“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. You’re afraid to admit it.”
Goodness, Pierce could see right through her.
She swallowed. “Terrified.”
His fingers on the back of her neck tightened. “I’m more than happy to give you what you want, but you have to look me in the eye and say it out loud.”
Brea dug her nails into his forearms, her heart pounding. “I don’t understand.”
“I won’t settle for less than your enthusiastic consent when I take you to bed.”
She gaped. “Don’t you mean if?”
Abruptly, he released her. “If you really think it’s still a question, you’re bullshitting yourself. And we don’t have a whole lot more to say.”
“Wait. This is happening too fast.” Brea looked up at him, not even sure what she was silently begging for.
But he knew. “I’m cutting to the chase, pretty girl. Let me tell you what isn’t going to happen. I’m not going to seduce you. I’m not going to push or pressure or force you. You’re coming to me because you want it. From me. And no one else.”
“C-can’t we get to know each other?”
Brea was grasping at straws. Pierce wasn’t the sort of man who formed cute, benign friendships with girls. He had sex with women. Which meant he had no use for her.
As she’d feared, she was in way over her head.
“I’m sorry. That was a stupid question. I’ll go.” She looked away, humiliation blazing her cheeks as she charged for his front door.
Now if she could just manage to make it outside before her composure disintegrated…
Pierce grabbed her elbow and pulled her back. “It wasn’t stupid. I want to know more about you than your body. But I know exactly where this attraction is heading. Whether you want to admit it or not, we’ll wind up in bed. I’m just saying that I want your full consent when we get there. If you can’t give me that when the time comes, say goodbye now.”
Brea dragged in a deep breath. As far as he knew, she belonged to another man. Of course he would want her consent before anything happened between them. And she respected that he wanted a completely willing sexual partner.
That wasn’t her.
She shook her head and backed away. “I shouldn’t have come.”
Brea whirled around and darted for the door again. She’d embarrassed herself enough.
Behind her, she heard Pierce give chase, his footsteps heavy as he spun her to face him. Brea expected him to pull her close, but she gasped when he shoved her back. Her spine made contact with the foyer wall. His hands spread on either side of her head. He pressed every inch of his body against her. Then he dipped his head as if he intended to kiss her here and now.
Brea’s belly flipped with excitement. She gripped his bare shoulders, thrilled by his satiny skin over hard, steely muscle. Anticipation rolled through her as she tilted her head up to him and closed her eyes in surrender.
She wanted Pierce Walker’s kiss so badly…
It never came.
Seconds later, Brea blinked, her lashes fluttering up until she focused on him. He studied her with a dissecting stare even as he pressed the hard length of his manhood against her belly. “I know you want me.”
She looked away. “Let me go.”
Pierce merely thrust his fingers in her hair and tugged until she had no choice but to look at him. “I want you, too, pretty girl. So fucking bad I can almost taste you. That’s why I waited for you outside your church a week ago last Sunday. That’s why I followed you to Lafayette. That’s why it’s taking every bit of my restraint now not to kiss you.”
“Why don’t you?” She really wished he would.
“Because you have to be willing to admit what you want between us. Until that day…” He eased away with a shake of his head, then opened the door. “Unless it’s an emergency, don’t come back. If you do, Brea, you better be ready to confess that you want me—and me alone—to strip you down, get deep inside you, and give you every bit of pleasure I’m dying to.”
Every cell in her body flashed hot. She gaped at him. Some wayward, wanton part of her ached to give in. She was a grown woman. She wasn’t saving herself for marriage, just until sex meant something. If she spent the next hour with him, who would know? Or care? And why should it matter to anyone but them?
Before she could make up her mind, Pierce nudged her onto the porch. He cradled her face in his hands and lifted her face to him. Hope leaped. Please God, let him have changed his mind. But he merely pressed his lips to her forehead before shutting and locking the door between them with a final click.
Chapter Three
Thursday, August 14
“It’s okay, Bre-bee. Don’t be upset.”