Splendor (Inevitable #2) (48 page)

“If you two need a room, Ian, I’m guessing that won’t be a problem given that you own this hotel,” joked Nathan.

Tessa blushed profusely, and stared down into her wine glass as she took a sip. There was an awkward silence for a few moments until Julia stood, picking up her clutch bag.

“I think you gentlemen should order us some coffee and dessert while we visit the ladies room,” she announced. “Tessa, let’s go, shall we?”

Nathan and Ian were very well aware that theirs were far from the only pairs of admiring male eyes that followed the two gorgeous women as they left the restaurant.

Nathan lifted his wine glass in a salute. “We’re lucky bastards, you and I, aren’t we? As much of a jerk as I was to Julia for so long she still kept on loving me. I know I damned well don’t deserve her, but I’ll spend my life worshipping the ground she walks on.”

“I think she would disagree with the first part of that statement, mate,” replied Ian. “But you’re right about the other. You and I are bloody lucky to have two such beautiful women. And I cherish Tessa every bit as much as you do Julia.”

Nathan sipped his wine slowly. “You going to marry her?”

Ian laughed. “You’re the second person in as many days to ask me that question. And the answer is yes, but not just yet. Tessa – she’s been through a lot in her young life. I’m trying to give her some time to get used to all this – ” he waved a hand around to indicate the splendor of their surroundings, “to make sure it’s what she really wants.”

“She loves you, Ian,” Nathan told him quietly. “That’s not going to change anytime soon.”

Ian sighed. “Sometimes I wonder about that. She’s so young, so damned young, and she’s seen absolutely nothing of the world. We’ve talked about her going back to college in the fall, getting her degree. One of my greatest fears is that she meets someone closer to her age, decides I’m too old for her.”

“Hmm. So that’s really why you’re giving her time. To make sure her feelings for you are real.” Nathan shook his head. “The way she looks at you – it’s the same way Julia looks at me. It’s the real deal, my friend, never doubt that.”

Ian was about to reply, to thank Nathan for his reassurances, when he noticed the number of male heads that turned and he knew the women had returned. They made quite a contrast to the other – Julia petite and curvy, looking like a very alluring angel in her ivory dress and towering heels, and Tessa tall and shapely with those endlessly long legs, sexy black dress and the stilettos that made her look like every forbidden fantasy ever conjured up.

Tessa was beaming when he pulled her chair out for her. “Julia just had the most wonderful ideas for me, Ian. I was telling her how I didn’t want to just sit around and feel useless until our next business trip, especially since the college classes I’d need to take don’t start until late August. And she’s thought of some ways I can keep busy and still learn something useful.”

Nathan smirked as he pushed Julia’s chair in. “Baby, tell Tessa that shopping is not exactly cultural enrichment.”

Julia rolled her eyes at him. “Seriously, Nathan? What I actually suggested to Tessa is that she ought to take some cooking courses. There’s a place over on Francisco Street that offers a whole series of one day to one week classes. The other idea I had for her was to take a course at the Berlitz Language School.”

Tessa nodded and smiled a bit shyly at Ian. “Since you offered to take me to Tuscany one day, I thought it might be nice to learn some Italian.”

Ian smiled back and gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. “I think both of those ideas are absolutely wonderful. I want you to sign up for both classes.”

“I think I will,” she agreed. “In fact, Julia said there’s even a cake decorating class available. That way, I can bake you a cake next year instead of having to rely on your chef to do it for me.”

He couldn’t hide his surprise at the sight of half a dozen waiters and busboys who suddenly surrounded their table, and at the elaborately decorated cake ablaze with at least a dozen candles.

But the real thrill came after a rousing rendition of
Happy Birthday
when Tessa whispered to him naughtily, “The real celebration begins when we get home.”

***

Simon had the weekend off so they took a cab home. Not that Ian was anywhere near being inebriated – he was as disciplined and in control about the amount of alcohol he consumed as he was with everything else in his life. But he preferred not to drive himself when he’d been drinking more than a glass or two, just in case. Besides, not having to concentrate on driving meant that he could focus all of his attention on the luscious blonde cuddled up against him.

“Did you enjoy yourself tonight, darling?” he asked.

