“There’s nothing wrong between the two of you is there?” he asks, taking another sip of his water.
I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. He’s just been busy this week with meeting after meeting.”
“How has his project been going?”
“Good. He’s received bids from several builders and secured the land needed for the build site. According to Kara, everything is going smoothly and on schedule.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that. Do you know how long he will be here then?”
I swallow hard and play with my fork. “We haven’t discussed it yet. I’ve been avoiding any conversations which deal with his departure. I couldn’t handle it last time, which is why I ran away. And we’ve gotten so close now that I know it’ll shatter me whole if he leaves. I guess I’m afraid he’ll leave me.”
He pushes aside his empty risotto plate and places a hand over mine. “You have grown into such a beautiful, strong woman. Any man would be lucky to have you in their life.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you are someone people want to be around. You’re good, bright, intelligent, and caring. All qualities of a lovable person and someone you wish to hold on to.”
That’s an odd statement coming from him. He ran the first chance he got when I was little and never looked back. I must have showed my thoughts in my face because he retracts his hand and looks down slightly.
“I’m sorry about my actions when you were little and for not being around when you needed me. Maybe one day you and I can talk about everything so there won’t be any more obstacles between us.”
“Maybe,” I whisper.
This is a bit much for a lunch conversation. I’m not prepared to dive into years and years of pain and sorrow over risotto and tuna. Not to mention I’m going to need a lot of alcohol when that conversation finally does happen.
My dad clears his throat then looks back up at me. “So Andrew makes you happy then?”
I sigh, thankful we’re not going to talk about our relationship anymore. “Yes, he’s the one that makes me happy and lights up my life. I honestly can’t see myself living without him.”
“Then I can’t wait to meet the man who can make my daughter happy, even when he’s not here.”
I nod and return his smile. “I’d love that.”
We don’t even realize an hour has flown by until my dad looks at his watch and groans.
“Well, I’ve enjoyed our lunch, Tessa. We must try to do this again.”
I push away from the table and start putting my jacket back on. “Sure, I’d like that.”
He puts some bills in the book and hands it to the waitress as she passes by. It makes me happy that he’s trying for some kind of relationship with me. Even more so, he sounds like he regrets the decisions he made while I was growing up. I guess time will tell if we can work things out or not.
The afternoon air has a slight chill to it as the wind has now switched and is coming from the north. I shiver slightly and stand next to him on the busy sidewalk.
“Did you walk here?” he asks, looking down the street for my car.
I nod. “It’s only a few blocks so I didn’t see the need to drive.”
“Let me drive you back. It’s cold and I don’t want you getting sick.”
The laugh bursts from me before I have a chance to stop it. “It’s only a couple of blocks. I’ll be okay. Plus the walking will do me good. Need to burn off the calories from the lunch I just had.”
“That’s probably the most food I’ve seen you eat, even if the portion was incredibly small to begin with.” He narrows his eyes, but they wrinkle in the corners, letting me know he’s trying to be funny.
“Well there. Now you know that I do, in fact, eat. Are you happy now?”
“Delighted,” he replies. He takes another glance at his watch and frowns. “I’m sorry, but I need to get going. I have a meeting in forty minutes and it’s across town. When you are able to set up a time with Andrew for lunch, please let me know.”
I nod and smile. “I will. Thank you for lunch. Hope you have a good rest of your day.” I move to give him a hug, but it turns into this sideways embrace. Not exactly a gesture one would give to your father but then again, we don’t do that sort of thing. This is all new territory and we’re still testing the waters. He pats my back but squeezes my shoulder before stepping away.
“You do the same Tessa,” he says before walking down the street where his car is parked.
The afternoon has definitely given me much to think about. Our relationship is definitely heading in the right direction. And he wants to spend more time with me, which is amazing all on its own. When he’s not around Sharon, he’s such a different person. Then again I wonder if it’s because I’m a different person now compared to who I was before. He thinks I’m strong and a few weeks ago I would have laughed at the thought. But after everything that’s happened I have to agree. I am stronger than I was. Now I just have to grab what I want with both hands and never let it go. And after work, that’s exactly what I plan to do.
I WALK INTO THE LOBBY of the Radisson downtown and nervously step into the elevator that will bring me to Andrew. Pressing the button for his floor, I pace the small confines of the car, resisting the urge to twist my hair or rip my fingernails off one by one. My nerves have hit me full force and suddenly I’m not entirely sure of this plan. Kara told me earlier to just do it when she texted me his room number, but she’s bolder than I am.
Standing in front of room 1620, I steel my nerves and blow out a quick breath. Okay, it’s now or never. I smooth a hand over my clothing one last time. Raising my hand, I knock on the door. Movement can be heard just beyond it and time seems to slow as I wait for Andrew to open the door. And then time stops altogether when it opens and he’s standing in front of me.
Fresh from a shower, Andrew greets me in a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt. His hair is still damp, letting it curl slightly at the ends. I can smell his soap and cologne as they assault my senses, creating a whirlpool of sensations to run rampant throughout my body. A breathtaking smile breaks across his face when he notices me blatantly taking him in.
