Red Phoenix's Passion is for Lovers Collection (Boxed Set) (14 page)

Her breath came in short gasps as the heat he created turned into flaming surges. In response, she stroked his penis faster, covering his entire cock in his own wet excitement.

“This could get messy,” he warned.

“Good.” Tesse wanted to please him and leaned over to kiss his chest while she stroked his slippery shaft.

“You’re going to make me come, Baby,” Jerrod growled huskily. It was the first time he’d called her that term of endearment. That simple word made her feel cherished.

Tesse cried out when he teased her inner lips and then penetrated her with his finger. Her cry triggered his climax. Jerrod grunted and then she felt bursts of warm liquid cover her hand. Her heart was racing, her own body begging for release from the passion built up by their sexual play. “I need… more,” she whimpered.

“I know you do, Baby.” Jerrod moved his fingers back to her clit and began rubbing it vigorously.

She moaned, giving into the fire Jerrod was creating, but soon it became too much and she begged, “Stop, stop!”

“No, you’re close. I won’t stop until you come, Tesse.”

The sense of control she’d been clinging to shattered under his enthusiastic attention. She whimpered and then screamed as the heat instantly became ice and her body shuddered in an orgasm.

“Yes… that’s what I want to feel,” Jerrod murmured as he slowed down his movements and felt the last of her climax against his hand. He nuzzled her neck afterwards.

Tesse smiled in satisfaction, playing leisurely with his chest hair. “Wow, I’ve never done anything like that before, Jerrod.”

He kissed her forehead. “I’m glad I could be your first, in this way at least.”

She was gripped by a sudden feeling of panic. She had to fight off the urge to run as she slowly disengaged from him and began pulling her pants up and buttoning her shirt.

Jerrod held out his hand to her. “Tesse, you don’t have to go yet.”

She tried to remain calm, but the sense of panic was growing stronger. “No. I do. I’m sorry, I have to go.”

“Is something wrong?”

Tesse couldn’t think straight. “I just need to leave… I’ll see you tomorrow.” She ran out of his apartment, forgetting her jacket in her rush. She braved the cold instead of returning to retrieve it.

Once she made it to her dorm, she dove into her bed and wrapped the covers around her. What had she just done? The feeling of betrayal suffocated her, but she didn’t understand it. Luke had
left
her; she’d done nothing wrong.

Tesse spent the night shivering in the darkness. Her soul cried out for Luke and mourned for his loss. She’d have to tell Jerrod she wasn’t ready yet. Maybe she never would be.

3 Days & Counting…

T
esse’s rehearsal was the one worst yet. Mr. Reagan insisted she leave, announcing to the cast that Jennifer was replacing her. She ran from the theater sobbing in humiliation. She stayed alone in her room until she heard a knock at the door.

“Tesse.” Hearing Jerrod’s voice was a double-edged sword. Part of her longed for the comfort he provided, but another part wanted to stay far away from him. “Come on, Tess. I heard what happened. Open up.”

She got off her bed and unlocked the door even though she was reluctant to. Jerrod walked in and enfolded her in his arms, crooning quietly, “It’s going to be okay, Babe.”

Tesse cried a flood of tears that refused to stop. Jerrod stood there, solid and comforting, the entire twenty minutes it took for her to regain control. By the time she pulled away, his shirt was a sopping wet mess.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“I don’t care.” He grabbed some Kleenex for her and smiled tenderly while she quickly wiped away the snot and tears from her face.

“I’m sorry I ran last night,” she finally uttered.

He shook his head. “I don’t understand, but I accept it.”

“I can’t explain why I ran. I enjoyed what we did, but then I felt so bad afterwards.”

“Luke’s gone, Tesse.”

“I know…”

“He left because he loves you. He knows what’s best for the both of you.”

Even though Jerrod’s words were meant as comfort, they stabbed her heart. “I’m never going to be okay,” she told him sadly.

Jerrod broke out in a charming grin. “I can wait this out. We’re good together. You just need a little more time, that’s all.”

She curled up on her bed. “I don’t mean to be so difficult.”

“I understand.” Jerrod joined her on the twin bed. He draped his arm over her and kissed the back of her neck. “You are the most open person I know. It’s one of the reasons I love you.”

They lay there in silence. It felt so peaceful and soothing that Tesse closed her eyes to rest. She ended up sleeping in Jerrod’s arms for over two hours. When she woke up she mumbled, “…what were you saying?”

Jerrod laughed. “Nothing. I’ve just been lying here with my girl.”

She turned towards him and kissed his firm lips. “Thanks for the chance to sleep. I haven’t felt this peaceful in days.”

