We wrapped everything up and hit the road. We had a three hour drive so by the time we got back to Mount Pleasant, it was after seven.
I took my time getting home, being extra careful because I was really tired. Pearce was on call so I was in no hurry.
I pulled into the driveway and went inside after disengaging the alarm system, being careful to reset it immediately.
I grabbed a water out of the fridge and headed to the bedroom. I changed my clothes, washed my face and brushed my teeth and crawled into bed.
********
My phone ringing woke me up at six the next morning.
“Hey sweetheart. How’d it go?”
“Hmm. Great.”
“I woke you.”
“Yeah. What time is it?”
“Six.”
“Oh, thanks then. I was so tired I didn’t set the alarm. Are you home?”
“Not yet but I’m headed that way. God, it was a long night. Can I bring you a latte?”
“Would you?”
“Are you kidding? I’m leaving here in ten.”
“See ya in a few.”
I got up and showered. I was getting dressed when I heard him come in. I ran to greet him and damn, he looked perfect, as usual. Hair all messy, wearing blue scrubs and those running shoes he loved. He had that nice dark scruff on his face so I grabbed his cheeks and rubbed mine against his.
“Damn you look good,” I told him. “Wish I didn’t have to go to work this morning.”
He took my hand and slid it down between his legs and said, “Me too.” His erection was bulging against my hand.
“Shit Pearce, that is so not fair.”
“For who, you or me, ‘cause baby the way I see it right now, it’s not fair for me. I’m a bit uncomfortable at the moment.”
“Will it always be like this between us?”
“It is for my parents.”
“How do you know?”
“Just start watching them when you’re around them and then you tell me.”
The biceps and deltoids in his arms stood out as he handed me my coffee.
“Thanks.”
He leaned in to kiss me. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to tickle it out of you.”
I beamed from one ear to the next. “It was awesome. I think I killed it.”
“Woohoo!” he yelled as he picked me up in the air and twirled me around. “You go get ‘em babe!”
We both laughed. I looked at the clock and he knew I had to get a move on.
“My house tonight?”
“Yeah. You on call?”
“Nope. I need to get you my call schedule. I’ll email it to you today.”
“Kay. Stay while I get dressed.”
He followed me back to my room as I threw on some clothes and he looked in my closet as he sat on the bed.
“I want to take you shopping tomorrow to get a dress for the ball. You up for it?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
I finished with my stuff and we both headed out at the same time. I set the alarm as I left. He kissed me and I hopped into my car and took off.
Traffic was cool so I got to work on time. My manager was thrilled with our performance yesterday so it was a great day at work. The hours flew by because now my manager wanted to write up a plan that everyone would start following when they presented our package to large hospital systems.
It was five o’clock before I knew it and I hadn’t even eaten lunch. I left work and drove home. Once there I grabbed my weekend clothing, and headed to Pearce’s.
When I pulled in his driveway, there was another car there. I really didn’t think anything of it so I ran up the steps to the side door we always used and let myself in with my key. Once inside, I was going to go upstairs to leave my stuff in the bedroom, but I heard Pearce’s voice coming from the front of the house. He was in the formal living area that we didn’t ever use. What I heard next made me cringe.
It was the banshee.
“But Pearce, darling, we used to have so much fun. I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”
“I’ve told you Carmody, I have someone in my life that I love, that’s why.”
Okay, I like that.
“Why, you can’t mean that mousy thing you had with you at your parent’s house, can you? Because if so, what’s happened to you honey?”
“Alexia isn’t a mousy thing and you know it Carmody.”
“Well darling, she certainly looked frumpy to me. What was that thing she was wearing?”
I heard Pearce expel his breath forcefully. “Carmody, I think it’s best if you leave.”
“Pearce, I was hoping you and I could, well, you know, rekindle our flame. I’d like to wrap my lips around your...”
“Enough Carmody!”
I’d never heard Pearce use that tone of voice so I could tell he was super angry. I decided he could use a little help in there.
I waltzed right in the room and from the look of the banshee’s face, I knew I was the last person she expected to see. I went straight up to Pearce, stood on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around him, pressed my body against his and kissed him. Really kissed him...total tongue, lips and mouth moving against him and then I ground myself against him until I heard him moan...loudly. When I was satisfied, I released him and leaned back a bit and declared, “I’ve missed the hell out of you today Pearce Middleton.”
Then I turned around to the banshee and grabbed her arm and escorted her to the door.
“I believe your visit is concluded, Darmonkey. Have a nice day.” I shoved her out on the front porch and shut the door behind her, turning the dead bolt so she couldn’t mistake the sound.
When I walked back into the room, Pearce was looking at me with a new kind of respect in his eyes. Then they started twinkling.
“Darmonkey?”
“Yeah, since she called me mousy and frumpy, I thought I’d get her back.”
He threw back his head and laughed.
