by F. G. Adams
Table of Contents
Prologue
Epilogue
Synopsis:
About the Author
Other Books by the Author:
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Lukas
This is Our Life #4
F.G. Adams
Contents
Synopsis:
About the Author
Other Books by the Author:
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Synopsis:
Oh, the foolish games we play.
The moment I was gifted a test drive of the luscious Sage Blackwood, I knew she was mine. I was broken, half a man, until she pieced me back together. She changed my world forever with her magnetic humor and hot body. Sage is an expert of subterfuge. Her logic overrules her cravings. It doesn’t matter if she feels the same; I’m the master at games and puzzles. And I’ll win this game in the end. I always do.
Oh, the tangled webs we weave.
Pushing the wrong buttons is Lukas Rogers’ forte. Except he presses all the right ones when he’s sending me to heaven with each and every delicious touch. But I can't give him what he wants. I will never give myself completely to another. It just doesn’t work in my world. I bury those dreams deep. My job connected us. Now this powerful bond scares me. My body desires to cling to what Lukas offers, while my mind is telling me to run away.
Far.
Fast.
Forever.
Copyright © 2017 by F.G. Adams
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, named features, artists and bands are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used for reference and without permission. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.
Cover Design: L Woods PR
Photographer: R+M Photography
Model: Mikey Lee
Editor: Julia Goda with Diamond in the Rough Editing
Created with Vellum
This book is dedicated to all the women and men who unselfishly serve in the armed forces. You protect and provide security for our way of life. Thank you.
About the Author
F.G. Adams writes contemporary and paranormal romance about sexy alpha heroes and feisty-mouthed heroines. The wonder twin sisters forming F.G. enjoy a healthy obsession of reading that started at a young age. Their books reflect an avid imagination that was cultivated by their grandmother who taught them the mind has no limits and to use both hands when reaching for the stars. Partners in writing, they both thrive on creating unique storylines for you, the reader, to enjoy.
When not writing, you can find them on a beach with their significant other enjoying the waves or riding a Harley on a country road somewhere in the USA.
Tell Us What You Think. Please leave a review. We enjoy hearing reader opinions about our books.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/F.G.-Adams/e/B01D5AXE1S
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bWRfJn
www.authorfgadams.com
Other Books by the Author:
This Is Our Life Series:
Grayson: Book 1
Keagan: Book 2
Oliver: Book 3
Lukas: Book 4
The Enchanted Immortals Trilogy:
Book 1: Aldin’s Wish
And coming soon…
Book 2: Fox’s Awakening, releasing 9/28/17
Book 3: Marcus’ Vengeance
Coming Fall 2017
Men of Lakeview series
Acknowledgments
Thank you the reader for purchasing and reading Lukas. You’ve enabled us to do what we’ve always dreamed about—writing. Lukas was an exciting and fun journey for both of us. We learned so much about each other and grew as writers. We really hope you enjoy the story.
Mikey Lee, you rock. What else is there to say? You personify Lukas’ character to a tee. You are funny, intelligent, and our sexy Jolly Green Giant. Love you big, dude!
We absolutely love and adore Heather Roberts and L Woods PR. From the super amazing cover to your wealth of knowledge and encouragement goes above and beyond our expectations. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you so much Julia Goda, for taking on the dynamic duo. Twice the edits … twice the fun. Your knowledge and know how helped make Lukas not just a great book, but a fabulous one. We love you big.
Thank you to our dear friend, the amazing Stephanie. Lady, you are the boss. We love you and appreciate everything you’ve done and continue to do to help us.
Thank you to the bloggers, street team, and our fabulous beta readers (Michelle, Whynter, Greta, Erin, and Mayra). You are all amazing and without you Lukas wouldn’t be possible. We use those words because we wouldn't be writing another book without all that you do for us. Chance brought you into our life and we are so grateful.
Thanks to the men in our life for supporting and understanding our dream.
Yours truly,
F.G. Adams
Prologue
Lukas
Middle East ~ Dubai
A few months before the incident
Anything can happen in just one day. We are born. We die. Things can change in the blink of an eye.
“Yes, ma’am. I understand. Yes…Alright…Okay, Mother. Would you please just listen—” My voice escalates. I’m distressed and annoyed from the current conversation. “Everything’s good. Not in any danger at the moment. I’ve gotta go.”
