Tessa's Redemption (3 page)

Chapter 3

Angel followed the stout housekeeper into the residence, looking about the space. Finely appointed, beautifully decorated. Tessa had a generous protector.

“Mr. D’Bushey and the miss are in the parlor,” the housekeeper said. “Follow me.”

The woman showed no derision in her expression or tone of voice, just a touch of loyalty. A reprobate like D’Bushey had probably kept several mistresses. Perhaps this woman had been with him for years.

“Thank you,” he said, walking behind her.

He’d kept his word, waiting until late evening to call. As D’Bushey had predicted, all last night he’d envisioned the man with Tessa. The thought of her calling out his name, not D’Bushey’s, as she came forced him to ease his aching cock. Twice.

Voices reached him as he neared the parlor, his host’s deep timbre and a light feminine one he hadn’t heard in six months. His heart clenched.
Tessa.

The housekeeper showed him in and shut the door behind him. He turned to nod at D’Bushey. He froze as he spied Tessa. She’d grown more beautiful, though that shouldn’t have been possible. It was her remarkable looks that had first drawn him to her. Clad in rich blue velvet, trimmed in lace, she was dressed to fit her beauty. Her incredible hair was piled artfully on top of her head, glossy and thick. He’d smelled her hair once, buried his nose in the silken mass before he’d kissed her that first time. His stomach soured. And the last time.

He bowed his head to them both, still unable to look away from the woman he’d almost wed.

“Tessa,” he said softly.

She rose gracefully from the settee, her hands clasped before her. He could see she wasn’t the cool goddess she appeared. Her knuckles showed white.

“Angel.” Her voice was soft and hesitant.

He rushed to her, taking one of her hands in his. “I’ve missed you, love.”

D’Bushey snorted, coming to his feet. “No doubt.”

Tessa stared up at Angel, her blue eyes dark. What was she thinking? Had D’Bushey truly told her what they would be about this evening?

“Welcome,” she said. She withdrew from his grasp. “We have eaten, but can I get something for you?”

“No, thank you. I ate in the village.” He waved her back to her seat. “I trust D’Bushey told you of his plans?”

Tessa looked at her lover, apparently seeking clarification. “Alex?”

“LeClare will live here with us, Tessa,” he told her. “In every way.”

Her lovely mouth gaped open as the import of his words settled on her. “You cannot mean…”

D’Bushey nodded, sitting close to her. “Do you trust me?”

Angel watched as Tessa considered his question. Her throat worked and she clutched his hand. “Y–Yes.”

Something inside him twisted as he saw the connection between them.
He
was her intended, damn it. Not D’Bushey!

“See here,” Angel began. “If Tessa does not wish to…” He couldn’t bring himself to say what he and the other man had discussed. “It should be her decision.”

She looked from one to the other then gazed at him for a long moment. He saw affection there and the pain he would now give anything to erase. His heart stilled.

“What, pray, am I deciding upon?” she asked.

D’Bushey laughed softly. “Ah, Tessa. LeClare and I will both have you.”

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed pink. “No, Alex!”

“We shall do nothing that you don’t want us to, my sweet,” D’Bushey said. He spared Angel a narrowed glance. “Isn’t that right, LeClare?”

Angel saw the speculation on Tessa’s beautiful face. Worry was clear but also the unmistakable heat in her eyes as she imagined what they both would do to her delectable body. Christ, he wanted this. Even if he had to share her with her lover, he wanted to take her in every way possible. His cock throbbed in his trousers.

“You have my word,” he said softly. Ignoring Tessa’s lover, he came to sit on her other side. “I’ve missed you,” he said again. Cupping her face in his hands, he brought his mouth to hers. “I’ve thought of none other but you.” Their lips touched, brief and clinging, until he began to work his mouth over hers. She made a sound in her throat and opened to him.

For the first time he tasted her. Sweet Tessa, the woman he’d wanted from when he first caught a glimpse of her. In that, he was not too different from D’Bushey.

He leaned in closer, tangling his tongue with hers as she wound her arms around his neck. Her breasts were flush against his chest now, her body beginning to curve into his. He pulled back and buried his face in her neck and breathed in more of her scent. “Ah, Tessa.”

