by Morgan Fox
Men of Iron Horse 7
Fated Heat
Sage Nixon is a career-focused firefighter who knows all about living with pain. As a child, she was badly scarred after being ejected from a car during a head on collision that killed her parents. Emotionally traumatized, she fears intimacy and prefers solitude to potential embarrassment.
Years later, she meets Jace Burnette, a sexy police officer by day, and bartender by night, with a bad reputation. She feels his gaze on her and can read his intentions in his piercing, hazel eyes, but what he desires she can never give him.
Jace is a playboy with no interest in ever settling down. He has seen the ugly side of marriage and wants no part of it. But he does want Sage, even if just for one night.
Trouble is, Sage won’t give him the time of day—or will she?
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 33,174 words
FATED HEAT
Men of Iron Horse 7
Morgan Fox
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
FATED HEAT
Copyright © 2016 by Morgan Fox
E-book ISBN: 978-1-68295-511-6
First E-book Publication: September 2016
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2016 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
For Eric. You rock my world and make everything worth it. Forever and always.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About the Author
FATED HEAT
Men of Iron Horse 7
FATED HEAT
Copyright © 2016
Chapter 1
Sage Nixon eyed Jeremy Lawrence over the rim of her glass. She chugged down her beer as if she were competing in an Olympic event. Kicking his ass would feel damn good. Finishing her drink, she slammed down the empty bottle and smiled wide with victory.
“Ah,” she shouted, flexing her muscles at the too-cute-for-words Jeremy. “Suck it, golden-boy.”
Jeremy choked, placing his half empty bottle on the table as he swept his hand through his perfectly styled blond hair. “Classy. Real classy. You and my girlfriend could be twins with that mouth.”
Sage laughed as Zerina, Jeremy’s purple-tipped hair, pierced and heavily tattooed girlfriend, slid her arm around Sage’s shoulders. “And what amazing twins we’d be, too. Think of the fun we’d have together.”
“And the jail time,” Sage added with a snicker.
Jeremy palmed the table with one hand and gently pulled Zerina toward him, his blue eyes wide. “Stop giving my girl ideas, Sage. Trust me, she doesn’t need any help getting into trouble.”
Zerina sighed.
Jeremy frowned.
Sage scoffed. “I did nothing wrong. I’m innocent.”
“That’s what all the guilty people say,” Zerina replied with a devilish wink.
“Exactly.” Jeremy clicked his fingers. “Zerina would know.”
“True,” Zerina admitted, smacking Jeremy on his backside. “I got the next round.”
Sage looked on as Zerina headed toward the bar to order more drinks. Her gaze slipped to the bartender eyeing her. She swallowed hard, glancing away only to look back and see that Jace Burnette hadn’t broken eye contact. Furrowing her brow, she pretended not to notice his unbreakable gaze, but it was hard. Very hard. His sexy hazel eyes were pools filled with mystery and interest—a temptation she hadn’t expected.
Jace’s appearance was surprisingly different out of police uniform. Body-molded jeans and a black Iron Horse T-shirt showed his well-defined muscles and broad frame. Her mouth watered, appreciating just how attractive he was.
He’s yummy. Not that I’d do anything about it.
They’d been on the same traffic calls several times, but never spoken. She couldn’t. He was not the kind of man she was traditionally interested in—shaved head, over six feet tall, piercing hazel eyes, and physically perfect. A man that flawless scared the hell out of her.
Her life was as it should be—comfortable, safe, and uncomplicated. A relationship was not what she wanted or needed. Focused on her career, she’d kept her dating life to a non-existent level. Not to mention, the burn scars that never fully healed on her back and neck gave her incurable insecurities. Looking at a man as tempting as Jace reminded her of how a man like him would never want an unattractive woman like her, especially when he could have any beautiful girl he desired. Working at a popular bar had to offer a nightly buffet of available chicks willing to spread their legs for a mouthwatering piece of hot ass like him. All he had to do was smile and take his shirt off. Jace had panty melting powers and she wasn’t immune. Only stubborn.
Sex with a ho
t guy sounded wonderful, but sex with a man who’d be repulsed by her imperfections she could do without.
