Chapter 16
We landedin Charleston around eleven and were at the Middleton mansion before noon. They did brunch once a month as a family. It was quite an extravagant affair with all sorts of wonderful dishes. Eggs Benedict, crab omelets, shrimp and grits, biscuits, bacon, sausage, and an array of sweets. Bloody Marys, mimosas, and Bellinis were also making the rounds. They were clearly a family that enjoyed having a great time together.
“Oh, before I forget, remember the upcoming Heart Ball is in a couple of weeks. Your father is the chairman this year and we’re hosting several tables,” Susan said.
“Right. What’s the date again?” Pearce asked.
“It’s the first Saturday in February. I hope you’re bringing Alexia.”
Everyone turned to me as Pearce answered, “I hope so too, Mom.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied.
“The Heart Ball is a fundraiser that Dad’s practice is involved with every year. It’s a black-tie affair and it’s usually at Charleston Place.”
“That’s right,” Susan chimed in.
“Sounds amazing.”
“Then you’ll come?” Pearce asked.
Talk about pressure. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t afford to buy anything, but I didn’t have anything fancy to wear to something like that. Pearce must’ve noticed my angst, because he leaned in and whispered, “And I get to take you shopping.” He was serious. I could tell from his expression it was something we wanted to do. I raised my brows, but he just nodded.
“Sounds like lots of fun, especially going with you all.”
Susan beamed and then so did Henry.
Pearce looked at Justin and asked, “Who’re you taking?”
“I have no idea. Maybe no one. Alexia, you don’t know any single ladies, do you?”
I looked at Justin for a moment and thought about this for a second. Then I blurted out before I lost the nerve, “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. Her name’s Terri and she’s my best friend.”
Pearce turned to me and said, “Are you sure?”
“Why not? Maybe you should meet her first. That was the plan anyway, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait. Now I need Pearce’s stamp of approval or something?” Justin asked.
I backed out of this whole thing because I didn’t want to get caught in an argument. We all thought it best that Pearce meet Terri first and then the four of us could go to dinner.
* * *
My week wasbusy with the upcoming trip to Greenville that I didn’t have time for anything. All the security measures had been finally completed at Lisbeth’s, so I was free to move back in. I was nervous staying by myself the first few nights, and I also missed Pearce like crazy, but I had too much work and I didn’t need any distractions. He was on call for the week, all the way to Saturday, which worked out to my advantage.
Every night he’d text me if he was able to make it here before two in the morning, as he didn’t want to frighten me. That only happened on Wednesday and Thursday. By Saturday, when his call was finally over, he was beat.
I went and picked up some things to cook and had dinner ready for him by the time he walked in the door. He looked a wreck. He walked straight into my arms and hugged me, then gave me a long sexy kiss. He pulled me behind him as he walked up the stairs. I helped him undress so he could take a shower.
“Join me,” he begged as he moved us into the bathroom.
How could I resist that invitation?
We got in the shower, and I squirted a big dollop of body wash in the palm of my hands. I began to wash him, starting at his neck and moving south. My hands lingered in certain areas, rubbing the knots of tension out of his muscles. I massaged the body wash on his shoulders and back, down to his waist and I couldn’t stop when I got to the round curves of his ass. My hand slipped between his legs and things got heated up then. He spun around and picked me up, slid inside of me, and backed into the corner of the shower. His mouth was all over mine, but the way I matched the motion of his hips had me telling him I wanted more.
“Tell me, Alexia. What do you want?”
“I want you, Pearce. All of you. Faster.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah, just like that! Ah,” I cried.
“Look at me, Alexia.” His voice was hoarse and raw with passion.
Every time he said that to me, it brought me closer to the edge of the cliff. I came shortly after and he soon followed.
“I don’t want you to pull out. Do you think we can just stay like this forever?”
“It’d be nice, but a little difficult to explain to my patients.”
I broke out into a fit of giggles.
“Shall I call you sexy thang?”
“Funny, but I’m not anywhere near as sexy as you. Now it’s my turn to wash you.”
I knew where this was headed. He started with my hair. He really loved to wash my hair. I think he loved watching the soap suds travel down my body most of all. Next, he said he thought my nipples needed an extra washing, so he took great care to be thorough with them. By the time he finished, I was moaning and grabbing his hair. He moved to my abs, then my hips, but then he teased my inner thighs, massaging and tickling. When he finally slipped two fingers inside of me, it took no time before my orgasm clenched around them. He spun me around and stretched my arms above my head. Then he slipped in behind me and started moving at a leisurely pace. That didn’t last long. It seemed that whenever we joined together, some kind of force overtook us, and our bodies had a different pace in mind. We simply couldn’t stick to slow. We were breathless and completely spent by the time we both climaxed.
“You’re gonna be the death of me one day,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Sex, babe. Death by sex, Alexia. It’s fucking amazing with you. Every. Damn. Time. Always. Never the same. Always a new experience, like it’s the first time. I love you, sweetheart.” He bent and kissed my neck.
“Aw, you’re just saying that,” I kidded as I nudged him.
“Yeah, uh-huh.”
“Pearce?”
“Yeah?”
“I think you’re gonna need to get one of those tankless water heaters.”
We were laughing as we left the now cool shower.
I served him dinner in bed while he told me about his week. It was a killer … no pun intended. Lots of gunshots, car wrecks, and one guy got mangled up by a boat propeller. Other things happened but I was amazed by his talented hands again and I held them against my heart and told him as much.
“Thanks, angel. I’m drifting, so I’ll just tell you now. Don’t want to sleep alone anymore. Marry me. Love you.”
And then I heard his soft even breathing.