Kenneth woke before the sunrise, watching it stretch desperately through the tall buildings blocking the horizon in order to reach him. As the room brightened, he turned to the woman laying beside him. Well, she was basically laying on him. She was tucked under his arm, laying a cheek on his chest, arm across his torso, and leg over his. He moved his arm to gently stroke her lovely curls and then let his fingers glide over her shoulder, down her arm, and towards the naked curse of her hips.

Carmen laid on the scarred half of his body, peacefully dreaming upon the display of nightmares. His eyes ran down his arm and he frowned at the scars. As he ran his fingers gently over the stretch marks decorating Carmen's dark skin, his frown softened. They did not get their scars the same way. His held nightmares, hers held dreams come true. He liked Carmen's scars so much better than his own. Except for the small one she had under her eye, which she explained was from an aggressive client, in her prostitution days. He didn't like that one.

A moan rose from Carmen as she stirred in her sleep. Kenneth stayed still, waiting for her to settle again, but Carmen stretched her arms and legs. Her eyes popped open a moment later and looked up to meet his. A smile took over her gentle features before she snuggled against him again and Kenneth could have swore his heart had burst in his chest. Knowing she was so happy and comfortable in his arms did something to him that he did no expect and was not used to.

"I tried to pull my father from the car, after the crash," Kenneth compulsively confessed. Carmen's smile fell and her eyes turned soft and thoughtful. She wanted him to go on, so he did. He nervously cleared his throat and said, "I managed to get out of the car but he was unconscious, so I reached in to save him, and the car blew. Completely scarred the right side of my body and killed my father. I failed to save him."

"Fail is kinda a harsh word..." Carmen whispered. She rubbed a soothing hand across Kenneth's chest, rubbing his scars with the pad of her thumb. "You were brave to try. The car literally exploded, Kenneth. It's not like you were lacking and that's why he died."

"Yeah, I know. It's just all the stuff that came afterwards that made me feel like a failure."

"What happened?"

"I lost my football scholarship because of the injuries. Hadn't even entered college yet so I just dropped out and sulked. My entire future and my entire family vanished with that car accident. I had nothing. And nobody loves lost souls more than Rin Yang..." Kenneth sighed as he ran a hand down his face. "I found Rin through a bullshit rehabilitation ploy. Her company claimed to be looking for employees that lost their way. I sold my soul under the guise of a publicity stunt..."

"That's rough," Carmen cringed. "I'm so sorry, Kenneth. Losing your father, your future, and then having all these scars to constantly remind you of it all. You don't deserve that torture."

Kenneth nearly laughed. Carmen didn't know enough to know what he deserved, because he definitely wasn't a saint by any means. It was very sweet of her to comfort him like that though. It made him feel a little bit better, even if it was all false hope.

"Thank you, Carmen. You're an Angel." Kenneth held Carmen closer and placed a kiss on his forehead. "So please, excuse me if I admire your scars every time I see them. I may be slightly jealous that your scars are made of love and mine are of tragedy."

The conversation of their scars had came up multiple times during their trip together. After resenting his own for so many years, Kenneth was drawn to hers like a moth to a flame. When they went out on the Los Angeles streets, Kenneth kept his hand on her hips and was constantly rubbing his thumb over the scars hidden under her clothes. When they made love in their hotel bed, Kenneth took time to kiss her scars and trace them with adoration. Carmen tried to tell him that his were not ugly and he shouldn't look at his body with such resentment all time, but Kenneth was stubborn.

"I know your scars give you bad memories. I understand why you dislike them, but I believe there is love in your scars too. Just like mine," Carmen said, her last words laced in a yawn.

"Love? In this mess?" Kenneth sounded incredulous at the idea as he ran his opposite hand down his scarred torso.

Carmen sighed and turned on her stomach to look Kenneth in the eye. She left one arm on his chest and used the other to prop herself up. "You got your scars because you were trying to save your father. You put yourself in danger, without hesitation, and you would do it again and again, if there was a chance that it would work. Right?"

Kenneth stared silently into Carmen's eyes, a slight pinch of his brows that let her know that he was seriously considering her words.

"You loved your father and these scars are proof," Carmen said. "A lot of bad things happened afterwards, but those bad things did not make these scars. These are result of your never ending love. Even if you do not like them, they are not all bad."

Kenneth absorbed Carmen's words, feeling the weight on his shoulders slowly lighten as he considered what she said. There was no changing the fact that his injuries and scars had ruined his future, but Carmen was right. No matter how much he hated them and no matter how he looked at them, there was still love woven into his scars. It was love for his father. Just like how Carmen's scars were woven with the love of her children. Neither of them liked their scars and both had bad memories from them, but they were not all bad.

