Claim

by Janet Nissenson

  “Jesus. Fuck. This is - my God, Tessa, you feel - I can’t find the words to describe this.”

  She was breathing raggedly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can feel you so deep, Ian, every single inch.”

  He turned his face against one of her legs, forcing himself to take several long, deep breaths. It always amazed him that she could feel so damned tight and yet still manage to take him inside of her all the way to the root.

  And then he couldn’t think at all, could only feel as he began to thrust in and out of her snug, hot body. He forced himself to take it slowly at first, all too aware of just how deep he was. The little gasps she made as he would withdraw almost to the tip before sliding back in all the way made him crazy with lust. Ian began to pick up the tempo now, thrusting a bit harder and faster each time, until he was pistoning his hips at almost breakneck speed. Tessa’s gasps turned to moans and then became screams as he took her harder and more demandingly than he’d ever done before. His eyes were closed, his jaw clenched with the effort it was taking to prolong the ecstasy for as long as possible, and he could feel the sweat pouring off his brow as he kept at her.

  It was the feel of her wet, slick vagina convulsing repeatedly around his dick that finally brought him over the edge. He came so hard that his legs were shaking with the effort, his hands grasping the soft flesh of her thighs in an attempt to keep himself upright. The sounds he made as he continued to spill himself inside of her were foreign to him, a guttural, almost animalistic language. He was far beyond any sort of rational thought, or of being able to summon up words to speak. All he could do right now was feel, and he knew he’d never felt more than he did at this particular moment - pleasure unlike anything he’d ever known, a deeply physical satisfaction that strummed through every nerve ending in his body, and an overwhelming love for this magnificent woman who’d given herself to him so completely and thoroughly, without the slightest bit of hesitation or reserve.

  It was only when he felt her legs quivering in protest and, as if from a great distance, heard her gasping for air, that Ian managed to shake himself out of the stupor his soul-shattering climax had induced. He opened his eyes slowly and gazed down at his beloved. Tessa was staring up at him, her blue eyes huge and round, her mouth trembling as she struggled to breathe. Gently, he unhooked her ankles from around his neck and carefully eased her legs back down until her feet were resting on the floor. He swiftly bundled her into his arms as he tumbled onto the bed.

  “Can you speak?” he murmured to her in amusement.

  She shook her head, her hand moving to caress his cheek.

  He chuckled, turning his face to kiss her palm. “Well, I hope you can think because I’m damned sure not able to right now.”

  She gave a little laugh and another brief shake of her head, wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her cheek against his neck. They were both a sweaty mess, both breathing unsteadily, and it was some time later before he could summon up enough oxygen to finally speak.

  “I never thought it possible to love someone as much as I love you at this moment,” he whispered against her temple. His hand brushed damp blonde curls off her forehead. “You are the most giving, extraordinary woman in the whole world, and I love you with every breath in my body, Tessa.”

  Tessa lifted her face for his kiss, a sweet, tender meeting of lips. Her eyes were brimming over with tears as she murmured, “It’s exactly the same for me. It scares me sometimes - how much I love you. Scares me because I’m afraid to let myself believe that a love like ours is real and not just some fairytale.”

  Ian’s hand cupped her breast, his thumb brushing slowly over the nipple until she was groaning. “It’s the most real thing I’ve ever known, my love. The absolute best feeling of all time. Don’t be afraid of loving me too much, Tessa, because I’m more than capable of taking everything you can give me.”

  She kissed him again, running her tongue over his parted lips. “God, you’re so romantic,” she breathed. She ran a palm over his taut abs before bending her head to lick a bead of sweat from his torso. “And really, really sexy, too.”

  His breath hissed in sharply as he watched her continue to lick the sweat off his chest. “And what you’re doing right now is just about the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Tessa smiled at him sultrily, licking the side of his throat. “I’ll lick you all over if you let me. Head to toe and every yummy inch in between.”

