The Theory of Love

Author's Note.

Hey there, and welcome back to The Theory of Love.

This version of The Theory of Love Ch. 02 has been updated and edited as of 13.05.2025 to reflect the ongoing small changes to the overall plot.

As before, I'd like to thank JasonJJones2012 again for the initial foundation of this story. While his description was brief and supplied a few thousand words at the start, I've since expanded and gotten to know these characters like they've been with me forever.

Now, onto chapter 2!

Happy reading!

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*Jessica*

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The first thing I noticed was warmth. A slow, steady heat pressed against my back, arms wrapped loosely around my waist, the rhythmic rise and fall of a chest against me. For a moment, I just let myself feel it. The comfort. The safety. The undeniable sense that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

As my mind cleared, the weight of what had just happened started to settle in.

My eyes snapped open, and my breath caught as flashes of last night flooded my mind. The teasing. The buildup. The way Tom had touched me like I actually meant something. The way I had fallen apart under him as he filled me up, completely, utterly his. How it had all started because of a simple image--one that had led to a conversation, which had led to a challenge, which had led to this.

And then, the sinking realization struck me like a brick to the stomach.

Oh, shit.

My body tensed as I became aware of a faint, lingering dampness on my skin. My breath caught, my heart hammering in my chest. Had he--? A flare of panic shot through me, my thighs pressing together instinctively as my mind raced. I shifted slightly, my fingers trailing down, hesitating before checking--just to be sure.

A sharp exhale left me when I realized there was no lingering warmth inside, just the ache of something unforgettable.

But as I stretched beneath the duvet, a musky scent still clung to my skin, a reminder of just how much had spilled across me last night..

Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly followed by another thought. We hadn't used protection.

We had been so lost in each other, so caught up in the moment, that neither of us had stopped to think. A chill ran down my spine at the realization. This was something I needed to be more careful about. Luckily Tom managed to cum outside of me. But next time... next time, we needed to be careful.

Because there would be a next time.

I exhaled shakily, pushing the thought aside. Later. I'd bring it up later. Right now, all I wanted to focus on was the feeling of Tom wrapped around me, the warmth of his body against mine, I shifted slightly, pressing back against him, feeling his morning hardness nestled between my cheeks, I turned my body slightly towards Tom, my movement slow and cautious, as if any sudden shift might break the spell. Tom was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw when he was awake. His hair was a tousled mess, his lips slightly parted, a soft breath escaping in steady intervals. The way he looked now--completely at peace, wrapped around me like I was something precious--made my heart ache in ways I wasn't prepared for.

And just like that, my heart clenched.

I swallowed hard and turned fully, the warmth that had been between my cheeks gone, but a new warmth was found after curling into his chest. He shifted, murmuring something in his sleep before his grip on me tightened, pulling me impossibly closer. I felt his breath against my ear, the way his fingers lightly traced over my hip in unconscious motion. A ripple of warmth shot through me, my body attuned to his in an almost unnerving way.

God, I was in deep.

I should've been terrified. Maybe I was. But as I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the warmth of him, It was then I realized something. I didn't want to run. Not from this. Not from him.

A soft groan vibrated through Tom's chest, and then I felt him stir. His hold on me tightened for a moment before he let out a slow exhale. "Mmm... morning." His voice was thick with sleep, deeper than usual, and it sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.

I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, and for a second, we just stared at each other. Then he smiled--soft, sleepy, unguarded. "Hey."

Just one word. Just one look. And suddenly, my heart was free-falling all over again.

"Hey," I whispered back, feeling my lips curve into a small smile of my own.

His fingers slid up my back, tracing my spine with lazy, feather-light touches that sent a warm, tingling sensation down to my toes. I fought back a shudder, not wanting to break the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"So... last night wasn't a dream, right?" he murmured, voice still thick with sleep.

I let out a breathless laugh, pressing my forehead against his.

"No. Definitely real."

Tom exhaled slowly, his grip on me tightening before he pulled back just enough to search my eyes. "So... what now?"

