I am so happy to welcome my fellow Totally Bound author, C.A. Szarek back to my blog and am thrilled that she's sharing an excerpt from her latest novel, Calculated Collision, the third book in the Crossing Forces series. If you haven't yet gotten into this series, this would be a great time to start because you've been missing out! Perhaps I'm biased because romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres to read, but this really is an exciting series and I can't wait for the next book to come out. Below is a synopsis and excerpt from Calculated Collision as well as links to where you can purchase your very own copy. :-)

Synopsis

Special Agent Lee Dawson has secrets. Secrets that forced her from Dallas to New York City in disgrace two years ago.

Dallas County Assistant District Attorney, Nate Crane, visits New York and witnesses the brutal murder of a friend. When Lee is assigned to the investigation, her personal and professional life collides. She can’t avoid the man she ditched six months ago.

She’s the one Nate can’t stop thinking about. The one he let get away. He’s determined to get her back, no matter what she thinks she wants. Being a witness in her case puts them close—and Nate intends to keep it that way.

After Nate’s attacked at a safe house, Lee knows there’s a leak – a dirty FBI agent working with the human trafficker her unit has been hunting for years.

Can Lee protect her witness and resist the heat between them or will she succumb to her desires and throw them both into danger?

Excerpt

Her heart hit overdrive and she shook her head. “Sorry I snapped at you.”

“It’s okay.” Nate came to her side and grabbed her hand.

She made the mistake of looking into his face and stilled, unable to pull her fingers out of his.

Their eyes locked and the words were on her tongue to order him to stop looking at her that way. Stop touching her. Stop everything. But when Nate lowered his head, Lee closed the distance between their mouths.

On a groan, she went to him, her breasts pushing into his chest even before she stretched to wrap her arms around his neck.

He deepened the kiss, rubbing his tongue against hers. Nate pulled her closer, squeezing her ass with both hands and rocking his pelvis against her. He was already hard, his erection evident, and Lee’s sex throbbed in response.

God, it’s been too long.

She moaned and kissed him harder. Lee rocked her hips into him, wanting him to know she wanted him as much as she ever had. Wanted him to read her mind. Know she was sorry for more than just snapping at him about things he didn’t know.

Lee cared about Nate.

Wait. No.

You can’t.

She put her hand to his chest and shoved. “No, Nate. I’m not doing this.” Lee panted, her whole body a live wire for him. He still lit her up from the inside out.

With one kiss. Made her feel more than any man ever had.

Kissing him was the same— No, it was better. Desire unfurled low and hot, and she struggled to breathe. To forget. Fought the urge to move back to him and let him take her mouth again.

“Why?” Nate put his hand on the wall as if he needed to steady himself. His chest heaved as he sucked in air. His cheeks were flushed and his mouth open.

She shivered when his tongue darted out to moisten his bottom lip. Lee swallowed hard. She shook her head. “Just…not going there.”

“Why, Lee?” He grabbed her shoulders, but he didn’t hurt or scare her.

Nate forced her backwards until she hit the wall outside the kitchen. He pressed forward, hazel eyes boring into her. He dipped his head low as if he would kiss her again, but stopped, lips hovering millimetres over hers.

Lee gasped, her heart kicking up a notch. “It’s…different.” The words were forced, cracked.

“How?” His warm breath was minty, tickling her mouth, her cheeks.

Her lips parted of their own accord and she struggled for coherent thought. He was too close, and she wanted him. Burned for him. “H-h-ow?” The repeated word fell out of her mouth fragmented.

Nate put one palm flat to the wall above her head, and the other at her waist. His chest wasn’t touching her breasts like it had been when he’d kissed her, but she could feel every inch of his body as if they were melded together.

She ached for him.

“How is now different than when we were together in Texas?” His voice had dropped, but his tone was even, calm. In complete control.

Somehow, it enflamed her even more.

“Nothing’s changed except venue. We were only fucking, remember? Can’t we fuck in New York?” he said the words she’d flung at him with a straight face.

A flush lit her from head to toe and Lee trembled. She’d hurt him when she’d said that to him the day she’d left Antioch. She’d hurt herself, too. Because it was a damn lie.

When he’d told her he felt something for her, that he thought they could make a go of a real relationship, she’d had to get him away from her. Had to make him change his mind—put him in check.

Lee didn’t need a reason—then or now—to admit the unwanted feelings Nate brought out in her. She’d had six months to get over him.

Yeah, that’d worked.

“Nate.” Lee meant to shout, scream, order him to move away, but his name came out as a croak. Strained. Wanton.

“Lee.” His mouth brushed hers. Tender. Soft. A question.

She fought the urge to close her eyes. Pain, confusion, guilt, desire—all rushed her at the same time, making her head spin. It took all she was made of to turn her face away. His second kiss landed on her cheek.

“Don’t, please.” Once again, the demand came out as a whisper.

Nate stilled. His hazel eyes searched her face when she managed to look at him again. But his jaw was tight, expression unreadable.

And there you go, you hurt him again. What a winner you are, Selena Dawson.

“You still want me, Lee.” His voice was even lower.

A tremor slid down her spine. What could she say? If she lied, he’d call her on it. Nate was an excellent body language interpreter. He’d told her once he pretty much detected deceit for a living. It made him a damn good prosecutor, but a crappy former lover. He was too in tune with her.

“Don’t tell me what I want.”

Nate smirked. “I don’t have to. Your body is screaming at me. For me.”

Like he read my mind.

He dragged two fingers down her bare forearm to her wrist. He caressed her knuckles and squeezed her hand.

Goosebumps rose and she shivered. Both reactions she couldn’t hide from him. “No.”

“No? I see it. Straining nipples. The rise and fall of your gorgeous breasts. You’re panting. Flushed cheeks, swollen lips. I see you tremble and beg for my touch. You can’t hide it, Selena Dawson. You. Want. Me.”

About C.A. Szarek:

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.