Her eyes were closed, her lips parted and glistening. She sighed his name. He wanted to take her now, to flip up the skirt of the fancy dress that her lover had bought and plow her pussy.

“LeClare!” D’Bushey growled.

Angel held Tessa for a moment longer then released her. Tessa was a trembling mass between them, passion clear on her face now as she looked at both men.

D’Bushey stood, tugging her to her feet. “Come then,” he said. “Let us retire for the evening.”

Urging Tessa up the stairs ahead of them, D’Bushey hung back a moment. His brown eyes were intent. “Hurt her and I will kill you,” he whispered, his scowl dark.

Angel knew D’Bushey didn’t speak of bed play. The other man could not know, but Angel was certain that he himself would do everything in his power to never hurt Tessa again. “Understood.”

D’Bushey’s expression eased and they joined Tessa in the most sumptuous rooms he’d ever seen. She drifted toward what he supposed was the bedchamber, leaving the delectable floral scent he’d caught belowstairs. He remembered that scent, natural and exotic at once, and his shaft thickened. Another snort came from the side, and he found D’Bushey watching him.

“She is a remarkable girl,” D’Bushey said. “Which you shall soon learn for yourself.”

“You will let me have her?”

D’Bushey nodded. “I shall taste her first. I shall lick her sweet pussy until she comes, crying out
my
name.” His mouth curved in a sly grin. “Then you can take her.”

Angel blinked. “You realize this will be like consummating our marriage.”

He shrugged as he removed his jacket. “It is of no consequence. That marriage never took place. As I said, you will not take her from me.”

Why did Angel suspect that this was an argument they would have over and over again in the coming, what, weeks? Months?

“How long do you propose we continue this arrangement?” he asked D’Bushey.

“As long as it works for Tessa.” With that, he went into the bedchamber.

Angel followed, shedding his own jacket and working his shirt free of his trousers. There was much in the man’s words. Determination, yes, but also a tenderness he would never have expected.

Before he could say anything more on the matter, Tessa stepped out of what must be the dressing room. A diaphanous nightgown dressed her amazing form and his mouth went dry. This night he would finally have her.

“Are you ready, my sweet?” D’Bushey asked her.

She looked at the man as he stripped down to his smalls, and nodded. Even Angel could see D’Bushey’s cock was rigid with wanting. Would he keep his word tonight and let Angel take her?

Angel refused to let the couple’s obvious intimacy deter him. In for a pence, in for a pound. He wanted her, and they had a gentlemen’s agreement. “You look beautiful, Tessa.”

She gave him a small smile and settled in the middle of the big bed. D’Bushey kissed her deeply then knelt at her feet, lifting her gown to reveal the loveliest legs Angel had ever seen. Long, shapely, and very pale. Her lover’s hands were dark in comparison, stroking her flesh until she closed her eyes and purred with delight.

Angel stripped as well, though he couldn’t bring himself to take his trousers off just yet. He joined them on the bed and settled near her narrow waist, watching as her every breath lifted her breasts. Her nipples were peaked shadows beneath the fine fabric, tempting him to touch her. He slowly brought his hand to her and did so, running his palm over one pert nub.

“Oh!” she gasped.

He glanced down to see that she was bared to her waist now. He could glimpse the dark curls adorning her pussy. Beautiful. Her breasts beckoned again and he untied her nightgown, letting the garment fall open. Her breasts were exquisite, round and full with nipples a shade darker than her lips. “My God.”

He stared down at her, his every muscle tense, until D’Bushey’s laughter reached him. “What?” he snapped.

“She is not a marble statue to be admired, LeClare. Touch her. Taste her.”

Angel looked up at Tessa’s face and knew she wanted him to do just that. Her eyes were dark, her luscious lips parted. He tweaked one nipple while he brought his mouth to the other. One lick led to two, and then he closed his lips over the nub and suckled.

“Oh, Angel.” She sighed.

He vaguely heard D’Bushey say something, but he was lost to everything but her taste and texture. She began to move, thrashing about, and he glanced at the other man. He stroked her inner thighs, his fingers coming closer and closer to her pussy. The salty-sweet scent of her arousal reached Angel.

“Ah, Tessa,” D’Bushey rasped. “With every lick, with every nibble, your—Angel is making you ready.”

