Chapter 9 Pad Thai And A Nap

"Cissero, of course," I muttered, looking at him in confusion. "Who else would I be talking about?"

Pierce flushed, actually flushed before quickly moving away from me to go study the pictures on the book shelves. I couldn't help it. I laughed.

I put my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound but Pierce heard it anyway. He turned back to face me with his hands thrust into the front pockets of his chinos and a surly expression adorning his face.

His expression made me laugh all the more.

For the first time since meeting this man I finally seemed to be the one getting under his skin instead of the other way around. It was a nice feeling, though I wasn't sure what exactly I had done to make it happen. But seeing his face, I didn't think I really cared. As math never failed to teach me, the results most times, were all that mattered.

The silence stretched. It wasn't uncomfortable though. I closed my eyes again as I heard Pierce wander around my living room. I could hear him occasionally lift something up and put it back down but I wasn't interested enough to see what they were and I certainly didn't worry that Pierce Lucciano was trying to pilfer any of my belongings.

A slight tap from the front of the house interrupted the quiet room and sent Cissero cannoning towards the door as if a foghorn had blown. I quickly opened my eyes and made to stand but Pierce waved me back, indicating I should keep sitting as he made his way to the door, reprimanding Cissero as he did so, who still bounced around like a rabid kangaroo, barking his deep bark.

I stifled a smile as I watched Pierce try to calm the excited dog, knowing he didn't have a chance in hell. Cissero was the best dog ever, but when it came to the front door, nothing could hold him back.

The front door was his everything. It always brought him something every time it opened, be it a new toy, a new friend, or me home to him. Who wouldn't be thrilled with a magic portal like that?

Pierce managed to grasp Cissero's collar and hold him in place as he called to Marcus to come in. As soon as Marcus shut the door behind him Pierce let go of the dog and snatched the bags out of Marcus's hand in rapid succession. Pierce headed towards the kitchen with the takeout and left Marcus to fend for himself against my boisterous dog.

"I'll take him for a walk so you can eat in peace," Marcus spoke up and I nodded back, timidly smiling my thanks. Marcus was an extremely large man not prone to smiling. Everything about him screamed intimidation and I suitably was.

I sat the chair back up from its reclining position as Pierce walked back into the living room with two plates filled with something that smelled amazing. My stomach grumbled loud and long.

Pierce chuckled as he handed me the plate and I ducked my head down in embarrassment. I'd always hated when my stomach growled when sitting in class whether in high school or college. It had always been so mortifying to be singled out like that by my own treacherous stomach.

It wasn't any more enjoyable happening in front of Pierce.

I grabbed the full plate of pad thai and began scarfing it down. I was aware of Pierce taking a seat and starting in on his food as well, but I didn't pay him much mind. At the time I was beyond hungry and I only had one thing on my mind.

Pierce seemed to understand because he stayed silent and simply ate his food, leaving me alone. I cleaned my plate in no time, but I was still hungry. I started scraping my fork along the plates edge, hoping to get just another taste.

My actions made Pierce look up at me with astonishment on his face which quickly changed to humor.

"Why don't you just lick it clean?" he mocked, getting up and walking over to me to take the dish. "There's more. Just give me a second."

I watched him walk away.

I was so happy at the news I almost cried. Despite my size, I was a big eater on any given day. Considering I hadn't eaten a thing today, I was famished. I might look petite but my appetite was anything but. I had on more than one occasion outeaten Branson, and that was saying something.

Pierce came back in with another heaping plateful.

"Thank you," I murmured, human enough after having had my first serving to remember my manners this time.

He chuckled, apparently noticing.

He still didn't talk and let me eat in peace. I thought about offering to turn the television on but I really wasn't in the mood to listen to the gibbering audio. Now that my hunger was being satiated, I was starting to realize how tired I was and I actually had a bit of a headache.

Up till now, my hunger had been overriding and hiding my other physical complaints. They were making themselves known now!

I didn't quite finish the second plate of food. Truth be told the belly was willing but my mind had other ideas. With the plate in my lap and the fork still in my hand, my eyelids grew heavy and heavier still. With a relatively full stomach my brain decided it was time to shut down. And what the mind wanted the mind got.

I was barely aware of Pierce grabbing the plate off of my lap or the fork out of my hand. I faintly felt the seat tip backwards and my feet rise up. There were a few small tugs at each foot and I realized my shoes were being pulled off but I still didn't move. I vaguely remember a blanket being laid over me, making me smile in appreciation as I curled my arms up under the soft fleece as I drifted off...

Whispering and a snuffle-like sound woke me. I lay for a few minutes trying to get my bearings. My body still felt weighted but my mind was clearer. My eyes popped open as memories came flooding back. My face blushed a deep red as I struggled to pull my seat back into an upright position as my eyes darted all around.

