SevenSensuousDays (19 page)

Finally, Tessa lifted her face to his.

Without words or hesitation, they came together easily, in a
deep, wet, lingering kiss that nourished Tessa’s soul, filling it with faith in
the future rather than loneliness. For a long while, she wouldn’t let Logan go,
nor would he allow her any distance from him.

When they finally parted, they rested their foreheads
against each other’s.

“You really want us to know everything about each other?”
she asked. “Good and bad?”

Logan pulled back and studied her. “Whatever you’re willing
to share. As far as I can see, there isn’t anything bad about you. It’s all
good.”

She smiled through her tears. “You’re pretty okay too.”

“Pretty okay?” He arched one eyebrow and chuckled. “I
thought I was damn perfect.”

Tessa glanced at his fly and teased, “Well, part of you
certainly is.”

Rather than laughing, uncertainty passed over his face.

Suddenly, Tessa realized what he must have been thinking
given what she’d said. How thoughtless of her.

“Your scars don’t bother me,” she murmured, wanting to get
that out of the way, knowing how his previous injuries would always give him
pause and heartache, reminding him of what he’d lost. “They’re not an imperfection.
They’re a part of you. Just like my weight’s part of who I am.”

He shook his head. “Tessa.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing wrong with your weight, okay? I like you
just as you are.
Because
of the way you are. Ripe. Luscious. I hope you
know that.”

She did and would be forever awed by it. He’d returned her
dignity. “I do. And I don’t want you changing anything about yourself either. You’re
right. You’re perfect.”

Gratitude, and what looked to be the beginning of love,
shone in his eyes. “Thanks, but I’m not even close. However, I did do one thing
right in my life…let me show you something.”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
Inside the first plastic photo sleeve was a picture of a little boy and girl.
Connor and Samantha.

“My kids,” he said, then cleared his throat, his voice grown
husky with sorrow. “I loved them so damn much and didn’t hesitate to let them
know that every day. That’s what I’m proudest of. Look at them here.”

Tessa leaned into Logan as he showed her photo after photo
of his children at the seashore, Disney World, playing in a well-manicured
backyard. Connor resembled him closely. Samantha was a miniature version of
Nicole.

“They were sweet kids,” he murmured. “The best.” He touched
Samantha’s cheek, her bright smile. “I adored that little girl as if she were
my own—hell, she was. Connor made every day brighter.”

“I know.” Tessa gathered Logan in her arms, caressing him to
her.

“I’m all right,” he said.

He would be. She’d see to it.

They held each other until Logan cleared his throat once
more and eased away. He returned the wallet to his pocket. “I’m okay, really.”

Tessa wanted to thumb the tears from the corners of his
eyes, but didn’t, respecting his desire for a little distance from the past. A
chance to regroup before he told her more about it.

She nodded to let him know she’d heard what he’d said. “Would
you like a beer?”

“I don’t need anything to drink. I’m fine. We could get
something to eat if you want. A burger? Pizza?”

“Maybe later.” Tessa stepped back. Because of their
uncertainties and fears, they’d lost so much time, left so much undone.
“There’s stuff we need to do first.”

“What stuff?”

Tessa thought about how he hadn’t spanked her again as he’d
promised. She thought about other things too. “Take off your clothes.”

He blinked, then smiled. “Okay.”

Tessa pulled a chair away from her small kitchen table and
put it in the middle of the linoleum floor. “Once you’re naked, sit here.” She
pointed to the padded vinyl seat.

“Why? You don’t have a bedroom in this place?” He glanced at
her sofa and floor, appraising both as possible substitutes.

“I do,” she said, “but I want you to sit. Be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

He asked no more. From there, she heard Logan pacing a bit,
then finally undressing…the thud of his sandals hitting the floor, the muffled
whoosh of his tee, jeans, and underwear following. The legs of the chair
scraped the linoleum as he sat.

Gripping the edge of her sink, Tessa pulled in as much air
as she could. This was really happening. He was actually here. His need of her
unmistakable. She recognized the truth of that in his expression, heard it in
his words.

How had it happened? Who cared? It had.

Tessa suppressed tears and a squeal of pure joy, thinking
that she’d have to call Ronnie tonight or tomorrow, whenever she had the
chance. Tell her about the change in plans…that she wouldn’t be returning to
the agency.

As far as earning a living, she’d go back to styling hair or
maybe take those courses to become a shrink. Whatever her future held, she’d
decide it later. Right now, Tessa had other things to consider.

She grabbed what she needed from one of the drawers. When
she was ready for Logan, she padded into the kitchen.

He stared at her nudity, the garnets dangling from her
navel, the delicate curls between her legs that had grown back since they’d
last been together. His face registered his surprise and pleasure, until he
noticed the scissors she held. Tessa held up her other hand, showing him the
comb. “You need a trim.”

“You’re going to cut my hair?”

“Someone has to. Then I’m giving you a shave. Hold this.”
She handed over the scissors and comb.

Logan looked at them until Tessa straddled his lap, easing
her cunt over his sudden erection. The lovely thing blossomed beneath her
pussy. Her breath puffed out and so did his.

