Crave (Splendor Book 2) (38 page)

“Darling.” Ian cupped her cheek in his palm, his thumb brushing over her lips. The look in his hazel eyes was filled with so much love and compassion that Tessa felt like weeping from the sheer emotion of it all. “Don’t you know, Tessa, that the entire reason for my existence is to take care of you? I live for the privilege of being able to do just that. So, in actuality, I should be the one thanking
you
for allowing me to do what I’ve longed to do for so long now - worship you, spoil you, and take exquisite, complete care of you.”

This time she did cry, not because she was sad or frightened, but because his words touched her so deeply. The tears spilled from her eyes as she shook her head in wonder. “As long as I live, I’ll never figure out how I got this lucky,” she breathed. “How by some miracle no other woman managed to snatch you up and make you her own a long, long time ago.”

Ian kissed away her tears. “It’s because I was waiting for you all these years, my love. And not just since the day you walked into my office. I’ve been waiting for you - for a love like yours - all of my life.”

Tessa clung to him, burying her face against his neck as she continued to weep softly. “I love you so much, Ian. And for the first time in my life I feel truly protected, truly safe. I may have lost everything I owned last night in that fire, but as long as I still have you that’s all I really need.”

He groaned at her heartfelt declaration, one of his hands pressing her face closer against him while the other stroked her back comfortingly. “And you will always have me, Tessa. There’s nothing or no one who can keep us apart any longer. And I hope you know it goes without saying that this is your home now, love. This house and everything in it belongs equally to you. God knows how long I’ve wanted that to happen. Not, of course,” he added hastily, “under such terrible circumstances. But regardless of how you came to be here, it’s a dream come true for me to finally have you right here where you belong.” He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to her lips.

She fought the urge to begin sobbing again, and instead twined herself around his body, returning his kiss feverishly. Ian groaned as she began to run her palms over his taut, chiseled abs and then lower, until she was stroking over the hugely swollen erection that strained against his snug fitting briefs.

“Christ,” he panted, his fingers clamping around her wrist and pulling her hand away. “Tessa, love, we can’t. You need to rest tonight, need to -”

“I need
you
,” she interrupted, and moved swiftly to straddle his thighs, grinding herself against him. “I need you to love me.”

His big hands bracketed her hips, gripping her through the soft fabric of her soft gray robe. “You know I do, Tessa. But not this way. Not yet. You’re still too fragile, too emotional from what happened last night. You need your rest, darling.”

Stubbornly, she shook her head and continued to rub her cleft against his throbbing cock. “No. I need this, Ian, need it inside of me. I need your hands
here
.”

Tessa drew one of his hands to her breast, where the robe clung lovingly to the soft, lush globe. She moaned out her pleasure as his thumb rasped over the already erect nipple.

“Please,” she begged. “Make me forget, Ian. Make me forget everything except you and what we have here right now.”

He cursed softly beneath his breath before tumbling her back onto the pillows. He rose above her, his face darkly flushed and his eyes boring into hers with ferocity. His hand returned to her breast, plucking at the engorged nipple through the robe.

“Very well, you little temptress,” he acquiesced. “Unfortunately you’ve already learned that it’s nearly impossible for me to refuse you anything - especially when you beg me so sweetly to do what I want to do constantly. Know this, my love - there isn’t a single minute in the day that I don’t crave you, that I don’t long to be buried deep inside this delectable body - loving you, fucking you, owning you. And even though I should know better, I can’t refuse you one damned thing.”

Tessa smiled triumphantly, her hands unfastening the belt of her robe and spreading it wide to reveal her nudity. “That goes both ways, you know. I want you constantly as well. But especially now.”

Ian growled as his eyes raked over the lavish display of her breasts, her quivering belly, the pale thatch of curls between her thighs. “But there is one stipulation, love,” he cautioned in a raspy voice. “We do this
my
way, or not at all.”

She nodded, too enraptured by the way he was staring at her to argue. “Anything you want. I’ll do anything.”

“Good. Just trust me then, Tessa. Trust me to know what it is you need tonight. Trust me to take care of you.”

