Worthy (Challenge Series, #3)

by Kiru Taye

  She did and he washed her back down to her bum. Her skin tingled, getting sensitive.

  He tossed the sponge. “I don’t need it for this part.”

  She leaned back as he dipped his hand into the water again down to her groin. She closed her eyes as his fingers rubbed over her labia and down over her opening. He touch wasn’t really sexual, almost functional, although her body still responded to him.

  “Tessa, look at me.” His voice rumbled.

  She met his gaze, as captivating as always.

  “Promise me that from today onwards you won’t give your body to anyone else but me. Promise me that whatever your need, be it sexual or financial or whatever that you’ll come to me first to resolve it. I don’t care about what you’ve done in the past or who you’ve been with but from today onward for the next twelve months, promise you belong to me only.”

  It was as if he held his breath waiting for her answer. Her heart clenched tight. He was giving her that all consuming look, as if he couldn’t look away from her. As if in this very moment his whole life was focused on her.

  She felt powerful. Important. Perhaps for the first time in her life.

  Peter wasn’t ashamed to admit how much he wanted her. Almost needed her to make this promise. To become his.

  And she wanted to be his. “Yes, I promise.”

  He blew out breath. “Thank you, Countess. And I promise to take care of you in every way I can for the next year.”

  That word again. She reared back. “Did you call me Countess?”

  He gave her the most charming smile she’d ever seen on his face. “Yes, I did.”

  “Why? I’m not a countess. I don’t have any royal blood. As you know I’m a call girl.”

  “No. Not to me. The call girl is dead as of tonight. You are now my countess.”

  Her eyes watered. What was this man doing to her? This had to be some dream. It couldn’t be happening to her. It wasn’t reality. “You’re not for real, Peter.”

  “I am, Countess. Last week you said something that touched me deeply. You said you could never be with one man, never give one man everything. Well, I want to show you that there are decent men out there. Hopefully by the end of our time together, you’ll learn to trust men again. And when the right man comes along and gives you his heart you’ll accept it and give him yours too.”

  Her heart ached. Their time together would be temporary. He was preparing her for another man. He wasn’t going to be the man after this year. Were there other men like him? She doubted it very much. She hadn’t met them before.

  “I don’t think such a man exists. Well, aside from you.” Her throat was scratchy.

  “Trust me, there are many good men. But for now I want to be the good man in your life. Let me show you how good this life can be.”

  He leaned forward and captured her mouth. Oh. My. God. He was kissing her. Peter was actually kissing her. For the first time since they’d met. His hand gripped her nape, holding her still while his mouth devoured her, his tongue invading her mouth, stroking, caressing.

  Her body bowed off the bath, wanting more contact with him. She reached up and grabbed his shoulder, getting his shirt wet in the process.

  He didn’t seem to mind and didn’t pull away. Instead his right hand covered her heavy left breast. He squeezed, she moaned. He tweaked the nipples between his thumb and index finger, she writhed. His right hand slid down past her belly button to the junction of her thighs. She spread them apart without much thought wanting him inside her like she’d never wanted anyone.

  His fingers stroked her folds down to her clenching entrance. Fingers plunged into her just as he broke the kiss. She was panting for air as her body tightened and heat rushed over her skin. He kept pumping his digits into her, brushing her clit with his thumb.

  “You are so beautiful. So fucking beautiful.” His voice was rough as be bent over and took her nipple in his mouth.

  She moaned again, losing herself to the sensation running amok in her mind and body. Ripples spread out from her core and she knew she was close.

  “Show me your pleasure, Countess. Come for me.” He flicked her clit with his thumb and thrust inside her.

  She detonated, thrashing around and sending water splashing everywhere including over the bath and on Peter as she cried out again and again. “Oh...oh...oh!”

  She didn’t know how long her orgasm went on for. She only opened her eyes when Peter lifted her out of the water and slowly slid her onto the bath mat. Her knees trembled and she clung on to him so that she didn’t fall.

  He reached across, grabbed a towel and slowly patted her down. He gave her another towel to wrap around her dried body.

  “Go on into the bedroom. I’ll be out shortly.”

  She stared down at the bulge tenting his trousers and her cheeks heated up. “Are we going to have sex tonight?”

  “I thought we just had sex.” He gave her that boyish grin again.

  Her cheeks heated again. “I...I know. I meant are you going to fuck me with your dick. It can’t be right that you’re always going without.”

  She rubbed the balls of her feet on the bath mat feeling ridiculously out of sorts.

  His hand cupped her chin and he tilted her head up so she would look in his eyes.

  “You don’t have to doubt that I want you. The evidence is clear as day. But I haven’t been inside a woman for a long time and I want it to be right between us for the first time.”

  “You mean it’s going to happen?” A slow smile spread on her face.

  “Yes, it’s going to happen. I want to bury myself so deep inside you. I ache from wanting you so much. Trust me. It’s going to happen, just not tonight.”

  He captured her lips again in a fierce kiss that left her panting when he broke it.

  “Go on,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “Get out of here before I change my mind and fuck your brains out.”

  “Promises, promises.” She teased, feeling confident about her place in his life for the time they would be spending together.

