Unbridled Heat [Men of Iron Horse 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Morgan Fox

He put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “You’ll stay with me tonight.”

  She closed her eyes, thankful he’d offered. She didn’t want to be alone. “Okay.”

  Luke faced Sam. “Would you give her a ride to her apartment so that she can get whatever she needs? I’ll pick her up once I finish here.”

  “She can just stay with me,” Sam grumbled, her eyes darting from her to Luke and back again.

  The tension in the room was thick enough to slice with a knife. Watching the cold glare from Luke and Sam was alarming. They were both only trying to protect her.

  “It’s okay, Sam,” Layla said, stepping up to hold her hand. “I’ll be fine at my apartment. Would you be able to give me a ride?”

  “Of course.”

  As Jason and Sam left the room, she saw regret in Luke’s eyes and that pleased her. “Maybe when you finish up here you can come over.”

  Some of the tension faded from him. “I’ll see you soon.”

  She nodded and followed out after Sam. She didn’t know how long it would take him to get done whatever he needed to, but she was sure that no matter what time it was that he showed up, she wouldn’t be sleeping. How could she?

  Chapter Ten

  Luke worked through the night and submitted all his paperwork. He couldn’t wait to tell Layla the wonderful news. The arson investigator found a crucial piece of evidence linking the suspect to both cases, Layla’s positive ID and the bottle of accelerant he’d used and dumped in a garbage bin a block away from the bar. His fingerprints were all over it. Clean and quick. Exactly how he liked his cases, which usually never went that way.

  Earlier in the night, he’d called Layla to inform her that he was running further behind than he’d expected. She sounded disappointed and he liked that. There was tingling in his chest as he thought about how much he wanted to see her and how she’d obviously wanted to be with him, too. He’d make up for his absence the moment he had her in his arms again.

  What the hell was that? Excitement over seeing a woman. When had that ever happened to him?

  Never…

  He shook the thoughts away and grabbed the keys to his truck. It was a fifteen-minute drive to her place and as he pulled in he saw Sam’s car. If it hadn’t been for his promise to Layla that he would stop by on his way home, he would’ve kept driving.

  Even though he was glad Sam had stayed with Layla, he really wasn’t in the mood for one of her hateful glares or snippy comments. She didn’t like him. He got it. He didn’t need the constant reminder of her disappointment in him. Why it bothered him now, he didn’t know. It just did.

  As he knocked on the door, Sam opened it. “Did you plan to sit in your car until I left?” she asked, rolling her eyes and letting him inside.

  He clenched his teeth. “I’m tired, Sam. Can you cut me a break?”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “Anything good to report?”

  “We’re bringing him up on arson charges as well as assault.”

  Sam grinned. “Yeah, I’ll cut you a break. Can you stick around? I want to go tell Jason.”

  He arched a brow. “Can’t you use the phone?”

  She leaned forward and whispered, “If I did that, I’d have to stay here with you and Layla. If I go…”

  He smiled. “Got it. Thanks.”

  She smacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it.” She raised her index finger in warning. “Don’t make me regret it.”

  Just as the front door closed behind Sam, Layla appeared. “Where’s she going?”

  She looked sleepy and sexy as hell in her short blue nightshirt. Damn, how the sight of her lean legs made him hard. He swallowed the lump that was suddenly in his throat. “She went to find Jason.”

  Layla frowned. “Why did she do that? Did something happen?”

  He moved to hold her. “She wanted to tell him that Marshall Monroe is going to go away for a long time.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  He shook his head. “The arson investigator found evidence connecting him to the fire.”

  “That’s awesome,” she said, pressing her cheek to his chest. “I’m so glad. Now I don’t have to move.”

  He chuckled. “I’m happy I could be of some assistance, then.”

  “There’s one other thing you can do for me, if you’re up for it,” she told him.

  Arching a brow he waited for her to say whatever it was. His mind and body both hoped it had something to do with the desk she mentioned owning.

  “You can take me to breakfast. I’m starving.”

  He exhaled, trying hard to keep his disappointment from radiating outward. “Sure. I’d like that, but then I might need to get some sleep.”

  Her jaw dropped open as she eased back to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot. That’s so selfish of me. Would you like to just go home? I’m more than capable of feeding myself.”

  The idea of leaving her didn’t sit right with him. He could sleep later. He wanted her now. “No. That’s all right.”

  A coy smile sprung to her lips. “It’s fine, really. I can manage. You go home and get some rest.”

  He knew that he should, but he couldn’t seem to make his feet move. He liked holding her, even as exhausted as he was. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she turned as he approached, covering her mouth.

  “Oh, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”

  He smiled. “Me either. Not since yesterday morning.”

  Staring up at him through her long, dark lashes, she hesitated, but then dropped her hand. With a slow caress, he brushed his lips over hers. As her arms wrapped around him, pulling him against her in a tender hug, he realized that he’d missed her. Maybe it was the lack of sleep clouding his mind, but he craved spending time with Layla. It had to be the sweetness she so eagerly shared with him. Most women came at him with only desire and lust in their eyes. When he looked at her, she was different. Her need was for him. At least, that was how it seemed.

