“Gerald.” Pearce shakes his hand and puts on a fake smile. He can fake a smile as good as anyone in this room. He says it comes from years of having to pretend to like people you really don’t like. “I didn’t know you were attending this event.”
“I wasn’t sure if I’d have time, but then my schedule opened up.”
Pearce motions to me. “I think you’ve met my wife, Rachel.”
He nods. “Yes. Hello.” He focuses on Pearce again. “So I was talking to your sales guy the other day and I’m not happy with the delivery schedule he gave us.”
I hear Pearce groaning under his breath.
The two of them will talk business for at least ten minutes, so I figure now is a good time to use the restroom.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, “I’m going to go freshen up in the ladies’ room.”
Pearce leans down to me and whispers, “I’ll try to get rid of him.”
I smile at Gerald. “Nice seeing you again.”
He ignores me and continues talking to Pearce. I walk off and exit the ballroom and go down the hall to the restroom. When I walk in there, I enter into a room with fancy chairs and small couches and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Beyond that is the actual restroom. I use the facilities, then go to the mirror to refresh my lipstick. A woman who works there keeps trying to give me a towel to dry my hands, so I take it, then leave her a tip.
My phone rings and I stop in the room that’s just off the restroom to answer it. I thought it might be Garret calling, but it’s Shelby.
“Hi, Shelby.” I sit down on one of the upholstered chairs.
“Hi. Are you busy?”
“I’m at a fundraiser in DC. It’s at a hotel. I was just leaving the restroom.”
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know you were out of town. We can talk later.”
“Let’s just talk now. I’m trying to kill some time. Pearce is talking to someone about work and I didn’t want to stand there and listen. So what’s going on?”
“Logan and I decided we’re going to try for another baby.” Her voice rises in excitement.
“Shelby, that’s great! When did you decide?”
“Yesterday. Logan has been super sweet to me the past few days, even sweeter than normal. Buying me flowers. Bringing home dinner so I wouldn’t have to cook. I couldn’t figure out what was going on with him. Then he hired a sitter yesterday and took me to a nice hotel for the night and told me how much he loves me and how he wants to try for another baby.”
I smile. “I’m so happy for you, Shelby. I know how much you wanted this. I just can’t believe you’ll soon have four kids. That’s a lot for someone who used to say she didn’t want kids.”
She laughs. “I know. It’s crazy, but I love it. I love being a mom. Speaking of kids, did you bring Garret with you?”
“No, he’s at home. Eleanor’s staying at the house with him. He was so upset when we left.”
“Because he didn’t want you to leave?”
“Yes. He begged me to stay home. His little face looked so sad and he had tears in his eyes. I almost couldn’t go.”
“That’s sweet how much he misses you guys.”
“Yeah. I miss him too. I don’t like leaving him, but at least we won’t be gone long. Pearce and I are flying back tomorrow night.” I check my watch. “I’d love to talk some more, but I should probably get back to the party.”
“Yeah. I’ll talk to you later. I just had to call and tell you the news. Hey, if I don’t talk to you this week, have a nice Thanksgiving.”
“You too. Bye, Shelby.”
I hang up and go find Pearce. Gerald is gone and Pearce is standing there alone.
I come up behind him. “Excuse me, but are you single?”
He turns around. “I’m afraid not. I’m married to the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“In the world?” I smile. “Really? Can you verify that?”
“I can.” He cups my cheek and presses his lips to mine for a kiss. “Definitely the most beautiful. And I love her more than words can say.”
“I love you too.”
Pearce takes a step back and holds his hand out. “Would you like to dance?”
“I would love to.” I take his hand and we make our way to the dance floor. There’s an orchestra playing and the sound fills the room. Mostly older romantic songs meant for slow dancing.
We dance to several of them, Pearce leading me across the floor. It’s nice to be out with him like this. All dressed up. Dancing. Having champagne. It feels like a true anniversary celebration.
The ballroom has an almost magical feel. The ceiling is dark blue with gold swirls painted on it and there are lights embedded in it that look like stars. There are more sparkling white lights around the perimeter of the room.
After some more champagne and more dancing, I’m ready to go. I’m in a romantic mood, ready to go back to our lavish suite and be alone with Pearce.
“Are you ready to get out of here?” he asks, as if he read my mind.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
The limo brings us back to the hotel. As soon as we’re in the room, Pearce takes off his tux jacket and tie, then walks up to me, his eyes on mine. His gaze holds purpose and intent, and I feel the heat rising in the room. He holds my face with his hands and kisses me with those slow sensual kisses that sparked fireworks inside me when we first met. They still set off fireworks in me. I love his kisses. They’re bold. Assertive. Determined. They convey what he wants, and fill me with anticipation of what’s to come.
He reaches behind me and unzips my dress. Then his hands move slowly up my spine, to my shoulders, and he slips the dress off. I step out of it, wearing just my black lace lingerie and heels.
His eyes rake over me as he unbuttons his shirt. “I’ve been imagining you like this all night. My imagination didn’t do you justice. You look gorgeous.”
