She was afraid, and he’d come to realize in the last few days that there were very few things Tessa couldn’t do. She was no shrinking violet, and, even though she was petite, she could nearly outrun him on the morning jogs they’d been doing since he’d arrived. They were pushing three miles at a rapid pace for aerobic exercise first, and his ass was dragging near the end of the run. Yeah, he’d kept up on his weight training, but he spent the majority of his time stressing over business and sitting in an office, and he’d made several unplanned trips to California thanks to Xander’s erratic behavior. He’d been distracted, neglecting his cardio for the last several months. Now he was paying for it.
There was a time he could run marathon distances easily, but now a long-retired figure skater could nearly bust his balls. He wasn’t happy about that.
Nevertheless, he had to admire Tessa’s courage. Other than her reluctance to get back on the ice, she didn’t let her lack of hearing keep her from doing anything a hearing person was able to do. She’d adapted, compensated by learning all of the skills necessary to be more than functional in a hearing world.
He admired her; he liked her.
Unfortunately, he still wanted to fuck her so badly that he could barely hold himself back. In fact, rather than curing his obsession, being close to her all the time was making his urgency worse. Every teasing smile she directed his way affected him and went directly to his cock. He didn’t understand his reaction. Tessa was pretty, but he’d been with an uncounted number of gorgeous females since Anna had dumped him years ago. None of them had been able to turn him inside out with only a glance. Hell, he hadn’t been this obsessed over Anna, and she’d been his girlfriend for several years, the woman he’d thought he’d end up with for the rest of his life.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I think I’ve . . . filled out.” Tessa’s unhappy voice sounded from the entrance to the living room.
Her words jerked Micah back into reality, and he looked up, nearly dropping the drink in his hand as he looked at her in a simple red skating skirt.
It was unadorned, a practice outfit, with long sleeves and a very high hem that left her slender legs bare. She had definitely grown in all the right places since she’d worn it years ago. The clingy material hugged a pair of full breasts that he was itching to touch, and curves that he wanted molded against his body. Except he’d prefer her naked and begging for him to make her come, those shapely legs wrapped around him as he pounded into her until they both came unglued.
“You look . . . fine,” he answered gruffly.
You look like innocence and sin, sweet and sultry. You look like a goddamn elusive goddess that I need to capture and fuck before I lose my mind!
“You don’t think it’s too tight?” She spun around, yanking at the material clinging to her body.
He drained his glass, wishing it was something a hell of a lot stronger than gritty protein, watching her as she twirled around gracefully and tugged at the material that was lovingly hugging her curves. As he got a quick look at her shapely ass that was barely covered by the thin panties attached to the skirt, he nearly choked on the last swallow of liquid in his mouth.
Micah coughed, trying to cover up his rampant desire to take her by her perky ponytail and bend her over the nearest object so he could find relief from the constant hard-on he was sporting. In fact, he knew, after spending a few days in her company, that he wasn’t going to get over his agitated insanity for her anytime soon.
Maybe the only cure was just to give in and try to seduce her. He should know by now that his erection wasn’t going to go away until he was no longer enthralled by Tessa, and what he needed was to finally get bored and restless like he always did, before he could move on.
He coughed one last time before he spoke. “We can get you something new for the performance. It looks fine. Nobody will see you.” Thank God! If any other guy started lusting after her like he was right now, which was what any guy with a pulse would do, Micah knew he’d want to choke the bastard on the spot.
“I’ll get my skates,” she said quietly, moving back toward the bedroom.
He released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding as she disappeared into the other room. Jesus! How was he going to handle being close to her for much longer without fucking her senseless?
Was that a possessive thought he’d just had a few seconds ago? What the hell was that? He didn’t do jealousy. He’d never realized it was even in his DNA.
Running a hand through his unruly hair, he contemplated leaving Maine, but that wasn’t happening. The pull to be with Tessa was too strong, and there was much more involved in his attraction to her. Plus, he’d promised to be there for her so that she didn’t have to face her fears alone. He wasn’t letting his uncooperative dick and his desire to nail her interfere with a vow—a pledge he hadn’t been able to keep himself from making, for some damn reason.
The problem was . . . he actually did like her. Tessa had a quirky sense of humor that made him laugh, and a sharp mind that made him think of things other than just business and his problems with his youngest brother. Tessa deserved better than a frantic fuck. He could tell the attraction went both ways, he could feel it, but he didn’t want to hurt her. Sooner or later, he’d leave to go back to New York, and he’d already learned that he wasn’t a “relationship” kind of guy. Tessa was the type of woman that a man didn’t leave, and Micah was constantly on the go, always looking for his next adrenaline fix.
She needs a guy who cares about her, a man who will be by her side.
He stood, feeling antsy and irritated. Maybe Tessa needed a different sort of male in her life, but the thought of anyone except him touching her made him edgy as hell.
Dammit! Another possessive thought?
“I’m ready. Let’s get this over with,” Tessa said glumly as she entered the small living room again.
Her words made him smile as he turned in her direction, an automatic action that he didn’t even think about anymore. “It won’t be so bad.” He signed as he spoke, even though he knew he didn’t need to. It was rare that she didn’t pick up enough of his words to understand him.
“I’m going to hate you for this,” she warned.
Her words stopped Micah in his tracks. Maybe he had pushed too damn hard. Now he was beginning to second-guess his behavior, something he never did. He knew she was teasing, but was there some truth to what she’d said?
“Don’t hate me,” he said huskily, reaching out to tuck a stray spiral of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I think you want this, but you’re too afraid to do it alone.”
Her eyes locked with his, and Micah froze as he saw the vulnerability in her gaze. Feeling sucker punched as he stared into her unusual light-green eyes, he again began to question his motives and his actions. He sensed that Tessa needed to do this, but he felt like a bully for forcing her to do anything she didn’t want to do. Honestly, all he wanted to do was wrap his arms protectively around her and keep her safe. Tessa had been through so much, suffered so many losses. Yet, she was more alive than any woman he’d ever known.
“I won’t hate you. I promise,” she answered softly, putting a hand on his forearm as he pulled his fingers away from her hair. “You’re right. This is one last ghost from my past that I need to put to rest. Believe me, I wouldn’t be trying this if part of me didn’t really want to.”