And it’s then that I notice he’s … well …
I swallow, glancing down between us. I know it’s normal for guys to get hard-ons in their sleep, I know that, but holy shit, how did this situation get so out of hand?
He sighs in his sleep, his hand absentmindedly gripping the flesh of my side, right where it dips to my waist. My hand instinctively moves to his chest, my breathing ragged. If I thought I was hot before, I definitely am now. My gaze wandersto where my hand rests against the fabric of Theo’s thin t-shirt. Even though I can’t see through it, I can feel the definition beneath it. Fuck, when did Theo get so …hot?
Was he always this hot? Certainly I would have noticed, right?
He grumbles again, stretching slightly, and my core tightens and … holy fuck, I’m wet. I’m actually wet because Theo Strickland is making noises in his sleep that no man has the right to be making.
And this is so goddamn inappropriate.
“Theo,” I breathe. He has to wake up. He’s asleep and has no idea what’s going on, and I need to put a stop to this. “Theo,” I say a bit louder.
He grumbles, taking a deep breath, his hand roving over the dip of my waist and then the slope of my hip. I practically whimper.
And then his eyes open. And for one spectacular moment, I’m lost in them. How gorgeous they are, how blue they are, how bright they look first thing in the morning.
He stares down at me for a couple heartbeats, and then slowly, everything seems to dawn on him. His hand on my bare hip, my t-shirt that’s ridden up to just below my breasts, my hand on his chest, how close we are … and his erection that’s impossible to ignore.
His mouth parts, but no words come out. And for some reason, I can’t seem to find any either. So we just lie like that, staring at each other, unmoving.
“You stayed all night,” I finally force out, the words barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” he answers, then clears his throat, “yeah.”
The silence stretches between us, charged.
“We’re … really close.” It’s a stupid thing to say, but for some reason I feel like pointing out the elephant in the room might make it less intimidating.
Theo swallows slowly, his gaze dipping to my lips. “Yeah,” he says again, his voice low, deep. My stomach summersaults.
His gaze flits back to mine. And I don’t know if he’s moving toward me or I’m moving toward him, but we’re definitely getting closer. So close. Close enough to take our friendship and break it into a million pieces.
Until a loud knock startles both of us still. Loud, but distant. My mouth parts in surprise. “What …?” I start.
But the knock sounds again. Louder. The front door.
“Theodore Strickland!” a voice calls. Cheerful but slightly annoyed.
Theo’s eyes go wide, and he sits up so fast, I’m worried he’ll get a head rush. I’m frowning in confusion, especially at his reaction. “Who is that?” I ask as Theo jumps out of bed and rushes for the door.
He calls over his shoulder as he darts into the hallway, “My mom.”
Chapter fourteen
Theo
There’snothingquitelikeyour mother screaming your full government name at the top of her lungs to wake you the fuck up and, well, let’s say … calm other things down. Like,way down.
My mind scrambles for something to say as I jog down my stairs toward the front door. It’s not unusual of her to show up on a weekend. I don’t typically have much going on, and if she happens to be passing by, sometimes she’ll stop in. Besides, we haven’t seen each other in probably a month at this point, so I’m guessing she feels a visit is overdue.
Which is true, only … I haven’t told her and Dad about Cora.
They’re the only people in my life who would—no,will—be ultimately crushed when Cora and I divorce. And I just don’t think I can stand her excitement knowing what it will lead to.
But she’s standing outside my door, and Cora is upstairs. Come to think of it, I probably should have gone over some kind of gameplan with Cora before sprinting down here, but it’s toolate now. Mom can already see me through the thin window on my door and is waving wildly.
Shit.
