Tessa ran a tentative finger along the neckline. “It’s stunning, Ian. When -”

“I saw it in the window of a boutique in Vancouver,” he told her. “The instant I noticed it, I knew it could have been made for you. Coincidentally, the dress on the mannequin was the last one in stock and it just happened to be in your size.”

Upon closer inspection, she saw that the fabric was ruched from bust to hem, and would likely reach to just above the knee. “Did you want - is it for a particular occasion?”

He hung the dress back on the rack and nodded. “I’d very much like for you to wear it to dinner tomorrow evening. I reserved a table for us at a new restaurant across the bay in Sausalito. And as stunning as the dress is, you’re the one who’ll be truly stunning when you wear it.” He ran the tips of his long, elegant fingers across the upper curves of her breasts where they peeked out over the bath sheet. “A dress like this is really designed for one purpose, darling - to showcase a truly spectacular pair of breasts.”

Her breathing grew shallow as he continued to run a finger across her cleavage. “I, ah, would love to wear it tomorrow night. You’re sure it’s not too - well, revealing?”

A slow, very sexy smile crossed his features. “No, love, it will be just perfect. Trust me to know the difference between class and crass, hmm? Not to mention the fact that men already ogle you wherever we go, so I’m not about to have you display too much of your very impressive assets. There are some things,” he stepped in close to whisper huskily in her ear, “that will always be for my eyes only.”

Tessa’s cheeks grew warm at his very deliberate statement, and she could only nod in agreement even as he was opening another set of drawers and extracting two boxes. One box was long and slim, the other small and square, and both were of a deep burgundy velvet. She knew instinctively that they contained some sort of jewelry.

“Another small gift,” he told her. “I bought these at the jewelers inside the Gregson Hotel in Victoria.”

She picked up the smaller box first, and gasped when she lifted the lid. Inside was a pair of magnificent diamond solitaire earrings, the stones flawless and sparkling.

“They’re beautiful, Ian,” she told him, trying very hard not to feel overwhelmed by everything he was showering on her. “I don’t know the first thing about jewelry, but even I can tell these are perfect.”

He smiled, obviously pleased that she liked them, and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Perfect jewels for the perfect woman. Open the other box now.”

The long, slim box contained a short, delicate platinum chain from which was suspended a dazzling diamond pendant that appeared to match the earrings. Tessa didn’t even want to guess at how much these two pieces must have cost.

She brushed her thumb carefully over the pendant. “This is starting to go far beyond spoiling me, you know.”

“Not even close, love,” he corrected. “I’ve barely begun. And the diamonds will go very nicely with the dress tomorrow night.” He bent his head and dropped a quick kiss at the very top of her cleavage, causing her breath to hitch in surprise.

Tessa was immediately aroused by the way he was looking at her, and her expression must have betrayed her feelings all too clearly, for Ian cursed softly beneath his breath and took a step or two back.

“God, when you look at me that way,” he began, only to shake his head. He began rummaging through drawers and pulling out his own clothes. “We’d better get dressed, love, before I forget about dinner and carry you back to bed instead.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to do just that, but then she belatedly recalled the tenderness between her thighs and turned instead to start dressing.

She dropped the towel, and had just shimmied into a pair of white stretch lace boy shorts, when she heard the almost savage sound Ian made. Tessa gulped when she saw the way he was staring at her, his nostrils flaring as though he was a stallion scenting out a mare in heat. He wore a pair of low slung black lounge pants but his spectacular upper body was still bare.

“Jesus. You are just…” his voice trailed off, cracking a little as he walked towards her. “The way you look right now - in just those tiny lacy things, with those big tits all round and firm. You look like every temptation known to mankind. Look at yourself, Tessa, see yourself through my eyes.”

“Oh.” She made a small sound of surprise as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face the full length mirror mounted on one of the closet walls. Ian stepped in close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and the sharp contrast between their two bodies was just about the sexiest image she’d ever seen.

Her own form was soft and curvy, with her pale ivory skin and long blonde hair. Her bare breasts were full and swollen, the nipples already peaking. And then there was Ian - her darkly handsome lover with all the hard planes and muscles of his much bigger body, his tanned skin and midnight hair a stark contrast to her own coloring. He pressed his bare, warm chest against her back, and her head fell helplessly against his shoulder as she met his smoldering gaze in the mirror.

“Look at yourself, love,” he commanded. “Look at us.” One of his hands cupped her breast, his fingers plucking at the nipple and drawing a moan from her lips. “Your body was made for this, you know. Made for fucking. Made for me to fuck you.”

She whimpered as he cupped both of her aching breasts now, and she began to grind her ass against his hugely swollen erection. “Yes, for you, Ian. Always. Please - I need -”

“Shh.” His lips caressed the side of her throat. “I know what you need, love, better than you do yourself. Even after such a short time together, I already know every inch of this gorgeous body more intimately than you do. And you must trust me to always know what it is you need at any given moment.”

She gave a brief nod even as his hands slid down the sides of her ribcage to span her waist. “I do trust you, Ian. I do.”

“Good girl.” Ian brushed a kiss against her flushed cheek. “Because what you need right now is to eat something and rest a bit. I’ve been rough with you already tonight, Tessa, and your body isn’t used to this sort of physical activity. Don’t forget, love, you were very close to being a virgin the first time we made love, and there haven’t been all that many times we’ve been together since. I noticed you wincing when you were taking a shower a few minutes ago. No,” he admonished when she would have protested. “Don’t try to deny it. I told you - I already know your body better than you do.”