Beautiful Heat

by Morgan Fox

  “Where do you think you’re going?” He appeared from the bathroom, his eyes on her as if she’d done something wrong.

  “I can’t find my skirt.”

  “I hid it,” he said matter-of-factly.

  She stood up, the clothing she did find balled up against her. She frowned. “Why?”

  “To keep you from fleeing the scene.” He closed the distance between them. “Don’t act like this was a mistake, Zerina. It was no accident that we shared this. You and I both wanted it.”

  Yes. She wanted it. Sex with him had been epic, but one night of passion meant a good time. It didn’t mean anything else.

  “I want more.” His words stunned her. Had he somehow read her thoughts? “I want you to go out with me again. I want you to stay the night. I want breakfast in bed.” He cupped her face, tugging the clothing free of her arms. “I want to make love to you slowly this time. I want you to see just how crazy I am about you.”

  Blood pounded in her ears. “I think my hearing’s going bad. What did you say?”

  He chuckled. “Why don’t you climb back in that bed and I’ll show you? I sometimes find actions are so much better than words.”

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning came too fast for his liking. He’d spent most of the night pleasuring Zerina, and when they weren’t caught up in the throes of passion, they were talking. She surprised him at every turn, showing just how compassionate and sweet she was. Since the moment he’d met her, she’d put on a front to show that she was a hard-edged woman who could take down any opponent. But something had made him look deeper, and staring over at her now, he was glad that he had.

  With her head resting on her pillow, she lightly swirled her fingers over his chest. Her expression so soft and adoring. A jolt of something wondrous made his heart race. He liked the feel of her beside him. Liked that she looked at him with trust lingering in her eyes. He could sense just how hard that was for her to do, to let him in. He was thankful. She was becoming something more than just a girl he was attracted to. She was becoming a future he desired.

  “You’re going to fall in love with me,” he whispered, not in warning, but in hope.

  She rose to her elbows, her brow arched. “I am not,” she argued as if he’d called her fat.

  He laughed. A woman didn’t look at a man like she was looking at him and not have deeper feelings. What they’d shared all night was more than just sex. “Oh, yes you are.”

  “No. I’m not,” she tried to frown, but couldn’t.

  He rolled her to her back, crushing down on her. “Yes, you are and I won’t let you try to avoid it.”

  She cupped the side of his face, brushing back his hair. “You don’t really know me. How could you assume to know I’d fall in love with you? I don’t really even like you.”

  He scoffed. “How could you not? I’m hot.”

  She poked at his ribs, and they both laughed. “I’m being serious. You can’t go around telling a girl that sort of thing and then joke about it. It can freak a girl out.”

  “But I didn’t think it mattered. You seem so adamant that you’re not going to fall in love with me.” She bit her lip. “Unless you’ve already fallen in love with me. In that case—” He slanted his lips over hers, taking her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss. When he broke the kiss, he saw uncertainty in her eyes. Maybe his flirting and talk of the future had been a mistake. “I’m sorry. I tend to speak what’s on my mind. I like you a lot, Zerina. Seeing you beside me when I woke this morning stirred up something. If I’ve overstepped—”

  “It’s okay. Don’t apologize. It’s hard for me…I’ve never…” She blew out a tension-filled breath. “I’ve never been in love before. I wouldn’t know the first thing about it.”

  He kissed her again, her body molding to his as he held her. She moaned before their lips parted. A warm smile poured from him. “Funny. You’re doing just fine with me.”

  “Touching you, that’s not hard to want to do and it doesn’t make it love.”

  He knew that, but the way she touched him, there was more to it than a simple act of touching. They were connecting, and it felt right. So right.

  She batted her lashes downward. “But you do make it easy,” she told him softly. “Being with you…it’s strange. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  “I know what you mean.” He moved up to his elbows. “I get so many offers to date women.”

  “Oh, that’s what every woman in bed with a man wants to hear,” she muttered, shifting as if to squirm away from him, but he caged her in.

  “I never wanted any of them,” he quickly shared. “I didn’t want those other women.”

  “Why?” she barked, showing her irritation.

  Good. He was glad she was a bit jealous. Lord knew that he would be if the tables were turned.

  He swallowed hard, realizing the answer might sound cheesy, but it was still God’s honest truth. “I’ve been waiting for you, Zerina. From the night I saw you at the fire and each day since. I wanted you.”

  Her eyes narrowed on him. “Wait, you saw me the night of the fire?”

  He nodded. “I saw you talking with Jason. You and Brynn showed up together. We’d just put the fire out. You were crying.”

  “I was not,” she rebutted.

  “Yes, you were.”

  “I had smoke in my eyes.”

  He smiled. “I’m sure you did. I did, too.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her fingers. “That’s when I approached Jason to let him know that I knew of a contractor and crew that could help with repairs. I knew it wasn’t great timing, but I had to find a way to see you again.”

  “Really?”

  “I had to get to know the girl with those gorgeous tattoos and sexy as hell piercings. Which by the way”—he reached his hand down between them and stroked her clit—“I love this one the most.”

