Mastering Heat [Men of Iron Horse 9] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Men of Iron Horse 9

  Mastering Heat

  Single mom and waitress Claire Buckman is close to earning a paralegal degree. Weeks left of college, she catches the attention of playboy professor Nox Masters, who offers her a proposition—a one-time affair to remember.

  The sexual appetite they share is fierce and untamed—beyond what either imagined. Nox craves more, but Claire’s focus is on her daughter and degree. She has no room in her life for more.

  Fate be damned, a blind date arranged by mutual friends leaves them in a position to explore their unavoidable attraction. Throwing caution into the wind, they give into their needs, but all that comes tumbling around them when Claire’s daughter runs away. Realizing the emotional strain her daughter feels over Claire’s new dating life, she ends things with Nox.

  Nox’s only option is to discover a way to win Claire and her daughter. Or lose them both forever.

  Genre: Contemporary

  Length: 29,993 words

  MASTERING HEAT

  Men of Iron Horse 9

  Morgan Fox

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  MASTERING HEAT

  Copyright © 2017 by Morgan Fox

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-597-3

  First Publication: September 2017

  Cover design by Harris

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 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.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  To my loving husband, Eric. Thank you for supporting me and showing me what true love means. I love you. Always and Forever.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Morgan Fox lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dogs. She has been writing paranormal and contemporary romance for as long as she can remember.

  A graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas, she was raised in Florida, but navigated to Texas as quickly as she could. Most days, you can find Morgan on her computer, diving headlong into her fierce imagination where anything can happen.

  When not writing or thinking about writing, she enjoys cycling with her husband and reading all kinds of romance novels. A romantic junkie at heart, she can’t get enough of that mushy stuff.

  For all titles by Morgan Fox, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/morgan-fox

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Landmarks

  Cover

  MASTERING HEAT

  Men of Iron Horse 9

  MORGAN FOX

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  Claire Buckman was living the dream. Okay, not really, but she hoped to one day reap the rewards of her current crazy life. As a full-time single mother of a beautiful eight-year-old daughter, a full-time waitress at Iron Horse Bar & Grill, and a law student at the local university, she was flying through life by the seat of her pants.

  Tonight was no different. Sitting in the front row of an auditorium-style classroom, she waited for the professor to show. The stogy old man was never late. As a rule, if he didn’t show within the first fifteen minutes of class, the students could leave without repercussions. As it stood, he had five more minutes remaining before the seats would be vacant of living breathing bodies.

  Claire glanced at her watch as the room filled with grumbling chatter and the rustling of books and paper as students began putting their belongings away. She seemed to be the only one annoyed that class was most likely going to be canceled. She couldn’t afford to miss a class. She needed to pass the final in order to graduate and get a degree in paralegal studies. Staring at her watch, she sighed a heavy breath.

  “Sorry I’m late.” The deep, lulling voice of a stranger pulled her from her thoughts. “I’m Professor Nox Masters. I will be overseeing the class this evening. Unfortunately, Professor Wilson has fallen ill.”

  A sub? In all her years at the university, she’d never had a class with a substitute teacher. Blinking to clear her head, she held her gaze on the man at the front of the room. Dark eyes lined with black lashes and dark eyebrows, olive skin, and short brown hair that parted on the side and waved slightly. He wore a tailored charcoal-gray suit with a black and turquois tie. He could easily pass as George Clooney’s sexy younger brother.

  If he had one. She frowned. Does he have one? She groaned. What does it matter?

  Without hesitation, he jumped right into the material as if he had been the one to prepare the class from the start. He carried no notes, followed no lesson plan. He simply knew every bit of information, as if memorized. Listening to him rattle off case and process details was like listening to a captivating bedtime story. She almost forgot to take notes.

  I never considered legal jargon sexy. Then again, no one sounding like him has ever read it to me either. She inwardly chuckled. Proof I really need to get out more.

  Her eyes fell to the shiny buckle of his pants as he slid his hands into his pockets. His jacket parted enough that her gaze trailed lower. Her face grew hot as she studied the way he strolled along the front of the room, passing her desk, and sometimes even standing directly in front of her. She held her breath each time he did. For no other reason than the fact that he smelt so amazing, like a breath of fresh air. She was distracted by him, and it was a challenge not to be. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, inhaling the divine musk scent. Realization hit her and she shook her head, clearing the wayward direction of her mind and the reaction her body had to the heady masculine fragrance.

  Focus!

