Tessa's Highlander

Love’s Influence

Tessa’s Highlander Erotic horror author Tessa Danvers's limited experience with men has her convinced that she just doesn't need to waste time on them. Her writing career is hot enough, and she recently purchased the home of her dreams. When a scheduling conflict prevents her cousin Jaime from making some much-needed renovations to her new house, he sends his friend, Gavan Murdoch—a gorgeous, hulking Scotsman with a brogue thicker than Highland fog—in his place. One look at the diminutive author and Gavan's protective defenses are up. He swore off women years ago following a devastating heartbreak. After getting off to a very rocky start with Tessa in an effort to keep her at arms' length, Gavan succumbs to his desire for the petite, hot-tempered author, only to learn that he'll have no choice but to share her with millions of other men. Genre: Contemporary Length: 48,385 words

TESSA’S HIGHLANDER Love’s Influence

Cooper Lovell

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance TESSA’S HIGHLANDER Copyright © 2011 by Cooper Lovell E-book ISBN: 1-61034-716-1 First E-book Publication: August 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Tessa’s Highlander by Cooper Lovell from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Cooper Lovell’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Lovell’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION This book is for all the authors who have created heroes I’ve fallen in love with and for Lori who has been my unwavering cheerleader since I couldn’t sleep one night and decided to do some writing.

TESSA’S HIGHLANDER Love’s Influence COOPER LOVELL Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Tessa couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Jaime promised her weeks ago he’d do this for her. Now, he was telling her another job took precedence because of an emergency and was sending another contractor in his place. “C’mon, T. You know if I could do it myself I would,” Jaime said. “The job I’m doing right now has major deadlines, and if I don’t keep up my end on the timing, they’ll sack Danvers Construction. I have no control over the weather, and all this damn snow has really messed with my schedule.” Tessa’s brother Jaime was three years older. Their family had been very close and they relied on each other frequently. When Tessa was in her last year of college, their parents were killed in a car accident while on vacation in Europe. They’d become orphans in one devastating phone call. The guilt in his voice was palpable and Tessa relented. “Look, Jaime, I understand. It’s just that I have a lot going on, too. My editor’s on my butt about the book, and having a stranger coming in and out of my house all day doesn’t exactly thrill me. Honestly? You know how I hate having people I don’t know in here when I’m busy.” She released an irritated sigh and ran her fingers through her hair.

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“What if I just hold off on the renovations until you have time to do them yourself? I’d rather wait for you to do it.” She could just kick herself for not foreseeing the need to have built-in ladders and step-ups wherever possible in the house. Despite its overall cottage-like appearance, the house was built on a grand scale. It wasn’t a huge house, but the sizeable rooms all had high, vaulted or cathedral ceilings, and the amenities boasted larger-thanlife dimensions, which made life for a five-foot-one shrimp, like herself, frustrating. It was the price for having a penchant for all things big. She’d loved the house since she was a little girl and always called it the “enchanted cottage” because, to her, it looked like something straight out of a storybook. The bonus and advance she’d earned after her third book debuted on the ten best-sellers list arrived only weeks after she noticed the house had been put on the market. Immediately following her move into the house, Jaime made himself available to handle a laundry list of repairs and renovations. He and his crew provided her with three long months of near constant noise and general mayhem. But in the end, the inconvenience of sharing her days with a construction crew was well worth it. She had been able to purchase her dream home and had it renovated and decorated to her liking. It was comfortable, unique, and aesthetically pleasing. She loved it. “Listen, I wouldn’t send Doc over in my place if he wasn’t a first rate master carpenter. He’s more than a carpenter, T. He’s built a reputation as an artist. I’m actually really psyched that he’s available. He just returned from Mexico where he was working on some millionaire’s mansion for the last year. I’ve sent him all the specs on the house with the details of the renovations you want. Really, if you think about, it’s actually a better situation for you, T.” “Oh? And how is that, exactly?” “Well, since basically everything that needs to be done is woodworking and he’s a master carpenter, he won’t need to haul a crew in with him. He’ll be able to do the job alone. That should

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seriously cut down on the annoyance factor, right?” Tessa rolled her eyes. “If you say so. I guess, in a way, you could be right, considering I have this ridiculous photo shoot for some magazine that I’m just dreading scheduled to come here next week. Having a construction crew and a film crew here at the same time would definitely suck.” She couldn’t help but smile at the sound of relief in Jaime’s voice as he quickly jumped on her change of heart. “Great then, it’s all set. I’ll tell Doc to be there tomorrow morning. Oh, and since I’m so tied up on this other site, I probably won’t be over for dinner for a couple of weeks. Talk to ya later, T.” He hung up before she could say another word. Placing the phone back in its base, she turned toward the back door. “He better be right about this guy,” Tessa grumbled to herself as she headed out to the barn to take care of the horses. **** Greetings of “Hey! Happy to see ya!”, whinnies, and nickers helped to curb Tessa’s annoyance at the whole Doc situation. She grabbed four apples and fed one each to Rusty, her pony who acted more like a dog than an equine, Jasmine, the palomino that she loved to take for long, relaxing rides so they could have girl talk, Aladdin, her jet-black Arabian that she rode with an ease that led one to believe they became one being when she was astride him, and last but not least, her newest addition to the barn. The big, beautiful Blanco. His former owner tried to talk her out of the purchase, warning that he had an untamable wild streak and that such a large horse, eighteen hands, would be too much for such a little girl. But Tessa would not be swayed. From the moment she saw the whiter-than-white giant, her mind had been made up. She worked her way through the evening chores, giving each

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horse a quick brush down while she vented her anger at Jaime’s change in plans. By the time she had everyone settled for the night, she’d done enough complaining and physical labor that her anger was gone, replaced by resignation and exhaustion. After a quick dinner of soup and salad, Tessa sat before her computer staring at the list of final revisions to her latest book. She worked long into the night, and when she looked up to see that it was after two in the morning, she saved her changes, tossed her Passport into the wall safe, and went to bed. Unfortunately, the revisions, the renovations, the strange guy she expected tomorrow, and that damned upcoming photo shoot kept playing in her mind like internal movies. On the one hand, she was beyond thrilled that she had managed to make what was, at this point, a successful career out of writing, which was something she loved to do. On the other hand, though, her sudden popularity among the fans of her novels was something she hadn’t been prepared for. It turned out she’d stumbled into quite the niche with her blend of horror and erotica. When her first book hit the shelves, it drew a quick and loyal fan base, largely comprised of college-aged males. Her second book catapulted right to the top ten, resulting in preorders for the third book, which, at that point, was only an outline. Sometime between the second and third books she had been assigned a publicist when word got to her editor that fan sites were being created in her honor. One had named her “High Priestess of Horror,” a nickname that caught on among her fans like wildfire. Instant celebrity, unusual for a new, young author, became part of Tessa’s routine. She’d enjoyed making appearances to discuss her books and appeared on a few minor national talk shows. She fielded the typical questions like, “How does a nice girl like you dream up such dark storylines?” or, “Have you heard that yours is the best-selling poster on college campuses?” and the like. Two issues ago, the trendy men’s magazine Appointed named her the ultimate fantasy in the twenty-to-forty age demographic. When the issue hit the stands, her publicist decided it

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would be a good idea to make the most of it and scheduled the upcoming photo shoot for the magazine. Ugh. Just the thought of what could be in store for her on this shoot made sleep impossible. She saw 4:17 appear on the clock before she finally fell asleep. At six, her alarm sounded and she dragged herself out of bed, groaning the entire time, and stumbled into the shower. She towel dried her hair and dragged a brush through the long, sandy blonde layers, grimaced at its typical unruliness, and gave up, tossing the brush onto the vanity top. Her eyes were gray and red—gray irises surrounded by bloodshot whites—but a couple of eyedrops relieved the effects of sleep deprivation. Feeling every bit as haggard as she looked, she pulled on a creamy, short-waisted turtleneck sweater, her favorite 505s, and a pair of thick, wooly socks and went downstairs. The mug of much-needed, very light coffee was millimeters from her lips when the doorbell rang. “Here we go,” Tessa said aloud, feeling the irritation of having her plans changed against her wishes creep back up her neck as she walked to the door, coffee mug in hand. The bell sounded again as she reached for the door. “Jeez, give a person time to walk across a room,” she groused, pulling the large door open. “Gavan Murdoch. Jaime sent me.”

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Chapter Two Oh God. Oh, great, glorious, benevolent God. “I…um, I’m…Yes. Tessa. Yes!” she stammered. Standing in her doorway was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. The split-second glimpse of his face upon opening the door simultaneously sent a shiver down her spine and a warm rush through her middle. Surreptitiously, she looked down to see if her tongue was actually lying on the floor and was amazed to see that it wasn’t. Starting at his big, brown work boots, her eyes began the long journey up to his ruggedly handsome face. Strong, muscular thighs strained slightly against the perfectly worn-in, low-slung jeans. Jeans that also hugged slim hips and attempted, in vain, to conceal behind the button fly a very impressive front bulge. Above the waistband of his jeans, the ripple of washboard abs was easily visible beneath a very taut hunter green tee. His wide chest was partially hidden by the winter-weight Carhartt jacket that hung open, and his shoulders were so wide that most of the sunlight was blocked out from behind him. Somewhere in the distance she could hear her voice shouting, Stop staring like an idiot. Man, she really, really hoped that voice was in her head and not actually coming out of her mouth. She licked her lips as she felt the warmth that had gathered in her belly move down, making her pussy twitch. In order to see his face, it was necessary to tilt her head back. Lord, the man had to be at least six and a half feet tall. When she finally focused, his eyes were looking into hers. Beautiful, darkamber-colored eyes that locked with hers, and she momentarily found herself unable to look away. Above his eyes were winged brows, one

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of which was arched in question. Maybe wondering if she was a dangerous or nondangerous kind of lunatic. His jaw was strong below rugged but high cheekbones, and his mouth was sexy as all hell, bottom lip full and a little pouty with an upper lip that looked like it could and did pull off the wickedest of sneers. Oh, the things that mouth is probably capable of, Tessa thought before she could stop herself and felt the wetness between her legs dampen her panties as her pussy twitched again. What was going on there? She’d never had a reaction like this before. His skin was tanned to a golden brown, and she remembered Jaime saying something about him spending the last year in Mexico. When she tore her gaze from his face, she saw that his shoulder-length, wavy hair was exactly the color of a Hershey bar. Gorgeous, rich-chocolate brown with threads of gold laced through it, more evidence of the kiss of the Mexican sun. Jaime hadn’t sent her a master carpenter; he’d sent her a god. A freaking, bona fide Golden God! She had no idea the coffee mug had slipped from her fingers until she heard the crash on the tile. “Oh no!” Tessa exclaimed as she looked down at the mess. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I splattered your boots!” “Is’na’ worry, lass,” the Glorious God said quietly. Tessa’s mind reeled and her stomach did a flip-flop. A Scottish burr! How motherfucking hot was that? His voice was all deep and rumbly. That voice, combined with the burr, seeped over her like warm honey. Another gush in her panties. She couldn’t help but wonder what the etiquette was for excusing yourself to change your soaking underwear. In an attempt to regroup and avoid further embarrassment, she tilted her head back, smiled, stuck out her right hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Tessa, please come in.” Instead of taking her hand, the Golden God only grunted, reached

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down to pick up his toolbox, and stepped over the puddle of coffee and broken ceramic and past Tessa into the house. She was about to get good and annoyed at his obvious brush-off, but it evaporated like a wisp of smoke when she caught the vision of his fine, firm ass. Tessa glanced down stupidly at her snubbed hand and let it drop back to her side as he looked appraisingly around the house. Without looking back at her, he said, “It’s likely best if you show me what you’d like, and I’ll make some notes of my own on the specs that Jaime gave me.” She gave her head a little shake, took a deep breath to bring herself back into the here and now, and squeezed around Gavan— Lord but the man was huge—to lead him the rest of the way into the house. All the while, she was wondering what species of bug had crawled up that phenomenal butt to make him so standoffish or if he was just generally pissy. Then it occurred to her. An expression had flashed across his face when she opened the door. What was that look? Disgust? Yup, that had to be it. Being Jaime’s friend, of course he’d know about her books. She’d encountered this before. Yet another person who read her books and decided that because she had a full, rich, descriptive, and admittedly slightly bizarre imagination, she was somehow defective, bad, or twisted. How dare he? **** After Gavan pulled the paperwork from the protective cardboard tube, Tessa described the modifications and improvements she wanted. In the working area in her library, she pointed out that since the wall-to-wall bookshelves were twelve feet high and were all full of reference and research books she used regularly for her writing, she

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wanted rolling ladders on each wall for easier access to the higher shelves. The solarium, just off the library, required some step-stool type installations so that various plants could be reached with ease. All the while, Gavan silently nodded and took notes, only speaking when absolutely necessary. The silent, pensive Golden God. As they moved through the house and Tessa further explained her needs, she tried her best to be charming and gracious, for which she received only nods, steely looks, and a twitching jaw muscle. While they were in the kitchen, Gavan turned to her to finally speak and said, “You require a lot of work tae make your life easier. You could just get a smaller house.” It took all of Tessa’s strength to smile sweetly while inside she raged. Gorgeous or not, this guy was a jerk and she needed to get away from him before she offended him, for Jaime’s sake. Tessa stood up as straight as possible and thrust her chin out in defiance. “Mr. Murdoch, you have all of my brother’s specs as well as the original blueprints from the renovations two years ago. I believe that should be sufficient for you to do your job here. If you have a question, I’ll be in my library working. Please knock before entering.” With that, she retrieved the dustpan and brush from the pantry and went to clean up the idiotic mess she’d made at the feet of the gorgeous but obnoxious ogre, mumbling curses under her breath the whole time. **** Hours later, Tessa stared at the computer monitor, not working at all. Instead, she sat thinking about the hulking hunk of man currently wandering about her home. She’d known he existed. Jaime had met him, what was it? Seven or so years ago? They’d been working on the same job and had remained friends. She could always tell that Jaime had immense respect for Gavan as a person and for his work, which

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definitely counted for something. But Jaime had said more than once that Gavan was a loner, which was probably why he’d never accepted invitations to parties she and Jaime held or even just joined them for dinner occasionally when asked. Granted, sometimes he was away on business for extended periods of time or just plain busy. But other times, Jaime had told her he knew he was declining because he just didn’t want to come. So, in seven years, she’d never met this man that Jaime considered one of his very best friends. Her mind wandered to Gavan’s lips. His lips were sinfully beautiful. She imagined him pressing them to hers to possess her mouth, then moving down, concentrating on her neck then finally on to her breasts. Her real nipples, not just the ones in her mind, tightened at the thought of him pulling them between his teeth to lightly graze them as he suckled. Her own hand came up to pinch herself through her sweater to assuage some of the pressure building there because of her fantasy. Oh, she wondered how it would feel if those lips wrapped around her clit and suckled while pumping one or even two of those big, manly fingers in and out of her cunt until she screamed. After that, he would pull out what was hiding, or not, as the case may be, behind the fly of his jeans and push it into her till she flew into oblivion. Another gush in her panties. She squirmed in her seat and wondered why she was suddenly suffering such attacks of lust and desire. She couldn’t recall ever experiencing such physical longing in her life. Yeah, she wrote really graphic scenes regularly for her books and did some crazy research to do it. From romance novels to how-to books to outright porn, she collected information wherever she could. And while she knew on some level her books were super hot, she just never felt that way herself. Basically, nobody did it for her like that. After one last valiant but fruitless effort to concentrate on work, she gave up to make lunch. Tessa decided that since the work on her house would most likely

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take several weeks, she should make nice and decided to offer an olive branch in the form of lunch. When she walked into the kitchen, though, she saw Gavan on the patio eating a sandwich from his lunch box like it was seventy-five degrees outside instead of twenty-five. She pursed her lips and rolled back the sliding door. He didn’t turn to look at her so she cleared her throat a little and saw that he ceased his chewing, which she figured was going to be it, as far as acknowledgement was going to go. “Um, it’s awfully cold out here and I’m about to make myself some lunch. Would you like to come in and join me? I could make you some soup to go with your sandwich.” Without turning, Gavan quietly said, “No, thank you. I’m fine.” Tessa slowly and deliberately slid the door shut with all the control she had in her body in order to keep from slamming it, turned, and mumbled under her breath as she strode into the kitchen to make lunch. She slapped two pieces of salami on a roll as she muttered under her breath about rude jackasses. The addition of a slice of cheese was accompanied by a diatribe regarding the arrogance of some people. The spreading of the mustard earned a list of conditions and behaviors she simply would not tolerate. This big oaf was supposed to be one of Jaime’s best friends, and she wondered how a fun-loving goofball like her brother managed to be friends with such a morose boor. Obviously, the man didn’t have a sense of humor or a courteous bone in his body. Talk about tall, dark, and brooding. **** By the time she finished lunch, the effects of getting less than two hours sleep were creeping up on her. She retreated to her bedroom to grab a much-needed catnap in the hope she’d be less irritable. Throughout the afternoon, she could hear the sounds of Gavan working and she alternated between working on her laptop and dozing

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in and out around the noise. Just before five, the noise stopped completely. She rolled off the bed and padded downstairs. As she reached the last step, she saw Gavan slipping his massive shoulders into his jacket. “I’ll be back tomorra’ then,” Gavan said without looking at her as he bent to pick up his things and left. She followed him to the door and closed it behind him. Tessa leaned back against it and listened as Gavan loaded his tools into his truck and finally drove away. “Arrrrgggghhhh! What a brute! What a Neanderthal! Was that man raised in a cave, or what? No manners at all!” Tessa complained as she stomped away from the door. She snatched up the phone with a vengeance, shouting “Rude!” with each punch of a number, intending to give Jaime hell for sending that obnoxious giant to her house, but got his voice mail. Grrrrrr…talk about unsatisfying. “Jaime, it’s Tessa. Please call me when you get this. This thing with Murdoch isn’t going to work at all.” She stood in the middle of her great room and tried to decide what to do to burn off some of the nervous energy that anger and annoyance was stirring in her. She glanced toward the library and knew work was out of the question. She considered curling up with a book in front of the fireplace, but with her level of agitation, no book would hold her interest. Finally, she settled on a nice, decidedly large glass of burgundy accompanied by a soak in the tub. After pouring her favorite lavender bubble bath into the hot water, she slipped off her clothes and stepped into the tub. Leaning back, wine glass in hand, she luxuriated in the bubbles and warmth that submerged her up to her chin. Grabbing the remote that lay on the shelf next to the tub, she turned on the fireplace. A fireplace in every room was her biggest luxury, and she never took it for granted. She realized she was so frustrated she wanted to cry, frustration being the emotion that brought her to tears faster than any other, but knew that would have been completely silly. Oh, sure, when she

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opened her door this morning, for some bizarre reason, she had seen her entire future in the carpenter’s beautiful eyes. She’d never had anything resembling a real relationship—she’d never really wanted one. Maybe it was because she’d always been so preoccupied with writing. In high school, she spent her time jotting down stories in every spare moment. That habit continued when she attended Brown, where she had managed to complete her first manuscript that eventually got published. Then, once out of college, writing became a profession and subsequently an obsession. There’s nothing like an obsession and the pursuit of higher education to occupy your mind and your time. She’d had two boyfriends in college, both relatively short-term and both utterly forgettable. The first had clumsily taken her virginity, and the second was the last lover she’d had. Neither of them left a lasting impression on her sexually or emotionally. Since then, she’d dated occasionally, but no one really interested her enough to make her want to spend time she could otherwise use writing, reading, riding, shopping, or just staring into space. And all this time, she’d been fine with that, never even gave it a second thought, until this morning. The minute she’d opened the door she’d actually felt a physical pull toward him. But apparently, the only thing the man felt for her was revulsion. He could barely manage civility toward her. Hell, he wouldn’t even look at her, despite several attempts on her part to draw a friendly reaction from him. Now, she found herself unable to take her mind off him, surly disposition and all. Fingers tinkling on the surface of the water, flicking and making shapes out of the bubbles, Tessa wondered how it would feel to run her fingers through and grab a handful of Gavan’s chocolate-colored hair. How prickly and ticklish his stubble would be on her lips as she placed light kisses all over his tan face and settled her lips on his, opening her mouth to feel his tongue rub against hers. The biggest mystery, she thought with a smile curving on her lips as her fingers

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slid down and located her already-swollen clit, is just how much man is behind the fly of those jeans? That morning, she had feasted her eyes on a pretty unbelievable bulge, and he couldn’t have been hard, so how much would there be once he was full and ready to enter her? He was such a big, strapping man. She just knew that if he wrapped his arms around her, she could completely disappear from the world and feel utterly protected from anything. So it seemed logical that big man meant big, um, parts, right? Drawing circles around her clit with one hand, she slid the index and middle finger of her other hand in and out of her pussy as she pictured herself on her knees behind Gavan, gently but firmly taking bites and nibbles out of his luscious ass. Then, he would turn around, his heavy cock bobbing in front of her. While fucking and stroking herself, she pictured herself wrapping both of her petite hands around his shaft and slowly stroking the silken skin. As she imagined herself leaning forward to lick the pearly drop already on the head of his cock and look upward to gaze into his sweet, amber-colored eyes, she felt her cunt begin to spasm, and water sloshed over the rim of the tub as she shook with her release. She laid her head back against the rim and let the afterglow of her orgasm envelop her. **** With the hot spray of the shower hitting him in the face, Gavan reflected on the day. He knew that he had overdone it with the aloof act, bordering on rude, but it was a gut reaction. It was a defense mechanism that kicked in out of habit. When Bonnie, his high school sweetheart, left him standing at the altar, having run off with one of his supposed closest friends, he swore to himself that she would be the last woman who would ever hurt him. She’d been a wild child, and he’d mistakenly thought he could settle her down by marrying her. He learned after the fact that he was the only person who hadn’t known that she’d never been faithful to him. Being branded a

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complete fool at the age of twenty was a tough pill to swallow. Hell, over ten years later, he still hadn’t completely recovered. Once in a while, the pain resurfaced just as sharp as it was when it first happened. He’d gotten over her long ago, but that didn’t do anything to diminish the hurt and embarrassment. Since then, he scratched the itch with female companionship when necessary, but that was the extent of it. He’d never even come close to developing the slightest feeling for any one of them. That was the best way to do it. No feelings, no commitments, no pain. Never again. Then Tessa opened her front door. Somehow, he’d managed to keep his mind on the road while driving home. He wasn’t sure how he did it, but he did. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to keep his mind off her cute-as-hell smile and the seven freckles right across the bridge of her nose. Or her dark gray eyes that made him think of the sky just before the rain lets loose from the clouds above. Her rich, light olive complexion never crossed his mind. Definitely didn’t think about tangling his hands in her mane of blonde-brown hair that had a tousled, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. It was even better that while driving home he didn’t think about her breasts that, despite being under a bulky sweater, were full enough to be appreciated. He guessed they were easily a handful, quite sizeable considering her tiny frame. And oh, that compact little body with the sweetest little heart-shaped ass. Didn’t waste a second pondering the surge of possessiveness that raged through him at the thought of how he could completely encircle her tiny body in his arms and make her his own. Aye, he didn’t give any of that a second, third, or even fourth thought. Automatically, his hands glided down his abdomen to grab his cock, large and rock hard. He let out a hiss as his right hand wrapped around it and began to pump slowly up and down. How tiny and vulnerable she would feel as he lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist…

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His right thumb rolled over and over the bulbous head of his dick as his left hand took hold at the base. …first taking her right nipple into his mouth to suck it, sliding his tongue back and forth across the tip of it until she moaned… Both hands pumped up and down in unison. …then he would capture her left nipple and subject it to the same treatment, once again eliciting a moan from her sweet lips… Up and down, up and down while his hips rocked forward and back, the hot water sluicing down his chest and stomach. …thrusting his cock forward and up so that he could slowly lower her until he was buried within her tight, hot sheath to the hilt, then push in and out and in and out of her until both of them were panting and wildly reaching for release… Up and down his hands pistoned, his hips thrusting forward and up. …and they exploded together, the muscles in her cunt milking the cum out of him until stars burst in his vision. One last stroke, his hips jerked and his cum spewed upward into the spray of the shower. He rested his head on the cool tile wall of the shower and stood panting, wondering what in the world he was going to do about Tessa Danvers.

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Chapter Three “Baby love! You ready to hit the road?” Alex called, letting himself in. “It’s a great day to run. Nice and crisp, just the way you like it.” Tessa yelled down from the top of the stairs, “Be there in a sec. Help yourself to some juice or something.” He was gulping down his second glass of pomegranate juice as Tessa rounded the corner saying, “I was thinking we’d jog the park, then wander around town. We haven’t done that in forever.” Alex nodded. “Whatever you want, babe. I’m back from Europe and I’m all yours,” he said as he hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Let’s get going,” he said, picking up her bag and pulling her by the hand out the door as she struggled to grab her purse and keys on her way past the hall table, her laughter echoing behind her. **** Gavan swore out loud as the car drove away. He had been pulling lumber from the back of his truck when the sleek, red Jag screeched to a halt in the driveway. A tall, elegant man emerged from the vehicle dressed in what Gavan assumed was workout gear, tight, shiny running pants, emphasizing his lean, muscular legs, tight shirt in some kind of technologically advanced fabric, and running shoes. His dark blond hair with impeccable highlights was cut and styled to perfection. With far too much confidence, the man opened the door and walked into the house without so much as a knock.

