9. Theo
THEO
I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting my tie for the third time. The charcoal gray suit fits perfectly—tailored last month with tonight in mind. White dress shirt, polished black shoes. I barely recognize the man staring back at me.
My hands tremble slightly as I smooth down my collar.
When was the last time I was nervous?
Can't remember. Maybe never like this.
But tonight is different. Tonight I'm asking Tessa to marry me.
The ring sits in my office desk, hidden in the bottom drawer beneath paperwork. I've checked on it six times today already, making sure it's still there. Making sure this is real.
Two weeks ago, I walked into the most exclusive jewelry store in the city. I'd done my research, knew exactly what I wanted. The jeweler showed me options—princess cut, emerald cut, cushion—but I kept coming back to the classic round diamond. Two carats, platinum band, timeless and elegant.
Perfect for Tessa.
The price didn't make me blink. Nothing is too good for her.
I picked it up yesterday, heart pounding as they placed the velvet box in my hand. Drove home carefully, like I was transporting something irreplaceable.
Because I am.
I check my watch. 4:47 PM. Tessa won't be home from class until six. I made reservations at that upscale Italian restaurant downtown—the one she mentioned loving months ago, before we got together. She'd said she'd only been once, for her birthday, because it was too expensive.
I'd filed that information away.
Called three weeks ago to secure a table. Private corner booth, candlelit, perfect view of the city. Prepaid for the entire meal, tipped the staff extra to ensure flawless service.
Everything has to be perfect.
She deserves perfect.
I leave the bathroom, pace the living room. Pull the ring box from my pocket for the seventh time today, open it. The diamond catches the afternoon light streaming through the windows, sparkling brilliantly.
She's going to love it.
I hope.
What if she says no?
The thought makes my chest tighten. But she won't. She loves me. She said yes to living together, to building a life. She'll say yes to this.
She has to.
The front door opens at 6:07 PM.
"I'm home!"
I emerge from the bedroom, fully dressed now. Tessa stops in the entryway, eyes widening as she takes me in.
"Wow. You look... amazing."
"Thank you." I cross to her, can't help drinking in the sight of her in jeans and a sweater, hair pulled back, face fresh from the cold outside. "So will you."
"What?"
"Get dressed. Something nice. We're going out."
Her face lights up. "Out? Where?"
"Surprise."
She grins, excited, already moving toward the bedroom. "Give me thirty minutes."
"Take your time."
She disappears, and I'm left alone again with my racing thoughts. I pace, pull out the ring box once more, stare at the diamond.
Please say yes.
Please.
Thirty-two minutes later, the bedroom door opens.
My breath catches.
Tessa stands there in a deep red dress—fitted, elegant, knee-length—that hugs every curve. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, makeup subtle but highlighting her features perfectly. Heels that make her legs look endless.
"How do I look?" She's suddenly shy, biting her lip.
"Perfect." I close the distance between us, cup her face in my hands. "Absolutely perfect."
Kiss her gently, careful not to mess up her lipstick.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She blushes, pleased. "You're pretty gorgeous yourself."
I take her hand, lead her toward the door. "Ready?"
"For what?"
"You'll see."
Tessa tries to guess where we're going during the drive, listing restaurants and venues. When I pull up to the valet at her favorite Italian place, she gasps.
"Theo, this place is so expensive?—"
"I don't care."
"But—"
"Tessa." I turn to her, hold her gaze. "Let me do this. Please."
She nods, accepting.
I open her door, help her out, keep my hand on her lower back as we enter. The hostess recognizes my name immediately.
"Mr. Blackwood, right this way."
She leads us through the restaurant to the private corner booth I'd requested. Perfect view of the city lights, candles flickering on the table, intimate and secluded.
Tessa slides in, looking around in awe. "This is beautiful."
"You deserve beautiful."
Dinner is flawless. We order wine, appetizers, entrees. Tessa chooses pasta, I get steak. She talks animatedly about her classes, an essay she's writing, plans for finals. I watch her, committing every detail to memory.
This moment. This woman.
"What?" she asks, catching me staring.
"Nothing. Just... looking at you."
"Why?"
"Because I can't believe you're real. That you're mine."
She reaches across the table, takes my hand. "I'm real. And I'm yours."
"Good."
Dessert arrives—tiramisu to share. She feeds me a bite, laughing when I get cream on my lip. Leans over to kiss it off.
