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His eyes met mine, drilling into them, and finally he nodded. “You need to dump that inferiority thing you have going on. It’s a total buzzkill. Don’t pull old baggage out either. That shit is burned up and the ashes have been dumped in the harbor. You have unresolved issues with your shit parents … I get that part. But my family shouldn’t suffer because of it. You adore Lisbeth and she loves you too. If you think she’s great, you’ll love my family even more.”
I don’t know why, but my eyes had teared up and the water was making a freakin’ mess on my face. I didn’t want him to see because I wanted to be strong, to be the kind of girl he could be proud of, and not some stupid mewling idiot. I turned my head and quickly swiped my cheeks.
He walked around the island and pulled me against him.
“You don’t have to hide your tears, you know.”
“I don’t want to be weak. I want to be someone you can be proud of.”
“I am proud of you. Just the way you are. What I want is for you to be proud of yourself.” He held me close as he rubbed my back.
“Come on, honey, let’s eat before I have to heat this thing up again and it tastes just like the box.”
Thirteen
True to his word, Pearce took me gun shopping the following day. He decided on a Glock, which meant nothing to me. Then we went to the range behind the gun shop, and he taught me how to use it. It was surprising to discover I actually enjoyed shooting the darn thing. It was fun! Admittedly, I needed a lot of practice, but I never thought I would like to fire a gun as much as I did. The owner of the gun shop taught a concealed weapons class and Pearce enrolled me in that as well. The class started the week after next. The class was eight hours long and would take three nights.
Because it was the holidays, it took the rest of the week before all the security could be set up at Lisbeth’s. That meant I stayed with Pearce until after New Year’s Day. Since Thursday night was New Year’s Eve, I stayed then too.
Pearce told me to pack an overnight bag, and to bring warm casual clothes. We weren’t going to any big party or fancy restaurants, but we were spending the night alone.
Late on Thursday, I arrived at his house after work with my bag ready to go and we headed out. When we got to the City Marina, I had a good idea of what we were going to do. He looked at me and grinned.
We boarded the TSCSC … well, he piggybacked me on board. Jack was already there, along with a chef, who would be serving our dinner that night.
We were underway in no time and headed out into the harbor. Pearce wanted to make sure we were anchored in a good spot to catch the fireworks show at midnight. We would be spending the night on the boat, but Jack and the chef would take the dinghy back to the marina. Pearce would drive the yacht back in the morning.
The night could not have been more beautiful with a gazillion stars twinkling in the sky. The light of the moon reflected over the water, and we sat in the enclosed upper deck eating our intimate dinner by candlelight. The chef served grilled lobster tails, which melted in your mouth, and a creamy tomato bisque as a starter. The meal was exquisite.
“You’re perfect tonight, Alexia.” Pearce reached over and caressed my cheek. “I could stare at you endlessly. I love to watch you eat. You savor every bite.”
“No, that’s not true. I only savor the good stuff, and you always feed me the good stuff.” I smiled.
He moved his hand across the table and ran his thumb over my bottom lip. Then he took a hold of my hand, gave it a gentle tug and said, “Come over here, Alexia. I’ve looked at you long enough without touching you.”
I found myself in his lap being thoroughly kissed by him. Pearce knew how to kiss. I always came to life in his arms, especially when he started moving his mouth over mine. Thinking coherently around him wasn’t in my wheelhouse.
“Mmm, you make the sweetest little sounds when we kiss. You’re way too sexy.” He moved his tongue down my neck, and I sucked in my breath. It always excited me when he did that. He knew exactly where to touch me to send me into a tailspin.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?” he asked.
“Turn me on this much?”
He snorted. “Babe, if you only knew what you do to me.”
I took his face and held it between the palm of my hands and said, “Tell me, Pearce. Please tell me, because you have me burning for you.”
His voice turned husky and he said, “You really have no idea, do you? You are so unaware of yourself. Doubtful of everything. From the first moment I met you, I noticed it. You reminded me of a frightened rabbit, waiting to scurry off. I saw something in you then. It started from the very first time I looked at you and it hasn’t stopped. It’s only intensified. Now that I know the secrets of your body, I can’t seem to get enough. I love to watch you talk, the way your lips move as your mouth forms words. I almost lose it when your tongue peeks out to moisten your lips. Sometimes, I wake up at night and watch you sleep. And when we’re loving each other and you arch your back in pleasure, God, I want to emboss that picture of you in my mind forever. But it’s your eyes that truly win me over. Their warmth, their softness, and kindness. Sometimes it’s hard for me to pull myself away. And when I tell you to open your eyes and look at me when you come, I see what’s reflected in their depths. You can’t hide that from me. You try not to show it, Alexia, but your love comes shining through at that very moment. It’s there and it’s only for me.” By the time he finished, his lips were touching mine as he murmured against my mouth. Then he kissed me and the warmth that usually spread through my veins had turned into a raging inferno. No one had ever touched me like this, and I couldn't stop the wave of emotions that rushed over me.
“Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said as he felt the moisture of my tears against his face.
“I’m crying because that was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I kissed him again and we sat there together, me on his lap, just making out like two kids. My hands were on his steely abs, feeling them ripple and his were all over my body. But neither of us made a move to take this any further. We were just exploring each other, lost in our emotions.
Later that night we watched the fireworks from the top deck as we toasted the new year and then we went to the stateroom and did our own kind of ringing in the new year.
