Crave (Splendor Book 2) (41 page)

But as Carlos moved to assist Tessa into the limo for the short drive to the executive airport, Ian forestalled him. “I’ll tend to Miss Lockwood, thank you.”

Carlos looked a bit taken aback, but wasn’t about to argue with the big boss - as most of the hotel staff here at the Naples, Florida resort referred to Mr. Gregson. He’d heard the gossip - very discreetly spread, of course, since gossip was highly frowned upon by the company - about Mr. Gregson’s new assistant, but hadn’t believed all of it until he’d seen the beautiful blonde with his own eyes a few moments ago.

Miss Lockwood, who was Mr. Gregson’s girlfriend as well as his PA, was a knockout, and Carlos could easily understand why the normally austere, standoffish Brit had apparently fallen head over heels for the much younger woman.

And they made quite a pair - both of them tall, well-dressed, and with movie-star good looks. The two of them had caused a major stir around the resort today, and seeing them together now Carlos could clearly see why.

Mr. Gregson was evidently extremely possessive about his very lovely lady, so much that he wouldn’t allow Carlos to so much as touch her arm to assist her inside the limo. Not that Carlos could blame the big boss, for the beautiful blonde was an irresistible combination of classy elegance and screaming sex appeal. The chauffeur thought with a wry smile that it was a wonder Mr. Gregson didn’t keep his
inamorata
chained to his side in an attempt to keep other men away from her.

As soon as the back door to the limo was firmly shut, Ian didn’t waste even a second before sliding a hand to Tessa’s nape and smiling down at her very deliberately.

“Hello, beautiful,” he murmured, and then took her mouth in a long, leisurely kiss. He felt an immense sense of satisfaction as he heard her sigh of pleasure beneath the relentless pressure of his lips. Their tongues tangled lazily, both of them savoring the deep, devouring kiss. Groaning, Ian yanked her into his arms, gradually easing her back onto the plush leather seat, his body looming over hers. He’d been fully aroused and aching to have her from the second their lips had touched, and from the way she was clutching him to her it was evident that Tessa was equally as needy.

But there was no possible way he was going to make love to her in the backseat of a limo, no matter how comfortable or spacious or private it was. He was still far too much of a stuffed shirt to even consider such an action, especially when he recalled the brief but knowing glance the chauffeur had given him a few minutes ago.

Very reluctantly, he eased himself away from Tessa, pulling her to an upright position beside him. He pressed a kiss to her temple as he hugged her closely against him.

“Remind me in the future, my very efficient traveling PA,” he teased lightly, brushing his knuckles over her flushed cheek, “not to agree to any extra early meetings on these trips, hmm? Especially when they interfere with our usual morning routine.”

Tessa smiled. “I’ll make a note of it, Mr. Gregson.”

They were on the last stop of their first business trip together, having already visited the hotels in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Palm Beach before arriving here in Naples, Florida last night. Due to the professional golf tournament being held at the resort, the hotel manager had practically begged Ian for a very early meeting with himself, and the two managers who oversaw the golf course and the resort’s recreation department. Ian had agreed very reluctantly, and the arrangements had been made for breakfast to be delivered to the owner’s suite for the meeting.

The early meeting had necessitated him to rise at an ungodly hour in order to fit in a workout with one of the hotel’s personal trainers. Tessa had been fast asleep when he’d left, and he hadn’t had the heart to wake her. She’d been working long hours on this trip, more than keeping pace with his demanding schedule, and he knew she badly needed her sleep.

And she’d unfortunately been gone when he had returned, the note she’d left indicating she had decided to take a spin class at the hotel’s expansive fitness facility. By the time she had finished, Ian had already showered, shaved, dressed, and begun his meeting in the suite’s dining room. When Tessa had quietly entered the suite after her class, the shock had been blatantly obvious on the faces of the three other men present. Ian had offered up a silent prayer of relief that she hadn’t been wearing one of her more revealing workout outfits - teeny tiny shorts and a brief, clingy bra top. She thankfully reserved those particular garments for workouts at his home gym, or on those occasions when they worked out together and he could stave off overly interested males with a freezing “fuck-off” glare. Tessa, however, seemed to be well aware of his preference for her not to expose too much of her lusciously curved body in public, and tended to dress more modestly at the gym.

