6. Tessa
TESSA
I wake to sunlight streaming through my window and the smell of coffee drifting down the hall.
My body protests when I try to sit up—sore in places I'm still getting used to.
Three days since Theo got jealous about Marcus, and he's barely let me out of his sight.
Or his bed. Or any surface in the apartment, honestly.
Heat floods my face at the memories. The couch. The kitchen counter. Against his bedroom wall at two in the morning. I'm exhausted and sore and completely addicted to him.
I pad into the kitchen wearing his t-shirt and sleep shorts, bare feet quiet on the hardwood.
Theo stands at the counter, back to me, pouring coffee into two mugs.
He's shirtless, wearing only gray sweatpants that hang low on his hips.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of all that muscle, those tattoos covering his arms.
He turns when he hears me, eyes darkening as they sweep over me.
"Morning," he says, voice rough from sleep.
"Morning."
He sets down the coffee pot and reaches for me. I go willingly, melting into his arms. His mouth captures mine immediately—deep, possessive kiss that makes my toes curl. One hand slides under the t-shirt, palms my breast, thumb brushing my nipple.
I gasp into his mouth. He's already hard, pressing against my stomach through the thin fabric of his sweatpants.
"Mia's coming over today," I remind him breathlessly when we break apart.
Theo groans, releases me with obvious reluctance.
"Right. Your friend."
"Best friend since high school. I told you about her."
"I remember." He hands me a coffee mug, expression neutral now. "What time?"
"She'll be here around ten. We're going out for the day."
"When will she leave?"
"Not sure. Evening, probably."
He nods, jaw tight. I can see him forcing himself to accept this.
"I'll be scarce."
Relief washes through me. I didn't want to ask him to make himself invisible, but I also can't imagine trying to act normal around Mia with him in the room. She knows me too well. She'd pick up on something.
I rise on my toes, kiss him quickly.
"Thank you."
Mia arrives at ten-fifteen, bursting through the front door with her signature enthusiasm. She's blonde, bubbly, radiates infectious energy that always makes me smile.
"Tessa!"
We crash into each other, hugging and squealing like we're still teenagers. I've missed her. College has made it harder to see people from home.
"Oh, hi! You must be Theo. The roommate."
I freeze. Turn to see Theo standing in the kitchen doorway, coffee mug in hand. He's dressed now—jeans and a black t-shirt that shows off his arms. Looking perfectly casual and completely untouchable.
Mia extends her hand, friendly smile on her face.
Theo shakes it, polite but reserved.
"Nice to meet you."
"Tessa's told me about you. Thanks for letting her rent the room. Dorms are insane expensive."
"No problem."
Awkward silence stretches. I jump in quickly.
"Ready to go? There's this new coffee place near campus I want to try."
"Yes! Let's go."
We head for the door, already chattering about everything we need to catch up on. I glance back once. Theo watches us leave, expression unreadable. Something in his eyes makes my stomach flip—possessive, impatient, barely controlled.
Then we're out the door and I force myself to focus on Mia.
We spend hours together. The coffee shop first, sitting by the window while Mia talks about her boyfriend, her job at the bookstore, her family. I listen and laugh and try to focus, but my mind keeps drifting.
Back to Theo. To last night when he'd fucked me awake at three in the morning, hand over my mouth to muffle my screams. To the soreness between my legs that's a constant reminder of him.
"Earth to Tessa?"
I blink, refocus. Mia grins at me across the table.
"Sorry, what?"
"You completely zoned out. What's going on with you?"
"Nothing. Just tired. Classes are kicking my ass."
Not technically a lie. Though it's not classes keeping me up at night.
We hit a few stores after coffee, browsing without buying anything. Just the comfortable rhythm of friendship, gossiping and laughing. Mia asks about school, my writing, potential career plans.
"I want to write novels someday," I admit. "Maybe teach creative writing at a college."
"You'll be amazing at it," Mia says confidently. "You've always been the creative one."
"You think?"
"Absolutely. Remember those stories you used to write in high school? They were incredible."
Warmth spreads through my chest. I'd forgotten how good it feels to have someone believe in me like this.
By five o'clock, we're heading back to my apartment. The plan is pizza and movies, easy and familiar. But my nerves ratchet up as I unlock the door. Seeing Theo again after being away all day—I don't know how I'll react. How I'll hide what's between us.
We enter to find him on the couch, reading. He looks up, nods at us.
"Hi," I say, suddenly shy.
"Hey. Have fun?"
"Yeah, it was great."
