The Classmate, page 3
Shit.
Tess moans, and when she grabs my hand and sucks my fingers, my eyes fly open.
Jesus.
I don’t know what time it is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not yet 6 AM judging by how dark it still is outside my small window. It’s generally quiet except for Tess’ moans and whimpers and the sounds of our flesh slapping together.
My apartment is dim, and the only reason I can see her is because of the muted glow from the tiny lampshade on my bedside table. It casts a pool of warm, gentle light on her body, bathing her complexion in golden hues.
Tess is on top of me, fully naked, the tousled strands of her hair framing her face, bouncing as she bobs up and down.
She tosses her head back, and I reach out instinctively to gently wrap a hand around her throat, my thumb dipping into her mouth.
Tess sucks it, reaches for me, and pulls me to a sitting position. The last traces of sleep leave me, and I’m fully awake and fully aware of the various sensations coursing through me.
With my hands gripping her waist, she wraps her arms around my neck while she continues to grind on me. I’m helpless and unable to move. She’s trapped me, and there’s no other place I’d rather be.
“Theo, I’m coming.”
My hands go to her ass and I guide her movements, going faster and faster until she stiffens and her mouth parts in a silent moan, eyes shut.
I take that as permission to come. I move to pull out, but Tess tightens her arms and thighs around me, not letting me go.
“Tess, I’m coming.”
“Then come inside me, Theo. I want your come inside me.”
Her wish is my command.
Heat zips through my body, starting from the base of my spine, and I thicken inside her, shooting jets inside her tight muscles. She doesn’t even stop. The merciless woman continues to ride me until I’m milked dry.
I lie back on the bed, bringing her with me and with me still attached to her.
Our exhales are harsh, and her heart pounds against mine. My eyes focus on the series of exposed wooden beams crisscrossing above me. I don’t know how many times I’ve stared at it and wished for a chance with Tess.
Yet, I just woke up with her on my cock. Talk about a dream come true.
Tess slides down on the space beside me and reaches out to trace my forehead, my nose, my mouth, my chin, down to my Adam’s apple.
“What are you thinking?” she asks.
I grab her hand and kiss it, smiling as I turn to face her. She rests her left cheek on the back of her hand and smiles back. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Her eyebrows scrunch. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I just never thought you’d even look at me twice.”
“I look at you plenty.”
I run my knuckles along her right cheek. “Is that so? So I guess it’s safe to assume you’re coming back here?”
“Try to stop me.”
I chuckle and kiss the tip of her nose. “Now, are you up for some heavy discussion or do you prefer to go back to sleep?”
Tess raises one brow and snuggles closer. “What kind of heavy discussion?”
“Last night. Who upset you on your birthday?”
For a minute, I think she won’t respond, but she sighs and drapes an arm over my chest. “My family.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“My father owns a law firm that handles high-profile cases. My mother left him when I was a kid and ran away with another guy. She now lives in Europe. I have two older siblings who graduated at the top of their class and are now lawyers. They’re both achievers who managed to exceed his expectations. Then, there’s me.”
“What about you? You’re perfect.”
“Thank you for that vote of confidence, and I promise I’ll never get tired of you dropping compliments so casually.” Tess laughs softly. “Anyway, compared to them, I fall short. I’ve never had straight As, never became club president, never had the dean sing my praises. Plus, I refused to go to law school. But maybe the one that really made my father hate me was the fact that I look a lot like my mother and I remind him of her.”
“For the record, your father is a fool because your grades at school are good.”
“Someday, Theo, we’re gonna have to talk about how you managed to track my life without me knowing. But yeah, the grades are because of you.”
“Me?”
“Remember Professor Callahan? At the start of the sem, he gave us a surprise quiz and you aced it. Meanwhile, I didn’t even pass. Didn’t even get half of the correct answers. I was so embarrassed because what if you found out? What if you saw my grade and thought I was dumb and stupid? So I promised myself I’d do better. And that’s what I did. I studied harder and hoped you’d notice.”
