Chapter Eighteen

 

 

 

 

Tessa didn’t know what Buck was up to but she knew it was something. All night he’d watched her with a weird fascination that was frankly freaking her out as she walked ahead of him into the house. Her family had left three days ago and since then he’d been acting strange. Tessa refused to think about her father’s talks with him and how after the third one Buck had a suspicious bruise on his cheek but her pappy’s approval to date his little girl.

Tessa still wasn’t sure why he thought Buck had needed his approval because like she’d told him and her uncle, she wasn’t asking them if it was okay to date Buck. She’d made the choice—with the help of fantastic sex—and they didn’t get a say.

“Duchess, why don’t you go sit and watch your show while I make your cocoa,” Buck offered, shutting the door behind them. Tessa turned, her eyes narrowed on him because he wasn’t normally so nice. He might be considerate in many ways but he never made her cocoa for her except for that one time she’d been sick. It made her watch his retreating figure warily.

What was he up to?

Tessa sat down on the couch taking off her shoes and wiggling her toes, feeling the ache from standing for too many hours as she did. Moaning as she leaned back into the couch, she closed her eyes as she pondered what he could be planning. She didn’t know but she’d bet it was something she wasn’t going to like. She was almost asleep when she heard a slight thump and then cursing from the kitchen. Tessa smiled and thought for just a moment about getting up to help him but decided against it since he was plotting something.

She watched the door to the kitchen wondering what he was doing in there when she heard another thump and more cussing. She almost couldn’t contain the little giggle that tried to escape her as she listened to the man. He was hopeless in the kitchen and even worse with cleaning. Buck had his good points but those two things weren’t one of them.

“Duchess, where’s that cup you like to drink your cocoa out of?” Buck asked, coming to stand in the doorway of the kitchen and looking a little worse for the wear. He’d apparently spilled the cocoa powder and now had it all over his shirt. She would mourn that little bit of powder if she didn’t know he’d replace it for her. That was one thing she kept him around for, he was good about seeing she was out of something or close to out of it and picking it up.

“I’ll get it.” She was about to push up off the couch when his panicked voice stopped her.

“No, I got it, you stay there and just tell me where it is.” Buck looked frantic and his hands ran over his head in a gesture she’d seen him do when he was really frustrated.

Hmm, how odd. Really, what was he up to?

“I think I put it in the dishwasher this morning before I left. If it’s not there check the cabinet above the sink.” Tessa couldn’t understand how he didn’t remember that she kept it there. He’d watched her get it out almost every night.

“Be right back, stay right there.” He turned and disappeared into the kitchen. His odd behavior had succeeded in making her more curious about what he was doing than sleepy. She flipped on the TV, turning the volume low so that she could still hear him in the kitchen muttering.

A grin curled her lips as she found the show she liked on the DVR. Just as she was getting into the show Buck stepped out of the kitchen. She looked up, surprised to see a breakfast tray in his hands loaded down. It had a vase with a single white rose, her cup of cocoa, what looked like whipped cream, and a slender box. Her brows rose to her hairline as he came towards her. She’d never been able to raise just one, it was a pet peeve of hers because her dad and both her uncles could do it but she couldn’t and it annoyed her.

She couldn’t help the smile when she noticed that he’d somehow gotten cocoa on his chin but then she realized that the kitchen must be a disaster and frowned. Thankfully Buck was concentrating hard on not spilling the tray in her lap and didn’t notice. He carefully set the tray across her lap, looking frazzled.

“This is sort of unexpected,” Tessa said before adding, “It isn’t my birthday, you know that, right?” Buck was sitting on the edge of his side of the couch looking like he was sick to his stomach, making her a little concerned about what was in the box. It was thin and about shirt box size but she didn’t have any idea what it was. It certainly wasn’t jewelry.

“Open your gift,” Buck grunted, looking a little pale as he commanded her.

“Oookay.” She couldn’t help but drag the word out as she tried to shift so that she could set her cocoa on the table so it wouldn’t spill. Buck jumped up and reached out, grabbing it from her.

“Here.” He took it and muttered under his breath as he set it on the table, “Idiot, how’s she supposed to hold it while she opens it. Damn, I’m acting like a idiot.”

