by Sam Crescent
“Do you hate me?” he asked.
Tess gasped. Hate was a strong word, and, yes, she’d thought her emotions were on the hate side of the emotional spectrum. She gazed down at her hands where her wedding band lay. “I don’t hate you, but I don’t like you all the time.”
“I wouldn’t like me either,” he said.
She chuckled.
“I want you to get to know me, the man. I don’t want this marriage to be a disaster. I know you’re here for your father, but do you think you could learn to feel something more for me other than dislike?”
More than you know.
“I don’t know how long this marriage is going to last. I’d like for our time together to be enjoyable.”
He leaned forward. “Then open yourself up to me, Tess. Learn to trust me, and we could make this marriage work for real. The chemistry between us is there. We both can feel it, and you can’t deny it. We could make this marriage last. We don’t have to call it quits or think of ending it. Live for the now and not for tomorrow.”
She wouldn’t dream of denying the attraction. Was it so bad to want more? “I’m not going to argue with you. I just want more than attraction or ... sex to be part of a marriage.”
“Being together in Italy will give this marriage a real chance. I like you, Tess, and I think you could learn to like me, too.”
Tess didn’t know where this more reasonable man had appeared, but she liked him a hell of a lot better.
****
Duncan watched her closely. He was satisfied to see the excitement shining in her eyes. His words were not lies. He did want his marriage to work. He also wanted her to like him.
She had such beautiful eyes when she smiled. They were filled with love. He knew it was only a matter of time before all of her love was directed at him.
It seemed paying a quick private visit to her father before the wedding had been worth the time and the awkwardness after all.
Duncan had learned of her passion for Italy from her father. It had been a wonderful coincidence that his family home was in Italy as well. According to Erik, she’d wanted to go to Italy since she was nine years old. Gerald had informed him her favourite colour was yellow, and she loved daffodils, which is why he’d asked Gerald to plant plenty of them throughout the garden.
She took his bowl. Her whole face was animated. Duncan wanted to see that smile on her face more often.
You’re falling for her.
You’re falling in love with your wife.
He didn’t care how he felt as long as he got what he wanted. The feelings wouldn’t last long. They never did. She came back to him wiping her hands on a towel.
“What about your work though? You’re a businessman. Won’t you be needed here?” she asked, her smile disappearing.
He didn’t like to see her eyes dim.
“Will I have to go on my own?”
Duncan saw the disappointment in her eyes, and that gave him hope. She looked so sad when she thought he wouldn’t be able to go with her. His spirits lifted at her expression. She might think she disliked him, but her mind wanted to be in his company no matter what she tried to make him think.
There was hope for him. His plan began to look more promising. He chuckled, feeling happier about their situation.
“All taken care of. I’m the boss, so I can take any time off I like; but I have put in place some back up to make sure if any problems occur during my absence they can be in touch straight away.” The light brightened within her depths. It was like watching a child at Christmas time.
“This is going to be amazing. Thank you so much.”
He liked seeing her smile. Duncan liked seeing her happy. The feelings were a first for him. What shocked him the most was how much he liked the fact he was the man to put the smile on her face.
She stood close to him, her honey and vanilla scent invading his senses. The jeans and white shirt she wore emphasised her curves to perfection. He’d been right in the size of clothes to get her.
He recalled all of her softness against his own body.
Soon, she’ll be in your arms, and then you can wipe all memory of last night from her mind.
Duncan wanted to give her a night to remember where he worshipped all of her body all night long.
“Don’t worry about packing either. I hate packing, and I’ve sorted everything so that anything we need will be ready and waiting for us tomorrow.”
Duncan took another chunk of bread from the stand, popping it into his mouth. His soup was long gone, but his hunger for her was still present. He stood ready to leave. If he stayed longer in her company he couldn’t be held accountable for his actions. She made him yearn for her in ways he’d thought long gone in his teenage years. When he was around her he felt like a horny teenage boy.
Before he got chance to leave Tess did something really taking him by surprise. She came up close to his body and wrapped her arms around his neck. He curled his hand around her waist supporting her as she brought her face close to his. His heart pounded inside his chest. Staring down into her innocent face did things inside him he didn’t understand.
“Thank you, Duncan. This really means a lot to me. I’ll never forget it,” she said, and then she kissed him.
Her lips brushed his, gentle at first, but she then built into a passionate kiss that took his breath away. His hold tightened around her. The tips of her breasts pressed against his shirt like rock-hard pebbles. He’d tasted them and knew their sweetness on his tongue.
He moaned in between her kisses. Duncan tilted her head back, feeling her lips part, then plunged his tongue inside. She moaned, her own fingers tugging at the strands of hair at the back of his neck. Their moans echoed round the kitchen. The fire and hunger urged them both on.
Duncan fisted his hands in the shirt at her back. He wanted to turn the kiss into so much more but restrained himself. His seduction needed to be perfect. Losing control now would damage any chance he had of repairing their relationship.