  The temperature in the room grew warmer, her notes sticking to the palms of her hands. A room that was normally on the chilly side was now volcanic.

  “That’s it for today. Professor Wilson will be back next week.”

  He stood like a God at the front of the room, his confidence pouring out of him. He kept his hands in his pockets, glancing around the room as the students all left. She locked eyes with him for a moment, until she realized he wasn’t going to break away. Casting her gaze downward, she felt rattled as she hurried along, grabbing her books and bags. She darted out of the classroom.

  She reached into her pants pocket for her keys and realized she didn’t have them. Craning her neck to the sky, she groaned. Turning around s
he headed back to the classroom.

  Nox Masters stood, locking the door. He slanted her a glance and a lopsided grin. As he turned, he dangled her keys at the tip of his index finger. “Looking for these?”

  She moved to him, taking the offered keys. “Thank you.”

  She motioned to leave, but he asked, “How long have you been attending school here?”

  Too long. “I’m about to graduate.”

  His dark gaze scanned over her, starting as her sneakers, and moving over her jeans and blouse, finally settling on her eyes. “And yet you’ve never taken any of my classes.”

  Why did she suddenly feel like she was standing in front of him naked?

  The temperature in the hallway was radiating—blazing hot. Worse than the classroom had been. A low pulsing heat ignited low in her belly. She couldn’t recall a time any man had looked at her so appreciatively.

  That’s saying a lot since I work at Iron Horse.

  She cleared away the lump that formed at the back of her throat, making it difficult to swallow. Recalling all the naughty whispers about the sexy and irresistible Professor Masters. Students had their favorites, and he was clearly the one most fantasied about. Seeing him in the flesh, she had to agree.

  “You have a reputation, Professor Master,” she shared honestly.

  “Do I?” He seemed amused. “What type of reputation?”

  She arched a brow. No one had ever accused Claire of holding back her thoughts. So why start now? “Since you asked, nice to look at but noncommittal.”

  He laughed, the husky rumble sexier than it should’ve been. Rattled by her reaction to him again, she was aware she should leave. But strangely, she was intrigued that he hadn’t refuted what she’d told him.

  “So is the rumor true? Are you worried about being tied to one woman?” She pursed her lips together.

  Why did I ask that? Why do I care?

  “Not at all,” he started, leaning against the wall at his back. “I simply haven’t met the right woman.”

  The blue blouse she wore felt snug over her breast. The soft, silky fabric of her bra scrapped teasingly over her sensitive nipples. A shiver rocked her as even her panties felt too tight.

  “Have a drink with me?”

  Her lips parted on a gasp. “What? No.”

  Did he just ask me out?

  He smirked. “Tell me your name?”

  “Claire.” She frowned, unable to stop herself from telling him what he wanted to know.

  What is wrong with me?

  He shoved away from the wall, closing the distance between them. “Have a drink with me, Claire?”

  She shook her head, stepping back. “Isn’t this some kind of ethics violation, Mr. Masters?”

  His grin drew her attention to the fullness of his lips. Stop that. Her pulse raced with such a vengeance she could barely hear her own thoughts.

  “I’m not your teacher so it’s not an ethics violation.”

  The air fled more rapidly from her lungs. Her body churned with desire. The masculine scent that had easily distracted her during class was once again clouding her mind.

  It’s been so long. I wouldn’t know what to do with a man or a drink. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

  As she turned to leave, he asked, “Afraid you might like being with a noncommittal type?”

  She faced him, furrowing her brow. “I never said that,” she countered. “And do you normally go around asking students out?”

  The corner of his mouth quirked, her gaze dipping to lips that were only inches away. “Claire, you’re the only student who has ever tempted me,” he replied. His tone was without inflection.

  Her breath hitched. “I should go.”

  “Yes, you should.” He closed the last remaining space between them. “And yet, you’re still standing here. You’re curious about me and you want that drink with me.”

  She scoffed, hating herself for wanting exactly what he’d accused her of. “I think you’re a bit chauvinistic.”

  He grinned, and that buttery smooth curve to his lips had her desiring to press to her toes to lick that delectable mouth. I have a daughter. I can’t think like this.

  “I know what I want, Claire.”

  She sighed, drowning in the smoldering look in his eyes. What she wouldn’t give to let her hair down once. To forget about responsibility and just have a night to remember. “I can’t.”

  He brushed his fingers through her long blonde hair, holding the ends between his fingers. “Then why are you still here?”

  She laughed nervously. “This has got to be some kind of ethics test, right? See if you can get a student to cave to the wiles of an attractive teacher. No, thank you.”

