Loving Pierce (Heart & Soul Series Book 4)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Pierce looked down at her, surprised by how annoyed he was by both her announcement as well as her rubbing against him. Kaitlin had done that to him on several occasions in the past. And every single time, his lust had fired up to the point where he could barely think beyond getting her alone and naked. But when Jenni did it, he was simply annoyed. There was no sexual thought, other than his need to pull away from her.

  He opened his mouth to reprimand Jenni when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He knew immediately what that movement indicated. Since he’d first met Kaitlin, they’d shared a sort of mental connection. He knew when she was near. Hell, he suspected that he could feel vibrations when she was thinking about him, even from a distance.

  So when he looked up and saw her startled, wounded eyes as Jenni’s breast once again brushed against his arm, he knew that this would be bad. Extracting himself from Jenni’s clutches wasn’t as easy as he’d anticipated.

  “Wait, Pierce…!”

  Pierce turned around, livid that she’d been so outrageously inappropriate. “Jenni, get back to work before you’re fired!” he snapped, then moved away from the irritating blond so that he could find Kaitlin.

  Unfortunately, she was fast! He looked around the lobby, but the large, open area was filled with people moving from one activity to another, most of them paired up or in groups and the tall, birch trees inhibited his visibility. The floor to ceiling windows didn’t help, throwing sunlight that was almost blinding this time of afternoon.

  “Kaitlin,” he muttered as he hurried through the throngs of guests. It was a massive resort, but he’d find her! He had to! The thought of her misunderstanding what she’d seen sent a stab of pain through his chest. He had to find her, he had to explain that he’d been about to push the annoying blond woman away. If Kaitlin had entered seconds later, there wouldn’t have been anything for her to see.

  But would she believe him? Or was she so hurt that her feelings for him had changed? Pierce wasn’t sure. He just knew that he had to find her before she changed her mind about him.

  The irony here was that she’d said she loved him six months ago, and he’d pulled away. But this afternoon’s declaration seemed different somehow. Perhaps it was because he’d lived without her for too long and knew that he had to have her in his life. Or maybe it was because he believed her now, believed that she loved him.

  She wasn’t in the yoga studio. Or the weight room. Running a hand over his face, he considered his options. Walking over to the front desk, he growled, “Get me Kaitlin Hawley’s class schedule.”

  The startled receptionist looked over the desk at Pierce, his fingers frozen above the keyboard. “Um…sir…?”

  “Now!” he snapped.

  The receptionist coughed, cleared his throat, and his cheeks turned a bit red. “I’m sorry, Sir, but I can’t give out private information on a guest.”

  Pierce stared at the younger man for a long moment, both impressed and furious. “Get me the manager.”

  The receptionist jerked to attention, his mouth falling open in horror. “But, sir, it’s not my personal preference. It’s company policy. We can’t…”

  “Manager! Now!”

  The poor guy’s Adam’s apple bobbed painfully, but Pierce didn’t give a damn. He had to find Kaitlin and if he had to throw his weight around to do so, he’d do exactly that.

  A woman stepped up behind the guy, a pleasant, calm smile to her features. “Sir, I’m Mary Campbell. Perhaps there’s something I can do to help you?”

  Pierce leaned forward, his eyes on fire. “I understand that you are the supervisor for the reception area, Ms. Campbell. But I want Bernard down here. Now.” He didn’t snap the order this time. He simply stated his instructions firmly. “If you don’t call him, I will.”

  Mary was obviously more impressed with Pierce’s command than the younger man had been. She immediately picked up the phone and dialed a number, then whispered, “Sir, there’s a gentleman here who wishes to speak with you.” There was a pause and Mary looked up, covering the mouthpiece. “Can you tell me your name?”

  “Pierce Rossen,” he replied, waiting for recognition.

  It took a moment. Mary pulled her hand away, then hesitated, as Pierce’s name sank in. The other guy realized his mistake as well and took a step backwards, mentally and physically distancing himself from the grievous error.

