Page 56 of Dirty Little Virgin
I’m shaking as he holds me. I’ve never allowed anyone to touch me this way.Only Pierce!
“Let me go!” I shout at him.
I must’ve surprised him with my tone, and he does what I’ve said to. “Jade!”
“No!” I shake my head and back away from him. “You should go. I don’t want your help. I was never hurt. You don’t understand.”
With a laugh, he says, “My dear, I’m forty-five years old. A man who’s been around the block a time or two. I know a young woman who’s been hurt when I see one. And, honestly, you need me more than I need you.”
“I don’t need you at all.” I turn away and he quickly grabs me again.
Turning me back to him I find his face full of compassion once more. “I know you might not believe this, but I have strong feelings for you. And with some time, I think you and I might have something worth the work I’m willing to put into you. Once I rid your mind of this masterful man who used and abused you then apparently left you, then you’ll feel better about things and be able to give me a real chance.”
“I’m not looking for romance or help, Charles. I thank you for keeping what you’ve uncovered to yourself. Having aspirations to be a writer under my own name has me worried about this coming out. I’m sure you understand.” I have to try to keep the man on my side, without having to marry the old fart.
“I’m not interested in romance until you’ve had some therapy to get your head straight about what happened to you. How many witnessed this happen to you, Jade?”
“We were in a secluded cabin in the woods.” I stop myself from saying anything else.
“He kept you secluded?” he asks with furrowed brows that make deep wrinkles crease his forehead. “Could this be considered a kidnapping?”
Shaking my head, I find him coming to his own conclusions. I know I have to let him in on the truth, no matter how hard it’ll be to talk about it. Or he might go to the authorities with what he’s conjuring up in his mind.
Shit! I can’t believe I have to do this!
Pierce
As the full moon comes up in the window of my office, I sit down on the sofa and take a much-needed break. It’s been six months since I sent Jade home and not one day goes by without me thinking about her and our time together.
A knock at my office door has me looking at it and an unexpected thought crosses my mind.What if it’s Jade?
“Who is it?” I ask.
“Grant Jamison, Pierce.”
“It’s open,” I call out and find a small piece of me let down that it’s not Jade.
The truth is, I half-hope she’ll defy my orders for her to stay away from me and come to me anyway, forcing me to accept her love and give her mine. But so far that hasn’t happened. We haven’t shared so much as a lousy text.
“Hey there, stranger,” Grant says as he takes a seat in the chair across from me. “Long time no see at the club. And I dare say you’re looking long in the face. Don’t you think it’s time to give your mind a little break from work and get into some wild chick? There are some new faces at The Dungeon of Decorum.”
“Nah,” comes my quick reply. I don’t want to tell Grant this, but I can’t think about any other woman that I want to put my hands on except Jade.
“Nah?” Grant asks with a smile. “Do you want to tell me why you sent that woman packing when you obviously love her ass?”
“Because I can’t be to her what I was when we had our two months alone. Work gets in my way. I’d end up hurting her. I know I would.” I kick the carpet like a little kid.
“What the fuck kind of reasoning is that?” he asks me as he throws his hands into the air. “I don’t recall ever hearing anything so nutty, Pierce. And I’ve heard a lot of crazy shit in my time.”
“Look, I respect the hell out of you,” I let Grant know. “But you have no clue how committed I am to this company. It takes most of my time. I barely make time to eat and shit, for God’s sake.”
Grant’s laugh makes me laugh as he says, “You find time to get that two-hour workout in every single day. And believe it or not, this company needs you, but not the entire amount of time you put into it. I think you have time for a relationship. If you want one, that is.”
“Maybe I don’t.” I look at him and finally admit it to him as well as myself, “Maybe I won’t be good at it.”
“Are you fucking around with me?” he asks me as he laughs again. “I saw the way that woman looked at you. I saw the connection you two had. And I damn sure see the mark she’s left on you. Stop fucking around, man. Go let her know what you really want. Make it work. No matter how much you have to bend to make it work, at least try.”
I’m more than a little surprised by his reaction. “Grant, to be honest, you’re the last guy I thought would be saying something like this to me. You’re kind of a player.”
