Evin did come for a long weekend, and I cut back my schedule to spend time with him. We were invited to go hiking, and I stupidly thought it would be fun. He had a great time. It took me days to recover from abusing my muscles.
There hasn’t been time to feel lonely, except when Pierce and I have our nightly call. He’s been busier than ever, and the weeks he doesn’t have the kids, he’s pushing long days, too. The Charleston Brasher Hotel and whatever side project he has are in full swing, and he’s exhausted.
The good news is that it seems he and Connie are at an impasse. There have been no more tense situations, and the kids are thriving in school. Maya’s visit with the child psychologist seemingly went well, and while the psychologist couldn’t disclose much about their private conversation, she assured Pierce that Maya is in a normal mental space for a girl her age. She’s dealing with feelings toward her parents but nothing out of the ordinary for an almost twelve-year-old entering middle school.
The times I’ve spoken to them, they’ve been happy.
I’m lost in my thoughts, not paying attention, when Runner yanks on the leash, lunging forward and whining excitedly. A movement in the distance catches my eye, and I stop, frozen to the spot. The ringing in my ears pulses to the rhythm of my heart at the beautiful man striding across the walkway. I drop the leash, and we race to Pierce. He barely has time to brace before I’m attached to his front while my dog is at his side. My mouth covers his face, kissing everywhere before landing on his lips.
The instant our tongues meet, electrifying sparks race through my system. His taste, his scent, his touch, all of it soaks into me. My mouth presses harder to his, my hands going to his scalp and tugging on his hair. The soft bristle of his beard rubs along my cheeks and chin, and I moan in appreciation. His arms clutch around my middle, supporting me as I kiss him greedily, unable to control myself.
His chest vibrates against mine in a low rumble. “God, I fucking miss you.” He tears away too quickly, leaving me panting.
“What are you doing here? I thought your meeting was on Wednesday.”
“I came early to surprise you.”
“I love your surprises.” I smile against his lips.
Runner decides he’s done waiting for his greeting, bumping into us over and over. Pierce sets me on my feet and crouches to give him a rubdown. It’s then I get a good look at him, and my heartbeat speeds for a different reason. Something’s off. His eyes and face show signs of exhaustion and stress from more than endless hours working and now a cross-country flight.
“You okay?” I run my fingers over the top of his head.
“I am now. In about a minute, I’ll be even better.” He stands, grabbing my hand, while Runner takes off in the direction of my door.
I want to ask him more about what’s bothering him, but the instant we’re inside, all conscious thought flies out of my brain. He attacks, pinning me against the wall and ripping my sweater over my head. His fingers flick the clasp of my bra, leaving goosebumps as he slowly slides it down my arms. His eyes darken and blister into my skin as he stares at my naked chest. He strums his thumbs over my nipples until they’re hard and aching. Need and desire ignite from deep inside, coursing in my veins.
His lips and tongue brush tenderly around one nipple while he continues to caress the other. I arch into him, silently begging for more. He sucks and nips, teasing and tormenting until I’m winded and dizzy with lust. My calf hooks around his hip, pulling him closer so I can grind against the hardened outline of his cock.
“Baby, if you do that, I’m going to blow in my jeans.”
“You’re torturing me.”
His hand travels down my side, sliding under the waistband of my pants and directly beneath my panties. I gasp as one finger slips inside and curls, joined immediately by another.
“Soaked. For weeks, all I could think about how is hot this is, knowing it’s all mine.”
“Yes.” I clench around his fingers.
“You want more?”
“Please,” I beg shamelessly,
He pumps them in and out, twisting and rolling, while his mouth goes back to my nipple. Pressure builds low in my spine, my hips grinding down on his hand.
“Fuck my fingers, baby. I can’t hold out much longer. My dick is throbbing for you.”
“I want you inside me.”
“You can have me as soon as I feel you come apart.”
