by Megan Keith
Copyright © Megan Keith 2014
All Rights Reserved
Cover Design by Cover to Cover Designs
Cover Photo – Shutterstock, Inc. © mrkornflakes
Edited by Renee Kubisch
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people or real places are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All songs titles and lyrics quoted herein remain the property of the respective copyright holders.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the author, unless in quote form.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your retailer and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This novella is for MATURE 18+ READERS ONLY! It contains explicit sex scenes with BDSM type scenarios.
You must read the first three instalments of this series BEFORE starting this. It picks up exactly where volume three ended.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter,
and those who matter don't mind.”
~ Bernard M. Baruch
He slid on his jeans and pulled the cell from his pocket, noting a few missed calls. Choosing to ignore those, he exited the bedroom determined to tell her everything. He’d had a change of heart. Thinking over their various conversations he’d concluded it was time for Mackenzie to know who he really was. He trusted her. He knew she was different, he’d known that all along, and he didn’t need to protect himself any longer. But the instant he saw her standing just outside the kitchen, with a pained look on her paler than usual face, he knew something was wrong. She’d jumped when he’d said her name, a look of dismay conveyed through her jade eyes. She took a step back, her body rigid as she clutched her phone in a vice grip.
“What’s wrong, Mackenzie?” he asked, cautiously taking a step closer, trying to fill the void he felt, not only physically, but emotionally. She didn’t answer. He could literally feel her pulling away from him even though she now stood still. She was withdrawing back into her shell and he had no idea why.
“Nathaniel?”
She said it like an accusation and he sucked in a quick breath of air, his heart thumping hard in his chest. “Wh-what?”
“Nathaniel Pierce. Is that who you are?”
“How did you …” he tapered off. He swallowed hard, anger bubbling to the surface. He hated the out of control feeling that overcame him and was frustrated that his plans were again thrown into chaos by this woman. She stared at him with an unreadable expression and he was at a loss for words.
“I really wish you told me yourself. It seems the whole world knows exactly who you are!”
“What do you mean?” he asked with a frown.
Mackenzie’s thoughts were so focused on the article and what it meant for her that she didn’t hear his question. The self-preservation skills she had mastered over the years kicked in and she shut down. She ignored him when Sir closed the space between them and when he stopped mere inches in front of her. The darkening sky beyond her apartment window drew her attention as she tried to process the information from the article.
“Mackenzie?”
She felt cheated. She was beginning to fall for a man that was quite likely taken.
A man that hadn’t even trusted her enough to tell her his name.
How stupid am I?
She shook her head in disbelief, dropped her shoulders and loosened the grip on her phone. She felt like she’d been made a fool of and the pain in her chest was suffocating.
“Mackenzie,” he warned. He needed answers and he needed her attention. Her eyes snapped back to him at his tone. “How did you find out? How long have you known?” he asked angrily.
“Just now. I just read the text now,” she stammered softly.
“The text?” He snatched the phone from her hand. “What text?” He swiped the screen. It was locked. “Password?”
“Huh? I’m not telling you my-”
“Password,” he repeated in frustration, causing her to flinch.
“1234.”
“Seriously?” he asked with an annoyed raised eyebrow. She shrugged and he quickly entered the numbers. It was a text from Alex, the guy from the bar. What is he doing texting her? He read the message:
Mystery solved. He’s not just wealthy, Mack, he’s a fucking multi-millionaire!
And then he saw the picture of him and Greg arguing in the street, the wording below it read:
Millionaire playboy, Nathaniel Pierce, is apparently up to his old tricks. He was seen in a brawl outside The Blue Room, in Chicago, on Friday night. This is not the first time the heir to the Pierce Empire has been caught fighting outside a club. Insiders say the dispute was over a woman.
“Fuck!” The photo was scratchy at best, probably taken with a camera phone, but it was clear enough to see exactly what was going on and with whom. “Fucking media!”
He wondered if his family had seen the photo yet. That’s probably what the missed calls from Mom and Tom are about. Damn it! That was a headache he really didn’t need. He tossed Mackenzie’s phone on the counter next to his own. He stared at her for a long moment, the stunned look on her face now making perfect sense. Running his hand through his hair he inhaled deeply.
“I’m sorry Mackenzie, you shouldn’t have found out like this.”
“Exactly which part are you referring to?”
“Pardon?” His face scrunched in confusion.
“How stupid do you think I am, Sir?”
“I don’t think you’re stupid!” He sighed and threw his hands up in frustration.
“So, who is she?” Mackenzie tightened the duvet around her body, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Who?”
“The woman you were fighting over!” she bit out loudly, catching him off-guard.
“We weren’t fighting over anyone,” he said defensively. He didn’t appreciate her tone.
