Tessa's Temptation(37)

"Sweet."



***



After dinner, Tess watched as Chase worked the room. People seemed to be  drawn to his charismatic personality. Not only did he know everyone by  name, but he remembered details about them like their kids' names and  what they did for a living. She had been mesmerized by him all night.

"He is something, isn't he?" Audra sat down at the table with Tess.  "Doesn't seem fair that one man got everything, huh?" She downed her  martini. "Although I guess for you it's a good thing."

"I think Chase is wonderful." Tess had noticed Audra's excessive  drinking all night. She never seemed to have an empty glass in front of  her. "Are you having a good time?"

"As good a time as you can have at these things."

"Where's Tanner?" Tess looked around the ballroom. "I haven't seen him since dinner."

"He's keeping his distance from you." Audra laughed. "Chase gave him strict orders."

"He is a little possessive," Tess shrugged. "I told him he was being silly."

"So, you're not interested in Tanner?" Audra studied Tess, waiting for an answer.

"Of course not," Tess said. "I think he's a great guy but I'm only interested in Chase."

"I just thought after that night at the picnic you were going after  Tanner. I could see he was totally into you." She flagged down a waiter.  "I'll take another."

"Right away, Ms. Sinclair," he said.

"Thank you." Audra watched Chase as he made his way over to the table. "Here comes the man of the hour."

"What are you two talking about?" Chase placed his hand on Tess's shoulder.

"You, of course," Audra said. "And how delicious you are."

"Umm, I'm glad you're back." Tess turned and smiled at him. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, sorry. I got caught up on my way back from the restroom." He  circled his fingertips over the nape of her neck, eliciting a charge  that coursed through her and landed right between her legs. Would she  ever get enough of him?

"That's because you're in such high demand." Audra tapped her manicured  fingers on the white linen tablecloth. "Everyone wants you."

Everyone can't have him.

"Audra," Chase said. "Why don't you ask Tanner to take you home now?"

"Why? Am I embarrassing you?"

"Not at all." Chase extended his hand for Tess, dismissing Audra. "I promised you dancing."

"Now?" The only time Tess had ever danced was in the kitchen. She had no idea if she could do it for real.

"Right now." He pulled out her chair and without another word to Audra he led her to the dance floor.

"What's up with your attorney?" Tess didn't like the way the two of them  interacted with one another. It was strained and seemed uncomfortable  for people who worked so closely with each other day after day.

"Ignore her. She's had too much to drink and has been nothing but a thorn in my side all night."

"I think she's hot for you." Tess looked in Audra's direction, noting  how the intoxicated woman couldn't take her gaze away from Chase. She  looked obsessed with him.

"The only one I'm hot for is about to dance with me." He took her hand  in his and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Just like we did in the  kitchen."

"As long as you lead I'll be fine." She inched closer to him, excitement  flooding her insides. Another first to share with him. "I'm dancing  with the most sought after man in the room."

"How appropriate." He spun her around. "I'm dancing with the most talked  about woman of the evening. People can't stopping staring at you." He  pulled her close to him. "Not that I can blame them. Everyone wants to  know who you are."                       
       
           



       

"I know exactly who I am." Lifting her head, she focused on his mouth, craving his lips on hers.

"Who would that be?" His warm breath caressed her lips when he spoke. "Tell me."

"Yours."

He didn't say anything more as he swayed her to the music, staring into  her eyes with a dark intensity usually reserved for the bedroom. He held  her tight. The music seemed to fade into the background and the other  couples disappeared from her peripheral vision. There was nothing but  the two of them. Her heart raced with anticipation as he twirled and  dipped her like he had in the kitchen. As she leaned back, supported  only by his strong hold she looked up at him. When he brought her back  to him, a warmth settled inside her and her legs became unsteady.

"I feel lightheaded," she whispered. "Maybe it's the champagne or the dancing?"

"Do you want to stop?"

"No." She never wanted to stop. She didn't want this night to end. When  he kissed her temple, a different kind of heat coursed through her  system. "Everything feels light, my feet, my head, my heart..."

"There's something I've needed to tell you for quite some time." He  brushed his lips across hers before continuing. "I'm not even sure when  it happened. It could have been that night I found you sleeping in my  bed, or maybe in the backyard when I said I couldn't fight what was  happening between us. I've always been weak when it comes to you."

"Weak doesn't have to be bad when it's right." They were barely moving  but her head was spinning as if he was twirling her all over the room.  "What do you want to tell me?"

"I've never given myself to anyone before." His fingers danced down her spine. "I've never wanted to. Never needed to."

"You're cautious. I have enough impulse for both of us."

"I've been careful with you. Guarded and restrained because I don't want  to hurt you. I didn't want to promise you something I couldn't  deliver."

"I don't think you're very restrained, Mr. Carlisle. And you've made  good on every one of your promises and then some." How could he ever  think he couldn't deliver? He'd been her protector, her lover and her  friend. No one had ever been there for her the way he had.

"I don't want to screw up with you." He kissed her, slow and soft. "You  have my heart. You have the ability to absolutely shatter it. I've never  given anyone that kind of power before. I need you to know that."

"I would never do anything to hurt you." She pressed her lips to his,  knowing she had to tell him what she should have told him that day they  danced in the kitchen. "I love you." She didn't mean to blurt it out but  she had to let him know.

"You do?" He smiled.

"My love may be the only thing I can give you but you can have it all."

He stopped moving to the music and gently took her face in his hands. His expression was softer and he looked relieved.

"I love you too, Tessa Burke. With everything I am." He lowered his lips  to hers and whispered, "I love you so much. That's what I wanted to  tell you but as always you beat me to it."

As their lips connected the music stopped, but neither seemed to care.  He deepened the bond, tangling his fingers in her hair and holding her  in place as he explored her mouth with his tongue. She sighed when his  erection pressed against the sheer material of her gown. Gripping his  jacket she pulled him closer to her. The sound of applause and whistles  brought them crashing back to reality.

Chase opened his eyes and grinned as he broke their kiss.

"Oops." She giggled.

He guided her off the dance floor, nodding and waving to the delighted  crowd. Tess followed close behind. A sense of pride filled her knowing  she was the only woman he would ever want.

"You two make a gorgeous couple," the mayor's wife said as they made their way across the ballroom.

He loves me!

"Are you ready to go home with me?" He kissed her hand as they walked  into the lobby. "I need to show you just how much I love you."

"I'll go anywhere with you."





Chapter Twenty-one



Chase went straight to their bedroom with Tess close behind him. He  removed his jacket and tie. Even in the dimly lit room she couldn't take  her gaze away from him as he took off his watch and placed it with his  wallet on the dresser. Next came his cufflinks and then he stepped out  of his shoes. Every action calculated and slow, designed to be an  appetizer for her. He paused to look at her, taking in the fairytale her  appearance spoke tonight, before he took her clothes off. Her stomach  fluttered and her pulse raced as she waited for him to touch her.                       
       
           



       

"Turn around," he commanded. "I'll unzip you."

"You're not wasting any time, are you?" She turned so her back was toward him, waiting for him to undress her.