Angel knew he wouldn’t call him her betrothed, not now. Not ever.

“Please, Alex!” she cried.

“What, my sweet?” he returned.

“Oh, please,” she cried again.

Angel sucked and teethed her nipples as he watched Alex out of the corner of his eye. Alex flicked one thumb over her clit, and she bucked in response. Increasing his own tender assault on her breasts, Angel breathlessly awaited the man’s next move. She was strung tight now, on the verge of climax, and he couldn’t wait to see her come.

“Angel, please,” she whimpered, her eyes beseeching him. “Oh, Alex!”

Alex buried his face between her thighs and she screamed her release. Alex ate her, moaning his own pleasure, and Angel pulled back and watched as Tessa rode Alex’s tongue.

“Oh, yes!” she gasped.

Alex dropped a kiss on her belly as she recovered. “I shall never tire of your taste.” He stood beside the bed, beckoning to Angel. “Are you ready?”

Angel glanced down at Tessa, seeing the pleasure still coloring her cheeks and rushing her breath, and nodded.

* * * *

Alex watched as Angel stood and unbuttoned his trousers. He let out a whistle as Angel’s cock sprang free. “Keeping that under wraps, eh?”

Angel looked down at his cock in apparent puzzlement. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re hung like an ox,” Alex said. He was quite proud of his own manly parts, but he couldn’t help but admire this man’s.

Tessa watched as well, apprehension clear on her face. “Angel.”

“I shall be gentle,” Angel said.

Alex scoffed. Of course he would. He bit back his comment as Angel settled between Tessa’s milky thighs. The broad cockhead nudged her pussy, easing in by increments.

“Oh…” She sighed, the sound a combination of surprise and anticipation.

Alex fisted his hands to keep from grabbing her. He’d promised Angel he could fuck her tonight. He hadn’t anticipated the man’s cock being so bloody big, however.

He watched as Tessa responded, and knew the precise moment when she flooded with juices to ease the way. She closed her eyes and gave that delicate little shiver that signaled her readiness. Angel grunted as he braced himself above her, moving with shallow thrusts as he began to fill her.

“I can’t get inside,” he bit out. “Not—not all the way.”

Alex bit his tongue once more. Little wonder, that. “Allow me to be of assistance,” he said. He lifted Tessa and slid a pillow beneath her ass. Her eyes widened as Angel deepened his thrusts. He was at last in balls deep.

“Ah, Christ!” Angel cried.

“Still making sermons,” Alex quipped.

Angel barked out a strangled laugh as he pounded into Tessa. She moaned as her pleasure built, her body no doubt overwhelmed by the man’s equipment. Alex watched, captivated by the sight of Angel’s huge cock moving in and out of her swollen pussy. Her legs were bent, her neck tense, as she took him all the way in.

When she came, arching wildly on the bed, Alex nearly felt it himself. He stroked his cock and came into the linens beside her, each pulse of his shaft in perfect time with her undulations.

Angel soon shouted his release, panting as he poured into her. He dipped his head and kissed her, grinning like an idiot, and Alex restrained himself from punching him in his perfect face.

“Now it is as if we are truly married,” the man declared, finally withdrawing from her body.

Tessa nodded and Alex felt his throat tighten.
I have made a colossal mistake.
He moved to climb off of the bed when Tessa’s hand grabbed his. Her touch was soft yet insistent. Stilling, he faced her.

She smiled up at him, tenderness in her gaze. “Alex.”

“Yes?”

“Will you sleep beside me?” she asked. “As always?”

God, yes!
“As you wish,” he answered, keeping his voice even.

He rose, extinguished all but one of the candles, and got back into bed. The three of them settled beneath the counterpane, Tessa cuddled against his side, as was their custom. He caught Angel’s eye and gave a nod. He’d like nothing more than to send the man from their bed, but he’d agreed.

Angel rolled onto his back, pillowing his head with his hands as he appeared to study the ceiling. For his part, Alex held on to Tessa and welcomed her sweet breath against his neck as she slipped into slumber. He would sleep well tonight with his lady in his arms. Yes, Angel had taken her in their bed. He’d fucked her so hard Alex had nearly felt it, for God’s sake. But tomorrow? Alex grinned into the dark.

Tomorrow he would have her.