When, finally, the tremors have stopped rolling through my body at an ungodly pace, Theo stands and cups my face before pressing his lips to mine. I moan, tasting myself over his mouth and loving every second of it.
He pulls away and leans his forehead on mine. His eyes are still crazed with need, and I know he’s only just started with me.
“I need to be inside of you. How do you want it, baby?” he asks before he swirls his tongue over me again.
I open my mouth to tell him exactly how I want it, but I snap my jaw shut before I manage to say anything. Theo’s eyes narrow, and he nips at my bottom lip in mock punishment. “Don’t be shy, tell me.”
I close my eyes and whisper exactly what I’ve been needing. “I want you to bend me over your desk.”
Peeking through one eye, I see Theo smirk at me. He’s enjoying this way too much. “Yeah? I think that can be arranged.”
And it is.
Theo does exactly what I ask of him and clears off a space for me over his desk. Making sure I’m still okay with the scenario at every opportunity, he bends me over the cool, oak furniture and then slides deep inside of me.
He takes me hard, and I love every second of it. Drunk on him and drunk on the sensations he knows how to give my body. He brings us both a pleasure I never thought I’d get to experience with anyone.
Later that night, we’re lying in his bed, naked and fully sated. After we finished playing in his office, he scooped me up into his arms, bringing me into his bathroom. He turned on the shower to a nice warm temperature and washed every inch of my body before trailing kisses over every dip and crevice. Then, he carried me over to his big fluffy bed, wrapping me up in his arms and holding me close.
My fingers trace over the left side of his chest. His heart is beating, strong and true, as I lay my palm flat against him, feeling the rhythmic beat. I’m resting my head against his shoulder, and his right arm is wrapped under my neck, his fingers threading in my hair and rubbing my scalp gently.
I’m feeling woozy, satisfied, and blissful. Maybe that’s why I ask the question before I have a chance to really think it over.
“Have you ever been in love?”
Theo’s hands freeze against my head the second the inquiry passes through my lips. I squeeze my eyes shut, instantly regretting everything. Slowly, his hand regains its motion, and he breathes in deeply through his nose.
“I once thought I was, but I don’t think that’s what it was,” he says. I want to press him for more, but if he wanted to share, I’m sure he would’ve said more about it. “Have you?”
I shake my head against his shoulder. “I don’t think so. I guess I’m the same. I might have thought I was in love, but then?—”
I stop my train of thought, not wanting to go too far into the past right now. Not when I’m here with him.
He hums and turns his head to press his lips against his forehead. “What’s on your mind?”
I feel immature and childish for this line of thought. Not to mention the inappropriateness, given how short of a time we’ve known each other. I shouldn’t be thinking along these lines just yet. “I just—I wonder how you’re supposed to know when it’s real.”
“I think that’s going to be different for every person.”
My mind flashes to the little notebook I have at the bottom of my work bag with my perfect man list. I wonder if there are other people out there who do the same thing—or maybe something similar. For a moment, I’m tempted to bring it up to Theo, but I chicken out.
What would he think? Would he be mad, or would he laugh it off before kissing me senselessly until I can no longer remember any type of list?
“I think a lot of it has to do with trust,” he continues, unaware of the back-and-forth going on in my mind. “Love takes a lot of trust in another person. Trust that they’re going to cherish and protect the vulnerable side of you that is capable of love.”
I blink a few times, letting his words sink in and surround me. A part of me is surprised that that’s what he said first, yet another part of me is not surprised in the slightest. Sitting up from my position, I stare down into his warm eyes, searching for something. “I trust you,” I whisper, thinking back to my revelation in the aftermath of finding out about Mr. Peterson.
His lips curve into a smile, and he leans up to give me a gentle kiss. “I trust you too.”
“That means a lot to me,” I say to him. I wonder if Theo can tell by the way that I look at him just how much itmeans.With this admission, a tiny voice in my head reminds me that I’m keeping a secret from him too. The thought of the pink, leather notebook, containing a list with his name on it flashes through my mind. I shove it down, knowing I’ll have to tell him but choosing to save it for a later time.
His eyes soften, and my heart aches as he runs his hand over my hair. “Me too.” He urges forward and presses a kiss to my forehead before pulling back and giving me a small smile. “You should get some sleep. I don’t want you to feel worn out tomorrow.”
“Yeah, don’t want anyone else knowing you fucked me within an inch of my life tonight,” I tease.
He gasps mockingly. “Wow, those are some dirty words coming out of that mouth.”
I giggle as he rolls over onto his side, facing me. His arm is still wrapped tightly around my waist, his fingers drawing patterns against my lower back.