I hesitated, dread curling in my chest. "I don't know."

His brows furrowed slightly. "I mean... are we really doing this? You and me?"

I bit my lip. "I... want to. But this is new. And kind of terrifying."

Tom exhaled a small laugh, shaking his head. "Tell me about it."

I traced a slow pattern against his chest. "I've never had anything like this before. It's... different. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

He let out a slow breath. "It's a good thing," he murmured. "It has to be."

My heart clenched. "You think so?"

Tom swallowed, hesitating for a second before nodding. "Yeah. Because I've never had anything like this before either."

A small, shaky exhale left me, and I realized how much that confession meant. Neither of us had done this before. Not like this. Not with someone who actually meant something. And that thought alone made it feel a little less terrifying.

I took a deep breath, then finally, finally let myself smile. "Then let's try."

Tom blinked, his lips parting slightly. "Just like that?"

I shrugged, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Why not?"

His expression softened, something warm flickering behind his eyes. "So... you're my girlfriend now?"

A smirk tugged at my lips. "If you want me to be."

Tom didn't even hesitate. "I do."

A laugh bubbled out of me, light and free in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. And just like that, something settled between us, something unspoken but solid. This was happening. We were happening.

His hand slid down my back toward my hips before gripping my ass. I let out a soft moan as he gently massaged the flesh, his eyes darkening just slightly.

"So, girlfriend..." he murmured, voice low and teasing. "Think we should celebrate?"

I sucked in a breath, warmth curling low in my stomach. I could've made a joke. I could've played coy. But instead, I simply let myself feel it.

I glanced at the nightstand, then back at him. "You don't happen to have any..."

Before I could finish, Tom shot up, yanking open the top drawer and ripping out a strip of condoms like his life depended on it. My body shook with laughter as he fumbled, trying to tear one free. He was struggling, the foil refusing to cooperate, and I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling harder.

"Oh my god, let me" I reached for it, but he pulled away, still battling the stubborn packaging.

"I got it!" he insisted, brows furrowed in determination.

I snorted, shaking my head. "Dork."

But before I could tease him further, his mouth was on mine--claiming me in a kiss that stole my breath. Slow, deep, unhurried, yet filled with something electric, something consuming. His hands roamed over my body, fingers tracing the curve of my waist, the dip of my hips, the warmth of my bare skin beneath his touch.

I melted into him, the heat from last night reigniting like embers catching flame. He shifted, rolling us effortlessly so I was straddling him, my thighs framing his hips. The groan that rumbled from his chest sent a delicious thrill through me, and I couldn't help but rock forward, testing the sensation--feeling the firm heat of him against me.

I dragged my lips down his jaw, trailing lower, my chest pressing against him as I made my way down. My hands ghosted over his abdomen, feeling him tense beneath my touch. When I reached his hips, I hovered just above where I wanted him most, letting my breath tease over him before pressing my twin mounts against his hardened cock, enveloping him in the softest embrace before taking him between my lips and twirled my tongue around the head.

A deep, shuddering groan escaped him, his fingers tangling in my hair as I worked, feeling the slow build of tension between us before I let him slip free. I crawled back up, capturing his mouth once more, rolling my hips in a slow, teasing grind that had his grip tightening on me, his breath coming faster. The need between us was building, the air growing hotter, heavier, filled with something raw and desperate.

I met his gaze, saw the heat flicker in his eyes as he took in the trail of cum glistening on my chest. A smirk tugged at my lips.

"As much as I loved being your personal bullseye last night, I'm thankful you didn't cum inside me. I don't think either of us wants any... unexpected surprises while we're still studying."

Tom let out a strangled chuckle, his hands tightening on my hips. "Yeah... definitely not."

That's when I noticed it, a discarded crumpled unopened foil wrapper beside the pillow, a reminder of Tom's earlier struggle to get it open.

I laughed breathlessly, reaching for it while he gave me a sheepish look. "So much for I got it, huh?"

His ears turned pink. "I was... distracted."

