The songs for this chapter are:

Closer- Kings of Leon

Give me love- Ed Sheeran

 In my veins- Andrew Belle

Tessa's POV.

I can't sleep. I've tried to close my eyes and block the world out, leave the chaos and stress of the mess that is my love life, but I can't. It's impossible. It's impossible to fight the magnetic pull that draws me to Hardin's room, that begs me to be near him. He's being so distant and I have to know why. I have to know if he is behaving this way because of something I did, or didn't do. I have to know that it had nothing to do with Sasha and her tiny gold dress, or Hardin losing interest in me.

I have to know.

Hesitantly, I climb out of the bed and tug on the small cord to bring the lamp to life. I pull the thin band from around my wrist and gather my hair into my hands, pulling it into a ponytail. As quietly as possible, I tip toe across the hall and slowly turn the handle on guest room door. It opens with a low creak and I'm surprised to find the lamp on and the bed empty.  A pile of black sheets and blankets are pushed against the edge of the bed and Hardin isn't in the room.

My heart sinks at the possibility that he has left Seattle and went back home- to his home. I know things were awkward between us but we should be able to talk about whatever it happens to be that is weighing on Hardin's mind. My eyes search the room and I'm relieved when I see his bag resting on the floor, the clean and folded clothes have been knocked over but managed to keep their neat form.

I've loved seeing the changes in Hardin since his arrival only hours ago. He's been sweeter, calmer, and he actually apologized to me without me pulling the words from him. Regardless of the fact that he's being cold and distant right now, I can't ignore the changes that have been made this week and the positive impact that the distance between us has had on him.

I quietly pad down the hallway in search of Hardin. He's here in this house.. somewhere. The house is dark, the only light is coming from small nightlights lined against the floor of the halls. The bathrooms, living room, and kitchen are empty and I don't hear a single noise coming from upstairs. He has to be upstairs though, maybe he's in the library?

I keep my fingers crossed that I do not wake anyone during my search for Hardin, and just as I close the door to the dark and empty library, I see the small line of light creeping from the door at the end of the long corridor. During my short week here, I haven't made it to this wing of the house. I suspect this is where the theatre room and the gym that Christian spends hours inside of, are located.

The door is unlocked and I push it open with ease. A momentary spark of worry hits me as I entertain the idea that Christian may be the one in the room. That would be incredibly awkward and I pray that isn't the case.

All four walls of the room are mirrored from floor to ceiling and lined with large, intimidating machines, a treadmill being the only recognizable one. Weights and more weights cover the far wall, and majority of the floor is padded. My eyes move to the mirrored walls and my inside liquefy. Hardin, four Hardin's, are projected in the mirrors. Shirtless, and making aggressively quick movements, His hands are covered in the same black tape that Christian's were wrapped in each day this week.

Hardin's back is facing toward me, the hard muscles straining under his tanned skin, as he lifts his foot to kick the large black bag hanging from the ceiling. His fist is next, it juts out in front of him, a loud thud follows his movements and he repeats with the other fist. I watch as his actions repeat, he looks so angry, and hot, and sweaty, and I can barely think straight as I watch him assault the bag.

In one swift movement, he lifts his left leg, then his right, both fists collide with the bag with such fluidity, it's incredible to watch. His skin is shining and covered in sweat, his chest and stomach look slightly different than before, more defined. He simply looks.. larger. The metal chain attached to the ceiling looks as if it will snap from Hardin's aggression.  My mouth is dry and my thoughts are drowsy as I watch him and listen to his angry groans as he stops using his feet and only uses his fists against the bag. I don't know if it was the soft moan that fell from my lips at watching him, or if he simply noticed my presence, but he immediately stops his movements. The bag continues to sway on it's chain and Hardin uses one hand to stop it from moving.

I don't want to be the first to speak but he gives me no choice as he stares at me with wide and angry eyes.

"Hey," my voice is hoarse and tiny.

"Hi," he breathes, his chest rises and falls rapidly.

"What, uhm," I try to contain myself, "What are you doing?" I ask him.

