Jared (30 page)

“Well I needed something different and working with the kids so much it just gets in the way.” Pam lied and was so relieved when the sale
s
lady came out with the dresses
.
H
er knees wobbled when Nicole and Tessa looked away from her.

Tessa had watched the little scene between Nicole and Pam unfold and knew Pam was lying. She also knew Nicole was
not
believing any of it.

“Who wants to go first?” She held up two beautiful black dresses.

“Black?” Pam grinned at Nicole, happy to have her mind on something other than the shit storm her life had become.

“Figured I couldn’t go wrong with black.” Nicole shrugged
,
smiling back. “Hurry up you guys
.
I can’t wait to see them on you.”

Pam and Tessa both headed for the dresses. Tessa took hers, smiled at Nicole and headed for one of the dressing rooms while Pam headed for another. Closing the door Tessa held up the dress and just stared at it. It was beautiful. Quickly shedding out of her clothes she removed the dress from the hook and slipped into it, zipping the back as far as she could reach. The fit was almost prefect. Turning toward the mirror Tessa
’s
eyes widened. The tea-length strapless dress ha
d
a pleated bust with a sweetheart neckline and her breast bubbled up causing some serious
cleavage
and she wasn’t full
y
zipped
yet
. Biting her lip
,
she continued to stare turning this way and that. She wasn’t really use to showing this much cleavage, hell she wasn’t use to showing any cleavage.

Knowing she wasn’t going to get a true picture of what it was going to look like until it was zipped all the way up she opened the door. “Hey, can someone zip me?”

“Jesus!”
Jared, who was leaning against the wall across
from
her dressing room, stood straight up
, his golden eyes turning dark as they traveled
over her body.

“What?” She co
vered herself self-consciously
then frowned. “What are you doing here?”

He seemed to have recovered, his eyes narrowed. “Looks like zipping you up, which is totally against my instincts.” He
cocked an eyebrow at her while backing
her into the dressing room closing the door behind him. He took her arms away from her breast before turning her around to face the mirror.

Tessa shivered as his fingers made contact with her skin. The sound of the zipper and her shallow breathing were the only sounds in the room.
Moving from the zipper his hands slowly
made their way to her hair pulling it back over her shoulders. One hand curved under her chin to lift her face.

“Look.” His whisper caused her to shiver.

“Jared…I…”
Her eyes moved from the floor to his golden eyes through the mirror.

“Look at yourself Tessa.” His eyes so intense made her body weak. “See what I see.”

Finally her eyes left his to land on his hand that cupped her chin,
then to
her eyes
which
were bright and wide, her cheeks were rosy with a blush from his attention. She watched his hand glide from h
er
chin to clasp her neck, from there his light touch feathered across the top of her breasts. Her stomach tightened with need, her eyelids lowered from the pleasure of his touch.

“Watch me Tessa.” Jared ordered, his voice deepened, but still whispered. “See the pleasure I get from looking at you, from touching you. Nothing has pleased me more
and as soon as you realize that the sooner you will stop hiding yourself from me
.”

Tessa grinned at his words. “Habits are hard to break.” She sighed when his
hand
moved lower to cup her breast giving it a gentle squeeze.
Looking up
,
the sight of him watching his
own
hand on her breast was more than she could take.
In one swift movement
she turned pushing him against the wa
ll
.
H
er
body
crushed
against
his as his hands moved to the zipper to undo his work. The zipper was half way down when a loud knock echoed through the small dressing room.

“Do you need help?” The sales lady
politely
called from
the other side of the door.

Tessa pulled her lips from his, but couldn’t find breath to answer.

“
She’s fine
.” Jared’s
voice was a little more harsh than he intended.

“Oh, ah…” The woman’s voice
squeaked
behind the door
before her footsteps
scurried
away
.

Looking up at Jared who was grinning
,
Tessa smashed her face into his chest trying to keep from laughing. “
That was a little awkward.” She snorted
,
leaning away from him. “Guess I better get out there before she calls the cops thinking I’
m being held against my will
b
y
some sex crazed vampire.”

“Are you?” Jared tilted her face to his.

“What? Being held by some sex crazed vampire
?
” She cocked her head, a tiny smile playing on her lips. “Yes. Against my will
…..n
o.”

Leaning down
,
he took her lips in a slow deep kiss. “Good to
know
honey.”

Loud knocking broke them apart before Nicole burst through the door. “What the hell are you doing in here? You scared that poor woman to death. She thought Tessa was getting attacked in here and…..” Nicole looked at Tessa’s dress which was unzipped and dipping very low in the front. She turned to glare at Jared. “she
would be
right. Get the hell out of here
Kincaid
. My God
,
you
W
arriors are insatiable.”

Jared didn’t argue that fact as he watched Nicole turn Tessa around and zip her back up. Tessa tugged the neckline up, but Nicole pulled it down. “Sweetie if you got the good
s
flaunt it.” She turned Tessa toward the mirror. “And you got it
girl
. Ab
solutely perfect.” Nicole beamed
look
ing
at Tessa.