  He swatted her bum. “Cheek.”

  She yelped and giggled as she sashayed out of the bathroom. For the first time in months, perhaps years, excitement raced through her. She was looking forward to spending more time with the same man. With Peter.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tessa practically bounced on her feet as she walked into the bedroom. A song that had been playing in the nightclub came into her mind and she hummed it as she walked over the closet.

  Last week, Peter had allowed her to wear his t-shirt. She assumed he wouldn’t mind if she helped herself to another t-shirt tonight. She opened a drawer, found folded briefs, shut the drawer and opened another. Neatly folded t-shirts sat in a row. She picked the first white one and shut the drawer.

  Pulling the t-shirt over her head, she let it slide down her body and let the towel drop to the floor. The soft cotton felt good against her skin. Knowing this was Peter’s filled her heart with joy. It was as if wearing his clothes made her feel closer to the man.

  She picked up the towel and tossed it in the wicker laundry basket she found in the closet. She sauntered out of the closet, still humming and halted in the bedroom when she saw Anuli standing by the door to the living room. The song died in her throat.

  Her friend stood feet planted apart, chest thrust out, elbows wide and hands on hips. Her nostrils flared and her eyes were cold.

  Tessa easily recognised Anuli’s anger but she didn’t understand it. Especially since she was practically floating with happiness. Had something happened while she’d been in the bathroom?

  “Anuli, what’s wrong?” She took steps to her friend, concern making her cross the large space quickly.

  “You’re asking me? What did the two of you do in the bathroom?” Anuli lifted her chin up and her eyes narrowed as if in suspicion.

  Tessa’s cheek heated up at the accusation in her friend’s voice. “He ran a bath for me and he washed me. He said he
wanted to clean me and make me pure for him. We both know how ridiculous that sounds, right?”

  She laughed nervously and stopped when Anuli showed no sign of amusement. In fact her friend’s expression seemed to harden.

  “Did he touch you? Did he give you an orgasm?”

  Tessa pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and licked it. Her friend was making her feel embarrassed about what Peter had done to her and it made her want to deny it. But she had never lied to Anuli and she wouldn’t start now. She would rather not say anything.

  She angled her body to walk past her friend who was occupying a chunk of the doorway with her hands akimbo.

  Anuli grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Tell me the damned truth. Did he make you come?”

  “Jeez, Anuli. What is wrong with you? Yes, he touched me. Yes, he made me come.” She snatched her arm away and stomped into the living room, all her happiness now fizzling away.

  She grabbed the remote control from the low table and dumped her body on the sofa. One advantage of staying in this hotel was that she didn’t have to worry about power cuts and she could watch as much TV as she wanted. They didn’t have a TV in the room they shared. But one of their neighbours did and sometimes they went over there to watch some shows or movies.

  The channel playing on the big screen was showing music videos. She flicked through trying to find an African movies channel.

  Anuli stood in front of the TV, blocking the screen.

  Tessa sighed and stared up at her friend who still looked angry. “Anuli, why are you so angry? What have I done wrong?”

  “I’m angry because you’re letting him split us up.” She came around and sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of Tessa.

  Tessa muted the TV and dropped the remote. “Him who? You mean Peter? He’s not trying to split us up.”

  “What do you think he’s doing when he takes you into the bathroom so the two of you can be alone and he starts touching you?”

  “But I was the one who went to the bathroom because I was upset.”

  “And I had an argument with him and told him off for upsetting you.”

  “You did?” Was that why Peter had come into the bathroom to apologise? She’d been surprised when he had.

  “Yes, I did. You know I can’t stand to see anyone upset you.” Anuli placed her hands on Tessa’s bare knees.

  “I know. Thank you.” Tessa covered Anuli’s hands with hers as she leaned forward. “But you don’t have to worry about Peter. He won’t split us up. We’re best friends forever.”

  “But, Babe, I worry.” Anuli lifted Tessa’s hands and clasped them together with her hands on the outside. “I worry that he’ll seduce you with his money and his words. I worry that you’ll believe his bullshit and that in the end he’ll hurt you. Because we both know that no man is good. This is all an illusion.”

  “Nuli, you worry too much. Anyway, I think Peter is a good man—”

  “You see?” Anuli reared back. “You already believe his words. He’s already convincing you. He gives you two orgasms and you think he’s Saint Peter.”

  Tessa frowned as her cheeks heated again. “It’s not like that.”

  “Isn’t it? I used to be the only one who could make you come? Now the two of you sneak off to be together and you ignore me. I’m part of this deal also, or have you forgotten?”

  Shifting in her seat, Tessa averted her gaze. When her friend put it like that, she did feel as if she was sneaking around with Peter.

  “I knew he was touching you earlier in the dining room when you guys thought I couldn’t see you. I know the sounds you make when you’re aroused, Tessa. I know how you sound when you’re close to an orgasm. I’m not stupid, you know?”

  Tessa swallowed, feeling even more embarrassed and guilty. “I know you’re not. But I can’t help it. When he touches me, I melt.”

  “You also melt when I touch you, don’t you?” Anuli lowered her hands to Tessa’s thigh, pushing them apart. She cupped Tessa’s bare pussy with her right hand.