"I couldn't sleep." he breathes heavily, "what are you doing up?" He gathers his black t-shirt from the floor and wipes the moisture from his face. I gulp, I can't seem to find the strength to look away from his sweat soaked body.

"Uhm, same as you. I couldn't sleep,"

"How did you find me?" he pants.

"Process of elimination," I smile weakly and my eyes flicker to his toned torso, the muscles move along with his hard breaths.

He nods, his eyes don't meet mine and I can't help but ask,  "Did I do something? If I did, we could just talk about it and work it out."

"No, you didn't do anything,"

"Then tell me what's wrong, please Hardin. I need to know what's going on." I gather as much confidence as I can manage, "do you.. nevermind," the inch of confidence I had slips away under his stare.

"Do I what?" he sits down on a long black cushion, I believe it's some sort of weight bench, and wipes the t-shirt over his face again before he wraps it around his head, restraining his dampened mess of hair.

It's oddly endearing and very attractive, so much so that I find myself fumbling for words. "I'm just beginning to wonder if maybe you.. you are starting to not like me as much." The question sounded much better inside of my head. When said out loud, it sounds pathetic and needy.

"What?" he drops his hands onto his knees, "what are you talking about?"

"Are you still as attracted to me.. physically?" I pathetically question. I wouldn't feel so ashamed of the insecure question if he wouldn't have rejected me earlier tonight. That, and if Ms. Long legs and short dress wouldn't have been fawning over him right in front of me. Not to mention, the way his eyes lingered down her body..

"What.. where is this comong from?" His chest rises and falls, the sparrows inked just under his collarbones appear to be fluttering  along with the quick movements.

"Well," I take a few steps further into the room,  I'm sure to leave a few feet between Hardin and I, "earlier when we were kissing.. you stopped and you have barely touched me since and you went to bed,"

"You actually think that I'm not attracted to you anymore?" he opens his mouth to continue but closes it again before any words come out.

"It has crossed my mind," I admit. The padded flooring has suddenly become fascinating as I stare down at it.

"That is fucking insane," he starts. "look at me," my eyes meet his and he sighs deeply before continuing,  "I can't begin to fathom why you would ever consider that I'm not attracted to you Tessa." He seems to think over his response and adds  "well, I guess I can see why you would think that because of earlier but it's not true, that literally could not be further from the fucking truth."

"Then what is it?" The ache in my chest has slowly begun to dissolve.

"You're going to think I'm fucking morbid."

Oh no.

"Why? Tell me, please." I beg him. I watch as frustrated fingers run over the slight stubble on his chin, it's barely there, only a day's worth of not shaving. 

"Just hear me out before you get pissed, okay?"

I nod slowly, the action completely contradicts the buzzing of paranioa fluttering through me.

"I had this dream, well nightmare actually," my chest tightens and I pray that it's not as bad as he's making it out to be. Half of me is relieved that he's upset over a nightmare, not an actual event, but the other half aches for him. He has been alone all week and it hurts me to know that his nightmares have returned.

"Go on," I gently encourage him.

"About you.. and Zed."

What? 

"What do you mean?" I ask Hardin.

"He was at our-my apartment and I came home to find him in between your legs, you were moaning his name and,"

"Okay, I get it," I stop him. The pained expression on his face compells me to stop him from repeating the dream.

"No, let me tell you,"

I'm extremely uncomfortable listening to Hardin talk about Zed and I in bed, but if he feels like he needs to tell me, I will bite my tongue and listen.

"He was on top of you, fucking you, in our bed. You said that you loved him," he grimaces.

All of this tension and awkward behavior from Hardin stemmed from a dream he had about me and Zed?

That does help explain his middle of the night demand last night that I call Zed and take back the visitation to Seattle that I agreed to.

As I stare across the room to the green-eyed, grief stricken man with his face resting on his hands, my earlier paranoia and frustration dissolves like sugar on my tongue. 

Hardin's POV.

"Hardin," she breathes. My name comes out soft, her tongue caressing the word.

