He had very quickly become the main focus in her life, the one thing everything else revolved around, especially over the last few weeks when she’d stopped working at her old job.

Predictably, her co-workers had been startled to learn she was resigning, especially so soon after the fire at her apartment building. Equally as expected, they’d been extremely curious about her reasons for leaving and what her future plans were. Tessa had been obliged to be as evasive as possible, merely telling anyone who asked that she just needed a little break and would be going back to school after a time. She knew Kevin in particular was dying to ask her a million more questions, and that everyone must be puzzled about how she could afford to take some time off of work. But she became quite adept at avoiding any detailed questions, and then swiftly changing the subject.

Andrew, the only person besides herself and Ian who knew the real truth, had remained stoically closed-mouthed on the matter, not that any of the team would have dared to actually probe him for gossip. On her last day of work, the whole team, including Andrew, had taken her out to lunch, and she’d had to fight off tears as she bid them all farewell.

Tessa had initially feared that she’d be bored without having a daily job to go to, but quickly found that to be very far from the truth. She loved living with Ian and taking care of him in dozens of different ways. Even though he urged her to sleep in, she always rose when he did each morning, making him tea and fixing him breakfast. If he had errands that needed doing, like dropping his suits at the dry cleaners, or picking up more shaving cream at the pharmacy, or buying his favorite scones at the bakery, she did all these things happily. It wasn’t just a matter of feeling useful, that she was earning her keep, so to speak. She simply liked looking after her man, maybe even spoiling him a little, just as he loved to indulge her.

She cooked dinner for him most nights, even though her culinary skills were still very basic, but she knew he loved the efforts she made to please him. He worked so hard at the office, had so much responsibility, that she could tell he was deeply grateful for the opportunity to just relax at home after a long, stressful day. She would have a cocktail waiting for him when he arrived, and they would sit out on the terrace or in the library, depending on the weather, and talk about their respective days before they sat down to eat dinner.

She’d had a full two weeks in between quitting her job and then accompanying him on this past week’s trip. To prepare for the trip, there had been countless phone calls and emails from Andrew, with endless lists of the tasks she would be expected to do, names and numbers of contacts she would need, plus half a dozen items he would “appreciate” her assistance with if she could spare the time.

Julia had been a great help when it came time to pack for the trip, helping her select appropriate outfits for each city, for day and night, and the right accessories. And Ian had insisted she spend a day right before they left on the trip at the Neiman Marcus salon - getting her hair cut, having a facial, a mani-pedi, a massage.

He’d smiled at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Have whatever girly treatments you’d like, my love. With two exceptions.”

She’d looked at him quizzically as he’d explained. “Don’t let them cut too much of this beautiful hair. I told you before that I like it long. As for the other.” He’d nuzzled her neck as his hand had slipped down past her belly to cup her sex. “No Brazilian waxes. I want this left natural.”

Since the very thought of someone applying hot wax to her private parts was just about the scariest idea she’d ever heard, Tessa had readily agreed.

The trip itself had been amazing, even though they both put in long hours at each of the hotels they visited, their days filled with meetings and reviews. Tessa was thrilled to actually be doing real work - taking notes during meetings and then transcribing them, sending faxes and printing reports, creating and updating all of his various spreadsheets, making sure the arrangements for lunch and dinner were confirmed. Ian had insisted that she accompany him to each meeting, lunch and dinner, and had made it very clear, albeit in a discreet, professional manner, that she was not only his PA but his companion as well. They stayed in the owner’s suite at each of the properties, each suite with its own private butler, and each one more lavishly appointed than the one before.

And of course, the very best part of living with and being with him nearly all the time, was his phenomenal sexual prowess. He was the sort of lover every woman could only dream of - the sort she in her naïve inexperience had never imagined truly existed. One night he might set out to seduce her slowly, taking his time with her, drawing out the anticipation until they were both mindless with need. And then, the very next night, he would take her roughly, demandingly, the sex wild and more than a little dirty. Tessa wasn’t sure what side of him she loved better - the erotic seducer or the dominant lover.

And of course there were many and varied versions of both of his personas. But it never mattered to Tessa what Ian’s particular mood called for from one day to the next - she loved them all, loved being his lover, loved making love with him. He had most definitely awakened her body to the point where she craved him like a physical need akin to breathing. She responded to not just his kisses and caresses, but to the sound of his voice, his scent, his very presence in the same room. During their business meetings or dinners, where they would strive to act like complete professionals and not the passionate lovers they were, their eyes would still meetacross the room, and it would be impossible for either of them to disguise the flare of awareness that passed between them every single time.

When they were alone, she would reach for him nearly as often as he did her - snuggling against him as they slept, sliding onto his lap as he sipped his tea or drank his brandy, running her hands over his bare torso as he shaved or brushed his teeth. Sometimes he teased her about having turned her into a sex maniac, but most of the time he would groan and sweep her into his arms, kissing her into oblivion, or carrying her to his bed.

Tonight, for his birthday, she had an extra special sexual experience planned for him, one she was fairly sure he would love. There was a chance, however slight, that he would balk at her idea, but she honestly didn’t think so. She was going to seduce him - plain and simple - and hopefully rock his well-ordered world into another galaxy.

With that goal in mind, she applied a heavier than normal makeup - her eyes darkly shadowed and lined, her skin glowing with the application of sparkly bronzer, her lips full and glistening beneath the shiny scarlet gloss. She’d taken a long, hot bath earlier, the sunken tub filled with fragrant, vanilla scented bath salts, and then exfoliated nearly every inch of her skin. She’d spent considerable time rubbing scented lotion on her arms, legs, belly, breasts, before lightly spritzing herself with the delicate floral perfume Ian had bought her, knowing it was the scent he preferred.