Chapter 24 Theo
THEO
ONLY A FRESHLY-showered-and-in-a-low-slung-towel Shep could look so damn good after the last twenty-four hours. Even I felt like fresh hell—physically, anyway—and he’d been the one to get shot at.
He ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back from his face, and I didn’t bother hiding my open stare.
I didn’t have to. I could look and touch all I wanted, which was all I’d had the capacity for after the night with Ari.
I didn’t want to talk to anyone. See anyone.
Do anything other than spend every second with the man I’d almost lost.
There wasn’t an ounce of remorse in me whenever I thought about what I’d done the minute the door shut, locking me in with Ari. He’d deserved every painful second he got in the end, and I’d taken each bit of rage and fear he’d instilled and given it back tenfold.
I wasn’t sorry. I wouldn’t ever be.
Because the man slipping into a pair of navy boxer briefs and then covering that sweet ass with jeans was here with me, safe and mine.
And I was his.
If anyone tried to interfere with that, I had a wire-wrapped cuff link with their name on it.
“That scowl better not be for me,” Shep said as he lobbed the damp towel at my chest.
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t even realized I was pulling a face and quickly smoothed it out. “Well, it was rude to put on clothes and ruin my view. How about you take them off?”
“You said we were out of coffee.”
“So?”
“So have you ever had the pleasure of dealing with Prince Rinaldi before he has caffeine?” he teased.
“Are you saying I’m a nightmare?” I feigned shock and horror, which had Shep chuckling and leaning in to press a kiss to my lips.
“It means I plan to keep my guy happy by running out to get some.”
I tsked and drew him closer by the waist of his jeans. “I’d be happy with you naked and spread beneath me…”
“You say that now, but in a couple of hours I’ll get terror Theo.”
This time I didn’t have to feign anything. “You little fucker—”
“You didn’t say it was so little last night. In fact, I think I recall hearing, ‘Oh mon Dieu, Shep, your cock is so huge—”
I burst into laughter at his fucked pronunciation, but couldn’t deny it was kind of endearing to hear him try. And he wasn’t wrong.
“You’re right, I did say that. Much more eloquently, but I did say it.”
“And if you don’t mind, I’d like to spend the day with that Theo, not one who is cranky due to lack of caffeine.”
“Cranky?” I arched a brow. “I suppose that’s a step up from a reckless, chaotic nightmare.”
Shep’s lips curved against mine. “You’re still all of those things, but now that I know how to avoid them, I’m going to do my best to make sure I do.”
“Fair enough,” I said, and grabbed my sunglasses off the coffee table. “But you better include a pastry in that order too.”
Shep laced his fingers with mine and drew me into the elevator. “How about I include two?”
I slid my hands up Shep’s chest and pressed a kiss to his lips, taking advantage of the quick trip down to the ground floor, knowing the second we stepped outside any kind of touching would have to wait until we got home.
There’d been a couple of photos taken at the gala of Shep diving in to protect me in the heat of the moment that had garnered some mild speculation over whether there was more between us than America’s golden boy stepping up and being a hero.
For now, though, it seemed the press was happy to run with the fact there’d been no casualties, and were busy covering who the shooter might be and where he’d disappeared to, but, um…good luck with that. They weren’t going to find shit.
As the elevator opened and we headed toward the door, I slipped my sunglasses on and prepared to face the morning. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, the second Shep pulled open the door, was to be met with a dozen or more paparazzi who instantly perked up like wolves catching a scent.
The familiar sound of cameras whirred and flashed in front of us as the crowd converged.
“Prince Rinaldi, are you and Shepard more than friends?”
“Shepard? Did the prince stay at your place last night?”
“Are you two dating? Or just ‘comforting’ one another?”
Oh, we were comforting each other, all right, all night long. And had it been up to me, I would’ve told that nosy reporter exactly that, because, well, had they seen Shep?
But he clearly had other ideas.
Shep’s hand clamped around my wrist and instantly pulled me back. He slammed the door shut on all their stunned faces, and luckily for us, the lobby door was wooden.
“Bill?” Shep said to the doorman in that all-too-serious tone that was just downright sexy. “Make sure no one gets inside, would you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Shep turned to me, a frown pulled between his brows, his lips drawn tight, and the expression was so damn cute I couldn’t help but laugh. “Why so serious, Mr. Winchester? Never been caught doing the walk of shame?”