“I noticed, kitten. I noticed everything about you from the moment you stepped into the classroom and stole my breath away.” I grab her hand and lick the inside of her wrist.
She draws in a sudden breath. “Keep doing that and we’ll never make it to the end of my story.”
“Sorry. Okay, about last night.”
“It was just supposed to be a birthday dinner. When I got there, my father eyed me up and down and said, ‘You should start being mindful about the way you dress. Your future husband wouldn’t like a wife who looks like she barely has clothes on.’
That didn’t bother me at first because he liked to criticize every single thing about me. But the moment I sat down, my sister asked me if I’d met him yet. I was like, ‘Who?’ And she and my brother exchanged looks. That’s when dear old Dad sprung it up on me. That I was going to marry his friend’s son—the heir to a multimillion hotel empire.”
Something heavy settles in the pit of my stomach, an insidious, unfamiliar emotion coiling thickly in my chest, slithering into the depths of my soul.
My mouth fills with the acrid taste of dread and the bitter tang of fury. I have never felt as angry as I do now, not even when my pathetic excuse of a father slammed my face against our glass table, one jagged piece slicing my cheek.
The anger blazes like an inferno inside me, but I tamp it down, needing to ask one important question. “Are you gonna do it, kitten? Are you gonna marry him?”
She whirls her head to me, eyes blazing and intense. “What? No. Of course not. Why did you think I left while we were still having appetizers?”
Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. I cradle her cheek in my palm and run my thumb along her bottom lip. “I admit I have nothing on the guy. I don’t even have a thousand dollars to my name. But I promise you, kitten. You will not want for anything as long as you’re with me. In a few years, I expect to be reasonably well-off, not exactly a multi-millionaire, but I swear we’ll live a comfortable life. I’ll spend every day making you happy.”
Tears well in her eyes and she blinks rapidly.
Oh, fuck. The last thing I want is to make her cry.
“Kitten, what is it? Is it something I said?”
Tess buries her face in my chest. “No. No. I … It’s just that … That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Ah, shit. “Okay. So, what do you want to eat?”
Tess went home to change, and we agreed to meet in school.
I arrive first in the classroom like always. I notice when she comes in, but I don’t look up or acknowledge her. I know I’m supposed to act like we don’t know each other. Maybe we’ll just meet each other after class at the gate or something. We never really had time to talk about our setup.
Adrenaline flashes through me and I fight to find my breath when Tess slides into the seat beside me. When I hesitatingly turn to her, she flashes me a broad smile and plants a kiss on my cheek.
The entire class falls into abrupt silence as if someone has flipped a switch. Stillness hangs in the room, and the sounds stop—the rustling of books, the conversations, the laughter. It’s like our classmates collectively hold their breaths, wondering what the hell’s happening. As if it’s any of their business.
The tall guy who likes to hang around Tess and makes it a point to sit beside her roars with laughter. Tess and I ignore him, but he’s probably hungry for attention and doesn’t like it when no one cares about his existence.
He walks up the stairs to our row and stands in front of my desk, crossing his arms over his chest and shifting his gaze from me to her and back to me. “Fucking hell. You blew me off for him, Tess? Shit. I didn’t know freaks get you wet. No wonder I didn’t stand a chance. You open your legs—”
I grab his throat so fast he stumbles forward. He claws my hand, but it’s futile.
See, I learned to play to my strengths growing up. I wasn’t as big as the other foster kids, but I refused to be bullied. It didn’t take long before I realized one sure-fire way of making even the biggest bullies panic was to grab their throats and not let go until they struggled to breathe.
“You call me a freak or whatever, I don’t give a shit. But you start disrespecting Tess and I’ll give you the same face you like to make fun of,” I growl, low enough that only he can hear.
The color drains from his face, and his eyes turn wild, lines appearing on his forehead. His face morphs from panic to full-blown fear. Damn, he’s just like every other bully. Once someone starts to fight back, they just get lost and don’t know what to do. Pathetic.
