Pieces of Me (Midnight Steel Trilogy Book 1)

by Lori J. Nelson

  Corie’s stomach growled loudly causing her to giggle and breaking the moment. When Alek’s did the same a few seconds later, they both started to laugh. “I think I should make us something to eat,” she said with a smile. “We haven’t had anything since this morning.”

  “Sounds good,” Alek agreed. As much as he would like to continue kissing Corie, they had plenty of time for that. It was probably good to stop anyway because for once, he wasn’t in it for just the sex even though the erection he now had may prove otherwise.

  “Okay, let me go see what I can make,” Corie said as she slipped out of his strong arms and headed towards the cold kitchen. She needed these few minutes alone to get her head together.

  Before she even attempted to make dinner, Corie stopped at her big kitchen window and looked out into the approaching darkness. She was happy, yet scared at the same time. Alek was so different from anyone she had ever met, but he also was the only one that made her feel this way. Even that ass Jeremy, who she thought was the perfect man for her, never caused her to feel like this. Her heart would flutter each time Alek’s blue eyes met hers. Just a simple touch, would send sparks of electricity all the way through her body. She hadn’t felt anything even remotely similar to this ever. Parts of her were waking up that had been asleep for years. It was crazy how he made her feel.

  She had never felt such a pull towards a man before as she did towards him. She knew he felt it too. If a simple touch caused that, she wondered what sex was going to be like with him.

  Strike that. What sex would have been like with him. Right now, that was off the table.

  She would have has sex with him this morning if Billy hadn’t arrived when he did. She wanted it, she wanted him so much it was making her nervous, but Corie had a feeling that if it did happen, it would have been nothing like she ever experienced before. He was a contradiction to everything that she knew. She realized if she agreed to have sex with him, she would never be the same.

  She wrote about the crazy, all-consuming type of love and sex that was rare to find in every one of her books. That once in a lifetime man that the heroines of her novels fought with, tried to reject, but ultimately succumbed to the desperate attraction they ended up having for each other. Alek could be that man for her. Then again, he would be leaving her broken-hearted at some point.

  This wasn’t a romance novel, it was her life.

  “Do you need any help?”

  Alek’s voice woke Corie from her thoughts. It was like he knew she was thinking about them…about him. She turned away from the window towards him. “Sorry, I was just daydreaming for a minute. I haven’t even looked to see what we could eat,” she apologized.

  “No worries, Luv. But, I’m not going to let you wait on me, so what can I do to help?”

  “Okay, let’s see what we can come up with. Let’s look at what our options are from the food I have in the cooler outside. Let’s grab a coat and we can decide together.”

  Forty minutes later they both had full plates in front of them while they ate dinner in the slightly warmer living room. There was a strange silence between them right now. The only sounds in the room were the clinking of utensils on the plates and the crackling of the fire. It was like they suddenly didn’t know what to say to each other. The house was falling into dark shadows already as the evening approached. Without any heat, they would be sleeping in front of the fire again on that small full-size mattress. Corie wasn’t sure she could trust herself not to give into Alek. Maybe the sofa was the best place for her, no matter how cold it got. It would be easier not to give in to the temptation if he wasn’t curled up next to her.

  Alek wasn’t sure what had changed with Corie. This morning she was totally into them having sex. Hell, his hand was down her pants, and he felt how wet she was for him, but now he felt like he was getting a bit of a cold shoulder from her. Sure, she let him kiss her again, but he had the feeling that was changing too. This was something that never happened to him, at least not in a very long time.

  He was used to women falling at his feet. It was the rock star’s way of life. Maybe it was time he stopped thinking like one. Wasn’t that what he wanted? Corie was treating him like a regular guy and not fawning all over him because he was rich and famous. He couldn’t have it both ways.

  She had taken their dishes back to the kitchen, so it gave him a moment to think. Alek stretched his long legs out in front of him and put his hands behind his head as he tried to figure out what was going on with Corie.

