Competitive Heat [Men of Iron Horse 8] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Morgan Fox

  “Are you cold?” he asked, reaching to fold in a corner of the blanket to cover her.

  “No,” she whispered. “Thank you for bringing me out here. I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”

  He rolled to his side and she did, too. “I’m glad you trusted me to bring you here. It’s my favorite place in the whole world. Coming here is coming home. You being here makes it even more special.”

  “I’m not exactly sure how to feel about the things you say to me,” she admitted to him, and he couldn’t help but frown.

  “I say what I mean.” He took her hand in his, kissing her fingers. “I like being with you. I want to keep being with you.”

  She batted her lashes down, and then he saw the crystal blue of her eyes twinkle in the moonlight. She has no idea how much she rocks my world. “I like being with you, too. I’d like to keep doing that.”

  He sighed, a heavy weight lifting off of his chest. He hadn’t realized just how nervous he was about the direction of their new relationship. He was crazy about her and he liked that she was pretty smitten with him, too.

  “Would you like to sleep out here?” he asked, dead serious.

  She shoved up onto her elbows, and her sweet and sexy gaze turned darn right volatile. “No.”

  He laughed. “Don’t blame me for trying. I love sleeping under the stars.”

  She moved to her feet, her hands on her hips. “Feel free. I’ll be on your bed in the cozy, bug-free house.”

  She turned and began heading into the house. He jumped to his feet and with the blanket in his hand, chased her inside. When he snaked his arm around her and pinned her to the door, he kissed her hard. When she gave a girlish giggle, he eased back.

  “That’s what I thought, Stargazer.”

  He smiled, kissing her again. “I can’t pass up a chance to sleep with you again, and I’m not likely to do that sleeping outside alone.”

  She pressed to her tiptoes and brushed her mouth over his. “Exactly.”

  The next morning Finn was up before the sun, which meant he only got a few hours of sleep. He couldn’t keep his hands off of Noble, making love to her until she’d finally warned him that she wasn’t a very nice person without at least two hours of sleep. He’d caved, giving in to her needs.

  Leaning on his elbow, he watched her snuggle up alongside him. The content look on her face warmed him. He liked seeing her like this—in his bed, beside him. A strange pinch gripped his chest. He was crazier about Noble than he realized. Being with her was as needful as breathing. How quickly she’d taken over his mind and body, she left him marveling at just how lost he’d been without her.

  He hadn’t been able to trust a single person in his professional life without thinking they were using him. Not with Noble. Never her.

  She stretched beside him, her arms coming up over his head, the sheet falling down enough to reveal her perfect breasts. He swooped down to suckle each nipple. She cupped the back of his head, arching toward his mouth. She moaned, as he flicked his tongue over each peak.

  He groaned as the morning sun made an appearance into the room. If they didn’t leave soon, he’d never get to show her the ranch or take her on a motorcycle ride of the area. He wanted to show her both, give her a chance to see why he loved this place so much.

  He moved to her lips. “I’ve got a few things to show you today. Are you ready?”

  She rolled over, trying to grab the blanket he wouldn’t release. He laughed, moving off the bed. When he turned back, she’d covered her head.

  “Suit yourself.” He grabbed a pair of boxers, jeans, T-shirt, and cowboy boots. Then, he prepared some coffee, ate a granola bar, and headed outside. He removed the motorcycles trailer from the truck, and drove his truck around back to load a few hay bales.

  In his truck, he drove to the first feed area for the horses and got out to drop some hay. The Texas heat was on him sooner than he thought it would be and he tugged his shirt off, wiping his face with it. He chuckled, wondering if Noble was awake. At that thought, his gaze shot to the back porch, where he spotted her strutting toward him, wearing jeans, boots, and a tank top.

  Good Lord, she’s going to be the death of me.

  * * * *

  Noble’s mouth had watered as she stared out the back window of Finn’s house, watching him toss hay for the horses. He stripped off his shirt, standing like a towering giant on the bed of his truck. When he’d placed his cowboy hat back on his head and put his hands on his hips, she covered her mouth to keep her heart from launching out. No man had ever looked so scrumptious. Dressing fast, she rushed out to help him. She needed a better look at all those muscles and sweat rivulets that poured from his fine-ass physique.

  “Morning,” he said, smiling as if he only did that for her.

  “Morning. Need any help?”

  “I’ve got one more stop to make. Climb on in.” He jumped off the back end of the truck, closed the tailgate, and then climbed into the cab.”

  She couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. All that corded muscle was like a beckon only she could hear and see. Lucky me. She moaned.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  He must’ve heard her. She smiled, shifting in her seat, searching for a change of scenery. “How far do we have to go?” she asked, bypassing his question.

  “Just on the other side of that hill.”

  She was thankful he drove slowly. It gave her a chance to check out the land. It was never ending. Trees were spread out in the distance, but the fields were mostly open with only green grass covering them. Horses of all different sizes and colors, majestic and beautiful, roamed the land freely.

  The truck came to a stop and they got out. Once again, Finn hopped into the back and began shoveling the hay out. A few horses approached as he did. They weren’t afraid.

