Crave (Splendor Book 2) (54 page)

Edward cleared his throat. “Now, then, no tears, young lady. I’m the sort who tends to get a bit weepy during sad movies, so allow an old man his dignity, hmm? Only happy talk allowed, are we clear?”

Ian laughed. “You’d better say yes, darling. I’m not certain I could handle seeing my father start crying like a girl.”

Tessa giggled, and then all four of them were laughing and the subject changed to something more lighthearted.

Tessa seemed startled when Joanna offered to help clear away the tea service, but the girl merely nodded and thanked her graciously. Somehow, and apparently without the guidance of a mother or other relative, the girl had learned how to conduct herself like a lady, for her manners were impeccable.

“You were an employee of Ian’s, I understand?”

Tessa nodded as she wrapped up leftover food and began to load the dishwasher. “Yes, ma’am. I worked on his support team for a little over two years. Before that I worked at the resort in Tucson.”

A light suddenly went on in Joanna’s mind. “Ah, I see. You worked for Francine at one time.”

Tessa’s face lit up at the mention of her former manager. “Yes, for several years. She - well, she taught me a great deal. You know Mrs. Carrington, then?”

Joanna chuckled. “Yes, indeed. She was in charge of the office in London for a number of years, as you know. And that included being in charge of Edward and his brother. Everyone knew that Francine was the real boss.”

If Tessa had been under the tutelage of Francine Carrington for several years, that would explain her exquisite manners and ladylike demeanor. Joanna was finally beginning to feel like she could breathe a huge sigh of relief. Rather than the aggressive, obnoxious gold digger she’d been dreading, Ian’s new companion was turning out to be a very pleasant surprise.

“I see you haven’t made any changes to the house as yet,” commented Joanna. And indeed the only alterations she’d noticed had been an abundance of fresh flowers in almost every room she’d been in thus far.

Tessa was clearly taken aback by this statement and looked a bit puzzled. “Well, no. I’m not sure that I would have, though. I mean, this is Ian’s house, not mine. But aside from that fact, I love everything about this place and wouldn’t change a thing. It felt like home to me from the first time I walked through the front door. And he has such wonderful taste, doesn’t he?”

Joanna smiled indulgently when she saw the dreamy look that crossed Tessa’s face. “That he does, my dear. Did he pick out that dress for you?”

A guilty look came over Tessa’s features, and it was readily apparent that she was uncomfortable discussing the subject. “Not this one, no. My friend Julia helped me pick it out.”

“Ah, well, your friend has excellent taste. Does she work in the fashion industry?”

Tessa shook her head. “No, she’s an interior designer. In fact, she and her fiancée are the designer and architect working on the new hotel in the Napa Valley. But Julia does have an eye for fashion so, well, she’s been helping me out.”

Joanna could read between the lines very easily, and figured that Tessa wasn’t at all accustomed to wearing high end fashions. “Well, the dress looks lovely on you, dear. Have you chosen a gown for the benefit ball next week?”

“Not yet, no. I have an appointment with the personal shopper Ian uses at Neiman Marcus for this Friday. I’m not at all sure what I ought to be wearing to such a formal event.”

“Well, I’m sure your friend - Julia, is it? - will be happy to help you out.”

“Julia’s very busy at the moment, actually,” demurred Tessa. “Her wedding is just over three weeks away, and I wouldn’t even think of asking for her opinion right now. Ian thought that, well, that maybe you’d be able -”

Joanna smiled. “I’d be delighted, dear. And I’ve been to so many of these events that I can advise you on exactly the right dress to buy. What of your friend’s wedding? Do you have a dress for that yet?”

“Not yet, no. Things have been rather hectic with our schedules lately, what with the business trips and all.”

“Well, we can kill two birds with one stone and find you a dress for that at the same time. I think that it would be nice for us to get to know each other a little better, don’t you? After all,” added Joanna kindly, “it seems that my son is intent on keeping you around for a very long time to come. And I know it would please Ian very much if you and I became good friends, don’t you agree?”

Tessa’s face lit up with a gorgeous smile as she nodded enthusiastically. “I do, yes. Very much. Thank you, Mrs. Gregson. You’re so kind, just like Ian.”

