The Pleasure's All Mine (18 page)

Raven’s sharp gasp and trembling hands signaled her waning frustration. “I do not—” But she couldn’t finish, and he knew they’d somehow reached an understanding. It took a few seconds before the fireworks stopped flashing in her eyes. “It’s just that I’ve been on my own for so long and I don’t—”

Pierce’s mouth covered hers completely, silencing any further protest. The moment the tension ebbed from her body, he pulled her closer, exploring her moist depths with an expert tongue before pulling away, asking softly, “Are we done here?” His determined gaze held hers.

She nodded and walked away.

Battle one was over. No blood, no casualties. Yet.

❤ ❤ ❤

Eric held his breath as Simeon looked down at him.

“You still here, little man?” his breath came hot down Eric’s neck.

“Had some research to finish,” Eric replied around the lump in his throat. Pain instantly throbbed in his head. “I was just getting ready to pack it in.”

Eric kept his gaze away from the printer, hoping Simeon wouldn’t pick up any of the sheets of paper spewing out of it. Each one had Pierce’s home address printed in the middle. How would he explain that? Sweat peppered his forehead.

Simeon smiled and patted Eric hard on the back. “Keep up the good work.”

Eric nodded. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Simeon turned and walked past the printer. He paused, watched the sheets piling up, slid them from the hopper, and tapped the pages to line them up.

Eric held his breath for the fifth time in three minutes. The tap, tap, tap of the papers against Simeon’s long, thin fingers made Eric’s heart thud a tad bit faster in his chest. The man’s footsteps sounded like beats from a kettledrum as he walked over and handed Eric the papers. “I appreciate a man who’s not afraid of hard work.”

The moment Simeon walked away and turned the corner, Eric slumped down in his chair and let out a sigh of relief. “I’m too old for this stuff,” he whispered.

Two hands on his shoulders almost made him bolt to the ceiling.

“Jesus Christ!” Eric screamed. “What is it with you people? Why do you keep doing that to me?”

“Calm down. Simeon just left,” Steve told him, pulling a chair from the desk opposite Eric’s.

“No kidding,” Eric said, scanning the area, making sure they were alone. “I almost got busted.”

“How?”

Eric handed the papers to Steve. “These.”

“Shipping labels?”

Eric nodded.

“For?”

“This way no one will see us carry the boxes out of the building.” Eric plucked the labels from Steve’s fingers. “The overnight delivery people will come in two hours—that gives us more than enough time.”

“Damn, you’re smart.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“And arrogant.”

“No,
you’ve
cornered that market.”

Steve and Eric went to work, first encrypting the computer and backing up electronic files, packing away almost all of Pierce’s personal things, except the pictures of his parents, which Eric slipped in with the stuff he’d take home in his day sling. “If anything happened to this picture, he’d kill us.”

“I agree,” Steve said, looking over his shoulder.

“I think we’re set. The files Pierce wouldn’t want Simeon to have are packed and waiting to be picked up. The folders are still full. Simeon won’t realize that electronic files are blank and the physical files have been replaced with copies of research data until he starts looking for something specific.”

Steve shook his head. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

“I don’t have a bad side.”

“You’ve got something,” he retorted, wiping a single hand across his forehead. “Even I wouldn’t have thought of that.”

Eric heaved a stack of documents onto the desk. “We have to be thinking way ahead of Simeon. And not just
one
step ahead, either.”

“I suggest you clear out your stuff, too,” Steve said, looking over his shoulder.

“Already done. And the shipping company will use the freight elevator and come directly to this floor to get the packages.”

“How are they going to get inside Pierce’s home?”

“His housekeeper will be there. I already talked to her.”

“Like I said, you’re good!”

Eric only smiled.

❤ ❤ ❤

Sunday morning, Eric ducked back into his cubicle, avoiding a storming Simeon who whizzed by wearing the same outfit he had on the day before, papers fluttering along the way. He was on another rampage about Pierce. His voice boomed through the office like a commercial voiceover from hell. The rest of the office, by comparison, was walking on eggshells. “If anyone in this office knows where Pierce is, tell me now and I’ll spare you and your job.”

