Never Look Back - Tim Smith

“Never Look Back”

I’m pleased to announce that my new romantic spy thriller from eXtasy Books, Never Look Back, has become a bestseller at All Romance EBooks. This is the second in the Nick Seven series I began last year with Memories Die Last  (also an ARE bestseller) but like all my series titles, it stands alone.

“Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens left the CIA to carve out an idyllic anonymous life in The Florida Keys. The last thing they wanted was to be used by their former employer as pawns in America’s war on terror. Nick and Felicia navigate a complex maze of intrigue and double-crosses while dealing with a rogue agent from their past who has a score to settle. When Felicia becomes part of the scheme the stakes get higher and more personal. Can Nick keep her out of harm’s way or will he finally be outwitted? Will Felicia stay with him or return to Barbados?”

People have asked me about these characters and why I chose the setting I did. When I conceived the series I needed a place for these former spies to hang out, somewhere colorful where anything could happen but nothing that had been overused. I had recently visited The Florida Keys and asked myself a question – “If I were a former CIA spook who wanted to hide in plain sight, where would I go? Key Largo.” For plot purposes its ideal – Miami is to the north, and Key West is a couple of hours south.  A lot of action can take place on that hundred-mile stretch of islands.

Nick isn’t your typical spy guy action hero like you see on TV or in the movies. He isn’t married to his job like Gibbs on NCIS and he doesn’t ache to get back into the espionage game like Michael Weston on Burn Notice. Nor does he feel an unflagging loyalty to Queen and country like James Bond. Nick had enough and wants to stay the hell out of the game. Unfortunately his former employers have different ideas.

Every good adventure needs a sexy tough leading lady for the hero to bounce ideas and one-liners off of and Nick has Felicia, the Barbadian beauty he was once partnered with. He teasingly calls her “the toughest broad this side of the West Indies” but it’s no joke. She can kick ass with the best of them and the heat they generate between the sheets could melt the polar ice cap.  Here’s an example:

Nick lay in bed trying to go to sleep, but after the evening’s events it wasn’t possible. He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled a relaxing breath. He opened his eyes when he felt Felicia’s hand gently running along his chest. He raised his head and looked over at her. Her eyes were open and she stared at him.

He sat up and leaned against the headboard. A wisp of moonlight shone through the open curtains and highlighted her soft brown eyes.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

She slowly shook her head while moving her hand down his torso. “Nothin’ wrong. I just don’t feel like sleepin’.”

“Want to talk about it?”

She scooted over then kissed him. “Don’t feel like talkin’, either.” She paused. “You saved me tonight—again.”

He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “You’re worth it.”

Her hand moved further south. “Seein’ you show your tough side makes me hot.”

She leaned in and kissed a light trail along his cheek while her fingers roamed the back of his neck. “I just feel so close to you,” she whispered. “When all hell broke loose you didn’t hesitate. You wanted to make sure I didn’t get hurt.”

Nick peered into her eyes. They gave off a soft glow in the dimness. He felt something inside, a warmth and a longing to bond with Felicia in the most intimate way, to make her a part of him. He gave her a deep kiss and felt her breasts moving against his chest and her hand fondling him into hardness.

“I’m feeling pretty close to you, too,” he said.

Felicia slithered down his body and took his hard-on into her mouth. She lovingly sucked him while her hand squeezed and stroked. The fingers of her other hand raked his chest. Nick moaned softly as Felicia got him fully hard. He wanted to pull her to him but knew this was her seduction. He reached down to play with her nipple, tweaking it between his fingers until it was hard and puckered. Felicia purred and sucked him harder and deeper, working her throat down his length. She teasingly ran the tip of her tongue along his swollen head, making him jerk and pulse.

Nick’s breathing rate accelerated. “I love it when you do that.” He opened his eyes and looked at Felicia’s head bobbing up and down, increasing his excitement.

“Felicia, I need you,” he panted.

Felicia straddled him, grasped his cock and placed it at her wet opening. Slowly, teasingly, she lowered herself onto him. When he was completely imbedded inside her she stopped, panting softly. She placed her open palms on Nick’s chest and began riding him in a steady rhythm.

“So damn hard,” she whispered.

                                                                        * * * *

Action and intrigue abound in Nick and Felicia’s world, whether they want it or not. In these stories I like to take the Alfred Hitchcock approach – when you least expect something to happen, it probably will:

Felicia covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. Nick placed his hand on hers and squeezed. “My angel looks tired. Want to go home?”

“Yeah.” She paused. “Thanks for makin’ me go out today. Made me feel better.”

“You’re welcome. I just wanted to cheer you up and get your mind off things.”

She reached over and caressed his cheek. “For a tough guy, you can be sensitive when you have to be.”

“Maybe I need to work on that.”

They left the club via the outdoor exit then walked to the parking lot out front. When they reached a dark spot Felicia suddenly stopped, pulled Nick’s face to hers then kissed him.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Just because.” She stroked his brow. “You complainin’?”

“Of course not.”

Nick took her in his arms and kissed her again. He felt Felicia’s hands on his shoulders and got more into their passionate embrace. Felicia pulled him a bit lower while kissing him with more intensity.

Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sound of rapid gunfire and bullets hitting the building behind them. Nick looked in wide-eyed terror in the direction the shots were coming from, then shoved Felicia to the ground. He collapsed on top of her and hugged her tightly, keeping his head down. There was a brief lull and then the shooting started again. Chunks of plaster landed on Nick’s back. After another minute the shooting stopped. Nick heard sirens approaching, followed by the sound of a car peeling rubber as it left the parking lot.

Nick got to his feet and sprinted toward the exit but only saw a dark compact car speeding north on U.S. 1. He ran back to Felicia and helped her to her feet.

“Are you okay?” he frantically asked.

Felicia took deep breaths and nodded. “Okay.”

* * * *

Now that you’ve seen the trailer, read the full story. If you suddenly find yourself thirsting for a Pina Colada or wanting to take a siesta under the palms, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author whose books range from romantic mystery/thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. His website is www.timsmithauthor.com.

Purchase: Amazon Never Look Back