19. Selene
19
Selene
A warm, solid heat presses against me, the delicious weight of a man wrapped around me. My body hums, still tangled in the lazy pull of sleep, moving instinctively—seeking more, pressing closer.
A sharp inhale, a low groan against my back.
“Selene,” Theo’s voice is rough, strained. His fingers tighten on my hip like he’s grounding himself—or holding himself back. “You gotta wake up, Sweetheart.”
His words filter through the hazy blur of my dreams, and my eyes flutter open. It takes a second to register, to feel the unmistakable press of him against my backside. The moment I do, heat floods my cheeks, horror, and arousal clashing in a dizzying wave.
“Oh my God.” My body jerks as I try to twist away, but his grip doesn’t let me get far.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Theo murmurs, voice still thick with sleep, edged with a darker intent. His hand flexes against my hip, keeping me flush against him. “You don’t get to grind on me all night and then run away now.”
I groan, burying my face into the pillow. “I am so sorry.”
He shifts behind me, and I feel every inch of him—hard, hot, undeniably affected. “Yeah, I noticed.” His lips graze the shell of my ear, his breath warm as he murmurs, “And I didn’t want to take advantage. But now that you’re awake…”
Turning my head I catch the glint of mischief in his gaze. My pulse stutters, my body betraying me as I shift against him again. A sharp inhale hisses through his teeth, his grip tightening just enough to make me feel deliciously trapped.
“Theo,” I whisper, a warning, a plea—I’m not sure which.
He presses forward, the full length of him hard and insistent against me, and my breath catches.
“This,” he says, rolling his hips just enough to make me feel him everywhere. “This is what you do to me.” His lips brush my jaw, then lower, skimming the sensitive spot beneath my ear. “Every damn time.”
A shiver racks my spine. “Then maybe we should act on it,” I murmur.
A quiet curse slips from his lips. “You sure?”
I turn in his hold, meeting his gaze. His eyes are dark, hooded, searching mine for any hesitation. There isn’t any.
“Yeah,” I whisper.
A tension snaps, control fraying, and suddenly, his mouth is on mine—hot, desperate, all-consuming. His fingers tangle in my hair, angling my head as he deepens the kiss, his body pressing me into the mattress. I arch beneath him, hands fisting his hair.
We break the kiss, breathing heavily.
My gaze trails down as I drink him in. The hard lines of muscle, the way his chest rises and falls, the hunger written across his face as he watches me look.
Then his hands are on me, sliding beneath my sleep shirt, pushing it up, his palms mapping my skin. He presses a kiss to my throat, then lower, tracing a path down my shoulder, my collarbone, and the swell of my breast.
“Theo, please don’t stop.” I gasp as his mouth closes around my nipple, his tongue flicking against the sensitive peak. My fingers weave into his hair, tugging just enough to pull a deep groan from his chest.
He pulls back, eyes burning. “Never.”
Before I can answer, he shifts, pressing my hips down as his mouth trails lower. Over my ribs. Down my stomach. His fingers hook into the waistband of my shorts and panties, dragging them down with excruciating slowness.
I lift my hips to help him, anticipation thrumming through me, my skin already on fire.
Theo looks up, his mouth hovering over where I need him most, his eyes locking with mine. He murmurs, “I want to feel you come apart for me.”
Then his mouth is on me, and everything shatters.
A sharp gasp rips from my throat, but Theo is already there, his hand sliding up my stomach, covering my mouth before the sound can escape.
“Shh,” he murmurs against my skin, the vibration sending another jolt of pleasure straight through me. “Unless you want your brother kicking down the door.”
That sobers me—for a second. But then his tongue flicks against me, and I bite down on my lip so hard I might bruise. My fingers fist in the sheets, my back arching off the mattress as heat coils tight in my core.
Theo’s grip on my hip tightens, pinning me down as he works me with devastating precision. Every slow stroke of his tongue, every teasing press of his lips, has me spiraling higher, the tension winding, winding, winding—
And then he stops.
A whimper of frustration catches in my throat, my hips rolling instinctively toward him, desperate for more.
Theo chuckles, dark and smug, his breath hot against my inner thigh. “Easy, Sweetheart. I’ll give you exactly what you need—but first…” He sits up between my thighs, fingers trail up my stomach, teasing, possessive, before brushing the underside of my breast. “Tell me you have protection.”
My pulse stumbles, my brain barely catching up through the haze of need. “I have an IUD,” I manage, my voice breathless.
He exhales sharply, his fingers flexing against my skin. “Fuck, that’s good,” he mutters, pressing a lingering kiss to the swell of my breast. “Because I don’t have a condom on me. Wasn’t exactly planning on coming over for a booty call—just wanted to see you.”
A warmth unfurls in my chest at the confession, but there’s no time to dwell on it before he shifts, his mouth hovering just above where I need him most.
