It was when his hands slid lower to caress her belly that she froze. Her eyes opened wide as she realized what was happening. Pierce had bewitched her with his caresses and now he was moving in for the kill. How could she have been so easily seduced? How could she have been so stupid?
Pierce was a man of the world and he must have been with many women. He knew exactly how to turn a woman on. He was certainly doing a good job on her. But was he using his seductive charms to get her into his bed? And to what end? So he could give her the last paycheck and send her packing at the end of the summer?
The thought was like a bucketful of ice-cold water in her face.
She wanted Pierce, there was no doubt in her mind about that. But not like this. She would gladly give him her all if only he had half the love for her that she felt for him. But why would he? He could have any woman in the world. Why in heaven’s name would he settle for her?
“No,’” she said, her voice coming out in a moan. “Please. Stop.”
Pierce went completely still. Even his chest froze, as if he’d stopped breathing. Slowly he lifted his head and in the hazy green of his eyes was a mix of desire and confusion.
He pulled back from her then and raised himself up to sit on the seat beside her. He looked down at her, his eyes boring into her with an intensity that made her look away. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice quiet and low.
She refused to look at him, could not meet his eyes. What was she going to say? That she didn’t want to go farther because he hadn’t told her that he loved her? He would laugh in her face if she said something as stupid as that. Instead, she just shook her head. “I…can’t,” she said, her voice a broken whisper.
Pierce sucked in his breath. Then he reached out and took her chin in his hand and turned her face toward him.
She kept her eyes lowered, not wanting him to read the expression there.
“Celine,” he said softly, “don’t tell me you’re…still a virgin?”
She bit her lip, not trusting herself to speak. Instead, she simply nodded.
She knew she was misleading him, making him think that was why she had stopped him. But that hadn’t been the main reason. She’d stopped him because she was afraid. She didn’t want to be used, to give up her body to a man after waiting so long, and then to be discarded like a dirty old rag.
Her mother had taught her well. Not until marriage, she’d told her, or else as soon as they get what they want they move on to someone prettier or better. Don’t let them use you for practice. She’d never forgotten those words and she’d held fast to that principle in her one and only relationship with Giles.
But now with Pierce it was different. What she felt for Pierce went far beyond what she’d ever felt for Giles. With Pierce she would have thrown her mother’s advice out the window without another thought…if only he could love her.
Pierce stared at her in silence and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Celine. I didn’t mean to come on so strong but I had no idea…” His voice trailed away and he seemed to be searching for words. “I know you told me about waiting for marriage but I thought…since you and Giles broke up and you came to America, I just assumed you had a relationship here.”
She looked at him askance.
“I’m sorry, that’s not quite what I meant,” he said back-pedaling. “I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?” He broke off and stood up then raked his hand through his hair in an obvious sign of frustration. “Listen, forget what I said. I’m just …sorry.”
Oh, Pierce, you just don’t get it. I love you but how can I make you love me too? She thought it but she didn’t dare say the words out loud.
Instead, she simply straightened her blouse and in a voice that was surprisingly calm she said, “That’s okay, no apology necessary.” She lowered her legs to the floor. “I think I’d better go now.” She got up and took the few steps toward the door then she stopped. She turned back to look at Pierce. “Please think about what will make Kylie happy.” Then she turned and walked out the door.
***
Pierce stared at Celine’s retreating back then with a soft curse under his breath he walked over to the couch. Instead of sitting in it he leaned against the back of the big chair and crossed his arms. He was pissed but it was at himself that he directed his anger. After Celine had confided in him, told him about her decision regarding her sexuality, he’d still gone ahead and made the wrong assumption.
Now she probably thought he was a jerk and with good reason. He couldn’t blame her if she decided to stay a million miles away from his reach. But he wished she wouldn’t. He wanted this woman in his life. He’d be the first to admit that sex had something to do with it. There was no denying his attraction to her. But it was more than that. There was some sort of spiritual connection he could not explain. With each passing day she seemed to be growing on him and in him, becoming part of his soul. It was almost as if he couldn’t imagine waking up and not seeing her in their home. His and Celine’s and Kylie’s. This was how he’d begun to think of home.
And then there was her connection with Kylie. From day one he’d observed her interaction with the little girl, how she’d pulled her out of her shell to bloom like a tiny little flower in the sun. How could he separate Kylie from that?
He shook his head. He didn’t know what he’d do in the fall when it was time for Celine to return to the university. Kylie would be devastated. And he? He didn’t even want to go there.
Celine had asked about his options and pleaded with him to do what was best for Kylie. There was one option he’d not mentioned, one that would be ideal, at least for him and for Kylie. But for Celine? He didn’t know.
There were so many things he didn’t know. Like Celine… she was such an enigma. Did she have feelings for him? Did she crave him as much as he craved her?
He knew he wanted Celine to a degree he’d never felt for any woman. She was different from anyone he’d ever known. But he, confirmed bachelor, was he ready to give up his fast paced life to become a father and husband in one jump? More importantly, if he asked her to marry him, would she say yes?