Tessa's Treasures (7 page)

Lucas continued to grin broadly. “You mean to tell me, little Tessa Jordan, with the long skirts and high neck blouses, eating all the vegetables on her plate, has a tramp stamp?” He sauntered toward her, his eyes boring into hers, lethal in his pursuit. “Turn around so I can get a better look.”

She stretched her arms from her side, gripping the railing with both hands. “No. It was a mistake. A bit of rebellion after my divorce.”

“Aw, come on, honey. Just one look.” His teasing tone turned husky as he put his hands on the smooth skin of her upper arms, and eased her toward him.

Tessa’s grip slipped, and slowly her arms fell to her side. She was lost. The touch of his calloused hands on her arms, the smell of his body close to her, was an aphrodisiac to her senses. His palms slid across her back, fingers tangling in her hair as he took possession of her mouth.

Unable to continue to fight the attraction, she rose on tiptoe to put her arms around his neck. She wove her fingers through the silky strands at the back of his head. So many times as a girl she’d imagined this. So many lonely nights during her marriage she craved this. Her insides quivered at the memory as his fingers teased the skin running down her spine, settling on her rear as he cupped and kneaded the flesh.

Lucas broke the kiss, leaving her mouth burning with fire. His smoky eyes met hers as he took her hand and led her to the narrow stairs.

The large bed was an oasis in the storm that buffeted her senses. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulled her close between his legs. Shaky hands wandered up her back to her neck and untied the top of her swimsuit. He unhooked the clasp at her back and it slid to the floor in a gentle rustling. Her breasts sprang free, the nipples already hard and aching for his touch. Reverently, his hands supported their weight while his thumb gently rubbed the tender nipples.

“Lucas?” Her voice was fragile and shaking.

“Shh, sweetheart. I would never do anything to hurt you. I want this only if you do.”

Tessa closed her eyes and leaned her head back. A soft smile teased her lips. With a swift movement, Lucas hooked his thumbs into the sides of her suit bottom and whisked it down. Her whole being flooded with desire, and a soft moan escaped when he encircled her waist and pulled her forward to lie alongside him.

His tongue teased the shell of her ear. “We’ll stop anytime you say so.”

A knot settled in her throat at his tenderness, his caring.

He rose on one elbow and gazed over her lovingly. “You’re even more beautiful than my most erotic fantasies.”

Her hair, now freed from the top knot, fell like a curly silk curtain over the bed. His large hands cupped her face and held it gently. His mouth devoured hers once more, moving to nibble, sooth and suck the sensitive skin on her neck.

Tessa’s heart hammered in her ears. Every one of her senses was filled with Lucas. His smell, his touch and the salty taste of his skin. She ran her hands over his back, helped him remove his swim trunks. The skin on skin sensation, the feel of his muscles as he moved, shot to her core, making her restless. An ache of awareness filled her and she squirmed against him, wishing for deeper contact. When his warm moist mouth covered her nipple and suckled, she jerked.

“Lucas.” The word was a breathless sigh. “Please.”

He nudged her knees apart, settled between her legs. Bracing himself on his elbows, he watched her with heavy lidded eyes. Steady hands smoothed the damp curls from her face. “I need to know how long it’s been, sweetheart, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Tessa ran her fingers through the dark hair hanging over Lucas' forehead, her eyes lost in his piercing blue ones. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Not since before my divorce, eight years ago. I’ve been so afraid.”

“It’s okay, we’ll go slowly. As long as you’re with me, there’s no reason to ever be afraid.” He flashed a lopsided smile, and brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead before his lips seared a path down her neck and shoulders.

His caring words sent a shiver along her skin. So gentle and patient, her heart melted. She’d dreamed of this forever. When his fingers made their way to her center, where they circled and fondled, preparing her body for him, she knew this was no dream. But a mind-spinning reality she more than craved. She needed this to survive.

She grew restless, all her heat and awareness focused on Lucas' fingers, sensations that teased her with the completion she craved. The evidence of his desire pressed against the soft skin of her stomach, increasing her own craving to have him inside her. Slowly a spring tightened in her core, waiting for something only he could give her. “I want this. With you. So much.”

