Splendor (Inevitable #2) (50 page)

Francine shrugged. “It’s a logical assumption to make. Come, look at it from a different perspective. He flies you down here on the corporate jet. You’re staying in the owner’s suite at the very hotel where you used to be a file clerk and make coffee for the meetings. He dresses you in silk blouses and five hundred dollar shoes. I know those are real pearls around your neck and that watch – it’s a Bulgari which means it cost five thousand dollars – minimum. You can’t lie to me, young lady, and tell me none of that matters.”

“But it doesn’t!” Tessa burst out, tears pooling in her eyes. “None of these – these
things
matter! You know I’ve lost absolutely everything I own – twice now. But those were just things, nothing that couldn’t be replaced eventually. Ian is irreplaceable. If I ever lost him, if he ever left me – life wouldn’t be worth living for even one more day.”

Francine patted Tessa on the back as she handed her a tissue. “That’s my girl. I knew deep down his money didn’t matter a whit to you – I just had to hear it from your lips. And now I also know for absolute certainty what a treasure he has in you. You let me know if he doesn’t treat you right, my dear. I may be the only person in the entire world that boy is still terrified of.”

Tessa realized somewhat belatedly that the older woman had been provoking her deliberately, testing her, it seemed, with the sole purpose of making sure her feelings for Ian were genuine and unselfish. Then Mrs. C. startled her anew by actually brewing tea for both of them – a task that had always fallen to Tessa in the old days. Or it had once she’d proven herself capable of making a cup that would meet with Mrs. C’s approval.

“Have you met Ian’s parents yet?”

Tessa shook her head. “But they are visiting at the end of the month, and staying at the house. I’m a nervous wreck just thinking about it.”

“Well, that’s to be expected, dear. But you have nothing to worry about,” assured Francine. “Edward Gregson is a charming man, it’s very easy to see where young Ian gets his charisma from. You won’t have any problem at all winning his approval. As for Mrs. Gregson – well, all you really need to do is give her the same scolding you just gave me, and she’ll never doubt your feelings for Ian.”

Tessa gasped. “I did not scold you! At least, I didn’t mean to. And I would never dare talk that way to his mother. She’d think - ”

“That you were more than a worthy partner for her son,” retorted Francine. “And don’t you dare apologize to me, young miss. It’s about time you started voicing your opinions and sticking up for yourself. I’m proud of you, Tessa. You’ve far exceeded all the expectations I once had for you.”

The rare compliment coming from the woman most people called “the dragon lady” made Tessa beam.

“I wouldn’t have made anything of myself without your help. I was scared to death of you, but you did get results.” Tessa took a sip of her tea before telling her former mentor, “Ian thinks I ought to go back to school, get my college degree.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea, Tessa. But is that what you want?”

Tessa shrugged. “Yes and no. I mean, I think it would be good for me, definitely something to be proud of. But, well, I like being able to travel with Ian like this and if I go to school full time that wouldn’t always be possible.”

They chatted a bit longer, Tessa telling Francine about the Italian classes she was taking at Berlitz, and the cooking courses she’d already finished and new ones she’d signed up for.

When Tessa had learned their next business trip included a stop in Tucson, she’d had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she’d welcomed the opportunity to visit with Francine and some of her other former co-workers. But, on the other hand, Tucson had held very few happy memories for her, and she hadn’t especially looked forward to the visit. At least they would only be here for a day, and would be spending all of that time at the hotel.

Ian had inquired if she had any friends she cared to visit, or particular places she’d like to show him. He had very tactfully not brought the subject up again when she’d merely given him an abrupt shake of her head. He had seemed to sense after that initial inquiry that she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be going back to Tucson.

Their meetings wrapped up fairly early, leaving them a couple of hours to relax and unwind before their dinner meeting. Since it was still over ninety degrees at four o’clock, a swim in one of the resort’s several pools was a welcome respite. And while Tessa would have never dreamed of using the guest facilities at this time of the day when she’d been employed here, the same rules evidently didn’t apply to the owner.