“She’s pretty pesky, isn’t she?”
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “You have no idea.”
“I think I do.”
“Come here.
I walked up to him and he said, “That was some kiss.”
“I know, right?”
“Uh huh. Wanna do it again? I think you sort of owe me for getting me fired up this morning and then leaving me high and dry sweetheart.”
“Is that how it works?”
“Yup. Hop on board baby.”
That’s all the inviting I needed. He toted me upstairs and I spent the next hour up there paying him back for his morning woes.
********
The next day, we went out for breakfast and then Pearce took me shopping...and I mean shopping. He took me up and down King Street and God only knows how much money the man dropped.
I ended up getting a gorgeous gold Badgley Mischka gown that had the illusion of being sheer but was actually very modest. It had a plunging neckline and deep vee in the back but the fabric it was sewn with only made it appear to be risqué. It was eye-stopping. The sales clerk told me immediately that was the ‘it’ dress, but when I saw Pearce’s expression, I knew for certain I had to get it. He couldn’t speak.
We left there and went to several shoe stores where he bought me shoes for the ball and then a new pair of boots and pair of black shoes for work and a casual pair for anytime. Then it was jeans time. He must’ve dropped over six hundred dollars alone on three pairs of jeans.
I don’t know who had more fun, him or me. He kept making me try things on. We made several trips to the car because we couldn’t carry everything. I tried to get him to stop, but he adamantly refused. I felt like a kid in Toys ‘R Us. No one had ever taken me shopping like this. And I don’t mean to spend a ridiculous amount of money. My mom would only take me shopping every once in a blue moon, but it was only for the barest of necessities. This was fun!
Late in the afternoon, we were walking hand in hand d
own the street when he wheeled me into a store. I hadn’t really paid attention to where we were going until we got inside. It was a jewelry store.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes and he said, “Don’t worry, it’s not what you think.”
There was a small part of me that was a bit disappointed. I would never have told him that tough.
“You need jewelry for the ball sweetheart.”
“My dress has so much gold on it I don’t think I need a necklace.”
“I agree. No necklace. But earrings. Plain. Understated. And a bracelet. Gold obviously.”
“May I help you?” the sales clerk asked.
“Yes. I’d like to see some diamond earrings please.”
“Certainly. What cut and size sir?”
“Round, and at least a carat.”
“Pearce!” I exclaimed.
He looked at me and said, “Indulge me Alexia.”
So I sat there as he looked over the selection and haggled and finally decided on a lovely pair of two carat diamond earrings. Then he wanted to look at diamond bracelets. The clerk, now knowing what his tastes and spending range was, brought out some exquisite pieces, but I was so uncomfortable now, I was squirming. He rifled through all the pieces and wasn’t satisfied with any of them. Now, all the clerks were bringing things for him to look at. Large bracelets and small ones, everything you can imagine. He chose one and we went in the back to draw up the legal papers on the purchase and the declaration of value for insurance purposes. I refused to look at the price because I knew if I did, I’d be afraid to wear the damn thing. We finally left and I hung my head as we did so.
We made our way back to the car in silence, and when we slipped inside, he reached over and said, “Talk to me. Now Alexia.”
“That stuff in there isn’t me Pearce.”
“The bracelet, the earrings or both.”
“Both.”
“The earrings are lovely and will look beautiful on you. You need to try them on before you judge them. The same with the bracelet.”
“Why did you buy them? I don’t need them.”
“You don’t have to take them. I just thought that they’d be perfect on you.”
“It’s not me Pearce. I don’t wear jewelry. I don’t really care for it.”
“Tell you what. Try the bracelet on with your dress the night of the ball and then decide. If you still don’t want it, I’ll take it back, okay? But can I clue you in on a little secret?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“When I was looking at those bracelets, the only thing I could think of was you being naked and wearing only that while you were on top, riding me. Will you at least do that for me one time?”
I looked at him sideways and burst out laughing.
“You’re kidding.”
“Would I kid about that?”
I looked at him again and I could honestly say he was telling the damn truth.
“You mean to tell me you spent thousands of dollars so you could see me naked, having sex with you, wearing that bracelet?”
“That’s about right.” His eyes had taken on that bedroom sexy look.
“You’re kind of kinky.”
“Only with you, babe. Now can we go home so you can try on your new sex toy?”
I threw back my head and laughed really hard again.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Time seemed to be passing by at warp speed. The night of the ball arrived and I was getting ready at Pearce’s. I decided to wear my hair up in a messy bun at the nape of my neck. I was fairly good at this, but not great, so I was a bit nervous as I pinned it up. My belly fluttered as I thought of all the wealthy people I would be surrounded by tonight. I would be so far out of my element, I couldn’t even think about it. Every time I did, I came extremely close to throwing up.
My make-up was finished. Of course I had vacillated over wearing mascara, but I still couldn’t bring myself to do it. It brought forth memories of Beavis and Butthead and that made me want to hurl too.
