Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (84 page)

“Good morning.” My voice is soft and unsure. I know that we have to talk about last night but, it’s not a conversation I’m anxious to start. I’m really not sure where to begin.

“Did you sleep all right?” she asks softly, still playing with my hair as she looks into my eyes.

“Yeah, I did,” I nod. “Thanks to you.”

“Me?” She sounds surprised and I nod slowly at her.

“You said I was nothing like Danny Pierce,” I say quietly as I hold her gaze. “Your belief in me … it means so much to me, Samantha.” I hesitate as I swallow nervously, searching for the words. “It means that you trust me.”

“I have always trusted you, Josh.”

“I know. But the fact that you still trust me now … even after hearing what I did … what I’m capable of…,” My voice trails off as I look away, ashamed. “It just means everything.”

I feel her palm against my cheek as she caresses my face, and I look into her eyes once more. “Josh, I don’t understand the shame you feel. What you did was so heroic. And I’m not talking about your father’s death. I’m talking about your mother’s life. Don’t you realize that Olivia would be dead today if you hadn’t acted? Yes, your father might still be here, but he would probably be in prison for murder. And your mother would be dead. Don’t you get that?”

Her words take me by surprise. Not because it’s something I haven’t heard before from Lee Parson or some of the other old timers. But because they are spoken with such faith and love. Where did this woman come from and what the hell have I done to deserve her? “What are you still doing here, Samantha?” It’s an astonished whisper. “Why are you here with me?”

“I want you to stop asking me that,” she says forcefully, looking into my eyes. “I am here because I love you! I love you, I love you, I love you! And I will say it every second of every day until you finally trust that it’s true, Josh! I am here with you because there is nowhere in the world I would rather be than wherever you are!”

God, she takes my breath away! And in a heartbeat, my mouth is on hers and my hands are in her hair and I’m kissing her deeply, slowly and passionately, drinking her in like my life depends on it. We hold each other tightly as our bodies melt and fuse together, limbs twined around each other as our hands slowly begin to roam. My hand drifts beneath the cotton fabric of my white dress shirt that she’s still wearing and glides effortlessly across her silky soft skin, from her hip, over her waist and up to her breasts. She moans softly as I gently squeeze, kneading and caressing, lightly pinching her nipple between my fingers as we continue to kiss.

Her fingers work to undo the buttons on the shirt but, I can’t wait that long. I sit up and lift it gently up and over her head, tossing it to the floor. Then I reach for her again, my mouth finding hers eagerly and hungrily. I want her so much. My lips move like melted butter down her neck and to her breasts and I latch on, suckling voraciously as her back arches in response. She moans my name as her fingers twist in my hair, and I can’t wait anymore; I need her.

With one swift thrust, I’m deep inside, exactly where I need to be, and I moan loudly as I feel her warm, moist flesh envelop me and mold around me. She feels so damn good. We move together then, in and out, quickly and rhythmically, passionately connecting and reconnecting as our fiery lovemaking draws us closer. Reassuring us both that everything’s all right in our world.

I feel her fingernails run lightly up my back as I continue to move inside her, increasing my tempo and grinding away as she begins to moan loudly. Her body’s building. I can feel her inner muscles beginning to tremble and her legs stiffen around me. “Ah, come with me, baby,” I whisper harshly at her ear and she detonates on cue, calling out my name as her body convulses around my cock and I explode deep inside her. “Oh, Sam!”

Collapsing on top of her, I rest my face in the crook of her neck as I struggle to catch my breath. I love this part. These first few minutes after we come and our bodies are still joined, and I’m lying defenseless and vulnerable in her arms. It’s the reason I included Bryan Adams’ song on the playlist I made for her. Because making love to her has made me understand what that song really means.

“I love you, Samantha,” I whisper softly against her skin, still panting. And I’m amazed at how easy it is to say those words to her this morning. She tightens her arms around me and gasps softly, and when I lift my head to look into her eyes, she’s crying.

“I am so in love with you, Joshua,” she whispers, and I smile shyly at her before I kiss her tenderly once more.

