Mastering Heat [Men of Iron Horse 9] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 4

  “Harder,” she demanded and he did. Slamming into her until she went over the edge, crying out as she came.

  Pulling out of her, he reached for the lubricant. “Don’t move. Keep your hands on your knees. Keep that pretty ass high.”

  Her eyes widened and he knew she was well aware of what he intended. Her cheeks flooded with color and her breaths grew quicker. The beading of her nipples showed her excitement for the unknown.

  He spread a generous helping of lubricant on the head of his cock and her anus, taking a moment to tease her, slipping his finger past the ring. She was damn tight.

  “Breathe. Don’t tense.”

  He circled her clit with his other hand, rubbing her in slow circles. Then he pressed a second finger inside her ass. She closed her eyes and gasped. He gave her time to adjust to the new feeling. Then he moved inside her, all the while rubbing her clit.

  “Yes,” she breathed. “I want more.”

  Grinning, he gave it to her. He reached for a pillow and shoved it under her hips, elevating her ass. Then he placed the head of his cock at her anus and slowly worked himself beyond the ring. She sucked in a breath, her hands fisting in the sheets of his bed.

  “Are you—”

  “Don’t stop,” she said, cutting him off. “I’ve always wanted to try this.”

  His smile grew. She’s as wicked as a vixen. He pressed deeper, filling her with his cock and still rubbing her swollen clit.

  Seated deep, he asked, “How does that feel?”

  “Different,” she muttered, licking her lips.

  He eased back and bucked his hips, gently driving back and forth inside her. He placed one hand at her belly, using his thumb to continue caressing her clit. Then, with the other hand, he pressed two fingers inside her pussy and began fucking her in every way he could.

  “Oh my God!” she cried, her arms flying up over her head to grip the edge of the bed.

  He continued to ravage her and she continued to demand more, asking him to take her harder, faster. He finally couldn’t take it anymore and positioned himself with his hands beside her, his hips bucking hard as he drilled deep. She took over, stroking her clit with each pounding he gave her.

  Sweat coated his body and his vision blurred as his release neared, but he wouldn’t until she was beyond satisfied. Making it good for her was part of the fantasy.

  Then, she screamed his name, her body quivered, and she clawed his arms as he bucked a dozen more times. She came, and as if on command he emptied himself inside her.

  He closed his eyes and held himself on top of her. Exhausted, he could barely hold himself steady, but somehow he managed to ease back and move into the bathroom to dispose of the condom and clean himself. When he turned to leave, Claire was there, stepping around him to get into the shower. He watched her as she cleaned her body. She didn’t appear like a stranger to him. As funny as it was, he felt like they’d done this sort of thing a million times—fuck like crazy, shower, and return to bed. Almost normal.

  When she stepped from the shower, he wrapped her in a towel and dried her off. Then he grabbed the shirt he’d retrieved and put it on her. Without words, he led her back to his bed. She crawled in and pulled the covers over her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he guided her toward him. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep.

  He brushed a lock of her blonde hair from her face. She was pretty, but not in that bitchy, snobby way he was familiar with—uptight women didn’t hold a candle to Claire. She was naturally beautiful and didn’t need makeup. Her skin was flawless, her hair soft with a slight wave, and her eyes were a vibrant, expressive blue. He found it refreshing that she didn’t appear to know how breathtaking she was. He’d gotten lucky agreeing to sub for his colleague at the college. Something he would never be able to do again now that he planned to enjoy Claire for as long as he could.

  Chapter Four

  Claire woke, stretching and discovering the warmth of Nox’s firm body beside her in his pitch-black bedroom. She’d fallen asleep so easily lying next to him. Other than sex and a few minor details about his profession, she knew nothing about him. How had she so willingly allowed herself to partake in this situation?

  ’Cause I needed it. She smirked.

  Trying not to wake Nox, she carefully shimmied her way out from under the blanket and off the bed.

  “Are you leaving?”