I had to blink a few times at finding Pierce lying on the floor beside Cissero who was sprawled on his back with all four legs spread wide in the air enjoying the pleasure of a very methodical belly rub. Pierce was talking to him and I swear it looked like Cissero was hanging on to his every word.

Pierce's eyes met mine. His were guarded but watchful. I swallowed feeling awkward. He had taken off my shoes and tucked me in. He had stayed here with me while I slept. It was no big deal and yet I felt it was strangely sweet. I didn't know what to do or say.

This was someone that less than twenty-four hours ago I didn't even know. The same man who had been rude and insulting to both me and my friends. But he had treated my dog like a prince. His treatment of me for a good part of the day hadn't been too shabby either.

I wanted to lay my head on my knees and groan in confused frustration. This man kept me so conflicted. Was he nice or was he mean? Was he good or was he bad? And why had he shown up here today? He had never said. No matter how many times I had asked he had changed the subject or simply never answered. Wasn't that shady?

"Feeling better?" he asked, distracting me from my spiraling thoughts.

"Yes," I croaked. I rubbed at my throat surprised at how dry it felt.

I reached for my bottle of water. Cissero seeing that I was awake flopped over onto his belly, sprang to his feet, and trotted over to me before Pierce could stop him.

After taking a quick swig, I put my bottle down and encircled Cissero's warm neck giving him a big welcoming hug. His hips wiggled like mad as I scratched my nails down his back and back up in the way he favored most. He nuzzled his head into my chest and groaned as I raked his fur over and over again giving him the attention he craved.

He was used to having me near most of the day every day. My absence must have been confusing to him. Feeling guilty I gave him extra rubs and hugs only pausing when I realized I couldn't keep ignoring the man standing a few feet away from me.

"Thank y... you for the food and taking c... care of Cissero," I finally managed to eek out though I wanted to tack on how he was partly responsible for everything that had happened to me so it was kind of the least he could do.

Somehow, I didn't think he would take that very well. He seemed to be in a relatively good mood right now and he definitely wasn't staring at me with the cold piercing look he had for the most of the time I had known him. I preferred things to remain this way.

"It wasn't a problem," he clipped out, seeming uncomfortable with my thanks. He pulled his cell out of his back pocket and texted something before replacing it.

"I just sent Marcus a message to come and pick me up," he explained and I simply nodded back in reply.

I was glad that he was leaving.

I was.

He unnerved me and kept me constantly on guard. I needed to relax and unwind. His leaving would finally allow me to do that.

I scooted forward in the chair and made to stand. It felt like my brain wobbled for a few moments before it righted itself and tiny little silver flashes of light teased my vision. When I was finally able to focus it was to find Pierce at my side, his hand clutching my arm, holding me steady and his face bent down close to mine.

"Okay now?"

"Yes," I whispered. I was afraid to nod my head in case the wobbling returned. "I must have gotten up t... to fast."

Pierce continued to stand there holding my arm. His body was close, not touching, but almost. He was bent over me and his face wasn't far from mine, his eyes were searching as they studied me with an intensity that was unsettling.

"I don't know if I should leave you on your own," he said softly, as if talking to himself and not me.

Regardless I answered. There's no way I could let this man stay in my house overnight. He had been decent today. He had shown kindness and had been helpful and most of all, he had taken care of my dog, but that didn't mean I wanted to sleep in the same space as him. It was bad enough I had napped with him only a few feet away from me.

"I'll be f... fine," I managed.

My words didn't seem to bring him comfort.

"You're stuttering again," he mocked, but his tone wasn't nasty. It was almost as if he were teasing me more than anything.

"I really will be o...okay," I said, trying very hard to refrain from stuttering but still failing. This man messed with me inside and out.

He grinned, his brows raising as if I had just made his point for him.

I frowned back. He could be so infuriating.

Pierce's phone announced an incoming text. He looked at it then back at me.

"Marcus is here," he said, his body still close to mine, his face even closer.

I swallowed.

"Okay," I answered.

"You're sure you'll be fine?"

"Y... yes."

His nose wrinkled, "Now you can't even get out one word," he murmured, his eyes drifting down to my mouth before coming back up to mine.

There was a new tension in the air, similar to last nights and earlier in the kitchen. It was still unnerving but it also had an element of intimacy to it that I didn't fully comprehend.

Was this one sided or mutual? Were his nerve endings on high alert, too? Did he feel this strong pull like I did?

I blinked and it seemed as if his face was closer to mine. Had I moved, or had he? Or was it that we were simply drawn to each other?

A loud woof suddenly echoed throughout the house! It was the sound of a spoiled dog too long ignored!

Startled, we both jumped apart and looked down at man's best friend, staring back up at us with a happy smile on his face, pleased that he had our attention once again.