Pure Iron Read Free Page A

aquarium. I am so sorry!”
    Mick found himself charmed by her reaction, which wasn’t the fangirl giddiness he expected, but rather consternation that she’d imposed upon his good nature and desire for solitude. He reached over and took her hand in his. “Calm down, Sonia. You did not force me to make breakfast. You did not impose. I offered, remember? ”
    She nodded, mouth still open in shock.
    He pulled on her hand, drawing her toward him a little. In a rough whisper he said, “If you don’t close your mouth, I’m going to kiss it.”
    She squeaked and her jaw snapped shut.
    Damn, he should have just kissed her, see if she tasted as sweet as she looked.
    Reaching deeply for a self-restraint he seldom used, he released her hand and said, “There’s a whole building full of fish just waiting for us to gawk at them. Let’s go.”
    She fell into step beside him. He found himself watching her more than the aquatic displays. She read the placards beside each display, smiling at the gelatinous grace of the jellyfish, the sinuous power of barracudas, the creepy stretch of spider crabs. Every so often, she would glance back at him with a grin and sparkling eyes or a comment as though he were any hometown boy holding her hand. He found he liked that feeling of just being a boy holding her hand, rather than a celebrity hiding behind a hat and sunglasses.
    Funny how he’d worked for so long to become famous and found it stifling and empty. When he focused on the music life was better, had deeper meaning. He had the niggling feeling that this artless young woman could bring even deeper meaning to his existence, to his music.
    He wondered what the band would think of her. Then he wondered whether she should even meet them. Immersion in his toxic world would surely destroy that fresh, unspoiled innocence. Mick found himself reluctant to be party to such destruction. No, he’d keep her away from the band; he’d keep her separate from the rest of his sordid life.
    “Oh, come watch the otters,” she exclaimed with a happy laugh.
    Mick stood beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist. He could not help but notice how well she fit against him, which inevitably drew his thoughts as to how well he would fit inside her. She tilted her face up to his and grinned. He smiled back and tried to think of puppies and kittens and icy cold showers.
    Sonia felt Mick moved behind her, wrap both arms loosely around her, encouraging her to lean back against him. She hesitated, then relented because his warm, solid strength behind her felt so good. She smiled to herself when the bottom of his chiseled jaw rested on top of her head. A fine tremor rippled through her when she felt something else press into her lower back.
    Oh, dear. How did one extricate herself tactfully from that?
    She arched her back away from his body, trying for subtlety. His arms tightened around her and he said in a low, quiet voice, “Let me hold you.”
    She swallowed audibly and gradually relaxed against him again as they watched the otters’ high-energy antics. To his credit, he did not grind his pelvis against her.
    A high pitched squeal accompanied by a bass exclamation of “Dude!” behind them provided an interruption that Sonia appreciated. Two seconds later, they were surrounded by a half dozen fans of Iron Falcon begging for autographs. Bursts of light from camera flashes made her blink as she watched Mick transform into a celebrity personality who smiled and wielded pens and traded quips with adoring fans. Two of the giddy girls practically draped themselves over him. One pulled at the already low neckline of her shirt and begged him to autograph her breasts.
    “Who are you?” one of the young men in the group asked her. “You his latest girl?”
    “No, I’m just his neighbor. We’re friends.”
    “Cool. Where?”
    “I don’t give out other people’s information,” she replied coldly.
    “You’re cute. Where do you live?”
    She looked down her