  He knew that she was scared and he didn’t blame her because she was right. She lived here in the states, and his home was in London. Right now his life was his own, but that always changed. There eventually would be significant demands on his time. He and Ethan would need to be together to write songs for the next album. Then there was the recording, the promoting, and the touring. The never-ending interviews, the months away from home and any number of shit that he had to do for the band. His life was the band. But wasn’t that the problem that had him fleeing from Montreal in the first place? He didn’t want the band to be his life anymore.

  He wanted normal. Corie was normal, but that wasn’t the sole attraction he had to her. She was naturally beautiful both inside and out. She hadn’t had an ounce of makeup on the entire time they had been snowbound, and he was more attracted to her than any of the tarted-up groupies he was used to. Her green eyes sparkled all the time. She had perfectly plump lips just waiting to be kissed. And there was an honesty to her that Alek found was rare in his world. He was so used to everyone wanting something from him, be it the contacts he had to possibly advance a career or friends needing money or the women who just wanted to be able to say that they fucked him. Corie wanted none of that, and unfortunately, that included the sex.

  Alek understood she was struggling with her attraction to him, but he also knew she was not the kind of woman that slept around. Even though it was nothing they had even come close to talking about, he just could tell that she took any type of relationship seriously. He, on the other hand, hadn’t considered one in a very long time.

  If he stayed a couple more days or a week and then left after having some fun with her that would make what they had no different than the one night stands he did on the road. That wouldn’t be fair to Corie, and he knew that was the battle she was fighting with herself. They had a strong attraction to each other, but she was classy enough want more than a few nights with him. She deserved more.

  His gaze was lost in the dancing flames of the fireplace as he wondered what should he do. He really didn’t have any plans other than eventually heading home to England. Something told him he needed to find a way to stay here and get her to see that maybe they might have something between them. How was he going to do that?

  Alek briefly rested his elbows on his thighs before running his fingers through his hair. For the first time in a very long time, he was happy where he was. He wasn’t looking forward to leaving Corie and her country hideaway. Staying here held a lot of appeal to him. Now he just had to find a way to get Corie to agree to let him stay with her longer.

  Ideas popped in and out of his head as he quickly tossed most of them aside. What could keep him here? He got up and walked over to the bay window that overlooked her yard. He was happy to be in his own clothes again. Jeans with a black t-shirt were his usual style, but since it was still cold in the house, he threw a shirt over the t-shirt plus zipped up a dark hoodie.

  “See anything interesting?” Corie asked him as she wandered back into the room.

  “Just a lot of snow. More than I’ve ever seen before,” he replied turning towards her. There she stood in jeans and a baggy sweatshirt that he was sure was on top of multiple other shirts to keep her warm. She had no makeup on and with her hair was pulled back again into that messy bun, and she was still better looking than any woman he had seen in years. “I was thinking…” he started to say but stopped.

  “What’s that?” Corie asked as she curl
ed up her legs under her as she sat on the sofa.

  Alek walked over and joined her on the couch. “Well, I was actually wondering even though the roads are open and the car is getting towed tomorrow, could I stay a few more days here? I need to get the accident reported and deal with the insurance. Get another set of wheels…but…” he hesitated a moment. The truth was always the best way to go. Well, at least his version of it anyway.

  He saw Corie looking at him intently. He just needed to say it. Alek realized that he was nervous and that hadn’t happened with a girl in a very long time. “I’m not ready to go, yet. I want to spend more time with you, getting to know you and all that shit. Fuck, I don’t mean that your shit, just the opposite. You’re different than what I’m used to, and I like it…a lot. I want you to get to know me too so we can see if…maybe…there could be something.”

  The surprise on Corie’s face was clearly evident. Alek just didn’t know if it was a good surprise or not and she wasn’t saying anything.

  “I figured after being stuck here for days, you be running out of here as fast as you could. You aren’t bored?” she finally asked.

