by Nina Levine
Plastering a fake smile on my face, I argue, “No, I really have to get up early. I’ll be wiped if I don’t get to bed soon.” I’m suddenly feeling a hell of a lot more sober than I did five minutes ago.
His grip on me tightens and his eyes flash with determination. “Sweetheart, I’ve just spent an hour of my time talking to you and buying you drinks, the least you can do is give me some of your time and attention.”
My mind swims with confusion.
I’m sure I bought all my own drinks.
How the hell do I always pick the dickheads?
I seriously need to consider celibacy as a life option.
“The lady has made herself clear. Let her go and get the fuck out of my bar.”
Luke.
I catch sight of his face as he forces his way between me and the dude, and my breathing slows at the anger I see there. I’ve never seen him so mad.
The guy lets me go and raises his hands defensively. “Sorry, man, I didn’t realise she was taken.”
I don’t know where he got that idea from, but I’m not going to correct him.
Luke’s shoulders remain tense and his eyes don’t leave the dude. He jerks his chin at the door. “Leave.” He utters one word only, but holy mother of God, everything about that word screams ‘don’t fuck with me’.
With one last scowl the guy stalks out of the bar while Luke tracks his movements before turning back to face me. His shoulders remain tense, but his features soften a little. “You okay?”
My tummy flutters at the concern I hear in his tone. I nod and try to put his mind at ease. “Yes, I’m all good. Thank you.”
He takes that in and then says, “I’m taking you home now. I had another woman complain about that guy earlier and I don’t want to take any chances that he’s gonna come back looking for you.”
“I doubt he will, Luke. You were pretty forceful, and besides, he thinks you and I are together. He wouldn’t chance pissing you off.”
“I know guys like him. They don’t give up easily when they want a woman. Take my word for it, he’ll be back.”
“You don’t have to take me home. I know you’re busy tonight.”
“Fuck, Callie, can you ever just let me help you?”
I stand straighter and take a deep breath. I’ve managed to frustrate him yet again. It’s like he’s got a short fuse with me, but not with everyone else. “When I need help, I’ll ask for it, but you’ve got a bar to run and I am capable of getting myself home.”
He bends his face closer to mine and takes charge like he’s never done before. “I’m all out of patience, so get your ass outside and in my car.” His bossy tone hits all the right spots and desire shoots through me, lighting me up with a need I’ve never known.
I don’t even hesitate. I do as he said.
As I move through the crowd in the bar, Luke places his hand on the small of my back and guides me. People talk to him as we walk, but he hardly responds, and instead, keeps directing me towards the front door of the bar.
When we finally arrive at his car, I’m so freaking turned on I can barely concentrate. He unlocks the doors and I slide into the front seat of his BMW. I’ve never been in his car and it’s not at all what I would have expected him to drive. Luke is not a flashy guy and I didn’t think he was wealthy, but his car leads me to now assume otherwise.
A few moments later, he starts the car and drives in the direction of my apartment. It’s less than a ten-minute drive to my place in New Farm and we make the trip in silence. My brain is firing haphazardly as I sift through my thoughts and feelings.
Hopefully he’ll just drop me off and keep going.
There is no way you can let him into your apartment because you’ll end up jumping his bones.
Who are you kidding? There’s no way he’s going to just drop and run.
Oh, God. Please send help.
We reach my apartment complex and he parks the car. As he switches off the ignition, I know how this is going to go down. He’s going to walk me in and I’m not going to be able to stop myself from making a move. I’m so damn horny and a woman can only control herself to a certain point.
I want Luke and there’s no more denying it.
“You don’t have to walk me in,” I blurt out, making one last attempt at trying to control myself. As the words pass by my lips, even I’m hoping he ignores them.
And he does.
“I’m walking you in, Callie. Don’t even try to argue with me.”
He unfastens his seat belt and exits the car.
Five minutes later, he follows me into my apartment after guiding me from the car with his hand on my back again. To say I love the hell out of his hand on me, is an understatement.
“Is Matt home?” he asks as he looks around the lounge room. It’s been a good three months since he’s been here and I’ve made a lot of changes since then.
“He moved out last week.” Luke never really liked my ex-roommate and I catch the smile that flickers across his face at the news.
I kick my heels off and almost moan at the instant relief. Heels and me don’t have a good relationship, but I had to wear them tonight. I mean, what else do you wear with a little black dress?
Luke’s gaze is drawn to my feet and I savour the slow burn of heat as his eyes slowly move back up my body. When they meet my gaze, my legs go weak and my heart begins beating faster.
He wants me as much as I want him.
How have I missed this?
Holding his gaze, I close the distance between us and place my hand on his chest.
My gaze drops to his lips.
I need those lips on mine.
Now.
“Don’t,” he says in his husky voice, and my thoughts come to a screeching halt.
