Page 17 of Beautiful Sight

Tessa smiled and turned to place a kiss on the skin at the center of his bare chest. “I’d like that.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. But we have to get dressed before we go anywhere.”

That got Tessa to thinking. She had been wearing Jefferson’s t-shirts and bathrobe whenever they left the bedroom. But to leave his apartment, she needed real clothes, and his bathrobe wouldn’t cut it no matter how much of her it covered.

“I had Marla get you a few things that should work until we go shopping and get you properly outfitted.” Jefferson picked her up and rested her weight on his hip as he headed through the apartment. Tessa clung to the man, feeling like a monkey in a tree.

When he put her down, she clung for a few seconds longer to make sure she had her balance. Jefferson had become her grounding rod. As long as she touched him, she knew nothing bad would happen to her. When he let her go and moved, she felt as if she might float away and get lost for all time. But then he would touch her again and she found herself settled back into her skin and could feel the floor beneath her feet once more.

He put several items of clothing in her hands and then led her a few steps before placing her hand on the bed. “Will you be okay dressing in here? I’ll just be in the closet if you need me.”

Tessa smiled. “I’ve been dressing myself since I was four, I think I can manage. Go put on your official alpha uniform.”

“Okay, but call out if you need any help,” Jefferson’s voice dropped an octave as it did every time he was aroused.

Tessa did not respond, knowing that if he helped her, they would not get to the office in the next few minutes. Though she was still mentally mapping the apartment, she was ready to get out and at least listen to Jefferson at work.

She felt him move away, then turned her attention to the clothing in her hands. It took a moment to deduce that he’d handed her a shirt, leggings, and a pair of panties. Taking off her robe, she tried on the panties first but could not get them past her thighs. Pulling them off, she picked up the shirt and tried it on, but it fit like a tight second skin, so she peeled it off as well. When the last of her sight had left her just after her forty-fifth birthday, she had decided to wear comfortable clothes that were loose, made of cotton, and made her feel happy.

Taking a chance, she pulled the leggings on. They were loose and comfortable, almost too big. Going to the dresser, she went to the second drawer where she knew Jefferson kept his t-shirts, and pulled out the top one. She hoped it didn’t have any dirty sayings or inappropriate pictures on it as she pulled it over her head.

The shirt fell to mid-thigh. Wearing it paired with the leggings, Tessa felt properly attired, though she did wish she had a bra to wear. But shopping had yet to be a high priority. A bra and underwear that fit properly would be one of the first purchases on her list when they finally went shopping.

She heard Jefferson return from the closet where he’d dressed, though she wasn’t sure why. “Tessa? Was there something wrong with the clothes?”

“Is this shirt appropriate for wearing to your office?” she asked, not bothering to answer his question.

“It’s a plain black shirt, tigress. You’re fine. But why don’t you want to wear the clothes Marla sent up?”

Tessa dropped her head as her cheeks began to burn.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “They’re too small.”

She felt Jefferson move closer, then the soft rustle as he picked the discarded clothing up from the bed.

“These aren’t the sizes I told her to get,” he said, sounding offended on her behalf.

“It’s all right. I can order something online if you have a computer I can borrow. Oh, no. Never mind. I forgot I don’t have my credit card.” Tessa froze when Jefferson placed two fingers against her lips.

“Hush now. If you’d prefer to shop online, we can do that, or we can go to a store once I deal with whatever is going on in the office. Your choice. But I will be speaking to Marla about this.”

Tessa leaned back an inch. “Please don’t. I don’t want to be a bother to anyone. Especially someone I haven’t even met yet.”

Jefferson’s fingers were replaced by his lips on her in a long, deep kiss. When he finally broke away, they were both breathing hard.

“You are too soft-hearted, tigress. That may be why I’m falling so hard for you.”

“You are?” Tessa could not help but ask. “Really?”

“Yes, mate. Really and truly. Fate has a way of bringing the right people together as mates, and I think they did a damn fine job on our pairing.”

“Me, too,” Tessa admitted softly. “Now, before we fall back into bed, is this outfit okay to wear to your office?”

Jefferson studied his mate from head to toe and smiled. “You look perfect to go to my office.”

Glancing again at the too-small and childish clothes Marla had chosen for her alpha’s mate, and then the neon pink Crocs Tessa had found and put on, he wondered what his assistant had been thinking. Despite Tessa’s request, he would be having a word with Marla about her shopping habits.

Except for the leggings which looked to be three sizes too large, it looked like Marla had shopped for a child. Or maybe she had raided her ten-year-old daughter’s closet thinking he wouldn’t notice. But why would she want to embarrass the alpha’s mate like that?