29. Piper #2
“And that’s his choice. But it’s been his choice since he moved here. He’s just not interested in anyone. Even if he brought you here, he’s just being nice.”
“Has he brought other people here?” I asked slowly.
“Not really, no. But we don’t get our hopes up about him. You may as well know so you can find another single man.”
“Are there any others in town?”
She sighed. “No. We’ve run dry. Sorry, kid.”
My anxiety over whether or not Tammy might touch me had faded, and now, I felt like I could push ever so slightly.
“What would you guys do if he did change things up and dated someone?”
“I mean, we’d be happy, but it’s been a decade. He’s probably gay and thinks we’d be bothered by that. We wouldn’t, for the record. We might be a little backwoods here, but we don’t judge.” She said it and then paused. “About those kinds of things.”
“Good to know, and thank you for the warning. I’ll keep it in mind.”
She gave me a smile and walked away.
I beelined for Theo. “I was so right. You’ve scared these people off.”
“Oh. Seriously?”
“Tammy thinks I’m barking up the wrong tree. She just warned me.”
He chuckled. “I had no idea people took me that seriously.”
“You look scary.”
“Not to you, though, right?”
“Never to me. I know your secret.” I reached out and tapped his nose, something I’d wanted to do to someone for years. “You’re a giant teddy bear.”
Theo and I wound up spending most of the day together. We stopped by the library, where I thoroughly embarrassed him by handing him my smut scenes, then we walked around the town. I listened while he told me about how it used to be before the STM grant came and cleaned things up.
It was the afternoon when we neared my apartment. I didn’t want Theo to leave. And judging by the way he slowed down, he didn’t either.
“Do you wanna come inside and watch a movie?” I asked as we rounded the corner to my place.
“I want to, but I have a feeling I won’t want to leave.”
I hummed and tapped my chin. “Tell me, what would your commute be like from my place?”
“You know what you’re doing.” He stepped closer.
“I’m just convincing you. It’s not my fault you fold like a cheap table.”
“A cheap table? Rude.”
“You look like an expensive one.”
“Stop objectifying me and open your door.”
I laughed and jogged up the stairs, eager to get inside. I asked what movie he wanted to watch because I couldn’t have cared less about what I put on. My skin buzzed with all of the possibilities lying in front of me.
We sat next to each other, and I was thrilled at the way my leg touched his without me even flinching. And I was determined to move closer.
I made my move slowly, making sure I didn’t go too fast for me.
But I wanted him, and I knew it.
Theo didn’t move, but he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to cuddle with you.” I looked up at him through my lashes. “Will you put your arm around me?”
“Don’t beg.”
“I’m not! Should I try?”
“My heart can’t take that. Come here.”
“Yay,” I said, getting closer to him. “You smell like coffee.”
“Still?” he asked. “I showered this morning.”
“You probably always smell like coffee. This is the first time I’m fully taking it in.” I pressed my face in closer, not moving even when he laid his hand on my back. “I’m not worried anymore.”
“At all?” he asked.
“No. I feel safe.”
I heard him swallow, and his arm tightened around me. I took in a deep breath, determined to memorize this moment.
“We’re supposed to be watching a movie,” he said. “You’re distracting me.”
“Sorry. I just see something more interesting than the movie.”
His eyes moved over every part of my face and his smile faded.
“You’re thinking about something,” I said. “What is it?”
“I can’t stop thinking about our last kiss.”
“Interesting. Neither can I.”
Theo lifted his hand and grazed my cheek. “Can I do it again?”
“Please do it again.”
This time, it felt natural to slot my lips against his. I remembered the tips he’d given and was determined to put them into practice.
It made it all the better.
I already knew his hands, but now I had more to learn. His lips were the ones I wanted to know as well as my own.
And I would make it happen.
But then his lips left mine, leaving me gasping for breath. “Wh-why did you pull away?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said, sounding just as out of breath as I did.
I melted in a completely different way. God, what did I do to deserve this man?
“I’m fine,” I said. “More than fine, even.”
Theo’s gaze dropped to my lips again. “Do you need to stop?”
“God, no.”
“Your heart is racing.”
“That’s because I’m near you. I’m not scared. I’m excited.”
“Good.” His eyes roamed me. “You’re not tense.”
“I’m not. So kiss me again.”
“And you’ll tell me if I go too far?”
I nodded, though I couldn’t imagine anything going too far.
Theo’s lips reclaimed mine, and I felt whole again, but this time, he sucked my bottom lip into his mouth, tugging it gently with his teeth.
I didn’t even know that was a thing.
But I said I was a quick learner. The second he let me go, I did the same to him.
His resulting groan turned my insides into mush.
And suddenly, sitting next to each other wasn’t enough. I didn’t give myself any time to question anything, and I swung one of my legs over to straddle him.
Theo pulled away to stare at me with wide eyes.
“Still not scared.”
“I’ll never understand why you trust me so much.”
“Try,” I whispered.
I brought his mouth back to mine, feeling every part of me that was touching him. I’d never been this close to someone else, and while there would always be a tiny part of my brain screaming that I could get hurt, I could ignore it with Theo.
Kissing him like this was even better than before. But far too soon, his lips left mine. I wanted to complain, but then he planted kisses to my cheek and jaw. Then he moved down to my neck, and my breath stuttered as his lips found a sensitive spot under my jawline.
His mouth drifted away too soon, but then he returned with vigor. My body felt like it was on fire, and I couldn’t help the moan that slipped from my lips. Theo’s hands tightened on my hips, dragging me down as I felt his rock-hard erection pressed against my inner thighs.
“Piper . . .” Theo tensed and his hands let go of me.
“I’m fine,” I rushed to assure him. “Seriously, so very fine.”
And I was. Sure, I might combust at any moment, but I wanted to feel this way.
“No, I think I need to stop.”
It took me a second to realize what he’d said, and I got off of him without hesitation.
“Are you okay?”
Theo looked as flushed as I felt. “Yeah, I think I just got overwhelmed. Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize.” I shook my head. I felt like I was falling from the high of kissing him as guilt overtook me. “Was it anything I did?”
“It wasn’t. I . . . It’s been a while. I’m sorry.”
“Theo, it’s okay. You’ve been so patient with me. Why wouldn’t I be with you?”