  “Uh…” Mary stammered. “It is Mr. Rossen, sir,” she told Bernard. A moment later, she nodded and nervously put the receiver down. “Bernard will be here in a moment. While we are waiting, what information did you need, Mr. Rossen?” she asked, stepping up to the computer terminal with her fingers resting on the keyboard.

  “I want the class schedule for Kaitlin Hawley. She’s in room…”

  “I have that information right here, Mr. Rossen,” she said, efficiently tapping on the keyboard. A moment later, a piece of paper printed out from the printer behind the reception desk and Mary handed it to him. “Here you go, Sir. And I apologize for my staff member not recognizing you.”

  At that same moment, Bernard stepped out, obviously flustered as well. “Mr. Rossen. How can we…?”

  “I got it,” Pierce said, lifting the paper up in the air. “Your staff didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, they were exactly right not to give out personal information on guests. They just didn’t recognize me. I have it now.”

  “Is there anything else?” Bernard asked, straightening his spine a bit.

  “No. I need to find someone. I’ll talk to you later,” Pierce said and turned around, reading though the list of classes.

  She was scheduled for a spin class right after lunch. He glanced at his watch and realized that the class had already started. Then aquatics? Why would she go from one exercise class to another? Why not go to one of the salt rooms or a cooking class? His eyes moved down the list, surprised at all of the exercises. Yoga, spinning, weight lifting… “Jenni,” he groaned. The woman was a nuisance!

  Stepping through the doors to the spin class, he looked around. There! In the back, he found her. She was working hard, obviously trying to push all of her frustrations and hurt out through the stationary bike. The music pounded loudly, the beat hard and thumping. He couldn’t distract her here, he thought and stepped back out of the room. He’d catch her before she walked into the aqua class.

  Unfortunately, his cell phone rang and he had to deal with an issue in a Tokyo hotel. With increasing frustration, he watched as Kaitlin left the spin class and walked to the locker rooms for the pool.

  But instead of going to a different area to finish his business, he remained on the phone, listening to the conference call while he watched from a chair on the far side of the pool, enjoying the water aerobics class. Pierce was positive that Kaitlin was aware of his presence, but she didn’t look his way. Not even once! He would have felt better if she’d yelled at him, or even glared at him from the pool. But no, she ignored him entirely.

  Oh honey, he thought with increasing relish as he watched her curves move in the pool. She had no idea what temptation she was. All of that gorgeous skin right there for his delectation, shimmering with water. Images of times together in the shower popped into his mind and he again regretted not inviting her to join him in his suite.

  Sitting back in the patio chair, unconsciously, Pierce ran a finger over his lip, contemplating ways he could prove to her that Jenni meant nothing to him. The woman was a nuisance and not even remotely interesting or attractive. He had to prove to Kaitlin that she was the only woman for him. And he had to do it before she changed her mind about loving him.

  Why he had to do that, Pierce didn’t think about too much. He just knew that it was essential. He didn’t love her. He’d never loved a woman. Hell, Pierce wasn’t even sure that he had feelings for his father any longer. But Kaitlin…he wanted her to love him. He needed her love. Even if he couldn’t reciprocate her feelings, he…needed her to love him.

  He watched with incr
easing lust as the class ended and Kaitlin slowly stepped out of the pool. He could tell she was sore by the way she walked. She was slow and deliberate, another point against the idiot Jenni. She should have ascertained the fitness level of Kaitlin before signing her up for all of those classes.

  Pierce loved working out and pushed himself hard every single day. The energy he felt from his workouts helped him focus on work issues. But Kaitlin wasn’t made the same way. She was softer and he liked that about her. Did he want her to exercise a bit more? Yes, perhaps. But only so that she would be with him for a long, long time.

  When that thought popped into his mind, he stopped short, processing it for a long moment. A long time? When had he ever hoped for a future with a woman? Hadn’t he backed out of being with Kaitlin six months ago because he didn’t believe in love and, hence, didn’t believe in forever after?

  Dammit! What was happening to him? Why was he thinking like this?

