“Sorry.” Olivia climbed in and slid across the seat, making room for Theo.
Theo was quiet on the way home, seemingly brooding about something. He barely said a word when they arrived back at the house. After hanging their jackets on the coat stand by the door Olivia limped into the library and dropped down on the sofa. Bending over, she took her sneakers and socks off and then wriggled her toes in obvious relief.
The hearth burst happily into flames at Olivia’s presence, as it usually did. Theo stopped in front of the mantle and stared down into the flames.
“What is between you and Jackson?” Theo asked after a few moments of silence.
“Is that what’s bothering you?” Olivia asked.
He said nothing but simply turned his dark eyes on her. Olivia hauled herself off the sofa, shuffling closer until she stood toe-to-toe with him.
“There’s nothing between me and Jackson,” she replied. “He’s a friend, that’s all.” She stepped closer until he could feel the heat of her body against him, his pupils dilated, and his jaw tensed. “This is probably a really bad idea,” she murmured, grazing his exposed forearms with her fingertips.
“Be very careful, Olivia,” he warned, his voice low and hungry. “You’re playing with fire.”
Her eyes flashed gold, the fire roared in the hearth, and every single candle in the room simultaneously burst into flame.
“I thought we’d already established,” she whispered against his mouth, “that I like playing with fire.”
Theo’s control snapped and his mouth descended on hers, demanding and insistent. His fingers tangled in the heavy mass of her hair. He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. This was all he’d thought of since he’d first kissed her. The scent and heat of her wrapped around him, and every single thought or protestation in his mind drained away. If he was going to be damned, then let him be damned for taking what he wanted.
He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and they simply devoured each other. He couldn’t get enough of the wild, addictive taste of her.
They dropped down onto the sofa in a tangle of arms and legs and desperate need. His hands skimmed her ribs beneath her shirt, raising goose bumps against her skin as he grasped the bottom of her shirt and yanked it over her head, discarding it carelessly on the floor. He broke his mouth away from hers long enough to look down at her lace-covered breasts.
“I like this very much.” He swallowed hard as his fingers traced the edges of the transparent black lace.
“Theo,” she gasped against his mouth, and he took her under again with another deep, drugging kiss.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he panted against her lips. His mouth trailed fire across her skin, pressing kisses along the graceful arch of her neck down to her collarbone.
Olivia grabbed his shirt, pausing only long enough to pull it over his head and toss it away. Her lips crashed back against his, her fingers skimming over his hard stomach to trace the line of hair leading down into the waistband of his jeans
“Is this what you want?” he breathed against her lips.
Her gaze met his and his stomach swooped. There was a desire there, a need that clearly matched his own. Her body trembled against him as they lay poised at the edge of madness.
Unable to help himself he stroked along her collarbone, over her shoulder, tracing the curve of her breast above the scandalous lace garment that encased them. He felt his cock throb and closed his eyes momentarily against the powerful wave of lust.
Her skin was so soft and smooth, scorching heat beneath his fingertips. He rested his hand against her breast and felt her heart thundering beneath his palm, it’s frantic beat matching his own.
Somewhere deep beneath the hazy fog of arousal was a voice he hated reminding him this was a sin, but another part of him spoke louder. How could love be a sin? How could what he was feeling for this woman be wrong?
If he was going to be damned for loving her, then so be it.
“Theo?” She lifted her hand and stroked his jaw, and he felt that soft, tender touch right down to his soul. “Where did you go just now?”
He shook his head.
“We don’t have to–” She shifted but he grasped her hands, fingers interlocking. He stretched her arms over the arm of the couch, her back arched and her breasts pressed against his chest.
“Is this what you want?” he repeated the question.
“Yes,” she whispered, those beautiful whiskey-colored eyes locked on him. “The question is what do you want, Theo?”
He drew in a shaky breath and rolled his hips against her, feeling the delicious pressure against his aching cock. “I want you more than my next breath.”
She didn’t say anything more. Her hands skimmed down his torso, grasping the waistband of his jeans and popping the buttons open one at a time. Her direct gaze didn’t waver as she reached in and grasped the silky length of him and gave a slow firm stroke from root to tip.