“Are you sure?” he whispers, voice rough, strained.
I don’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“I’m clean,” he says, voice rough. “This is the first time I’ve ever gone in bare.” His fingers tighten on my thigh, his lips curving into a wicked smile. “And fuck, Selene, you have no idea how hot that is—how good it’s gonna feel sliding inside you with nothing between us.”
A shiver racks my spine, anticipation winding tight in my core.
Theo’s breath is warm against my skin, his body pressed flush against mine, every inch of him searing into me. His fingers tangle in my hair, his grip firm but careful, like he’s barely holding himself back.
“Hold on tight, Sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice thick with heat. “Because I’m going to ruin you the way you’ve ruined me.”
Then he thrusts into me, slow but deep, and my breath catches, my body stretching to take him. He’s thick, almost too much, and I cling to him, nails digging into his back. A strangled moan threatens to escape, but Theo’s hand covers my mouth, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
“Shh, baby,” he rasps, lips brushing against my ear. “You need to be quiet. Unless you want your brother kicking down the door.”
The thought barely registers. All I can focus on is the delicious drag of his cock as he pulls back and slides in again, stretching me, filling me so perfectly I can feel him everywhere. I bite my lip hard enough to sting, my legs locking around his waist, urging him deeper.
“Fuck,” Theo groans, burying his face in my neck, his breath hot and uneven. “You feel so good. So wet. So tight. And there’s nothing between us.” His teeth scrape lightly over my pulse, his voice deepening into a raw, filthy tone. “Do you feel that? How deep I am? How perfect you are around me?”
A shudder wracks my spine, pleasure curling low in my stomach. “Theo—”
“I know, Sweetheart,” he murmurs, rolling his hips, grinding deeper. “You’re squeezing me so damn tight. I swear to God, I’m never using a condom with you again.”
The admission sends a fresh wave of heat through me, my body pulsing around him in response. Theo feels it, groaning low in his throat as he pins my wrists above my head, his thrusts growing rougher, more desperate.
“You’re ruining me,” he whispers against my lips, his voice dark and possessive. “I’ll never be able to fuck you with anything between us now. Just bare. Just like this. Feeling every inch of you wrapped around me, soaking me, pulling me deeper.”
I whimper, my head tipping back, pleasure burning white-hot beneath my skin.
“That’s it, Sweetheart,” Theo grits out, his mouth dragging over my jaw, my throat. “Take it. Take all of me.”
Each deep thrust drives me closer, the coil in my stomach winding impossibly tight. My body is on fire, every nerve ending buzzing, my senses filled with him—his scent, his taste, the way he sounds when he’s losing control.
“Please,” I whisper, voice breaking.
His grip tightens. “I know, baby. I know. Give it to me.”
And then I do—shattering around him, my body clenching down, pleasure wracking through me so fiercely I have to bury my face in his shoulder to muffle the cry. Theo follows with a rough curse, his body shuddering as he buries himself deep, spilling into me with a ragged groan.
For a moment, all that exists is the sound of our breathing, heavy and uneven.
Then Theo shifts, his weight pressing me into the mattress, his lips brushing lazily over my temple, my cheek, and my jaw.
“You okay?” he murmurs, voice hoarse.
I nod, still floating, still wrapped in the haze of him.
A slow, wicked smirk tugs at his lips. “Good. Because I’m not done ruining you yet.”
Then—
A muffled voice from down the hall.
I freeze. Theo tenses above me.
“Did you hear something?” Celeste’s voice, suspicious and too close.
My stomach drops.
Theo meets my wide eyes, his lips twitching, barely containing his amusement.
“Not a sound, huh?” he murmurs, breathless.
I slap a hand over his mouth, glaring.
Footsteps near my door. I hold my breath.
A long pause. Then, Celeste mutters to herself, and her footsteps retreat down the hall.
I don’t relax until the distant creak of her bedroom door sounds, signaling her retreat.
Theo exhales a quiet laugh, pressing a lazy kiss to my shoulder. “That was a close one.”
I groan, shoving at his chest.
He leans in, pressing one last lingering kiss to my lips before collapsing onto the pillow beside me, tugging me against his chest. “Go back to sleep, Sweetheart,” he murmurs, voice thick with exhaustion.
I settle against him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
Sleep tugs at me, but before I drift off, I feel the press of his lips against my hair, his voice a whisper against my skin.
A sudden weight drops on top of me, jolting me awake with a scream.
“It smells like sex in here!” Celeste practically vibrates with mischief on top of me.
I clutch my chest, willing my pulse to slow, I glance over to where Theo was and see it is thankfully empty. “Celeste!” I hiss, turning to glare at her. She is grinning at me like the devil himself.
“What?” she says innocently, propping herself up on her elbows. “I saw a very disheveled Theo walk out of your room earlier. I just wanted to make sure my favorite sister is okay.”
