"You're tense," he said. "Why don't you go take a bath? Get more comfortable and if you still want to continue the evening, come join me in my room. If we're going too fast, I'll understand."
"You're sweet to give me an out." She turned in his arms to face him. His clear blue eyes blazed with desire as he stared into hers. "But I know what I want."
"What's that?"
"Let's go upstairs and I'll show you."
"Are you sure?"
"Haven't I given you enough hints?" When she traced his lips with her fingertips, his breath tickled her hand. "I'm very sure."
He kissed the tips of her fingers and the softness of his tender touch sent a rush of heat through her.
"We've been hasty." He moved his mouth down to her wrist, pressing his lips against her fast pulse. "In the study, I practically tore your clothes off. In the shower … well, I couldn't form a coherent sentence."
"Both times were really hot." She reached for the buttons of his shirt, undoing the first few. "Let's see how much hotter we can get."
"We will, but tonight we're taking it slow." He took her hand and led her to the back staircase. "We can take our time. There's no rush."
The idea of spending the entire night in his bed, taking their time and exploring one another made her tingle with excitement. When they reached his bedroom, he leaned against the door before opening it, devouring her with his gaze. She didn't say anything as he took his time looking at her, torturously slow. As he focused on her lips, he licked his own, leisurely.
Oh my... He was going to draw this out. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch.
"There's something about you." He lifted her chin, never taking his attention away from her mouth. "You're beautiful, but you already know that. It's something so much more, Tessa. There's a raw need in you, an ache you need fulfilled." He lowered his head and ran his tongue slowly over her trembling lips. "And you know I'm the only one who can satisfy it."
She sucked in a quick breath when he pressed his mouth to hers. He kissed her with such passion – long, slow and deep, never removing his fingers from her chin. When he released her, she looked up at him, too mesmerized to speak.
"What is it?" He had his hand on the doorknob, but he was waiting for her response.
"You're … all-consuming. I'm not used to such intensity." No one had ever looked at her that way before. He wanted it all and she was willing to give him everything.
"You pursued me, remember?"
She nodded, her throat too dry to say anything.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He stroked her hair. "I've been thinking about this for weeks. All the ways this could be a total disaster."
"It won't be." Couldn't he feel it? They were right for one another.
"I'm older and you've barely lived your life. Your father entrusted me with you. I must be out of my mind to want this, but I can't help it." He opened the door. "You don't need to be afraid of me. Intrigued? Definitely. But not afraid." He guided her into his room. "I'll show you things. I'll do things to you that will have your mind reeling for days. All you have to do is let me."
"I'm not afraid of you." She reached for the buttons of his shirt. "I thought you were so hot the day you walked past me in the hall at the rehab center."
"Did you?" He watched as she undid the last button.
"You were the sexiest man I'd ever seen." She slipped his shirt from his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. "I didn't think I'd ever see you after that day but here we are."
"I thought you were the most stunning woman alive." He pulled her shirt from the waistband of her jeans and ran his hands over her bare stomach. "I watched you for a moment before going into your dad's room. I was shocked to find out you were Pat's daughter all grown up. Even more shocked when I left that night agreeing to take you in."
"Any regrets?" She closed her eyes when he brushed his fingertips over the material that covered her nipples.
"Only that it's taken me this long to get you into my bed." He kissed her again before tugging her shirt over her head. "You're very persuasive."
"I told you, when I want something I go after it." She kicked off her shoes and removed her socks. "I want you."
"I've noticed." He pulled her to his chest, pressing his bare skin to hers. "The feeling is mutual."
"I can feel that." She giggled when she bumped into his bulging erection. "Maybe we should do something about that."
"We will." He kissed her as he guided her over to the bed. "Let's get you out of these." He unfastened the button on her jeans, lowered the zipper and pushed them over her hips. She wiggled out of them, leaving nothing but her tiny black thong and matching bra.
He guided her onto the bed, stepping back to drink her in. "You're perfect."
"I'm all yours, Chase." She scooted up and reclined against the pillows as he removed his shoes and socks.
"I don't know what I did to get so lucky."
"I'd say you're about to get really lucky."
"I'd have to agree."
Her stomach tightened and her insides pulsed when he unbuckled his belt and took off his pants. She'd seen all of him in the shower, but watching him undress was a whole new experience that made her hot with desire. A warm rush of fluid dampened her panties as he stalked toward her. The untamed expression in his eyes made her want to surrender everything to him. She couldn't find a trace of the controlled man she'd spent so much time with these past few weeks.
He grabbed her ankles, spreading her legs and wrapping them around his waist. The cotton of his boxer briefs pressed into the silk of her thong; the thin materials the only barrier between them.
"I'm going to try to stay controlled … but..." When he leaned down to kiss her, his cock pushed against her slit. "It's going to be a challenge."
"Why do you have to be controlled?" She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, eliciting a low moan from somewhere deep within his chest. The feral sound made her crave him even more.
"Because you deserve to be savored, worshipped, and made love to slow and carefully. There will be plenty of time for fast sex, fueled with as much need as want, but now," he lowered his hand between them, slipping his fingers under the elastic of her panties, stroking her tenderly, "it needs to be this way."
Kissing her softly, seeking out her tongue with his, he fed off the connection they had created. The deeper the kiss, the more she became aware that this wasn't just about sex.
"I need to taste you." He rested on his knees, removing her panties and revealing her sex to him. Placing the backs of her legs against his chest, he lowered his face between her thighs, pulling her to him with his strong hands on her buttocks.
"Oh..." She clawed at the comforter beneath her when he moved his tongue down her moist center.
"Relax for me." He kissed her inner thigh before working his way back to her core, holding her legs wide apart and pushing his tongue inside her. The stubble on his jaw scraped at her sensitive skin each time he moved his head.
"Chase," she whispered. Her breathing turned into panting when he added his fingers to the mix, circling her clit and working her body into a frenzy.
More... That building in her stomach – the sensation she'd experienced in his study – came on fast. Each time he ran his tongue along her folds she teetered closer to the edge. "Please..."
She swore she could feel him smile as he moved his fingers in and out of her in time with his skilled tongue, creating a fire deep in her belly. It didn't take long for her to spiral into an orgasmic storm. She squeezed her eyes shut and let the waves wash over her. When she finally managed to open her eyes he was licking the juices from her thighs.
"That was off the charts," she breathed out.
"That was just the appetizer." He slid her legs down his chest. "You're sure about the protection?"
"I take my pill every day."
He licked his lips as he let his gaze drink in her flesh. Through his boxers he pushed his erection against her pussy, coating the material in her wetness. "Come here." He pulled her up so she was sitting on his thighs. "Taste where I've been."