  She laughed, biting her lip as he continued to tease her pussy.

  “I have to confess, I’ve wondered about it since the day you showed up in my garage.” He groaned, eyeing her breasts. “Seeing you pierced here”—he dipped his head down to take her nipple into his mouth and sucked—“made me fantasize about the areas I couldn’t see.”

  She laughed. “For a pretty boy, you sure are dirty.”

  “I thought you liked that about me,” he replied, winking.

  “Yeah, I do,” she confessed.

  “How would you like to spend the day with me?”

  “What about Iron Horse?”

  “The crew is covering, but I’ll have to work like a dog next time I’m there to make sure we’re staying on track.”

  “Are you sure you want to? I understand if you need to—”

  He didn’t let her finish. “It’s okay, Zerina. The guys will handle what needs to be finished today and I can do my part later.”

  After a moment of pause, she smiled and said, “Sure. I know exactly what we can do then.”

  * * * *

  Zerina kissed him hard and shimmied her way out of the bed. “Let’s go shopping.”

  His mouth gaped. “Shopping?”

  She found her panties and put them on. “Since you’re my first client, I’d like to do this right.” Rushing through the bedroom, she found the rest of her clothing and put it on. “Let’s hit the stores that appeal to your interest. I’d like to see a few styles you’d pick for yourself if money wasn’t an option.”

  He got out of bed and started to dress. “What about breakfast?”

  “We can grab some on the way.” She closed the distance between them, pushed to her toes, and kissed him. “But if you’re lucky, later tonight we can have dessert.”

  He wrapped her in his arms. “Why don’t we just get back in bed and have it right now?”

  As he kissed her, her lips curled into a smile. “Business before pleasure.”

  He frowned and met her in the kitchen once they were dressed and ready to go. “Come on. Let’s take th
e motorcycle so you can’t buy anything right now. It will take the pressure off.”

  He sighed grabbing his keys off the counter. “Okay.”

  “And if you don’t mind, I’d really like to stop off at my place to change and clean up a bit.”

  “As long as I can help,” he said, reaching for her.

  She blocked his approach with a quick step to the side, wagging her finger at him. “Work now. Play later.”

  He groaned. “You’re no fun.”

  Two hours later they were standing at the store. She wanted to laugh at the sweet, yet confused expression on his face.

  “This is a furniture store,” he pointed out.

  “Oh, no,” she muttered, her eyes and mouth wide with surprise. “How the hell did that happen?” Then she smiled and he glared at her, knowing she was teasing him. “I need to see what you like. Otherwise, you’ll likely hate everything I do in means of decorating.”

  “I doubt that,” he said directly. “Anything you do would be great with me.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and pictured something that was clearly not a match for his personality. “How about black leather chairs and a sofa framed in metal rods, glass end tables with steel spikes for legs. Oh, and we can’t forget the purple velvet, round pillows and matching curtains. Maybe even a sexy, little vibrating swing your sweet mother could use when she comes to visit.” She shivered with delight and purred. “Won’t yours be the house of choice come Thanksgiving?”

  He laughed. “Okay. Okay. But that does sound kind of hot.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?” she said, smirking. “Now that we’ve established that your input is needed, shall we go in?”

  He opened the door. “After you.”

  After an hour of searching through the store, she’d taken two pages of notes on things he liked. From artwork to furnishing styles, she had great ideas of what to do for him. He’d also established a budget for her, and it was rather lofty.

  “Are you sure you can spend this much?”

  “Well, how much commission are you collecting for yourself?”

  “I wasn’t going to charge you,” she answered honestly. She liked the opportunity to help him, and if he liked it, maybe he’d spread the word and she’d actually get other opportunities.

  He took her by her shoulders. “The first thing I’m going to teach you about owning your own business is that you need to turn a profit.”

  She poked him. “I know that. But not from you.” She traced her fingers over the lose fabric of his shirt, an emerging rush of emotions swirling in her chest and sinking to her stomach. “You’ve already done more for me than I can repay. You’ve given me an opportunity to do something I’ve always dreamed about.”

  He cupped her face. “Technically, all we did was shop and check things out. I still want to see all that you’re capable of.”

  She pulled him closer. The need to feel him against her was overwhelming. “Are we still talking about decorating?”

  A shocked expression blanketed his face. “Ms. Zerina, are you trying to seduce your first and only client?” He scoffed, sounding offended. “I’m not the kind of man that allows a woman to take advantage of him…unless it’s you.”

  She giggled, the sound so girlishly innocent. It wasn’t like her. She was normally closed off to the feelings he evoked in her. Being with Jeremy was as close to perfect as she’d ever been.

  “I have an idea. Why don’t we go grab lunch and head back to your place?”

  “Is it time for dessert already?” he asked excitedly.

  Rather than answer, she took him by the hand and led him to his motorcycle. “Lunch first,” she said. “Then dessert.”

  He took them to a burger place near his home. They each ordered something different. He wanted a bacon cheeseburger and she ordered a chicken sandwich, but they both got fries. Once they were finished, he drove them back to his house and pulled into his garage.