Tess Williams was messing with his head. And God help him, his heart. She was the first woman to ever initiate a kiss with him. All of his life he’d been the one in charge, always demanding rather than being given. His other conquests had taken great care to act and play hard to get. Tess was different. She was an innocent. It meant so much to have her take the first step. He stepped back from her loving the hot flush adorning her skin. He kissed her on the head in order to end the fire blazing between them. She was the first woman to leave him fevered by the passion she provoked.
His plan of getting her to fall in love with him was on track.
He cut off his own thoughts. Duncan refused to consider his own seduction.
If he was to get Tess to fall in love with him then he risked falling in love with her.
Chapter Fourteen
The following afternoon Tess was still buzzing with excitement. Duncan’s private jet was about to lad on the helipad on the grounds of his villa. She looked out of her small window to see a picturesque mansion staring back at her. It was everything she’d imagined Duncan would possess.
“How rich are you?” she asked. The smile remained on her face. The beauty before her was worth the wait. She couldn’t wait to go explore the beautiful country.
“What makes you think I’m particularly rich?” She turned towards him. His eyes and voice were teasing her. Ever since he’d announced their honeymoon he’d been like a different man.
“You own a private jet. A huge mansion in Italy. Your country house, and not mention all the other property you must own. And the fact you run your own business. It kind of makes a girl a little impressed. Impressed but also intimidated.” She smiled at him. He chuckled as he pocketed his cell phone. For most of the journey he’d been working while she stared out of the window. It was her first trip abroad. His wealth scared her. He was used to so much luxury. She must look unsophisticated to a man of his riches.
“All right, I am very, very rich,” he said
.
“Okay.”
“You’re not going to ask anything else?” he asked.
Tess laughed. “I’m sure you’ll tell me more when you want me to know.”
She looked out of the window as the helicopter began to lower. Duncan took her hand. She stared at his hand in hers. He gave her a squeeze, but he never let go. Tess turned towards the window. She didn’t see any of the view. Her mind was on the man holding her hand. He’d been so attentive.
Late last night when she’d struggled to sleep and had gone in search of something to do he’d been working in his office as she passed. He’d come out to see her.
Tess drifted to last night as the pilot and Duncan began to prepare everything for their departure.
“Tess? Are you okay?” Duncan asked. She stopped as he walked out of his office.
“I’m fine. I can’t sleep. All right, I’m excited about tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. I’m acting all immature and childish, aren’t I?” She pulled the robe tighter around herself.
Duncan chuckled. “Not at all. I should have kept it to myself. Come on. Grace tells me a hot chocolate and conversation are what an excited mind needs.” He took her hand leading her through to the kitchen.
“Do you know your way around a kitchen?” she asked when he helped her into a seat.
“Yes, I’m not completely useless. I make a great hot chocolate. Do you like marshmallows?”
She nodded watching as he grabbed a pan and some milk out of the fridge. “What are you doing?”
“Well, Grace taught me how to make the best hot chocolate. I’m following her recipe, and she demands proper chocolate with milk, cream, honey, and a dash of rum.” He came back to the stove with his ingredients.
Two mugs were filled with milk then poured into a pan with two whole bars of chocolate. “Do you wish to squirt?” He offered her the honey.
She gave a generous squirt as he added a dash of rum. “Grace loves this stuff.”
Tess giggled licking at the honey on her finger. He put the pan on the heat and stirred. She watched with her head in her hand. The chocolate permeated the room. “It smells good.”
“Wait until you taste.” When the chocolate had melted he poured the mixture back into mugs and dropped in some marshmallows. “Here it is.” He handed her a mug then walked ‘round to take a seat next to her.
She took a sip and sighed. Heaven.
“What do you think?”
“Jus what the doctor ordered.”
He laughed. “You’re an easy woman to please.”
Tess took another sip. “Why are you up late?”
“Working. All I seem to do is work.”
“And play hard. At least the tabloids like to say you do.”
“I know.” Silence descended between them. Tess didn’t feel uncomfortable. She liked him talking, and she wanted to know more about the man she’d married.
“How much is true?” she asked.
“What?” He glanced her way.
“The stories the press run, how much is true?”
“No one has ever asked me that before.”
She waited for him to speak.
“Some of it is true. I’ve had plenty of women in my bed, but it’s not how they portray it.”
“How do you mean?”
“The women I’ve dated have wanted me for something. My reputation, my money. They get something out of it.”
“While you get the pleasure of their bodies?” she asked.
He frowned. “Yes, that’s about it.”
Tess took another sip of the cooling liquid. “It sounds like a very lonely life.”
“It was the life I led.”
“Do you ever want love? A family? The stuff you read about in books?”
Duncan sighed putting his mug down. “I’d like to be a father one day. I’ve spent so much of my life in the office I want to have someone to give it to when I’m done. Love? I don’t know. It has been such a foreign concept to me. I figured I could live without it.”
“What about your family?”
“I’d rather not go into it.”
“Okay.”
