Tessa's Temptation (8 page)

Chapter Ten

Chase couldn’t stop staring at Tessa in the autumn moonlight. The gentle wind coming off the water whispered through her hair as she finished her salad. They’d had a carefree afternoon with a hayride, apple picking in the orchard
, and feeding animals at the petting zoo. They had a carload of pumpkins to carve and decorate the porch with. Anything she wanted, he would give her. Seeing her smile at the farm this afternoon gave him a new purpose in life. He’d show her everything she had missed out on as a child. He’d give her the world.

“Didn’t my dad look good?” she asked as she pushed her plate away from her.

“The best I’ve seen him look since before the accident.”

“He loves the new place. His room is so bright.”

“I think he has a crush on his physical therapist.” He laughed when he thought about the way Pat smiled when the perky blonde fussed over him.

“I think you’re right.” She giggled.

“He was surprised to see the two of us visiting him together.” Chase would have to tell Pat he was seeing his daughter. “How do you think he’ll feel about the two of us?”

“Well,” she sipped her water. “He’s hated every one of my boyfriends so far.”

“Wonderful.” He folded his napkin and put it next to his plate. “Have there been many?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would.”

The second glances she’d gotten throughout the day from almost every man they crossed paths with hadn’t gone unnoticed. Her porcelain skin, striking red hair, hot body and sparkling smile made her a magnet for every guy around. Chase had already given the waiter two warning glances when he flirted with Tessa; there wouldn't be a third. The crazy thing was she seemed oblivious to any of them. She had been totally focused on him all day. Her undivided attention to him drove him wild with desire.

“I had a steady boyfriend my senior year of high school. He turned out to be a bum. My father was right not to like him. I should have listened.”

“What happened to him?”

“He’s serving a two year sentence for robbing a house.”

“Nice.” At least he was out of the way.

“Boyfriend number two wasn’t much better but at least he didn’t end up in jail.”

“Where is he?”

“Being a deadbeat dad to the girl he knocked up while we were dating. My dad wasn’t fond of him either.”

“You sure can pick them.” Such a beautiful, intelligent
, and alluring woman didn’t deserve low lives.

“Tell me about it.” She reached across the table and interlaced their fingers. “My dad should be happy about us. You have a job, a house, no kids… and he already likes you.”

“Do you want me to tell him?” Chase had to tell Pat eventually but everything was still so new and he wanted to discuss it with Tessa first.

“I don’t think we need to let him in on it just yet. He has so much going on. He needs to focus on his recovery.” She looked down at their joined hands when he caressed her wrist. “I just want it to be us for right now. Let’s not let the world in yet.”

“You’re all I need.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I want to know everything there is to know about you. No distractions, no more waiting.”

“Can we go home now?” She ran her thumb across his bottom lip. “I don’t want to wait any more.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” He squeezed her hand. “I might not be able to control myself once we’re alone.”

“Do I look like I want you to control yourself?” She toyed with his lip. “We need to be closer so I can kiss you.”

“I’ll get the check.” He kissed her fingers. Touching her came so easily. “We need to make a stop at the drug store too.” It had been a few months since he’d had any action. He wasn’t prepared for a night of passion.

“We don’t have to.” She bit her lip as she stared into his eyes. Gone was the sultry seduction and in its place was a shyness he wasn’t used to when it came to her. “I mean… well… we don’t have to use condoms if you don’t want to.”

“Are you on another form of birth control?” His cock hardened when he thought about taking her with nothing between them. This day kept getting better by the minute.

“I’m on the pill because I wasn’t regular.” She looked down at their hands. “I wasn’t on the pill when I was with idiot number one or number two, so I’ve never done it without a condom. You would be the first.”

“Thank you for sharing.”

“I just wanted you to know I don’t sleep around.” She shifted in her chair. “I came on strong with you, but I’m not like that with every guy.”

“Just me?”

She nodded slightly, still not making eye contact with him. “I go after what I want.”

“Hey.” He tugged on her hair. “Look at me.”

She lifted her head and gave him a small smile.

“There’s nothing you have to feel uncomfortable about with me. I don’t think any less of you because you were forward with me. It took guts to go after what you wanted, especially after I shot you down, which I only did because I was trying to do what was right for you. I’m glad you were persistent… because I would have missed out on you.”

“Thanks for trying to do what was right for me, but something tells me being with you is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I promise I’ll be everything you need.” He moved the back of his hand over her cheek. “I’m going to take really good care of you.”

“You already do.”

“Let’s get out of here.” He held out his hand. “Give me the keys.”

“Why can’t I drive?”

“As much as I enjoyed your thrill ride this afternoon, nothing is going to stop me from getting inside you tonight.” He moved his hand closer to her, indicating he still wanted the keys. “I’ll get us home in one piece.”

“Oh.” She reached into her bag and dropped the keys into his hand. “What are we waiting for?”

“Just so you know, I’ve always taken precautions in the bedroom, so I’m clean. If you’re sure about not stopping at the drug store...” He couldn’t take his gaze away from her lips and he thought again about her on her knees in the shower. “Whatever you want.”

“I want to share your bed with you tonight.”

“Where’s that waiter?”

***

Chase managed to get them home in record time. Tess tried to settle her nerves as they came through the garage and into the kitchen. She had owned her attraction to him since the day she moved into his house. The more time she spent with him the deeper she fell for him. It wasn’t just a physical attraction anymore. It was the way he treated her, the look in his eyes when she walked into a room and the smile on his face when she said something silly. He was the total package.