His shirt drops to the floor, followed by his pants and boxers. My heart picks up its pace at the sight of him. His muscular body. His smooth skin. His arousal. Even though I’ve been with him for years, he still makes my heart race. He still stirs up those intense feelings of desire. Just seeing him in his tux got me going, and now, my body is longing to be with him.
He steps up to me and kisses me as he unhooks my bra. I slip it off, then pull away from him and walk backwards to the bed. I kick my heels off and lie down, Pearce’s eyes on me the entire time. He stalks toward me, and my pulse spikes, wanting him, craving what he’s about to do to me. His strong hands grip my hips and he leans down and gently kisses my stomach. My breath catches at the feel of his light, airy kisses. He stops just long enough to slide my panties off, then his hands caress every part of me as he slowly kisses his way up my body, up the inside of my thigh, my hip, along my stomach, and up my chest. The feel of his lips grazing over my skin sends a shiver through me, followed by a flood of fiery hot sensations deep within my core. Sensations that keep building in intensity as his hand settles between my legs while his mouth teases my breast.
I grip his hair as the sensations overtake me, the tension releasing, pleasure coursing through my body. He positions himself over me and enters me with one forceful thrust. I inhale sharply, then breathe out as he begins a rhythm of deep powerful thrusts that recoil the tension in my core. It escalates as his pace quickens. Then I feel it once again. The relief. The overwhelming pleasure that has me calling out his name.
After one more powerful thrust, his body shudders from his own release, then stills as he hovers over me, out of breath. He lays a kiss on my forehead and then my lips. “I love you,” he whispers, then his eyes meet up with mine. “I love you beyond what I can even express. I never thought I could love someone this way until I met you. And each day I spend with you, I love you even more.”
“Pearce.” I smile at him and lift my hand to his cheek. “I love you too. So much. With all my heart.”
He moves off me to the side. I turn toward him, lying under his a
rm and hugging his chest.
I feel him kiss my head. “Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.”
I lift my head up and kiss his lips. “Happy Anniversary.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
20
PEARCE
I wake up and check the clock. It’s seven, which is too early to get up. But I don’t want to go back to sleep. I have other things in mind. Last night with Rachel was amazing and I’d like a repeat performance.
I brush her hair aside and kiss the nape of her neck. She stirs a little and a smile appears. “Pearce.”
“Good morning, sweetheart.” I leave kisses along her shoulder.
“That feels really good,” she says.
“My kisses?”
She smiles wider. “Not just your kisses. All of you.”
My naked body is pressed up against her and she can feel how hard I am. She reaches back and strokes me with her hand. I love how she touches me. How she feels. Her scent. She continues to touch me as I kiss her soft skin, my hand roaming over her body.
After a while, she turns around and kisses me, gently pushing me onto my back and straddling me. She lines herself up then slowly sinks down on me, her hands sliding up my chest, landing on my shoulders. I love it when she’s on top. I like gazing at her gorgeous body as she moves over me.
“You’re beautiful,” I say as my hands skim over her curves.
She leans down and puts her lips on mine, her soft hair falling over my chest. I grasp the back of her neck, keeping her at my lips and kissing her deeper. She moans, her hips grinding into me.
When I know she’s close, I flip her over onto her back. She smiles and grabs hold of me and I thrust hard and fast inside her until we’re both reveling in that deep satisfying afterglow, like we had last night.
“Let’s just stay here until we have to leave,” she says, catching her breath.
“That’s a very good idea.” I kiss her cheek, then down her neck, and along her collarbone.
She laughs. “Pearce, we should probably take a break before we do it again.”
“I don’t need a break.” I continue to kiss her. “I already want you again. I can’t get enough of you.”
The phone rings. I glance up and see that it’s my cell phone. My regular one, not the Dunamis one.
“Just let it ring,” I say, going back to kissing her.
The phone stops ringing, but then starts up again.
“Pearce, you better get it. Maybe it’s Garret.”
“He always calls your phone, not mine.”
“Just see who it is.”
I sigh and reach for my phone and flip it over. “It’s my father. It’s probably something about work. It can wait.” I set the phone down and pull her body into mine and resume kissing her.
The phone rings again.
“Shit,” I mumble. I reach over to check the phone. “It’s my father again. What the hell does he want?”
“You better answer it. It must be important if he keeps calling.”
I sigh again as I sit up and lean back against the headboard. I pick up the phone. “Yes, Father. What do you need?”
“I need you to get back here.” He sounds tired, his voice weaker than normal. “I came down with the flu last night. I’m very sick. I can’t go to the office.”
“So stay in bed.”
“I will, but I have that meeting at two today with those men from London. They flew all the way here for the meeting. I can’t be there. I’m too ill. I need you to do it, Pearce.”
“I can’t. I have to go to Wingate’s speech.”
My attendance at his speech isn’t optional. Dunamis is making me go there and say a few words about why I’m supporting Wingate. There will be photographers and reporters present, and Dunamis wants me there so the public sees me supporting Wingate’s campaign. My father knows this, so I don’t know why he’s asking me to take his place at the meeting.
“I called and told them,” he says. “I explained how much I needed you at this meeting and they agreed to let you fly back early.”