Tessa almost laughed at his low mutter but managed to hold it in while watching him grab the box and shove it at her, almost hitting her in the face with it. Buck hissed another idiot before he sat back down beside her almost wringing his hands. Tessa took the box from him and pulled on the bow, beginning to lift the lid when his hands stopped hers. She looked up into his eyes questioningly.

“Sorry, sorry. Just, um—damn. Okay, open it,” Buck muttered.

Tessa pulled the top off quickly because she was afraid if she didn’t he was going to end up having a heart attack from stress. Buck was strung tighter than a bow. She was shocked when she saw the leather vest nestled in the paper. She realized that the reason he was acting like he was proposing was because in a way he was.  To him this would be as serious as asking her to marry him.

Tessa didn’t know how to react. She’d only known him a little over eleven months and only been dating him—well having sex with him—for a little over six months. Was that long enough to take this? Yes, they’d lived together for about four of those six months but she didn’t know if it was too fast for her or not.

She reached down touching the soft leather, her eyes slightly teary as she realized it didn’t matter. She was in love with the bastard and he was offering to stay with her for good.

“Well?” he demanded, still looking like a psychopath.

“Sure—okay,” she muttered “But this means no other women. I won’t be used as a fucking maid and sex when you feel the need. It’s got to mean something.”

“Duchess, when I moved in here that was kind of implied. I’m not a cheater,” Buck grumbled, looking angry and a little insulted.

“I mean it,” Tessa stated firmly. “This won’t stop me from leaving your ass if you cheat on me.”

“Okay, ‘cause I won’t,” Buck growled, his frown dark and his eyes narrowed. Tessa lifted the soft leather out and shook it. It unfolded and she almost laughed because the darned thing was going to be too big.

“You need to take this back though,” she told him.

“What? You just agreed to take it!” He looked angry but then he shook his head and stood up. Grabbing her, he jerked her up, tossing her over his shoulder. Tessa shrieked and grabbed his hips trying to stop her swaying. She watched the leather fall to the couch as he stormed off in the direction of the bedroom.

“Where are you taking me, you psycho?” Tessa asked, trying to figure out why he was carrying her into the bedroom.

“You agreed. It’s settled I’m not taking it back and I’m going to show you I mean business,” he growled and she couldn’t help the giggles as she realized he thought she meant she didn’t want it not, that it wouldn’t fit her and he needed to have it taken in a bit or it wouldn’t be wearable.

“Buck, I was just saying that—” That was as far as she got when she was done laughing her ass off because really, he was being an idiot. Buck had set her on her feet and grabbed her around the waist, his mouth slamming down on hers in a claiming kiss that took her breath away, stopping her explanation and stealing her brain cells until all she could do was cling to him. 

She found her arms winding around his neck as her body pressed against him, her breasts aching as they encountered his hard pecs. Damn, would sex ever be anything but mind-blowing with this man? She didn’t know but she sure hoped not since he’d just asked her to be his wife—sort of. Tessa couldn’t control the moan that escaped her. It seemed to claw its way from her very soul as his tongue thrust into her mouth, his hand moving from her hip to her breast and cupping it, his thumb rubbing over her nipple through her shirt.

Her hands gripped the back of his neck. Buck pulled back, his mouth trailing down her neck nipping and sucking on her skin, making it impossible for her to catch her breath. Sliding his hand down her body to grab the hem of her shirt, he jerked it off over her head in one single swift motion. His eyes burned as he gazed at her breasts trapped in her lacy black bra.

“You aren’t taking it back. You said yes and I won’t take anything else as an answer now,” he said harshly, his voice almost a snarl.

Tessa knew there was something she should say but her wits were so lost in the desire his touch invoked that she was unable to string two words together. He flicked the clasp on her bra open, ripping it off her arms with another swift motion. She whimpered when his mouth covered her nipple just as rapidly as he had removed her clothing. Her mind a hazy pool of dark desires, she pressed into his mouth, her hand cupping the back of his head as her other hand gripped his hard bicep.

