Splendor (Inevitable #2) (46 page)

“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to say things like that, you know.” She reached up on her toes to whisper in his ear, “You’re already going to get lucky tonight. Maybe several times.”

Ian grinned. “In that case, perhaps I ought to nap for an hour or so while you’re getting ready. I understand that men of my advanced age need to so that sort of thing.”

“Yes, but do other men your age have this sort of incredible body?” she murmured, running her hands up and down his chest. “Or are they able to physically dominate a man ten years younger than they are?”

He captured her hand just before it slid beneath the hem of his loose fitting knit shirt. “Actually, Jesse is only twenty-seven, so he’s a full thirteen years my junior. But I do confess to having had a secret advantage over him, which just might have helped me best the boy.”

“Oh? And what exactly was this so-called secret advantage?”

Ian trailed a series of kisses along the inside of her arm, stopping just shy of her wrist. His eyes twinkled with merriment. “Young Jesse had a great deal of trouble keeping his eyes off of my girl. I admit to having a very sneaky motive when I suggested you wear that particular workout top this morning.”

Tessa gasped, picturing the snug-fitting light blue tank top, the one she’d fretted about wearing because it had displayed a bit too much side-boob. But Ian, who normally preferred that she not expose too much bare skin in public, had surprised her by insisting the top was just fine.

“Ooh, you mean you did that on purpose?” she squeaked. “Knowing full well that I was, um, showing a little too much of the goods?”

He laughed in delight, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her easily off the floor. “I happened to remember that Jesse is – well, something of a breast man, based on comments he’s made in the past. And since you have the most fabulous rack in the entire world, I figured you’d provide a bit of a distraction. Just enough to give me a little advantage.”

Tessa pretended to give him a stern look. “That’s cheating, Ian. I thought you liked to win fair and square.”

He gave her a loud, smacking kiss on the lips. “Darling, winning was never my worry. Jesse may be thirteen years younger but trust me – I could kick his arse with one hand tied behind my back. He’s usually just – well, very focused on his workouts, a bit too intense for his own good sometimes. It was rather amusing to see him get distracted so easily.”

“Oh.” His explanation mollified her somewhat, and a wicked smile spread across her face. “Well, if you really want to distract him next time, remind me to wear the teeny tiny shorts that go with the top.”

Ian burst into laughter, murmuring in her ear, “Darling, you’d have the entire gym in an uproar if you wore those shorts. And while I can easily take that young whelp Jesse on, I’m not certain I could say the same for a whole roomful of horny men.”

***

Tessa still wasn’t sure if she should be offended, flattered, amused, or all three at Ian’s mischievous confession. But she couldn’t help the smile that played about her lips as she began to apply her makeup. Truth be told, she hadn’t paid the slightest attention to Jesse, the young, buff trainer Ian had been sparring with, and therefore couldn’t say for certain if he’d actually been sneaking glances at her or not. All of her attention had been focused solely on Ian, as it always was no matter how many other attractive men might be nearby.

He had very quickly become the main focus in her life, the one thing everything else revolved around, especially in the last few weeks when she’d stopped working at her old job.

Predictably, her co-workers had been startled to learn she was resigning, especially so soon after the fire at her apartment building. Equally as expected, they’d been extremely curious about her reasons for leaving and what her future plans were. Tessa had been obliged to be as evasive as possible, merely telling anyone who asked that she just needed a little break and would be going back to school after a time. She knew Kevin in particular was dying to ask her a million more questions, and that everyone must be puzzled about how she could afford to take some time off of work. But she became quite adept at avoiding any detailed questions, and then swiftly changing the subject.

Andrew, the only person besides herself and Ian who knew the real truth, had remained stoically closed-mouthed on the matter, not that any of the team would have dared to actually probe him for gossip. On her last day of work, the whole team – including Andrew – had taken her out to lunch, and she’d had to fight off tears as she bid them all farewell.

Ian hadn’t attended the lunch – though Kevin had rather cheekily invited him – for it would have looked highly suspicious if he had joined them. He had never in the past gone out to lunch with the support staff, whether it was for a birthday or when someone left the firm, and Tessa had agreed this would have been an ill-advised time to start. They had, however, celebrated her last day at the office after hours, in a way that still made her blush when she thought of it.

