Crave (Splendor Book 2)

by Janet Nissenson

  The pretty brunette desk clerk who checked them in appeared to be as susceptible to Ian’s charm as anyone else, staring up at him with unabashed interest as he signed in and took the card keys to the owner’s suite. Tessa gave the brunette a tiny frown before sidling up closer against Ian’s side, silently staking her claim. He smiled down at her, dropping a kiss on top of her head, and sliding an arm around her waist. Tessa’s frown quickly changed to a very satisfied smile, and she was pleased to note that the clerk was suddenly all business, averting her gaze as she finished the check-in process.

  Tessa’s jaw dropped open again as the private butler assigned to their suite opened the double doors and ushered her inside. She could hear Ian speaking to the man in a low tone as she stared in disbelief at the splendor of the lavishly appointed rooms.

  Here, too, were the vaulted wood beam ceilings, and a huge stone fireplace, though these floors were covered in a thick, plush carpet. Floor to ceiling picture windows offered a breathtaking view of the snow-covered mountains outside, and French doors opened out to a private patio where she could see a fire pit and hot tub. The furnishings were a combination of rustic comfort and understated luxury.

  A quick inspection of the suite revealed a spacious living room, separate formal dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. There were two bedrooms, each with their own en suite bathroom. The suite was easily large enough to live in comfortably for days or weeks at a time, and it suddenly dawned on her that this was exactly the sort of opulent lifestyle she could expect to enjoy when she moved in with Ian permanently. And as thrilling as that idea was, it also gave her renewed cause for concern, bringing to the surface all of her fears and insecurities that she just didn’t fit into this world of privilege and extreme wealth.

  “Does this meet with your approval?”

  Tessa turned to face Ian, who was just now closing the door to the suite. Her heart caught in her throat as she thought of how handsome he looked, how mouthwateringly sexy. He was more casually dressed than usual, clad all in black - wool slacks, a turtleneck sweater, and a heavy leather jacket worn in deference to the cold weather. He looked dangerous and sophisticated at the same time, an irresistible combination.

  At his urging, she’d dressed in a similarly casual manner - dark skinny jeans, black cashmere sweater, black ankle boots, and a black knit cap pulled over her ears. She had set her own black leather jacket and purse down on a chair upon entering the suite.

  She walked over to Ian now, sliding her hands up his chest to clasp around his neck. “Are you referring to this room or to yourself? Because if it’s the latter, I would have to say a very emphatic yes.”

  “Is that right?” he asked lazily, his hands sweeping down the sides of her hips to cup her buttocks. “Well, I’d say you also have my wholehearted approval. Especially the way your gorgeous arse looks in these tight jeans.”

  Tessa smiled, burying her face against the strong, warm column of his neck and inhaling deeply. “Mmm, you smell even better than usual. Must be the added touch of the leather.”

  He kissed her temple, his hand keeping her head pressed to his shoulder. “Would you like the butler to unpack for you, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”

  She looked up at him in surprise. “He would do that? Actually hang my clothes up and put my shoes away? Not to mention unpacking all of my, ah, more personal stuff. I think I’d rather do it myself, actually.”

  He grinned, giving her a playful chuck on the chin. “To answer your question - yes, Tyson would certainly be happy to perform that task for you. You’ll begin to see as we travel together that each of our hotels offers this sort of private butler or concierge service for occupants of the larger suites. You’ll need to get used to them doing things for you and letting yourself be pampered. It’s one of the many ways I intend to spoil you.”

  “Okay. It’s just - well, it will definitely take some getting used to. I never thought I’d let a complete stranger, and a male one at that, unpack my underwear for me,” she admitted shyly.

  “Ah, well, that I understand. You could consider packing all of your lacy bits in a separate bag from now on, and simply instruct the butler not to touch that one.” His lips caressed the soft spot behind her ear. “In fact, I’d probably prefer that. Hell if I want another man to touch your lingerie.”