Don’t?
I look back up into his eyes, searching for a sign that I misheard, but the way he’s staring down at me tells me I didn’t.
Conflict sits heavy on his face.
Frowning, I remove my hand from his chest and ask, “Why not?”
His chest rises as he draws a deep, ragged breath. “We don’t want to start something that can’t go anywhere. I don’t want to do that to you.”
I don’t understand his reasoning. “What do you mean it can’t go anywhere? And besides, who said this couldn’t just be a one night deal?”
His lips press together and he rakes his fingers through his hair. It’s clear he’s torn over this decision. “We’re friends, have been for a year now, can you honestly see us sleeping together once and then acting like nothing happened?”
No.
“Yes.” God, I want him. Even more, now that he’s telling me no.
“Bullshit.” He watches me closely for my response and I want to scream out my need for him, but I refrain.
“Okay, so maybe not, but why can’t we see where it leads?”
“Because I know where it will lead. To heartbreak, and I refuse to hurt you.” He speaks with a finality that irritates me. As if he gets the final say and I get no input.
“I know you think that you know everything, Luke, but on this, you don’t. You have no idea where it might go, and I want to know what’s holding you back.” I train my eyes on him in an effort to make it clear I’m not giving in to him on this.
“Jesus!” He rubs the back of his neck as he takes a step away from me. When he begins pacing, I wonder what the hell is going on in his mind. I’ve never been turned down by a man before.
Maybe I read him wrong.
Maybe he doesn’t want me.
And then he surprises the hell out of me by stalking back to me, taking hold of my face with both his hands and kissing me.
Oh dear Lord.
His lips fit perfectly to mine.
He caught me off guard for a moment, but I quickly get back in the game and wrap my arms around him while pressing my body close.
No man has ever kissed me the way Luke is kissing me.
It’s like sunshine on a rainy
day, when all the doom that’s been cast your way during the pounding rain finally clears and you see those first rays of a rainbow mixed with glints of sun.
Sweet, sweet, happy rays of sunshine that make you want to dance. That make you feel happy and thankful when all you were feeling before was sad and gloomy.
That’s how Luke’s kiss makes me feel.
I don’t ever want this kiss to end.
His tongue dances with mine, and my body lights up with pleasure.
Don’t ever stop.
Please.
My fingers tangle in his hair and I moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss. And when he growls his pleasure, I press even harder against him. Against his erection.
He wants me as much as I want him.
Thank you, sweet, sweet universe.
And as I’m clinging to him and drowning in his kiss, he does the one thing I don’t want him to do.
He pulls away.
Pained eyes stare at me as he attempts to get his breathing under control. I stare back in complete confusion waiting for him to explain why he stopped.
Eventually he gives me two sentences that only confuse me even more. “I can’t do this. Not yet.”
And then he’s gone.
And I’m left staring at the spot were he stood a moment ago.
Where he stood kissing me as if I was also his sunshine to a rainy day.
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COMING THIS SPRING!
New Anthology Coming April 2016
Incompatibly Yours
Hot Tree Publishing has joined forces with four amazing New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors to bring you four incredible romance stories.
The talented authors have produced new stories especially for our fertility research charity anthology, Incompatibly Yours.
100% of the profits from the sales of this stunning anthology will be donated to fertility research and support charities and organizations.
SUMMER'S BAY by A.C. BEXTOR
For years, Ryleigh has ignored her heart's desire and its ache for the man she's always wanted. Since coming home after years of being away, she discovers her love for him hasn't changed. The only problem is she's no longer the girl she once was.
BLIND FAITH by TERESA GABELMAN
Committing her life to teaching the blind, Julie Daniels doesn't expect cowboy Clay Marshall to turn to her for help. As their worlds collide, Clay and Julie discover they have to rely on blind faith to find their own slice of happiness.
KISS, INTERRUPTED by S.R. GREY
Shy girl Brooks Happ wants nothing more than for her first kiss to come from someone who's her complete opposite, Confident Sebastian Kain fits the bill. Problem is, the world won't cooperate. Time and time again, Brooks's first kiss is interrupted. A cute, funny romantic comedy sure to make you laugh.
HER KIND OF CRAZY by NINA LEVINE
Juliette Taylor never saw Tanner Brady coming and as much as she swears he's all kinds of wrong for her and that she wants nothing to do with him, he's out to show her otherwise. Never in a million years did she think a laid-back tattoo artist could be the man for her, but he's determined to show her that she's his kind of crazy.
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Acknowledgments
This book was a labour of love and could not have become the story it is without the following people.
