7. Addison
Addison
Theo was late to class, and when he returned, he was vibrating with anger.
If I had a moment alone with him, I’d have asked him what happened, but I didn’t.
The whole school day was torture as I wondered what set him off.
So, when the final bell rings, I’m practically jogging to the greenhouse for our club meeting.
Since I’m so early, the last class of the day is taking forever to leave the greenhouse. As I wait, I delete a few nasty texts from ex-friends. There’s also a text from a friend I don’t speak to anymore but miss terribly.
Savvy: Long time, no speak. You should come over and see the baby one day. I know it’s weird because of Rhett, but we’ve made amends since he moved to Moonlit Gables. I actually really love Abby.
My heart squeezes. I hate that my brother failed to mention this to me. I’m practically there all the time avoiding home and holding sweet Buck.
Me: I’ll come see you next time I visit Buck. I have so much to catch you up on.
Savvy: Miss your face. See you soon.
I smile as I tuck my phone away into my purse.
Savvy lived with us when I was younger. Her parents died so she had to go into the foster system for about a year.
I loved having a “sister.” But Rhett was obsessed with her and Dad’s sleepwalking scared her.
She bolted from our family as fast as she could.
Our relationship hasn’t been the same since.
“Greenhouse Club is cancelled today.”
I whip my head up to meet Theo’s scowling face. Frowning, I walk over to him, choosing to stand much closer than is appropriate. “Everything okay?”
His jaw muscle ticks and he won’t meet my gaze. “Just pissed off.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He turns his head and his eyes rake over my face. The anger melts away, his expression softening. I bite at my bottom lip loving how his attention fixates on the movement.
“We could grab food and talk about it,” I suggest, though he’ll probably deny me again. “As friends, of course.”
He’s silent for a long beat and then he nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
I blink at him, shocked. “Really?”
“I’m starving. Missed lunch because I had a meeting with Principal Renner. Let’s go.”
I’m unable to keep from grinning as we walk around the building toward the parking lot where my car is parked. I remote start the engine, so it’ll cool off some before we get there. Once we get to it, Theo holds out his hand.
“I’ll drive,” he says, voice deep and authoritative.
It sends excitement thrumming through my veins. “Sure.”
I toss him the keys. We put our stuff in the backseat and then climb in.
It takes him a minute to figure out how to adjust the seat to his taller frame.
But, once he does, he relaxes like he was born to drive my car.
His watch glints in the sunlight as his hand grips the steering wheel.
I notice veins in his arms bulging and the muscle flexed in a delicious way.
“You look good driving my car,” I admit with a giggle.
He smirks at me. “You look good as my passenger princess.”
My passenger princess.
I let out a laugh when he peels out of the parking lot. It wasn’t an accident. He’s driving it like he stole it. I suppose his anger is making him bolder, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hot.
Once on the road, he tests the limits of my car. We cruise well above the speed limit and my heart races. Everything about this feels so forbidden. Wild. Completely out of control. And I love it.
He does slow down eventually and drives us outside of our small town. I don’t know where we’re going, and I honestly don’t care. I’m just happy to be listening to music as Theo takes me for a ride.
“There’s this place that has the best greasy food and shakes,” he tells me as he easily maneuvers the vehicle around sharp turns in the road. “We can take the food to a picnic area by the lake I lived on as a kid.”
The place is a hole in the wall, but it smells good. Theo orders so much food there’s no way we’ll eat it all. I’m eager to try all the things. Once they hand over the food and shakes, and Theo pays, we head for our next destination.
“Do you want some money for all this?”
He cuts his eyes over to me and laughs. “Nope. My treat.”
Not going to confirm by asking, but this totally feels like a date. My heart hammers happily at that thought. It’s crazy to think the happiest I’ve been in months is because of my teacher.
We pull off the main road and go down a less traveled one. Soon, Theo takes us toward a picnic area that’s heavily shaded by trees. The lake beyond the picnic area sparkles beautifully in the afternoon sun.
“Grab the shakes and I’ll grab the food,” he instructs as he turns off the car. “Come on.”
I follow after him, again checking out his cute butt. He sits on one side of the bench that faces the lake and pats the spot next to him. All too eagerly, I take the seat, our thighs so close they touch.
Theo busies himself revealing each wrapped package of food as if they are all gifts to me. I’m entertained by how happy he is to share his favorites with me.
“This all looks so amazing.” I snatch an onion ring to take a bite. “Oh my God. This is heavenly.”
“Right? My sister Penny and I would eat there all the time as kids. It was our favorite place.” His excitement wanes. “Then I just didn’t go for a while. First time I’ve been back in ages.”
“Let me guess,” I say as I pick up a cheeseburger that drips with savory grease. “Mary Ellen hated it.”
He barks out a laugh that scares a squirrel nearby. “Yeah, actually. You’re too perceptive for your own good.”
“We’ve established she’s a psycho bitch. But, also, who could hate this place? The food is to-die for.”
