The drive to Tee's hotel was a blur of late-night cityscape and soft music playing in the background. I was still buzzed from the cocktails I'd had at the restaurant, the alcohol making me somewhat giddy and less inhibited than usual.

I glanced at Tee, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. There was something captivating about him in this moment, his face relaxed and his attention focused on the road. I studied his strong jaw, his dark eyes, and the way his hands confidently gripped the wheel.

As my gaze roamed over him, I couldn't help but notice the defined muscles of his arms. His tattoos, stark against his dark skin, drew my eyes and held my attention. The artistry and detail of the ink was captivating, and I found myself wondering about the stories behind them.

We finally pulled into the hotel parking lot, the familiar structure of the building looming in front of us. The hotel was a high-end establishment, its grand facade and valet parking service indicative of the luxury that awaited inside.

As we made our way to the elevator, I stumbled a bit, the effect of the alcohol still lingering in my system. Tee, ever observant, quickly caught me by the elbow, steadying me. "Careful there, lightweight," he teased, a hint of amusement in his voice.

As we waited for the elevator, the metal doors slid open with a soft hum. We stepped in, but just as I was about to follow, a sharp, stinging pain shot through my arm. I gasped, looking down to see a thin cut, beads of blood forming on my arm where a piece of the elevator's metal had scraped against my skin.

"Oh no," I muttered under my breath, my heart sinking at the sight of the cut on my arm. It wasn't a deep wound, but the blood was already starting to trickle down my skin.

Tee followed my gaze and immediately noticed the cut. I could sense his concern as he reached out to assess the situation. "You're bleeding," he said, his voice a mixture of worry and surprise. "Avery, how did you manage to cut yourself?" Tee asked, his eyes fixed on the now-bleeding cut on my arm.

I shook my head, my own surprise mirroring his. "I don't know..." I trailed off, my voice small and uncertain. I had no idea how the cut had appeared; one minute my arm was fine, and the next I was bleeding.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and Tee ushered me out, his hand gently on my elbow. The corridor was quiet, the only sound our footsteps against the plush carpet.

I was still feeling a bit lightheaded from the alcohol, the sight of the blood on my arm making my head spin even more. I leaned against Tee for support, grateful for the solid wall of muscle next to me.

Tee guided me into the kitchen area, seating me on a stool next to the counter. He quickly busied himself with gathering supplies – a first aid kit, antiseptic wipes, and a roll of gauze.

Then Tee gently pulled me off the stool and led me towards the couch, sitting down and guiding me onto his lap. The feel of his solid thighs against mine sent a wave of heat through me, but I tried to ignore it as he focused on my injured arm.

He looked into my eyes, his own filled with concern. "This might sting a bit," he warned, holding up the antiseptic wipe. I braced myself, preparing for the familiar burn of the antiseptic on my wounded skin.

Sure enough, the antiseptic stung like hell. I hissed through my teeth, tensing as the cool liquid met my open cut. It burned hotter than I remembered, causing me to grip the edge of Tee's shirt tightly as I buried my face in his neck.

I couldn't help the sharp gasp that escaped me, the pain causing me to pant and shiver. My leg involuntarily began to shake, a reflexive response to the discomfort. The combination of the alcohol still in my system and the stinging sensation made me feel unusually vulnerable and sensitive.

"Avery," he ground out, his voice gruff and authoritative. "Stop."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat at the commanding tone in his voice. He shifted slightly beneath me, and I suddenly became acutely aware of the hardness pressing against me.

"You're not making this easy," he murmured, his voice gravelly with restrained desire. His hands tightened on my waist, his grip just tight enough to hold me in place but not enough to hurt.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, the pain from my injured arm mixing with the growing tension between us. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice again. "I can't... I can't help it," I managed to say, my words sounding breathless and wavering.

"You've gotta sit still, princess," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in his chest. His hands slid from my waist to my hips, his thumbs gently rubbing against my bare skin where my dress rode up.

I took a shaky breath, attempting to still my trembling leg. The feel of his thumbs against my skin sent shivers down my spine, making it even harder to keep still. "I'll try," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He brought the antiseptic wipe back up to my cut, gently dabbing it against the wound. The stinging pain returned, but I forced myself to hold still, biting my lip to muffle the yelp that tried to escape.

Tee's free hand remained on my hip, his fingers flexing against my skin as he continued to clean the wound. The constant contact of his touch was driving me mad, the combination of pain and pleasure making my head spin.