They swam vigorously for almost an hour, until her legs were quivering in protest and her breathing became labored. Ian kept going a while longer, and she watched him with admiring eyes as he stroked powerfully through the water. Tessa scowled as she realized several other women seated around the pool were also eyeing him hungrily. Two of them even made some very vocal comments about what a hunk he was, and how they sure wouldn’t mind having a nice big helping of his brand of man candy.

Behind the cover of her oversized Chanel sunglasses, Tessa glared at the forty-something bleached blonde with the fake tan and even more obviously fake boobs who’d made that last comment. It made her wonder about all the years of traveling that Ian had done all over the world, and of the many different women who’d hit on him. The jealously she felt threatened to consume her, and it suddenly became very important to stake her claim, to make sure those –
cougars
knew that her man was strictly off limits.

Ian vaulted out of the pool, water dripping from his body, and she was there to meet him with an oversized beach towel. He smiled his thanks as he briskly toweled off his hair and chest before wrapping the towel around his hips. Tessa slid her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers for a lingering, open-mouthed kiss. He gave a little “mmm” of surprise just before his hands gripped her hips, pulling her into his body.

He was chuckling when he lifted his head. “Any particular reason for your very enthusiastic greeting?”

She pressed her breasts more fully against his chest, and ran her hands over the bulging muscles of his biceps. “Just admiring my very studly boyfriend. And making sure that all the other women around here know you’re taken.”

Ian smirked, sliding one large hand down to cup her ass. “What other women?”

Tessa laughed in delight. “Oooh, nicely done!”

As they walked over to their lounges, where she’d taken the liberty of having an ice cold margarita waiting for him, she kept an arm wrapped around his waist. She couldn’t resist flashing a triumphant smile in the direction of the now crestfallen bleached blonde cougar. She was absurdly pleased that Ian didn’t even acknowledge the presence of the other women, that the only one he had eyes for was her. It made her realize all over again how incredibly lucky she was to have this amazing man all to herself. She resolved to make very, very sure that he knew on a daily – no, make that an
hourly
– basis just how crazy she was about him, how much she cherished him. Tessa figured right now was an excellent time to start.

Ian glanced up in surprise as she plucked his margarita glass from his hand and set it down on the low glass-topped table between their lounges. She straddled him, looping her arms around his neck, and gave a satisfied little smile when his gaze automatically flicked down to the ample cleavage bared by her yellow bikini top.

She leaned down to whisper in his ear, “You know how sometimes I really, really like giving you carte blanche over me in bed?”

He ran his hands up the side of her ribcage, stopping just below the swell of her breasts. He swallowed with some difficulty before nodding. “I, ah, do know, yes.”

She licked the side of his neck. “Well, I think I’m going to be in a very giving mood tonight.”

***

“You look kind of – uh, tired, Ian. Late night?”

“Hmm?” Ian glanced up across the table at his dining companion. “I’m sorry, Matt, did you say something? Afraid I’ve been in a bit of a daze most of the morning.”

Matthew Bennett gave his friend a knowing grin. “Should I assume your very hot new girlfriend is the reason for your, er, daze?”

Ian couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his features. “Jesus, mate, you wouldn’t believe the half of it. But, yes, suffice it to say that Tessa is most definitely the reason I look a little out of it right now. Not to mention in dire need of a nap.”

Matthew had been a good friend for several years now, the two men having met at the exclusive private health club they both belonged to. Matthew had, in fact, been one of the very first people Ian had befriended upon moving to San Francisco, and the two of them tried to meet up for lunch as often as possible, given their equally hectic schedules. Matthew was the CEO of a hugely successful software company headquartered in the city, and he was worth billions. Still, he was amazingly one of the most down to earth individuals Ian had ever met, and he considered him a very close friend.

Still, close friend or not, there was absolutely no way Ian was going to recount exactly why he was so wiped out this morning. He’d been woken out of a sound sleep at an ungodly hour of the morning, but he’d have had to be a blithering idiot to even consider complaining about it – not when he’d woken with a groan to find a gorgeous, sexy blonde bent over him, his cock in her mouth as she gave him a very enthusiastic blowjob. And then, when he’d been perilously close to coming, she’d straddled his body, positioning the thick head of his penis at the entrance to her body before impaling herself an inch at a time until he was buried to the root.