  She touched the side of his face, her eyes filled with concern. “You look so tired. How about you stay here with me and get some sleep?”

  “But you’re hungry.”

  “I can grab something here to eat. I’ve got bagels. Would you like one?” She stepped around him and moved into the kitchen. “I can toast one up for you if you’d like.”

  “That would be great.” He slid up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “I also like the idea of going to bed with you.”

  She turned to face him, a warm smile on her face. “To sleep,” she reminded him.

  “Right. Sleep.”

  He let her go so she could return to preparing their breakfast. She pulled out some orange juice from the refrigerator, while he grabbed two glasses from the cabinet beside him. As she sliced the bagels and popped them into the toaster, he poured them some orange juice. There was fluidity in the way they moved around each other, careful only to brush against each other. She couldn’t seem to keep her distance from him just as he couldn’t from her. His fingers tingled with a need to press upon her skin, being close to her was all he thought about. Sleep be damned. He wanted her.

  “Here you go,” she said, turning to hand him a plate with the bagel on it.

  He stared at the food and then her. He took the plate from her hand and sat it down on the counter. Then he picked her up and placed her on the counter in front of him. Cradling between her legs, he crushed his mouth over hers. She purred as he kissed her, gliding his lips over her cheek and jaw line. Dipping his head down, he quickly unbuttoned her shirt and discovered her arousal at the sight of her hardened nipples. He took the tip into his mouth and sucked. Her fingers weaved through his hair, holding him against her as he feasted. Her scent was maddening.

  There was something so desperate about the way they touched and kissed one another. He snaked his arm around her and carried her over to the table. She lifted her hips as he pulled her panties down her legs and tossed them to the floor. In a breath, she dug he
r fingers into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out the condom he carried just for her. She tore open the package as he freed his shaft from his pants. Gritting his teeth, he watched as she slid the thin latex over his dick and then pulled him toward her as she leaned back. She was wet and hot as he entered her.

  Their frantic need drove him to thrust with a fierceness. Weaving his fingers behind her neck, he kept her from leaning back too far, the angle like heaven as he drilled deep. She wrapped her legs around his hips, the pressure of her heels digging into his ass coaxed him closer to the edge. Sweat covered his brow.

  Panting and writhing in his arms, she was making him lose control. He plunged inside her, control almost lost. She cried out and he was quick to follow after her.

  Clinging to each other, he held her until he could finally breathe without feeling dizzy. When he glanced down at her, she was smiling.

  “I’ll never look at this table or breakfast the same again,” she told him.

  He chuckled, stepping back to move to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he returned she had buttoned up her shirt, and her panties still rested on the floor.

  She handed him the plate with the bagel on it. “Let’s try this again.”

  He took the plate. “I couldn’t help myself.”

  “I noticed.” She paused. “And I’m glad.”

  They finished their bagels and juice and he followed her into the bedroom. She helped him out of his clothing and pulled down the comforter for him. “You sleep. I’m going to take a shower.”

  He reached for her, but she swatted his hand away. “No. Be a good boy. Get some rest.”

  He frowned.

  She laughed. “Don’t give me that look.” She stepped up to kiss him, but quickly shimmied away when he tried to hold her. “Sleep. I’ll be back.”

  He got into her bed and was quickly engulfed by her fragrance. Her pillow smelled like strawberries. He loved strawberries.

  As she disappeared into her bathroom, he heard the water turn on. As delightful images of her washing her body filled his mind, he sank comfortably into her bed. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep, content and more relaxed than he’d ever been.

  * * * *

  Several weeks had gone by and Layla couldn’t believe that Luke was still in her life. How one night had turned into weeks was beyond her. She’d been more than positive that he would only be a one night stand. But here he was, in her bed again, sleeping. They’d spent every day together and it wasn’t just to have sex. He’d come over to watch movies, took her to dinner. They were—dating.

  Staring at him in the bed beside her, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Strange as it was, she felt like they’d been together for a lifetime. Waking up beside him seemed surreal.

  “I’m going to have to charge you with stalking if you don’t stop staring at me like that.”

  She laughed. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

  His eyes popped open. “How long have you been awake?”

  Glancing at the clock, she told him, “Since six.”

  He frowned. “It’s nine and you didn’t think to wake me?”

  “You’re off today so I thought I’d let you sleep.”

  He tugged her down, smothering her with his body. She let out a girlish giggle as he kissed her and tickled her. Her bed had never been as cozy as it did when he stayed with her. He’d become the perfect accent to her bedroom.

  When he kissed her it was soft as a feather and teased her like the sweetness of chocolate. As she opened her eyes to see him, he was smiling. It was a look she was getting used to seeing.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  She arched her brow.

  He rolled over, taking her with him. “I’m…happy,” he finally admitted.

  A pinch in her chest had her inhaling deeply. Luke was happy. With her. She nibbled her lower lip, not sure what to make of what was happening between them. And before she could overanalyze things, she moved off him and the bed.

