Sweet Surrender Read online

  No translation was necessary. Her message came through with a clarity that made his stomach clench.

  “Staying for dinner? Maybe you can tell me about your tenant. Morton was gushing about her,” Sheena said as they headed upstairs to the kitchen.

  “Sure,” Pierce said, realizing that he wasn’t ready to tell her about Haley. From the way she mentioned Morton’s “gushing,” he’d refrain from making any comments about her. “Where’s Carlton, senior and junior?”

  “Carlton took Junior to visit his mother. They’ll be back sometime this evening,” she explained.

  “Why don’t I keep you company till they get back,” he said. Standing in her kitchen, he realized that he did miss Sheena’s former open-door policy. Although he’d eaten an hour ago, he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to sit and chat and even laugh with his younger sister.

  “I’ll fix some leftovers, but you need to get out of my way. You’re hovering,” Sheena said and playfully pushed him away.

  “Fine. I’m better off on the sidelines. And besides, you’re trampling on my ego pretty good.” Pierce grabbed a banana from the bowl on the counter.

  “You’re going to ruin your appetite,” Sheena said as she pulled three thick pieces of pork chops from the oven. “Potato salad?”

  Pierce nodded and tossed the banana peel into the trash. “Sheena, I really want to talk about the house. I feel as if it still stands between us. We’ve never had anything of this magnitude between us.”

  Sheena put down his plate and set another spot at the table before she took her place.

  “Who’s joining us?”

  “Omar.” She pointed her fork at him. “When he gets here, don’t jump on him.”

  Pierce didn’t respond. Several questions were ready to spill off his tongue. He hadn’t seen Omar in weeks. Obviously, Omar was still in Sheena’s good graces.

  “I mean it, Pierce. You can’t run his life,” she continued.

  “Sounds like you’ve taken up that baton.” He shoved a piece of pork chop into his mouth. So what if he sounded jealous. “For some reason, you all see me as the big bad guy who has ruined your lives.”

  The front door opened and Omar breezed in. The way he moved would make people think that he was a serious athlete.

  “Yo, sis.” Omar’s greeting died when he walked into the dining room. “Hey, Pierce,” he said and nodded in Pierce’s direction. Omar didn’t smile or grin in greeting.

  “Omar.” Pierce swallowed the questions that he wanted to pour down his brother’s throat. If he went down that route, Sheena would be all over him. As much as he acted as if he didn’t care what they thought, he didn’t enjoy being alone in an emotional corner with none of his siblings on his side.

  “Something wrong?” Omar looked at Sheena, then cautiously at Pierce.

  “No,” Pierce answered. “I dropped by and wanted to invite you all over on Saturday afternoon. Nothing big. Mainly family and close friends. I think Morton will be there.” If Omar refused to talk to him about something as important as his future, he knew that Morton would take the younger Masterson male under his wing the same way he’d mentored Pierce.

  “Inviting your tenant and her daughter?” Sheena asked, turning her keen gaze on him.

  “Laura will be hanging out with Beth. They’re heading to West Virginia on a shopping trip that had to be cut short when Laura got sick the other day.”

  “Haven’t talked to Laura lately. She said that she had the stomach flu,” Sheena added.

  “She was down for about two days. I told her to keep drinking liquids even when she didn’t feel like eating.” Pierce looked at the plate with more than half of his food untouched. His stomach threatened to bust. “I believe she’s feeling better,” Pierce concluded.

  “Are you done?” Omar asked, eyeing Pierce’s plate. Pierce shoved his meal toward Omar. Food around Omar never went to waste.

  “You’ve talked about the daughter. What about the mother?”

  Pierce knew he had stepped onto a marshy area from the frosty nip in Sheena’s voice. However, she hadn’t met Haley. Any bias against Haley circled back to the house that happened to be at the center of every issue.

  “I’ve invited Haley. If she can make it, you and Omar can meet her.”