  Alek smiled at her. “Not at all. I haven’t had time like this to do nothing in a very long time. So, what do you think?”

  “Well, as long as you don’t mind that I will need to get back to writing and I’ll need you to help me with the chickens,” she said with a devilish smirk. “Then stay as long as you like.”

  She did know he was a city guy, right? “Chickens? Those birds with the sharp beaks and beady eyes?”

  Corie was laughing inside. “Yes, the ones that have been feeding you breakfast each morning with their eggs.” Then she added with a British accent, “Non-negotiable.”

  Alek shook his head yes, wondering what he was getting himself into. “Fine. I’ll help you with the bloody birds. You would think that you’d give me a break since I said I want to get to know you better.”

  “Well, if you want to get to know me better, the chickens are part of my life here. There is one thing I’ve wanted to ask. What’s with the guitar? You play?” Corie asked. It was a piece of the puzzle that Alek was.

  “I like to play,” he admitted. He always kept his Martin with him. The other dozen guitars he had were for the stage, this one was for him. This was the one he played when he needed to get lost in the music. “It’s my way of relaxing.”

  “Please play for me.”

  “You know I could suck at it,” he smirked.

  Corie had a feeling he didn’t. “I doubt that. C’mon. Please.”

  Alek got up and opened the case that held his favorite guitar. He had bought it two years earlier, replacing the Gibson he had. It was custom-made for him, and he never traveled without it. He just hoped the time it had spent in the cold trunk of the car hadn’t damaged the beautiful music it could make.

  He strummed a few easy chords and adjusted a couple of the tuning pegs before he started to actually play. He purposefully chose songs that weren’t by Midnight Steel. He decided on a few songs that he had always loved. He played Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty, then Wild Horses by The Stones and ended with More Than Words by Extreme.

  Corie never said a word throughout any of the songs and Alek never looked at her. He was either staring into the fire or had his eyes closed while he was playing. He wanted to share this part of his life with her, but he didn’t know how. So he played a few songs from his youth that were important to him. It was emotional and heartfelt and utterly flawless. He couldn’t play any other way.

  When he was done, he finally turned to look at her, afraid what he may find. He could have just outed himself to her. He should tell her, he knew that. Before they got in too deep, and there was no way out, but he didn’t. He saw a beautiful smile on her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. Alek rested the guitar on the edge of the sofa, before using his fingers to wipe away her tears. He wondered if she felt the callouses on his fingertips he had from years of playing.

  “Why are you crying?” he asked softly.

  Corie was still smiling as she wiped her eyes with a sleeve. “That was just so beautiful and moving. You are so incredibly talented. Wow.” She leaned back in the cushions never taking her eyes off him. “Do you play professionally?”

  “Tell her, Alek!” His head was yelling at him. “This is a perfect time…do it! Tell her who you are and deal with the consequences, but tell her.” That’s what was running through his head. This was the right time to confess to her who he really was. If she was mad, he hoped he could talk his way out of it. He had to do it.

  “Well…” was as far as he got when the other side of his brain shouted, “No! Are you bloody stupid? You’re going to ruin a good thing. She doesn’t have to know who you are.”

  The second he answered her, he knew he had just screwed everything up. “I don’t. I play for me and sometimes my mates. It relaxes me, and I enjoy it.” Alek got up and carefully stored his prized possession in its case. When he walked back to Corie, he saw her yawn. A quick glance at the clock on her fireplace mantel showed it was after eleven.

  “You look tired, Luv. Maybe we should go to bed,” he suggested.

  “It was a tiring day shoveling all that snow. Going to bed sounds good. I…umm…think I’ll sleep up here on the sofa. You can have the mattress.”

  “Why? You’ll be warmer down here with me,” Alek told her as he added more logs to the fire. He wondered why she didn’t want to sleep with him. “I’ll behave. I promise.”

  “I just think it’s better for me to be here.”

