by Angel Payne
WILD Card
The WILD Boys of Special Forces
Book 9
By Angel Payne
WILD Card
The W.I.L.D. Boys of Special Forces, Book 9
Copyright © 2016 by Angel Payne Writes, LLP
All Rights Reserved
E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9977080-1-1
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9977080-2-8
Kindle Edition
All Rights Reserved
All characters in this story are fictional, and the product of the author’s imagination.
Edited By:
Melisande Scott
Cover:
Parajunkee Designs
www.parajunkee.net
Promo, Press, and Marketing Inquiries:
Once Upon An Alpha
www.onceuponanalpha.com
White lace and promises…
Jen Thorne is more than ready to help her best friend tie the knot, sumptuous Vegas style—until she shows up at the rehearsal and catches sight of a surprise guest to the festivities. Sam Mackenna, a Scottish RAF pilot on loan to the Air Force for cross-training, has been the object of her secret erotic fantasies for months. But even with romance in the air, a hunk like him is hardly likely to choose a geek like her.
A kiss for luck…
When Sam and she are unexpectedly alone, the gray-eyed warrior entices Jen to share her deepest fantasies—then throws the wildest card of all into the mix. He wants to the chance to make as many of them come true before dawn’s light.
One night. The man of her dreams. A wild card worth playing, or an invitation to the biggest disaster of them all…
What if her heart gets shuffled into the playing deck?
Readers and reviewers agree…
“Angel Payne is the queen of emotion-packed romance!”
ABOUT THE W.I.L.D. BOYS OF SPECIAL FORCES:
“Keeps you glued to your e-reader!”
—The Jeep Diva
“I found this was a book I just couldn’t put down. I got hooked from the beginning and then couldn’t stop reading. Garrett and Zeke are…good dream material.”
—Love Romance Passion Reviews
“Angel Payne delivers well-rounded characters, an action-packed storyline that is overflowing with passion, and above all, a love that overcomes and flourishes despite the darkness threatening to destroy the main characters. I cannot wait to meet and fall in love with more of the W.I.L.D. Boys.”
—RAW Reviews
“I am never disappointed with what Angel Payne brings to the table. I caught myself a couple of times holding my breath, and trying to read faster and faster. It was a very emotional read…a story of survival, growth, and love.”
—Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
“Well-written…overall, a magnificent book. I am hooked on this series!”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Grabbed hold of my heart and never let go. Thick with passion, smoldering looks, and red-hot dominant sex, Angel Payne has created a sequel to rival its sibling. I am anxious for the continuation of her addicting characters!”
—RomFan Reviews
“I really loved this book. Both of these characters are complicated, which makes for a great story, and it worked in such a suspenseful erotic romance. This is one hot and steamy read. I’m still waiting for the fog to clear on my Kindle!”
—Delighted Reader Book Blog
“Amazing from beginning to end…full of suspense and creativity…I also liked the little details that make the book more ‘real’ for me.”
—Riverina Romantics
“Wow! Just Wow! This is a must read. Angel Payne is an amazing author, and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.”
—We Love Kink
“An enjoyable thrill ride with just the right amount of kinky sex…anyone who likes a good action novel, mystery and/or romance will find the story interesting and well-written. The love story is touching, realistic, heart-warming and very hot. With just the right amount of conflict between the two main characters, the story builds tension without overdoing angst.”
—My Book Addiction Reviews
“Certain things in life are absolutes: birth, death, taxes, and the fact that any book by Angel Payne will rock my world. The chemistry between these three will blow up your e-reader, but it’ll be worth every sweaty steamy moment!”
—Sizzling Hot Books
“Lava-hawt. The sexual heat is delicious. The characters…stand out with their quirky characteristics; their banter is both fun and sexual—lovely to read.”
—The Romance Reviews
“So many OMG moments! This book does not disappoint!”
—Twinsie Talk Reviews
“5 smoldering, seductive stars. Oh My Gahhh. Even though this is book 7 in the Wild Boys series, it is my first book by Angel Payne, and I see what I’ve been missing! Aside from the excellent writing, excellent editing, ease of reading and all around fabulous story…the characters have me frantic. Dan is such a complex character…and Tess, wow, how she desired him from afar, being nothing more than co-workers, and then coming to bat for him after his “accident” and helping him recuperate in the hospital. This is a tale of desire, a body’s need for Dominance/submission, and how not following your soul’s desire for honesty could mush up a great thing.”
—Rachel Bound by Books
“A beautiful story…They complete each other. Their story was definitely worth reading.”
—Books Eater Blog
“If you are looking for a hot read and a walk on the darker side of the BDSM world is OK with you, definitely check out A WILDer Kind of Love. The familiar faces from the previous books in the series are present in varying degrees, but this story can absolutely be read as a standalone.”
—Oh, My Growing TBR Blog
“5 Stars! A lot of heat…Tess was a real surprise to me. Her strength and drive to change her life are what brings Dan out of his dark world and into the light with her.”
