The One Left Behind (The One Series) (28 page)

***

I wake up the next morning and my head is pounding. I look around and take in my surrounds. Where the fuck am I? And why don’t I have any clothes on? I look beside me and the reality of the situation dawns on me and it all comes back. Oh, shit. I fucked Brooklyn. I look down at my battered dick and pray to God I was smart enough to use a rubber. I slide out of her bed trying my hardest not to wake her. I need to get the fuck out of here. Quick. My clothes aren’t on the bedroom floor, but thankfully the used condom from last night is. I let out a relieved sigh. Thank fuck I wasn’t that stupid. I rub my hand down my face and walk out to the living room to find my clothes which are by the door. Oh, yeah. That’s where it all started.

I’m gonna have to go home and scrub my dick clean. The only good thing to come of it is it served as a good distraction once I shoved Addison out of my head. Well, that’s what I tell myself. Truth be told she wasn’t completely out of mind during the whole ordeal. How much of an asshole am I? Having sex with a woman while thinking about someone else.

Shit. I walk out the door quietly to do the walk of shame. Only my car isn’t in the parking lot and I remember it’s still at the bar. Fuck, I hate my life. I dial up Jeremy.

“Hey, man. I know it’s early, but I need you to pick me up and drop me off at my car.”

“Okay, where are you?”

I really don’t want to answer his question, but how else will he know where to get me.

“I’m at Brooklyn’s place off of Main Street.” The line is quiet for a minute and I wonder if I’ve dropped the call. Finally, Jeremy speaks up.

“What the fuck, Colin? Did you fuck Brooklyn? I can’t believe you. I never thought you’d go through with it. So, was it good? Is she still wild?”

I hear the amusement in Jeremy’s voice and it makes me want to punch him. I’m in no mood to talk about this right now.

“Fuck off Jeremy and come and get me.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

I hang up. Fuck. Remind me to never do this again.

IT’S BEEN A month since I had my fallout with Colin. I can’t say I’m heartbroken over it since my heart was never in it after the accident, but contrary to Colin’s belief, I’m not a heartless bitch and I still feel bad about what happened. Even if he did call me a whore.

Pierce is amazing. He is so patient with me and there is no topic I can’t discuss with him. I adore him for that. I feel like I need to reach out to Colin and try to have another go at talking to him. I wanted to make sure Pierce was okay with it first since my heart belongs to him, and he was. He told me he just wants me to be happy and if that makes me happy, then I should do it. Regardless, he would support me one hundred percent. When he says stuff like that to me I wonder how I got so lucky to have met him that day on the beach.

After trying to contact Colin a couple times, I give up. I sent him a couple text messages and received no response. The messages all said that they were read so I know he’s seen them. If he doesn’t want to talk to me, I won’t force it but at least I can say I tried.

Pierce had asked me to go to New York with him. He had some work to do on the expansion that had to be done in person. After making sure I could get the week off from work, I started getting excited to spend the whole week up there with him. I was hoping to get things cleared up with Colin before leaving, but it looks like that won’t be happening.

I’m meeting Pierce at his house tonight with takeout. He had given me a spare key last month when we decided to be an exclusive couple. Thinking of the clever way he did it always brings a smile to my face.

We were walking past a pet adoption store, and knowing my love for dogs, Pierce stopped so I could look at all the puppies. There was a litter of boxers and they were adorable. I picked one up and it started licking my face and I was instantly in love. I handed it to Pierce so he could cuddle with the puppy, and she got so excited she peed on him. I had to give it to Pierce, though. Instead of getting mad, he just laughed it off. I grabbed the puppy from him and handed it back to the lady and said, “Goodbye, Ali.” Pierce gave me a questioning look and I shrugged my shoulders. “I always wanted a boxer named Ali.” He grinned while shaking his head and told Ali bye too.

There was a clothing store right next to the pet shop and Pierce went in to buy a new pair of pants so he didn’t smell like pee through lunch. I went ahead and got us a table at his request where he could meet me after he finished shopping. Lunch, as always, was great. We shared some laughs, great food, and enjoyed each other’s company.

After lunch, Pierce had to stop at his office to pick up some paperwork. He said he might be a while so he dropped me off at his house, but he wasn’t gone long. I was probably only waiting around for about thirty minutes or so for him. I heard his car pull into his garage and I went to greet him. Instead of being greeted by Pierce when I opened the garage door, I was greeted by Ali, the cute boxer puppy from the pet adoption. She jumped up on my leg and I picked her up.

“Oh my god! Ali! Pierce, when? How?” Ali was kissing my face when Pierce walked in with a bag of dog food and bowls. He had somewhat of a triumphant smile on his face peeking up over the top of the bags.

“Well, when I went to buy some new jeans I adopted Ali and they held onto her for me so I could drop you off and surprise you with her,” he smiled brightly at me. I love this man.

“So she’s yours now to keep?” I asked.

“Ours. She’s ours to keep.” Pierce said as he filled up the food and water bowls.

“Where will she stay?” I said as Ali wiggled to get down for some water.

“I figured she can stay with both of us. When you work nights, I can keep her company, and the nights I work late you can take care of her. The best part is when we are both off we get to take care of her together.” I smiled up at Pierce. I knew this is one of his many ways of spending more time with me. He thinks he’s sneaky, but I’m on to him. Not that I mind spending more time with him. In fact, I love it. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than near him.

“Why Charming, if I didn’t know better I would think you’re trying to win your way into my home with a puppy. And I have to say,” I put my hands on my hips and glared at him to make him sweat it just a little, “it’s totally working.”

