Chapter 249

Joseph’s POV

I left the bedroom when I saw that text from Rick, and I called him as soon as I was in the safe compacity of my office.

“Hey,” Rick said on the other end of the phone.

“Hey,” I said, trying not to sound skeptical about this phone call, but I couldn’t help it. It was weird that he wanted to talk to me after we just saw each other early this morning.

“Did you make it back okay?” Rick asked, breaking through the silence that lay thick between us.

“Yeah,” I answered. “Tessa is still sleeping right now. She was exhausted.”

“Thank you for taking care of her,” he surprised me by saying.

“I’d do anything for her,” I told him without hesitation. “I’m in love with her.”

“I know,” Rick said softly. “And I’m sorry that I’ve been an asshole when it came to you and Tessa. I thought you were part of the issue… I was wrong.”

It was strange hearing him admit that he was wrong, and I wasn’t really sure what to say in response. But I couldn’t blame him for his protection over her; he made a promise to his late wife that he would always protect her, and he didn’t know that I was on their side. He couldn’t remember. Neither could I and now I understood why.

“I think for the sake of Tessa, we should learn to get along and work together when it comes to protecting her,” I decided to say. “I don’t want to fight with you or be your enemy.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Rick said automatically. “I only ever wanted what was best for her and I know now that you were never the problem.”

“We can also both agree that Lucias’ coven is not safe, and she needs to stay as far away from them as possible. It’s probably not a good idea if she returns to the farm for a while. At least until Lucias is dealt with.”

“Agreed,” Rick said, sighing. “I don’t know how I let him convince me to let them take her. I feel like an idiot for trusting them.”

“It didn’t help that you couldn’t remember all the details of what happened all those years ago,” I said, leaning back in my desk chair. “It couldn’t have been helped and I don’t think Tessa blames you for it.”

Rick let out a breath I’m sure he’s been holding in for a long time.

“She might not… but I certainly do. I feel I let my late wife down,” he said, sounding defeated.

“Are you going to tell Penny everything that happened?”

I wasn’t sure why I asked; I guess a part of me was curious. We drove for just under 5 hours and I’m sure a lot has happened since we left the farm. I knew Tessa would want to know as well.

“I told her what I could,” Rick admitted. “I left out the vampire part. As far as she knows, you are just a human.”

I was relieved by that; the fewer humans that knew about our kind, the better. I nodded but then remembered he couldn’t see me.

“Thanks for keeping us a secret,” I decided to say.

“Yeah…” Rick murmured. Then after another beat of silence, he asked, “Are you really marrying my daughter?”

I was quiet for a moment; staring down at my hands before I took a deep breath and answered, “Yes. I am.”

There was more silence on his end and for a second, I thought he was going to protest. I expected it, but I wasn’t prepared for what he said next.

“Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

“I promise,” I told him firmly.

“Good,” he said in return. “I’m going to go now. Esme is on her way back to her shop as we speak. Are you planning on speaking with her later?”

“Maybe,” I told him. “I took Tessa back to the city. I figured she needed some normalcy. I’ll reach out to Esmeralda later and find out where her head’s at.”

“Sounds good,” he said, clearing his throat again. “We’ll keep in touch.”

“If anything happens with Lucias, let me know. They will probably be hanging around you a lot, trying to get you to consent to taking Tessa.”

“It won’t happen,” Rick said firmly. “They’ll have to kill me first.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Whatever happens, I know Tessa will be safe,” Rick replied. “I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thanks,” I said in return.

On that note, I hung up the phone and placed it on top of my desk, sighing heavily.

“Was that my father?” I heard Tessa’s voice coming from the doorway, startling me.

I didn’t even hear her walking toward my office, let alone open the door. She looked so concerned and so sad that I wanted to wrap her up in my arms and shield her from the entire world.

I wasn’t going to lie to her though, so I just nodded.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Is everything okay?” She asked, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.

“He just wanted to make sure you were safe,” I answered.

She bit her lower lip and stepped further into the room, closer to me.

“Did you sleep okay?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Thank you for bringing me here. I thought you would have brought me to the mountains.”

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her into my lap. I needed to be near her and touch her. I needed her body against mine and to feel her warmth.

“I figured you’d want to return to the city,” I confessed. “I asked Chief Mulligan to get you a new phone too by the way. Hopefully, that’ll be arriving soon.”

“I’d like to call Ruby if I can. I’m sure she’s worried,” she said, staring down at her lap sheepishly.

I smiled at her pink cheeks.

