Trial by Fire (Sizzling Romantic Suspense) (All Fired Up)

by Taylor Lee

  Nate knew he was crazy, reacting to his already stressed out endorphin-laden brain, but wisdom was not in the cards for him tonight. He heard Erin describe her fifteen mile run along the reservoir with its challenging uphill treks, and saw Sam’s eyes light up. The thought of Erin and the striking man running together was the final straw.

  “I start at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Sam, so that Nate and I can have the rest of the day together, but if that’s not too early and you’d like to join me, we could meet at the entrance to the—”

  “That won’t be possible, this Saturday or any Saturday for that matter.” The threat in Nate’s voice even surprised himself, but he’d already laid down his marker, damned if he was going to pick it up now.

  In two strides, he rounded the table and pulled out Erin’s chair. He put his hand on the back of her neck and nudged her. Fuck, he thought, may as well just get down on all fours and grab her by the nape of her neck with my teeth like any self-respecting alpha. If he was a lion, he would have. But the message was clear enough. Growling wasn’t necessary.

  “Let’s go, Erin.”

  He ignored the surprise on her face that turned to shock when he added, “Now.”

  “Nate, I… we haven’t had dessert….”

  He murmured, “Now, Erin.”

  Given the heavy silence at the table, his quiet words were heard by all.

  Erin stood and glared up at him. Angry red spots marked her cheeks. When Erin stood, Sam rose to his feet politely.

  Nate’s voice was soft, with a dangerous edge.

  “That’s not necessary, Commander. You may be seated.”

  Sam started in surprise then a slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Raising his hands in a gesture of agreement, he sunk back in his chair.

  Nate forced himself to return Sam’s smile and drawled, “Remember how I told you I was starting to like you. I take it back. You’re safe. I can’t stand your guts.”

  Ignoring the shocked gasps from every corner of the table, Nate grasped Erin’s elbow and urged her toward the door.

  Glenna’s quivery voice filled the silence.

  “Uh, Nate, are you coming over to play on Wednesday like you said….”

  Nate looked back and caught her eye.

  “Yeah, squirt. I’ll be here. But next time we’re gonna work on hand to hand combat. I’m gonna show you how to take down your opponent in a way that he won’t get up.”

  “Nathan! Stryker!”

  Mama D’s screech could be heard as Nate tugged Erin down the sidewalk to his Turbo 911.

  Chapter 12

  Erin jerked her arm free from Nate’s grasp. She was so angry she didn’t trust herself to speak. Her legs were shaking so hard she could barely stand.

  “What the hell was that about, Nate?”

  Yanking open the car door, Nate ordered, “Get in, Erin.”

  She jumped back and glared at him.

  “You have got to be kidding! You honestly think you can drag me out of your aunt’s house like some disobedient dog? In front of your family and a man we hardly know? And then order me to get in your car? Are you insane?”

  Nate’s voice was as dark as his searing gaze.

  “Get in the fucking car, Erin.”

  Erin had seen Nate angry, but never like this, especially not at her. She tried to tamp down her anger but she was furious. And embarrassed. God, she could only imagine what Connor thought, and Mama D, and Kaitlin and… Sam…. She struggled to control her fury, to keep her voice low, not yell.

  “In the event you forgot—given your temper tantrum, I drove here. My car is over there. And I wouldn’t get in the car with you if—”

  The words died in a furious shriek in her throat when in one smooth move Nate picked her up and deposited her in the bucket seat. Before she could protest, he’d reached across her chest, buckled the seat belt, and slammed the door shut.

  Erin grabbed for the door handle to jump out when she heard the lock click. Damn him! He’d put on the child lock. On top of the indignity of being thrown in the car, now she couldn’t open the door.

  In seconds he was in his seat. He threw the car into gear and they sped off in a squeal of tires.

  “Nate! What are you doing? What in God’s name is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”

  “Yeah. I am.”

