Chapter Nineteen

MANNY

A Man On A Mission

Eight simple words and they electrified every element in my body. I took a thick gulp, needing a beat to convince myself this was real.

Tess’ fingers stayed pressed to my heart, and I was sure she could feel how it was about to explode out of my chest. How her touch completely unraveled me. It would be easy to lean in and take what I wanted, but I had to embed this moment into my memory. I’d waited for it for so long, and I wanted to savor it.

Her eyes flashed with hesitancy, and I took a step back. ‘We don’t have to do this.’

‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s been a while though, and I’m not sure…’

I laid my hands against her cheeks. ‘I’m here. Listening to your every word. Tell me what you need.’

She gave me a small, wicked smile. ‘Maybe I need a little practice. A willing partner.’ Her eyes filled with a hunger that turned my skin to flame.

‘All right, partner ,’ I whispered against the warm shell of her ear. ‘Tell me, what kind of kiss do you want?’

‘What kind?’ Her breath turned rough which made me even harder.

‘Soft and lingering like Mr Darcy gives Elizabeth?’ I pressed a kiss to her forehead. To her cheeks. Then lightly to her mouth. Her eyes closed like she wanted to remember the heady sweetness of this moment too.

‘That’s from the 2005 Pride & Prejudice ,’ she said on a stuttered exhale.

‘I remember the night we watched it. If I recall correctly, you let out a satisfied sigh at the end. That’s the sound I want to spill out of your mouth tonight.’

Her cheeks flushed that gorgeous shade of pink, and my hands went to her waist. I spun her around until her back was flush with the side of a tall shelf. I pinned her arms above her head and stepped in between her legs. I waited for a hint of hesitation. Any sign that she wasn’t ready for this. Ready for me. Instead, I was met with a fire that could not be denied.

‘How about a kiss like Westley and Buttercup in The Princess Bride ?’ I said, brushing my mouth over her lips again. It was velvety gentle, but it unleashed an ache in me that had been building, gnawing at my soul, since the day we met.

‘Or what about that kiss between Han and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back ?’ This time I feathered a soft kiss over her cheek.

‘That was a desperation kiss because he was about to be frozen in carbonite,’ she said on a ragged breath.

I edged in closer so she could feel the heat of me. ‘Everything about this moment is desperate, Tess.’

I leaned in and moved my hungry mouth over hers, my tongue stroking gently against her lips until she opened for me and met me kiss for kiss.

‘Only you would know that the way to my heart would be through my favorite kisses from books and movies,’ she gasped as I moved my mouth to the edge of her chin, down her beautiful throat, and across her collarbone.

My kisses became harder, hungrier, and she returned the intensity, running her tongue over the curve of my lips, nipping at the corner of my mouth. Another groan escaped as I lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and I let my tongue do more exploring.

All the times I’d imagined this happening, it was tentative and slow, but the chemicals firing between us were hotter, more intense, than I could have ever imagined. We were gasoline and an open flame. The breath of oxygen seeping into a burning room.

Her hands trailed down my back like she was memorizing every rise and fall of my spine. When her grip landed on my ass, it untethered the last of my restraint. I set her gently back on her feet. My fingertips skidded down the front of her chest, over her stomach, and landed on the spot between her legs. She was already wet for me, and I almost lost control with that single touch.

‘I can stop anytime. Just say the word.’

‘Don’t you dare stop, Manchester Parks.’ Now it was her turn to growl.

I took my time undoing the buttons on her deep green blouse, my trembling hands having trouble setting them free.

‘Do you want my help?’

I loved the huskiness to her voice that warned she wanted this as much as me.

‘Tess, I’ve been having dirty thoughts about you for a long time. Please give me a minute to enjoy this.’

She reached up and pushed back the dark curl that fell over my forehead. Her touch like a bolt of lightning. ‘Take as much time as you need. I’m not going anywhere.’

Fuck. The silkiness of her voice, the way she looked at me with want, made me speed up my motions. Once I had the blouse off her shoulders, I took a thick gulp. Her bra was sheer black lace with small flowers that hid her nipples. I wanted to touch her everywhere. Feel the heat of her under my fingertips. Show her that she was a beautiful woman worthy of love, care and affection every single day of her life.

Like a man on a mission, I pressed my fingers along the outside of her waist and dragged them up her body until they latched beneath the straps of her bra. I eased them off her shoulders and undid the clasp. Without hesitating, I pressed my mouth to a soft spot at the base of her neck, trailing kisses all the way down until I reached her hard and pebbled nipple. I laved my mouth over her, sucking and licking until the moan she released was not of this world.

‘More,’ she said on a stuttered breath, and I obeyed her order, taking her other nipple in my mouth while the tips of my fingers worked the other one. She pressed a hand against my hard bicep, holding on as if she needed to stay upright.

‘You and I have been this slow-burning fuse on a stick of dynamite,’ I said, slowly pulling back. She let out a small protest until I sank to my knees. Everything I did set off a shimmer of want behind her eyes. I trailed a line of kisses down her stomach, moving my hand over the top of her skirt and stopping where I could feel her heat.