  He laughed, threading a hand into her hair and holding her head still. “Maybe another time, love. I can’t quite believe it’s happening, given how hard I just came, but somehow I’m getting aroused again. And I don’t know about you but I definitely need a little time to recover before I attempt another go-round.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Much as I hate to admit it, I probably do as well. You were, ah, a little on the ferocious side just now. I know for sure I couldn’t walk a step right now even if my life depended on it.”

  Ian dropped a quick kiss on the bridge of her nose. “Frankly, I doubt I could either. But we need to clean you up, love, so stay put while I attempt to grab a towel. I’ll crawl if I have to.”

  “No.” She clamped a surprisingly strong hand around his bicep. “Don’t.” She bent and ran her tongue over one of his nipples before gazing up at him. Her eyes were hooded, filled with desire. “I want to feel your cum trickling down my legs, want to keep that part of you inside of me for as long as possible. I don’t want it washed away. I want to feel you on my body, smell your scent.”

  He stared at her, so moved and so turned on by her words that all he could do was brush his knuckles against her cheek in wonder.

  Chapter Eight

  “Now tonight you do look like Cinderella. Except that you’re ten times more beautiful than she ever was. And I’d have to imagine those shoes you’ve got on are a bit more comfortable than glass slippers.”

  Tessa smiled as she turned to face her handsome fiancé. “I’d have to wager a guess and say yes. And my Prince Charming is much better looking than some storybook character. Not to mention he looks exceptionally hot in his tuxedo.”

  Ian grinned as he walked toward her with a slow, deliberate swagger to his step. “Speaking of hot, I don’t recall any illustrations of Cinderella where she was showing quite so much, ah, cleavage.”

  She gave him a worried look. “I thought you told me it wasn’t too low-cut,” she fretted. “Ian, the last thing I want to do is walk into that party tonight with all those people and be showing too much of the, ah, goods.”

  He shook his head, even as he ran one long finger down between her breasts. “Not to worry, love. The dress is perfect for you, you look like you just walked out of a dream. Or,” he added, pressing a kiss to the very top of her cleavage, “a fairytale. And I know that Cinderella is your very favorite.”

  Tessa nodded, smoothing down the lapel of his black tuxedo jacket, even though there wasn’t so much as a speck of lint anywhere to be found. “My mother must have picked up the book at a secondhand shop or a garage sale somewhere. When she was in an up mood, she’d read it to me constantly. And when she was down, I’d just look at the pictures, until I learned how to read myself.” She looked downwards, her voice a bit forlorn as she recalled, “But the book got left behind somewhere in one of our many moves. Just like so many other of the things I cherished - a doll, a favorite jacket, a pair of shoes. And of course, Lambie.”

  Ian gazed at her inquiringly. “Should I assume this Lambie was a toy of some sort and not an actual person?”

  She smiled. “Lambie was my very favorite toy. A white woolly lamb with a pink bow around her neck. She went everywhere with me for about five years. Until she got lost or left behind in a move, and my heart was broken. Silly, I know, to get so upset about an old toy, but I cried for weeks after she was lost.”

  He cupped her cheek in his hand, gazing down at her with a tender look that made her heart melt. “It’s not silly,” he murmured. “You had so li
ttle when you were a girl that it’s only natural you’d cherish the few things you owned. And I’m sorry about, er, Lambie. Perhaps we could find a replacement someday. After all, your Snoopy Santa needs a companion.”

  Tessa laughed, whatever sadness she’d felt at reliving her childhood losses instantly forgotten. “Maybe I’ll just wait until we have a baby and buy them a Lambie of their own. It would look a little odd for a grown woman to be collecting stuffed toys.”

  Ian’s hand slid down to gently caress her flat belly. “No babies just yet,” he reminded her. “We have a lot of lost time to make up, after all, and I’ve already told you I’m selfish enough to want you all to myself for awhile.”

  “I know.” She rested her head against his shoulder as his arms slid about her waist. “I feel the same way.”

  He pulled back the French cuff of his shirt to check his watch before releasing her reluctantly. “We should head downstairs, darling. Otis will be picking us up within the next few minutes, and Saturday night traffic in London is usually something of a nightmare.”

