Crave (Splendor Book 2) (29 page)

Julia waved at both of them cheekily before returning her attention to Tessa, elbowing Jake aside at the same time. She had an extremely satisfied smile on her face.

Nathan sighed. “Aw, hell. I think I’ve got to go shoe shopping with her after work.”

Chapter Twelve

Tessa couldn’t hide her awestruck reaction as Ian drove up beneath the porte-cochere of the hotel. The mountain lodge in Lake Tahoe was of a much different design than either the opulent high-rise hotel in San Francisco, or the sprawling Mission-style resort in Tucson, the only other two Gregson properties she’d ever set foot in. Situated high on top of a mountain, the lodge was majestic and grand with its stone façade and high windows. Pristine banks of carefully groomed snow surrounded the property on all sides. Tessa had read on the lodge’s website that it offered ski-in/ski-out accommodations, as well as a ski valet and highly rated ski shop on premise. She knew Ian was an accomplished skier, and that he had plans to get her out on the slopes this weekend, a prospect that she was admittedly a little nervous about.

The drive up from San Francisco had been smooth and relatively traffic-free. Ian had rushed home from work as soon as his meeting had ended, and was behind the wheel of his sturdy, four-wheel drive Range Rover by late morning. It had been just past three o’clock when he’d exited the highway for the lodge.

Tessa was more than a little amazed at the way the hotel staff mobilized so swiftly, evidently having been informed to expect Ian and his guest. In quick succession, a valet had taken his car keys, a bellhop was unloading their luggage, and the doorman rushing to hold the massive front doors leading to the lobby open for them. Ian kept a hand on the small of her back as they walked through the sprawling lobby with its vaulted, wood beam ceilings, flagstone floors, and imposing stone fireplace. Tessa didn’t miss the way almost every single person passing through turned and stared at him, the admiration evident on both female and male faces. She was beginning to get used to the effect her handsome, debonair lover had on people, how he attracted attention no matter where they went, and also how he seemed to be so completely nonchalant about it. For her part, she couldn’t help the thrill she felt at knowing this magnificent man was really hers, and that for reasons she still couldn’t fathom as yet, he’d chosen her out of the thousands of other women around the world who’d give anything to be by his side right now.

The pretty brunette desk clerk who checked them in appeared to be as susceptible to Ian’s charm as anyone else, staring up at him with unabashed interest as he signed in and took the card keys to the owner’s suite. Tessa gave the brunette a tiny frown before sidling up closer against Ian’s side, silently staking her claim. He smiled down at her, dropping a kiss on top of her head, and sliding an arm around her waist. Tessa’s frown quickly changed to a very satisfied smile, and she was pleased to note that the clerk was suddenly all business, averting her gaze as she finished the check-in process.

Tessa’s jaw dropped open again as the private butler assigned to their suite opened the double doors and ushered her inside. She could hear Ian speaking to the man in a low tone as she stared in disbelief at the splendor of the lavishly appointed rooms.

Here, too, were the vaulted wood beam ceilings, and a huge stone fireplace, though these floors were covered in a thick, plush carpet. Floor to ceiling picture windows offered a breathtaking view of the snow-covered mountains outside, and French doors opened out to a private patio where she could see a fire pit and hot tub. The furnishings were a combination of rustic comfort and understated luxury.

A quick inspection of the suite revealed a spacious living room, separate formal dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. There were two bedrooms, each with their own en suite bathroom. The suite was easily large enough to live in comfortably for days or weeks at a time, and it suddenly dawned on her that this was exactly the sort of opulent lifestyle she could expect to enjoy when she moved in with Ian permanently. And as thrilling as that idea was, it also gave her renewed cause for concern, bringing to the surface all of her fears and insecurities that she just didn’t fit into this world of privilege and extreme wealth.

“Does this meet with your approval?”

Tessa turned to face Ian, who was just now closing the door to the suite. Her heart caught in her throat as she thought of how handsome he looked, how mouthwateringly sexy. He was more casually dressed than usual, clad all in black - wool slacks, a turtleneck sweater, and a heavy leather jacket worn in deference to the cold weather. He looked dangerous and sophisticated at the same time, an irresistible combination.

