Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
RENLEY
“I love it,” Tilly says as she checks out the flooring I picked for the bathroom. I went with a teal Moroccan-style luxury vinyl. It’s whimsical and will look cute with the wallpaper—a zany bathroom. “This is going to look so good. And luxury vinyl is so in.”
“And it’s super easy to install. Theo and I are going to tackle it tomorrow.”
“Theo, huh?” Tilly smiles as she smooths her finger over the luxury vinyl tiles. “How are things with you two?”
“Fine.” I shrug.
“Just fine? How come I don’t believe that?”
“No idea. But yeah, we’re fine. Thanks for asking.” My phone dings with a text message. Both of our eyes fall to the screen. Theo’s name pops up with a preview of his message.
Theo: Need your tits tonight…
“Shit,” I whisper as I pocket my phone in my short overalls.
Tilly laughs out loud, her head shaking in mirth. “Just fine, huh? Can’t tell you the last time I had a situation with a guy where he told me he wanted my tits and things between us were just fine.”
“Maybe a little more than fine, but I don’t want to talk about it, as I’m trying not to let Aunt Kitty find out because she’ll make a big deal about it. I just want to finish the candy shop in peace and then deal with the rest of my life after.”
“That’s fair,” Tilly says like the good friend she is, not pushing me. “Shall I unveil your sign then, so you can go offer your tits up to the British guy?”
Deadpan, I say, “Just show me the sign.”
She chuckles and we head to the bar, where she has the sign propped up, a blanket covering it. She pulls back the fabric and reveals almost an exact replica of the Rudder’s sign that was previously hanging behind the bar. But this one is updated, more vibrant, and bigger.
“Wow,” I say in awe as I drag my fingers over it. “I love it. You did such a good job, Tilly.” I pull her into a side hug. “Thank you so much.”
“Of course. I think it came out well, and it was fun to work on something else for a change.”
“I’m so lucky,” I say, staring down at the sign, nostalgia hitting me all at once. All the happy memories I shared with my dad flood my mind, pushing away the negative ones that have been living there lately. “Thank you for bringing this back to life. It means so much to me.”
“You’re welcome. And when the new windows are up, I’ll paint the logo on there as well. Oh, and I was able to launder the red and white half curtains that were hanging in the windows. I got the stains out. Do you still want them?”
“I don’t know yet. I think we see how the store looks first and then we go from there.”
“Great plan.” Tilly looks around, taking in the changes I’ve made as well as the cleanup we’ve done. “You’re so close.”
“I know. I can feel it, Tilly. I can’t wait to open the store and create memories for others.”
“Marjorie is going to have to eat her own ass when she sees what you’ve done.”
“Eat her own ass?”
Tilly shrugs. “Thought it was appropriate.” My phone dings again and Tilly glances at my pocket. “Probably should answer that, can’t keep him waiting on your…tits.”
I roll my eyes, but she just gives me a quick hug and takes off.
I pull out my phone from my pocket and read the text messages from Theo.
Theo: Need your tits tonight. Come to my place when you’re done.
Theo: If you didn’t understand what I’m trying to convey, let me make it simple. You, me, naked, my bed. See you there.
Chuckling, I text him back.
Renley: Let me go back to my place first, make sure Aunt Kitty is asleep, and then I’ll sneak over. Is Rupert going to be okay with it?
Theo: I got him noise-canceling headphones to sleep with after I told him you were loud.
Renley: OH MY GOD, THEO! You did not.
Theo: LOL. I didn’t tell him you were loud, but I did get him the headphones. He knows I’m a squealer, so it’s best this way.
Renley: I don’t recall any squealing.
Theo: Just wait, the moment you ride me, I won’t be able to hold back.
Renley: Why do I find you attractive again?
Theo: From what I recall earlier, it has something to do with my smile and big penis.
Dressed in my robe, a bag slung over my shoulder, I tiptoe out the back door, lock it up, and then head across the lawn to Theo’s house.
The neighborhood is silent, just the sound of a passing car on the next street over rushing through the air. The humidity is thick, despite midnight blanketing the sky, and there is already a light dew on the grass from the moist air.
I pause by our connected fences and glance back at the house for any sign that Aunt Kitty could be following. She was zonked out, her sleep apnea mask in full force, so I doubt she even heard me. Still, sneaking over here makes me feel like a teenager, despite never having done this as a teenager.
I move across his lawn, my feet getting wet in my sandals, and I move up the steps to his front porch, where I send him a quick text.
Renley: I’m here.