"Why didn't you just tell me earlier?" She asks and walks closer to me. I begin to pick at the thick tape wrapped around my hands, "it was only a dream, that would never happen."

"It's stuck in my head, I can't stop it from replaying. He was fucking taunting me the entire time too, like smirking as he fucked you." Tessa's small hands quickly move to cover her ears.

"Don't use those words," she crinkles her nose in displeasure. 

"You love those words," I remind her.

"Not when they are used like that,"

With him, I hope she means.

"Why do you think you had that dream?" She asks.

"I don't know, probably because you agreed to let him visit you,"

"I didn't know what else to say, and we were.. well we still are, in that weird place," she mutters.

"I don't want him near you, I know it's fucked up but I don't give a shit. Honestly,  Zed is the line for me, it will always be that way. No amount of kick-boxing will change that. Weird place or not, you are only for me. Not just sexually, but entirely."

"He hasn't been near me since he brought me to my mother's house," she reminds me but the panic resting inside of me doesn't budge. "But, if it will make you stop thinking these things,  I will tell him not to visit."

"You will?" I expected more of a fight from her.

"Yes, I don't want it weighing on you like this." With nervous eyes, she looks down at my chest and back up to my face.

"Come here," I lift one bandaged hand to beckon her.

Because her feet are moving too slowly, I lean up and grab ahold of her arm, wrapping my hand around her elbow to quicken her slow actions.

My breathing has yet to return to normal, I couldn't help but beat the shit out of that damn bag. My hands and feet are aching, and I still haven't released all of my anger. There is something there, just sitting in the back of my mind nagging at me, not allowing me to release the grudge.

That is, until her mouth is on mine. She surprises me by pushing her tongue into my mouth and she wraps her small hands into my sweat soaked hair, tugging hard, pulling the rolled up t-shirt from around my head and she tosses it onto the floor.

"Tessa," I gently push against her chest and remove my mouth from hers. I take a seat back on the weight bench, her eyes narrow at me.

She doesn't speak while she moves to stand in front of me. "I won't put up with you rejecting me because of a dream, Hardin. If you don't want me then that's fine but this is bullshit," she says through her teeth.

As twisted as it is, her anger stirs inside of me, causing my blood to flow straight to my dick. I've wanted this woman since the last time I was inside of her and now her she is wanting me, and getting pissed at me for stopping her from taking what she wants.

 Hearing her come over the phone would never be good enough, I need to feel it. With adrenaline still pumping through my veins like fire, I finally speak.

"I can't help it Tessa, I know it doesn't make sense," I wage a war within myself.

"Fuck me then," she says and my mouth falls open. "You should just fuck me until you forget about that dream because you're here for one night and I've missed you but you're too stuck on imagining me with Zed to even give me the attention that I want,"

"The attention that you want?" I can't help the harshness of my tone from with the irony of her words. She has no idea how many times I've fucked my own hand, pretending it was her, imagining her voice in my ear telling me how much she needs me, how much she loves me.

"Yes, Hardin. That I want."

"What is it exactly that you want?" I ask her. Her gaze is hard and slightly unnerving.

"I want you to spend time with me without obsessing over Zed, I want you to touch me and kiss me without pulling away. That Hardin, is what I want." She scowls and places her hands on her hips.

Why is she so frustrated?

"I want you to touch me, only you." She adds, softening her stance by a fraction. Her words, reassuring and flattering, begin to push the paranoid thoughts from my mind and I begin to rationalize just how stupid this whole ordeal really was.

She is mine, not his. He's sitting alone somewhere and I'm here with her and she wants me.

I can't keep my eyes off of her pouty lips, her angry glare, the soft curve of her tits just under the thin white t-shirt, the t-shirt that should be, but isn't, one of mine.

She closes the space between us and Tessa, my somewhat shy yet very fucking dirty girl, is looking at me, expecting a reply as her hand moves to my shoulder and pushes me back just enough to climb on top of my lap.