  That his voice was as low, as dangerously soft as it was scared her. She forced herself to look at him. The light from the streetlamps cast flickering shadows across his stormy visage. Thunderclouds rolling across a dangerous sky couldn’t be more potent. It foretold of the lightening to come. But his silence infuriated her. The least he could do was apologize. For making such a ridiculous scene. For embarrassing her, and his family. She knew why he was angry. If anything it made her more upset. Nate was wildly possessive of her. He had been from the beginning. From the first time he saw her, he’d claimed her. She’d assumed at the time that she would be a passing fancy like all the rest of his paramours. But far from it. If anything, his claim grew stronger and stronger. She understood. She felt the same level of passion for him.

  But this was outrageous. Over the top. Unacceptable.

  The powerful automobile sped along the twisting country roads. Nate never took his eyes off the road, just jerked the wheel in expert movements avoiding impediments as the car careened from side to side. Erin braced her knee on the dashboard to keep from being thrown against the door. In record time they pulled onto the winding road leading to their cabin. Nate slammed on the brakes and the powerful automobile squealed to a hard stop. He was out of the car and jerking open her door in seconds.

  “Get out, Erin.”

  She ducked her head and looked up at him.

  “Get in? Get out? Damn you, Nate! Who do you think you are?”

  Pulling her from the car in one strong move, he growled, “I’m the guy who told you to get out of the car. And the guy who’ll kill anyone who so much as touches you.”

  “Nate, for God’s sake…” With a mighty twist she managed to free herself from his grip but got a few scant feet away before he jerked her back and pulled her up tight against him.

  His voice was as harsh as his grasp.

  “Oh no, you don’t, baby. I need you, Erin. Goddammit! Stop—”

  She twisted and writhed but only succeeded in driving herself up more firmly against his hard body. A storm of sensation swamped her and rather than fighting to free herself she was frantic to get closer. In response Nate wound his fingers in her hair and he pulled her head back. With a harsh groan he drove deep in her mouth, his tongue tangling with hers in a fierce dance of need. Thrusting in and out of her mouth mimicking the way she knew he would soon be taking her, she eagerly accepted his passionate thrusts. Throwing her arms around his neck she struggled to meld her body to his. Moaning at the need swamping her body she pressed against his hard erection, wanting him deep inside of her—now. With a deep growl, Nate slid her up the length of his body and wrapped her legs around his hips. Before she could protest, he’d laid her on the hood of the car. Bending over her, he tore at her blouse ripping at the buttons opening her to the cool night air.

  “Dammit, Erin. I gotta have you. Now, baby.” Nate dragged her arms above her head and pressed them against the hood of the car. He buried his face against her chest, moaning as he licked along the swell of her breasts. With one hand he unsnapped the front clasp freeing her bountiful breasts.

  At her agonized cry, he cupped one full breast in his hand then grasped the nipple between his teeth and sucked it into his mouth. Laving it with his expert tongue, he nipped and sucked the tender nub until it was hard and peaked. He moved back and forth between her breasts suckling one than the other, ravenous for the taste of her. His fingers were gentle then rough, driving her higher and higher up a mountain of pleasure. She begged him not to stop, to let her come, but he pulled away.

  “Not yet, darlin’. Not until I’m deep inside of you.”

  Letting go of her hands, he tugged
at the button on her pants and in seconds, he had her jeans at her knees. Slipping her shoes off her feet he yanked off her pants and tossed them to the ground. His eyes widened at the sight of the lacy thong covering her mound. With a flick of his wrist, he ripped it free. Tossing the piece of lace over his shoulder, he spread her legs wide apart and gazed at her. The cool air on her bare legs was startling and more erotic than she could have imagined. Lying virtually naked on the hood of his car, the contrast of the still warm engine beneath her to the cool night air against her heated flesh sent shockwaves of desire through her.

  When Nate buried his mouth against her soft folds, she cried out stunned at the heat coursing through her. His tongue was devastating, wicked. He teased her throbbing nub until she was sobbing, begging, aching for more.

  “Oh yeah, darlin’. Jesus, honey. You’re wet. Soaking wet. It’s okay, baby. I can’t wait either. We’ll go slow later, but now, Erin, now I’m gonna bury myself so deep inside of you, you won’t know where you start and I end.”