"I'm going to go shower before we have to head to the airport," Carmen whispered and placed a sweet kiss on Kenneth's lips. As she slipped away from him, completely naked, he took the time to admire her body. "I feel like I smell like sex and I know I'll blush all the way home if I don't wash this smell off."

Carmen disappeared into the bathroom and Kenneth still remained in bed, silent and shocked. Carmen somehow made Kenneth feel better about himself and it shook him to his very core. He had been doing a lot of bad things for many years. His sins ate away at his heart and mind everyday. The weight of his baggage was too much for him to carry anymore. But then Carmen came along and showed him love and forgiveness. She opened his eyes to his more favorable qualities, proving that he wasn't as lost as he thought he was.

Redemption.

That's what Kenneth wanted, after all these years. Carmen gave him a taste of that desire, even if it was a small one, and he was addicted to it.

Carmen yelped when she heard the glass door of the shower pop open behind her. It was just Kenneth, stepping in behind her with a smile on his face. He obviously found it amusing that he had unintentionally scared her. Carmen tried to giggle and defend herself for being so jumpy, but Kenneth cut her off when he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into a kiss. She laughed against his lips at his attempt to shut her up and wrapped her arms around him to return his embrace.

Kenneth's hands roamed Carmen's body, stroking up and down her back and her arms before settling on her ass and squeezing the meat there. He pulled her close at her hips, causing his growing erection to grind into her stomach. Carmen moaned into their heated kiss, feeling the nerves under her skin buzz with excitement. Just remembering how good Kenneth was in bed during their stay together put Carmen back in the mood to have sex. It would be hard to leave him again.

"Just one more time," Carmen whispered when she parted from Kenneth. She was already panting and her eyes were glazed with lust. "And then we really have to run to the airport."

"Just one more time," Kenneth echoed in agreement, staring into Carmen's eyes as he peeled her arms off of him and kissed up one arm. He stopped at her ear and whispered, "just something to remember me by."

Carmen moaned at Kenneth's lewd promise, though she was still a bit saddened by the fact that they would have to part afterwards. And there was no way either of them could know when they'd get the chance to see each other again.

Those sad thoughts were halted when Kenneth started trailing kisses down Carmen's body. He lingered on her breasts, giving them all the attention they deserved with his hands and his mouth, but then he moved on again. As much as he wanted to devour every inch of Carmen, they didn't have time. So Kenneth was quick to throw one of Carmen's legs over his shoulder and peer up at her as he licked tauntingly at her hot core. Carmen's fingers found his hair as her head fell back against the cold tile wall, a lewd moan falling from her lips.

Kenneth's cock grew even harder at that amazing sound and the taste of her amazing pussy. He spread her legs a bit more, ran a thumb through her folds to part them and admire her. He groaned. "Fuck, I'm going to miss eating you out."

Kenneth's mouth was on her again, and this time, he didn't play so nice. He licked and sucked and penetrated her warmth with his tongue, doing everything that he knew drove Carmen crazy. Carmen's moans were even louder and she gripped his hair tighter. She couldn't stop her hips from moving and Kenneth didn't care to stop her. He let her ride his face to her hearts content, until he became even more hungry for her orgasm and slipped his fingers inside of her.

The combination of his mouth on her clit and his fingers thrusting into her made Carmen cry out in pleasure and nearly melt against the wall. Kenneth groaned into her core, sending vibrations through her that made stars twinkle behind Carmen's eyelids. She gasped and moaned and yelped louder than she ever had before, crumbling bit by bit in front of Kenneth. When he could feel Carmen's clenching around his fingers and could hear her voice crack as she moaned, he knew she was close.

Kenneth brought Carmen's other leg over his shoulder so she was leaning against the wall and sat against his face. That gave him a free hand to pump his aching cock at the speed that he was licking Carmen's clit, bringing them close to their orgasms at a similar pace. Kenneth's moans increased as he neared his orgasm and the noises humming against Carmen's clit pushed her further and further toward the edge.

And like a merciless, ocean wave, Carmen's orgasm hit her from head to toe. She cupped her hand over her mouth to keep her cries of pleasure somewhat muffled as she spasmed with her release. Kenneth fought his own orgasm so he could help Carmen ride out her own. But as he lapped hungrily at the juices that cloaked his tongue from Carmen's release, he came into his hand and on the floor of the shower. He still worked his cock and Carmen's pussy, prolonging their pleasure just a little bit longer before he pulled away.