Past experiences had warned her away from relationships. She’d stupidly offered her body, heart, and soul to her first and only high school crush. After he’d taken what he’d wanted from her, and curled his lip in disgust over the scars on her back, he’d told everyone in school that her new name was Quasimodo, the disfigured character from the classic novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
After that, she’d written relationships off. Men couldn’t be trusted with her heart. The only people of the opposite sex who remained in her life were her firemen brethren. They cared for her as a friend and sister. Never once had they physically judged her. She could do the job and that was all that mattered. They didn’t see her as anything other than part of the team.
Hanging with Jeremy and Zerina gave her an outlet. Otherwise, she’d be sitting at home, waiting for her next shift. Which is what she did most days.
“Are you coming over to the cookout tomorrow?” Jeremy asked, drawing her attention back to him. “Zerina’s got this whole party vibe decorating thing going on right now. I’m just going with it.”
Sage’s stomach flipped. The idea of a party was not nearly as terrifying as wearing a swimsuit. “I don’t know. It’s a pool party. You know I’m not keen on those.”
“You don’t have to swim, Sage,” Jeremy told her, as if she couldn’t figure that out on her own. “You can eat, drink, and be merry.”
Sage frowned, apprehension rising in her chest at the thought of being around lots of half-naked people. She’d look ridiculous sitting there wearing a turtleneck and jeans.
What’s the point?
Zerina returned with the beers and Sage swallowed down a big gulp. “So hottie bartender wants to bend you over the pool table.”
Sage choked the moment the beer reached her throat. Her ears and face were hot with Zerina’s words. “What?”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, Jace is totally eye fucking you.”
She darted a quick glance toward him, but his attention was on the customers at the bar. Zerina was clearly messing around with her. “That’s not funny and thanks for making beer shoot out my nose.”
Zerina chuckled. “I’m not kidding and you’re welcome.”
She gulped the beer. Why would Jace stare at her? He had the pick of the—
Wait. Why do I care?
Jace’s interest didn’t matter. He was not a guy she ever planned to sleep with, so there was no point in being concerned about it.
Her head spun, feeling the dizzying haze of too many beers. She gripped the table and braced herself against it. Digging her keys out of her pocket, she tossed them onto the table in front of her.
“I need a ride home,” she said aloud. “I’m drunk.”
Jeremy flagged down shift lieutenant, McGuire. “Sage needs a ride home.
“Rookie can’t hold her liquor, huh?” McGuire chuckled. “That used to be your problem, Jer-Bear.”
“Ah.” Zerina wrapped her arms around Jeremy. “He used your nickname.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes.
McGuire moved up alongside Sage and placed her arm over his neck and shoulders. “As your designated driver tonight, your chariot awaits.”
She managed a smile, but standing for long didn’t seem possible. She inhaled deeply, hoping she wasn’t about to face plant in front of everyone. That’s all she needed to do in front of her crew.
Please don’t let me fall. Please don’t let me fall. Holy crap, my head’s whirling.
“Oh, and by the way, if you’re not at my party tomorrow night, I’m going to bring the party to your place. So you better show up.” Zerina kissed her cheek.
“Great,” she said, drawing the word out. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Awesome.” Zerina smiled.
Jeremy shrugged.
Sage frowned. “See you guys tomorrow.” She wrapped her arm around McGuire’s shoulders more firmly and he helped her to his vehicle. The ride home was going to be the longest of her life. Tortured by her whirling thoughts and way too much to drink, there was a good chance she was going to hang her head out the window of his truck looking like a dog drooling in the wind.
Awesome.
* * * *
Jace Burnette nudged his elbow against his best buddy, Janie. “Wingman, what do you think of her?”
Janie’s gaze followed his. Her snort of laughter was not something he’d expected. “Sage Nixon, the firefighter, seriously?” She looked at him pursing her lips as if to attempt to reel in whatever she thought was hysterical. “She’s so out of your league it’s not even funny.”
Jace rolled his eyes at her. “Yet you seem to think it is.”
He didn’t see any humor in it at all. In fact, he considered it more of a challenge and he never lost a challenge. Ever.