At his urging, she’d dressed in a similarly casual manner - dark skinny jeans, black cashmere sweater, black ankle boots, and a black knit cap pulled over her ears. She had set her own black leather jacket and purse down on a chair upon entering the suite.

She walked over to Ian now, sliding her hands up his chest to clasp around his neck. “Are you referring to this room or to yourself? Because if it’s the latter, I would have to say a very emphatic yes.”

“Is that right?” he asked lazily, his hands sweeping down the sides of her hips to cup her buttocks. “Well, I’d say you also have my wholehearted approval. Especially the way your gorgeous arse looks in these tight jeans.”

Tessa smiled, burying her face against the strong, warm column of his neck and inhaling deeply. “Mmm, you smell even better than usual. Must be the added touch of the leather.”

He kissed her temple, his hand keeping her head pressed to his shoulder. “Would you like the butler to unpack for you, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”

She looked up at him in surprise. “He would do that? Actually hang my clothes up and put my shoes away? Not to mention unpacking all of my, ah, more personal stuff. I think I’d rather do it myself, actually.”

He grinned, giving her a playful chuck on the chin. “To answer your question - yes, Tyson would certainly be happy to perform that task for you. You’ll begin to see as we travel together that each of our hotels offers this sort of private butler or concierge service for occupants of the larger suites. You’ll need to get used to them doing things for you and letting yourself be pampered. It’s one of the many ways I intend to spoil you.”

“Okay. It’s just - well, it will definitely take some getting used to. I never thought I’d let a complete stranger, and a male one at that, unpack my underwear for me,” she admitted shyly.

“Ah, well, that I understand. You could consider packing all of your lacy bits in a separate bag from now on, and simply instruct the butler not to touch that one.” His lips caressed the soft spot behind her ear. “In fact, I’d probably prefer that. Hell if I want another man to touch your lingerie.”

Ian lifted his head and took her firmly by the hand. “Come, let me give you the grand tour. I gave Tyson instructions to bring up an afternoon tea service in a few minutes, so we don’t have much time.”

As he showed her around the grand suite, she belatedly noticed the beautiful vases of roses arranged in several different locations - the showy red ones on the coffee table; the exotic bouquet of sterling silver blooms in the dining room; a gorgeous arrangement of rich apricot blossoms filled the master bedroom with their fragrance. But the one that caught and held her attention was the cut crystal vase filled with two dozen pink-tipped white roses - the exact same type of flowers she’d received for the past two Valentine’s Days.

Tessa’s hand was trembling a little as she touched the delicate buds reverently. “It was you,” she whispered with a sense of wonder. “You were the one who sent those bouquets, weren’t you?”

Ian had walked up behind her unnoticed until now, when his arms slipped around her waist and he pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “I confess,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I was in fact your secret Valentine, my love. The first time - I happened to overhear that dimwit Shelby make some unthinking comment about you being the only one of the team to not have flowers. And since it would have been a crime for the most beautiful woman in San Francisco to be without flowers on Valentine’s Day, I made sure that such a terrible occurrence never happened.” He paused for a moment or two before murmuring in her ear, “I hope that they pleased you, Tessa. That you liked them.”

She turned abruptly, flinging herself against him, and pressing a kiss to his lips. “I loved them,” she told him tearfully, her eyes brimming over with emotion at his confession. “No one had ever given me anything so beautiful before. I treasured those roses, Ian, kept them on my desk for days after they had withered up and died. And I - I wondered both times if you could have possibly been the person who sent them, but I told myself how silly that idea was, that you didn’t even notice me, and definitely wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble or expense.”

His arms tightened about her, his thumb brushing away the tear that glistened on the tip of her eyelashes. “I think you know by now exactly how much I
did
notice you, darling,” he growled. “And the roses were a mere consolation gift. What I
really
wanted to do was whisk you off to Paris or Rome for a romantic weekend, to give you diamonds and rubies, and anything else your heart desired. But since I couldn’t do any of those things, I at least wanted to make sure you had beautiful flowers for Valentine’s Day – even if you never knew who sent them to you.”