“I’m gonna let go so you can apologize to Tess. You hear me?”
He nods his head repeatedly like a bobblehead.
I take my hand off him and sit back, draping an arm across Tess’ shoulders. He rubs his neck and glares at me, maybe deciding if I’m not just a freak but a psycho too.
Well, he can try to find out.
The classroom is pregnant with tension, so thick I can feel it on my tongue. No one speaks. No one moves.
He releases a long breath and looks at Tess. “Sorry, Tess. I didn’t mean what I said. I crossed a line. Won’t happen again. I’ll leave you alone now.”
Without waiting for her response, he turns his back to us and walks back down to his seat. Our classmates are frozen in various states of shock, disbelief, and intrigue. Ignoring everyone else, I take Tess’ hand in mine and slip our interlocked fingers into my pocket.
It’s a good day.
4
TESS
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take it out.
Dad: 7PM tonight. Elias and Dom will be there. DO NOT EMBARRASS ME
Oh, wow. Nothing like a bit of warning slash threat to get me hyped up for this evening’s event. Elias is the lucky man I’m supposedly marrying. Ha. Hell no. Why would I even think of getting hitched to another guy if I have Theo right beside me?
The way he defended me against Jared the touchy-feely creep? That was so hot. It took everything in me not to crush my lips against Theo’s right there and then—in front of everyone no less.
Having someone by my side ready to protect me and make sure I’m safe is so new to me. I’m all for being independent, but I can’t deny how nice it feels to just sit back, relax, and let him be strong for me. For both of us. I can’t explain it, but it’s … freeing.
Theo comes back to our table bringing a tray with two cups of coffee—one long black for him and a salted caramel frappuccino for me. He slides the tray on the table and sits across from me. His glasses slide down his nose, and he pushes it up with his finger.
Why does that look so darn sexy? Like I feel my core clench just watching him do the most mundane things.
“You like cookies?” he asks, one corner of his mouth lifting.
“Yes!”
He sets down a big cookie on the table, the kind with big chunks of dark and white chocolate.
My mouth waters and I take a bite. I close my eyes and relish the flavors in my mouth, moaning softly.
Oh, God. This is heaven.
When I open my eyes, Theo has his cup arrested halfway to his mouth, eyes staring at me intently and darkening. Of course, I channel the vixen version of me from last night.
Scooping a bit of whipped cream from my frappuccino, I bring it to my mouth and lick it slowly, never breaking eye contact with him.
The change in Theo is immediate.
He puts his cup down, and his hands grip the edge of the table, knuckles turning white. He exhales harshly, not even blinking.
“Tess, stop it.”
I widen my eyes, acting all innocent. “Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Stop teasing me.”
“Or what?”
I reach over and run a fingernail along his corded forearm.
A muscle ticks in his jaw as he clenches it tightly. He leans forward, his voice husky, and freezes me with his fierce gaze. “Or I’m gonna take you to the bathroom and fuck away that mischievous look on your face.”
Something sticky lodges in my throat. Why do I want that so badly? My eyes unknowingly sweep the area by the bathroom, and I hear Theo chuckle.
“Well, well, well. You’re actually considering it, kitten?”
My face heats from his teasing because yes, I’m considering it. More than considering it actually. I want it. I want him. Only a small part of me cares that we’re in public.
Ugh. Who is this person taking over my body? Why do I find it fairly easy to throw caution to the wind?
I am so going straight to horny jail, and it doesn’t bother me one bit.
My phone buzzes again.
Dad: I take your lack of response as a promise that YOU WILL BEHAVE LIKE A PROPER YOUNG LADY FOR ONCE
Nothing like another text from my father to dampen my spirits.
Me: Yes, Dad. I’ll be there
I lift my head to find Theo staring at me over the rim of his cup, one thick, bushy eyebrow raised.