She pouted, shoving out her bottom lip and giving him sympathetic puppy dog eyes. “Sage is going to be a career firefighter. Ask Zerina. She doesn’t need or want your kind of man in her life. You’d be…annoying.” She patted him on the back. “I don’t want to see that precious little ego of yours damaged. You don’t handle rejection well.”
He snickered.
So Sage wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted to be fucked so well she passed out from the euphoric pleasure? I don’t think so. All women wanted that.
Sex was one thing he excelled at and practiced whenever possible. But he was picky, he didn’t want to be with just anyone. He liked beautiful women, loved feisty attitudes, and a sexy body even more. Sage was hot and staring at her slamming back those beers and shots like she was in college, he didn’t think Janie knew what the hell she was talking about. Sage seemed like the perfect woman for a night of fun.
He cocked his head to glance at Janie. “So you won’t help me?”
“Sorry, stud, this one’s all on you. But if you do make a move be sure to tell me first.” She quirked a grin. “I want to see what it’s like for the almighty Jace to get hard core rejected.”
Janie didn’t think he could do it. His own best friend.
Game on.
He jutted his chin toward the couple that had just arrived at the counter behind her. “Go make yourself useful.”
Smiling ear to ear, she turned to greet the customers. He didn’t care if she thought he wasn’t worthy of Sage. He didn’t want to marry her. He just wanted to fuck her, make her scream his name a dozen or so times.
Relationships weren’t his thing. His parents had showed him what deep love and lies could bring two people.
A blistering divorce and a retched custody battle. No thank you.
When Jace was a kid, his father had been the chief of police and his mother had been a school teacher. Things seemed great, until he figured it was all for his benefit. Don’t fight in front of the kid bullshit. His mother was too fearful. Gave his father an ultimatum that was messed up and selfish. His father had spent most of his life as a cop and she couldn’t see past her fear.
Cops shouldn’t get married and those that did were stupid. His job called for 100% focus and a relationship with a woman needed more than he was willing to give. Watching the destruction of his parents and the mind fuck they put each other through was enough to make him vow to never put himself in that kind of situation. Ever.
Now thirty, he’d stayed true to his plan. Easing tension and making a woman climax was something he could handle without the stress of a committed relationship to screw things up.
Zerina slapped her hand down on the bar. “Beer. Need beer.”
Her caveman impression pulled him from his wayward thoughts. “How many?”
“Let’s start with three and we’ll go from there.”
Jace’s throat dried as he studied Sage from over Zerina’s shoulder. Loose, flowing black hair draped down her back. A navy blue firefighter T-shirt hugged perfectly full breasts and was tucked into painted-on jeans, revealing her slender waist. She wore j
ust enough makeup to not hide how naturally beautiful she was. His body stirred.
He popped the tops off of each beer and slid them to her, but before he handed them over fully, he asked, “Tell me something. Is Sage available?”
Zerina’s brow rose high, her curious gaze wandering over him, as if to determine his reason for asking. She licked her lower lip, her eyes darkening. “As a matter of fact, Jer-Bear and I are taking her home with us tonight. I’ve always wanted to take a walk on the wild side and Sage is very wild. Can you image what a woman like her is capable of?” She leaned forward and whispered, “She’s crazy flexible, too.” She closed her eyes and purred, her little pink tongue popping out of her mouth to drag over her lower lip.
Jace’s cock jumped at the idea of two gorgeous women mounting him like a—Wait a second! “That’s not even funny, Zerina.”
“Who the hell are you kidding? Watching the blood rush from your big head to your little head as you pictured us going at it was funny as shit.” She pointed a determined finger at him. “And don’t deny it.”
Laughing, Zerina headed back to the table. She was most likely going to tell Sage that he’d asked about her. Good. He hoped she’d liked what she saw when she looked back at him. If he was lucky, he’d have her number before she left.
“Strike out with Zerina, too?” Janie asked, moving alongside of him.
“Whatever. You two suck ass.”
Janie laughed, her eyes drifting toward Victor Cadwell, her new lawyer boyfriend. Janie pressed to her tiptoes, leaning over the bar to kiss Victor. “And what a cute ass he has, too.”