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Gavan followed, supplies in hand, in time to hear the exchange between the man and Tessa. The ease and familiarity with which they spoke to one another grated on Gavan’s nerves. Who was this slicklooking bastard who used such endearing nicknames when speaking to her? She beamed at the sight of him, accepted his embrace and kiss, and reciprocated with enthusiasm. And now she was gone, spending the entire day, from the sound of it, with him. “Ah. Good. No distractions today,” he muttered to the empty house. It was a pathetic lie and he knew it. A week had passed since he’d rung her doorbell for the first time, and he was expending a great deal of energy to maintain his stony disposition. There was no denying it, every aspect of the woman appealed to him. She’d made several attempts during the first few days to break the ice with him, so to speak. Each day, there were offers of coffee, home baked snacks, and lunch. Of course, he declined. Frequently, he caught her watching him intensely, and when he did, she’d ask intelligent questions about the project. Other times, she tried to engage him in discussions about his work in general and other projects he’d done. Obviously unsatisfied with his consistently terse responses, she brought up their common ground, Jaime. Still, her questions were met with nods, single syllables, or silence. Her tireless and inventive efforts to engage him were intriguing, though, and he was tempted to put his tools down and talk with her for hours. But even more intriguing than her sweet attempts at friendship were her temper explosions. She had a hair-trigger temper that was a force to be reckoned with and that made his blood run hot. When she became frustrated with his behavior, her gray eyes darkened like a fierce storm rolling in from the sea. She usually spat a single putdown at him then stomped away, murmuring to herself a list of creative insults that could, at times, make a sailor blush. She was maddeningly adorable to him, and he could feel his guard beginning to slip.

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**** “Who is that luscious hunk of man doing your renovations, and why did I not know about him? I would have worn something more attractive than running gear and sneakers.” “Oh, he’s doing the work on my house instead of Jaime. He is sort of walking perfection, isn’t he?” Tessa grinned. “He’s a horrible grump, though. Downright rude, actually. But, Jaime says he’s the best.” Alex turned to her. “The best at what, exactly?” Tessa punched him in the arm. “Alex! You’re terrible!” Alex laughed and said lasciviously, “Yes. Yes I am. But if it turns out by some miracle that he’s gay, I’ve got some wood he can work with.” Following their run, Alex and Tessa walked around downtown, ducking in and out of the unique little shops, stopping for lunch at their favorite pub that featured a tiny little bar area with a fireplace you could literally stand in when there wasn’t a roaring fire. They’d been best friends since kindergarten, and she had missed him more than she realized while he was in Europe on business. He was the only person she’d trusted to read the outrageous storylines that began to pour out of her in high school. He was always completely honest. “Ooooo! That last scene was sick, sweetie.” She’d ask if she should eliminate it and he’d reply, “Don’t you dare! It was hot as hell!” Enjoying mugs of hot cider by the fire, Alex regaled her with details of his trip. By the time their french onion soup arrived, talk of Europe was over and she was filling him in on the progress of her book and the upcoming photo shoot. It was over dessert that he began needling her about her love life, or lack thereof. “Don’t start with me, Alex,” Tessa warned. “You know that I just don’t have any interest in finding somebody. I faced the facts a long

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time ago. I’m asexual. End of story. I’ve never found a man who interests me, and the two idiots I wasted my time with in college confirmed the fact to me that sex and relationships are not worth the trouble. Really just not my thing. Remember, Alex, I may write a completely different kind of subject matter, but I consume romances when it comes to my own reading. If it exists, love should be more than just”—she paused to find the right word—“meh. Besides, how would I even go about looking for someone to be interested in? I mean, the bar scene? Ick. And the odds that the perfect man is just going to fall at my feet are slim to none.” Alex grasped her hand. “Honey, I think it’s possible that you’ve beaten the odds. I don’t know much about the man who’s in your home right now, but he must be a good guy if he’s friends with your brother and he’s definitely the picture of physical perfection. Not a bad place to start.” He winked. Tessa stuck her tongue out and gave Alex the most ladylike raspberry she could muster. **** Greatly in need of activity to keep him from conjuring up the image of Tessa and the Euro-slime, Gavan dove into his work. He worked his way through the house, checking and rechecking measurements in every room, taking notes for the materials he’d need to pick up. Downstairs, he finished double-checking the measurements in Tessa’s library. Unlike the rest of the house, the library was decorated in a more formal fashion with kind of a gothic feel. The first room of the library was Tessa’s workspace. There was a large gas fireplace, complete with a massive, carved mahogany mantle. Across from the fireplace, two computers rested on either end of the immense, walnut burl wood desk. There were intricate carvings on the sides and legs of the desk, and it had large lion’s claw-feet. A burgundy, high back, button-tufted leather chair sat behind the desk.

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He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed down the thought of himself and Tessa in that big chair naked with her facing him, her legs spread wide and draped over either armrest of the big chair, her taut nipples brushing against his chest as she pumped up and down, holding her lush ass with one hand while he stroked her hard little clit with the thumb of his other hand. He rubbed his hand over his face and moved on. The sitting area of the library was more spacious. Every inch of wall space was covered by floor-to-fourteen-foot-ceiling, built-in bookshelves, with the exception of the two sets of French doors and the space occupied by the larger version of the fireplace in the working area. There were two wingback chairs and a plush sofa, each with its own reading lamp, arranged so that the fireplace was the focal point. He noticed a discreetly placed state-of-the-art stereo system on one of the shelves. Out of curiosity, he picked up what he assumed was the remote and turned it on. The room instantly filled with a moody melody that had a sensuous beat. It was ominous, but at the same time incredibly sexy. The CD case lying on top of the stereo caught his eye. Enigma. He stood in the room for a few moments, listening to the music, and thought of Tessa on her back, head thrown back with her dirty-blonde tresses fanned around her in front of the enormous fireplace, his faced buried between her legs as she moaned in time with this music playing in the background. Ga! Get it tagether, man. He turned off the music and quickly finished so he could leave the room that occupied so much of Tessa’s time that he could feel her presence even though she wasn’t there. The main part of the house was the great room, which was comprised of the kitchen, dining area, and family room. Just off the spacious and well-appointed kitchen was a greenhouse-type breakfast nook. Between the kitchen and family room area was an enormous dining table that made Gavan wonder if she had it just in case some king and his knights stopped by. The armchairs on either end looked

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more like thrones than chairs. In the corner was another gas fireplace that was a smaller version of the gigantic wood-burning one facing it in the family room. Apparently, our Tessa not only likes to surround herself with big things. She seems tae really like fireplaces, too, he mused to himself as he turned to see another gas fireplace in the kitchen nestled below the staircase. Now, thoroughly entranced with the glimpses into Tessa, he quickly finished the measuring on the first floor and moved upstairs to her bedroom to check out the modifications on her closet and master bath. The stairs led to the second floor balcony, which wrapped in a Ushape around three walls of the house. Once at the top, Gavan turned to see that the balcony overlooked the great room below. He admitted to himself then that this was a special house. The location was perfect. It was remote enough that there was complete privacy, but only twenty minutes outside of town and Philadelphia was only an hour away. Jaime had told him about the house right after Tessa bought it, so proud of his sister and her eye for unique beauty. From his vantage point he looked down on the room below, marveling that despite the size of the room, there was warmth and coziness that he found more than a little inviting. He mentally applauded her for not making the house a frilly, ruffled, feminine frenzy awash in pastels. Not that it looked like a man lived there, but a man could live there. There was a log-cabin feel, lots of rich, dark wood, and rustic, well-made but beautiful furniture. Feminine whimsy, however, was evident in Tessa’s collection of bear, moose, and elk trinkets that were placed thoughtfully around the room and resided, discreetly, in fixtures and pieces of furniture. Nothing was overdone, though. He found it easy to picture himself on a lazy Sunday afternoon, lounging with Tessa on the big, overstuffed, Navajo-print sofa with the immense hearth alight with a roaring fire. He brought himself back to reality and felt a pang of longing in his chest and continued on with his preliminaries. Moving around to the left of the stairs, he approached the set of double doors that led to

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the master bedroom. The basic decor of the rest of the house continued into the master bedroom, although, here Tessa had managed to blend in just the right amount of femininity to make him tighten with desire. Immediately, the scent of lavender invaded his senses. Not the perfumey kind that so many women wore, but the scent of true, field-picked lavender. It reminded him of home, of Scotland. The furniture was carved mahogany, and the bed, her bed, was in the center of the room. Like everything else around her, the king-size bed was bigger than it needed to be for the slip of a woman. The big brass headboard had oversize, hand-painted, porcelain finials and matching embellishments. Gavan surmised from the weighty feel of it that it was a true antique. The bedding looked like a cloud covered in beige eyelet. The lass definitely had a flair for combining maximum beauty with maximum inviting comfort. And of course, in the corner was a large, ornately carved stone fireplace. He measured in the closet and stepped into her bathroom, which was decorated with the same impeccable taste as the rest of the house. While it was completely modern, the tiles and fixtures helped to extend the general rustic feel of the rest of the house. The huge shower was tiled with grayish-green stone that also covered the floor. Across from the shower was an oversize, old-fashioned claw-foot tub. A closer look told him that it was a reproduction, but he guessed it wasn’t an easy item to find. Built at the level of the sides of the clawfoot, in the wall at the head of the tub was a small fireplace. Once again, he allowed his mind to wander momentarily and pictured himself in the tub, reclining, Tessa’s back against his chest. Her hands gripping the sides with white knuckles while his hands were below the water, one squeezing and kneading her nipple, the other between her legs, three fingers pumping in and out of her hot, wet folds, his thumb stroking her clit. He would whisper close to her ear so that it became wet from the humidity of his breath.

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“Do you like that, my love? I wanna feel you come on me, squeeze my fingers, and cover my hand with your sweet cream.” She would tumble then, squeezing and bucking, his hand would leave her breast to hold her hips. He would come with her, partly from her back stroking against his hard cock, trapped between her and his stomach, and partly from watching her rise to ecstasy. And he would know that he had done that to her, he had propelled her into bliss’s sweet embrace. They would talk and laugh and kiss until the water grew cold. Shaking himself back into this world again, he reminded himself, Isna’ gonna happen man. Ya doona need the likes of any woman, and she obviously already has a man. Unwanted jealousy flared though his system as he remembered that she was out with that Jag-driving jack-off. He rechecked all of the measurements and went back downstairs. Focusing on the details of the kitchen specs was the only way Gavan could manage to keep his mind off Tessa and her European lover for five-minute stretches. Included in the kitchen were plans to build pullout counter extensions that locked in at a level lower than the actual counter, giving the diminutive chef a cutting and prep area that was more her height. When not in use, the extension simply slid into place under the counters. In order to reach the cabinets that extended to nine feet high, tilt-out step stools, easily pulled out with the foot, hidden under the lower cabinets, were to be installed. Her original plans were attached to Jaime’s professional workups and Gavan inspected them with surprised admiration. He noted that her illustrations were quite good, and even without Jaime’s accompanying details he would have been able to recognize her intentions. Her descriptions, however, bordered on ridiculously overdone. Holding his palm to his forehead in disbelief, he read her long explanation as to why the counter extensions were necessary, options for the surface should the surface on the actual countertops not be available, as well as reasons why those options were feasible. A narrative with several examples of how

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the extensions would be used, so that Jaime would have a complete understanding of her intentions, was neatly printed in the lower righthand corner. “Aye, she’s a writer,” he said to himself. For a few hours, he managed to keep his mind mostly on the kitchen although it sometimes took more effort than others. So, when he looked at the clock and realized that Tessa had been out with that greasy, sports-car-driving bleach blond for more than seven hours, his agitation increased exponentially. He’d been anxiously looking forward to her return home. How is it that in only a week’s time he had literally begun to ache for her? He didn’t understand how it could be possible, but there it was. There was something about her that just got to him from the word go. From her beautiful face, curvy body, and vivid gray eyes to her intelligence and creativity, her bad temper, and her habit of talking to herself when that temper flared. His investigation of her home and what it told him about her didn’t do anything but make the ache sharper and more defined. By six o’clock, he had worked himself into a rage, envisioning Tessa and Alex in an endless string of intimate scenarios. **** After several hours and a few more hot ciders by the fire, Alex drove Tessa home. “I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you so much,” Tessa told him as he opened her door for her to climb out of the car. “Me, too. Double.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Now don’t forget what I said about that hunk of man in there.” He flashed her a dazzling smile. She shoved him on the shoulder, kissed his cheek, and ran to the house to escape the cold. **** “Well, it’s about time you’re back.”

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He stood in her kitchen, feet planted shoulder width apart, scowling, arms crossed over his chest. “Wait. What?” she said, her confusion evident. Uncrossing his arms, he put one hand on his hip and pushed the other through his hair as he began to pace. “Uh, I’ve had questions for you. I’ve tried tae work around them but I…” It was a complete lie and ridiculous at that, but it was the only cover he could come up with to hide the true reason behind his unexplainable rage. She threw up her hands and shouted, “What are you talking about? You had questions, you could have called Jaime. He knows about all of this in detail. You don’t need me.” Moving to her, he ground out, “I couldna’ reach Jaime.” Lie. “And you were off all day with another man, doing who knows what so I couldna’ continue working.” She fired back, “First of all, I wasn’t aware that I need to be here to oversee you at all times. If that’s the case, we have a problem here because I am not a construction foreman. And second, I was not with another man, I was with a man, who happens to be my best friend since we were five. Not that it’s any of your business, you big, giant, arrogant pain in my ass.” **** Hoo! It felt good to get that out, but he was overwhelming her with his nearness, his energy stirring her insides so that she couldn’t think straight. She turned on her heels to get away from him. Gavan chased after her, grabbed her upper arm, and spun her around to face him holding both her arms tightly in his firm grip so she couldn’t move. But stronger than his hands on her arms was his gaze, its intensity arresting. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried in vain to form words to take control of the situation when he dipped

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his head and captured her mouth with his. Initially, she protested, the sounds of her struggle swallowed by his mouth. He released her to wrap his arms around her and pull her body against his. She softened then, rose to her tiptoes, and curved into him. She slid her hands up to press her palms against his strong, warm chest. He moved one hand from her waist, grasped her jaw, and tilted her head back to better receive his kiss. She returned it fervently, parting her lips to allow him entrance when his tongue stroked them. A moan rose in her throat as he explored her mouth, swiping across her teeth and teasing her tongue, encouraging it to join his. She responded, and his tongue slid against hers, velvet stroking velvet. His hand moved from her jaw and his fingers threaded into her hair at the nape of her neck. An awareness of every inch of her body was accompanied by a fuzziness that blocked out everything but the two of them. Her skin was alight wherever he touched her and she was completely intoxicated by his strong, soft lips. She drifted into the pleasant haze surrounding them and threaded her fingers into his hair to pull him closer. He broke the kiss and drew back from her. Her lids lifted and she looked into his eyes to find them ablaze with desire. His gaze searched her face, seemingly imploring her to urge him on. She licked her tingling lips and a low growl rumbled from deep in his chest. Her breathing was ragged, her womb tightened in pulses, a wave of need for him emanated from her very core. The force of her reaction to him was unfamiliar and it frightened her. What she felt now was different, more than the fantasies about him she’d been entertaining since they first met. This was not merely lust, this was a desire to be completely taken and possessed by this man. As suddenly as he’d initiated the kiss, he released her and stepped back as though she’d stung him. Confusion filled her. He looked down at the floor, pushed the heel of his right hand to his eye, and stammered, “I-I’m sorry, lass. I doona’ know what came

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over me. I shouln’a done that. G’night.” And he strode quickly to the door to leave. Infuriated and confused beyond comprehension, Tessa ran to catch the door before it could shut and stepped out, the cold air slapping her out of the warm, sultry mist he had wrapped around her with his kiss. “Mr. Murdoch?” she said more firmly than she’d intended. He stopped in his tracks and turned his face, not back to her, but only to the side, signaling that he was listening. “I think this isn’t working out. Please send me a bill for the work you’ve done so far and I’ll see that you’re paid immediately. Good night.” She didn’t wait for him to respond before she slammed the door. **** The innocent steering wheel was the recipient of his displaced frustration, his hands banging on it with each angry syllable he yelled. “Damn-bollocks-damn-fuck-shite-damn! What in hell were you thinkin’, man?” Gavan shouted into the cab of the truck. The angst he’d endured over the thought of her spending the day with that European-sports-car-driving snake had built over the hours until he completely lost his senses. What was it about this woman that rendered him incapable of maintaining even a modicum of the selfpreserving control he’d relied upon for so long? He swore, while standing alone at the altar that day years before, that he would allow no woman to be in the position to put him through hell, to be able to wrench the life out of his heart. But this tiny little lass had not only gotten under his skin, she’d invaded his mind and wiggled her way right into his heart in only a few days. How could this have happened? It took only one second for him to answer his own question. She’s intelligent, fiery, beautiful, and sweet. “Aye, she’s sweet when she’s no’ giving you hell, Murdoch,” he

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said with a wry grin, rubbing his hand across his face. It was a long, cold, miserable drive home.

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Chapter Four Gavan pushed his hand through his hair, resisting the urge to turn the F-250 around, go home, and avoid the woman all together. That would be the smart thing to do. She was definitely the last thing he needed. He should just go home and never set eyes on her luscious little body and beautiful face again, but Jaime had asked him to do this favor, and he felt he owed him at least that. Jaime had provided him with enough work to keep him busy from dawn until dusk every day and quickly became a good friend when Gavan arrived in America. Now, thanks to professional referrals and several collaborations on various jobs, Gavan had become one of the most elite, sought-after craftsmen in the area, creating custom-order masterpieces for those who could afford his talent. Tessa’s career was a source of pride for Jaime, so whenever the guys were sharing a couple of beers after work, it was a frequent topic of conversation when her books started to sell. Out of curiosity, Gavan picked up a copy of Tessa’s first book when it released, even though he was more of a biography and nonfiction fan. The story was not only full of startlingly descriptive horror, replete with blood and gore, but the horror was interwoven with, and in many cases dependent upon, mind-bending, sometimes perverse, erotic passages. Jaime’s young sister wrote expertly about twisted sex of all kinds. In the single book he read, humans had sex with monsters, murderers, and demons. The details of those vivid scenes had led him to believe that the girl was writing from some amount of sexual experience. After that, whenever Jaime referred to his younger sister as a “handful” or a “spitfire,” Gavan assumed he was referring to Tessa’s

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wild lifestyle. He had no problem at all with anyone having a full and exciting sex life, but his experience with a free-spirited woman had ended very badly for him. And that was precisely why he had to get these overwhelming thoughts he was having for the little hellfire under control. He’d simply go in, do the work that had to be done, and get out. Interaction with her would be kept to an absolute minimum, and everything would be fine. Even as he repeated that mantra to himself, he was unable to stop the image of his cock driving deep into her hot little cunt, his balls slapping against her ass with every inward thrust. He had to shift in his seat to adjust his growing erection to a less uncomfortable position. He’d put that out of his mind and stick to business. Business and nothing more. Aye. **** He rang the doorbell and could hear Tessa approaching, loudly speaking in a tone full of mock chastisement that he realized was meant for her brother. “Oh, so you decided to come and mooch some breakfast off of me instead of just returning my call about that big, arrogant ass you sent to my house.” Unable to suppress it, he grinned when he heard this, but quickly replaced it with a scowl when she opened the door and stood before him in nothing but a man’s button-down oxford shirt, bunny slippers, and a smile. “Wha—what are you doing here? I thought you were Jaime. I mean, I just assumed. I—Why did you come back here?” Tessa demanded, left bunny stomping on the floor, whiskers twitching. “I’ve come back tae finish the renovations. I doona’ work for you, I was contracted by Jaimeson Danvers, so only he can fire me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, lass, I’ll be getting back tae what I started,” he

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explained with what he hoped was a finality that wouldn’t invite argument from her and the storm clouds he could already see gathering in her eyes. Without waiting for her to respond, he stepped around her and moved into the kitchen to pick up where he had left off the day before. He heard her sigh and begin muttering what he knew had to be a string of curses directed at him under her breath. He surreptitiously watched her storm up the stairs. Was it his imagination or did those bunnies, their little ears quivering with each stomp, now look kind of angry? When his gaze caught the tail of the button-down, he wondered whose fucking shirt she was prancing around in. Was it Mr. European’s button-down shirt? There was nothing sexier to him than a woman in a man’s shirt, but the shirt had to be his, not some other man’s. Goddammit. He was supposed to be keeping these thoughts out of his head, not letting them run rampant through his mind. He pushed his hand through his hair in frustration for about the twentieth time in an hour and tried to focus on work. **** While pulling off what had become her favorite nightshirt that she’d gotten in college as part of a Men in Black Halloween costume, Tessa couldn’t stop ranting to herself through clenched teeth. “God, the arrogance of that man! ‘I was contracted by Jaimeson Danvers so only he can fire me,’” she said in a snarky, mocking neener-neener-neener voice. “Who does he think he is? This is my house! As soon as I get showered and dressed, he is so outta here.” Twenty minutes later, freshly showered, she descended the stairs, organizing her thoughts in order to dismiss Gavan Murdoch, Master Carpenter and part-time Golden God, once and for all. Unfortunately, she was detoured by the ringing phone in her office. Knowing that it had to be either her editor or her publicist on that line, she had no choice but to take the call. But as soon as she was finished…

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Before Tessa realized it, she’d been working for over three hours without looking up. It had been necessary to boot up her computer while talking to her editor to check on some e-mails, and she’d gotten absorbed in what she was doing. She’d been so focused that she didn’t notice right away when Gavan opened the door and walked in. The metallic snap of the tape measure startled her from the workland inside her computer and back into the room. After several minutes of diligently trying to ignore him as he squatted and bent, muscles flexing, the worn, faded denim hugging that glorious ass, Tessa snapped. “Excuse me, but could you wait till later to measure in this room?” she asked with marked irritation, tapping her fingers on the desk. At this point, she was hoping sheer meanness would drive him away. “No I canno’,” Gavan mumbled distractedly without meeting her gaze. God, that was infuriating. The least he could do was look at her when he was dissing her. “Yes, but you see, the problem here is that I don’t want you to be working here at all. And by here, I mean in my home. Like I said last night, your services are no longer required. Since you obviously hate being here, I would think that moving on to your next job and leaving me wouldn’t be a problem for you.” While once again keeping his face turned away from her, he replied, “And like I said, Jaime contracted me for this job as a favor and I intend tae see it through tae its finish. I only need a bit o’ time in here tae check a couple of measurements, and I’ll be leaving for the lumber mill. You’ll have your precious quiet then.” Oh, that did it. Now he was going to get snarky with her? Tessa sprung from her chair and stomped around the desk with her arms crossed over her chest, stood directly in front of where Gavan was kneeling, and tapped her little, white, Keds-clad foot on the carved wool rug. “Okay, if you insist on continuing to work until I can speak to

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Jaime and put an end to this, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it. But until then, you could at least do me the courtesy of turning in my general direction when you speak to me. For whatever reason, you find me so reprehensible you can’t even look at me.” She was about to continue, her mad just getting good and warmed up, but the words simply melted on her tongue when Gavan turned his head up toward her from his kneeling position on the floor and looked at her. His amazing, deep amber gaze warm with an expression she couldn’t immediately identify. It looked like his eyes were pleading with her for something, and at the same time, there was just the tiniest bit of a smirk in the corner of his mouth, much like the one she thought she saw this morning when she’d first opened the door. Oh, he was definitely lickable, but what a pain in the ass! She stood stupidly, staring down into his ruggedly handsome face with her mouth still agape, rant completely forgotten, when he reached up and, placing a finger under her chin, pushed up to close her mouth. “You might want tae be careful o’ catching flies with that trap, lass,” he said, and his mouth curved into a devastatingly sexy smile, the tip of his tongue playfully caught between his teeth. “Arrrrggghhhh!” she growled, and, throwing her arms up in the air, stormed out of the room mumbling curses under her breath— something about overgrown, presumptuous, and personal space issues. **** There was no denying it. He’d already come to the conclusion before he’d allowed himself to look into her eyes that day that she would be the undoing of him. As he’d lifted his gaze upward to her, fully intending to let her get all her frustration out before pulling her to him to kiss her hard, he’d resigned himself to the fact that trying to resist her was a losing battle. To hell with avoiding her in order to

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keep from feeling the pain he would be exposing himself to by falling for a wild spirit. He wanted her and would be satisfied with any part of her he could get, if only for a short while. For over a week they’d been sniping at each other. He repeatedly found himself pushing her buttons just to see those beautiful eyes turn dark, her cute ass jiggle as she stormed about, and to hear her mutter her highly inventive and frequently very witty curses. But as much as he enjoyed getting her ire up, he loved discovering the sweetness she tried to hide. She thought she was some tough little cookie, but no matter how angry he made her over something stupid, a midmorning cup of coffee prepared just the way he liked it and some delicious homemade treat appeared for him every day. He’d overheard her on the phone several times discussing the details of making an appearance to raise money for animal shelters, playgrounds, and other community endeavors. He walked through the house in search of her, with the intention to tell her how he felt. The sight of her retreating form caught his eye through the patio doors that faced the back acreage. Tessa was storming toward the barn, obviously intending to take out one of her horses since the Keds had been replaced by well-worn, black riding boots. He’d seen the pictures of her in the library, dressed in her riding habit as a little girl and teenager in various competitions and exhibitions. Having been raised on his family’s horse farm, Gavan knew that there were times that only a good, long ride would give a person the time and solace needed to sort things out and calm down. Judging by her stride and the poker-straight carriage of her spine, one of those horses was in for a long afternoon.

