Intense - Aspen Drake & Emily Cain Read online

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  © 2019 ACES PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the Special Forces: Operation Alpha Fan-Fiction world!

  If you are new to this amazing world, in a nutshell the author wrote a story using one or more of my characters in it. Sometimes that character has a major role in the story, and other times they are only mentioned briefly. This is perfectly legal and allowable because they are going through Aces Press to publish the story.

  This book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it. While I might have assisted with brainstorming and other ideas about which of my characters to use, I didn’t have any part in the process or writing or editing the story.

  I’m proud and excited that so many authors loved my characters enough that they wanted to write them into their own story. Thank you for supporting them, and me!

  READ ON!

  Xoxo

  Susan Stoker

  Intense (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

  Intensity #1

  Aspen Drake

  and Emily Cain

  Special thanks to my wonderful friend and writing buddy for sharing her story with me so we could bring these characters to life in this Special Forces world.

  About the Book

  Sierra has believed her dad was one of the good guys for her whole life. When she's confronted with evidence that the man who tried to kidnap him is actually saving the world from her father's evil ways, everything gets turned upside down. She tried to resist Parker for as long as possible, but after spending time with him, she realizes what she's been looking for is right in front of her.

  Parker works for the international division of Chase and Sadie's company in Fort Hood. When the daughter of the man he's hired to eliminate offers to take her father's place, he is intrigued by her bravery. When she proves to be talented in self-defense, shooting, and holding her own in a verbal match, he realizes he's met his match.

  Parker doesn't do the girlfriend thing, but despite his attempts to fight his attraction to Sierra, their connection is too strong to ignore.

  Chapter 1

  I walked down the stairs and saw my dad standing near the front door with a suitcase by his legs. “You’re leaving?”

  “Yep, I was just gonna call you down.” He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked to me. “Got to visit a client in London, but I’ll be back in about a week.”

  “Okay.” I gave him a hug and hoped what he said was true. He always promised to be home in a week, and that was usually the case. But every time he left, I worried it would be his last walking out the door. That’s what happened with my mom, and I couldn’t survive losing my dad too. “Be careful.”

  “I always am.” He kissed my forehead and looked me in the eye. “Keep the alarm on and you know where the guns are.”

  I rolled my eyes. He was obviously as worried about me as I was about him. The difference was I had a boring life. I went to school, saw friends now and then, and very occasionally went on a date. Other than that, I did nothing but study and play videogames. My dad, on the other hand, had some kind of secret CIA job that kept him on the road for a few weeks out of every month. He never told me what his job actually was, but I knew it had to be dangerous based on the amount of weaponry he kept in our home.

  Ever since I was a little girl, he taught me how to shoot and fight and take care of myself. I used to think he was just one of those weird prepper guys who was waiting for the apocalypse to come. But as I grew up, I started to realize there was more to his paranoia. He tracked me like a hawk and practically did background checks on every friend I ever had. Even though he claimed to be some kind of financial planner for rich people, I didn’t believe that for a second. He did something important. Something that saved lives, probably. Something that was classified.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine, Dad.” I released his shoulders and let him walk back to the door to put on his coat. “I love you.”

  I met up with a friend at a bar downtown. While she chatted incessantly about which guys we should hook up with for the night, I watched a baseball game on the overhead TV and sipped my beer.

  Lisa headed to the bathroom but was sidelined by a cute guy who noticed her. They leaned against the wall just outside of the restroom and chatted. Her arms were crossed over her chest like she was pretending to not be interested, but she hadn’t stopped smiling for even a second during their conversation.

  I was on my own for the rest of the night.

  “That’s the weakest pitch I’ve ever seen.” A deep voice from behind me made a shiver run down my spine. I had no idea what the guy looked like, but he had a voice that could be on the radio. It was deep, but it also had a natural charisma to it. Without even looking, I knew he was hot.

  “I’m sure you could do better?” I didn’t look over my shoulder as I took another drink of my beer.

  “Probably,” he said. “And I haven’t played since I was ten.” The man stood at the table beside me, a beer in his hand too.

  I still hadn’t turned to get a full look at him, but I almost didn’t need to. I could see his outline and a little bit of his side profile, and it was impressive. From what I could tell, he had dark hair, almost black. And there was a layer of scruff on his face like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. “Maybe you need to take up coaching.”

  The hot stranger shook his head slightly. “I would but I’m kinda busy at the moment.”

  “The game may never be the same.”

  He dropped the conversation, and even though I couldn’t see his face, his chuckle confirmed his amusement. “Beautiful and likes sports. Looks like I’ve met the perfect woman.”

