Ignition

by Skye Callahan

  “Can I go to sleep?” Everything had been drained from my body, and if he wanted to go at it again—oh lord, I’d never make it.

  “Yeah,” he backed off and pulled down the covers. “Think you can sleep with so much quiet out here?”

  His agreement left me in stunned silence for a moment, but I needed sleep. “I don’t think much could stop me right now.”

  With a chuckle, Colt pulled away my towel and watched me climb into his bed. He disappeared into the bathroom, then flicked off all of the lights before sliding in next to me, but I was out before his head hit the pillow.

  In the middle of the night, a body-consuming shiver pulled me from quiet sleep, and I rolled toward heat—without realizing that “heat” was Colt. As soon as I nudged his arm, he inched away, and I opened my eyes at the sudden movement.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s cold.”

  Colt took a long breath, then threw his covers off and disappeared.

  So much for hospitality. I burrowed under the covers, pulling them over my head. Colt’s footsteps returned, and another thick blanket landed on top of me.

  I considered thanking him, but for being an ass he didn’t deserve it. And I was still cold. Footsteps and quiet movement continued across the room, followed by soft tapping and then the bed shifted and shook as large paws dug into my leg.

  Perfect, I get a damn dog for a heater. But it was better than nothing. Isabella curled up near my feet, then shifted again, and I expected Colt to climb back into bed. When nothing else moved, I peeked out of my cave of blankets. The room was dark, but there was no Colt.

  Thanks to the extra blanket and the humongous dog at my feet, I slept through the rest of the night without being disturbed. But Colt never returned, and by the time I woke up, Isabella was gone as well.

  He hadn’t left me any clothes either, so I crept across the room and helped myself to a t-shirt out of his dresser, and a pair of pajama pants with a drawstring. I peeked out the door before I dared step out. Colt was stretched out on the couch with his arm over his eyes and Isabella laying at his feet.

  The dog perked up instantly and alerted Colt to my presence as well. He looked me up and down and snorted. “We’ll empty out your apartment and get you some clothes this afternoon.”

  “You sleep out here?”

  “I didn’t actually sleep,” he mumbled, disturbing Isabella as he rolled over and grabbed something from the end table. “Catch.”

  He chucked it in the air and I stretched out and barely snatched it before it clattered to the ground.

  “My phone?” I pressed the power button and it booted up to my familiar home screen. “You fixed it?”

  “Not personally,” he said. “But I needed something to do.”

  Still struggling to get over the fact that he’d not only fixed my phone, but given it back, I also had to wrestle with the realization that he’d left me alone.

  “I was gone for thirty minutes. I knew you’d be fine and surprise”—he waved his hand at me—“you were. I figured if you dropped completely off the face of the planet with no warning someone might worry and call the wrong people. I don’t need any extra problems to deal with.”

  “And you’re convinced I won’t call for help, right?”

  He jerked his arm in a motion I assumed was a shrug.

  “So, you left in the middle of the night to get my phone fixed—not to score some drugs.”

  As he adjusted again, Isabella got fed up and moved to the nearby armchair. “If I had more drugs, you’d know it, darlin’. I’d be in a much better mood.” He gestured toward my phone. “Return the favor by cooking breakfast.”

  I groaned. “So now I have to be your concubine and cook?”

  “If that’s what you want to call it.” He draped his arm over his face again.

  With him looking like that, I actually felt sorry for him. On the way to the kitchen, my phone vibrated with missed messages—at least half a dozen from my brother.

  Aiden: Call me now.

  Shit. My stomach jumped into my chest and squeezed the air out of my lungs. All of his texts were vague and nearly the same. I peeked back into the living room and opted to send a message instead. As siblings go, it had been a long time since we’d been close. We both went through our young adult rebellious phases, I earned a juvenile record, but he ended up with a kid who was now going on five. It seemed like everything in our lives exploded at once—Aiden and his constant battles with Briana’s mom, me and the stupid drama I didn’t want to remember. The only things people in small towns can do is sit and talk—whether it’s true or not, it spreads and morphs until the only escape is to get out. That’s what I did, but Aiden refused. He wanted his chance at a family, but he ended up a single working dad. I wanted a chance at freedom, and I ended up with Colt.