  With one hand he unfastened his pants and released his burgeoning erection. He dragged her legs up over his shoulders and pulled her hips toward him. With one hard thrust he drove into her with a harsh groan.

  Erin was stunned at his ferocious entry. Usually, he teased her, taunted her, moving in and out, thrusting, pulling back, dragging her from one pleasure peak to another. But now he was hammering her, harder, deeper, faster than he ever had. He was like a passionate tornado intent on filling her completely. To her surprise, her body took over as though she had no control but to climb with him. His mouth was all over her breasts, sucking, nipping at the tender peaks.

  Not able to stand another second of his erotic assault, Erin screamed as her climax flooded over her in excruciating waves of pleasure. Her keening wail filled the still night air echoed by his triumphant shout as he drove into her.

  Nate collapsed against her unwilling to pull out of her. If he could he would spend a lifetime buried inside of her. Her shuddering cries, waves of aftershocks and her fingers tangled in his hair holding him tight against her trembling body were balm to his troubled spirit. He refused to let the ugly thoughts careening through his muddled brain intrude on this moment, Every breath she took was hot against his cheek. Her whispery cries begged him not to let her go. Nuzzling between her breasts he crooned soft passionate words, praising her body, how she made him feel, how much he craved her touch, and how much he loved her.

  A shiver racked her naked body and Nate allowed himself to feel the cold air. Tugging his jeans over his hips, he kicked the pile of her clothes to the side and scooped her up in his arms.

  “I need to get you inside, Erin.” At her soft moan, he added, “I won’t let go of you, darlin’ but you’re shivering.” He gave a soft snort. “Neither one of us seemed to notice it, but it’s cold baby.”

  Holding her tightly in his arms he strode through the dark house to their bedroom and into the master bathroom.

  “Let’s get in the shower, baby. It will warm you. God, the last thing I want is for you to catch cold. There’s no way we could explain this one away.”

  After a long hot shower, he dried her off and carried her naked to their bed. He crawled in beside her and held her close to him.

  “I’m sorry, Erin.”

  When she startled and stared up at him with a frown, he shook his head and grinned.

  “No, darlin’, not for stripping you naked and taking you on the hood of my fucking car. Hell no! I’ll remember that until they put me in the ground. Damn, how can you get any sexier than that? The hottest women alive—on top of my car? Naked under the stars? Sweetheart, just know that should I ever be away from you for more than four hours and I’m forced to jerk off, that little episode from tonight will be my inspiration.”

  He hesitated then looked down at her and shrugged.

  “Erin, it made me crazy to see you talking to Sam the way you were.”

  Erin’s voice was soft, consoling. “Nate, I was being pleasant, cordial. Normal. He’s a runner. You know how much I love to run. It would be the same if you met someone who was into mixed martial arts. You would want to talk with them, discuss it. I know you would, Nate.”

  Nate let out a heavy sigh. “Baby, this isn’t about anything rational. I’m nuts, you already know that. I’m the most possessive son of a bitch you’ll ever run into but… I don’t know how to say it except that ConnorfuckingFreud is right. I am wound up tight. As much as I would like to keep the murder investigation at arms-length, I can’t.”

  “And Laura? You can’t keep her at arms-length either?”

  “No, Erin, I can’t. I thought I could and at least on the surface I handled it today. But it’s taking a toll. And she’s doing everything she can to get under my skin. But tonight I took it out on you, and on Sam. And I’m sorry. Tomorrow, I’ll make the rounds and apologize to my family for disrupting a pleasant evening. But first I need you to understand. And damn, honey, I’m sorry. I embarrassed you and made a total fool of myself.”

  Erin eased out from under his arm and to his surprise crawled up over him straddling his hips.

  He gave a grunt of surprise mixed with appreciation. Tossing her long curly hair over her shoulder, she tipped up her chin.

  “I have a confession to make.”

  He frowned, a sick feeling of dread hitting his gut. Damn what if he’d not been so off base? What if she was interested in Sam? He did his best to keep his voice flat.