‘Sweetheart,’ I said on a rough exhale. ‘This is the time to speak up. Ask me to stop. Because once I see you naked, I’ll never be able to forget it.’

I needed one last reassurance from her, because this was the line, and I had every intention of crossing it if she let me. She brushed her hand over mine, slowly stroking the top of my skin, and I almost swallowed my damn tongue.

‘I don’t want to go in reverse. My life has been in a holding position for too long,’ she whispered. ‘It’s time to put my foot on the gas and speed forward. Having my legs wrapped around you is a good place to start.’

She took a step back and undid the zipper on her skirt, letting it fall to the ground. In one quick motion, she stepped out of her matching black panties, and the sight of her bathed in the golden glow of the room made my head spin.

For a minute I understood Tess’ worry. I’d been on exactly two dates since I’d lost Gina. Did I even remember how to do this?

The fear must have been clear in my eyes, because she pulled me down onto the soft rug. Maneuvered our bodies until we were kneeling in front of each other. She set my fingers on her waist like she understood I needed reassurance. That she was just as scared as I was.

‘Orange-soaked sunsets. Rainbows after a storm…’

She looked up at me under her gorgeous fan of dark lashes. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’m listing all the beautiful things I’ve seen in my life.’ I reached out and cupped a hand against her cheek. ‘You and your body are definitely going on that list.’

Her cheeks flamed again with that luminous pink color I’d never seen on another woman but her. It was just one of many things that made Tess special. The way the light captured the threads of copper in her hair. How she scrubbed at her forehead when she was deep in thought. The little squeaks she made when we watched a scary movie, and she was too afraid to look at the screen.

Her gaze raked over my body. ‘You’re wearing too many clothes,’ she said with a rough achiness. I’d never seen this sexy and teasing side of her before.

I liked it.

Before I could reach down and undo my belt, her hands were already there. I bit the inside of my cheek and prayed that once she put her hands on me, I’d last more than five seconds.

Once my belt was off, I helped her with my wet jeans, which was a hilarious kind of struggle. When the only thing left on my body was my soaked boxer briefs, her gaze wandered down, and there was no hiding what her touch did to me.

She tugged down the material until we were bare before each other. I took my time moving my gaze over every inch of her porcelain skin, loving the freckles dotted over her chest and across her shoulders like she’d been kissed by the sun. The little mole shaped like a heart that sat next to her collarbone. She was more beautiful than I’d ever let myself imagine.

I reached up and twirled a lock of her hair around my finger and tugged it toward me. She met me in the middle, and our kiss wasn’t hungry or frantic, but so languid and slow that I felt the heat slowly rising up from my toes until I made it known to Tess, my length pressing against her stomach.

I lowered her onto the rug and took my time kissing every inch of her skin. With each press of my mouth, she let out low pants that made me want to move faster. But I’d pictured – no, dreamed – about this moment for so long that I swore I’d make it last as long as I could hold out.

As I kissed down the length of her, she writhed beneath my lips. When I reached her sweet center, she quickly sat up and shook her head.

‘Second thoughts? Do you want me to stop? We can, and nothing will change between us.’

‘It’s not that.’ Her gaze darted to the side like she couldn’t look at me.

‘Hey,’ I whispered, turning her chin so I was staring into her eyes. ‘It’s okay. You can say anything to me.’

‘I’ve never done that before. Billy was never interested.’

‘What about for him?’

‘Yes,’ she said with a sharp edge. ‘He asked for that all the time.’

It took everything I had not to curse out Billy. A real man knew that sexual satisfaction equaled pleasure for both parties. That a woman as gorgeous as Tess deserved to have as many orgasms, in as many ways, as possible.

Instead of blurting out all that, I said, ‘We’ll only do what you want.’

She glanced at how, even with the conversation, my erection was still hard and thick. Scooting forward, she took me in her hands and started to work me up and down. It felt incredible, but I stopped her.

‘You first,’ I whispered.

Understanding my meaning, she leaned back. I continued my exploratory path of kisses down her jaw, along her neck and across her breasts. When I reached where she was wet, I slid my palm over her. A delicious moan escaped her lips, and I went to work first with my fingers and then my mouth. It was beautiful to watch her writhe beneath me. To trust me enough to give her this kind of pleasure. She slid a hand into my hair and tugged as her hips arched up to meet my tongue. As soon as she found her release, she pulled me on top of her, begging for more.

‘Wait. We need protection,’ I said.

One of the guys on the crew had jokingly put a condom in my wallet last week, and I’d never taken it out. When I came back to the rug, she watched me in eager anticipation until I was ready for her. I braced my hands on either side of her hips and slid in slowly. Her eyes closed, and her heavenly smile nearly undid me. Threading my hands through hers, we moved in perfect rhythm until we tipped over the edge of bliss together. I wanted to stay buried inside her for as long as possible, but she opened her eyes and gave me a slow smile.

‘So much for fixing the mess.’

I pushed back a lock of hair stuck to her cheek. ‘Oh, I like this mess much better.’