“Don’t move,” she warned.

He stopped wiggling his body, trying to get closer to hers. “You’re
kidding, right?”

“I can go faster if you behave.”

“Or we could forget about the trim altogether.”

“Clearly, you’ve never been trimmed by me.”

He laughed. A wondrous sound. Unrestrained. Young. Filled
with promise.

Taking back her equipment, Tessa combed his hair and teased,
“After I’m done here, I’ll work on your groin.”

His smile turned into a grin. “Like hell you will.”

“Your pits?”

“Not in this life.”

“I thought you wanted to be friends.”

He looked at her with wonder, then wrapped his arms around
her hips, his palms on her ass. “I do. Tell me about you, please. Everything.
Then I’ll take my turn.”

As Tessa trimmed his hair and shaved him, she told Logan
about her parents, then her stepmother, how she really felt growing up with a
woman who wasn’t her mom. How awful it had been when her stepsisters made fun
of her. She related the good times in high school when she and her friends had read
bodice-rippers in the john during lunch, and the not-so-good years when the
other girls had bullied her because she wasn’t skinny, gorgeous, or rich like
some of them.

Logan listened. He commiserated and then told Tessa about
Nicole, what the papers, Internet, and newscasts hadn’t revealed. The baffling
jealousy. His bewilderment and desperate attempts to make things right.

They talked well through the night until the following
morning. Sharing. Empathizing. At times, weeping. Often laughing. Then finally
loving, really loving, their bodies close, limbs entwined, breaths mingled.

Before they finally fell asleep on their first day back
together, Tessa whispered, “Are Molly and Jack all right?” With all that had
happened, she’d forgotten about the pups.

Logan finished his yawn and murmured, “Mr. and Mrs. Winters,
my caretakers, have them until I get back. I gave them—the Winters—hazard pay.”

“Oh no. Those sweet little babies are misbehaving? Jack’s
started to watch doggy porn? Molly’s into a fast-talking stray?”

Logan laughed, the sound content and weary. “The pups have
missed you too. More than you know.”

“Tell me,” Tessa said, snuggling close.

Logan did. Holding nothing back. Opening up to her like the
friends they were, the lovers they’d become, the couple she hoped they would
always be.

Ten months later

“This afternoon’s supposed to be about having a good time,”
Logan said.

Tessa nodded and kept scrolling her laptop’s screen, the
small computer perched on her thighs.

“You don’t have to look up anything or study for this,” he
added. “No one’s going to quiz you.”

Good to know since she hadn’t done any research for today.
Damn. Why hadn’t she thought of that? It wasn’t like her to be unprepared.
“You’re certain no one will expect me to know anything.”

“Not about what my work has done.” He flicked the SUV’s turn
signal and made a right. “If there’s something you want to know about that,
just ask. You don’t have to look it up.”

“I’m not researching your work.”

Logan leaned over, trying to see her screen. “What is that
then?”

“My courses for summer school.”

She’d aced her first semester finals the week before. With a
little luck, a lot of sweat, and no sleep, she’d be able to graduate from Georgetown
in less than four years with a degree in psychology, then pursue her
Psy.D.—Doctor of Psychology—and licensing. Tessa already knew she wanted to
work primarily with ill children, helping them to cope with their medical
problems.

Good guy that he was, Logan had offered to pay for her
school. She’d insisted on a loan, with interest. Not the outrageous kind most
credit cards were demanding, but something fair. He’d suggested zero percent.
Tessa had lobbied for a rate closer to four. What the feds charged for their
loans.

“You can’t be serious,” he’d argued. “I’m not the
government. I don’t want interest. Hell, I have more money than I know what to
do with.”

She’d kissed him and murmured, “Then spend it on someone who
needs it.”

His wealth had nothing to do with their relationship. If he
hadn’t had a dime, she wouldn’t have cared. Tessa would have supported him.
Thankfully, she could take care of herself and was making a fair amount of
money on the side styling Ronnie’s hair and that of the agency escorts.

After losing their loan argument, Logan had offered to set
Tessa up in a small shop so she wouldn’t have to make house calls to do
anyone’s hair. She’d refused. The only thing she’d gone along with was moving
into his house in the District. The Virginia mansion had always been too big
for one man. Too far from her, he’d said. He’d sold the estate and settled
closer.

On Valentine’s Day, which marked their first night living
together, they’d finally admitted their love, unable to help themselves any
longer. Before then, it had been too scary. Neither of them had wanted to rush
things, deciding it’d be better to take it slow. Get to know each other. Small
stuff like his near addiction to Whoppers when everyone knew Big Macs were
clearly better. Big stuff like a medical device problem he hadn’t been able to
solve, leaving a child at risk.

Logan hadn’t been easy to live with during those times,
worry and pessimism consuming him. Tessa wasn’t a saint either, especially when
she wanted a whole box of Krispy Kremes and knew she shouldn’t have them. If
not for the sake of her poor butt and thighs, then her health.

She and Logan had struggled through those moments together,
keeping their bitching to the absolute minimum.