“I’m not doing the walk of shame now.”
“Okay then, never been caught in a compromising position?”
“I’m not in one of those either.”
I leaned up and put my lips to his ear. “Do you want to be?”
He leaned back, and that frown became even more pronounced. “Would you be serious?”
“I am very serious.” I waggled my brows. “Just tell me how you want me.”
“Did you not just see what I did? There has to be a reporter from every news outlet standing outside my home.”
“And?”
“And they all think you spent the night with me.”
“I did spend the night with you.” When Shep just stared at me, I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to get my coffee, am I?”
“I don’t think it would be very smart.”
“Because you’re worried about the press.”
Shep snorted. “Aren’t you? If your family finds out—”
“They’d be annoyed but not shocked,” I pointed out, because it was true.
Of all the people I’d been caught in the tabloids with, Shepard O’Neil Winchester the third was a top-tier choice, and my parents would definitely approve—I thought.
However, there were protocols, and they would be disappointed I hadn’t come to them first.
Dieu. I hated being responsible.
“But you’re right. We should probably tell them first.”
I could hear the reluctance in my voice, but it was what it was.
The fact remained that we were two public figures and shit like this happened.
I just hadn’t been expecting it to happen with Shep—yet.
We’d talked about doing it, going public with our relationship, but on our terms, and now here was a bunch of press littering his doorstep.
And honestly, if I’d seen him throw himself on top of me, I’d be more than a little curious too.
I reached for Shep’s hand and laced our fingers, then started back toward the elevator. “It’s fine. You’ll just have to deal with Terror Theo today.”
But Shep didn’t move, tugging me back to him with a determined look on his face that had me wondering what the hell it meant.
“No,” he said. “I’m not hiding you or us. We’re not doing that.”
A slow smile curled up the corners of my mouth and I moved back toward him. “Oh, we’re not, huh?”
He shook his head. “No. Hope you’re good with that.”
Was he kidding? Anyone would be fucking thrilled to show off Shep as the man in their life, and somehow that lucky bastard was me.
I’d apologize to my parents later. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, wasn’t that the saying?
“You better be sure,” I said, stepping in so close our bodies touched, something that still sent electric shocks through me. “Because once it’s out there, no take-backs. No trade-ins for a newer model. Or one less chaotic.”
He grinned, and that white smile was mesmerizing. “Theo.”
Putain. The way he said my name should be illegal in both our countries. It was so sexy and so possessive that it was all he had to say for me to know there was no turning back now—for either of us.
He brought our joined hands up between us, pressed a kiss to my knuckles, and winked. “Let’s give them something to talk about.” Then he looked up at the doorman. “I’ll get it, Bill.”
Bill nodded and stepped out of the way, hiding his smile as we headed for the exit. Shep tightened his fingers around mine, refusing to let go as he pulled open the door, letting me step through first.
The flashes were even more blinding this time around, and I lowered my sunglasses again, though they couldn’t hide my Cheshire grin. Somehow there were even more paparazzi swarming on the sidewalk than five minutes ago. What had they done, called all their friends?
The shouts and questions began before the door shut behind us, and as we moved through the crowd side by side, we both waved but kept our heads down.
“Are you two confirming you’re an item?”
“Shepard, what does your father have to say about this relationship?”
“How long have you been a couple?”
“Will there be a royal wedding?”
They followed us down the block with their questions and cameras, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel annoyed or anxious about it all.
Shep’s hand was firm, unwavering, much like the man himself, and having him beside me, as my partner and my lover, gave me an unfamiliar sense of peace.
That was new, but not at all unwelcome, and I found myself looking at him while we waited at the crosswalk for the light to change.
He looked back at me, his eyes an even lighter shade of ice blue in the sun. Pride swirled in their depths, and I squeezed his hand.
I knew exactly what he was feeling. He’d told me before how much he hated to hide in a relationship, to be someone’s secret, and now here he was, loud and proud in announcing us as a couple to the world.
Without thinking, I brought our joined fingers up to my mouth, kissing his hand the same way he’d just done mine in the lobby. It garnered a genuine smile from my man even as the crowd around us went wild.
The light changed and we crossed the street, the horde following as we headed to the corner coffee shop. The message between us was silent but strong as we stared at one another: Let them talk. I’m not hiding you.