No More Wasted Time (21 page)

He kissed her shoulder, stroking away the single tear
sliding down her cheek. “Tess, I promise we’ll be together. We’ll work it out
around our schedules.”

“I don’t have a schedule,” she scoffed. “I don’t care where
my life is headed any more. I only want to be happy and you make me
ridiculously happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to be together.”

“I do have to leave, though. I’ll be on set for a while, but
after filming gets started, it’ll be easier to stay in character and I’ll have
you come see me.”

Tess looked away, laying her head on the blanket to hide her
sniffles. At this point, she couldn’t imagine not seeing him for a day. 

“Tess, I gave you my word. Please, trust me. I don’t want to
go, but I don’t have a choice. When this film is done, we’ll be together.”

“I do trust you. It’s just going to be hard to say goodbye,
and I have this fear. I don’t want to lose you. It’s difficult for me. Do you
understand?” She’d couldn’t go through another loss like Richard, nor did she
want him to break her heart.

“I understand.” He rolled her onto her back, studying her
face as he caressed the contour of her abs.

Minutes passed, Tess and Tom simply stared at each other,
letting unspoken words pass between them. “I can’t do this, Tom. I don’t want
to talk about saying goodbye. I feel like I’m wasting moments with you when I’m
lying here crying. Life is short and I don’t want to cry anymore,” Tess finally
admitted.

He lay quiet, caressing her shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Life is short. I just want to be happy, too.” He grinned
the crooked grin she loved so much. “Let’s get out of here before we caught in
another indecent photo.”

They returned to Tom’s as the sun sank into the ocean. He
made martinis and they swam. The warm pool felt wonderful, but the drinks were
even better. Tess had never drank martinis, and they were making her randy.

Tom rattled on, seemingly having a conversation with
himself, because she wasn’t paying attention. Tess watched his lips move, but
could only focus on the urge to gently suck on them and run her tongue down the
muscle on his neck that fluttered when he talked. All she wanted to do was make
love to him. Eventually, Tess stepped out of the pool in the middle of his
sentence, never turning back to see if he followed. Her bikini hit the ground
before she made it inside the house.  She only made it as far as the top of the
stairs.

He grabbed her from behind, his hot breath traveled over her
shoulder and back. Twisting her neck, she searched for his mouth. He turned her
to face him, and she clung to him, kissing him with hunger and desire unlike
anything Tess had ever experienced before. He guided her down to the floor,
taking her right there on the stairs. She wanted to tell him to make love to
her, but feared to say the words out loud.

“Are you okay, Tess?” He watched her face intently.

“Umm hum.”

“You’re thinking about something else. What can I do to
change that?” He placed her hands above her head.

She inhaled deeply, holding her breath before exhaling
loudly. She was dying to say the words so badly, but scared he would bolt out
the door.

“Tell me, Tess. What do you want?”

That voice!
She breathed deeply again.

“I’m listening,” he coaxed.

She blurted out. “I don’t want to have
sex
tonight.”

“I think you’re too late.” He smirked, tugging gently on her
nipple with his teeth.

“I want this to be more than
just
sex.” She yearned
for him to realize what she needed from him. “I’m not asking you for
words
,
Tom. I’m not ready for that, but I want this to be more than just sex.”

He stopped mid-thrust, cocking his head to the side,
understanding exactly what she meant. He pulled away from her to stand up.

Panic set in and regret filled her eyes as she reached for
his hand to pull him back.
Shit, I shouldn’t have said anything.

Tom took her hand and led her to his room to start over.
Tilting her chin up toward his. “Tess, I’m not sure if I’ve ever had just sex
with you. It’s been much more than that for me from the beginning.”

“Me, too.”

Tom kissed her lips softly, nuzzling her neck, burying his
face in the scent of her skin. Their bodies moved slower, more deliberate,
connecting as one, touching each other tenderly. Neither felt compelled to
impress. They simply took pleasure in one of the most intimate nights either
had ever experienced. That night they made love together.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tom grinned from ear to ear. “I need to take care of some
things this morning. I know you like to run when you get anxious. There’s a
treadmill and a few other things downstairs if you feel like it.”