  She nodded. “I’m ready. I just need my bag and wrap.”

  “Wait.”

  Tessa gazed at him expectantly, then felt a warm glow spread through every part of her body when she saw the way he was looking at her - with a combination of lust, admiration, and pride. But as much as it always thrilled her to know that he found her sexy and beautiful, it was the fact that he was proud of her, proud to have her by his side this evening, and especially proud to have her wearing his ring, that made her heart sing with joy.

  “I just want to look at you for another minute or two,” he confessed. “To just drink in how beautiful you look tonight, Tessa. And everyone in that ballroom is going to be doing exactly the same thing. You are - incomparable.”

  She beamed at him. “It’s just the dress, Ian. Anyone would look good in a dress like this.”

  “Ah, but you couldn’t be more wrong, love,” he corrected, his hand touching a fold of the blue silk chiffon skirt of the ball gown. “You’re the only woman in the world who could do justice to a gown like this. Madelyn told me she’d been keeping this dress aside, that since it was a one-of-a-kind original she wanted it to go to someone worthy of its beauty. And when I called that morning to give her an idea of what I wanted for you, she knew immediately that this would be one of the gowns she would have you try on.”

  The gorgeous Zuhair Murad original was a pale blue, a shade that Tessa had instantly pegged “Cinderella blue” the first time she’d set eyes on the gown. It was sleeveless, with a diamond and seed pearl detail sewn onto the shoulder straps. The neckline was slashed in a deep V, though not enough to reveal too much cleavage, the fabric over the bust softly gathered. A wide satin band nipped in at the waistline, and the long skirt fell in soft folds to the tips of her frosty pink toenails. Not wanting to detract even a bit from such a stunning gown, she’d eschewed any jewelry except for her engagement ring and the diamond stud earrings Ian had given her nearly a year ago. She’d left her hair down tonight, the blonde tresses having been styled in long, loose curls that fell nearly to her waist. Her makeup was soft and dreamy, her eyes shadowed in a silvery blue, her frosty pink lip gloss a matching shade to her nail polish.

  “And you’ll be happy to know that this a brand new pair of shoes,” she joked, lifting her skirts enough to expose the silver stiletto sandals embellished with diamonds and pearls. “And they cost a lot of money. You’ll see the charge on my Neiman Marcus account next month.”

  Ian threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Well, that will be something of a first, won’t it? But I’m very, very happy to see those new shoes. And,” he added in a deep, sensual whisper, “I’ll be even happier to fuck you later tonight while you’re still wearing these very sexy shoes.”

  Tessa shivered in anticipation, her body reacting to his automatically, even though they had lazed away the morning in bed after a very late - and very amorous - night. “I could give you a preview of coming attractions in the limo,” she whispered back. “I, ah, also bought some new undies that I think you’ll like. A lot.”

  “I’m sure I will,” he replied lazily. “But I believe I can wait until we return home so I can see them in the privacy of our bedroom, and not the backseat of my father’s limo. You haven’t succeeded in corrupting me to quite that extent, love.”

  She batted her eyelashes teasingly. “Not yet, anyway.”

  Tessa let out a squeal of surprise as his hand came down on her buttock.

  “Brat,” he told her with a quirk of his lips. “I would tell you to stop trying to tempt me, but since you manage to do that just by breathing it wouldn’t make any difference. Now, if you have your things ready, we should head downstairs.”

  With Ian’s assistance, she arranged a buttery soft pashima shot through with silver threads around her shoulders, then picked up a sparkling silver clutch with a jeweled clasp. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders resolutely, and declared, “Ready as I’m ever going to be, I guess.”

  He lightly grasped her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. They were warm, gentle, filled with love and understanding. “It’s going to be fine, darling,” he assured her. “I’ll be right by your side the entire evening, I promise. You’re going to be the belle of the ball, Tessa. And I’m going to be the proudest man in all of London tonight when I introduce you to everyone as my bride-to-be.”

