Cesar (Blood and Thunder 4)

By Susan Stephens

Author note: The stories in the Blood and Thunder series are hot and have language some may object to. This book was previously entitled BRAZILIAN UNLEASHED

With this ring...
Ruthless polo-playing Special Ops hard-man takes on more than he expects with a kick-ass mail order bride.

Threatened by her violent step-father, Mica Del Roca expects to die next time the master criminal known simply as Del Roca tries to rape her. She needs to get far away from him as she can. Isla Celeste, a beautifully exotic and heavily fortified island belonging to the Blood and Thunder polo team appears to offer the perfect refuge.

Cesar, the rock-hard, ice-cold mystery man of the Blood and Thunder team wants sex on tap and a good cook in his kitchen.

What better than a mail order bride?

When the woman he selects turns out to be the daughter of his oldest enemy, Cesar sees the chance for revenge as well as pleasure in his bed.

Can martial arts specialist Mica tame Cesar, or will this brute of a man prove too cold for even this up-beat, determined, and most resilient of women to train?
To turn Cesar from cold-hearted brute to fiercely hot and ultimately caring lover might prove too much of a challenge even for Mica.

Susan Stephens has written more than 85 books in contemporary romance and non-fiction, and is a USA TODAY best-selling author with sales in excess of 10 million books. These are translated into 26 languages across 109 countries.

Blood and Thunder series
ALEXEI 1#
DANTE 2#
DIEGO 3#
CESAR 4#
CONOR 5# Coming soon

Hot Hex series
WARRIOR WITCH 1#
ROYAL WITCH 2#
CHRISTMAS WITCH 3#
More in this series coming soon

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Stephens
• Release date: Jun 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781910604342

Susan Stephens

Romance with heart, heat and red-hot men, written by author addicted to all of the above.Latest release for Harlequin... UNTOUCHED UNTIL THE GREEK’S RETURNBLOOD AND THUNDER SERIES Dangerous women. Hard men. Ferocious passion.ALEXEI. https://books2read.com/u/m2leOdDANTE. https://books2read.com/u/38dejVDIEGO https://books2read.com/u/me9XezCESAR https://books2read.com/u/mB25GACONOR https://books2read.com/u/baDBNQBooks 1-4 BLOOD AND THUNDER available as box set https://books2read.com/u/mYGQ7YHOT HEX seriesWARRIOR WITCH https://books2read.com/u/3Gw5yPROYAL WITCH. https://books2read.com/u/4Xr6qNCHRISTMAS WITCH https://books2read.com/u/49nXRwFIRE WITCH. https://books2read.com/u/3n2eB8USA TODAY best-selling author Susan Stephens has global sales of over 10 million books. Translated into 26 languages across 109 countries, Susan's 75th book recently hit the shelves.A professional singer before meeting her husband on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, in true romance style they met on Monday, became engaged on Friday and were married three months later.Susan's menagerie consists of dogs, cats, horses, a donkey, several guinea pigs, a husband and three terrific children.Sue enjoys entertaining, travel, and going to the theatre. To relax she reads, cooks and plays the piano, and when she's had enough of relaxing she throws herself off mountains on skis, or gallops through the countryside singing loudly.But most of all, she loves hearing from you, her readers, and keeping in touch via regular newsletters.FREE story for new subscribers.Newsletter Sign-up:https://subscribepage.com/f9n2j5

Book preview

Chapter One

Sex wasn’t simply a sport, but an art form in which he took the greatest pride.

From the first flash of interest to the surge of senses sharpening and on to the thundering conclusion, he loved sex almost as much as he enjoyed working out. Snatching a towel from the stack in the gym, he wiped down. Burying his face in it, he drew a deep, steadying breath. Extreme exercise made no impact on his libido, which still roared like a freight train on a collision course with destiny. In less than a week’s time, he’d be hitched to a woman he had yet to meet. Sex on tap and a respectable partner at his side made sense to him.

His three colleagues on the Blood and Thunder polo team were newly married and had already sorted the problem, leaving him like a lone wolf with no place at their gatherings. After years of comradeship, he found himself isolated and had reluctantly concluded that it was time to put some order into his own life. How his colleagues had found time to select a suitable bride remained a mystery to him. He’d left the detail to his PA.

