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...
I wake up to Hardin gently playing with my hair. "Hardin?"
"Morning, baby. I hope I didn't wake you."
"How long have you been awake?" I ask in a sleepy voice.
"A few hours."
"Hours?! Why didn't you wake me?"
"Because it was my turn to watch you sleep."
"I don't know if I like that," I giggle.
"It's only fair. You're always watching me sleep. And you're cute when you sleep."
"I am?"
"Yes. You drool a little."
"What? I do not!" I blush and Hardin begins to chuckle.
"Okay, maybe I made that up, but it wouldn't matter if you did. Nothing could change the way I see you. You're always beautiful to me. My sweet Tessa."
"My grumpy Hardin," I say as I run my fingers over his toned stomach.
After a few minutes of silence I finally ask, "How does your lip feel?"
"It's fine, Tess."
"I hope I didn't hurt it when I was kissing you last night."
"You didn't. Even if you did, it would have been worth the pain for a kiss from you." I look up at him and he runs his thumb across my bottom lip before giving me a single gentle kiss.
"Speaking of last night..." I begin.
"Last night was incredible, Tessa."
"I was thinking the same thing." I can't help but smile.
"I know we don't have much to compare it to, but I felt like that was almost the best sex of my life."
"Almost?" I choke.
"A close second, for sure."
"Hardin! How could you say that to me?"
"The best was the first time we made love, Tessa."
"Oh."
"You didn't think I was talking about with someone else, did you?"
"No..." I lie.
"Tessa, how could you think that? Nothing in my life that happened before you even matters anymore."
"I'm sorry, Hardin. I guess sometimes it still bothers me about all the other girls," I pout.
"It bothers me too, Tess," he says as he plays with my hair again.
"What do you mean?"
"If I knew you were going to walk into my life, I would have waited for you. I wish you would have been my first."
"Aw, Hardin... As long as I'm your last," I say playfully.
"You are," he says in a serious tone.
"So, what made last night the second best sex of your life?" I ask while tracing Hardin's abs and tattoos.
"I've always wanted you, Tess. I'm attracted to you and you always turn me on, but last night was a desperate need to feel close to you in a way no one else ever has, or ever will. Being inside you, holding you close, and staring into your mesmerizing blue-grey eyes felt like the only way to help me see you weren't slipping away from me like you did before when you were going through everything Neil put you through."
"Hardin... Making love that way was my favourite. You holding me and watching me the entire time was so intimate and intense and... it was just the best feeling I've ever had."
"This is where I'd make a joke about knowing you would enjoy riding me, but I'll let it pass. I don't want to ruin the moment," he chuckles and I gently swat at him. "But seriously, Tess.... Yesterday scared me so much. It made me realize I can't always protect you. Something bad could happen. I wouldn't survive what we went through a second time."
"It scared me, too. But I don't want to live worrying about what might happen. I want us to enjoy our time together. And I know you'll always keep me safe, Hardin."
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"Same, " I reply.
"You've already done so much for me. I'm the man I am today because of you. I like who I've become because of you."
"You always find a new way to melt my heart, don't you, Hardin Scott?" I look up at Hardin when he doesn't reply. He looks lost in thought and I shudder to think of which bad memory from his past is plaguing him in this moment. "Hardin, come back to me," I say as I tilt his head to look at me.
"My beautiful girl, always saving me from myself," he says as he gently rubs his thumb over my cheek.
I place my hand over his and give him a warm smile. "I love you."
"I love you, with everything inside me."
"What should we do today, Hardin?"
"Is it okay if we just spend the day together in this bed? After yesterday, I don't want to go anywhere."
"Me neither, to be honest."
Hardin and I spend a lazy day in bed talking, reading, cuddling and just enjoying the second to last day of being in our own little world together.
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