Free Tessa's Temptation by Ella Jade Page B

him. “Don’t ever change.”
    “I won’t.” She was rather fond of his flirtatious side. She grabbed a pillow, plunked it in his lap and settled in with her head against his chest.
    About halfway through the sequel, Tess’s eyes began to droop. It had been a long week and she’d had a major test earlier that day. She’d stayed up late the night before studying, and their early morning run had drained her.  Chase had started playing with her hair about ten minutes into part two. The more he stroked and wrapped her locks around his fingers, the more relaxed she became. She shut her eyes, just for a minute. She could hear the movie in the background as her breathing slowed and she was out.
     
    ***
     
    Chase looked down at Tessa with her head in his lap. Her breathing had become shallow and her eyes were closed. She looked so peaceful and comfortable sleeping against him. He didn’t want to disturb her. He wasn’t ready for the night to end, so he let the movie run as he scrolled through his phone.
    He turned it back on and found seven messages from Audra. None of them were work related. Just her ranting about her evening. As he read each message they got harder to understand. She was drunk texting. She started by inviting him to soak in her hot tub with her, then to come over and have a drink, and then she reminded him he didn’t need a bathing suit. The last two messages were just her agitation. She was furious that he hadn’t responded. But there was no pending business between them so he saw no reason to call her back. The last message read...
    Going to bed... fuck you.
    “Nice,” he muttered as Tessa snuggled against him with her hand on his thigh. He glanced down at her, stroking her hair and admiring her creamy skin. When Audra had a man in her life she left him alone. Those were his stress-free weeks. But ever since she’d met Tessa, she constantly insinuated things about she and Chase. He had been just ignoring her cattiness. Her texts tonight were unprofessional and he’d have to address her about it, much as he dreaded that conversation.
    Tessa sighed and rolled onto her side toward him. Her long hair flowed over his lap like a silken mantle. Her beauty intrigued him. When they were together all he wanted to do was touch her and when they were apart all he thought about was the next time he would see her. She consumed his every thought and invaded his dreams. And now she lay with her face so close to his…
    He had never been more relieved when she asked him not to make her move out last week. He had such a devastating desire when it came to her. One he knew he wouldn't be able to resist much longer.
    “Tessa, sweetheart.” He gently nudged her. “Why don’t you go up to bed?”
    “Okay,” she mumbled but didn’t move.
    He chuckled to himself as he slid out from under her so he could scoop her into his arms and carry her upstairs. She didn’t stir the entire time. He pulled her comforter back and placed her gently in the center of her bed.
    She scooted up so her head was on the pillow and rolled onto her side. “Thanks.” She reached for his hand. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
    “You were tired.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Go back to sleep.”
    “You want to do something tomorrow?” She sat up, so that she was level with his face. “Hang out?”
    He pushed the hair from her face. The whole room smelled like her. “The house could use some… pumpkins on the porch. Maybe some… straw. You want to go to the local farm to pick up some of that stuff?”
    “That sounds like fun. We could never do that at the apartment. The neighborhood kids would smash them and tear stuff up.”
    “No chance of that happening here. We’re too secluded.”
    “It’s kind of cozy and warm.”
    “I think so too.” He leaned toward her face because he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “So it’s a date?”
    “Definitely.” She ran her palm along his jaw. “I’ll see you in the