Only Her

by Allie Everhart

He turns the TV off. “I think I will too.”

  We walk to the bedrooms. I go in mine and stand at the door. “Goodnight.”

  He leans down and kisses my cheek. “Goodnight, Rachel.”

  I close the door, then change into my lightweight nightshirt because I’m warm from lying next to Pearce on the couch. He’s probably wondering why I cut him off like that after the kiss. Actually, I’m starting to wonder that too.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  23

  RACHEL

  I climb into the massive bed which sits high up off the floor. I hear the water running in the bathroom and then it shuts off and I hear Pearce walk into his room. But I don’t hear the door close. Maybe he’s leaving it open as an invitation for me to come in. Should I? No. I should go to sleep. I need to sleep.

  A few minutes later, I drift off.

  “Tie her hands,” the voice says. It’s Holton’s men. Except there aren’t just two. There are ten. Or more than that. They’re all around me, surrounding my bed.

  “No!” I scream. “Let me go!”

  I try to move my feet but I can’t. They’re tied.

  “Put her in the car,” the man says. “And if she escapes again, she’s dead.”

  “No! Don’t take me back there! No!”

  I feel his hands on my shoulders and scream even louder. “Stop! I won’t go back there! No!”

  “Rachel.”

  I’m startled awake by a different voice. A voice I recognize.

  “Rachel, wake up.”

  I open my eyes and see Pearce sitting next to me on the bed. The light in the hallway is on and shining into my room. I can see Pearce’s face, the concern in his eyes.

  I sit up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I’m gasping for breath, my heart pounding.

  “Rachel, you’re shaking. What happened?”

  “It was just a dream.”

  “You were screaming. Telling someone to let you go. Who were you talking to?”

  “Holton’s men. The ones he had watching me.” My voice is shaky, my breaths uneven. “I had this dream where they found me and took me away.”

  Pearce pulls me into his arms. “Nobody is going to take you.” He holds me tightly against him. “I won’t let them.”

  “It seemed so real.”

  He strokes my hair and kisses my head. “It’s not real. You’re safe. You’re here with me and you’re safe.”

  “What if they’re looking for me? What if they find me?”

  “Nobody is going to hurt you. I will not let anyone hurt you or take you away from me. I promise you.”

  I hold onto him and we sit there quietly on the bed. After a few minutes, I let go of him and sit back.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll let you get back to sleep.”

  As he’s leaving my room, I say, “Would you stay?”

  He turns around. “You want me to stay?”

  “Yes. If you don’t mind.”

  His lips rise just slightly. “Of course I don’t mind. Let me just get the light.”

  He turns off the hall light and joins me in bed, lying on his back. He puts his arm up and I press myself against his side, my arm draped over his bare chest. He’s only wearing pajama pants, no shirt. His chest is warm, solid, muscular. His arm goes around me, making me feel safe and protected.

  I love this. I love being here like this. With him. It feels right. It felt right even when I’d only known him a few weeks. It was one of the signs that told me we were meant to be together. And now I feel it again. That feeling deep inside that tells me Pearce and I belong together. That despite everything that’s happened, everything we’ve gone through, we were meant to find each other and spend our lives together.

  So why am I even questioning this? Us? The love I have with Pearce is a once-in-a-lifetime love. He’s my soulmate. My one and only. My true love. The man who stirs up passion in me just by walking in the room. The man who excites me and whose simple touch sparks a desire in me that I’ve never felt with anyone else. My heart aches when I’m not with him. When he said he didn’t want to be apart from me, I felt the exact same way. All I want is to be with him. And now I am. We’re finally reunited, and despite whatever challenges we’ll face by being together, I don’t want to be apart from him ever again.

  If I let my head make this decision, it would tell me to wait. To take it slow and wait until all our issues are resolved before being together again. But my heart wins out when it comes to Pearce. It always has.

  I don’t need time to think about this. I still have worries and fears about being with him, but Pearce and I will talk them out and find a way to deal with those worries and fears. But as for this? Pearce and me? I don’t need to think about it. Being with him tonight just confirms how much I love him. How much I can’t see a future without him.

  “Pearce?” I lift my head to look at him in the dim light of the room.

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  His hand brushes over my cheek. “I love you too.”

  I slide up so that our faces are aligned, and softly kiss him. He kisses me back, sitting up slightly, his hand moving to the back of my head. He deepens the kiss and my hand slides down his chest, then his abs, then under the waistband of his pants.

  “Rachel,” he whispers.

  He’s already aroused and I stroke him, my breaths becoming ragged, my body coming alive again, sparking with sensations.

  The heat in the room has just jumped a million degrees. Pearce tugs my nightshirt up and takes it off. Then he lies on his side, skimming his hand along my skin, over my breast, my hip, my stomach, and along the inside of my thigh. He leans down and kisses my neck, sending a shiver through me. His mouth makes its way to my breast I arch up, desperate for more. When his hand slips under my panties, I suck in a breath. I haven’t been touched like this in fifteen years. I haven’t been touched at all. Or kissed. Every part of me is so sensitive to his touch, reacting, and relishing the feel of it.

