She surrendered then, her body softening into his as her arms wrapped around his waist. Her words were muffled because her face was pressed to his chest, but he was able to make them out.
“I just thought you were unreasonably furious that I had a friend. I didn’t know you honestly thought something was going on.” She snuffled loudly. “I thought you were gone.”
He felt the shudder of her small frame. Pulling back, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger to raise her face to him. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her nose was bright pink. His heart broke wide open. He bent to kiss her tears from her face, holding her face between his palms.
“Baby, please doona cry. I’d never leave. Even if I thought something was going on, doona you think I’d fight for you? I’d never just walk away from you. Not when I love you the way I do. You hold my heart, Tessa. You hold my big, stupid heart in your dainty little hand.”
* * * *
Geez, the man knew how to say the right thing in a pinch.
She sniffled again and blinked her eyes. She took a deep breath to cleanse her lungs of the momentary despair when it happened.
She snorted.
Her hands flew up to cover her face as Gavan burst into laughter. As he struggled with her to pull her hands down, she started to laugh with him. He smothered her face in kisses, snorting with each one. “You are the best thing that ever happened tae me, Tessa Danvers.”
* * * *
Alex emerged from the bathroom in time to see the new couple kissing and making up. Just like it should be, he thought to himself. He hovered at the kitchen door until they finished, which was a short eternity, but an eternity all the same, and then he walked to Tessa to kiss her cheek.
“I’m outta here, hon. Meeting some of the guys in town. I’ll call you later.”
Tessa sniffed, pulled herself from Gavan’s embrace, and followed him to the foyer.
His hand on the doorknob, Alex turned to Tessa. “Question five.”
Tessa nodded for him to continue.
“Do you love him?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “With all my heart.”
He hugged her and whispered in her ear, “I’m so happy for you, sweetie. You deserve this and he’s terrific.” With a sly grin, he added, “And if there’s a hotter man anywhere on this planet, I’d like to see him. No. Scratch that. I’d like to lick him.”
He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and left.
Chapter Fifteen
In the breakfast nook, they shared coffee and raspberry-jam-flavored kisses.
“What are your plans for today?” Tessa asked, passing Gavan another English muffin.
“Well,” he said around his bite of muffin, “I should go home and get a shirt since the one I came here in will be staying with you. And I call my Mam and Da every Sunday morning tae chat. My sisters and their families are usually around then, getting ready for Sunday dinner, so it’s a good time tae catch everybody. Guess I’ll be havin’ the big news this week. I can’no wait tae tell them about you. You know, we’ll have tae go visit soon.”
A pleased expression crossed Tessa’s face and his heart warmed.
“After that, I’ve no special plans. You?”
Tessa licked jelly from the corner of her mouth. “It’s Sunday, so Jaime will be over for dinner at five. We do family dinner every Sunday. You’ll be here, right?”
Gavan’s eyes narrowed. “Will you be cooking?”
Tessa nodded.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked as though it really made any difference at all. If she served up wet dirt on a paper plate, he’d be here for it.
Tessa’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling to think about the evening’s menu. “Hmm. I’m thinking braciole, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.”
Gavan leaned in and licked the sensitive spot just below her earlobe.
Snarling, he said, “Tell me you cook, too.”
* * * *
The effect of Gavan in a half-zipped, worn leather jacket over his bare chest was breathtaking. Eyes glued to his tan flesh, Tessa padded over to him and rested her palms, fingers spread wide, on his chest within the V of the zipper. She gave a couple of little squeezes into his flesh with her fingertips and let out a little squeal.
“God, you’re amazingly hot.” Her head jerked back as if pulling herself from a stupor when she realized they’d be apart for a while. “How long will you be gone?”
He scooped her up in his arms and gave her a kiss she felt in her toes.
“Less than four hours.”
Putting her down gently, he turned and left.
Tessa scurried like a madwoman to grab her shoes, coat, and purse. She had to hustle if she wanted to get to the Italian market and back before Gavan returned.
Once back home, she unpacked the bags and chopped garlic and basil to get the tomato sauce started. When the sauce was put together, the big pot simmering on the stove, she rolled and tied the braciole then cleaned up the mess. She was stretching to put a big mixing bowl in the cabinet when Gavan’s big, warm body pressed into her from behind, his tanned, strong hand taking the bowl from her fingers.
“Where do you want it?” His voice was a low rumble, all hot and sultry.
“Oh, third shelf,” she said in a breathless voice.
He put the bowl in its place and shut the cabinet door. Tessa tried to turn to him, but he held her in place, pressing his impressive hard-on into her ass.
“Feel what you do to me in mere seconds, Tessa. Just seeing you there, on your tiptoes, bent slightly at the hips over the counter, did this to me. How are you feeling today?” he asked, his lips pressed against her ear as his hand snaked down her front to give her mound a gentle squeeze.
“I’m feeling very good. What did you have in mind?”
He could hear the smile in her reply.
Without a word, he squatted behind her, and in one movement pulled her yoga pants to her ankles. She lifted her feet so he could remove them and toss them aside.
