Chapter Eleven
Ian had imagined this particular scenario dozens of times in the past two and a half years – a warm and willing Tessa spread out on his bed, her lush, ripe body bared to his devouring gaze, and her big blue eyes silently pleading with him to take her any way he pleased. But none of those fantasies could come close to the real thing – the gorgeous, nearly-naked beauty who was staring up at him in wide-eyed wonder, her golden hair tumbled over his pillow.
“How beautiful you are,” he murmured, as he dipped his head, his lips brushing her forehead. “How many times I’ve wished for you to be here just like this, and now it’s finally come true.” His mouth moved to her temple, then to her rosy cheek before sliding around the curve of her jaw and back up the other side of her face. She was already moaning in arousal, making those little noises that were so incredibly sexy, that made his cock swell a bit harder each time she made one.
“I told you earlier that I intended to touch and kiss every inch of you, Tessa,” he told her passionately. “Including this.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “And this.” His mouth briefly sucked the skin just behind her ear. “And most definitely this delicious mouth.”
He took her soft, sweet mouth in a deep, lingering kiss, his tongue tangling with hers until her groans rose to a fever pitch beneath his relentless kisses.
Tessa was gasping when he finally lifted his head, begging him breathlessly, “Please, Ian.”
He laughed softly as his mouth moved to caress the side of her throat, then continued its downward path along her collarbone. “Please what, my sweet?” His hands ran up and down her arms, his fingers toying with the strap of her pale blue bra. “What is it that you need, Tessa?”
Her hips were moving restlessly beneath him, her pelvis starting to lift off the mattress, and he knew she was every bit as aroused as he was. “I need – you,” she panted “In – inside of me. Please.”
“Shh. Such an eager little temptress you are,” he scolded her teasingly. “And when I haven’t even begun to touch and kiss you in all the places I’ve wanted to do for so long. Have some patience, love.”
Tessa’s head was thrashing back and forth on the pillow as she tried to grasp his hips and pull him to her. “I can’t,” she pleaded. “I’m too – I need to - ”
“To come?” he finished for her, his lips moving in a line across the upper curve of her breasts. “I know, darling. You’re very, very responsive, aren’t you? Has it always been this easy for you to climax?”
“N-n-no,” she cried, as he grasped both of her hands in one of his and drew them over her head. “J-just with you.”
“Ah, then, I’ll have to make sure I’m satisfying you often and thoroughly. You’re going to be a greedy lover, I can tell already. Lucky for me, I’m just as hungry for you, Tessa.” He traced one finger around the full globe of each breast, feeling her quiver beneath his touch. “You look gorgeous in this bra, Tessa. It makes these fabulous breasts look even bigger and firmer. And it very much makes me want to touch them and taste them. Let me, darling.”
He released her hands, then deftly unhooked the sexy, lacy bra and drew it away, baring her ripe, round breasts to his hot gaze. His big hands cupped both of the lush mounds, shaping them, pushing them up until they appeared even fuller.
“God,” was all he could manage to croak. Then he bent his head and began to run his tongue over each taut nipple, flicking the erect peak over and over before drawing it in to his mouth.
Tessa’s body bowed off the mattress as she clutched his head to her breast, her hands pulling on his hair. “Ohh, ohh. Yes, more, please. It feels so good.”
His cock had never felt this hard before, hard enough that it was almost painful, but the very best sort of pain. The whimpers and moans she made as he continued to feast on her breasts tested every ounce of self-control he had left, and he had never wanted anything more than to slide deep inside her welcoming, eager body at that very moment.
She cried out in frustration as he finally lifted his head, but then gasped again as his hands slid down the side of her ribcage to grip her hips, his mouth tracing its way down between her breasts until it reached her belly. His tongue rimmed her navel, then he pressed kisses across her body from one hipbone to the other. His hands preceded his mouth as he worked his way down to the tops of her thighs where she still wore the silky, lace-topped stockings.
“These are so fucking sexy,” he rasped, his language turning coarser than normal, for he was too overcome with lust to temper his reaction to her. “I want these long, lovely legs wrapped around my neck while I’m inside of you so that you can feel me buried as deep as I can go.” He ran his hands up and down the outside of her legs. “I’ll buy you a dozen pair of these stockings so you can wear them under your skirts and dresses every day, and only you and I will know you have them on. Except I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you for too long.”
