Laura Kaye - Hard As You Can

In the planning, the Ravens proved themselves equal partners in strategizing each of the locations. Within an hour, the men had firmed up the plans and been divided into two teams—a group of twelve for the part inside Confessions, another four on the outside of the club just in case, and the remaining eighteen at the parking garage. The Hard Ink guys would split between the two. Those Ravens heading to Confessions left their jackets stacked in the corner for Jeremy’s safekeeping. They wouldn’t be able to get in the door with them on.

Back at Hard Ink, Charlie and Jeremy would be running the communications and monitoring the surveillance at the club that they’d just installed at the garage. So at least his teammates would know what was going on at both locations. It was déjà vu of the night they’d rescued Charlie all over again.

After everything was set, the Ravens filed out of the room, and within minutes, the lot outside roared to life.

When just Ike and Dare remained inside with the team, they offered a final recommendation. “You know,” Kenyon said to Nick, “Church is going to consider this a full-on assault no matter what you do. So from one man to another, I strongly suggest you consider taking him down once and for all.”

“Meaning?” Nick said, eyes thoughtful and intense.

“Church, his Apostles, Confessions. As much of it as you can.” Kenyon and Ike traded glances, and Ike nodded, too.

The justice and righteousness of that resonated way down deep in Shane’s gut. Tempting as it was, though, the team couldn’t give into full-scale vigilantism without becoming just like that which they were fighting against, could they?

S hane watched as A-Team—the larger team headed for the garage delivery—rolled out of Hard Ink’s lot, forming a long stream of bikes following Beckett’s SUV and the Ravens’ box truck full of barricades to force traffic in the garage where they wanted it to go. With Beckett was Nick and Miguel. The whole team was leaving early to set up the barriers and get well hidden before the Churchmen ever arrived.

The remaining team had a good ninety minutes before they could set out for Confessions. And that gave Shane more than enough time to do something he’d been itching to do. Hand in hand, he led Sara up to his bedroom and closed the door.

And then he pushed Sara up against it, his hips against hers, his hand on the door beside her head. “Sorry, darlin’. I just needed a little time with you before I left.”

Sara shook her head, a small, sexy smile on her face. “Don’t even think about apologizing for telling me what you want,” she said, echoing his words from the previous night.

Shane threw his head back and laughed, but the humor died in his throat as she stole the opportunity to flick her tongue over his Adam’s apple and lick up to his jaw.

“You don’t play fair,” Shane said, bringing his gaze back to hers.

Still smiling, Sara wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck and lifted her legs around his waist. She arched a brow.

Groaning, Shane’s hands went to Sara’s delicious ass, holding her up against the door. “You’re killing me, sweetness. I want in you so damn bad.” He kissed her deep, plundering her mouth with his tongue. He held back a little, not giving in to the need to ravage her, but Sara’s moans and whimpers communicated only pleasure.

“Can you please be inside me right now?” she asked.

He froze long enough to assess her sincerity, and then her jeans and panties were gone. “How?” Shane said, almost frenzied, as he grabbed a condom and pushed his jeans to his knees.

Sara eyed the door. “I’d like to try that,” she said, nodding toward where they’d just been standing. “Just please go slow at first?”

“Anything you want, Sara. Always.” He rolled on the condom and easily hiked her back up around his waist, her heat already washing over his cock. Gently, he pressed her up against the door. “I love you, Sar. Don’t let me hurt you. I’m a little wound up over you right now, but just say the word, and I’ll stop.”

“Okay,” Sara said. “I trust you.” And then her center found the head of his cock and she lowered herself down.

“Oh, fuuck, ” Shane groaned, as her tight, wet heat engulfed him. “Okay?” he managed.

“More than,” she said, smiling.

Shane started moving then. Really, he had no choice in the matter. Her body felt too good, he loved her too much, and his veins were flooded with pre-mission adrenaline. The combination had his hips swinging and his hands grinding her ass down for each upward thrust. Sara’s gasps were the sexiest fucking thing, so free and full of passion.

“All right, sweetness?” Shane asked.

By way of answering, Sara kissed him. Winding her arms around his neck, she pulled them tight and sucked on his tongue so hard Shane saw stars. The shift in position escalated the wildness of her moans.

All of a sudden, Sara’s nails sank into Shane’s shoulders and her body tightened around him—her arms, her legs, her sweet pussy. Sara unleashed a strangled moan into their kisses that Shane swallowed greedily. And then her orgasm nearly took Shane to his knees as her body clenched his cock again and again.

Shane’s own orgasm barreled down on him like an out-of-control freight train and nailed him in the back, forcing Shane deep, deep, deeper as he spilled himself into Sara’s sweet body, and she swallowed his moans. When it was over, Shane stumbled backward, carrying Sara until he could sit on the edge of the bed. Under her scant weight, his thighs shook. He pulled away from the kissing and heaved a deep breath.

Tears pooled in Sara’s eyes.

Oh, no. Shane’s gut crashed to the floor. “Oh, God, sweetness. What’s wrong. Did I hurt you?” Shane ran his hands gently over her back. “I was too rough, wasn’t I? I’m so fucking so—”

“No,” she said in a tight voice. “Not at all,” she managed. “Scared for you tonight. Scared for Jenna,” she said, the tears flowing now. “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Shane’s heart restarted again and he heaved another deep breath as he gently swiped his thumbs under her eyes. “You won’t, Sara. I’ll be home tonight, and I’ll have Jenna with me.”

Emotions flitted over her beautiful face. Finally, she nodded. “I know, you’re right.” She grasped his face in her hands and kissed his lips sweetly but firmly. “I believe in you, Shane McCallan.”

Kissing her one more time, he helped her off his lap so he could dispose of the condom. And it hit Shane exactly what to do. “Sit with me a minute,” he said, patting the mattress beside him. As she did, he pulled up his pants and reached into his pocket, finding Molly’s necklace with his fingers. He laid the butterfly in his hand so she could see it. “For the past sixteen years,” he said, looking into her eyes, “this necklace has been my most important possession. I never go anywhere without it, and I would never leave it behind without knowing I could have it back again.” Grasping Sara’s hand, he slowly dropped the pendant and chain into her palm. “So you hold on to this for me. That way, you know I’ll have to come back.”

Eyes wide, Sara shook her head. “I can’t . . .”

He closed her fingers around the necklace. “I want you to have it. And every time your faith threatens to fail, you look at that and know I’ll be back. Because I love you.”

As Sara threw her arms around him and told him she loved him, too, Shane offered a silent promise to succeed where he’d failed before. Sixteen years ago, he’d lost his own little sister, but tonight, he wouldn’t lose Sara’s.