More Than Friends

Part 24 (Hardin)

I take a quick shower, put on clean boxers and head for my room. I literally miss Tessa. I feel a need to be close with her right now. I love the feeling of this connection I have with her. Is this what love is supposed to feel like? It's the best feeling in the world.

"Tess? What are you doing?" I must surprise her because she whips around and quickly pulls her shirt down. Well, technically my shirt.

"Sorry." She blushes. "I hope it's okay that I stole your shirt to wear. I like how they feel on me." She smiles.

"That's fine, but I can give you a clean one from my dresser."

"I want to wear this one."

"But I've been wearing that one all day."

"I know... I like how it smells like you." She continues to blush.

"What?" I chuckle.

"Is that weird?"

"No! I actually love the idea of you wearing my shirts. They look so damn good on you."

"Good, because I think I'll have to steal your shirt every night if I'm going to get through all of this mess Zed brought down on me. They make me feel closer to you. And I love that feeling."

"I'm glad." I smile. "Speaking of being closer..." I start to say as I walk toward her and take her hands in mine. "Are you okay after what happened between us?"

"I am, Hardin."

"I just don't know how to act around you, you know, now that I know you're a virgin."

"What do you mean?"

"I just mean, well, you know I've been with other girls before, but never a virgin. And... you're so special to me. I don't want to move too fast for you and do anything that will push you away."

"Hardin, everything is okay between us. You're so good to me and I don't feel like you are forcing me to move too fast. Everything that happened was because I wanted it to, okay?" She looks me in the eyes to make sure I understand. "Okay?" She smiles.

"Okay, Tess." Her words make me feel a hundred percent better. And knowing she wanted me as much as I wanted her is such a turn on.

"Come lie with me?" I ask as I pull her down on the bed with me. She lays her head on my bare chest and wraps her arm around my waist. I pull her closer by wrapping my arm around her back.

"Hardin? I need to ask you something."

"Okay, you can ask me anything."

"Did you mean what you said about it being amazing?"

"What? Why would you even ask that?"

"I know you've been with a fair amount of girls and I just don't believe my inexperience could compare to how they made you feel."

I'm shocked at what she's saying. Does this girl not see how I feel about her? How her touch alone makes me feel? "Tessa, why are you asking me this?"

"Zed used to tell me about the girls you used to hook up with." She frowns. Of course he did.

"That's different. That was before I met you and you became best friends with us."

"No. He's told me stories of girls you have been with after we met."

"That's only because I didn't think you would ever want to be with me. I was trying to get over you. It never helped, so I eventually stopped trying. I haven't been with anyone in a very long time, Tess."

"But Zed said..."

"More fucking lies? He knew I wanted you, Tess. He was just trying to make sure you thought I was happy with an endless parade of fuck buddies," I sigh.

"You really haven't been with any girls recently?"

"If you want the truth... I used to spend Friday nights pleasuring myself while thinking of you when you were out on your date nights with Zed."

"Hardin!"

"Tessa!" I mock. "You asked." I shrug.

"What kind of stuff did you think of?"

"Really dirty stuff," I tease while I play with her hair.

"Tell me!"

"Um, fucking you in this bed, on that desk, in that chair, in the shower, on the couch... oh, and on the kitchen counter..."

"Okay! I get it!" She buries her head into my chest and I laugh.

"I also thought about this perfect mouth around me," I say as I trace her lips with my thumb.

"I thought about you, too," she says so quietly I almost don't hear her.

"Really?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah, I liked you too, but you never asked me out."

"That's because that scumbag Zed beat me to it."

"Speaking of Zed... I don't want to go to school tomorrow."

I pull Tessa on top of me and look into her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Tess. Maybe we shouldn't have done anything tonight. I hope I didn't take advantage of your emotional state."

"You didn't. It gave me something to be happy about."

"If you decide to go tomorrow, I'll be there for you. No one will start shit if I'm around."

"You can't be with me every minute."

"Oh, yes I can, even if that means I join your yoga class."

Tessa lets out a beautiful laugh. "I'd like to see that!"

"And I'd like to see this ass in yoga pants," I say as I gently squeeze her.

"Hardin?"

"Yes?"

"Can I spend the night in your bed with you?"

"Of course," I say and then kiss her. "And Tess, tonight was amazing. Don't ever think otherwise."

I fall asleep with my Tessa in my arms where she belongs.