She’d looked like a pagan warrior princess as she’d ridden him, her bare, lush breasts beckoning him to touch them, her long hair waving over her shoulders. The merest flick of his thumb against her clit had sent her spiraling into climax, the tight muscles of her pussy squeezing his cock as she came, and he’d spilled himself inside of her hot, welcoming body mere seconds later.

It had been every man’s dirtiest fantasy come true – the ultimate wake-up call – and Ian was really no different than most men when it came down to it. But he was definitely starting to feel the effects of missing out on some sleep this morning, especially when his voracious young lover had also kept him up rather late the night before. Tessa, he thought with a rueful smile, was quickly becoming rather insatiable.

Matthew grinned. “Has anyone told you what a lucky fucker you are? Seriously, almost every guy at the club would cut off their left nut to trade places with you right now.”

Ian groaned. “I’d advise them to hold on to both of their testicles, especially if they have a wife or a girlfriend as – ah, eager as Tessa. Sometimes I wish I had a spare pair.”

Matthew laughed uproariously. “Christ sakes, Ian, just how often are the two of you getting it on anyway?”

“Every single day.” Ian enunciated each word slowly. “Usually multiple times. So far I’ve been able to keep up with her, but I’m half afraid she’s going to wear me out.”

“Well, if you need help keeping your woman satisfied, you can always ask Jesse,” joked Matthew. “When he saw you walk by with Tessa one day last week, he made some predictably crude comment like ‘Dude, I would tap that anywhere, anytime’. And then he finished up by saying it wasn’t fair that you had two sweet rides – first the Jag and now Tessa.”

“Is that right?” Ian’s fist clenched and unclenched, and his mouth tightened in annoyance. “Well, I had already planned on pummeling that young punk into the mat the next time we sparred. Now I might consider upping the ante.”

Matthew grinned, taking a sip of his iced tea. “Yeah? Whatcha got in mind for our young Casanova?”

Ian winked before reaching for his own glass of tea. “Making sure Tessa is present to watch us. And that she’s wearing as little as possible.”

“You’re an evil bastard as well as a lucky one,” conceded Matthew. “But that would serve the little shit right. He does like to flirt, not to mention brag about all the pussy he gets. Though I’m just guessing you’re getting a hell of a lot more action than he is. And I
know
you’re getting way more than I am. Hell, you probably got more last night than I’ve had in a month.”

The tone of Matthew’s voice clearly betrayed that things weren’t as they should be in his marriage. Ian had met his wife on several occasions, and couldn’t really say if he liked Lindsey Bennett or not. She’d been pleasant enough, if a bit on the flirty and empty-headed side, which hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as the rather careless, off-handed manner in which she treated her husband. Matthew was just about the nicest, most decent man Ian had ever met, and had never allowed his somewhat sudden good fortune to go to his head or change the person he was. The Bennetts had two children, and Matthew was absolutely devoted to them.

Ian frowned. “Everything all right with you and Lindsey? How is your lovely wife, by the way?”

Matthew grimaced. “She’s fine. A little more generously endowed these days, however. She, uh, just had her boobs done – against my wishes, I might add. Call me crazy, but I just hate all that fake shit women insist on having done to themselves.”

“You’re not crazy,” assured Ian. “I’ve never been a fan myself. Fortunately for me, Tessa is – ah, a natural beauty.”

A grin crossed Matthew’s face, his good humor quickly restored. “Since I haven’t seen a pair of twenty-four year old tits since
I
was twenty-four, tell me – do you feel like weeping every time she takes her top off?”

Ian shook her head. “More like saying a prayer, mate. Thanking Christ that she’s all mine, and then begging Him that I don’t wake up and find it’s all been one big wet dream.”

“Jesus.” Matthew looked more than a little awed. “Well, all I can say is enjoy all this while it lasts, because honeymoons definitely end sooner than later. Take my word for that. Besides, all of us forty-something’s at the club are rooting for you. You’re sort of our role-model, you know.”

Ian speared a forkful of his salmon filet but paused before bringing it to his mouth. “You don’t think I’m making an ass of myself, do you? I mean, Tessa tells me all the time that she doesn’t think I’m too old for her, but – well, it does weigh on my mind a lot. Especially when young bucks like Jesse are salivating over her.”