Red Phoenix's Passion is for Lovers Collection (Boxed Set) (13 page)

J
errod met her outside her first class the next morning. He was upset that she had refused to talk to him after rehearsal the night before. “Come on, Tesse, talk to me. I was worried all night. What happened?”

“He’s gone,” she said dully.

“For good?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that things got pretty heated in the cafeteria.”

Tesse was horrified. “What? Do you have spies or something?”

“No, Tesse. The two of you made quite a scene according to what I heard.”

She’d forgotten how public they’d been when they kissed. “Well, you don’t have to worry. Luke left. He said he doesn’t want to ruin my life.”

Jerrod asked point blank, “Do you still love the guy?”

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t. But we have such different lives now. He wants to practice medicine in Africa and I want a career on Broadway. It would never work.”

“So, I’m your plan B?”

“No! I just… you’ve always known how I felt about Luke.”

“Well, maybe I don’t like being your backup plan, Tesse.” Jerrod sulked away, leaving her alone.

Tess felt like breaking down. Seeing Luke had made all her old feelings resurface and having him leave again was excruciating. On top of that, Jerrod was hurt by what happened between them. Things couldn’t get any worse, which was why Tesse tanked at rehearsal.

“What’s wrong with you? You sound like a howling dog. This is unacceptable. Try it again!” She stayed until one in the morning rehearsing with Mr. Reagan. Finally, he gave up. “This is what I get for using untried talent. I won’t make that mistake again, Miss Hayes!”

She hurried to her dorm, wanting to bury her head under her pillow and disappear from the world.

Jerrod met her on the way. “Slow down. I need to talk to you Tesse.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “I can’t believe how rough Mr. Reagan was on you tonight.”

“What? You saw all that?”

“Yeah, I was waiting for you in the auditorium. I’m shocked he kept you until 1:00.”

“Well, I really do suck. I can’t blame him.”

“You’ve just had a rough day. You’ll do better tomorrow.”

Tesse snorted. “I don’t see how.”

“Are you tired?”

“Not really… No, not at all.”

“Why don’t you come to my apartment then? A little wine might help you relax.”

The thought of trying to keep quiet in her dorm while her roommate slept sounded hideous. Jerrod’s suggestion was a good one, so she agreed. “Why not?”

They both veered to the left. Jerrod had his own apartment walking distance from the campus. His parents were well off like her mom. Only difference, they actually supported their son’s aspirations.

Jerrod turned on the lights as he motioned her into his place. Tesse had been there before with their group of friends. This was the first time they’d been there alone as a couple and there was a completely different vibe to it.

He went directly to the kitchen, retrieving two wine glasses and uncorking the bottle. “Go ahead and turn on the TV if you like.”

Tesse looked at the black screen. “Nah, I don’t feel much like watching TV.”

He handed her a glass and sat down beside her. “I hope you like pinot noir.”

“I’m not sure,” she answered. Tesse took a sip and found she liked the fruity flavor of the red wine. It wasn’t acidic like she was expecting. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

“Good.” Jerrod settled back on the couch and stared at her.

Tesse took another sip before asking, “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I’m sorry for flying off the handle this morning. Tesse, you’re right. You’ve always been honest with me about Luke. I know he is your first love, and first loves never really die. I get that. I’m glad both of you recognize that you don’t have a future together. Your talents would be wasted in an African village, and he would be lost following you around instead of helping the sick.”

Tess looked down at her glass. Jerrod was right. It was an impossible situation.
Still
…

“I wish that I had been your first, but I’m not. I get to be your second and hopefully, if things work out, your last. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I realize I am okay with that.”

Tesse studied Jerrod. He truly loved her, had for two years now. Even knowing that she still loved Luke, he wanted to be with her. “You are one of a kind, Jerrod.”

“So are you, Tess. I’ve never felt this way about another woman.” He leaned forward to kiss her. Although she was still a jumble of emotion, she
needed
to soak in his love. Tesse met him halfway. It was a gentle kiss, but when Tesse tried to pull back he held onto her. He kissed her more deeply, flicking his tongue into her mouth. Her body responded eagerly to his passion, but she wasn’t mentally prepared for it. She broke the embrace and grabbed her wine, taking several large gulps.

“How do you feel about me, Tess?”

She gazed at him for several moments before answering. “You have been my best friend for two years.” She was afraid to voice her thoughts, but forged on. “I have always found you attractive and I’ve wondered what it would be like to be intimately involved with you.”

“I’m right here, Tesse.”

“But I’m a mess.”

“You call the shots and I will follow,” Jerrod said, caressing her cheek lightly.

Tesse closed her eyes. Why did it feel like she was betraying Luke when he was the one who had left? It would be a shame to lose this relationship loving someone she couldn’t have. “I doubt I’ll be worth the aggravation,” she confessed, looking up from her drink.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Jerrod replied. He took Tesse’s glass from her, putting it down on the table before planting a passionate kiss on her lips. His kisses did not produce the electrical current of Luke’s, but they were sensual and enticing.

