Page 22 of Pining for Pierce

Anyone else would have been better than him. Because saying ‘yes’ to him was a dumb move.

I realized that the moment he called for me at my office. He wasn’t supposed to do that. We’d arranged to meet at MD’s, but there he was, right outside the door, waiting to pounce. That was how it felt, anyway, and I practically jumped out of my skin when he stepped forward.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“What does it look like?”

“I don’t know. We agreed to meet at the bar, so…”

“I thought I’d wait for you here instead.”

That struck me as intrusive. How did he know I didn’t have something else to do before meeting up with him? I didn’t like him making assumptions about me. But before I could say anything, he’d taken my hand in his.

My heart was racing, but not with excitement. This was a mixture of irritation and uncertainty.

It was a normal reaction, caused by the fact that I wasn’t expecting him to be there. That was what I told myself as my heartbeat struggled to return to normal. Which it did… until he kissed me. I hadn’t been expecting that, either.

We’d just crossed the street, and had stepped up on the sidewalk by the bookstore, when I felt his hand on the back of my neck. There was something a little rough about his touch, and the next thing I knew, we’d stopped walking and he’d turned to face me, his head bent closer. I knew what was coming as his lips touched mine, but what I hadn’t prepared for was the forcefulness of his kiss. His tongue delved into my mouth, the way made easy by my gasp, and he explored me thoroughly, tipping his head one way and then the other, while his other hand roamed down my side, and then around my waist, pulling me close. It was a horrible sensation. I felt trapped, and although I pushed against him, he ignored me, only ending the kiss when he was ready.

“I didn’t… I mean, that wasn’t…” I stammered, and he smiled down at me.

“I know,” he said. “That wasn’t what you’re used to, was it?”

The arrogance of the man.“No. I meant it was…”

“Don’t sweat it, babe,” he said, keeping his arm around my waist as he led me toward MD’s. “I’m not like the guys you usually date.”

I didn’t know how to tell him I didn’t date other guys. I didn’t want to reveal that much of myself to him, so I walked in silence, hoping he wouldn’t try to kiss me again.

“I can’t stay for very long,” I said as we sat at a table.

“Oh?” It was as though he felt I owed him an explanation, but I didn’t, and I nodded my head, giving him the only answer he deserved. A silent one. “Okay,” he replied eventually. “We’ll just have a drink and then I’ll take you home.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “You don’t need to. I’ve got my car here… at the doctor’s office.”

“Oh, yeah.”

He sounded disappointed, but that wasn’t my problem, although I couldn’t think up an excuse when he offered to walk me back to my car, which was unfortunate. Even so, I didn’t delay in finishing my drink, doing my best not to look impatient while he drank his, telling me about his job.

“Why weren’t you there today?” I asked when he finally stopped talking long enough for me to say something.

He frowned and then nodded his head. “I had a couple of meetings this morning,” he murmured. “And I’m taking some time off. I’ve been working really hard the last few weeks, and Dad said I should take a break.”

“I see.”

He didn’t seem too happy, and quickly finished his drink before repeating his offer to walk me back to my car.

“There’s no need,” I said, pushing my chair under the table.

“I insist.”

It seemed there was no way out of it, and he took my hand again, leading me from the bar and back onto Main Street. Part of me wondered if I was being unreasonable. After all, his clumsy kiss could have been a sign of nerves, and he was being a gentleman… at least until we got back to my car and he pinned me against the door, keeping me there with his body while he kissed me, his hands wandering up and down my sides. As he covered my breast with one, I twisted my head away, breaking the kiss.

“Stop, Kaiden. I don’t want to.”

He stepped back. “Okay,” he said, pausing for a second or two before he smiled down at me. “I’ll wait.”

I wanted to tell him not to bother, but I couldn’t find my voice, and it seemed more important to get away from him, so I unlocked the car, getting inside and starting the engine. He waved me goodbye, and I drove home, feeling like I’d had a lucky escape.

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