Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set

by Lashell Collins

  “What?” I look at her with an annoyed frown.

  “The Esperance rose?” she asks again. “Did it do the trick? Did you get a second date?”

  “Oh. Yes, it did,” I say, offering her a weak smile. “Thank you.”

  “Oh, it was my pleasure,” she smiles. “What can I help you with today?”

  “I don’t know,” I shrug, glancing helplessly around the store. “Yeah, I do,” I say suddenly, turning to her with an air of determination. “Get me a whole bouquet of those ‘hope’ roses.”

  *****

  “Oh, Josh!”

  Samantha’s green eyes sparkle like emeralds and her smile lights up the room as she takes the bouquet of Esperance roses from me. She is so beautiful, she takes my breath away. And I have never been more grateful for flowers before in my life.

  “These are beautiful! Thank you,” she says, standing on her tiptoes to kiss me.

  “You are most welcome, baby.” I kiss her again and then sit my gym bag on the floor as I turn and head to the kitchen. I start unloading our Chinese feast as Sam grabs a vase from the cupboard and fills it with water for the roses. She’s humming softly to herself as she arranges them artfully in the vase, and I feel a strange sense of accomplishment and heroism at my decision to buy flowers. I can do this boyfriend thing! Boyfriend. Embracing it, Pierce? I frown at myself and continue to unpack dinner.

  Sam takes the vase of flowers into the living room and places it on the marble coffee table. She’s dressed in a sexy little pair of pink boy shorts and a matching, form-fitting, pink t-shirt and I can’t help but admire her delectable body as she goes about her task.

  “You are so sweet to me, Josh,” she says as she returns to the kitchen, beaming at me. “Flowers and dinner. I feel so pampered.”

  “You deserve to be pampered, Samantha,” I say softly as I run a finger lightly down her cheek and then lean down and kiss her chastely.

  “So what are we eating?” she asks lightly, going to the cupboard and pulling out some plates and flatware.

  “Well, I didn’t know which way your Chinese tastes ran so, I got some Mongolian beef, some sweet and sour shrimp and some walnut chicken.”

  “You’re not serious,” she replies.

  “Yeah,” I answer, slightly puzzled. “I also got some spring rolls and some steamed dumplings since I wasn’t sure which you’d prefer.”

  “Josh, this is enough food for six people,” she exclaims, smiling at me.

  “Aw, come on,” I tease her, “I’ve seen you eat. I know you can put it away.”

  She gasps in mock horror and lunges at me, and I laugh as I catch her, just as she knocks me backwards against the counter. She’s giggling in my arms and I know without a doubt in my mind that this moment right here is the very best part of my entire day. She is so amazing! I kiss her passionately then; I can’t help myself. And she melts into me as she responds, kissing me back. But when we finally pull away, I see that she’s tearful.

  “Hey,” I whisper, caressing her lovely face, “baby, why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she says with a sniffle. “It’s just … I’ve been so scared, all day long. And you are so sweet and thoughtful. Doing all of this to cheer me up and get my mind off of things. I just … I’m really glad you’re here, Josh.”

  She looks up at me with big sad eyes and her words render me speechless. I don’t know what to say. Why does this woman make me so nervous sometimes? I swallow anxiously and then softly kiss her forehead. “Let’s sit down and eat,” I say quietly.

  I take off my jacket and my holster and then help her as she sets two places at the dining table and we spread the cartons of Chinese in front of us, eating buffet style. We eat our dinner in a comfortable silence for a while as Samantha uses a fork and I use the chopsticks that came with our meal.

  “Where did you learn to use chopsticks?” she asks finally, smiling sweetly at me as she takes a bite of a steamed dumpling.

  I return her smile as I pick up a cherry from the sweet and sour shrimp and feed it to her using the chopsticks. “I told you, I don’t cook much. Grilled cheese is about the extent of my culinary skills,” I answer her with a chuckle, and she giggles at me, eyes sparkling. “I go to the Dragon & Phoenix a lot; they’ve got the best Chinese in town. But the owner, his uh … um.” Shit. I stumble over the x-rated memory that pops into my head. How did I let myself walk into this? I hesitate as I wonder frantically how to clean this up. Just tell her the truth, Pierce. I sigh heavily as I give her an apologetic glance. “The owner’s daughters,” I say hesitantly, “they, uh … showed me how one night.”