Finally, Tee finished cleaning the cut, applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and wrapping it in a neat bandage. He leaned back, his hands still on my waist, and studied his work with a satisfied nod.

"There," he said, his voice slightly less gruff as he surveyed the bandage. "All cleaned up. But you gotta be more careful, princess."

I let out a small sigh of relief, the pain in my arm now reduced to a dull throb. I looked down at the bandage, admiring the neat wrap job. "Thanks, Tee," I murmured, my words softened by the alcohol and his proximity.

Normally, in a situation like this, I would have probably been giving Tee a hard time. A sarcastic remark or a playful jab would have slipped off my tongue without a second thought. But right now, the combination of the alcohol and the way he was holding me had muted my usual wit. I was feeling softer, more vulnerable, and strangely content in his firm embrace.

It was as if the barriers that I usually put up to keep people at a safe distance had evaporated, leaving me exposed and raw. The tension that normally buzzed between us was still there, but it was laced with an undercurrent of tenderness and protectiveness from him.

I found myself leaning into him a little more, my head resting on his shoulder. I breathed in the scent of his skin, a heady mix of musk and soap that was uniquely his own. It was strangely calming, grounding me in the moment despite the chaos of my emotions.

Amidst the comfortable silence, a question slipped past my lips, one that had been lingering in the back of my mind for a while now. "Tee," I murmured, my voice slightly slurred from the mix of alcohol and exhaustion. "What are we?"

His hand continued to move through my hair, his fingers gentle and soothing against my scalp. Tee's reply was quiet, his voice a low rumble against my ear. "We're whatever you want us to be, princess," he said, the familiar nickname sending a small shiver down my spine.

I took a moment to process his words, my mind fuzzy with the effects of alcohol and fatigue. "I don't know," I repeated softly, my voice small and uncertain. The truth was, I didn't know what I wanted, what I was hoping for or expecting. All I knew was that right now, in this moment, sitting on his lap and wrapped in his arms, I felt safe and cared for.

Tee's fingers stilled in my hair, his hand coming to rest on the back of my neck. "Alright, princess," he said, his voice patient but firm. "If you don't know what you want, then tell me what you do know. What do you feel right now?"

I looked up at him, my eyes locking onto his intense gaze. "I don't want it to be like Ja'Marr," I said, the name leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. "I don't want to be kept secret, or lies, or the constant worry about if you're seeing someone else behind my back."

The words came tumbling out, my vulnerability and frustration mingling together to form a confession I hadn't planned on sharing. But once I'd started, I couldn't stop. "I don't want to be just your side piece, or your secret fling, or any of that bullshit," I continued, my voice rising slightly as the alcohol loosened my tongue.

I looked away, unable to hold his gaze as I admitted the fear that had been gnawing at me since I'd realized I was falling for him. "I can't handle it, Tee," I admitted in a whisper. "I can't be that for you. Not again."

The silence that followed my words was thick and heavy, the weight of my confession hanging in the air between us like a storm cloud. I could feel Tee's eyes on me, but I kept my own gaze averted, my heart pounding against my ribcage as I waited for his response.

Eventually, Tee spoke, his voice low and gruff. "Look at me," he said, tugging gently on a strand of my hair. Reluctantly, I lifted my gaze to meet his, my stomach knotting with anxiety.

I met his eyes, bracing myself for his reaction. But instead of anger or dismissal, all I saw was a mixture of concern and understanding. His expression was uncharacteristically soft, the sharp edges of his usual hardness melted away.

"I would never use you like that, princess," he said, his hand on my neck, his thumb gently rubbing against my skin. "You're not a secret, and you sure as hell ain't a side piece. You're too damn good for that." There was a note of honesty and determination in his voice that surprised me. I felt the tension in my chest ease slightly, his words soothing some of the fears that had been weighing heavily on my heart.

But despite the sincerity in his voice, I couldn't help the lingering doubt that still gnawed at the back of my mind. "How do I know you're telling the truth?" I asked, my voice small and vulnerable.

Tee's grip on my neck tightened slightly. "You gotta trust me, princess," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "I'm not perfect, and I've made my fair share of mistakes. But I'm giving you my word right now that I won't keep you a secret, and I won't cheat on you." I searched his eyes, looking for any sign of a lie. But all I saw was a fierce sincerity, his gaze holding mine like a promise. A part of me wanted to hold onto the doubt, to protect myself from getting hurt again. But the bigger part - the part that was falling for him more and more every day - wanted to believe him.