I’ve had this same tête-á-tête with my mother since I joined the military as an officer. She couldn’t grasp the magnitude or the importance of the career path I decided to take.
It was another mistake, another disappointment I caused my family. Not because of the job, but because I wouldn’t go into the family business. Their desire for me to take over my father’s law firm produces more sweat to bead on my forehead and temples.
I enjoy puzzles, math, and solving problems. Creating and decoding intricately woven programing of mass proportions. It's my niche—what I'm good at. I’ve been hacking systems since I was a kid. Some might call me a genius, but I'm too modest to entertain the notion. I've seen
the test scores; I get it. None of that's important to me. I will admit, though, I'm good at it. Wicked good. And I enjoy the hell out of the work I do.
I push the off button on the satellite phone as I breathe in the sticky, hot humid desert air into my parched lungs. Pushing the door open, I reenter the bar and proceed to the corner booth where my buddies are shooting down three types of liquor called stop lights, chasing it back with beer, and causing quite a ruckus.
My heavy gait pounds the unforgiving surface of the concrete floor due to my unnaturally large stature. From my point of view, I can see everything going on around me as I push through the crowded pub, easily. Multiple eyes scan up and up to reach my face.
As I come to a stop at the table, I take in my teammates, and a smile naturally appears on my face. These guys: Keagan, Oliver, and Moose, three men from of our team are up to no good. Brothers-in-arms who have quickly become family due to the action we’re thrust into on a daily basis, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Where’d you go—hiccup—Jolly Bean?” Oliver’s slurred speech echoes around the booth.
“Yeah, bon ami. You’re behind, Jolly Green. Drink!” Keagan mumbles as he pushes three tiny cups in front of me. Then he throws back another shot of vodka chased by a beer.
I laugh at the outburst; my comrades are wasted, but I get it. Our final mission for this tour is coming up soon. We’re heading into the bowels of the heaviest part of the fighting and war zone on a mission of stealth and precision. One we cannot fail.
Aiming to please, I toss the fiery liquid of the first cup into my mouth, turning the cup upside down and placing it on the table with a clunk. Taking the next one, I repeat. Then picking up the last one, I chug it back.
“Hoorah,” we echo around the table.
I scan the room, and my vision lands on a gorgeous brunette sitting at the bar. From my position, I estimate she's tall and has an athletic build judged from her tight crop top exposing full round breasts a man could play with for hours, and second-skin jeans that exhibit toned legs able to hook around me without concern for the position. Mahogany hair falls to the middle of her back, with a soft, wavy appearance.
She adjusts her head to the side, and I glimpse her profile. Gorgeous. This babe is hot.
My feet take over my actions, and before I know it, I’m standing behind the sexy raven sitting at the bar. Catcalls and whistles coming from my brothers cause me to lift a finger in their direction at their unashamedly rowdy support, but I continue the path pulling me to her. I’m on autopilot, or dick-pilot. Let’s be real. My other head is doing all the plotting at the moment.
Life is a game; you win some and you lose some. Then there are times you play and you don’t care about the turnout, your only concern is the here and now. I want her with every fiber of my being. I clear my throat, and beautiful brown eyes turn in my direction and a sultry pout graces her plump lips as her eyes devour me. Game on. Oh, yeah. Princess Peach, here comes Mario.
Leaning over, I hover beside her ear, barely touching it, and say, “Hey, gorgeous, my name’s Microsoft. Can I crash at your place tonight?”
She chuckles pushing her face slightly into mine. I’m inundated by the faint trace of perfume, like sunshine and roses. Unique and refined.
“You use that line with all the girls?” Her voice is sexy yet full of playfulness.
“Is it working?” I ask.
“Mmmm. Maybe,” she banters back in a hungry tone.
Placing my nose against her neck, I sniff my way back up to her ear and suck the lobe into my mouth, causing a shudder from both of us.
“My place is just around the corner, soldier. You on board?” she queries as she gulps in short, quick breaths.
She’s affected just as much as I am.
“What’s your name, pretty lady?” I ask, needing a name.
“You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine,” she playfully throws back at me.
I quickly respond, “Lukas, but you can call me Luc.”
Her dark orbs have me mesmerized, and I can’t look away. She offers me her hand.