As she set her bag down on the counter he came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She jumped when he kissed her neck.

“Relax.” He rubbed the tops of her arms as an attempt to calm her.

“I am,” she lied. It wasn’t that she was afraid to be with him. It was just that the anticipation was getting to her. Each of their sexually charged encounters – and she realized that more than a few of their encounters had held enough tension to qualify – proved they had chemistry. Tonight things seemed real. There was no reason for apprehension or hesitation. No turning back. This is what she had wanted for weeks. What she had been going after.

“You’re tense,” he said. “Why don’t you go take a bath? Get more comfortable and if you still want to continue the evening, come join me in my room. If we’re going too fast, I’ll understand.”

“You’re sweet to give me an out.” She turned in his arms to face him. His clear blue eyes blazed with desire as he stared into hers. “But I know what I want.”

“What’s that?”

“Let’s go upstairs and I’ll show you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Haven’t I given you enough hints?” When she traced his lips with her fingertips, his breath tickled her hand. “I’m very sure.”

He kissed the tips of her fingers and the softness of his tender touch sent a rush of heat through her.

“We’ve been hasty.” He moved his mouth down to her wrist, pressing his lips against her fast pulse. “In the study, I practically tore your clothes off. In the shower… well, I couldn’t form a coherent sentence.”

“Both times were really hot.” She reached for the buttons of his shirt, undoing the first few. “Let’s see how much hotter we can get.”

“We will, but tonight we’re taking it slow.” He took her hand and led her to the back staircase. “We can take our time. There’s no rush.”

The idea of spending the entire night in his bed, taking their time and exploring one another made her tingle with excitement. When they reached his bedroom, he leaned against the door before opening it, devouring her with his gaze. She didn’t say anything as he took his time looking at her, torturously slow. As he focused on her lips, he licked his own, leisurely.

Oh my..
.
He was going to draw this out. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch.

“There’s something about you.” He lifted her chin, never taking his attention away from her mouth. “You’re beautiful, but you already know that. It’s something so much more, Tessa. There’s a raw need in you, an ache you need fulfilled.” He lowered his head and ran his tongue slowly over her trembling lips. “And you know I’m the only one who can satisfy it.”

She sucked in a quick breath when he pressed his mouth to hers. He kissed her with such passion – long, slow and deep, never removing his fingers from her chin. When he released her, she looked up at him, too mesmerized to speak.

“What is it?” He had his hand on the doorknob, but he was waiting for her response.

“You’re… all-consuming. I’m not used to such intensity.” No one had ever looked at her that way before. He wanted it all and she was willing to give him everything.

“You pursued me, remember?”

She nodded, her throat too dry to say anything.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He stroked her hair. “I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. All the ways this could be a total disaster.”

“It won’t be.” Couldn’t he feel it? They were right for one another.

“I’m older and you’ve barely lived your life. Your father entrusted me with you. I must be out of my mind to want this, but I can’t help it.” He opened the door. “You don’t need to be afraid of me. Intrigued? Definitely. But not afraid.” He guided her into his room. “I’ll show you things. I’ll do things to you that will have your mind reeling for days. All you have to do is let me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” She reached for the buttons of his shirt. “I thought you were so hot the day you walked past me in the hall at the rehab center.”

“Did you?” He watched as she undid the last button.

“You were the sexiest man I’d ever seen.” She slipped his shirt from his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you after that day but here we are.”

“I thought you were the most stunning woman alive.” He pulled her shirt from the waistband of her jeans and ran his hands over her bare stomach. “I watched you for a moment before going into your dad’s room. I was shocked to find out you were Pat’s daughter all grown up. Even more shocked when I left that night agreeing to take you in.”

“Any regrets?” She closed her eyes when he brushed his fingertips over the material that covered her nipples.

“Only that it’s taken me this long to get you into my bed.” He kissed her again before tugging her shirt over her head. “You’re very persuasive.”

“I told you, when I want something I go after it.” She kicked off her shoes and removed her socks. “I want you.”

“I’ve noticed.” He pulled her to his chest, pressing his bare skin to hers. “The feeling is mutual.”

“I can feel that.” She giggled when she bumped into his bulging erection. “Maybe we should do something about that.”

“We will.” He kissed her as he guided her over to the bed. “Let’s get you out of these.” He unfastened the button on her jeans, lowered the zipper and pushed them over her hips. She wiggled out of them, leaving nothing but her tiny black thong and matching bra.

He guided her onto the bed, stepping back to drink her in. “You’re perfect.”

“I’m all yours, Chase.” She scooted up and reclined against the pillows as he removed his shoes and socks.

“I don’t know what I did to get so lucky.”

“I’d say you’re about to get really lucky.”

“I’d have to agree.”

Her stomach tightened and her insides pulsed when he unbuckled his belt and took off his pants. She’d seen all of him in the shower, but watching him undress was a whole new experience that made her hot with desire. A warm rush of fluid dampened her panties as he stalked toward her. The untamed expression in his eyes made her want to surrender everything to him. She couldn’t find a trace of the controlled man she’d spent so much time with these past few weeks.

He grabbed her ankles, spreading her legs and wrapping them around his waist. The cotton of his boxer briefs pressed into the silk of her thong; the thin materials the only barrier between them.