My stomach turns at the idea of showing up to the party and being introduced to Elias as if we haven’t met before. And his father, Dom? He’s like a carbon copy of my father. Same single-mindedness, cruelty, and ruthlessness. In no planet or lifetime will I ever consider having not one but two dictators in my life.
“It’s my dad.”
“What did he say?”
“He wants me to attend a party tonight. The text was a reminder not to embarrass him in front of his friends.”
Wait a minute. An idea forms in my mind. I can think of only one thing to make the party bearable.
“Come with me, Theo.”
He runs a hand across his five o’clock shadow. “Okay. I’ll have to go to Viktor’s to borrow a tuxedo because it’s formal, right?”
“Black tie.”
“Okay.”
Theo taps his fingers on the table and looks out the window. I’ve never seen him unsure or doubtful before, but he looks like it. My chair makes a scraping noise as I get closer to the table, to him.
With my hand over his, I ask, “What is it?”
“Should I cut my hair, kitten?”
I go still and cast him a dubious glance. “No. Why would you do that?”
There’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. His shoulders hunch, and a forced smile plays on his lips. “I don’t exactly look like the guy you bring home to your parents.”
My thoughts spin, heart clenching in my chest. I don’t yet know the full extent of what Theo had gone through, but I have a pretty vague idea that he’s had very few people on his side—people who love him and care about him.
In my eyes, he’s perfect, and it breaks me that he thinks he may not be enough. “You’re the guy I’m going home with. End of story.”
My reflection in the mirror is starting to look weird, maybe because I’ve been staring at myself for an hour already. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Theo and I have already been intimate. He’s seen every part of me, yet it still makes me anxious … probably because this also feels like a date?
Oof. I’m a bundle of nerves. My palms are sweaty, and I keep peeing every five minutes, which is no mean feat since the dress is pretty tight on the thighs. To be fair, every dress or clothing is tight on my thighs.
Someone’s knocking on the door, and I know it’s him.
With a sigh, I take one last peek in the full-length mirror by the door.
The midnight blue tube dress hugs my curves but the silk fabric flows freely mid-thighs, still too snug around my upper thighs. The slit reaches just above my knee and is pretty modest all things considered. The neckline exposes my cleavage, but I cleverly wrap a lace around my chest, transforming the dress from tube to off-shoulder.
My hair is too short for me to style it. I can’t do much with it and only add some glittering pins to keep it in place. The dress is striking enough, so I keep my makeup minimal. Just a touch of eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick.
Because I don’t want to look bare, I clasp a pair of gold teardrop earrings on my earlobe. There, done.
Grabbing my blue purse from the sofa, I open the door and the sight of Theo in a suit makes me burn with need.
His crisp white button-down shirt with French cuffs is tucked into his black dress pants. The suit jacket is draped over one arm, and he completes the look with black leather shoes and a black silk bow tie.
Theo’s hair is up in a man bun, his scar in full display.
God, is he really mine?
“You’re beautiful, kitten. Part of me wants to show you off to the world but another part also wants to keep you all to myself. Does that make sense?”
Warmth blooms inside me, making me giddy with happiness. “You look so damn good too, Theo. Don’t return the suit to Viktor. Keep it.”
He grins and hooks a finger under my chin. He kisses me lightly on the lips. “It’s gonna be a long night and I’m gonna spend most of it trying to keep my hands to myself.”
When we get to his car, he buckles my seatbelt before doing his own. With a quick glance at the rearview and side mirrors, he pulls out of the parking space.
“You never asked me about my scar, kitten.”
His right hand reaches for mine, and he interlaces our fingers.
“I figured you’d tell me when you’re ready.”
“My dad came home one night a whole lot drunker than usual. Drunk is his default state so that was saying something. I kept quiet and stayed out of his way, something I learned to do. That night, I forgot to wash my plate because I just borrowed comics from my friend and I couldn’t wait to read them. When Dad saw the dirty dishes in the sink, he lost it. He slammed me against the glass table in the living room.”