Tesse left a short time later feeling relaxed enough to sleep. She realized that even after losing Luke for a second time, she could survive. She had Jerrod and she had her singing to see her through the heartache.

4 Days & Counting…

R
ehearsal went better than the day before, but Mr. Reagan wasn’t satisfied. “Do you remember that performance you gave me a few days ago? That’s what I judge you by now. Sorry, even though this is better than yesterday, it still does not compare. I don’t know what else I can do to motivate you, Miss Hayes.”

“I can do this,” she assured him.

Mr. Reagan had Tesse sit out the rest of the rehearsal and had her understudy take over. He added insult to injury when he complimented the girl. “If you keep that up, Jennifer, you’ll be the star opening night.”

Tesse left the theater feeling defeated. Jerrod joined her once she made it outside. “That man is brutal.”

“Yeah, but he’s right. I am not performing up to par.”

“What do you think the problem is?”

Tesse looked at him, suddenly inspired. “What if we go to your apartment and I study my lines? This time I want you to play the part of Raoul.”

“Why?”

“He gets the girl. It only seems natural.”

Jerrod chuckled under his breath. “I like how you think, Lambchop.”

When they reached his apartment, Jerrod insisted on pouring two glasses of wine. “It did wonders for you yesterday, so I bought more of the same.”

“You’re sweet,” Tesse said, pleased that he’d thought of her.

“So what scene are we working on?” he asked. She pulled out her script and pointed to the beginning of
All I Ask of You.

“You start me off.”

Jerrod spoke the words to her rather than sang them. However, he put all of his emotions into the character of Raoul. He read the lines that talked of being Christine’s freedom from the darkness. He promised to guard and guide her.

Tesse responded, singing softly but with desire as Christine. She asked Raoul to promise that he would always love her, yearning to hear that he needed her by his side.

Jerrod took her into his arms and whispered huskily that he would be her shelter and light. Tesse moaned when he added a sensual kiss on her neck. Tesse forgot her lines when he ran one hand down the length of her body slowly while the other held the script. Jerrod continued on as Raoul promising to love her for a lifetime, staying by her side forever.

Tesse pressed her back against his body as Jerrod’s hand traveled from her waist to her stomach, inching downward. She tilted her head back on his shoulder, turning slowly towards his lips. As Christine, she promised that if he would love her she would follow. She dissolved into his arms when Raoul claimed her mouth.

The rehearsal ended the moment Jerrod picked her up and carried to his bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed. Tesse stared at him, a bundle of nervous excitement. He lay down beside her and then slowly began unbuttoning her shirt. Tesse didn’t stop him, completely caught up in the passion of the moment. He pushed away the material, exposing her breasts to the cool night air.

Jerrod caressed her small breasts through her satin bra, making her nipples taut and erect. “Truly beautiful.”

She quickly pulled off his shirt and ran her hands over his hairy chest. He was muscular and sweaty, the heat of his lust radiating from him. Her own body responded to his need, aching for fulfillment. Tesse held her breath when Jerrod pulled down the cup of her bra. His mouth landed on her nipple and she gasped. She’d forgotten how good it felt to have them sucked. She had no control over the rising desire building, her body desperate to be loved again.

Jerrod continued to explore her, moving his hands from her breasts to her stomach and down over her thighs. He pulled at the button of her pants. When it unfastened, he quickly unzipped her denims and snuck his hand between her legs. Only her panties separated her from his intimate touch. Tesse tensed. “I’m not ready to make love.”

He said in a husky whisper, “We don’t have to. We can please each other with our hands tonight.” Tesse was unsure of herself and pulled away from him in embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?” he asked hoarsely, pulling her to him again.

“Jerrod, I might as well be a virgin when it comes to foreplay.”

He smiled charmingly. “I don’t mind. In fact, I find it exciting.” He nibbled her ear. “Tesse, my untried beauty.” Jerrod moved her hand down to his crotch and pressed it against his erect cock.

She rubbed her hand against him and Jerrod groaned in her ear. Tesse’s loins ached with need when his hand moved back down between her legs. He fingered the outside of her moist panties. “You’re so wet. It’s a real turn-on…” He then slipped his finger under the thin triangle of cloth and touched her swollen clit. Tesse gasped, rubbing against his erection with more conviction.

His fingers swirled around her sensitive spot, creating a heat she hadn’t experienced before. She pushed her face into the pillow, trying to silence her cries.

Jerrod seemed aroused by her vocal pleasure and murmured, “Why don’t you undo my pants?”

Tesse undid them, tentatively slipping her hand under his waistband. She felt the dripping head of his rigid cock. Wrapping her hand around his shaft, she stroked it awkwardly with the limited access she had in his pants. Jerrod pushed against her hand, his groans making her wet. He continued to finger her moist outer lips and aching clit.