But even with the black Lycra capri pants and loose fitting white fitness top she’d been wearing this morning, her long hair scraped back into a ponytail and her face bare of makeup, she had still been droolworthy, clearly evidenced by the way his three breakfast companions had stared as Ian had beckoned her over. The others had quickly followed his example when he’d stood to greet Tessa, pulling her against his side.

He’d introduced her merely as Tessa Lockwood, and very intentionally hadn’t offered up any details about what their actual relationship was. All he had told the other men was that Tessa would be joining them shortly, and assisting him during the rest of their visit.

After her shyly murmured greeting, she had headed off to change, but Ian had found it almost impossible to concentrate on what was being discussed after that. While the other men were babbling about re-sodding a section of the golf course, Ian had been imagining Tessa in the shower - all wet, naked flesh, her soap-slicked hands touching the soft curves of her body. He’d been instantly and uncomfortably hard at the very erotic image, and he’d cursed himself anew for foolishly agreeing to this meeting when he could at this very moment have been joining his young, eager lover in the huge walk-in shower.

And it had only gotten worse when Tessa had emerged from their bedroom a short while later, perfectly put together and looking both elegant and fuckable at the same time. She’d been wearing a silk blouse of palest peach with pearl buttons, and a slim fitting pencil skirt of taupe linen. Her taupe sling-back pumps had a modest heel, unlike the sexy stilettos he loved seeing her in but that were not entirely appropriate for the sort of refined business attire he preferred her to wear. Her abundant blonde hair had been pulled back into a sleek knot at the nape of her neck, her makeup applied with a light, discreet hand. A pair of luminous pearl stud earrings and the classic Bulgari Ovale watch he’d bought her last month were her only pieces of jewelry.

She had looked so beautiful and so tempting that he’d had half a mind to order the three men out of the suite, brush everything off the dining room table with one swipe of his arm, and then spread her out for his pleasure. Instead, he’d had to suffer the tortures of hell by having her close by his side throughout the entire day, and yet never managing even one minute alone with her. He’d sat through three meals, a seemingly endless round of meetings, reviews, and inspections, and fielded a dozen phone calls from the regional office all without being able to do more than put his hand lightly on her elbow or the small of her back as they walked through the hotel. And for the better part of fourteen hours now, he’d been forced to notice the way the silk blouse clung lovingly to her lush breasts; to observe the gentle sway of her hips and the tempting curve of her ass in that narrow skirt; to smell her light, fleeting perfume; to hear the soft, breathy sound of her voice; and not be able to do a damned thing about any of it.

They had agreed to maintain a strict degree of professionalism while they worked, and not to flaunt or advertise their very intimate relationship among their co-workers. Traveling together and sharing a suite was one thing, but overt displays of affection were something else entirely. He did, after all, still have an image to portray, a family reputation to uphold, and Tessa had been more than understanding of the fact that they would have to act in a businesslike manner on these trips. Her cooperation, however, hadn’t made the constant temptation she presented any easier to bear.

But all of that torture would finally come to an end in less than half an hour - the amount of time Ian calculated it would take to drive to the executive airport, board the corporate jet, and take off. And once he received the all clear from the pilot that they could move about the cabin freely, he had every intention of pulling Tessa along with him into the plane’s master bedroom, and initiating her in a very, very pleasurable manner into the Mile High Club.

He had yet to share his plans with her, and wasn’t quite sure how she’d react. She always went to him eagerly - more than eagerly, if he was being completely honest. Her desire for him, her hunger, seemed to be increasing the more time they spent together, and Ian sensed it would only be a matter of time before she followed his instructions and took the initiative in their lovemaking - a thought that aroused him tremendously.