  “What kind of confession?”

  She smiled, tracing circles around his nipples. Her smile broadened when they hardened to hard peaks and Nate sucked in a sharp breath. As though she wasn’t tormenting him with her fingers, she said casually, “Pretend there was a beautiful female mixed martial artist at the table. And you were having a great time discussing all the moves you both know? If I heard you planning to spar with her, do you know what I would do?”

  He couldn’t hold back his grin. “No, what would my little spitfire do?”

  “I’d invite her to go running with me then I’d make sure that ‘somehow’ she tripped and sprained her ankle. Not bad, just bad enough so that she couldn’t go in the ring until her tour here was over.”

  Nate stuffed down his chuckle and frowned in mock dismay.

  “So you are saying that I should arrange for Sam to have an ‘accident,’ one that will put him in a cast for a month or so?”

  “No, silly. The only way I’ll run with Sam is if we’re part of a group, and you’re there too.”

  She looked down, her cheeks flushing a soft pinkish color.

  “I just wanted you to know that I get jealous, too.”

  Nate saw the fear lurking in her eyes.

  “But you know how much I love you, Erin, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “And you know how much I love you.”

  A naughty smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and her eyes sparkled mischievously. Tweaking his nipples, and positioning her bare crotch against his hips, she whispered in a throaty voice, “Do you know what, Detective?”

  Lifting her hips to allow his iron hard staff to rest against her bare bottom, he growled,

  “No, you little tease, what?”

  Rubbing her damp folds over his aroused staff, she whispered, “Sometimes you talk too much.”

  Chapter 13

  “You seen Carter, Scottie?”

  “You mean the tall black dude, Nate?” Scottie answered.

  Nate gave an aggrieved sigh. Guess that’s what Sam has to expect in ChicadiafuckingFalls—and probably every other damn place. Had to wonder what the guys called him behind his back. He could only imagine. Especially the way he’d been acting this last couple of days.

  “Yes, if by that you mean Commander Samuel Carter, LAPD.”

  Scottie’s flush confirmed that he got Nate’s point.

  “Yeah, sorry, Nate. He left about ten minutes ago, heading for the shower. We all was hopin’ you’d get here before he was done. That was
quite a show the two of you put on yesterday. Nuthin’ like showin’ us wannabe’s how it’s done right.”

  Nate agreed. “Yeah, he’s a talented guy.”

  Nate headed to the locker room, not looking forward to the conversation. But he never shirked a hard exchange even if it required an apology.

  Sam was tucking his dress shirt in his pants and turned when Nate sauntered toward him.

  “Been looking for you, hotshot.”

  Sam shrugged. “Looks like you found me.”

  Nate grinned. “I see you’re not going to make this easy for me. But then if the roles were reversed I’d be making you crawl on your knees over broken glass.”

  Sam’s lips quirked but he didn’t answer.

  “Look, hotshot, I was an ass last night. I spoiled Mama D’s dinner and if it’s any consolation to you, I’ll be paying for it for weeks to come. I embarrassed Erin and everyone else and I’m sorry.”

  Sam nodded, but again, didn’t speak.

  “I’m not making excuses, far from it. But I’m wound pretty tight and I took it out on you. My apologies.”

  “Thanks, Nate. I appreciate the apology.”

  Apparently done with the conversation, Sam finished tucking in his shirt and grabbed for a comb.

  Nate had to admire the guy’s presence. Hell, he was as cool as Nate was. But his dismissive demeanor rankled. Against his better judgment, Nate pushed.

  “One point, hotshot. Although I’m sorry that I was an ass last night, the message stands. Erin is my woman. Period.”

  Sam raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. I didn’t see a collar on her. Bro.”

  Nate’s gut clenched at the provocation. His voice was soft.

  “You ain’t lookin’ hard enough, bro.”

  To Nate’s surprise, Sam turned and faced him. A slight smile hovered on his lips and his tone was casual.

  “Hmm. I know you aren’t looking for advice from me, but I’ll give it anyway.”