One by one he rolled the stockings off, letting them flutter heedlessly to the floor. Ian pinned her hips to the mattress with his hands, holding her still as his mouth finally reached her cleft. She was wet and glistening, the pouty folds of her labia beckoning him to taste her like she was the juiciest of fruits. With a groan, he delved between her legs and rimmed the opening to her body with his tongue, tasting her there for the first time.
Tessa let out a cry of surprise, her hips thrashing wildly even though he held her firmly in place. “Ian, oh, God, I’ve never – ” she managed to utter in a ragged voice.
He lifted his head, startled at her confession. “Easy, darling, I’ve got you.” Instead of his tongue, he slid two fingers deep inside her soaked slit, amazed at how quickly she became aroused. “Tessa, if you don’t want me to touch you that way, then I won’t. But I’d love to taste you there, to make you come that way. Will you let me try? I promise to stop if you tell me to.”
Her head fell back on the pillow and she closed her eyes. “O-okay,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”
Ian kept his fingers thrusting slowly in and out of her tight passage as he kissed his way back up her inner thighs. “Trust me, love. You’re so damned responsive, so easy to arouse. Let me do this for you now.”
He was exquisitely gentle, his tongue licking at her damp folds with light flutters. As he felt her begin to relax, he deepened the licks, until he replaced his fingers with his tongue, thrusting it deep inside of her body. His thumb found her clit, manipulating it as he continued to eat her out with expert skill.
“Ian!” She screamed his name as her hips moved in sync with the thrust of his tongue and the stimulation of his thumb, the orgasm causing her whole body to tremble in reaction. And while her core was still convulsing around his mouth, he kept at her, determined that her pleasure continue, licking and stroking and sucking her until she came again.
Tessa was dazed and almost incoherent as he finally slid back up alongside her. If his own body hadn’t been screaming almost violently for release, he might have let her rest for a bit. Instead, he flipped her over onto her belly as his hands and mouth caressed her back body – traveling from the nape of her neck where her golden hair was damp from exertion; down between her leanly muscled shoulder blades and the curve of her back to the base of her spine. He squeezed the firm, high cheeks of her buttocks before running his tongue up and down the backs of her thighs and calves.
And then, Ian reached the very end of his limits, not able to wait even a minute longer to have her again. He eased Tessa onto her hands and knees, her gorgeous ass in the air as he knelt behind her.
She cried out in shock as he entered her from behind. “Oh! Oh, God, Ian! I don’t - ”
“Hush, love. It’s all right.” He pressed a kiss to her nape as he rubbed her hip soothingly. “Am I hurting you this way?”
She shook her head. “No – it feels – so good. You’re just – so deep. I can feel you so deep inside me this way.”
He groaned, banding an arm around her waist as he moved inside of her experimentally. “And it feels amazing, doesn’t it, love? God, Tessa, I need – need to move now, darling. Easy.”
Her little gasps as he slowly, carefully, thrust in and out of her made him even harder, and he couldn’t hold back, picking up the frequency and force of his movements until he was fucking her like an animal. Tessa’s gasps became screams as he pounded into her, and he felt her convulse around his cock just seconds before he came. Ian’s head fell back, his eyes tightly shut as he roared like a jungle beast, spilling himself into her as his body shuddered repeatedly.
They collapsed next to each other on the bed, his arm flung over her body as he struggled to regain some small degree of composure.
“Are you all right?” he was finally able to murmur in her ear. “I wasn’t too rough with you?”
Tessa turned into him, looping her arms around his neck and wrapping one leg about his hips. “You were amazing,” she whispered huskily. “That was amazing. I’ve never, ever felt anything like that before.”
Ian groaned, pulling her even closer against him. “God, you’re good for my ego,” he told her with a low laugh. “I’m just hoping my tired old body can keep up with your hot young one, even for a little while.”
She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his chest, pressing a kiss to the base of his throat. “You are not old. I wish you’d stop saying that. And your body is – beautiful, Ian. I can’t get enough of it.”
Her sweetly spoken words threatened to make him hard again, even though he’d just come so thoroughly he had seen stars. He gave her a soft kiss, then brushed damp strands of her hair off her face.
“I’ve never felt like this either, you know,” he confessed. “Never had such spectacular sex, or come that hard. And I’ve never, ever felt so much like a man before.”
