Red Phoenix's Passion is for Lovers Collection (Boxed Set) (6 page)

Tessa hugged his knees, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You know, it would have been better if I hadn’t tried to save him. Randy would have died from asphyxiation. It would have been easier on him.”

“Can I talk?” she whispered.

“I don’t want sympathy.”

“Kevin… if I were your brother, I would rather die knowing my brother came for me than alone in a closet.”

“But don’t you get it? I’m the reason he hid in that damn closet.”

“You couldn’t have known what would happen. It’s not your fault.”

Kevin stiffened. “I told you, I don’t want your sympathy.”

“Fine. But there is something I have to say and you may not like it.”

He paused before answering. “What?”

“You can’t change what happened. But you are
alive
and you owe it to Randy to live a full life. Living in guilt doesn’t honor him.”

Kevin pushed away from her and walked to the kitchen. He leaned over the counter, looking crushed. “You know what I really think, what I feel every day? Randy should be the one alive not me.”

“Stop.”

Kevin’s face contorted in anger. He looked at Tessa and shouted, “You don’t know anything! Don’t pretend you do. You have no idea what we have been through, the pain I have suffered. Get the fuck out of here!”

Tessa was shocked at the rage Kevin was directing towards her. “I just…”

“Go!”

She got up slowly with tears in her eyes. Was it really going to end this way? “Please, Kevin.”

“Get out!” he shouted.

Tessa didn’t look back as she ran from his house. She stumbled and fell several times as she ran home, tears blinding her way. Tess had never imagined the heavy guilt Kevin carried, but having him turn on her was frightening. Maybe her mother was right. A guy like that
was
dangerous.

When Tessa finally made it back home, she buried her head in her pillow and screamed. All the pent-up love, tension, and anger rolled out in waves of grief and pain. It was over. Kevin had warned her, but she’d
insisted
he reveal his terrible secret. Now she knew—and the cost for such knowledge was their budding relationship. It didn’t feel like she was losing a simple high school crush. No. It felt like Tess was losing her soulmate.

The phone rang several times, but she refused to answer it. Around four in the afternoon, she heard a light rap at the door. She wondered if it was one of her friends from school, but she didn’t care to answer it. Tess wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone.

The person wouldn’t leave. When the knocking didn’t produce a response, the person switched to ringing the doorbell repeatedly. She growled in anger as she tromped down the stairs. That was when she heard his voice.

“Tesse, open up.”

She ran to the door, quickly unlocking it. Kevin stood there, still battered and bruised but never looking more handsome.

Tessa ran into his arms and started crying again. “I’m sorry.”

“No, Tesse. I’m the one who is sorry. You didn’t deserve that.” He guided her into the house and shut the door without breaking the embrace.

“I didn’t mean…”

“Shh… it’s okay. I’m not mad at you.”

“Still, I shouldn’t have…”

“No more apologies from you.” He put his finger to her lips. She looked up and then held her breath as his mouth came down on hers. Her whole body became an electrical current when their lips touched. His deep-throated groan sent chills through her. The key finally found its lock; it was meant to be.

When he pulled away, she looked into his blue eyes. “I love you, Kevin.”

He gave his characteristic lopsided grin and caressed her cheek. “You can’t possibly.”

“I do,” Tessa insisted.

Kevin kissed her again, this time teasing her with his tongue. Tess moaned, never having felt such an intense sexual attraction before. She tentatively licked the outline of his lips and felt him tense. She moved from the left to the right corner of his mouth. She ran her tongue over the scar tissue. It was smooth with an almost metallic taste to it. Tessa darted her tongue into his open mouth. He groaned again, much louder this time. Her insides contracted as a tingling sensation took over. “Oh, Kevin,” she breathed into his mouth.

“Tesse,” he said gruffly.

“Yes?”

Kevin repeated her name and moved his lips to her ear, whispering, “I love you.”

Everything stopped—the world, time, her breathing.
Kevin loves me.
She was not alone in these intense feelings. “Oh, Kevin, I love you so much! I have since the first day we…”

The ringing of the phone interrupted her declaration. She didn’t want to answer it, but Kevin insisted, not wanting her mother to worry about her.

Tess picked up the receiver, expecting a rant. “Hello?”

A rant she did get. Her mother questioned where she had been and then scolded her for not answering sooner. None of it mattered.
He loves me.
“Okay, Mom. I will. No, I learned my lesson. Never again.”

She hung up the phone and smiled at Kevin. “My mom’s mad.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay, but you should know that she’s headed home.”

“I’d better go then. I don’t want to get you in any more trouble.”

Tessa looked at her beloved. “Kevin, I really love you.”

He smiled and pulled her to him. “I love you, too, Tesse.” Kevin planted another kiss on her lips before leaving. Tessa sighed when he shut the door. Every fiber of her being wanted to follow him.

Tess ended up having a pleasant evening with her mother. Julie’s day in court had gone better than expected and that always put her in a good mood. The two didn’t talk about Kevin or school. Her mother went on and on about her big birthday party, the one she had decided to reinstate. Tessa kept smiling throughout the evening. Her mother misinterpreted it as excitement about her eighteenth birthday party and Tess didn’t bother correct her.