  “Hold everything, you’re getting it on with the tenant? And she’s got a child!” Omar set his knife down and held up his hand for a high five with Pierce. “You da man, big brother,” Omar crowed.

  Pierce could have used this moment as a chance to bond with his younger brother. He could have shown that he was down like that, and all the other hip slang he could think of. But slapping palms over his woman wasn’t “cool” or respectful.

  Omar lowered his hand when Pierce sat back in the chair, his hands firmly set on the table. Omar’s silly grin quickly evaporated.

  “Glad I’m not the only one that has a problem with this,” Sheena prompted.

  “I don’t know why that is, Sheena. As the landlord, I’ve been overseeing the house. I think if that’s what concerns you, then you should make arrangements to visit. Haley has done a fantastic job in putting life back into that house. The neighbors have grown fond of her and her daughter.” He pushed ahead before they could fire more questions at him. “Yes, I’m attracted to her. And we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

  “Is she coming on Saturday?” Sheena pressed, as she gathered the dishes and headed to the kitchen.

  “I don’t know,” Pierce replied.

  Chapter 9

  Pierce’s house nestled in an elegant cul-de-sac with estates that featured grand, beautifully manicured landscapes. His home sat on an elevated lot at the top of the driveway with a double door garage and three expansive levels.

  Unlike her home, which had a front porch and country-style architecture, this house had a more modern face. Haley adjusted the overnight bag on her shoulder. She had to take a deep breath to continue walking up the path to the front door.

  “Hi. I’m glad you made it,” Pierce said as he stood in the open doorway.

  Haley looked at him, thinking that he couldn’t look any better in a lightweight white cotton shirt and shorts. He offered his hand to invite her in.

  Given the mental turmoil that she had undergone on her way to the decision to accept his invite, she was glad that she had decided to come. Now she didn’t want his hand, she wanted more.

  Haley ran toward him and threw her body into his embrace. She kissed him, holding on to his shoulders to anchor the soaring elation that overcame her.

  “It feels so good to have you in my arms,” Pierce whispered against her hair.

  “The feeling is mutual.” She followed him into the cool interior of the house. The raised ceilings, decorated rooms and quality furniture made the house look like a model home.

  Pierce kept his arm around her waist. She enjoyed the warmth of his body and the feel of his skin brushing against hers. As she walked through the foyer, past the elegant living room, down the hall into the kitchen, she thought how vast the house seemed for one person. Pierce didn’t strike her as the partying type who would have floods of people filling the space.

  “Oh, my! How beautiful.” Flowers decorated an enclosed porch that had lit votive candles along the sides. The scent of peaches filled the air and the heady, fruity fragrance propelled her farther into the house. “I love the smell of peaches. It makes me feel young.” Haley giggled, a little embarrassed to admit something so personal.

  “I would do anything for you,” Pierce said. He moved in and out of the room, bringing in containers that she recognized as catered dinner entrées.

  “I’m learning to accept your strengths,” Haley replied. She walked over to inhale the aromas of the food. Beef, chicken and cheese burritos, Spanish rice and black beans were in the numerous containers. Her appetite stirred under the wonderful mixture of meat, sauces and spices. “Let’s talk while we eat.”

  “Not a problem. Your stomach’s gr
owl begs to be fed.”

  She helped herself, then got comfortable on the cushions. The area had been set up for an indoor picnic. Pierce had chosen a perfect setting. There were no climate issues or annoying bugs. An overhead fan circulated the air and made the humidity bearble.

  “You are too romantic for your own good,” she said as he spread several layers of blankets and tablecloths on the ground. Each piece complemented the peach-and-gold color décor of the room. “Did Laura help you with this?” She leaned over to share a kiss.

  “I would lie, but I’m going to have to brag. Laura did send me to this store filled with wicker, linens and these candles. I did a survey among five women. They told me what to do,” he confessed.

  “You’re a very resourceful man. What would you have done without their help?”

  “Fixed waffles and told you about the lovefest I have planned.”