  “That’s Jasper,” he said, jutting his chin behind him.

  When she turned, a large black horse was headed straight for her. She thought he would stop, but he just kept coming.

  “Um, Finn,” she called out, fear making her want to run. She’d never been around a horse before, and she didn’t know if it would bite her.

  As if sensing her worry, Finn hopped down beside her. “He won’t hurt you. He’s my horse.” Finn’s eyes darkened. “He likes women.”

  Jasper nuzzled up against Finn, and the two shared a moment that left her gaping at them both. There was friendship between them, love and trust.

  “Wow,” she breathed. “He’s amazing.”

  “Want to pet him?”

  She did. “Will he bite me?”

  “No, just keep your fingers away from his mouth,” he said candidly. “And as a rule, never walk behind a horse without letting them know you’re there. You could get kicked and that would suck.”

  “Right,” she said, “Don’t stand near a horse’s ass.”

  He laughed. “That might be a good rule to follow even when not on the ranch.”

  Realizing what she’d said, she chuckled. She was captivated as she watched Finn brush his hand over Jasper’s long nose and neck. Gathering her courage, she moved to stand with Finn and followed his lead, gliding her hand softly over the black coat and mane.

  “He’s gorgeous.” She was mesmerized by him, the giant creature who seemed gentle and kind.

  They stepped aside as Jasper made his way to the hay pile. “That was something,” she muttered.

  “He’s one of the reasons I can’t stay away from this place for long. My parents gave him to me as a gift when I graduated college. He’s been my loyal friend ever since.”

  “Your childhood must’ve been so different from my own. I grew up with close neighbors who came over for weekend football games and BBQs. The only outdoor activities we had were soccer games and riding bikes.” She raised her hands to the side, indicating the vast land around them. “Nothing at all like this.”

  “I love it, but I have to be honest, it’s not the ideal place to open a fitness center.”
<
br />   She released a breathy laugh. Her fitness center needed lots of foot traffic and a large population. Glancing around, she thought that unless she were a veterinarian or a horse trainer, she wasn’t going to make a living here. Still, there was something special about this place.

  “I imagine it wouldn’t be.”

  Finn glanced at his watch. “We should get moving before we lose too much of our day. I still want to take you on a motorcycle ride.”

  She stared up at him, her gaze drifting to the first hay stack he’d left, then his truck and again. She wanted to run—a rush of excitement flooded her system as she sized up the chance of victory.

  “What are you looking at?” At her sizable grin, he added, “Are you plotting something evil?”

  She curled one side of her mouth—the feel of power tingling in her antsy feet. “I was just wondering if I could bet you back to that stack of hay before you drove there.”

  With that, she was off and running. Sprinting as if her ass was on fire. Sprinting like her life depended on it—man versus machine style.

  She heard the peel out of dirt and knew he took the challenge. She pumped her arms, running as hard and as fast as she could. Nothing would stop her from winning. She had her eyes set on the prize, had gauged the distance, and knew he’d never get his big beast up the path in time to win. She had it in the bag. But the only thing she hadn’t thought of was the prize she wished to claim. That would be something she’d work out after she kicked his ass.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You cheated,” Finn barked, slamming the door of his truck “You didn’t even let me get my tailgate up before you took off.”

  “Sounds like a personal problem.” She shrugged. “Some would call that a handicap. Either way, I won.”

  He shook his head as she did a little victory dance. “I don’t think so.”

  She rested her hands on her hips as her breathing slowly returned to normal. “Face it, Kipling.” She pointed a determined finger at him. “You’re a sore loser.”

  His hands balled at his sides, his eyes locked on hers. She was enjoying taunting him a little too much. What the hell was he supposed to do, run her over with his truck to ensure victory? The woman was ruthlessly competitive, and he liked that about her. A lot.

  “Finn Kipling doesn’t lose.”

  She snorted. “Have you told Finn Kipling that?”

  She gasped as he charged at her, grabbing her in his arms and tackling her right into the oversized pile of hay. He rolled her around in it, hearing her scream his name through her laughter. He came over the top of her, his body settled between her legs. Her gaze was fueled by emotions, laughter, excitement, and pure heat. Staring at her like this his body stirred, and he couldn’t resist the needs blistering through him. He lowered his mouth, brushing his lips over hers in a slow exploration. He was lost. She controlled the outcome of their time together. With her, he never stood a chance.

  He eased from the kiss and slowly moved to stand, offering her his hand to help her up. He cleared his throat, his body overcome with, not just physical, but emotional need. He was like a randy teenager when it came to her. He simply couldn’t have her enough.

  “Are you ready to go riding now? There’s still so much I want to show you before dinner tonight.”

  Her face scrunched up like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped over her head. What’s that look all about?

  “Are you worried about eating with my folks?”

  “No,” she countered, pushing herself up to stand.

  His gut twisted. He sensed her discomfort. He wasn’t about to make her do anything she didn’t want to, even though he’d loved to show her off to his parents again. “Did you not want to go? I could always—”

  “No. It’s fine. We’re going,” she replied hastily.

  His curiosity was elevated. “Then what is it?”

  “Wouldn’t you rather we go for a ride and enjoy the day?”