  His thoughts were so startling, he missed the opportunity to intercept Kaitlin before she stepped into the women’s locker room. But even he wouldn’t go in there. He might demand Kaitlin’s class schedule, a violation of his company’s rules, but he wouldn’t violate the privacy of the other guests by stepping into the women’s locker room.

  Looking down at the paper in his hand, he smiled. Not with happiness, but with determination. Kaitlin’s next hour was a massage session.

  Excellent!

  Chapter 7

  Kaitlin sighed as she tightened the robe around her waist. She glanced at the door to the locker room, wondering if Pierce was still out there. Watching.

  Intellectually, she knew that Pierce wouldn’t cheat on her. They’d made love, and no, she refused to call it just sex, only hours ago. So, she was absolutely sure that he hadn’t appreciated the advances of Jenni-With-An-I. Unfortunately, her heart wasn’t as on board as her mind. Her heart ached, feeling rejected and betrayed. She wanted to yell at him, punch him, and tell him he was a big jerk!

  Which was why she’d stayed away. Kaitlin knew that a rational, reasonable conversation was needed now. Not a raving crazy woman who accused the man she loved of cheating on her. Because he wasn’t cheating. That stupid blond bimbo had done the boob brush and…well, Kaitlin had seen red. Her blood pressure had shot up and she’d run away from the sight of the man she loved being touched by another woman. A beautiful, sexy, muscular woman who had so much more in common with Pierce than Kaitlin ever could. Jenni-With-An-I probably sprinted every morning at five o’clock. She probably could hold a plank position for more than five seconds, which was Kaitlin’s current record. The blond was perky, happy, bouncy, and probably wouldn’t ask Pierce for more than just a simple tumble in bed.

  Of course, Jenni most likely would manipulate Pierce into spending his money on her. She seemed like the type, Kaitlin thought maliciously. Pierce might actually like that, she thought with increasing resentment. He’d always tried to buy her things, but she’d discouraged him, telling him that she could buy anything she wanted herself. She didn’t need a man to buy something for her.

  Okay, so he drove a fabulous Maserati while she drove a Toyota. But expensive cars and crazy jewelry aside, Kaitlin was well off and enjoyed paying her bills. If her entire house could fit inside his bedroom, well, she preferred cozy spaces anyway. What in the world he did with a ten thousand square foot penthouse, she never understood. He was only one man. Why did he need all that space anyway?

  And yes, she’d digressed. Because thinking about Pierce with that horrible woman on his arm just increased her fury! She didn’t need to be angry right before a massage.

  “Hi there!” a tall, muscular man greeted her cheerfully as soon as she stepped into the massage room.

  “You must be Hans,” she replied, still grumpy. Kaitlin didn’t want Hans to touch her. She wanted Pierce. But he was…okay, so he wasn’t with Jenni. She’d seen him watching her during the spin class and she’d grown irritated by his contemplation of her in the aquatics class. His watching had only made her push herself harder when all she’d really wanted to do was swim over to the side of the pool and…find a glass of wine while lounging on the side of the pool watching all of the silly people working out for about the sixth hour of their days. Sheesh! What was the point of working one’s muscles that many hours every day? What was wrong with just…reading a book? Relaxing?

  Jeez! These healthy people really didn’t know how to live!

  “That’s right,” he replied, his grin increasing. “I’m going to step out of the room. You can take off your robe and hang it on the hook behind you. Then slip under the sheet and I’ll be back in a few minutes. Does that sound okay?”

  “Sounds peachy!” she replied, nervously tightening the robe’s belt around her waist. Kaitlin didn’t want to disrobe. She wanted to find Pierce and ask him what was going on. Confronted with Hans and an hour with another man’s hands all over her body, she wanted to find Pierce. What she would do once she found him, Kaitlin wasn’t sure. Demand that he never touch another woman? Tell him he could never have another boob brush unless it was her boob?

  All sounded good to her, she thought as the door closed behind Hans.

  For a long moment, she debated just walking out of the massage room. She didn’t want someone else touching her. She only wanted Pierce.

  So where the hell was he?!

