Chapter 186

Tessa’s POV

My entire body froze at his question.

My mother? Why would he want to know about my mother?

He didn’t sound upset or accusatory, but he looked at me with this curiosity like there might be something I might not be telling him. But I haven’t kept anything from him; I would have told him if I knew anything more about my mother.

“I don’t know much about her,” I told him, narrowing my eyes at him. “She died when I was three.”

“Do you know how she died?”

I furrowed my brows together at his questioning. If he had done any kind of research on me, like he claimed he did, then it would be listed online as an attack. It was the same story my father had told me growing up that some bad men attacked her on her way to the store. It was at night so there weren’t any witnesses. Later my father revealed that they were gang members. But that was all I knew about her death.

This certainly wasn’t the topic I wanted to talk about during our date. I only wanted to know how he knew my father because it’s been eating away at me since yesterday. I’m starting to regret asking him though.

It was obvious he wasn’t going to tell me.

Or maybe he truly didn’t remember.

I lowered my gaze and stared down at my hands, tugging my fingers nervously.

“Did I upset you?” Joseph asked, cocking his head to the side as he took in my face.

I shook my head and gazed back up at him to meet his eyes.

“It was a gang attack,” I told him. “That was all my father told me.”

He sighed and then he gave me a small nod.

“Yes, I read about it online,” he told me simply. “I thought there might be more to the story though.”

“Like what?”

He thought about it for a moment and then he gave me a small shrug.

“I’m not entirely sure. Anything that has to do with why I can't remember your father, but I recognize him. same with the farm. Or maybe something to do with why your blood is so attractive. I’ve been curious about that for a while.”

My face warmed from his words. Truth be told, I've been wondering the same thing. I wondered why my blood drew in vampires and why they wanted it so badly. Ryan risked his life to get my blood and other new vampires hid around the town, killing those who go near me. It wasn’t normal and I understood that.

Joseph leaned across the table and took my hands into his. His hands were incredibly soft and very warm. It sent a warmth throughout my body like no other could provide me and I found myself relaxing.

“If I’m going to better protect you, I need to learn what makes you tick,” he said gently, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

I trusted him and I believed his words. But before I could say anything, the door opened and Mica, the waiter, returned with our food.

Good timing too because I wasn’t really sure what I was going to say in response, plus, I was starving. I hadn’t eaten all day in preparation for this date.

The food looked incredible, and it smelled even better.

“Is there anything else I can get you?” Mica asked, staring between the two of us.

“No, that’s everything,” Joseph said to him. “If we need anything more, I will call for you. But allow us the room for some privacy. If you need me for anything, knock on the door.”

“Yes, sir,” Mica said, bowing his head slightly before offering me a small smile and then hurrying from the room.

I wondered if Joseph mind manipulated him into serving us, or if Joseph just had some connections that gave him this level of respect.

As we ate, we changed the subject from my mother and lineage and began some small talk about the food and about how incredible this date has been.

Brian never took me ice skating, despite my asking him to.

I hadn’t realized there was music in the background until one of my favorite songs, “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran came on.

“I love this song,” I said, beaming as I continued to eat and hum the song.

A smile crept on Joseph’s lips, and he stood to walk toward the stereo. I followed him with my eyes, wondering what he was doing, and smiled pleased when he turned up the volume.

I laughed as he swayed his hips to the beat while walking back toward me. He did some kind of spin move that made me blush immediately and then he offered me his hand.

I took it without hesitation and the next thing I knew, I was twirling into his arms and pressed closely against his body. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I rested my hands on his chest as we swayed to the beat of the music.

“Thank you for this incredible date,” I said, gazing up at him.

He looked back down at me, and he almost seemed puzzled.

“You deserve only the best,” he said in return as he bent down and kissed the bridge of my nose.

“I love you,” I whispered, closing my eyes, and basking in his incredible scent.

He had the same energy as a warm campfire on an autumn night and it not only warmed my insides but my skin as well.

“I love you too,” he said softly, and this time his lips found mine.

God, I loved the way he tasted and the way he felt against me. His lips were so soft, and they tasted sweet from the wine. The way his mouth moved against mine was like putting a puzzle piece together.