No one answered. This had been happening periodically since it was discovered Pierce had vanished. Same thing with calling everyone in on their days off—two days in a row! He knew none of them knew where Pierce was.

Except Eric. And all he knew was that Pierce was with his mom. And he wasn’t about to spill the beans. Simeon was in a dangerous state. He had even taken off his trademark sunglasses. His Speed Stick was stuck in reverse. Eric’s nose crinkled at the man’s body odor, wondering,
How did he keep ending up downwind?

“Where the fuck is Pierce! One of you has got to know something.”

The man was beginning to sound like a broken record.

Eric edged out of his seat enough to peer over the top of his cubicle. Several others did the same, looking for the world like prairie dogs popping up to survey the area. CaSera stood frozen at the copier like a flag at half-mast. Marcus, holding ground at the filing cabinet, gripped a manila folder so tight the edges crumpled. But the person Eric worried about most stood at the door biting her bottom lip. Marie was nearest to Simeon. Her body shook every time the irate man opened his mouth.

Eric signaled for her to sit down in the nearest cubicle. Unfortunately she wasn’t fast enough.

Hearing her move, Simeon whirled to face Marie, who swallowed, closed her eyes, and braced herself. “You’d better speak up, or you’re fired!” he bellowed, bearing down on her.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Wait just a minute!” Eric stepped away from his desk. “I know you’re mad and all, but you’re not going to take it out on her.”

Marie slipped away from Simeon and laced her hand in Eric’s in the time it took to draw a single breath. The staffers took a collective breath.

“What did you say to me?”

Those peering over their cubicles quickly pulled their heads back when they saw the fire in Simeon’s eyes. The copier queen vanished. So did Marcus.

Eric met Simeon’s steady glare and hoped the man couldn’t tell how nervous he felt. “Yelling at us isn’t going to help. No one knows anything.”

Simeon’s eyes narrowed to near slits. “Didn’t he disappear about the same time that fat chick came around? And
you
were hanging out with her lawyer.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I’m not trying to
say
anything.”

“Oh, that’s good, ‘cause for a minute, I thought you were
implying
something shady about
my mother.
And, for the record, I have no idea where she is either.” He moved until he stood toe-to-toe with Simeon. “I guess I’m just as bad at keeping tabs on my mom as you are with Mr. Randall.”

Simeon’s flinch was almost unnoticeable. “Are you getting smart with me?”

“No, sir,” Eric said, squaring his shoulders. “Just making sure you don’t insult my mother again. That wouldn’t be a good idea at all.”

A low whistle and murmurs echoed around the two men. Suddenly, the busy office became suspiciously empty as people took the opportunity to get out while the getting was good.

Steve ambled into the area and froze when he saw people scurrying away. He pivoted and attempted to back out as quietly as he came in.

“Don’t even think about it!” Simeon snapped.

Steve gritted his teeth and continued his journey toward them, muttering something Eric couldn’t quite catch.

The vein on Simeon’s neck stood out, throbbing to a beat that would be welcomed at any nightclub. He flexed and opened his fist—then did it again.

Eric stood poised to deflect an attack. He’d seen Simeon hit a subordinate hard enough to put him through a wall. That was another reason he had insisted on working directly for Pierce. Aside from Vlad, people reporting to Simeon stayed about as long as his intimate relationships lasted—four hours maximum. Sadly, there was no shortage of willing victims in either line of work.

Simeon pointed to Steve and Eric. “You and you. In my office. Now!” He stormed toward the executive area.

Eric’s headache came back so strong he had to close his eyes in order to clear his vision.

Marie stared at Eric, coming as close as conventional space would allow. “I’ve never seen anyone stand up to him like that.”

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said softly. “My mother taught me to fear only three things: her, God, and PMS.”

Steve’s solemn expression disappeared as he chuckled, but Marie didn’t find it so funny. “She should’ve added Simeon to that list.”

“Compared to my Mom during that time of the month, Simeon’s a kitten. We can handle him.”

“So what do we tell him?”