  I took a drink of my beer to cover the smile on my face. “Not even close.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “I have one fatal flaw…” I finally turned toward him and showed him my entire face. I almost wished I hadn’t done that because I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. His milk chocolate eyes were dark just like his hair. The depths were endless, and even though I didn’t know him, I felt like I could see too much. Just seeing his face was almost too intimate.

  Despite the chill outside, he only wore a black t-shirt. His bare arms were thick and powerful like he threw around giant logs for sport. He was taller than me by at least a foot, and the confidence in his gaze was unnerving. He wasn’t intimidated by anyone or anything—just like me. But for a man that attractive, it wasn’t surprising. Somehow, I managed to keep my composure even though I wanted to melt right into my seat. I wasn’t easily captivated by men, but I was already thinking things I shouldn’t about this guy.

  He tilted his head to the side slightly, like he was waiting for something.

  I kept my lips pressed tightly together.

  “Are you going to tell me?” he asked in a quiet voice. “Or are you building up the anticipation?”

  I forgot what we we
re talking about. Every coherent thought fell out of my head once I got a good look at him. His traditionally handsome face, hard jaw, and powerful physique drove logic away like a charging bull. “I don’t know how to cook.”

  A slow smile crept into his lips, and his eyes lightened in interest. He didn’t fully smile, not like most people did. It was only a half-smile, and he somehow made it sexy. “That’s what take-out is for.”

  I took a sip of my beer because I was flustered. I was actually nervous around this guy—which said a lot. Gorgeous men like him didn’t hit on me very often. In fact, it was the first time I’d ever seen a guy that made me so hot under the collar. It was like he put a spell on me. But if I had the antidote, I wouldn’t take it. “That’s not a skill.”

  “Well, you can always learn how to cook. I could teach you.”

  “You know how to cook?” I blurted that out without thinking, making a very sexist assumption.

  He quirked an eyebrow. “Better than most. And no, I’m not referring to Top Ramen.”

  “Hey, that stuff is good.”

  “But it’s not good for you.” He drank his beer then set it down.

  I eyed his glass meaningfully. “And you think that is?”

  “I’m selective with my poison. Beer is simply too good to pass up. Top Ramen…I can do without.”

  “We clearly have different philosophies. I consume whatever the hell I want because what’s the point of life if you don’t enjoy it? I’ll eat every fried cheese stick, every corn dog, and every bag of Top Ramen I come across.”

  He nodded. “Good philosophy.”

  I shrugged.

  He subtly came closer to me, the smell of his cologne entering my nose. “How about you come over for dinner? I’ll make you the best frozen cheese sticks, corn dogs, and Top Ramen you’ve ever had—hands down.”

  My lips automatically formed a smile. “Wow…talk about fancy.”

  “And we’ll have Bud Light to top it off.”

  “Yuck.” I cringed. “I don’t do light beer.”

  “How about we do shots instead?”

  “Sorry, do you live in a dive bar?”

  This time, he actually laughed, and it was a sexy sound. He showed a mouthful of perfectly straight teeth, and his eyes became playful. His hand never left his beer, but his fingers loosened around the glass. “Sometimes it feels that way.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to pass.” I’d done the bad boy thing before. We had sweaty, yummy sex that left us both equally satisfied and eager for more, but when he got tired of me and wanted something new, I was already attached to him. These kind of guys were all the same, all play and no commitment. I was done with no-strings-attached relationships, but I always fell for the bad boys. You know, the kind that looked and talked just like this one. He was too good-looking, and that raised red flags all over the place.

  I’d fall for him hard.

  I’d think about him long after he was gone, and when I pictured him pleasing another woman, I’d be filled with pain.

  I was able to predict the ending before it even began.

  Judging the surprise in his eyes, he wasn’t used to getting rejected. He covered it up quickly, but it was too late. I’d already seen it. “You’re going to turn down the best mozzarella sticks in the world? Sounds like a bad decision to me.”

  “There are other fish in the sea. Or should I say, there’s other fried cheese in the sea.”

  Amusement was in his eyes, but there was a slight look of disappointment. “Parker.” He extended his hand to shake mine. “It was a pleasure talking with you.”

  I took his hand, and the second I felt his touch, I noticed the hard skin of his fingertips. They were calloused like he used tools on a regular basis. Perhaps he was a welder or a construction worker. Feeling that grip made me want to know more, but if I learned anything else, I wouldn’t have the strength to turn away. I wasn’t scared of anything—except a broken heart.

  “Sierra.”

  His palm still gripped mine. “Sierra.” He said my name out loud like he was trying to memorize it. I liked the way it rolled off his tongue, like I’d already heard him say it before.

  “It was nice meeting you.”

