Chapter 19
Tessa couldn’t believe the way the warriors were taking care of them. Not only were they taking care of her, but they were making room for Adam and Jill along with the other half-breeds that had crossed to their side and her grandfather as well. Jared felt her grandfather wasn’t safe at the nursing home and until this was over he would stay in the compound. She had been worried about her grandfather, but he seemed happy as he followed Sid to a room he would be staying in. They were also going to have one of their medical staff, who worked on site, take care of his needs. Jill had helped Tessa pack some things and then they were off. Every worry Tessa had Jared or Sid had already taken care of it.
“You’re going to be staying in my room.” Jared carried her up the stairs and down the hall.
Tessa felt warmth zing through her body. Glancing at him under lowered lashes she knew a night in his bed would be a night she’d never forget. “Ah, okay.”
“I don’t use it much, but with all the new occupants we’ve acquired, we’re giving up our rooms.” He stopped in front of a closed door.
Reaching down Tessa twisted the knob pushing the door open. It was a large plain room with a huge bed obviously for his long thick body, a recliner in the corner and a dresser. “I don’t want to take your room Jared. I can sleep in the recliner. I’ve slept in worse, believe me.”
He sat her on the bed tossing her bag beside her. “You will sleep in my bed.” His tone was final.
She wanted to ask if he’d be in it, but didn’t. She felt more comfortable with him after their talk, but not that comfortable. “But where are you going to sleep?”
He walked across the room pushing open another door. “I don’t sleep much and we usually do runs at night. I pretty much work around the clock.” He flicked on a light in the other room. “Here’s the bathroom. The phone is over there. I need to give you my cell number.”
Tessa handed him her phone and watched as he plugged his number in her contacts. She watched him closely. He was so handsome and seemed so in control over his surroundings. It made her heart beat fast and hard knowing that she could reach out and touch him. She took her phone back tossing it on her bag. “Thanks.” Was all she could think to say.
“Call me for anything.” Jared demanded walking toward the closet grabbing some clean clothes which reminded Tessa how filthy she was.
“Is there a shower in the bathroom?” Tessa looked that way, but couldn’t tell.
“Yeah.” He frowned, looking down at her feet he had cleaned and wrapped before leaving her house. “We’re going to have to figure something out. You really shouldn’t be walking around with your feet unwrapped until some of those cuts heal. You don’t want to get infection.”
Tessa nodded. “I can just shower with the dressing on, then rewrap. It’s no big deal.” She rummaged through her bag grabbing clean clothes, toothbrush and comb. Standing, she grabbed her stuff limping to the bathroom with shuffled steps. Her immobility with Jared carrying her everywhere had made her feet stiff and walking now was torture, but she tried to hide it.
Watching her closely Jared stood still, but ready if she needed his help. “There’s towels under the sink.”
Making it to the bathroom without screaming in pain was a great accomplishment until Tessa tripped over the small rug she hadn’t seen. She stumbled forward slamming her battered feet on the tile floor to catch herself. Before she fell face first Jared grabbed her around the stomach pulling her flush against his body.
“I’m sorry.” Tessa groaned in both embarrassment and pain. “I’ve been nothing but trouble for you since you met me.”
Tightening his arm around her stomach he leaned down, his breath tickling her ear. “I love trouble.” His whisper made her shiver. “You need me to help you.” It wasn’t a question. He reached down grabbing the sweatshirt she had put on at her house lifting it over her head, but she stopped him.
“I can do it.” Tessa tugged as he pulled.
“Stop.” His tone was firm, but gentle. “Let me help you. I don’t want you slipping in the shower.”
Okay, she didn’t want him to see her naked in the light. Yeah, she had a serious issue with that. If she ever would be naked with him she hoped it would be dark, under covers with minimal touching on his part, only important area touching. “Will you look?” She asked, shyly looking away.
“Probably.” When her eyes shot back to his, he smiled. “Sorry, but honestly I’m not that much of a gentleman honey. You’re a beautiful woman and I would love to see that body you hide under oversized shirts.”
Tessa was so stunned by his words she let him slip the sweatshirt over her head. Snapping out of her ‘duh’ state she crossed one arm over her breast covered by a simple unsexy bra and the other crossed over her not so flat stomach. Her cheeks flared with heat as his eyes slid down her body.
