I took a deep breath. She had a point. Couldn’t we have a secret affair? Why did we have to worry about consequences? If we were careful, we could have the best of both worlds. I knew I was making excuses and looking for a loophole, but I didn’t care. I wanted this too much to care about anything else.
I looked at her, making sure she was looking directly at me. “I live near here. Would you like to see my house?” I asked, feeling far more confident than I should.
She hesitated a moment before nodding her head. “I’d like that.”
We stood, still holding hands. Inside, my conscience was screaming at me to stop. It was too late. I couldn’t stop the inevitable. I’m a weak man and can think of nothing other than Tessa. I have to see where this goes. I reminded myself I could still change my mind. Maybe she really only wants to see where I live and she’ll leave after a brief nightcap. There is nothing to get excited about.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tessa
I can’t describe what I was feeling. Nervous—definitely. Excited—absolutely. My body was humming with need and desire, but there was that one little part of me screaming that this was probably the dumbest thing I had ever done.
I don’t care. I’m not turning back now. I parked my car behind his in the driveway, hesitating for a moment before climbing out. He stood there waiting for me, and I knew he was giving me a last out. We stare at each other in the driveway under the glare of a streetlight.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said and followed him up the path. I scanned the very plain yard and quickly noticed it was devoid of color. There wasn’t a single flower in a pot or in the ground. Not even that grass I saw in so many yards. His yard is like him—devoid of color or excitement.
I stood behind him, doing my best to calm my racing heart as I waited for him to unlock the door. He pushed it open, stepped inside and turned to me.
I stared. My mouth suddenly went dry. Did I dare? He held out his hand, I looked at it and made up my mind. Reaching out, I took his hand in my own. He pulled me in and shut the door with a quiet thud, then flipped on a small lamp on a table in the entryway. It cast a yellow glow around the room, but I didn’t get a chance to look around.
His lips slammed into mine, pushing me into the door he had closed. My libido went from zero to one hundred within a split second. My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling his head closer to mine. I wanted to get even closer. There were too many clothes between us. I pulled away an inch, giving me enough space to run my hand up under his shirt.
He grabbed my wrists. “Wait,” he breathed against my lips.
“What?” I said, stopping all movement. He couldn’t mean to have a change of heart now.
“I need you to know something,” he said, pulling away further.
I wanted to cry out and bring him back to me, but he was still holding both of my wrists.
“What?” I repeated.
“I-I haven’t been with anybody since my wife died.”
I wasn’t sure what to think or do. I knew he wanted me. That had to mean something if he hadn’t slept with anyone in four years. I went with my gut.
“I’ll be gentle,” I said, with a saucy smile.
He growled low in his throat. “No, you won’t.”
He was pulling me down the hall, his hands around my waist as he walked backward, kissing me the entire way. My own need for him was driven higher by his need for me. It was the most erotic thing I have ever experienced. My body felt like molten lava bending and melting into him.
“Turn around,” he demanded.
I opened my eyes and did as he asked. We were in his room. I didn’t get the chance to take it all in because I was immediately distracted by his mouth on the side of my neck trailing a hot line down my collarbone with his tongue. I bent my neck to one side, clearing the way for him. He grabbed my hips and thrust against me.
?
?Ian,” I moaned, needing him more than I had ever needed anything in my life.
His mouth was back at my neck, nibbling, sucking and making me so wet I could practically feel it running down my inner thigh.
His mouth was on the back of my neck, and within seconds, the front of my dress dropped, exposing my breasts. His hands immediately moved up and cupped each breast while he suckled on my neck.
“Fuck,” he muttered in my ear. “I’m so hot for you, Tessa. I want to worship your body, but I—” His words were cut off when I pressed my ass into his straining erection. I wanted him as bad as he wanted me. My hands drifted behind me, cupped his crotch through the jeans and squeezed.