"Okay," I whispered, the word feeling both foreign and freeing on my tongue. I wanted to trust him, despite my reservations. I wanted to believe that he meant what he said, that he truly saw me as more than just a secret or a fling.

I took a shaky breath, the fear and doubt slowly being replaced by a cautious sense of hope. I leaned my head back against his shoulder, taking comfort in his solid presence. He was still holding me against him, his hand resting protectively on the side of my neck.

"You're something, princess," he murmured, his voice rumbling in his chest. I could feel the heat of his breath against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "Making me say things I never thought I'd say."

As we sat there in silence, a nagging sound suddenly caught my attention. I tilted my head, listening intently. "Do you hear that?" I whispered, jerking my chin towards the closed bathroom door.

Tee, who had been trailing his fingers lightly up and down my arm, paused, his ears pricked. Sure enough, a faint scratching noise was coming from the bathroom, the sound of nails against a hard surface.

My eyes widened in realization as the meaning of the sound hit me. "Wait a minute," I said, sitting up slightly in Tee's lap. "Is that... a dog?"

Tee grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Might be," he said, his tone deliberately casual.

I looked from the bathroom door back to Tee, baffled by the turn of events. "Why do you have a dog?" I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and incredulity.

Tee just shrugged, his smirk widening. "It's your birthday gift," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I stared blankly at him, completely taken aback. "Huh?" I repeated, my brain struggling to process his words. "You got me a dog for my birthday?"

Tee nodded, the smirk still playing on his lips. "Yep," he said. "But there's one thing you should know before you meet him. The dog is mute. Can't bark, not even a little bit."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It's... mute?" I repeated, unable to keep the astonishment out of my voice. A dog that couldn't bark. It was such a peculiar and unexpected thing, it was almost endearing.

I disentangled myself from Tee's lap, curiosity overcoming any lingering exhaustion. With a mixture of excitement and hesitation, I headed towards the bathroom, my steps slow and a little unsteady.

The sound of the scratching grew louder as I approached the door, a steady rhythmic tapping that seemed to echo the thumping of my own heart. I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath before slowly pushing it open.

I opened the door slowly, peering into the bathroom. The first thing I saw was a cute, fluffy face staring up at me. As I stepped further into the bathroom, I fully took in the scene in front of me. There, sitting calmly in the middle of the tiled floor was a puppy labradoodle, its head cocked to the side as if in greeting.

I couldn't help but gasp slightly at the sight of it. The puppy was adorable, its soft, curly fur a mix of black and tan. Its wide, innocent eyes stared up at me as its tail thumped against the floor in a silent greeting.

I knelt down, reaching out a tentative hand towards the puppy as I looked up at Tee who appeared at the door. "He's..." I couldn't find the words to describe the tiny ball of fluff sitting before me. "He's so damn cute."

Tee chuckled, leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. "I knew you'd like him," he said, a note of satisfaction in his voice. "And he's all yours. Happy birthday, princess."

Without thinking, driven by excitement and gratitude, my body moved on autopilot. I stood up and rushed towards Tee, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing a quick, impulsive kiss against his lips. It was a reflexive action, a show of the rush of emotions in my chest. I didn't even realize I'd done it until it was over.

Tee laughed at my enthusiasm, placing his hands on my hips to steady me. "Whoa, princess," he said, his voice low and amused. "You gotta calm down. You'll get your other birthday present later."

My cheeks heated as I suddenly realized what he meant by "other birthday present." A rush of anticipation and nervousness flooded me, making my heart pound even harder. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. "Really?" I managed to say, my voice coming out huskier than normal.

Tee chuckled again, the sound deep and rumbling in his chest. He pulled me closer, his hands slowly sliding up my sides. "Really," he said, his gaze locked onto mine. "But not yet. You're still a bit drunk."

I nodded, understanding his hesitation. Despite the growing anticipation in my chest, I knew he was right. I was still feeling the effects of the alcohol, my senses fuzzy and dulled. This wasn't the right moment. I stepped back slightly, steadying myself against his chest. "Alright," I conceded, my voice still slightly breathless. "Later, then."

@hannahdaniels: #2 👩‍🍳
Liked by nfl, averyshutupzz, x.flowers4, and 76k others.

@user1: WHAT

@user2: i knew it

@terry_25: uncle terry 😎

@user3: aw so happy for yall

@thatkidjayden: ❤️