Carmen's feet gently hit the shower floor and her knees nearly gave out before her hands found Kenneth's shoulders. Kenneth slowly rose to his feet and cupped the back of her neck, silently asking her to open his eyes so he could see those beautiful, brown irises. Both of them were breathless and panting when Carmen met his stare, and still, he couldn't help but smile at the satiated look on her face. Her cheeks were a little flushed, her eyes hooded, and thighs slightly trembling.

"Something to remember you by..." Carmen breathlessly whispered, giving a thumbs up when her eyes closed and her head hit the wall again. "Good. Check."

Kenneth chuckled and pulled her closer by the grip on her neck, slamming his lips to hers. Carmen kissed him, her mouth a bit lazy and sloppy after being fucked so good. She could hardly think, let alone kiss.

Phone sex definitely wasn't going to be good enough after this mind blowing weekend.

~

The car ride home from the airport was lonely. Carmen had been glued to Kenneth's side for five days, and then suddenly, they were miles and miles apart. It made Carmen unexpectedly pouty. She told herself a million times not to think too deeply about her relationship with Kenneth. They were attracted to each other and they had too much shit going on in their lives to think anything more of the relationship. Yet here she was, sulking because she couldn't cling to him like two lovesick puppies.

The only thing that eased Carmen's heart was knowing that she was going to see her babies again. She had never left them for five days. She had never left them, period. They were her whole world. So knowing she was going to get to cuddle with her precious babies and hear their beautiful laughter again put a smile on Carmen's face. No matter who walked in or out of her life, her children would always be the most important thing to her. She couldn't possibly love anybody more than them.

"Mommy!" Bailey shrieked when her mom walked in. She abandoned her doll on the floor as she raced across the house to get to Carmen.

Carmen happy my welcomed her baby into her arms, peppering her face with a million kisses. Malik came around the corner a minute later and waddled a little less gracefully towards his mom. Carmen scooped him into her arms as well and squeezed them both in her arms. She was nearly on the brink of tears. She didn't know being away from them would be so hard.

"Welcome home!" Zoe yelled from the bathroom behind the grand staircase. Carmen looked up to see her waving with a clear glove covered in green goo.

"Hi, Zo! What are you guys doing?" Carmen asked as she carried her babies on either hip passed the stairs.

"We bought hair dye!"

"For you?" Carmen exclaimed in surprise, picking up her pace.

Her question was answered, though, when she rounded the corner and spotted Zoe massaging green hair dye into the ends of Fisher's wavy locks. Teddy and Howl were sitting on the edge of the tub, showing each other whatever they were looking at on their phones. The sight of the four of them hanging out in the house put a smile on Carmen's face. She had never seen Teddy with friends, so she still wasn't quite used to it. It was good though. He looked happy.

"Okay, Fish. You should be good now." Zoe peeled her dirty gloves off her hands and tossed them into a trash can before she got Howl's attention. "Come here, Howl. Let me see if you're ready."

Fisher placed himself on the toilet to get out of the way and Howl took his place in front of the sink with Zoe. Carmen hadn't noticed until he got close but Howl had a streak of bleach sitting in his hair, a and inch or two above his ear. Zoe carefully inspected the bleach and instructed him to put his head in the sink so should could wash it out.

"How was your trip?" Teddy asked Carmen as Zoe tended to Howl's hair.

Carmen took a deep, content breath and gave Teddy a soft smile. "Really good. I had so much fun. Los Angeles was beautiful, Kenneth was great—"

"He didn't touch you, did you?" Teddy asked, a scowl pinching his features.

Carmen glared back at her brother, unimpressed with his overprotective, stupid ass. She knew what he meant. He didn't want Kenneth to hurt her. And that was a nice sentiment, even if Teddy did sound arrogant. Still, Carmen felt like punishing him for acting like she couldn't take care of herself.

"Of course, he touched me. And he did it for hours," Carmen smugly retorted.

Teddy bent over the tub and retched like he was going to throw up. Zoe also gagged while bent over Howl's head, which made Carmen burst out laughing. She knew Teddy was going to do that but she didn't expect that reaction from Zoe. Carmen had heard from Zoe like Kenneth was like a brother to her though. She understood her reaction. She probably didn't want to imagine Kenneth having sex, just like how Teddy didn't want to imagine Carmen having sex.

"Okay. Time for the hair dye," Zoe grumbled, still sour from Carmen's comment, and turned off the sink.

Howl grabbed a towel and slung it around his shoulders to catch the water dripping from his hair. He gave his hair a quick dry, so it wasn't soaked, as Zoe put on another pair of gloves and grabbed the green hair dye. She used the little brush that came with the hair dye kit to evenly apply the green dye to the bleached streak in Howl's hair.