Tess moans, and when she grabs my hand and sucks my fingers, my eyes fly open.
Jesus.
I don’t know what time it is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not yet 6 AM judging by how dark it still is outside my small window. It’s generally quiet except for Tess’ moans and whimpers and the sounds of our flesh slapping together.
My apartment is dim, and the only reason I can see her is because of the muted glow from the tiny lampshade on my bedside table. It casts a pool of warm, gentle light on her body, bathing her complexion in golden hues.
Tess is on top of me, fully naked, the tousled strands of her hair framing her face, bouncing as she bobs up and down.
She tosses her head back, and I reach out instinctively to gently wrap a hand around her throat, my thumb dipping into her mouth.
Tess sucks it, reaches for me, and pulls me to a sitting position. The last traces of sleep leave me, and I’m fully awake and fully aware of the various sensations coursing through me.
With my hands gripping her waist, she wraps her arms around my neck while she continues to grind on me. I’m helpless and unable to move. She’s trapped me, and there’s no other place I’d rather be.
“Theo, I’m coming.”
My hands go to her ass and I guide her movements, going faster and faster until she stiffens and her mouth parts in a silent moan, eyes shut.
I take that as permission to come. I move to pull out, but Tess tightens her arms and thighs around me, not letting me go.
“Tess, I’m coming.”
“Then come inside me, Theo. I want your come inside me.”
Her wish is my command.
Heat zips through my body, starting from the base of my spine, and I thicken inside her, shooting jets inside her tight muscles. She doesn’t even stop. The merciless woman continues to ride me until I’m milked dry.
I lie back on the bed, bringing her with me and with me still attached to her.
Our exhales are harsh, and her heart pounds against mine. My eyes focus on the series of exposed wooden beams crisscrossing above me. I don’t know how many times I’ve stared at it and wished for a chance with Tess.
Yet, I just woke up with her on my cock. Talk about a dream come true.
Tess slides down on the space beside me and reaches out to trace my forehead, my nose, my mouth, my chin, down to my Adam’s apple.
“What are you thinking?” she asks.
I grab her hand and kiss it, smiling as I turn to face her. She rests her left cheek on the back of her hand and smiles back. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Her eyebrows scrunch. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I just never thought you’d even look at me twice.”
“I look at you plenty.”
I run my knuckles along her right cheek. “Is that so? So I guess it’s safe to assume you’re coming back here?”
“Try to stop me.”
I chuckle and kiss the tip of her nose. “Now, are you up for some heavy discussion or do you prefer to go back to sleep?”
Tess raises one brow and snuggles closer. “What kind of heavy discussion?”
“Last night. Who upset you on your birthday?”
For a minute, I think she won’t respond, but she sighs and drapes an arm over my chest. “My family.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“My father owns a law firm that handles high-profile cases. My mother left him when I was a kid and ran away with another guy. She now lives in Europe. I have two older siblings who graduated at the top of their class and are now lawyers. They’re both achievers who managed to exceed his expectations. Then, there’s me.”
“What about you? You’re perfect.”
“Thank you for that vote of confidence, and I promise I’ll never get tired of you dropping compliments so casually.” Tess laughs softly. “Anyway, compared to them, I fall short. I’ve never had straight As, never became club president, never had the dean sing my praises. Plus, I refused to go to law school. But maybe the one that really made my father hate me was the fact that I look a lot like my mother and I remind him of her.”
“For the record, your father is a fool because your grades at school are good.”
“Someday, Theo, we’re gonna have to talk about how you managed to track my life without me knowing. But yeah, the grades are because of you.”
“Me?”
“Remember Professor Callahan? At the start of the sem, he gave us a surprise quiz and you aced it. Meanwhile, I didn’t even pass. Didn’t even get half of the correct answers. I was so embarrassed because what if you found out? What if you saw my grade and thought I was dumb and stupid? So I promised myself I’d do better. And that’s what I did. I studied harder and hoped you’d notice.”
