Edge of Disaster Read online

  “This is amazing! I bet it’s gorgeous in the daylight.”

  “Yeah, except in the summer it’s so damn hot you can’t walk out here after eight in the morning.”

  “I can imagine. But this is great. Look at all the stars.”

  “They really pop on a crisp night like tonight.”

  He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him.

  “Is this okay Alexia?”

  “Hmm. Yeah, Pearce, it’s more than okay. You have to understand something. I’m not hesitant because of me. I’m only this way because of you. It’s for your protection.”

  “Well then, why don’t you stop worrying about me for a while. I’m a big boy and can take care of myself.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  He bent his head into my hair and inhaled. “I love the way you smell Alexia.”

  Something, I don’t know what, made me turn in his arms and the next thing I knew we were kissing. Not testing the waters kind of kissing, but full blown sparks flying, knees turning to Jell-o kind of kissing. My back was suddenly against the door and somehow he’d lifted me up and my legs were wrapped around his waist. His shirt was out of his pants and my hands were on his warm, smooth skin. And dear God, I’d never felt heat like this before. Never. Not even with Peter. It was nirvana.

  I wanted to tear off my clothes and feel every inch of his naked skin next to mine. I wanted to run my hands across his chest and lick every inch of his body. I’d never had the urge to do that with anyone. Ever.

  He lifted his head and looked directly into my eyes. Those smoky gray orbs of his were half closed and heavy with passion. They were reaching into my mind and asking that question, and I knew I had to say no, but I didn’t want to. I wanted this moment to go on and on, with my body wrapped in his warm embrace.

  “I want to but I can’t...not until you know everything about me. Then you’ll have to decide if you want to continue down this path Pearce.”

  “Then talk to me Alexia. Tell me what I need to know.”

  “Like this?”

  “Yes, like this. Here. Now.”

  I licked my lips and swallowed. I had to find the courage to tell him the truth. It wasn’t easy but I forced the words out of my mouth.

  “I moved here after Peter died. Everyone I knew blamed me for his death so I had to get out of Lynchburg. When I got here I started partying...hard. Really hard. Not just alcohol. Drugs. Coke and weed mostly. Other stuff too like X. Nothing in the vein. Mainly pills. Anyway, I...” I dropped my head and squeezed my eyes shut and forced my breath through my lips. Taking another deep one, I rubbed my forehead and then my eyes. “I, hell, I really fucked around a lot. A lot Pearce. Not just a few times. This went on for three years so you can imagine. One morning I woke up between two guys I didn’t even know. Fuck, the truth is I didn’t know any of them. I didn’t want to know any of them. And if you ask me why, I can’t tell you. After that last stint, my friend Terri picked me up and made me go and get tested. Thank God I’m healthy. But I made the decision then to change. I stopped it all...no drugs, drinking, clubs anything. The only alcohol I’ve had has been with you. I don’t have a drinking problem. I don’t even want the stuff. I haven’t been in a club or a bar since that night with you...that night I was attacked. Anyway, I thought you should know all of this before...so now that you do I guess you’ll want to take me home.”

  I wiggled a bit but he only held me tighter.

  Why wasn’t he putting me down?

  “Alexia, you have to stop making decisions for me. I told you I was a big boy and I meant it. Now, as for your behavior, I can’t say I like what you’ve done because it would be a lie. I can’t even say I understand it but I think I know why you did it. You have this self-loathing thing going on and it’s part of that. You were giving yourself more of a reason to continue to hate yourself. I’m glad you stopped, I’m glad you got tested and I’m ecstatic you’re healthy. You’re obviously not an addict, to alcohol or drugs, or you’d have gone back to them way before now. Just so we’re clear on all of this, you are responsible for your actions here, but you’ve cleaned up your ways and everyone fucks up. You’ve learned from your mistakes so you need to forgive yourself and move on. Okay?”

  I nodded, feeling this burden had been lifted.

  “Now will you go out to dinner with me?”

  I started laughing my ass off and so did he.