Tessa pulled his head down to hers and kissed him. “I’m not very experienced, you know,” she told him uncertainly. “I’ll tell you about – well, my marriage at some point so you’ll understand what I mean.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Only when you’re ready, darling. And I rather like that you’re inexperienced. I’d be very, very happy to teach you a great many things. Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
When he returned from the bathroom with a clean towel, he smiled indulgently to see that she was almost asleep. Tessa made a small sound of protest as he cleaned her up, and then, as he slid into the bed with her, she snuggled up against him and promptly fell asleep.
Ian gave a low chuckle as he covered them both with the duvet, then pulled her close. “Guess we aren’t going to try for that record dozen times after all,” he whispered to her. “Never mind, love. There’s always tomorrow.”
***
Tessa woke reluctantly, semi-conscious as she was of being warmer and more comfortable than she’d ever been in her life. As her eyes opened sleepily, she blinked in disorientation, her sleep-fogged brain taking some time to fully realize where she was. She was definitely not in her own bed, for the mattress cushioning her body was much firmer and plusher than her own, and the pillowcase beneath her cheek smelled crisper and cleaner than her own sheets.
And then she had to stifle a little gasp as she realized exactly where she was – curled up trustingly against Ian’s warm, muscular body, her arm draped over his torso, and her head tucked next to his. Ian – who less than two days ago had been her rather intimidating, completely out of her league boss – and who was now, by some quirk of fate, her lover.
Tessa’s cheeks flushed when she recalled just how intimate they had been – the things he’d said to her, the way he’d touched and kissed her, how thoroughly he’d taken her. As if on cue, she felt an unfamiliar soreness between her legs, the muscles definitely not used to the sort of physical, demanding sex she’d engaged in.
And she was aroused again, simply from lying next to him as he slept. Her breasts felt swollen and heavy, the nipples already peaking, and she knew if she touched her cleft it would be moist and ready, despite her soreness.
Her eyes slowly grew accustomed to the darkness of the room, lit only by the glow of numbers from the digital bedside clock, and from the streetlights that shone in from outside. Tessa still couldn’t quite believe that she was really in Ian’s bed, or that everything that had happened in the past thirty-six or so hours wasn’t actually a dream. She gazed longingly at the handsome face in repose next to hers, his strong, masculine features sexy even as he slept. The lines of his firm mouth were softer now, and she noticed the dark stubble across his cheeks and chin. She was so used to always seeing him clean shaven that it was a surprise to realize how dark his hair really was. Tessa resisted the urge to press a kiss to his cheek, or run a finger over his lips, not wanting to wake him.
And then she belatedly became aware of another urge, and carefully slid out of bed to use the bathroom. Shivering without the heat of the duvet or Ian’s body, she looked around furtively for something to wear and decided on his white dress shirt. The rest of their things were scattered haphazardly around the bedroom, and the sight brought a smile to her lips. She knew from the extreme tidiness of his office that he must be something of a neat freak, and that this disarray of clothing was certainly not the norm for him.
She buttoned up his shirt as she padded into the bathroom, one room she hadn’t seen yet. Tessa was in awe of its size and extravagance – all black granite counters, marble floors and walls, and modern fixtures. The walk-in shower was enormous, more than big enough for two people, as was the sunken tub. She wondered if he would ever take her in either of those places – hopefully both – and then blushed anew as she realized where her train of thought had led her.
‘God, one night with him and you’ve turned into some sort of nymphomaniac!’ she scolded herself.
She took care of her needs swiftly, and then took an extra minute or so to wash off her makeup, making do with the soap she found by the sink. A quick check inside one of the multitude of drawers and cabinets revealed a tube of toothpaste. She squeezed a dab on her finger and gave her teeth a makeshift brushing.
Tessa left the bathroom and walked over to the bank of windows, peering out through the wooden blinds at the dark, stormy night. The grand house was so well insulated that the sounds of wind and rain were barely discernible but from what she could see the storm was quite fierce.
“Is everything all right, love?”
She whirled at the sound of Ian’s sleepy, sexy voice. He had risen onto one elbow, the duvet slipping down to bare his arms and chest, and she couldn’t help running her gaze longingly over his heavily muscled torso. He was so beautiful, so incredibly strong and – well, just so male – that it made her throat close up to look at him.