“Never hide from me.” He frowned at her, his eyes snaring hers in a stare so intense her heart beat a rapid tempo. His large hands cupped her shoulders then slowly ran down her arms to her elbows. Gently he pulled her arms away from what his eyes sought. When she bowed her head shyly, he tipped her chin up with his fingers. “You are breathtaking.”
Tessa searched his eyes and only saw truth. The look in his eyes said he wanted her. A confident thrill surged through her body. His hand opened grasping her whole chin, his thumb running back and forth across her lower lip before sliding down her neck. His eyes never leaving hers as one finger continued the path down her neck, between her breasts to stop at the front clasp of her bra. The only sound in the small bathroom was her shallow breaths and the click of the clasp. Her eyes closed praying he wouldn’t be disappointed when he finally looked, finally saw in the light what she tried to hide. The sight of her body had never brought pleasure to the only other person who had ever seen her naked and she was terrified….terrified that he would find her lacking.
“Open your eyes Tessa.” Jared ordered softly, his palm resting between her breasts. “I want you to see how much you and your body please me.”
Her eyes drifted open as if in a dream to see this handsome man looking at her with desire burning in his darkening eyes. She felt his hands, feather light, push the straps of her bra down her arms, his eyes still on hers until her bra hit the ground. His hands swept back up her arms as his eyes lowered, a deep growl escaping his throat. “I have never wanted anything more than I want you.”
Tessa swallowed hard, visibly shaken by his words. No man had ever looked at her this way. No other man had ever said things that he said to her. Never had any man affected her the way this man….this warrior did. Feeling a little more confident she reached up placing her shaky hand on the hardness of his cheek. He may be sprouting the biggest line she’d ever heard, but she was past caring. She just wanted to feel special one time in her life and right now she had never felt more special. “Then take me, Jared.”
His growl bounced through the room as he grasped the back of her head pulling her mouth roughly to his. The kiss was fierce. Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck so tightly, it felt so good to be held…to be wanted. His hands had moved to her jeans and out of habit she sucked in her stomach shying away from his touch. He pulled his mouth from hers. “I am going to touch every inch of you Tessa.” His lips touched the curve of her neck making their way down her shoulder, across her chest down between her breasts as his hands cupped the sides of her full breast. He kissed his way down her stomach to the button on her jeans. “Your body was made for me.” He groaned, his eyes taking in every inch of her.
Tessa fought against covering her stomach. She’d never had the perfect flat stomach, not that she didn’t try thousands of times to achieve the look, but total failure every time. Her hips were too wide, not to mention her ass, which thank God he wasn’t looking at. Her mom always said she had a woman’s body and shouldn’t be ashamed of it. Finally unable to stand his gaze any longer her arms went automatically to her stomach. “Jared, I….”
He shook his head moving her arms again as he stood. Grasping her with one hand beneath her ass he moved her closer to the wall before setting her back down gently and pinning her arms above her head. “You need to get use to me looking at you Tessa because I plan on doing it often.” His gaze slipped down her body before sliding back to her eyes. “Damn girl, you’re going to drive me insane.”
A small groan caught in the back of her throat escaping only when she let the breath she was holding out. He still held her hands above her head against the wall with one hand, his other hand unsnapped the button on her jeans. Tucking his thumb in the waistband he hooked her jeans and undies at the same time working them over her hips, he lowered his head taking her lips again as he worked them down showing a definite talent at removing a woman’s clothing with one hand while kissing her senseless. He was everywhere, her whole body was being affected by him and she was useless to stop him, didn’t want to stop him. She wanted this more than she wanted breath.
Totally losing touch with reality, Tessa felt herself being picked up and carried into the shower. Jared stood with his back to the water making sure it wasn’t too hot before turning around and placing her down. Grabbing the soap he stopped her from taking it from him.
“Please…let me take care of you.” His voice was deep, his golden eyes, now black with desire. Making a snap decision she let the soap slide out of her hand and into his. The look in his eyes told her that she wouldn’t regret her decision. Her eyes strayed to his neck, slowly making their way down his wide chest to his hard stomach and finally to his…..jeans. Her head snapped up.
“Why are you wearing jeans when I’m totally naked?” Tessa frowned, feeling even more naked if that was at all possible.
Jared tore his focus on bathing her. “Because I know my limits and honey, you wet and naked is a hard limit for me.”
“That’s not really fair.” Tessa grumbled. “If I have to be naked, then so should you. I want to see you as much as you wanted to see me.”
Jared groaned and chuckled at the same time. “Honey, let me finish this pleasure before moving to the next because as soon as I remove my jeans it’s going to get real.” He winked at her. “I only have so much control when it comes to you.”
