Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (65 page)

Sam groans and rolls her eyes. “I don’t have the strength to deal with her today. What did you tell her?” she asks Lucas.

“I told her everything,” he says matter-of-factly, and Sam rolls her eyes again. “She’s our mother, Sam. She had a right to know that you were in danger, and that that danger is no longer an issue. You’re just lucky I told her before she saw it on the news.”

“Okay,” she says softly. She leans into me slightly and I tighten my hold around her waist. “You told her about Josh?” she asks quietly.

Lucas looks at me blankly for a second and then back at his sister. “I told her everything,” he repeats, and Sam sighs heavily. He cocks his head and his eyes soften as he watches her. “I also reminded her that you are a grown woman who can make her own decisions, okay?” He smiles slightly at her.

She gives him a weak smile of her own and shakes her head. “Thanks for running interference,” she says.

“No problem. I’ll check on you again this evening,” he says as we move toward the door.

“Well, I need to visit the little girl’s room,” she says, glancing from me to her brother. “You have a good day,” she tells him as she kisses him on the cheek.

“You get some sleep,” he says, smiling at her. She turns and heads off to the bathroom and I’m suddenly alone with Lucas once more, and the atmosphere is instantly awkward. We eye one another speculatively for beat, and then he says, “I’m actually glad we have a moment alone, Josh.”

Here we go,
I think to myself. “Why’s that?” I ask, urging him to get to the real point of this surprise visit.

“Well, for starters,” he begins, “because I wanted to thank you again.”
Okay. That’s not what I expected him to say.
“For everything that you did yesterday,” he continues. “You saved my sister from that major dirtbag. You probably saved her life. And you did everything you could to make sure that animal stays behind bars where he belongs. I meant what I said yesterday. I will be forever grateful to you for that.”

His words take me by surprise, and I’m not quite sure why but, they make me uncomfortable for some reason. Maybe because I get the feeling he assumes I was just doing my job. I don’t know. But I get even more uncomfortable as he continues talking.

“If you ever need anything at all, Josh … if I can help you in any way, you contact me,” he says, his eyes never wavering from mine. “My sister is very important to me, and I’m indebted to you. I won’t forget it.”

I can’t take it anymore. “Lucas, stop!”

I don’t mean for my voice to sound gruff but, I’m afraid that’s the way it comes across and he is silenced immediately, his eyes registering his surprise. I take a deep breath, trying to get a handle on my emotions. I don’t want to piss this guy off. He is, after all, a very powerful man. But he’s also Samantha’s brother, and she adores him. I have to make him understand. I take another deep breath and let out a sigh.

“Lucas, look … I realize that you don’t know me. And I understand that you probably have all sorts of misgivings about me and I get that. Samantha and I haven’t been together long, and you worry about your sister; you care about her. But the thing you need to know is … so do I. I care very deeply about her.”

My heart is pounding in my chest and I’m wondering what’s going through his mind right now. Does he believe me? And why is it so important to me that he does? “Samantha is … she means more to me than you know. I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her. So everything I did yesterday, I did it to keep her safe. Yes, it was my job but … it was
so much
more than that! So please … just stop thanking me, all right?”

He is silent for several seconds and, again, I think I see a small smile play at the corners of his mouth.
Oh, what the hell is he thinking right now?
“You’re right, Josh, I don’t know you,” he says evenly. “But I think I’ve got a pretty clear picture of the kind of man you are.”

What is he talking about? What the hell does he know about the kind of man I am? And then it hits me.
This fucker’s had me investigated!
I look at him with a puzzled frown and he answers my silent question.

“Yeah, I checked,” he says coolly. Then he shrugs his shoulders. “My baby sister, who to my knowledge, has never been serious about any boy she’s ever dated, suddenly tells me out of the blue that not only is she dating a Seattle cop, but that she would rather shack up with him in his … humble surroundings after her terrifying ordeal, than to stay in the lap of luxury that she’s used to? Yeah,” he says, looking me in the eye, “you bet I checked.”

“Yeah? What did you find?” I ask him, and I can feel my jaw clenching.

