10. Tessa
TESSA
The doorbell rings at ten in the morning, and I'm still in Theo's shirt and sleep shorts, hair a mess from last night. I pad to the door, checking the peephole.
Mia.
Shit.
I open the door, and she's already squealing before I can say hello.
"Let me see it! Let me see the ring!" She pushes past me into the apartment, grabbing my left hand. "Oh my God, Tessa! It's gorgeous!"
The diamond catches the morning light, and I can't help smiling.
"Thanks. I?—"
"When were you going to tell me you were dating your roommate?" She drops my hand and crosses her arms, mock-offended. "Remember when I visited and asked if something was going on, and you said no?"
Heat floods my cheeks. "That was different. We weren't?—"
"Bullshit. The sexual tension was so thick I could barely breathe." She grins. "You were totally lying to me."
"Maybe a little."
"A little?" She laughs, pulling me into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. Even if you are a terrible liar."
Footsteps behind me. Theo emerges from the bedroom, wearing jeans and nothing else. His hair is slightly damp from the shower.
"Morning." His voice is rough with sleep, eyes finding mine immediately before shifting to Mia. "Good to see you again."
Mia's eyebrows shoot up. "Well. Good morning." She glances between us. "I was just telling Tessa what a terrible liar she is."
"She is." Theo moves into the kitchen, starts the coffee maker. "Can't keep a secret to save her life."
"Hey!" I protest.
"It's true, baby." He looks at me over his shoulder, the corner of his mouth lifting. "You're an open book."
Mia watches this exchange with barely concealed amusement. "So how long were you two sneaking around before I caught on?"
"She didn't catch on," I mutter. "She suspected."
"Same thing."
Theo brings three mugs to the counter, pours coffee. "Your friend is perceptive. Noticed immediately."
"See?" Mia accepts her mug with a triumphant smile. "I knew something was up. You got all flustered every time I mentioned your roommate."
"Did not."
"Did too." She takes a sip. "Remember when you nearly choked on your drink when I mentioned your roommate was hot?"
Theo's laugh is low, warm. "Really?"
"It was one time," I protest weakly.
"Twice, actually." Mia grins at Theo. "She's been gone for you since day one. Just too stubborn to admit it."
"I wasn't stubborn. I was—" I pause, searching for the right word.
"Stubborn," Theo and Mia say in unison.
They look at each other and laugh. Something loosens in my chest watching Theo warm up to my best friend, teasing her like he teases me.
"You two are the worst." But I'm smiling.
Mia stays for another hour, asking about the proposal, the ring, our plans. Theo answers her questions easily, his hand finding the small of my back whenever he's close. Claiming me even in casual touches.
When she finally leaves, I close the door and lean against it.
"She likes you."
"Good." He pulls me against him. "Because I like her. Anyone who loves you is worth knowing."
My heart squeezes. "You're getting soft, Blackwood."
"Only for you." His mouth finds mine, kiss deep and possessive. When he pulls back, his eyes are dark. "Get dressed. We're going out."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise."
The amusement park is packed with families and couples, the air filled with screams from roller coasters and the smell of fried food. I haven't been to one of these since I was a kid.
"You brought me to an amusement park?" I look up at Theo, who's studying the map.
"You mentioned once you loved these as a kid." He folds the map. "Figured we should make new memories."
God, he remembers everything.
We spend hours going from ride to ride. Theo wins me a stuffed bear at one of the rigged carnival games, looking absurdly pleased with himself. We share cotton candy, and he kisses the sugar from my lips right there in the middle of the crowd.
"Ferris wheel?" He nods toward the giant wheel at the edge of the park, lit up even in daylight.
"Sure."
The line is short. We climb into one of the enclosed cabins, and the attendant locks us in. The wheel starts to move, lifting us slowly into the air.
The view is stunning. The entire park spreads below us, and beyond that, the city skyline.
"This is beautiful," I breathe.
"Yeah." But when I glance at Theo, he's not looking at the view. He's looking at me.
"What?"
"Come here." He pulls me onto his lap, and I go willingly. The cabin rocks slightly with the movement.
"Theo—"
His mouth finds mine, cutting off my protest. The kiss is deep, thorough, his tongue sliding against mine. His hands grip my hips, pressing me down against the hard length in his jeans.
"We're in public," I gasp against his lips.
"We're in a private cabin fifty feet in the air." His hand slides under my sundress, fingers finding the edge of my panties. "No one can see us."