I gently pull out of her and take her into my arms, and we snuggle up together, holding one another closely. I’m not sure how long we lie this way but it feels like heaven and I don’t want it to end. My fingers play in her hair as she softly runs her fingertips in little circles on my chest, and the only sound in the room is the softly playing music from the radio. The Pussycat Dolls explaining how nothing and no one can come between us. It makes me think briefly about Samantha’s mother and her threats. And I wonder if she’ll make good on her promise to expose my secret to the whole PD. She can’t hurt me by telling Sam now. But could she really get me fired?

Most of the old timers at the station know about what happened. Parson and Marcos … even Captain Skinner. They were all among the officers that would frequent our house back in those days, responding to the dispatched calls of domestic disturbance night after night. It’s only those guys that hired on after my old man died that don’t know the story. And I never intended for them to know. I didn’t want them looking at me like I’m some kind of freak. I guess I could live with that though, if I had to. But if Lois started some sort of smear campaign in the press and turned the Mayor and her rich friends in high places against me, the department could be forced to see me as some sort of embarrassment or liability, and I could suddenly find myself without a job. The thought is depressing.

“This song says exactly what I’m feeling right now,” Sam says softly, and she continues to draw little shapes on my chest with her fingers. “I mean it, Josh. I am exactly where I want to be. Please don’t ask me anymore why I’m with you. And stop asking yourself that question.”

I shake my head slightly at her words and silently marvel once more at the fact that she’s still here. She hasn’t run screaming for the hills and she is so insistent that she’s not going to. Is this woman for real?

“Josh?”

“Yes, baby?”

“What happened after your dad fell?” Her voice is soft and timid, and I know that she’s a little afraid of asking the question. Probably because she doesn’t want to upset me. “Did the police come?”

“Yes.” I answer her quietly, not really wanting to relive that night yet again. But I know that she needs to hear the details from me, and I owe her the opportunity to ask what she will. I swallow and take a deep breath before I continue. “The neighbors must have heard all the yelling … like always, and called the cops. I remember falling to my knees in exhaustion after it was over, and staring down at the old man. Watching as the police came rushing in. And Lee looking up at me after he checked … for a pulse.”

“Lee?” she asks softly. “You mean Lee Parson?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah. He and Marcos were the first ones there.”

“Marcos? That’s your Lieutenant, right?”

“Yes. He and Lee were partners back then … still in uniform.”

She’s silent for a while as she takes in this information, and my fingers continue to play with her hair as images of that night drift unwelcome through my mind.

“What happened then?” she asks softly.

I hesitate a moment before I answer, remembering my fear that night. And all the confusing thoughts that were running rampant through my head. Part of me was glad that he was gone. I close my eyes tightly and hug Samantha close to me as I take another deep breath.

“They called an ambulance for my mom. And they called my Aunt Celeste to come get me. I remember Lee sitting with me at the top of the steps, trying to get me to go into the other room. But I wouldn’t go. I wanted to watch them take his body away; I had to. And then Lee sat with me while I bawled like a baby afterwards. Kept telling me that it wasn’t my fault. That it was self-defense, and that I had done the right thing in protecting my mom. I was so scared she was going to die, Sam!” My words are a choked, strangled sob and I try to fight the lump I feel in my throat.
Jesus, Pierce. You are acting like a woman. Stop with the fucking tears already!
Sam lightly kisses my chest as I try desperately to rein it in and pull myself together. I need to splash some water on my face or something; get up and move around. Get out of this punk, sissy-ass mood I’m in. Sam’s cellphone rings just as I let go of her and sit up, and she reaches to answer it.

“Lucas, hi,” she says, and her voice sounds funny. Like she’s nervous about something. She glances at me anxiously and I frown at her, wondering what’s up. And then I remember our argument from last night and I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

“Um … yeah. Well, he was but … it’s okay,” she says, still eyeing me speculatively. My frown gets deeper. “No, sure. We’re still on,” she tries to assure him but, I can tell she’s not so sure herself. “Oh, just … same as me, bottled water or Corona,” she shrugs. They say a quick goodbye and she hangs up.

“What was that about?” I ask her, still frowning slightly.

“It was Lucas,” she says, stating the obvious. “He wanted to make sure we were still on for the game today because you were so upset when we left last night. He thought maybe you might want to cancel.” She’s looking at me with anxious, worried eyes and waiting on a response from me.

