Chapter 185

Joseph’s POV

Everything about Tessa was amazing. I was stupid if I thought I’d be able to resist her. She was everything I needed and more and I wasn’t ever going to let this woman go again.

I was impressed with her ability to skate so well. She was fast, but of course, I was faster.

I rented this entire evening for her so we could skate without the bother of others and without changing others from the school to spot us. I knew it would be something that played in the back of her head, and I didn’t want her to have any worries tonight. Not after what happened with her father yesterday.

I held Tessa close to me, allowing the incredible peachy scent of her shampoo along with the captivating scent of her blood to fill my senses and send my heart into complete turmoil. As my hands traveled down her slender back and rested just above her tailbone, I smelled the desires she was feeling.

Her body was pressed so closely against mine I thought I was going to melt against her. Her hands rested behind my neck as we danced to the beat of the slow music. Her body was growing warm, and her breathing was growing raspy.

At that moment, I knew she wanted me as badly as I wanted her. If I wasn’t careful, we’d end up having sex right then and there and I don’t think the ice-skating staff would like to witness that display of affection.

“I have another surprise for you,” I whispered into her ear; her entire body trembled as my soft words brushed across her features and she tilted her head up to look at me.

“You don’t have to do anything more,” she said in a husky whisper.

I brought my hands up her back and pulled her away only slightly so I could gaze down at her.

“I know I don’t have to,” I said, smiling down at her.

I took her by the hand and pulled her along with me. Once we were off the ice, I kicked the skates off and bent before her to take her skates off as well. I couldn’t help but notice her entire face reddening as my fingers grazed the flesh of her leg. Goosebumps formed under my touch, and she let out the cutest little gasp as I undid the clasp of her skates and slid them off her feet.

She cleared her throat and went to grab her heels, but I stood and took her hand, keeping her with me.

“Leave them,” I said to her as I pulled her along with me.

We traveled across the rink until we reached a door at the far end of the building. She looked a little nervous, but I was hoping once she saw the next room, she wouldn’t be anymore.

I had everything set up for this evening and I was hoping more than anything that she was going to like it.

I pushed open the door and we went into the dimly lit room.

It was a comfortable lounge area that they created for birthdays. There was a mini bar on the far side of the room and a few comfortable couches that surrounded a brick fireplace that was already lit and warming the room.

There was a large TV hanging on the wall near the fireplace, giving the area a living room feel.

On the far side of the room was a small table covered in a white cloth with a couple of chairs and a candle in the center. There were a couple of menus at the table as well and when her eyes found it, they lit up with delight.

I guided her over to the table and gestured for her to take a seat in front of me. I could hear her heart picking up speed as she took her rightful seat and peered over at me.

“This is beautiful,” she breathed.

“I wanted tonight to be special,” I told her.

Before she could say anything, the door opened, and the waiter walked into the room. He carried a notepad and a pen as he approached our table.

“Good evening, Mr. Evergreen,” he said, bowing his head slightly at me.

“Hello, Mica,” I greeted. “This is my date, Tessa Campbell.”

Tessa’s face reddened slightly, but she gave him a polite smile.

“Miss Campbell,” Mica greeted, bowing his head slightly at her. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“Can you bring us the best red wine you have here?” I asked.

“Yes, sir,” he said, nodding his head. “I’ll be back with the wine and to take your orders.”

He turned and left the room, leaving me alone with Tessa who was staring at me curiously.

“What?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

“Do you come here often with your dates? She surprised me by asking.

I raised my brows at her.

“I don’t go on dates.”“Could have fooled me,” she said with a shrug. “You are very good at this kind of thing.”

“Wooing a woman?”

She smiled and I knew she was stifling a laugh.

“Careful. Your age is showing,” she chuckled.

“My age?” I asked, furrowing my brows together.

She nodded.

“Nobody says ‘woo a woman’ anymore,” she teased.

I must have looked puzzled because she laughed even harder.