“Bullshit!” Mackenzie tried to walk past him but he blocked her.
“You’re an intelligent woman, Mackenzie,” he squeezed her shoulders as he spoke, his voice full of bitterness, “surely you know better than to believe everything you read.” The look on his face was irate and Mackenzie struggled to pull herself from his tight grasp. “Fucking media!” He shook her a little before he loosened his hold, seeming to realize what his hands were doing to her. He took a couple steps past her.
“What did they report wrong then?” Mackenzie asked hopefully.
“For one, they put an ‘m’ where there should have been a ‘b’,” he said sardonically, before swinging around to face her, a menacing look embedded on his handsome face.
It took Mackenzie a moment to realize what he meant. Billionaire, not millionaire. “You’re kidding? That’s what you’re upset about?”
“No, of course I’m not fucking upset about that!” His voice was getting louder, matching hers.
“What then?” she shouted in annoyance.
When he didn’t answer Mackenzie decided she’d had enough. Storming over to the front door she flung it open and turned to pin him with a dismissive glare.
“You may leave,” she said, throwing his words from their first night together back at him.
“Excuse me?�
�� he asked, flabbergasted.
“You heard. I’ve dealt with enough jackasses in my time and I’m not interested in wasting my time on another.”
He didn’t budge. He was shocked at her reaction. He recognized the countless ways he’d hurt her but hadn’t factored in that one; the night he’d tossed her out of his apartment. The sting of rejection hit him hard and he closed his eyes briefly. He deserved that but it didn’t mean he had to like it.
He watched in a daze as Mackenzie dropped the duvet from around her body, and began fishing through the bags dotting the floor from their day’s shopping. She didn’t seem to care that the door to her apartment was wide open and she was stark-naked. He wanted to stop her but at the same time he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She pulled a long sleeved wrap dress from one of the bags, put it on, and then slipped on a pair of flats that were by her front door. Rushing to the table, she collected her keys and purse then headed for the door. Before shutting it behind her, she swivelled to face him.
“You won’t go, so I will. Don’t be here when I get back!”
He flinched when the door slammed.
“Mackenzie!” he shouted after her but got no reply.
What the fuck just happened?
Sinking down on her sofa he shook his head with frustration. Not normally one to justify his actions to anyone but family, it both pissed him off and comforted him that he wanted the chance to explain himself to Mackenzie. It reiterated just how much he wanted this relationship to work.
He was kicking himself for not taking her home from The Blue Room that night. She deserved better. He had to make this right.
Visions of her naked body, as she angrily put on that dress, crossed his mind and made his cock twitch. Fuck, she’s sexy when she’s mad!
Mackenzie found a quiet table in a late night café a few blocks from her apartment, ordered a coffee and tried to calm the hell down. She wasn’t used to getting so emotional but she wasn’t normally one to put up with other people’s shit either. It could have very well been the reason why she hadn’t had much luck in the relationship department.
She’d wanted victory when she found out who he was. She wanted him to trust her; trust that she wasn’t going anywhere. Mackenzie wanted his name but she didn’t want to find out like this, and she certainly didn’t want to find out that he was involved with someone. She needed to know who she was up against. Greg’s wife? She wanted his honesty, if he couldn’t give it then there would be no future for them.
She took her time finishing her coffee, allowing him the chance to get gone. But as she was walking the last block to her apartment she started to wonder if she’d done the right thing. She wanted him in her life, instead, she’d kicked him out of it. The realization hit her full force as she walked the last of the stairs to her door.
She slid her key in the door and was annoyed to find it unlocked. He could have at least locked the place up when he left! She stepped through the door and stopped dead when he stood in front of her.
“Our introduction at the bar that first time should have gone a little more like this: Hi, my name is Nathaniel Pierce and I’d like to take you home,” he said with a crooked smile, making her heart go pitter-patter. He held out his hand for her to take but Mackenzie stood her ground.
“You can’t charm your way out of everything,” she said, unable to stop her lips from curving slightly in one corner. He stayed.
“Can’t I?” he countered, his smile turning up a notch at the sight of her.
“No.”
“Can I get you to sit so I can explain then?” he asked, sitting back on the sofa.
Mackenzie remained where she was, the door to her apartment wide open for anyone to see, but he could tell by her expression her resolve was weakening.
“Please Mackenzie.”
She hesitated for a moment more, before finally relenting, shutting the door and slowly walking his way.
“Explain,” she said with a wave of her hand as she took a seat beside him.
“This wasn’t the way you should have found out who I was.”
“No, it wasn’t,” she agreed.