"Oh cute! You guys are gonna match?" Carmen exclaimed when she realized why Howl and Fisher with both dyeing their hair green.

"Howl thought it would be fun." Fisher shrugged. "My parents are probably gonna be pissed though. I'm not sure green hair is church appropriate."

Carmen cringed but tried to look on the bright side. "Well, at least you're only doing the ends. It'll look like a nice ombré, and once your hair grows out, you can get a nice trim and it'll be gone. No harm done."

"That's what I said," Howl said, turning to Carmen. Zoe scolded him for moving and grabbed his chin to keep his face still.

"What are you gonna do?" Carmen asked Teddy.

"Not fucking dyeing my hair."

"So, what? You're just hanging out?"

"No." Zoe removed her gloves and set the hair dye aside as Howl walked away, pecking Fisher's lips before sitting on the edge of the tub again. Zoe picked something up from the sink counter and looked at Carmen. "I'm gonna pierce his ears."

Carmen's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. When she looked at the thing in Zoe's hand, she realized it was a small ear piercing device. Carmen couldn't believe her eyes. It was even more unbelievable when Teddy got up and strutted towards Zoe, nervously rubbing his hands together as his jaw muscle bounced under his skin. He was obviously scared, but he wasn't letting that stop him. Carmen didn't know why. Teddy had never wanted to pierce his ears before. Why now?

"What the hell is going on with y'all? What's next? Zoe, you gonna chop all your hair off?" Carmen exclaimed in shock.

"No way!" Zoe shrieked, her eyes wide. "I'm not doing anything. My looks are my livelihood."

Carmen watched as Zoe climbed on to the sink counter and guided Teddy in front of her. They didn't have a step stool handy and Teddy was too tall for her to do this any other way. So Zoe stood on her knees on the counter and tilted Teddy's head up and to the side so she could see his ear. His hands blindly found her hips and he pulled her closer. He was greedy for her comfort, especially now that he was about to endure pain. Zoe found it insanely cute and placed a kiss on his forehead to soothe his nerves.

"If you cry, you owe me twenty bucks," Howl chimed.

"Who says?" Teddy grumbled, cringing when Zoe rubbed an alcohol soaked cotton ball on his ear and the piercing gun.

"I do, bitch," Howl snickered.

Carmen gasped, ready to scold Howl for swearing before Bailey spoke up. "No cussing!"

Zoe lined up the piercing gun on Teddy's earlobe and pulled the trigger before her or Teddy could hesitate or back out.

"Fuck!" Teddy shouted, parting from Zoe to clutch his ear. Zoe giggled but still pouted as she grabbed Teddy's shirt and pulled him back into her arms. "Shit, baby! Did you do it that hard on purpose?"

"No cussing!" Bailey shrieked again.

"No!" Zoe laughed, caressing Teddy's face to comfort him, even if his pain was a little entertaining. "It's an earring, Teddy. It has to go all the way through."

"Come on, my babies. Let's get out of here before Teddy says another bad word," Carmen whispered to Bailey and pecked her cheek.

"Sorry, Pumpkin!" Teddy yelled to Bailey as Carmen carried her and Malik away. Zoe tilted Teddy's head so she could have his other ear but Teddy flinched as soon as he felt the cotton ball. "Maybe we just do one ear, baby. One ear's fine."

"You said you wanted both ears pierced. Come on. Be brave." Zoe lined the piercer up with his earlobe, but paused. "Want me to count this time? Want to hold my hand?"

"Don't patronize me," Teddy growled.

"Then don't act like a baby," Zoe retorted with a smirk. She took hold of his chin when he wouldn't stop wiggling. "Want me to count?"

"No. Don't count. It was better when I didn't expect—" Teddy was cut off when Zoe pulled the trigger on the piercer. "Fuck! Holy fuck! You couldn't even let me finish my sentence?"

Zoe laughed, throwing her head back and clutching her stomach. Howl and Fisher also snickered, watching Teddy pace the bathroom as he rubbed his ears. When the pain subsided, Teddy shot a playful glare at his laughing girlfriend. He was offended that she found his pain so amusing, but he was also so in love with her laugh and the huge smile on her face that he couldn't be mad at her. Her laughter almost made the pain worth it.

"I want my twenty bucks. Cough it up," Howl chimed with an outstretched hand.

"I didn't cry, bitch!" Teddy argued, somehow sporting a smile.

"You made a big ass scene! You're a baby!"