Joanna squeezed the girl’s hand. “You should call me Joanna, dear. Though I expect that one day very soon that might change to what Ian calls me - Mother.”

***

Ian grinned. “She told you that, did she?”

Tessa couldn’t believe she’d actually confessed what his mother had told her earlier today. “I’m sure she was just being polite.”

He shrugged. “Well, my mother is always polite. Unless she happens to be chasing after one of my nephews. That’s usually when the gloves come off. My mother can be quite feisty when the need arises. I suppose that’s what happens when you spend your life surrounded by men.” He pulled the pink cardigan sweater down her arms. “But Mother never says anything she doesn’t mean, polite or not. And she definitely meant that last part she told you.”

“Oh. Well, that was nice of her, I suppose. Though I don’t know how I’ll be able to actually call her Joanna, much less, er -”

“Mother?” finished Ian helpfully. He held onto her arm as she stepped out of her shoes.

Tessa shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like that’s really likely to happen.”

“Isn’t it?” He slipped his arms around her waist, touching his forehead to hers. “We’ve never talked about getting married - you’re not ready for that just yet. But make no mistake, Tessa - you
will
be my wife one day, sooner than later.”

She stared at him open-mouthed, completely taken aback by his very matter of fact statement. But before she could even think of a reply, he was turning her to face away from him.

“Now, unfortunately, I do have an early start to the day tomorrow, so let’s get you out of this very pretty dress so that I can finally satisfy my curiosity about what you have on underneath.” He nuzzled the nape of her neck as he slowly lowered the zipper. “I appreciate that you chose to wear something a bit conservative to meet my parents in, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t fantasize all damned day about what lacy bits you have on underneath.”

Tessa closed her eyes as he worked the dress down past her hips, kneeling at her feet, and urged her to step out of the fabric. She gasped as his arms circled her hips from behind, and she felt his lips on the small of her back. His fingers toyed with the waistband of her tiny white lace thong.

“Mmm, all ladylike and proper on the outside with your pretty dress and little heels,” he murmured, his hands caressing the bared cheeks of her ass. “But underneath you’ve got on these very, very sexy undies that make you look like a pinup girl.” He slipped his finger beneath the lacy band of her sheer, thigh-high stockings. “God, I love these. They always make your legs seem even longer than they are.”

Tessa was trembling as he turned her slowly in his arms, his hands splayed over her buttocks as he nuzzled his face against her crotch. “You smell delicious,” he rasped. “I can already tell you’re wet, just from your scent. Let me see, love.”

She couldn’t stifle the low moan that escaped her throat as he pushed aside the fabric of her thong and slid two fingers deep, deep inside of her slit. She clutched at his shoulders as he continued to pump his fingers in and out of her in a steady rhythm. “Ian, oh God, that’s so good,” she whispered. “But – please. Your - your parents will hear us.”

He laughed softly. “No surprise to my father that I’ve been dying to shag you all day. He’s probably wondering why we didn’t sneak off for a quickie in between tea and dinner.”

Tessa felt like her entire body was flaming with embarrassment and not just her face. “Oh, my, God, he is not! And we can’t do -
that
with them right next door to us.”

Ian grimaced. “I’ve never been able to figure out why the second largest bedroom in this house is right next to the master suite. I suppose it would have been bad manners to move my parents to the room at the end of the hall, given that it’s the smallest, wouldn’t it?”

Since Ian was still intent on pleasuring her with his fingers, Tessa could only nod in agreement, not trusting herself to open her mouth for fear she would emit another, louder moan. But when she shoved a fist inside her mouth to stifle the noise, he grinned and took pity on her.

“Let’s try this, shall we?” He stood and hoisted her over his shoulder, her legs dangling down the front of his body as he carried her fireman-style inside the walk-in closet. He set her down before closing the door, then turned to face her.

His gaze lingered on the heavy swell of her breasts, still encased in a lavish white lace bra. “Well, now that I’ve gotten a good, long look at you - Jesus, you’re breathtaking, Tessa - there is no possible way I’m not having you tonight.”

She nodded, her eyes lowering to the huge bulge of his erection against his trousers. “Is it - will this be private enough? I would be absolutely -
mortified
if your parents heard me, you know -”

He laughed wickedly. “Moan? Pant? Make all those wild noises you love to do when you’re aroused? Well, you might want to tone it down a bit, but I don’t think they’ll hear us in here. Of course, if you really want to make sure, I’ve got a solution.”