“I think I’m going to swim for a while instead.”

“Keep your top on today, because there’s probably someone
watching.” He planted a kiss on her lips then headed for the door.

“I don’t mind the pictures when you can see the guy taking
them, but hiding in the bushes is creepy. More like stalking. It shouldn’t even
be legal.” She cringed in disgust.

Tess enjoyed breakfast on the balcony. She reflected on the
past few weeks, and accepted the fact that it was okay to look forward to the
future. Richard was gone and she missed him terribly, but she wasn’t going to
feel guilty being with Tom. She’d been inconsolable for over a year, but not
anymore.

Tess dove into the pool’s warm water. She strived to embrace
her inner ten.
No eye rolling, no silly smiles, try not to turn red, no
thong shots when exiting the limo, but above all don’t get jealous.

Tom returned, joining her in the pool. “Do you get nervous
at all for these things?” she asked curiously.

“I used to get really nervous, almost ill, but now it’s more
exciting than nerve racking. You always hope a movie will be successful, but
until you actually see it, you never know. It certainly makes it easier when
your friends are there, or at least it does for me. Are you excited?”

“Very.”

“Good. There’s a huge after party later. You are going to
have a fantastic time.”

“Lisa mentioned it when we went shopping. I’m excited.”
Ten.
Ten. Ten.

“By the way, I left our flight information on the counter.”

“Okay.” She needed to get ready, but wanted to call John
first.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hey John-”

“I was just getting ready to leave for the airport. You
didn’t need to remind me to pick up the girls. Are you nervous for the red
carpet tonight? I still can’t believe you’re dating Tom Clemmins.” He mumbled
the last sentence.

“I am nervous, but excited too. He’s very nice, John. You’ll
like him,” she rambled.

“You say it as if I’m going to get to meet him.”

Tess immediately recognized the hesitation in John’s voice.
“Well, I wasn’t calling to remind you to pick up your sisters. I knew you’d
remember. I’m calling to tell you that Tom’s bringing me home on Sunday and I’m
hoping you’ll pick us up at the airport.”

There was silence on the other line, then a soft exhale.
“He’s coming here? With you?”

“Yes. He has to leave the next day to start a new film, but
I asked him to bring me home.”

“Umm…”

“He can have a car pick us up, but I’d prefer it if you
would,” Tess said softly, feeling slightly crushed by his hesitation. “I’ll
understand if you don’t want to.”

“I’m just a little surprised, Mom, that’s all. I’ll pick you
up. I take it that he’ll be staying here with you at the house?”

“Yes.”

John had no response. 

“Look, John, I’ve been with him for three weeks. I want him
to be a part of my life, and my kids and my home are a big part of that. It
won’t be easy for me either, but I’m happy and it’s because I’m with him.”

She loved her kids, but wouldn’t change the way she felt
about Tom. She wanted them to accept Tom and hopefully like him. It would not
be simple with John, as he was as protective as a father when it came to his
sisters and Tess. If a man so much as checked her out in passing or attempted
to approach her, John would shut him down with a death stare. He was only
twenty-three, but was as wise and responsible as any man she knew.

“You’re right. I want you to be happy, and I will always
support your choices. It’s just difficult to think of him staying here at the
house. Give me the flight information. I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, son. I know you’ll like him.”

“I’m going to tell you flat out, Mom, I don’t like
everything I’ve read about him online. He’d better not trample on you.”

“I’ll see you at the airport.”

“Have fun tonight. It is pretty cool, all the stuff you’re
getting to do.”

“Thanks, I will. love you.” She hung up, exhaling loudly and
blowing the air from her lungs. She tossed her phone on the bed and turned
toward the shower.

Tom leaned against the doorway. “Are you okay?”

“Yep.” She attempted to smile, but he wasn’t buying it.
“Have you been standing there the whole time?”

“Long enough.”

“He’ll pick us up. He’s fine.” She tried to be convincing.

“Tess, I won’t come between you and your kids. If it would
be better to wait for a while, then I’ll wait to come home with you.”

