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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As I'm pulling Hardin up the stairs and to our room, I glance up at him. I swear he looks like a kid on Christmas. His grin is literally extending from ear to ear. "Are you excited?" I ask with a smile of my own.
"Fuck yeah, I am."
I open the door to our room and quickly pull Hardin inside. I walk over to my bag to grab the surprise I have for him, but before I make it, Hardin starts to say something.
"Tess, wait."
"Is something wrong?"
Hardin puts the box of Betty's baked goods on the table, then walks over to me. "Tess..." he begins to say and takes my hands in his. "Before we do anything else, I want to give you your anniversary gift."
"Oh... I almost forgot about that."
"Yeah, I'm sure." He chuckles.
"Are you sure you don't want your surprise first?"
"No, baby, I really want to give this to you now."
"Okay, Hardin." I can't help but smile. I watch as Hardin walks over to his bag and pulls out that red bag with white hearts I've been waiting to open. I excitedly hold out my hands as he hands it to me.
"Happy five month anniversary slash Valentine's Day, baby."
"I'm so excited!" I squeal. I quickly open the bag and toss the pink tissue paper to the floor. I reach into the bottom of the bag and pull out a little black box. Hardin's given me enough of these for me to already know what's inside. "Another charm for my bracelet?" I ask excitedly.
"I don't know..." He plays dumb. "Open it and find out!" He smiles.
I open the box and see I'm right. It's another charm to add to my bracelet. I pick it up and examine it. It's a lily.
"So? What do you think?" Hardin asks impatiently.
"I-I love it!"
"I can't believe I didn't think to get you a charm of your favourite flower sooner. After I left you shopping that day, I saw that little store on the corner on my way back from picking up our lunch. When I saw the charm in the window, I just knew I had to get it for you."
"It's really perfect, Hardin. I love the bouquet of lilies you bought me, but I love that this one will last forever."
"Do you want me to add it to your bracelet for you?"
"Yes, please!" I shout and hold out my wrist.
As Hardin adds the lily to my already almost full bracelet, I notice a smile plastered on his face. Not just any smile— the one that really makes his dimple pop.
"I never in a million years thought I'd see the Hardin Scott smiling while holding a piece of jewelry." I giggle.
"Only for you, baby." He chuckles. "There. How's it look?"
"Perfect. Thank you so much!" I squeal as I jump up and hug him.
"If this is the response I get, I think I'll have to buy you a charm every week," he jokes.
"I wouldn't complain about that." I giggle.
"You really love this little piece of jewelry so much?" he asks while holding my wrist up.
"Yes! It's not just jewelry to me. It's a memory of our journey together. I think my favourite is still the first one you bought me— the seahorse. I was in such a bad place, but you stood by me and supported me. That day at the aquarium with you was exactly what I needed. Without you, I don't know how I would have moved past what Neil did to me."
"Tessa, I will always love and support you. I might act like a total idiot sometimes... okay, a lot of the time... but I know how lucky I am to be with you. All I can give you in return is my love and support and to promise I'll always stand by you."
"I love you, every single part of you... The grumpy, jealous, overprotective, intelligent, sensitive, loyal, loving parts of you."
"You forgot horny." He chuckles.
"Way to ruin a sweet moment, jerk," I tease and shove his shoulder.
"Sorry, baby. Come here," he beckons as he pulls me to his chest, wraps his arms tightly around me and sweetly kisses the top of my head.
"I had a really great weekend, Hardin. Thank you for bringing me here," I say into his chest.
"I know I complained a little—"
"A little?" I laugh.
"A lot," he corrects himself. "But I had a really great weekend, too."
"I'd love to do this every year," I say as I pull back and look up at Hardin.
He smiles down at me while he silently stands there.
"What?"
"I just love the idea of 'every year'."
"Me, too." I smile back.
"So... not to ruin another sweet moment, but I'm really excited about that surprise you've been teasing me with all weekend."
"Oh, yes... that," I say with a naughty smile on my face.
"Yes, that," he says as he moves closer to me. "It's been a really, really long time since I've been..." he begins to say as he leans down and then whispers in my ear, "Inside you."
"Yes, it's been like two days." I giggle. "How have you made it through?" I tease.
"Hey, that's a long time for me."
"Remember how you said you felt like a virgin again?"
"Yes." He laughs.
"Well, this time I get to take your virginity," I say as I run my finger down his chest.
"It's all yours, baby."
"Get comfortable while I go get your surprise ready," I instruct before grabbing Hardin's surprise from my bag and going to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, I'm ready. I open the bathroom door a crack and call out to Hardin, "Ready or not... Here I come!"
