ICE
(Bones MC 14): A Bones MC Romance
by Marteeka Karland
Motorcycle Club Romance
Date Published: November 10, 2023
Ice -- The second to last thing I expected when Cain called Church was for him to resign as president of Bones. The last thing I expected was to be voted in as president myself. So when I found myself on a rescue mission for the daughter of the Devil himself? Well. I wasn’t surprised at all. What did surprise me was the woman herself. Sure, I’d met her on more than one occasion, but the teenage girl I’d seen a couple of years before is definitely not the woman I pull out of the rushing water when she gets stranded in the middle of a hurricane.
Dawn -- Coming home during a hurricane isn’t one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. Neither is getting mixed up with the man who was the reason for me taking such a risk. So when I’m stranded with water overtaking my car, I thought I’d finally tempted fate for the last time. Until my guardian angel plucks me from the water and saves me. In more ways than one. He’s the new president of Bones MC and a man I can’t deny I want with every fiber of my being.
WARNING: Ice features a protective hero, a determined heroine and includes graphic violence and adult situations that may be triggers for some readers. Eventual happy ending and no cheating, as always.
Excerpt
Marteeka Karland
All rights reserved
Copyright ©2023 Marteeka Karland
“Dawn!” The man had to raise his voice over the wind though we weren’t to the point where he had to yell. Yet. “We need to get back to my ride.” I looked up at the man who held my arm in a firm but gentle grip. He was gruff and insistent, and I thought I recognized him.
“Cliff?”
“Yeah. They call me Ice now. I’m takin’ you back to the Salvation’s Bane clubhouse. Are you injured?”
I shook my head. “No. Just wet. I’m sorry I left the car.”
“The storm surge is starting. With high tide coming, the water’s gonna rise fast. You didn’t have a choice.” He took off his rain jacket and put it around me, helping me thread my arms through it before zipping it up and pulling the hood over my head. He tightened down the laces so the wind wouldn’t immediately blow it off.
“We’ve got to go three blocks that way.” He pointed in the direction he wanted to take me. “All you have to do is stay on your feet and keep your head down. Can you do that for me?” Looking up into his face, I nodded. “Good. Let’s go.”
Ice had a firm grip on my hand as he led the way. We moved quickly through the flooded streets, the water now up to our knees and rising fast. The wind was howling around us. Even though he’d tightened it almost uncomfortably, my hood didn’t last two seconds once we were out of the relative shelter of the doorway. My hair whipped into my face, making it almost impossible to see where we were going. But Ice was a strong presence beside me, guiding me through the chaos with a steady hand and a sure sense of direction. Every so often, he would lean in close to my ear to be heard over the wind, giving me a few words of encouragement or advice.
“Keep your head down, Dawn! We’re almost there!”
I nodded, gritting my teeth against the driving rain and pushing on through the water. My legs were aching with my effort and my clothes were soaked through, but I refused to give up. I trusted in Ice and his ability to get us both to safety because my dad trusted him. No one failed my dad. Not if they wanted to live.
Finally, after what felt like hours of trudging through the water, we reached a parking garage. Ice took me up one level to the second floor. It was low to the ground but up high enough to keep us out of the water. I hoped.
He led me to the Bronco I’d been expecting and opened the back. “I’ve got some dry clothes and food. Might be too big for you but you’ll be warm and dry.”
Exhausted, I slumped against the vehicle, breathing hard. Once we’d made it to the parking garage, the going had been much easier, but the wind still howled through the structure and I was spent.
Ice opened the back of the truck. The tailgate swung out and he urged me behind it. He stood on the other side and turned his back, effectively guarding the open side from prying eyes. Surprisingly, the place seemed deserted. I’d have thought there would be other people taking shelter, but the town was small. Maybe they got everyone evacuated or to an actual shelter before the storm started.
He turned his head to the side, not looking at me, but like he was trying to see if I was moving. I wasn’t.
“You good?”
“I-I d-don’t know.”
Carefully, Ice turned farther until he saw I was still dressed, then he turned all the way and stepped closer to me. “You’re safe, Dawn. I swear I’ll keep you safe. I’ll protect you with my life.” Intense, dark eyes bore into my own. He was so tall and big, he loomed over me. I should have been intimidated but I wasn’t.
It was in that moment I realized why my dad trusted Ice so much. He was capable, strong, and fiercely loyal. He was also my calm in the middle of this storm. Literally. I also knew that like Cain and El Diablo, Ice was every bit as capable and sure of himself as they were. As I looked up at him, I saw a flicker of something in his gaze that made my heart race.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from the wind and the rain.
Ice’s hand found my chin, tilting my face up to his. “Trust me to see you through this. Yes?” I nodded. “Good. Get some dry clothes on. I’ve got your back.”
As I looked up into his face, one strangled sob escaped me. I thought he might look disgruntled or annoyed. Instead, Ice’s eyes got big and he rocked backward like he was going to step away from me. Then he shook his head and reached for me.
“Come here, honey.”
Having Ice pull me into his arms was the very last thing I expected. He surrounded me with his big frame, those strong arms holding me tightly when I felt like I was going to fragment into a million pieces.
I wanted to break down. Wanted to let the fear wash through me so I could cleanse myself of it. Get it out of my system. But this was only the beginning. I knew the worst was yet to come, and that was assuming we could get out of this stupid parking garage and to the Salvation’s Bane clubhouse.
“Take some deep breaths for me.” His gruff voice was oddly soothing. His arms around me kept me grounded when I knew I was so in over my head -- literally -- there was no way I could fight this on my own. I could feel the heavy muscles of his chest where I had my cheek on his wet shirt. The water was hot from the heat of his skin and as he rubbed one hand gently up and down my back, the tension lessened inside me somewhat.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. This is a pretty scary situation.”
Strangely, I felt a laugh bubble up in my throat. “You can say that again.”
He grunted, holding me a few seconds longer before pulling back. “You can do this, Dawn. Get some dry clothes on and I’ll do the same. Then we’ll check in with Thorn and Ripper. They’re keeping an eye on the weather minute by minute.”
“I think Shotgun is too.”
“I’m sure he is. Likely, he and Ripper are in constant contact, conferring with each other and figuring out the best course of action for us. They’ll get me the most accurate information they can, and I’ll decide what we do next.”
Again, I nodded. “OK.” I took another breath. “OK. I can do this.”
He nodded sharply at me. “Of course, you can. You’re El Diablo’s daughter.” He raised his chin looking proud. Of me? Then he turned his back so I could have some privacy.
About the Author
International bestselling author Marteeka Karland leads a double life as an erotic romance writer by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.
Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.
Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
.gif)
No comments:
Post a Comment