Desire Part Three (The Desire Series Book 3) Read Online Free

almost anyway. Tess chafed her arms in the cool breeze of autumn. She was just about to go inside for a sweater when she spotted Matt. How long had he been standing there watching her building? Would he approach the building and buzz her apartment? Or would he turn and leave without contacting her? Tess had made up her mind to go back inside when suddenly he looked upward. His pale grey eyes connected with her cherry brown orbs. Even from their distance she could see the sparks twinkling in his piercing scrutiny. He ran across the street, dodging moving vehicles and ignoring their blaring horns. His overcoat billowed out behind him as he ran in the strong wind. He arrived at the door of her building and Tess quickly returned to her apartment to await her door buzzard. It sounded promptly. Tess took a deep breath then pressed the button.
    “Yes?”  
    “Tess? Is that you?” he asked.  
    “Yes,” she answered.
    “It’s Matt. May I come up?” he asked.
    “Alright,” she replied.
    Tess pressed the button to release the security door. She knew he would be knocking on her door in a matter of minutes. This is what she’s wanted to happen, so why was her heart racing? She needed to calm down and breathe. He was here but she didn’t know why. It could be a completely innocuous visit; he was in town so he decided to look her up. Nothing less, nothing more. It could very well lead to nothing. He knocked on the door. Tess slid her nervous hands over her hips then opened the door. Matt stood there bigger than life staring intently at her.
    “Matt. Hello,” she greeted.
    “Hello, Tess. May I come in?” he asked smoothly. He was glad his voice did not reflect his nerves. He had never felt nervous in his life until now.
    “Yes. Of course,” she said.  
    Tess stepped aside to let him in. He moved into the room and looked around. It was a small but cozy room. He liked it. It was obvious that she wasn’t using her family money to live and he admired that. She was trying to make it on her own which was a reflection of her character. He had come from a poor family and left home with only ten dollars. There were plenty of nights when he begged for leftovers from the neighborhood restaurant and slept on a wooden bench in the train station. But he refused to return home with nothing. His mom deserved more than that and he’d been determined to give it to her. He still had the two dollar winning horse race ticket that had changed his life.  
    “This is nice. I like it,” he smiled.
    “Thanks. So do I. It’s not grand but it suits me,” she grinned. “Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Coffee perhaps?”
    He saw the twinkle in her eye and knew she was recalling the last time they’d had coffee together. He accepted the challenge. If she burned him so be it.
    “Coffee would be great,” he chuckled.
    “Okay,” she responded.
    She went into the small kitchen to prepare the beverage. He followed her and sat at the small table for two beside the window.
    “I was surprised to see you standing on the sidewalks of New York. What brings you here?” she inquired.
    “You,” he said directly.
    Tess almost spilled the coffee grinds she was putting into the coffee maker. She looked at him in shock.
    “Me?”
    “Yes. I wanted to see you,” he said. “You left a beguiling impression that I want to pursue.”
    Tess wasn’t prepared for such stripped down honesty from him. She wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She returned to making the coffee and stalling for time. She set the coffee to perk but did not move. They were quiet for some moments; each lost in their own thoughts. Then he moved to stand behind her. He clasped her waist and turned her t face him. She looked up at him; confusion clouding her beautiful eyes. He gazed into her amber eyes and knew he could get lost in them. He anticipated the time when he could.
    “I want to get to know you; in all ways, Tess. I came to New York specifically for that purpose. I