“And you will,” I assured her. “But first…”

I leaned in and brushed my lips across hers. Her kiss was soft and sweet; not filled with lust and hunger, but curiosity and a little shyness. It was as if this was our very first kiss and she was only testing the waters.

It’s been so long since I’ve had her like this. I just needed a few minutes to bask in the fact that she was here in my arms. Her body relaxed against mine as I deepened the kiss, prying her lips apart with my tongue, begging for entrance.

Her kiss was intoxicating like a drug I couldn’t get enough of. My entire body warmed from her touch, and I breathed in her incredible scent, allowing it to soothe away the anxieties and fears that consumed me since waking from my coma a few weeks ago.

I could smell the lingering scent of her arousal and that caused my cock to twitch excitedly in my pants and between her legs as she straddled me. Her breasts, which were annoyingly covered in her clothes, were pressed against me as she wrapped her arms around my neck and deepened the kiss.

I nibbled her bottom lip and she chuckled into the kiss. Her tongue explored my mouth curiously and hungrily as she breathed me in. I could hear the rapid beating of her heart as she grounded against my rock-hard manhood.

Like two ravenous humans, we ripped our clothes off, fabrics falling to the floor without a care in the world. I ran my lips down the nape of her neck, kissing and nibbling every corner of her soft, delectable body. I wanted to taste every ounce of her; to claim her as mine.

She threw her head back as I concurred her naked breast between my teeth and licked and sucked it until her nipples grew hard and pink from my teasing.

Goosebumps formed on her flesh with every single one of my touches and she trembled as I blew my scent onto her body. A small moan escaped her lips, and I smelled the desires pooling between her legs. Her slick folds flooded with want and need, demanding satisfaction.

I lifted her onto my desk, positioning myself between her legs and I buried my face in her core, and tasting everything she had to offer. She held onto the desk, throwing her back and the sound of her breathy moan made my cock twitch with stimulation.

I ran circles around her clit with my tongue, feeling it vibrate with every flick. Juices poured down her legs as her desires only grew fiercer. Her soft and overflowing core clenched and begged for release as she grounded her hips against my face; jerking and bolting until her legs were trembling and her toes were curling. Her orgasm came quickly, and she squeezed her legs around my head as her entire body combusted from the pleasure.

I licked the juices that oozed from her. Licking her core and then the insides of her legs, satisfied with myself as her body began to relax and her breathing went from heavy to stable.

I kissed up her torso, pausing at her breasts while I teased them again and then I found her lips. She kissed me with such passion that it took my breath away. She moaned softly against my lips once she got a taste of herself. Her kiss was hungry and filled with need.

“I want you…” she whispered against my kisses, her tongue swiping across my bottom lip seductively.

That was all the permission I needed. I positioned myself at her entrance and drove my manhood deep inside of her, moaning as my cock wedged between her folds and clenched around me, fitting and forming as it always did. It was as if I was made to fit her specifically. I was made to love her. I was made to make love to her.

She gasped at the sensation, and she held onto me as I thrust into her. She wrapped her legs around my waist, pleading with me to go faster, but I wanted to savor this moment. I wanted her next orgasm to be slow and steady. I wanted to bask in her and cherish her.

I caught her lips with my own as I slowed my thrusts, making sure to hit that sweet spot in a way that made her gasp and clutch me with her nails. She dug her nails into my back, and I growled into her mouth as I kissed her hard.

Her breasts bounced in front of me, and it was driving me insane. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my lifetime, and I wanted so much more of her. I needed more of her. I wanted her to give herself to me fully.

The way she clenched her legs made it impossible for me to continue without combusting from the pure bliss.

“Joseph…” she whimpered as her orgasm crept back up to the peak once again.

I held onto her body and quickened my stride, shaking the entire desk and knocking things to the ground. Sweat poured from me and mixed with hers as we became one. Her legs trembled and her core clenched around my cock as she let out a deep moan, just as her orgasm slammed into her.

“Tessa…” I hissed through my teeth.

The release of her climax was enough for me to release my own. My entire body shuddered against hers and I released my seed into her.

We stood panting with our heads pressed against one another, breathing each other, feeling all the love we shared for one another. We remained connected with her legs still wrapped around my waist and my arms wrapped around her body, my manhood still within her core, dripping with my seed.

Neither of us spoke for what felt like a long time.

I kissed her on the lips as we fought to catch our breath; my lips traced the sides of her face and across her pink cheeks.

Tessa was mine and I will always protect what is mine.