My editor, Becky Johnson from Hot Tree Editing – we’ve only just started working together, Becky, and I have loved the work we’ve done so far. You’ve taught me things about my writing that I didn’t realise. I am so grateful for all the work you did on Havoc. Thank you <3
My assistant and friend, Jodie O’Brien – To say I am thankful you haven’t decided to write books about appliances is an understatement. (If you ever do decide to do that, I will still love you and pimp you!) Havoc is our sixth book together, babe! And you haven’t sacked me yet. I love you for this alone. But I love you for so much more too. Here’s to a kick-ass 2016! PS I particularly love your messages in shouty caps that say “YOU WIN AT LIFE”. They rank just after the messages you send me that say “I’m not feeling Nash on this. Rewrite that whole chapter.”
Becca Dawn – I love you. That is all. No, wait. There is more. Thank you for your medical advice for this book and for beta reading it. I truly appreciate the time you take from your busy days to respond to my messages. And for your help getting my characters and plots right. But more than all of that, I adore the hell out of you for being my friend. For checking in on me, for making me laugh, for taking the time to ask me about E and for sharing stories about your family and life with me. I can’t wait to meet you in person one day!
My beta girls - Mara, Diane, Shaz, Becca HM, Malia & Drue. Thank you so much for reading my work and offering your thoughts and suggestions. You help me see the things I’ve missed and offer some awesome ideas to make my stories better. Love you ladies!
My cover designer, Letitia Hasser, and my cover photographer, Sara Eirew – OMG this cover! This cover is the bomb! It is my absolute favourite cover and I owe that all to you two amazingly talented ladies. *blows kisses* Thank you so much!!
To my Levine’s Ladies – thank you for your beautiful friendships. I know I say it each and every book, because it’s true, I treasure our group. LL is my favourite place on the internet and I am so thankful for you all. Thank you for reading my books, loving my characters, sharing your lives with me and for telling your friends about my books. I love you girls xx
To my Team Levine girls – thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I am always in awe of you ladies. It means so very much to me that you spend time promoting books and sharing your love of those books wherever you go. I really don’t say it enough – I am so thankful and grateful for the hours you give up to help me and other authors <3
To my readers – I remember publishing Storm and wondering if anyone would read it. The fact that many of you are still on this journey with me, reading and loving my Storm books, blows me away. In fact, if I was to go by the messages I receive from readers, most days it feels like the love for Storm just keeps growing. Havoc won’t be my last Storm book. In fact, let’s just say it now – until you hear otherwise from me, the Storm MC will continue on! Wilder’s book will be next in this series. And if you are also reading the spin-off series (Sydney Storm MC), I think Nitro’s book will be one of my next releases. Thank you for loving dirty alphas as much as I do!! And thank you for reading my books and allowing me to keep doing a job I absolutely love <3
To Natalie Gayle – thank you for being a wonderful friend and for checking in on me regularly. Neither of us have lost the plot yet and I thank you for helping me with that lol! Love you, babe xx
To my author friends – thank you <3 You know who you are – thank you for your support and encouragement. In this crazy world, just knowing you are there is all I need. I love you for that.
To Dan – thank you for sharing your wife with me. She’s the Levine in all this. You’ve welcomed me into your family and I am so thankful for that. Especially for the car park in your driveway. It’s mine now ;) xx
Also by Nina Levine
Storm MC Series
In Order:
Storm (Storm MC #1)
Fierce (Storm MC #2)
Blaze (Storm MC #3)
Revive (Storm MC #4)
Slay (Storm MC #5)
Illusive (Storm MC #6)
Sassy Christmas (Xmas Novella FREE)
Command (Storm MC #7)
Sydney Storm MC Series
Relent (Book 1)
Nitro’s Torment (Book 2) – COMING 2016 – ADD TO TBR
Devil’s Vengeance (Book 3) – COMING 2016 – ADD TO TBR
Hyde’s Absolution (Book 4) – COMING 2016 – ADD TO
TBR
King’s Wrath (Book 5) – COMING 2016 – ADD TO TBR
Crave Series
All Your Reasons (Book 1)
Be The One (Book 2)
Untitled – Van’s Story (Book 3) – COMING 2016
Keep up to date with my books at my website
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Havoc Playlist
Take Me To Church by Hozier
Art of Love by Guy Sebastian & Jordin Sparks
Drinking Class by Lee Brice
When She Says Baby by Jason Aldean
Wheels Rollin’ by Jason Aldean
Easy Lover by Phil Collins
Stay With Me by Sam Smith
Lonely Eyes by Chris Young
Whatever She’s Got by David Nail
Let It Go by James Bay
Craving by James Bay
If You Ever Want To Be In Love by James Bay
Stitches by Shawn Mendes
Rolling In The Deep by Adele
One and Only by Adele
Smoke by A Thousand Horses
FOAD by Kid Rock
City In Motion by Ron Pope
Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson
Copyright © 2016 Nina Levine
Copyright © 2016 Nina Levine
Published by Nina Levine
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author at the email address below.