“Yes, it’s fine. I just needed the bathroom. I’m sorry if I woke you,” she told him, walking back towards the bed.
“You didn’t wake me,” he assured her. He smiled as his gaze flicked over her body. “Nice shirt. It looks much better on you than it does on me.”
Tessa laughed. “I disagree. I hope you don’t mind my borrowing it.”
His eyes twinkled at her mischievously. “Not at all. Though now I’m jealous of the shirt, even more so than your coat, because this is actually touching your bare skin.”
She placed her hand in his as he extended an arm towards her. “I may not give this back. It smells like you, after all.” She turned her face and inhaled deeply of the soft fabric.
Ian smiled. “You like the way I smell?”
Tessa nodded. “Yes, very much. I used to wish I could just bury my face against your chest and inhale your scent.”
His thumb brushed over her knuckles before he drew her hand to his lips. “So you were attracted to me at least a little?” he asked thoughtfully.
“More than a little. I confess to having quite a crush on you for a very long time.”
Even in the dimly lit room she could see how his eyes darkened at her confession. “Is that a fact? Well, it seems as though both of us spent far too much time pining for the other. We’d better start making up for lost time then, hadn’t we?”
Tessa’s breath hitched at the barely restrained passion in his voice, and the way his eyes dropped to her breasts. Her nipples were hard and poking against the fabric of the shirt, and all she could offer in response to his very pointed question was a brief nod.
“Take the shirt off. Slowly.”
Her fingers were trembling as she did his bidding, unfastening one button at a time until they were all undone. She slid the shirt off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
Ian made a feral sound as he threw the duvet off his body, then swung his long legs over the side of the bed on either side of hers, effectively trapping her between his thighs.
His hands swept up to cup her swollen breasts. “Just so you know,” he murmured in a husky voice, “I am obsessed with these perfect tits. They can expect to receive a great deal of attention from me.”
“Ahh.” She let out a long, low moan as his thumbs brushed over her ultra-sensitive nipples. Her moans grew louder as he pulled on the taut buds, twisting them between thumb and forefinger.
“You like that, love?” he rasped. “Your breasts are very sensitive, aren’t they?”
“Yes, yes,” she cried as he bent his head and took a nipple in his mouth, sucking hard. She slid her hands into his hair, silently urging him to continue. He moved to the other breast, his tongue flicking over the nipple again and again.
Ian buried his face between her breasts, his tongue tracing a line up and down her deep cleavage. His hands slid around her hips to squeeze her buttocks, and then he swiftly hauled her onto the bed. He lay on his back, pulling her astride him, her thighs straddling the outside of his legs.
“I want you again,” he told her raggedly. “As you can plainly see. You’re not too sore, are you, love?”
Tessa licked her lips as she glanced down and saw for herself just how aroused he was – his long, thick cock pulsing and fully erect, practically begging to be touched. Tentatively, she reached down and ran a hand lightly over his throbbing length, almost recoiling at how hot and hard he was. But even that faint touch was too much for Ian, his breath hissing out savagely as he grasped her wrist, stilling her motion.
“Not now,” he bit out. “Christ, you’ll have me coming in your hand in ten seconds if you do that.”
Tessa used her free hand to caress his chest, loving the feel of his hot skin and hard muscles. “But I want to touch you, too,” she pouted. “Just like you did to me earlier.”
He captured her other hand, too, holding both of them immobile by her sides. “I want that, too, darling,” he murmured. “More than you can possibly know. I’ve dreamed of your hands on my body, of you kneeling before me, my cock in your mouth.” He lifted his head off the pillow, high enough to give each of her nipples a brief lick. “But not now, love. I seem to lose all control when I’m near you.”
She began to rock her pelvis back and forth against him, trying to free her hands. “It’s not really fair, you know. Maybe I should have just done what I wanted to you while you were sleeping.”
He chuckled. “And maybe someone is becoming very bold and needs a spanking because she’s such a wicked girl.”
Tessa let out a squeal of surprise as he gave her a quick smack on her right buttock. But any further protest she might have made faded away at his next feverishly murmured words.
“Take me inside you, Tessa. I want you on top this time, riding me. Have you done this before?”
She shook her head. “No. Let me, Ian.” She lifted her hips, reaching eagerly for his erection.
“Easy, love,” he admonished, his hand guiding hers as she positioned the tip of his penis at the slick entrance to her body.
