Short Stories: Calling T by the Wrong Name Goes Not So Wrong [Tess Version]

Special thanks to the anon who gave me that idea by accidentally calling T by the wrong name.

Warning: Tess is a character who experiences a significant sexual attraction toward the MC. If this makes you uncomfortable, I recommend avoiding reading this story.

You glance at the clock again, feeling more impatient with each tick.

What's taking so long?

The CID's arrival has thrown the department into chaos, and the mountain of paperwork and protocols is starting to wear you down. Even though you've nearly finished your part, Specialist Maples' report is still missing, and it's the last one you need to sign today.

Keira expects the reports before noon, and it's almost that time. You know she won't be happy with any delay, and you'll be the one to face the consequences.

Pushing those unpleasant thoughts aside, you refocus on the last report on your desk. All that remains is to review and sign it. If Maples doesn't show up soon, you'll have no choice but to march over to her department yourself. Such a job...

Just as you begin, the door to your office creaks open, and you almost sigh in relief.

"What's taking so long? I've been waiting for—" You stop mid-sentence as you look up to find Agent Vasquez standing alone in the doorway, without her team.

“Hello to you too, Detective,” she says with a smirk, closing the door and striding inside. “If I'd known you were waiting for me, I would've come sooner.”

Something in her gaze sends a pleasant shiver through you, and you lower your eyes back to the papers.

“It's you... I didn't expect to see you today,” you say calmly, signing the report and stamping it, all while feeling her eyes on you, which makes it hard to concentrate.

You can't deny that this woman has a certain effect on you, but despite that, you're unsure how to feel about... everything.

It's been a few days since the CID's first visit, and you haven't seen the team since. It's strange not having any updates or knowing if they'll come back. But Tess' presence suggests everything is far from over.

“You seem a bit tense,” Tess' voice pulls you from your thoughts, and you look up to see her stepping closer to your desk. “Need a hand with that?” she asks with a hint of amusement in her tone, picking up one of the folders.

Her mischievous smile and lingering gaze make your heart skip a beat, but you force yourself to focus on your work.

Think about Maples and the report. Maples and the report, you repeat to yourself as you close the folder.

“Look, Maples, I really—” You pause, realizing your mistake, your gaze locking with hers. You see her freeze with the same realization.

A beat passes, and before you can say anything, Tess speaks first. “Maples, huh?”

Her gaze holds yours with unexpected intensity, and despite her smirk, her dark green eyes are devoid of their usual amusement, replaced by something… else. If you knew her better, you'd assume she looks almost... annoyed?

It can't be because of that, right?  You tilt your head, unable to resist the urge to understand if that's the actual reason behind such a shift. There is only one way to find out…

“Sorry, did I get your name wrong?” you ask, feigning innocence as you watch her reaction carefully.

Her smirk reappears, almost predatory. "I'm wounded, Detective. It seems like I really need to ensure you remember my name properly."

For a moment, you pause, feeling her gaze set all your senses ablaze, and you make an effort to look away.

"Right... I assume your team will be here soon?" you ask, choosing to ignore her words as you pull out a form to draft an explanatory note, detailing the reasons behind the delayed report. Knowing Keira's attention to detail, it definitely won't hurt.

“Don't worry about that. We have time,” Tess says, but before you can focus on writing, you see her press her hands flat on your desk as she leans in closer.

You raise your gaze once again, doing your best to ignore the view that the low cut of her shirt offers and keep your expression neutral as you ask, “Time for what?”

Tess hums in response, and you feel a shiver run down your spine as her hand moves to the hem of your shirt, her fingers lingering just a moment too long against your skin. Her touch is electric, sending a jolt of heat through your body.

But then, before you can react, Tess deftly unpins your ID from its holder around your neck, holding it up with a smirk dancing on her lips. Your hand instinctively reaches out to snatch it back, but Tess leans back just enough to evade your grasp.

You scowl. “What are you doing?”

Tess' smirk widens, her eyes locking onto yours. “Making sure you remember my name properly,” she replies, her tone laced with playful defiance.

You pause, taken aback for a moment. Is she really reacting that way because you accidentally called her by the wrong name? And most importantly…

"Why would I? We're only working together temporarily," you say, trying to mask the flutter of curiosity beneath your words.

Tess tilts her head. "Because I certainly won't forget yours," she states with such confidence that it leaves you momentarily speechless, yet you try to ignore the meaning of her words.

"I remember your name, Agent Vasquez. Now knock it off and give it back," you say calmly, refusing to believe her behavior is affecting you so strongly.

"Are you sure? You got it wrong last time," Tess teases, a flicker of raw emotion crossing her eyes before she masks it with a spark of amusement, completely ignoring your demand.

Eager to put an end to whatever this is, you let out a tired sigh. “Okay... Tess,” you say slowly, maintaining eye contact. She offers no immediate response, so you continue, "Now, if you would be so kind, my ID.”

Tess' smile turns innocent. “You can take it yourself. Not that I'm going to stop you,” she replies, slipping your ID into the inside pocket of her shirt, hidden beneath her leather jacket.