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Chapter Five Gavan couldn’t look away from her. She rode away from him, and because she rode English, her lush bottom raised from the saddle, her lithe legs gripping the animal between them. A pang of envy at the horse, currently held between her delicious thighs, coursed through him. Her hair bounced and shimmered with her every movement making him long to wrap his fists in it and pull her to him. He watched intently as she put the horse through his paces, every movement of her body the source of a new aching desire in his own. At the far end of the pasture, she turned the horse back toward the barn and once again he could see her face. Gah, she was beautiful. The icy weather had painted her high cheekbones a comely, pale pink against her light olive skin. Her eyes glistened and danced with excitement and she wore an expression of pure elation, her smile wide and unaffected. “Gavan, you are in some serious trouble.” He sighed aloud to himself. **** Normally, Tessa would be more conservative in which mount she chose. She’d been working slowly with the high-spirited horse and had made a little progress with him, but today she was up to do battle with the huge, white beast who seemed to have a stubborn streak as long and wide as her own. After apologizing to Aladdin because taking out another horse felt like a betrayal somehow, she saddled Blanco and climbed up.

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The proud, intimidating stallion trotted out of the barn, his high spirit held closely in check by his rider. Tessa nudged the great, white beast’s flanks with her heels to incite a canter, then again to increase the horse’s pace to a relaxed gallop. Halfway across the pasture, Tessa nudged Blanco into a full gallop and directed him to the low spot in the fence, which the horse easily cleared. Exhilarated, feeling the cold wind in her face and the horse’s muscles moving between her thighs, Tessa guided Blanco toward the tree line for a long, therapeutic ride. Once within in the trees, Tessa coaxed the animal to a walk and her mind began to swirl. “Ho-lee crap! What the hell was that?” she asked Blanco. “I mean, come on. He ignores me for days on end, no wait, he provokes me constantly for days on end and is the rudest, most arrogant bastard I’ve ever had the displeasure to encounter, and then all at once he whips a charming sense of humor out of his pocket?” She stopped talking to maneuver around a large stump and under a low-hanging limb before continuing. “He actually smiled! Oh, yeah. I thought I saw one as soon as I opened the door this morning, but it disappeared so fast, I thought I’d imagined it. But, there in the library, I caught not only another smirk, but was lucky enough to have a full-on, dazzling smile bestowed upon little ol’ me. And, oh, Blanco, what that smile did to me! Who’d have thought the man had such a gorgeous smile? Whew!” She stopped talking and let her mind wander over his sinfully sexy lips and all the things she wanted to tell him to do with them as she leaned forward to stroke the horse’s smooth neck. “Blanco, I swear, his sexy smile threw me for such a loop that when he actually cracked a joke, albeit at my expense, I couldn’t get it together fast enough to do anything but leave the room. Honestly, I don’t think I could have strung words together to form a sentence if my life had depended on it at that point. Until then, I didn’t think he was capable of anything more than grunting. Heck, I have to admit

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that I’ve been just the tiniest bit afraid of him. I mean, he’s all broody and huge.” Tessa giggled as she poured her heart out to her new “therapist,” who responded aptly with well-placed snorts, huffs, and ear wiggles. “Oh, and do I even need to bring up that out-of-left-field kiss the other night? I mean talk about hot! I felt my body react more to that one kiss than all the times I’ve ever had actual sex put together. Whew! I just don’t understand what made him change his mind. Nothing was changing mine at that point. I just know those lips are capable of amazing things. “Maybe he’s just really shy or something, right? I mean, what if I was just too forward for him at first and I put him on guard. Okay, seriously on guard. I suppose that doesn’t matter, though, right? He seems to be coming around. Maybe we’ll be able to work together. I guess when I get back to the house I’ll call Jaime and tell him I was mistaken when I left that message the other night. Then maybe I’ll work on being a little nicer to Mr. Murdoch.” Feeling like she had a firmer grasp on the situation, Tessa grew silent and enjoyed wandering aimlessly through the woods, letting her mind have its way with Gavan’s gorgeous body. **** Silently cursing the amount of time he’d had to waste going from one lumber yard to another to get just the quality he required, Gavan was surprised when he entered the house hours later to find that Tessa hadn’t returned from her ride yet. A protective swell moved through him and he began to worry when he noted that the sun was sinking in the winter sky. As he stood at the sliding patio door to look out at the forest that lined the back of the property she’d disappeared into earlier, debating on whether or not he should saddle up one of the other horses and go looking for her, Tessa burst out of the woods, kicking the great white stallion into full gallop. Immediately, Gavan

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could see that something was wrong. Very wrong. As he reached for the handle to slide the door open, the danger at hand came into his full view. Three feral looking dogs were fast on the hooves of the horse. Tessa was standing in the stirrups, leaning forward over the horse’s neck, urging him to run faster, but the dogs were gaining. Her sandy-colored mane whipped behind her, a look of determination laced with pure fear on her face. Seeing her in danger propelled Gavan into action. He ran to the barn to grab a shovel he spied leaning outside and turned to run toward Tessa and the danger closing in behind her. That’s when it happened. One of the dogs leaped and grabbed the big white steed’s right rear leg. The horse bucked and kicked out behind it, catching two of the dogs, sending them reeling, loud yelps of pain cutting the air. As though he realized that his pack size had dwindled, the third dog turned tail and ran back toward the woods. Being out of immediate danger didn’t quell the horse’s distress, though, and he continued to buck and rear. Just as the two momentarily dazed dogs rose and ran to the woods to join their turncoat friend, Tessa lost her mount, flew through the air, and fell to the ground, landing with a thud and a cry of pain. Gavan was upon her in an instant. Not wanting to move her in case of spinal injury, he dropped to his knees, gently caressed her face with his big, rough hand, and begged her to open her eyes. “Please lass, open your eyes and look at me. I’m goin’ tae run and call an ambulance, just try tae look at me first and tell me you’re okay,” he pleaded. Tessa’s eyes fluttered open. “Okay?” she moaned, “No, I’m not okay. I feel like an ass, I’m pissed off, and my ankle hurts like hell!” Gavan, stunned, just looked at her beautiful face for a moment and then sat back on his heels to laugh with nervous relief. He brought his hand to his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Leave it to her to immediately be so irritated at what could

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have been a very tragic incident. Placing one arm behind her back and the other under her knees, he scooped her up like she was no more substantial than a rag doll and headed toward the house. She squirmed in his arms. “Gavan, I have to get Blanco. I don’t even know where he ran to.” As she said this, they both looked in the direction of the barn and saw the white stallion standing next to it, munching on the recent alfalfa delivery she’d planned to haul into the barn when she returned from her ride. Seeing that the horse was obviously content and going nowhere, Gavan said, “I’ll get you intae the house and settled with your ankle up, then I’ll see tae the horse. My family has a horse farm, so don’t worry, he’ll be in capable hands.” Once in the house, Gavan planted Tessa on the couch and gingerly removed her riding boots. With great care, he assessed her ankle to decide whether or not they needed to rush directly to the emergency room or if he did, in fact, have time tend to the horse and get it to safety before the feral dogs returned. He instinctively knew that if Tessa wasn’t in dire need of medical attention and something happened to her horse, she would be devastated. After a few minutes of inspecting, flexing, and extending—all the while enjoying having her delicate little foot in his hands—Tessa convinced him that she would be fine for a little while with an ice bag, a glass of water, and some ibuprofen. Gavan propped the twisted ankle up on a pile of pillows and placed a bag of frozen peas atop it. He handed Tessa her glass of water and the pills, asked three times if she needed anything else, and left to take care of Blanco. **** By leaning off the side of the couch as far as possible, palm on the floor to support her upper body, and craning her neck way to the side, Tessa managed to watch the rear view of Gavan walk all the way to

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the awaiting Blanco. She wasn’t aware of pain in her ankle at all as he covered the distance from the house to the barn. Ibuprofen or even morphine couldn’t hold a candle to that sight as a painkiller. When he took hold of Blanco’s reigns to lead him into the barn and was out of sight, Tessa leaned back and closed her eyes to relax. **** The aroma of one of life’s ultimate comfort foods woke her. Mmmm…grilled cheese sandwiches. She sat up all the way, looked over the back of the sofa into the kitchen, and watched Gavan maneuver his way around. The oversize, grand scale of the house seemed to be custom-made for this giant man. As she thought of how perfectly her kitchen fit him, a funny, warm feeling spread through her. Gavan looked up and saw that she was awake. “How are you, lass?” he said with concern. “Are you in much pain? I din’na want tae wake you. Rest is probably good. I can stop this and take you tae the hospital now if you’d like.” Tessa reached down and moved the bag of mushy, now-thawed peas to look at her ankle. “There’s only a bit of swelling,” she reported happily and spent a few minutes rolling her ankle around. While it felt tight, there really was no pain. The look on his face told her he wasn’t convinced, so she spent the next few minutes assuring him there was no need for medical attention. He only relented when she promised she would call the doctor in the morning. She attempted to get off the couch, and Gavan was at her side in an instant. When she argued with his attempts to keep her from bearing weight, he simply picked her up. “Just what do you think you’re doing, missy?” he asked her. “Well, my feet are a little cold, so I was going to go upstairs and grab a pair of socks.” With a slight blush, she lowered her long lashes and added quietly, “And, I need to go to the bathroom.”

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Without a word, Gavan turned and carried her up the stairs to her room. Still in his arms, she directed him to the correct drawer and managed to extract a pair of thick socks from her bureau. Gavan deposited her in the bathroom with the direction not to take any more steps than were absolutely necessary and closed the door behind him while he waited in her bedroom until she called for him. When she was back on the couch, Gavan wrapped her ankle with the elastic bandage that she’d pulled from her medicine cabinet and returned to the kitchen to finish with the sandwiches as Tessa noticed for the first time that he’d lit a fire for her while she was sleeping. Tessa watched the dancing flames in the immense fireplace, pondering the change in Gavan. In the blink of a dreamy, warm, whiskey-colored eye, he went from being a rude, boorish, kind-ofscary oaf to showering her with kindness, concern, and enough dropdead-sexy smiles to keep her panties soaking and her heart zinging despite the day’s disconcerting events. Thinking about how hard his chest felt beneath her body as he carried her to the house made her wonder just how many ripples were lying below his almost too-tight T-shirt. His masculine scent of fresh wood and citrus surrounded her when he gathered her near. Turning her head and giving her shoulder a sniff, she was delighted to find that his scent still clung to the sleeve of her sweater that had been pressed against him. Hmm, maybe I won’t wash this for a while, she thought to herself with a dreamy smile. “You’re managing a pleasant thought after what happened tae you today, eh?” Gavan stood before her, two plates in hand. She tried to hide the blush she knew had risen in her cheeks at being caught reveling in his scent as he set the plates on the table to help reposition her on the couch so he could join her. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, and she admitted that it was one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches she’d ever had. “Aye, a brush with death always makes food taste better,” he teased.

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While they ate, Gavan assured her that Blanco was fine. He’d slicked him down, walked him, then covered him with his winter blanket. He’d also fed and watered the whole barn population and moved the alfalfa into the barn, too. “Thank you for taking such good care of us, I mean, me and the horses.” “Is’na problem. They’re beautiful animals. Even the little runt you’ve got has a nice form.” Tessa laughed. “Aw, Rusty’s like my puppy.” Gavan grew serious then. “I called local animal control tae report the dogs that attacked you. They’ll be sending someone out as soon as they can. Until then, it’s probably a good idea tae keep the horses in the barn as much as possible.” The evening passed and they sat side by side on the couch in front of the roaring fire. Gavan remained attentive, asking occasionally if she needed anything. Tessa rested her head on his big, strong shoulder while he told her about growing up on a working horse farm in Scotland and his decision to make the move to America. He didn’t go into details, but simply mentioned being close to marriage once, but that it didn’t work out. By the time the night took a turn for the worse, Tessa was snuggled under Gavan’s arm with her head resting on his chest while he contentedly twirled strands of her almost-curls in his fingers, occasionally leaning in to gather the scent of lavender from her hair. “So, when did you decide you wanted tae be a writer?” he asked, not thinking about where this conversation might lead. “Um, I guess I’ve always written. As a kid, I made up stories all the time. Poor Jaime used to sit and listen to me make up tales for hours. Then, my writing just kind of progressed. By the time I went to college, I had basic outlines for a few books, one of which eventually became the first I ever sold, but it wasn’t until junior year that I actually dove into it and wrote it.” “I read your first book. Jaime was constantly bragging about you,

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so I thought it would be a good idea to know what he was talking about when he brought it up,” Gavan admitted. “Really? You did? What’d you think? Wait. That look on your face, you’re not much of a horror fan, are you?” Tessa asked, finding herself worried about his opinion more than she wanted to admit to herself. After all, part of writing such sensitive and sometimes shocking subject matter depends greatly on one’s ability to not worry about what kind of conclusions the reader might draw in regard to you for being able to dream up what they just read. “Aye, horror’s not my first choice, but your imagination is tae be commended,” he said and turned to her. “It’s one thing, after all tae draw on your experience tae write certain aspects, but it must take some effort tae invent some o’ the monsters you’ve created.” Tessa’s eyes narrowed, piqued by the inference in that statement. “Experience? What parts of the book do you think I wrote from experience?” Gavan shrugged his massive shoulders and said, “I just mean that anyone who can write those explicit sex scenes has tae have some experience under their belt, whereas the supernatural side was…” Tessa stood and cut him off, hands balled into fists at her sides. Oh! This obnoxious man! What nerve to assume that just because she can come up with steamy sex for her novels that she’d actually done all those things. She took a deep breath and laid into him. “How dare you, you judgmental jerk! It’s a pretty big assumption to think that the sex scenes I write are from anything but my imagination. What? I can invent monsters and fiends, but the sex has to be from experience? Just because my mind wanders does not mean that it’s from my real life. I’d have to be some kind of twisted lunatic to have done most of the things I put down on paper.” Gavan reached both hands out and held her upper arms firmly so she had no choice but to face him. “But, really, it’s okay with me if you’ve lived a life like that.” Tessa’s mouth fell open and she was sure that fire was going to

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start shooting from her eyes she was so angry. “Fabulous! That’s all I’ve been looking for here, your approval on my sex life. Whew! What a relief. I have Gavan Murdoch’s stamp of approval to continue on with my deviant, depraved ways.” She pounded on his enormous chest with her fists, and when he released his grip on her upper arm to take hold of them, she quickly twisted away and stomped, albeit lopsidedly, to the stairs, cursing him under her breath the whole way. She’d hobbled up the first three steps before she turned to him to say in an eerily calm, quiet voice, “I appreciate your help today, but please leave. There’s really no need for you to return tomorrow or any day thereafter. I’ll let Jaime know that I’ll wait for him to do the work after all. Please see yourself out. And this time, please don’t even think about coming back. I don’t care who you think hired you.” She climbed the rest of the stairs to her bedroom.

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Chapter Six “Well done, Gavan. You really put your foot in your mouth there,” he said to himself, cringing a bit at the slam of her bedroom door. None of what he’d said came out right. He hadn’t meant to sound condescending and he felt horrible for doing so. Even worse, though, was his incorrect assumption that she’d written from experience. She was absolutely right, no one would think she’d had all the otherwordly experiences to draw upon for her books, so why jump to the conclusion that the graphic sex wasn’t pure invention? Unfortunately, even with this revelation, he still feared for his heart. Guarding himself was as involuntary as breathing, but the desire to take the chance, to let her in, was increasing with every minute that passed. At first sight, an image of pulling her into his arms had flashed through his mind. Now, over a week later, those images had morphed into glimpses of a life together with her. The dark gray thunderclouds that gathered in her eyes whenever she became angry had grown on him, since he’d already provoked that phenomenon several times. He actually savored it. But the pain he just saw in her eyes, knowing he had put it there, nearly killed him. He had to make this right. He wanted to protect her from this kind of hurt, not cause it. He took the stairs three at a time and burst through her door without warning. Tessa was a silhouette against the moonlight glowing behind the French doors in her bedroom. She’d been looking out at the barn and spun to face him. “Augh! Great. Did you come to bestow more of your permissions

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upon me? To let me know that other aspects of my life are okay with you?” she shouted. In only a few strides, he crossed the big room, placed his right hand on the back of her neck, and pulled her toward him shaking his head. “That’s no’ why I’m here,” he said and lowered his head to crush his lips to hers. At first, she resisted as he kissed her with more and more force, urging her compliance. His left arm wrapped around her waist and he lifted her off the ground, pressing her to him, and finally, he felt her curve into him. His tongue swept across her lips and she parted them to allow him in. His right hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head back a little to deepen his kiss. His tongue entered her mouth and massaged hers, slowly at first, then more urgently, until finally he was fucking her mouth with his own in an obvious portrayal of his intentions. She twined her arms around his neck, and her fingers twisted in his hair. When his kiss became more urgent, she wrapped her dangling legs around his waist and pressed her sex against the enormous erection that grew within his jeans. Gavan turned to the bed and bent over to lower Tessa to it, leaning over her then finally breaking the kiss. Her eyelids were heavy with lust, a smile on her swollen, freshly kissed lips. He reached down and unfastened her jeans, never taking his eyes from hers. In one motion, he slid her jeans and panties down her legs and tossed them aside. Still looking into her eyes, he reached for the bottom hem of her sweater and pushed it up as she wiggled to help him get it over her head. His hand slid under her to unfasten her bra, removed it, and added it to the small pile of her clothes. Not until she was lying before him, completely naked, did he move his eyes away from hers and sweep them appreciatively over her body. He took in an involuntary, sharp breath. She was a petite beauty, her wee body perfectly proportioned. Her legs, wonderfully shapely from horseback riding, were long relative to her height. His gaze

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roved to her chest and he smiled as his gaze confirmed his earlier guess that her breasts were full, more than a handful. As he stood there, his gaze moving up and down her body in an effort to know every inch of it, a low moan escaped from her throat, breaking his trance. He pulled off her socks, took an ankle in each hand and looked at the elastic wrap on her tiny right foot, and asked in a gravelly voice, “Is your ankle okay?” Tessa smiled at him. “Ankle? What ankle?” Smiling back at her, he grasped her hips and easily flipped her over onto her belly. “Umm, Gavan?” Tessa asked expectantly, popping her head up, trying to turn to look at him. “Shhhh,” he said. “No arguments from you, lass. I’m about tae have my way with you.” A little whimper escaped her lips as she laid her head down on the bed. Kneeling on the bed next to her prone body, Gavan lightly traced tickling circles on her back with his index finger, wondering at the soft smoothness of her skin. “Ooo,” Tessa said on a moan as she squirmed a little, gooseflesh rising all over. “I love having my back tickled.” He then followed the same pattern with his mouth, alternately kissing and tasting her warm skin, breathing in the lavender scent he remembered from when he lifted her into his arms that afternoon. **** Gavan stood then rolled her onto her back. He moved between her legs as she felt him slide his palms up her calves. His fingers wrapped behind her knees and he gently pulled to slide her body so her butt was at the edge of the bed. He ran his big hands from her ankles resting on each of his shoulders toward her hips, palms stroking the fronts of her legs, fingers sweeping between them.

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Tessa’s cunt squeezed when his fingertips reached the top of her thighs and lingered there, lightly teasing her curls. She could feel her insides quivering. A warm glow that built and radiated from her core outward threatened to consume her at any moment. Her breath caught when she opened her eyes and saw the intensity with which he was watching her reaction to his touch. “Gavan, please,” she begged. “You’re killing me.” He said nothing. Didn’t smile, didn’t take his eyes from hers, but with an ankle in each hand, continued to hold her legs straight up and spread them, opening her to him, providing an unobstructed view. She felt exposed and embarrassed under his scrutiny, but at the same time sexy and hotter than she’d ever been. When his tongue slid out and licked his sinful lips, her hips involuntarily pumped upward, begging him to move closer. “No, no, lass. I’m in complete control here. Doona try to alter my course. I have very specific plans for you.” She whimpered and struggled to control her hips, which suddenly seemed to have a mind of their own. With a look of satisfaction, Gavan sank to his knees and still holding her legs up in a V, leaned in very close and blew several hot breaths on her clit. Tessa struggled not to undulate and roll. She was virtually panting and biting her tongue to keep from begging him to touch her. It was like her life depended on not doing anything that would cause him to stop his progress again. When she dared to open her eyes and look down, she saw Gavan looking at her. He’d apparently been waiting for her to look at him before he stroked up her entire cunt with one long, lazy lick of his velvety tongue. His gaze held hers captive as his tongue stroked her clit over and over. He sucked her and rolled her swollen, hot button between his lips, never releasing his hands from her ankles. Even though she was still looking into his eyes, her vision was becoming clouded with stars, and she found herself unable to focus completely when her orgasm rippled through her body. The wave of warmth and light seeped from within

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her womb and out through her fingertips and toes. She shuddered, her back arched, and her pussy squeezed and undulated, releasing a tide of her juices, which Gavan drank up eagerly. After an eternity in suspended animation, she released a deep, throaty moan, and Gavan, eyes still locked on hers, said, “You are so sweet and wet, but I need tae make sure you’re ready for me. I doona want tae hurt you.” He resumed suckling her clit and pushed one of his thick fingers into her throbbing canal. She let her head drop back onto the bed and she closed her eyes, allowing the moans she could no longer contain to escape, praying that he wouldn’t stop and make her wait again. He didn’t. His plundering of her pussy continued, introducing a second and third finger, sliding them in and out in a twisting motion with frustrating slowness. Her entire body felt as though it was sparkling, tiny explosions over every inch of her skin. Her breasts felt heavy and tight, her nipples so erect and taut she thought they might burst. Suddenly, his hand and mouth were gone, provoking an immediate and sharp emptiness. She hated that he was no longer touching her. Daring a peek to see why he stopped, she instantly got her answer. There before her was her Scottish Golden God. Naked. Glorious. Huge and muscular, eyes the color of fine whiskey glowing with lust and desire, tongue licking her juices off the full, glistening lower lip of his sexy mouth, heaving chest wide and strong. And his cock, jutting proudly from its nest of dark brown curls with a single pearl of moisture glistening on the tip, was in a word, beautiful. She’d never thought of that part of the male anatomy as being beautiful, but there was simply no other way to describe his member. Dark pink olive in color, the length was tremendous, but even more tremendous was its girth. Gavan’s manhood was heavy and thick, so thick it brought to Tessa’s mind hysterical visions of the great red oaks of the Pacific Northwest. She grappled with several layers of fear as she watched him pump his hand up and down the giant rod in slow, deliberate movements.

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“Oh. My,” Tessa whispered, a loud swallow pushing down a momentary flair of panic. She looked back at his face to find a disconcerted expression and felt a flare of insecurity. “Gavan?” “Lass, I’m sorry. I just realized I’m not as prepared as I should be. I’ve no condoms with me.” The disappointment in his voice warmed her heart and she said, “I’m on the pill to regulate my periods. I tested clean a long time ago and, well, I haven’t been exactly active since before that.” “I’ve never been with a woman without protection. Never,” he said. “Doona worry, Tessa. I’ll never hurt you. I promise you that.” With that, he leaned forward, moving his arms beneath her in order to slide her to the center of the big bed. He loomed over her, seeming much larger than she’d originally thought. He bent to calm her with a long, tender kiss. Moving down, he placed his hand over her left breast, gently squeezing and caressing. He lowered his head and took her nipple with his mouth. He suckled her, sweeping his tongue back and forth across the tip inside of his mouth, and she moaned and arched herself into him. He trailed his tongue across her chest and gave her right breast the same treatment. Releasing her breast, he moved up to kiss her mouth. Lifting his face away from her, chocolate-brown hair falling around him, he looked into her eyes with the most sincere expression. “Trust me?” Tessa smiled. “Yes. Completely.” He eased her thighs further apart with his hands, and she felt the head of his cock nudge at her opening. “Just relax, Tessa, you can take me. We’re going tae take it very slow.” She nodded and Gavan pushed forward slowly, the head of his massive cock entering first through her wet pussy lips and into her sheath. He held still for moment, pulled back a little then slid back in

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slowly, this time pushing in a bit farther than before. The introduction of his first few inches bordered between pain and pleasure. Only part of him was in her, but already she felt the pressure of being completely full and stretched. He held his forward movement when she gasped, only pressing on when the expression of pain on her face changed to a smile. When her smile faded, he stopped again and waited for her to adjust. Tessa’s mind reeled. Just when she thought he would be too much for her to take, when she thought that this time, with this push, the pain wouldn’t stop, indescribable pleasure filled her. She wondered how much more of this man there could be and whether or not she could take him. But, whether or not she could take it, she wanted more. Needed more. Needed all of him. **** He trembled from the effort necessary to control himself, to keep from sinking into her silky, hot wetness in one thrust. Gah, her pussy was the tightest, softest thing he ever felt. Guilt flooded him. She was so wee, he couldn’t imagine how painful this must be for her. With the exception of a small gasp, she’d been completely silent as he entered her. The expression on her face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, eyes closed, biting her lower lip, as she concentrated on accepting him, teetering between pain and pleasure. He was regretfully considering calling a stop to this for her sake when her moan of pleasure interrupted his mind’s feeble attempt at chivalry. Her eyes blinked open and her gaze locked on his. “Gavan, what are you waiting for? I am so ready for you, I need you so much. Stop being so careful, get on with it and fuck me.” Her heels nudged at his muscular ass in emphasis. That was all the convincing he needed. With one final stroke, he pushed his huge cock fully into her, burying himself in her to his root. Her sharp intake of breath froze him, but she smiled at him after a

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moment, urging him on with the rocking of her hips. Being inside her was heaven. He’d never felt anything so perfect in his life, like her body was made to be wrapped around his. Her cunt was hot, almost feverish, and so tight. She pumped her hips at him again, whimpering. He pulled his cock back and buried it again. He continued to slide in and out with deliberate, steady strokes. When he was finally convinced he wasn’t hurting her, he pumped into her faster, and she came again. Her pussy muscles clenched and massaged his cock, pulling a groan from him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grasped his biceps with her small hands, fingertips digging into his flesh. **** When he was completely inside her, Tessa felt the beginning tickles of her second orgasm. Not only was her cunt packed as full as it could possibly be, but the cock that was ramming her was attached to the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. She loved the way his enormous, strong body covered her. She felt completely possessed by him. The girth of his cock stretched her so wide her clit was completely extended and exposed so with every in stroke, the base of his cock massaged it, and the ridge on the huge head of his cock rubbed and stimulated the special place deep inside her. “I’m no’ gonna last much longer, love. You’re so fucking tight, so beautiful. I canna hold on tae it.” And, as good as his word, he plunged in hard, once, twice more, and she felt him stiffen, felt his cock momentarily swell even more before it jumped and jerked inside of her. He kissed her savagely. The sensation of his warm seed spilling into her, drenching her womb, brought her to climax again with him, rhythmic spasms of her cunt milking the last of his orgasm from him. ****

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Not wanting to crush her, he fell over onto his side next to her, taking her with him, and pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. “I think I found a way tae stop you in the middle of a rant, lass,” he teased with a sparkling, mischievous grin. She smiled like a content cat. “Yes, well please make a note of that method.” They both laughed, and he snuggled Tessa against his chest with his arms tightly around her so they could fall asleep with his semihard cock still buried inside her.