  “I’m supposed to go into the bar today. Jason’s called an employee meeting. I think he wants to update us on the bar reopening. It’s going to need some remodeling work, but the main bar area wasn’t affected by the fire.” She moved to her dresser to grab a pair of blue jeans. “Would you mind coming to the bar tonight? We could go out afterward, if you’d like.”

  When he didn’t say anything, she glanced back to look at him. He was leaning on his elbows watching her. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” she lied. Fear of losing what she found with Luke consumed her heart and sent emotions running wild through her mind. “I just hoped you’d grab something to eat with me before the day got away from us.”

  Hesitating a moment, he whipped the covers off him and moved to dress. “How about we go to the diner? I can drop you off at Iron Horse after and then come get you when you’re done.”

  “That works,” she said, sitting down to tie her shoes. “This will be my first day back to work in a month. It will be great to do something—”

  “Other than me,” he teased.

  She grinned. “To earn some money,” she finished.

  “Right. That. Money.”

  Once he finished dressing, he followed her out of the bedroom and they made their way to the restaurant on his motorcycle. She’d grown accustomed to riding with him. The thrill of holding him as he navigated through traffic was exhilarating. And she couldn’t seem to shake the memory of how he’d fucked her on it, something she’d do again and again if he wanted.

  A delicious flutter sank low in her belly as she remembered how insatiable he’d been. For her.

  They arrived at the diner and both got their usual. Bacon cheeseburgers with sweet potato fries and iced teas. Luke had introduced her to several of the cops he worked with and she wondered if he’d ever done that with anyone else. She liked the idea of being the first woman to do certain things with him. He’d told her she was the first to go to his house, the first to stay the night with him, the first to go to his favorite diner. The more time she spent with him, the longer the list of firsts got. For someone who had the playboy reputation he had, he kept a lot of his life personal. And the fact he was sharing those things with her confused her.

  What did it all mean? She wanted to ask him, but feared he would simply freak out and all that they shared would crumble to her feet. Somewhere along the way she’d fallen in love with him. It might have happened the first time she’d meet him, lying in the street inches from the front wheel of his truck. Then again, it could’ve happened when he’d cradled her in his arms after she’d come to him for a night of pleasure. Perhaps it was the moment he showed up at her apartment to tell her that she was safe from her attacker. There were so many instances that could have put her heart in jeopardy. And now that it was, she was lost to what to do next.

  Like a coward, rather than face those fears, she ignored them, hoping that he wouldn’t see the emotions blustering inside her.

  “You barely touched your burger,” he pointed out.

  “I know. I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought I was.” Her wild emotions were wreaking havoc on her appetite. She glanced down at her watch. “I should probably head over to Iron Horse. I told Jason I’d come in around two.”

  “Okay, let me finish and I’ll give you a ride.”

  “No, finish your lunch. I’ll just walk.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She smiled, standing up from the booth. “Yes.” She leaned down and kissed him. “Pick me up at six, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  She felt his eyes on her as she left and knew he was too smart to believe something wasn’t wrong. She was a horrible actress and worse at hiding her emotions. She just hoped she wasn’t ruining what they had together. Whatever it was.

  Chapter Eleven

  Luke sat on his motorcycle and glanced at his watch. Layla told him to meet her around six
and he was fifteen minutes early. To his surprise, he spotted Tracy headed in his direction, a woman he’d fucked once and always regretted. She had trouble with the word no and didn’t seem to understand that he wasn’t interested.

  Not anymore.

  Several months ago they’d both had an itch to scratch and he’d been dumb enough to go home with her. Since then, each time he showed up at Iron Horse, she stalked him, trying anything and everything to get him to go home with her again. It wasn’t going to happen.

  “Hey, stranger,” she said, skimming her fingers over the buttons of his shirt. Her overpowering perfume smothered him like a cloud of dust.

  “Tracy.”

  “Ever figure out who set the place on fire?”

  He didn’t feel like having small talk with her. “What are you doing here, Tracy? Last I checked, the bar hasn’t reopened.”

  She waved her hand playfully at him, rubbing her other hand over his shoulder. “Oh, I live close by. But you remember that, right?”

  “I’m meeting someone,” he said coldly, hoping to deter her interest.

  She grimaced, pushing out her bottom lip to pout. “So?”

  He shook his head. “So, I’m not interested. You need to find a new plaything.”

  She reached down and cupped his groin and he shot up, straddling his motorcycle, completely caught off guard by her brazen move. Once he stood, she wrapped her free arm around him and shoved to her toes to kiss him. He gripped her shoulders and pushed her back.

  “Tracy, don’t ever do that again. Next time you touch me, I’ll have you tossed in jail for sexual assault.” She laughed. He didn’t. “I’m. Not. Fucking. Kidding.”

  The sound of glass breaking drew his attention to the main entrance of Iron Horse. Layla stood frozen. He darted off his bike and headed toward her. She immediately turned and rushed inside. He burst through the door after her.

  “Layla, stop,” he demanded. “It’s not what you think.”

  She spun around to face him, her eyes wide with anger. “And what is it, then? No, wait, I don’t care. You can shove your cock into anyone you like. It’s not as if we were serious or anything.”