“I noticed, kitten. I noticed everything about you from the moment you stepped into the classroom and stole my breath away.” I grab her hand and lick the inside of her wrist.
She draws in a sudden breath. “Keep doing that and we’ll never make it to the end of my story.”
“Sorry. Okay, about last night.”
“It was just supposed to be a birthday dinner. When I got there, my father eyed me up and down and said, ‘You should start being mindful about the way you dress. Your future husband wouldn’t like a wife who looks like she barely has clothes on.’
That didn’t bother me at first because he liked to criticize every single thing about me. But the moment I sat down, my sister asked me if I’d met him yet. I was like, ‘Who?’ And she and my brother exchanged looks. That’s when dear old Dad sprung it up on me. That I was going to marry his friend’s son—the heir to a multimillion hotel empire.”
Something heavy settles in the pit of my stomach, an insidious, unfamiliar emotion coiling thickly in my chest, slithering into the depths of my soul.
My mouth fills with the acrid taste of dread and the bitter tang of fury. I have never felt as angry as I do now, not even when my pathetic excuse of a father slammed my face against our glass table, one jagged piece slicing my cheek.
The anger blazes like an inferno inside me, but I tamp it down, needing to ask one important question. “Are you gonna do it, kitten? Are you gonna marry him?”
She whirls her head to me, eyes blazing and intense. “What? No. Of course not. Why did you think I left while we were still having appetizers?”
Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. I cradle her cheek in my palm and run my thumb along her bottom lip. “I admit I have nothing on the guy. I don’t even have a thousand dollars to my name. But I promise you, kitten. You will not want for anything as long as you’re with me. In a few years, I expect to be reasonably well-off, not exactly a multi-millionaire, but I swear we’ll live a comfortable life. I’ll spend every day making you happy.”
Tears well in her eyes and she blinks rapidly.
Oh, fuck. The last thing I want is to make her cry.
“Kitten, what is it? Is it something I said?”
Tess buries her face in my chest. “No. No. I … It’s just that … That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Ah, shit. “Okay. So, what do you want to eat?”
Tess went home to change, and we agreed to meet in school.
I arrive first in the classroom like always. I notice when she comes in, but I don’t look up or acknowledge her. I know I’m supposed to act like we don’t know each other. Maybe we’ll just meet each other after class at the gate or something. We never really had time to talk about our setup.
Adrenaline flashes through me and I fight to find my breath when Tess slides into the seat beside me. When I hesitatingly turn to her, she flashes me a broad smile and plants a kiss on my cheek.
The entire class falls into abrupt silence as if someone has flipped a switch. Stillness hangs in the room, and the sounds stop—the rustling of books, the conversations, the laughter. It’s like our classmates collectively hold their breaths, wondering what the hell’s happening. As if it’s any of their business.
The tall guy who likes to hang around Tess and makes it a point to sit beside her roars with laughter. Tess and I ignore him, but he’s probably hungry for attention and doesn’t like it when no one cares about his existence.
He walks up the stairs to our row and stands in front of my desk, crossing his arms over his chest and shifting his gaze from me to her and back to me. “Fucking hell. You blew me off for him, Tess? Shit. I didn’t know freaks get you wet. No wonder I didn’t stand a chance. You open your legs—”
I grab his throat so fast he stumbles forward. He claws my hand, but it’s futile.
See, I learned to play to my strengths growing up. I wasn’t as big as the other foster kids, but I refused to be bullied. It didn’t take long before I realized one sure-fire way of making even the biggest bullies panic was to grab their throats and not let go until they struggled to breathe.
“You call me a freak or whatever, I don’t give a shit. But you start disrespecting Tess and I’ll give you the same face you like to make fun of,” I growl, low enough that only he can hear.
The color drains from his face, and his eyes turn wild, lines appearing on his forehead. His face morphs from panic to full-blown fear. Damn, he’s just like every other bully. Once someone starts to fight back, they just get lost and don’t know what to do. Pathetic.