This is it. This is the moment.
No. Not here. Too public. She'll want privacy.
I pay, leave a generous tip, and we walk to the car. My heart pounds as I drive us home. Tessa chatters happily about dinner, how amazing everything was.
"What was the occasion?" she asks. "We celebrating something?"
"Maybe."
She looks at me curiously but doesn't push.
We park, head upstairs. I'm sweating despite the cool evening.
Calm down. You've negotiated million-dollar deals. You can propose.
But this is more important than any of that.
We enter the apartment. Tessa kicks off her heels, sighs in relief. "My feet are killing me."
I close the door, lock it. Take a deep breath.
"Tessa."
Something in my tone makes her turn, eyes widening. "Yeah?"
"Come here."
She approaches, curious and slightly nervous. I take both her hands, hold them tightly.
"I need to tell you something."
"Okay..."
"When you moved in six months ago, I thought it was a mistake. You were too young, too innocent, too distracting."
"Theo—"
"Let me finish. Please."
She nods, eyes bright.
"I tried to keep my distance. Told myself you were off-limits.
But I couldn't stop watching you, thinking about you, wanting you.
When you left those notes, I thought I was dreaming.
That you couldn't actually want me the way I wanted you.
But you did. You gave yourself to me completely. Trusted me with everything."
My voice roughens with emotion.
"These past few months have been the happiest of my life. You make me better, Tessa. Make me want to be better. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love someone."
Her eyes are wet, tears threatening. "I love you too?—"
"I know. And that's why..."
I release one of her hands, reach into my pocket. Pull out the ring box.
Her breath catches, hand flying to her mouth.
I drop to one knee.
"Oh my God."
"Tessa Monroe, will you marry me?"
I open the box, revealing the diamond ring. It catches the light, sparkling brilliantly.
She stares at it, then at me, speechless.
"Tessa?"
"Yes!" The word bursts out of her. "Yes, of course yes!"
Relief floods through me, followed by pure joy. I stand, slide the ring onto her finger. Perfect fit.
She throws her arms around my neck, sobbing. "I love you. I love you so much."
"I love you too, baby. My fiancée."
I kiss her deeply, pouring everything into it. She kisses back, desperate and overwhelmed.
"I can't believe this is real," she whispers against my lips.
"It's real. You're mine. Forever."
"Forever."
We stumble toward the bedroom, still kissing. Her hands pull at my suit jacket. I shrug it off, let it fall. Find the zipper of her dress, pull it down slowly. The dress pools at her feet—she's wearing lacy red lingerie underneath.
"Fuck, you're perfect."
"So are you."
She undoes my tie, tosses it aside. Unbuttons my shirt, pushes it off my shoulders. Runs her hands over my chest, my abs, my tattoos.
"My fiancé," she whispers.
"Say it again."
"My fiancé. Mine."
I groan, lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her to the bed. But as I lay her down, I notice her eyes are heavy, blinking slowly.
"Baby?"
"Mmm... sorry, I'm just..." She yawns. "Suddenly really tired. Long day."
"We don't have to?—"
"No." She reaches up, cups my face. "I want you. Always want you. Just... I might fall asleep. Is that okay?"
Heat rushes through me at the permission, primal and immediate. "You sure?"
"Yes. Please, Theo. I want you to... even if I'm asleep." Her cheeks flush, that beautiful pink spreading down her neck. "Especially now. Knowing I'm yours. Your fiancée."
"Fuck, Tessa."
"Please?"
"Okay, baby. Whatever you want."
She smiles, relaxing back into the pillows. I strip off the rest of my clothes while she removes her lingerie with drowsy movements. She lies back, spreading her legs, the diamond glinting on her finger under the dim light.
"I love you," she murmurs, eyes already closing.
"I love you too. My future wife."
She smiles at that, but her breathing is already evening out. I settle between her legs, run my hands up her thighs. She's warm, soft, perfect under my touch.
My fingers find her pussy, slide through her folds. Already wet, responsive even as sleep claims her. I stroke gently, watching her face. Her lips part slightly, a soft sigh escaping.
I work her slowly, carefully, building her arousal. One finger slides inside, then two. She's tight, always so fucking tight. Her hips shift slightly, unconsciously seeking more.
"That's it, baby. Even asleep, your body knows what it wants."
I withdraw my fingers, position my cock at her entrance. Push inside slowly, carefully, watching her face for any sign of discomfort.