  Ian lifted his head and took her firmly by the hand. “Come, let me give you the grand tour. I gave Tyson instructions to bring up an afternoon tea service in a few minutes, so we don’t have much time.”

  As he showed her around the grand suite, she belatedly noticed the beautiful vases of roses arranged in several different locations - the showy red ones on the coffee table; the exotic bouquet of sterling silver blooms in the dining room; a gorgeous arrangement of rich apricot blossoms filled the master bedroom with their fragrance. But the one that caught and held her attention was the cut crystal vase filled with two dozen pink-tipped white roses - the exact same type of flowers she’d received for the past two Valentine’s Days.

  Tessa’s hand was trembling a little as she touched the delicate buds reverently. “It was you,” she whispered with a sense of wonder. “You were the one who sent those bouquets, weren’t you?”

  Ian had walked up behind her unnoticed until now, when his arms slipped around her waist and he pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “I confess,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I was in fact your secret Valentine, my love. The first time - I happened to overhear that dimwit Shelby make some unthinking comment about you being the only one of the team to not have flowers. And since it would have been a crime for the most beautiful woman in San Francisco to be without flowers on Valentine’s Day, I made sure that such a terrible occurrence never happened.” He paused for a moment or two before murmuring in her ear, “I hope that they pleased you, Tessa. That you liked them.”

  She turned abruptly, flinging herself against him, and pressing a kiss to his lips. “I loved them,” she told him tearfully, her eyes brimming over with emotion at his confession. “No one had ever given me anything so beautiful before. I treasured those roses, Ian, kept them on my desk for days after they had withered up and died. And I - I wondered both times if you could have possibly been the person who sent them, but I told myself how silly that idea was, that you didn’t even notice me, and definitely wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble or expense.”

  His arms tightened about her, his thumb brushing away the tear that glistened on the tip of her eyelashes. “I think you know by now exactly how much I did notice you, darling,” he growled. “And the roses were a mere consolation gift. What I really wanted to do was whisk you off to Paris or Rome for a romantic weekend, to give you diamonds and rubies, and anything else your heart desired. But since I couldn’t do any of those things, I at least wanted to make sure you had beautiful flowers for Valentine’s Day – even if you never knew who sent them to you.”

  “Ian.” She caressed his cheek tenderly. “That was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. And definitely the most romantic. Peter - well, as you know, we never had that sort of relationship.”

  “I know.” He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “Now, let’s head back into the other room, shall we? Our tea should be arriving any minute now.”

  “Okay. And - thank you, Ian. For all of the beautiful flowers,” she added. “Both these and the ones you sent the past two years.”

  “You’re welcome, darling. And the weekend is just beginning, you know,” he told her with a rather wicked grin. “I have a whole string of surprises planned for you, my love.”

  Having skipped lunch, they both ate hungrily of the sumptuous afternoon tea service that Tyson delivered to their room. Tessa couldn’t quite stifle a yawn, however, despite the twin jolts of caffeine and sugar her system had just received.

  “Sleepy, are we?” asked Ian in amusement.

  She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. It’s just - well, we didn’t get much sleep last night
what with -”

  “I know,” he interrupted. “I hope I wasn’t too - that it wasn’t…”

  “No.” She shook her head firmly. “You were perfect. It was perfect. I needed you just as badly, Ian.”

  Tessa had been waiting for him in the library when he’d returned home just after ten o’clock the previous evening. By now she was becoming used to the hungry, almost desperate way he made love to her, the blatant carnality of his kisses and caresses, the all-consuming manner in which he possessed her body. But when he’d strode boldly into the library last night, she’d been left breathless and unable to even think with the fierce, primal way he’d taken her right there, bent over the arm of the leather sofa. He’d tossed off his suit jacket and unzipped his trousers before yanking the hem of her robe up past her waist, and literally ripping the fragile silk and lace panties from her body. He’d surged into her with one powerful thrust, wrenching a cry from her throat and leaving her helpless to do anything but willingly submit to his domination of her body. They had both climaxed within minutes, the entire encounter having taken place without either of them uttering a single word. She had been shaken to the core at such a display of raw, undisguised passion on his part, and astonished that her body could so readily respond to his without even the slightest amount of foreplay.