What followed was the most exquisite, soul-stealing lovemaking that Tessa could have ever imagined or dreamed of. Ian could frequently be a tender lover, touching and kissing her with gentleness and care. But tonight it felt as though he were adoring her, coddling her as if she was the most precious, fragile being in the entire world. The kisses he bestowed on her forehead, temple, cheeks, were whisper soft, the touch of his lips against hers like a butterfly’s wings. And even when she groaned beneath his sweet, soft kisses and tried to let her lips cling to his, inviting him to go deeper, he resisted.

Everything was different tonight, everything done with the sole intent of making her feel pampered and protected. He cupped her breasts gently, instead of squeezing them and pinching the nipples hard as he usually did. The feel of his tongue laving her nipple with light, delicate flicks still managed to arouse her unbearably, and her hips began to move restlessly beneath him. The caress of his hand against her hip and thigh was barely imperceptible, no more than a fleeting touch. His lips traveled a tender path between her breasts to her belly, and then lower still until he was softly licking at the moist, ultra-sensitive folds of her labia.

She groaned beneath his exquisite ministrations, her fingers sifting through his dark hair as he pleasured her. Here, too, everything was different, so gentle. Usually when Ian performed oral sex on her he was nearly ravenous - his lips, tongue, and fingers working in almost frantic unison to drive her wild, to wring multiple and almost violent orgasms from her hungry body. But tonight he was careful, almost tentative, and she resisted the urge to pull his head in closer, to buck her pelvis up against his mouth and demand more. And then she discovered that his methods really didn’t matter in the least, because they all had the same result - a stunning, delicious climax that rocketed through her body.

“All right there, love?” he whispered against her lips, as his big hand caressed her quivering belly soothingly.

“God, yes,” she panted. “That was - amazing. As always.”

He smiled, brushing a dampened lock of hair off her brow. “Happy to oblige, darling. As always.”

Tessa trailed a hand down his sculpted chest until it closed over the hard, pulsing length of his cock. As she stroked him with slow, deliberate movements, she noted how hard he was clenching his jaw, how beads of sweat popped out on his forehead.

“Tessa.” His voice was hoarse. “God, darling, as good as that feels you’d - ah, Christ - you’d better stop.”

“Why are you holding back?” she pleaded. “I need you just as much. Don’t ever hold back for me, Ian.”

He groaned, a long, low sound that grew in volume as she continued to stroke him. “That’s what you need tonight, though.” He shut his eyes, visibly struggling for control. “I promised myself I’d be gentle, that I’d take care of you. Let me, Tessa. Please.”

Moved by the raw emotion in his voice, she reluctantly nodded and released her grip on his penis. “All right,” she murmured. “Your way.”

Ian leaned down and kissed her, another of those gentle, tender meeting of the lips. “Thank you, love. Easy now, hmm?”

And yet, as exquisitely careful as he was, she couldn’t help the gasp of pleasure that escaped her throat as he slid inside of her with slow, measured control. When he was buried to the root, he simply stayed that way for long seconds. Tessa clutched him to her, needing him even deeper, and wrapped her long legs around his hips.

When he finally moved with her, it was with the same sort of gentleness and care he’d been showing her all day and night - taking her as though she were an untried virgin, with slow, careful thrusts, intentionally prolonging her pleasure but also denying himself at the same time. She could tell by the way his arms quivered, how hard he was breathing, and the almost desperate way he buried his face against the side of her neck that he was struggling mightily to hold back. Tessa longed to urge him to let go, that she could easily take whatever he had to give. But she knew he would refuse, that he was honor bound to fulfill his pledge to her, and so instead she simply luxuriated in the sensations he called forth from her body.

They came within mere seconds of each other, and by then she was weeping again, the tears traveling unchecked down her cheeks. Ian kissed each tear away, his tongue licking them up, as he whispered to her in concern. “It was too much, wasn’t it? I knew we shouldn’t -”

“No.” She pressed her fingers against his mouth, shaking her head. “It was perfect. You were right – you always are. This was exactly what I needed. I’m crying because it was just so beautiful. And because I’ve never, ever felt so loved.”