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Chapter Seven Tessa awoke in the darkness to the sensation of being pulled backward across her bed by the strong arm wrapped around her waist. She sighed and shimmied once her back was firmly against his warm chest, surrounded by his embrace, his hips pressed against her, his engorged cock nestled into the crack of her ass and up the small of her back. “You got away from me, lass. I’ll no’ have that.” “Forgive me, it won’t happen again.” Tessa giggled sleepily with mock repentance. “S’all right. I guess you can make it up tae me,” he said, his voice raspy as he licked and nibbled her earlobe. He reached down then and placed his hand between her legs, cupping her mound while simultaneously pressing his hard-on into her backside and asked, “Are you sore?” In lieu of an answer, Tessa wiggled against him, and he growled. Gavan continued his activities on her ear and neck, making her moan and wriggle some more. Then he did the most delicious thing Tessa ever felt. He pulled his hips back, pushed his cock down and moved forward so that it slipped between her thighs, through her pussy lips. Her diminutive size combined with the enormity of his cock resulted in a full-length rubbing post nestled between her legs, his big knob sticking out in front of her, for Tessa to do with as she pleased. She turned her head to accept his kiss as Gavan placed his hand on her hip and coaxed her into moving her hips back and forth along the long length of his cock. Tessa moaned into his mouth as her clit stroked back and forth on the warm, velvety-soft skin that covered his iron

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shaft. With each forward stroke, her clit tripped over the ridge at the bottom of the head. The veined ridges tickled her clit with each slide back. Once she was rocking properly on her own, Gavan’s hand moved to her breasts. He alternated between them, kneading her flesh, pinching and teasing her nipples, all the while still kissing her deeply. The delectable, almost sinful feeling of masturbating on Gavan’s cock nestled between her thighs as she slid herself back and forth on it had her creaming immediately. The slickness trickling from her coated him, increasing her enjoyment with every stroke. Turning off her mind, she allowed her body to slide itself back and forth, first with a long, slow movement that traveled the entire length of his shaft, then following it with three or four short, quick flicks at the head, then back to another long stroke. She came in a rush without warning and screamed into his mouth. Gavan shifted then pulled back and thrust his hips upward so that his cock slid into her slick, tight pussy. She sucked in her breath sharply as the magnificent sensation of utter fullness brought on another sudden climax. He squeezed her tightly in his arms, pressing kisses and love bites into her neck while the pace of his thrusts increased. Each upward thrust seemed to introduce him farther inside of her, the sensation a near surprise to Tessa. Heat pulsed off his body as he impaled her again and again. His hot breath tickled her ear and sent shivers down her spine. One of his hands moved between her legs and found her clit, moving his finger around it in small circles. “Come for me, sweet Tessa. I want tae feel you come with me.” The combination of how much he filled her, his wicked finger, his words, and his deep, sexy, burred voice easily toppled her over the edge of her next orgasm, and she screamed his name in breathless exhilaration. She felt him fill her with his seed, still thrusting his hips, bucking into her as he held and stroked her pussy to draw out her climax. ****

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Tessa awoke in the morning, sun streaming through the French doors in her bedroom. She turned into him and snuggled herself under his chin. “How are you, lass?” Tessa took a deep breath full of his scent and sighed. “Mmmm. I’m really, really great. You?” She felt more than heard his chuckle. “I’m better than I’ve been in a verra long time.” After a few moments, Gavan cleared his throat and she felt his body tense slightly. Concern filled her. “Tessa? I want tae apologize tae you for last night. I doona want tae bring it all up again, but I need you tae know that I muddled my words. Please believe that I said everything wrong and I didn’t mean any of it. I hate like hell that I hurt you and I’m so sorry for it.” She took her time mulling over his apology, not sure if she should make further issue of it or take his apology at face value and move on. After several tense moments, she decided that it wasn’t worth ruining the joy she was feeling if it was all a misunderstanding. “Maybe if I wasn’t so quick tempered, you would have had the chance to explain that last night before I stormed off. Your apology isn’t necessary, but I appreciate it. It means a lot to me that you care enough to be sorry that I was hurt.” The tension disappeared and she stayed cuddled in his arms for a while as he traced his fingers absentmindedly up and down her back. She reveled in the tickling sensations. “You know, lass, you promised we’d get you tae the doctor today tae have your ankle looked at. I doona want you tae heal improperly because we, um, got distracted last night.” “Yeah, I know,” Tessa said regretfully. “But if we do that, we’re gonna have to go early because I have a photo shoot today and the crew will be here by one.” Gavan playfully swatted her butt and said, “Then I guess we’d

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better get moving.” With some reluctance, Tessa climbed over the mountain of man flesh that was between her and the phone on her nightstand. It would have been an easier task had Gavan not been so helpful as she passed over him. He caressed, licked, and nibbled every part of her he could reach and demanded she “pay the toll” several times before she finally dropped to the mattress on the other side of him. Tessa picked up the phone and called her doctor’s office. His receptionist answered right away. “Hi. It’s Tessa Danvers. Um, I was wondering if I could get in to see Doctor Trager this morning? I took a spill from my horse yesterday and twisted my ankle.” Call completed, she hung up turned to Gavan. “He can fit me in in two hours.” She rolled off the bed and headed for the shower, limping only slightly now, wagging her hips seductively for Gavan’s benefit. **** Under the spray of hot water, Tessa enjoyed every deliciously sweet pain and ache in her body. Whew, she thought to herself, I’m feeling it today, but it’s absolutely exquisite. Standing directly under the showerhead, she thought about her new view on sex. She’d been stupidly walking around since freshman year of college thinking she’d had sex. If last night was sex then no, she definitely never had sex before. What she’d done in college wasn’t even close to what had happened with Gavan. Hell, if her first boyfriend had made her feel even one-tenth of what Gavan did last night, she doubted she’d have ever gotten out of bed. How could she have lived all these years and not known how glorious a man could make her feel? And who knew she was multiorgasmic? She certainly didn’t. In fact, until last night, the only orgasms she’d ever experienced were self-induced. She’d finished soaping her body and began to think that Gavan hadn’t gotten her blatant invitation to join her when he climbed into

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the shower and took the bottle of shampoo from her hand. Lowering his face to hers, he gave her a long, sultry kiss. His tongue tangled with hers causing her to moan with desire. “I thought you’d never get here, big boy,” Tessa teased. Gavan turned her around and after pouring some shampoo into the palm of his hand, began to wash her hair. It had never occurred to her how luxuriously sexy it could be to have a man shampoo her hair. His touch was gentle and soothing, and the nearness of his naked wet body to hers had her senses screaming. She moaned loudly and she turned to kiss him, leaning back into the water to rinse her hair. She pulled from him and kneeled on the shower floor in front of him to take in the sight of his big, beautiful cock. The night before, in the dim light of her bedroom, she was able to see well enough to establish that it was bigger than any she’d ever seen. And, she’d definitely felt it. Good Lord, did she feel it. But now, in the brighter light of the bathroom, with it before her eyes in all its masculine, rigid glory, she intended to take proper time to thoroughly investigate. She reached out one hand toward his balls, which like his cock, were very large. They were full and round and rode close to his body. Until now, she never realized she had a preference. Full, round, and tight were most definitely her type. When her fingers lightly touched them, she saw the skin of his sac twitch a bit and she heard him draw a sharp breath. She turned her hand palm up and tested the weight of them gently while lightly pressing her fingers into the fleshy, sensitive area just behind them. Her fingers splayed open and shut while she cupped him, his curly brown hairs tickling her palm. Gavan’s breathing grew ragged and irregular, and Tessa slid her other hand behind his massive, skyward pointing cock, the back of her hand grazing that lowest part of his abdomen, the V shape formed by the ridge of the oblique muscles that rode above the hip bone and dipped down to where his cock joined the rest of his body. That, she thought, was her favorite part of the male body, that very muscular, very intimate area, the spot that, when he ground his hips as he thrust into her, would

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make delicious contact with her clit. Without moving the back of her hand away from her favorite spot, she began to curl her fingers and thumb around him, finding that they would never come close to meeting. Again, she heard the sharp intake of his breath. She took the hand that was so lovingly cupping his balls away and closed it over her other hand in order to complete the circle around his shaft. Slowly, she squeezed and released until she saw the glistening drop emerge from the slit on the head of his cock. She smiled and altered her movement and began to slide her hands, still together, up and down, slowly pumping him. Without ceasing her pumping motion, she pulled down so that his shaft no longer pointed toward the ceiling, but toward her face. She leaned in and licked the drop of moisture from the tip, savoring its salty-sweet flavor and smiling with the knowledge that she was responsible for his excitement. He let out a low growl and reached his big arms out to either side of him, pressing his palms to the walls of the shower to brace himself. “Tessa, love, you are beautiful. I’ve never felt anything...” But his words melted on his tongue as Tessa pulled the huge head of his cock into her warm, silky mouth. Her mouth was completely full with him. The hollows of her cheeks were working in and out as she sucked him. She worked her small hands in unison with her mouth, bringing him nearer and nearer to his climax. She looked up through her lashes to see him watching her intensely. “Ga, woman. I’m gonna come!” She felt his body strain to not lurch forward. Her pumping fists moved faster as she bobbed her head up and down on him, continually sucking, waiting for him, urging him to release himself down her throat. With a huge groan, his hips bucked forward, and she felt his warm fluid burst into her mouth, coating her tongue and throat, so copious that a small amount dripped from one corner of her mouth. She milked him with her hands and swallowed, loving the taste of

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his salty essence, never removing her gaze from his face. When his spasms subsided, she released him from her mouth and stood up in front of him. He opened his eyes in time to see her tongue poke out to catch the drop of him that dripped from the corner of her mouth. **** He pulled her to him and kissed her hard, as though trying to possess her through his lips, his own taste on her tongue filling his senses. Despite having emptied himself into her throat, he was still hard. He pushed her back against the tiled wall, reached down to grab her ass, and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he hooked his arms under her knees, pushing them up to her chest and out wide to the sides, trapping her between his chest and the wall. In one upward thrust, he buried his cock into her wide-open cunt. He braced his palms against the wall, her legs draped over his arms. The urgency and depth of his feelings for her took him over and he began a fast, furious pumping rhythm. He knew he was risking heartbreak, but he couldn’t stop himself. His need to possess her overrode all common sense. His mouth covered hers, and each breath he took was pulled from her lungs. With each upward thrust, he felt the head of his cock slam into and invade her womb while the base mashed into her clit. Her moans were so close together that just one long moan rose from her throat now. She came several times before a final orgasm took her, making her eyes roll back into her head, and she screamed. Her fists pounded his shoulders. Her cunt convulsed, pulling at him, squeezing him so tightly it was nearly painful. The milking action of her muscles literally pulled his climax from his body. His balls drew up close and a jolt of electricity shot down his spine and through his cock. He had no control over the forward thrusts of his hips as the orgasm washed over him. When the wave subsided, no longer able to stand, he lowered them both to the floor of the shower, Tessa landing in his lap.

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He released her legs and pulled her into his embrace, his cock still buried inside her. Several minutes passed while he rocked her back and forth as their breathing ebbed and flowed in unison. Finally pulling away, he looked intensely into her eyes and whispered, “Mine, Tessa Danvers. All mine. Nobody else kin have you. You belong tae me now.” Tessa wrapped her arms as far around him as she could, buried her face into his broad chest, took a deep breath, and said, “Yes, I’m all yours.”

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Chapter Eight Gavan’s relief at the doctor’s diagnosis that Tessa’s ankle would heal without any complication was evident in his stride as he carried her, at his insistence, to his truck. “Really, Gavan. I could have walked. The doctor said that it was only a very mild twist and I just need to take it easy, not stay off of it.” He planted a quick kiss on her luscious lips as he gently placed her in the passenger seat. “Wha? An’ have your pretty lil’ feet touching this dirty ground? Never!” She giggled as he rounded the truck to climb in and drive them home. He knew she thought his exaggerated, overprotective act was a joke, but deep down he had every intention of keeping her safe from everything. Even dirt. “The animal control officer called while you were getting your Xray.” Tessa turned to him with worry in her eyes. “What did he say?” He gave her fingers, which were already in his grasp, a little squeeze and said, “They found all three dogs early this morning and were able tae catch them.” “Oh, I don’t know if I want to hear this. It’s gonna break my heart.” Gavan’s own heart tilted a bit to realize what an animal lover she was. Even after they’d nearly caused her serious harm, she was concerned for them. “Nay. It’s not so bad. There were not only the three of them but a

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litter as well. It was the mother who’d come after you because you must have wandered tae close tae her pups. The other two dogs just joined in.” Tessa sobbed quietly. “And that’s not so bad?” A red light gave him the opportunity to pull her closer for a reassuring hug. “It’s not so bad, no. They weren’t feral, merely abandoned and verra hungry. All of them are being checked over by a vet and then being sent tae a no-kill shelter for adoption. The pups won’t be able tae leave their mother for at least another week, though.” Tessa expelled a hiccuppy breath. “Oh. That’s good. That’s really good. I’ll call about sending a donation to them. Poor doggies.” **** It was only eleven thirty, and already Tessa’s home was a flurry of activity when they returned. “Jesus, what’s going on here?” Gavan wondered aloud. “Oh, this is all hubbub for the photo shoot today. Apparently, Marlena, she’s my publicist, has appointed a photographer with a vision, whatever that means. I find it all a little scary.” He turned to her. “Have you done these before?” She nodded. “I’ve had some publicity shots taken, but I don’t think any of them were as elaborate as this one’s going to be. I’ve never had a photographer with a concept, they’ve always just wanted to get a decent shot of me, but nothing truly artistic has ever been part of it. I think I might be in over my head today.” He reached for her hand. “Should I leave and get out of the way?” he asked, hoping she wouldn’t say yes. He wasn’t ready to put as much distance between them as going home would require. “Well, if you don’t mind waiting till we find out what kind of plans this guy has for the shoot, maybe you’ll be able to do your thing wherever they’re not, right?”

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He didn’t bother to hide his relief. “Sounds good tae me. Ready?” He moved to extract Tessa from her seat. Marlena rushed to greet Tessa at the door and began to update Tessa in her usual high-energy, singsong manner. “Darling! Thank God you’re back. Henri has decided to completely scrap the plans to shoot indoors and move everything outside, given the unseasonable warmth of the day. The crew is ’round back, setting up in your yard. He has several scenarios in mind and now each one has to be reworked a bit to accommodate shooting al fresco.” “Oh,” said Tessa, already feeling overwhelmed. She turned to Gavan and said, “I guess if we’re outside that means you have free rein in here.” He bent and kissed her lips. “Aye. That’s good. Guess I’ll get tae work. Have fun, lass,” he said and disappeared out the door to get his equipment from his truck. Grabbing Tessa by both arms, Marlena spun her around and demanded, “Who on earth is that? He is just sex on a stick!” After giving Tessa an “I want details when we have time” look, she changed gears and said, “Come, we have to get you ready.” **** In her room, Tessa was joined by Henri’s makeup artist, hairstylist, and costume designer. They primped, poked, painted, and pinned until they all stood back to look at Tessa with scrutinous eyes. When she saw her image in the mirror, she was more than a little concerned. “Um…are we sure about this? I mean, this is really extreme. Marlena!” **** Upon hearing her name bellowed, she excused herself from the

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conversation she was having with a couple of the male models. “Time for me to smooth my client’s feathers.” **** “Hon, we discussed this,” Marlena said soothingly as she patted Tessa’s shoulder. “This is a men’s magazine. A men’s magazine that keeps its circulation by giving men what they want. The men told the magazine that they want you as their fantasy, and now the magazine is delivering. You are hugely popular in this demo, but this shoot could push you into one or two other demos. For instance, women in the eighteen-to-thirty-five demo who want to spice things up for their men. They see you in total fantasy mode, getting their guys all hot and bothered, and they’ll want to get to know who you are so they can do the same.” Tessa groaned and shifted on her feet. “Listen, hon. I know this isn’t exactly your comfort zone and you really don’t place much value in image, but the cold hard facts are that your publisher does. Not many authors have an image like yours to promote, so when one comes along they’re going to work it all they can. Try to relax today and have fun. I’m right here with you, and if this guy wants you to do anything more than some mildly sexy pictures, I’ll be all over him. I won’t even let shots like that exist. Okay?” With a loud sigh, Tessa relented. “Okay, I’ll be a good girl and play dress up.” **** The steady parade of technicians, assistants, artists, and male models had him more than distracted, and he gave up trying to get any work done. How many men did it take to get a decent picture of a beautiful woman? When the animal handler showed up with an

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immense, full-blooded black wolf, he found an out-of-the-way vantage point to take in the activities. He watched the backyard as a team constructed three different sets. One that looked like a dungeon, one that looked like a cemetery, and one that looked like a forest. That made him chuckle to himself. They were building a fake forest when there was a real forest only a few paces away. He could watch this all day and not understand it. The brouhaha surrounding him had become quite entertaining when from the corner of his vision he noticed a group descending the stairs, his Tessa firmly ensconced in the middle. He turned, intending to cross the room to greet her, but was stopped in his tracks. He felt his eyes widen and his breath caught in his lungs. The first thing he saw was that she had on that fucking buttondown shirt again. Damn. Why would she keep wearing someone else’s shirt after last night? He’d have to take a pair of scissors to that rag later. The thought of shredding the hated shirt having lifted his spirits, he looked up at her again. He knew she had been locked away with a team to do her makeup and hair but he didn’t anticipate this effect. Her blonde-brown mane, which she normally wore in a loose, natural style, allowing her waves to behave as they wished, was now done in a way that, while not really all that different, brought out a primitive, wild look. There was height added at the crown of her head, and her waves had been coaxed into loose curls. A massive, untamed tumble surrounded her small face. Atop her head was a scarlet-red tiara-like crown that gave her a regal appearance that lent just a hint of the diabolical. Tessa’s face had also been transformed. She didn’t have on excessive makeup, but what had been applied made a huge difference. Gavan detested overly made-up women, but this was pure, wicked fantasy. The most dramatic effect was her eyes. Dark color had been applied above and below her eyes and looked kind of smudgy, giving her a smoky, sexy look that made his cock twitch. He’d brought that

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look out in her the night before, but that was in her bedroom with the lights low, for him alone. Now she stood in the light of day, people everywhere, and that same look had been nearly duplicated with some crayon for every man there to enjoy and draw upon for fantasy. The eye makeup also accentuated the silvery highlights in her eyes so they appeared icy and otherworldly. Her lips, surprisingly, hadn’t been colored with red like he’d, for some reason, expected. Instead, they had a nearly natural, almost sweet, light pink color. Quickly, though, he realized that the absence of red paint on her lips was anything but innocent when the shimmery gloss was applied. The resulting sheen brought to mind the shine that coated her lips when they were slick with his cum after she finished sucking him off that morning in the shower. The overall effect made Gavan sure of the purpose of makeup. Jesus, what the fuck is going on here? he thought to himself, and he surreptitiously adjusted his stance to make room for his growing cock. At least she’s not half naked. But when he looked closer, he saw that what he originally thought were pants were actually shiny, thigh high, black stiletto boots. On the surface, he hated seeing his sweet, beautiful little Tessa looking like she could rule the Underworld with a lift of her perfectly arched eyebrow, but his body was betraying him and reacting fiercely to her appearance. The whole effect made him realize he could make her look the same way without the use of makeup. He’d made her eyes shimmer, her cheeks flush with color, her lips plump and shine, and her soft skin glow by touching her, licking her, fucking her, and he wanted to take her right there and do it. The boots made her legs look impossibly long for such a tiny girl. He wanted her legs in those boots wrapped around his waist as he slammed his hard cock into her cunt, making her cry out his name and beg for more of him. The effort required to keep himself in check and not stride across the room, throw her over his shoulder, and carry her up the stairs to her room to fuck her brains out was making him sweat. The photographer poked his head through the sliding door

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between the inside and outside flurries of activity and shouted to Tessa that set one was ready for her. Gavan watched Tessa, who hadn’t noticed him sitting across the room, give the photographer a nod, and one of the women who had been upstairs with her said something that compelled Tessa to unfasten the button-down shirt. When the woman next to her pulled it from her arms, Gavan nearly passed out. She stood in a crimson velvet bustier with matching bottoms that were cut high up on her hips. The tight garment cinched her waist until it appeared to be so small that he believed he would be able to put a hand on each side and have his fingertips and thumbs overlap at her belly and her back. Her full, creamy breasts were pushed up so they looked like they might spill over the top if she took a deep breath. Gavan had to concentrate to keep from inadvertently stroking himself in the room full of people. Someone approaching her from behind called her name, and she turned to look for them and he saw that what he thought were panties was actually a thong. Her sweet, tight little ass was naked save the small slice of fabric that dove into her crack and emerged at the top to form a very small upside-down triangle of fabric. His mouth watered. All he could think about was dropping to his knees behind her to lick her whole ass before tonguing her little pink, puckered hole. He closed his eyes in an attempt to compose himself. He looked again and a woman was placing a long, black velvet cape on Tessa’s shoulders, fastening it at her elegant throat with a large emerald brooch. As the woman worked on the cape Tessa slid on a pair of red satin gloves that reached well above her elbows. Once the cape was fastened and the gloves were in place, the three women who had been standing next to her through all of this stood back and looked at her proudly. At the same time, Henri arrived back at the door, appraised Tessa, and shouted, “Perfect, exactly what I wanted! Now get your ass out to set one, sugar lips!”

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**** Before walking out to the first set, Tessa scanned the room and found him. Gavan sat on the hearth of the fireplace, watching with an expression of rapt attention on his handsome face. She couldn’t guess how long he’d been sitting there or what he was thinking about the whole production. She smiled at him nervously, not feeling particularly comfortable with the whole High Priestess thing. He didn’t smile back, but stood and crossed the room, his hot amber gaze riveted to her, paying no mind to any of the people who crisscrossed in front of him. She was unable to breathe. He stepped directly in front of her, took her face in his hands, and pressed his mouth to hers roughly. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and he fucked her with it. It was a kiss full of passion, possessiveness, and pure male domination. Her legs trembled and juices flowed from her cunt into the string that the costume designer had referred to as panties. His assault continued until she was nearly in flames before he pulled his mouth from hers abruptly, his breathing jagged. Pressing his forehead to hers, he looked into her eyes and through gritted teeth in a voice so low that only she could hear he said, “Mine, Tessa, all mine. Nobody else kin have you. You belong tae me now.” His hands on the sides of her head loosened and his thumbs tenderly stroked her cheeks before he turned and stalked away from her. Tessa was frozen in place, her mouth agape, chest heaving. Jackie, who had done her makeup for the shoot, said, “Great, now I have to fix your makeup.” Without missing a beat, Stacey, her hairstylist said, “Yeah, but girl, was that so worth it. Did you see that? I swear, I felt that kiss from over here.” A smile danced across Tessa’s tingling lips.

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Chapter Nine Overhearing a conversation while the first set photos were being taken, Gavan learned the details behind the photographer’s concept. “Oh, yeah,” said the assistant to whomever as he guided one of the models around the sets. “The magazine did their annual poll a few months ago, and this little writer got the most overwhelming response they ever had. Not only did almost every response to that particular poll question name her as the ‘Favorite Celebrity Fantasy,’ but they also included their fantasies—some actual short stories that were fanfiction writings based on her books with her as the heroine. There were sketches and artwork, too. I heard a few of them were really sick. Most of them said they read her books over and over, always picturing her as the vulnerable heroine who is physically and sexually ravaged and ultimately controlled by various evildoers and paranormal entities until she’s rescued by the good-hearted vampire, werewolf, what have you, so that together they take out the bad guys. “In the next issue, there was an article by some shrink who analyzed some of the fantasies that had been sent in and basically said that she’s a major fantasy because she’s got this dark side with the horror and all. Then you add in the kinky, mind-bending sex that just oozes from her books, and, well, the guys don’t really have to have much imagination to start putting her into all kinds of situations that they’ve never dreamed up before. The fact that she’s a complete knockout helps, too. And, she’s so small that it’s easy for even wimpy guys to feel like they can protect her. So, the magazine decided to capitalize on the whole thing and organized this shoot that depicts three scenes from her books.