  He’d carried her upstairs to his bed then, and this time had made love to her with exquisite thoroughness, prolonging the ecstasy for what had felt like hours. And then he’d woken her again towards dawn, already imbedded deep inside of her, and wrung another shattering orgasm from her exhausted body.

  She was grateful she’d taken the day off from work, because she’d been far too drowsy and pleasantly sated to do more than give him a sleepy kiss as he’d left for the office just before eight a.m. She’d slept until ten, a rare luxury for her, and had had to scramble a bit to shower, dress, and eat breakfast before he arrived home.

  But Ian still didn’t look convinced at her assurance. “That first time, in the library - I was like a rutting bull, Tessa. No finesse, no control. I was -”

  “Wild.” She swiftly straddled his lap, twining her arms around his neck. “Like a beast. Or a barbarian.” She nipped his earlobe lightly with her teeth before whispering, “And I loved it. I like it when you lose control.”

  He growled, shoving his hand up beneath her sweater and roughly groping her breast, making her gasp as his fingers slid inside her bra cup to pinch the nipple. “You make me lose control just by being in the same room,” he rasped. “It’s never been that way for me before, not even close.”

  “Good.” She caressed his cheek, which was just beginning to show some dark stubble as the day began to draw to a close. “I like that I’m the only one who can make you do that. And,” she added playfully, “let’s make sure to keep it that way, hmm?”

  He gave a short laugh. “Darling, I’ve told you on multiple occasions that you’re far more than I can handle as it is. Why on earth would I notice other women when I have all my heart desires right here?”

  The sweet, wildly romantic things he seemed to have a knack for saying made her feel all gooey inside. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him a bit more. “So you’re telling me you didn’t notice the way that very pretty front desk clerk was checking you out?”

  Ian frowned. “Unless you had just mentioned it, I wouldn’t have been able to remember if the clerk had been a man or a woman. That’s how little attention I paid. But since we’re on the subject, I should mention the very interested stares you were receiving from the valet. And the bellhop. Not to mention the doorman. Ah, and I’m forgetting the dozen or so - at least - admiring males who were staring at your very sexy body as we walked through the lobby.”

  “I didn’t notice any of them,” she murmured. “Nowadays, the only man I ever notice is you.”

  He smoothed her sweater back down over her belly. “Well, let’s make sure to keep it that way, darling,” he said, teasing her with her own words from just moments before.

  A knock sounded on the door to the suite, and he deftly lifted her off his lap. As he stood, he gave her a little wink. “That will be the next in the string of surprises,” he told her as he walked towards the door. “And this one is for both of us.”

  The next surprise he’d arranged was a couple’s massage. Ian had whispered to her as the two massage therapists were setting up their tables and equipment that he’d specifically requested a female to work on Tessa and a male on himself, adding that he wasn’t about to let another man put his hands on her, whether it was in a clinical manner or not. The folding massage tables were set up over by the grand picture windows so that they could look outside at the falling snow while the sun gradually began to set. One of the therapists turned on the suite’s state of the art sound system, and some relaxing classical music filled the room softly. A candle was lit, and the subtle fragrance of bergamot scented the air, lending to the atmosphere of complete relaxation.

  Tessa had never enjoyed the pure luxury of a massage before, and couldn’t suppress a little moan or two as the masseuse found a tight spot here and there. She turned her head in the direction of Ian’s table, and gave him a sleepy smile as their eyes met. She thought blissfully that she could easily get used to this sort of pampering, and wondered if he indulged in massages on a regular basis.

  When the massage ended an hour later, far too soon for her liking, she felt boneless and limp, and so relaxed that Ian had to help her tie the belt of her robe.

