20. Jess
20
Jess
A s I bit into my apple, I couldn’t help looking at Theo. He was studying the chapter I’d given him to read, and I was curious to know what he was thinking.
He seemed cool and calm. The polar opposite of how my ex reacted.
My stomach twisted as a flashback of that night flew into my head. Theo was the last person I ever thought I’d tell about it. But ever since that night, I’d promised myself that I’d always listen to my gut and strangely enough, it told me that I could trust him. That it was okay to open up. And so I did.
I didn’t know what I was expecting him to say, but I definitely didn’t think he’d offer to read it to me to help me get my mojo back. Not in a million years. I didn’t know if it’d help, but I wanted to try. I really missed reading.
Hearing Theo had lost his mum so young made my heart lurch. Losing mine at sixteen was hard enough. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he must’ve gone through at that age.
When he told me, I wanted to let him know that I understood his pain because I’d been through a similar trauma. I’d opened my mouth, then stopped. I didn’t want to bring down the mood. I hated talking about what had happened to Mum. It stirred up too many emotions. Grief, yes. But also anger, shame and embarrassment.
Even though it had happened over fifteen years ago, I still felt it.
No. Now wasn’t the time to dredge all of that up again.
‘Apple?’ I held it out to him, trying to distract my mind from thinking about Mum. ‘I’ve only eaten one side. I left the other for you, so you don’t have to worry about me contaminating it.’
‘What?’ He frowned. ‘Why would I be worried?’
‘We don’t really know each other, so you might not want to exchange saliva with me.’
‘We’ve been in this basement for more than two hours already, so I’ve already known you a lot longer than some of the women I’ve exchanged saliva with.’
As he deliberately took a bite from my side of the apple, a tingle raced through me.
That was the second time tonight he’d hinted at his sexual experience. My pulse had quickened earlier when he’d said there was nothing sweet about the things that he liked to do in the bedroom. I’d almost asked him to elaborate and tell me exactly what he’d meant, but luckily I’d stopped myself just in time.
Although the words didn’t come out of my mouth, that didn’t mean I wasn’t still thinking about it.
My mind drifted to what he’d said in our email exchange on the way to Dreamland when he mentioned that there were many things that turned him on. Was it insane that I wanted to know what did?
I took a gulp of my water, hoping that somehow it would calm me down. I didn’t know what had come over me. Actually, that was a lie. What had come over me was Theo.
Oops. That came out completely wrong. Although I’ll admit, I wouldn’t be adverse to the idea of Theo doing that.
Oh God. See what I mean?
I was a hot, horny mess.
It shouldn’t really be a big surprise that I was acting like a dog on heat. Not only had it been ages since I’d had any form of physical contact, Theo was easily the most attractive man I’d ever met.
Those thick brows, those dark eyes with ridiculously long lashes, the square jaw with sexy stubble. He had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen, and don’t even get me started on his body.
Today he was wearing smart navy jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his tanned arms, which were covered with dark hair. He looked just like the sexy male models on the steamy romance novels I used to love.
Speaking of novels, maybe it wasn’t a good idea for him to read that particular scene to me. I should pick another book. Maybe a ‘closed-door romance’ where instead of describing the sex on the page, it ‘faded to black’ and let the reader use their imagination about what the couple got up to .
‘Ready?’ Theo’s head snapped up just as I was staring at him. Probably with pathetic heart eyes.
‘Um, yeah. Okay. If it’s too steamy for you, we can read something else,’ I said, thinking it wasn’t him keeping his cool that I was worried about.
‘Jessica, is this the book that you wanted to continue reading—yes or no?’
‘Yes.’ I nodded.
‘Are you still interested in reading this book and finding out what happens?’
‘Yeah.’
‘That’s all I needed to know. Your ex might have shamed you, but I won’t. Office Delight is the book you chose, so this is the book I’m going to read. No arguments. Ready?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Good.’ His gaze dropped to the page.
‘“Chapter 21: Virginia.
‘“‘You wanted to see me?’ I stepped into Rocco’s office.
‘“‘Close the door,’ he commanded as his eyes raked over me from head to toe.
‘“I pushed the door closed and swallowed hard as he rose from his desk, sauntered over to where I was standing, then pinned me against the office wall.
‘“My breath hitched and my lips parted.
‘“‘We shouldn’t…’
‘“‘I’ve been waiting to fuck you all day, Virginia,’ he growled, ‘and I can’t wait another second.’
‘“As Rocco crushed his lips onto mine, I felt the wetness pooling between my legs. There were so many reasons why we shouldn’t do this. But right now, I couldn’t remember what they were.”’
‘Wow!’ I said a little too loudly, causing Theo’s head to snap up from the screen.
‘You were right. This is pretty steamy stuff.’ He grinned.
‘It is! But that wasn’t why I said wow .’