Rachel gets out of bed and goes into the bathroom.
I lower my voice. “Father, you know I can’t miss this speech. I’m expected to show my support publicly, by speaking to the press.”
“They want your wife to do it. She just needs to repeat whatever you were going to say. The press knows she’s your wife so we’ll still receive the benefit of the public seeing that a Kensington is endorsing Wingate.”
“She’s not going to agree to that. She doesn’t even want to go to this event. She’ll want to fly home with me. She misses Garret.”
“She can still come home tonight. She can leave after the event.”
“I know, but she—”
“Pearce, this isn’t a choice. This has already been decided.” He coughs. “Goddammit, I’m going to be sick again. I can’t talk. Just take care of this for me.” I hear him stumbling into what I’m guessing is the bathroom. The phone drops against something and I hear a door shut. I end the call, not wanting to hear the sounds of him getting sick in the bathroom.
“What did he say?” Rachel asks as she comes out of the bathroom, wrapped in one of the white hotel robes.
“He has the flu and can’t go to work. He needs me to go to a meeting at two. I told him I would, because this is a very important meeting with a potential new client.”
“So we’re leaving?”
“Come sit down.” I move over on the bed. When she’s seated, I say, “Would you be willing to stay here and attend Wingate’s speech and say a few words about why we’re supporting him?”
“You want me to do to? I wouldn’t know what to say. I haven’t even been following his campaign. This is your thing, Pearce, not mine.”
“I know, but there are going to be reporters there and I want them to quote us in the papers. It will show our support for Wingate’s campaign.”
“But they want to hear from you, not me.”
“As my wife, you represent me. I’ll tell you exactly what to say. I’ll write it out. It’ll be short. Just a paragraph or two saying why I’m supporting him.”
“Can I fly home right after I do this? I don’t want to stay here if you’re not here.”
“Yes. I’ll see if I can get you on an earlier flight.”
Originally, Rachel and I had planned to go out for dinner after Wingate’s speech. It was going to be our anniversary dinner since we weren’t able to go out for a special dinner last night. I made reservations at a five star restaurant that’s supposed to be the best in town. In order to have time for dinner, we booked a flight that leaves at nine tonight.
“So you’ll do this?” I ask her.
She sighs. “If you really want me to, then yes.”
I hug her into my side and kiss her. “Thank you. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll plan another weekend trip. Just the two of us.”
“You don’t have to. But I’d take a nice dinner, since we’re missing tonight’s anniversary dinner.”
“Deal.” I kiss her again. “Why don’t you go shower while I get the flights changed?”
“What time are you leaving?” She stands up and adjusts her robe.
“I’ll try to get a flight out at ten or eleven. It’s only an hour flight so I’ll have plenty of time to get to the meeting.”
“Will you leave when it’s over? I want you to go home and be with Garret.”
“Yes. The meeting will be a couple hours, but I’ll go home when it’s done. I’ll send my mother back to her house. She needs to check on my father. He didn’t sound good.”
“That’s too bad. I hope he’s better by Thanksgiving.” She returns to the bathroom to get ready.
I check the flights and find one that leaves at ten-fifteen this morning, but the evening flights are all booked.
“I’m booked on the ten-fifteen,” I tell her when she comes back out from her shower. “But I couldn’t get you an earlier flight. People must be flying out early for
Thanksgiving. Or maybe it’s business people trying to get home before the holiday.”
“So I’m stuck on the nine o’clock.” She dries her hair with the towel. “Well, at least you’ll be home with Garret.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know you don’t want to be here alone.”
“It’s okay. I’ll go back to the Smithsonian. There’s so much I wasn’t able to see yesterday.”
“That’s a good idea.” I kiss her on my way to the bathroom. “I’ll go get ready.”
I’m annoyed by the change in plans. I don’t like leaving Rachel here alone. I’d like to call up Jack and have him keep an eye on her, but I can’t. Someone from the organization might see him watching her and become suspicious. They might find out I’ve been secretly talking to him and that would get us both in serious trouble.
At least Rachel won’t be here long. She’ll only have a few hours on her own, and the Smithsonian is a safe area, full of tourists. She’ll be fine.
At nine o’clock, we’re standing by the door to our room. The valet has already come to pick up my bag, which is waiting for me in the car that will take me to the airport.
“I need to go,” I tell Rachel.
“Good luck with your meeting.” She hugs me, then gives me a kiss. “Give Garret a hug for me.”
“I will. We’ll pick you up at the airport tonight. I know it’ll be late but he doesn’t have school tomorrow and I know he’ll want to see you before he goes to bed.” I cup her face with my hand, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “Goodbye, sweetheart.” I kiss her, then slowly pull away. “I love you.”
She smiles. “I love you too. Have a safe trip.”
I get to the airport, and as I’m waiting to board the plane, I realize that I forgot to call Wingate to tell him I wouldn’t be at his speech. I wonder if someone from the organization already told him. I call him to find out.
“Hello, Pearce,” he says as though he expected my call. “I heard you can’t make it today.”
Protecting Her Page 23