Before I can defend myself, rapid, heavy footsteps sound in the hallway, followed by my door bursting open.
Theo stands in the doorway, shirtless, his broad chest rising and falling as he scans the room like he’s ready to take down an intruder.
“What’s going on? Oh, hey Celeste. Are you two okay?” he asks, his voice still rough with sleep. His jeans hang low on his hips, and his hair is deliciously tousled.
Celeste, however, just waves at him from my bed. “Morning, Theo! Sleep well?”
He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes flicking to mine. “I slept like a baby.” He lingers for a moment, his gaze softening as it lands on me. After an awkward silence Theo leaves with an, “Alright, I’ll leave you two to it.”
Theo turns and heads back down the hall, his broad shoulders disappearing around the corner.
The moment he disappears down the hall, Celeste turns to me, eyes gleaming. “Oh. My. God.” She grabs my shoulders and shakes them. “You had a sleepover.”
I groan again, shoving my pillow over my face. “He was here late, we drank a bottle of wine, I didn’t feel comfortable with him driving. That’s all.”
Celeste snorts. “Sure, sure. Just wine. And then you oh-so-innocently invited the hot cafe owner into your bed. Totally normal behavior.”
I throw the pillow at her, but she dodges, cackling. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you alone—for now.”
She slides off the bed, stretching lazily. “I need coffee. And so do you, considering you probably didn’t get much sleep last night. I thought I heard a noise last night.” She wiggles her eyebrows before sauntering out, leaving me to stew in my embarrassment.
With a groan, I flop onto my back, staring at the ceiling. Why is she like this?
I stay there for another minute, hoping the earth will swallow me whole, before finally dragging myself out of bed.
The second I step into the hallway, an amazing scent hits me. Coffee. And… cinnamon?
Curiosity tugs me toward the stairs, but before I can reach them, Celeste comes barreling back up, her eyes wild.
“Oh. My. God.” she breathes, grabbing my wrist. “You need to go downstairs right now.”
I frown. “Why?”
She gives me an incredulous look. “Because there is a half-naked Greek god in your kitchen making breakfast. For you.”
My stomach flips. “What?”
She nods furiously. “Theo. Shirtless. Cooking. In your kitchen. Selene, I am living for this.”
I press my hands to my face. “He’s just—being nice.”
Celeste scoffs. “Nice? Nice? Babe, he is making you breakfast, in nothing but jeans that fit just right. That is not ‘nice.’ That is ‘I spent the night in your bed, let me feed you’ behavior.”
I swallow, my heart pounding. “It’s not that deep.”
She leaves me with a look. “Right. And I suppose next you’ll tell me he just accidentally left his shirt upstairs.”
I shove past her, my pulse skyrocketing as I descend the stairs.
Sure enough, Theo stands at the stove, shirtless, flipping our breakfast in a pan with practiced ease. His back muscles shift as he moves, the morning light casting golden highlights over his skin. The sight wrecks me in my already weakened state.
He glances over his shoulder, a slow smile curling his lips. “Morning.”
I clear my throat, struggling for normalcy. My brain is still processing the sight of him standing there, shirtless, effortlessly making breakfast like he does this all the time. Like he belongs here. The thought sends a warmth curling through my stomach, but I shove it down before it can take root.
“You… cooked?” My voice comes out steadier than I expected, though I’m hyper-aware of Celeste practically vibrating behind me.
He shrugs, turning back to the stove, completely unbothered by our gawking. “Figured it was the least I could do after taking up half your bed.”
Celeste sighs. It’s a wistful, over-the-top sound that makes my eye twitch. “I am so proud of you, Sel.”
I shoot her a glare that promises swift retribution, but Theo just chuckles, plating up fluffy French toast like this is just another normal morning. Like this is normal for us.
“Hope you like cinnamon.”
I step closer, my heart still hammering. “I do.”
“Good.” He slides a plate toward me, his fingers grazing mine, sending a spark straight through me. I hate how my breath catches, how my pulse betrays me. How something as simple as his touch makes my entire body hum with awareness.
Celeste hums approvingly before snatching a piece of French toast for herself. “God, I love this for you.”
I shake my head, grabbing a fork. This is going to be a long morning.
Valkyrie lets out a soft bark, making Theo chuckle as he flips a piece of bacon onto a small plate and sets it on the floor for her. “Here you go, Little Terror.”
Celeste leans over the counter, eyeing the spread. Fancy french toast, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and even a small fruit salad. “This is way better than your usual toast-and-peanut-butter routine, Selene.”
“Gee, thanks,” I say dryly, but my gaze lingers on Theo as he moves around the kitchen with easy confidence. It’s an intoxicating confidence that comes from knowing his way around. From feeling comfortable here. That thought does something weird to my chest.
