Chapter 49

Tessa finished her shower, taking care with her grooming so that she could surprise him later. She wanted to make up properly and figured she could find something delicious in one of the shops in the city.

She had to admit it had worried her how easily he’d gone cold on her. She’d heard rumors of his moody nature but seeing it first hand was another matter. It surprised her after such thoroughly amazing and intense sex that he could be so completely different.

A boy’s anger turned to control with age? Or was he the sort that just wanted things his way and that was the only way that worked? Squeezing the water out of her hair she stepped from the shower and wrapped herself in one of the oversized towels that only came in luxury hotels.

Blessing Nichole she found lotion, moisturizer and some basic makeup in the bottom zipper of the case. Truly a miracle since there was a good fifty condoms in the bag. She stepped into the shorts from the night before and tried not to let the image of their evening in the hotel parlor to override any showering she’d just done.

Her breasts were still tender as she tucked then into her bra and the simple cotton tank Nic had packed for her. The man had destroyed her both body and mind the night before. She’d never been wanted like that. Never had so much passion and single minded determination centered on her.

It was like getting rolled over by a Mack truck…A beautiful, intelligent and experienced Mack truck to be exact. She fussed with her hair a bit and left the suite. She closed her mind against all the memories flashing through her brain as she quickly walked the hallway to the elevator.

When she made it to the lobby she waved to the desk guy and slung her purse over her head.

“Miss Donovan?”

Tessa turned around, and goggled. “Yes?”

A large man that could only be classified as Cro-Magnon filled the lobby. “Mr. Bon Jovi said to take you anywhere you wanted to go. I’m Henry.”

Tessa sighed. They hadn’t really finalized the whole driver thing after their little argument. “Well hello Henry.” He tipped his hat, tucking it under his arm as he stood at attention. “Are we in the military, Henry?”

“No Ma’am.”

“Then stop standing at attention darlin’. I don’t stand on ceremony.” She craned her neck up at the oversized man who didn’t look the least bit comfortable in his uniform. “I’m going to make this the easiest day ever. You just need to drop me into the city.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Henry?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Stop with the ma’am huh? You’re making me feel old.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Tessa just sighed and followed the behemoth of a man out to the street. His suit jacket looked like they had to piece two different coats together to make one for him. He opened to the door to a black Cadillac Escalade. She reached for the handle along the door and hauled herself into the car.

The car smelled of leather and Jon. Her feet barely touched the floor of the oversized plush seats so she crossed one boot over her knee and settled back for the drive.

“Where would you like to go, Ma’am?”

Tessa sighed and told herself it just wasn’t worth telling him to stop calling her ma’am. “The main street that’s best for shopping. I’d also like to be able to walk around a bit.”

Henry nodded and pulled into traffic. The silence was too much to take. All she could do was think when left to her own devices. She didn’t want to think. She was only interested in enjoying the afternoon. Not overanalyzing Jon. She didn’t have the brainpower with the limited sleep she’d managed.

She flicked buttons on the console behind the driver seat and grinned when music blared. The Stones poured out of the state of the art speakers and she smiled her way downtown. Henry didn’t even flinch.

She watched the storefronts go by. Most of them were small markets and various cowboy shops. What would Jon do if she found herself a cowboy hat to wear that evening? Maybe just the hat, she thought with a wicked grin.

They came next to a store with the name, “Annie’s Playroom” and Tessa tapped on Henry’s mammoth shoulder. “I think this will do. You can come and pick me up in the same spot in about two hours. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Ms. Donovan.”

“What time do you pick up Jon?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

Tessa arched a brow. “You’re not at what?”

“Mr. Bon Jovi’s schedule is need to know only.”

Tessa blinked. Did he think she was some sort of groupie one night stand? She slid out of the car and slammed the door in answer. Digging into her bag she found her cell and flicked it open. “Need to know my ass,” her fingers quickly shifted through menus to her contact list until she found ‘Frank’ and hovered over the call button. He was working for crying out loud. Did she need to answer for every hour of her day? Would she want to?

“Shit!” she shut it again and tossed it back into her purse. She swung into the brightly lit shop and stood motionless. All the disgust and anger drained out of her at the sea of lace, silk and chiffon that greeted her.