“It’s quite impressive, really,” he says with a cocky smirk. “Did you know that you’re one of the most decorated officers on the entire Seattle police force?”

“I don’t keep track,” I reply, suddenly trying to corral the anger that’s threatening to rage out of control, and still wondering what the point of this conversation is.

“You should,” he says. “You’re record is really something to be proud of.
Four
Medals of Valor, two Awards of Excellence, Outstanding Public Service Award for saving a child’s life by performing CPR while you were off duty. Officer of the Year five years ago. Detective of the Year for the past three years running. That’s impressive, Josh,” he nods. “Especially considering you were the youngest officer to ever make detective, and you’ve only been a detective for four years.”

His tone is genuine and he’s smiling at me, and I’m not at all sure what to make of it. Is he congratulating me on my service record or is he telling me to stay away from his sister? I frown slightly at him, feeling like an idiot, not knowing what to say. I think he can tell that I’m at a loss because he lets out a small chuckle and shakes his head.

“Relax, Josh,” he says with a smile. “I told you yesterday that as long as you are good to my sister, and Sam is happy and safe … you won’t have any problem with me, and I meant it. But I hope you understand why I looked into your background. She’s the only sister I’ve got and she means the world to me.”

I study his eyes for a moment and then I nod slowly. If I had a sister, I would probably run a background check on any guy who came within ten feet of her. “Yeah,” I mumble, “I understand.”

“Good. You seem to be an honorable man, Joshua Pierce. You share a few qualities with a man Sam and I both miss very much. I think I understand why my sister is drawn to you.”

What the fuck!?
A man they both miss? I know that he has to be referring to their father but, I don’t understand. What could I possibly have in common with a man like Richard Colby? A deceased billionaire who, by all accounts, was one of the world’s greatest businessmen, philanthropists and fathers.

“Although your rock star fantasies border on delusional,” he snickers, and I can’t help but smile at the expression on his face. His check into my service record was obviously thorough. And for the first time since I opened the door and let him in this morning, I feel myself relax. He smiles at me, holding out his hand for me to shake. When I take his hand, he says, “Tell Sam I’ll go by and check on the progress with her door this afternoon.”

“No, don’t bother. We’ll do it,” I tell him. “Sam’s going to need to pick up a few more things from her place anyway. She’s gonna … stay here with me for a while.” He smiles at me again, and I don’t know what he’s thinking.

“You and my sister seem have gotten very close,” he says, and I’m not sure but, I think I actually hear approval in his voice. Am I imagining that?

“Yes, we have,” I answer him honestly, and a little anxiously. He nods and smiles again. Then he turns and opens the door.

“Take care of her,” he says.

“Always,” I reply, and he turns and leaves.

Chapter Twelve

Samantha

I stand motionless in the hall, truly stunned by what I’ve just overheard. Lucas had Josh investigated! I know that I should be outraged by that but, I know he meant well. I hope Josh sees it that way. But what I can’t believe is what he said about Josh’s record at the police department. I had no idea, and Josh is never one to toot his own horn; he’s so modest and humble all the time.

He closes the door and turns to head back to the bedroom and I am caught, like a deer in headlights. Busted for the eavesdropper that I am. He looks surprised to see me standing here, and I begin to chatter nervously, trying to explain myself.

“I … I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I came out of the bathroom and … you were still talking to Lucas,” I stammer, feeling guilty. “And I … I’m sorry that he had you investigated; he had no right to do that.”

“I would have done the same thing in his shoes,” Josh says, his deep soft voice sounding intense as he stares down at me. At least he doesn’t seem upset about it.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about your awards?” I ask quietly, looking up into his eyes.

“It’s not a big deal,” he frowns, looking at me impassively.

“It’s a very big deal, Josh! What in incredible accomplishment.” I realize that I’m gushing but, I am truly astounded. “Olivia must be so extremely proud of you.”

His impassive expression morphs into that adorable shy smile of his, and I think he blushes a little. “Do you want to have some breakfast now that we’re up, or do you want to just go back to sleep?” he asks, deliberately ignoring my comments about his awards. He is so cute, it should be a crime.