"Someone could—ah—" His fingers slip beneath the fabric, finding me already wet.
"Could what?" He rubs slow circles around my clit, watching my face. "Tell me to stop, baby. Use your words."
I can't. My hips rock against his hand, seeking more friction.
"That's what I thought." He slides two fingers inside me, and I bite my lip to keep from moaning. "So wet already. You like this, don't you? The thought of me touching you where anyone could look up and see?"
"Yes—" The admission tears from my throat.
He withdraws his fingers, lifts me slightly. "Hands on my shoulders."
I obey, and he slides my panties to the side. But instead of his cock, I feel his mouth.
"Theo!" I gasp.
He's kneeling on the floor of the cabin, face buried between my thighs. His tongue finds my clit, circling it slowly before sucking hard.
"Oh God—" My fingers dig into his shoulders, hips rocking against his face.
The cabin continues its slow rotation, reaching the top of the wheel. From this height, we can see everything—and theoretically, everything could see us if they looked close enough.
The thought makes me clench around nothing.
Theo's tongue slides inside me, then back to my clit. He alternates the pressure, the speed, reading my body like he always does. One hand grips my ass, holding me against his mouth while he devours me.
"Theo—I'm gonna?—"
"Come on my tongue, baby. Let me taste you."
His words push me over the edge. I come with a strangled cry, hips jerking against his face. His tongue works me through it, lapping up every drop of my release.
When I finally go limp, he pulls back. His mouth is wet with my arousal, eyes dark with satisfaction.
"Fucking beautiful." He helps me fix my panties, settles me back on the seat beside him. "Love watching you fall apart for me."
The cabin descends, and I'm still catching my breath when we reach the bottom.
The attendant opens the door, completely oblivious. "Hope you enjoyed the ride!"
"We did," Theo says, hand on the small of my back as we exit. "Very much."
I elbow him, and he grins.
By the time we get home, it's past midnight. My feet ache from walking all day, and I'm exhausted in the best way.
Theo heads to the bedroom while I lock up and turn off lights. When I finally make it to bed, he's already asleep, sprawled on his back in just his boxers.
I pause in the doorway, studying him. He looks younger in sleep, the hard edges of his face softened. The covers are pushed down to his waist, exposing the defined muscles of his chest and stomach.
Mine.
The thought sends a thrill through me. This gorgeous, possessive, intense man is mine. My fiancé. Soon to be my husband.
I close the door quietly and approach the bed. He doesn't stir.
An idea forms, bold and thrilling. He's taken me while I slept so many times. Claimed me, used me, made me his in the most primal way. Why shouldn't I return the favor?
I slip out of my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. Naked, I crawl onto the bed beside him.
Still nothing. He's deeply asleep.
My hand trails down his chest, over the ridges of his abs, to the waistband of his boxers. I slide my palm over the front of the fabric, feeling him soft beneath.
Not for long.
I work him slowly through his boxers, stroking with steady pressure. He makes a sound low in his throat but doesn't wake. After a minute, I feel him start to harden under my touch.
Perfect.
I slip my hand inside his boxers, my fingers sliding through the soft fabric until they wrap around his cock.
The skin is scorching hot under my palm, velvety soft stretched over steel hardness that sends a thrill straight through me.
I stroke him slowly from base to tip, feeling every ridge and vein, and when I reach the head, I find a bead of moisture there.
I use it to ease the glide, spreading the slickness as I work him with steady, deliberate movements.
His hips shift slightly, a small unconscious movement seeking more of my touch even in the depths of sleep. The response makes my pulse quicken.
I work him patiently, savoring the way he hardens fully under my attention.
His cock grows thick and heavy in my hand, pulsing with heat.
When he's completely hard, I carefully hook my fingers into the waistband of his boxers and pull them down his hips, freeing him completely.
The fabric catches briefly before sliding away, exposing him to the cool air of the room.
He's beautiful like this. His powerful body is relaxed in sleep, chest rising and falling with deep, even breaths. His cock stands hard and ready for me, flushed and gorgeous against his stomach. My mouth waters at the sight.
I lean down, my hair falling forward to brush against his thighs.
My tongue darts out to lick the head of his cock, tasting the clean, masculine flavor of him mixed with a hint of salt.
The taste sends heat pooling between my legs.
I take him deeper, hollowing my cheeks as I suck, feeling the weight of him on my tongue.