“No… ahhhh…” I moan when he hits the perfect spot. All it takes is one swipe of his thumb across my clit, and the pressure explodes, tiny dots popping in my vision as I have my first Pierce induced orgasm in what seems like forever. He continues his movements until I’m trembling and writhing.
My head hits the wall, and a cold rush of air coats my overheated skin when he jerks my leggings down. “Help me out, baby.”
I toe off my shoes and lift my legs for him to remove the rest of my clothes. The clouds of ecstasy clear my brain, and I reach for him, tossing his shirt behind us. I get his belt, button, and zipper undone quickly then slide his jeans and boxers low enough for him to spring free. My hand grips around his hard length, stroking a few times before he stops me.
“Can’t do that,” he grates out, bending to grab my ass. “Jump up.”
I hop, circling my arms on his shoulders, and cry out when he plunges into me. The short pinch of pain turns to pleasure as my body accepts the invasion, stretching to welcome his frantic thrusts.
“Can’t fucking help myself. I told myself I was going to go slow, worship your body. Kiss you, lick you, make you so crazy you’d know how I feel without you. Then one look, walking across that damn parking lot, and I was gone.”
Power surges through me that I have this kind of control over him. “More,” I demand, bouncing to meet him stroke for stroke.
His blue eyes liquefy as a wicked grin crosses his lips. “You want it hard?”
“Yes.”
“Gladly.” He drives up, again and again, pounding into me with such force my sight goes hazy and my toes curl.
I close my eyes and drop my head to his shoulder, clinging to him and fighting the sensations rippling their way through my body. It would be easy to let go, fall over the edge again, but I don’t want this to end. Every part of me is alive with his movements, and each thrust grows more intense. My brain becomes hyper-aware of his body holding mine. The heat of his hard-muscled chest rubbing the tender flesh of my nipples, the crashing of his hipbones to mine, the way his fingers are digging into the curves of my ass.
A low, slow moan escapes from my throat, encouraging him further. “Let me see your face, beautiful.”
My neck is heavy, but I lay my head back, thankful for the support of the wall.
“So tight, wet, and ready for me.”
“Please,” I beg, not sure what I’m pleading for.
“More what? Harder? Faster? You want to come all over me?”
“Y-y-y-eeee-ssss.”
His gaze locks with mine, and the smoldering heat scorches, lighting my insides on fire. He brings his mouth to mine, outlining my lips with his tongue. His hips rock with short, swift movements, allowing me to catch my breath.
“When I woke up, my dick was ready. Knowing that, before the day was over, I’d be buried in you was too much. I took care of myself, picturing your perfect lips wrapped around my cock. It didn’t do anything to take the edge off, so I did it again in the shower, this time thinking of that morning in Kiawah, you in that dress as I drilled you from behind. That still wasn’t enough, but I found the self-restraint to wait.”
I’m distracted by his words, his dirty thoughts, and the warmth of his breath as his lips move against mine. He’s got me under a spell, and then I realize he’s pulled almost fully out, the ridge of his crown slipping along my sensitive and slick entrance. His blue eyes share a split second of warning before he slams into me, showing no mercy. He gives me what I asked for—harder, faster, rougher. It’s raw and savage, pounding to my bones.
>
I can’t hold out. My nails dig into his shoulder, and I use every last ounce of strength to clamp my inner muscles around his cock. He sinks his teeth into my neck, and I shatter.
A million bolts of energy fire through my veins, lighting me up. His own roar sounds distant, cutting through the ringing in my ears. He throbs, pulses, and releases inside of me, continuing to thrust and bringing me to another earth-shattering climax.
It’s too much. I try to cry out, but my throat is raw from muted screams. All I can do is ride spasm after spasm of immense pleasure rushing through me. My heart hammers to the same rhythm as his as I slowly float back to reality.
He stays hard inside me, still pulsing, showing no signs of a man who just fucked me senseless.
“Tell me you’re okay.” His voice is hoarse and gruff.