‘No? Why, then?’
‘It’s you : you’re really good at reading aloud.’
He really was. Theo sounded just like I’d imagined the character Rocco from the book. The way his voice was low and deep, the way he growled. It wasn’t just Virginia that was getting damp in the knickers department. I was too.
‘Oh.’ His eyes widened. ‘Thanks. Seeing as we’ve paused, can I get a little context here? There were twenty other chapters before this that obviously I haven’t read, so what’s the deal with these two? Can you remember what happened to Rocco and Virginia?’
‘If I remember correctly, they work together. And their relationship is forbidden, but they can’t keep away from each other.’ My voice wavered a little because describing the characters’ situation was strangely familiar. It felt a bit like life imitating art .
Technically Theo and I didn’t work together, but we had to exist in the same orbit, and just like with Rocco and Virginia, there were many reasons why the illicit thoughts swimming around in my head about what I wanted Theo to do to me were also forbidden.
‘Got it.’ Theo nodded. ‘Want me to continue?’
‘Please.’ Tingles raced through me.
Theo tilted the Kindle screen and started reading:
‘“‘Okay,’ I panted, struggling to catch my breath. Do it. Fuck me.’
‘“Rocco’s eyes darkened as he clutched my blouse, and in one swift movement he ripped it open. As the buttons scattered across the white tiled floor, I gasped. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening.
‘“Next Rocco unclipped my bra, tugged down the front, cupped my breast, then started sucking on my nipple.
‘“‘Oh God!’ I cried out…’”’
As Theo continued reading, my pulse rocketed. His voice was hypnotic. I didn’t know anything about real estate or how good he was at it, but seriously his talents were wasted there. His voice was like honey. Before, I remembered being annoyed with how much I liked it, but now, I was grateful. I could listen to him read to me for hours.
Full disclosure: I’d prefer it if he could do it through a wall or on the phone so I wouldn’t have to see him, though. The combination of his sexy voice and godlike looks made it impossible for me not to want to put my hands down my knickers and start touching myself.
And, no, that still didn’t make romance like porn.
‘Hello?’ a voice sounded loudly from the other side of the door. ‘Jessica? Theo? Are you in there?’
‘Oh my God!’ I shouted. ‘Edwin’s come back! Yes! Yes! We’re here. The handle broke off and we got stuck!’
‘Goodness me! Hold on. I’m opening the door right now.’
Theo and I both sprung up off our boxes and watched as the door moved little by little until it eventually opened all the way.
‘Oh thank God!’ I blew out a breath. ‘I’m so happy to see you!’
‘We were worried we were going to die down here!’ Theo said.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Edwin said, concern written all over his face. ‘Are you both okay?’
‘We’re good, right?’ Theo turned to me for confirmation.
‘All good now, thanks,’ I replied as we climbed the stairs to the main floor.
‘I’m so happy to hear that.’
‘What made you come back to check on us?’
‘Glenda called. She said that normally you were both back in your rooms by this time and wanted to check you were okay because she couldn’t get through on your mobiles and no one had seen you at the pub or Candace’s. She was about to send out the search party when I said I’d go and check again here, just in case. ’
‘I’m glad you did!’
‘That’s one of the many benefits of having a tight-knit community like we have at Sunshine Bay. Everyone looks out for each other.’
So different to a lot of places in London. I’d lost count of how many stories I’d heard of where people had died in their homes and been left rotting for weeks or, in extreme cases, months because no one came to check on them.
‘Thank you for coming to find us,’ Theo said.
‘I’m just glad you’re okay. Let me just give Glenda a quick call so she can tell everyone you’re safe.’
When we got back to the B&B, Glenda raced over and threw her arms around us.
‘We were all so worried!’ she said as if we’d been missing for days rather than hours. ‘Come on. Candace just dropped off some pie and chips for your dinner. You must be starving!’
‘I just need to use the loo,’ I said, trying not to jig on the spot. God knows what I would’ve done if Edwin hadn’t come.
‘No probs. I’ll put the kettle on. Make you both a nice cup of tea.’
After dinner, Theo and I both walked upstairs. When we got to my room door, he stopped.
‘Well, tonight definitely turned out a lot different than I thought it would.’
‘Tell me about it.’ I smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘For keeping me calm. And for, y’know, reading to me. I liked it.’
‘My pleasure. Hope it helped.’
‘It did. ’
‘And thank you. For the crisps, water and of course the apple. It was very nice.’
‘Even with my saliva?’
‘ Especially with your saliva.’ His voice deepened, like it had when he’d read to me, and another wave of tingles erupted between my legs. ‘Sweet dreams.’
Then just like that, he left me standing there and wanting more.
And I knew that if I had sweet dreams tonight, there was a strong possibility that it’d be because Theo was in them.