Chapter 19 Maggie
MAGGIE
After some debate about armored SUVs, it was finally decided that with Fred out on his own, they were all safe for the night and Theo was happy to drive his own car home.
The drive was silent. The tension in the car was a living, breathing thing. There was rage and fear and I wasn’t sure which emotion belonged to which one of us. It could probably go either way.
Theo smelled of chemicals, no doubt the result of the remnants of extinguisher foam he could not get rid of.
The contrast of that ruined tuxedo was a stark reminder of the man he was.
The polished billionaire who was at ease with wealth and power.
And then there was another side to him. A side I hadn’t seen before the lights went out.
The brutal warrior who knew how to dodge heavy objects.
A man who had a panic room at a swanky hotel and still chose to run into the face of danger.
A side I never knew existed. A side that needed an explanation.
Theo pulled into his usual parking space inside his garage.
For the first time I looked around the space that housed five cars.
The Mercedes we were in took the middle space.
It was the car he used the most. To the left was my car, the decade-old Jeep that had one too many dings.
And to the right was the small hatchback waiting for Zoe to finally get her licence.
The other two cars got my attention. The black SUV at the far right of the garage. Imposing and not quite regulation. Likely armored, like the ones they had discussed. But it was the car at the far left that got most of my attention and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The unassuming Ford was never used. And while I had never given it any thought, I had to admit it stood out.
All the other cars said something about the person meant to drive them.
Including mine and Zoe’s. But that white sedan, that was at least a few years old, was meant to blend in.
Meant to go unnoticed. Not something you’d find in the garage of a man who had his tailor on speed dial.
We stepped into the house and through the mudroom. Theo opened the door to the kitchen, allowing me to step through ahead of him. As we made our way to the foyer, Theo headed to the main staircase. No doubt he needed a shower after the night he’d had. That smell was awful. Yet, not my priority.
“Stop.” I spoke with a steadiness that surprised even me. Walking up to Theo, I folded my arms over my chest. His eyes dipped lower but I ignored him. “Who the fuck was that man?”
I didn’t need to explain what I meant. I could see in his eyes that he knew what I meant.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to fully face me. “He was the man you needed tonight, love. He was the man who kept Fred away from you.”
“No.” I stepped closer to him. I reached up and gently touched the split on his lip. It was bleeding again. “Hunter was the man who kept Fred from reaching me. You were the one who hunted him. You were giving orders. Nick let you take control of the situation.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t happen often.” He shook his head, his features relaxing. “I’m sure he would’ve stepped in if I did something reckless.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I think you’re missing the point.
I heard the statement you gave to the police.
Which, I am not sure was the full story, but still.
You used a water pitcher as a weapon. And had to dodge a knife and a fire extinguisher and you escaped with little more than a split lip and a scratch on your thigh. ”
He pouted as he looked down at me. “I’m sure I have a few bruised ribs and this suit is ruined.”
“Oh, poor baby.” I dropped my arms and took a step closer to him. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me. From everyone, Theo. But especially me. I deserve to know who I’m falling for.”
“What?” His eyes lit up in a way that made my chest seize. It wasn’t the declaration I wanted to make, but the circumstances weren’t right for that. Besides, I was not ready to play nice. Yet.
“That's a conversation for another night.” I kept my voice firm. “Now talk.”
He let out a long breath, and rolled his shoulders. His body folded as he sat down on the third last stair. Then he patted the space next to him. “Sit.”
Lifting all the layers of my dress, I did as he asked. My nose twitched and I wondered if I was being cruel forcing him to stay in those clothes with that god-awful smell.
“Nick recruited me just after my father’s funeral.” At my surprised look he shook his head. “Let me finish this and if you want, you can ask questions after.”
He went on to describe how Darren Snow had been involved in some illegal deals. The original case that Theo had been recruited for had long ago been solved but since his cover had not been discovered he’d continued to be an informant. It was a way to have a bit of the dream he wanted.
“The thing is.” Theo leaned back and rested his elbows on the stair above us.
“Nick refused to have me in a dangerous situation without being properly trained. He and the rest of the guys at Salinger Security trained me themselves. Hunter is not my bodyguard, he’s my partner.
My field experience is limited but I can hold my own if I need to. ”
I rolled my eyes and stood. “I think you can more than hold your own.”
“There’s one more thing.” At my raised brow he stood and continued.
“I was the reason Fred was arrested. We were hoping he’d give up his father who was a much bigger fish, but he took the fall.
I think the reason he was there tonight was for both of us.
He wants you back and revenge on me. I’m the reason for all of this. ”
It took me a moment to process the words, to understand the ramifications. “Okay.” I narrowed my eyes and held out my hand. “I’m trying to decide if you’re a martyr or an idiot. Fred brought the danger. He’s the criminal and the asshole. You gave me the leverage I needed to be free of him.”
His shoulders relaxed as he took my hand. “Please can I get out of these clothes. I think I’m going to suffocate from this smell.”