  Alek watched her wrap several blankets around herself and snuggle in. This wasn’t what he expected. “Well, if you change your mind, just come on down here and join me. Okay?”

  “Sure, but I’ll be fine. Goodnight, Alek.”

  “Goodnight, Corie.”

  Alek popped into the office where he was storing his stuff. He pulled a pair of sweatpants out of his suitcase and quickly changed in the ice cold room. He dove under the blankets on the mattress to try to get warm since he was covered in millions of tiny goosebumps from changing his clothes to something more comfortable to sleep in.

  But sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon for him. He knew he blew his chance to tell her who he was. God, he was so fucking stupid. That ran through his head over and over again, until he heard a strange sound in the room. He sat up a bit to listen.

  “Corie, is that your teeth chattering I hear?”

  “Nnnooo.”

  Alek rolled his eyes. She was sure stubborn. “Get down here now. There is no reason you should be freezing up there. We’re closer to the fire down here, and our body heat will help.” Corie didn’t move. “I will get up and drag you down here if I have to. Stop being so bloody stupid.”

  It took just seconds for her to move from the sofa to under the blankets with him. Alek reached up for the covers that she had been using and spread everything over them. Then he snuggled up against her back, but he felt her stiffen.

  “Relax, we just need the heat from our bodies together to help warm us up. You’re fine. I promise, okay?” That was a promise he would keep. It may kill him to be this close to her and not touch her the way he wanted, but he would keep his hands strictly platonic. He had lied to her once already, he wasn’t going to do it again.

  Corie relaxed in his arms as Alek pulled her back tighter to him. “Goodnight…again,” he whispered. When Corie didn’t answer him, he raised his head slightly and saw that she was already asleep. Gently, he kissed her shoulder before finally drifting off himself. Tomorrow would be another day.

  Chapter 10

  Corie woke up first the next morning. She noticed immediately that the room wasn’t ice cold anymore. She raised her head slightly off the pillow and saw that there were lights on throughout the house. The power was back. She thanked the heavens and the power company as she gently slipped out of bed. Corie had managed to extricate herself from Alek’s arms without waking him up.

 
Quietly she padded over to the thermostat and raised the temperature in the house. The soft hum from the furnace was music to her ears. A quick check of the hot water heater showed it was working on heating up the tank. Corie closed her eyes in anticipation of a hot shower. A steamy shower with water so hot it would make her skin flush pink was one of the first things on her agenda. A few days of not taking a shower had her feeling grimy, and a bit disgusting, plus she hoped it would take away the cold she still felt. She was so looking forward to being warm again.

  “Tea,” she thought to herself. A cup of tea would hit the spot, so she headed towards the kitchen. There was still no sign of Alek waking up yet. She said a quick, silent prayer hoping that pipes hadn’t frozen, but when she turned the faucet on slowly after a little bit of sputtering the water flowed into the sink.

  She filled the kettle with water and set it on the gas stove to heat. Once again, she sat down at the table and thought about Alek. It seemed lately all she did was think about him. She was happy that he asked if he could stay on for a while, but was that for days or weeks? It was going to be so hard to resist him being around all the time, even though deep down she really didn’t want to.

  Just last night she was trying to sleep, but it was so cold that when he told her to get down on the mattress with him, it didn’t take much for her to jump off the sofa and slide under the covers next to him. Even though she was exhausted, the feeling of his arms around her as they went to sleep was comforting and thrilling at the same time.

  That’s why she got up as soon as she woke up. Having the power back on was an extra incentive because if she rolled over and looked into his sexy blue eyes with his body pressed up against hers, she wouldn’t be able to say no to him.

  It was that devil on one shoulder and angel on the other scenario. The angel part of her knew that she didn’t sleep around. Her heart had to be involved, and she knew that Alek was a danger to her heart. If she gave it to him, when he walked out of her life and he would, she would be left completely shattered. However, the little devil was telling her to just have some fun for a change and quit being so damn goody two-shoes.