“Not that I don’t think she looks beautiful, but I do have a problem with that dress.”
Jared
’s
gaze moved from her breast
s
to see both women frowning at him. “It shows too much and if you don’t want a bloody wedding
I suggest you pick another dress for her to wear.”

“Oh
,
do you now
?
” Nicole’s hands flew to her hips.

“Yes
….I do.
” Jared
’s
tone was arrogant and final.

“Well
,
let me tell you something Mr. Warrior.” She moved poking him in the chest. “
Don’t you pull that macho vampire
W
arrior crap on me because it won’t fly. This is the dress she is wearing so suck it up.”

“Are you done poking me?” Jared frowned down at her hand.

“Are you done being a
n
ass?” She poked him again hard.

“Maybe.” Jared grinned
,
winking at Tessa.

“Get out of here
and let her get dressed
.” Tessa pushed him toward the door
rolling her eyes
.
“You guys aren’t even supposed to be here.”

Jared turned so he was pushing Nicole toward the door. “I got a better idea.” He grinned down at her
as he
reach
ed
behind her
opening
the door
to gently push her out
then
closed the door in her face.

“One of these days Kincaid.” She growled from the other side of the door.

Jared laughed loudly. He loved giving her shit. “Yeah…yeah…keep talking
V
ampira.”

Tessa reached around to open the door laughing at him and Nicole.

Grabbing her hand before she could open the door
,
Jared kissed her palm. “What do you think you
’
r
e
doing?”

“Kicking you out.” Tessa cocked her eyebrow. “I need to get dressed.”

Crossing his arms
,
Jared leaned against the
door
his cock
y
sexy grin in place. “Get dressed.” He nodded. “I’m sure not stopping you.”

Staring at him
,
Tessa felt her stomach tighten. Did she have what it took to give him a taste of his own medicine? Could she actually make him feel as twisted as he made her? Well
,
she was going to take a giant leap and prayed to God she didn’t fall on her face and embarrass herself.

Reaching around she grasped the zipper and unzipped it the rest of the way making the dress slide lower across her breast above her erect nipples. Glancing up
,
she noticed his arrogant grin had slipped a bit. His eyes were on hers, the passion flowing from those gorgeous golden eyes made her more bold. With one arm across her breast
s
holding the dress up, she slid the other hand to her waist to shimmy out of the dress. In no time at all she sto
od in front of him with the only sexy pair of underwear she own
ed
and thank God
,
she wore them today. She seriously needed to
go
shopping.

“Jesus, you’re beautiful.” His eyes travel
ed
her body, but he didn’t make a move toward her.

“You make me feel beautiful.” She whispered, her voice hoarse with need. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

Jared’s eyes
turned intense
. “I want to be the only man to ever make you feel this
way. You’re mine Tessa Pride.” He crooked his finger at her and as if an invisible string connected her to his finger she made her way toward him.

A loud knock on the door startled Tessa
,
kicking her out of the spell she had been under. Her hands flew up to cover herself.

“Son of a bitch. I swear I’m going to kill someone.” Jared hissed pulling her behind him just in case the door opened. “What?!”

“Come on.” Damon called out. “We have to go. We’re late as it is.”

“
You got a death wish don’t you?” Jared growled at the door.

A deep chuckle came through the door. “Payback
’s a bitch ain’t it?
”

Jared ran his hand down his face
,
sighing loudly before turning back to the most beautiful naked woman he had ever seen. Bringing her flush against his body he nuzzled her neck with a growl before reaching behind her on a small bench to grab her clothes. “Can’t
believe I’m going to s
ay this, but please get dressed.” He handed her the clothes. “I think it would
actually
kill me if I had to leave this room with you naked.”

Smiling
,
Tessa took her clothes
. “You must have really been bad with Damon and Nicole.”

“I was a total bastard.” He chuckled then groaned when he watched her pull her clothes on. “Payback
’
s
are
a bitch.”

Tessa and Jared made their way to the front of the store hand in hand. Tessa held the dre
ss out to the sales lady who
blush
ed
a bright red. “Thank you.” Tessa smile
d
also blushing. “It fits fine.”

“
Great. Why don’t you follow me and I’
ll go ahead
and ring it up.”
The woman le
d Tessa to the counter
where she
scanned the dress. “That will be two-hundred and thirty-five dollars.”

The price froze Tessa
as she
search
ed
for her wallet. Glancing up at the regi
ster she wanted to throw up. Ye
p, she heard the woman right.

“Is there a problem?” The woman frowned.

Tessa glanced over at everyone who stood talking the
n
back to the woman. “No.” Tessa flashed
her
a fake smile before digging into her purse. Taking out the money
,
she handed the woman part of her house payment
. S
he needed to find a job and
f
ast.
Taking the receipt she shoved it in her purse and grabb
ed
her purchase before thanking the woman.