Nothing. Just peaceful sleep, lips parted in a soft "o" as I fill her tight pussy.
"Fuck." The word comes out strangled. "So perfect."
I start to move, slow and deep. Her pussy grips my cock, wet and hot. She's completely relaxed, trusting me even in sleep.
The trust undoes me.
I thrust deeper, maintaining the gentle pace. One hand slides up to cup her breast, thumb brushing over her nipple. It hardens under my touch, her body reacting instinctively to me.
"My fiancée. My future wife."
Her breathing changes slightly, a soft sound escaping. Not quite awake, but responding.
I increase my pace, still careful but more insistent. The sight of her laid out beneath me—diamond ring on her finger, completely surrendered, my cock buried in her pussy—makes my chest tight.
"Mine. Always mine."
Her head tilts to the side, lips parting further. A breathy sound, almost a moan.
I angle my hips, hitting deeper. Her brow furrows slightly, pleasure registering even in sleep. My cock stretches her tight cunt with every thrust.
"Feel that, baby? Even asleep, you feel me inside you."
My hand slides between us, finds her clit. Rubs in slow circles while I thrust steadily, feeling her pussy grip and release around my shaft.
Her cunt clenches around my cock.
"That's it. Come for me even in your dreams."
I work her clit more insistently, thrusting deeper. Watching her face for signs of her approaching orgasm.
Her breathing quickens. Soft sounds escape—"Mmm... ahh..."
"That's my girl."
She comes with a sleepy cry, pussy spasming around my cock. Her back arches slightly, hands fisting in the sheets. Her cunt milks my shaft, gripping tight.
Beautiful.
But I need more. Need to claim her completely.
I pull out carefully, and she makes a small sound in her sleep. I turn her gently onto her stomach, spreading her legs. The sight of her ass, the curve of her back, the way her pussy glistens with her arousal—it's everything.
I position myself over her, covering her smaller body with mine. My cock slides back into her pussy from behind, this new angle letting me sink even deeper.
"Fuck, baby. So deep like this."
She's completely limp beneath me, soft and pliant and trusting. I settle my weight on my forearms, one hand threading into her hair while the other grips her hip. Start to thrust again, slow and deep, feeling every inch of my cock slide into her tight heat.
"Gonna fill this pussy. Gonna put a baby in you, Mrs. Blackwood."
The words spill out, raw and honest. She stirs slightly at my voice, makes a soft sound but doesn't wake.
I increase my pace, hips snapping forward. The wet sounds of my cock fucking her sleeping pussy fill the room. Her body rocks with each thrust, completely surrendered to me.
"That's it. Take my cock. Let me breed this tight cunt."
My hand tightens in her hair, holding her in place. Not rough enough to wake her, just enough to keep her exactly where I want her. The other hand slides under her hip, angling her ass up slightly so I can drive even deeper.
"Gonna make you mine in every way. Fill you with my cum until you're swollen with my baby."
Her pussy clenches around my cock at that, her body responding even in sleep. A soft moan escapes her lips—"Mmm... Theo..."
"That's right, baby. Feel me deep inside you. Feel me claiming what's mine."
I thrust harder, balls slapping against her ass with each stroke. The sight of her beneath me—completely asleep, completely mine, my cock buried balls-deep in her pussy—pushes me closer to the edge.
"Gonna breed you so good. Fill this perfect cunt."
My rhythm becomes more erratic, pleasure building at the base of my spine. I grind my hips against her ass, making sure my cock hits as deep as possible.
"Fuck—Tessa?—"
I come hard, buried deep inside her. My cock pulses, pumping cum into her pussy. The thought of it—of my seed filling her, of potentially breeding her—makes the orgasm even more intense.
"Take it all. Every fucking drop."
I stay inside her, feeling my cock twitch with the aftershocks. She's still sleeping peacefully, face turned to the side on the pillow, lips slightly parted.
I withdraw slowly, watch my cum leak from her well-fucked pussy. The possessive satisfaction is overwhelming.
I clean her gently with a warm cloth, then settle beside her. Pull her into my arms. She curls against me instinctively, even asleep.
I'll wake her properly tomorrow. Make love to her awake, let her feel everything.
But for now, I hold my sleeping fiancée and plan our future.
"Love you, Mrs. Blackwood," I whisper against her hair.
She sighs contentedly in her sleep.
Perfect.