“Ian.” She caressed his cheek tenderly. “That was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. And definitely the most romantic. Peter - well, as you know, we never had that sort of relationship.”

“I know.” He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “Now, let’s head back into the other room, shall we? Our tea should be arriving any minute now.”

“Okay. And - thank you, Ian. For all of the beautiful flowers,” she added. “Both these and the ones you sent the past two years.”

“You’re welcome, darling. And the weekend is just beginning, you know,” he told her with a rather wicked grin. “I have a whole string of surprises planned for you, my love.”

Having skipped lunch, they both ate hungrily of the sumptuous afternoon tea service that Tyson delivered to their room. Tessa couldn’t quite stifle a yawn, however, despite the twin jolts of caffeine and sugar her system had just received.

“Sleepy, are we?” asked Ian in amusement.

She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. It’s just - well, we didn’t get much sleep last night what with -”

“I know,” he interrupted. “I hope I wasn’t too - that it wasn’t…”

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “You were perfect. It was perfect. I needed you just as badly, Ian.”

Tessa had been waiting for him in the library when he’d returned home just after ten o’clock the previous evening. By now she was becoming used to the hungry, almost desperate way he made love to her, the blatant carnality of his kisses and caresses, the all-consuming manner in which he possessed her body. But when he’d strode boldly into the library last night, she’d been left breathless and unable to even think with the fierce, primal way he’d taken her right there, bent over the arm of the leather sofa. He’d tossed off his suit jacket and unzipped his trousers before yanking the hem of her robe up past her waist, and literally ripping the fragile silk and lace panties from her body. He’d surged into her with one powerful thrust, wrenching a cry from her throat and leaving her helpless to do anything but willingly submit to his domination of her body. They had both climaxed within minutes, the entire encounter having taken place without either of them uttering a single word. She had been shaken to the core at such a display of raw, undisguised passion on his part, and astonished that her body could so readily respond to his without even the slightest amount of foreplay.

He’d carried her upstairs to his bed then, and this time had made love to her with exquisite thoroughness, prolonging the ecstasy for what had felt like hours. And then he’d woken her again towards dawn, already imbedded deep inside of her, and wrung another shattering orgasm from her exhausted body.

She was grateful she’d taken the day off from work, because she’d been far too drowsy and pleasantly sated to do more than give him a sleepy kiss as he’d left for the office just before eight a.m. She’d slept until ten, a rare luxury for her, and had had to scramble a bit to shower, dress, and eat breakfast before he arrived home.

But Ian still didn’t look convinced at her assurance. “That first time, in the library - I was like a rutting bull, Tessa. No finesse, no control. I was -”

“Wild.” She swiftly straddled his lap, twining her arms around his neck. “Like a beast. Or a barbarian.” She nipped his earlobe lightly with her teeth before whispering, “And I loved it. I like it when you lose control.”

He growled, shoving his hand up beneath her sweater and roughly groping her breast, making her gasp as his fingers slid inside her bra cup to pinch the nipple. “You make me lose control just by being in the same room,” he rasped. “It’s never been that way for me before, not even close.”

“Good.” She caressed his cheek, which was just beginning to show some dark stubble as the day began to draw to a close. “I like that I’m the only one who can make you do that. And,” she added playfully, “let’s make sure to keep it that way, hmm?”

He gave a short laugh. “Darling, I’ve told you on multiple occasions that you’re far more than I can handle as it is. Why on earth would I notice other women when I have all my heart desires right here?”

The sweet, wildly romantic things he seemed to have a knack for saying made her feel all gooey inside. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him a bit more. “So you’re telling me you didn’t notice the way that very pretty front desk clerk was checking you out?”

Ian frowned. “Unless you had just mentioned it, I wouldn’t have been able to remember if the clerk had been a man or a woman. That’s how little attention I paid. But since we’re on the subject, I should mention the very interested stares you were receiving from the valet. And the bellhop. Not to mention the doorman. Ah, and I’m forgetting the dozen or so - at least - admiring males who were staring at your very sexy body as we walked through the lobby.”