  Life had certainly found a way to fuck us both.

  Sorry phone broke, just got it fixed. What’s going on?

  The message went through, so I left my phone on the counter and started searching the refrigerator and cabinets for something to cook. Before I made it to the third door, my phone buzzed insistently with a call.

  I wiped my clammy hands on the loose pajama pants and picked it up. “Hello.”

  “What are you tied up in?” His voice was low and crackly—the tone he usually got during an argument.

  “I—” I jerked my hand through my tangled hair. “Nothing, I—”

  “Nothing?” he yelled. “You’ve been up to nothing with a guy named Devlin?”

  My knees buckled and slammed into the cabinet in front of me.

  “He said to tell you that you better play the game his way, or he’s skipping right over you and your new fuck buddy and coming for Briana.”

  Dying to know where Aubrey and Colt go from here?

  Torque will continue their story, join the mailing list for release information.

  First off, I’d like to thank you, the reader, because without you I could sit and write all day long, but I would have no one to share my experiences with!

  I couldn’t make it through everything without the support of my husband. He has never questioned my love of writing and even when I drive him to the brink of insanity, he does everything he can to keep me motivated and working. I have been fortunate to have no shortage of friends and family who have encouraged me to become a writer. My late night writing/chat sessions with Pepper Winters are one of my favorite parts of the day. She keeps me working at a pace I never thought was possible, but even more than that I’m honored to call her my friend. Chelle Bliss never fails to crack me up and she’s always around when I need a little shove in the right direction.

  This story wouldn’t be what it is without the feedback from my betas. Thanks to Rachel, Tina, Sheila, Diane, and Vicki for making sure that no important detail was left unturned and my characters didn’t sprout extra hands. You all are amazing and I appreciate your help and support. Next, my editor Rebecca. I came to her when I was looking for someone who wouldn’t mind my unpredictable multiple-genre tendencies, and she agreed to take me on. It has been a huge stress relief to work with her and to know that my future books will be in great hands.

  And finally, my Street Team!! Not only do they all rock it by supporting my work, I’m glad to call them my friends. Shanean of Just One More Romance Book Blog has organized my last two blog tours and has been a wonderful help in keeping me on track with events, giveaways, and management of my Facebook page. As well as Amber and Becky of Pimpslapped who came in recently and have knocked me over with their overwhelming support and enthusiasm. I wish I could name the names of all the people who have helped me along the way, but that would be an entire book in itself.

  That doesn’t mean I love any of you any less! Thank you for your support!

  I was born and raised in rural Ohio and will always be a country girl at heart with a love for reading and writing. I’ve spent my life chained to the imaginary worlds of the characters who live in my head, and thank
s to the encouragement of teachers, friends, and family, I started writing their stories down. In college, I separated from fiction and earned a M.A. in Public History, but in 2011, I decided that I had spent far too long away from the world of fiction.

  Many of my early stories were paranormal, and although the paranormal will always have a special room in my imagination, my interest in BDSM and dark romance has recently led me to expand my focus.

  When I’m not spending time with the voices in my head, I work for a non-profit consulting center, offer my technical services to other writers and small businesses, and enjoy life with my husband and the ghosts of our dearly departed ferrets.

  I’d love to hear from you!

  http://skyecallahan.com

  Stay up to date on all new releases by signing up for my mailing list!

  http://skyecallahan.com/mailing-list-2

  Fractured Legacy Series (Paranormal Urban Fantasy)

  Book 1: Fractured Legacy

  Book 2: Beyond the Divide

  Book 3: Grave Absolution (2015)

  Out of Bounds Series (BDSM Romance)

  Book 1: Bound and Unbroken

  Book 2: Bound and Collared (2015)

  Irrevocable (Dark Romantic Suspense)

  Book 1: Irrevocable

  Book 2: Bend, Don’t Break

  The Redline Series (Dark Romantic Suspense)

  Book 1: Ignition (2015)

  Book 2: Torque (2015)

  Book 3: Brake (2015)

  Book 4: Exhaust (2015)

  Book 5: Clutch (2015)

  Stand Alones

  Stricken (2015)

  More information and purchase links available at:

  http://skyecallahan.com/books/