He was absolutely perfect and he was completely mine.

I parted my lips to deepen our kiss. His tongue made its way into my mouth, and I felt the softness exploring my mouth with such curiosity, it made me curious of him as well. I explored his mouth with my tongue as well and moved my hands from his shoulders to around his neck so I could bring myself closer to him.

I wanted to be as close to him as possible.

He tightened his hold around my waist and held me closely as we continued to deepen the kiss. The kiss went from sweet to hungry in a matter of seconds. We were kissing one another like our lives depended on it. It took me back to the moment in the rain when he first told me he loved me, and we shared that amazing kiss.

He ran his hands down my backside and his fingers crossed the bare flesh of my spine, sending chills to course through my body. I couldn’t help the tremble my body made as his hands ran across my skin.

I hadn’t noticed he unzipped my dress until I realized it got much looser and was about to fall off my body. Without breaking our kiss, he glided his hand up my back and untied the straps from around my neck, allowing them to fall lazily across my shoulders and dangle at my sides.

I didn’t stop my dress as it fell around my narrow waist and toward the ground. I was left in only my strapless bra and my black silk panties. I broke our kiss only for a moment so I could gaze up at him; my heart was beating so rapidly that I thought it was going to explode from my chest. I saw the hunger and desires in his eyes, and it made me want him that much more.

He slammed his lips into mine again and kissed me as if his entire life depended on it. As I struggled to undo his tie, he lifted me in the air, and I was quick to wrap my legs around his broad waist. His erection was evident through his pants and the very thought of it made me blush with excitement.

He walked me across the room and sat me on the minibar. My bra fell loosely to the ground, exposing my breasts to him and he was quick to catch them in his mouth. I threw my head back as his tongue swirled around my hardened nipples. Goosebumps were attacking my flesh and caused me to shiver as his teeth grazed and tugged.

I managed to get his tie off, but he still had way too many clothes on for my comfort. Just as I was about to unbutton his shirt, he grasped my wrists with only one of his hands and held my hands over my head, preventing me from touching him.

I wiggled against him, desperate to get my hands on him.

“Joseph…” I whimpered, pouting down at him as he kissed my inner thighs passionately.

“Not yet,” he said in a husky whisper.

He kissed my core through my underpants, and I felt myself growing wetter with each passing second. I was soaking through my panties and it was soon going to drip onto the minibar. He kept his hold on my wrists as he used his teeth to pull my panties down and around my legs. I helped him kick them to the ground once they got to my feet.

Now, I was completely exposed to him. I squirmed with anticipation as he took me in. His eyes wandered across every part of my body. I needed him to touch me; I needed to feel him.

I needed to touch him.

But he wasn’t letting me, which was the most aggravating part. Heat was quick to attack my body and I was panting with desire as he continued to kiss around my inner thighs and tease my most sensitive areas.

“Joseph…” I gasped. “Please…”

“Tell me what you want,” he said, his voice low and seductive.

“You,” I gasped. “I want you.”

His tongue glazed across my clit a little too gently and it made me squirm with even more anticipation.

“Tell me what you really want,” he whispered as he continued to tease my nub.

“I want you…” I whispered hoarsely as a small moan escaped my lips.

He drew circles with his tongue, and I was gushing with juices. I tried to break my wrists free from him, but he was too strong. I just wanted to touch him; I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and feel his body.

Just when I thought I wasn’t going to be able to take it anymore, he began to kiss up my bare torso and suck on my nipples again.

I wrapped my legs around him and ground my lady bits against him, trying to get that sweet release.

He finally released my wrists, and I was able to wrap my arms around him as he caught my lips with his. He trailed his hands down the front of his pants, and I heard him unbuckling the belt and the zipper going down.

I ran my hands down his back and helped him slide his pants down and around his ankles. He kicked his pants to the side as he lifted his shirt over his head and tossed that to the ground as well.

He was mouth-wateringly perfect with his incredible 8 pack abs and chiseled chest. I bit my lip as the anticipation began to grow.

Just as I felt his erection grinding against me through his boxers, there was a knock on the door that caused us both to freeze.