The morning after dragging Will from the White Dragon started as a quiet one in the Institute. Charlotte was out attending to some Council business while Henry was tinkering away in the basement. Tessa found herself in the library by very early afternoon, determined to have a productive day by studying the runes in the Gray Book.

She had just settled herself in front of the fire with the text when the door cracked open and Will backed into the room with a large tea tray in his arms. Tessa was a little annoyed to see him as he had been so difficult to get out of the club and into the carriage the previous night.

Upon turning into the room, Will noticed Tessa glaring at him from/the couch and gave her an innocent look by raising his eyebrows and enlarging his eyes. Tessa barely restrained herself from rolling her own. Will gently set the large tea service down on the table in front of the couch.

"Though I'd find you in here," he said as he finished turning the service tray around. "Please take this as a peace offering for your services last night." He smiled sweetly but Tessa continued to glare. She would not forgive him so easily...though the tea did smell quite good. Will poured himself a cup and walked toward the back of the library, seating himself at the large mahogany desk with the drink. After a few moments, Tessa also poured herself a cup. The tea was a nice break from her studying. She sighed as she fell back into the couch and again resigned herself to studying the runes.

Will carefully replaced his empty teacup to its saucer. "What are you working on this afternoon?" he asked casually.

"Still trying to learn these runes," Tessa responded.

"Ah," said Will. "That is something that I could help with. Bring your book here and I will help test your knowledge."

Tessa was still annoyed with Will, but his idea was a good one and she needed more help learning the runes. She sighed and brought the book to the desk so that Will could help her study. Placing the book on the mahogany surface, she looked quizzickly at him to see how they should proceed. Will smiled broadly and patted his lap as a place for her to sit. Tessa rolled her eyes but felt herself smile too. Maybe studying will be fun, she thought as she took her place in Will's lap.

Will quickly put his arms around Tessa's waist and reached for the book. She felt her cheeks warm as his face brushed her neck. "Now let's have a look at this, shall we?" he purred in her ear. Will proceded to flip to various pages in the book and then Tessa would try to recall their names and purposes. By explaining their varying patterns, Will was able to shed some insight that helped Tessa to make stronger connections between their shape and intention. Still, she struggled to remember so many symbols.

"Perhaps," said Will, genetly closing the book, "It would help you to see the runes on living flesh."

Tessa turned her head slightly to see Will's face-it was a mixed sight as he tried both to look as though this were an innocent question while there was clearly mischief in his eyes.

"Oh?" she said, mirroring his expression. "And who would we use in order to look at these runes?"

At this, Will's demeanor broke and the mischiveous look overtook all of his features. "Well I do have a few on my own body if you'd care to use me as a study aid?"

Tessa shifted on Will's lap in order to better see him. Several of the top buttons of his shirt were already undone as usual. She reached for the lower buttons. "Yes," she said slowly, "as a study aid."

Her fingers made quick work of the rest of his buttons and he was soon barechested in the chair. As always, Tessa found herself absorbed in the beauty of his body and the intricate dark runes running across his muscles. Unintentionally she began tracing one of the runes on his forearm, lost in the beauty of his skin. Will smiled as he watched her. Clearing his throat he said, "Well what is that rune for dear Tessa?"

Her fingers stopped tracing and she looked up in surprise. She had completely forgotten their original purpose of her studies. "Umm," she started, trying to get her concentration back. Will smiled in his dazzling way again and Tessa quickly looked back to the rune on his arm to avoid those bright blue eyes. Forcing herself to concentrate, she studied the rune. "This one must be for Strength because of it's placement." She pointed to one above it, "And this one is for Healing because it is starting to fade and is from that demon that you and Jem dispatched a week ago." Will smiled at the memory. "Ah yes," he reminisced. "that one was a nasty bugger."

Tessa continued her route up Will's arm, correctly identifying the many runes on him. As her fingers began their trail across his chest, she paused at the rune over his heart-the exact same rune as the one over Jem's heart. "This one," she sighed "this one is my favorite." She smiled at him and placed her whole hand over the rune. Will seemed to sense that she was thinking of his connection with his parabati and he smiled too at this unique love the three of them were able to share.

Overcome with the passion he felt for both Tessa and Jem, he suddenly gripped Tessa's waist and hoisted her onto the desk. She looked surprised for a moment, but quickly reached into his hair to pull his mouth to hers. As her boots had come to rest on the desktop, her skirts slid down to her waist, exposing her white stockings. Will's hand slid over the silk and he let out a soft moan as he discovered their length ended at her thigh, allowing him easy access to the soft skin above.

They could both sense the urgency in one another, and Tessa worked quickly to undo the front of Will's pants. His member sprang forth easily and Tessa moved to the edge of the desk, pushing aside the fabric of her drawers in her eagerness to let him in. Will obliged and together they let out moans of satisfaction as they finally united.

Will pulled back on Tessa's hair in order to expose her neck. He sucked and nipped at the delicate flesh there while Tessa did her best to stay upright under the intense pleasure of Will's thrusts. Her arms felt too weak to support her much longer.

Just as she felt the beginnings of their shaking though, Will placed her feet on the ground facing the desk. She thankfully leaned forward over the large mahogany surface to rest her arms and Will pushed the fabric of her skirt aside to reveal blue ribbons holding up her stockings. He bit his lip in anticipation. Pulling her undergarments down to her ankles, Will continued with his eager thrusts into Tessa. She moaned loudly in response which only drove him harder.

Gripping both sides of her hips, Will gave himself over to the ripples of pleasure going throughout his body. A gasp from Tessa made him loosen his grip, afraid of hurting her. Tess slightly shook her head, "No Will," she breathed. "Harder!"

Will bit his lip again as his grip tightened and his pounding into her intensified to a speed that quickly put them both over the edge. As Will spent his final pump into Tessa, both breathed out for a long moment, trying to catch their breath from the last feverish moments. Once Will had caught his, he gently carried Tessa back over to the couch and laid her onto it. Her head came to rest in his lap and the two simply stared at one another in a hazy happiness.

"You were right Will," said Tessa lazily. "It was much easier to study the runes on a living person. It's one of the few times I've preferred studying with someone over a book." He smiled at this. "You know," he began suggestively, "I have runes on more parts of my body than just my chest and arms…" Tessa laughed and playfully punched his arm. "You two never relent do you?" she said laughing. Will's smile broadened. "Well we are two vigorous young men competing for the hand of a beautiful lady," he said. "Though this competition seems to have brought us all closer together," he ended quietly. Tessa shut her eyes as she pondered his words-it didn't feel like a competition anymore; it felt more like this was the way it was always supposed to be. Could I have them both? she pondered before falling into a gentle sleep.