“Tessa. My love.” He kissed her gently. “You will always be loved, always be cherished. And always, always protected. Let’s get some sleep now. And know that you will wake up safe and loved in my arms.”

Chapter Sixteen

“You’re certain you’ll be all right if I go into the office? I’m going to make it an early day. God knows I’ve still got the worst case of jet lag I can remember having in recent years.”

It was Thursday morning, and Ian was getting dressed for work, buttoning up his shirt as she watched him from the bed.

“Yes, I’ll be fine. And I’m going to work tomorrow, not Monday,” she insisted. “The doctor told us yesterday that I’m physically fine, so there’s no reason for me to just sit around here an extra day. I’d much rather keep busy, it - well, helps me to forget a little.”

“All right,” he agreed gently. “So long as you don’t overdo. Physically you may be fine, but you’ve suffered a tremendous emotional trauma, Tessa. You don’t get over that in a couple of days.”

“Okay, let’s put it this way. The sooner I get back to work the sooner I can resign.”

Ian grinned as he finished buttoning his shirt before leaning down to give her a lingering kiss. “Good thinking, darling. Though I’m still a bit miffed you allowed Andrew to talk you into four weeks’ notice. Two should have been sufficient.”

She shook her head. “I feel guilty as it is. A month is barely enough time for him to find a replacement and have them trained. And he’s been good to me in his way, as well as taken very good care of you.”

He sighed. “Fine. But it’s not going to be one damned day longer, understood? Especially since that wily bastard will still be able to delegate work to you. Now, what time is Julia coming over?”

It had surprised her yesterday when Ian had suggested she call Julia and tell her about the fire. And she had been almost speechless when he’d also urged her to share the news about their relationship.

“Are you sure?” she’d asked worriedly. “I mean, it won’t be much longer until we can go public with it. Should we be taking a risk like that?”

“It’s fine,” he’d assured her. “I trust Julia and Nathan completely. Both of them will understand the need for discretion, and since they don’t work directly for us the chance of them accidentally telling anyone is extremely unlikely. And,” he’d added tenderly, “you need your friends around you right now, darling. Julia is cheerful, nosy little wench that she is, and she might be able to help you through this. I’ll try to overlook the fact that she’ll be gloating about being right about my feelings for you.”

Julia had been initially shocked, and then deeply concerned, when Tessa had told her about the fire, wanting to know if she needed a place to stay, clothes, money, anything. And then she’d chuckled with glee when Tessa had broken the news about her relationship with Ian, not sounding in the least surprised.

“I was wondering when you two would finally fess up about it. Of course, I’ve known for over a year now how he felt about you. You’ll have to tell me all about it. And it goes without saying that your secret is safe with me.”

Julia had rearranged her work schedule so that she could spend the better part of the day with Tessa, offering to take her to lunch and shopping, and help her keep her mind off the loss she’d suffered.

“Julia will be here at ten. We’re going to the DMV first to get my replacement license, and then to lunch and shopping,” she told Ian.

He nodded. “Make sure you get whatever you need, all right? Better yet, just hand Julia that credit card I gave you. I have no doubt she’ll make good use of it on your behalf. Apparently she’s got quite the shopping addiction.”

Tessa smiled. “I don’t need much, really. Just a few basics to tide me over for the next few weeks at work. You’ve already bought me more clothes than I could wear in several years.”

“That’s a matter of opinion, darling. With some of the traveling we’ll be doing this summer you’re going to need some different pieces to augment your wardrobe. But that’s for another day. Now, come give me a kiss so I can head into the office for a bit.”

She rose up on her knees by the edge of the bed, the duvet falling away from her body. She had begun sleeping in the nude when she was with Ian, his body heat more than enough to keep her warm at night. She loved snuggling up against his big, hard body, entwining her limbs with his, and falling asleep in his arms. His heated gaze fell on her high, lush breasts, the pale apricot nipples peaking instantly beneath his regard.

“Christ, I’d love nothing better than to tumble you back on these sheets and slide inside of you for a few hours,” he rasped. “You’re so beautiful, Tessa. Like a goddess - Aphrodite, I think, the goddess of love and beauty. Except that even she would have been jealous of you.”