I take a step toward him with a coy smile and wrap my arms around his waist. “I think … we should go back to bed. And
not
sleep,” I say softly. He wraps his arms around me but, I think he looks surprised by my words. He cocks his head and looks at me speculatively.

“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Sam?” he asks softly, tucking a wayward strand of my hair behind my left ear. And I’m not sure I understand the question.

“Why wouldn’t I be ready?” I say with a small frown.

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Or maybe it’s disbelief. “Baby, you were attacked yesterday,” he says, as if I may have forgotten. “You had nightmares about that asshole all night long. I don’t want to upset you. I don’t want to rush you.”

His words are quiet and heartfelt and I am touched by the fact that he is once again putting my comfort level above all else. I swear he is the sweetest man! It makes me want to be with him even more.

“I just want to be close to you,” I whisper, lightly running my hands over his back and around to his abdomen, feeling the hard muscles of his body beneath the soft cotton fabric of his t-shirt. “I want to touch you and taste you and smell you. Please, Josh. Make love to me.”

He needs no further invitation. Without warning, his hands are in my hair and his mouth is on mine, kissing me hungrily, as if he’s starving and my kiss is his first meal in days. It leaves me completely breathless when he finally pulls away, looking into my eyes for a long moment. Then he reaches for me, sweeping me up into his arms and taking me back to the bedroom.

He lays me down gently and then stands looking down at me as he pulls his t-shirt over his head. With one swift motion he divests himself of his jeans and then sits on the bed beside me. Without a word, he takes my hand and pulls me up into a sitting position and kisses me again, and I feel his hands running lightly down my back.

He reaches the hem of my tank top and begins to lift it slowly up, his hands caressing my waist and my breasts as they rise. I lift my arms, allowing him to remove my shirt and he tosses it to the floor beside his own clothing. In an instant, I am lost in his kiss once more as he gently lays me back onto the bed and my hands find their way into his soft wavy hair.

His mouth moves deliciously across my jaw and over to my earlobe, then down my neck. He lingers at my breast, suckling ravenously, and my back arches in response as I moan softly. Gently, he teases my nipple with his teeth and I whimper as my fingers twist in his hair, bringing an answering groan from him.

Slowly, he moves down, kissing and biting at the flesh of my belly. I feel his fingers at the top of my sweatpants and he carefully begins to pull them, and my panties, down over my hips. He stops suddenly and I hear a sharp intake of breath as he gasps in surprise. When I look down at him, he is staring at my newly waxed pelvis in disbelief.

His eyes shoot up to mine and a small smile plays at the corners of his perfect lips. “You did this for me yesterday at the salon?” It’s more of a whispered statement of awe than it is a question, and I suddenly feel very shy and unsure of myself. I chew my bottom lip nervously for a moment and then nod my head slowly. What is he going to think?

He smiles broadly at me and moves up to kiss me. “Thank you, baby,” he says softly.

“Nice surprise?” I ask softly, still chewing anxiously on my lip.

“It’s a great surprise,” he answers, still smiling, and he kisses me again. He returns to his previous position then, finishing his task of removing my sweats and panties, pulling them down my legs and discarding them on the floor. Then he slowly runs his right hand from my ankle, up the length of my leg, to my thigh.

I watch as he settles between my legs, his face a mixture of excitement and wonder, like a kid with a new toy at Christmastime. He runs his fingertips lightly across my smooth, hairless skin and then peppers my newly naked flesh with feather-soft kisses. The sensation is unbelievable! He runs his tongue along the bikini line and looks up at me with a wicked smile. Then he uses his teeth to lightly graze the area.

“Ah!” His actions elicit a sharp groan from me but, it’s not so much painful as it is different. Good different. I am panting as I look down at him and smile. He smiles back at me and then lowers his chin and runs his stubble slowly over my naked flesh and I moan. He is having fun with his new toy!

Getting comfortable, he moves lower, spreading my legs wider, and begins to use his tongue on the more intimate portions of my now hairless terrain, and my body responds, bowing off the bed and beginning to build. I couldn’t stop the moaning if I tried. My hands move of their own volition, finding their way back into his hair as my hips start to move to his rhythm.