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Unlike her sister, Tessa Lodge had always been the one who could control her temper.Except when it came to one thing - Tom Keller.
So much had happened since Tessa had moved to Riverdale with her family, and if there was one thing the latina had learned, it was that she didn't want to, and couldn't, live without Tom.
But both were struggling with their own demons, so sometimes they got in their own way. Since Hermione Lodge had become mayor and Minetta was the new sheriff, the atmosphere between Tessa and her father had been more than tense.As if it wasn't enough that Tessa was trying to keep the business deal with the partners in New York under control, this stupid G&G had to stir up the hole town of Riverdale. But the young Latina had other worries, Tom had been completely different for several days. He had pulled away and had not responded to any message or call from Tessa for the past two days.Not only was she concerned about him, she had spent the last week in New York doing work for Hiram and the deal had not gone well. Tessa had a broken rib and a stab wound to her shoulder because Steve, her bodyguard, hadn't reacted quickly enough. But she ignored the pain she was feeling and immediately made her way to Tom when she had just arrived in Riverdale.The Latina snorted in annoyance when he didn't answer again and took her key out of her pocket to get into the house. It was the middle of the night and she didn't care if they woke Kevin or not, she had to see Tom. Her search didn't take long before she found him. She slammed the door to the basement intentionally and the sound of loud punches against a boxing bag stopped.Angrier than she wanted, she stormed down the stairs, ready to shout at Tom, to blame him, but all that disappeared when she saw his blank face. "What are you doing here, darling?" whispered Tom in surprise,
grabbing a towel to wipe his face.
But Tessa was no fool, he deliberately kept a distance between them. "You haven't answered for days, what do you expect? I was fucking worried."Her tone betrayed how upset she was and when Tom turned his back on Tessa, the Latina felt the first tear roll down her cheek. The two stood there and neither said a word. It was only when Tom turned around and saw his Tessa crying in front of him that he realized his mistake.He walked slowly up to her, but Tessa moved back. She was hurt and for good reason. "Tessa, look at me," he uttered in a whisper and reached out his hand to her.Trembling, she took his hand but her gaze was still fixed on the floor. " Do you not love me anymore?", her voice was so soft and she suddenly seemed so fragile.Not at all the Tessa Tom knew."What? Tessa, what on earth made you say that? Baby that' s the problem, my love for you is the issue," when he finished his sentence Tessa looked up bewildered.Her face was red and her whole body began to tremble. Tom put both hands against her cheeks and looked deep into her eyes."I love you more than life itself, and that scares me. When you leave Riverdale I can't sleep because I am worried, it is my job to protect you, do you understand? But how the hell am I supposed to protect the woman I want by my side for the rest of my life from her own father? I can't live without you, Tessa, and I can't do this hiding thing anymore. I don't care what anyone else thinks, I just need you."The Latina was caught off guard by Tom's confession and the painkillers she had taken were starting to make her feel dizzy."Then don't hide me anymore," was all she could say before she had no strength left to stand.Tom reacted immediately and lifted Tessa up, noticing that she was injured. He carefully brought her upstairs to his bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. "It's not that bad Tom, it's just the painkillers are too strong," Tessa whispered softly and straightened up.His eyes said it all and Tessa hated it when he blamed himself.Slowly she unbuttoned her blouse and revealed the bruises on her rib and the stitches from the stab wound.Tom froze and sat down in bed with Tessa.Slowly he stroked Tessa's stomach with his fingers and looked at her. "That's the last time you did Hiram's work ."The Latina nodded and reached for his hand.No matter how weak Tessa was, she wanted to feel Tom, to have him completely.As if he had read her thoughts, he began to spread very gentle kisses on her belly and pushed her back slightly.Tessa buried her hand in Tom's hair as he moved further and further down. When he undid the button of her jeans to take off her pants, Tessa closed her eyes. His hands were so warm and she focused solely on his touch. She knew she would hardly get any sleep this night, Tom had a lot of catching up to do.
