He cried out in a guttural, raw voice. “Jesus. Fuck, ah, God, fuck!”, alternately cursing and crying out her name as his back bowed off the bed. He came instantly and violently, spilling himself into her waiting mouth with uncontrolled gluttony. And when he thought himself drained, sucked dry, he kept coming, her hands and mouth coaxing him to continue spurting his hot, sticky cum down her throat as fast as she could swallow it. With a loud bellow, he wrenched his wrists free of the flimsy bonds and shoved his hands into her hair, holding her head still as his body kept shuddering with the brutal force of the climax.

And when he was finally, completely sated, he fell back limply on the pillow, his heart racing madly. He was utterly helpless to do anything but watch as Tessa crawled up his body until she was straddling his hips. Her ripe tits were within one deep breath of falling out of that fragile bra, the silk of her stockings rubbing sensually against his bare legs. Her blue eyes were smoky, half-shut, her cheeks flushed, but the single most erotic sight had to be the thick bead of cum that still clung to her chin.

She was beyond a mere goddess, more like a succubus, a sex demon here to steal the very soul from his body. And astonishingly, even though he’d just had the most intense orgasm of his life, he was getting hard again just looking at her.

Ian knew then, in that very moment, that he would never, ever give this woman up. College boys be damned, he would fight any other man to the death for her, beat them to a bloody pulp if they dared to try and take her from him. Tessa was everything he’d ever dared to hope for, and far more than he had ever permitted himself to even dream about. She was his, and he planned to keep her with him for eternity.

Ian reached up and brushed away the spot of semen from her chin. She clasped his wrist, pressing a kiss to the inside before gazing down at him sultrily.

“Naughty man, breaking free of your bonds. We might just have to tie you back up.”

“Not a chance in hell,” he retorted, as he easily held both of her hands still. “And speaking of naughty, you really did almost kill me this time, love. I think we ought to start keeping a tank of oxygen by the bed. And make certain we have 911 on speed dial.”

Tessa dissolved into a fit of giggles, lowering her head to his chest as his arms wrapped around her. “Does this mean you didn’t like your birthday present?”

He tipped her chin up and gave her a resounding kiss. “Ah, but I haven’t even finished unwrapping it yet, have I? And by the way. I like the gift wrap. Very, very much.”

She laughed. “I thought you might.”

With almost no effort, he scissored his ankles free of the satin straps before rolling her underneath him. “And where, my very naughty little miss, did you learn that particular trick? Don’t give me that innocent look - you know exactly what I mean.”

She blushed, then fidgeted beneath his intense regard before admitting in a whispered tone, “Um, Julia sort of, well, suggested it. She told me in the ladies room it would drive you wild. Did it, um, work?”

Ian laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes, rolling onto his side and wrapping her in his arms. “Good God, wait until I tell Nathan that his very wicked fiancée was giving my girl tips on blow jobs while they were visiting the loo. And, yes, my little wanton, it worked very, very well.” He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Remind me to send Julia a dozen roses tomorrow as a thank you for sharing her little, ah, tip.” He slid one of her bra straps down, baring her breast. As his fingers plucked the hardened peak of her nipple, he whispered in her ear, “And if your very naughty friend has any more advice she’d like to share with you, it might even be worth a new pair of those very expensive shoes she loves so much.”

Chapter Nineteen

May - Tucson

“Now, don’t be thinking that just because you’ve brought Tessa along with you that I’ll be willing to forgive the fact it’s been a very long time since your last visit.”

Ian and Tessa exchanged a knowing look as Francine Carrington regarded both of them sternly. Mrs. C. hadn’t changed one bit since the last time either of them had seen her. Over the years far too many people had assumed from her small, almost delicate appearance that she was also fragile in nature. It usually took less than a minute in her presence to realize that nothing could be farther from the truth.

Even in the heat of a late Arizona spring, Francine insisted on wearing one of her proper, severely tailored tweed suits and a high-necked blouse. Ian wondered if this particular beige suit had been one she’d worn while still working in London. He couldn’t help but think it seemed oddly familiar to him. Her hairstyle hadn’t changed in twenty years either - her obviously dyed auburn hair scraped back into a tight bun from which even one errant strand didn’t dare escape. And even through the thick lenses of her glasses, her gaze was as sharp as ever, never missing a trick or the tiniest detail. Ian wasn’t certain he would ever truly get over being terrified by one of her scathing glances.

But it seemed that after all these years he had finally discerned Mrs. C’s one soft spot, which by some fortunate coincidence was also his own weakness - Tessa. He could have sworn he’d seen Mrs. C’s eyes looking a bit moist when he and Tessa had entered her office just a few minutes ago, and the older woman had actually given Tessa a brief hug. Not so himself, of course. She would never dream of being so familiar with a superior, and had instead given him one of her surprisingly firm hand shakes.

Francine looked Tessa over critically, her razor sharp gaze not missing a thing. “You look exceptionally well, dear. I see Ian has done something about replacing that appalling Walmart wardrobe of yours, thank God.” She flicked her fingers over the collar of Tessa’s ivory silk blouse. “But the blouse is cut a bit too low for the office. And the skirt needs to be lowered an inch or two.”

Ian shook his head in amusement. “Leave her alone, Mrs. C. Tessa is dressed exactly as I prefer her to be. I’m afraid you don’t get to boss her around any longer.”

Francine shot him an evil look. “But then she doesn’t officially work for you any longer either, does she, Ian?” She scowled at Tessa. “I do hope you’re not letting him take complete control of everything in your life. He might be the boss at work, but I trust you remember to stick up for yourself at other times?”

Tessa gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s not like that at all. He’s wonderful to me, treats me like a princess. And I’ve never been so happy.”