“We don’t have to cancel unless you want to, Sam,” I answer quietly.

“Josh … I get that you don’t think Lucas is being sincere but…,”

“Look, Sam … what I said about Lucas last night,” I begin, looking her in the eye. “I was angry, baby. And scared. But the truth is … Lucas has been pretty decent to me. And I know you’re right, that he does want to get to know me because he cares about you.”

“So, you’re okay with going today?”

“Yes, baby.” She smiles at me and places both hands on either side of my face, and kisses me soundly.

“You’ll see. By next week, you’re going to be best friends,” she beams at me and she is just so cute!

“Really? Best friends, huh?”

“Uh huh,” she giggles.

“Next week?” I ask, and she nods eagerly at me, grinning from ear to ear, and I smirk at her. “We gonna buy matching Seahawks t-shirts and go to all the games together?”

“Yes! And paint each other’s toenails and do each other’s hair!” She’s giggling hysterically at her own joke and I can’t help but smile at her.

“You are a nut,” I exclaim, taking her into my arms again and proceeding to tickle her mercilessly while she squirms and laughs and struggles to take a breath. I stop abruptly and kiss her, and I get lost in her eyes for a moment as she caresses my face. And I wonder again, for the hundredth time, what this goddess is doing here with me.

“Don’t say it,” she whispers, still caressing my face, and I frown slightly at her. “Promise me, Josh. Promise me you’ll stop asking why I’m with you.” I stare at her in disbelief for a second. How did she know what I was thinking? “Promise,” she whispers again.

“I … I’ll try,” I say softly. It’s the best I can do, and she smiles softly at me and kisses me. And soon we’re lost in each other, making love again, slowly and rhythmically, passionately connecting and reconnecting…

*****

I pull Samantha’s Maserati into the reserved parking area of the CenturyLink Field stadium and find an open spot. It’s a sweet ride, handles like a dream. I could definitely get used to it! Getting out of the car we walk toward the stadium, and Sam takes my hand and leads me away from the huge bottleneck at the main entrance, and over to the private entrance that’s reserved for suite owners instead.
Of course there would be a private entrance, Pierce!

We stand waiting for the elevator to take us up to the suite level and I glance around at the other faces waiting with us, and I can’t help but wonder what they each do for a living. And then I roll my eyes at myself and sigh because I know I’m being a jerk again, just like I was last night. Sam’s right, the money is
my
problem. And it’s one that I have got to learn to get over if I want to keep her in my life.

I let go of her hand and wrap my arm around her as she stands, looking intently at her cellphone. She slips her free hand into the back pocket of my jeans and leans slightly into me, but she keeps texting away, and I smile at her.

“What’s so engrossing?”

“Megan,” she answers, smiling up at me.

“She’s texting you on her honeymoon?”

“Yes, she’s so sweet. She said she was worried about me; she wanted to make sure I was okay after the stunt Mom pulled last night. And she said to tell you ‘hi.’”

I smirk at her and kiss her temple as she finishes up her text and puts her phone away in her purse. She looks like the little fashion plate that she is in a pair of form-fitting jeans with a wide cuff that show off her sexy calves, and one of my Seahawks t-shirts that she’s tied in a knot at the side of her hip. A navy blue cardigan sweater and a pair of sky-high, Seahawk neon green heels complete her look.

“Are you smirking at me, Detective?” she asks with narrowing eyes.

“Nope,” I chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” she demands to know.

“You,” I say, kissing her temple once more before we step into the waiting elevator. “Only you would wear four-inch heels to a football game.”

“Are you complaining about my four-inch heels?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, no,” I respond honestly, looking her in the eye. “I like your four-inch heels very much, Miss Colby.” She blushes slightly and bites her bottom lip, and I kiss her chastely, aware of the other patrons around us. We step off the elevator and walk the short distance to the entrance of suite number 43, and Sam opens the door and strides right in.

“Well, I don’t believe it! You are not only on time, Pita, but you’re actually early.” Lucas’ voice is dripping with sarcasm and I’m sure that Sam probably rolls her eyes at him in response but, I can’t be certain. I am much too busy right now trying to subtly take in the details of this luxury private box to pay attention to their sibling banter.