Tessa nodded, her blue eyes glowing. “It was wonderful. Julia and Nathan are good company.” She ran a finger over his mouth before whispering, “But the night is really just beginning, you know. I hope you aren’t sleepy.”

Ian chuckled, giving her waist a squeeze where his arm held her against his side. “Not in the least, my love. And it sounds as though you have special plans for the rest of the evening, hmm?”

Tessa gave him an impish grin and nodded. “I’m going to seduce you,” she announced a bit tipsily. “I hope that meets with your approval.”

He glanced up at the cab driver, who was thankfully immersed in a cell phone conversation, yakking loudly in what sounded like Tagalog. Relieved that they hadn’t been overheard, he looked back at Tessa.

“Considering that all you really need to do to seduce me is be in the same room, I can say with complete honesty that I wholeheartedly approve of your plans, love.” He captured her wrist as her hand began to slide up his thigh. “And you can seduce me all the way until dawn, so long as you wait until we’re at home to begin.”

Tessa pretended to pout, but seemed content to sit beside him rather primly and merely hold hands for the remainder of the ride.

Once inside the house, she took him by the hand and led him up the long, winding staircase. His gaze was fixated the entire time on the tantalizing curve of her ass in the form fitting dress before traveling down the long, shapely length of her legs. Her sheer black stockings had a seam up the back, and were quite possibly the most seductive thing he’d ever seen. Unless, of course, one considered the sexy black and silver stilettos on her feet, with their seductive ankle strap. He really, really hoped she planned to keep both the stockings and the shoes on while she had her wicked way with him.

At the doorway to the master bedroom, she released his hand but shook her head as he would have followed her inside. “Wait. Just give me a minute or two.”

Ian hovered in the doorway with barely controlled patience. He was primed and ready for whatever “festivities” she had planned for tonight, his body already hard and throbbing just from being near his gorgeous girl. And that wasn’t even taking into consideration the many times this evening they had touched and kissed and cuddled. It seemed, in fact, that the entire evening had been one long, slow seduction.

Tessa appeared back in the doorway, a sultry, mysterious smile on her face. She grabbed hold of his tie – a brand new, dark red Hermes that she’d given him as a birthday gift – and pulled him inside the room.

She’d lit a dozen or more candles, and they filled the room with their golden glow and subtle jasmine scent. The duvet had been turned down, and some soft jazz music was playing from the new iPod he’d given her recently where it rested in its docking station.

“What, no rose petals strewn over the sheets?” he asked in a teasing voice.

Tessa laughed softly. “I knew there was something I forgot. Maybe next time. Now, you have too many clothes on for what I plan to do to you. Let’s start with this.”

He smiled indulgently as she slid the suit jacket off his arms and draped it carefully over a chair back. “Can’t have anything happen to my favorite suit,” she chided. “In fact, maybe you should buy two or three more just like it – you know, as back-up.”

Ian grinned, loving this playful side of her. “I’ll make a note of it, love.”

Tessa deftly undid his tie, before starting on the buttons of his shirt. He gasped as she nuzzled her face against his bare chest, her hands splaying over his abs.

“What a beautiful man you are,” she murmured huskily. “And you always smell delicious. I’ll never, ever get enough of your scent.”

He groaned, his hands sliding into her hair as he attempted to kiss her, but she playfully swatted him away as she took a step back. “Tsk, tsk, Mr. Gregson. No touching until I say so. Otherwise, I might have to punish you.”

He laughed in delight and acquiesced, letting his hands fall to the side. “Very well, my little Dominatrix. After all, the last time anyone spanked me was when I was a boy of five , when I made the very unwise mistake of sassing my nanny. Though I expect I’d enjoy your brand of punishment far more than I did Nanny Warner’s.”

Tessa laid a finger over his mouth. “Shh. No more talking. And definitely no sassing.”

Ian’s barely controlled mirth swiftly faded away as Tessa’s hands unbuckled his belt and unzipped his suit pants. Her fingers fluttered teasingly against his hugely swollen cock before she shoved his pants down his legs. She helped him remove pants, shoes and socks, kneeling before him as he was now clothed only in his snug fitting black briefs.