Tessa gasped as he slowly, gradually, fed his cock inside of her an inch at a time, until she was fully impaled. She was unable to move momentarily as she grew used to the feel of being so completely filled.
Ian’s hands grasped her hips, his voice gentle. “All right there, love? Am I too deep?”
“No, no,” she protested, afraid he would withdraw if she said yes. “You feel so good. It’s so good, Ian.”
His hands caressed her thighs, her ass, slid up her ribcage to squeeze her breasts. “Move with me now, Tessa. Here, like this.”
He guided her movements with his hands on her hips, showing her what he wanted until she was riding him in a near frenzy, posturing up and down on his cock frantically.
“Jesus,” he panted, his hips pistoning wildly in an attempt to keep up with her pace. “You’re going to kill me for sure, love. I’m very sadly out of practice as I’ve already told you.” His big hands gripped her hips, forcing her to slow down. But by then both of them were breathing raggedly, a fine sheen of sweat misting their bodies. Tessa’s moans increased in frequency and volume each time he guided her up and down on his cock, lifting her up until only the tip remained inside her, and then lowering her with maddening, exquisite slowness until he was once again fully sheathed.
“God, those sounds you make,” he breathed. “I’ve never heard anything so damned sexy before. I’m more than tempted to see just how loud I can make you moan.”
“Oooh,” she whimpered as he rubbed her clit with the pad of his right thumb, while twisting her nipple with his left fingers. Without his hands guiding her movements, she picked up the pace again, grinding against his hand as she felt the now familiar approach of another orgasm. He was stimulating her in too many places at once, overloading her pleasure centers, until it was all too much to take and she called out his name over and over as she quivered with sensation, still riding him hard.
Tessa barely heard Ian swear softly before he clamped down on her hips again, holding her still as he pumped himself inside of her, finding his release. His hands fell limply to his sides as if in surrender, and she slumped down to lay on his massive chest, her hands tangling in his damp hair.
“If you do manage to kill me,” he whispered hoarsely a few minutes later, “at least I’ll die a very, very happy man.”
***
She yawned sleepily as she woke, stretching her arms and legs in opposite directions, luxuriating in the feel of the plush mattress beneath her and the softness of the bedcovers over her. They felt so good, in fact, that she gave in to the temptation and snuggled deeper into the pillow, fully intending to fall back asleep.
But then a low chuckle made her stir again, as did the warm hand caressing her bare shoulder. “You are a little sleepyhead, aren’t you, love?”
Tessa’s eyes flew open to find Ian gazing down at her, his handsome features filled with amusement. She shivered as he ran one long finger over the bridge of her nose down to her lips. His stubble was even darker and heavier this morning, his hair mussed, and she thought how incredibly sexy he looked this way – quite a change from the suave, elegant man who strode through the office with such authority. He looked wilder, rougher, but at the same time softer and more approachable.
“Good morning,” she murmured, as his hand cupped the back of her head.
“Good morning to you, too, love,” he told her just before claiming her lips in a sweet, searching kiss.
“Mmm.” She turned into his arms willingly, rubbing her naked breasts against his chest and loving the indrawn hiss of breath he took at the contact.
“Easy, darling girl.” He gently broke the kiss and eased her head onto his shoulder, keeping her wrapped in his arms. “Otherwise, you’ll have me waking you up a bit more – uh, enthusiastically shall we say.”
Tessa snuggled even closer against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I wouldn’t complain about that. In fact, you can wake me that way whenever you like.”
Ian gave her butt a pinch, eliciting a yelp of protest from her. “What a saucy little imp you’ve become rather quickly,” he teased. “What’s happened to the shy young girl who usually blushes when I simply tell her good morning?”
She caressed his steely abs, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “You turned her into a woman practically overnight,” she confided. “A woman who’s absolutely obsessed with you.”
She gave a cry of surprise as he tumbled her onto the mattress, his big body looming almost intimidatingly over hers. She gulped as she noticed the way his eyes had darkened, and the smoldering look on his face.
“Then we make quite a pair, love, because I’ve been completely obsessed with you – your face, your body, your sweetness – since the first time I saw you,” he said raggedly. “And I’m beginning to fear that my obsession with you is only going to get stronger.” Ian gave her a quick kiss before reluctantly sliding out of bed. “But if we don’t get up and about now, I fear we’ll never leave this bed today. How does a shower sound before I take you out for breakfast?”
