“Oh no is right,” Theo said. His expression twisted with self-loathing. "Do you know what I spent it on? Membership fees for Redford’s.”
George’s heart sank.
“You didn’t know,” he whispered.
“Don’t make excuses for me, George. I don’t deserve it. I probably wouldn't have done anything differently if I had known.”
George didn’t think that was true, but he didn't say so. Theo didn’t want to hear it now.
Abruptly, he realised that his hand was still on Theo’s forearm. Releasing him, he awkwardly curled his hand around the back of his own neck instead.
Theo didn’t even seem to notice. His gaze was fixed on George’s lips.
“You’re staring at my mouth,” George whispered.
Theo tore his gaze upwards with what looked like real effort. “I know,” he murmured. “Lately, I can’t seem to stop looking at it.”
The room felt suddenly airless, and George’s heart was racing. “Why’s that?”
Theo didn’t look away. “I keep wondering what it would feel like under mine.”
“I thought you didn’t like kissing?” George breathed.
“I never said that, only that I don’t do it,” Theo said roughly. “But recently, I find myself thinking about it all the time. I even dream about it.” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, one big hand reaching out to cup the side of George’s face, his thumb tracing the line of his cheekbone.
“What are you doing?” George whispered.
“I wish I knew,” Theo husked, a moment before he dipped his head and pressed his lips to George’s.
His kiss was hard and unyielding, almost brutal. Strangely unskilled. So different from the way Theo had touched him before.
His mouth crushed George’s lips against his teeth, a growl rising his chest, impatient and unsatisfied. And George realised, with something rather like wonder, that for all Theo’s worldliness, in this one thing, George might just have a little more experience.
Breaking the kiss, George settled a hand on Theo’s cheek when he went to pull away, meeting his stormy gaze. “Let me,” he whispered.
And with that, he leaned back in, brushing his lips tenderly over Theo’s a few times before pressing in closer. He took his time, learning the shape and feel of Theo’s mouth with his own before persuading him to open with a teasing sweep of his tongue. Theo parted his lips on a faint gasp, then groaned when George dipped his tongue inside, sliding it against Theo’s in a quick tease before pulling back to explore his lips again.
“Fuck,” Theo muttered between kisses, his fingers tunnelling into George’s hair. “Your mouth. I swear you could make me come with it, just doing this.” As though to prove his point, he pressed his hard cock against George’s hip, and George moaned, canting his own hips up in search of friction. Theo was following his lead now, exploring George’s mouth in return, his hands roaming over George’s bare skin till George was writhing against him, frantic with lust.
“Theo,” he whimpered between kisses. “God, Theo.”
“You’re so good,” Theo murmured, trailing kisses from the corner of George’s mouth along his jawline. “So eager.” He delicately traced the tender rim of George’s ear with the tip of his tongue, making George gasp and tiny prickles of pleasure rise up the side of his neck. “I want you all the time. Imagine having you under me every night.”
Did he? George would never have dreamed that Theo’s desires could mirror his own so closely, or that they might be just as immediate and ever-present.
“I want you too,” George muttered, turning his head so their lips brushed again. “Inside me this time.”
Theo groaned, his head dropping briefly to George’s shoulder. “Are you sure? I’ll be careful, but it might hurt, and I don’t want you to regret anything we do.”
“I won’t,” George assured him, even as he knew that was a promise he was in no position to make. “Please, Theo.”
When Theo lifted his head again, his gaze was direct. “I’ll make it feel good for you.” He gave a crooked smile. “I might not know much about kissing, but I know how to do this.”
And with that, he took George’s hand and led him through the connecting door into his bedchamber.
25
GEORGE