Teddy flipped Howl his middle finger and returned to Zoe. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed his cheek to her chest, seeking her comfort. Zoe's laughter calmed as she stroked his head and his shoulders. He was clearly asking to be babied, even though he was still flipping Howl off for calling him one. Zoe happily coddled him. She wanted nothing more than to always be this close to Teddy. He was her teddy bear.

"Can I see them? Huh? Let me look," Zoe cooed, tilting Teddy's head up.

Teddy lifted his head and let Zoe turned his head from side to side so should could inspect his earrings. She gently grazed them with her thumbs and Teddy flinched, groaning at the slight pain. Zoe apologized and kissed his cheek before she moved out of the way so Teddy could look in the mirror. He examined them himself for a moment, debating whether he liked them. It took a minute, but eventually, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I don't hate'em." Teddy shrugged.

"I think they're hot," Zoe whispered, dragging her nails around Teddy's neck. His eyes met hers and they shared in a heated stare down. "Yummy enough to nibble on, I'd say."

Teddy chuckled, the sound deep and aroused. "Maybe when they're healed, baby. They're too sore right now."

"What if I wanna be sore too?" Zoe whispered, pulling Teddy closer by his neck so their lips grazed.

"Gross! Gross, gross, gross!" Fisher chanted, his hands over his ears and eyes glaring at Teddy and Zoe. When they looked at him, he said, "I'm so glad Carmen is home so you two can finally have some privacy and stop torturing us with your horniness!"

Zoe blushed and curled her lips into her mouth, internally shaming herself for being so dirty around other people. She didn't mean to say stuff like that. It just came out. Maybe Fisher had a point too. Taking care of Bailey and Malik these past few days left them zero time to themselves. They had fooled around two of the past four nights, but even then, they were too tired to actually have sex. That might've been the reason they were extra gross, even with Fisher and Howl trapped in the same room as them.

"Ignore him. He's being a hypocrite," Howl said with a smirk, his eyes moving from Teddy and Zoe to Fisher. "He has a dirty mouth too."

"I do not!" Fisher exclaimed, his eyes wide and face growing a brighter and brighter color red. "That's a lie!"

Howl decided to prove him wrong, poorly mimicking Fisher's voice as he said, "oh, Howl! Please, please, more... I can take it! Your cock feels so good! You're so deep inside me! I wanna come!"

Fisher lunged at Howl as quickly as he could, clapping his hands over Howl's mouth to shut him up. Fisher was so flustered that he stumbled into Howl, causing them both to fall into the deep bowl of the tub. Teddy and Zoe laughed at them, watching their limbs flail over the edge of the tub. Howl continued to mimic the dirty things Fisher said during sex and Fisher did everything he could to get a hand over Howl's mouth so he'd shut up.

Tearing his attention away from their goofy friends, Teddy gripped Zoe's ass and abruptly pulled her closer. "You wanna go to the studio tonight? To have some privacy again?"

Zoe blushed and refused to meet Teddy eyes. She pulled her hands off of his body and tried to wiggle away, but Teddy only held her tighter at her hips. When she still wouldn't look at him, Teddy grabbed her chin, just like she did to him, and forced her to look down at him. Zoe's lips parted, her hair fell around her face, and her eyes locked with his. Teddy's eyebrows gave a questioning jump, silently repeating his proposal to her.

"We should ask Carmen first," Zoe whispered, her cheeks flushed. "She might be sore too."

Teddy cried out in disgust, lifting his hands off Zoe like she was on fire. Zoe burst out laughing as Teddy backed away from her, his hands over his ears, just like Fisher had done when they talked dirty to each other.

~

"Did you decide whether you want to go to that beach party?" Zoe asked, talking despite how breathless she was.

Teddy ran a hand down his face as he also tried to catch his breath. He stretched his arms out, tucking one under Zoe's head as he stared at the high ceiling. "My brain has been rather occupied tonight. It still hasn't caught up with me yet."

Zoe giggled and rolled over to lay on Teddy's chest. She smiled down at him and used the back of her hands to wipe the beads of sweat off his brow and temples. Teddy admired Zoe's beautiful glow as she tended to him, seeping a hand into her hair simply to hold her. Zoe continued to touch him as she pleased. She grazed her thumb across his full lips, moved her hand to his ear to play with his earring, which she figured was still sore when he tilted his head away.

"I love you," Zoe whispered, running the tips of her fingers down the bridge of Teddy's nose.

"I know." Teddy tilted his head to kiss Zoe's fingers when they fell from his nose, but his lips never touched her as she grabbed his cheeks and squeezed his face.

