The Media Baron's Heiress

CHAPTER 19

Tessa's eyes flew open as she heard the knock on her bedroom door.  Her eyes shifted to the bedside clock.  It was eight in the morning.  The cleaning staff knew she liked sleeping in on a Sunday, it could not be them.  Was her father back?  She was about to throw on a gown and answer the knock when her door was pushed opened.  Tessa quickly lifted the sheets up to her chin.

'You're still here?  What are you doing here?  Did you sleep here?'

'Yes to the first question,' Brad nodded.  'You - is my answer to your second question, and yes to your third question,' he slid on the bed next to her, placing a tray on her bedside table.

'Excuse me?'  Tessa clutched the sheets tighter against her body.

'Good morning,' Brad caressed his thumb down her cheek.

She gulped down the errant breath at his caressing touch.  'Good morning,' she mumbled, slapping his hand away.

''You look beautiful in the morning,' Brad smiled lazily.

He'd told her that often enough in the apartment when he would open his eyes and look down at her snuggled in his arms against his chest.

'How come you're still here?' she whispered.  He looked stunning, dressed in figure hugging denims, a T and his hair all wet and curly.

'I called Joseph last night,' Brad's eyes met hers.

'Did you tell him that we---about tomorrow.'

He watched as she stumbled over her words. 
'No.  I merely asked his permission to sleep over ___ indefinitely.'  She could see it irritated the hell out of him to rely on another's charity, especially as she knew he had the financial muscle to buy ten homes like her father's and it would still not dent his bank balance.

'Good,' Tessa spoke, ignoring that little prick of her conscience.

'So you're really not inviting your parents to witness our marriage?'

'My parents are used to being informed about my activities via the media.  Why alter things now?' she glared at Brad.  His eyes travelled from her adorable face to her slender neck, to where her white knuckled fingers clutched her ivory satin sheets.  What he'd give to rip every item of clothing of his body and join her naked body between those crisp sheets.  His aroused manhood throbbed painfully against his jeans just at him thinking about immersing himself into her soft molten flesh.  His dark eyes meshed with beautiful green ones.  He knew she desired him as much as he did her.   The depths of her expressive eyes could not hide that.

'I've brought you some crackers and fruit juice,' Brad spoke, hoping to kill his wayward thoughts.

'I was not going to get up for another two hours or so,' she murmured.  He knew from experience, she loved sleeping in on a Sunday, but he could not wait another moment to see her and found an excuse to walk into her room.

'Well, I'll leave you to it then,' Brad stood up.  Tessa's eyes widened with surprise, she was anticipating him trying to get into bed with her.  Damn he can be hard to read sometimes.

'I'll be in your father's office, if you need me,' Brad spoke over his shoulder before he shut the door.

For some unidentifiable reason, Tessa felt disappointed at Brad's hasty departure. 
What is wrong with you?  He is a traitor.  He only slept with you for his personal gain.  Don't go getting all soft now!

Tessa stretched lazily. 
Good morning Junior, Tessa patted her stomach lovingly. 
Did you hear daddy's voice?  He was just visiting. 
Tessa was wide awake now.  Sleep had eluded her completely.  She reached for the tasteless cracker and bit into it, wrinkling her nose distastefully.  Where did the crackers come from?  She did not have any stock her at Scarsdale.  Brad must have gone out and purchased some.  What time did he get up?  He seemed like he'd been up for hours.  Tessa slid out her bed and walked to her balcony.  She looked down over the pool area.  Everything was spotlessly clean and tidy.  There was not a trace of evidence that there had been a party there last night.  She knew they had been carrying on till quite late.  It was way after two in the morning when she had dozed of, and could still faintly hear the music and voices by the poolside.