by Francis Ray
Shaking her head, Sierra stepped onto the elevator. She liked men as friends but couldn’t imagine that she’d get all weepy and miserable, and certainly she wouldn’t stop eating if they were on the outs. A man who could mess with her emotions or get her all hot and bothered didn’t exist.
SABRA WAS MISERABLE, AND IT WASN’T ALL DUE TO the seasonal allergies that had decided to pay her a visit. She didn’t like being at odds with Pierce. Of course, it was his fault, but that didn’t stop her from wanting things back the way they were.
That thought had brought her to his door. She’d called his office and hadn’t gotten an answer. When she’d met Sierra in the elevator earlier, she had said Pierce was in his office and she was on her way to visit. She’d also said he hadn’t been himself lately, then added that perhaps he had seasonal allergies as well.
Since there was the barest twinkle in Sierra’s eyes and Sabra knew she was nobody’s fool, she had to conclude—no, hope—that perhaps he was as miserable as she was about the riff between them.
She didn’t run from her problems or unpleasant situations. Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell. She rang the doorbell again, hoping that Pierce didn’t make her regret that long-standing record.
“Sabra?”
She whirled, her hand going to her chest. Pierce. He quickly closed the distance between them at a fast clip. She tried to search his face to determine how he felt about her being there and came up against a blank wall.
“Is everything all right?” Twin lines furrowed on his forehead. “What are you doing out here?”
She moistened her lips. Heat shot through her when his gaze followed. At least that hadn’t changed. “Sierra said you weren’t feeling well.” So she was a coward where Pierce was concerned.
The furrows deepened. “She said the same thing about you.”
“Allergies,” Sabra said, hoping he’d see that as the only reason for her red eyes and puffy lids.
“You should be in bed.”
Her face heated. It was too much to hope that he didn’t see the flush that climbed her cheeks. She could stand there and embarrass herself further or get to the reason she was there. “I’m sor—”
“No.” He cut her off. His hand tenderly cupped her cheek. “Not your fault. It was mine. Is Isabella’s cartoon running?”
“Yes. I just put it in. I wasn’t sure how long I would be here. . . .” Her voice trailed off as his eyes darkened and she realized the possible implication of her words.
“Please come in.” Pierce unlocked the door, then took Sabra’s arm and drew her inside. Five feet into the living area was a balloon and a note attached to the long string.
“Is today a special occasion?” Sabra asked as she stopped beside Pierce while he untied the string and opened the rolled note, then gave it to her. Sabra quickly scanned the note.
“Sierra.”
“Sierra.” Taking her arm again, he went into the kitchen. He had to smile. Sierra wasn’t much of a homemaker, but she had an eye for detail and fashion.
The small breakfast table was set completely in white and gold. A cluster of three-inch-wide pillar candles of different lengths sat on a mirror tray waiting to be lit. Sterling silver gleamed. Napkins were shaped into swans. Soft, romantic music played on the intercom.
“She did this,” Sabra said quietly.
“And according to the note, she and Brandon are not going to be pleased if we don’t eat.”
She glanced at the note again. “She set us up.”
“How do you feel about it?” he asked, watching her closely.
“I don’t suppose you’d tell me first?” she asked, hoping for levity, but her voice trembled just the tiniest bit.
His hands settled on her waist. “I wish she would have done it two days ago. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
His hands tightened; then he released her and stepped back. “If I kiss you, I’m not sure I can stop, and you need to eat. One thing I do know is how to prepare a grilled Caesar chicken topped with honeyed glazed pecans. I’ll have food on the table in no time.”
“It will be faster if I help.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Five minutes later they were sitting down to dinner. Afterward, they cleaned up the kitchen together as they had the last time. It still got to him that she could be so down-to-earth yet take his breath away, make him act like a jealous fool.
She happened to turn from putting away the last dish in the cabinet and caught him staring at her. She stilled. “I guess we still need to talk.”