Her head fell back against one of the walls as he deftly unhooked her bra, his hands cupping her bare breasts. “Ah, oh. What - what’s that?”

As Ian bent his head and began to lick her right nipple, he grabbed one of her silk scarves from the rack and dangled it in front of her. “I would be very happy to gag you.”

As he moved his attention to the other breast, she let out a long, low moan and panted, “Um, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.”

***

“You’re sure I look all right? I would be so upset if I embarrassed Ian tonight.”

Tessa looked at herself critically in the full length mirror for perhaps the fourth or fifth time, worrying that the gown was too over the top, or that her heels were too high, or her hair not quite right.

“You look absolutely perfect, dear. Stunning, in fact. You and Ian will definitely be the handsomest couple there tonight by far. Turn around once more.”

Tessa obeyed Joanna’s instructions, and made a slow, 360
⁰
turn. The two women had commandeered the master bedroom and bath to get ready for the symphony ball, banishing Ian to use one of the spare bedroom suites. At Joanna’s prodding, they’d had lunch earlier today at Neiman Marcus, followed by a mani-pedi and a blowout at the in-store beauty salon. Tessa had initially resisted the idea, insisting she could easily do her own nails and hair for this evening.

Joanna had regarded her curiously. “Why on earth would you want to do that, dear? In case you weren’t already aware, my son can definitely afford to pay for a few spa services for you.”

Tessa had shrugged, always uncomfortable when the subject of Ian’s money came up. “I know he can. But I don’t like to take advantage, especially since I don’t have an official job, or bring in any income. And, well, you’ve seen how much he’s already done for me. I don’t like feeling like a useless, frivolous girlfriend.”

“Well, now you’re just being silly,” Joanna had declared. “Trust me, dear, Ian adores taking care of you. And after what you’ve told me about your childhood, all the sad things that happened to you, well, you can begin to understand why he’d want to spoil you so often.”

“I do, yes. But he doesn’t have to keep trying to make it up to me. Especially not with
things.
If I’m being truthful, I have to say there are times I wish he was, oh, I don’t know, let’s say a truck driver, and that we lived on a houseboat. That way he’d know for certain that it’s him I love and not these
things
.”

Joanna had given her a gentle hug and patted her on the shoulder. “My dear girl, don’t you think he already knows that? Besides, it would have to be an awfully big houseboat - he’s not a small man, is he?”

After they’d shared a little laugh, Joanna had told her earnestly, “Let the man indulge you, all right? It obviously makes him very, very happy to do so and I’ve never see my son like this before. And don’t forget, Tessa, that it goes both ways. I see all the little ways you take care of him, and it does my heart good to know how much you adore him. God bless you, dear, for loving my boy so well.”

Tessa had given in graciously after that, and allowed herself to enjoy the bit of pampering she so seldom indulged in. She knew it drove Ian a little crazy whenever he noticed her doing her own nails, or when she insisted she didn’t need another new dress for an event and could wear something already in her closet. Joanna had given her a bit of a lecture on that subject as well.

“Ian’s quite right,” she’d said bluntly. “He’s a very important man, Tessa, and like all of the family he gets a lot of coverage in the media. If you’re going to be seen out with him, you really must dress the part, top to bottom. You have some lovely pieces in your wardrobe, but that’s truly only about half the number of things you really need.”

With Ian’s fervent blessing, Joanna had done her damnedest over the past week to start filling in what she deemed the gaps in Tessa’s wardrobe. Tessa was worn out from so many days of shopping with her, but at the same time she’d been grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Ian’s mother and get to know her a little. She felt infinitely more comfortable around her now than she had at their first meeting.

Even though Marlene Brennan had selected an even dozen gowns for her to try on to wear to the ball, Tessa had known immediately which one she wanted. Another Marchesa - she admittedly loved the elegance of the designer’s brand - this one a sumptuous ball gown of sapphire blue tulle, the strapless bodice lavishly embroidered with gold beads, crystals, and sequins. It had fit like a glove, not requiring even the slightest alteration, and both Marlene and Joanna had oohed and ahhed when she had tried it on.