  “Will you do something for me?” he asked.

  “Yes, what?”

  “Will you go to counseling? You’ve been through entirely too much shit to handle this on your own.”

  He felt me stiffen and he raised his brows.

  “I did and it made me worse.”

  “Then you had a shitty counselor. I know someone who’s excellent. Will you go?”

  I scrunched up my face and looked at him.

  “Under one condition. If he makes me call my parents, I call it quits with your friend. I refuse to call my parents.”

  “Fine. Just be up front about that.”

  I nodded and agreed. “Are your arms not about to give out?”

  “Alexia, my hands are on your lovely ass. What do you think?”

  I squealed when he squeezed me. And then he was kissing me all over again. Wet passionate kissing. My hands had wandered back to the exploration of his abs and my fingers stepped across the sculpted curves of his muscles. I wanted to tear his shirt off and stare and what I knew would be perfection.

  The door behind me suddenly opened and we were moving through it. We went down the stairs and I’m not quite sure how he accomplished it because his lips never left mine. His tongue danced with mine and the fire that started in my belly was now raging throughout my veins, turning my body into molten lava. My hands went back up to his hair, his thick soft wavy hair, and I fisted my hands in it and held on to him tightly.

  We broke apart briefly and I realized he’d stopped moving. We were standing in the doorway of his bedroom and he was looking at me with his head tilted to the side.

  “Alexia, I want to take you in there and make fierce passionate love to you for hours on end. I want to kiss your beautiful mouth and make you beg for me to do things to you you’ve never begged for before. I want to watch you sleep when you’re so exhausted, I can’t possibly eke one more orgasm out of you. But I won’t do that tonight. Even though I want you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. I won’t do it tonight...not because of what you’re thinking. I won’t do it because when we decide to do it, we decide together. For the right reasons and not in the heat of the moment.”

  He started walking again and carried me back down the next flight of stairs until we were back in the main living area.

  “Now that we’re here, I find that I don’t want to let you out of my arms,” he confessed.

  “Then don’t.”

  His lips crashed into mine again as he set me down on the sofa. I pulled him to me by grabbing his shirt and yanking him. He nearly fell on top of me, but I couldn’t have cared less. I didn’t want to let him go either. I wanted him in my arms. I wanted to be surrounded by his warmth, his touch, his smell. I wanted his lips on mine, his hands on my body.

  “Christ Alexia, you make it difficult on a man.”

  “Only you Pearce. I want you. Really want you. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”

  He started to say something but I put my fingers on his mouth.

  “Please, let me finish. I know what you’re going to say or maybe I don’t. But let me just get this out. You know about my past. I did all of that under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. Other than that sip of wine I had earlier, I’m totally sober here. This may even be too much info for you, but there has never been anyone in my life I’ve wanted like I want you Pearce. I want to feel you all over. I want to run my hands over your body. Maybe I’m rushing things. I don’t know. Maybe this isn’t what you want. If it’s not, just say the word and I’ll back off.
But if you feel like I do, please don’t hold back because you think it may be more sensible or something like that.”

  He rubbed his cheek against mine and asked, “Are you sure about this? The last thing I want is for you to regret anything that happens between us.”

  “Regret? The only thing I’d regret is not holding you next to me and feeling your heart beat against mine.”

  He was on me like a magnet. I barely got the last word out when his mouth was on mine, taking and giving at the same time. He lifted me in his arms again and I smiled against his mouth.

  “I think I could get used to this,” I whispered against his lips.

  “There’s no thinking about this. I know I could,” he said.

  Up the stairs we went and straight through his bedroom door. He set me down on the bed and followed me there, straddling me. He leaned back on his heels and just stared.

  I slid my hands up this thighs and continued to the waist of his jeans. I ran my fingers around it and under it, dying to get my hands all over him. As I unbuttoned his shirt I felt the breath leave my lungs. The man had no body fat. An exquisitely sculpted set of abs stared at me square in the eyes. I walked my fingers across them, nearly drooling at the sight before me.