Cursing at the thought of a woman permanently lodged in his life, he dropped the towel and took out his frustration on the heavy bag. The shortlist of women his PA, Mary, had selected for his perusal were due to arrive on the island within the hour. He’d assess them and make his choice. He looked forward to the first meet, when every perception came into play, the searching gaze that lasted a beat too long and set electricity crackling. Response to touch was a crucial indicator. That told him how a seduction should proceed. He liked to tease and make them wait. Delay was the servant of pleasure. Uncovering the treasures of a woman’s body could not be rushed. He took his time. Always.

Standing back from the bag, he set up for the next set of reps and delivered a series of well-aimed kicks and blows. Aggression was useful on the polo field, where his nom de guerre was Killer, as well as in his work as a vigilante with his colleagues on the Blood and Thunder team. He swung around as the gym door opened.

Good morning, Cesar.

Mary. Unclenching his fists, he faced his elderly PA as the gym door closed. Catching sight of his reflection in the wall of mirrors, he had to wonder how he’d won such unflagging devotion from such a sweet old lady. Sweat patches darkened his fight top. His face was grim. Stubble darkened his skin. A bandana kept his hair out of his eyes, making him look like a particularly vicious pirate. His muscles could have been invented in a graphics studio specializing in kick-ass film franchises. He was a deadly weapon in human form.

You’ll need a new punching bag if you don’t give that one a rest soon, Mary observed as he unleashed one last round of kicks and punches.

Yeah, yeah, he commented gruffly as he finished with a series of blistering roundhouse kicks. Even you can’t distract me from my first exercise of the day, he said as he stopped. Correction. This was his second exercise of the day. The new maid at his beach house had been the first when she brought his coffee while he was taking a shower. She’d gotten really wet. He’d served her first, then drunk the coffee. The coffee had more heat. She’d been a pallid disappointment. If she’d been a polo pony, she’d have been up for sale by now.

Cesar…

Later, Mary, he snapped at the only woman permitted to interrupt him.

Hell. What? Permitted? Mary did as she pleased. This was one sweet old lady with balls. Mary was his honorary mom, but if he didn’t finish his regular sequence, he’d be a raging bull for the rest of the day.

He’d be a raging bull anyway.

Cesar!

Reluctantly, he paused and shot a glance at Mary. You’re the only human being on the face of God’s good earth allowed in here while I’m working. A privilege that can easily be withdrawn.

Mary remained unfazed. I thought you’d like to know that the ferry has docked, she informed him mildly.

And?

And I thought you might want to look over our new visitors. Take a shower, at least, before you interview them.

Steadying the bag, he turned around. That’s your job.

Choosing a bride is different to hiring regular staff.

I’m not choosing a bride. I’m buying one. There’s a difference.

You’ll regret it.

I doubt that somehow.

You’re happy for me to choose your life partner?

He didn’t even have to think about that. I trust you. Just make sure there are no Cinderellas, no bleeding hearts, no nuns or charity cases, and you’ll do fine. Pick me a woman with spunk—a biddable woman.

You won’t find those two qualities in the same woman.

Mary’s infuriating good sense needled him. I’ll trial a few and send them back if they’re unsuitable.

No, Cesar, she stated firmly. That’s what you do with polo ponies. These are women with feelings.

He frowned. Ponies have feelings.

Mary’s heavy sigh voiced her displeasure more effectively than a whip and spur. Your need for a wife is more urgent than I thought, she observed, vinegar souring her tone.

Ignoring this, he instructed, I’ll shower outside. Line ’em up for inspection when they arrive. Ignoring the heavy sigh of his self-appointed guardian angel, he signaled the end of this gym session by unwinding the bandages from his hands.

A friendly-looking girl joined Mica in line as they waited to pay for coffee in the ferry cafeteria before docking. Alexa, she announced.

Mica. Hi. Mica smiled at the other girl as she paid for her drink and bagel-to-go.

You going to the same place I am? Alexa queried as she moved up to the register.

This is a one-stop ferry. Mica shrugged and smiled, feeling an immediate affinity with Alexa. When we land on Isla Celeste, I’m heading for the Beach House. You?

Same place, Alexa confirmed with a grin. SUV picking you up?

That’s what I’ve been told to look out for. You too?

Yeah. Good to have company, Alexa added as she turned to pay for her food.