  His words gave her that little spark of courage she needed, and she placed her hand in his as they walked downstairs to the front door. Edward’s chauffeur Otis had been all too eager to offer his services during their stay in London, and had been shuttling them to and fro around the city the past few days. Otis was several years older than Simon, short and stout as opposed to tall and lean, and was far more talkative and jovial than the rather austere Welshman.

  Ian kept up a steady stream of conversation during the drive to the hotel, and Tessa suspected he was rather intentionally trying to distract her. He was also, she noticed with an inner smile, keeping something of a distance between them in the spacious limo.

  “What’s wrong?” she couldn’t resist taunting. “Afraid I might jump your bones if you sit too close?”

  Ian’s mouth turned up at the corners, his eyes twinkling. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of, darling,” he drawled. “And since my powers of self-control are severely tested when I’m near you, it’s probably safer if I remain where I’m at.”

  Tessa playfully stuck out her tongue at him. “You’re no fun tonight,” she pouted.

  His next actions took her completely by surprise, her gasp audible in the confines of the limo. He was by her side in what seemed like an instant, tipping her back onto the plush leather seat as his much larger body covered hers, his face mere inches away, his lips almost brushing hers.

  “Does this mean you’re in the mood to play tonight, love?” he asked in a deep, suggestive voice. “Because I’m more than willing to go along with whatever you might have in mind. It’s been awhile since I’ve tied you to the bedpost, come to think of it.”

  Her breath was a little unsteady as she stared up at him, unable to look away, as though he was holding her in thrall. “Um, the, uh, bed in our room doesn’t have any slats,” she replied weakly.

  Ian gave her a smile that promised all sorts of sinful pleasure. “I’m sure we could improvise somehow, darling. Or perhaps I’ll just put you on your hands and knees, take you from behind. You love it that way, don’t you? Mmm, when I’m so deep inside your sweet, hot pussy that it doesn’t feel you can take even another inch of me. But you do anyway, don’t you, love? Because you’re so wet by then, so turned on, that you’ll let me do anything I want. And you’re going to let me do everything tonight, Tessa. You’re going to surrender to me. Aren’t you, my sweet?”

  She could only nod, too mesmerized by his deliberately seductive words to find her voice. She was far beyond being merely aroused, as the images of the hot,
dirty sex he had just described made her whole body quiver with need.

  “Please,” she whispered, the single word barely audible.

  His smile deepened into something carnal, almost devilish. “What exactly are you begging me for, darling?” he crooned. “A kiss? An orgasm? Or perhaps,” he bent, his lips brushing her ear tantalizingly, “a good hard fucking? Ah, but you’re such a greedy lover that you’ll likely want all three, won’t you?”

  “Yes,” she whimpered. “Please, Ian. Can’t you -”

  “Make you come?” he whispered huskily. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, love? You’d love nothing better than for me to slide my hand up under this beautiful dress and push aside your lacy little panties and touch you. And I know without having to ask that you’re very, very wet. Aren’t you?”

  Tessa gasped, so aroused by now - astonishingly so, considering he hadn’t so much as kissed her - that she knew it would take the merest brush of his thumb on her clit to make her come long and hard. Her pelvis began to lift off the leather seat, straining towards his body in silent supplication to ease her need.

  “Yes,” she panted.

  He pressed a kiss to her cheek, inhaling deeply of the light floral scent she wore. “And you wore my favorite perfume, too. But no matter how delicious you smell or taste, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until we return home, love. No matter how badly you need to come, I still won’t allow anyone to see the look you get on your face afterwards. You’ll have to be a little patient, won’t you?”

  Tessa gave a little huff of disbelief as Ian eased himself off her body and returned to his original seat. “I can’t,” she wailed. “And drat you, it’s all your fault! Well, I suppose I’ll just have to take care of the problem myself when I visit the ladies room.”

  He gave her a sly, knowing little smile. “You won’t,” he told her rather matter-of-factly. “Because you know it won’t be nearly the same as the orgasm I’m going to give you later, nowhere near as satisfying.”