Zoe stared down at Teddy with her mouth agape in shock. "Say it back," she demanded.

Teddy laughed, the sound distorted as it stuttered out of his perked lips. "I love you, Zoe."

Zoe let go of Teddy's face and pushed off his chest. "Yeah, yeah. I don't want it now."

Before Zoe could get too far, Teddy caught her by the waist and dragged her back into their nest of blankets. He towered over her, planted himself between her legs, and pinned her arms on either side of her head. Instead of convincing her that he loved her with his words, he decided that showing her would be more efficient. So Teddy kissed her, and he kissed her hard. Zoe moaned and arched into his warm body, welcoming more of him.

With Zoe's compliance, Teddy let go of her wrists and dragged his hands down her arms. When his hands reached her legs, he wrapped them around his waist and ground his hips against hers. Zoe gasped against Teddy's lips when she felt his growing erection brush against her core. He had already taken his condom off but both of them were still slick, causing his length to glide through her folds with ease. He didn't push in, but his gentle thrust felt like a threat and it was unexpectedly arousing. She had never felt him fuck her raw before.

"You know you don't have a condom on anymore, right?" Zoe whispered, unintentionally clenching Teddy's waist between her thighs.

"And you're not on birth control?" Teddy whispered, his voice laced in a smug tone that made his smirk flash through her mind.

Zoe's eyes fluttered open just as Teddy thrust again, nearly penetrating her yet again. His smirk only broadened as he watched Zoe's eyes pool with arousal.

"I am," Zoe answered. "So I guess you could..."

"Don't tempt me," Teddy growled. "I don't want to get into the habit of it and then end up fucking us both because you forgot your pill one day. Let's be safe. Let's be careful."

Zoe gulped. "Okay. Y-You're right."

Teddy chuckled, the sound deep and low. He dropped his face into the crook of her neck and bite playfully at her skin. He couldn't deny that this little game of tease between them was turning him on too. There was a primal instinct deep down within him that was begging him to push his naked length into Zoe's cunt. He wanted to fuck her without protection and fill her with his cum. There was a small desire for a child, but that wasn't really the hook of the temptation. He just wanted to claim her body with his seed, like an uncontrollable caveman.

"My mother would kill me if I ended up pregnant, so you're right. We should be extra careful," Zoe breathlessly whispered, raising her hips to meet Teddy's gentle thrusts. Teddy trailed his lips down Zoe's neck and sucked greedily at her collarbones. "She'd kill you too."

"That's the only reason I'm not inside you right now," Teddy growled out against Zoe's skin.

His cock seemed to slide even slower through her soaked folds and a moan tore from Zoe's throat as her back arched off the ground. "J-Just once! I remembered to take my pill today, so let's do it just this once."

Teddy snorted a laugh and forced his hips away from Zoe's. If he kept teasing her like this and she continued begged for it, he'd lose himself. Condoms would nothing but an old myth if they continued like this, and Zoe wasn't helping his self control. She clearly wanted it just as badly as he did. She even whimpered when he pulled away. That broadened Teddy's smile. He loved that she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. It made him feel less crazy, because there was no way he could love a person this much and not be out of mind.

Teddy moved up Zoe's body again, meeting her hooded eyes, and said, "I don't want to go to that beach party."

Zoe gulped and blinked. "Wh-What? What party?"

Teddy smirked, grazing his thumb across her bottom lip, just like she did to him. "The beach party that our whole grade is going to. The one Vanessa asked you to go to. I don't want to go."

Zoe's brain finally caught up and she pouted. "Teddy, why? Van says it's tradition."

Teddy's eyes dropped to Zoe's lips and they parted upon his attention. He marveled at her glorious mouth and curiously slipped his thumb between her lips. Zoe wrapped her lips around Teddy's thumb and sucked eagerly at it, watching Teddy watch her. A groan crawled up his throat and his cock twitched and leaked at the feeling of her sucking on him. Everything about this girl tempted his every desire.

"I thought you were finally on my side." Teddy's eyes lifted to meet Zoe's. His pitch black eyes were charged with so much more arousal now. "Those assholes are gonna be on that beach and we hate those assholes. Why go?"

Teddy slowly slipped his thumb from Zoe's mouth to let her speak.

"I just want the whole high school experience. Even if the people suck, I want to go to the parties and the sports games and participate in fun, school traditions. We only have a week left," Zoe explained.

"Exactly. Seven days and then we're puppets again. Why waste one of those days surrounded by people we hate?"