  She turned toward the sound of his raspy voice. “I have to.”

  “When will I see you again?”

  Where the hell did I put my clothes? The bathroom. He switched on the light on his nightstand as she darted into the bathroom and dressed. She turned to see him moving toward her.

  “I’m available whenever you are,” he said, and she laughed.

  “I’m sure you are.”

  Only an inch of air separated them. “Are you planning to give me your number, or do I have to keep showing up at Iron Horse?”

  She dug into her jean pocket and pulled out her phone. “What’s your number?” He told her and she quickly called him. When it rang, she hung up. “Now you have mine, too.”

  She tried to move around him, but he snaked her hand in his, pulling her against him. She bumped into his bare chest, her hands coming up to press flat against the firm muscles she’d explored thoroughly during the night. He cupped her face and softly sampled her lips. When she eased back, his eyes were warm, inviting.

  “I’ll call you soon.”

  “Not if I call you first.”

  She smiled. “Goodnight, Nox.”

  “Goodnight, Claire.”

  She started to leave. As she grabbed the doorknob, she thought of something. “Nox,” she called out, but didn’t wait for him to answer. “Do you have a pool?”

  He appeared around the corner, pressing her shoulder against the wall as he folded his arms across his chest. He was naked and appeared to be very comfortable that way. “Yes. Why?”

  She eyed him up and down, biting into her lower lip. The man was sinfully handsome. “Think sexy cabana boy.” She winked. “See you later.”

  Not once the entire drive home did the warm buttery feeling she’d gotten over her thoughts of him as her cabana boy subside. It was profound yet delightful—like she had a secret, a blissful secret that no one else in the world knew and never would. Nox Masters was her piece of pleasure that she didn’t have to share with anyone else in the world. No strings. No weird feelings. No clingy, messy needs she couldn’t deal with.

  Sex was truly sex. Nothing more.

  And it was awesome.

  When Claire arrived at home Noble’s car wasn’t there, but Finn Kipling’s truck was. Finn was Noble’s seriously attractive fiancé who just happened to be a professional quarterback for Dallas. She wasn’t at all surprised to see his truck. He and Noble were stuck together like glue paper.

  “How was your night?” Noble asked, opening the front door as Claire approached.

  She bit her lip, wanting to gush about her evening with Nox, but she liked the idea of her relationship with him being their clandestine affair. Heat warmed her cheeks. “It was fine, thank you.”

  “Fine?” Noble questioned. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “What would you have me say?”

  “That he rocked your world, was the best night of your life, and you want to see him again,” Noble said with a duh in her voice.

  The heat from her cheeks blasted its way down her neck and merged with her fast beating heart. Her mouth went dry as she remembered the look in his eyes, the desire as he put his cock inside her—

  “Why do you look like you just had an orgasm?”

  “What?” Claire blinked hard, her face hotter.

  Noble laughed. “Are you relieving your night with the Master?”

  Claire rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “He rocked your world, didn’t he?” Noble smiled.

  Claire pursed her lips, but she just couldn’t hold back t
he euphoric rush of memories, and a grin worked its way thorough. “He did,” she admitted.

  Noble slapped her hands together is some offbeat kind of cheer. “I knew it. You two just had that thing going on in the hallway at Iron Horse. I had a feeling he was going to—”

  “Please don’t talk about it with the others,” Claire begged. “I don’t want anyone to know what I’m up to.”

  Noble’s brow arched. “And what are you up to?”

  “A sex-only arrangement.”

  Noble chuckled. “You mean a booty-call arrangement.”

  Claire shrugged.

  “Hot attorney professor wants to have bed rights with you, and that’s it?”

  That didn’t sound bad in her head, but the way Noble said it, she wasn’t sure. It had been her idea, so it shouldn’t bother her. “I told him I didn’t want anything else.”

  “Does he know about Lacey?”