“I’m not normally a ‘jackass’,” he chuckled at her term, “and fighting on the street is not something in which I would generally partake. I’m pissed that it was reported in the media because it’s not good for my family, it hurts them and it hurts our business. I’m also disappointed in the way this played out … with us. I’m sorry, Mackenzie, but I did explain to you why I hadn’t yet told you my name. I told you I wanted you to know me first.”
“You did and I thought I was getting to know you.” Mackenzie spoke with honesty. “I want you to know me, too. I want you to trust me.”
“I do trust you. I’m sorry the text beat me to it. Please believe me when I say I was about to tell you.”
“You must have been aware of the potential of the fight being reported. Surely that crossed your mind?”
“You’d think it would’ve, but I’ve been a bit pre-occupied of late.” He smirked at her.
“That is true.” Mackenzie fought her own smirk trying to fight its way to the surface.
“Mackenzie, I do know you. I know enough to know I want us to work.”
She bit her lip in contemplation. “And the fight? Is that something I should worry about? Is there something else you need to tell me?” He remained silent, a look of confusion on his face, so she prompted, “About another woman?”
“There is no other woman. I promise. Will you please give us another chance?” The smile he hit her with then made it impossible for her not to back down. She wanted this to work too.
“Yes.”
“Let’s try this again then. Hi, my name is Nathaniel.” When he held his hand out to her for the second time she took it.
“Hi Nathaniel.” She smiled, shaking his hand.
He had longed to hear his name coming from her lips. Her voice was smooth as silk and warmed him to the absolute core. He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it.
The feel of his lips on her skin soon had her pushing aside any leftover unwanted thoughts and instead she focused her attention on the devilishly handsome man in front of her. And when he tugged her into his body she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. It felt right. She felt lighter. She held him tighter and breathed him in.
He held her in his arms and was well aware of the fact she was wearing absolutely nothing underneath her thin cotton dress. Feeling her body entwined with his did what it always did – it made him hard. Desire pulsed through him, yet he knew sex wasn’t the answer this time; holding her was.
They sat there for quite some time. The last of the sun dipped over the horizon and his stomach growled. It had been a couple of hours since they snacked on toast and he’d worked up quite an appetite since.
“It’s getting late. I’ll order us a pizza for dinner.”
“Did I give you permission to stay?” she asked cheekily.
“Oh, you want me to stay.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek before standing.
She slipped her arms from his waist and collapsed back against the couch when he stood. She watched Sir collect his phone, then stared back out the window of her apartment. She heard him ordering their pizza but tuned him out. She was in a haze of conflicting emotions and she needed a moment to breathe. She couldn’t help the words from that night outside The Blue Room repeating in her head –
“You wrecked everything!”
“You had no right interfering in our relationship.”
“I had every right!”
She shook her head, needing to shake the memory away.
Stop it! Snap out of it! He has a history. So what? Learn to live in the now not focus on the what if’s! He said he wants a relationship with you, no one else. Go with it!
Mackenzie was determined to push it from her mind. The fight on the street with Greg, whatever it was about, wasn’t her business.
She’d only just met the guy, and though she felt what they had was more than just physical, she would take whatever she could get, for however long she could get it. And just hope that Greg, and whoever the woman was, would remain history.
When he came to sit back beside her, putting his arm around her and pulling her close, Mackenzie found it a lot easier to push those thoughts away. His beautiful face and his touch had a way of blinding her to other things.
“What kinds of movies do you like, Sir?” she asked, just wanting to move on and focus on anything else but her own insecurities and all the drama of the night.
“You don’t have to refer to me as Sir anymore, Mackenzie.” He smiled at her, the real, genuine, flashy one that drove her wild. “Outside of the bedroom that is,” he added slyly.
“Okay, Nathaniel…” She couldn’t help but be thrilled at finally having a name, despite everything. She loved the feel of it when she spoke. “So, now I know your name, what else can you tell me?”
“What do you want to know?” He decided that he’d be willing to tell her just about anything in that moment.
“What do you do for work?” she asked.
“I co-manage my father’s company with my brother, Pierce Finance and Investments.” His hand started lightly rubbing her back as he spoke.
Mackenzie was stunned that he’d answered her so easily, she’d expected more evasive answers and frustrations, as it always seemed to be with him. He was opening up and an unexpected peace washed over her. She smiled widely, relaxing into his ministrations, loving his tender touches.
“Do you enjoy it?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m guessing it’s a huge company. That article said you were ‘heir to the Pierce Empire’.”
“Yes, Mackenzie,” he answered abruptly. He really didn’t want to talk about work, or his wealth.
“Why the big secret?” She couldn’t let it go. She had a feeling there was something he still wasn’t telling her. His dark eyes drilled into hers but he didn’t give her an answer. “What were you really afraid of, Nathaniel?”