He slowly entered, giving her a chance to grow accustomed to the feel and size of him. She shifted; he went deeper, closed his eyes and groaned. Her breath caught as he moved his hips in the age old rhythm of love. His crushing weight, soft murmurs of encouragement and praise, and powerful thrusts brought her closer to something out of her reach.

Lucas eased to one side, brought his hand between them and circled her nub with his thumb. Lights exploded behind her eyelids as her muscles contracted and unfamiliar waves of pleasure washed over her. She moaned, called out his name, pulled him closer.

He picked up his pace, and within minutes threw his head back and stiffened before collapsing on her. He took in great gulps of air, nuzzled her neck, and licked her skin. He quickly rolled to the side, and pulled her against him, the sweat making their slick bodies slide against each other.

They lay panting, her head tucked in the crook of his shoulder. The cool breeze from the small porthole drifted over them, calming their overheated flesh. Tessa ran her fingers lightly over the dark hairs on his chest. “Lucas?”

“Hmm?” He kissed the top of her head.

“I never felt that before.”

He shifted away from her, and glanced down. “Seriously?”

“Never. I’ve read about it, always wondered, but never felt it.” A flush crept over her cheeks at her confession.

Lucas wrapped his arms around her, and held her close. Tessa closed her eyes and remembered the first time she and Dean made love and he discovered her one indiscretion in college and called her a slut for not being a virgin. For the remainder of their long and miserable marriage he continued to treat her like one. Sex had been rough and uncomfortable. He took his pleasure then dismissed her.

This experience with Lucas was so different from what she was used to, yet so special—just like him. His fingers gently massaged her scalp as he dropped soft kisses on her forehead, mumbling words of love. The rocking of the boat and the beat of his heart beneath her ear soothed her into sleep.

****

Dean entered the dimly lit bar
. Fuck, that shit-kickin’ cowboy music makes my ears bleed. How the hell do they put up with that?
“Hey, honey. Get me a Bud.” He threw a five dollar bill on the bar.

The big blonde tending bar, who most likely had never been called honey in her life, glared at him. She reached under the bar, pulled up a brown bottle dripping ice water and popped the top. “You want a glass?”

“Nah.”
Christ, what a dog
. Stringy hair, fifty pounds too many, and a tattoo on her neck. Sure as hell not one to bring home to mother, or anywhere else well lit.

She slammed the bottle down, swiped the five dollar bill and walked off.

There better be some change comin’ in my direction.
As if she read his thoughts, she glared at him, rang up the sale, took out a single and two quarters, and dropped the money in front of him.

Dean picked up the beer and his change and looked around. Two cowboys played pool in one corner. The one with the checkered shirt bent over the table, the swinging light above him highlighting the lines of concentration on his face. His partner shifted a wad of tobacco from one cheek to the other. Dean wrinkled his nose.
Disgusting habits these backwooders
have
. Several tables held groups of drinkers in various stages of inebriation. An old couple shuffled around the dance floor in time to the wailing from the jukebox. He took another swig of beer.
What a dump.

I can’t take much more of Hicksville, so guess it’s time to look up the little woman and dole out some overdue punishment.

Tessa’s Treasures. It fit her perfectly. He took the last swallow of beer. Always doing the right thing, always ready to please. The harder she tried the more it pissed him off.

Then she finally got the guts to turn him in and hightail it back to big brother, Chief of fuckin’ Police. The bitch was going to pay for the eight years she took from him. Pay, and pay and pay. Hell, instead of killing her outright, maybe he’d bring her along with him when he left for his new home in Colombia.
Fuckin’ A.
Pleased with that bit of brilliance, he turned back to the bar for another beer.

****

Tessa pounded her fist on the steering wheel. It had been a long day at the store and she was ready to go home. But her car didn’t agree. She turned the key again, hoping for a spark of life. Nothing. Not even a twinge of noise
.
She sighed and leaned her forehead on the wheel.

