Tough Love (Ultimate #3)
by Lori Foster
Paperback, 544 pages
Expected publication: August 25th 2015 by HQN Books
ISBN 0373788487
She's playing hard to get… to win the MMA fighter of her ultimate fantasies in a sultry new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…
Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she's not above playing a little dirty. She's wanted Stack "The Wolf" Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack's past steps out of the shadows.
Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he's the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included. Suddenly he realizes they're much more than friends with benefits. He's ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who's tamed him for good?
AMAZON | B&N
Excerpt:
Brushing his thumb over her knuckles, he asked gently, “Nervous, then?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“You’re shaking.”
Lifting his hand to her mouth, she lightly bit a knuckle, then kissed the spot. Gaze sincere, she whispered, “Because I’m eager.”
Well, hell. She’d just done it again, made him taut with her words. Needing to explain to her, just in case he jumped the gun, he said, “The first time…”
“Fast and hard,” she finished for him. “I know.” Her smile slipped into place even as her eyes darkened and her voice went all breathy. “It’ll be worth it if I get to watch you. I’ve been thinking about that forever.”
Jesus.
“After that,” she murmured, “then it can be my turn.”
Trying to give a little more room to his growing erection, Stack stretched out one leg. If she kept that up, he wouldn’t make it to her place. Hell, he was so close to losing it, the idea of pulling over for a quickie in the car appealed in a big way. It should have embarrassed him, how she stole his control. But knowing Vanity pushed him on purpose only made him more determined to blow her mind with sex.
Reaching for long-lost patience, he drew in a deep breath and put both hands back on the steering wheel. “You’re playing with fire. You know that, right?”
“I’m playing with you, Stack Hannigan, and it’s the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”
He liked her like this, so open about what she wanted—namely, him. “Like I said before, you’ll pay for the play.”
“I’m hopeful.” She laughed, and even that turned him on.
Vanity was the one of the sexiest women he’d ever known, but she was also real. Bold. He didn’t have to wonder at her thoughts, because she spelled out what she wanted and how she wanted it.
She also made it clear that their time together had a short time frame, and after they’d settled the lust, she fully expected him to mosey on out of her life.
Should’ve been perfect, only…it nettled him that she didn’t push for more.
Both of them now silent, he turned a corner onto a dark street—and immediately saw the collision. Two vehicles, one in a ditch, the other overturned. Headlights cut the dark of the night at odd angles. Even as Stack slowed his car, searching the scene, the overturned car ignited and flames licked into the air.
“Oh, my God.” Vanity sat forward to stare. “There!” She pointed to the side of one car. “There’s a body!”
Stack jerked the car to the curb, slammed it into park and released his seat belt at the same time. “Call 911.”
She already had her purse in her hands, digging through it. “Be careful,” she called after him as he hurriedly left the car.
He’d only taken one step when Stack heard a woman’s weak screams.
She shook her head. “No.”
“You’re shaking.”
Lifting his hand to her mouth, she lightly bit a knuckle, then kissed the spot. Gaze sincere, she whispered, “Because I’m eager.”
Well, hell. She’d just done it again, made him taut with her words. Needing to explain to her, just in case he jumped the gun, he said, “The first time…”
“Fast and hard,” she finished for him. “I know.” Her smile slipped into place even as her eyes darkened and her voice went all breathy. “It’ll be worth it if I get to watch you. I’ve been thinking about that forever.”
Jesus.
“After that,” she murmured, “then it can be my turn.”
Trying to give a little more room to his growing erection, Stack stretched out one leg. If she kept that up, he wouldn’t make it to her place. Hell, he was so close to losing it, the idea of pulling over for a quickie in the car appealed in a big way. It should have embarrassed him, how she stole his control. But knowing Vanity pushed him on purpose only made him more determined to blow her mind with sex.
Reaching for long-lost patience, he drew in a deep breath and put both hands back on the steering wheel. “You’re playing with fire. You know that, right?”
“I’m playing with you, Stack Hannigan, and it’s the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”
He liked her like this, so open about what she wanted—namely, him. “Like I said before, you’ll pay for the play.”
“I’m hopeful.” She laughed, and even that turned him on.
Vanity was the one of the sexiest women he’d ever known, but she was also real. Bold. He didn’t have to wonder at her thoughts, because she spelled out what she wanted and how she wanted it.
She also made it clear that their time together had a short time frame, and after they’d settled the lust, she fully expected him to mosey on out of her life.
Should’ve been perfect, only…it nettled him that she didn’t push for more.
Both of them now silent, he turned a corner onto a dark street—and immediately saw the collision. Two vehicles, one in a ditch, the other overturned. Headlights cut the dark of the night at odd angles. Even as Stack slowed his car, searching the scene, the overturned car ignited and flames licked into the air.
“Oh, my God.” Vanity sat forward to stare. “There!” She pointed to the side of one car. “There’s a body!”
Stack jerked the car to the curb, slammed it into park and released his seat belt at the same time. “Call 911.”
She already had her purse in her hands, digging through it. “Be careful,” she called after him as he hurriedly left the car.
He’d only taken one step when Stack heard a woman’s weak screams.
About Lori Foster:
Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Jamie Fraser from Outlander..... I wouldn't mind going to the mat, for the kilt. haha
ReplyDeleteSawyer Thompson from Head over Heels by Jill Shalvis. He's just so alpha and dreamy
ReplyDeleteI really can't think of anyone right now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and I hope that you enjoy Tough Love. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to go with Julia Quinn's Colin Bridgerton from Romancing Mister Bridgerton. He's dashing and wonderful and, as a gentleman, I'm sure he'd let me win!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question! I'd want to be in the ring with Wraith from Larissa Ione's Demonica series. Wraith looks bad ass and scary but he'd never hurt a woman!
ReplyDelete