She lay in bed that night thinking about tomorrow. The big party was planned for the weekend, but nothing special was scheduled for her actual birthday. It didn’t matter to Tess, there was only one thing she wanted and it had nothing to do with parties or presents. Tessa hoped Kevin would be willing to grant her only wish.

Day 9

S
he called him early in the morning. “Morning, Kevin!”

“Well, this is a surprise. I thought you would be headed back to school today.”

“Nope, today is my birthday and I am taking it off.”

“I had no idea. So how old are you?”

“The big one-eight. I am officially an adult today. I can vote, I hope you know.”

He chuckled. “Well, voting ranks high on my list of exciting activities.”

“I know!”

“So what are you planning to do for your big day?”

“I have to stay home so I can answer the phone whenever my mom calls. She insisted. It was the only way I could get her to agree to let me skip school today.”

“So she’s still mad, huh?”

“No, we worked things out last night. Mainly she just talked about my big party on Saturday. I’d rather skip it, but Mom makes such a big deal out of things like that. Hey, you want to come?”

“Are you sure you want me there?”

“Of course I do! What a silly thing to say.” She was grateful he had no idea of her mother’s reservations concerning him. Kevin would never come if he knew her mother didn’t approve. Tessa was going to cross that bridge the day of the party. There was no way her mom would deny her a birthday wish and Tess planned to take full advantage of that fact.

“So I guess I’ll ask again, what are you planning to do today?”

Tessa smiled into the phone. “I was hoping you would come here to visit the birthday girl.”

“Are you sure you want a crabby scarface for company?”

“Only if that crabby scarface is you.”

He replied teasingly, “I suppose…”

“Don’t be mean, Kevin. You are not allowed to tease me on my big day.”

“Turning into a princess, are we?”

“Naturally, and as I’m a princess, you must grant me anything I wish.”

“I’m not your fairy godmother.”

“Well, you are the best I could do on such short notice.”

He laughed. “Sucks for you. When would you like me over?”

“How about ten? I need a little time to pamper myself.”

“Ten it is then.”

Tessa hung up the phone slowly.
I’m really going to do this.

Kevin was coming over in two hours and she needed to get ready. Tess started a bubble bath and shaved her legs while it filled up. When she was done, she sank into the blanket of bubbles and sighed. Nothing was more relaxing than a warm bath. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of Kevin, but she saw his hand and imagined it touching her breast. It was so real that her nipple hardened in response. What would it feel like to make love the first time? The thought of having Kevin inside her made Tess weak all over. She remembered that he’d mentioned his little brother had been a chick magnet. That meant Kevin was popular with girls. At least he would know what he was doing. Tess was confident he would be a good lover.

Before she dressed, Tessa stood naked in front of her full-length mirror. She looked at her small breasts. They were cute, but not sexy like most girls’. However, she did like her rosy areolas and the way her nipples stood out so perky when she got excited. Tessa touched her flat stomach and ran her hand down between her legs. What would Kevin think of her blonde snatch? Her pubic hair was a darker shade of blonde than the hair on her head. Tessa turned around and checked out her butt. It was her favorite asset.

What she lacked in cleavage, she made up for in a shapely butt. It was round and sweet. Her girlfriends were jealous of it.
That, or they said they were to make me feel better for not having big boobs…
Tess frowned. What if her ass wasn’t that great after all? Insecurities suddenly gripped her.

What if he turns me down?
How would she live with the humiliation? Tessa looked into the mirror and commanded herself to stop worrying.

She slipped on a red thong, figuring that it was the sexiest of all panties. Then she zipped up her favorite short skirt. It was a sassy brown number that bounced alluringly when she walked. Tessa searched through her closet until she found her white half-shirt. It had a nice cut, but what she really liked was the fact it would give easy access to her breasts. She put it on and blushed a little. This was the first time she hadn’t worn a bra with it and she could clearly see the outline of her nipples. It felt scandalous, but she liked the look. There was only one more piece to add to the ensemble—her boots. Tessa dug through her closet until she found her knee-high boots. After she slipped them on, Tessa twirled in front of the mirror. She delighted in the flip of her skirt and the hardness of her nipples. Yep, she definitely looked the part of a sexy eighteen-year-old. Hopefully, Kevin wouldn’t be able to resist.

Tessa dug out several candles and placed them in her room. She wanted the place to look and smell romantic. She had just finished lighting the last one when the doorbell rang. Tessa froze. She didn’t move again until the flame burnt her finger. She quickly blew out the match and shook her finger in the air.

Kevin was here…

Tessa ran to the door and then took a couple of calming breaths before she opened it. He stood in front of her with a bouquet of multicolored carnations in cheap cellophane. “Eighteen flowers for the eighteen-year-old.”

She smiled and took them from him. Her first bouquet ever! She smelled them and was disappointed that they didn’t have much of a scent.
Well, at least they look pretty.

“Thanks, Kevin. I’ve never gotten flowers before.”

He stared at her and then stated, “You look different.”

Tessa blushed. His comment wasn’t exactly a compliment. “Yes, it’s my princess Tesse look. Do you like?” She turned around for him, causing her skirt to bounce for a little added effect.

He continued gazing at her without speaking. Tess blushed a deeper shade of red. It was not the reaction she’d expected. Kevin cleared his throat finally and asked, “Can I come in?”

Tess took that as a positive sign and pulled him inside. “I’ve been looking forward to this all morning.”