Within seconds, the front door opens and Theo is standing on the other side, shirtless, wearing a pair of shorts, and looking so fine that my mouth waters.
He’s the type of man that you see at a restaurant and his handsome features grab your attention.
The type of man that can command a room with just the sharpness of his jaw, and the brightness of his smirk.
And that smirk, right now, it’s in full force, letting me know that I’m the only one that he’s interested in.
“Fucking finally,” he says, pulling me into the house. “My dick has been throbbing for hours.”
“And here I thought you came from a family of class.”
“Classy people get throbbing dicks too, Renley,” he says with a mirthful eye roll.
Hand holding mine, he guides me up the stairs and straight into his room, which he’s lit up with candles, creating elegant mood lighting.
The sheets are drawn down on the bed, soft instrumental music is playing in the background, and there are two glasses of water on his nightstand, as well as a book about sex.
Oh my God, why is he so cute?
He shuts the door as I thumb toward the book. “What’s that for?”
“Oh, you know, in case you wanted to test out any new positions. I’m yours tonight, love. Do with me what you will.”
I set my bag down and secure my robe tighter as he closes the space between us. “Hold on.” I press my hand to his chest. “Is Rupert sleeping?”
“Probably, I don’t know. I don’t have a camera on him. He’s in his room and he told me he found the headphones comfortable. That’s the extent of my knowledge on Rupert.”
“So he’s not going to come in here?”
“The fuck he is.” Theo clicks the lock on the door. “I’d kill him if he did.”
“Okay.” I smile and then move in closer. “Thought we could play a little game of truth or dare.”
“I’m going to tell you right now, I choose dare. If it involves your body, then all dares. For the love of God.”
“Horny much?” I ask.
“For you, yeah. I am.” He holds up his hand. “But before we start, I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Confused, I ask, “What?”
“The rules. I made some adjustments after the last ones you made, and I figured we should go over them before I bury my face between your legs.”
My cheeks heat up from the thought of that happening. “Umm…sure. Will your throbbing dick be okay?”
He grins. “It made it this far, what’s a few more minutes?” Then he takes the same piece of paper that I wrote the rules on and hands it to me.
I find a seat on his bed and start reading through them.
Rule Number One: Renley and Theo will not date anyone during the summer months while Theo is still in Cape Meril.
This stands and is heavily enforced. Don’t even think about looking in Rupert’s direction. You’re mine.
“Do you really think I’d cheat on you with Rupert?”
“I don’t know, he’s a fetching guy with the same vibe as Harry Styles. Dangerous combination.”
I grip his chin and kiss him on the side of the mouth. “It’s just you.”
He seems happy with that as he loops his arm around me, and I continue reading.
Rule Number Two: Theo is allotted unlimited visitation rights to Renley, including the walk in the morning.
Also heavily enforcing, but would like to add, unlimited sex in the pond as well.
“To clarify, do you want sex in the pond or around the pond?” I ask teasingly.
“Gossy, I’ll take it anywhere. Anytime I think about that body of water, I get hard.”
“Okay, I can agree to that.”
He kisses my neck and whispers, “Should we go there now?”
“Kind of want to see what it’s like in a private space first, you know, since we tend to do it publicly.”
“I know, we’re such trollops.”
Laughing, I keep reading.
Rule Number Three: Renley is allowed to cancel morning walks with Theo if she needs to work out her thoughts, because before Theo arrived, her morning walks were always her thinking time, and he needs to understand that and give her space if she needs it.
Theo will continue to give Renley space on her walks, but would love to join her if she wants, even if the walks are in silence. He just likes spending time with her and holding her hand—even though they aren’t allowed to hold hands on walks, maybe that can change soon.
“It will. Just let me get through the opening of the store first.”
“I know.” He lightly kisses my lips.
Rule Number Four: Theo is allowed to flirt with Renley. Renley is allowed to ignore such flirtation. If Renley is not amused, that’s a him problem, not a her problem. Winking is allowed.
Pretty sure at this point, Renley enjoys Theo’s flirting just as much as she enjoys his penis. But if she chooses to ignore such flirting because she finds it to be foreplay, then he will continue to flirt and wink to get her all riled up and randy.
“I will not confirm or deny if I like the flirting. All I can say is don’t stop.”
He chuckles. “You got it, Gossy.”
Rule Number Five: Theo is not allowed to propose to Renley. They are on two different paths, and marriage is not an option for them.
Can’t say that I won’t propose, so going to have to scratch this. I like to know the option is there.