He checked the street, then leaned toward her. “Sure you
want to go to this thing? It’s all right if you don’t and would rather work on
your school stuff. Take the SUV. You can pick me up later.”

“No way.” She closed her laptop and patted his thigh. “I’m
looking forward to this. I was only checking my classes because I had a ton of
time. You’re driving really slow.”

He checked the speed. “I’m doing ten miles over the limit.”

“Like I said, slow.”

Smiling, he took a left, heading for the private estate.
When Ronnie had learned about Logan’s plans for today, she’d asked the owner to
open up his grounds. He was a regular at the agency and didn’t dare say no.

The weather was also behaving, the temperature a spectacular
mid-seventies with no clouds. It reminded Tessa of the day Wallace had driven
her to Logan’s.

God, so much had changed since then.

In the SUV’s backseat, Molly hugged the right door, Jack the
left. They hung their heads out the windows, tongues dangling over their jaws.
The pups had reached full size months ago, which made them pretty damn huge. Even
so, they were still her and Logan’s babies.

Their only babies, for now.

They hadn’t yet talked about building a family, still not
wanting to rush things. There was so much to do first. To get right.

Tessa smiled at the colorful balloons tied to the estate’s
iron gates. Two guys dressed in khakis and sport shirts came from around the
corner, their grim expressions proving they were security guards.

She made a face to match theirs. “You rich people are so
uptight.”

“Relax, darlin’.” Logan spoke sotto voce. “They’ll only take
a DNA swab and some hair samples.”

“Which hair?” Since being with him, she hadn’t gotten
another Brazilian wax. He preferred her au naturel.

“Not that,” he said, arching one eyebrow.

He gave the guards their names. Tessa tried to look
nonthreatening. Hell, she knew how to behave. During her agency days, she’d
been to places as nice as this one.

Though not for the same purpose.

After a short drive, they reached the bulk of the estate.
Three acres in all, the grass so perfectly manicured it didn’t look real.
Countless flowers bordered scores of towering trees. Red-and-white-checkered
tablecloths covered the picnic tables. To the left were huge barbeque grills
belching smoke, four stations with potato salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and
other sides. Eight servers manned the area, along with a chef ready to whip up
something special.

Mouth-watering scents of hot dogs, burgers, and popcorn
filled the air.

Calliope music poured from the carousel. A Ferris wheel and
other rides were in full swing, their skeletal outlines dipping, swooping,
turning. Clowns juggled bowling pins or made balloon animals. A young woman who
resembled a gypsy had her paints out, ready to decorate faces.

Children were everywhere, dressed in jeans or shorts. Some
were in wheelchairs, their recovery not yet complete. Others bolted toward the
rides, trying to be the next in line. The little girls shrieked. Boys hollered.

Their parents relaxed at the tables, clearly enjoying
themselves, their careworn expressions showing the first signs of hope after
medical problems and expenses had eaten up their savings and short-circuited
their futures.

Logan had taken Tessa’s comment to heart when she’d
suggested he give his money to someone who needed it. He’d established trust
funds for these kids his medical devices had saved. He’d also planned outings
throughout the year so they could enjoy being young. His way of giving them
what Connor and Samantha had missed.

“Now just be yourself,” he said, squeezing Tessa’s hand. “No
need to wow them with your grades.”

“Good point. I’ll keep it strictly political. How those dumb
jerks in Congress should listen to the people they represent, rather than—”

“Better save that for another time.”

She winked. “Sure thing. Let’s go.”

He took Jack. Tessa got Molly. Some of the children noticed
the Labs and raced toward them. Logan bumped her arm with his. “Get ready to be
bent, folded, and mutilated. These kids are tough.”

They were wonderful. A few of them laughed so hard, they
hiccupped, their faces sweaty and red from chasing the Labs and horsing around.

Logan introduced Tessa to the parents, then he played with
the kids. Tossing the youngest ones in the air, swinging the others in uneven
circles until he was nearly as popular as the rides, hunkering down by those in
wheelchairs, paying attention to what they’d said or complained about, getting
them to laugh.

He was such a great guy and a natural as a father. Tessa’s
heart swelled with more love than she’d believed possible.

When he had a moment to himself, he strolled back to her.

She was on the grass French braiding a little girl’s hair to
match her own. Three other girls sat cross-legged nearby, stroking Molly and
Jack’s heads, waiting their turns. Another little girl stood behind Tessa,
touching her braids.

“I’m gonna make you ladies so beautiful you won’t believe
it,” she boasted to them. “Better than those Disney princesses.”

“Even my Ariel and Jasmine dolls?” the oldest girl, an
eight-year-old, asked. She had a shooting star painted on her right cheek.

“Are you kidding me?” Tessa clucked her tongue. “If they
were real, they’d be so jealous they’d stop talking to you.”

The eight-year-old giggled.

Logan smiled. “Looks like you’re here for the long haul.”

“Oh yeah,” Tessa murmured.

Not only had she found her true purpose when it came to
helping kids, with Logan’s love Tessa was confident for the first time. Safer
than she’d ever been. Eager for more days like this and all of their tomorrows.

The End