Tessa had initially feared that she’d be bored without having a daily job to go to, but quickly found that to be very far from the truth. She loved living with Ian and taking care of him in dozens of different ways. Even though he urged her to sleep in, she always rose when he did each morning, making him tea and fixing him breakfast. If he had errands that needed doing, like dropping his suits at the dry cleaners, or picking up more shaving cream at the pharmacy, or buying his favorite scones at the bakery, she did all these things happily. It wasn’t just a matter of feeling useful, that she was earning her keep, so to speak. She simply liked looking after her man, maybe even spoiling him a little as he loved to indulge her.

She cooked dinner for him most nights, even though her culinary skills were still very basic, but she knew he loved the efforts she made to please him. He worked so hard at the office, had so much responsibility, that she could tell he was deeply grateful for the opportunity to just relax at home after a long, stressful day. She would have a cocktail waiting for him when he arrived home, and they would sit out on the terrace or in the library, depending on the weather, and talk about their respective days before they sat down to eat dinner.

She’d had a full two weeks in between quitting her job and then accompanying him on this past week’s trip. To prepare for the trip, there had been countless phone calls and emails from Andrew, with endless lists of the tasks she would be expected to do, names and numbers of contacts she would need, plus half a dozen items he would “appreciate” her assistance with if she could spare the time.

Julia had been a great help when it came time to pack for the trip, helping her select appropriate outfits for each city, for day and night, and the right accessories. And Ian had insisted she spend a day right before they left on the trip at the Neiman Marcus salon – getting her hair cut, having a facial, a mani-pedi, a massage.

He’d smiled at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Have whatever girly treatments you’d like, my love. With two exceptions.”

She’d looked at him quizzically as he’d explained. “Don’t let them cut too much of this beautiful hair. I told you before that I like it long. As for the other.” He’d nuzzled her neck as his hand had slipped down past her belly to cup her sex. “No Brazilian waxes. I want this left natural.”

Since the very thought of someone applying hot wax to her private parts was just about the scariest idea she’d ever heard, Tessa had readily agreed.

The trip itself had been amazing, even though they both put in long hours at each of the hotels they visited, their days filled with meetings and reviews. Tessa was thrilled to actually be doing real work – taking notes during meetings, sending faxes and printing reports, making sure the arrangements for lunch and dinner were confirmed. Ian had insisted that she accompany him to each meeting, lunch and dinner, and had made it very clear – albeit in a discreet, professional manner – that she was not only his PA but his companion as well. They stayed in the owner’s suite at each of the properties, each suite with its own private butler and each one more lavishly appointed than the one before.

And on the five and a half hour flight home from Florida – only her second flight ever, the one out to New Orleans having been her first – Ian had locked them inside the master bedroom and initiated her into what he laughingly termed “the mile high club.”

“It’s my initiation as well,” he’d whispered while unbuttoning her silk blouse, letting it fall from her shoulders. His lips had caressed the high, upper curves of her breasts. “I’ve never even brought a woman on board this plane with me before now, much less considered making love to one. So this is another first for me, too.”

And of course, the very best part of living with him and being with him nearly all the time, was his phenomenal sexual prowess. He was the sort of lover every woman could only dream of – the sort she in her naïve inexperience had never imagined truly existed. One night he might set out to seduce her slowly, taking his time with her, drawing out the anticipation until they were both mindless with need. And then, the very next night, he would take her roughly, demandingly, the sex wild and more than a little dirty. Tessa wasn’t sure what side of him she loved better – the erotic seducer or the dominant lover.

And of course there were many and varied versions of both of his personas. But it never mattered to Tessa what Ian’s particular mood called for from one day to the next – she loved them all, loved being his lover, loved making love with him. He had most definitely awakened her body to the point where she craved him like a physical need akin to breathing. She responded to not just his kisses and caresses, but to the sound of his voice, his scent, his very presence in the same room. During their business meetings or dinners, where they would strive to act like complete professionals and not the passionate lovers they were, their eyes would still meet and it would be impossible for either of them to disguise the flare of awareness that passed between them every single time.

