Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“God, don’t stop!” she begs.

I couldn’t if I wanted to because my entire body is ready to blow. “I need you there, baby,” I grunt.

She yells out my name, her body shuddering against mine. That’s all it takes to pull me there with her. A powerful explosion rocks over me as I pour into her until there’s nothing left. My vision clears, and her face comes back into focus.

A small smile crosses her lips, but it’s nothing compared to the liquid amber pools staring back. I recognize the glow, and my cock lurches. No downtime needed.

We’re only getting started.

Chapter 11

Darby

It’s going to be a good day.

And that has nothing to do with the fact that I had sex. It has everything to do with the fact that a thousand-pound weight is off my shoulders. Pierce and I cleared the air, and even if it was in the possibly most dangerous way for two people with our history, there are no regrets. My thoughts are interrupted when the phone rings, and I’m amazed when Stephanie’s name pop up on my dash.

“What are you doing up this early?” I greet her.

“Your business is a pain in my ass.”

Runner barks and moves his body to the console at the sound of her voice.

“What happened?”

“You made national news is what happened. Somehow, your little outfit in Charleston hit social media, and Brasher Resorts is chomping at the bit to get that contract and fly you to their headquarters for a formal announcement.”

“Ooooookayyyyyy, is this bad news?”

“No, but since you don’t have a public relations company, they think I’m your personal go-to gal. Their PR group is hounding me.”

“Is a public announcement necessary?”

“What the hell is going on down there?” Her voice rises, and she ignores my question.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” I lie.

“You sound different.”

“I sound normal. You’re grouchy because you’re up early.”

“No, seriously, you sound different.”

I sigh. “Fine, I was going to call you tonight and fill you in. Pierce knows everything.”

“He knows?”

“Yes.”

“Did you sign the contract before or after you told him?

“I signed it after. Why?”

“What happened? There are some missing pieces here.”

“There was an incident Tuesday night. I got caught in a bad position that almost ended with me coming face to face with Pierce, Connie, and their kids. I panicked.”

“How did he take the news?”

“Too much for me to tell you on my way into work. It was messy, dramatic, and things got out of hand. But he showed up last night, and we talked things through. I think we’re in a good place.”

“That’s it? Did you tell him about Brasher?”

“No, I didn’t see any reason to.”

“Did you get laid?”

“STEPHANIE! Why would you say that?”

Runner barks enthusiastically, giving me away.

There’s a rustling of sorts, and I can picture her in her home office sifting through papers. “Never mind. I want all the details, but it’s too early to discuss the reincarnation of your sex life. I’m going to call Brasher. Can you get to Aspen next week?”

“Push it off two weeks? There’s a lot happening around here.”

“Yep. They’d do anything to keep you on the line right now.”

“Kinda late for that, considering the contract is signed. I’ll give Mom a head’s up that she’s becoming a real assistant. Tell your contacts to call her with the details.”

“Shit,” she screams, the phone clattering down. A second passes before she responds, “Sorry, I’m back.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, but is Evin in the office today?”

“I suppose. He was going to scan the paperwork and have his assistant overnight them to you.”

“Great, I have to go. Talk to you tonight.” She hangs up in such a rush there’s no time to say goodbye.

I pull into the garage by my building and let Runner out to go roam the grassy area across the small driveway. While he does this, I watch in the darkness with a smile on my face, leaning against the back door. For the first time in as long as I can remember, a feeling of contentment settles within me.

Runner does his thing, and out of nowhere, a light flickers on, blinding me for a second. I let out a little squeal, which has Runner racing to my side. Security lights beam all around the area, and a truck roars somewhere close. A few seconds later, that same truck pulls up in front of me. Pierce hops out, looking like a man who should be on a billboard, not a man that left my house at midnight to meet a moonlighting contractor.

“The security system is in place.”

“This is what you had to do last night?”

“I don’t like the thought of you here in the dark.”

I roll my eyes and internally push down the butterflies fluttering alive in my stomach. “I’m fine.”

“You are now, especially since your landlord agreed with me about the security measures.”

“Should be interesting,” I say under my breath and head to the door, only to find a new state-of-the-art keypad installed.