  Sam is silent for a few seconds as she looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I know what she’s thinking. And she’s right. “That must have been some dinner,” she says softly, turning back to her walnut chicken.

  “I’m sorry, Sam,” I tell her, taking her hand. “You asked, and I … I didn’t want to lie to you.” She nods silently, still not looking at me. “Hey,” I say softly, gently grasping her chin and turning her face toward me, and she fixes me with a steady green gaze. “Samantha, that was several years ago. Neither one of them even work there anymore; they’re both married with families. And it was just one night, it’s not like I had a relationship with either one of them.” She says nothing and just stares at me blankly and I can’t tell what she’s thinking. “Samantha … I have been honest with you about my past with women.”

  She blinks at me and then she nods again, and I can see her thaw. “I know you have,” she says softly. “I’m sorry, Josh, I’m being silly. I’m just … tired,” she sighs.

  I search her eyes for a moment, and I let out a silent sigh of relief when I see that she’s not upset at my confession. “Didn’t you get a nap earlier?” I ask her.

  “I tried,” she replies softly, “but I just couldn’t sleep. It’s amazing how quickly we get used to things,” she mumbles, and I am taken aback once again. For the second time tonight, Samantha has rendered me speechless, and suddenly I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. Did she just imply that she can’t sleep without you, Pierce? And if she did, why does that thought make you anxious? I frown to myself as I ponder that question. And I know, in my gut, what the answer is. It’s because, even though it’s only been a short time, I know that I already care so much about this girl. She has me feeling things that I have never felt before, and her words are indicating that she’s feeling the same way I am. And that scares the shit out of me.

  I swallow hard and take a deep breath. Then I gently take her hand again and give it a light squeeze. “What do you say we finish up our dinner and then go to bed,” I say quietly, looking her in the eye. “To sleep.” She looks up at me with green eyes full of surprise. Or is it disbelief?

  “You see what I mean?” she says softly, her voice full of wonder. “You are so sweet and thoughtful, Josh.”

  I shake my head slightly at her compliment, saying nothing. Sweet and thoughtful. Me? I don’t think so. At least … it sure as hell didn’t use to be me. Not until I met you, Sam.

  We finish eating and I load the dishwasher while Sam puts the leftovers away in the fridge. When the kitchen is all cleaned up, I grab my gun, and take her by the hand and lead her through the living room, across the hall, and into the bedroom, stopping to retrieve my gym bag as we go. We’re silent once we reach the bedroom as we each go about getting ready for bed. Sam heads into the bathroom and I can hear her turn on the water and begin to wash her face as I sit my gun down on the table next to my side of the bed and start to get undressed. I strip down to my briefs and pull my toothbrush out of my bag and join her in the bathroom.

  I stand behind her for a moment and just watch as she splashes the water over her face, rinsing away the soap, and she looks so beautiful. Her eyes open widely for a second and I think she’s surprised to see my reflection in the mirror. I smile slightly at her, still mesmerized, and she smiles back as she pats her face dry with a hand towel. Taking a s
tep forward, I reach for the toothpaste and Sam moves over a step. She watches as I place a small amount of toothpaste on my brush. I begin to brush my teeth, unable to take my eyes off of her, and I watch as she mirrors my actions, taking up her own toothbrush.

  We stand brushing our teeth together at the same sink, even though the bathroom has a double vanity, and strangely, it feels like a very sensual moment. We brush slowly, our eyes playing over one another’s faces, taking in every expression and nuance. And I marvel once again at the magic and fire in her bright green eyes.

  I finish, spitting into the sink and she follows suit. Our fingers touch beneath the running water as we rinse off our brushes, and I glance up into the mirror and meet her soft gaze. She puts her brush away in the holder by the sink and then looks back at me, her eyes seeming to issue a small challenge, and I don’t hesitate. I reach over and place my toothbrush next to hers in the holder, then look back at her, my eyes searching hers. Taking this boyfriend thing a little far, aren’t you, Pierce? Am I? Maybe I am; I don’t know. All I do know is that I want this. I want her.