  Claire’s stomach rolled at the mention of her daughter’s name. “No, and there’s no reason he should. We don’t discuss personal matters.”

  Noble frowned. “Do you discuss anything?”

  Claire shook her head.

  “Do you just get naked and—”

  “Pretty much,” Claire said, turning to enter the kitchen. She needed some ice water. More ice than water. Talking about her private affair with Nox was likely to set her on fire.

  “And you’re okay with it?”

  For now. “I don’t need anything serious. I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Okay. If you say so.

  Claire chugged the bottle of water, finishing it in one breath. “I hope I didn’t ruin your plans for the night.”

  “No. Finn actually fell asleep on your sofa. He played so many games of human airplane and hide and seek that I think he wore out before Lacey did.” She laughed. “I don’t think he realized how much work an eight-year-old can be.”

  Claire smiled. No one ever does until they have one of their own. “I’m glad he was here with you.”

  “Me, too. He made babysitting so much more enjoyable. I only had to feed her and put her in bed. He took care of the rest.” Noble winked. “He’ll be a great dad.”

  She was happy for Noble. She had found a decent, loving man to spend her life with. That was not the hand Claire was dealt. “I’m sure he will.”

  Soon after Noble and Finn left, Claire showered and slipped into her purple tank top and pajama bottoms. Before she went to bed, she always checked on Lacey—an end-of-the-day chance to smile and gaze upon the reason she fought so hard.

  Peering quietly into her room, she stared at the face of her innocent daughter. She was a spitting image of what Claire had looked like as a child. Nothing in the world would ever come between them. She wouldn’t allow it.

  Not long ago, Claire had collected Lacey, and together they’d escaped her ex-husband. He’d been a terrible man, abusive and angry. Funny thing—he hadn’t always been. When Claire had first married him, he was charming and picture perfect. She couldn’t imagine being happier, but after Lacey was born, things had changed. He had never wanted to be a father, and it showed with his escalating temper, yelling and shoving Claire, which turned Claire’s blood to ice when she thought of him doing that to Lacey.

  Never.

  Somehow, Claire had found the strength to end things with him. She took him to court and he signed over full custody. The years she’d spent with lawyers had drained her dry, and even now she scraped for every cent. But she was doing it. She’d discovered strength fighting for her daughter, and now she found it again fighting a new battle.

  College and a career.

  “Hi, Mom,” Lacey whispered, her eyes fluttering open as Claire’s lips touched her forehead. “Will you stay with me for a minute? At least until I fall back asleep.”

  Claire’s heart burst with love. “Of course I will.”

  Pulling the covers down, she crawled into bed with Lacey and her daughter spooned against her. The scent of her blueberry-scented hair brought another smile to her face. Her daughter meant the world to her, and she would never get tired of nights like this—nights where she would forget about the world outside and just hold her baby.

  Nox fit into that world, even if he didn’t know it. He offered her a place to burn off steam without any of the burden that came with a messy relationship—one she wasn’t interested in. Her ex-husband had burned all hope of that. Plus with Lacey being eight, she wasn’t able to bring someone into their lives without fear of how it would affect her. Claire had a plan. She was going to finish school, get a great job, raise her daughter, and be happy doing it. Nothing else mattered.

  * * * *

  “Are you humming?” Victor Cadwell asked with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you hum.”

  Nox peered up from his stack of papers and glared curiously at his friend. “What? Miss me already? Didn’t we just have lunch together last week?”

  Victor sat across from him in his black leather guest chairs. “I’ve got a major favor to ask.”

  Nox arched a brow. He never liked doing favors for people. They tended to cost him in the end. “What kind of favor?”

  Victor smirked. “A double date kind of favor.”

  Nox’s arched brow melted into a full-blown scowl. “No thank you.”

  “I would owe you big for this. Janie scored tickets to a play and she wants to take a friend with us. She told me I had to find a suitable date for her.”

  “And you thought of me?” He laughed. “Why in hell would you do that?”