I frown slightly, glancing at the food again. “Where did you even get all of this? I didn’t have half of these ingredients yesterday.”
Orion’s voice cuts through the room bringing a halt to what Theo was about to tell me. “So, care to explain why you’re coming out of my sister’s room shirtless this morning?”
I freeze, coffee mug halfway to the pot, and Theo straightens, a spatula still in his hand.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Theo says, his tone calm but firm. “I was checking on her after she screamed bloody murder. Celeste was still jumping on her bed as I ran in.”
Orion’s eyes narrow as he steps further into the kitchen. “And why were you shirtless?”
Theo glances down at himself, then back at Orion, raising an eyebrow. “Because I don’t sleep fully dressed? Is that a problem?”
A muscle feathers in Orion’s jaw. Valkyrie, sensing the tension, lets out a huff as she walks over to Orion, nudging his hand with her nose. He scratches the area between her ears absentmindedly, but his glare doesn’t waver.
Celeste snickers and I try to step in before Orion escalates things further. “Orion, it’s fine. Nothing happened. Theo was just being considerate.”
Orion doesn’t look convinced. His protectiveness isn’t just instinctive—it’s ingrained. He’s spent the past year guarding me, making sure no one ever got too close. That I had time to get over my last heartbreak—which if I’m being honest with myself—wasn’t that much of a heartbreak. That no one ever had the chance to hurt me again. And now, Theo is standing here, in my kitchen, cooking me breakfast, fresh from my bed, and I can practically hear the internal alarms going off in Orion’s head.
After a long moment, he grumbles under his breath and stalks off.
Theo sighs, turning back to the stove. “Remind me to bring a suit of armor the next time I stay over.”
“Inviting yourself over already?” I ask, hiding a smile as I grab a plate.
“Next time there will be no alcohol involved.” He says with a heat in his gaze. “By the way, you’re out of maple syrup. I improvised with honey.”
I glance at him, my chest tightening with warmth. Did he just imply what I thought he implied?
He flashes me a quick smile, and for the first time in a long while, everything feels… easy. Perfect, even. Too perfect.
Orion, as always, shatters the moment.
“We should be hearing back from my friend about the DNA soon. Have you been able to figure anything else out about the cyanide poisoning? Have there been any other people in town that also had mysterious deaths that could potentially be connected?”
Theo shakes his head, flipping the last piece of French toast onto a plate. “Not much yet. I think Mo was going to be looking into the specifics of everything. Bennett is only a private investigator so he doesn’t have the connections she has. Especially if we want to do everything by the books. Mo also is the one that has those herbalism books to look into. The cafe is closed today so I’ll stop by her place and see if she needs an extra set of eyes.”
Orion straightens, his expression hardening in a way that makes it clear there’s no room for negotiation. “I’m going too.”
Celeste and I exchange a quick look, her eyes sparkling with amusement. This is about to get interesting.
“The more eyes, the better,” Theo says, though there is a cautious note to his tone. “Let me just give her a call. I want to make sure she’s awake and give her a heads-up that we’re heading over—”
“She’s awake, so you don’t need to, I just left her place. I came back here to grab a few things.” Orion cuts him off, already moving toward the door. As he steps into the hallway, he mutters under his breath that sounds suspiciously like, “She’s expecting me to be back soon anyway.”
Wait, what ?
Celeste and I whip our heads toward each other, jaws nearly hitting the floor in perfect synchronization.
Theo blinks, visibly confused. “Did he just say what I think he said?”
“Ohhh,” Celeste drawls, drawing out the sound with a wicked grin, “They fuckin’.”
I slap a hand over her mouth, my cheeks flaming. “Shh! You don’t know that!”
She pulls my hand away, wiggling her eyebrows, her grin widening. “Come on, Selene. He basically said he left her house, like, this morning, and she’s expecting him to be back soon! I know what that means, and so do you.”
Theo groans, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s like my sister… I’m standing right here, you know.”
“Yeah, and you’re not denying it, are you?” Celeste quips, her sing-song tone making me roll my eyes.
Theo’s ears turn red, but he doesn’t respond, choosing instead to mutter under his breath about checking the stove. Meanwhile, Celeste leans closer to me, her whisper loud enough for him to hear anyway.
“Mo and Oreo. Never saw that coming. It sounds cute though.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” I hiss, though the heat rising in my cheeks betrays my curiosity.
“Oh, please,” she says, rolling her eyes. “This town just got way more interesting.”
Theo shakes his head, his lips twitching like he’s trying not to laugh. “You two are impossible.”
“We’re just observant,” Celeste fires back with a wink, clearly enjoying the moment far too much.
As Orion’s heavy footsteps fade down the hall, the room falls into a charged silence. None of us say it, but we’re all thinking the same thing. This investigation just took a very personal—and very intriguing—turn.