Fuck this. I don't give a shit about some stupid fucking dream or her stupid fucking rule about distance. All I want is her and I, me and her, Tessa and the mess that is fucking Hardin. Her lips find their way to my neck and my fingertips press into her hips. No matter how many times I imagined this throughout the week, it will never compare to her tongue skimming my damp collarbone to that fucking spot just under my ear.

"Lock the door," I instruct as her teeth softly sink into my skin and she grinds her hips down against me. I'm rock fucking hard against her ridiculous fluffy fucking pants and I need her, now.

I ignore the aching throb between my legs as she climbs off of me and hurries across the room to lock the door. I don't waste a god damned second when she returns. Her pants are pushed down her thighs and her black panties follow, pooling around her ankles on the padded floor.

"I have been tortured all week, thinking about how you look when you're like this," I groan, my eyes drinking in every fucking detail of her half naked body. "So beautiful," I compliment her.

When she pulls her t-shirt over her head, I can't help but lean forward and kiss the curve of her wide hips. A slow shiver rakes through her and she reaches behind her back to unclasp her bra. 

Holy fuck.

Out of all the times I have made love to her, I can't remember ever feeling this feverish. Even the times when she woke me up by wrapping her mouth around my cock, I never felt this fucking animalistic. 

I reach for her, taking one of her breasts into my mouth and one in my hand. Her hands move to my shoulders to keep her steady as I pucker my lips around her soft skin.

"Oh god," she groans, her nails dig into my shoulder and I suck harder. "Lower, please." She attempts to guide my head down with a gentle push and I use my teeth against her.

I run my fingertips along the underside of both of her breasts, slow and torturous, this is what she gets for being so fucking tempting and teasing.

Her hips move forward and I slide my body down slightly so that my mouth is at the perfect height to press against the already swollen bud of nerves between her thighs. With a soft moan, she encourages me further, my lips wrap around her, sucking and savoring the moisture already gathered there. She's so warm and so fucking sweet.

"Your fingers haven't quite satisfied you, have they?" I pull away to ask her.

She breathes a deep breath, her grey eyes watching me as I tease her by running my tongue along her pubic bone. "Don't tease me," she whines, tugging at my hair again.

"Did you get yourself off again this week, after our chat on the phone?" I taunt her. She squirms and gasps when my tongue lands exactly where she wants it.

"No,"

"You're lying," I call her out. I can tell by the redness creeping from her neckline to her cheeks and the way her eyes flickered to the mirrored wall that she's not telling the truth. She has gotten herself off since our time on the phone, the thought of her lying there, her legs spread open, touching herself makes me groan against her hot skin.

"Only once," she lies again.

"That's too bad," I completely pull away from her.

"Three times, okay?" Tessa admits, embarrassment clear in her voice.

"What were you thinking about? What was it that made you come?"

"You, only you."

Her admittance thrills me and I want to please her now more than ever before. I know that I can make her come in less than a minute using only my tongue, but I don't want that. With one last kiss to the apex of her thighs, I pull away and stand to my feet. Tessa is completely naked and the mirrors, fuck, the mirrors reflect her perfect body, making me tug my shorts and boxers down to my ankles with only one hand. I begin to pull at the tape wrapped around my knuckles but her hand quickly darts out to stop me.

"No, leave it," Tessa requests, a flicker of lust sparks in her eyes. So she likes the tape.. or maybe the workout... or the mirrors..

I do as she says and my body is pressed against hers within seconds. My mouth claims hers and I pull her down to the padded floor with me.

Her hands run across my bare chest and her eyes darken to a smoky grey, "your body is different now,"

"It's only been a week of working out," I roll her naked body so that's she pinned underneath mine.

"I can tell," she compliments. Her tongue runs across her full lips so slowly that I don't hesitate to press myself against her, letting her know just how fucking hard I am for her.

She's so slick and so god damned wet against me, one small movement and I will finally be inside of her.

"I don't have a fucking condom in here," I curse and bury my face into her shoulder.

She lets out a frustrated groan and uses her palms to try to push me off of her.

Not tonight.

I press against the warm, soaked flesh and slowly fill her.