  I snap out of my introspection and take her by the hand and lead her back into the bedroom. I step out of my briefs and slip between the sheets in silence, and as I watch her undress and climb in beside me, I realize that we haven’t said a word to each other since we left the kitchen. Yet, the silence between us doesn’t feel the least bit awkward. It feels comfortable and easy and … nice. Familiar somehow. Just being with her feels comforting.

  She turns out the light and I reach for her, pulling her gently into my arms, and she curls up next to me. Her head rests on my chest and I run my fingers through her silky hair and lightly kiss the top of her head. Why does this feel so damn good? I am lost for a moment trying to figure that one out when I feel Sam’s fingers lightly running over the stubble at my chin. I feel her raise her head then and her lips find mine. She kisses me softly for a moment, her lips touching mine delicately. Then she looks at me in the darkness and her hand caresses my face. She kisses me again, more deliberately this time, and her tongue strokes mine slowly.

  “Sam,” I mutter softly as I pull away. “You’re tired, baby. I thought we were going to sleep.”

  “I just want to feel close to you,” she whispers, still running her fingers softly over my face. “Please,” she purrs, her lips grazing mine as she speaks, “make love to me, Josh.”

  She doesn’t need to ask me twice. My hands find their way into her hair as I kiss her deeply and passionately. I know that I should put up more of a fight because she really didn’t sleep well last night and she’s been so worried and stressed out all day but, I can’t help myself. I want her so much and she tastes so sweet.

  My hands run over her silky skin, down her back and over her ass, caressing it lightly as she softly moans. I roll her over onto her back and begin to slowly feast on her breasts, planting soft, wet kisses over every inch of first one and then the other. I pay close attention to her perfect nipples, suckling hungrily at each while she writhes and whimpers beneath me. God, I love it when she makes that sound! I settle in, worshiping at her breasts for what feels like a blissful eternity, and her hands fist in my hair, pulling gently.

  “Joshua, please,” she softly begs.

  “Please what, Sam?” I ask her softly. “Tell me what you want, baby.”

  “Ohh.”

  She whimpers again, and I don’t know if I can stand it. My cock is throbbing, aching to be inside her. “Tell me, baby,” I coax her again. “What do you want?”

  “I want you,” she moans softly. “I want you inside me now. Please, Josh.”

  A groan involuntarily escapes my lips at her words. I reach over to the nightstand and my fingers fumble around until they find the treasure they seek. I rear up onto my knees, tearing open the condom packet as I do, and I waste no time rolling it on. A second later I am right where we both want me, buried deep inside her, and her legs are wrapped tightly around me. I start to move, deliberately and purposefully. A ceaseless, steady rhythm as I make love to her slowly and sweetly. Long, slow strokes, in and out, over and over, and she feels so fucking good. Finally, I feel her body building and her inner muscles begin to quiver.

  “Oh, Joshua!” My name is a long strangled moan of pleasure and I know she’s right at the edge. I go deep and angle my hips, grinding into her. She screams in ecstasy as her orgasm overtakes her. Fuck, yes! And I follow, erupting like a volcano inside of her as I call her name.

  I collapse on top of her and immediately roll onto my back, bringing her with me while keeping our intimate connection intact. This way, I know that I’m not crushing her with my weight. Her head rests in the middle of my chest, and I gently move her hair away from her face as we both work to catch our breath. I kiss the top of her head as my arms tighten around her waist.

  We lay this way for several minutes as our breathing calms and our hearts slow down. I pull out of her then and remove the condom, dropping it to the floor. Then I gather her into my arms, wrapping my body around her like a vine, and snuggle in close.

  “Sleep now, baby,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head again. Her only response is a soft contented sigh, and I feel her whole body relax as she melts into me.

  Chapter Two

  Samantha

  I hear the birds chirping and I know that the sun is about to rise soon. How long have I been lying here in Josh’s arms, wide awake? Better question might be did I even sleep? My subconscious is right, of course. I feel as though I’ve been up most of the night. Perhaps I have. I dozed off for an hour or so after Josh and I made love but, it was a broken, fitful sleep and I know that I tossed and turned forever. This is madness; this constant feeling of uncertainty and fear. Danger lurking around every corner. I feel as though I’m living in a bad TV movie. I’m not sure how much more of it I can take; I feel so helpless. The thought urges me to snuggle closer to Joshua.