Lazily, she buried her face back into the pillow. “Not nearly as good as staying here in this bed with you all day. Why can’t we do that instead?”
He laughed heartily, bending over to nuzzle her neck. “Because I’m an old man, darling, and I need food if I’m going to have enough energy to ravish you again. Now, time to get up, you lazy wench.”
Tessa shook her head in protest, pulling the duvet over her body. “I don’t think I ever want to leave this bed. It’s the most comfortable one I’ve ever slept in.”
“It better be, considering what I paid for it. This is a Hypnos mattress, it was handmade and custom designed. I’m glad it passes Sleeping Beauty’s high standards,” he teased. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You do like to cuddle, don’t you, love? You were practically on top of me when I woke.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm as she gazed up at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I – um, did that.”
“Hush.” He gave her a lingering kiss. “Remember, the word sorry is no longer in your vocabulary. And I wasn’t complaining Tessa. Far from it. I’d love nothing better than to wake up with you snuggled against me every day. I was just marveling at what an affectionate little thing you are.”
Tessa went to him eagerly as he scooped her into his arms and carried her into his opulent bathroom. She was delighted to discover the floors had radiant heating, which helped to keep her nude body warm as Ian turned on the shower taps and gathered up towels.
Once inside the huge granite shower that boasted dual showerheads, Ian wasted no time in pulling her into his arms. He backed her against the wall, his voice rough as he asked, “Is this going to be another first for you?”
She shivered despite the blissful warmth of the shower spray. “Yes.”
“Good.” He nipped her earlobe teasingly. “You might have to make a list for me.”
Tessa groaned as his hands slid down her back to cup her ass. “It might be a long list.”
His lips moved down the side of her throat. “I was hoping you’d say that. And I’d be very happy to add anything you might forget to that list.”
He released her momentarily so that they could each wash their hair. Tessa was surprised to find the same shampoo and conditioner that the stylist at Neiman Marcus had used yesterday, but didn’t question the coincidence.
She had just rinsed out her long hair when Ian came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist and his massive erection pressing against the cleft of her buttocks. His soapy hands palmed her breasts, drawing a sigh from her throat, her head falling back onto his shoulder as he tugged at her nipples.
“Let’s make sure you’re clean all over, shall we?” he whispered in her ear, just before his soap-slicked fingers thrust deep inside her moist, swollen sex.
Tessa feared her legs might have given out from under her had he not been holding her up. “Ohhh.” Her breath expelled in a long, low wave as his talented fingers continued to arouse her, his thumb rubbing circles around her clit.
“I love how tight you are,” he crooned, slowly withdrawing his fingers only to replace them with the tip of his fully engorged penis. “How it feels like you can’t possibly take all of me but yet you do anyway. How this sweet, hot pussy sucks me in.”
She whimpered as he eased inside of her one long inch at a time, her breasts being crushed against the slippery granite shower wall, and she felt surrounded by his tall, strong body.
“Ah, oh, God,” she cried as he thrust all the way inside of her.
He wasn’t gentle with her this morning, and she loved this rougher, more primitive side of him. She braced her palms against the wall as he gripped her hips, pounding into her fiercely. Even above the sound of the streaming water she could hear how hard he was breathing, as well as the words he growled in her ear, praising her, encouraging her, urging her on.
“That’s my beautiful girl. Yes, love, ah, you feel so damned good. I could stay buried inside you like this for hours. Come for me now, Tessa, let yourself go. Ah, yes, just like that.”
She emitted a high-pitched wail as she came powerfully, this orgasm stronger than any of the others he’d given her so far. She was barely aware when Ian bit her shoulder as he, too, found his release, slapping his hand against the wall to hold himself up.
He insisted on drying her off, even though she feebly protested she could do it herself. He wrapped her up in the same sort of plush, cream colored bath sheet that he’d draped around his own hips.
“I have something for you, Tessa,” he said, handing her an incredibly soft pearl gray garment. “The tags are still intact so if you don’t like it we can exchange it for something else.”
The robe was gorgeous and fit her perfectly, exquisitely warm against her bare skin. “It’s beautiful, Ian. I love it,” she told him sincerely. “But you’ve already done too much for me.”
“I’ve barely begun to spoil you the way I intend to. I have some other things for you as well. Come have a look.”