Zoe rolled her eyes. "We don't even have to talk to talk to them, Teddy. Our whole grade is gonna be there. This isn't just a Joseph party—although a lot of people go to those too..." Zoe shook her head, reminding herself to stay on track. "Can we go if we set up our own little area on the beach and ignore everyone else? Just so I can exist in the ambiance of the party?"

"Baby, if you wanna go, you go. I'm not gonna stop you from having fun."

Zoe grabbed Teddy's face and growled at him, "I want to go with you, you ass!"

A smile overtook Teddy's frown. Bit by bit, Zoe was getting more comfortable with swearing and it made him fall even harder for her every time. Still, Teddy wasn't convinced. They didn't have enough time to waste at a stupid party full of stupid children.

"If you agree to go, I'll suck your dick right here and now," Zoe declared.

Teddy was admittedly intrigued as his eyes dropped to Zoe's mouth. He remembered the way she just sucked on his thumb and it made his cock ache and twitch again. Zoe was very good at her persuasion skills, but he wasn't sure whether that deal was fair. Zoe was his girlfriend. There might come a day when she sucks his dick again anyways. He just had to decide how long he wanted to wait for that opportunity. He could take the offer now or wait for it another day.

"And if I don't agree?" Teddy asked, feeling smug.

Zoe's eyes drifted away, as if she was seriously contemplating his question. "Maybe I'll never put my mouth on you ever again.."

A twinge of panic set in Teddy's mind before he shook his head. "If you love me as much as I love you, that threat's not gonna last forever. I could say the same shit and break a week later."

"That may be true, but you've seen me hold a grudge." Zoe's hand suddenly wrapped around Teddy's aching erection, causing every muscle in his body to lock up with anticipation. Zoe held his stare, slowly stroked his cock, and whispered, "I can hold a grudge for months, Teddy, and you could fuck my mouth now."

Zoe watched the muscle in Teddy's jaw jump once and then twice and then a third time, feeling her smugness grow with every passing second. She tightened her grip on Teddy's cock and stroked him even harder, making his hips shutter with pleasure.

"I already have your hand and your pussy. Maybe it would do me good to wait for your mouth," Teddy retorted in a low voice.

That sparked a small flame of anger within Zoe. He made her sound like a sex toy with unlockable levels, like a video game. As if he could get away with anything and everything, because eventually, Zoe would cave and service his needs anyways. Why show your partner some love when they'll eventually give you some anyways? Zoe didn't like that mindset. She was probably thinking about it too hard. She knew that, but his comment struck her wrong and she couldn't get passed it.

Zoe pushed Teddy's chest to get him off of her and dragged her legs out from under him, glaring fiercely at him. "How about if you were celibate for the rest of your life?"

Teddy was shocked by Zoe's genuine anger but still instinctually reached for her when she tried to march away. "Alright! Okay! I'm sorry, baby!" Zoe glanced back at Teddy over her shoulder. He looked confused and desperate. "If it means that much to you, I'll go to the party. Anything you want, it's yours. You know that."

Zoe smothered the flames of her anger to the best of her ability. There was still some there that made her glare at Teddy as she returned to him, but she was happy that he agreed just so she wasn't angry. He did love her more than her holes. Good.

Teddy hooked an arm around Zoe's shoulders and greedily smothered her as he used his free hand to brush a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. He really didn't like when she stormed away from him like that. It did something brutal to his heart. He liked her right here, skin to skin, her arms around his waist. She was so precious. Too precious. She couldn't ever leave him.

"I'm not sucking your dick now, you know? You pissed me off," Zoe said.

"I know. I kinda ruined that," Teddy regretfully admitted. "But I didn't agree so that you would. I agreed because I would do literally anything to make you happy. I would take a bullet for you, baby."

Zoe wiggled happily in Teddy's arms, snuggling even closer to him. "And I would shoot one for you."

"I know you would." Teddy chuckled and brought his lips to his adorable girlfriend's, giving her the sweetest, softest, most innocent kiss. "Just don't run away from me like that ever again. I hate that. It hurts. Don't do that."

Zoe chuckled. "Where would I even go? I belong right here, in your arms."

"That, you do." Teddy squeezed Zoe even tighter against him. "At least, kiss me after giving me a heart attack like that."

Zoe took Teddy's face in her hands and smacked her lips to his. She kissed him with all her might, commanding his mouth with her confident tongue and molding his lips against hers. Zoe was fierce with a desire to make him melt, and he did. Having her naked body pressed to his and her tongue tangled with his own made his brain turn to goo. It was pure bliss getting to kiss the love of his life and feel her arch into him like he was the one pleasing her. Everything was perfect. It felt so good.

