Hardin Scott has been madly in love with Tessa Young since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but there's no way she could ever see him as anything more than a friend. After all, he's a bad boy with a promiscuous past and she's a sweet and innoce...
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"Hardin! Stop!" I laugh as he nibbles my ear lobe.
"I can't help it. You're just so yummy," he says and then continues to nibble on it.
"Well, it tickles!" I giggle.
"Okay, then I'll just do this." He places multiple kisses on the back of my neck and on my right shoulder.
"Hardin! You're still tickling me!" I giggle louder. I roll over to face Hardin and see the huge grin plastered on his face. "What's with the grin?" I ask.
"That was amazing. I'm never going back to using condoms with you."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, baby," he answers and then tucks my hair behind my ear.
"If that was the second best sex you've ever had, then does that mean the best is still-"
"Our first time. And it always will be. I'll always cherish that night and the trust you put in me."
"Oh, Hardin..." I whisper and caress his cheek.
"Come here," he beckons and then pulls me so my head is lying on his chest. "I love you, more than you'll ever know." He sweetly kisses the top of my head.
"I love you." I gently kiss his chest. "So... I guess now that we are engaged, I should probably meet your parents."
"I don't know about that, Tess..."
"Hardin, how come you never talk about your father?"
"Because he's a worthless drunk who abused my mum."
"Oh." I frown at him.
"I haven't spoken to him since I left England."
"What about your mom?"
"Well, she already loves you."
"What? How?"
"I've told her all about you, and sent photos."
"You have?" I ask in shock.
"Of course. It was pretty damn hard not to tell her about you when she kept pestering me about why I was suddenly always in a better mood. She can't wait to meet you. She actually wants us to visit England."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I whine.
"There's just been so much going on lately. What about your parents? You haven't really talked about them, other than that night after I met fucking Noah."
"Well... my dad left us when I was really young and I never saw him again. And my mother and I haven't spoken since I left for college."
"You're all alone, Tess?" Hardin asks with concern.
"Pretty much, but Emma has helped me feel like I had a sister to depend on."
"Maybe you should reach out to your mother."
"I won't be doing that. She'll just try to control me. And she definitely wouldn't be happy about our engagement. She'd really hate me being with you."
"Ouch."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean anything by that, other than she's really close-minded. You saw Noah. That's who she wanted me with. She would hate your tattoos and the way you dress."
"Ouch, again."
"Hardin, I'm not my mother. I love everything about you. You'll always be the love of my life. It doesn't matter what she, or anyone else, thinks. Okay?"
"I guess."
"Okay?" I repeat.
"Okay, Tess," he whispers.
"At least your mom might come to the wedding."
"Are you kidding? She'll want to plan it and the engagement party, the wedding shower and the baby shower."
"Okay, slow down!" I giggle.
"I mean it, Tess. You haven't met her. She'll most definitely love you more than she loves me," he chuckles.
"Hardin, don't say that," I scold.
"It's true. She's going to be over the moon to find out you agreed to marry me. I'm sure she thought I was going to be alone forever."
"I can't wait to meet her."
"She'll probably pester you about giving her grand babies, too," he laughs.
"Great. I'll be fighting against the both of you," I quietly laugh.
"Two against one. I guess we know who will win."
"Stop!" I say and playfully swat at Hardin. "At least I'll have a mom again," I say with a little sadness in my voice.
"Tess, you're breaking my heart."
"I'm so thankful I found you, Hardin. You make it so easy to believe that I'll never be alone again."
"You will never be alone, Tessa. And just wait until we have our own family. You'll have so much love from me and our kids. And you'll be an amazing mum to them. You'll make sure our children never have to feel how either of us have."
"That sounds really wonderful, Hardin. Just you, me, and our adorable children."
"Thank you for giving me a future I never thought I would have," he says with tears in his eyes. He reaches over and gently caresses my cheek. I gently place a kiss on his wrist.
"I love you," I say and pull him toward me, then press my lips to his.
Within seconds, we are lost in each other as Hardin shows me how much he loves me again and again.