As he took her hand, she glanced down and almost fainted when she glimpsed the tag attached to the cuff of the robe. It was La Perla – a label she’d heard Gina and Alicia rave about on numerous occasions – and the price of the robe was $450. That was more than Tessa’s food budget plus the cost of her bus pass for an entire month combined, and she was stunned that he would spend so much on her for one simple item.
“Ian.” She tugged on his hand. “This is way too much money for just a robe. I can’t let you spend this much on me.”
In response he merely took hold of the offending price tag and tore it off. Grinning wickedly, he urged her along.
He showed her the drawers and cabinets in the huge double sink where toiletries, skin care products, and cosmetics had been stored for her, everything still in their wrappers and boxes. Tessa recognized some of the brands, especially the cosmetics that the makeup artist had used on her yesterday, while others were unknown to her. All of them looked expensive and high end.
But the real surprise came when Ian led her into his enormous walk-in closet. She had thought Julia’s closet jaw-dropping but this one easily dwarfed her friend’s several times over. The clothes racks, dark wood drawers, and granite topped counters had obviously been custom built and installed, for the closet was the sort of elaborate set-up that one only saw in design magazines or TV shows about the homes of the rich and famous.
Tessa stared at the rows of carefully hung suits, shirts, trousers, jackets, sweaters and other apparel. Dozens of pairs of shoes were neatly arranged on racks. The built-in drawers undoubtedly held things like socks, T-shirts and underwear. It was a huge space, far more than one person needed, as evidenced by the empty spaces here and there on the clothes racks.
“I didn’t have time to select much, just a few things really,” Ian was telling her as he walked her over to a partially filled clothes rack. “Once Marlene was able to confirm your sizes she packed everything up and had it delivered here to the house. I – I hope you like them, Tessa.”
She was startled at the amount of clothing – far more than a “few things” – that hung from the rack. There were dresses, skirts, trousers, jeans, blouses, sweaters, and jackets. On the shoe rack just below were half a dozen pair of assorted pumps, boots and casual footwear. Tessa didn’t need to look at labels or price tags to know that all of it had been very costly.
She’d never, ever, had such beautiful things before, never even let herself imagine she would ever own things as luxurious as these. For her entire life, her clothes had come from thrift shops, discount stores, and when things had been really bad, donations of used items from a charitable group.
Tessa couldn’t help the rush of tears that filled her eyes as she tentatively ran her hand over a pair of designer jeans before admiring a gorgeous silk blouse of pale blue.
“Do you like them?”
She turned to face Ian, who stood just behind her, a rather anxious expression on his face. It touched her deeply that he had evidently hand selected all of these lovely things for her, and even more so that he was worried if they were to her liking or not.
Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling her face against his bare chest. “How could I not?” she replied tearfully. “I know without even looking at everything that it will all be perfect. You have wonderful taste.”
He tipped her chin up, frowning at the sight of her tears. “If you like everything so much, then why are you crying?”
She felt a tear begin to trickle down her cheek. “Because you’re so good to me,” she whispered brokenly. “I’m not used to anyone doing these sorts of things for me, or trying to take care of me the way you do. I guess I’m just a little amazed.”
Ian kissed both of her eyelids. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, you know,” he told her solemnly. “I intend to buy you whatever your heart desires, Tessa. I don’t ever want you to be deprived again.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need things, Ian. I’m used to making do with what I have. I hope – I mean, that’s not why I’m here with you. Because of your money, I mean. That’s just not important to me. So don’t expect me to ask you for things because I won’t.”
“I know that, darling.” He combed her damp hair through his fingers. “Which is exactly why you can expect to receive a great many surprises from me. Ah, let’s not forget these.”
He opened a built-in drawer to reveal half a dozen sets of lacy lingerie, each in a different color. Ian picked up a very sexy bra of black lace and a matching pair of panties.
“I’ve been imagining you in this particular set since I picked them out,” he murmured in a husky voice.
Tessa fingered the lacy cups of the bra, feeling a little shy that he’d personally chosen lingerie for her. “They’re beautiful. And I’ll wear them for you whenever you want me to.”
The smile on his handsome face was positively amoral. “”Well, if I had my preference, I’d keep you dressed in nothing but these skimpy bits – or nothing at all – twenty four seven. But I suppose I need to let you out of my bed once in a while, don’t I?”
