Disclaimer: The story is mine, but the characters are not. Takes place the last time we see these two characters at the end of Tiny Machines. And thanks so much to JeffC FTW for betaing this story.
I wanted to do this story since there where only a few Kevin/Tess stories 2 here and 5 on Archive of our Own and only 1 of them M rated. The age difference of the characters didn't bother me while watching The 4400, plus the chemistry between Jeffrey Combs and Summer Glau was so wonderful and basically there from the start, I don't know why there isn't more stories of these two.
"How do I know that you will?" Tess Doerner quietly asked the man in front of her, afraid of the answer.
"How could I not? Where would I find another you?" Kevin Burkhoff whispered back, meaning every word. Gently placing his hand on her cheek, both smiling lovingly at each other. Touching forehead to forehead, eyes closed enjoying the moment between them.
While in the moment, Tess realized that the hand Kevin was using was the same hand she made him burn the day at the diner during her "sweet sixteen". Though his regeneration powers healed him quickly, she also realized she never fully apologized for it. Raising her hand on top of his and with tears starting behind her closed eyes, placed the most gentle and tender kiss on his palm and with the kiss, a few tears fell from her closed eyes.
Feeling her lips on his palm, Kevin opened his eyes shocked to see tears upon Tess's cheek, but realizing what caused the tears. Knowing she still felt guilty about burning his hand. Leaning in to catch the tears with his lips. "It's okay," he said softly.
Kevin saying that almost made Tess burst out crying, the way he was basically forgiven and forgotten. Tess wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face into his next and he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him.
Tess mumbled something into his neck which he didn't quite catch. "What did you say?" he asked.
Tess pulled away from his neck, looking deeply into his eyes. "I said I love you."
Kevin's brows shot up with her confession.
Pulling back even more placing her hand his cheek, caressing it, she told him flat out. "And nothing you say is going to make me leave you and you're not leaving me; we're in this together."
Still reeling from the three little words she said, words he hasn't heard anybody, including his wife from long ago say to him, he nodded at her admission, looking up at her with tears in his eyes, a few falling.
Tess gasped at his eyes, placing her other hand on his cheek, her thumbs gently wiping the tears away. "What is it, did I say something wrong?" she asked, cautiously.
Kevin let out a shaky laugh, shaking his head. Looking up to the worried look on Tess's face. "No, it's just been a very long time since I've heard those words said to me." Foreheads touching, hands caressing each others faces, he whispered back. "I love you too."
They looked at each other with so much tenderness and love, not really believing what they've finally admitted to one another. "We're right for each other, regardless of what anyone says or thinks!" Tess declared.
"You think it's that simple?" asked Kevin, not wanting to bring up the age difference between them, though it did seem to bother him a bit.
"Of course it is," Tess said, smiling brightly at Kevin, who returned the smile.
They started at each other, not really knowing what to do next. After a few seconds, Tess leaned in, closing her eyes and placing a very tender kiss on Kevin's lips.
Both feeling a very deep, consuming warmth run through out their bodies during the kiss. Not wanting the kiss to end, Tess tilted her head a little, slightly parting her lips, breathing in the taste of his skin. Darting out her tongue to taste more of him, shocking both Kevin and herself with this action, but neither stopping.
Kevin opened his mouth, letting her tongue inside to meet his. Moaning, Tess brought her hands up to grasp his shoulders before wrapping them around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. Wrapping his arms around her waist, bringing her in closer to him, running his hands up and down her back, continuing to kiss, very passionately.
They continued like this until they were both our of breath. Tess pulled back, placing her hands on his shoulders and her forehead on his again. Breathing heavily and smiling.
"That's what my sister was talking about," she said.
"What?" Kevin asked, looking confused by that statement.
"That's what my sister told me, you know back when..." She blushed a little bit. Thinking back on her relationship with Bobby, before she became sick. "She told me about the fireworks I would feel behind my eyes. I didn't believe her because it never happened before, until now," she confessed.
Now, it was Kevin's turn to blush; he had felt them, too, for the first time in a long time and he wanted more; he just was wasn't sure how to go about it. And Tess was thinking the same thing.
It had been over four weeks since Kevin and Tess declared their love and desire for one another. They didn't push each other to go any further then they had, which was a few heavy make-out sessions, on top of their clothes. Thought secretly, Tess wanted more; she just didn't know how to voice it.
Two of the reasons they didn't go any further was that Kevin hadn't been with anyone in a very long time and the most important reason, Tess was still a virgin.
Though her mother gave her "the talk" when she was fifteen, Tess wished sometimes she had someone to talk to at the center about the subject. In the end, Tess decided to wing it; she'd learn on her own with Kevin. Hopefully soon, she thought. She also thought it was funny that she was the one getting antsy to make love to Kevin.
Two night later, she took the initiative to start things. They were cuddling on the couch, watching a movie when Tess decided to break the ice. Kevin had his arm around her shoulder, bringing her in closer to his body and Tess started nuzzling into his side, gently kissing his neck.
Her hand slowly made it's way to his chest, feeling how softly muscled it was, enjoying being this close to Kevin. Tess lifted her head off his shoulder, turning his head towards her and kissed him very deeply, her tongue tracing Kevin's lips until he opened his mouth to let her tongue meet his.
The kiss went on for several minutes, then Tess put her hand on Kevin's face to gently stop the kiss. "Kevin," she whispered.
"Yes?' he responded. Their eyes locked and Kevin noticed that Tess looked a little shy and nervous.
"I want to make love with you tonight," she confessed.
Kevin looked at Tess in shock, he knew this night was coming and he'd secretly hoped it would come. "Are you sure about this Tess? It's a big step for us," he asked.
Tess placed her forehead upon his, a moment between them that grew between them from what happened at the diner and said, "I am more sure about this then I have been about anything in my life. I love you and want you so much, Kevin."
Kevin gave a small smile and nodded, not trusting his voice. Looking at Tess with so much love and desire, he'd wanted to be with her for so long.
Tess got up from the couch first, extending her hand to Kevin, who took it and stood up beside her. Their fingers intertwined and Tess led them to the bedroom they shared. Kevin could feel that Tess was nervous despite her confidence earlier and to tell the truth, he was, too.
Tess felt Kevin's nervousness, too, and smiled at that. They entered their bedroom and they didn't need candles and rose to make the night special; they already were that. But the minute they entered the room, her nervousness hit her at full force and she started to tremble.
Kevin saw her shake, he wrapped his arms around her, gently rubbing his hands up and down her back trying to calm her and said. "Tess, we don't have to do this tonight if you don't want to." She wrapped her arms around his waist.
"No, it's just I didn't expect to be this nervous," she said, while trying to calm herself. Tess kissed Kevin very gently, running her hands up his shirt and started to undo the buttons, letting Kevin know no matter how scared she was, they were going to make love for the first time that night.