Her stomach trembled at his words. She tried to stay still while his hands lathered and cleaned her body. Each sweep of his hand over her body drew her closer to the edge of madness. Every time she reached out to touch him, he would stop her with ease making her forget the journey her hands wanted to take, but then she would remember and again he would stop her. Finally sick of not being able to touch him, she leaped at him putting her arms around his neck as one of her shaking hands traveled down his hard chest. She grinned at his deep harsh groan when she followed her hand with kisses down his chest. Before she could get to his hard, rippled stomach he stopped her….again.
“Damn woman!” He gripped her jaw bringing her mouth to his. Kissing him with everything she had her hands moved to his jeans, down the front over the bulge that set her heart beating a frantic tempo and gripping him with enough pressure to make him moan in her mouth and push against her hand. “You keep that up and we’re not going to make it out of this shower.” His growl vibrated against her lips.
Tessa nipped his bottom lip feeling brave. She wanted him and was tired of being shy about it. By the feel of him he wanted her too, she just needed to keep her head about her and not get too carried away. This was just sex, something she hadn’t had in forever and needed badly.
“That’s fine with me.” She whispered running her hand back to the snap of his jeans. This time he didn’t stop her. Her hands fumbled in nervous anticipation. She prayed she didn’t make a fool out of herself. Sex with Otis had been….boring, hardly any touching or play before he was pounding inside her finding his release. He had always made her feel stupid when she tried to do something different, so she had stopped, she had laid there and pretended she liked it, not that it would have mattered. Otis never seemed to care whether she liked it or not. He did his thing, rolled off her looking pleased as if he had just done her a tremendous favor, leaving her feeling used and wanting.
“Hey?”
Jared’s voice broke into her memories, her hands had stilled on the button of his jeans. She was afraid to see the look in his eyes that she had seen in Otis’s eyes, the look of disappointment.
“I don’t know what demons you’re fighting, but I plan on putting them to rest.” Jared’s voice was sure and strong. “If you’re having second thoughts because you don’t want me that’s fine, but if it’s because of something in the past I plan on erasing that tonight. I want you Tessa. Never have I wanted anything more.” He reassured her, his eyes kind.
Tessa shivered, his words exactly what she needed to hear. “I’m sorry.”
Jared’s features changed to disappointment. Reaching around her without touching her, he turned off the water. “I’ll get you a towel and some clothes.”
“No. You don’t understand.” Tessa stopped him from leaving the shower. “I’m sorry I’m acting like this. It’s just…this is new to me.”
“What do you mean this is new to you?” His eyes narrowed then shot open in shocked surprise. “You’re not a….”
“No.” Tessa hurried to reassure him she wasn’t a virgin. “But I’ve only been with one man and…”
“Oat?” He growled, his eyes turning dark.
She nodded. “He never looked at me. It was always dark or under the covers.” Tessa blushed feeling like an idiot, but she wanted him to understand that this had nothing to do with him. It was all her and he was right, she did have demons. “Nothing I did pleased him. He made me feel cheap and stupid if I tried to do something different. So I’m sorry I’m acting like a sixteen year old virgin, but I don’t think I can handle seeing the look of disappointment in your eyes that I saw in his every time he rolled off me.”
Jared sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. He felt the cold roll off her body as she stood naked and wet before him. Reaching out he grabbed a large towel wrapping her in it. “First of all….” He brushed a wet strand of hair off her face. “Oat is a f*cking idiot.” He raised his eyebrow waiting for her to agree.
Nodding her head, Tessa did agree with that wholeheartedly.
“Secondly, while I understand your feelings you need to understand mine. The first moment I watched you run into our integration room holding that gun I knew I was going to have you. In my eyes you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. When she started to speak he placed a finger across her lips. “And lastly, if you ever bring up that sorry son of a bitch when I have you naked and in my arms I will find the dumb bastard and kill him.”
A slow smile crossed her lips, but when her gaze met his she saw he wasn’t kidding. Unfolding the towel that hid her body she spread it out and dropped it from her hands standing in front of him without a hint of shame. She felt beautiful for the first time in her life and she’d be damned if anything was going to ruin this moment for her. “Thank you.” She smiled up at him, wanting him to know what his words had meant to her.
His smile spread to meet hers. He picked her up holding her close to his chest. “Now let me show you how welcome you are.” His voice was low and sexy as he stepped out of the shower.