I was stunned into silence, and Theo took advantage.“Lola Summer Casco, you have a talent, and that shouldn’t be ignored.Pursue it.You have no reason to think it isn’t as important as some college degree.In fact, it’s probably more important because it brings you joy.As someone who almost lost the thing that he’s good at, that brings him joy, don’t take that for granted.”
“I just have always thought… that my life…” It was hard to admit to someone this thought that has plagued me for more years than I can count.“In high school, I told the boy I was dating that I wanted to go to art school.He rolled his eyes, smirked, and said ‘Of course you do.”
Theo lifted his eyebrows at that, and I shifted my gaze to focus on the window because it was easier than looking him in the eye.“When I asked him what he meant by that, he said that I was a rich girl.I could do whatever I wanted because of my parents and my soon-to-be successful brothers.And then he said it was a shame I didn’t want to do something tocontributeto society.”
Theo’s eyes darkened, his jaw ticked, and he clenched his teeth for a moment before he said, “This is the guy who played hockey?Did you date well into college?Did he gaslight you the whole time?”
I looked away again.“I didn’t know what gaslighting was back then.So I decided he was right.I was blessed and should be trying to make the world a better place.”
Theo leaned forward in his chair.“When I saw that painting of yours on that art site, you know what I did?For the first time in a while?I smiled.I felt something good.So fuck that dude.Art can make the world a better place.”
We continued talking, and he convinced me to go back to Maine and ask the Art Collective's owner for a paid position.He eventually crawled onto the bed with me, and we lightly plotted out more art-related potential job options, if the Collective couldn’t afford to pay me.I dozed off at some point, feeling free and lighter than I had in months.I didn’t realize Theo had dozed off, too, but I was glad he did.Waking up to him in my bed is so fucking nice.
“What time is it?”he asks, his voice gravelly and rough.
I crane my neck, unwilling to leave his arms, to see the small clock on the nightstand.“Six twenty.”
“Mmm…” he murmurs, and I feel it rattle warmly down my spine because his lips are touching my neck.“I still have some time before my meeting.”
“Meeting?”His hands move, pulling me closer, and his lips leave a wet spot right under my hairline.
“AA.I’m going to a meeting at seven-thirty,” he tells me as he spreads his fingers wide across my abdomen.
“Everything okay?”I ask, trying not to move, even though all I want to do is press back into him.Feel the hardness I know is there.Tease him.
“Yeah.I just… like to remind myself it can all get fucked up fast if I forget,” he kisses my jaw, just below my ear.“But before that I want to remind you…”
“Of what?”I ask and wait, holding my breath.
“How good it can be…” His hand slips lower, and I stretch, pressing my ass into his hard-on, and he inhales sharply.
“Another shot at a perfect ten?”I smile as my joke causes him to nip my jaw and growl.His fingers pop the button on my jeans.
“Tell me you want this,” he whispers, pulling down my fly.
“I want you to fuck me, Theo.”
And he does.After he gets us both naked, he flips me onto all fours and, with one hand in my hair and the other playing with my clit, he fucks me hard and so fucking good.It’s an eleven out of ten, but I can’t tell him that.If I do, he’s done here.With me.So as I shudder through my blinding orgasm and he comes hard, collapsing softly onto my back, and we untangle ourselves and drop down on the mattress side-by-side, I fight the smile that wants to overtake my face.
“Rating?”he asks through pants.“Because that was a fucking eleven out of ten for me.You should have seen your ass.And fuck the way you let me tug on your hair…”
“I need time to assess.It’s too early to form a thought.”
He pops up onto one elbow and stares down at me.“What?No.It’s a ten.Say it.”
“Too early…” I roll onto my side and grab the edge of the duvet and tug it down so I can crawl under the covers.“Sleep then assessment.”
“Fucking hell…” he mutters, but he’s smiling as he gets out of my bed and heads to the bathroom to clean up and dispose of the condom he pulled out of his wallet earlier.
The shower turns on, and I snuggle deeper into the bed, dozing until I feel his lips on my forehead.“I’m heading to that meeting.”
“Okay.Enjoy?Be safe?I don’t know what to say to that.”
“I don’t know either.”He chuckles, and his fingers rake my hair softly.I smile.“You have plans with Randie for the day, I assume?”
“Yeah.And with my parents, who will probably hog her all day.They try to spend all the time they can with her when we’re home.”I yawn.“I might swing a Randie-free coffee date with one of my high school friends and take advantage of my parents.”
“Right, shit…” Theo sounds stunned, so I look up.His eyes are on me, studying.“So that ass of a high school ex is still around here, too?”