She laughed and ran her hands up and down my spine, her nails giving my skin a delicious scratch. We shared a few more lingering kisses before I jumped up and raced to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When I came back to the rug and laid down beside her, she slid her fingertips along the side of my body, tracing the cursive script inked into the skin below my ribs.

‘ If you’re going to love me, do it well. ’ A small sigh left her lips. ‘That’s lovely. Is it from a poem?’

The minute she saw me naked, I knew this would be a part of me I’d have to share with her.

‘It’s what Gina said to me the first time I told her I loved her.’

The air went still. I watched Tess’ face for any sign of guilt, worry or regret. It wasn’t every day you ran your fingers over the loving sentiment of a man’s late wife.

She started to reach out again, but her hand hovered over the spot like she needed my permission to touch such a sacred thing. I took her fingers and laid them on top of the ink.

‘Is this her handwriting?’ she asked with such loving tenderness that a breath caught in my throat.

‘Yes. A year after her death, once I’d come out of the really dark place I’d gone, I was cleaning out her closet and found a box with all the cards and love letters we’d exchanged over the years. I saw those words of hers on the page, it was what she said in our quiet moments together, and I knew I wanted them written on me forever.’

I finally looked into Tess’ eyes and found them brimming with tears.

‘What does it feel like to be loved that deeply?’

‘Tess.’ I used my thumb to swipe the tears from her cheek. ‘You’re an amazing woman. I’m sorry you weren’t treasured the way you deserved.’

I held back a hundred more words. That I cared deeply for her. That I’d walk over broken glass, through rings of fire, to keep her safe and protected. That when she looked in the mirror, I wished she saw what the rest of Ivy Falls did: an incredible woman. A loving mother. The best sister and friend anyone could ask for. But most of all, that she had a heart bigger than anyone I knew.

With a gentle hand, I tugged her in closer. Breathed in every inch of her. This moment was precious, and I wanted to soak in every bit of her touch. We stayed like that for a while until she inched back, ran a finger over my dark stubble, and said, ‘I have to use the bathroom.’

I gave her a peck on the forehead and let her go. Laying back against the rug, I tucked my hands behind my head, not thinking about anything else but how I wanted to feel her body against mine for eternity. Take my time finding the little spots that made her moan, giggle, cry out with passion.

‘I’m starving,’ she said, coming out of the back. She wrapped her beautiful auburn hair into a knot on top of her head and sank down beside me, laying her head on my chest. It was a simple gesture, but after what we’d just shared, it felt intimate. It felt right.

‘Did your dad not feed you?’ I teased.

She laughed, and I loved how her shoulders sat low and relaxed. That she wasn’t running to grab her clothes, regretting what we’d just done. Instead, she eased into my side like she and I had been seeing each other naked for years.

Which I wanted. I definitely wanted.

‘I was just tucking into my salad when you called.’

‘Yeah, I guess I could have waited.’ I moved my gaze over the perfect shape of her breasts. ‘But I’ve got zero regrets right now.’

I leaned in and gave her a slow and gentle kiss. She quickly responded by climbing on my lap and pressing her mouth against the edge of my ear, nipping at the skin on my neck before returning to my hungry mouth. Instinct had me rolling her onto her back, curious to see if I could coax another moan out of her pretty mouth, when a loud screech and crash of metal came from outside.

‘What was that?’ she yelped.

Instinct had me pulling her to my chest. Listening for any other noise. Another sound like breaking branches rang through the store.

‘That’s coming from the square,’ I said.

We tugged on our clothes quickly. Tess was out the front door, and I was fast on her heels. She sprinted around the limestone fountain, the scent of wet wood and bitter smoke filling the soggy night air. I followed her down the brick-paved sidewalk in the direction of town hall. When we reached its wide fan of a lawn, we found a black car smashed into a century-old oak that shaded the old gazebo in the summertime.

‘Call nine-one-one,’ Tess yelled over her shoulder.

I dialed, and when the operator answered, I told her to send emergency and fire vehicles to the square.

Tess sped across the lawn, and I caught up to her side. When we reached the vehicle, I yanked open the door, but the driver’s seat was empty.

‘What the hell?’ I said over the downpour that was currently soaking us.

Tess’ cheeks lost all their color. She scanned the streets, her gaze darting to town hall before she started running again. She sprinted through the wet grass in the direction of the cement steps that led up to the hall’s main door.

A shadowed figure with a hoodie pulled over their head sat on a lower step. I picked up my pace as the sound of sirens filled the air.

When Tess finally reached the bottom of the steps she came to a skidding halt.

The dark figure was bent forward, cradling a small, wet creature – Mrs Vanderpool’s dog, Baby.

‘Are you all right?’

There was a catch to Tess’ voice I didn’t understand. She took a few more tentative steps toward the person still hidden in shadow. Rain soaked the ground around us as the sirens drew closer. She bent down slowly, surveying a river of blood that flowed down the person’s chin.

With a shaky hand, she pushed back the hoodie, and her voice broke as she said, ‘What the hell are you doing here, Billy?’