“Mercy,” she whispered.

“Well hello there darlin’,” came a sultry southern dipped voice.

Tessa turned and tried not to let her eyes fall out of her head. The woman was seventy if she was a day and completely shrouded in purple from the furling neck of her robe to the matching fur of her slippers.

She wore layers of see thru chiffon and silk and her unbelievable breasts were suspended by…was that a corset?

“Don’t stare darlin’ it’s unseemly.”

Tessa clicked her jaw shut. “That outfit is amazing,” she managed.

“Well of course it is. I designed it. It won’t do for you though.”

Tessa blinked. “No?”

The woman moved forward…well, glided really. The scent of lavender and expensive powder hit her first before the whirlwind that was…”You’re Annie, right?”

“Of course I am. And you have a new lover.”

Tessa frowned. “How do you know?”

“Well I could say I have this amazing power to see your aura, but that’s just a load of hoo-ha. You’ve got bristle burn along your jaw and that slow eyed look of a woman that had too little sleep and a whole lotta sex.”

“Oh,” she said lamely.

“Now c’mon in and let Annie set you up for somethin’ special.” The woman slid her arm in hers. “I know exactly what you need.” She steered her toward the far wall where lace hung from every hook, hanger and mannequin.

Tessa just stared. Annie turned her to face her and spanned her waist. Tessa blinked but said nothing.

“Are those real or helped?” she said and glance at her breasts.

Tessa gave a startled laugh. “All mine.”

Annie snatched a lacey bustier from the rack in a filmy lilac with sheer hose and something Tessa was fairly certain was a garter belt and a sore excuse for a pair of underwear.

“Now go try this on and come out for me.”

“I think I can figure out if something looks good on me or not.”

Annie just arched a white brow her way and pushed back a lock of the same colored hair into the intricate knot at the back of her hair. “No woman your age knows what looks good on you. Now go on!”

Tessa felt like she’d just been chastised by her Gram and went into the dressing room. She quickly swapped shorts and tank for the decadent outfit. Her pale skin glowed and the wire wrapped in pretty lace shifted her body into a long line of high breasts and barely restrained nipples. “Holy shit,” she whispered.

“Well c’mon out here!” Annie bellowed.

Tessa fussed with the straps of the garter and knew she was keeping the underwear at the very least. There was no way another woman would be wearing that after her. “Sneaky old lady,” she murmured.

Annie stood with a few boxes of shoes at her feet and a long line of faux pearls dripping from her fingers. “I knew you were classy sex.”

Tessa tugged up the bustier.

“Stop fussing. You look good.” Annie slid the pearls over her head and looped them once, letting the long ends hang between her breasts. She took a sniff. “You don’t smell like sex like some of the women that come in here do.” She sniffed again. “What’s that? Fruit?”

“Pears.”

Annie shrugged and passed her a little tin of powder. “Here use this to sparkle and keep the lace from itching.” She kicked over the boxes and Tessa felt a little awkward with half her ass hanging out, but flipped the cover off and lost herself.

“Oh Annie,” she sighed lavishly. They were a solid and delicious silver without a trace of strap or rhinestone; just the most lovely iridescent color with a wicked heel. She looked into Annie’s matching purple eyes and smiled. “I’ll take it all.”

Annie just smiled and called out to one of her salesgirls. “Annie knows.”

She only winced slightly at the nearly two hundred dollars worth of evening wear she purchased. At the checkout she ended up with matching silver polish to redo her nails and a canister of body chocolate and oversized sable-soft paintbrush that would go into her bag for another night.

She managed a bit more shopping and never did find a hat that was quite right for her along the way. She did find the most amazing pair of jeans and ended up buying three pairs. Spending money wasn’t something she did often, but the store was doing well and she knew a little splurge wouldn’t hurt too much.

Henry was waiting for her right in front of Annie’s exactly two hours later and he deposited her back to the hotel with as much conversation as she left.

“Is he still in the meeting? Can you at least tell me that?”

“Yes, ma’am he will be for quite some time.”

“Thank you,” she slid out of the truck once more and gathered her bags. She had some time to get herself ready then.