The Pleasure's All Mine (12 page)

The late afternoon sun was still blazing above the horizon. The tour of MEG had taken much longer than expected. Raven had asked so many questions that Pierce knew she had committed every detail to memory, strictly to write about it later. Couldn’t she just enjoy life and go with the flow? Why was she always so serious?

Sim bore down on them the moment they set foot outside the elevator bank and onto the executive floor. The man’s nostrils flared, but he swallowed his anger as he looked at Raven with keen interest.

“Well, I’ve heard rumors about the
little
woman that got away,” he said with a curl of his lips that was more predatory than congratulatory.

Pierce instantly pulled Raven a little closer, causing her to look up at him with a perplexed expression. “This time I’m going to keep a
very
close watch.”

The thinly veiled threat brought an ugly glint to Sim’s eyes as he lustfully scanned the length of Raven’s body.

Raven returned the gaze, flicking over his body, rolled her eyes, then affected an air of total indifference, followed by a mild yawn.

Sim’s look turned to something akin to hatred.

Atta girl!
Pierce silently cheered, warmed that she’d peeped Sim’s whole game in a matter of seconds and played an ace.

“You’ve got your hands
full
with that one,” Sim spat, followed by a cynical laugh.

Pierce slid his hand down, draping it possessively around her waist. “I sure do. And I’ll love
every minute and inch
of it.”

The intimately wicked suggestion hung in the air.

Raven looked up at Pierce, then lowered her lashes as a seductive smile played about her lips. She turned her body toward him to wrap her arms around the fullness of his hips so it appeared they were in an embrace only lovers would share.

Pierce smiled back. The woman knew the game and was playing her part well.

Sim’s coffee skin darkened with anger, beyond miffed at being sneered at by Raven. “Why didn’t I know anything about that meeting? And where is everybody?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone’s gone. Including
her
lawyer.”

Raven turned to Sim and said, “Well, I guess that’s all for today.” She gave Pierce’s chest a gentle pat and lowered her voice to a breathy whisper, “Come on, baby, show me what you’re working with.” She looked over her shoulder at Sim. “I could say it was nice meeting you, but then again, I’d be lying.” Raven pressed her lips to Pierce’s, who immediately got over the shock and returned the passionate gesture. Reluctantly breaking apart, she turned her back to Sim and swished toward Pierce’s office with a little dip in her hips that almost made Pierce salivate right there on the floor.

“Pierce, we need to talk—now!” Sim growled, appraising Raven’s back view with jealous eyes.

Raven’s seductively swaying hips spoke their own language. She looked over her shoulder directly at Pierce, moistening her lips in a slow, tortuous motion that made his dick stand at attention.

Pierce straightened his lapel, winked at Sim, then followed the luscious lady and his future into his office.

“Pierce! Get your ass back here!” Sim boomed.

The moment the door closed and locked, Pierce scooped Raven into his arms, embracing her as both of them tried to muffle the sounds of their laughter.

She looked up at him, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t know why I did that.”

“Instinct. Damn good one, too.”

“You’ll tell me what that was all about, won’t you?”

Pierce stroked his fingers across her face. “Yes, but not right now, okay?”

She nodded. He went to the mini bar, poured himself a brandy, then offered Raven a glass of Warrington Lake pear wine before taking the space next to her on the sofa.

“How did you know that this is one of my favorites?”

Pierce smiled and winked at her over the rim of his glass. The man had done his homework. The smooth, award-winning creation was not even on the open market since Marv Hieppas made the wine purely for the love of it, and not for commercial use.

“Does he always flirt with the women you want?”

“Unfortunately.” He didn’t add much more than that, but her puzzled expression let him know that she would bring it up again if he didn’t elaborate. “It keeps things honest. Women who want him as a main course,
usually
skip me as an appetizer.”

“I thought you were close. Buddies, even.”

He set his glass down on the table next to them. “We were close once, but time and money has a way of changing people.”

“But you all started this company together, right? I thought he was your boy.”

How to answer that one? It was more complex than a yes or no answer could provide. “At one time he was. Sim was my college roommate at Howard University. Our friends partied and blew off classes while getting high, but Sim and I spent our nights planning ways to take the music industry by storm. He had the money—although I probably should’ve questioned the source.” Pierce took her hand in his. “I had the marketing and music background—that’s where I felt comfortable.