  “I want to be with you,” I whisper, raking my fingers through his hair.

  He doesn’t question my request. He wants this as much as I do. He shoves his pants off, then slides my panties down my legs, making me shiver with anticipation. He shifts his body over mine and I feel him enter me, excruciatingly slow. He lets out a low sexy groan as I grip his backside, urging him to go deeper. He does, and I breathe out his name as sensations flood my core. He pauses a moment, buried inside me, as though savoring the feel of being united like this again.

  “I love you, Rachel,” he whispers against my ear, his lips grazing my skin.

  “I love you too,” I whisper back.

  He pulls out, then sinks into me again, flooding me with more pleasurable sensations that reach all the way down to my toes. And then he does it again, and again.

  He thrusts slowly, deeply, in a steady rhythm I find intoxicating. Addicting. I want more. I never want this to end. His lips cover mine, giving me those slow sensual kisses of his that I’ve always loved. The kind that got me all fired up on the beach earlier.

  “Pearce.” His name escapes my lips as his pace quickens. He can tell I’m close. He always could. He keeps going and going until I’m free-falling down waves of mind-blowing pleasure. Deep, intense, and better than I’ve ever felt. I feel his body quaking above me, then gradually come to rest. He holds himself up on his forearms, catching his breath.

  “Pearce. That was…”

  “Yes.” He kisses me. “I agree.”

  “We’re definitely still compatible that way.”

  “Were you thinking that would change?” He softly kisses my shoulder.

  “No. Not really. I just forgot how good that feels. It’s been so long since I’ve done that.”

  He looks at me. “You mean with me? Or with anyone?” He pauses. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s not appropriate and…well, I’d rather not know.”

 
“Pearce.” I look at him. “I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

  He’s quiet, but then says, “No one? In fifteen years?”

  “There weren’t many single men in that town, and even if there were, I couldn’t have done it. I would’ve felt like I was cheating on you.”

  “Rachel, I would’ve understood. I wouldn’t have expected you to—”

  “I know. It just wouldn’t have felt right to me. In my mind, you were still my husband.” I shouldn’t ask this, but then I do. “So um, I’m assuming you’ve been with other women…besides Katherine?”

  “Katherine and I didn’t have much of a marriage, so there wasn’t much intimacy between us.”

  “So you went outside the marriage?”

  “We both did. I’d rather not talk about it.”

  “But you’re not seeing anyone now?”

  “No. I haven’t in years. I’ve put all my focus on work and taking care of Lilly. I haven’t had time to date.”

  “So it’s been a while for you too.”

  “Yes, but not fifteen years. That’s a long time. We’re going to have to make up for all that time. I’d do it right now but I’m older now and need a little longer before….”

  I kiss him. “We can do it later. Right now, I just want to lie here with you.”

  He moves off me to the side. “Come here.”

  I turn and lay on his chest, looking up at him. “I love you, Pearce.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart.”

  It’s the first time he’s called me that since I got back. Hearing him say it makes me feel like we’re married again. Just like snuggling on the couch did. And kissing him. And being intimate again. I didn’t expect us to go back to being a couple this fast. I thought it would take some readjustment. But I feel like we’re already back to the place we left off. We’re just older now and have spent time apart. We both wish that hadn’t happened but at least I made it back to him. Back to us.

  “I don’t need time to think about it,” I tell him.

  “Think about what?”

  “About being with you. Living with you. Being part of your life again. I don’t need to think about it. I already know that’s what I want. That’s all I’ve wanted this whole time we’ve been apart.”

  He lets out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad that’s your answer, because I don’t think I could’ve survived knowing you were back, but unable to be with you. I love you too much to let you go.”

  “I feel the same way about you. But I’m still afraid of what they might do to you or Garret when they find out about me.”

  “I’ll call William tomorrow. I’ll ask him to come out here so we can discuss how to handle this.”

  “Do you really think he’ll help me?”

  “William and I are close friends. And our families are connected through Jade and Garret. He wouldn’t think twice about helping me. Or my wife.”

  I smile. “You called me your wife.”

  He kisses me. “Because that’s what you are.”

  “Not legally. Right? We’re not really married anymore given that I’m dead and you married someone else.”

  “I don’t know all the legalities yet, but I’m assuming we’re no longer married. So I will marry you again.”

  “You will?” I laugh. “You haven’t even asked me.”

  “I will ask you once we have courted for an appropriate length of time.”

  I laugh again. “Are you saying I have to date you again?”

  “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “It depends on how long I have to date you for.”

  “Well, the last time you married me after three months. Given that we already know each other, I think the courtship time could shrink significantly.”

  “And I’m going to live with you during this courtship? Because that doesn’t seem right.”

  “There are no rules to this arrangement. It’s very unconventional. It’s probably never been done before. Dating your wife after she’s been in hiding for fifteen years? I am most certain this is a first.”

  I rub my hand over his abs and leave kisses along his chest. “Is sex allowed during this courtship?”

  “It’s not only allowed. It’s encouraged.”

  “Hmm. I like this arrangement.” I continue softly kissing his chest, my hand slowly making its way down until I feel the length of him, ready to go again. “I thought you needed more time.”