I couldn't help but smile at how adorably flustered he still got. It was moments like these--when the confident, teasing Tom gave way to the bashful nerd I'd fallen for--that made my heart skip a beat.

Smirking, I tore the wrapper with ease, holding his gaze as I rolled it down his length. His breath caught, and his hands tightened on my thighs as I straddled him, teasing him with a slow roll of my hips.

And when he finally flipped me back onto the mattress, settling between my thighs, his lips trailing fire down my body, I knew--I was completely his.

And I never wanted to be anywhere else.

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*Tom*

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Jessica was incredible. Breathtaking. And right now, she was mine.

The realization hit me harder than I expected as she rolled the condom down my length, her touch sending a shiver through me. My breath stuttered, my hands tightening instinctively on her thighs as she settled over me, teasing, testing, making it impossible to think of anything but her.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

She smirked, shifting her hips in a slow, deliberate roll making my fingers digging into her skin. "You're so damn smug," I muttered, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

Jessica's lips curled, eyes dark with satisfaction. "And you love it."

God help me, I did.

Before I could fire back, she leaned in, capturing my lips in a deep, intoxicating kiss. I felt her move against me, felt the unbearable heat where we were joined, and suddenly, all teasing was forgotten.

I flipped us over in one fluid motion, pinning her beneath me as my mouth trailed down her body, my lips pressing against the warm, soft skin of her neck, her collarbone, the curve of her breasts. Her hands tangled in my hair, nails grazing my scalp as she gasped my name, her body arching to meet every touch, every kiss.

The way she gave herself to me--completely, without fear--made my head and heart reel.

This wasn't just about attraction. It wasn't about proving anything, about some challenge that started as a game. That part was long over.

This was us.

The pleasure built between us, rising with every touch, every shift, every ragged breath. Jessica's moans spurred me on, urging me deeper into that intoxicating rhythm. Her legs wrapped around my waist, her body molding perfectly against mine as I thrust into her, each movement pushing us higher, closer, until the tension became unbearable.

"Jess..." The name slipped past my lips before I could stop it, unfiltered and raw, carrying a weight I hadn't even realized I was holding.

Jessica froze beneath me, her breath catching. For a second, panic gripped my chest. Had I ruined it? Had I made it too personal, too real? But then she looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, something warm flickering behind them.

"Jess?" she repeated, testing the name on her tongue. A slow, lazy smile spread across her lips. "I like that."

Relief coursed through me, followed by something deeper, something more profound.

I brushed my nose against hers, letting out a shaky breath. "Yeah?"

She nodded, fingers threading through my hair. "Yeah."

And just like that, whatever hesitation had been there before was gone.

She pulled me down into a kiss that was softer than before--more intimate, more real. We moved together again, the world beyond this room fading into nothing, the only thing that mattered being the way she felt, the way she responded, the way I needed her.

Her pace quickened, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts, and I felt myself unraveling beneath her. I pressed her down into the mattress, claiming her in a way that left no doubt--this was more than just lust, more than just need.

This was everything.

Jessica's nails dug into my back as she fell apart beneath me, and that was all it took to send me spiraling after her, pleasure crashing over me in waves that left me completely undone.

I collapsed beside her, chest heaving, my entire body humming with exhaustion. Jessica was still wrapped around me, breathless, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my back as if she, too, didn't want to let go of this moment.

Somewhere in the haze, I felt her shift. At first, I thought she was just adjusting, but then, with a soft hum, she moved with me--gently rolling us so that she was on top, her thighs framing my hips, her body molding perfectly against mine.

I sighed, my arms tightening around her on instinct, holding her there, anchoring both of us in a moment I never wanted to end.

A comfortable silence settled between us, the weight of everything that had happened lingering in the air. My eyes were heavy, but my mind was still reeling. I had never expected to be here, to have her like this, to feel so completely at peace in her arms. The thought was almost overwhelming.

Before sleep fully claimed me, I let out a soft chuckle, feeling Jessica shift slightly against me.

"Last night... it wasn't just... I mean... It was amazing, but it wasn't just that," I murmured, my voice thick with exhaustion.