“First, we landed internships at a major label, then took what we learned and went out on our own. We did pretty damn good, too.” Pierce grinned fondly at the memories, then went on to give her a brief overview of what had transpired between them, leading up to the unfortunate newsworthy incidents of the past few months. “At this point, I’ve been thinking about doing things a little differently.”

Raven didn’t tear her gaze from him. She loved that he had been so open with her. “What do you mean…differently?”

“I want to do movie soundtracks and some independent productions under a company of my own—with no involvement with MEG or Simeon Cahill whatsoever. But first, I want to be in a position to take on all the people I hired here at MEG, because I know the moment I leave under any circumstances—by choice or force—their jobs are in jeopardy.”

“Sounds like a really difficult place to be.”

“You have no idea.” He stroked a finger across her hands. “But I expressed my true plans and what’s going with MEG to your agent, and it’s the only reason she agreed to bring you here to get things moving.” His gaze fixed on hers. “I want to be involved in a company that’s built on integrity and fairness—qualities that will allow it to grow strong and persevere. I want to create things people can believe in. I want to be around people I can believe in. And I want a woman who understands that—a woman I can believe in, too.” He gently kissed her again before he pulled back. “Raven, this isn’t a game to me. I don’t want you to think that. It’s all about firm foundations and things that have a lasting effect—like your books and good music. I think the two of us together could be something powerful. You feel me?”

Raven could only nod. Then she did something that surprised even herself. She reached for him, pressing her body to his as she brushed soft lips across his neck, then up to his cheeks, ending at his mouth, eliciting a groan from him that echoed in the office.

“Tell me, Raven, why did you leave that night?”

She pulled away, scanned the length of the office before reaching for her glass and taking a sip. “I was wondering when you’d get around to asking again.” She moistened her lips. “I’m not sure I have an answer that would sit well with you or me.”

“I take you for a straight shooter,” Pierce said in a low voice. “Just tell the truth.”

“I intend to,” she replied, crossing her legs. “But I’m not sure what that is.”

Pierce focused on her face and lips. He would not look down at her thighs, which certainly spelled trouble. God, the woman was sexy! “Okay, then,” he conceded, seeing her frown. “Speculation would work for me.”

She was looking around the room as though searching for an answer when her gaze fell upon the silver framed photo on his desk. Pierce slipped out of the space next to her, plucked it from the desk, and placed it in her hands.

Raven handled the photo gingerly. “Your parents?”

“Yes.”

Her index finger traced the outline of his mother’s face, exactly the way Pierce had done earlier that morning. Again he felt the stab of pain deep in his heart. “They looked very happy.”

“They were before a drunk driver took them away.” He removed the picture from her hands, and placed it back in its permanent spot on his desk, then took his place by her side.

She still couldn’t make eye contact as she struggled to find an answer.

“You’re stalling, Raven,” he whispered.

Her eyebrows were still drawn in, she remained silent.

Pierce sipped his drink, the liquid trailing a fiery path down his throat. Being near her trailed a fiery path to his heart—and other places as well. She seemed suddenly vulnerable and uncertain. Some instinct within him wanted to hold her close, to calm whatever was going on behind her expressive eyes.

She said carefully, “I was…afraid?”

“That sounds more like a question.”

Raven bit her bottom lip and paused. “I was afraid of what I felt, of what I wanted in such a short amount of time. It hit so hard and so fast. I’m not a one-night-stand kind of woman.”

“I didn’t think you
were.
”

“But you suggested…” she blinked, flustered. “But you expected—”

“I
never
make love to a woman before
she’s
ready.” He hoped the intensity of his words—and the steady look capturing hers—made his meaning very clear.

“I wasn’t sure if
I
was ready or not…” She stared blankly out toward the sun.

Pierce extended his hand, then walked her over to the window. They soon stood side-by-side, watching the ever-increasing traffic build into the afternoon rush.

“I misjudged you,” she said simply, quietly.

“Yes.”

“I apologize.”