“These are verra sexy, lass,” he said, his voice thick with desire, tracing his finger along the lace edge of her pink, Brazilian-cut panties.
Sliding his fingers under the fabric that only covered the top half of her ass, he palmed her cheeks.
“Bend over for me, lass. I know the counter’s high for you, but do the best you can.”
Tessa leaned over as far as she could, raising up on tiptoes. With his fingers spread wide over her cheeks, his thumbs slid into her crevice as he kneaded her. Leaning in, he kissed, nibbled, and bit her ass.
“Your skin is so sweet, Tessa. You’re delicious all over.”
* * * *
His lips on her skin were like liquid fire and her panties were already soaked. She strained up as far as she could on her toes to allow him more access. As though in acceptance of her invitation, he pulled her panties to one side and flicked his tongue at the puckered, pink bud of her anus. Involuntarily, her ass wiggled in his face, and she moaned, gripping at the tiles with her fingertips. He thrust his finger into her cunt, and she gasped. She was tight and hot, the wet muscles gripping at his finger. He withdrew and on his next thrust he added a second finger. Tessa arched her back to improve her angle for him. Pumping his hand up and down, his fingers thrusting in and out of her, Gavan returned to teasing her pink rosette. She was so utterly focused on the feeling of being fucked by Gavan’s big strong hand, his thick fingers plunging and twisting as he flicked his tongue across her back door, that when the tip of his tongue invaded her there, she gasped with shock.
“Gavan!”
He withdrew and said, “I love every part of you, lass, and I’ll have every part of you eventually. Now, shush you.”
He returned to her, and when he slid his tongue back into her tight hole, she shuddered as her orgasm rushed through her. Her flowing wetness coated his hand as his fingers twisted and pumped her like a small cock. Then, he was gone. She felt suddenly empty until she heard the soft p
lip plip plip of his button-fly jeans being unfastened.
He knelt behind her again, removed her panties, and wrapped his palms around the front of her lower legs. As he stood up, he ran his hand upward. When they reached her upper thighs, he lifted her so that she was bent over the counter, her feet dangling inches from the floor. He spread her thighs wide and moved between them. Grabbing his hard cock in his hand, he dragged the big, flared head through her nether lips, coating it in her slick cream. When his hot flesh slid over her already-throbbing clit, she squealed. He purposely lingered there, and she relished the electric current that resulted from their most, sensitive tissues touching.
Tessa’s fingers curled, seeking purchase on the cold tiles as she moaned with urgency.
“Gavan, please. Inside me. I need you to be inside of me now!”
* * * *
Following orders, he repositioned himself at her opening and pushed forward. He fought the urge to sink himself to the hilt in one hard thrust because he feared she might still be a little sore. Instead, his movement was slow and deliberate. When his flared knob entered her, she trembled, and he rubbed his palm over the gooseflesh that rose on her ass cheeks. He stilled for a moment to give her time to adjust to him again then pushed in a little more. He would never tire of the visual of his big cock sinking inch by agonizing inch into her hot little pussy. Maintaining his maddeningly slow movement, he pulled back again, introducing more of himself with each inward push. He finally reached his hilt, his hips pressed to Tessa’s ass, and she exhaled.
She pressed the side of her face on the cool tile and she shouted, “Gavan, oh Gavan!”
Grasping her thighs, he pushed them open and out so that her knees were now to her sides and on the counter, then he put one hand on her lower back to keep her rear from popping up, his other hand grasped her hip. He pulled back so that only the big head of his cock remained in her then, satisfied that Tessa had recovered from yesterday, thrust forward. Hard. Tessa grunted. Her pussy felt like a velvet-wrapped fist that squeezed and pulled at him, trying to keep him within her. Again, he pulled back and thrust in. He increased his tempo, and soon, he was pumping into her with furious abandon. His fingers dug into her hip, sweat trickling down his forehead and chest, the drops falling onto her ass. He pounded her relentlessly and her shudders began signaling him that her orgasm was upon her.
With one last thrust, impossibly deep, he released into her. Hot, thick jets of his semen coated her, mixing with her own juices and running down the insides of her thighs in rivulets. His hips continued to move, slowly sliding in and out of her, undulating gently in order to ease them both down from their explosive orgasms.
* * * *
Carefully, without pulling his cock from inside her, he rolled her onto her back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer, forcing his now semierection fully into her. She clenched her pussy muscles in welcome. He bent at the waist, leaned his elbows on the counter surface, covering her body with his, and kissed her, all the while maintaining a small, rotating movement with his hips. Sliding her arms around his neck, she parted her lips to receive his tongue into her mouth. In contrast to the near-brutal nature of their fucking, his kiss was tender and sweet. His mouth cherished hers, loving her through the strokes and caresses of his tongue against her own. He broke their kiss and looked into her eyes, brushing strands of hair from her face and forehead with his fingertips, their gentleness belying their size.
She smiled. “My, oh my, but you do enjoy helping yourself to what you want, don’t you?”
“Aye. It’s a joy and honor I’ll never grow tired of.”
“What about when I’m contrary and bitchy.”
