EVEN WITH ONLY the benefit of a rear view, I knew without a doubt it was Tessa. I could feel it. I saw she was in conversation with Ian and Devon, but fuck if I cared. Once I’d gotten her into my sights, I needed to meet her. If the front was as sexy as the back, I was going to need to work hard to keep myself in check for the rest of the night. She was wearing some hot as hell red number, and I’d already decided she had the hottest looking ass and legs I’d ever laid eyes on. The strappy little fuck me heels she was wearing set off a parade of X-Rated images in my head, all involving hammering into her while she wore them and nothing else.
When Ian saw me, he gave me a smile and a head gesture to make my way over. I was drawn to Tessa Hamilton as though she was an industrial strength magnet, so I was already on my way over. Coming up directly behind her, I’d taken in her clean, fresh scent.
Ian wasted no time in starting the introductions. “Hey, Flynn! You haven’t met Tessa in person yet, have you?”
I hadn’t, unless you counted the dozens of five alarm fantasies and dreams I’d had about her since the night I saw her picture. Taking a step closer, I stopped when I was standing at her side, holding my breath as she turned to face me for the first time.
Fuck.
ME.
As amazing as the photos I’d seen of her were, the in-the-flesh version was a million times better. My brain catalogued a hundred different facts in less than ten seconds. She was probably five foot four without the shoes, a full B cup, and wore a size three/four. I’d definitely earned my doctorate studying and examining the female form over the last decade, but for the first time it shamed me I’d done it all without even thinking about it.
When our eyes met for the first time, I was confused. What the fuck was it about her that was so familiar, I wondered? I was positive I’d never seen or met her previously, because my reaction to her was so extreme, it was something I would remember had it ever happened before.
The way she looked at me… fuck. I very seriously wondered if there was any scenario available that would make throwing her over my shoulder caveman style and running off with her to the closest bed for the next seven to ten days acceptable. Decorum prevailed and I reached my hand out to clasp hers.
With the first touch, I. Was. Done.
Ring the bell, sound the alarm, turn off the lights and lock the doors.
Done.
I’d had hundreds and hundreds of women underneath me over the last decade. Never once did I struggle to continue breathing when I touched them. I was touching Tessa’s hand, not her body, and I shouldn’t have been as affected as I was just from a simple touch.
We were both brought out of our silent study of each other by Devon giving a little laugh. Letting go of my hand, Tessa graced me with the most heart-stopping smile I’d ever seen. There was the faintest trace of a flush on her skin, and her eyes… fuck me. She was turned on, too. I’d have sworn she was on the verge of a massive orgasm.
I returned her smile with what I hoped wasn’t a totally inappropriate “I want to superglue you to my cock for six to twelve lifetimes” look. I knew it was time for me to say something… anything, but I was flustered and my head wasn’t focused on words at all. Finally, my brain clicked in and provided some information. Pictures! She took pictures. Pulling my mind out of the bedroom, I focused all of my attention on making a good impression.
“Tessa, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I was lucky enough to see your photos of The Chaps after one of their shows a few weeks ago. When I went to your website and saw the rest of your pictures, I knew I had to have you.”
Yeah, fuck me. It sounded horrible and I knew it. All I could think was—Real fucking smooth, moron.
“I mean I had to have you join the tour. To be our photographer.”
When did I turn into a bumbling idiot? Right around the time I laid eyes on Tessa Hamilton. I was normally unflappable, but right then, I was pretty damn sure nothing I said really made sense. If the expressions on Ian and Devon’s faces were anything to go by, I really looked like a total tool. Neither of them seemed to be able to believe what they were witnessing. Hell, I couldn’t believe it and it was happening to me.
My concerns about my idiocy evaporated like cold water on a hot day when Tessa smiled and spoke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Flynn. I’m a fan of your work as well, and it’s an honor to have been chosen to do this job. I promise not to let you down.”
Even her voice had been fucking hot. Watching her lips move was a carnal activity, and I envisioned her lips opening to suck me. I wanted to thread my fingers through her hair and hold her head while I fucked her mouth. Hard. I wanted to take control, and then I wanted to come down her throat. It was literally all I could think about.
Right then, I realized I needed to put some space between us, immediately. There was no longer any question about my intentions toward her. I planned to pursue her, but the way things were going right then, I’d have been begging her to marry me before the night was over if I hadn’t walked away. No woman had ever brought me to my knees, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was fucking flabbergasted.
“I know you won’t, Tessa. I’ve studied your work, and I have full faith in your abilities,” I assured her. “I need to make my way around the room for a bit, but I’ll find you later so we can talk again. Enjoy yourself.”
Flashing another smile, I turned and looked for someone else to talk to. Anyone. Spotting Cole at the edge of the room looking in my direction, I made my way over to him.
I wasted no time in filling him in. “Holy fuck, Cole—I’m pretty sure I just had an out of fucking body experience. I just made the biggest toolbag asshole out of myself when I met the photographer. Remember how hot she was in those photos? She’s better in person, and I could barely string two fuckin’ sensible words together. I almost dragged her to the nearest flat surface to fuck her. I swear to God I think I’d come in about two minutes inside of her. If she just talks to me while she’s naked, I’ll probably come without ever touching her. Me! I’m not even exaggerating. What the actual fuck?”
Giving me a surprised look, Cole had stared at me for a few seconds before he shook his head in wonder. “Maybe there’s something in the water, because I’m all caught up with Devon. And Ian too, I guess, but I don’t think he swings both ways and you know how I feel about one on one shit. I’m totally mind-fucked.”
Clearly both of us had our minds on things other than business. Looking back to where Tessa was still standing with Ian and Devon, I’d noticed all three of them had shifted so the two of us were in their vision line.
“They’re both watching you so I think it’s safe to say they’re interested. Ian looks a little unsure to me, so if I had to take a stab in the dark, I’d say he’s never been attracted to a man before. But there’s no doubt in my mind he is now. I’d actually noticed it for the first time earlier this week, but since you hadn’t confirmed you were attracted to him, I kept it under my hat. Devon, on the other hand, is much easier to read. She wants you. Good news—I like them both very much. I think you’ve got this in the bag, brother.”
Cole’s smile had spread quickly. “ I’ve never been so fucking hot for someone the way I am for Devon and I think Ian would be a good second. For the record, you’ve definitely got the photographer’s attention. She hasn’t stopped looking at you, yet.”
It made me feel good—less like a bumbling teenager wanting a girl in math class to notice me. Giving him a cocky grin, I laughed. “I’m a lot to look at.”
“Yeah, a lot of ugly,” he laughed. “You know what’s weird about the photographer? Something about her seems familiar to me.”
His words threw me for a loop. Maybe we had seen her somewhere before and I was too fucked up to remember. I wanted to ask why he thought that, but our conversation was cut short by the arrival of our tour manager, Joe, and we spent a few minutes talking to him before spreading out to meet the few other people in the room we’d not met, yet.
I hoped the rest of the introductions would be short and sweet so I could make my way back to Tessa. I wanted to spend time with her.