  “Hmm, I hope the next surprise is a nice long nap,” she mumbled sleepily.

  He chuckled, wrapping her in his arms and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “I didn’t realize I’d worn you out quite so badly last night. I can loan you some of my vitamins,” he teased. “And you might want to consider ordering an extra-large portion of protein with your dinner this evening. Speaking of which, our reservations are in just over an hour and I’d like to have a cocktail with you first. Trust me, you’ll like where we’re going.”

  Tessa yawned, stretching her arms wide. “Umm, okay. But it’s not my fault if I suddenly start nodding off. That massage was incredible. I’ve never felt that pampered before.”

  “That was the general idea, darling. To have you feeling relaxed and pampered all weekend long. Though I didn’t intend for you to be quite this relaxed,” he retorted. “Perhaps I should order you a triple espresso - or two.” He leaned forward to murmur huskily, “After all, I plan to keep you awake for hours tonight. Another part of the surprise.”

  She couldn’t help trembling just a little at his heated words. “I can’t wait,” she told him a little dazedly. “Maybe we should just get room service and, ah, stay in.”

  He grinned at her, shaking his head. “And ruin all of my plans? Hardly, love. Besides, the anticipation will enhance the pleasure ten times over. Trust me on this. Now, time for the next surprises. Come with me.”

  Ian led her into the master bedroom, where several boxes of varying sizes had been placed on the huge four poster bed. She looked at him expectantly, not sure what she was supposed to do next.

  “And where did all of these boxes just materialize from?” she inquired. “They weren’t here earlier when I unpacked my things.”

  But he only gave her a mysterious smile before telling her, “I’d like you to wear all of the items you’ll find in the boxes to dinner this evening. I’ll leave you in here while I change in the other bedroom.”

  Tessa regarded him curiously. “There’s plenty of room in here for both of us, you know.”

  Playfully he tugged at the belt of her robe. “Yes, but if I watch you put on some of the items you’ll find in the boxes we’ll never get out of here this evening. You might not even get to order room service. Let’s just say it will be much safer all around if I use the other room.”

  His rather cryptic words began to make perfect sense as she removed the lids from each box and spied their contents. Her mouth dropped open in a round “O” as she drew out t
he gorgeous bustier of cream silk and lace shot through with red satin ribbons. There was a matching pair of tiny cream silk panties tied with red satin ribbons on the sides, and sheer, silky stockings that would attach to the bustier’s garters.

  She gasped when she drew out the beautiful cocktail dress from the largest box. It was of red lace, with an off the shoulder, sweetheart neckline. The label read Marchesa, but of course no price tags were attached to anything. She shuddered to imagine how much such a gorgeous dress had cost.

  She struggled a bit with the back hooks of the bustier, but eventually managed to get them all fastened. Once she pulled on the panties and hooked the stockings to the garters, she glanced at herself in the bathroom’s full-length mirror, her eyes widening at the image that stared back at her. The wired bustier pushed her breasts up into even more generous proportions than usual, until they were nearly spilling out of the low-cut garment. The undergarment nipped in at the waist, making it look tiny, and the sheer, silky stockings made her legs look longer than ever.

  The alluring red dress fit her perfectly, as did the red patent leather heels. The final two boxes held a stunning bracelet of rubies and diamonds, and a matching pair of drop earrings. Tessa touched up her makeup and brushed her hair until it shone, placed a few items into her clutch bag, and then tentatively walked into the living room.

  Ian was sending a text and didn’t hear her come in, so she was able to look him over at her leisure. He was wearing a dark gray suit and a crisp white dress shirt opened at the neck, but no tie. His five o’clock shadow was more prominent now, giving him that sort of dark, dangerous look that always made her shiver in reaction. He was so sexy, so mouthwateringly male, that her new panties immediately grew damp as she imagined running her hands up his chiseled body, or pressing a kiss to his darkly stubbled cheek.