Pierce brought her closer, placing an arm around her waist. “Apology accepted.”

Her fleeting smile tugged at his heart. “Friends?”

“I certainly hope so.” He brushed his lips against her temple. “I think we should make up for lost time. How about dinner? And maybe we can finish that dance…”

She released herself from his grip, and checked her iPhone for messages. “You’re in luck. I had another promising young male who was
supposed
to take me out to a late lunch, but it appears he’s stood me up and took his—” she scrolled down, grumbling, “—lawyer instead.”

The flash of pure jealousy Pierce experienced came and went in an instant. “The man is not in his right mind if he cancelled a date with you—”

“My son?” she countered, amusement playing at her lips.

“Oh, well, since you put it that way…” He smiled down at her. If nothing else, his hard work had paid off. Dinner would be an excellent start, but anyone could simply take her to dinner. He wanted to wow her, give her an experience to remember.

She went up on her toes, leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Now that we’re being so open about everything. And it’s evident that your sole purpose in life is to get me in the sack,” he said, smiling as she gave him a playful punch to the stomach. “Why don’t we get it all out of the way? Any diseases?”

“No,” she answered softly. “You?”

“No. Have you been tested?”

“Not since an almost-encounter four years ago. I tested negative for STDs and HIV. I haven’t been with anyone since—haven’t even come close.”

Pierce scrambled for his wallet, pulled out a folded sheet, and passed her his results. “We’re really going about things ass-backward.”

She looked away again with embarrassment. “I understand.”

“We were bound to reconnect at some point, Raven. And if you put another kiss on me like the one you just did, you’re asking for trouble.” He pulled her closer.

“Oh, so it’s all
my
fault,” she said with a hearty laugh which brought on a smile from him.

“I wanted you the first night I met you.”

“So did I,” she whispered, stroking a hand over his chest.

“Any positions or areas we shouldn’t venture into?”

“Anal sex is definitely out,” she mentioned.

Pierce snapped his fingers in mock disappointment. “Every man’s dream.”

“Honey, if you can’t make fireworks happen at the front door, don’t expect to place any sizzlers at the back door.” She looked up at him and was suddenly vulnerable and uncertain. “Ever been with a woman my size before?”

“I
prefer
women your size.” He cupped her buttocks, slowly kneading her tender flesh, then kissed her slowly, thoroughly, causing him to whisper, “Soft…sweet, sweet Jesus.” She arched toward him, the soft gasp of pleasure that escaped her lips was one he knew so well. “Woman, I can’t take it when you sound like that!” His hands brushed across her breasts.

Raven peered intently into his eyes, her face flushed, her breathing shallow, lips slowly parted in delicious anticipation. A low growl escaped his throat as he leaned in, lips lightly touching hers, tongue tracing the outline of her luscious mouth. She opened, allowing him to explore her in a relentless fashion.

Moments later, when Raven’s arms encircled his neck, bringing him closer, the world exploded for him, came back into focus, and exploded once again.
Damn, if the woman could do that with a kiss…

Pierce Ireluctantly pulled away as he felt an urgent confirmation from every body part that mattered—especially his heart. Nothing had ever felt so strong for him. Nothing.

She trembled as he explored her with alternating caresses. She melted into him, pressed her body so close she was more than a second skin. Pierce held her securely, hands lowering to her waist, quickly trailing to her buttocks but went back to her waist as though touching that part of her was somehow forbidden.

Pierce carried her to the sofa, parted her thighs with his knee, settled comfortably between them, their layers of clothing the only barrier between them. Pierce was enthralled with her sensuousness, the pleasure that washed over her confirmed in words and deeds.

“I want you in the worst way,” he whispered in her ear. Their kissing, a soft exploration of moisture and heat, escalated to the point that they not only shared the same breath, but the same heartbeat.

Pierce raised her skirt, exposing the navy garters that held the silky honey-colored stockings in place. Stroking a hand over the bare flesh that ended just at the top of the lace band, he whispered. “These are absolutely beautiful. I didn’t know women still wore these.”

“I always wear them. They make me feel…sexy.”

“You
are
sexy,” he replied, brushing his lips across the exposed flesh leading to her delta. “Every luscious inch of you.”