“I’m gonna let go so you can apologize to Tess. You hear me?”
He nods his head repeatedly like a bobblehead.
I take my hand off him and sit back, draping an arm across Tess’ shoulders. He rubs his neck and glares at me, maybe deciding if I’m not just a freak but a psycho too.
Well, he can try to find out.
The classroom is pregnant with tension, so thick I can feel it on my tongue. No one speaks. No one moves.
He releases a long breath and looks at Tess. “Sorry, Tess. I didn’t mean what I said. I crossed a line. Won’t happen again. I’ll leave you alone now.”
Without waiting for her response, he turns his back to us and walks back down to his seat. Our classmates are frozen in various states of shock, disbelief, and intrigue. Ignoring everyone else, I take Tess’ hand in mine and slip our interlocked fingers into my pocket.
It’s a good day.
4
TESS
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take it out.
Dad: 7PM tonight. Elias and Dom will be there. DO NOT EMBARRASS ME
Oh, wow. Nothing like a bit of warning slash threat to get me hyped up for this evening’s event. Elias is the lucky man I’m supposedly marrying. Ha. Hell no. Why would I even think of getting hitched to another guy if I have Theo right beside me?
The way he defended me against Jared the touchy-feely creep? That was so hot. It took everything in me not to crush my lips against Theo’s right there and then—in front of everyone no less.
Having someone by my side ready to protect me and make sure I’m safe is so new to me. I’m all for being independent, but I can’t deny how nice it feels to just sit back, relax, and let him be strong for me. For both of us. I can’t explain it, but it’s … freeing.
Theo comes back to our table bringing a tray with two cups of coffee—one long black for him and a salted caramel frappuccino for me. He slides the tray on the table and sits across from me. His glasses slide down his nose, and he pushes it up with his finger.
Why does that look so darn sexy? Like I feel my core clench just watching him do the most mundane things.
“You like cookies?” he asks, one corner of his mouth lifting.
“Yes!”
He sets down a big cookie on the table, the kind with big chunks of dark and white chocolate.
My mouth waters and I take a bite. I close my eyes and relish the flavors in my mouth, moaning softly.
Oh, God. This is heaven.
When I open my eyes, Theo has his cup arrested halfway to his mouth, eyes staring at me intently and darkening. Of course, I channel the vixen version of me from last night.
Scooping a bit of whipped cream from my frappuccino, I bring it to my mouth and lick it slowly, never breaking eye contact with him.
The change in Theo is immediate.
He puts his cup down, and his hands grip the edge of the table, knuckles turning white. He exhales harshly, not even blinking.
“Tess, stop it.”
I widen my eyes, acting all innocent. “Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Stop teasing me.”
“Or what?”
I reach over and run a fingernail along his corded forearm.
A muscle ticks in his jaw as he clenches it tightly. He leans forward, his voice husky, and freezes me with his fierce gaze. “Or I’m gonna take you to the bathroom and fuck away that mischievous look on your face.”
Something sticky lodges in my throat. Why do I want that so badly? My eyes unknowingly sweep the area by the bathroom, and I hear Theo chuckle.
“Well, well, well. You’re actually considering it, kitten?”
My face heats from his teasing because yes, I’m considering it. More than considering it actually. I want it. I want him. Only a small part of me cares that we’re in public.
Ugh. Who is this person taking over my body? Why do I find it fairly easy to throw caution to the wind?
I am so going straight to horny jail, and it doesn’t bother me one bit.
My phone buzzes again.
Dad: I take your lack of response as a promise that YOU WILL BEHAVE LIKE A PROPER YOUNG LADY FOR ONCE
Nothing like another text from my father to dampen my spirits.
Me: Yes, Dad. I’ll be there
I lift my head to find Theo staring at me over the rim of his cup, one thick, bushy eyebrow raised.