  What was she avoiding?

  He folded his arms over his chest, his eyes locked on hers. The need to know her thoughts was ruling over his mind to the point that he was prepared to plant his ass in the hay until she told him what was wrong.

  “It’s nothing,” she argued and groaned up at the sky when she noticed he was still standing in the same spot. “It’s not important.”

  He didn’t believe her. “Do you not like them or something?”

  “I don’t know them enough to not like them,” she answered, but that only confused him further.

  “Then what?”

  “I’m jealous. Okay,” she grumbled. “Happy now?”

  Her eyes glistened, just before she looked down at the ground and kicked her boot over the gravel dirt. He closed in on her and placed his index finger under her chin, bringing her watery gaze up to his.

  “Why?”

  His question was simple, but judging by the look on her face it was anything but for her. Something was tearing her apart. It was as if he was watching her heart break within the depths of her eyes.

  “I’m pissed. Okay. Furious that I can’t have Sunday dinners with my parents. That I can’t see them whenever I want. I’m jealous because you can, others can, but I can’t.”

  “Noble—”

  “Don’t. I don’t want your pity.” She brushed a rough hand over her cheek, striking away the tears. “I would give anything to have my dad work with me on opening a fitness center, to not be afraid that I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked so hard for. I’m crushed that my life is not what I wanted it to be, what my parents had dreamed it would be for me. Seeing your parents with you, others like you, is a crushing blow. I swear I die a little more each time I see it.”

  “Ever considered that it might be time to stop standing on the sidelines?”

  She pinched her brow together. “What are you talking about?”

  He cupped her face in his hands, brushing his thumbs over her damp cheeks. “Maybe it’s time you realized that you have someone in your life willing to be a part of your life, share in your life. Maybe it’s time you see that you’re not alone, Noble. Yes, your parents are gone. I’m sorry they are. They sound like they were the best kind of people. But you need to stop focusing on the past and see what’s right in front of you.”

  “What are you saying?”

  His entire body shook, his mind reeling with what was in his heart. “I want more, Noble. More than just a few dates and a weekend trip. I want to share my life with you, and that includes my parents. No one has ever come with me here. No one but you. That means something. I’m not sure what, but I want to find out.”

  Her eyes were wide. He could hear the hitch in her breath. “I’ve held on to that pain for so long. I don’t think I can let go. At least not before dinner.”

  He smiled. “Will you try?”

  She closed her eyes, teasing her cheek against his palm. “Yes.”

  When he kissed her tenderly, she softened against him, and he wrapped his arms around her more securely. He pressed his forehead to hers. A warm sensation flooded through his body, starting at his chest—an ache like he’d never known. He was falling for her, and as long as she let him, he had no plans of stopping.

  * * * *

  Finn and Noble had been riding for nearly three hours. They had to start making their way back to his house, but the scenery he showed her was breathtaking. Nothing had prepared her for the vast lands, the hills, the winds and the way they crept through the trees, moving the leaves and branches as if by the fingertips of giants. The dark blue waters of several ponds were tucked away in the middle of nowhere, some partially shaded by trees, others hidden so well a visitor could miss them entirely. It was all incredibly beautiful.

  Now on motorcycles, he insisted she ride in front of him, but she argued that he knew where they were going. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to protect her or stare at her ass. Either way, it was sweet and hot. Trouble was, if she rode in front of him, she couldn’t stare at h
is ass.

  Along the never-ending stretches of road, she had plenty of time to think and ponder all the things he’d said to her before they had left his ranch. The things he’d said had gotten under her skin, making her see things in a different light—sort of. He’d told her that he wanted to share his life with her, but what did that really mean? They’d only known each other for a short time. They didn’t love each other, even though she couldn’t ignore just how much she craved him, cared for him. Their time together had been based on sex. They’d gotten together because of sex. Sex wasn’t enough to keep two people together. She wouldn’t fool herself into believing that a man like Finn didn’t have an ulterior motive. He was a pro quarterback with drop-dead looks. He was in the best years of his career. His focus should be on the game. Not her.

  Who am I kidding?

  Her stomach knotted. How could she be so stupid? She didn’t want things between them to end. She wanted them to keep going the way they were. She was crazy about Finn, wanting to spend every waking minute with him. He proved to be so different than she ever imagined. He was nothing like the boys from her past. He was almost perfect.

  Besides being one of the sexiest men she’d ever seen, he was kind and gentle, adored his parents, and looked at her like no other ever had. She yearned to see his eyes heat with need for her, narrow as if no one else mattered in the world. Sometimes when he looked at her, she got the feeling that he only saw her, no matter how crowded the room was. Her body tingled as she wondered what he thought each time he made love to her. Did he truly want more between them?

  Lost in thought, she jumped clear out of her skin the second a massive truck blasted past her on the road, causing her to swerve and shoot right onto the gravel shoulder. She held the bike upright, even though the back fishtailed wildly. Her heart leapt into her throat as fear crashed down on her. She’d almost gone over the massive hill she stopped on. Her gaze drifted down the nearly hundred-foot fall. She breathed hard, her chest rising and falling as she gathered her thoughts.