I stepped into my gown and then my stilettos. I said a prayer about not face planting, zipped up my dress and put my new diamond studs in my ears. The last thing I did was clasp the diamond bracelet on my wrist and I instantly felt myself become wet. That damn bracelet had become Pearce’s new toy d’choice. Every time I looked at it, my body surged with desire.
I scurried out of the room before I did something that would make us late.
I took my time walking down the stairs and when I reached the living room, Pearce turned and froze. He didn’t move for such a long time I began to worry.
“Christ Alexia. I’m not sure I can take you anywhere looking like that.”
“Is it that bad?” He had me worried my hair wasn’t right or something was off.
“Bad? Jesus, you’re so fucking beautiful I honestly don’t know if I can keep my hands off of you. I’m not joking sweetheart. I’m tempted to tell you to go and change.”
“But Pearce, I don’t have anything else to wear.”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t go.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, I am not kidding. Come here.”
I walked over to him and, well, he didn’t hold anything back. It was hard, fast and rough. I was thoroughly satisfied when we were done.
He rearranged my gown, making sure everything was in order and I tucked and zipped him back in. I went to the bathroom just to do a check and off we went to the ball.
********
I’d never been to such a fancy affair in my life. Pearce oozed sex appeal, dressed in his tuxedo. Justin also looked great and Terri looked perfect. She was dressed in red and with her black hair and blue eyes, her gown complimented her coloring perfectly. She and Justin made a stunning couple.
Pearce literally would not take his hands off of me. I almost had to pry them away when his father asked me to dance. I had to lean over and whisper in Pearce’s ear, that it would be most difficult for me to dance with his father if Pearce wouldn’t let my arm loose.
Taking my hint, he relaxed his grip and off I went with Henry, praying I would smash his toes.
“Alexia, you look quite beautiful tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pearce react the way he does around you.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that so I smiled.
Henry continued, “He’s not one to become so smitten with a woman. You’ve enchanted him I believe.”
I smiled again.
“Susan and I are amazed by his behavior.”
Okay, this was getting a little uncomfortable.
“May I say something Henry and I hope I don’t offend you.”
“Please do.”
“Your son is the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t care if he were a janitor at the local elementary school, I would feel the same way about him. I’ve begged him not to go overboard where I’m concerned because, frankly, most of this stuff makes me very uncomfortable. I love Pearce. That’s all I wanted you to know.”
“Alexia, I already knew that honey. It’s written all over your face.” He smiled then and I felt better. “I was only telling you those things because he doesn’t act like this with just anyone. He loves you too. It’s obvious with everything he does.”
Then I really smiled.
“I hope you two are very happy.”
The song ended and he escorted me back to Pearce, who looked to be ready to pace the floors.
“Honey, calm down. I was only with your dad.”
“Dance with me.”
“Okay.”
He took me out on the floor and after a moment I asked him, “Is there anything you can’t do?” He moved with perfect rhythm and grace.
His face turned very serious and he said, “Yes, I can’t marry the woman I love because she’s not ready yet.”
“Oh,” I felt my breath leave my body. “Pearce.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll wear you down eventually,” he smiled. “Like I said before, I’m
here for the long run honey.”
I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him. It was probably a huge mistake, because we ended up locked in each other’s arms, making somewhat of a spectacle out of ourselves.
I whispered into his mouth, “We’re gaining an audience.”
“Aw, fuck ‘em,” he responded.
He steered me back to our table. The rest of the night was spent either joking around with Justin and Terri, dancing or having an intimate conversation in some small alcove we were lucky enough to escape to.
Terri and Justin looked like they were getting a little close so Pearce looked at me and made an executive decision to leave. We snuck out while everyone was dancing to a popular song and headed home for a romantic rest of the night that included me wearing Pearce’s favorite bracelet.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
March hit us and the weather warmed up. Spring was around the corner but it was already in the air. I’d pulled my shorts out and it was the perfect Saturday to walk along the beach. Pearce had the weekend off so we called Terri and Justin to see if they wanted to head out to the beach for the day.
We watched a group of guys kitesurfing, as the wind was strong that day. It was awesome to see how much speed they could pick up and then watch them as they flipped and turned.
We left the beach late in the afternoon and drove up to McClellanville to grab some she crab soup at the Crab Pot Restaurant. It was dark as we followed Terri and Justin home in Justin’s Land Rover. We’d taken separate cars because Justin was on call and he needed a vehicle in case he got called in to the hospital.
As we were driving, I saw a deer jump out of the woods in front of Justin’s car. He swerved to miss it but there was an eighteen wheeler in the lane next to him. I screamed as his car hit the truck and careened back into his lane, then spun out of control and rolled off the highway down an embankment, coming to a crash against a huge pine tree. It was like deja vu all over again.
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