“I’ll kiss you till you’re joyous.”
“How about when I’m frantic and anxious?”
“I’ll caress you into serenity.”
“And when I’m furious?”
“I’ll love you until you’re sated and purring.”
The intensity of his gaze robbed her of speech. The only response she could manage was a breathless, “Oh.”
* * * *
They disentangled themselves and got dressed. With Gavan’s help, who was quite adept in the kitchen to her pleasant surprise, Tessa finished preparing dinner. When salad and garlic bread were prepared, awaiting their last minute details until just before serving and the braciole was simmering on the stove, Tessa set the table while Gavan tended the horses.
Arranging the third place setting on the table brought a realization to her mind, and a knot of anxiety crept through her. Jaime’s reaction to her becoming involved with Gavan never occurred to her. What if he was furious? And who might he get furious at? Would he be mad at her for messing with his good friend, potentially creating problems between them, or would he be pissed at Gavan for getting involved with his sister, showing his protective, big-brotherly side? She guessed that since he hadn’t returned her call from the first few days Gavan was in the house when she thought she wanted him out, idiot that she was, she’d just have to wait and find out what his reaction would be. She just hoped she could make him understand.
* * * *
Gavan whistled as he changed the water in the troughs, hauled oats, and spread hay. Thoughts of Tessa and the past few days swirled through his mind. He never thought he’d be able to be this happy. Hell, he never thought anybody would be capable of being this happy. He was thinking about how he’d have to thank Jaime for asking him to do this favor when he stopped in his tracks. His hand pushed through his hair and he uttered a quiet, “Fuck!” between clenched teeth.
Jaime.
He hadn’t thought of his friend and how he might feel about Gavan loving the woman he protected and cared for as though she was his little sister. The last thing he wanted to do was get Jaime pissed off, but how could he possibly help falling in love with Tessa? He’d just have to find a way to make him understand, explain that his intentions were completely honorable, and hope he’d eventually accept it.
* * * *
Tessa was adding wood to an already roaring fire when he entered the house.
She turned to him and smiled. “I thought we’d have some hot chocolate and relax before dinner. Good?”
He nodded, a secret smile on his lips. “Verra good. Got Bailey’s?”
Tessa pointed to the bar. “In the fridge behind there. I’ll take Chambord, though.”
He pulled the bottles he needed from behind the bar and carried them to the kitchen to make the drinks.
* * * *
Just like always, Jaime walked into the house he considered a second home through the garage door without knocking. Moving through the kitchen, he put the bouquet of stargazer lilies and bottles of wine on the counter. The aroma of dinner filled the air and his stomach growled. He lifted the lid off the big pot to sneak a peek at what gastronomic delight Tessa had prepared. As he did every Sunday, Jaime thanked the higher powers that Tessa loved to cook and her specialty was Italian. He loved Italian food and she was good at it. Looking at the salad that needed only to be dressed and the garlic bread waiting to be popped into the oven, it occurred to him then that it was odd that Tessa wasn’t bustling around the kitchen with last-minute preparations. Her vehicles were all in the garage and he could see all four horses in the pasture from the window.
Where could she be? The table was set and the fire was blazing. Maybe she was upstairs. As he passed the dining table to get to the stairs, he took a second look and saw the third place setting.
“That’s odd, we never have a third on Sundays. Alex maybe?” he muttered to himself.
Scratching his head, he moved toward the fire and stood behind the couch. He looked down then and saw them.
They were sleeping soundly as though the whole world around them didn’t even exist. Gavan lay on his back, his lips and nose buried in Tessa’s hair. Tessa was between Gavan and the back of the couch, her front against him, leg bent at the hip and knee, draped over his thighs, her head on his chest. Hi
s arms were around her, holding her as though to prevent her from slipping away. The familiarity and intimacy of their position was obvious. Even an idiot could see what had been going on between them. Jaime strode around to the front of the couch.
“Hey!” he shouted.
The sleeping couple started and stared at Jaime, their mouths agape.
* * * *
Gavan’s mind raced. He and Tessa had discussed it over their hot chocolates and decided together how to best let Jaime in on their secret. He’d planned to greet Jaime at the door and step outside with him to explain about their new relationship.
The significance of Jaime’s approval wasn’t lost on him. Tessa was so very close to her brother, he couldn’t stand to be the source of strife between them. In addition, Jaime had become his best friend, and the loss of that relationship would huge.
It was definitely a situation that required perfect timing, proper explanation, and tact.
Unfortunately, he’d been caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar and no longer had the opportunity to address the situation in a calm manner. The expression on Tessa’s face matched the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he’d completely blown the situation. The opportunity to lay the groundwork and prepare Jaime properly for the news that his sister and his best friend were involved had slipped through his fingers as he slept.
Visions of arguments and strained relationships filled his imagination and he immediately worried for Tessa. There was nothing left to do now but man up and salvage the situation as best he could.
“Hah!” Jaime said and pointed at them. “How good am I? Come on, give it up for me. I saw this, I just knew it!”
Lovell, Cooper - Tessa's Highlander (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 13