More Than Friends

Part 125 (Tessa)

I slowly open my eyes and take a second to remember why I'm lying on the floor wrapped in a blanket. I smile to myself at the memory before reaching for my phone on the table next to the couch. "Great! Hardin, wake up!" I yell.

"No..." he groans and turns over.

"We're going to be so late!"

"Then let's not go."

I grab a cushion off the couch and hit Hardin with it. "Hardin! Get up!"

"Okay, I'm awake." He yawns.

"I hope I still have time to take a shower."

"You know, we could save time if we take one together," he says seductively.

"Nice try! I think that will make us even later!"

"I'll be good. I promise. I just want to be close to you."

"Well, if you promise to be good, then I guess we can."

Hardin follows me into the bathroom and turns on the shower. He gets in first and reaches for my hand, pulling me in with him. "We haven't done this in a while." He grins.

"Yeah, there's a good reason for that. Whenever we do, I'm always late!"

"Yeah, but it gets your day off to a great start," he says and nuzzles into my neck.

"Stop that! Here, make yourself useful." I pass him the loofah and body wash.

"Yes, ma'am!" he chuckles. Hardin gently massages my body with the loofah, until I'm completely covered with foamy body wash. "I hope you appreciate this, Tess. It's taking all my will power to keep me from having my way with you up against those tiles," he laughs.

"Shush." I gently press my finger to his lips.

"Okay, time to rinse off, baby." As I stand under the shower head, the water slowly rinses the body wash from my skin. Hardin reaches over and rubs his thumb over my tattoo. "I love this so fucking much." He smiles.

"Me, too." I blush.

"Tess, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How would you feel about me getting a tattoo for you?"

"Y-you want to get one for me?"

"Well, yeah. I've been thinking about it for awhile, actually. Even before you got yours. How would you feel about that?"

"I'd really love that, Hardin," I reply and smile brightly at him.

"Good. I really want to get something special for you."

"Well, what do you want to get?" I ask curiously.

"I want it to be a surprise." He smiles.

"Oh, I get it! It's pay back for me not telling you what I was getting!" I giggle and splash him with water.

"Or maybe I just want you to strip search me this time," he whispers into my ear.

"Okay, I think I better get out of the shower before I change my mind about behaving ourselves!"

"Okay, Tess," he laughs.

Hardin helps me dry off, then I dry my hair and put on some make up while he gets ready.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to fit in a quickie?" he laughs.

"No! I told Emma we'd be there by dinner time."

"Fine," he sighs. "Maybe I'll go fit in a quickie then."

"Ew!" I giggle.

"Ew? Hey, it's how I got by before you were mine." He shrugs.

"I remember," I giggle. "Anyway, go finish packing!"

"Yeah, yeah..."

After Hardin and I finish our last minute packing, we're almost ready to leave.

"Tess, I have a favour to ask you."

"Hardin, for the last time, we don't have time for sex!"

"No, no," he laughs. "Before we leave, could we take some photos in front of the Christmas tree?"

"Oh. That's a great idea." I smile up at him.

Hardin pulls me toward him and wraps his arm around me before snapping a few photos.

"I wish there was some mistletoe we could kiss under," I giggle.

"Like I need some damn mistletoe," he says before roughly kissing me, and snapping another photo.

"Those are so cute!"

"My new wallpaper." He smirks.

"You know, Hardin, I think you're a little obsessed with me," I giggle.

"That's where you're wrong, Theresa. I'm not a little obsessed with you. I'm extremely obsessed with you," he says before looking into my eyes and cupping my cheek. "I love you."

"And I love you. Okay, we better leave."

"Did you remember to pack my Crackle Flakes?"

"Yes, Hardin," I sigh. "All five boxes."

"I get to spend Christmas with you and my favourite cereal. Maybe this trip won't be so bad after all," he laughs.