“I have great news,” I told Morgan as he sat down at his desk.

Rocking back and forth, he tried to muster a smile. “Hit me,” he mumbled.

“Johnny is bringing new tires and he’s going to fix Elvira in the parking lot.”

“The guy?” he asked with a halfhearted grin.

I nodded, trying to contain my excitement. “The guy.”

“That’s great, princess.” He held his hand out to me, a serious look on his face. “We gotta talk. It’s about Tyler and the entire situation.”

“Can I go tomorrow?” I asked before I held my breath.

“No.”

I scowled, grinding my teeth.

“Do you trust me, Race?” he asked, reaching out for me.

This time, I didn’t hesitate as I set my hand in his, finally giving in. “Yes.”

“Good.” He pulled me forward and wrapped his arms around me. “Then you aren’t fucking going.”

I tumbled into his lap and yelled, “Hey!”

He positioned me in his lap, cocooning me against his torso.

I peered up at him, confused. “What are you doing?”

“Protecting you,” he whispered in my ear.

My breath hitched.

For once, I was at a loss for words.

“I’m going to stay with you again tonight.”

“You don’t have to. I’m a big girl,” I teased, enjoying being cradled in his arms.

Tenderly, he took my hand in his and stroked the side near the bandages. “Keep arguing and I’m going to spank you tonight.”

“Oh,” I whispered, butterflies filling my insides.

The vibrations of his deep laugh ricocheted through my body. “Maybe you’d like that.”

“Morgan…” I relaxed into him.

“Listen, someone is after you. They came to my work and slashed my tires. I don’t want to find you the same way we found Elvira. So you can’t get rid of me, no matter how mouthy you are.”

“Don’t be silly,” I said, feeling butterflies starting to float around my stomach. “You don’t think someone would do that. Do you?” My heart quickened, beating feverishly inside my chest.

“I don’t know, Race.” His fingers trailed up my arm, running over my highly sensitive skin. “I won’t take the chance.”

“Okay” left my mouth a little too quickly.

I couldn’t deny it any longer—at least, not to myself anymore.

Morgan DeLuca stirred all kinds of feelings inside of me.

I lusted after him.

That word might not even be enough to describe how badly I wanted him.

The moment his lips had touched mine, I had known I was a goner.

Never in my entire life had a man kissed me the way he had, let alone the way he fucked me.

“Good,” he said against my hair as he traced tiny circles on my shoulder.

I sat there like a doe-eyed girl, basking in the feel of his skin against mine. “Morgan,” I whispered, biting on my lip.

“Yeah?” he asked as his mouth brushed against my ear.

I shuddered. “This.”

He held me tighter, resting his lips against my neck. “Listen, have you ever wanted something so badly that you never thought you’d want in a million years?”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“I never thought I’d want to be with someone, Race. But then your bossy ass sat there on a barstool slinging all types of bullshit at me and everything inside me changed.”

“You really like me?” I blinked.

Oh my God.

“Yes,” he answered in a serious tone.

I stared straight ahead, not daring to make eye contact. “We don’t really make sense.”

“Let’s take it one day at a time. I like you though. More than I ever expected or wanted to.”

“I know. Me too,” I said as my cheeks heated.

He leaned forward and placed his mouth over mine. My breath was lost as he stole every bit of air inside my body, causing me to feel lightheaded and dizzy.

As his lips lingered over mine, he asked, “Do you want me in your bed?”

My mind still hazy from the lust that had flooded my every fiber, I replied, “Yes.”

Before I could take it back, he covered my mouth in another kiss.

A moment later, he backed away, holding me at arm’s length. “I need you, Race, but not here,” he said as his chest heaved. He tried to catch his breath, just as affected by the kiss as I had been.

“Johnny should be here soon,” I said, unsure of what else to say.

“When he’s done, I’ll take you to dinner and then we can head home.”

“What if I don’t want to go home?”

“Then I’ll take you anywhere you want, but eventually we’ll end up at your place.”

“And then?”

“Then we’ll finish what we started.”

Hope bloomed inside me, and self-doubt evaporated. Want flooded my system as I took in the man before me.