  He is still sleeping peacefully, and the sound of his soft, steady breathing calms my racing thoughts for a brief moment. The warmth coming off his body and the scent of his skin are so inviting. I breathe in deeply, drinking him in as I cuddle even closer. I feel safe here in his arms. And part of me wishes that we could stay here like this forever. Just never leave my bedroom and stay here, wrapped in each other’s arms, safe from all the evil outside these walls. But I know that can’t happen. The alarm clock is going to go off in about an hour and I will have to venture out into the cold, scary world alone, to the museum that I love. The museum where my dad and I spent so many wonderful hours while I was growing up. The same museum where my weird stalker followed me and watched me and scared me half to death, infiltrating one of my long-loved safe havens. And in a couple of hours, I have to get up, get dressed, put on my big girl pants and go back there. Alone.

  Well … I guess I won’t really be alone though, will I? Not with my ever-present, just-as-creepy-as-the-stalker bodyguard, Mr. Martin, following my every move. I roll my eyes at the thought because I still can’t believe it. Me, with a bodyguard. I hate this so much! I can’t believe that this is happening to me. Who is this freaking weirdo and what does he want with me anyway? Why is he terrorizing me? I sigh heavily, feeling close to tears as the birds continue to chirp happily. I just want this torment to end.

  I sniff quietly, wiping a stray tear from my cheek with my fingers, and I feel a pressing need from my bladder. Slowly, so as not to disturb Josh, I untangle my limbs from around his and maneuver gently out of the bed. When I look back, he is sleeping so peacefully and he looks so handsome, I have to take a moment to just admire him. Then, with a small, sad smile, I turn and walk toward the bathroom. And as I do, I can see the first glimmer of light coming through the curtains of my balcony doors. I look at the small clock in the bathroom as I sit to answer nature’s call. It’s not even 5:15 am. Two nights in a row now with virtually no sleep. Bet I’m going to look really pretty today!

  I know that I can’t keep doing this. Something has got to give. I
’m tired, and I can already tell that I’m a little bit cranky from the lack of sleep. Why can’t the police just find this guy already? I roll my eyes again at that thought because I know why the police can’t find this guy. It’s because I haven’t given them enough information. Every time Josh asks me what I saw or if I can describe him, I draw a blank. I can’t tell him anything about my attacker; I can’t remember anything but a damn tattoo and the smell of cigarette smoke! I feel so useless. It’s no wonder Josh keeps getting so frustrated with me.

  Examining my face in the mirror as I wash my hands, I can easily see the fear and anxiety written all over my face. It’s etched in the little worry lines above my brow and below my eyes. I hate this. I dry my hands on the hand towel by the sink and then run my hands through my hair as I sigh heavily once more. When I enter the bedroom again Josh is still sleeping soundly, and I think about rejoining him but, why? I won’t be able to sleep.

  Grabbing my green silk robe and pulling it on, I quietly head out to the living room. The soft light coming through the windows gives the space an almost eerie glow. Spooky somehow, and I know it’s just because I’ve never seen my apartment at this time of the morning before. Glancing around, my eyes light on the huge bouquet of Esperance roses that Josh brought me yesterday. They look so beautiful sitting on the table. I walk over to them and reach out, lightly touching one velvety soft petal. Then I bend down and let my nose graze one perfect bloom, inhaling deeply the subtle, enchanting scent, and I smile.

  Josh is so thoughtful. Sweet and loving and gentle. He makes me so happy sometimes. He makes me happy all the time! It’s true. Josh makes me feel extraordinarily happy. Something about him just reaches out and pulls me in; I don’t know what it is or why, but I am just so completely drawn to him. And I wonder again at his confession that first night we made love, when he told me that he doesn’t do relationships. Had never had a relationship before. I still don’t understand that. It just doesn’t make sense to me; he is such a wonderful man with so much love to give and so much to offer. Why would he willingly choose to cut himself off from sharing his life with someone? That’s no way to live; I just don’t get it. And I want so badly to understand. I really do. Will he ever open up and trust those secrets to me? Truly let me in? I sigh and absentmindedly run a hand through my hair again, glancing down at the roses once more. I’m honestly not sure that Josh will ever let me in. The thought is disheartening.