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“This one is from her first book—she’s in a cemetery because the ancient vampire, who can get energy through both blood and sex and has been living on her sex for weeks, has called to her and now she’s standing there waiting for him. The outfit, though, doesn’t go with the book. The outfit is to put out the whole ‘High Priestess of Horror’ vibe, that’s what some fan site started calling her after her first book came out.” The model took a long look at Tessa and said, “Cool. What are the other two sets?” “Well, the next set will be one from her second book where she is taken prisoner by a werewolf, and the scene is where she comes to terms with the fact that she’s in love with and has completely submitted to a wolf.” The model looked at the assistant. “So, the chick in the book gets it on with a wolf?” The assistant grinned. “Yeah, basically. At first he’s always a man, but eventually he can’t hold the beast back anymore and he partially turns while they’re in the middle of fucking and the chick loves it.” The model licked his lips. “Dayumn. And that cute little thing comes up with this? Man, I gotta start reading. So, what’s with all the beef?” The assistant chuckled. “The one you guys are all here for is the best one. It’s from the third book. I don’t know what the whole book is about, but I know the scene has her being held captive in a dungeon waiting for a ceremony that will induct her into some kind of coven that will give her the amazing magical powers she needs to defeat the demon. In order for the ceremony to work, she has to have been completely depleted of all sexual energy and desires to eliminate distraction. It costs the elders who run the ceremony all kinds of energy, so to make sure they don’t go through all that for nothing, they chain her up and have something like twenty guys do her until she’s nearly out of her mind. And they don’t just go one at a time in

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the book.” The model shook his head. “You’re shitting me, man. There’s no way that chick writes that stuff.” The assistant nodded. “She does. I’m tellin’ ya. Makes ya wonder what kind of kinky stuff she’s into, doesn’t it?” And there it was. His very nightmare summed up in one neat little rhetorical question. Gavan’s anger and insecurity coursed through him so strongly he thought he would explode. How could he stand knowing that men everywhere were probably jacking off thinking about his Tessa? That this photo shoot was promoting it and encouraging it? There’s no way he could stay here and watch twenty male models have their way with her, even if it wasn’t real. Just posing and pretending would be too much. He wouldn’t be able to handle the image it created. He paced along the side of the house like an animal in a cage trying to figure out what to do. He couldn’t stay here and see this, couldn’t stay with her and be constantly consumed by this doubt and fear. There would be a plentiful supply of men vying for her attention. How would he survive when one of those men caught her eye? When one of them said the perfect words, had the handsome face and the exciting life? Hell, it could be one of these pretty boys waiting for their time in front of the camera with her. A little flirting during the shoot and she’d forget he even existed. Yesterday, he’d succumbed because he had to have her, wanted to capture her heart, wanted to believe he could have happiness with her. But today, after holding her in his arms through the night, knowing how far gone he already was, everything was spiraling. Hell, he already loved her and he knew it. He just couldn’t do it. He had to get out now before he was completely destroyed. **** While the crew broke down the sets, Tessa showered all the

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makeup off her face and the goo out of her hair. By the time she exited her bedroom, feeling more like herself, only Marlena remained. “Where’d everybody go? People cleared out of here fast, huh?” Tessa asked as she slid onto a counter stool next to her publicist. Marlena poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Tessa. “Everybody’s exhausted, sweetie. It was a long day. A good one, though. The managing editor stopped by while you were on the third set and looked at the digital roughs for the first two. He thinks this issue is going to break all their records.” Tessa rolled her eyes and leaned her elbows on the counter, too tired to hold herself upright any longer. “Hey, wait! Did the costume designer leave? I still have my outfit upstairs.” Marlena swallowed her sip of wine. “She’s gone. She said they’d send a messenger over to our office to pick it up. No rush. Just bring it next time you come in.” With a waggle of her eyebrows, Marlena inquired, “Now, tell me about that gorgeous man you showed up with today. And don’t you dare hold out on me. I could have your Girl Club card revoked if you didn’t let me live vicariously through you with the likes of that one.” Tessa blushed from her head to her toes. A huge part of her wanted to blurt out every delicious detail to Marlena. She wanted everyone to know how deliriously happy she was. But modesty and the desire to keep what was happening between Gavan and her special stopped her. Instead, she quietly said, “He’s more than a little amazing, Marlena.” Marlena sniffed. “Honey, I’d be willing to bet lots of money that the word ‘little’ doesn’t apply to any part of that man.” Tessa blushed again and Marlena reached over to grasp her hand. “Oh sweetie, look at you! You’re in love! And to think, it was just a few weeks ago you were telling me that you didn’t see the big deal about love, relationships, and, I still can’t believe this, sex.” Tessa gave Marlena’s fingers a squeeze realizing her friend had

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nailed it. She was in love. “I know. I guess I just didn’t know what I was missing back then.” They chatted through another glass of wine each, and after giving Tessa’s cheek a quick peck, Marlena wished her goodnight and left. **** Settling on the couch with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, she turned on the TV and reflected on the events of the day. She was pooped but had to admit to herself the shoot was great fun. She had gotten very nervous when the concepts were described to her, beginning with her costume and leading to being told that one of the shoots was to be based on the werewolf love scene in her second book as the animal trainer walked by with a real wolf. Upon seeing the animal, she’d been afraid they actually wanted her to act out the love scene with the wolf. The shoot came to a halt when she learned the plan was for her to sit regally on a chair in a misty forest with the wolf by her side resting his head in her lap while she stroked his fur. Upon realizing her mistake, she was reduced to a fit of hysterical laughter that she couldn’t stop for about thirty minutes. Throughout the day everyone had been nice to her, encouraged her when she did something that looked good for the camera, and the criticisms were constructive and not too hard to deal with. Marlena was true to her word and stood by for every shot, watching like a mother bear protecting her cub to ensure nothing got distasteful. Dunking a chocolate chip cookie into the milk, she wondered where Gavan had gone. She figured he’d gotten bored and gone home. Neither of them had gotten much sleep the night before, so he was probably exhausted. Besides, standing around watching the photo shoot can’t have been very exciting for him. The thought of their previous night together came back to her and she smiled, feeling huge butterflies take flight in her stomach. It was then she realized how disappointed she was he wasn’t there with her. There was still a sweet

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soreness in her thighs from grasping Gavan’s strong torso between them. Thinking of it now made her breasts tingle and she felt herself grow wet. She never thought a man could make her feel like Gavan did, so easily, over and over again. It was like his sole focus had been to satisfy her. His satisfaction depended completely upon hers. She realized that she missed him horribly. Even though it was actually still quite early in the evening, Tessa decided to give in to her exhaustion and make it an early night to get some much needed sleep. She was closing the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. Assuming Marlena had forgotten something, she opened the door. It wasn’t Marlena. He filled the doorway, in form-fitting faded jeans and black boots. A well-worn leather jacket hung open over a blue-and-white pinstriped shirt. The first few buttons were left open so Tessa could see his strong, tanned chest. “Gavan!” Tessa squealed and threw herself into his arms, but he stopped her and held her at arm’s length. Standing before her in the doorway he had an odd, unsettled look on his face. His usually warm amber eyes held a cold glint. She wondered for a moment if he’d been out with Jaime and had a few too many beers, but she didn’t smell alcohol on him. A muscle in his clenched jaw twitched. “Gavan?” She was confused, didn’t understand his behavior. “What’s going on? Is something wrong? Are you okay?” He didn’t look at or answer her, but released his firm grip and moved past her into the house. Tessa closed and locked the door and turned in time to see him climbing the stairs to her room. She didn’t know how to feel. He was acting oddly and she felt that something was horribly wrong. She followed him up the stairs and walked to her bedroom door which he’d closed behind him. Pushing the door open slowly, she saw him standing in the dim light with his back to her, holding her High Priestess costume in his hand.

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“Gavan?” She stood very still. Seconds passed and she heard him breathe in deeply before he said, “Come here, Tessa.” His tone wasn’t harsh, but it was definitely firm. Commanding. She forced her feet to take the steps necessary to reach him on the other side of the room. When she was close enough, she reached out to touch him, but before she could, he thrust the costume at her and said in the same commanding tone, “Put this on. The whole thing, doona forget the boots.” He stalked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Wow. Talk about confusing. Was he serious? He sounded serious. But why all the mystery? What happened to make him behave this way? She stood there wondering what she should do. Slowly, she realized that he was hurting for some reason. That was what she’d seen in his face when he stood at her front door. Had she done something to hurt him? She couldn’t think of anything, but even if she had done something unintentionally, she wanted to make it right. She hated seeing him like this. When she had the whole costume back on, no small feat without a team to help her, she did a little teasing to get the “big hair” thing happening again and put the tiara on. She lined her eyes with brown kohl pencil and used the spongy end to smudge it a bit to get the smoky effect that Jackie had given her for the shoot. A little pale pink gloss completed the look. She assessed herself in the mirror. “Hmm, not exactly like the professionals, but close enough.” She stepped back into the bedroom, slid her feet into the boots, and zipped them up to her midthigh. Uh-oh, she thought, I don’t have the cape and gloves. Oh, well. Most of the outfit would have to do. Now fully dressed as the High Priestess of Horror for the second time that day, she stood in the center of her room feeling a little silly, not sure what to do. Was she supposed to wait here for him or go downstairs? She opted to wait in her room and perched herself

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daintily on the edge of her bed, her back very straight. She wasn’t facing the clock, so she didn’t know exactly how much time had passed before her bedroom door opened and Gavan stepped in closing it behind him. He stayed just inside, not moving into the room any further. She didn’t turn to him. She felt somehow that she wasn’t supposed to. Instead, she stood up, silently, staring straight ahead, providing him with a view of her left profile. Gavan spoke, a gruff edge to his voice. “Verra nice, lass. Turn around, verra slowly, an’ stop whenever I tell you.” She was still confused but did as he said, turning slowly. When her arms rose up to cross over her chest he said, “No. Keep your arms at your sides. Do only as I say. Nothing more, Tessa.” She dropped her arms back down to her sides. His voice was softer now, but there was a quality to it that compelled her to do as he bid. She didn’t know where he was going with this, but shivers that weren’t particularly unpleasant began to course down her spine. “Stop.” She complied, facing the opposite direction, giving him a view of her right side. She wanted to look at him to see what he was doing, but for some reason she didn’t dare disobey him. “Turn again.” And she did. As she turned around, facing him now, he said, “Stop.” She looked straight ahead, not daring to meet his gaze, but could see that he had removed his shirt and his broad chest was bare. He stepped toward her, and she began to quiver. Her pussy clenched and she could feel her wetness trickling down the inside of her left thigh. Her chest heaved deeply, nearly spilling her full breasts out of the top of the velvet garment she wore. When he was right in front of her, close enough for Tessa to breathe in his scent, he reached out and gently twirled a tendril of her hair with his index finger before lifting it to stroke across his lips. After several minutes of intense observation, he lowered his head and moved his lips as close to hers as they could possibly be without touching her. His warm breath

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tickled her lips. She could smell cinnamon and the woodsy scent that was his alone. Tessa struggled to keep herself from moving and pressing her lips to his, holding perfectly still, awaiting her next command. Such nearness without actually touching him was killing her and thrilling her at the same time. After another indeterminate amount of time, Gavan straightened and took several steps backward. He stopped and said, “Turn.” When she was facing the windows, so that her back was to him, he said, “Stop.” She waited but didn’t hear him stir. This was beginning to drive her mad. She ached for his touch, was ready to beg for it. He had been so tender last night and this morning. But now he was hard and unyielding. Oddly, she didn’t completely dislike it. In fact, judging by the ache in her breasts and the slippery cream running down the insides of both thighs, she was enjoying this immensely. Finally, she heard his footsteps in the soft carpet approaching her. Her skin tingled when she felt him gently move her hair to one side. He held it back, placed his mouth right next to her ear, and said nothing. He just hovered there, his warm breath showering her ear, heightening her senses. Then suddenly he was gone and her hair fell back onto her shoulder. Tessa stood there waiting to see what he would do next. She heard him right behind her and nearly moaned when he licked and kissed one ass cheek then the other. His hands moved in a slow, kneading caress. “So pretty,” he said as he stroked his hand across her left cheek. Tessa bit her lower lip in an effort to keep her body still. His refusal to touch her up to this point had her nearly frantic with need, and the sensation of his warm, rough palms was sheer ecstasy. Smack! Tessa jumped and yipped, “Ow! That stung!” She tried to reach back and rub the spot on her ass where his hand had made contact but he grabbed her wrist and gave her a firm, “No.” Her arm relaxed and he let go of her wrist and moved his hand to

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the tingly spot on her flesh to gently soothe it with his palm and kisses. Smack! This time on the other side. She managed to hold still other than a small lurch and not force him to grab her wrist again. In an instant his hand was on the new spot, soothing the sting out of it. Part of her was infuriated that he dared to spank her bottom, but that part of her was quickly replaced by the raw excitement coursing through her. Her breathing was ragged and her body was humming like a tuning fork. He released her and she heard him walk away, again putting distance between them. She was bereft. From across the room he said, “Tessa, turn around and walk tae me.” She turned to find him sprawled in the armchair across from her, completely naked. His long legs spread out before him as if on display for her. She moved to him until she stood between his legs, but not quite as far as the edge of the chair. “Stop,” he said. She continued to stare straight ahead, still assuming that she wasn’t supposed to look at him, although he hadn’t actually said that. She stood like a statue, and he finally spoke. “Take off the thong.” Her entire body pulsed as she slid the pieces of elastic down over the boots and stepped out of them, kicking them to the side. Moments filled only by the sound of her own breathing. Excitement, desire, confusion, and a touch of angst coursed through her. “Touch yourself, Tessa.” A whimper escaped from her throat, and as she moved her hand for Gavan’s pleasure, she closed her eyes. “Open your eyes,” Gavan said quietly but sternly. “I din’na tell you tae close your eyes. Open them and look at me.” Tessa swallowed hard and opened her eyes, dropping them to

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meet his. This time, she didn’t see the pain she saw earlier. It had been replaced by heat and desire. His amber eyes nearly glowed with hunger for her. She licked dry lips then froze, concerned she’d be reprimanded for that act, but Gavan said nothing about it. “I told you tae touch yourself.” Tessa realized that her hand had been frozen in midair in front of her. She moved it down and slid her index and middle finger into the folds of her cunt. She moaned. “I dinna say you could make noise.” She nodded and concentrated on her hand, never breaking his gaze. Her fingers moved back and forth, sliding in and out of her cunt lips, feeling her swollen clit slipping between her index and middle fingers, close to bursting. He took his huge erection in his hand and began to slowly stroke it. His thumb rolled over the big knob and swiped up the first drop of wetness that had appeared there. Watching him pump himself mesmerized her. The thought of how he tasted in her mouth rushed back to her, and it sent a jolt through her causing her body to visibly shudder and tense. “No Tessa. You’ll no’ cum till I let you. Pull your fingers from your pussy.” She did as he bade as though in a daze. “Now taste yourself, Tessa. Bring your hand tae your mouth and taste your sweet juices.” Her lips parted and she inserted two fingers into her mouth. “Tell me how you taste, Tessa.” Almost inaudibly, Tessa whispered, “Sweet and spicy. Sort of like salted honey. Very slick.” He smiled wickedly, and her knees nearly buckled. “Aye, lass. That’s how I remember it. I’ve never tasted anythin’ so perfect. I’d like tae taste you again. Would you like that, too?” She nodded, still lost in his gaze. He released his cock and stood to his full height, so close to her

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that her nose now touched his chest. God, he was huge. “Turn around.” She did as he bade and waited while he unfastened the seemingly ten thousand hooks on the bustier that cinched her till she could barely breathe. It dropped to the floor, leaving her naked except for the thigh-high boots. “Now, walk tae the bed and climb up on it. Stay on your knees.” She followed his command. He moved behind her and placing a hand between her shoulder blades, pushed her upper body down. When she put her arms out to catch herself, he said, “No. All the way down.” He placed his big hand on her chest to help lower her so she wouldn’t fall forward. With her head turned to one side, shoulders resting on the mattress, she was completely exposed. He took a step back, and she knew he was inspecting her, her ass in the air, every fold of her pussy open to him, dripping with anticipation. An odd sound reached her ears. With a surge of panic, she identified the sound of his belt being pulled from the loops of his jeans that lay on the floor in a heap. She thought the spankings were about to resume at a whole new level and she whimpered, not sure she wanted that. Hand-to-ass smacks with kisses and soothing after were one thing but introducing leather was highly questionable. But she trusted him not to harm her. “Put your arms at your sides.” She did, and he wrapped the belt around her waist, pulled it tight enough that her arms were trapped against her sides, and buckled it. She never knew she could feel like this. Gavan was asking, no, commanding her to do things she never thought she would consent to do and it had her teetering on the brink of orgasm. Her pussy, open and wet, was trembling, her muscles inside squeezed and grabbed at emptiness. He placed his hands at the insides of her knees and pushed at them.

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“Open up more for me, Tessa. I want you wide open.” It wasn’t easy, but she managed to work her knees further apart. Long moments passed before she felt Gavan’s breath at her slit. She heard him breathe in, long and deep. When the tip of his tongue made contact with her clit, an involuntary lurch caused one knee to slip off the edge of the mattress. He caught her knee and moved it back in place. He returned to her clit, but this time with his tongue wide and flat. He moved in one long, deliberate motion from her swollen, throbbing button, through her lips across the opening to her sheath, and up to her tight, puckered hole. She moaned, unable to stop herself. He repeated the action and goose bumps rose on her flesh, her breath stolen from her. The wave of pleasure built in her, lapped at her insides. Her orgasm was nearly on her, and as if sensing it, Gavan backed off. He ran his big hands over her ass, tickling trails up and down her spine, then buried his face in her cunt again. Time and again he carried her to the edge of her climax, only to pull away, maintaining her delirious frustration. When his tongued flicked at her pink, puckered asshole, she wiggled her hips involuntarily. He pushed a finger into her tight, wet cunt, and she nearly screamed out with pleasure, but he removed it quickly. Despair filled her and she thought she would fall apart at the loss of some part of him inside of her when she felt him push his big finger, slick with her cream, into her back hole. She’d written about anal sex, and of course it always happened with a male who had an extraordinarily or paranormally huge dick. But she’d never even considered such a thing for herself. And, while the idea of doing it with Gavan was exciting, very exciting, he was just so fucking huge that she was certain she’d be injured. Likely split in two. With the trembling voice of a small, frightened child, she said, “Gavan, I don’t think…” ****

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Gavan pulled his hand away and stood up quickly. Something in her voice stopped him cold. Running a hand through his hair, he realized he’d pushed too hard and scared her. He would never harm her. He wanted her. He needed to possess her, body and soul. Needed to know that she wasn’t capable of wanting any man but him. He needed her to love him and want his love in return Moving around the bed, he squatted down so he could look into her eyes. One side of her pretty face was pushed into the mattress, her eyes closed tightly. She undid him completely and he felt tears well in his eyes. Blinking them away, he reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek with his rough thumb. Her eyes fluttered open and her lips curved into a tentative smile. He returned her smile. “Tessa, love, I din’na mean tae scare you. That’s no’ what I’m doing here. I can’no say that I never want tae sink myself into your beautiful little ass, but I know that I have tae have you completely ready for that and it willno’ happen in one night. Not tonight. I would no’ hurt you. Please know that.” Tessa’s eyes gleamed and she said, “I know that. I trust you, Gavan. Completely.” Relief filled him, but he bowed his head, looking down at the floor, still feeling like a heel. Then his heart was lifted by a quiet little giggle as she said, “But we’re not finished here, are we?” His head jerked up and he smiled devilishly. “No, lass. Not by a long shot.”

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Chapter Ten Gavan stood behind her upturned ass once again, her delicate, wet folds an invitation to ecstasy. She waggled her hips at him, and he felt his cock jump. He reached to unbuckle the belt and release her arms, but she said, “Leave it? I think I like it this way.” A low growl escaped him. Was there no end to the wonder of this beautiful, sexy woman? Just when he thought she couldn’t make his heart swell any more, she taught him otherwise. There was no doubt in his mind that ten years ago Bonnie did him a favor. She released him so that he could find Tessa, the love of his life. He let go, leaving the belt in place, and knelt behind her. His big hands grabbed her hips, and he buried his face in her cunt. He lapped up her juices as though it were rejuvenating nectar. He tongue fucked her as deeply as he could until he felt her shiver. A finger replaced his tongue as he moved his mouth to her clit, exposed from its hood, swollen and pink. He sucked the little bud between his lips while his tongue swept across it in a rhythm to match the thrusting of his finger. Tessa’s body trembled and she turned her head from side to side. He felt her muscles squeeze and clench at his finger, pulling it into her further. He could feel her impending climax, and he pulled away. “Why?” she asked insistently. “Please, Gavan, please let me come. Oh!” Gavan put a stop to her complaint when he nudged the head of his cock against her slick folds. His cock strained like he’d never felt before, he throbbed and ached to be buried balls deep in her quivering warmth. When she wiggled and pushed back against him, his eyes

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nearly rolled up into his head. He needed to do something to slow this down or it was going to end way too soon. Smack! Smack! He felt her freeze as the echo of the sound of his palm making contact with her sweet ass rung in his ears. He took hold of the belt with one hand while caressing her stinging flesh with the other and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “I let us get a bit off track here, lass. Seems you’ve forgotten who’s in charge.” A catlike smile he couldn’t see curled her lips. He stood upright and pushed his throbbing, swollen cock into her wet, hot opening. Holding himself at his base, he pushed forward until the big round head popped into her, basking in her creamy, tight warmth. He held still for several moments, looking down at her sumptuous, heart-shaped ass, forcing Tessa to control her need to push back against him to pull him into her. When he could no longer pass his own test of self-control, he grasped her hips and slid into her with painfully deliberate slowness. After several long seconds, he was buried completely within her, the fronts of his thighs against the back of hers, and he undulated and rolled his hips, swiping his balls across her distended clit. Tessa’s muscles tightened like a fist around him, squeezing and pulling his enormous girth into her, and he felt her orgasm run through her. Her body shook and a long, deep “Oh,” escaped her. Gavan leaned forward to say in her ear, “That’s it, lil’ love. That’s what I want. I want tae feel you come over and over tonight while I’m inside you. I love feeling you come around my cock. I love knowing I kin make you feel what no other man has.” With that, he grasped the belt buckle tightly in his right hand and began to move his hips. He pulled back until only the head of his cock was still within her, looking down to see himself coated with her sticky sweetness, then he thrust himself back into her, hypnotized by the sight of her tiny little body accepting his swollen cock. Over and

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over, he stroked in and out of her squeezing, warm sheath, moving faster with each thrust, burying to the hilt a little harder with each inward push. Her muscles clenched at him, seemingly dancing around his cock, pulling it in, trying to prevent it from leaving. He reached his left hand down between her legs to wet his fingers with her syrup. **** Before she completely recovered from her first earth-shattering orgasm, she felt a second wave building in her womb. His big, hard cock pushed at her cervix relentlessly. She was stretched wide and utterly filled with him, and she loved it, savored it. When his fingers reached down and danced across her wet, swollen labia to gather her moisture, she eagerly anticipated his attention to her clit, but he didn’t go there. Instead, she felt his finger at her anus, pushing firmly to gain entrance. As before, she experienced a momentary rise of panic but squashed it, secure in the knowledge that Gavan wouldn’t hurt her. She knew without a doubt that this man knew only how to bring her more pleasure than she ever imagined she could feel. As difficult as it was with his enormous, rigid cock sliding in and out of her, she concentrated on relaxing to accept his big finger. After a few deep breaths, she felt him slide in a little, pull out, then push back in to gain a little more depth. By the time his thick finger was completely buried, she was gasping for breath, sinking fast into another orgasm. She could feel her ass squeezing his finger, her pussy tightening on his pulsing, hot cock, more full than she’d ever been, and she flew into a million pieces. No longer physically capable of holding her bottom in the air for him because she seemed to have lost control of her legs, Gavan held her up by the belt wrapped around her waist. ****

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Gavan pulled from her, and she gasped. He gently lowered her to the mattress and removed the belt from around her waist. She lay prone now, one leg dangling off the edge of the bed, the other bent up at her side. Her arms remained tight to her sides, breath heaving. She completely filled him, his love for her made his heart ache. Taking her left arm in his hands, he gently massaged it to help it recover from being restrained at her side, then repeated the process on her right arm. Rolling her over onto her back, he scooped her limp body into his arms and moved them to the center of the bed. Carefully, he removed her boots and headband, ridding her of her High Priestess persona completely. He hovered above her on his hands and knees, his chocolate-brown tresses tumbling forward, surrounding his handsome face. Her eyelids fluttered open to see his gaze rapt upon her, tenderness swimming in their amber depths. She felt delicate, feminine, and utterly protected lying below him, surrounded by him. Lowering his head to her he kissed her, gently, lovingly. Their tongues mated sensuously, exploring each other’s mouths. She moved her arms, feeling traces of the stiffness in them, and wrapped them around him, tracing her fingers across the rippling muscles in his back. He lifted his hand and tenderly stroked her cheek with his thumb and bent to deliver kisses to her forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyelids. Continuing downward, he kissed her neck, nibbling lightly, extracting a moan from her throat. Placing his right hand over her breast, he lightly ran the palm across her nipple, causing a sharp jolt of electricity to shoot directly from her breast to her clit, and her cunt spasmed. His fingers curled into her breast, and caressing it, his mouth captured her nipple. When he suckled at her, she cried out and arched herself into him. He released her nipple with a soft pop and moved to her other breast in order to subject it to the same treatment. ****