She needed more, more of his caresses, more of his kisses, just more. Tessa didn’t know when it had happened over the past six months but she’d fallen in love with him so deeply that she knew she’d never escape it or him. Her mind splintered as his teeth scraped her nipple and he growled, the vibration making shivers of need slide down her spine. Her hands moved to his cut trying to pull it off. He let out a harsh groan and jerked his cut off tossing it onto the dresser. His shirt followed hitting the floor as he lunged at her, tackling her to the bed.

“You’re mine now, duchess. Don’t care about any bullshit excuses.” He hovered over her, looking down with a possessive need shining in his eyes. Tessa felt her heart catch in her chest. “Mine, every fucking inch. Mine.”

She couldn’t find words to show him what she felt stir inside her at the hard, unyielding tone he’d used to tell her she was his or the heat she could see blistering in his eyes. Her hands reached for him gripping his shoulders, her nails digging in as she pulled him down for her kiss. She was the one plundering his mouth, her tongue thrusting against his in a needy display of lust that she needed him to know she felt.

He allowed her to rule him for a moment more before he left a scorching trail of kisses to her breasts pausing to caress each one until she was wilting beneath him, passion burning her alive. His teeth scraped across her left nipple before he trailed those nipping kisses lower, his mouth pausing at her navel, his tongue exploring the little hollow before moving on. His hands were already tugging at her jeans, removing them quickly to stare down at her with a hunger that seared her very soul. Tessa gripped his head when he pushed her legs apart, his face lowering towards her sex with clear intent.

Tessa reached out, her hands pulling at his ears to get his attention. She couldn’t handle him doing that for her tonight. She was already on the verge of coming and he’d barely begun. She needed him to be inside her; not his fingers or his tongue but his cock thrusting into her over and over until she couldn’t decide where he began and she ended. He looked up at her from between her legs, his eyes heavy-lidded with dark cravings she knew they’d only begun to explore together. He seemed to understand the silent communication of her needs because he leaned forward, kissing above her clit before he slipped up her body, making sure he rubbed his chest against her as he did, resting above her.

Buck didn’t bother to take his own pants off, he just jerked open the fly and allowed his freed cock to spring forward and slap against her tightened bud, eliciting a gasp. Her heart thundered in her ears and her hands ran over his skin feeling the hard smoothness of it—trying not to lose her mind as lust assaulted her. It gripped her by the throat making her feel like she was going to explode into a thousand pieces at any moment.

She reached down guiding his thick hardness to her waiting pussy, needing him in her more than she’d ever needed anything in her life. Buck didn’t have to receive any more invitation than that and his first thrust into her was hard and demanding. She couldn’t help holding his ass in a demanding clench of her hands as he slammed in and out of her, every thrust pulling a moan from her lips.

His fingers slipped down flicking her clit as he grunted out, “Duchess, this is my pussy. Mine. It’s been mine for months, nobody touches it but me from now on, understand.”

She wanted to argue with him just to show him he couldn’t dictate to her but her only response was her explosive orgasm as her eyes rolled back in her head and she came in a torrential gush of wetness that oiled his thrusting as he moved harder into her. The headboard was smacking against the wall in a loud banging that made her glad she didn’t have close neighbors or they’d be calling the police. He didn’t stop when she was finished, he just moved his hand down to rub the slick heat of her body over her clit stimulating it until she knew she was climbing to the summit again.

With her body betraying her pleasure, she needed to do something to make him stop looking so smug above her. Tessa reached under his ass, her hand finding his balls and she squeezed them in a gentle caress that tore a growling groan from Buck as he let go, fucking her wildly as they both roared into their orgasms like a freight train. His entire body froze as he came in a hard shudder that made satisfaction pour through her veins as he collapsed against her, panting like he’d run for miles.

“Holy fuck, duchess. I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard,” Buck growled, his eyes heavy-lidded as he lifted his head after a good five minutes of catching his breath.

“It’s only fair. You curled my toes permanently with that second orgasm,” she muttered, earning a light swat to her ass when she rolled to her side. “Hey,” she complained, rubbing the offended area.

“Want to take a shower then do it again?” he asked, wiggling his brows and making her laugh.

“No, I’m too tired. You need to get that manic need to fuck me under control.”

“Yeah, duchess, we both know that’ll never happen,” he replied before he pulled her into his side and proceeded to prove it by making her come four more times before he allowed her to slip into an exhausted slumber.