"I like when you say things like 'for the rest of your life'," Teddy muttered between their heated kisses, turning his head to slant his lips over Zoe's in a new position. "Makes me happy."

"Mm?" Zoe mindlessly hummed, refusing to part from Teddy to engage in whatever conversation he was trying to have.

Teddy indulged in Zoe's sweet, sugary lips for a moment longer before he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back. Zoe gasped at the surprisingly dominant gesture and felt heat pool in the depth of her gut. She finally met Teddy's gaze and gulped when he looked just as full of lust as she felt.

"When you said I should be celibate for the rest of my life, you implied that we would be together and never have sex. Even when you hate me, you never let go." Teddy smiled.

"Only if you didn't cheat on me, " Zoe pointed out.

"Never, Zoe. I would never do that." Teddy's eyes turned deadly serious, which made Zoe feel all gooey inside. He loved her. "I can't fucking imagine a single woman on this planet that could be better for me in any possible way."

Zoe giggled and she dropped her eyes to Teddy's chest, bashfully swirling her nails over his skin. "You'll laugh at yourself for saying that when we break up and you find your soulmate."

Teddy felt like his heart had just been struck by the most painful arrow in Cupid's quiver. He sat down in their nest of blankets, wanting to get comfortable for the next words he was going to confess, for some reason. He pulled Zoe into his lap as well and she watched his expression curiously, wandering why he still looked so serious. She tried to touch the pinch in Teddy's brow as he hooked her legs around his waist but he took her hands in his and kissed each other, staring intensely into her eyes. She was so confused. He looked so mad but he was only pulling her closer.

"I'm not breaking up with you, Zoe. Not ever," Teddy declared, gathering her hands against his chest in one hand and reaching to caress her face with his other. "I love you. More than anything. You're my soulmate. So don't break up with me either, because I'm your soulmate too, and we belong together."

Zoe's confusion melted away, as did her heart. He smiled happily at her adorable boyfriend. She never imagined she would ever be this loved by someone. She didn't know it was possible. Part of her made her question how it could even be real though. Love this strong was a myth in fairytales with princesses and fairies and dragons. It made Zoe wonder if Teddy was blinded by lust, and when that list cleared, he would realize how foolish his proclamations of love were. Maybe Rin would hurt him and his love for her would vanish with the wind.

Anything was possible. Zoe wasn't going to hold Teddy to endless promises, even if she wanted to.

"I'll love you until I die, Teddy," Zoe whispered, her voice soft and sweet. "I promise, love. No matter what happens. Forever, remember?"

Teddy found himself biting the inside of his cheeks as something else threatened to escape him. Those four little words were dancing on his tongue, scratching at the back of his teeth, begging to reach Zoe.

Will you marry me?

It wasn't time yet. Soon.

Teddy stopped himself speaking by grabbing Zoe and pulling her into a kiss. He kissed her softly at first and then licked the seam of her delicious lips. Zoe welcomed him without hesitation, snaking her arms around his neck as they gently devoured one another. Teddy moaned into their passionate kisses, running his hands down Zoe's back until he had his palms over her ass. Very slowly, giving Zoe all the time in the world to refuse him, he lifted her slight form and lined her up with his still hard, aching cock.

Zoe gasped and moaned when she felt the tip of his length run along her folds and tease her entrance. She felt instantly ignited in flames and electricity. She didn't refuse him. Not for a second. She even took it upon herself to seat herself back in Teddy's lap, slowly sinking down on to his cock. Teddy groaned at the sensation and bit down on Zoe's lip, nearly drawing blood. He could feel every soft muscle inside her clench and quiver around him. He was nearly blind with pleasure.

"Just this once," Teddy groaned. Zoe shifted in his lap, somehow taking him deeper, and he hissed a curse as his forehead fell to her shoulder.

"Just this once," Zoe echoed, her words followed by a lewd yelp when he felt so full that she couldn't move.

Teddy moved though, gently lifted Zoe slightly off his cock and slam her back down on him again. Zoe cried out and clung to Teddy like he was her lifeline. She could feel every inch of him. Could feel the curse of his tip, the veins of his shaft, the precum that leaked from him and mixed with her own juices. It was more than she imagined it'd be and it was perfect. Every time she moved, it felt like Teddy was filling her even deeper. It was impossible but it was making her mind turn to goo.

Laughing at himself someday for believing that him and Zoe would be together forever didn't sound right to Teddy. That was true. It was going to happen. Zoe was his forever.

Laughing at himself for claiming being inside her without a condom was a one time thing though...

Well, that was already funny.