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He returned to her mouth and kissed her again, but more urgently this time, spearing his tongue into her, demanding her participation. She responded and sucked his tongue into her mouth, holding it captive between her lips, massaging it with her own. With a growl, he broke the kiss and watched her face intensely as he positioned his cock at the opening of her hot, wet cunt. In one stroke he buried himself in her. Tessa gasped and tilted her hips up providing him a better angle. Their lovemaking was sweet and slow this time, and Gavan savored every stroke, reveled in her every facial expression. He’d been controlling his release for hours, nearly exploded more than once, and now he felt the build coming again. He knew there would be no refusing it this time. For as long as he could, he kept a relaxed, gentle pace, needing to give to her and take from her the gentle side of the love he felt for her. But now urgency welled and the depth and speed of his thrusts increased. He pushed Tessa’s legs wider to accommodate his big torso, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to sink deeper into her, to join with her completely. Grasping her legs behind the knees he pushed them up toward her chest then hooked her ankles over his shoulders. Looking down, Gavan gloried in the mesmerizing sight of his thick length plunging in and out of her small pink cleft. There was a savage beauty to it that had him fast approaching climax. When he leaned forward, she was literally bent in half but it gave him maximum penetration. Her eyes were wide and glazed with desire. Her mouth formed a perfect O as he settled into his new position and thrust into her with new fervor. Expressions of exquisite ecstasy flashed across her face and she bit her lower lip until he feared she might pierce it. Each time his hips pushed forward, slapping against her, a gasp of air escaped her mouth. “Oh, Gavan, I’m going to explode. I think I might fly apart.” Her tight muscles fisted his cock as her eyes rolled slightly back into her head. He could feel her orgasm nearly upon her, and he pumped faster, mentally releasing the hold he had placed on himself

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and allowed his own orgasm to take him. His hips moved furiously, his balls tightened to his body, and his dick began to jump and throb. His orgasm started in his balls then shot down the backs of his thighs and up his abdomen, into his chest. He felt her body shudder as her hands grasped at his arms, digging into his flesh as though she sought an anchor. The muscles of her vagina milked him, pulling the cum from his cock, and he shot jets of hot liquid into her. His hips continued to thrust until his orgasm subsided completely. He slid Tessa’s legs down so that he lay between them, his cock still buried in her, and kissed her once, firmly, in an expression of his final claiming of her and she submitted to him fully. He pulled himself from her body carefully and moved to her side to pull her into his chest. She placed her palm over his heart and purred. They lay together, limbs entangled, basking in the glow of their lovemaking. Finally, Tessa took a deep breath and said, “Gavan?” Her index finger drew lazy circles around his nipples and traced downward to tickle around his belly button. “Hmmm?” She stopped moving her hand. “What happened today? I mean, where’d you go? And why did you come back in such a state?” He figured he’d have to explain his behavior at some point. A low rumbling sound emanated from his chest before he replied. “Seein’ you in your costume for the shoot kind o’ shocked me. They turned you intae a tight lil’ package of raw sex.” She pinched his nipple lightly and said, “Yeah. I got the idea you liked the costume.” Gavan thought for a minute then said, “Oh, I liked it. I liked it too much. And I knew I wasn’t going to be the only one likin’ you in it. Then I overheard one o’ the assistants talkin’ tae one o’ the models about the concept and where it came from. Believe me, lass, two men talkin’ about it when they thought nobody was listenin’ gave me a glimpse of what every man who buys that goddamned magazine is

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goin’ tae feel when he looks at you. “I can’t deny it. I’m a jealous man.” Tessa had pulled her head from his chest and was watching his face as he spoke. “I’m no’ judgin’ you for the subject matter o’ your book—I never would.” He let out a great sigh before continuing. “Someone hurt me. It was a long time ago, but I decided then that no woman would do that tae me agin’. I’ve no’ been involved with any woman since. Until now. I think I fell in love with you the minute you opened your door and dropped your coffee on my foot.” His fingers twirled the tendrils of her hair and he smiled. “Thing is, I know with all these men panting after you, men who would seriously pursue you, it will only be a matter of time before you find somebody else who kin make you happier. And I’ll be devastated.” Tessa started to speak, but he shushed her. “But I know now, that’s no’ right, I have no choice really, I need tae have whatever part of you that you can give tae me, tae hell with the consequences.” She sat up, rage filling her eyes, and kicked at him with her little feet, getting a good shot into his side. “What the hell, woman?” he barked at her as he rubbed his ribs. She yelled back, “I’m just trying to wake you up, you big fucking ass. You think you have it all figured out, don’t you? I can’t believe that after the time we’ve spent together, that after tonight, when I literally splayed myself out for you, completely vulnerable to anything you might choose to do to me, putting more trust in you than I’ve ever put in anyone, you can honestly think that another man could come along and make me happier. You make me happy. Happier than I’ve ever been. Happier than I ever thought I could be.” Pausing for a moment, gathering either her thoughts or patience, he didn’t know which, she lowered her gaze before looking back at him.

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“God, Gavan, I just don’t know how to make you understand. You make me feel feelings I never even knew existed, let alone experienced. I’ve had two boyfriends in my life. Both were in college and both were so dismally disappointing that I just figured that the whole relationship thing wasn’t for me. To me, relationships seemed like more trouble than they’re worth. Because of that, I haven’t been with a man since then until you. I had absolutely no interest. I always figured I had better things to do. But, as soon as I saw you in my doorway, before I dropped my coffee on you, I knew that I had been wrong for so long.” He looked at her, sitting on her knees next to him on the bed stark naked with her hands on her hips. Her chin was up defiantly and the familiar storm that swirled in those eyes was a full-blown monsoon. Gavan traced his finger along her thigh and asked warily, “So what now, lass?” She threw her arms up, making her full breasts jiggle. “Arrggh! What now? I’ll tell you what now. I love you too, that’s what now. I love you and that won’t change. Not now, not ever, so I guess you’ll just have to figure out how to deal with it.” She started to leave the bed, muttering under her breath. The phrases “stupid man” and “too big of an idiot to see what’s right in front of him” made it to Gavan’s ears. He hooked his hand behind her neck, pulled her to him, and kissed her. The kiss was urgent and possessive. When he released her she pulled away, gasping for air. He smiled as he slid off the bed holding up his index finger requesting a moment from her and walked to his jeans piled on the floor near the chair. Turning back, he carried a smallish, rectangular box, colored in telltale, pale robin’s-egg blue with a white satin ribbon tied in a bow. Tessa bounced a little and clapped her hands together. “Ooo! What’s that?” Gavan slid back onto the bed next to her and handed her the box. “This is where I went today, lass.”

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**** Tessa took the box from him and opened it. Inside was a heavy, gold rolo-link bracelet. Near the clasp, there was a flat, heart-shaped charm with an engraving on it. With trembling hands, she removed the bracelet from the box and tilted the tag to catch the light from fireplace so she could see the engraving. In elegant, Old English style font was a single letter G. She looked at it, nibbling her lower lip in concentration, a slight grimace on her face. “Did you engrave this with your initial as a message that I belong to you?” In a cautious near whisper he answered, “No, lass. That’s my heart.” Tessa looked back at the bracelet, her heart ready to burst. Had there ever been a sweeter, more romantic gesture? “It’s such a heavy link. I guess you want to make sure that once it’s on, it stays there?” **** He nodded slowly. “Aye.” He searched her eyes tentatively in anticipation of the gathering storm, now regretting the presumptive nature of his gift. He couldn’t get the words out to tell her that the big, clunky links represented him. He watched as she toyed with the charm for a few minutes, sliding her finger back and forth across the engraved letter. Then she handed it back to him. Handed his heart back to him. She didn’t want it. His breath caught. His heart stopped. He actually felt it crumbling within his chest. She leaned over, took his face between her dainty hands, and said, “Will you help me put it on?” His breath escaped in a near choke and he pulled her to him to kiss her. He wrapped the heavy bracelet around her delicate wrist and

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fastened the clasp. Tessa held her arm out and shook her wrist to admire her gift. “You know,” she said as she rolled her arm back and forth, “the strong golden links actually remind me of you.” His arms wrapped around her waist, pulled her to him, and they rolled over together on the bed so that she straddled his waist. “I’m starvin’, lass. How would you feel about a midnight snack?” She jumped off the bed. “I’m up for that, let me just grab my nightshirt,” she tossed over her shoulder as she reached for the hated button-down. In a blink he was at her side. “I forgot. I’ve somethin’ else for you.” He stepped to the pile of clothes on the floor, picked up his shirt, and held it out for her to slip into.

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Chapter Eleven Perched on the counter, bare feet dangling with hair piled on top of her head in a scrunchie, Tessa watched Gavan prepare toast and tea for them in black boxer-briefs as she breathed in his scent that clung to her new nightshirt. Oh, yeah, this is definitely a dream, she thought to herself. There wasn’t a male underwear model anywhere that had a thing on this gorgeous creature in her kitchen, slaving over a hot tea kettle and toaster just for her. The mere thought of touching him and the way he just took her, not against her will, but because he just knew what he wanted and he went for it, made her squirm around a little as a million butterflies performed a frenetic dance in her stomach. She could feel the blush rising up from her breasts to her cheeks. He looked at her then. “Wha?” Tessa blinked and quickly covered by saying, “Oh, I really love midnight snacks.” After all they’d shared tonight, it was crazy to be embarrassed, but hey, a girl’s got to keep some gushiness private. Hungrier than either of them realized, they slurped and smacked their way through two cups of tea each and several slices of toast. After depositing the dishes in the sink, Gavan slid his body between Tessa’s legs and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to the edge of the counter so that her sex and belly were against his alreadyerect cock. “Working in the different rooms here has given me a few ideas that I’d like tae run by you,” he said as he kissed and licked down the side of her neck before sucking her earlobe between his lips, nipping it gently.

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“Oh?” It came out more as a gasp than a question. “Aye. What do you think?” She tilted her head to the side to give him better access to her neck and rotated her hips to grind herself against his cock, and she felt him shiver a bit. “Well, I can’t say that I’d be averse to hearing some interesting ideas about my house.” She stroked her index fingers back and forth across his flat, brown nipples, thrilled by his reaction to her touch. He took her mouth with his and entered her with his tongue. She sucked at it, massaging it with her own. Buttery sweetness from their snack pervaded her mouth. She could feel her insides tighten and was amazed that after the night she’d already had, this beautiful man could bring her so close to the edge again with nothing more than a kiss. A really hot, passionate, deep kiss. He pulled away from her and looked straight at her. “I think it’d be a lot more fun if I showed you my ideas.” The intensity in his gaze robbed her of speech. “’Kay,” was all she could manage to gulp out. With a hand on either side of her waist he lifted her down from the counter, took her hand in his, and led her to the library. Once in her office, he walked directly to the big chair behind the desk, removed his briefs, and sat down, piquing her curiosity. Giving her a “come here” finger wag, he said, “Lose the shirt on your way, lass.” Somehow she managed to convey the message to her feet to step forward. Slowly moving around the desk, her fingers began to work the buttons of the shirt. Despite having been completely exposed to him earlier, he watched as she unfastened each button, intense anticipation written on his face. When she reached the third button, he licked his lips and leaned forward a little. His reaction encouraged her and she decided to make the most of it and give him a little show. She stopped moving, still a couple of feet away. She moved her fingers to

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the next button, which was just above her navel, and let them linger just above it. Instead of undoing the button, she ran her left hand up the button placket of the shirt, pulling it open a little so the curve of her breast showed. Gavan gasped and leaned back in the chair, his glistening eyes dark with desire, locked on her. She ran her hand back down the placket, keeping it open but making an exaggerated display of running her curled fingers over her breast and licked her lips seductively. She unfastened the next button and repeated the movement on her right side, this time opening the shirt wide enough to show her nipple. The sight of Gavan rubbing his palm up the length of his now unbelievably huge cock made her pussy tingle. “Oh, Tessa lass, what are you tryin’ tae do tae me?” She smiled as demurely as she could and opened the last button as she turned to face away from him, not allowing full view of her nudity. He grunted a protest and she smiled. With her head to the side but not really looking back at him, she pulled the shirt over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor in a puddle. Turning her head a bit farther to take a quick peek at Gavan, she saw him stroking himself, his thumb rolling over his big knob on each upstroke. She turned her face forward again and parted her legs slightly, thinking about the view he was getting as she stood in only her pink lace boyshort panties. Sliding her hands around to rest on her ass, she slowly raised and slightly parted her cheeks then released them, aware of the slight jiggle created by the action. Behind her, her Great Scot growled. Reaching up slowly, she pulled the scrunchie from her hair, craned her neck back, and shook her head a bit, running her fingers through her mane to free it from its confines. His heavy, ragged breathing permeated the air. Straightening her neck and pulling her legs together, she ran her hands down her breasts, over her belly, and slid her index fingers into the waistband of her panties. She slid her hands to the sides of her hips before pushing the garment down, bending only at the waist to lower it all the way to the floor

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knowingly giving him full view of her pussy. She lingered there for a second before he said in a choked voice, “Come here.” Standing up straight, she turned to face him and walked forward. When she reached the chair she put one hand on each armrest and leaned in to kiss him. He returned her kiss roughly, his mouth hot, strong, and demanding. When his muscular arms wrapped around her to pull her in, she resisted and pulled away. Smiling slyly, she dropped to her knees and took his cock from his hands into her own. With a rasp he said, “Tessa, this isn’t what…” She smiled sweetly at him. “Shh. You can’t always have your way.” Before he could protest again she took him into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around his hot, engorged head. Tasting a pearl of semen, she swiped at it then poked into the slit in an effort to find more. Her hands were clasped together at the base, squeezing as she pumped up and down. She moved her head in time with her hands and sucked so that her cheeks pulled in. She could already feel his cock twitching with his nearing orgasm, and he grasped both sides of her head with his big hands to stop her. “Tessa, I want to be inside you, baby. Here, in my lap.” She climbed into his lap, knees planted on either side of him in the chair. He reached up and caressed her breasts, running his palms in circles over her almost painfully distended nipples. Tessa moaned and arched into him. He took one nipple between his lips and grazed it with his teeth while his fingers teased and tickled the other. Each suction of his mouth shot an electric line from her nipple to her clit. Her pussy clenched, aching to be filled. He moved his mouth to the ignored nipple and repeated his treatment there. The laving of his tongue across her nipple made her moan and she began to slide her clit against his hot, rigid cock. She trembled at the first touch of her sensitive skin to his. Removing his hand from her nipple, he reached down and slid his fingers between her labia. Her sweet cream was

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already running in rivulets down the inside of her thighs and she covered his hand with it. As he moved his mouth to hers to kiss her, his finger gathered her wetness and moved to her clit. He brushed across it once, twice, three times when she shuddered. She pulled her mouth from his. “Gavan, if you don’t get inside me right now, I think I’ll fall apart.” **** Her lips were red and swollen from sucking and kissing him. Her eyes were pleading and full of lust. He pulled himself straighter in the chair, wrapped his arms around her, and grabbed her ass with his big hands. “When I stand up, wrap your legs around my waist.” She nodded. The great difference in their size made this an easy maneuver. He angled his hips and slowly lowered her until he felt the head of his cock against her slick opening. “Oh, God. Gavan! Get in me. I can’t wait anymore!” She was pounding on his shoulders with the heels of her hands now. Pushing up his hips and simultaneously lowering her, he buried himself inside her. The move caused a sudden intake of breath in her. “You okay?” She nodded. “Mmm hmm.” She licked her lips, her face a vision in concentration as she once again struggled to accommodate his enormous size into her small body. Gavan sat back down, pulled her legs from around his waist to drape over the arms of the chair, and sat back. She was hot and soft, surrounding him with a velvet fist that squeezed and massaged his cock. He looked into her eyes and showed her how to use the chair arms under her thighs as leverage. When she began to move up and down with enthusiasm, he sat back. But her full breasts bouncing up and down in front of him was too much and he captured them both in

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his hands, moving his mouth from one to the other. Tessa ran her hands through his hair, massaging his scalp, and his body literally tingled from head to toe. Tessa pulled her fingers from his hair and sat up straight, and he watched her hand move down her belly to her clit. “Gavan, I’m so close. Are you close?” He replaced her hand with his own, rubbing circles around the hot little button. “Yes, love, I’m close.” As his orgasm crashed over him, his balls pulled up and an electric jolt ran through the length of his cock. He grasped her clit between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed and twirled it until Tessa threw her head back. She pumped her thigh muscles furiously, moving up and down on his shaft until he felt her climax burst upon her. Her inner muscles clenched Gavan’s cock, milking his cock like a soft, velvet-covered fist. He pulled her to him and she collapsed against his chest. “You are amazing, Tessa. Why’d it take me so long tae find you?” He felt her long eyelashes flutter against his flat nipple and he would swear she purred. He hugged her tight.

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Chapter Twelve Their breathing eventually returned to normal and Gavan stood, Tessa still impaled on him, and carried her to the sitting area of the library. Lowering her to the soft fur rug in front of the fireplace, he withdrew from her and leaned to the sofa and grabbed the throw pillows. He gently lifted her head as she gazed up at him and put one of the pillows under her. He planted a whisper-soft kiss on her lips then sat up to gaze around the room. “In need of something?” He nodded. “How do we turn on the fire?” She smiled. She loved roaring fires. “The remote’s probably on the side table.” He twisted and grabbed it and the remote that controlled the stereo. He stretched out on his side next to her, arm bent at the elbow, head propped up on his hand so he could look at her. While he traced circles and figure eights over her breasts and belly, they talked. Tessa told Gavan about her childhood and how much time she and Jaime spent together. Gavan told her about growing up in the Scottish Highlands with four sisters. “Four sisters? Wow! You were really outnumbered. Where were you in line?” He leaned in and kissed her. “I was number four, so I only have one little sister, Katie. The rest, Fiona, Eva, and Kendra, bullied me around every chance they got.” She laughed at that. “Oh, yeah, because you look so bulliable.” To prove his point, he told her a story about when his three older

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sisters decided to learn how to perm each other’s hair by practicing on him. The outcome was disastrous. Tessa laughed. The more detail he gave her about the results, the harder she laughed until finally, she was curled into a ball against him in hysterics. He laughed with her, his deep, rolling laughter warming her inside. Suddenly, in the throes of her giggles she snorted. Not an intentional snort of disbelief, but an all-out, make-a-piggy-proud kind of snort. Screaming and covering her face, she rolled away from him. He laughed even harder and tried to pull her back to him as she scrambled from his grasp. Completely embarrassed, but unable to stop laughing, she covered her face and shouted, “Oh God! I can’t believe I just snorted in front of you. I hate it when I do that. Just shoot me now!” Finally getting a hold on her, he pulled her body back to his. She buried her face in his chest, still laughing, but wouldn’t let him see her face. After much coaxing and cajoling, he was able to lift her face so she could look into his eyes, laughter still shining in them. “Why would you be so embarrassed about that?” he asked with a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Oh, embarrassed doesn’t begin to describe it. I’m mortified. I hate it when I snort. It’s just so…unladylike.” He smiled down at her. “Now, see, you’re wrong. It was actually a very ladylike little snort. Kind of sexy, actually.” He kissed her and snorted at the same time, which made her burst into another fit of giggles, accompanied by another very unintentional snort. They hugged each other until their laughter finally subsided. For long moments they gazed into each other’s eyes. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known,” Gavan stated quietly, running his index finger across her bottom lip. Tessa blushed and rolled her eyes. He tweaked her nose. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, missy. You have more physical beauty than most women could ever hope for, but inside”—he laid his hand over her heart—“your spirit is just, it’s lovely.” The words he spoke were beautiful, but the sincerity with which

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he said them made Tessa’s nose wrinkle in doubt. “Wha? You doubt me?” “No.” It was barely a whisper. “That’s just the most amazing thing anybody’s ever said to me.” He rolled atop her, his hips between her lower thighs so the bulk of his weight wasn’t on her. They kissed. It was gentle and sweet. The way he held her made her feel like a she was a treasure. They parted and he glanced at the fire then back at her with one of his sexy, mischief-laden, tongue-tip-between-the-teeth smiles. “What?” she asked. “Well, I was just thinking it might be a good time tae get back tae my interesting ideas for your house.” Her tongue swiped across her bottom lip. “I have to admit, I agree completely with your suggestions so far.” He turned on the stereo and the room filled with the moody, seductive music he’d discovered earlier. “This is some very sexy music, lass.” “Mmm, I know. I tend to use it when I’m writing.” Lowering his head, he kissed her again but with more intensity this time, more urgency. His tongue pushed at her lips demanding entrance. When she parted them and permitted him, he plunged in, exploring every crevice, savoring the sweet taste that was naturally Tessa. He thrust his tongue in and out of her mouth to the beat of the music, fucking her mouth relentlessly till she was nearly breathless. His lips left hers, and he ran his tongue down her neck, intermittently nipping and kissing her warm, flushed skin. He stopped to kiss her nipples. First one, then the other. He lifted his face to look at her and grazed his chin stubble across her nipple, the action making her gasp, before trailing more kisses down her belly. His tongue dipped into her belly button and she laughed. “That tickles!” After torturing her with a few more licks, he moved down and bit lightly at the tender skin below her navel.

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“Oh! Who knew that could feel so good?” Involuntarily, she wiggled her hips a little. He moved further down and draped her thighs over his shoulders. She moaned and arched a little when he traced his finger around in her light brown curls. The same finger trailed up and down the creases at the tops of her thighs. Another moan. “Ga, Tessa, you’re already so hot, aren’t you, honey?” She nodded emphatically. “Mmm hmm.” He smiled. “Baby, your sweet little pussy is so pink, so pretty.” She didn’t understand why, but the effect of this enormous man lying between her thighs, studying and describing her most intimate area as being pink and pretty was erotic beyond her comprehension, and she felt the subject of his intense scrutiny throb wildly. “I can already see your little pink clit poking out, like it’s reaching for me. Do you want me tae touch it, Tessa?” Her breath hitched. “Did you hear me, Tessa? Do you want me tae lick your sweet little clit? It looks like a tiny little strawberry lollipop, begging tae be sucked.” She felt him blow a hot breath on her pussy. With mock impatience he said, “Tessa, I do love strawberries.” She whimpered. “Yes. Please.” Gavan expelled another hot breath and her pussy pulsed. “I’m sorry Tessa. You’re gonna have tae tell me what you want. Tell me what you want me tae do, love. Tell me what I need tae do tae ease this hot little button’s misery.” She felt his mouth hovering just above her sex “C’mon honey, you can do it. I want you tae tell me exactly what you want.” His lips barely grazed over her clit as he spoke, sending her mind into spirals. She took a deep breath. “I want you to stick your tongue out and touch my clit with it. Then I want you to lick it and suck it between

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your lips. Oh, God, Gavan. Please!” **** Her arms were outstretched to her sides, and she clenched her hands into fists in frustration. Satisfied that he had been instructed well, he touched the tip of his tongue to her swollen, throbbing clit. Her hips bucked and a squeal escaped Tessa’s mouth. Flattening his tongue, he licked her. First he licked only her clit, but with each stroke he increased the distance he traced between her legs. When his velvety tongue flicked at the bud of her rear entrance, Tessa gasped. She rotated her pelvis, and her thighs trembled. He looked up to see that she was twisting and pinching her nipples as his lips locked on her clit to suckle. He pulled it between his lips and while sucking, stroked the flat of his tongue across it. Dipping his finger into her dripping cunt, he gathered her cream and pulled back out. Her breath caught when he pressed his finger, now slick with her juices, against her tight, puckered hole. The slight wiggle of her hips let him know that she’d gotten over her wariness in this area and wanted him to continue. Still sucking her clit, he inserted the tip of his thick finger into her tight hole. The banded muscle resisted his entrance and gripped the tip of his finger tightly. His balls tightened at the thought of one day sinking his cock into that tight hole but he knew he’d have to take the time to prepare her for that. His size prevented him from moving too fast for fear of hurting Tessa. Applying more pressure, he sank his finger up to the second knuckle and pushed his thumb into her hot pussy. She moaned and one heel thumped on the floor. He could already feel the muscles of her canal tightening rhythmically on his thumb, alerting him to her nearing climax. His hand thrust forward again and his finger and thumb were completely buried, each in its own hot, tight sheath. He increased the pressure of his sucking and pumped his hand in and out. Tessa’s hips began to rock and thrust to meet the movement of his hand. Her hands flew down, her fingers

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tangled in his hair as she pressed his mouth harder to her cunt. He watched her. Watched her greet and allow the wave of ecstasy to wash over her. He could almost see the glow flow through her body, beginning at her center and creeping outward to her toes and fingers. Her hard, swollen clit jumped and danced against his tongue. He pulled his mouth from her and pressed his other hand to her mound while he subtly wiggled his thumb and finger still inside her to prolong the wave as long as possible for her. The moment she fell back into her body from her exaltation was visible to him. He pulled his fingers from her and she protested. Moving up her body, he pressed the head of his penis to her opening. Her heavy lidded gaze turned up to him. “Do you still want me to tell you what to do?” Instead of answering, he thrust forward, burying himself completely in one stroke. “So good,” Tessa murmured. For a moment Gavan held still. He lowered his head to kiss her. A deep, possessive kiss that sent her head reeling. Allowing his weight to rest on her, he took her hands in his and entwined their fingers. “Tell me if I get too heavy.” She nodded. He began to move his hips, his thrusts slow and deliberate, each one designed to experience every millimeter of her tight sheath from its opening to the bump of her cervix. He could feel her muscles still fluttering and squeezing around him in the aftermath of her orgasm like a tight, flexing fist. **** She looked into his eyes as he pushed into her with excruciatingly languid, sweet strokes. She could see his love for her, could see that she was a treasure to him, and a sense of happiness like she’d never known crept into her. Her climax came from nowhere and hit her hard. Bathed in the light of the love she could see in his gaze, the rush

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caused tears to well in her eyes and roll down her face. Gavan froze. “Tessa! What’s wrong, honey?” She pulled her hands from his and placed them on either side of his face, laughing, “Nothing’s wrong. Everything is right. So. Very. Right.” She smiled, stroking her thumb across his lower lip that she found so sexy. “I really do love you, Gavan. I never knew that I could feel…I never knew.” He grimaced, but Tessa could tell that it wasn’t bad grimace, it was a rush of emotion. She lifted her head from the pillow and kissed him. Looping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down to her. He reached back to guide her legs to wrap around his waist, and the tempo of his thrusts increased. She pumped her hips up to meet his thrusts, their lips still pressed together, tongues entangled as though they’d never get their fill of each other. Gavan grunted into her mouth as his penis jerked and shot a hot stream of semen into her with a final hard thrust. The sensation of his warmth filling her brought Tessa to climax again, this time not one big wave, but several smaller ones, but no less satisfying, in succession. Gavan nuzzled in Tessa’s neck, still on top of her, his half erection still sheathed inside of her. He nibbled at her neck and her earlobe. He snarled in her ear, “You know, I could just eat you up.” She gave a little laugh. “I think you already did.” He lifted his head to deliver his best mock cross look. “Dirty girl!” She trailed a finger up the side of his ribs, feeling his muscles twitch beneath it. “You should know. You made me that way.” He nodded. “Aye. And you are my finest masterpiece.” Withdrawing from her completely, Gavan moved his weight to the side and Tessa realized she hadn’t taken a full breath in a while. She smiled inwardly when it occurred her that that would be the price she had to pay for having such a fabulously ginormous boyfriend.

