The Fire We Crave by S. Cole is live!

The third book in the Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado series, this is Smoke’s story, and it’s an emotional and steamy age gap, enemies-to-lovers romance with a forbidden twist. It’s a great read that had me hooked from start to finish, and I loved it!

 

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Blurb

From USA Today best selling author, Scarlett Cole, writing as S. Cole, comes an electrifying small town MC, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers romance.

Quinn
Two things happened on my thirteenth birthday. My older sister went missing. And I told Smoke Callahan, the Iron Outlaws Road Captain, that it was his fault she was gone.
Fourteen years later, I still hate him.
But hate doesn’t keep me safe when the Bratva sets its sights on me.
I need protection. The kind only a ruthless, broken man like Smoke can provide.
So I make him an offer. I’ll help him recover from the burns that nearly cost him his life. In return, he keeps me breathing.
It should be simple. It isn’t.
Because the more time I spend in his orbit, the more I see the man behind the scars. The one who carries a past as heavy as mine. And when he looks at me, it’s not hatred I see in his dark eyes anymore.
It’s something far more dangerous.

Smoke
Quinn Moran was just a kid when she came at me, fists flying, blaming me for her sister’s disappearance. I let her. I deserved it.
Now she’s all grown up—sharp-tongued, stubborn as hell, and standing in my cabin, asking for my protection.
I should say no. I should send her away.
But I don’t. Because even if she still hates me, I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt her.
Even if it means she learns the truth.
Even if it means she never forgives me.
Because she was never meant to be mine. But that won’t stop me from taking her.

 

 

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Review

4.5 stars

The third book in the Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado series, and it’s Smoke’s turn to have his story told in an emotional and steamy age gap, enemies-to-lovers romance with a forbidden twist. It’s a great read that had me hooked from start to finish, and I loved it!

Smoke and Quinn met when she was 13 and he was 20 and dating her older sister. She idolised him until her sister went missing, and even though she had no proof, she blamed Smoke and the Iron Outlaws for her disappearance. Now, it’s 14 years later and she’s still full of anger, but when her bakery is targeted by the Bratva – enemies of the MC – she needs protection.

Smoke is a soke jumper. His recent mission turned to tragedy when members of his team were killed and he was burned, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred. He’s now out of hospital and back home with the Outlaws and he’s struggling to move on from his loss and find his place. The last thing he needs is Quinn all up in his business, but she needs protection and he needs help, so they come to a mutually beneficial arrangement where she will stay with him in his home (with a guard) and help him out around the house while he’s recovering from his injuries.

It’s a great set-up that quickly builds excitement as we see and feel the attraction between Smoke and Quinn. They don’t want it, but they can’t ignore it, and the sense of building anticipation is fantastic!

“It’s killing me.”
“What is.”
“This. You and me. Shouldn’t even be saying you and me.”

They get to know each other, they open up to each other, and they start to understand each other. Smoke’s supportiveness and protectiveness over Quinn soothes her heart, and she accepts him for exactly who and what he is. And when Quinn really opens up, things get really interesting.

“I’m open to exploring the facets of myself I know exist but have never been tested.” I turn to face him. “I want a teacher, Smoke. Someone who already knows how to do the things I dream about.”

Smoke is a kinky bastard. He’s into pretty much anything and everything, and when Quinn expresses her desire to explore her kinky and submissive side, he knows he’s the man (Dom) for the job, especially because he’s halfway in love with her already. They get all kinds of dirty as they begin to explore all the things, and it only deeps their connection.

She’s the thing that’s been missing from my life.
Something I’ve never had with anyone else.
I want this expression of who we are together. That anything is possible between us, and that we both want it.

It’s a beautifully building love story because both Quinn and Smoke are so honest with each other. They don’t hold back their thoughts or their feelings, and I loved seeing them so vulnerable with each other, and so accepting of each other. Quinn openly declares that she wants all-consuming love. She wants a man who adores her, cares for her, and helps her discover who she is, and rather than scare Smoke off, it only draws him in closer. It’s so emotional watching them come together, and I loved their love story so much.

“I’m glad I was the only safe place you could think of running to. I’m glad you’re here, and I don’t want you to go.”

But while they’re falling in love, the Bratva’s campaign against the Iron Outlaws is escalating. The men and their families are in danger, and there’s action and excitement as all of that plays out, and the boys gear up to take down the bad guys.

The MC is a big part of the story, and we get to see a lot of the characters from the previous books in the series. Smoke and Atom are best friends, and their friendship is so fun – teasing yet deep when needed, and I loved seeing them together. The girls continue their book club, which is highly entertaining, and the themes of found family are explored really well. There’s a great lead-in to the next book of the series for MC President, Butcher, and I can’t wait to get my hands on that one!

I’m loving this series, and I loved this book and seeing Smoke and Quinn find their HEA.

4.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

 

 

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Excerpt

Smoke’s eyes drop to his chest, and he places his hand over mine.
“You’re okay, Smoke. So am I. It’s all okay.” The words are softly spoken. Soothing, like you would for a frightened child.
My heart hammers loudly in my chest, and it’s not just the adrenaline of the situation.
It’s the way I feel Smoke’s heartbeat beneath my palm. It’s the way his hand sits over mine, covering it completely, so strong and warm. It’s the way his thumb rubs over my fingers and the way his eyes darken with heat and arousal.
It’s his presence. The way we feel so…joined. His eyes raise to my lips as he runs his tongue over his lower lip.
Neither of us moves.
The world continues around us. Birds chirp, cicadas do their thing, but we’re stuck in a vortex. Swirling. Chaotic. All consuming.
“The prospects need to be protecting you,” he says finally.
But his voice is gruff, layered with nuance it’s impossible to interpret.
“And he was. Who was protecting you?”
“I don’t need protecting.”
I shake my head sadly. “I think you do.”
Smoke cups my cheeks before I have time to process, his hold firm.
“Fuck it,” he mutters, more to himself than to me, I think.
Then, he dips his head and kisses me.
And it’s everything I ever read about.
It’s angry yet filled with the kind of passion that sweeps you up and knocks you over into the tumble of a huge wave of emotion.
My treacherous body capitulates to every small movement.
His lips stroke my mouth; I open.
His hands wrap around my waist; I throw mine around his neck.
I struggle to see anything beyond the way he feels against me.
When I step up against him, his cock lengthens and hardens against my stomach. His whole body envelops me, showing just how disparate our size difference is.
He doesn’t ask. He takes. But I’m wholeheartedly a willing participant. If anything, I want more. Every part of my body meets Smoke. If he began to strip my clothes to take me on the parched ground, I’d let him.
“Quinn,” he mutters against my lips as his hands roam my body, familiarizing themselves with my shape.
I’m gentle where he’s injured, but I slide my hand beneath his cut, and I’m immersed in the scent of leather and tobacco and him.
“Shit. No,” Smoke says suddenly, lightly gripping my wrists before pushing me away from him.
The shift in his expression from need to disgust churns my stomach.
“I’m sorry,” I say, almost on autopilot, even though I’m not a hundred percent sure what I’m sorry for.
Hell, I’m not even sure how I fell headfirst into that kiss.
Smoke shakes his head. “Not your fault. Just—we can’t do that again.”
Unable to come up with anything else to say, I blurt one word: “Okay.”
Four letters that do absolutely nothing to convey the storm raging inside me right now.
“Okay,” he repeats.
But as I watch him stride into the house, ignoring the glass Shane left on the step, I know the fragile truce we were building is broken. And I wonder if we’ll ever truly be okay again.

 

Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado

 

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Meet the Author

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

 

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