Then, with one dominant surge, he mounted her and drove deep inside her tight, clenching pussy. The cry of surrender that escaped Tessa’s throat was one of the most erotic sounds he’d ever heard, and he groaned as he took her hard, his chest flush against her back. This was what he’d needed to do so desperately after she’d so sweetly declared her devotion to him - to fuck her hard, to brand her with his possession, with intense and utter domination. She was the only woman in his entire life that he’d ever felt this way about, the only one in his forty years of living that he’d ever wanted to claim.

Tessa was mewling against the sofa cushions, clutching the arm rest for dear life, as he continued to pound into her with hard, powerful strokes. He worked a hand between their co-joined bodies and found her clit, hearing her gasp as he rubbed the hard little nub.

He was too far gone, too consumed with lust and need and love to care if he was crushing her or not, his body so much heavier and muscular than hers. But if he was hurting her she gave no indication, didn’t try to resist his domination of her body. She whimpered when he sucked hard on the back of her neck, marking her with his love bite, and the blood roared in his ears at the little sounds she made.

Feeling himself drawing ever closer to release, he reared back onto his knees and pulled her up with him, his chest pressed against her back. Tessa’s head fell back limply onto his shoulder as she gasped for breath, and then she was panting as his fingers plucked at her engorged nipple while the other hand stimulated her clit, all while he continued to fuck her with barely controlled force.

Her orgasm shook her whole body, and she would have collapsed onto the sofa if he hadn’t banded an arm around her waist to hold her in place. Ian shouted incoherent, raw words of pleasure as he followed her over the edge, continuing to pump into her body long after he was empty. When he could breathe again, though not necessarily think, he folded her into his arms, dragging her onto his lap.

Tessa spoke first, her voice whisper soft. “I assume since you own this hotel that the staff will overlook the big wet stain we’re leaving on this sofa.”

His shoulders shook with mirth. “Let’s put it this way, love. Not a one of them would have the nerve to bring the subject up.”

She smiled, and tenderly brushed damp strands of hair back off his face. “I love it when you’re in boss man mode. How everyone snaps to attention and bends over backwards to please you.” She nibbled on his earlobe. “And I especially love it when you’re the boss in our bed.”

He chuckled, pulling her astride his lap and squeezing the firm cheeks of her ass. “And I love how you, uh, just bent over backwards for me.”

Tessa gasped in mock outrage, giving him a little shove. “As I recall, I wasn’t exactly given a choice in the matter.”

“No, you weren’t.” Ian sobered, tracing his thumb over her lips. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

She shook her head. “No, you could never hurt me, Ian. Though it might be a little difficult to walk a straight line today.”

“I’ll hold you up, darling,” he murmured, pulling her head down to his for a long, lingering kiss. “Though a hot bath might help both of us. I’m a bit shaky myself.”

“Not surprising, considering how you were pretty much in barbarian mode a little while ago,” she teased. “I never imagined when I told you I was going to do online classes that you’d be quite so, ah, thrilled.”

“It wasn’t just that and you know it.” He brushed a soft kiss on her lips. “It was what you told me about doing absolutely anything for me. That just - touched something in me, made me go a little crazy with needing you. All I knew at that moment was that I had to own you completely, had to be just as raw and honest as you had been with me.”

Tessa touched her forehead to his. “I love you, Ian. And I meant every single word.”

“My sweet, darling Tessa. You are the love of my life. Now, let’s see about that bath and then breakfast, hmm? After all, we have a wedding to attend.”

***

Julia looked breathtakingly beautiful, Nathan incredibly handsome, and their wedding was rather like a fairytale. At least it seemed that way to Tessa, who had never witnessed a real wedding before. She had seen a lot of lavish weddings being set up when she’d worked at the Tucson resort, but had never actually attended any of them, of course.

Tessa had become a little misty eyed while her friends were exchanging their heartfelt vows, and she smiled gratefully at Ian when he took her hand.

“It’s so romantic, isn’t it?” she whispered.

In reply, he merely pressed a kiss to her temple and squeezed her hand a little tighter.

The words he had spoken to her last month during his parents’ visit suddenly came back to tease her - what he’d said about her being his wife one day. He hadn’t mentioned anything further about marriage since that evening, and she hadn’t permitted herself to think about it too much. But now, in this exquisitely romantic garden setting, with a string quartet playing, flowers everywhere, and two starry eyed lovers pledging themselves to each other, it was easy to imagine her own potential nuptials one day. At the same time, though, the idea made her a little sad, because unlike Julia she had no doting father to give her away, no proud mother watching teary eyed from the front row of seats, and no devoted sister to stand as her maid of honor. If Ian did in fact marry her someday, it would really only be his family and friends in attendance, and it occurred to Tessa for the first time since moving in with him just how alone she would be without him.

Impatiently, she forced her maudlin thoughts aside just as the minister was pronouncing Nathan and Julia to be husband and wife. With something of a twinkle in his eye, the white haired officiate nodded at the rather impatient groom.

“Well, go ahead, Nathan, it’s finally time. You may kiss the bride.”

Tessa joined in the applause as a grinning Nathan wasted no time in sweeping Julia into his arms and kissing her soundly, not seeming to notice that two hundred other people - including her father and uncle - were watching them intently. Somewhere to her left Tessa heard loud whoops and cat calls, as well as several suggestive comments being shouted out.

Ian murmured in her ear, clearly amused. “The, ah, cheering section there would be Nathan’s old college mates that I told you about.”

“The ones from the bachelor party?” At Ian’s nod, Tessa glanced over at the group of a dozen or so noisy thirty-somethings in concern. “Oh, God, I hope they don’t ruin Julia’s wedding! From what she’s told me, and what you saw firsthand, they can get a little rowdy.”