You raise an eyebrow. Is she serious? But her expectant gaze and silence indicate that she really is.

Suppressing an urge to roll your eyes, you rise to your feet. However, as soon as you move towards her, Tess steps back. Frowning, you repeat the motion, only to find her doing the same.

“Tess...”

“I see we're making progress,” Tess remarks, her words eliciting a surge of irritation mingling with something oddly exhilarating.

You take another step forward, and she retreats, leading you to walk her back until her back meets the door, with you blocking any chance of escape.

Standing in close proximity, you lock eyes with her, her smirk unyielding in the charged silence enveloping you both.

"Give it back. I won't ask a third time," you finally say, your voice hoarse, unable to tear your gaze away from the playful intensity of her dark green eyes that send a shiver down your spine.

"I already said that, didn't I?" Tess responds in a low whisper, her fingers gently brushing against your wrist, sending goosebumps across your skin.

Suppressing a content exhale, you return your gaze to Tess' eyes. As if waiting for this moment, her fingers tenderly wrap around your wrist.

Her smirk widens as you feel her thumb press against your pulse, which betrays how much what happens between you two affects you.

Your gaze flickers to her touch, and suddenly, the realization of the situation washes over you, causing you to freeze.

What am I doing?

Why are you reacting like this when you've only met her a couple of days ago? Why are you allowing a woman you barely know to toy with your feelings?

Your emotions must be evident on your face because the moment you lift your gaze to meet hers, the smirk slips off her face, replaced by a serious sincerity you've only seen once before, during the situation with Paula.

Silently, she draws your hand closer, and despite your internal protests, you find yourself unable—unwilling to resist—allowing her to do so.

She cradles your palm gently, pressing it against her cleavage, allowing you to feel the softness of her breasts contrasting with the edge of her bra, the warmth of her skin, and the subtle ridges of her numerous scars, inviting you to sense something more…

A rapid heartbeat, so similar to yours that it serves as the answer: it's not just you.

"You don't need to ask," Tess finally says, breaking the charged silence. She holds your gaze for only a fleeting moment before her hand begins to guide your wrist under her leather jacket. "You can just take it," she whispers, and you realize you can feel the edges of your ID card nestled in the inside pocket of her shirt.

"Maybe I don't want something from someone I barely know at all," you murmur softly, despite the overwhelming sensations her touch evokes, stirring a desire for more.

"We can get to know each other in a much more fun way. But only if you want us to..." she murmurs, her voice carrying a hint of invitation, and you find yourself humming in response, reaching to retrieve your ID from her pocket, freeing your hand just to pass it to her.

“And what about you?” you ask, noting the return of her smirk as she pins your ID back to its holder around your neck. "Is this something you want too?"

She meets your gaze, her dark green eyes flickering momentarily, sending your heart into a heavy rhythm as pleasure dances in your lower belly.

"I wanted that from the moment I first fucking saw you," she says breathlessly, her desire palpable in her gaze, causing you to exhale shakily.

The air between you crackles with tension, and you feel her hand on your hip, another tracing up to your jaw, brushing aside all hesitations and leaving only clarity about how much you needed—how you wanted—to finally be felt by someone.

Your heart pounds, sending a thrill through your chest, filling the emptiness with fluttery anticipation. All your senses heighten as you both lean in to—

*KNOCK-KNOCK*

You freeze.

"Detective, can I come in?" Maples' voice filters through the door, breaking the moment. You sigh disappointedly, your connection with Tess momentarily disrupted.

But Tess remains unmoved; her gaze remains fixed on yours, unfazed by the interruption.

"Say... Can you ignore it?" she asks lightly, without making any attempt to pull away or let go.

*KNOCK-KNOCK*

"Detective?" You hear Maples' voice again, the urgency evident in her tone as you stand there, still close to Tess.

"I'm afraid not," you respond reluctantly, slowly withdrawing to allow Tess space to move away from the door. The loss of your proximity is frustratingly palpable.

"You're so cruel," Tess remarks with an audible, dramatic sigh, brushing past you deliberately. Her proximity sends a shiver through you, her warmth seeping through her clothes and igniting goosebumps across your skin.

Before you can respond, the handle turns, and the door opens. "Detective, I'm sorry for—" Maples pauses, her gaze darting between you and Tess. "Should I come back later?"

You part your lips to speak when Tess interjects, "Honestly? Yes."

"No," you interrupt, stepping closer to Maples. "I've been waiting for you, Maples." Behind you, you hear Tess scoff.

You bite back a smile, taking the report as you dismiss Maples before Tess can say anything else.

Walking past the agent to your desk, you ignore her pointed gaze as you stamp and sign the report.

"Can't believe you confused my name with… that one," Tess begins, surging closer to you as you put together a stack of reports to take to Keira.

Picking up the last report, you straighten up, meeting Tess' gaze. "I look forward to seeing how you'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

Without waiting for her reaction, you leave the office, your heart still pounding with the echo of her presence, unwilling to let go of the memory of the rhythm her heart shares with yours.

Feeling something mutual... It's nice. Even if you know deep down that, eventually, it won't last.