  She laughed.

  “The women said that focusing on the food is a good thing, but shouldn’t be the defining factor. They told me to focus on ambience.” He scooted closer to her and kissed her shoulder.

  “I don’t want to go to your bedroom. I’m afraid that I may freeze up on you, nerves and all. I like it here.”

  “Not a problem.” He walked over to the wall and pressed a button. A privacy screen rolled down each window panel.

  “I can still see.”

  “That’s the idea. We can see outside and still admire the outdoors. My neighbors, however, will have to return to their prime-time shows for the evening drama.”

  “Oh darn, and I was hoping to be the cause of gossip in your neighborhood,” she teased.

  “Not on your life. The citations are too costly, even if it would be worth it,” he said and chuckled huskily. He settled beside her and reached for his glass of margarita. She followed suit. “To family, friends and beyond.”

  “Hear, hear.” She sipped at her margarita, enjoying the accurate balance of bitter sweetness and alcohol.

  She barely had time to set down her glass when Pierce pulled her across his lap and into his arms. She remained cradled next to his body looking into eyes that overflowed with desire.

  She blushed to think that she couldn’t hide her naked response from him. Her entire body ached for his touch. She arched against him and offered her mouth, shuddering as his lips brushed hers.

  “Don’t tease me,” she begged.

  “We’ve got all night.”

  Haley tried to follow his rules, concentrating on restraint. As he planted small kisses down her neck to the opening of her shirt, her desire tested her control like a raging flood seeking freedom. He unbuttoned her shirt, his fingers carelessly brushing against her skin. Zapping her with a stun gun would have had less effect than the strong energy that generated and flowed between them whenever his skin made contact with hers.

  He unsnapped her bra and slid the flimsy piece aside. She swore that if he didn’t stop playing around her sensitive nipples with his tongue, she would pull out each strand of his hair.

  He kissed each peak and she moaned, not caring if she sounded like an animal on the prowl. She pulled open his shirt, sure that she heard a couple buttons hit the floor. She’d think about restitution for the collateral damage later. His chest hair was low, almost nonexistent. She ran her hands over his chest, feeling the muscles twitch and harden under her touch.

  They both reached their limit in pretending that haste didn’t have a place in their foreplay. Pierce pulled at his pants, sliding them down his hips. Haley finished undressing, handing him a condom. “I figured it was my turn,” she said.

  On their knees they faced each other, breathing heavily. The glow of the candles threw a romantic, dreamlike quality onto their private cocoon.

  Haley clasped hands with Pierce, inching forward until her breasts touched his chest. Then she kissed a path from the indentation at the base of his neck, over his Adam’s apple, to his chin. Pierce definitely had physical beauty, but she was drawn to the tender nature of this man in his professional and personal life. His sensitivity was her biggest turn on.

  He had beautified his home, not knowing if she would come. That showed how much he wanted her, though he hadn’t pressured her. Without any doubt, she knew that she had fallen in love with him. Was loving this man a good idea? Haley couldn’t contemplate that question right now. In this moment, she was with him. Her heart echoed the sentiment repeatedly as she slid her hands up his chest and around his neck.

  Falling for Pierce was like standing on the edge of a beautiful pool. One part of her wanted to test the water with one toe. Her wilder side dictated that she jump in and let her survival mode kick in as she scrambled to the surface.

  “I’m ready. On three,” she said to Pierce.

  “One. Two. Three,” Pierce counted, not missing a beat.

  Pierce lowered her onto the pillows. She raised her hips to bid him welcome.

  Their bodies connected in a rhythm that pulsed with their need and their hunger for each other. Haley surrendered all her inhibitions to ride each sensual wave that coursed through her entire body.

  Pierce played with her, teasing a response from between her legs. The mind-blowing pleasure he elicited made her quiver as he delved with masterful strokes. As he increased the tempo, she wrapped the blankets around them, holding him prisoner in her sexual paradise. His grunts mixed with her moans. Their passion raised the temperature on her inside, as well as on her skin.