“Oh, trust me.” I smiled at him. “I’ve been thinking about getting you out of those clothes all night.”
“Oh, really.” While he’d long ago lost the jacket and tie, the shirt and trousers still held the remnants of the fight. Besides the smell there was also dry blood on the collar as well as a smudge of my make up on the sleeve.
I led him up the stairs and to his bedroom. Turning on the light, I dragged over the charcoal carpet. I’d left my shoes in the car and the bottom of the dress looked a little worse for wear. I turned my back to him. “Can you undo me, please?”
“Please.” Those heated green eyes held just a hint of pleading. “Before I touch anymore of you, can I get rid of this god-awful smell.”
I nodded and let him go. While he was in the shower, I began the process of letting down my hair. I could not remember how many bobby pins I used, and every time I thought I found all of them, my fingers hooked on another one.
The water in the bathroom stopped and my body hummed with anticipation. Theo walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips and stepped up behind me. His gaze never left me in the reflection of the mirror.
“Now, where were we?” His voice was smooth and deep and sent a rush of arousal through me.
I pointed at my back. “I needed your help.”
He did as I asked, lowering the zipper slowly. His sharp inhale as the dress fell to the floor had my breath hitching.
“Fuck. I could get used to this sight.”
I could only imagine. My corset and thong was pale pink, nearly the same color as the dress. I twirled to give him the full effect. The front held my breasts perfectly, creating that view that distracted him several times over the evening, and the lacy thong left nothing to the imagination.
“Can you undo the corset, as well.”
He twirled his finger indicating I should turn around once more. As he undid each hook I could feel my body relaxing. He traced over the dent in my flesh made by the restrictive corset. “This looks painful.”
“Yeah, but the effect is amazing.” I pointed my finger up and down his body. “Your turn.”
He removed the towel, showing me exactly how turned on he was. His piercing glinted in the low light of his bedroom.
His eyes honed in on the tiny scrap of lace between my legs, I removed it, leaving both of us naked and exposed and a whole lot turned on.
Theo was something to behold. Of course, I’d seen him shirtless, I mean I’d seen him naked, sporting an erection. I’d felt him inside me. Still, nothing prepared me for a naked Theo. Naked with droplets of water dotted all over his shoulders and chest.
“Love, don’t get me wrong. I love your eyes on me.” He crooked his finger, gesturing for me to get closer to him. “But I’d feel better with you in my arms.”
His words had my lips kicking up and my legs moving forward. My upper body was still covered in body glitter, but it didn’t seem to bother Theo. His smile was sinful as he lifted my chin with his forefinger.
“As much as I want to take you right here, I don’t want another rushed fuck. I want to take my time with you.”
Without another word, he picked me up and carried me across to the bed.
Placing me on the bed, he stood back and looked at me. His erection stood proud as his gaze covered every inch of me. “Spread your legs more. I want to see every inch of what’s mine.”
I swallowed hard as I followed his instruction. He licked his lips and lowered himself to the bed and crawled over me.
When his soft lips met mine, I didn’t wait for him to coax.
I opened for him immediately. His tongue on mine made every part of me come alive.
Theo Snow wasn’t just a man I was falling in love with.
A man who protected me and my children. A man who risked everything to do what was right.
Theo Snow was everything. And he was all mine.
My fingers dug into his back as our hips ground together. There was no doubting the man wanted me.
His lips moved from my mouth to my jaw to my neck. Each new spot he kissed sent a shiver through me. By the time he reached my nipples, they were likely to cut through glass. “Theo, please.”
“Na-uh.” His tongue circled around my breast. “We are not rushing anything. I’ve waited to taste all of you my entire adult life, I intend to savor every. Single. Inch.
And he did. His tongue flicked my nipple causing a wave of sensation through me. My nails dug into the muscles of his back. If I didn’t draw blood, there would at least be skin scrapings beneath my nails.
His mouth travelled lower still. His tongue tracing along my stretch marks before he reached my hip bone. The teasing was nearly my undoing. I was ready to come and he hadn’t even reached my pussy yet.
Slowly, he ghosted his lips over my flesh. When he reached my centre I couldn’t control my gasp or the way my hips shot up. With one hand on my stomach and the other opening me up, his tongue dragged from my opening to my clit.
My scream was involuntary and my fingers dug into his scalp. “Theo.”
His mouth covered me as he ate. He licked and sucked, bringing me closer and closer. When he pushed a finger inside me, as his tongue laved over my clit, I let out a plea. “Theo, I need to come.”
“I know what you need, love.”
A second finger entered and twisted. He moved his hand as if looking for something. Something I was convinced he would never find. Sucking my clit into his mouth, his fingers moved faster as he found that spot.
“Fuck, Theo.”
His hand moved faster. “That’s it, love. Let go.”
And I did. My entire body clenched as I screamed out my pleasure. Wave after wave of sensation ricocheted through me as I fell over the best cliff of my life.