  Zerina slipped off the back. “Wait,” she ordered. “I have something I want to do.”

  Still straddling his bike, she unbuttoned his jeans and freed his cock. He was already hard. She wiggled out of her skirt and panties, kicking out of them. She felt breathtakingly beautiful as he watched her.

  Tugging her shirt up over her head, she left her bra on. Then she moved to sit on the bike, straddling him. With her legs draped over his, she leaned back over the tank of the motorcycle and handed him the condom she’d stashed before leaving the house. “Would you like to do the honors?”

  He took it from her and slid the protection on. Before he slipped inside her, he brought her up to kiss him, taking her mouth in a caress that had her toes curling. She could do this forever, feel him against her, watch him feast on her body in a way no other ever had. She moaned as he freed her breast from her bra, shoving the lacy material down.

  He sucked on her nipples, her body primed and ready for him. She reached down and stroked his cock, the velvety hardness teasing against her. “Fuck me,” she begged.

  He gripped his cock and placed it at her entrance. As he shoved inside her, he toyed with her clit and she leaned back over the tank, feeling him dive in deep. He cupped her face, and she shifted to take his finger into her mouth, sucking it the way she would if it was his cock. He groaned, pulling it free to massage her breasts and waist. The intensity of his thrusts grew, and she quivered as he stroked the nerves inside her pussy that screamed she was close to coming. The walls of her sex squeezed tight, the spasm of her release thundering through her. He took her by the hips and drilled deeper, rocking his pelvis against hers a dozen more times before he came.

  Sweaty and breathless, he held her, cradling against her as they both came down from the high they’d experienced together. With his forehead pressed against hers, he muttered, “God, I love my motorcycle.”

  She laughed softly. “Me, too.”

  He helped her off the bike and joined her in the shower. “When do you work next?” she asked, wanting to get started on decorating his home.

  “I’ve changed my schedule. I’ll be at Iron Horse tomorrow and then the fire station the day after that.”

  “Okay. I’ll see what things I can work up for you and then I’ll run them by you.”

  “No need. Work your magic. I don’t want my fear of design to influence you. I’m entrusting you to do what’s necessary.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m a dude, Zerina. You’re the expert. I trust you.”

  He trusted her. She liked that. “I’ve already got several ideas in mind.”

  Kissing her softly, he whispered, “I have no doubt.”

  Chapter Eight

  Zerina stretched, feeling better than she had in a long time. For two nights straight, they’d spent time together making love and talking. She connected with Jeremy as if they’d grown up as friends, and for some reason, she wasn’t afraid to show him who she was. Maybe because he’d already seen her at her bitchiest and knew she had fears.

  Regardless, he helped her break through her vulnerabilities by encouraging her and giving her strength when she didn’t think she had it. In a short period of time, he was eradicating the wall she’d erected to protect her heart. The fear she thought she’d feel wasn’t there. Only warmth and excitement filled the space.

  When she extended her hand to his side of the bed and found it empty and cold, her eyes shot open. A moment of panic consumed her. Then her gaze settled on a note, a key, and a credit card that sat on his pillow. She read the paper and smiled.

  If you’re going to decorate my place, you should have a key and cash. Come and go as you please. Know that I’ll be thinking about you all day. The keys to my truck are on the counter. I hope to see you tonight. Jeremy

  A fevered jolt sparked her into action. Glancing around his bedroom, she found her bra and panties and pulled one of his black T-shirts out of his closet, before she showered. She didn’t have time to go home and change into something of her own. There wa
s too much to do and she was too excited to wait another second.

  She hoped he didn’t mind if she did a little something with his bathroom, too. He had an old, worn-out throw rug on the floor and that was it. And his bedroom needed a lot of help. The comforter was something he probably had from when he lived with his parents. He obviously didn’t spend much time entertaining or sitting around at home. But now that they were seeing each other, if that’s what they were doing, they might be spending more time at his place and they’d get to enjoy all the wonderful decorations she planned to add.

  She jotted down a few more ideas. Mainly towels, rugs, a comforter, and curtains for his bedroom and bathroom. Then she set out to make some purchases. She’d start with his bathroom and bedroom. Those would be easier. She could also put those rooms together the fastest since they didn’t require her to do any furniture shopping. His bed and nightstands were perfect, a dark wood with nickel hardware. What was needed was something that didn’t scream “I’m a bachelor challenged by style.”

  There was a store she loved to visit for decorating needs, Her Best Kept Secret. The sales were amazing, the products were top of the line, and the owner knew her by name.

  Arriving at the store, she stepped inside with her mind overrun with thoughts. “Hey, Zerina. How’s it going? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “I know,” she told Deb, the owner. “Work’s been crazy. There was a fire at the bar.”

  Deb frowned sympathetically. “I heard. Glad no one was hurt.”

  “Me, too. Have anything new to show me?”

  Deb smiled, moving around the counter. “You know I do.” She led her to the back shelf. “I’ve been wondering if you’d be in soon. I have some things I think you’ll like.”