  “It’s just a play and then dinner. That’s it. You can meet us at the theater. I’ll bring the girls. If you hit it off you can drive her to the restaurant?”

  “And why me? You work with single men, lawyers. Why bother me with this?”

  “If I have to do this with Janie, I should at least get to like the plus one’s date, right?”

  Nox agreed. He could pretend for one night. I hope. “What does she look like?”

  He grinned. “I have no idea. Janie didn’t tell me which friend she was inviting, just that I needed to get her a plus one.”

  “Worst blind date setup ever,” Nox grumbled. He didn’t want to go out with a woman he didn’t know. She could laugh weird or smell like ginger.

  I hate ginger.

  “Come on, Nox. The girls are likely to spend the night chatting it up. That means we’ll get more time to catch up.”

  I’m never going to forget this favor for Victor. “Fine. But you will owe me.”

  Victor stood, reaching out to shake Nox’s hand. “Deal. My assistant will send you all the details for tonight. Dress sharp.” He left.

  Burying himself in work, Nox finished his lectures for the day and finally checked his e-mails for the evening’s details. He had just enough time to go home, shower, change, and meet his date at the entrance of the theater. Once he found a place to park, he headed for the ticket stand where Victor said their tickets would be held until they arrived. He texted Victor that he was waiting in the lobby. Seconds later, Victor replied that they were, too.

  He cast a glance around the room, finally spotting Victor and Janie. What he hadn’t expected was the gorgeous woman who appeared at Janie’s side. His mouth opened, choked by the way her blue eyes widened as they locked on his. The soft sweep of her long blonde hair draped over her shoulder in a sexy, elegant braid. With a quick perusal, he scanned her from head to toe. She wore a black dress that clung to her breasts, hugged her curvy hips, and a slit that welcomed his view clear up to her thigh. He was rock hard in an instant. Her cheeks flooded with color as she stopped in front of him. He forgot himself.

  “Good evening Nox,” Victor said, pulling him from his Claire focused thoughts. “You remember Claire Buckman.”

  Even if I tried, I would never forget a woman like her. “Yes,” he breathed, his eyes still fixed on her. “It’s nice to see you again, Claire.”

  “It’s nice to see you, too.�
�

  The soft purr in her voice lulled him like a baby. He would never be able to pay attention to the play, not with Claire sitting beside him, looking so appetizing. He cleared he throat, freeing himself of the alluring trance.

  “Shall we get our tickets and find our seats.” A statement, not a request.

  Once they were seated, he placed Claire on the outside, making sure Victor and Janie weren’t in earshot. Fantasies bubbled up in his mind. He wanted to say things to her, do things to her they couldn’t witness.

  If she lets me.

  “I had no idea that you were going to be my date this evening,” he told her, his voice low so only she could hear him.

  “Same here,” she said, her eyes on the stage in front of them. “I’m not sure I would’ve come, if I had.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “On the contrary for me.”

  Her gaze settled on him and he leaned toward her. “Fantasies, Claire. Think fantasies.”

  Her brow rose high. “You have a fantasy about sex in a theater?”

  “Think of what I’m going to do to you with all these people around us. Oblivious to where my hands and fingers are touching you.” She sucked in a breath. “Are you wearing panties?”

  She nodded.

  “Excuse yourself. Go take them off.”

  She swallowed hard, uncrossed her legs, and leaned forward to get Janie’s attention. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll escort you,” he said, moving to offer her his arm. She placed her delicate hand on the inside of his bicep as he guided her to a more private location. He saw an unmarked door and tried the handle. It opened.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Come on.” He pulled her inside and closed the door behind them, flipping on the light switch.

  “A custodial closet?”

  “It’s private,” he told her with a grin. “Now take off those panties, before someone needs a mop.”

  “You first,” she barked.

  His brow furrowed. “You want me to take off my boxers?”

  She shook her head. “I want to see your cock. How hard are you, Nox?”