Chapter 17
Seventeen
My heart inched up in my throat as I tiptoed down the stairs, back into the living room. I’d woken on the couch with Theo’s arm draped over me in a rather possessive manner I was choosing not to read too much into.
I’d untangled myself to sneak upstairs to shower and change. And, also, have a mini meltdown in my room.
Last night was beyond incredible. The most intense sex of my entire life.
I’d cried after.
Freaking cried.
And Theo had wiped the tears away with his thumbs, not once breaking our stare, which had made my heart spike even more.
The connection was indescribable. Was he feeling this strongly too? Was I delusional?
All of these thoughts raced through my mind as I stepped into the kitchen where Theo had moved to. He was still shirtless and brewing tea.
“Hey, there you are.” He walked over and kissed the top of my head, placing the mug of tea in my hands.
“M-morning.” Shit. My shaky voice betrayed all my nerves.
His gaze hardened as he observed me. “Everything okay?”
“Fine!” Shit. Now I was being too perky. “Sorry.” I unclenched a little. “I guess I’m nervous after last night.”
“Nervous?” His eyebrows drew together.
“Just a natural side effect.” I laughed trying to ease the mood. “Do you feel…strange at all?”
“No,” he said quickly. “Do you? I don’t want you to feel strange.”
He wrapped his arms around me as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. So I melted into him as the memories of the previous night flooded back.
I wasn’t a particularly emotional person. I poured everything into my art. It allowed me to compartmentalize in a lot of ways. Let me feel sadness, or grief, or happiness through my art and not necessarily my real life experiences.
So last night…last night had been a lot with Theo.
I felt too much. I didn’t know how to fully process it. My fingers itched for a paintbrush and a canvas—something to pour this energy into.
But instead, all I could do right at this very second was hug Theo back.
And it felt good. Scary good.
“Any strangeness is entirely of my own accord,” I said into his chest. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“Good.” He grabbed the mugs out of the air where he’d set them to float.
He put his hand on the small of my back and led me to the table where he set them both down.
“Lori stopped by while you were upstairs. Brought those.” He pointed to the cinnamon donuts sitting on the table.
“She was already headed in for the day. I might go help her unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you didn’t want me to.”
“What? No! Of course you can go. Don’t do anything on account of me.”
He frowned, assessing me. “I don’t think it’s possible for me not to take you into account.”
Dammit. I liked that.
I let out a bubbly laugh, the light headedness taking over.
“Well, regardless. You should go help her. I’m sure she’ll be busy today. I’m going to paint.”
“If you’re sure.” He still looked reluctant to leave.
“I’m sure.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, trying my best to embrace the nerves that came with caring too much.