She slid her hands up the sides of his legs, squeezing the hard muscles of his thighs before her hands inserted themselves into the waistband of his briefs. Ian grit his teeth, struggling mightily for control as she slowly peeled the cotton underwear from his body, freeing his throbbing cock.

“Mmm, look at you,” purred Tessa, her hand closing over his penis. “You have got to be the most magnificent man in the entire world. I want this big, beautiful cock to fuck every part of my body. My mouth – ” she sucked just the tip of him, licking off the thick beads of pre-cum. “My breasts.” She traced the tip of his cock between her lush tits, rubbing it up and down her cleavage. Ian was already breathing hard, his body so primed and ready he could come at a moment’s notice.

“My pussy.” Tessa stood and ground her fully clothed crotch against his straining dick. She took a couple of steps back so that their bodies were no longer touching, but continued to pump his cock with the long, slow strokes she knew he liked best.

“Tessa.” His breath hissed out her name like an invocation, as though she were a goddess he was praying to.

“Hush, my love. Come with me now. And don’t forget – you’re all mine to do with as I wish tonight.”

Ian let her lead him to the bed, where he laid down in the middle of the huge, king-sized mattress. He dared to run a hand along her hip.

“You have too many clothes on,” he rasped.

But Tessa only laughed and removed his hand from her body, only to stretch his arm out towards the slatted headboard. “Hmm, I warned you about talking, remember? You’re a very disobedient boy, Mr. Gregson. Guess I’ll have to punish you after all.”

And then, as she opened the nightstand drawer and drew out the long strips of satin, he knew what her little game was and struggled not to laugh. He permitted her to tie his wrists and ankles to the bed in the exact same manner than he had done to her on Valentine’s Day. Except that her flimsy knots couldn’t have held a kitten in place, much less a man with two hundred pounds of hard, solid muscle on his body.

But as turned on as he was at this particular moment, there was no way in hell – correction, no
bloody
way in hell – he would ever dream of letting her know that. Instead, he gazed up at her expectantly, his heart thudding wildly, his cock hard and straining and practically begging for her touch.

Tessa stood by the side of the bed, gazing down at him carnally. With one fingertip, she lightly traced along the thick length of his penis. “I think he likes me,” she teased in that breathy little voice he loved.

Sweat broke out on his brow as he struggled not to come right there on the spot. “He fucking worships you,” he hissed. “And he would be very, very grateful if you would put him inside one of the aforementioned orifices of your very tempting body.”

She removed her finger as her hands went to the back of her dress. “So impatient, Mr. Gregson. I always thought you to be the most controlled, disciplined man I ever met. Lately, though, you seem very - um, impetuous?”

Ian gave a low growl. “I’d like to discipline you, you wicked, tempting girl.”

Tessa very deliberately ran her tongue over her red, glossy lips. “And you’ve developed this rather alarming tendency towards violence, too. You’re really going to have to watch that, my love.”

As he watched her in stunned, slack-jawed disbelief, she unzipped her dress and peeled it off her lush, provocative body. Ian feared his heart would burst right out of his chest cavity, it was pounding that hard as his eyes devoured the provocative picture she made.

Her big, round tits were almost spilling out of the lacy black bra, the cups so shallow there was barely enough fabric to conceal her nipples. The flirty, ruffly little garter belt held up those cock-teasing stockings, and the matching thong was so insubstantial she might as well have left it off entirely. As she crawled up on the bed next to him, her slow, deliberate movements like those of a hungry lioness, his cock felt like it might shatter into a thousand pieces it was that hard.

“Untie me,” he croaked. “Christ, Tessa, I need to touch you. You look - ”

“Later.” She was crouching near the headboard, her face mere inches from his. “We have all the time in the world, all night long. This first time – let me worship you, Ian. Just – surrender.”

He groaned as her lips took his in a long, searching kiss, her tongue tangling greedily with his. She was quite deliberately imitating exactly how he’d seduced her up in Lake Tahoe, taking her time with him, lingering over him. Only he was quite certain he wouldn’t be able to last even half as long as she’d managed to do.

Her lips moved to his throat, tracing a path down to his chest, her hands following along. His body bowed off the bed, and he pulled on the flimsy excuses for restraints as her tongue flicked over his nipples. Tessa continued to kiss her way down his body, her hands touching him everywhere.