“Anytime, Tess.”

She kissed him again. It started out innocent, but the longer they kissed the more passionate it became. Jerrod paused in indecision and then his tongue darted into her mouth, grazing against her teeth. Her body hummed in sexual excitement even though she wanted to resist it.

“I know you don’t care to hear this, Tesse, but I want to make love to you.” He nestled his head in her neck. “I want to touch you—to please you with my hands, my mouth, and my cock. To help you forget everything, if only for a while.”

Tesse moaned softly, her body hungering for his attention. “I want to, but I can’t.”

“Why not? What is stopping you from loving me, Tess?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then let me love you,” he growled into her ear.

She lay there in indecision, staring at the ceiling. Finally, she unbuttoned the top of her blouse and looked at him. Jerrod returned her gaze with unwavering love. She undid the second button and then leaned forward to kiss him again.

The kiss he gave was fiery and demanding. He fumbled at her buttons and she knew then there was no turning back. She gave into the desire he weaved, moaning Jerrod’s name.

He repeated several times, “I love you, Tess. I love you so much,” as he pulled away her blouse and quickly undid her bra. Before she knew it, her pants were undone and he was pulling them off as well. She lay on the bed looking up at him in only her panties.

“Do you know how beautiful you are? How many men would kill to have you?” Jerrod slid his body up against hers, kissing her neck and then moving down to her breasts. He licked and teased her nipples, eagerly moving from one to the other.

She shook her head on the pillow, wanting to say no but yearning for him to claim her. She cried out in desperation, “I need you.” Tesse buried her head in the pillow after the declaration.

Jerrod jumped off the bed and quickly undressed. He called her name, waiting for her to look at him. Tess peeked up from the pillow and inhaled. Jerrod’s body was as handsome as his face. It was muscular and well defined. His cock was long and thick, the head of it darker than the rest of his shaft.

“Tesse, I want you to touch me.”

Tess held out her hand and grasped his shaft. He threw his head back and groaned in pleasure. The power she had over him was heady. She stroked his manhood and felt it grow harder in her hand. Tears shone in his eyes when he lay down beside her.

“I have waited so long for you to love me, Tess.”

She kissed him on the lips before moving down to his groin. Tesse stared at his shaft for several seconds, remembering another time with someone else… She wondered what it would be like to love another man. The thought both excited and scared her. She licked the end of his cock and felt it swell. “Tesse,” he hissed passionately, “I need you to suck me.”

She wrapped her lips around the large head of his shaft. The taste of his precome was slightly bitter. Tesse closed her eyes, trying to forget everything and just focus on the man himself. She began stroking him with the added the suction of her mouth. His passionate groans made her quake inside.

Jerrod ran his hands over her skin in worship of her. She could feel his love in every caress. It moved her and she responded by loving him back with her mouth. She moved up and down his cock, wanting to bring him even more pleasure. He stopped her with his hands. “Baby, please stop.” He physically pulled her up so that she was lying on top of him, his hardness pressed against her stomach.

“I’m ready to make love to you, Tesse,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

A cold chill traveled down her spine.

He could sense the change in her. “What’s wrong?”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

Jerrod rolled on top of her. “Let me in, Baby,” he said, rubbing his cock against her thigh. He bent down to kiss Tesse, but she couldn’t return it. Something had changed and she started to withdraw from him. “I need this, Tesse,” he whispered gruffly. “
We
need this.” Jerrod kissed her again, trying to bring back the passion they had just shared.

Tesse’s body still desired him, but her heart had already disengaged. “I can’t.” He pushed away from her, the feeling of rejection filling the tiny room. “I’m sorry, Jerrod.” Tesse reached out to comfort him, but Jerrod turned away.

“Is this all I am ever going to get from you? A promise of love only to pull it back whenever I start to hope?”

Tesse closed her eyes. He wasn’t far from the truth. Every time she wanted to fall in love with him, something pulled her back. “I don’t mean to be cruel.”

He turned to face her and looked Tesse in the eye. “I believe you. The question is can my heart take it anymore?” Jerrod dressed in silence. He didn’t even look back when he opened the door to leave.

“Goodbye, Tesse.”

2 Days & Counting…

T
esse woke up to the early morning light wondering if she still had a boyfriend or a starring role in the musical. Jerrod’s goodbye had sounded so final when he left and Mr. Reagan hadn’t contacted her to tell her to return to practice. How could her life completely fall apart in a matter of days?

This is Luke’s fault.

His return had thrown her whole life into turmoil. Instead of feeling resentment, she longed for him. “I need you, Luke,” she whimpered into her pillow.