Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Theo—”
“My feelings aren’t why the business trip happened. I just want to make sure you know that. I had no idea Gramps was going to spring that on you during that meeting—especially the living together part. I found that out at the same time as you.”
If anyone else said it, it would have seemed like an excuse.
“I believe you,” I said quietly. “Believe it or not, I know what kind of man you are, Theo. You wouldn’t deceive me like that.”
“I’m sorry. I feel like all I do with you is apologise. Especially right now. It’s unfair of me to have forced you into this conversation when you aren’t feeling great.” His shoulders dropped, and he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. “I should go. I’ll tell your aunt that you’re resting, and—”
I pushed away from the windowsill and stretched out, grabbing the back of his shirt.
“Chloe?”
“No.” I fisted his shirt in my hands and stepped up behind him, pressing my face into his back. “You can’t just say all that and leave. It’s not fair.”
“But you—”
I closed my eyes again. “Are you really going to drive all the way down here just to say that and then leave me again?”
“It wasn’t exactly what I drove down here to say. I wasn’t ever going to tell you.”
“Even now? After things changed?”
His shoulders heaved with the weight of his sigh. “I don’t know.”
“Do you regret it?” I asked softly. “Telling me that you have feelings for me?”
“I… don’t know.”
“You’re an idiot.” I released his shirt and took a step back, staring at the floor. “I missed you, too. Didn’t I say that?”
The toes of his shoes came into my line of sight. “Did you miss me the same way I missed you?”
I nodded. “It’s true that I… really didn’t like you not long ago,” I said, staring at our shoes. “But it’s also true that I didn’t know you that well, either. I realised pretty quickly that you weren’t actually a complete bastard like I initially thought.”
“What about now?” He reached out and brushed his fingertips across my cheek, then tucked my hair behind my ear. “Do you like me now?”
I leant forwards, touching my forehead to his chest. “I do.”
He drew in a deep breath before letting it go slowly and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. He cupped the back of my head and dipped his chin, and his lips were so close to my ear that my skin prickled with each breath he took. “The same way I like you?”
“I think so,” I whispered, turning my face slightly towards his. “I just… I’m confused.”
“Then let me give you something else to think about for a minute.” He tilted my head back and brushed his lips over mine.
Warmth instantly spread through my body, and I gripped his shirt once more, pulling him into me. We’d kissed what felt like a thousand times over the past week, but there was something different about this one.
Something more intoxicating than all the others.
He flicked his tongue against the seam of my lips, and I softened, parting them for an even deeper kiss. The stroke of Theo’s tongue against mine lit my entire body on fire, and I reached my arms up around his neck to cling tighter to him.
Theo had feelings for me.
If that was what he wanted me to think about, he was doing an incredible job at keeping that little fact on my mind.
“Chloe.” He lowered his mouth to my neck as his hands crept down to my hips. “This dress is too tight.”
“I’m aware. I’m wearing it.” I gasped when he grazed his teeth over my skin. “Don’t you dare give me a hickey.”
“Why not? That’s an effective way of showing that Adam that you already belong to someone, isn’t it?” He licked the spot he’d just nibbled.
“You’re being a petty brat.”
“I’ll let you do it to me. Wouldn’t you like to show those women that I’m yours?”
My cheeks burned, and I pushed at his chest. “Stop. Saying things like that… I…”
“Why? It’s true.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. “I am yours, Chloe. For as long as you’ll have me. As long as you want me.”
Ah.
He was going to kill me with those words.
“I just…”
“Chloe?” Uncle Jay’s voice was muffled by the door, but his knocks were loud and clear. “Your aunt sent me.”
I quickly shuffled out of Theo’s hold, then grabbed his arm and shoved him behind the wall, out of view of the door. “Stay there,” I hissed, glaring at him for good measure before rushing to the door and pulling it open ever so slightly. “Sorry, Uncle Jay. I didn’t realise I’d been away so long.”
He smiled warmly. “She just wanted me to make sure you’re okay. She tried to get away, but Cass pulled out some surprise vodka jelly shots and she got a bit swept up.”