“I guess we do.”
Straightening, she leaned back against the black granite counter, her hands on either side of her. “I believe you have the floor.”
“You want the honest truth?”
“Yes.”
She’d said the word casually, but her knuckles blanched as she gripped the cabinet. Thank goodness. He wasn’t in this alone.
“You scare me,” he said, and saw her eyes widen in surprise. “No woman has ever done that before. I dream about you. A first. I want to lock you up so no man can look at you, want you, except me. I don’t like feeling that way.”
She pushed away from the counter and came to him. “You scare me. No man has ever done that before. I dream about you. A first. I don’t like feeling that way.” Her hands rested on his chest, felt his heart drum. “If you lock me up, will you be there with me?”
“Sabra,” he cried; her name was a plea, surrender. He pulled her into his arms, his mouth finding hers, kissing her, devouring her. He wanted to wipe out all the men who had ever touched her. The selfish, illogical thought caused his hands to clench around her arm.
Her head lifted; her eyes opened. Wordlessly she stared up at him, patiently waiting. A woman like Sabra changed all the rules except one: trust had to be the cornerstone of whatever was going on between them. Despite everything, he trusted her. “I want to make love to you.”
Her eyelashes fluttered downward, then lifted. “I sort of hoped you’d take that decision out of my hand.”
He lifted his hand, not surprised to find that it was unsteady, and ran his fingers through her glorious hair. “I care about you too much for that. I don’t want you to have any regrets, not ever.”
Her gaze unwavering, she palmed his cheek. “Being in your arms is almost the perfect moment. It’s wild, scary, thrilling. My body tingles. I’ve wondered what it would feel like to let myself go, to let you love me, for me to love you.”
He trembled with emotions. “You make me weak.”
“Not too weak, I hope,” she quipped, but her voice wavered.
He grinned like a conquering warrior and picked her up in his arms. “Let’s find out.”
He quickly carried her to the bedroom and flicked on the recessed lights in the ceiling, casting a soft inviting glow on the wide bed. Briefly setting her on her feet, he tossed back the duvet, then took her into his arms and tumbled with her into bed. Her arms tightened around him as he expected. Her happy laugh was a pleasant surprise.
He grinned at her. She grinned back. They were content for the moment to just be in each other’s arms. “I dreamed of you here, your hair spread out on my pillow.”
Her hands released the clip at the base of his skull that secured his hair; then she ran her fingers through the thick, lustrous black strands. “I wondered what you’d look like with your hair unbound. Now, I know. A conquering warrior.”
He certainly felt like one. He wanted to possess, but he also wanted to give. Sitting up, he sat on the side of the bed to remove his shoes, his shirt, and his slacks. Hearing the rustle of the sheets, he looked back over his shoulder. He’d been half-afraid that she was leaving. Brushing his hair aside, she ran her lips, then her hand over the muscled warmth of his back.
Her touch was heaven, torture. Just as in his dream. Air hissed through his teeth.
She quickly withdrew her hand and sat back on her knees. “I’m sor
ry.”
The uncertainty in her eyes and her apology threw him for a split second. Then it hit him! It couldn’t be. Yet, as he stared at her, he knew he was right. He didn’t know if he wanted to whimper in pain or shout with joy, if he’d just been presented with a priceless gift or the means to drive him stark raving mad.
Aware that he was weak where she was concerned, he put another few inches between them. But he, a man who before this moment had never been at a loss for words with a woman, found himself unsure of how to broach the subject. He’d rather chew nails than hurt or embarrass her.
“Shouldn’t you be getting closer instead of moving away?” she asked, a smile on her face as she watched him closely.
He decided to go for it. Prolonging the conversation certainly wasn’t helping. “This is your first time, isn’t it?”
“You have a problem with that?” she asked.
He swiped his unsteady hand across his face and scooted a couple more inches away. “I want you like I’ve never wanted another woman. But this changes things.”