“I’m better than okay.”
“It’s you. I lose all control. It’s unexplainable the need I have for you.”
Another tremble races down my backbone. “I love it when you get this way.”
He raises his face to me, his eyebrows raised in question. “Baby, I fucked you like an animal against a wall and came so hard my brain rattled.”
“It’s not the first time and hopefully not the last.”
His mouth splits into a wide grin, and he sweeps his lips across mine. “We have twenty-four hours until Dad and Miller fly in. I’ll see what I can do. Let’s try the bed next time.”
“Okay, but there’s one problem. I’m pretty sure I can’t walk.”
His face lights up, his eyes filled with pride as he bursts into laughter.
•—•—•—•—•
“Finally, I get to see where the magic is made.” Miller waltzes into the kitchen casually.
“I thought you were in meetings this evening?”
“Nah, I was dismissed early.”
“Dismissed, meaning you bailed?”
“Same thing, right?” He wiggles his eyebrows, grinning.
“And, instead of spending your time enjoying the gorgeous city of Aspen, you came to watch me decorate truffles?”
“Yep, I wanted to see you in action. Besides, we have the big party tonight.”
“Well, you missed prime time. An hour ago, this place was insane, all to get ready for the party.”
“Where is everyone?”
“Once we cleaned up, their shifts ended. All I have to do is finish these, and I’m done, too.”
“Need help?”
“Not unless you want to take responsibility for the presentation and appearance of an eight-hundred-dollar tray of truffles.”
His eyes bulge, and he throws his hands out. “No, thanks.”
I chuckle and meticulously drizzle the chocolate sauce over the pieces.
“Nice kitchen. Do you like it?”
“What’s not to like? It’s large, pristine, and efficient. We have been able to produce substantial quantities, and there’s plenty of room to move around.”
“That sounds mildly clinical.”
“I will admit that a little more personality would make this space inviting. The industrial ambiance isn’t my style.”
“What would you do differently?”
“Nothing in terms of the appliances and general set-up. Pops of color on the walls, a few pictures, maybe something besides standard recessed lighting. But this is a corporate kitchen.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He glances around attentively with a look I know well. It’s the look of a contractor working through an idea in his head.
“I didn’t think your contract included the kitchen renovations.”
“It doesn’t. This was pure curiosity.”
We stay quiet for a few minutes until my own curiosity wins out. “Has he heard from her?”
Miller shrugs, avoiding my eyes. My mood plummets because he’s not going to be forthcoming.
“How mad was she?” I try again.
“We’re not going to talk about her.”
“Apparently, that’s the Kendrick theme because Pierce is avoiding the subject as well. He’s hiding something and obviously upset.”
“He misses you, that’s all.”
“I get that, but this is beyond the surface of missing me. He’s protecting me from something. I may have been gone for a long time, but I didn’t lose my touch of sensing when something’s wrong with him.”
“You should talk to him.”
“Instead, I’m talking to you.”
He blows out a breath, scrubbing his hand through his hair, and focusing back to me. He doesn’t have to say a word; it’s written on his face.
“She’s gone crazy, hasn’t she?”
The ‘she’ being Connie. Today, Brasher Resorts finally made a public announcement about opening their southern location next spring. Typically, this would have been an exciting occasion because the secret is out. Pierce arranged for his mother to take Maya and Cole to school this morning so we could tell them together. I knew from the gazillion text messages that the City of Charleston was ecstatic with this news. They may be calling it a boutique resort, but they have huge plans for it.
“All I know is Pierce won’t take her calls, and her messages are loaded with hatred.”
“I guess the impasse is over.”
“Yeah, her knowing about the resort means she knows you have a job and will be coming back home. My guess is she ignored Pierce when he told her your move was temporary. Now, it’s a reality. She’s on a rampage.”
My hands shake so bad, I screw up the glaze on a few of the truffles. “Here, these are yours.” I hand them to him.