“What about you, Tess? Do you want love and all of the romance thing?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes.” Tess debated on telling him everything she wanted. She’d held so much back of herself that she didn’t want to keep anything else inside. “I’ve spent most of my life alone. I’d love to have someone to love and for them to love me back. Children would be wonderful. Daughters and sons would be amazing. I always pictured myself having a big family. It’s amazing how our life pans out.”
She finished off her mug of hot chocolate. “That was delicious.”
“You’re not tired,” he said, taking the cup from her.
“Not a bit.”
“Come on, let’s go and watch a movie.”
Duncan hadn’t ridiculed her hopes or dreams. He’d taken her into the sitting room, and they’d sat together watching a movie.
Tess came out of her thoughts as the jet settled. She gazed at the man beside her. He was the same man she married, but there was something different about him. Duncan felt more real to her.
****
Duncan watched as she got lost in her own little world. He wondered if she was remembering last night. If it had been any other woman who asked him about his wealth he’d have pegged them down as a gold-digger. Tess was different. Every time his wealth was mentioned she looked more nervous around him. He knew she was uncomfortable with his riches and her lack thereof.
When he’d sat down with her father and saw a glimpse of the real Tess he knew family meant more to her than money. His conversation with her the night before had confirmed any doubts. She wanted people in her life to love. Tess had been without love all of her life. Erik, her father, didn’t like his daughter. Duncan never thought in his whole life he’d be so relieved to have someone in his company who never thought about money. Her conversation always surrounded life, love, and beauty. Money meant very little to his wife.
Tess was as refreshing as the Italian sun.
Before long they were on the ground and safely making their way to the huge villa. He saw Tess looking at everything. There was too much for her to see in one quick glance. He looked forward to exploring every part of this country with her. She curled into his side as they walked the short distance from the garden into the house.
Normally, Duncan hated women pawing at him. He wrapped his arm around Tess’s back then continued up with a sense of pride. Each time she came to him for comfort was a big achievement to him.
You’re not thinking about seduction.
You love her, Duncan.
Admit it. You want more from her than revenge on a dead man.
Once again he cut off his thoughts the moment they entered the house.
They were greeted by his wonderful plump housekeeper, Sofia. Duncan smiled as her infectious laughing smile and welcoming arms greeted him. She hugged Duncan close, giving him a squeeze and then turned her attention to Tess.
He saw Sofia assess her, and then she wrapped her arms around his wife. Sofia accepted her. He saw Tess loved every minute of the warm welcome. She smiled back and encouraged the warmth in Sofia’s arms.
Duncan saw the delight of the welcome written in Tess’s eyes. He noticed she gravitated towards older people. Tess looked so happy to be with Sofia. It made him wonder how much she craved a mother. By the way she kept accepting affection from Grace and Sofia, Duncan knew there was more to her feelings about her mother than met the eye.
“You’re such a beautiful woman, and you’ve got meat on your bones. My faith in mankind has been restored,” Sofia said, cupping Tess’s cheeks and kissing her lips.
“Thank you.” Tess blushed. He caught her hand, then pulled her closer giving her his own kiss.
Sofia chuckled and clapped her hands. Duncan let Tess go, her blush turning a deeper shade of red.
“She’s exquisi
te, Duncan. A brilliant find for a wife, and she has lovely hips, fit to give you many strong babies. I’m only disappointed I didn’t get an invite to the wedding.” Sofia teased him in Italian. He saw the confusion in Tess’s eyes. Duncan would tell her what Sofia said later.
“Our romance happened so fast, Sofia. I didn’t want to wait a minute longer to make her my woman.”
“Yes, I can see. She’s perfect, Duncan. I can tell she has a good heart. Keep this one safe.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Sofia was on his side. She led the way into the kitchen.
He leaned down to Tess when Sofia’s back was turned.
“Sofia mentioned how beautiful you are. That’s what she was saying.” He purposely didn’t tell her about the hips and babies part of her comment. This trip was to get her to fall in love with him, not to hate him. Women and weight made a touchy subject. He liked Tess the way she was. He didn’t want her to change for him. Besides, babies were a huge step, even if he did plan to have his seed planted in her body very soon. First he wanted her to love him.
That was what he had planned for her on this honeymoon, sunshine, happiness, and loving.
Duncan told Sofia in Italian grabbing her attention once more. “She was a rare find indeed.” He kept a hold of Tess not wanting to let her go.
“I’m so pleased you came back. Will you be visiting Miranda?” Sofia asked in Italian. Duncan stroked Tess’s shoulder. She leaned closer snuggling against his chest. Duncan saw Sofia’s eyes soften. “Does she know about your family?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want her to know.” Sofia had been a member of his mother’s household before his father moved Miranda in. “She’s got her own bad experiences with her own parents.”
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“My lips are sealed, dear boy. So much drama. No woman could keep up.”
Duncan knew what she meant. It was one of the only areas of his life he didn’t like to think about. He’d cut his father out of his life for good. He’d been the only child to come from his father.
“So, I’ll let you know where everything is and get you both settled,” Sofia said, including Tess in the conversation.