  Their embrace tightened, closing out any space between them. Again, he increased the tempo. Haley bore down, feeling the pressure rise as she floated up and over rolling waves of pleasure, each higher than the last. She licked her lips, wanting to say something, scream, cry, moan as her body answered his call to join in the erotic explosion. They hung on to each other, riding the course until the end.

  “Haley, will you spend the night?”

  “Only if we have an encore performance.”

  He kissed her softly. They lay happy and exhausted looking out into the dark backyard. Most of the candles had burned out. They wanted to stay close until the last candle winked out, leaving them in the darkness to fall asleep.

  Pierce awoke on Saturday, hoping that the night before wasn’t a dream. And if it wasn’t a dream, he hoped that Haley was still beside him. He turned over to see her curled up with the covers tucked under her chin, her hair splayed against the pillow.

  One look at her sleeping form and his appetite stirred like a sleeping giant. He played with her hair, following its gentle curl that lay along her cheek. She moved slightly when his finger touched her skin. He thought of himself as the luckiest man.

  “You may not know it, but you’ve got my heart, Haley Sanders,” he whispered. One day, he hoped to have the courage to tell her. For now, he’d settle for her subconscious.

  He kissed her cheek and then the corner of her lips, before engulfing her mouth with his. She stirred under his attention, coming awake in a sleepy haze. He saw her immediate reaction as she tried to get her bearings.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said.

  She pulled up the cover and looked beneath. “Oh.”

  “We’re in the buff,” he confirmed.

  “There’s no one else in this house, correct?”

  “That’s right.” He rolled away and got out of bed. “How about a glass of orange juice?”

  She nodded, but not before he caught her admiring his naked body.

  “You can have your way with me when I return,” he joked.

  “Good. I’d hate to think that Friday night was all you had in you.”

  “Be right back.” He grinned and headed for the kitchen. Suddenly he wished that he hadn’t invited his family and Morton for the Saturday afternoon get-together. He’d much rather make love to Haley all day until Laura returned with Beth.

  “Here’s your beverage.” He handed her the glass and then scooted under the covers to play. “I’ve got to tell you something,” he said.

  “Wha
t?” She sipped at her juice while playfully slapping his fingers away from her nipples.

  “My family and some friends are coming over for a cookout this afternoon.” He caressed her shoulder, planning his next move. He planned to conquer her inch by inch.

  “That scares me,” Haley said.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”

  “See, now that worries me. The fact that you have to be here with me makes me think that your family has sharp, big fangs that may gobble me up.”

  “You’ve met Laura,” he said.

  “Yeah, but somehow, I get the feeling that your other sister isn’t quite like Laura.”

  He knew this should be a serious discussion, but when the covers fell to her waist, all thought of family scuttled out of his brain.

  Now wasn’t a time for talking. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her with pent-up passion that had lingered from the night. Luckily, there were no clothes to slide off bodies and discard. Haley straddled him in her undressed state. His body woke up as his mind registered the various parts of her anatomy. He slipped on his protection.

  She worked her hips, riding him, taking him to the point of screaming. Her hips gyrating above his sent him into a frenzy, devoid of any coherent speech. Her tempo, so unlike his, teased and soothed so that she toyed with him in a delightfully unfair manner.

  Alone in their world, he surrendered to her. She was his queen. As such, he waited for her to reach her peak. That moment when the moans started down deep in her body and he could feel it through her hips. Not until she came with a climactic force did he follow suit.

  Pierce didn’t have much time to prepare for his cookout. Thankfully, he had purchased everything he needed the day before. All he had to do was get the grill heated and ready for use. He was sure that Morton would come with a big appetite.

  “Pierce, someone is coming up the driveway.” Haley sat in the living room, peering out a curtained window.

  “That’s Omar.” Pierce opened the door, making sure that he didn’t burden Haley with that task.