—Smut & Bonbons
“OMG, what a book! This author pours her heart and soul into her books. You can just feel it.”
—Kimmie Sue’s Book Reviews
ABOUT THE CIMARRON SAGA
“Angel Payne weaves a modern fairytale that steals your heart and seeps deep into your soul.”
—#1 New York Times Bestseller Audrey Carlan
“I am a big fan of Ms. Payne’s. It all started with the WILD Boys but she’s cemented herself to my heart with Into His Dark. It has everything you could hope for—passion, love, drama and so much heart.”
—Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
“A story of forbidden passion, forbidden lust, forbidden love. Angel Payne singes the pages with seductive words, bringing tingles up my body and warmth to my heart.”
—Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
“Decadence equals novels written by Angel Payne.”
—Lightning City Book Reviews
“The imagery and descriptions make this an enthralling read.”
—Wicked Reads Blog
“A story about forbidden love that shows sometimes love is written by the fates…Into His Dark will have you wishing the island was real, so you can experience the beauty firsthand.”
—My Secret Romance Reviews
“You. Do. Not. Want. To. Put. This. Down.”
—Twinsie Talk Book Reviews
“Angel Payne has done it again! She’s written another blockbuster series with alpha men, hot sex, suspense, wonderful writing, and did I mention the hot sex? Anything Angel
writes is pure gold! I have read her W.I.L.D. Boys of Special Forces series more than once, and now we have the Cimmaron series. I can hardly contain myself!”
—Knotty Girl Reviews
“FIVE-STAR READ. Hot, action-packed, passion, and two broken characters make this a page turner.”
—Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
“Where to start? Once again Angel Payne makes my heart race, my blood pound and my lady bits tingle! I absolutely LOVE her writing. It’s gut-wrenching at times and laugh-out-loud funny at others. It’s smolderingly sexy and then I start to cry. Ugh. the gamut of emotions in every single story of hers I’ve ever read. Grab Into His Command and enjoy all the suspense, the sexy, and the absolute goodness that flows from Angel Payne’s beautiful mind. 5 Stars.”
—Rachel Bound by Books
“I ALWAYS love my time in Arcadia and the Cimarron family always make the trip worthwhile. I was absolutely blown away by this installment in the series and cannot wait to see what Angel has in store next!”
—Bookalicious Babes Blog
ABOUT TEMPTATION COURT
“What a ride and what a rush!”
—Niki’s Book Addiction
“I’m so damned hooked on this new spin off series of Angel Payne’s! Gah! Twist city. Payne takes the reader on a journey that is unexpected and downright special. I love the intrigue of a woman raised on an archaic island now has to find herself in the Big Apple. The wonder and excitement of this series can be felt on every page and with every breath the reader takes. Angel Payne’s gift with words shines so bright it’s blinding. Absolutely cannot wait for more.”
—#1 New York Times Bestseller Audrey Carlan
“Heat, passion, desire and angst rule this story. Oh, Cassian is so naughty and alpha while Ella is spirited, innocent, passionate, and sweet. There is intrigue, action, adventure and conspiracy, plus the alpha male who takes what he wants and doesn’t care what is in his way or who. That is why I Love Angel Payne; she writes it as it needs to be written…I must say, this is one of my favorite stories branching off from the Cimarron series and I cannot wait for more.”
—April’s Blog of Awesomeness
“Oh, the power and passion between these two! Their relationship is so steamy, so sensual!”
—Bookalicious Book Babes
“Sighing in abject happiness. There is nothing like getting to read a book from one of your favorite authors, especially when it is one of those books that you just can’t put down. Not for dinner, not for sleep, (juuust one more chapter); not for anything. You get my drift. Pretty Perfect Toy did that for me. There are surprises in store, each better than the last, thus proving that Angel Payne is the Queen of Contemporary erotic suspense. She’s truly the top in her genre, which is just one of the reasons she’s always been on my automatic one-click list.”
—Knotty Girl Reviews
“Be prepared to read this book in one sitting—and have the tissues handy if you’re a crier like me. I sat down after diner to read this, and finished reading my copy at 7am the next day.”
—Kimmie Sue’s Book Reviews
“I loved it! It had an almost magical feel to it and I felt transported to a different place.”
—The Literary Vixen
“A hot, passionate read. So steamy, you will be turning the pages as if they are on fire.”
—Socially Awkward Book Nerd
ABOUT THE SECRETS OF STONE
(WRITTEN WITH VICTORIA BLUE)
“Blue and Payne have a style that is like smooth whiskey…goes down hot and lingers for a while.”
—The Jeep Diva
“Completely sigh-worthy…the heat they generated could have caused fissures to erupt in the earth’s core. An enjoyable read that makes us believe fairy tales very well could come true.”
—The Romance Reviews
“It’s romantic, it’s beautiful, and Mr. Stone is incredibly swoon-worthy. I devoured this book in one night.”
—Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
“A whopper of a read. There’s everything in this book to keep the reader hooked, And the description of THAT kiss…ohh, la!”
—Noble Book Reviews
“Exceeded my expectations. I was surprised at how emotional I became while reading the book. I was able to connect so much to these characters that I was concerned for their welfare. 5 bright and shining stars.”
—A Thousand Lives Book Blog
“An OMG page-turner that will blow your mind. I loved every minute!”
—Paranormaly Yours Reviews
“Payne and Blue have taken the traditional fairy tale romance and made it perfect for our generation to dream and strive for. Thank you for a Cinderella we can all be proud of and a prince to rival all princes!”
—The Book Fairy
“WOW. This book. Part of me doesn’t have words. I really enjoyed this.”
—Twin Opinions Reviews
“This book is fantastic! Blue and Payne play off one another so well. The sex is off the charts, the banter is awesome; I couldn’t stop reading.”
—Niki’s Book Addiction
“GREAT read!”
—Book Boyfriend Hangover
“A MUST READ. Total hotness right from the start. This story had me laughing and crying; prepare your emotions for a ride. Highly recommended.”
—Radical Reads Book Blog
“I will be thinking about this story long after I put it down.”
—Sizzling Hot Books
“A can’t-put-it-down read…well-written with suspense, humor, and lots of dirty bedroom talk. It won’t let you go!”
—DRC Blog
“Very well-written…great chemistry…a book that will leave you wanting more.”
—Battery-Operated Book Blog
“Sweet. Funny. Quirky. Angsty. Sexy. A different change of pace…but easy to follow.”
—Renee Entress’s Blog
Dedication and Acknowledgements
For Thomas…for betting on the wild card every day.
And my sisterhood of friends and support, there all the time, putting up with the neurotic, crazy writer:
Victoria Blue (no science projects!)
Jenna Jacob (the ledge is just over there…let’s go have a drink)
Shannon Hunt (I can’t guarantee there won’t be more 3:30 AM Skypes…)
Lorraine Gibson (for beholding the gory truth of my allergies firsthand and still loving me)
Jennifer Mitchell (this Sam is for you, babe! Love you!)
Special thanks to all my sisters in the Obsessenach fandom.
Hope you all enjoy my fun tribute to our favorite guy!
And for ALL the readers who love “The Boys” already:
You’ve been through the haters and the lovers, the bad times and the good…
I cannot begin to express how much you all mean to me.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Book
Praise for Angel Payne
Dedication and Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Other Books in the W.I.L.D. Series
Additional Books by Angel Payne
About the Author
Chapter One
‡
“Life is a gamble.”
– Muhammad Ali
“Damn it.”
If tripping over one’s own feet was ever elevated to an Olympic sport, Jen Thorne was sure she’d take home a neck dripping with medals.
Not in her cards tonight. Not even the wildest ones in the deck.
That fact was as cold as the marble floor with which she still lay face-to-face. And the shots of subtle laughter throughout the room. Correction:
the salon. As in, the wedding salon that rivaled European cathedrals for gilt and fairytale glens for beauty. Mr. Nyte, the mysterious owner of the Nyte Hotel and Casino, had spared no expense making this the most coveted place to tie the knot in Las Vegas. That included—as Jen learned while confirming she hadn’t broken her damn leg at the rehearsal for her best friend’s wedding—hand-carved angels at the base of each pew.
From mud pies in the schoolyard to naked cherubs and marble floors. Tess Lesange, you’ve come a long way, baby.
It seemed only yesterday that Jen was joining Tess for their favorite recess pastime; now her best friend was marrying one of the world’s rising billionaires. Dan Colton, the golden-haired hunk who helmed Colton Steel and its gazillion subsidiaries, stood at the end of the aisle practically taking a bath in happiness. Though Tess now lived in Atlanta with her man, Vegas had won out as an easier destination to access for most of the wedding guests, especially Tess’s Vegas-based family and friends.
But Colton and his movie star perfection hadn’t been the cause of Jen’s stumble. Nor was she enraptured by the salon’s buttressed ceiling, supporting a thousand fiber-optic lights to give the illusion of suspended stars. It also wasn’t the banks of red and gold roses, filling the air with their heavenly scent, or the harp and piano players that created one of the most beautiful versions of Canon in D perhaps ever played.
She’d stumbled because of the man sitting third pew from the front, third position in.
Third pew.
Third in.
“Holy. Shit.” She muttered it while glancing up again, confirming that the man of all her erotic fantasies was indeed right here, right now. Uhhhh, yep. And yep.
That presented the next challenge. She had about three seconds to come up with the cleverest one-liner a woman had ever issued after tumbling ass over elbows in a pair of custom-designed Louboutins.
That was how it was supposed to happen, right? Out would pop her inner Sofía Vergara, giving up the va-va-voom to make everyone dissolve in laughter—and entice Sam Mackenna to look at her in all the right ways. Perfect. Anytime you want, Sofía. Make it happen, girl. Sam’s waiting.