She giggled, liking this playful side of him. “Don’t forget I have a job. And a very demanding boss. Somehow I don’t think he’d consider these “skimpy bits” proper office attire.”
“You’re damned right he wouldn’t,” he growled, banding an arm about her waist and yanking her against him. “I haven’t waited this long for you only to share the sight of this luscious body with anyone else.” He cupped her breast through the soft fabric of her robe, his thumb rasping over the nipple. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear these under your clothes, so I can fantasize about how you look in them all day.”
Tessa gave a little moan as he continued to fondle her breast. “I’ll do whatever you want so long as you keep touching me like that.”
His fingers splayed open over her breast before giving it a squeeze. “You are quickly becoming a lusty little thing, aren’t you?” he purred. “But I’m afraid you’ve wrung me dry for the moment, love. Christ, I’ve never had this much sex in such a short amount of time. You’re like a constant aphrodisiac. Now, it’s time to take care of other appetites, hmm? Let’s find you some clothes so we can head out for breakfast.”
She ran a hand up over his pectorals, loving this opportunity to touch his bare skin. “Is it still raining?”
“Absolutely pouring. It eased up a bit during the night, I believe, but a second front is passing through right now. Why do you ask?”
Tessa rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers plucking at the towel wrapped around his waist. “Would you mind very much if we just stayed here today? I’d love to cook breakfast for you. I mean, my cooking skills are pretty basic but I can manage breakfast.”
“I don’t want you to have to work at all this entire weekend,” he declared. “That is – I hope you can stay with me the rest of the weekend. Am I interfering with any plans you’d made?”
She grinned. “Just a hot date with my laundry. And a very fun afternoon at the grocery store. Nothing that won’t keep a couple of days. And I really don’t mind making breakfast. You have such an amazing kitchen that I’d love the chance to use that stove. Provided I can figure out how to operate it, that is.”
“Ah, so now the real truth comes out,” teased Ian. “It’s my kitchen you’re really interested in, not me. I’ll tell you what, love. We’ll cook breakfast together, all right?”
She raised a brow in surprise. “You know how to cook?”
He shrugged. “Well, I’m no Emeril Lagasse but I can manage some basics. My brothers and I were required to work our way up from the bottom in the company, and for me at least that included a stint or two working in hotel restaurants. My housekeeper usually restocks supplies on Friday, so we’ll see what we can put together. Now, I suggest you get some clothes on, love. If you stay in that robe, it will be far too tempting – and easy - for me to slip it off you at a moment’s notice.”
Tessa tugged playfully at his towel. “Not as easy as it would be for me.” Then she squealed as his big hand swatted her bottom.
“Behave,” he admonished. “I think we’ll both be safer if you dress in here while I go shave. And don’t even start looking at price tags. I should have had them all cut off.”
“When exactly did you have time to put all these things away, anyway?” she asked curiously.
“I’m afraid I had to leave that task to my housekeeper,” he admitted. “Fortunately, Mrs. Sargent is both accommodating and discreet. Though I could sense she was very anxious to ask me several questions about who all these things were for.”
“So you don’t normally buy things for your overnight female guests?” she asked pointedly.
Ian shook his head. “Except for family members, I have never purchased clothing – much less very fetching lace undies – for a woman. Same thing with overnight guests. The only women who have ever been in this house are Mrs. Sargent and family members.”
Tessa was extremely pleased at this revelation. “So I’m a first for you in at least a couple of ways, too.”
He held her face between his palms and kissed her forehead. “More than a couple, love. Let me grab some clothes now and I’ll go change outside after I shave.”
She clasped his wrist. “Wait.”
As he gazed at her expectantly, she asked him shyly, “Would it bother you not to shave today? I – um, like you this way for a change. The stubble, I mean. It’s very sexy.”
Ian grinned as she caressed his cheek. “I don’t mind at all, Tessa. In fact, I don’t always shave when I’m home on the weekends. And if you find it sexy, then I definitely won’t do it today.”
She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”
Sweat broke out on his brow and his eyes darkened. “Christ, I feel like a horny teenager whenever I’m near you. I’d better get my things before I check another item off your list of firsts.”
She regarded him curiously as he efficiently selected clothing from the racks and drawers. “What item would that be?”
He winked at her cheekily. “Shagging in the closet.”