“It’s not like that. He’s not like that. This is a huge
change that my kids will have to adjust to. I have no doubts, John’s just being
overprotective. Stupid Internet.”

“Oh, great,” he groaned. “No wonder he’s protective.”

“The funny thing is, I know he’ll like you and I know you’ll
like him. He has the same kind of confidence as you. It might take him a little
longer, that’s all.”

“Sounds like he gets it from you.”

“Not really. He’s just like his dad.” She smiled.

He began untying the strings on her bikini. “Do you want
some assistance in the shower?”

“No, you can assist me later,” she teased. “I’d rather wait.
So, in case I forget, will you remind me, please?”

“You’re asking a lot of me, Tess, but I’ll try.”

The hair and makeup guy, Marco, arrived right on time. Tess
immediately adored his flamboyant, entertaining attitude. Marco brought out her
blue eyes with smoky dark colors. The fake lashes took some getting used to,
but he only made them a bit longer than her natural lashes, so they worked
perfectly.

“Okay, Miss Tess, let me see your dress.”

She retrieved the dress from the closet and laid it on the
bed.

“Damn girl, you are going to give that poor man a heart
attack.” Marco spoke lively with his colorful accent. “How do you want to wear
your hair?”

“I want to wear it down.” She gave a pleading look of
desperation.

“Straight and sleek or half pulled back? Give me some clues
here, girlfriend.”

“No, not straight, kind of messy.”

“
Tussled
, girlfriend. We refer to that as tussled.
Like I-just-got-laid-on-a-Saturday-night kind of hair! You are a naughty one! I
know what to do. You leave it to Marco.”

Tess always considered herself to be a fairly simple, no
frills woman. She never indulged in extravagancies unless it included airplane
tickets and a vacation
. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m having a blast!
Peeking at her reflection, she knew that she looked better tonight than she’d
ever looked in her life.
Eleven!

Marco had just finished Tess’ hair when Tom entered the
room. Marco pointed toward the shower, warning Tom, “Get in there, and don’t be
peeking at her.”

Standing in her bathrobe, she said goodbye at the front
door. Marco air-kissed her cheeks. “Um hmm, get laid for me too, honey. You
look irresistible.”

Tess sat on the bathroom counter in her royal blue strapless
bra and lacy thong, waiting for Tom. She leaned back with her palms on the
counter, spreading her legs barely enough so he could stand in front of her.
Her dark hair swept to one side revealing her smoky eyes. She felt empowered
and provocative, ready to take on the night.

Tom stepped out of the shower and rounded the corner. His
mouth gaped open. “Damn, Tess. You look fucking incredible.” Standing between
her thighs, his hands traveled up her waist. “I can’t believe how beautiful you
are.”

“I kind of like it, too. Marco did a great job. It’s exactly
what I wanted.” She nibbled on his neck, feeling the blood pulsing through his
veins.

“Tess, I thought you wanted to wait to make love to me until
after the premier.”

 Tom spoke those words for the first time, and Tess' heart
went into overdrive. Wanting to make love to him right there on the counter,
she pulled him tightly against her, kissing him passionately.

His towel now lay on the floor, driving each of them very
close to a point of no return. “I do want to wait to make love to you. I don’t,
but I do.” He nudged gently, but she wiggled out of reach. “Tom, you’re
supposed to be telling me,” she imitated his sexy voice, “‘Tess, you wanted to
wait, remember?’”

“That’s right.” He chuckled, “Tess, you wanted to wait until
later, remember?”

“Thank you. You can think about this moment all night long
until we get back.”

“That’s not very fair.” He grinned.

“Oh, yes it is. Because this is what I’m going to be
thinking about all night long.”

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“I would never.”

Tom stepped into his closet to get dressed. Tess slipped her
dress over her head and ambled into his closet, so he could zip her up. She
quietly waited for him to turn around, but when he did, heat rippled through
her core. “Holy crap.” He looked so gorgeous. Tess had never seen Tom in a suit
before. She wrinkled her nose and squished her eyebrows together with her mouth
gaping open. They had gotten too close on the counter.