“She hated it because I loved it. Story of my life.” He shakes his head in exasperation. Then, he picks up his shake and takes a drink. “This one is banana. Sounds gross but hear me out. It’s great.”
When he offers me a taste from his straw, my stomach flutters.
With eyes on his, I wrap my lips around the straw and hollow out my cheeks as I suck the thick shake into my mouth.
Sweetness hits my tongue and I groan in appreciation.
His expression turns dark and almost angry.
I’d be worried except there’s an unmasked hunger flickering in his eyes.
He wants me.
I can see it clear as day.
Pulling away, I give him a shy smile. “So good.”
“The fucking best,” he growls.
Are we still talking about a shake?
We eat until we’re stuffed and then deposit our trash into the can. Since I don’t want to leave him, I walk toward the edge of the lake.
“Is it safe to put my feet in?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at him.
His gaze lifts from my ass to meet my stare. I note that his cheeks redden from being caught. “Yeah. I used to swim all the time here. Worst that ever happened was I fish found its way in my swim trunks. Talk about a gross feeling.”
I giggle as I slip out of my sandals. The water isn’t too warm but it’s not cold either. It does wonders to cool me off. I walk until I’m thigh-high, the water teasing the hem of my romper.
“You going to stare at my ass all day or come join me?” I turn to watch his expression, laughing when he grimaces. “I’m just teasing. It feels good, though.”
He scrubs a palm over his face as if he’s mentally having trouble deciding, but then he begins untying his shoes.
I watch his every movement as he removes both shoes, his socks, his watch, and his wallet, my keys, and his phone from his pockets.
Then, he walks into the water not caring that his slacks are getting soaked.
When he reaches me, I can’t help but step a bit closer.
“I like spending time with you,” I admit, staring at his chest and not his face. “Is that bad?”
He chuckles. “If it’s bad, then I’m bad too. I’ve been miserable for a while now. Lately, I’m laughing again. Having fun again.”
A fish splashes nearby and I scream, wrapping my arms around his neck. His roar of laughter sends me into a fit of giggles as I try to climb him, getting my legs out of the water.
“You’re in their house,” he says through his laughter. “What did you expect?”
I shudder, tightening my grip around his neck. “I don’t know. For them to stay in the deep end.”
The water rises up to my breasts as he takes us deeper. Suddenly, the thought of fish all around us freaks me the hell out. But Theo has a hold of me and that keeps me from racing back to the car.
“I’m scared,” I say with a whimper, shivering. “Take me back.”
His arms, beneath the water, wrap tightly around me. “I’ll keep you safe.”
My lips brush over the side of his neck.
He smells so damn good. I ache to run my tongue along the column of muscle but barely manage to refrain.
When the water comes up to my chin and my hair is dancing around us, he stops taking us deeper.
His palm slides down my spine and settles just above my ass.
I want him to grope me.
My flesh heats at my chaotic thoughts. I find myself absently rubbing my nose along his jaw. We’re both quiet, neither of us breaking the spell. When his hand inches lower, I reward him with the tiniest kiss on his jaw.
“We should go back,” he murmurs, voice hoarse. “You and I both know this is wrong.”
Does he move? No.
Do I? Hell, no.
“I like it,” I whisper against his flesh. “No one knows what we’re doing, so it’s safe.”
His palm slides lower, fully cupping my ass cheek. He gives it a little squeeze. “This romper should be illegal.”
I burst out laughing. “It’s so comfortable though.”
“Not for me and every damn guy at the school.”
“Poor baby,” I tease and gently suck on his neck.
His grip on my ass tightens almost painfully. “Addison.”
It’s a warning I don’t heed. I suck on his neck again. Then, I do it again, hoping to mark him. The thought of seeing his skin bruised while he teaches class turns me on.
I pull away slightly, needing to see his face. His lips are slightly parted and his eyes are hooded. When I’m about to bring my lips to his, his phone starts ringing. He stiffens and immediately removes his hand from my ass.
“We need to dry out before getting back in your car,” he mutters. “Time to leave, bad girl.”
I scoff as he carries me back to the shallows. “I thought I was your good girl.”
Lust burns hot in his gaze. “I said you were a good girl, not mine.”
“My bad,” I say, pouting out my bottom lip. “I misunderstood.”
He presses his nose to mine, eyes boring into me as he carries me out of the water and onto the grass. Then, he slowly lowers me to my feet. The front of my body rubs against his obvious erection. I’ve never been with a guy like this and been able to feel his cock. Heat floods through me.
The things I want him to do to me…
“Well take a walk to dry off,” he grits out, eyes roaming over my soaked body. “We can’t return to school with you looking like that.”
I glance down at how my romper glues to my every curve. It satisfies me that Theo is every bit turned on by me as I am him.
He offers me his hand, and I suddenly don’t care about his cock or a kiss. I just want to hold his hand like I’m his.
As we walk along the grass toward a sunny area beyond the trees, he mutters, “Thank you for this.”
“I think we both needed it.”
And I plan on having more of it.