“Lukas, I like it. I’m Sage. And you can call me Sage.”
The sexy way her mouth quirks up has me on the edge. This woman is a straight shooter, funny and beautiful, a combination that causes my dick to twitch.
“Let’s go,” I reply, my voice filled with need.
Gently, I take her by the arm and usher her out of the crowded space. She complies with no complaints.
My eyes travel to the guys and I motion with a nod, indicating my departure. The smiles on their faces reveal I’ll have hell to pay tomorrow from their ribbing, but it’s all good.
This sexy female is just what the doctor ordered and just what I need tonight.
We enter the alley in the direction of the parking lot located behind the bar when delicate fingers brush mine. I look around, and without a second thought, I swing her into my arms, crushing my mouth over hers. Her lips part and I dive in. I want to devour the sweet and juicy taste. Long nails knead my shoulders and inch up the back of my neck into my scalp, causing all the blood in my body to rush south. Fuck! Every touch from her leaves a fiery trail of unfulfilled need. At this rate, we won’t make it to her place before my dick finds a new home.
I make an effort to stop, but those damn toned legs wrap around my waist. She’s clinging to me, dry humping my throbbing dick. My hands scoop the plump mounds of her bottom and proceed to press her over my straining erection, wishing the clothes between us would disappear. She’s an untamed wildcat on the loose.
Laughing penetrates the sensual haze we are lost in. She moans, tightens her grip in my hair, and sucks my tongue harder, choosing to ignore the interruption. I don’t give a fuck if she doesn’t. I’ve met my match.
I retaliate by applying pressure with my teeth. Neither caring who sees. Lost in the carnal pleasure of the powerful aphrodisiac passing between us.
“Get a fucking room,” an angry male voice demands from somewhere behind us.
The proximity and hostility washes over me like a bucket of ice water. Something about his tone alerts me. I glance around me, searching for the culprit. The alley is empty.
I reluctantly lower Sage. This isn’t the place. We need to leave.
“Let’s get outta here. Fast,” I command.
“Okay,” She winks and grabs my hand.
We sprint the distance to her apartment. Two magnets drawn together.
1
Lukas
Two years after the incident
What drives a person to the brink of insanity?
From the words of the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”
No shit, Ari.
The question remains, are we simply born that way? Is there some innate hidden trigger deep in the subconsciousness that snaps into place for some when an individual matures to a certain point?
On the other hand, are we a product of the environment we’re raised in? The circumstances surrounding the way one is taught or from the experiences in that life. Things such as falling in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same and going to war can attribute to a mental breakdown and a delusional mind.
One thing is for certain, the conscious mind is like a newborn baby. It has to go to sleep before a person can truly recharge. And mine never rests.
The classical melodious notes of Tears in Heaven flow freely from the speakers. I take another large mouthful of the amber liquid, emptying the vintage crystal glass, and swallow it down, enjoying the burn. I reach over and grab the large decanter to pour another two fingers.
The smoke from my cigarette circles my head as I take a long drag. As I blow it out, the nicotine rush connects to my brain and I sigh in slight relief.
“Nice.”
The illegal prescription bottle I welcome from my shady sources weekly sits on the table beside me, almost empty. I’ve already had two too many in the las
t few hours since I made my way home from work. Yet, I reach for another white tablet and pop it into my mouth.
One more pill to dull the ache, one more drink of whiskey to ease the night terrors reminding me I’m not whole, but none compare to the emptiness in my chest from her. I take another puff of the cigarette and exhale as it burns slowly, almost to the nub.
The effects of the pills and liquor only help minimize the pain from the amputation—dull my acute senses. Nothing stops the replay in my head. I want to make it stop. My mind is what I itch to escape.
Still, I have no motivation to save myself anymore. I just want to die.
The thought of my family and my brothers-in-arms burden my sharp, focused brain, allowing me a brief hesitation in my actions. Unfortunately, not one of them truly understands the torture I live with day after day.
My buddies, Keagan and Ollie, have endured the suffering of being shot, wounded on the same battlefield, but they didn’t lose their leg. From the outside looking in, they remain the same. It’s not comparable to the grief I survive every day of my half-life.
I realize they notice the trepidation radiating off me on a daily basis. I wince occasionally when trying to stand or walk across the room. But they only view what’s on the surface or what I choose for them to see.