He let out a low, sexy laugh and I gave him a kiss to show my appreciation. While I’m kissing Pierce, I felt something jumping on his leg. Pierce chuckled into my mouth before pulling away and picking Ali up.

“She will need a collar and tags,” I said as I pet her.

“I picked one up. Why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll get it on her.”

I agreed and made my way to Pierce’s room to change. After I finished, I was lying in bed when I heard the sound of thumping against the floor. I looked up from the book I was reading and saw Ali charging towards me. She jumped to get up on the bed but didn’t quite make it as she slipped off and fell to the ground. Pierce was behind her and chuckled as he picked her up and put her on the bed. Ali snuggled herself right under my arm.

Pierce got into bed and looked at Ali snuggled where he likes to lay and frowned. I couldn’t help but laugh. I picked up Ali and was about to move her when I saw something hanging off her collar. Thinking it was the tag, I froze when I actually looked at it. I glanced over at Pierce who was smiling wide at me.

“A key?” I asked with my eyebrows raised. I hope I’m not reading too much into this or I’m about to look like an idiot.

Pierce took the key off Ali’s collar and placed it in my hand. “To my place. I want you to be able to come here whenever you want. If I had it my way, we would be living together already but I don’t want to rush things. So I figured this was a good step. You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, but I wanted you to have one. My home is your home.” He tucked my wet hair behind my ear before lightly kissing my cheek.

My heart did somersaults. This was a big step and I was ready to take it. I loved this man and he wanted me around more. How could I say no to that? I jumped up out of bed and grabbed my keys and placed his on my key ring.

“Of course I want to use it. I love you. And who knows, I might get lucky and walk in on you in the shower,” I said as I raised my eyebrows up and down suggestively, in a joking manner.

“If you want to see me naked, all you have to do is ask. And if you want to shower with me, then by all means let’s go.”

“What? Now?” Before I could protest he picked me up stripping me of my shirt while walking into the bathroom. Once he turned on the water, he placed me down and took off my pants. He made fast work of stripping off his clothes and led me into the shower. Before I got all the way under the water, Pierce was kissing me all over. When he was working on my neck by sucking, kissing and nipping it, I let my hands roam down his chest and down to his throbbing erection. He started to groan as I wrapped my fingers around him. The sounds coming from him were almost animalistic, and I had to squeeze my legs together to help ease the tension coursing through me. After a lot of building up and anticipation, we each explored the other with our mouths, using them to help each other find our release.

After Lexi picks up Ali, we head off to bed because we have to be up super early for our flight at four in the morning.

***

When we arrive in New York, I take in the familiar sights. I always loved the city and watching all the millions of people walking around to get to work or sightsee. It’s amazing how you can go unnoticed and almost disappear here. Pierce has a car waiting for us to take us to the St. Regis Hotel. When we walk in it takes everything I have in me to keep moving and not look like an idiot standing at the door gawking at this massive room. The lobby is probably as big as my condo. It has high ceilings with walls covered in marble. My favorite element is the gigantic chandelier hanging in the center of the room. The light reflects off of each crystal sending a rainbow colored glow outward when you look up at it. It’s truly stunning. There are gold accents everywhere; the molding, the chairs, flower vases. Above the chandelier is a gorgeous painting with clouds and angels, giving it a Grecian feel.

We are staying in the Tiffany suit and it is incredible. When Pierce unlocks the door, I’m instantly blown away. Looking straight ahead down the entrance is a wall with a huge, rectangular mirror with gold sconces on each side. The table below the mirror has four vases filled with lovely, white hydrangeas. With as impressed as I was by the lobby, it pales in comparison to this suite. I walk down the hall and to my left and I’ve never been in a hotel room this big before. The dining room walls and ceiling are painted in Tiffany blue with decorative, white molding framing squares along the walls. Looking out the window I’m able to see Central Park. The living room is very bright with clean lines. It has the same molding designs on the walls as the dining room, but the walls and ceilings are completely white in here. The furniture is decorative with a gray, modern floral print that contrasts with the white legs of the coffee table that are holding up a frosted glass top. I walk into the bedroom and know I’ll never want to leave it. The king sized bed has a plush, white comforter and on top of it was a beautifully carved headboard that has white trim with the center painted in Tiffany blue. The bed looks like you could sink down in it for days, almost like you’d get stuck. There are elegant side tables flanking each side of the bed with small, ornate lamps sitting on top. The corner has a desk with the same frosted glass as the coffee table with pretty, high back chairs sitting beside it.

I stare at the massive bed with its fluffy white down comforter and numerous throw pillows and feel a magnetic pull to lay down. I am so exhausted from traveling and getting up so early and I can use a good nap. Pierce begins to put our things away as I lay back.

I must have fallen asleep shortly after my head hit the pillow, and I passed out for quite some time if the darkness outside the window is any indication. I look next to the bed searching for Pierce and notice there’s a plate of food with a note.

Had to get some work done. Text me when you’re awake and I’ll head right back. I’m only a few blocks away. Also, I had food sent up so be sure to eat.

Love you,

Charming

I uncover the tray of food and the bowl of fruit sitting there looks very enticing. I pop a few pieces in my mouth but I’m still tired and wouldn’t mind going back to bed. I change into one of Pierce’s T-shirts and send him a text.

Me: Thank you for the food. No need to hurry back. I’m still really tired. Would you mind if I went back to sleep?

Charming: Not at all. I can’t promise I won’t wake you up when I get back though. Get some rest. I love you.