When they were alone, she would reach for him nearly as often as he did her – snuggling against him as they slept, sliding onto his lap as he sipped his tea or drank his brandy, running her hands over his bare torso as he shaved or brushed his teeth. Sometimes he teased her about having turned her into a sex maniac, but most of the time he would groan and sweep her into his arms, kissing her into oblivion or carrying her to his bed.

Tonight, for his birthday, she had an extra special sexual experience planned for him, one she was fairly sure he would love. There was a chance, however slight, that he would balk at her idea, but she honestly didn’t think so. She was going to seduce him – plain and simple – and hopefully rock his well- ordered world into another galaxy.

With that goal in mind, she applied a heavier than normal makeup – her eyes darkly shadowed and lined, her skin glowing with the application of sparkly bronzer, her lips full and glistening beneath the shiny scarlet gloss. She’d taken a long, hot bath earlier, the sunken tub filled with fragrant, vanilla scented bath salts, and then exfoliated nearly every inch of her skin. She’d spent considerable time rubbing scented lotion on her arms, legs, belly, breasts, before lightly spritzing herself with the delicate floral perfume Ian had bought her, knowing it was the scent he preferred.

But it was when she put on the new, ultra sexy bits of black lace she’d bought specifically for tonight that her confidence level zoomed up several degrees. As she gazed at her reflection in the full length mirror, she ran her fingers lightly over the plunging demi-bra, miniscule thong, ruffly garter skirt, and sheer stockings. Tessa gave herself a naughty, satisfied wink in the mirror.

‘There is zero chance – Z-E-R-O – that he’ll say no to anything you suggest when he sees you in this, girl,’ she told herself with a chuckle. ‘In fact, he’s going to get on his hands and knees and beg you to do him any way you want. Too bad that’s not the position I have in mind for tonight.’

***

“Let’s drink a toast to Ian’s birthday, shall we?” suggested Nathan. “Here’s wishing you a very, very happy one, and hoping that I’ll be in half as good a shape as you are when I turn forty.”

Julia snickered. “Well, I’ll definitely drink to that!”

There was laughter all around the table as the four occupants drank from their champagne flutes. They were enjoying pre-dinner cocktails in the lavishly appointed lounge area on the top floor of the Gregson Hotel. The cocktail lounge was adjacent to the four-star gourmet restaurant where they would be having dinner shortly.

Ian had chosen the venue for his birthday celebration quite intentionally, knowing that not only would the food and the service be superb, but that he could depend on the full discretion of the staff. Even though Tessa no longer officially worked for the company, they had agreed to keep something of a low profile for a while, at least here in San Francisco. Neither of them wanted speculation to start about exactly when their relationship had begun.

But for now he refused to worry about any of that, or anything else for that matter. Tonight was a night to relax and enjoy a fine meal with friends, and of course with the gorgeous love of his life seated to his left.

His jaw had dropped when he’d seen her for the first time tonight, walking with slow deliberation down the long, winding staircase of the house. And while Tessa always looked utterly beautiful and irresistibly tempting, tonight she was beyond dazzling. In the black V-neck Herve Leger bandage dress with its sequin embellished panels, she was a bombshell – really no other word came close to describing how sizzlingly sexy she looked. Her golden hair fell in thick, bouncy waves past her shoulders, her lush mouth looking positively sinful glossed over in a deep red. The only jewelry she wore were the diamond solitaire earrings he’d bought her recently, and a diamond cuff bracelet, with nothing around her neck to distract from the tantalizing display of her cleavage.

Ian hadn’t missed all the admiring, covetous male glances directed her way, and he intended to keep her very close to his side the entire evening. In fact, probably the only male in the lounge who hadn’t stared lustfully at his girl was Nathan- and that was because he had his own ultra- sexy woman sitting next to him. Julia had caused more than a few jaws to drop herself, garbed in a strapless ivory chiffon cocktail dress with a jeweled waist, and very high heeled ivory satin shoes with a rhinestone strap. Every time Ian happened to glance across the table, the engaged couple were touching each other in some way, or kissing. Even now Nathan was dipping his head to whisper something in her ear, and Julia giggled in response.