Her chin lifted. Hurt flickered in her eyes. “Because I’m not experienced?”
“Because you waited for a reason. I won’t lie to you. I’m not the forever kind of man, but the thought of you with anyone else makes me crazy,” Pierce said. “Why did you wait?”
Her hands flexed. “You always like things on the table, don’t you?”
“This is too important not to have all the facts,” he told her. “Why?”
She squared her shoulders. “As I told you, the man I thought I was in love with was just using me for another notch on his belt. I found out when I overheard him at a party. If I hadn’t heard him, I wouldn’t have believed it. That was a wake-up call that all the acting wasn’t just on the stage.” She shrugged. “I never wanted to be used again, so I put my time and energy into building my career. Does that answer your question?”
“He was a fool.”
She stared straight at him. “We agree on that. Now what?”
“If we go through this, it will be a first for both of us.”
“I guess I’m not your usual date,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“No,” he said.
Pain flashed in her eyes. She started to scramble from the bed. Pierce caught her by the arms. “Sabra. Wait.”
Shaking her head, she refused to look at him. “Let me go, please.”
His heart clenched on hearing her shaky voice. “You didn’t let me finish,” he said gently. “Please look at me.”
Her head lifted. He half-expected tears. Thank goodness there were none, but he knew this could get dicey. His hands flexed, then slid down her arms to lace his fingers with hers. If he messed this up, he’d never forgive himself. “There isn’t another woman in the world like you. It’s not just your incredible beauty; it’s the strong, compassionate woman I’ve come to know and care about. You arouse my compassion as much as my passion. A first.”
Her hands relaxed in his. “I never knew I could feel this intense ache, the hunger for you that builds each time I see you. A first.”
His eyes blazed; his body stirred in response. The right thing to do was to take her to her room. He didn’t move.
Aware of his dilemma, she tilted her head beguilingly to one side. “So, Pierce, are you going to let me leave this bed without us making love?”
His hands flexed. “I should.”
Smiling, she inched closer and put her arms around his neck, pressing against him, tempting him, testing his endurance. “But I don’t want to go.”
He drew in a shuddering breath. He had all that he desired in his arms, but he didn’t think he could stand to see regret in her eyes afterwards. “Sabra, are you sure?”
“Yes,” she breathed her answer, her lips brushing tantalizingly against his.
Air hissed over his teeth. “Heaven help me. I don’t want you to go, either.” With more courage than he thought he possessed, he sat her away from him. “Last chance.”
Her gaze held complete trust. “I’m where I want to be.”
“Heaven help both of us.” His arms urgently drew her to him. “We’re going to burn up the night,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with need.
“Yes.” The unsteady word quivered over her lips.
His mouth took possession of hers in a kiss that began tender and quickly built, heating the fire in his blood to a raging inferno. Feeling his control slipping, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes. Hers glowed with the same hot passion he fought to keep in check. If she changed her mind, he prayed he could stop.
His hands lifted to slowly unbutton her blouse; then he watched in fascination as the opening revealed more and more of her silken flesh. With both hands, he swept the blouse over her shoulders and off her arms. Delicate pink lace cupped her beautifully shaped breasts. He wanted to replace the fabric with his hands, his mouth. He resisted the urge.
He unbuttoned her slacks but found his hands trembling as he shoved them past the tiny lace panties and off her long, shapely legs. Straightening, he stared at her incredible body—the swell of her breasts, the tiny waist, the flare of her hips—and found a dilemma he’d never experienced before.
“I don’t know what I want to touch first.”
Her hand brushed across his chest. “That’s all right, because I want to feel you everywhere.”
His heart and mind soared. Her bra and panties came away. His hand cupped one velvet-soft breast as his mouth suckled the other’s taut nipple. She gasped in delight. Her body arched as her fingers tunneled through his hair to hold him closer. He pleasured her, relishing the way she restlessly moved beneath him, the arousing friction of her naked body, the long silky legs against him.