  “You too.” He dropped his hand and abandoned his beer on the table. He got up and walked out of the bar without looking back. The second he passed, heads turned in his direction. When they turned back to me, I knew what everyone in the room was thinking.

  I was the dumbest girl on the planet…

  Chapter 2

  I pushed my cart down the aisle and threw things into it. I got more frozen burritos, chips and salsa, microwavable popcorn, soda and coffee. I even bought a box of Red Vines.

  Yes, I’m a health freak.

  “No cheese sticks for dinner?”

  I recognized that voice even though I’d only heard it once. My back was to him as I grabbed a carton of no-pulp orange juice. “I haven’t made it to that section yet.” I turned around and set the carton in the cart.

  Parker watched, his mocha eyes interested. “No pulp, huh?”

  “I like it smooth.”

  “You’re missing the nutrients.”

  I pointed into the cart. “I’ve got all the nutrients I need.”

  He examined everything in the cart. “At least the salsa has tomatoes in it.”

  I spotted the basket he was holding. “Since we’re being nosy, let’s see what you’ve got.”

  He smiled and pushed it closer to me.

  “A jar of pickles…yuck.” I moved it aside. “Deodorant.” I kept going. “Fresh chicken, cilantro, powdered protein, dental floss, peanut butter…” I paused when I got to the last box. “And condoms.”

  He smiled like he wasn’t ashamed in the least. “They’re just as essential as food.” He grabbed the basket and pulled it back to his side.

  The idea of him buying condoms made me jealous for whoever got to use them with him. I wanted him to use them with me. Images of him on top of me flashed through my mind. His chest covered in sweat as he gripped me by the hair and pumped into me. I would come all over his dick, screaming his name as I did it. Sweat collected on the back of my neck, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “They’re pretty important.” My voice somehow came out breezy, which was a miracle. I was anything but breezy at the moment.

  “I’ve never used this brand before,” he said. “I need to do a test run. Interested?” He was flirting with me, and even though it was in a raunchy way, he pulled it off.

  “I’m sure they’re all the same.”

  “How will we know unless we try?”

  My body yearned to say yes. I could handle a one-night stand with this guy, right? Just enjoy the sex and kick him out the next morning. It didn’t have to get messy. It didn’t have to get complicated.

  But I knew I would make it complicated. I already liked him, and I hardly knew him. I cared more about his brown eyes than his perfect shoulders, and I found myself wondering what he did for fun, where he lived, if he had any siblings…stupid stuff I shouldn’t care about. “You’re persistent.”

  “Not really,” he said. “You’re a pretty girl so asking you out is an automatic response.”

  I scoffed. “You can’t help yourself?”

  “Nope.” He came closer to me, standing right next to my cart. “So, how about dinner? I can make you something nutritious and delicious.”

  I eyed his cart. “And what about the condoms?”

  “We can give those a test drive later.” He peered down at my face and quickly glanced at my lips like he wanted to kiss me, but then his eyes moved back to mine like they hadn’t strayed to begin with. “Or we can do that first, if you’d like.”

  How did he talk like that and not come off creepy? I’d never seen a guy pull that off so well. Somehow, he managed to seem sexier than he had last week. He wore gym shorts and a t-shirt like he was going to workout after stopping by the store, but he still looked hot.

&nb
sp; Like, H-O-T.

  “How about we do neither?”

  Instead of being discouraged by my answer, he seemed more interested. “You have a boyfriend?”

  “No.”

  He tilted his head just the way he did the other night. “Then what’s the hold up?”

  I grabbed my cart and headed down a different aisle. He followed me. “You aren’t my type.”

  “Not your type?” he asked with a laugh. “Are you saying you’re into short blonds who are much rounder around the middle?”

  “I didn’t say I preferred your polar opposite.”

  He kept walking with me. “Come on. Why won’t you just have dinner with me? You know we’re going to keep running into each other.”

  I stopped in front of the chips and looked at him.

  He leaned close to me again, like we were the only people in the store. The look in his eyes was like he was about to land a kill. Desire burned like fire, and I wanted to be the firewood that turned to ash.

  “I know what kind of guy you are. I’ve dated a lot of them.”

  “Really?” he asked. “We’ve seen each other twice, and you think you know me?”

  “You’re a player.”

  He shrugged. “So?”

  “So?” He didn’t bother denying it. “We’re going to go out a few times, have amazing sex, and then you’re going to run off with the next girl you see. You never stay in one place too long. You’re constantly on the go.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” He didn’t smile, but his eyes glowed in amusement.

  “Nothing.” I shook my head and waved off the insinuation. “But I’m the kind of girl who always falls for guys like that.”

  His flirtatious attitude disappeared, and he was serious for the first time since I met him. “Then don’t.”