  “Your loss,” he said candidly. “I have a fully stocked beverage cart right in my office. I’m saddened that this is the first time I’ve met you and likely the last. You’re a beautiful woman, Claire. I wish you well.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and began walking down the hallway.

  Stunned, she looked around waiting for another teacher to come out and tell her that she had passed this crazy exam she’d been subjected to, but no one came.

  Had he really wanted to have a drink with me?

  What if he did?

  She hastened her steps, catching him standing at the end of the hallway, his one leg bent up and his foot pressed to the wall. He slanted her a hungry look. The man made her insides tremble and her lusty thoughts surface in a flash. No man had allured her like this before, tempted her in to doing something rash and so unlike herself. He was sexy and devilish.

  Would it be wrong to have a drink him?

  Nox Master was anything but vanilla, and Claire had never been anything more than vanilla. The rush of heat that flooded her body had her moving toward him. She couldn’t stop herself.

  Is it wrong to want something more than just to be a single mother? Is it wrong to want a man to look at me the way Nox is? She sighed. I hope not.

  “It’s not normal, you know? Asking students out for drinks.”

  “As you already know, you’re not my student. And you won’t ever be. You’re graduating, right?”

  She nodded.

  “So no issue.”

  She couldn’t help but be curious about him. She had to admit, she liked being the desire in a man’s gaze. It was exciting. “Do you pick up women often?”

  His gaze was dead serious. “No.”

  He shoved away from the wall. As he moved toward his office, Claire followed.

  * * * *

  Claire had the most perfect ass he’d ever seen molded into a pair of tight jeans. She couldn’t be any older than her mid-to-late-twenties and she was gorgeous. Long blonde hair, full breasts, a waist that tampered in with curvy hips. She was mouthwatering. Nox had seen thousands of women come through the college over the years, and none had fired him up that way she had. The stern gaze she laid into him, the way she held her breath when he paused in front of her chair, she kept him coming back. The moment he’d stepped into the classroom, he’d spotted her in the front row.

  The woman was a walking contradiction, and that was what heated his blood the most. She was sweet, yet sinful. She was fearless when she spoke, had restraint, but curiosity. Claire intrigued him, and he was ever so grateful that she’d followed him to his office. He was even more grateful that his office only had one window and was on the second floor.

  “Are these yours?” Claire asked, picking up a picture from off his desk.

  “Yes and no.”

  She frowned.

  He smiled. “I don’t have a lot of time anymore to breed and show dogs, so my sister is taking care of them.”

  “French bulldogs are my favorite. I just love them. They’re so cute,” she gushed, brushing her finger over the frame. “I had one as a child. I named her Mitsi. She was almost pure white with a few brown markings. She wasn’t a show dog. She was much too lazy for that, but she was all mine.”

  Nox enjoyed hearing Claire sp
eak about her past. It was refreshing to see her soften a bit. He hoped a drink might help her do that a little more. He moved to the drink cart and poured a scotch. Before he even realized it, she was behind him, reaching to take the drink from his hand.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He grinned and poured another.

  She emptied the glass in seconds. “How many dogs is your sister holding for you?”

  Was that liquid courage?

  His brow arched high on his forehead. “Two and she has two of her own, as well. Each of us has a male and female.”

  “So you breed them together.”

  He sipped his drink, pondering all the wicked things he’d like to do with her. “They’re winning dogs with titles and good pedigree. But I don’t do the breeding anymore. My schedule is too hectic.”

  “That’s why your sister takes care of them.” She eyed him, her brow furrowing. “It’s funny. I didn’t picture you as a dog guy.”

  He chuckled, his gaze shifting from her eyes to her mouth and back again. His pulse banged hard at his temples as his thoughts turned greedily. “And how do you picture me?” he asked, his words grading against his throat.

  He prayed she was picturing him kissing her, holding her close as he dragged his mouth over her lips, chin, neck, and breasts. Savoring every inch of her until he had his cock buried between her legs. Her cries of passion deafening him as he made her come.

  Her cheeks reddened, as if she knew his dark and wicked thoughts. Her chest rose and fell faster with her labored breaths. Her gaze never wavered. “Not as a dog guy.”

  He finished his drink and placed his glass back on the table. Then he closed the distance between them and took her glass, placing it on his desk. He leaned toward the office door and locked it. His gaze shifted to her. She was transfixed on him, and he liked that he had her full attention. He shook out of his coat and laid it on the sofa beside the door.