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Chapter Thirteen “So, I have one more idea. You ready for it?” Tessa’s hand unconsciously moved to her well-fucked pussy and a look of hesitation clouded her face. Gavan got to his knees. “I’d say you’re very ready for this one.” Quietly she said, “I hope it’s not far because I’m not exactly sure I can walk at this point. You are a very big boy, and I am a very little girl. I mean, I really like that we’re that, but, um, whew. I’m not sure if I can walk.” He held his hand out to her to help her from the floor and scooped her into his arms. “We deliver,” he said with a wink and carried her up the stairs to her room. **** He carefully deposited her on the vanity stool in her bathroom, and she watched as he adjusted the water in the tub to just the right temperature. He turned to her and said, “If you’ll tell me where it is, I’ll go grab us a couple of glasses of wine. You just sit there and wait.” She told him where to find the wine and enjoyed the view of his naked, hot, tight ass as he walked from the room. While he was gone she turned on the fireplace and quickly used the toilet, clenching her teeth when she felt the nerve endings of irritated skin screaming to life. Having never had sex like this before she wondered how long it would take to recover. She cleaned up gingerly, and on her way back to the vanity stool

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she stopped to pour some of her lavender bubbles into the bath water and with a second thought added some Epsom salts. Once back on the vanity stool, she knew she had been right. Walking was a bit of a challenge. Her legs were like quivering, shaking masses of jelly. Pretty much useless. She definitely wouldn’t have made it up the stairs alone. This was the most amazing feeling she’d ever had in her life. She was blushing, a catlike smile on her lips when her giant, naked Scot appeared in the door. “Should I ask what you’re thinking about, lass?” he said, setting the glasses on the shelf next to the claw-foot. She shrugged. “Just pondering fact that I’ve now verified that I actually can’t walk any farther than the length of this room.” Instantly, the playful expression on his face morphed into one of alarmed concern, and she realized how badly she’d worded what she said. “You’re hurt? Do you need tae go tae the hospital, lass?” The internal movie of that ER visit played out in her mind inducing complete mortification and she shouted, “Jesus, no!” Why was this man always trying to get her into the emergency room? Her intense reaction made Gavan take a step back, a surprised look on his face. She put her hands up to him. “No, wait. I’m not saying anything I mean. Nothing’s coming out right. Tonight has me all tongue tied.” He kneeled in front of her, and she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling at a very inappropriate time when she saw his heavy, semierect penis resting against his muscular thigh. She took his hand in hers. “Okay, first of all, I’m not going to the ER to be treated for a way good fucking. How would they write that up on their charts?” He smiled sheepishly and nodded when he obviously understood how embarrassing a trip like that would have been for her.

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“But, I’ve hurt you.” She stopped him by putting her hand over his mouth. “I’m on a roll here. I got two sentences out that made sense so don’t stop me now.” He closed his mouth and she grasped his hand again. “And second of all, yeah, I’m sore. Very sore. I’ve never felt this kind of pain in my life. And by this kind of pain, I mean this kind of pain,” she said, accentuating her meaning by moving her free hand back and forth between their respective private parts. He still looked concerned so she leaned forward and kissed him. “I love feeling like this. It’s exquisite. That’s the only word for it, and I should know. I manipulate words for a living. “Gavan, I have been loved. Thoroughly. By a great big, beautiful Scottish stud who really knows what he’s doing. I’ll be fine. I might just need a little break.” Gavan choked out the breath he was holding and she could see the combination of cocky male pride in his expression. “Then a break it is. This final, very ingenious idea comes just in time then.” He stood up, lifted Tessa off the stool, and carried her to the tub. He lowered them both into the steamy water and leaning back, he pulled her against his chest. Handing her a glass of wine, he said as he noticed the bottle of bubble bath, “This is where the lavender comes from? It’s truly a wonderful aroma. It clings tae you. You’re meant tae wear it.” She flicked some bubbles. “Mmmm. I love lavender. It’s really hard to find products that smell like real lavender and not some perfumed crap they call lavender.” He nodded. “The Highlands are covered in it. It’s said that lavender is calming, refreshing, uplifting, and soothing. It suits you.” She quietly basked in her remarkable luck at finding a man who noticed and appreciated subtle things. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and let herself sink into her perfect new world.

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**** It wouldn’t be the exact reenactment of the fantasy he’d conjured when he stood in the room before. It was better. In a short time, he’d fallen head over heels in love. Imagining his life without her now was impossible. A touch of anxiety over whether or not she had the same intentions for the future crept in despite their earlier conversation, but he put it away to be mulled over another time. He looked at the shelf and saw one of the brightly colored ball things made of netting that his sisters always had hanging in the bath. He grabbed it and submerged it to get it covered in bubbles. Using light, caressing strokes, he moved the puff over Tessa’s skin. He moved it up and down her arms, across her belly, around her breasts, sat her up so he could do her back. She moaned through the whole treatment. When he finished she turned to take the puff to reciprocate, but he tossed it over his shoulder. “Nope. You can do me another time.” He waggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively to accentuate his point. She rolled her eyes at him, turned, and leaned back against his chest. They sipped their wine, trailed their fingers over one another’s skin, languishing in each other’s company, verbal communication completely unnecessary. Glasses emptied, water temperature dropped to lukewarm, Gavan extracted himself from behind Tessa and climbed out of the tub. Opening the small closet door, he found he’d guessed right and pulled out two big, fluffy bath towels. He quickly dried himself with one, then held the other up for Tessa to stand and be wrapped in it. He helped her out of the tub and she stood her on the thick bath mat as he dried her with soft pats from head to toe. Seeing her robe on a hook near the shower, he grabbed it and held it out for her to slip into. Once belted, he picked her up and carried her back to the vanity and sat her on the stool, facing the mirror this time. ****

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Confused, Tessa said, “What are we doing?” Gavan didn’t answer her, but reached for her brush. He held her hair in his hands while he brushed through the ends so that any tangles he encountered wouldn’t pull. After working through that he began to brush with long strokes from her scalp to the ends. Tessa wanted to close her eyes and relish in the feeling of someone brushing her hair so lovingly, but the image in the mirror of his naked torso, thighs, and arms, muscles flexing and rippling with every movement, made this act so sensuous, so erotic that she was nearly mesmerized. The twitch she felt in her pussy surprised her. She’d been certain that that part of her had shut down for the night. But the throbbing between her legs was undeniable and wetness was slipping from her, dampening the seat of her robe. Shifting a little, she squeezed her thighs together and a jolt ran to her clit. She continued to watch him pulling the brush through her hair with long strokes, his other hand following the brush, smoothing it. His brown-pink nipples were like little BBs. He moved to the left a little and she saw that he was hard again. She swallowed audibly. His body was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Every part of him was worthy of worship. The sight of his flexing muscles combined with his big, beautiful cock, erect again, while he cared for her so tenderly, stirred the beginnings of another orgasm. Modesty long gone, she slid her hand across her leg, into the opening of her robe. Resting it on her lower abdomen, she lightly stroked only her pinky finger across her swollen, aching clit. The immediate, intense reaction told her that it wouldn’t take much to reach climax. She wiggled her pinky and brushed over her button again and drew in a quick breath. Two more flicks and the rumbling began in her thighs. Her eyes were fast upon the side of Gavan’s strong, tan thigh, the curve of his tight ass, and his dick, hard and pointing at the ceiling. Before she could stroke her little finger across her throbbing bud one more time, Gavan’s hand slid into the robe next

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to hers. His finger swiped lightly across her clit and she came, shuddering. She leaned back into him and she felt his hard cock pressing against her shoulder as he leaned over her, his hand holding her mound lightly, soothing her down from yet another orgasm. Bending her neck back, she looked up at him and smiled. He leaned in and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers for a moment before he pulled back. “Aye, you had one more in you, dinna you?” She nodded, her soft gray eyes sleepy. “Mmm hmm.” Suddenly aware of the hardness pressing into her shoulder, she looked at him. “Oh, Gavan.” He shook his head. “Is’na worry. Seeing you like that got me excited. It’ll go down. Believe me, love, I am a more than satisfied man.” She blinked. “You’re sure?” Standing her up, he took both of her hands in his, raised them to his mouth, and kissed her palms. “I’m verra, verra sure. Now let’s go tae bed.” He picked her up, carried her to the big, fluffy bed, and climbed in. With a click, he turned on the ornate corner fireplace, removed Tessa’s robe, and wrapped his arms around her to pull her body against his. Completely spent, they slept like spoons without moving all night.

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Chapter Fourteen Tessa woke up, a smile already plastered on her face. Gavan’s arms were still wrapped tightly around her, her back against his chest. His breath was warm on her shoulder and she relished the feeling. She turned her body to his and nuzzled her face into his chest, tickling her nose against the crisp hair that dusted his golden skin. Just as she was about to lose herself in deliciously fuzzy sleep in the strong arms of her man, it occurred to her that it was Sunday. Oh crap! she thought, snapping her eyes open. Alex! He’s home now He’ll be over this morning, just like every Sunday. Carefully, she untangled herself from Gavan’s grasp and slid out of bed. She winced as every muscle in her body screamed in sweet agony, but with effort, she found she was capable of walking. She silently padded around the room, pulling what she needed from various drawers, and went into the bathroom to shower. A glance at the clock on her way in told her she could afford to linger under the hot water for few extra minutes in order to soothe her muscles. Pulling on low-rise yoga pants and a T-shirt, she happily noted that the shower had helped with some of the stiffness she’d felt in her body. Just to be sure, she swallowed some ibuprofen to help the cause. At the vanity, she dragged the brush through her hair and she thought of Gavan brushing her hair for her last night. The butterflies clocked in right on time and went to work with enthusiasm and vigor. She shook her head and stuck out her tongue at the idiotic grin on the image looking back at her in the mirror. She gave up, as usual, on trying to tame her hair, brushed her teeth, and opened the bathroom door.

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Slippers in hand, she tiptoed across the room. She heard Gavan snore softly and slipped out the door to go downstairs. In the kitchen, she clicked on the fireplace and readied a pot of coffee. Once it was brewing, she set the breakfast table. She was on her way from the fridge with cream when Alex, box of pastries tucked under his arm, sauntered in. He looked her up and down as she stiffly moved to the table, making a squinty face as he appraised her. “Oh my God, girl. You got laid!” Blushing, she spun around. “What?” Alex waved his finger up and down the length of her body. “Look at you. You can barely walk. You’re moving like you’re carrying a log between your thighs.” Tessa was about to deny it when Alex grabbed her hand, his eyes bugging. “Wait! That’s it, isn’t it? You did have a log between your thighs. You had that big, gorgeous man between your thighs, didn’t you?” Tessa could only smile, despite her friend’s vulgarity. After all, she was in love and part of her wanted to let everybody know about it. Alex smiled at her. “Oh, baby love, he moved you, didn’t he? You are positively radiant.” He took the cream from her and picked up the sugar on his way to the breakfast nook. “Grab that coffeepot. We’ve got some talking to do.” Seated in their usual chairs, Alex put his mug down after taking his first sip and said, “Okay, I can see that this isn’t one of those ‘give me all the details’ times, but you absolutely must give me my Five Questions.” Tessa nodded. “Okay, but one-word answers only.” Alex said, “Fair enough,” and started to think about his five very important questions. Five Questions had always been the way that Alex and Tessa treated life events that they wanted to let each other in on, but somehow full disclosure seemed too personal or new. Five Questions

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worked whenever Alex had a new lover, when Tessa had boyfriends in college, and when Tessa finally submitted her first manuscript to a publisher but didn’t want to jinx things by talking about it. It even helped in times of tragedy when words failed. After several minutes, Alex said, “Okay, you ready?” Tessa nodded. “First question. When was the first time you did it?” Without having to think, Tessa said, “Two nights ago. I know that’s not really a one word answer, but I think that’s okay.” He mulled over her answer then leaned in. “Second question. Do you still think relationships are a load of crap?” She really didn’t want to hear his “I told you so,” but she had to be honest. “Nope.” He thought for a moment. “Third question. Should I make nice with him?” It seemed like a light question but it, in fact, held great importance. “Definitely.” The look of shock on Alex’s face made Tessa laugh. “Okay, girlie. Number four.” Knowing that question four was generally where Alex either started to get ridiculous or remained serious, Tessa braced herself. A mischievous expression appeared on Alex’s face. “Now this is completely for my own future entertainment. How big is he?” She felt her face go scarlet. So, he was taking the left turn instead of the right. But, she had no choice. Her one-word answer was “Big.” Alex ran his hand down the front of his face. “Man, why do all the good ones have to be straight? Please tell me he has a brother somewhere who’s not.” Tessa beamed as she took a sip of coffee. Alex was leaning in for his fifth and final question when they heard Gavan coming down the stairs. They both turned to watch him. Fresh from the shower, his hair

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was wet and tousled, a few chocolate curls clinging to his face. He wore only his jeans, top button still undone, an A-1 sexy look in Tessa’s book. Barefoot, he carried his boots and socks. Tessa’s hardworking butterflies concluded their well-earned break when the reason he was bare-chested occurred to her, because his shirt still lay in a puddle on the floor of the library. Alex reached over, squeezed her hand, and leaned in to press his forehead to hers affectionately. “Tessa, he is glorious.” **** “Tessa, honey, I kin’na believe you left me alone. I was looking forward tae a nice lo—” Gavan stopped in his tracks when his gaze landed on Tessa, his Tessa, sitting in her breakfast nook with the smarmy lover-boy she had been with last week looking very cozy. Even worse, the bastard was touching her. He dropped his boots to the floor and sat on one of the lower stairs to slip into them without putting on his socks. A million thoughts bombarded him. The loudest thought, though, was the one that shouted at him, You are a jackass for believing pillow talk. When he stood, Tessa came to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Good morning. I didn’t want to wake you.” She leaned in and kissed his chest, swiping her tongue on his bare skin, and added in a sultry voice, “Thought you might need some rest after last night, so I snuck out.” She craned her neck in obvious anticipation of his kiss, but he denied her. Instead, he gripped her arms and pushed her from him. **** Confused and a bit hurt, she stuttered, “Wha…w what are you

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doing?” His eyes were icy and his jaw was clenched. “I have tae go. I’ll be in tomorra tae get back tae work.” This couldn’t be happening. What happened to the man who took her to the brink of ecstasy with such ease, who tenderly cared for her when she ached from his loving, who held her so tightly while they slept, who looked directly into her eyes and told her he loved her? “Gavan, why would you leave? I don’t want you to leave. What’s going on?” He closed his eyes and pushed his hand through his damp hair, an expression of extreme anguish on his face. To Tessa, the silence went on for an eternity. When he looked at her again, his eyes were fiery with anger. “What’s going on is I will’na be made a fool of and I will’na share you with another man. I din’na know you’d be entertaining this morning or I would have cleared out of here last night.” Pain and then anger surged through her. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re not sharing me with anybody. And I’m not entertaining. It’s just Alex.” From behind her she heard, “Geez, thanks, T.” Without turning in his direction, but waving a dismissive hand at him she said, “Not now, Alex.” He put his hands up in apology. Gavan headed toward the foyer. She ran to him and grabbed his arm. He spun on her. “Oh, he’s just Alex. Oh, you’ve known him forever. Jesus, Tessa, doona you know how beautiful you are? That no man is going tae just want tae be friends with you? I doona care how long you’ve known each other.” Once again, from behind her, Tessa heard Alex, “Oh good Lord. That burr is like liquid heat.” Tessa’s lips thinned at his unsolicited comment and without turning so as to maintain Gavan’s gaze, she called to Alex, “Could you please come over here?”

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As he approached, she said to Gavan, “You couldn’t be more wrong about this. You’re getting your boxer-briefs all in a twist for nothing.” He shook his head at her, eyes still alight with fury, a muscle twitching a rapid beat in his clenched jaw. Alex arrived at Tessa’s side, snaked his arm around her waist, and said, “What can I do for you, honey?” She saw rage flash in Gavan’s eyes at the endearment and intimate contact that she just knew too-smart-ass-to-know-what’s-good-forhim Alex threw in there on purpose, and for a moment, she feared for Alex’s safety. Thinking it was better not to delay this any longer, she turned to Alex. “Will you please tell Gavan what you said to me about him while we were at the table? You know, right after you asked me your fourth question.” Normally, Tessa would never expect Alex to thrust his sexual orientation in someone’s face because it wasn’t how she defined him or their friendship. She knew he would recognize that asking him to do it now meant this was something that was incredibly important to her. Alex was completely out and utterly open and he was never shy about his pride. It wasn’t a problem for him at all. In fact, it was probably less of a problem for him than it was for her to even make this request. He took a deep breath, looked at Gavan, and said, “Well, if I recall correctly it was something like, ‘Why are all the good men straight and please tell me he has a brother who isn’t.’ Or did you mean when he was coming down the steps and I said he was glorious?” Gavan’s mouth dropped open and confusion filled his eyes. Tessa, arms crossed over her chest, shifted her weight from one foot to the other, hoping that Gavan would be able to accept this and not walk out on her. Without realizing it, she held her breath. She was about to implore him to believe there was no reason to be concerned over her friendship with Alex when he smiled. A wide, beautiful, perfectly devastating smile. He thrust his hand out to Alex and when Alex

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grasped it with his own, Gavan pulled him into a full bear hug, lifting him right off the floor. “Alex, it’s great tae meet you, man!” He released an obviously shaken Alex from his embrace. At first, relief filled Tessa, but at second thought, she bristled at the fact that she had to produce a bona fide gay man in order to placate his jealousy when he could have simply chosen to listen to and believe her. Gavan grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her head up to receive his kiss. Quickly, she stepped back to avoid it. Tessa could have clobbered him when he said, “Honey, I’m sorry. If you would have tol’ me, I’d have understood.” Now she was seriously pissed. Behind her, Alex groaned loudly. She flicked her hand at him, a signal to shut up. “Oh, so if I would have just told you that Alex was gay, you wouldn’t have acted like such an ape?” Gavan squirmed a bit. “Well, I wouldna’ had tae worry if I’d known he had no interest in you.” Tessa’s eyes narrowed. “Ah-huh. So what you’re saying is that whenever I tell you about a friend of mine, I should divulge some aspect of their private sex life to you, is that it? Like, if I talk about Jaime, I should preface it with the fact that he lost his virginity to a forty-year-old woman when he was fifteen?” Behind her, Alex gasped, “No way!” Tessa turned her head. “Not now, Alex!” Then she looked back at Gavan. “Was I supposed to say, ‘Oh, by the way, this is Alex, Queen of Center City’?” Once again, Alex chimed in from the background, “Have you seen my tiara, honey? I seem to have misplaced it.” She whirled around and glared at him. “Alex! I’m going to choke you! Can you ever resist an opening?”

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She turned back around and Gavan was reaching for her. “Please, I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right.” Looking up, he said, “Alex, I hope there are no hard feelings.” He shook his head. “No problems here, Gavan. Tessa, I’m just going to slip into the powder room, see a man about a snake.” Tessa rolled her eyes and sighed. He did pick the worst times to be ridiculous. As he passed by Gavan, he leaned in and said, “Got your hands full with this one, don’t you, big boy?” Gavan nodded solemnly. “Aye. Best handful I’ve ever had, though.” **** Once alone, Gavan drew Tessa into his arms. At first, she resisted, her body stiff as a board. He tickled his fingers up and down her back, shamelessly exploiting the fact that he knew she loved being tickled and stroked, and kissed the top of her head, murmuring into her hair, “I’m so sorry. All I saw was his hands on you, the two of you sharing secrets. If I’d taken two minutes tae see the two of you interact, I’d have seen a true friendship. You two are great together. I kind of like seeing somebody push your buttons like that.” He delivered another kiss to the top of her head, letting his lips linger, breathing in her lavender fragrance. “This is so right, so fast. I love you. But I have to tell you that I’m scared as hell so it’s possible I might get a wee unreasonable occasionally until I’ve convinced myself you’re real,” he said quietly into her hair. 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

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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.”

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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.

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Chapter Fifteen In the breakfast nook, they shared coffee and raspberry-jamflavored 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.”

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**** 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 hardon 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

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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

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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 plip 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

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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

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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

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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

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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 lastminute 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

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his thighs, her head on his chest. His 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!”

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An astonished Gavan pushed Tessa up from the sofa and followed, disentangling their limbs while grasping to understand what Jaime was babbling about. “I just knew that if I threw you two together and left you to duke it out, you’d…well, it would…well, this would happen.” Gavan watched in disbelief as Jaime paced back and forth excitedly. “I knew you were right for each other. It didn’t hit me at first, though. In fact, I had to really get to know this big lug before I saw it. But when I did it was so obvious. I knew, though, that just a regular ‘Gavan, this is Tessa. Tessa this is Gavan’ thing wouldn’t do it. I knew I had to kind of lock you in room together, stand back, and wait for the fireworks. When I got that call from T the very day you met telling me that things wouldn’t work out, I knew the games had begun big-time. I can’t believe she called the very first day! I thought it would take a couple of days for you to get under her skin.” He stood back, arms crossed over his chest, looking amazingly pleased with himself, and nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’m very, very good. Just look at you two! You’re absolutely sickening.”

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Chapter Sixteen Gavan groaned as Stacey, Henri’s hair stylist, continued to primp at his curls. “What’s wrong, honey?” Tessa asked from her chair where Jackie was completing her “High Priestess of Horror” look. Gavan smiled ruefully and groaned. “I doona think I want tae do this now.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Too late, stud. You were all over this when Marlena first proposed it. No backing out now.” She turned her head to hide her smile from him. A week ago Gavan had answered the doorbell and suppressed a groan when he saw the inexhaustible Marlena standing there with a bouquet of fresh flowers in her hand. “Ah! The gorgeous groom,” she said and flung her free arm around his neck and hugged him. Gavan gave her a quick squeeze back. “Tessa’s out with the horses. She should be back in a minute. Coffee?” Marlena took the mug from him and settled onto one of the stools at the counter. Since he’d moved into Tessa’s house, she’d been inundated with work on her latest book, making Marlena a fairly permanent fixture around the house. He truly liked the woman, but there were times when he wanted to literally carry her out the door to her car and send her on her way. It seemed she was never prepared to leave so that he could be alone with Tessa. “I’ve had a huge idea,” she gushed, clinking her spoon on the mug.