  My gaze drifted back to his and his eyes were half closed as he watched me. He pulled my sweater up and gently tugged it over my head. I lowered my eyes as I felt a feeling of shyness blanket me as he watched me. He took his index finger and lightly ran it from the base of my throat down to the waist of my jeans. He stopped when he got there, and then unbuttoned my jeans. His eyes never left mine as I heard him slowly unzip them. Lifting himself off of me, he slid my jeans off after he took off my boots. While he was up, he slipped off his jeans too. I watched every move of his and gaped like a fool, because he was simply too beautiful.

  He turned and looked straight into my eyes as he shed his shirt. I wondered if he’d drop the boxers too. I didn’t have to wonder too long because they went right after the shirt. I’m sure my heart either skipped a bunch of beats, or maybe it stopped beating altogether. I know for certain I stopped breathing...at least for an hour or so.

  Slap me silly...this man should be the poster child for male perfection.

  “Alexia,” he breathed, “close your mouth sweetheart.” He chuckled.

  I swallowed. Again. “Fuck me Pearce.”

  “No sweetheart, not that. I intend to make love to you until you’re insane with pleasure. But I won’t ever fuck you.” Then he chuckled again.

  “Shit. I didn’t mean to saythat. Not shit. The fuck me part. Oh fuck!” I covered my face with my hands.

  Oh God! What the hell Lex! How could you have said that?

  He laughed again.

  “I mean...”

  “Sweetheart, I know what you meant. Or that you didn’t mean you wanted me to fuck you. I was trying to make a bit of a joke. But I do fully intend to drive you insane tonight.”

  “You already are...without even trying.”

  “Just you wait.” He slipped off my panties and next went my bra. Then he sat there and stared. I began to feel a bit self-conscious when he didn’t say anything. Finally, I think I started to squirm or something because he said, “Alexia, don’t be shy. You’re spectacular. You’ve a mouth made for kissing and a body made for love. You’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen. You’re skin is like silk...so soft and smooth and your hair. Dark chocolate...to match your eyes. Warm and inviting. You’re ravishing. And you’ve charmed the pants off of me. See?”

  I looked at him and giggled. Then his tongue was all over my body, making me writhe. He started at my neck and made his way south, slowly exquisitely and excruciatingly sexy. I couldn’t hold still as his tongue found areas of my body I had no idea could give me such pleasure. My ribcage, my hip bones. It went on and on. My gasps filled the room repeatedly. When his mouth clamped onto my nipple, I nearly flew off the bed. It was a good thing those old Charleston houses had thick walls or else the neighbors would’ve been appalled at the noises coming from Pearce’s house.

  Pearce stuck to his promise because he made me come twice before he really got down to business. By the time his mouth hit the inside of my thighs, I was jelly. I couldn’t have stood up if the house had been on fire. He nibbled and sucked and licked his way up my thigh until he came to that place where my legs joined together. He swirled and flicked his tongue across and around that tiny sensitive bud and then slipped it inside of me. He repeated this until I came again, practically screaming his name.

  “Not yet Alexia,” he said as he flipped me on my stomach. He started running his tongue up and down my spine, sucking and nipping at me. Running his hands along my back, he moved down to my ass and started massaging the muscles there. Soon I was so relaxed, he continued the massage up to my shoulders and neck.

  His tongue was everywhere. I soon felt his teeth on my ass, when he started biting me...little bites that drove me wild. Then his fingers were running down my ass and sliding along to that little crux of sensitivity, rubbing circles on it.

  “Please, Pearce. I need you. I need to feel you inside of me.”

  “I’m there Alexia,” he said as he flipped me back over and slid his length into me.

  “Ah,” I cried.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Just hold still for a minute. You’re kind of, um big,” I gasped.

  He burst out laughing. “I’m sorry sweetheart. Better?” he asked after a minute.

  “I’m not sorry,” I said as I nudged him. “And yes I’m much better now. In fact, I’m perfect.”