But as passionate as Tessa was in his arms, he guessed that she would be a bit shy about actually having sex with other people in proximity. Not that the flight crew - pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendant - would be able to hear anything, of course. Besides the noise of the plane itself, the bedrooms were exceptionally well insulated so that one could be assured of a sound sleep on long flights. Not to mention the fact that his flight crew were far too loyal and discreet to ever betray the slightest indication that they knew exactly what would be going on behind closed doors.

Tessa was still going to be reticent about it, though, he sensed, and he’d have to seduce her into the idea. He longed to have her now, this very instant, spread out here against the limo seat, and he had to fight a little harder with each passing minute to control that particular urge. Instead, he merely brushed his thumb over her lips, smiling when her blue eyes widened at even such a light touch.

“You look lovely, darling,” he told her in a husky voice. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to tell you that until now.”

Tessa returned his smile, gently holding his hand against her cheek. “But you did tell me. All day long, every time our eyes met. And I hope you know I feel exactly the same way. You’re always so handsome I can’t seem to tear my gaze away from you for even a minute.”

Her heartfelt words pleased him tremendously, as did the feel of her soft skin beneath his hand. “The way you look now - beautiful, classy, pampered - it’s what I’ve wanted for you ever since that first time we met.”

She gave him a puzzled look. “How do you mean?”

Idly, he took her hand in his, entwining their fingers. “I knew you couldn’t afford to buy expensive things,” he told her gently. “And I couldn’t have cared less what you wore because you always looked beyond beautiful to me. But I’d overhear those evil witches Gina and Alicia and even Shelby on occasion make some unflattering comment about you - speculating on what clearance rack your dress came off or how cheap your shoes were. They were very obviously jealous, of course, wildly so, because you were so much more attractive than they could ever hope to be. But it bothered me to hear them talk that way about you. Bothered me that you had to do without nice things.”

Tessa shook her head. “It shouldn’t have, Ian. I mean, I always knew they talked about me behind my back. It’s what the pair of them do - gossip constantly and criticize everyone they know. And, well, after so many years of having so little, I never allowed myself to hope for anything beyond the basics.” She rested her head on his shoulder with a little sigh as she clutched his arm against her side. “And I certainly never allowed myself to hope for someone like you.”

Ian groaned, just before dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s the same for me, my love. You are so much more than I ever thought I might have, more than I ever thought it was
possible
to have. And seeing you looking like this - being able to give you the things I longed to shower you with for so long - it feels like a dream I hope to never wake up from.”

Her slim hand caressed his darkly stubbled chin, her blue eyes shining. “Let’s keep dreaming together, then. I love you, Ian. And I - I missed you this morning, missed, um…”

He chuckled, even as his hand slid down her ribcage to her hip and back up again. “Missed waking up to me ravishing you?”

She gasped as his thumb brushed over her erect nipple, her head falling back onto the padded leather seat. “Yes. Ah, God, yes. Please, Ian.”

“Shh.” He nuzzled the side of her neck, his fingers splaying open over her full breast and giving it a squeeze. “I know, love. I’m just as starved for you. All I could think about during that bloody meeting this morning was you in the shower, and how I wanted nothing more than to join you there. To press you up against the wall and slide inside you, to touch you everywhere.”

Tessa whimpered as his hand slid beneath the hem of her skirt, caressing her silk-covered thigh and drawing tantalizingly close to where he knew she’d be wet and hot and ready for him. “Please. I need - can’t we…”

He gave her a lingering kiss on the lips before shaking his head regretfully. “Not here, love, no. First, we’re less than ten minutes from the airport, and I’m not certain ten
hours
is going to be enough to satisfy me tonight. And second.” His hand caressed her rosy cheek. “I realize we have privacy back here, but I didn’t like the way our chauffeur was looking at you earlier. I’m not sure I’d trust him to be discreet enough not to gossip with other employees.”

Tessa gave him a little frown. “But the privacy panel is up and um, aren’t all of the hotel limos soundproofed?”

Ian chuckled. “That’s not what concerns me, love. I’ve little doubt we could be quiet enough that Carlos wouldn’t be able to hear anything. However, as far as the look you get on your face afterwards - well, there’s no disguising it, I’m afraid. Anyone seeing you, including Carlos, would know exactly what went on back here.”