“Jesus, woman,” he garbles with a mouthful of chocolate. “These are fucking fantastic.”
“That’s why we can charge what we do.”
“Lucky for me, my future sister-in-law is the mastermind.”
His reference helps my spirits, and I go back to dribbling curlicues.
“Darby, Pierce is going to handle this situation with Connie.”
“You sound exactly like him.” I don’t look up from my work.
“He doesn’t want you to worry. I’m not asking you to lie—”
“It’s okay, Miller. I’m not going to tell him about this conversation. I’m hoping he shares.”
I know there is more to this, but I don’t have a chance to ask because Pierce and Warren stride in.
“I want whatever that is.” Warren steals the last chocolate from Miller’s hand and pops it into his mouth.
Pierce crowds close. “You almost done, baby?”
“Soon. How were the meetings?”
“Meetings are meetings. We’re on schedule and budget, so our asses aren’t on the line. Can’t say the same for the other companies. Where’s your ring?” He eyes my hand, scowling.
“Tucked in a safe place.”
“I’d rather it be on your finger.”
“I don’t usually wear it to work, especially when my days are like today.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You’re cute when you pout.”
“We’re going to head back to Darby’s to get ready for tonight,” Warren announces. “I’ll take Runner on a quick walk, too.”
I shoot him a grateful smile on their way out. Buzzing sounds from Pierce’s pocket, but he makes no move. I don’t ask questions until it happens again a few minutes later.
“Any reason you’re not answering your phone?”
“There’s no one I need to talk to.”
“Could be Maya.”
“It’s not Maya.”
“Well, it could be important,” I try again.
“If it’s important they’ll leave a message.”
I bite my tongue and work quietly, sighing in relief when the last truffle looks perfect. They go into the fridge until the wait staff picks them up later. Pierce watches me, but it’s clear he’s lost in thought.
I hang up my apron, tug my hair loose from the bun, and walk to him, wrapping my arms around his wai
st. “Talk to me.”
“About what?”
“I know something is spinning in your brain. You’re keeping secrets.”
“No secrets, just working through things.”
“Things like Connie having another shit-fit now that she knows my return is imminent?”
The wrinkles in his forehead crease, and his eyes go cold. “We’re not talking about her.”
“We don’t have to talk about her, but we do need to talk about you. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
I hold his gaze, silently telling him I’m not backing down. He blows out a frustrated sigh and drapes his arms around my shoulders. “She’s definitely not happy.”
“Outside of the obvious, what’s been happening this week?”
“The messages started when she found out I was in Aspen. She accused me of being an irresponsible father and all the other bullshit she could come up with. Today, when she found out about the new hotel, it tipped her scales of insanity. It may have finally hit her that you and I are going to get married and build our lives in Charleston.”
“A lot of people have been questioning how we were going to make this work. It’s a relief to finally be able to talk openly.”
“Yeah, but she’s not like most people. I can only guess she assumed you’d have to give up your career and business to marry me, and in her whacked mind, she was waiting for our relationship to fail. Now, I can’t get a read on what she’s thinking about us, but she’s made it clear she’s out for blood.”
A cold chill races across my skin, and I grasp him tighter. “What does that mean?”
“Only time will tell, but she’s starting with money. She’s assuming this job with Brasher is a goldmine and financially beneficial to me.”
“She’s demanding money?”
“The last message I bothered to check was financially driven. Who knows what the others say? None of that matters. My financial situation is locked. I pull a salary, and bonuses are based on company success, similar to the other executive team. She can take me back to court, but it won’t matter. John and I already prepared for that scenario.”
This is not a surprise. Pierce and I discussed our finances a while ago. Even though she’s not a family attorney, Stephanie was pretty confident Connie wouldn’t be able to demand more payment from Pierce. But it doesn’t matter because Pierce’s investments and portfolio are strong. “You’re holding something back.”
Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers Book 1) Page 32