“I guess I’m a little outdated,” I admitted, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

She reached across the table and touched my arm, sending tingles throughout my flesh.

“I enjoy your old ways,” she said lovingly. “Did you take your late wife on dates like this?”

As soon as her question left her lips, she pinched her lips together and her face glowed red. I could tell she was regretting her question, and I didn’t want her to feel weird about talking about these kinds of things. I already made a promise that I was going to stand by Tessa for the rest of her short lifespan, which meant she should know about these kinds of things.

I didn’t have anything to hide from her.

“Ice skating rinks weren’t a thing when I was married,” I told her. “At least not really. There was ice skating, but it wasn’t as romantic, and it was a lot more dangerous. So, no we didn’t really do it.”

Her face was still incredibly red, and she kept her eyes fixed on the table.

“I’m sorry I asked,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay to ask me questions, Tessa,” I said, stopping her words. She lifted her gaze and met my eyes. “I will answer whatever you want to know.”

“Anything?” She asked, furrowing her brows together.

I nodded my head.

“Anything.”

She was quiet for a moment longer and I could tell she was trying to figure out if she should ask the question in her mind or not. I knew it was on the tip of her tongue.

“There’s nothing louder than a question unasked,” I said, trying to help her out.

She swallowed and took a deep breath before nodding.

“How do you know my father?”

I was surprised by her question, but I knew the topic of her father would come up eventually.

“I’m not sure,” I told her without hesitation.

She raised her brows.

“What?”

“I don’t know how I know him,” I told her, and this was the truth. “I remember his face, but I can’t figure out where I had seen him before.”

“He knows who you are,” she said, narrowing her eye at me, almost accusingly.

I nodded.

“That was obvious, yes,” I told her.

She opened her mouth to speak again, but the waiter returned with our bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

“Have you thought about what you wanted to eat?” Mica asked as he poured our wine.

“I’ll have the stuffed lamb with steamed vegetables on the side,” I answered, handing him my menu.

“That sounds delicious,” Tessa said. “I’ll do the same.”

“Excellent choice,” Mica said fondly as he took our menus and placed the bottle of wine on the table. “I’ll put your orders in right now.”

We thanked him and he went on his way, leaving us alone once again.

Tessa peered up at me from across the table and I could see more questions surfacing in her eyes. She bit onto her bottom lip, and she was chewing it vigorously. I wanted to reach across the table and pull her bottom lip from between her teeth, but I refrained from doing so.

“He knows you’re a vampire,” she blurted, her face reddening as soon as those words left her lips.

I knew I should have been surprised by this news, but I really wasn’t. I only managed a nod and leaned back in my seat.

“I had a feeling,” I said gently.

“And you don’t know how he could know this about you?” She asked, furrowing her brows together.

I shook my head.

“I don’t.”

“He said he saw your abilities years ago, but I think he’s lying. I think there’s something more to it,” she murmured. “I was hoping you know more about it…”

“If I did, I’d tell you,” I assured her. “I don’t have anything to hide from you.”

“You aren’t a bit worried, or curious?” She asked, staring at me with disbelief all over her face.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You aren’t acting like you care.”

I sighed deeply as I looked into her eyes.

“I did some research last night,” I told her, keeping her eyes on hers. “Actually, I continued the research I was doing when I first met you.”

Her eyes widened at my words.

“You researched me?”

“You fascinate me,” I told her. “You have from the beginning. The fact that your blood was so attractive made me even more curious. So, yes. I researched you.”

“What did you find?” She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Not much,” I said, shrugging. “Except the fact that your father’s farm is very popular and gets a lot of business.”

She nodded and stared down at her hands.

“The farm looked familiar too when I was there yesterday,” I admitted, making her look at me again. “But I can’t remember when I was there or why I’d be there.”

“What could cause you to not remember?”

“I’m not sure,” I told her honestly. “But can I ask you a question now?”

She looked surprised, but she nodded slowly.

I kept my eyes on hers when I asked, “What can you tell me about your mother?”