He stroked, kissed, and pleased her body, pleased his. He barely held it together as he left her to sheathe himself.
His body poised over her, he felt powerful and humbled. She trusted him. He’d do anything, everything, to make this right for her first time. Reaching between them, he found her hot, moist center and stroked.
With a low moan of pleasure, she lifted her hips. Her response caused his erection to harden even more. His mouth covered hers, his tongue imitating the tantalizing dance of his fingers.
“Pierce.” His name was a ragged thread of sound, her hips rising to meet him again and again.
He began to slowly ease into her, stretching her, filling her. “Wrap your legs around me.”
As soon as she did, his hand slipped beneath her hips. With gentle strokes, he allowed her body to become adjusted to his. When she relaxed again, he deepened the strokes by degrees until they were long and deep, taking them both to the point of no return. Pleasing her was paramount. His mouth went back to hers again as he set up a relentless pace, drawing cries of ecstasy from her. Pleasure built and rocked through them.
He felt her body tense. “Let go, Sabra. Let go and feel. Trust me.”
He nipped her shoulder. She shivered beneath him, then caught the rhythm once again. She was with him all the way. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Her gathered her closer and took them over together.
When he could catch his breath, he rolled, drawing her over him like a living blanket. With her in his arms he felt at peace for the first time in weeks.
“I never knew,” she whispered, awe in her drowsy voice.
His arms tightened. He hadn’t, either. He could be either pleased or worried. He kissed Sabra on the forehead, then followed her into a peaceful sleep.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
DELICIOUSLY SATED, SABRA WOKE WITH A SMILE ON her face. Stretching languidly, she felt the slight soreness of her body, the muscled warmth of a man’s thigh beneath hers. Her smile broadening, she lifted her head and stared into Pierce’s lazy gaze.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good morning.” He pulled her up in his arms, letting her naked body slide over his. “You’ll never know how difficult it was to let you sleep.”
Her skin prickle
d with heat and desire. She wished he had awakened her. “W-what time is it?”
He looked out the window instead of at the clock. “A little after eight in the morning.”
Her fingertip brushed across his lower lip, as she enjoyed being able to freely touch him. “I haven’t slept that well in a long time. Thank you.”
He smiled, and she almost sighed. “Any time you need a sleep aid, I’m your man.”
“I’ll remem—” She suddenly jerked up and started to roll out of bed.
Pierce’s hand on her arm stopped her. “What is it?”
“Isabella. When the DVD stopped and I wasn’t there, she probably tore up Sierra’s place.”
Using both hands, he pulled Sabra flush against him. “After you fell asleep last night I went to get her. If I don’t miss my guess, she’s outside the bedroom door.”
“You went to my apartment?” Alarm tripped down her spine. Had she left any incriminating information about her search lying around?
The easy smile slid from his face. “I only went as far as the DVD to cut it off. Isabella followed me back without the leash. I gave her some water and told her we’d see her in the morning. Just as Sierra has a key to my place, I have a key to hers. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
After last night, more than ever Sabra felt ashamed that she had to keep a secret from him. “You didn’t. It was sweet and thoughtful to think of her. I certainly didn’t.”
His hand settled possessively on her bare butt. “You had other things on your mind.”
“They are on my mind again,” she said, surprising herself.
“Thank goodness.” He pulled her up farther, then fastened his mouth on her nipple. The peak hardened instantly. She moaned, then moaned again as Pierce, already sheathed, slid into her. Her eyes widened as her breath shuddered out.
“Are you all right?”
She wasn’t sure until he moved. Pleasure rippled through her.
“It’s as easy as riding. And, just like riding, you can take control.”
The idea appealed to her. From her position, she stared down into his handsome face and felt him hard inside her. She clenched around him. Air hissed through his teeth. She felt wicked and powerful that she could have that effect on him.