My stomach turns at the idea of showing up to the party and being introduced to Elias as if we haven’t met before. And his father, Dom? He’s like a carbon copy of my father. Same single-mindedness, cruelty, and ruthlessness. In no planet or lifetime will I ever consider having not one but two dictators in my life.
“It’s my dad.”
“What did he say?”
“He wants me to attend a party tonight. The text was a reminder not to embarrass him in front of his friends.”
Wait a minute. An idea forms in my mind. I can think of only one thing to make the party bearable.
“Come with me, Theo.”
He runs a hand across his five o’clock shadow. “Okay. I’ll have to go to Viktor’s to borrow a tuxedo because it’s formal, right?”
“Black tie.”
“Okay.”
Theo taps his fingers on the table and looks out the window. I’ve never seen him unsure or doubtful before, but he looks like it. My chair makes a scraping noise as I get closer to the table, to him.
With my hand over his, I ask, “What is it?”
“Should I cut my hair, kitten?”
I go still and cast him a dubious glance. “No. Why would you do that?”
There’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. His shoulders hunch, and a forced smile plays on his lips. “I don’t exactly look like the guy you bring home to your parents.”
My thoughts spin, heart clenching in my chest. I don’t yet know the full extent of what Theo had gone through, but I have a pretty vague idea that he’s had very few people on his side—people who love him and care about him.
In my eyes, he’s perfect, and it breaks me that he thinks he may not be enough. “You’re the guy I’m going home with. End of story.”
My reflection in the mirror is starting to look weird, maybe because I’ve been staring at myself for an hour already. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Theo and I have already been intimate. He’s seen every part of me, yet it still makes me anxious … probably because this also feels like a date?
Oof. I’m a bundle of nerves. My palms are sweaty, and I keep peeing every five minutes, which is no mean feat since the dress is pretty tight on the thighs. To be fair, every dress or clothing is tight on my thighs.
Someone’s knocking on the door, and I know it’s him.
With a sigh, I take one last peek in the full-length mirror by the door.
The midnight blue tube dress hugs my curves but the silk fabric flows freely mid-thighs, still too snug around my upper thighs. The slit reaches just above my knee and is pretty modest all things considered. The neckline exposes my cleavage, but I cleverly wrap a lace around my chest, transforming the dress from tube to off-shoulder.
My hair is too short for me to style it. I can’t do much with it and only add some glittering pins to keep it in place. The dress is striking enough, so I keep my makeup minimal. Just a touch of eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick.
Because I don’t want to look bare, I clasp a pair of gold teardrop earrings on my earlobe. There, done.
Grabbing my blue purse from the sofa, I open the door and the sight of Theo in a suit makes me burn with need.
His crisp white button-down shirt with French cuffs is tucked into his black dress pants. The suit jacket is draped over one arm, and he completes the look with black leather shoes and a black silk bow tie.
Theo’s hair is up in a man bun, his scar in full display.
God, is he really mine?
“You’re beautiful, kitten. Part of me wants to show you off to the world but another part also wants to keep you all to myself. Does that make sense?”
Warmth blooms inside me, making me giddy with happiness. “You look so damn good too, Theo. Don’t return the suit to Viktor. Keep it.”
He grins and hooks a finger under my chin. He kisses me lightly on the lips. “It’s gonna be a long night and I’m gonna spend most of it trying to keep my hands to myself.”
When we get to his car, he buckles my seatbelt before doing his own. With a quick glance at the rearview and side mirrors, he pulls out of the parking space.
“You never asked me about my scar, kitten.”
His right hand reaches for mine, and he interlaces our fingers.
“I figured you’d tell me when you’re ready.”
“My dad came home one night a whole lot drunker than usual. Drunk is his default state so that was saying something. I kept quiet and stayed out of his way, something I learned to do. That night, I forgot to wash my plate because I just borrowed comics from my friend and I couldn’t wait to read them. When Dad saw the dirty dishes in the sink, he lost it. He slammed me against the glass table in the living room.”