Mia plops onto the other end of the couch, completely comfortable.
"This place is nice! Small but cozy."
"Thanks," Theo says neutrally.
I order pizza on my phone, then put on a movie.
Sit between Mia and Theo on the couch because there's nowhere else to sit.
Every nerve ending fires with awareness of Theo's proximity.
His thigh presses against mine, heat radiating through the denim.
I can barely focus on the movie. Can barely breathe.
Mia chatters through the film, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air.
The pizza arrives. We eat. Second movie starts. Around eight, Theo stands.
"I'm going to head to bed. Early morning tomorrow."
"Okay," I say softly.
Our eyes meet for a brief second. The look is loaded—possessive, hungry, impatient. Heat floods my face. Then he disappears down the hall toward his bedroom.
Mia watches him go, then turns to me.
"He's hot."
I nearly choke on my drink.
"What?"
"Your roommate. He's really hot. Older, but in a good way. Very... intense."
"I guess," I manage weakly.
"Do you two ever...?" She trails off, eyebrows raised suggestively.
"What? No! He's my roommate."
"So? Roommates hook up all the time."
"Not us. It would be weird."
Mia shrugs, turning back to the movie. "If you say so. But the tension between you two is thick."
My heart races. Can she really tell? Or is she just guessing?
"There's no tension."
"Sure, babe. Whatever you say."
I force myself to watch the rest of the movie. Try to ignore the way my body hums with awareness that Theo is just down the hall. That the second Mia leaves, I can go to him.
The movie ends around nine. Mia yawns, stretches.
"I should head home. Long drive back."
"Thanks for coming. It was really good to see you."
We hug at the door, tight and familiar.
"Love you, babe. Don't work too hard."
"Love you too. Drive safe."
She leaves. I close the door, lean against it. Exhaustion crashes over me suddenly. The day was fun but draining. Pretending everything was normal when my life has become anything but. When all I wanted was to be in Theo's arms.
I lock up, head down the hall. Stop outside Theo's door. It's closed, light off underneath. I knock softly.
"Come in."
His voice is low, rough. I open the door, peek inside. Theo lies in bed, bare-chested, reading on his phone. He sets it aside when he sees me.
"She's gone?"
"Yeah. Just left."
"Good."
Silence hangs between us. Heavy with everything we can't say around others.
"I'm exhausted," I admit.
"I can see that."
I step inside, close the door. Gather my courage.
"I'm going to crash soon. Like, immediately."
"Okay."
"I wanted to tell you... that it's okay. If you want to..."
The words die in my throat. Can't quite say it outright even though we've done this before.
Theo sits up, eyes intense in the darkness.
"If I want to what, Tessa?"
"You know. While I'm asleep."
"Say it clearly."
Heat floods my face, spreads down my neck.
"I'm giving you permission. To fuck me tonight. Even though I'll be asleep."
His eyes darken, satisfaction flickering across his face.
"You sure? You look dead on your feet."
"I'm sure. I want you to."
He stands, moves toward me. Cups my face gently with both hands.
"Get some rest, baby. I'll take care of you later."
I nod, lean into his touch. He kisses my forehead—tender gesture that makes my chest ache.
"Sweet dreams."
I stumble to my room, strip down to panties. Pull on one of Theo's t-shirts. They're all I sleep in now, surrounded by his scent. Climb into bed without bothering with the blankets. Asleep within minutes.
My door stays cracked open. Invitation.
I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming because there's pleasure building low in my stomach, waves of sensation that pull me up through layers of sleep like a tide dragging me toward consciousness.
Warmth spreads between my legs, a focused pressure on my clit that makes my body respond before my mind can catch up.
"Mmm..." The sound escapes me, soft and confused, muffled by the pillow my face is half-buried in.
The pleasure intensifies, becomes more deliberate, more insistent. My hips shift without my permission, seeking more of whatever's causing this delicious feeling. My fingers tangle in something—hair, I realize distantly through the fog of exhaustion. Thick, soft strands between my knuckles.
"Theo?" My voice comes out slurred and heavy with sleep, barely above a whisper.
"Shh. Go back to sleep, baby." His voice is rough, muffled against me.
His voice grounds me slightly, pulls me closer to consciousness. I'm not dreaming. He's here. Between my legs, mouth on my pussy, tongue working slow circles that make my toes curl involuntarily.
"What're you—ohh..." I moan as he sucks harder on my clit, the wet heat of his mouth sending sparks up my spine.
"You told me I could. Remember?" His words vibrate against my sensitive flesh, make me shiver.