  “Don’t I know it.” He started moving again. At first, very slowly, gently, until I was used to him. Then he started moving a bit faster.

  “Oh yes, Pearce.”

  “Alexia, open your eyes and look at me.”

  I did as he asked. Those smoky gray eyes were intensely focused on me. Only me.

  “That’s it sweetheart. Tell me what you want.”

  “You. I want you.”

  “Yes, but how do you want me? Like this?” He swiveled his hips around and pushed himself into me.

  “Ahh,” I cried.

  “Or like this.” He pulled almost all the way out and then thrust back in and repeated the movement. “What do you like Alexia? Tell me so I’ll know. Or is this what you like?” He slipped a hand between us and started to rub that tiny spot. “Don’t close your eyes Alexia. You’re going to come and I want to watch.”

  Suddenly everything went out of control and I screamed his name as I orgasmed. It went on and on. I wrapped my legs around his waist and squeezed, rocking back and forth.

  “Oh, Alexia, yes,” he said as he came. We were both breathing like we’d just run a damn marathon or two.

  “Wow. Just wow,” I said after I could finally speak again.

  I felt his chest rumble. “I take it you were satisfied.”

  “Don’t even try to pretend you couldn’t tell.”

  He laughed even harder.

  “Is this something they teach in medical school because Dr. Middleton, you certainly have the magic touch?”

  Something shifted in his eyes. The humor disappeared and was replaced by an intense emotion that stirred my passion.

  “It’s you Alexia. I’ve never...” he closed his eyes for a moment and tucked his head in the crook of my neck. When he lifted it, his eyes were even darker. “I’ve never felt so close to someone while making love before. This is crazy, I know, but it’s the way I feel. I’m just being honest here.” His eyes never left mine as he spoke.

  I lifted my fingers to his lips and gently touched them. Then I put my lips where my fingers had been.

  “It’s not crazy at all. I know exactly how you feel because I feel the same way. I’ve never wanted to touch anyone like I want to touch you.”

  “Stay with me tonight. I want to wake up with you by my side, wrapped in my arms. I know this is fast and maybe we’re making a mistake, but I want you in my arms t
onight. Please say yes.”

  “I thought that was the plan. Didn’t you say you were going to make love to me all night long?

  “I did, didn’t I? Well, I’d better get a move on then because the last thing I’d want is to disappoint you. Alexia, tell me what you like.”

  “No Pearce. I want you to discover it for yourself. You’ve already done a damn good job of it so far.”

  He laughed and his hands started to work their magic.

  CHAPTER NINE

  I was being smothered and bound again. I felt bands tightening around me and I started to struggle...thrashing and kicking. Then I screamed and tried to break free of whoever had me trapped. I was gasping for air as I tried to escape.

  Suddenly I heard a voice that was calling my name. This time it was deep, rich and steady, and not harsh and nasty like before

  “Alexia, wake up. You’re having a nightmare. Please honey, wake up.”

  Hands were on my face, but they were touching me gently, moving my hair away. I opened my eyes and Pearce’s face came into focus. His eyes were soft, but filled with concern.

  “Oh Jesus, Pearce.” I was shaking so badly I couldn’t really speak.

  “Breathe for me honey. You had a nightmare. That’s all it was. Everything’s fine sweetheart.”

  “They had me again.”

  “No one has you but me.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his side. “Keep breathing honey, nice and slow. That’s it.”

  His hands moved up and down my back, massaging circles on it and slowly I felt the tension leave me.

  “I was so scared. I was back in that place again.”

  “I know sweetheart. You scared me to death when you started screaming. Everything’s okay now. You feeling better?”

  “Much, thanks.”

  I felt so safe in his arms. I knew at that moment I never wanted to leave.

  When I woke up again, the sun was streaming through the cracks in the shutters. A band of steel encircled my waist and a muscular thigh was draped across my hip. I peeked under the covers and grinned. Pearce’s hand splayed across my belly, so I covered his hand with my own.