“I wasn’t going to say it, but…” Pressing his lips together, he nodded.
A hand slid across my shoulders, and I looked up to find Theo standing next to my chair.
“Hi, beautiful,” he said.
I stared at him in disbelief as he moved his hand to the back of my neck. It was not a friendly touch. It was possessive and intimate—almost dirty. Especially the way he slid his fingers into my hair and leaned down, his grip tightening as if he wasn’t going to let me turn away.
With his face mere inches away, he spoke again in a deep voice. “Sorry I’m late.”
Before I could respond—or even think—he closed the distance, and his mouth was on mine. The shock of his kiss reverberated through my body, sending sparks that burst between my legs. His lips were firm, but soft, moving over mine like he’d done it a thousand times.
Like he owned me.
And in that moment, he did.
A slight brush of his tongue almost made me moan. But then he pulled away.
My lips parted as we separated, my eyes fluttering open just in time to catch him licking his lips. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if he’d enjoyed that kiss and was savoringthe way I’d tasted. I was dumbstruck, blinking at him like a moron as he straightened.
“Hi,” was all I managed to get out.
Theo Haven had just kissed me, and it had short-circuited my brain. He turned to glance at Sean and his voice was low and even.
“You’re in my seat.”
I was almost afraid to look, but flicked my eyes to the side, risking a peek.
The color drained from Sean’s face and his mouth hung open. I couldn’t tell if he was mad, or just shocked.
Theo released his grip on my hair but kept a protective hand on the back of my head. His fingers moved, almost as if he wasn’t aware of it, sliding through my hair and lightly massaging my scalp. My lips blazed with the heat of his kiss, and his touch was mesmerizing.
Finally, my brain caught up. Theo was pretending to be my new boyfriend—a man who wanted me.
I turned to look Sean directly in the eyes. “What was that you were saying about no one else ever wanting me?”
The grimace of horror that crossed Sean’s face almost made me laugh. He’d actually thought he was doing me a favor.
Clearing his throat, he stood and almost crumpled the paper I’d signed in his fist. Without another word, he stormed out.
Theo stopped playing with my hair and the absence of his touch was almost jarring. He walked around the table and took the chair Sean had just vacated.
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. My mind was a swirl of thoughts and feelings.
That kiss.
But it had been fake.
I resisted the urge to touch my lips. It sure hadn’t felt fake.
“Sorry,” Theo said, giving me a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t going to interfere, but he was seriously pissing me off.”
“What are you doing here?”
He hesitated before answering. “I know you don’t need me to fight your battles for you, but I wanted to be here, just in case.”
I gazed at him for a moment. How did I get so lucky? He was such a great friend.
And an amazing kisser, which—for better or worse—I now knew.
