on hers, keeping his hands where they were so as not to give in to the temptation to explore.

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About the Author

Susan Stoker is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose series include Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, SEAL of Protection, and Delta Force Heroes. Married to a retired Army noncommissioned officer, Stoker has lived all over the country—from Missouri to California to Colorado—and currently lives under the big skies of Texas. A true believer in happily ever after, Stoker enjoys writing novels in which romance turns to love. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website, www.stokeraces.com, or find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker.

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