“Tessa,” he simply says.
The sound of his voice caressing my name is all it takes for me to launch in his direction and throw my arms around his neck. He pulls me into the room, closing the door behind us before backing me into it. My purse and jacket fall to the floor as he strips them off my body. Andrew cradles my face in his hands as his tongue runs along the seam of my mouth, licking and sucking on my bottom lip. I grant him the access he seeks, letting our tongues collide with a heated passion.
He pulls me away from the door and walks us backward into his room. I stumble slightly while removing my heels, never once dragging my mouth from his. My fingers twist into his damp hair before running down his neck and chest, worshiping every line they come in contact with. Hastily I pull his shirt over his head, needing to feel his skin against my fingertips.
Andrew’s hands roam over my body, kneading the soft and willing flesh, molding it to do as he pleases. He starts to unbutton my shirt, letting it fall from my shoulders when the last one is released. He makes quick work of unzipping my skirt, letting it pool around my feet.
He breaks our kiss to step back and look at me from head to toe. The intensity of his gaze makes my nipples harden and moisture to gather between my legs. My breaths are short and quick and I lick my lips when his eyes finally fall back on mine. Lust and raw, unadulterated need fill his eyes. His deep, sexy groan echoes through my ears as he stalks closer to me, undressing me with his stare.
“Tell me this means you’re mine, you being here right now.”
I nod slowly, letting a seductive grin appear on my face. “Yes, I’m yours.”
“Finally,” he says, attacking my mouth again with renewed passion. He guides us to the bed, pressing his body into me so I can feel every hard inch of him. His need, his desire for me exci
tes me more as my hands trail up and down his back.
I work at the waistband of his jeans and slide them down his legs, using my feet when I can no longer reach. Then he pins me to the mattress, his tongue caressing every available inch of skin from my neck to my breasts. His dexterous fingers unsnap my bra and he slides the lace from my body, tossing it over his shoulder to join the rest of our clothes.
“So beautiful,” he says before leaning down to take a hardened nipple into his mouth. The warmth of his tongue has my hips bucking up to find his as he gently pulls the desire to the surface of my body. His thumbs loop into the top of my panties, pulling them down quickly, leaving me naked and writhing beneath him. He caresses the rounded curve of my behind, pulling me into his straining erection again, leaving only his boxer briefs as a barrier between what we both want.
His heated kiss returns to my lips. My hands quickly remove the barrier between us and send it to the floor with everything else. Andrew moves to the side and leans over me. Passion burns brightly behind his blue irises as he licks his lips while worshiping my naked body with his eyes.
“Tell me you want me,” he says, running his hands through my fanned out hair.
“I want you,” I breathe.
My fingers trace the contours of his face, gliding across his cheekbones, his nose, his chin. Then they slide down the column of his throat and past the planes of his pectoral muscles before rounding his sides to the muscles of his back. I pull him back to me, needing to feel the press of his body on top of mine.
“Tell me you need me.” His eyes lock with mine again.
“I need you. Andrew, please, I need you so much.”
Widening my legs, he settles between them, letting his erection press against my slick entrance that is craving to be filled with him. It feels so good and yet it’s almost a sweet torture because he’s close but not close enough. I need to feel more of him, need to feel his desire and passion as it covers every inch of me, inside and out. I just need him to show me how much he wants me.
His fingers trail down my body again before sliding between us. A single digit enters me and it is absolute bliss feeling him stroke the spot deep inside me that only he knows how to find. My head presses into the mattress, letting a loud moan escape my lips as his finger continues to dip in and out of my body.
“You’re so wet, love.”
I clutch the comforter when he adds another finger, stretching me, preparing me while bringing me closer to the edge. My mind goes blank, only concentrating on what Andrew is doing to my body, focusing on each and every touch and caress, inside and out. His lips and tongue move to the same rhythm as his fingers, leaving me gasping for air in his mouth. It’s too much, too good. I’m not sure how much longer I can stand it, feeling every muscle in my body tense, ready to find their release.
“Please,” I beg, needing him to be inside me.
He moves his thumb to press against my swollen clit and it’s enough to send me spiraling into oblivion, gasping out his name as everything constricts then relaxes when the orgasm rolls through my body. He swallows my screams, kissing me with a renewed passion.
My lids feel heavy but open again when I feel him press gently at my entrance. Our eyes connect and I nod my head, giving him permission. He props himself on his forearms and runs his fingers through my hair. The nature of our kiss changes to one of reverence as he presses each glorious inch of his cock into me, stretching me, reminding my body of what it feels like to have him inside me.
Cupping his face, I hold him to me, waiting until he’s fully inside before running my hands over his body. My ankles wrap around his waist, pulling him even deeper.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Andrew says, beginning a slow rhythm. I raise my hips to meet his, keeping our eyes locked together. So much expression in his face as he brings both our bodies to the heights they crave. “You were made to fit me. Absolutely perfect in every way.”