  “Apparently with you, I don’t.” He flips me on my back and kisses me and we do it again. It’s just as good. Maybe even better. We are definitely back to where we were. Physically. And emotionally. And I couldn’t be happier.

  We fall asleep, and when I wake up it’s morning and I realize I didn’t have that nightmare. Probably because I felt so safe in Pearce’s arms.

  I turn over and find Pearce is no longer in bed. The door is open and I hear noise in the other room.

  “Pearce?”

  “I’m right here.” He walks in, shirtless, but wearing his pajama pants. My eyes focus on his muscular arms and chest. How is he able to still look that good?

  I smile as he comes over to the bed.

  “Good morning.” He kisses me as he lies beside me. He tastes minty and still smells of that great cologne.

  “Good morning.” My hand wanders over his abs. “How do you stay in such good shape?”

  “I have a trainer. I work out with him several times a week.”

  “How do you have time for that?”

  “I make time for things that are important.” His lips skim over my neck. “Like you.” My eyes shut as I feel his warm breath next to my ear. “How did you sleep?”

  “Better than I have in years. At least I did after a certain someone joined me in bed.”

  “That certain someone is going to join you in bed again right now.” His hand slips under the sheet and over my naked body.

  My lips curl up. “I’d love that, but I think I want to brush my teeth first. And take a shower.”

  “How about a bath? I’ll draw you one.”

  “Will you join me?”

  “I will do more than join you.” He kisses me. “We’re making up for fifteen years, remember?”

  He’s got me burning up with desire again. “I’m looking forward to this bath. Let’s go.”

  He gets up from the bed and my eyes follow him. I can’t stop staring at his muscular chest and arms and back.

  I sit up. “Did you already shower? Is that where you were before you came in?”

  “No. I was checking in with the office.” He walks out the door and disappears into the hall.

  “Pearce,” I call out. “If you need to work, go ahead. I don’t mind.”

  He comes back, holding one of the hotel robes. “What I need…” he leans down and kisses me, “is to be here with you.” He hands me the robe. “I’ll get the bath ready.”

  “Did you call Garret?”

  “No, but I suppose I should. It’s after nine.”

  I move the covers back and step out of bed. “Maybe we should go over there.”

  He eyes my naked body. “We will later. There’s no rush.”

  “Do you have plans for us this morning?” I slip my robe on.

  “I do.” He takes me in his arms. “Very important plans.”

  I look up at him. “Can we call our son before these plans begin?”

  “Yes.” He lets me go. “I’ll get my phone.”

  He goes in the bathroom to start filling the tub, then returns with the phone. He calls Garret and puts it on speaker.

  “Hey, Dad,” Garret answers. “You guys coming over soon?”

  “We thought we’d stay here a little longer.”

  “Oh, yeah?” I can hear the smile in his voice. I don’t want my son knowing what his father and I are doing, but I think he’s already figured it out.

  “How about if we come over there around noon?” Pearce asks him.

  “Sure, that works. Grace is on her way back. M
aybe we could all have lunch on the patio.”

  “Sounds good. We’ll see you then.”

  I reach for the phone and Pearce nods. “Garret, your mother wants to talk to you.” He hands me the phone.

  “Hi, honey. It’s Mom.” It feels strange to say that. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to.

  “Hey, Mom. How’s the hotel?”

  “It’s very nice. It’s right on the ocean and there’s a walking path that’s surrounded by flowers. Your father and I took a walk last night at sunset.”

  “Sunset, huh?” He laughs a little. “Sounds romantic.”

  I look at Pearce. “Yes, it was. I’ll let you go. We’ll see you soon.”

  “Yeah, bye.”

  Pearce takes his phone back and sets it on the dresser. Then he comes back and undoes my robe. “Now where were we?”

  “Hey, I just put that on,” I say, as he slips the robe off.

  “You don’t need it. The bath is ready.”

  He takes me into the huge bathroom and over to the oversized whirlpool tub.

  Pearce helps me into the water, then slips in behind me and I lay back against his chest.

  “Is it too hot?” he asks.

  “No.” I inhale the steam as the bubbles surround me. “This feels heavenly. I haven’t taken a bath since I left. My apartment in Italy only had a shower and it wasn’t a very good shower. Half the time the water wasn’t even warm.”

  I hear him mumble a curse word behind me.

  “Pearce, what’s wrong?”

  “I am beyond angry you had to live that way. If you were here, you would have had everything you could possibly need. But instead, you were living in a one room apartment without even the simplest of necessities.”

  “Don’t be angry. It was fine. It wasn’t luxurious, like this, but it had the basics.”

  “The basics aren’t good enough. From here on out, you will have luxury. In everything.” He still sounds angry.

  “Pearce.” I reach behind me and run my fingers over his lips. “Relax. That’s the point of this bath, isn’t it? To relax?”

  “Yes.” He kisses my fingers. “Among other things.” His hands massage my shoulders and I sink deeper into the tub.

  “Mmm. That’s nice.” I close my eyes as he massages me. After a few minutes, I say, “What exactly are these other things you were referring to?”