"But," her eyes flutter closed and the sensation overwhelms me as I flex my hips to get deeper, as deep inside of her as I possibly can.

"Fuck, I have missed you," I moan. I can't get over just how fucking warm and soft she is without the barrier of a condom.

All of my common sense has been erased, all the warnings that I've given to myself and to her, have disappeared. I only need a few seconds, a few more thrusts into her awaiting body, and I'll stop.

I lift myself by stretching my arms below me, straightening them to gain height. I want to look at her while I'm moving in and out of her. Her head is lifted off of the padded floor and she's staring at the spot where our flushed bodies are connected.

"Look into the mirror," I hoarsely groan. I'll stop after three more.. okay four. I can't help but continue to move as she turns her head to watch us in the mirrored wall. Her body looks so soft and perfect, and fucking clean compared to the black stains covering mine. We are pure passion personified, devil and angel, and I'm madly in fucking love with her.

"I knew you liked being watched,, even if it's only by your own self, I fucking knew it." Her fingers press into the bottom of my spine, pulling me closer and deeper and fuck, I have to stop now, I feel the pressure building from the bottom of my spine to my groin as I reveal one of her kinks. I have to stop..

I slowly pull out of her, letting both of us enjoy the lingering moment of pleasure. Her whines are quickly cut short when my fingers slide into her with ease, "I'm going to make you come now and then take you to your bed," I promise her and she smiles a dazed smile before looking back into the mirror, watching me.

"Quiet baby, you'll wake them," I whisper against her. I love the noises she makes, the way she moans my name, but the last thing I need is one of the cock-blocking Vance's knocking at the door.

Within seconds, I feel her tighten around my fingers. I nip and suck at the nerves above her entrance and she tugs at my hair, continuing to watch me fuck her with my fingers until she comes, gasping and panting my name repeatedly.

Tessa's POV.

Hardin's mouth leaves a trail of moisture up my stomach and in between my chest before finally placing a soft kiss against my temple. I lay there on the floor next to him trying to catch my breath and relive the events leading up to this. I had every intention to have a serious conversation with Hardin about his-no our, lack of communication, but watching him angrily assault that boxing bag led to me gasping and moaning his name within minutes.

"I want to reciprocate." I lean up onto my elbow and look down at him.

"Be my guest," he grins, his liips coated with my moisture.

I move quickly, taking him into my mouth before he catches a single breath.

"Fuck," he groans. The sensual noise causes my mouth to fall open too far, and he slips from my mouth. Hardin bucks his hips off the floor to meet my lips again, pressing himself inside of my mouth.

"Please Tess," Hardin begs.

I can taste myself on him but I ignore it as he moans my name.

"I'm not.. fuck, I'm not going to last long," he pants and I speed up.

All too soon, he tugs my hair and lifts my head back.

"I want to come while I'm making love to you, not in your mouth," he runs his thumb over my lips and playfully, I bite down gently against the pad of his finger. That's all it takes for him to pull away and stand to his feet.

"Get dressed," he commands, tossing my bra to me.

Hardin and I both dress ourselves in haste, I catch him staring at me time and time again. Not that I can say much, I haven't stopped staring at him either.

"Ready?" He asks. I nod and Hardin turns the lights off, closes the door behind us as if nothing happened in that room, and he leads me down the hallway.

We walk in comfortable silence, a vast difference from the tension between us earlier. When we reach the hallway just outside of my bedroom, Hardin stops me by gently grabbing ahold of my elbow.

"I should have told you about that nightmare instead of distancing myself from you," he says. The dim nightlights cast just enough light onto his face to allow me to see the pure honesty and softness behind his eyes.

"We both just need to learn to communicate,"

"You're so much more understanding than I deserve you to be." He whispers and lifts my hand in front of his face. His lips press against each of my knuckles and my knees nearly buckle at the touching gesture.

 Hardin opens the door and takes my hand in his as he leads me to the bed.

(Please vote and comment<3 I know everything has seemed a little slow but I'm building up to the remaining chapters in the book, so prepare yourselves ;)