Chapter Thirty
Helen
I’d been to embarrassingly few places,and nowhere outside California except a couple quick trips into Mexico when my mom dragged me to her favoritespecialpharmacy to pick up herspecialmedicine. Theo didn’t make fun of me for absolutely gawking at the bright lights and massive hotels on the Strip. He held my hand and indulged my every whim, ducking in and out of hotel after hotel.
After the intensity of his revelations, I thought he needed this, the easiness of being tourists without much care in the world, as much as I did. We ate dinner and walked around until midnight, then we left the Strip to check in to our room at a nondescript hotel. When the clerk asked if we wanted a room with two double beds or one queen, Theo deferred to me. I answered “queen” without missing a beat. I had missed this man badly in every way. I wasn’t sleeping without him.
Theo had given me everything. More than anyone ever had. He’d shown me his ugly, an ugly I never would have guessed by looking at him, by knowing him, by falling for him. I saw his ugly, and it made who he was that much more beautiful.
By the time we walked into our hotel room, I was nervous. I wasn’t the kind of girl who got nervous, not about sex, or really anything besides my sister’s safety. This was new, the things I was feeling for Theo. It wasn’t like how we were before. Now, we were stripped down and raw. Two people who’d revealed themselves and dared each other not to look away. I would never look away from him. It was Theo seeing me in the same way that made me want to hide.
I wouldn’t. I had a feeling if I wanted to, he wouldn’t let me anyway. But the urge was there.
I threw my bag down. “I need a shower.”
Theo made sure the door was locked, then sat on the corner of the bed to toe his shoes off. “I probably do too.”
My stomach swirled. God, he was hot, even with his Elvis glasses on the top of his head. Maybe him being willing to wear them made him even hotter. Those glasses on his head and the blooming warmth in my chest chased away some of my nerves, leaving room for blatant desire.
“We’re in the desert, Theodore.”
His brow furrowed, but he gave a little laugh. “I know that, Tiger.”
I slanted my head in the direction of the bathroom. “So, shouldn’t we conserve water?”
Theo didn’t need more of an invitation. We were undressed and under the hot spray of the shower within minutes, washing each other, embracing and touching like it was our hundred-year reunion instead of weeks.
I’d said I had missed him, and that was true. I missed all of him, includingthis. The way he touched me, like he’d never get enough, like he’d never had anything better, like I was both precious and sensuous.
We dried off hastily, then we were on the bed, kissing, stroking, sucking. Theo rolled me to my back, moving slowly down my body. He stopped at my breasts, cupping them to his mouth to suck the beaded tips. His tongue swirled around my nipple, then his lips closed over it, pulling it deep into his mouth. My back arched and knees tried to press together, but Theo was between them, keeping them open.
“Theo,” I sighed. “Please.”
“Mmm. No. Let me have you, Helen. Give me you.”
I glided my fingers through his wet hair, opening my eyes to watch him travel down my body. “You have me.”
He met my eyes from between my legs, and the look he gave me made me stop breathing. It was fierce and possessive, with kiss-swollen lips and fire in his eyes.
“Youhaveme, Theodore. I’m here with you.” I nodded at him. “I’m here just as much as you are.”
That was enough for him. He lowered his mouth to my flesh and kissed those lips like he did the ones on my face. Licking, tasting, savoring. He took his time with me, drawing out my pleasure, giving me tenderness mixed with carnal bliss. It was different than before, and better, not because he was going slow, but because neither of us were holding back.
When I cracked, there was an almost audible boom of thunder. My orgasm rode me like an electric storm, sizzling on my skin, pulling me taut with each spark. Theo cupped my ass and rode the flowing energy crackling in the air with me.
I needed him. Over me. Inside me. So, I told him, and he gave it to me, climbing up my body until we were aligned. His eyes were locked with mine as he pushed into me. I would have said he was trying to torture me with how slowly he entered, if not for the way he was looking at me, like he truly adored me.
It was a lot. Almost too much. But this was Theo. And he was safe. I let it happen, let him see the way I adored him right back, then I wrapped my legs around him, curled my arms around his shoulders, and touched my lips to his toshowhim.
He palmed my breast, brow pinching as he stroked me from the inside. “You’re so soft, baby. So, so soft.”
I nodded, meeting his strokes with the ride of my hips. “For you, I am. Only for you.”
“I’m so fucking lucky to have you like this.” He nipped at my chin and bottom lip. “All for me. I’m the only one who gets to have this.”
I chased his mouth, and he gave it to me, kissing and kissing me as he slid into me so deep, I felt him in my belly. And when he retreated, he dragged along every single one of my live-wire nerves. It had been so long since we were together, but now that he was inside me, there was no rush.
“I never thought I’d have you again. Never thought I’d get to experience your perfect, sweet pussy or touch your smooth skin or taste your pretty lips.” He gave me gentle, sipping kisses while the weight of his pelvis pushed on mine, hitting my swollen clit exactly how I needed. His sensual praise only added to the budding sweep of pleasure gathering between my thighs.