Mica felt a stab of concern. There were a lot of far more attractive women than she was on the ferry. This was beginning to sound like a mass audition rather than the done deal she’d been led to expect by the PA she’d spoken to on the phone. Are you supposed to meet up with Cesar? she asked as Alexa lifted her tray.

Hell, no. Alexa grimaced as she turned back to face Mica. I hear he’s a bastard to work for. Don’t tell me you’re going to be working for him.

Supposedly. Mica wasn’t ready to confide in anyone. A shiver of apprehension rippled down her spine at the thought of meeting a man with such a formidable reputation. She drove it away. She wasn’t used to gentlemanly men, so why would a man like Cesar Vital, reputed to be ruthless and remote, be a problem? In any case, it was too late for second thoughts. Too much hung on this mission for Mica to lose her nerve now.

Good luck, Alexa called back as some women waved her over to their table. Want to join us?

Thanks, but I’m going on deck to get some fresh air.

"Can’t say I blame you, if you’ve got him to look forward to. Alexa pulled a comic face. I’ll be meeting his housekeeper and hopefully working for her, which should be a doddle compared to what you’ve got to look forward to. See you onshore?"

Yeah. In the SUV, Mica confirmed, pinning a smile to her anxious face as she made her way to the door.

Forearm alert! Alexa fanned herself theatrically as the vehicle bringing the two girls to the Beach House drew to a halt in a vast, shaded courtyard. Damn if that man hasn’t got the best forearms I’ve ever seen.

Mica had run through a lot of possible scenarios in her mind since chatting to Alexa on the ferry, but had not expected to be confronted the moment they arrived by such a brazen display of raw sex. The colossus standing beneath the outdoor shower might as well have been naked. Tanned, ripped, swarthy, and compelling, with a thick mop of wild black hair, he was stunning. What made the vision even more compelling was the fact that he was stripped to the waist while lazily swishing water over his magnificent torso with long, languorous strokes.

That’s got to be Cesar, Alexa breathed as she craned her head to get a better look. Hell’s teeth, he’s hot.

Mica hummed agreement, trying not to sound too keen. She’d done her homework and knew it was Cesar. The best-looking man on the team in her eyes, he was unmistakeable with his thick, dark hair, steel-gray eyes, and big, powerful frame. The camera loved him, and his photo as a top-class polo player was readily available, though details about the man remained a mystery. His past was largely unknown, but had sinister overtones that suggested violence and death. There was only one certainty. No one messed with Cesar.

Courting danger seemed to be her lot. She could handle it; handle him, Mica concluded. She’d have to, she reasoned as Alexa feigned a swoon. Mica’s body reacted furiously to her first sight of Cesar in the flesh, while her heart fluttered with alarm, which was hardly surprising when she hoped to be in his bed within the week.

You okay? Alexa asked with concern.

Fine, Mica confirmed. That’s just a lot of man to take in so early in the day.

I’m sure you’d manage with some lubrication.

Alexa’s laugh was infectious and wicked, and it made Mica laugh too. As the driver came around to let them out, they returned to staring at Cesar.

Can you imagine how many notches he’s got on his headboard? Alexa murmured.

No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me, Mica said with a grin.

I’ve no idea, Alexa admitted, but my best guess is you wouldn’t mind adding to them? She raised a brow as she stared at Mica.

I’m planning a whole new lace design, Mica confirmed.

Yeah, right, she thought as Alexa gave a throaty chuckle. What Mica knew about sex could be written on the head of a pin with room to spare, while Cesar looked as if he’d invented the sport.

Rather you than me, Alexa exclaimed. "I wouldn’t have the nerve to take that on, let alone the experience required to deal with him."

Mica should have factored a real fast learning curve into her thinking, she realized now. Studying Cesar’s brooding image in a magazine hadn’t prepared her for quite so much man.

We’ll be fine, Alexa assured her, giving Mica’s arm a squeeze. Life’s a big adventure. If you never try things out, you’ll never know what you’re missing.

Ignorance is bliss in my case, Mica teased, knowing there was a good deal of truth behind her statement. All she had to rely on was that nothing in her future could be worse than her past.

I’m aiming for Mr. Steady and Reliable, so I’m in no danger, Alexa said confidently. I’m so glad we met, she added warmly. "Sounds to me like you’re