Splendor(61)

He stopped before helping her inside. “Tessa, would you – Christ, I feel like a gangly adolescent asking you this – but would you like to see my home?”

He waited with barely concealed patience for her answer, not at all sure how she would respond. Long seconds ticked by before she finally gave a small nod.

“Yes, I’d love to see your home – Ian.”

He was sure he was grinning like a fool as he handed her inside the car, and then told Simon, “Take us to the house, mate.”





Chapter Ten



Tessa tried desperately to quell her nerves during the drive to Ian’s house. He had caught her a bit off-guard with his unexpected question, and her initial reaction had been to decline the invitation to see his home. But he had looked and sounded so hopeful, almost shy, that she hadn’t been able to refuse. Now, however, she kept wondering if she’d made the right decision.

The past twenty-four hours had been like a hurricane force whirlwind, to say the least. So much had happened in such a short period of time that she felt like she was on a crazy carnival ride that just kept on going. Of course, it had all started with Ian’s very unexpected reaction to her in his office last evening, followed by his shocking admission that he’d been attracted to her for over two years. Tessa had never, ever imagined that her elegant, debonair boss could actually desire her, much less for all those months when he’d known she was married to another man. She was still having difficulty in processing that bit of news, and wanted to pinch herself every few minutes to make sure she was really cuddled up against his big body in the back seat of his luxurious car.

And her head was definitely still spinning from the swiftness and ease with which Ian had arranged for everything – the clothing and salon treatments at Neiman Marcus, reserving the private dining room at Le Mistral. He was sweeping her off her feet and spinning her around in circles, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to get off the ride or have it continue without end.

Tessa knew that simply agreeing to see his house didn’t necessarily mean she’d consented to sleeping with him. Instinctively, she knew Ian would never dream of forcing or coercing her – he was too gallant, too much a gentleman to do such a thing. He was also so incredibly handsome and overwhelmingly male that he would never need to sweet talk a woman into his bed – they would line up eagerly for the privilege. So why was she even thinking about refusing him?

She turned her face into his broad shoulder, liking the feel of his fine wool overcoat against her cheek. His clean, masculine scent filled her senses, and she couldn’t resist nuzzling her nose against the warm skin of his throat.

Ian slid his hand to the back of her head, tilting it back for his kiss. Tessa gave a little “mmm” of pleasure as his tongue swept through her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, urging his head even closer towards hers. He gave a low growl and hauled her onto his lap. He tasted of brandy and chocolate, and Tessa was quickly losing herself in his devouring kisses as they continued for long minutes.

“God, what you do to me,” he whispered in a raw voice. “You make me forget my own name with just a kiss.”

“It’s the same for me,” she whispered back.

Ian kissed her again, but this time quickly, gently, and then he reluctantly eased her back onto the seat.

“Not here, darling,” he murmured in a low voice. “If this car had a privacy panel it would be a very different matter. But we don’t want to shock poor Simon, or give him a show.”

Under cover of the dark interior of the car, he slid his hand up beneath her coat and dress until he reached the lacy top of her stocking. She gasped as he caressed her thigh, and then realized belatedly just how aroused she was. She squirmed restlessly beneath his hand, longing for him to slide it further up her leg until he was cupping her aching sex.

Instead, he slowly withdrew his hand, his voice low against her ear. “Shh. I have no intention of making you moan when we have an audience, even one as discreet as Simon. Your pleasure is going to be for my eyes and ears only. We’ll be at my home very soon now.”

Tessa was trembling in arousal as he stayed a safe distance away, merely linking their hands together casually. To distract herself from the growing need for physical release, she forced herself to look out the window, trying to determine where they were headed. It was obvious from the size and elegance of the houses they drove by that they were in a very affluent neighborhood, and Tessa was fairly certain from the street names that it was the exclusive Pacific Heights area.

Two blocks later, Simon was pulling through a set of wrought iron gates that he’d used a remote control to open and parking on the side of a stately red brick mansion. Because it was so dark and cloudy outside, Tessa couldn’t make out too many exterior details, but there was little doubt that Ian’s home was a multimillion dollar residence.