Heat Read online

  I wake up in Moon’s arms. I watch him sleep while I try to find the words to explain why I need to leave. If I stay another day, I won’t be able to leave and this is something I can’t tell him. I’ve fallen for him; heart and soul. He’s like no other man I’ve ever been with. I crave the sense of family here in his home. I crave his body. But, most of all, I crave Moon, the man. That scares the shit out of me. I can’t allow this to continue or I’ll never be able to walk away. This is it—my last chance to walk the right path.

  I slide from beneath him and go into the bathroom. I use the toilet, wash my hands, and walk back into the room. I lift his shirt from the floor and slip it on. Moon is propped up on his arm watching me. “I need to go home,” I tell him when I finish with the buttons.

  “You can leave after last night?” Surprise is in his husky voice.

  He will never understand. “Our worlds don’t mix. There’s a chance that someday my shoulder will heal enough that I can return to law enforcement. I can’t give that chance away by being with you.” I drive the nail in. “I can never be seen with you, Moon. So, what’s the point?”

  His eyes change from sensual shards of blue flaked with silver to a sky swirling with the winds of a tornado. He gives me another moment to take back the words or maybe to drive the knife deeper. I say nothing.

  He steps from the bed in all his naked glory and pulls on the suit pants he discarded on the floor the night before. “Get dressed and I’ll have a rental car delivered here within the hour. I’ll send Gabriella up with a breakfast tray. Please stay in the room until you’re notified the car is here.” His voice is steadfast and clipped. It’s only his eyes that show the storm he’s holding back.

  “I don’t need you to rent me a car. I’ll take a cab.”

  He holds up his hand. “No.” His palm slides over his closely cropped head. “You need a car at your apartment. It’s a safety factor if you need to leave in a hurry.” He looks me up and down. “You’ve proven you can take care of yourself. Stay in the room until the car is here. I don’t want to fucking see you.” He steps around the corner into his closet and comes out with a shirt in his hand. Without looking back, he leaves the room.

  Misery settles over me. I take a quick shower and put on a pair of cargo shorts and a tee. Gabriella delivers the promised tray of food. She knows I’m leaving and won’t look at me or speak to me. The phone buzzes, and when I pick it up, Gomez tells me the car is out front. I leave the bedroom and walk down the long stairs with heavy feet.

  Gomez waits at the front door. He hands me the keys without a word.

  The morning heat envelops me when I walk outside. I slide into the car and drive away.

  Chapter Twenty-Five