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Gavan’s eye twitched a little, not liking the sound of the publicist having a huge idea. The last time she had a huge idea, he’d nearly exploded with jealousy and confusion. Before Marlena could continue, Tessa came through the back door, walked to Gavan to give him a kiss, and greeted Marlena as he handed her a mug of coffee, with plenty of room for the ridiculous amount of cream she liked. “I thought we weren’t working today,” Tessa asked, worried that her absorption in wedding plans was making her absentminded. Marlena waved her hand. “Oh, no, we’re not. It’s just that I had an idea and I wanted to run it by you right away. If you’re up for it, we need to get it done before the wedding.” Tessa’s eyes widened. “Marlena, the wedding’s less than six weeks away. I hope you’re not expecting me to do anything more than put the book to bed before then.” Again, Marlena gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Oh, no, honey, nothing like that. Another photo shoot.” **** Tessa felt Gavan tense at the mention of a photo shoot. After the last one he’d witnessed, she wasn’t surprised. Tessa put her hand on Marlena’s. “I don’t know, Marlena. Is it really necessary to do more publicity? We just did the Appointed shoot four months ago.” Marlena gave her best smile and began her pitch. “Well, I’ve told you that the issue of Appointed with your spread in it was the highest selling issue they’ve ever had. What I didn’t mention, because I didn’t know myself, was that based on feedback, a large portion of the sales was to females. You did it, honey, you moved into a new demo. Women adore you! The sales on your already-released titles have spiked, and those sales have been mostly to women. Based on various website message boards and chat rooms, you’ve become something of a role model. You’re hot, successful, and men are hot for you. Put that together with the fact that these

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women are now as hot for your books as the men and you have a serious new fan base. They want to read what you write and hear what you say. They want to be you. “So, after I talked to you yesterday, I was playing with a press release to announce your wedding when it hit me. We’ll do a shoot for She magazine to announce your wedding. They’re the right demo and have approximately the same circulation as Appointed.” Tessa chewed her bottom lip. “Is a shoot really necessary?” Marlena smiled wickedly. “It is if we want to lock in the female demo so they’ll never, ever get enough of you.” Skepticism dripping from her words, Tessa asked, “What, exactly, does that mean?” “Just wait till you hear the whole thing, okay?” Marlena demanded with excitement. Tessa nodded and Marlena described her concept, which involved the High Priestess costume again, in detail. Tessa was speechless and afraid to look at Gavan, who, she was sure, had steam coming out of his ears. Then he cleared his throat. “And, what would I have tae wear in this shoot? I doona want tae be dressed up in a ridiculous costume.” Tessa spun to face him. “You would do this? I can’t believe you would consider doing a photo shoot for a magazine!” Gavan shrugged. “Is’na secret how I felt about the last shoot you did and all your male fans. This’ll give me a chance tae show them that while they might be able tae have you on a page in a magazine, you belong tae me.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Now doona call me a caveman for feeling that way. I just like the idea.” **** Now the shoot was upon them and Gavan wasn’t so thrilled with

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his decision to be involved in this. Seeing Tessa in costume again brought back a mixture of emotions. The bad ones he tried to tamp down, but the others made him sweat and have to shift in his seat. And he’d been in said seat for over an hour being primped, poked, and styled until he thought he would scream. Henri called up the stairs. “Gavan, when you’re finished with makeup and hair, we could use you down here to get the lighting right.” Gavan looked hopefully at Stacey and she nodded. “You’re all set, Studly McHunkybottom. Your costume is downstairs. I’ll be down in a few for the finishing touches once you’re done with wardrobe.” Tessa giggled from her chair. “I’ll see you soon, honey.” Taking in the full view of Gavan’s tall, muscular form beating a hasty retreat out the door, Jackie and Stacey sighed. “You are one lucky woman, Tessa.” Smiling broadly, she said, “Yeah, tell me all about it, ladies.” **** Henri had picked the sitting area of the library for the shoot. He said it was intimate and rich and he could create the necessary foreboding mood he wanted with the right lighting. When she entered the room, teetering in her thigh-high stiletto boots, she searched for Gavan, who stood across the library. Whuh. He was beautiful. She knew that. She’d always known that. But this. This was amazing. He stood near the lit fireplace, muscular arms crossed over his chest, watching with interest as the crew adjusted lights. His chocolate-brown hair was wild and untamed, like he’d just been outside and the wind had its way with him. At each temple, a section of hair was braided in the manner of ancient Scottish warriors when they went to battle. His broad, hard chest was bare and he’d obviously

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been coated with a sheen of oil. She loved his chest, loved his whole torso. It was one thing when a guy was muscular, but Gavan was the kind of muscular that doesn’t come from working out in a gym. He was totally the result of good genes and hard work. He was defined but full and big. So big. Her eyes roamed over him, feeling every dip and valley formed by his muscles in her fingertips even though he was across the large room. On his wrists, she noticed the wide, leather bands that looked like something a warrior from long ago would wear into battle. Gold bands carved with Celtic symbols encircled his big biceps. His royal position was communicated through the heavy gold torque around his neck. The savage manliness of him made her belly stir way down deep, and she took an involuntary deep breath. When her eyes moved lower down his body she nearly fainted. She’d seen Braveheart. What red-blooded American woman who appreciated Mel hadn’t? In a couple of short hours, Tessa had been introduced to a whole new way to appreciate beautiful men, the kilt. The appeal of a kilt on a strong man was undeniable. In fact, the kilts had been one of hers and Alex’s favorite topics of conversation after they’d seen the movie. But here, in front of her, in all his glorious, hot flesh, stood her man, her great big Scots God in his kilt. She recognized the Murdoch tartan from their trip to the Highlands. It was beautiful and rich. Burgundy and navy with dark yellow running through it. It was slung dangerously low on his hips, so that the ridge of muscle that runs above his hip-bone could be seen, coaxing the eye follow it to the Promised Land that lay below the fabric. His strong thighs were accentuated by the kilt, the twitching of his muscles showcasing the power in his legs. Primitive-looking boots that seemed to match the whole Braveheart feel of his costume covered his feet. She was struggling to find her breath when he looked to the door and saw her. A devastatingly sexy smile graced his face, and the world spun around Tessa. In only a few strides he crossed the

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spacious room and was in front of her. She was completely paralyzed. “Tessa? Honey? What’s wrong?” She smiled weakly, shaking her head, and placed her palm on his chest. For a moment she just stared at her petite hand on his enormous, smooth-skinned chest and tried, without success, to inhale. He reached out and took her by the arms, but she backed up quickly and held her hands up in an effort to keep him from her. “Oh, God. You can’t touch me. Just stay over there.” Her voice was shaky. Concern filled his eyes and he stepped closer to her so they were both completely out of the library and alone in the foyer. “What’s going on? You’re worrying me, lass.” She laughed a little at her silliness, her fingers flitting about her face as she tried to stop swallowing her tongue so she could speak. In a voice so low it was almost a whisper, she said, “You can’t touch me, Gavan. You have to stay away. I swear, if you touch me anywhere, I’m going to come right here in this room in front of all these people.” She stopped for a minute, her eyes pleading with him, and he just stared at her. “You are an absolute fantasy come to life. Completely gorgeous. Utterly hot. The manliest, masculine manly-man I’ve ever seen. I had no idea they were doing this to you and it kind of took me by surprise. God. I just need a minute.” The sudden glint in his eye told her he had something in mind. Taking her by the hand, he pulled her behind him and strode from the foyer. **** The “High Priestess of Horror” costume had even more of an effect on him this time than it did the first time he’d seen her in it. Back then, he’d already been feeling overly possessive of her and

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found it nearly impossible to refrain from standing in the middle of the photo shoot melee and shout, “Mine!” to everyone. Seeing the actual photos from the shoot a couple of months later in the magazine did nothing to quell his jealous streak where she was concerned, but as always Tessa pointed out that for all the men looking at the photos, she wasn’t real, and she was there with him, right where she wanted to be. But now, he was hopelessly in love with her and she was his future. But right now his future was clothed in mind-bendingly sexy apparel and professionally made up for wicked enticement to be put on display for other men’s fantasies. Once he’d learned that she wasn’t in distress, as he’d feared, he gave in to his desire to claim the High Priestess as his own. **** She was pulled into the powder room and Gavan slammed and locked the door before he turned to her. The look on his face was intensely feral and it caused her breath to hitch as a small, quick whimper escaped her throat. In two more steps her back was against the wall and he hovered over her, placing his palms on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her. His eyes nearly glowed bright amber with lust, his nostrils flared as he made a show of breathing in her scent, and he bared his teeth in an expression that was no smile. A chill ran down Tessa’s spine, and for a brief moment she wondered if he’d actually been possessed by the spirit of an ancient Highland warlord. Testosterone, power, and raw sex rolled off him, making her head spin. Thrills coursed through her body, making her skin tingle. She could feel her wet excitement pooling between her legs as he continued to stare into her eyes, not touching her at all, conveying his intent of complete and utter possession of her. Every cell in her body was humming and thrumming in anticipation of his touch. He slowly lowered his face to hers, his lips approaching her own quivering lips.

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She could almost taste him, so ready to feel his silky, sensuous mouth on hers, and she closed her eyes in expectation of his kiss. But he withheld it. Instead, he kept his lips a hair’s breadth from hers, not moving. His warm breath, sweet from the Red Hot cinnamon candies she’d learned he favored, tickled over her lips, and she savored the sensation. Her mind was whirling with uncontrolled thoughts of his body. The torture of his nearness was driving her mad. She was about to beg for his kiss when he mercifully closed the almost nonexistent gap and lightly stroked his lips against hers. He continued to gently, softly brush his lips across hers until finally he pulled back. The contradiction of his savage, menacing, warrior-like demeanor to his light, gentle teasing pushed her to near delirium. Lifting his hands from the wall he grasped hers and pushed them high above her head, threading his fingers in hers, and held them there against the wall. Bending his head forward, an expression of dominance and determination on his face, he crushed his mouth to hers. Yes! Oh thank you, yes! He was brutal, strong, and possessive and she loved it. He was her own Highland warrior! He pulled one of his hands from her frantic grasp and trapped both of hers with the other. His free hand slid down between her thighs and he pushed the wet fabric of her thong aside to stroke her clit. With one stroke of his clever finger, her hips bucked and she came, rivulets of her cream coating him and running down the tops of her thighs. She moaned into his mouth, her hips thrusting against him as he relentlessly pulled her climax from her, pressing his palm to her, maximizing its duration. As she slipped back into her body, he broke the kiss, lowered her arms, and smiled at her. “That better, then?” She purred. “Mmm hmm. Much.” His laugh was a low rumble in his chest. “You were a ticking time

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bomb, weren’t you?” She blushed. “You have no idea.” He licked the fingers that were covered in her juices. “Oh, I think I have some idea,” he said as he winked at her. “Let’s get you together so we can get this over with. I want tae have you tae myself.” As they stepped back into the library, he bent to whisper in her ear, “Oh, and lass? We’re keeping these costumes.” **** Thankfully, the shoot went smoothly and was over in a couple of hours. Looking through the roughs, Tessa was amazed. She knew that she was petite and Gavan was a very big man, but the pictures seemed to accentuate their size difference. He almost looked otherworldly. He actually looked like a character she might write about come to life—a great Scot warrior sent to protect the diminutive heroine from the evils of the world. Oh, she liked that. She’d have to remember to make a note of that idea for a future book, or even a series. Henri had taken dozens of shots. They’d even gone outside and used Aladdin for one. But one specific pose caught her eye and as she was about to ask Henri if she could have a print for herself, Marlena looked over her shoulder and shrieked. “Oh, that’s the money shot, right there. I can actually see the steam rising off you two in this.” She was right, the photo was hot. Tessa was draped sideways in the huge, throne-like carved chair, her head over one of the chair’s arms, leg closest to the back of the chair hanging over the other arm. The position caused her breasts to push upward, creating soft, puffy mounds above the bodice of the bustier. Gavan, the warrior, was bent over her, one hand propping himself up on the arm of the chair her head lay on, the other holding the thigh that was to the front of the chair against his hip. His head was bent down, his open mouth feasting on the swell of her breast,

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and her head was thrown back in ecstasy. Despite the fact they’d had more fun than either of them thought they would, she didn’t remember ever losing herself during the shoot. But that was exactly how it looked, like they were enraptured and unaware of the camera capturing their intimacy. Her mind raced back to their powder room interlude right before the shoot. She could feel the blush rising from her bustier to her cheeks. Marlena must have noticed her discomfort. “Sweetie, what is it?” Tessa bit her lip. “I, uh, I don’t know if I want people to see a shot as intimate as this.” Marlena gave a throaty laugh as Henri walked up. “Honey, there isn’t a shot in this pile that doesn’t drip of the sexual chemistry between the two of you.” Henri nodded enthusiastically. “She’s right, Tessa. Doing a steamy shoot with the two of you is a dream. I’m just surprised my camera didn’t melt,” he said and walked away fanning himself. Tessa smiled and said to Marlena, “You’re right. I’m being silly. They’re just pictures. But do me a favor and don’t let Gavan see them. I want to surprise him with this one.” Marlena smiled and winked at her. “Honey, I think he’s going to love it.” **** Three weeks later, Tessa struggled to get through the door with grocery bags and a large, flat, package wrapped in brown paper. She set the bags in the kitchen and placed the package next to the sofa. She ran up the steps to find Gavan working in her closet. He stood as she approached and she launched herself into his arms, kissed him, then looked around the closet. “Wow, it looks great! I can’t wait to be able to reach things without pulling out a ladder.”

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Gavan kissed her forehead. “Another day or two, lass. Do you need help with bags?” Tessa shook her head. “No, not with bags. But I got a photo I’d like to hang if you want to help with that.” He grabbed his hammer and smiled. “At your service, milady.” She showed him where she wanted the photo to hang and stood back while he completed the task she could have easily done herself. But that wouldn’t have been any fun at all. Besides, she liked watching his muscles ripple when he worked. He stepped back and held out his hand. “Okay, where’s the photo?” Tessa picked it up from next to the couch and handed it to him. At first, he was concentrating on getting the wire on the hook and the level of the frame so he didn’t notice the subject right away. When he finally looked at the picture he made an inarticulate sound. “Ga! What is this?” he exclaimed. Tessa snickered, half out of elation, half out of nervousness. She took a breath. “That’s us, honey. Can’t you tell?” He leaned in and looked closer. “Lass, you’re, well, you’re breathtaking in this.” She smiled. “Yeah, well, you’re not so bad yourself, handsome.” She took another breath, still not sure exactly how he felt about the picture. “When I was looking at the roughs that day, this was my favorite. We’re just so completely absorbed in each other. Like we were really in the middle—” He cut her off, not taking his gaze from the photograph. “I’m just taking you, possessing you, and you’re loving every minute of it. You’re so small and I’m hulking over you. There’s a real sense of menace about it, isn’t there?” Sensing that perhaps he wasn’t thrilled with their portrayal, she started lining up defenses for the picture, but before she could voice them, he said, “I like it. I like it a lot.”

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He turned to her and grinned wickedly. “Tell me, will this one make it inta the magazine?” Tessa nodded. “Yeah. Marlena called it the money shot. It’s what they picked to be the centerfold.” He grinned wider and pulled her to him. “Good. This picture captured exactly what I wanted your fans tae see. You’re still you. Strong, independent, beautiful, and a little wicked. But now, I’m in the picture. And you’re all mine. Nobody else’s. And I, my beautiful High Priestess, am at your service. Use me as you will.” He swooped down to kiss her and her mind wandered to all the women out there who would soon be coveting her man.

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Epilogue Eighteen months later… “Gavan, honey, really. I’m fine. You’re gonna give yourself a heart attack.” He pursed his lips as he looked at her, as if to say, “Oh, silly girl,” on his way to the SUV that he’d pulled around to the front door, carrying her bag. Rolling her eyes, she started to walk to the door. Gavan slammed the cargo door and sprinted back to the house. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” he asked with the same tone he would have used if she had a twelve-inch knife poised to plunge into someone’s chest. She put her hands on her hips and looked up at him. “I think I’m walking to the truck. Why? What are you doing besides running around like a lunatic?” He took a deep breath and pushed his hand through his hair. “I think I’m taking my beautiful wife tae the hospital tae have our babes.” **** Since the moment she’d brought it up as they sat by the fire after dinner, he’d been in hyperdrive. Called the doctor with every contraction. Brought her eighty glasses of water. Reviewed Lamaze until she thought she’d bop him. Rubbed her feet, hands, arms, back, neck, and belly, which was

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nice at first, but then he got a little frenetic. She almost didn’t want to tell him when the contractions got close enough to take action. She was afraid of what he’d do. And she’d been right. When the poor doctor, on the other end of the phone for the umpteenth time that night, said it was time to bring her in, Gavan slammed the phone down and flew up the stairs. Tessa just watched from the couch. She had never seen him out of control like this. Gavan was normally calm, strong, and stoic. His very out-of-character behavior made her giggle. In a moment he flew back down to her. “What do you need me tae get for you. I know you’ve got a bag all ready. Do you need anything else?” She smiled at him. “Other than my coat and shoes, everything’s in the bag. Robe, jammies, toiletries, focus object, music, picture of us in Scotland with your family, list of phone numbers, and all our paperwork.” He nodded once. “Right. I’ll get your bag.” He flew back up the steps, taking them three at a time. With more than a little trouble, Tessa managed to get herself off the couch, winning no points for grace, and started to bank the fire. When Gavan got to the top of the stairs he yelled, “What are you doing? I’ll do that. Ya shoul’na be doing that.” Tessa shook her head and put the poker in the holder. “Too late, it’s done,” she said as she drew the screens across. In an instant he was by her side, helping her to one of the chairs at the dining table. “Please, Tessa. Just keep your little arse in this seat till I pull the car around front, then I’ll be back in for you.” She moaned when he said this. Her arse was far from little these days. She’d known her body would change with pregnancy, that things would naturally get bigger. But on their second visit to the obstetrician they were informed that Tessa was carrying twins. As a result, every change in her body happened doubly. The fact that

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Gavan would barely let her move anywhere on her own steam didn’t help matters. If he saw her even attempt to waddle more than five steps, he ran to her to pick her up and transport her. As sweet and adorable as he was, there were times that he made her crazy. And tonight he was doing it in spades. All the times in between though, she was a pampered, attended, much-loved woman. From the moment he learned she was carrying his baby, his love for her kicked into overdrive. The news that the baby was actually babies doubled his attentions. He kept a huge and various supply of foods and drinks she might crave. He slept so lightly that if she moved, he was awake and out of bed to ask what she needed. When her belly started to swell to the point that normal activities became trying, he bathed her, washed her hair, shaved her legs, smoothed lotion on her skin, and helped her dress. She received daily massages from him. At least three times a day, he forced her to relax while he stroked her belly and talked to the little lives growing within her, mostly telling them about Scotland, the future, and how their parents met, Uncle Jaime’s doing, and fell in love. In her fourth month, it became obvious that Gavan had no intention whatsoever of leaving their home to go to work. Tessa decided to keep him and Jaime busy with creating a nursery and a guest suite in the house, as well as finish the spacious apartment above the barn so Gavan’s family could come to stay for extended visits once the twins were born. At six months, Gavan decided that Tessa should never be left alone because the size of her belly had grown to be very cumbersome. Unfortunately for her, Jaime, Alex, and Marlena all agreed and were willing co-conspirators in this theory, so she hadn’t spent one minute alone since. She loved them for their good intentions, but she was sick to death of each and every one of them. A blush crept over her when she thought about his appetite for her since she’d become pregnant as well. Even though she spent many

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days feeling less than attractive as her stomach grew with the twins, Gavan seemed to find her more alluring with every passing day and every gained pound. He couldn’t keep his hands and eyes off her. He never tired of sliding into her from behind, standing, lying down, in the shower, wherever he could while stroking her swollen belly. It was like he reveled in her body and worshipped the changes it was undergoing. If he happened to catch her looking down at her swelling abdomen or running her hand across it, he became a man possessed. Tessa would be ushered to a chair or the couch or the bed, where Gavan would bury his face between her legs to bring her to climax as he whispered how much he loved her into her wet folds. All of his doting didn’t go unnoticed by the others. Jaime teased Gavan mercilessly about how such a big, intimidating man could turn into a puddle of sentimental, blubbering mush every time he was asked about Tessa and the babies. She watched now in disbelief as one by one, he pulled each of their five vehicles to the front of the house, only to return the first four to the garage because it wasn’t right for some reason. Ride too rough, seats too hard, not safe enough, and finally, the best one of all, the Avalanche just didn’t feel like something a pregnant woman should ride to the hospital in. Tessa guessed he settled on the Expedition because, unless he was ready to start saddling up the horses, he was out of options. She sighed. She watched him trot from the Expedition to the house. “All ready?” Just to be sure, Tessa took a second to think since this wouldn’t be the best time to forget something important. Her eyes widened. “We didn’t call Jaime. He has to be there.” Gavan ran for the phone and handed it to her. “Aye, he’ll be a help tae me, too.” Jaime answered on the second ring. “Hello?” “Hey, I just wanted to let you know we’re on our way to the

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hospital.” Jaime whooped. “Cool. I’ll meet you there. Tessa? How are you? You okay?” “I’m fine, thanks. It’s gonna be fine.” “Uh huh. And how’s the big guy?” Tessa laughed. “Yeah, that’s a whole different story. I think he might live through it, but it’s kind of touch and go right now.” She smiled at him sweetly as he gave her the best glare he could manage. He’d good-naturedly accepted being the butt of the siblings’ “frantic pregnant daddy” jokes since they’d learned she was pregnant. “Okay, then. We’ll see you there.” Tessa handed Gavan the phone and he hustled to the base to replace the handset. He carried her bag out to the truck and turned just in time to see Tessa walking out the front door. He returned to her side in an instant, lifted her into his arms, and carried her to the truck. “Gavan, really, I’m capable of walking. I wish you wouldn’t treat me like I can’t do anything.” She was ready to kill him and he just kept walking with her in his arms, grinning like a fool. Once he had her settled into the passenger seat, Gavan leaned in and raised his hand to her face, softly brushing her cheek with his fingertips. He pressed his lips to hers and licked his tongue across them to taste her, to drink her in. He pulled away and his dark amber eyes danced and twinkled with tears welling in them. “Tessa. I love you. I love you. I love you. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world, when you’re my tiny little, hot-headed firecracker giving me hell for who knows what or when you’re big with my babes and everywhere in between. I can’no wait tae raise our family together. Birthdays, school plays, holidays, cuts, bruises, laughter, and tears. These two little babes are the perfect blend of both of us together, the embodiment of our love, and I can’t wait tae hold them in my arms and love them.” Tessa’s tears rolled freely down her cheeks. She would always be amazed at his ability to melt her with his well-timed, sincere

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eloquence. “Oh, Gavan, I love you, too.” Gavan leaned his forehead to touch hers. “Deep down, I’d like sons, but two smaller versions of you would definitely keep me on my toes.” They laughed and sniffled together. Gavan shut her door and ran to his side of the truck to jump in. **** Just over thirteen hours later, Jaime entered the room, balloons, bouquet, and teddy bears in hand. Tessa looked exhausted but more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. His best friend, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed beside her, was smiling like the biggest loon he’d ever seen. They each held a baby in their arms. “Jaime, brother, meet your nephews,” Gavan said proudly. Jaime stepped to Gavan to gaze down at the brown-haired wailer with stormy gray eyes. He turned then and leaned toward Tessa to stroke the cheek of the blond boy, eyes already tinged with a touch of dark amber, quietly cooing in her arms. “What are their names?” Jaime asked, kissing Tessa’s cheek, smiling at her with pride. Tessa grinned. “Well, this is Greer Mackenzie Murdoch and Gavan’s got Jaimeson Danvers Murdoch.” Jaime’s eyes opened wide. “We’ll be calling him Jaime,” Tessa said. Jaime turned and Gavan handed him his namesake with a wink. “It’s the least we coul’ do, man. After all, if it weren’t for you, they probably woul’na be here.” After gooing and gahing at the twins for a sufficient amount of time, they put the sleeping babies in their cribs. “Gavan, I called your family as soon as you guys went in and they said they’d be leaving for the airport within an hour. They’ve been

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checking the flight schedules every day for two months waiting for this,” Jaime said with a chuckle. Gavan nodded. “Aye, I think they might be just a little excited about this. You didn’t mention twins, did you?” Tessa chimed in. “Ooo, yeah, we want that to be a surprise when they get here.” Jaime shook his head. “Nope. Not a word. They have no idea.” As he bent to plant a kiss on Tessa’s forehead, Jaime wished her good night. “They’re so beautiful, Tessa. And I’m so proud of you.” She smiled up at him, her eyes nearly closed from exhaustion. He and Gavan exchanged those big, slap-on-the-back hugs that men do, and Jaime congratulated him again. Bending over the twins, he lightly stroked each of their cheeks with his index finger and whispered, “Good night, little men. I can’t wait to teach you two all kinds of mischievous things to make your mommy and daddy go gray prematurely.” At the door, he paused and turned back. Tessa was already asleep, curled up against Gavan, who was happily gazing over at his sons while he absentmindedly traced his fingers up and down Tessa’s arm.

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR I love to read, always have. There have been times when I’ve been reading several books at once and was so caught up in them that when I finished one, I’d find myself wondering what some of the characters were up to that day. Eventually, I discovered that romance novels ain’t what they used to be and, thanks to the almighty internet, there’s a whole new world of erotic romance out there. I think because I read so many of them, they started to spill over and my own ideas just clambered to get out. So, here I am. I don’t think I’d be able to decide between curling up under Grandma’s afghan with a cup of hot chocolate to read a book or sitting on the beach with my toes digging in the sand to read a book as my favorite way to spend a day. I live just outside Philadelphia with my husband of 17 years, two humongous dogs and a cat who thinks she’s a dog, too.

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