Jessica traced light patterns on my chest, her head still nestled against my shoulder. "Yeah. I know."

I exhaled slowly, my body sinking deeper into the mattress. "I think I needed this. You."

Her fingers stilled for a second before resuming their lazy movements. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."

A warmth spread through my chest, making my eyelids grow even heavier. My mind spun, my body too exhausted to move, and before I could think better of it, the words left me on instinct, heavy with exhaustion and raw honesty.

"I love you, Jess," I murmured, the last thing I could manage before sleep finally dragged me under.

I felt her still against me, her breath catching. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she stayed close, her body still molded to mine, as if grounding herself in this moment.

Whatever she was feeling, whatever was going through her mind--I'd find out soon enough.

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*Jessica*

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"I love you, Jess," he mumbled, the words tumbling out like a quiet sigh.

I froze.

The words came soft, slurred at the edges with exhaustion, like he hadn't even meant to say them. Like they had slipped out before he could catch them. A vice gripped my gut, my heart stuttering, everything inside me locking up at once.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to see his face. His eyes were already closed, his breathing deepening, his body relaxed beneath me in the way only true exhaustion allowed.

Did he even realize he had said it?

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of hesitation, regret--anything that would tell me if he truly meant it. But all I saw was peace. His lips were slightly parted, his brow smooth, his features bathed in the soft glow of early morning light. He looked... content. Like he had finally found something he wasn't afraid to hold onto.

He meant it.

Tom loved me.

The realization hit me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs. A warmth spread through me, different from the fire that had burned between us only moments ago. This was something deeper. Something terrifyingly real. Something I had never felt before.

My fingers trembled as I reached up, brushing away a stray lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead. He barely stirred, only murmuring something unintelligible in his sleep before nuzzling closer, his hold on me never loosening.

A part of me wanted to wake him up, to demand he say it again when he was fully conscious--when he would have to look me in the eyes and mean it. Because if he said it then, if he said it knowing I would hear it, knowing I would remember it, I wasn't sure what I would do. I wasn't sure if I could handle it.

Because for the first time in my life, the thought of love didn't scare me. It didn't feel like a trap or an obligation--it felt like freedom.

But another part of me, a softer part, told me to just let this moment be.

So I did.

I curled into him, resting my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. That sound--the gentle rhythm of him, of us, of something I wasn't ready to name--was the only thing grounding me.

Then, just as my mind began to settle, a memory surfaced.

Hannah's voice, sharp and teasing.

"Jess, seriously? You're being such a buzzkill."

Kat's playful drawl. "Come on, Jess. It's just a bit of fun."

Rachel's eye-roll. "Relax, Jess, don't be so uptight."

That nickname, Jess. They had always called me that. Tossed it around like an afterthought, like I was their pet, their project, their entertainment. I never thought much about it. Never corrected them. But I had never really liked it either. It had always felt small, dismissive, a reminder that I had been swept into something I hadn't chosen. Something I had simply accepted.

But from Tom?

It wasn't the same.

From Tom, it wasn't a label. It wasn't something used to keep me in my place. It was different--softer, warmer, more intimate. When he said it, it wasn't because he was making fun of me, or trying to mold me into something. It was because he saw me. Me. Not Jessica Mason, the party girl, the one who played along, the one who laughed even when she didn't want to.

Just... Jess. His Jess.

The lump in my throat grew, and I swallowed hard, pressing a tender kiss against his chest, lingering there I let myself feel the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heart against my lips. He stirred slightly, murmuring my name in his sleep, and my stomach clenched at the sheer intimacy of it.

God, I was in deep.

A lazy sigh escaped me as I shifted slightly, stretching out my sore limbs. My body ached in the best way, a dull reminder of just how thoroughly Tom had wrecked me last night.

The warmth of him still inside me, holding me in place, sent a shiver down my spine, but I needed to move. Needed to breathe.

Slowly, carefully, I lifted myself off him, feeling him slip free as I rolled onto my back beside him, finally giving my body a chance to recover.