I grab his face, kissing him hard and pour all the love I can into this one simple act. The love I feel for him grows with each thrust, knowing it’s me he came here for, me whose body drives him wild and makes him crazy with need. He takes care of me, making sure all my needs are met as the familiar tightening of my muscles let me know that my whole world is about to shift again.
With a few more thrusts the world falls away as I claw at his back, my orgasm rocking me to the core, leaving me gasping for air.
“Yes, Tessa, yes.”
A few more strokes and I feel him still above me, tense and then release as he pours himself into me, filling me completely. He brings his head to the crook of my neck, still chanting my name while licking away the beads of sweat that have formed on my skin. I cling to him as if my life depends on it, feeling his own sweat slicked skin as my fingers trace circles on his back.
My whole body feels spent and deliciously sore, a feeling I haven’t felt in weeks. Not since the first time Andrew made love to me back in his apartment. He leans up on his elbows, trailing his lips across my jaw line before covering my mouth with his.
“I’ve missed you so much.” Andrew nuzzles into my hair as my fingers thread through his. He fully relaxes and moves to lie next to me, pulling me into his side while stroking my hair.
“I’ve missed you too. And I’m so sorry about everything, about how I left and how I’ve been acting since you’ve been back. I’ve wasted so much time …” I trail off, my voice breaking at the end. A lone tear falls down my cheek, but Andrew brushes it away with his thumb.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, love. All that matters now is we found our way back to each other. I won’t let you slip through my fingers again. I don’t think I could survive it.”
I pull his face to mine, kissing away the pain I have caused the both of us through a series of misunderstandings and insecurities.
“I won’t either,” I whisper.
My hands trail down his body, gliding over the muscles of his arms before playing with his fingers. He brings our hands up, pressing the palms together before interlocking our fingers. We stare at the connection, two hands joined together, making us one being.
“We belong together, you and me. This is it for the both of us. What we have is special and uniquely ours. We are all each other needs and I will spend the rest of my life showing you how happy you make me.”
I kiss him softly and smile. “I like the sound of that.”
“And do you know why?”
I shake my head and stare at him. “No, why?”
Our hands press against his heart. It’s beating so fast it makes me nervous about what he’s about to say. He smiles then kisses me deeply, stealing my breath again.
“Because I love you, Tessa.”
My body stills at his words. I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m truly awake and this isn’t some dream or imagined post-orgasmic high. Our eyes lock together and whatever doubts I had are erased because the answer is staring back at me, plain as day.
“You love me?”
“Yes, my sweet girl. I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you at the airport. I don’t know how long I stood there and watched you gazing at those around you before I decided to make my move and sit next to you. Your beauty captivated me from the beginning, drawing me in until I couldn’t think about anything else but you.”
My brows furrow together in confusion. “But if that’s true, why didn’t you say it to me after our night in your apartment?”
Now it was his turn to look confused. “I did. I repeated it over and over again as I held you in my arms, never wanting to let you go. And then I said it again during the video conference we had the following week.”
A tear slips down my cheek as I recall him mouthing something to me but not being able to make out what he said. Now, holding that image still in my mind’s eye, I can see it clear as day. His beautiful lips forming the words ‘I love you’, just like they do now. Andrew brushes the tear away and kisses the corner of my mouth.
/> “I have never loved anyone before you and will never love anyone else but you. You are my forever; the other half of my heart, my soul, my existence. Fate brought us together and I believe it now more than ever.” His fingers trail over my lips, tracing the curves. “I love you, Tessa.”
I cup his face and feverishly bring my lips to his. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that, although apparently I just need to listen better.”
He smiles and it warms my heart even more. “I will continue to say it until the last breath leaves my body. This I promise you.”
We kiss again and I feel complete. “I love you too, Andrew. So much it hurts.”
He pulls back and threads our fingers together again. “You will never hurt again. I’m not planning on going anywhere without you ever again.”
Our hands fall to his chest, resting comfortably over his heart. My lids grow heavy and struggle to stay open. Andrew adjusts us so I’m able to lie comfortably on his shoulder.
“Sleep now, love. We’ll start fresh when we wake.”
I nod my head and fall into a contented sleep, clinging to his body and thanking fate for bringing us back together.
SOFT LIPS FEATHER KISSES ALONG my neck as I slowly come back into consciousness. I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep, but I’m really enjoying Andrew’s version of a wake-up call.
“Wake up sleepy,” he says, peppering kisses across my jaw. I wiggle and squirm under his touch. He lets out a quiet laugh and runs his hands along my sides, causing me to squirm even more.
“Andrew, stop. I’m ticklish,” I laugh.
But he doesn’t relent. Instead it fuels him on further, digging his fingers into me and creating a torrent of laughter to escape. My sides begin to ache with the assault as I twist my body from side to side.
He stills his fingers and moves them up my sides, brushing against my bare breasts before cupping my cheek, tilting my head toward him.
Fated to be Mine Page 20