Eric followed Steve to Simeon’s office, signaling a worried Marie to be calm. “Something that will lead him off the trail.”

“You got a plan?”

“Don’t I always?”

Dinner at Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill was a pure delight, especially since Pierce had finally smoothed Raven’s ruffled feathers. She ordered dinner for the both of them—from the balsamic chicken to herb grilled filet mignon and crème brule for dessert. As they ate, he eased her into conversations about his family and was able to learn more about hers. She had a wonderful relationship with her son. His accomplishments reminded him so much of his brilliant intern in New York. Pierce wondered how her young man would take to his mother having a man in her life.

Raven and Pierce passed the outdoor pool and tennis court on the way to their suite. They removed their sandals before entering, as Hawaiian custom dictated. He paused before opening the door of the master bedroom.

She reached up, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and gently pressing her lips to his, opening them to explore, taste and tease. Heat washed over her like ocean waves. His hands trailed down her back, and he pulled her as close as their clothing would allow. Pierce’s earthy, sexy scent filled her senses, making her want more of him. She dared to dream that this could go the distance.

Raven had sworn off men and moved to a more stable sexual relationship with Doc Johnson products. She had accepted that she might be alone for the rest of her life. Thank God for dildos! Without them she would be anything but pleasant to be around. But she had to admit the dildo was coming up short when compared to the things Pierce put on her mind.

Pierce ended their kiss, slowly, reluctantly, then leaned in for seconds, thirds, and fourths.

As her fingers trailed over his bare head, she sighed softly. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first night I met you.”

Pierce grinned, patting his smooth scalp. “Finally, the shave pays off.”

As they moved out onto the balcony, Raven looked up at him. She’d never seen such a hungry look in a man’s eyes. And he was hungry—for her. That made it all the more wonderful, yet at the same time threw her off balance. Pierce would want more than she was prepared to give any man. She never had a desire for the storybook wedding and happily-ever-after. Fairytales were just that—implausible stories made up to entertain the masses and give a false sense of hope.

Pierce interrupted her thoughts. “We have an early day tomorrow.”

She took a seat on the glider. The moon, vibrant in its fullness, provided the perfect illumination for the ocean waves. “I’m going to stay out here for a while. I need to think about some things.”

Pierce’s brow furrowed. “Come on, honey, you’re tired,” he implored. “It’s been a long day.”

“I’ll be in shortly. I promise,”

“Raven, I’m not comfortable leaving you out here alone.”

“Go, please,” she said, shooing him away. “Just let me soak this in alone. I have a lot to think about, Pierce—and I can’t think straight with you around.”

He grinned at her compliment. “And I don’t need to tuck you in?”

“I’ll see you in the morning,” she said, motioning him inside once again.

“I’d like nothing better.” Pierce’s husky voice, filled with sexual promise, made her tingle in all the right places. His stroll was sure and steady. And the back view wasn’t bad at all.
Nice ass! Hell, nice everything!

“And thank you,” she called out, halting his movements.

Pierce turned back to her.

“For not assuming I was ready for more,” she added.

He tipped an imaginary hat in her direction before going to his bedroom.

An unfamiliar emptiness filled her heart. Longing, a sensation she’d kept tightly controlled, sprang to the surface, screaming, “Hey, it’s about damn time for some of that. Forget the rules! Forget your confusion. Forget the dildo! Let’s have at ‘em!”

“We will,” she whispered to the full moon. “But not tonight,” she added, wondering if cold showers worked for women.

How could he make her feel like the most precious woman in the world? She had more common sense than to fall in love with him, didn’t she? Real love, if it even existed, didn’t just materialize overnight. This had to be her imagination.

What was she doing asking to stay in Maui with him for two whole weeks? Raven knew she had to be back in Chicago by Monday. She had been cleared for a visit to the Castle and didn’t want to screw it up. The place was an exclusive club where all fantasies—real or imagined—came true. Martina and Jonathan Steward, the sponsoring couple, had been conditioning Raven for over a year—four times a month at their home, teaching Raven the rules of becoming an initiate—a Maid of the Castle.