She hated to call her brother, Mason. Things were always chaotic at his house. With the crazy hours he worked as Chief of Police, the kids, and his wife trying to get her real estate business off the ground, it was a place she wanted to avoid. Lucas was the obvious choice. Okay, so maybe not the obvious choice, but one she definitely favored. Just thinking about him brought a rush of heat to her body.

Amazingly enough, she’d felt no shame or uneasiness when she awoke naked in his arms on the boat, almost like they’d done it for years. They’d held each other and talked quietly, sharing stories and thoughts.

The boat rocked gently as Tessa drew circles on his chest with her fingertip. “Do you miss not seeing your sons?”

He shifted, looked down at her. “Every day. We used to be so close when they were younger. The three of us spent many a weekend on this boat. Lots of good memories.”

“Didn’t Patty go, too?”

His hand stilled where he played with her hair. “No.”

Just as she thought he wasn’t going to say anything more, he continued. “It didn’t take us long to figure out we’d married the wrong person. If it wasn’t for the twins, we would have called it quits early on. But we both wanted the boys to be raised by two parents. We called a kind of truce. It worked for a lot of years.”

Tessa sat up. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why, but I just assumed you were happy all those years.”

He pulled her back down and kissed her softly. “I’m happy now. That’s what counts.”

She didn’t share the horror story of her marriage.

As the sun bid its goodbye, they showered together, dressed, and headed back to shore. Comfortable silence had filled the air as Lucas drove her home, where he’d walked her to the door and gave her a gentle kiss good night. Despite the nap on the boat, she’d slept like a baby that night—better than she had in years.

She sighed. Ruminating wasn’t getting her home. She took out her cell phone and pushed the speed dial.

“Raven.” His clipped tone startled her.

“Lucas?”

“Hey babe, I was about to call you.” His voice, deep and sensual sent another wave of heat through her body.

“My car won’t start
.”

“Where are you?” His tone held a degree of both warmth and concern.

“In the parking lot behind the store. I keep trying to start it, but it doesn’t even turn over. I don’t know what’s wrong with it. The car was fine this morning when I parked it.”

“Do me a favor and go back into the store and lock the doors.”

“Why?”

“For my own peace of mind, okay, sweetheart? I’ll be right there.”

Before she could protest he disconnected. Why should she go back into the store? He’d only scold her if she didn’t, so she locked the car and returned to the store, turning on the lights she’d just put out.

The old journal from Lucas’ attic rested on the counter right where she’d left it. Might as well keep busy by reading. She took out her glasses and opened the cover.

As she turned the brittle pages, her heart rate sped up. The journal had a great deal of information on a woman’s life, but strange comments were interspersed throughout. The writer referred more than once to a curse and a doll. She sat back and stared across the room.

The doll? She shivered and rubbed her arms. Ignoring the temptation to close the book, she read on.

****

Lucas frowned as he drove to Tessa’s store. He didn’t like this one bit. Call it his OSBI background or pure gut instinct, but the break-in at the store and now the car suddenly dying made him uneasy. Although he’d assured Tessa the break-in was kids, there was no way kids could have come and gone without leaving some type of evidence behind. Since Dean Phillips still hadn’t been heard from, Lucas' senses remained on high alert. He flipped open his cell and pushed a button. “You hear any more about Phillips?”

“Good evening, Lucas, nice to hear from you,” the familiar voice rang with derision.

“Sorry, Bran, this thing has me on edge.”

“So it appears. And no, he still hasn’t reported in. He signed for his bank deposit box a few weeks ago. We’re trying from our end to nudge them into doing a search warrant for the box, but it’s moving slow because he hasn’t broken any laws.”

“What about the parole violation? That’s breaking the law in my books.”

“Yeah, to me and you. We’re trying, but you know big cities. One, we have no authority there. Second, without a dead body, or at least the threat of one, the system moves slow. The ADA over there is swamped. Besides, if he accessed his deposit box, chances are he emptied it.”

Lucas gave an impatient shrug. “I feel like I’m sitting on a keg of dynamite here.”

“You might be looking under the bed for monsters that aren’t there.” Brandon chuckled softly, but Lucas didn’t share his humor. Not where Dean Phillips and Tessa were concerned.