“I was wondering when you two would finally fess up about it. Of course, I’ve known for over a year now how he felt about you. You’ll have to tell me all about it. And it goes without saying that your secret is safe with me.”

Julia had rearranged her work schedule so that she could spend the better part of the day with Tessa, offering to take her to lunch and shopping, and help her keep her mind off the loss she’d suffered.

“Julia will be here at ten. We’re going to the DMV first to get my replacement license, and then to lunch and shopping,” she told Ian.

He nodded. “Make sure you get whatever you need, all right? Better yet, just hand Julia that credit card I gave you. I have no doubt she’ll make good use of it on your behalf. Apparently she’s got quite the shopping addiction.”

Tessa smiled. “I don’t need much, really. Just a few basics to tide me over for the next few weeks at work. You’ve already bought me more clothes than I could wear in several years.”

“That’s a matter of opinion, darling. With some of the traveling we’ll be doing this summer you’re going to need some different pieces to augment your wardrobe. But that’s for another day. Now, come give me a kiss so I can head into the office for a bit.”

She rose up on her knees by the edge of the bed, the duvet falling away from her body. She had begun sleeping in the nude when she was with Ian, his body heat more than enough to keep her warm at night. She loved snuggling up against his big, hard body, entwining her limbs with his, and falling asleep in his arms. His heated gaze fell on her high, lush breasts, the pale apricot nipples peaking instantly beneath his regard.

“Christ, I’d love nothing better than to tumble you back on these sheets and slide inside of you for a few hours,” he rasped. “You’re so beautiful, Tessa. Like a goddess - Aphrodite, I think, the goddess of love and beauty. Except that even she would have been jealous of you.”

She sighed, twining her arms around his neck, her nipples brushing up against his shirt. “Yes, but only because she would have wanted you for herself. And you’re my man, no one else can ever have you. “

Ian grinned, his hands spanning her waist. “Getting possessive, are we? Good, because I feel the same way about you.”

She kissed him softly, almost teasingly, but it was still more than enough to make her groan and want more. “Thank you for last night,” she whispered. “You were so perfect. You always know exactly the right things to say and do.”

“It was my pleasure, love,” he replied sincerely.

Tessa caressed his smooth shaven cheek, inhaling deeply of his clean, masculine scent. “Tonight, though, will be for you. I know you held back last night, even though you must have wanted more.”

“Hush.” He placed a finger over her lips. “Darling, what you don’t realize is that I’m deliriously happy to have you any way I can. Whether it’s slow and sweet like it was last night, or hard and dirty, it’s always the most intense feeling in the entire world for me. And, yes, I did hold back, somehow I always feel like a rampaging beast when I’m near you, but that was what last night called for. But it was every bit as wonderful, Tessa, every bit as satisfying.”

She pressed closer against him, her lips caressing the strong column of his throat. “For me, too. But I want to give you what you need tonight. I want you to take me however you like. I want,” she told him huskily, staring deep into his eyes, “to surrender.”

“Jesus.” He stared at her open-mouthed, his eyes wide and his skin flushed. “Do you have any idea what those sort of words do to a man? Tessa - my God - you are the greatest treasure any man could ever hope to find in one lifetime.” He touched her cheek almost reverently. “But I’ve told you before. I won’t be your master, nor give you orders. This is and always will be an equal partnership, in every way.”

“I know that,” she murmured. “That doesn’t mean I can’t give you this now and then, can’t give myself over to your control for a night. I know you would never, ever abuse that sort of trust, and that you could never, ever hurt me. I need this, Ian - need to give myself to you freely, without limits, without rules.”

He closed his eyes tightly for long seconds, his hand sliding into her hair and holding her head still. Then he nodded and opened his eyes, and she gasped at the searing passion she saw reflected in their hazel depths. “All right, then. I accept your gift - gladly. And I promise that there will be every bit as much pleasure for you as there will be for me.” His hand slid down over her shoulder to her breast, cupping it before his thumb brushed over her nipple. At her gasp, he abruptly withdrew his hand.

“God, if I start touching you now I won’t be able to stop. Here, better cover up so that I can think straight.”

Tessa took the gray robe he handed her and belted it around her body as she slid out of the bed. “I’ll be looking forward to tonight,” she told him in a breathy little voice.

Ian groaned and pulled her into his arms. “Not half as much as I will, love. I’m thinking I’d better stop at the gym and work off some steam first - box a few rounds, swim a few dozen laps. Otherwise, I fear you’re going to regret giving me carte blanche with your body.”

She laughed, the sound muffled against his chest. “I doubt that very much.”

“I was planning to take you to Harris’ Steakhouse this evening. Is seven o’clock all right with you?” he inquired.

“Yes, perfect. What should I wear?”

He gave her a quick kiss before stepping back, shrugging into his suit jacket. “I’ll leave that up to you, love. My only request is that you wear one of the new sets of lingerie we just bought. The lavender set - you know which one I mean?”

Her cheeks pinkened as she pictured the gorgeous demi-bra of sumptuous satin and lace, and the matching pair of tiny, lacy panties. “Yes, I know.”

He winked at her. “Good. Those, plus stockings, of course, and high heels. The rest I’ll leave up to you. Now, I’d better go before I decide to blow off three separate meetings and start the festivities early. I’ll see you this evening, love.”

Tessa tried hard not to feel lonely and bereft as he left the room, knowing full well he had important matters to attend to at the office. It had been an extra special treat spending all of yesterday with him, but she acknowledged with a bittersweet resignation that every day couldn’t be like that.