  With a sigh, she slipped out of the robe, then walked awkwardly over to the cushioned table, lying face down and pulling the crisp, white sheet up over her nakedness. For several seconds, she debated getting up and grabbing her underwear. She felt too vulnerable like this.

  Just as she was about to get up and walk out, the door opened. Immediately, she knew that it wasn’t Hans. The energy in the air started tingling in a way that only Pierce could create. But Kaitlin didn’t turn her head, even though her body tensed, waiting for Pierce to speak.

  “Ready?” his deep, familiar voice asked.

  Wiggling slightly, Kaitlin smiled. “Very ready,” she replied, her anger dissipating. The rational side of her mind was in control now, and she knew that Pierce wasn’t the type who would make love to her then go to another woman. Her reaction earlier today had been a silly, irrational response.

  “Let’s get started then,” he said softly. She felt rather than heard, him put oil on his hands. There was a small moment when his hands slid the sheet lower, revealing her back. She shivered, excitement racing through her system.

  “Where are you most tense?”

  Kaitlin smiled. “Everywhere,” she told him, thinking about his hands all over her skin.

  “Fine.”

  Was that anger in his voice? Impossible! Why would he be angry?

  His hands worked her muscles, sliding up and down her back, pressing strong fingers into the sore muscles. Kaitlin moaned, shifting slightly as the lactic acid released along with the strain, leaving soothed relaxation. “That feels good!” she sighed.

  He didn’t respond, moving up and down her arms now, kneading the muscles. Again on her back, then lower and lower. When he reached the small of her back, she opened her eyes, wondering how far he might go.

  Thankfully, he stopped and moved to her feet. “Oh, that feels incredible!” she sighed, relaxing into the foot massage. He repeated the effort on her other foot, then moved higher along her calves.

  And higher still! Oh, she loved the way he touched her! Pierce’s hands were strong and sure, confident as he worked the muscles of her thighs.

  A moment later, he swatted her bottom! “Huh!” she gasped, jerking upright. “Pierce! Why did you do that?” she demanded, frowning at him over her shoulder.

  “Oh, so you knew it was me?”

  She huffed a bit. “Of course I knew it was you!” she growled and pulled the sheet higher over her naked breasts as she turned around on the massage table. “Are you kidding me?” She glared up at him as he loomed over her. “Did you really think I would allow a man like Hans to touch me like that?”
>
  He looked a bit taken back, but rallied quickly, leaning over her so that she had to bend backwards slightly. “I wasn’t sure what you were thinking. Your eyes were closed and all you did was moan, Kaitlin. Besides, you were mad at me.”

  That shamed her slightly. “Yes, well,” she looked down, noticing the soft sunshine filtering in through the window. “I suppose that I know you wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” he demanded, grabbing her ankle and pulling it straight. In this position, she felt awkward and unable to support herself as easily.

  “Because…” she wasn’t sure why right at the moment. Not now that his eyes had changed. Kaitlin gasped when his hand slid underneath the sheet, sliding up her stomach.

  “Why Kaitlin?” he asked softly. “I want to hear you say it.”

  “Because you wouldn’t cheat on me!”

  He tweaked her nipple that was already hard and extra-sensitive. “That’s correct.” His thumb and forefinger pinched that taut peak now, causing her to hiss as heat and desire shot through her whole body. “Why did you run away then?”

  Kaitlin’s breath came more heavily, trying to regain control of her body. But his fingers were too good, too knowledgeable. He knew exactly where to touch her, how to touch her! His hand moved over to her other breast, giving it the same “punishment”. “Tell me why you ran, and I’ll give you what you want.”

  She stared up at him, her breathing coming in ragged gasps at the moment. “Because you hurt me when you let someone else touch you, Pierce. And I reacted emotionally. I’m like that. You know that about me. My world is all about emotions and reactions. So, when I saw her touching you, knowing how you react when I do that to you…”

  “Do what?” he asked, his hand now gliding along her stomach. She didn’t even realize that he’d pulled the sheet completely off, his heated eyes watching her body, enjoying the difference between his tanned hands and her pale skin.