  Tessa sucked in a sharp breath, her heart racing. Her pussy was sensitive after her recent climax and Anuli’s fingers roused her again.

  But there was something not quite right about having her friend touch her intimately this time. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

  “Anuli, don’t.” Tessa gripped her friend’s hand and tugged but Anuli didn’t budge.

  “Don’t? Am I suddenly not good enough for you anymore?” Anuli raised her voice.

  “Shh. Lower you voice. It’s not that. You’re my best friend. I just don’t want Peter to know about us.” She tried to appease her friend and hoped she would see sense.

  Anuli already thought Peter was trying to split them up. That would never happen. She didn’t know what Peter would do if he found out that she and Anuli were lovers. He could call off the deal and make them return the money he’d paid.

  Anuli’s expression hardened again as she glanced behind Tessa and withdrew her hand from her pussy.

  “He already knows.” Anuli pushed off the sofa and walked away toward the bedroom.

  Tessa turned around and found Peter standing by the bedroom door as Anuli shoved past him.

  He didn’t respond to Anuli’s aggression. Instead he was staring at Tessa with an unreadable expression.

  She scrambled off the sofa and stood rigidly her hands clasped together in front of her.

  Oh Lord. Had he heard all of their conversation? Had he seen what Anuli was doing to her? How could she live this down? What was he going to do?

  He didn’t do or say anything for moments that stretched like hours. Her body trembled.

  Was he going to kick her out? What should she do?

  “Peter, I...I can explain,” she said finally unable to stand the silence any longer.

  “I’m listening.” His voice was cold. It was the only sign that he’d seen or heard something he wasn’t happy about.

  Her heart shrank. She’d upset him. How was this evening going from bad to worse? First it had been Anuli’s anger. Now it was Peter’s she had to deal with.

  Sucking in a deep breath and puffing it out, she narrated what had happened when she’d come out of the bathroom, seeing Anuli angry and trying to reassure her friend that Peter didn’t have an ulterior motive.

  “She was upset that you weren’t including her in the interactions. And she has a point. This deal includes her.”

  “Only because you girls insisted. But how I execute it is totally at my discretion. I’m paying her two point five million naira. She shouldn’t be complaining.”

  He had a point. He could decide whatever each of them did. “But—”

  “No buts, Tessa. Your friend knew the deal she signed up for. I call the shots around here. She can either accept it or get out.”

  He sounded so harsh. Tessa swallowed. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  His chest heaved and some of the tension left his body. “So, were you really not going to tell me that you and Anuli were lovers?”

  She averted her gaze and shook her head, feeling worse.

  “So you were going to lie to me? At least your friend had the decency to confess it when I confronted her about it.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath and covered her open mouth with her hand. Anuli told him?

  He walked past her, picked up the remote and switched off the television.

  “I can put up with the fact that you sold your body for money. I can put up with the fact that there are things in your past that you don’t want to tell me. I can even put up with the fact that it is highly likely that you will cheat on me. But what I will not put up with is a person who tells lies. So in the morning you can take your things and leave. I don’t want to see you again.”

  He was sending her away? Her heart shrivelled, her stomach sank.

  She rushed to his side, fell to her knees and clutched the grey, silk PJ bottoms he wore. “Please don’t send me away. I promise I won’t ever lie to you again.
Please.”

  He sighed and tugged her arms, pulling her to her feet. “I’m serious, Tessa. I can’t stand liars. If I find out you lied to me again I’ll kick you out without hesitation.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” she said, hoping for a reprieve.

  “Okay. You’re forgiven.” He placed a kiss to her forehead.

  “Thank you.” Her muscles were weak with relief and her body trembled. She’d thought it had been over between them.

  He took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”

  She followed him as he switched off the light in the living room.

  In the bedroom, she stared at the huge bed. At least it was massive enough to fit all three of them.

  But there was a problem as both she and Peter were covered in clothes. Anuli wouldn’t have anything to wear aside from the dress she wore tonight. Her friend had been right. She didn’t want her to be excluded.

  “Is it okay if I pick a t-shirt for Anuli to wear to bed?” she asked.

  Peter turned as he strode to the side of the bed. “Yes, sure. If you get her dress, I’ll drop it off for the laundry service.”

  “Thank you.” He was back to being generous and she was grateful.

  She walked into the closet, picked a t-shirt and strode across to the bathroom and knocked.

  “Come in,” Anuli said.

  Tessa walked in and found her friend in the shower cubicle.

  “I brought a t-shirt for you to wear so your dress can be cleaned tonight,” Tessa said.

  “Okay. Thank you,” Anuli replied.

  Tessa placed the t-shirt on the counter and picked up her friend’s discarded clothes. Outside the bathroom, Peter waited with a laundry bag. She put the dress and underwear in it.

  A couple of minutes later a knock came at the door.

  “Get into bed. I’ll drop this off.” He took the bag and headed back into the living room, the light coming on.

  She hesitated for a moment, wondering which side of the bed to sleep in. At home she slept on the left and Anuli on the right. But this was Peter’s bed and Anuli was going to join them. In the end she crawled onto the bed and placed herself in the middle.