37. Mia
37
MIA
I can tell that Theo is a little nervous, and it makes me feel better. You only get nervous about things you care about.
Theo takes a deep breath, breaking the silence after the waitress has come by to take Mia’s drink order. "Mia, I need you to know that everything I've done, I've done with the best intentions. I thought I was protecting you and the community, but I see now that I went about it all wrong. Oak Island is… It’s where I grew up. You know that. I care about the community here and the ambiance I give my guests. Yes, I want to make money, but I’m not going to do that at the price of ruining the island."
I look at him. He’s studying me with sincere brown eyes. "Tell me everything, Theo. I need to understand. I’ve learned bits and pieces here and there, but I shouldn’t have to send out a private investigator to know what you’re up to, not if you really care about me."
Theo nods, running a hand through his hair. "It started with Steve. Since the start of this project, he’s been about maximizing profit, no matter the cost. When he suggested pushing you to sell your property, I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know how to stop him. I thought if I played along, I could buy time to find a better solution. At first, I really wanted to buy the property, before… Well, before I knew it was yours and how you were planning to use it."
Theo pauses, his gaze fixed on the crab dip and crackers the waitress just brought out. I usually love crab dip, but I can’t bring myself to touch it right now.
"When I saw how much it was hurting you, I realized I couldn't keep lying to you. But by then, it felt like I was trapped between a rock and a hard place. Steve threatened to sabotage the whole project if I didn’t push forward with the original plan. I was trying to buy time so I could figure out what to do."
I feel bad for Theo. I hadn’t realized how much pressure he was under. But I still feel like he owed me this conversation weeks ago. "Why didn’t you tell me, Theo? Why keep it all a secret?"
"I didn’t think I needed to. I was going to take care of it. I didn’t know how low Steve would stoop until, well….he started stooping and I realized I couldn’t play limbo with him."
His vulnerability takes me by surprise, and I feel my anger beginning to melt away. "So, what did you do?"
"I decided to buy out Steve’s share of the project. It was the only way to protect both you and the community. I’ve… It’s taken me a while to figure out how it would be possible, but I did it."
“How did you do it? I mean, he had to have put a lot in. How did you?”
I can see Theo avoiding my eyes, and I know he’s hiding something.
“Theo,” There’s a warning in my voice. If he starts hiding things again, then I’m done. I can’t keep going.
“I’m going to be selling two of my properties and liquidating a few other investments. I’ve got the funds, though, and my financial advisor gave me the green light.”
"Why did you do all of this?”
Theo reaches for a cracker and piles it high with crab dip. I watch him. When he’s done chewing, he answers. “I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t keep fighting Steve, not when he was playing dirty. Besides, things will be better like this. No more pressure on you or me.”
I take a deep breath, feeling a sense of clarity wash over me. "So, you did it because you wanted the resort to yourself?”
Theo finishes chewing completely. He looks across the table and makes eye contact. “Well, that’s one benefit, but…I also did it for you. What we’ve both put you through since the beginning of May isn’t fair.”
His words hit me hard, and I can’t respond right away. The waitress comes and takes our orders, and I hardly pay attention to where I point on the menu. When she’s gone, something has settled onto my shoulders. “So, Theo, you’re not going to keep any more secrets from me?”
He reaches out, taking my hand in his. "I promise, Mia. No more secrets. I want us to build a future together, based on trust and honesty."
I squeeze his hand, feeling a sense of relief. "Okay. Let’s try to move forward."
Theo smiles, a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. "Thank you, Mia. You have no idea how much this means to me. I… When we’re together, it just feels different."
“Different?”
“Oh, don’t make me get sappy,” Theo teases.
But I want to hear it from him. “I mean, if I eat a bad bean dip, that makes me feel different too, but it’s not an experience I want to repeat.”
Theo laughs. “Okay, if you want to make me say it, I will. I like being with you, Mia. I like how comfortable I feel, and I feel like we could have somethin—a lasting relationship.”
“You know, I think we could too.”
Our conversation becomes lighter then, and I feel like a real weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I enjoy my fish sandwich and the crab dip, and Theo and I talk about something that isn’t related to the bed and breakfast or the resort.
When we’re done eating, I realize that it’s over. I’ll go back home now, and Theo will head in his own direction. I don’t like how that realization feels.
Theo takes my hand as we step out into the parking lot. "Want to take a walk on the beach?"
I nod, and we head toward the public beach access across the street. Theo must not want the night to end either.
“Now that we’re on the same page as far as our businesses go, maybe you can give me some pointers on advertising. I haven’t gotten any bookings yet, and I think the first booking is the hardest.”
“If you agree not to mention anything else about our businesses for the rest of tonight, then I’ll help you get some bookings.” Theo squeezes my hand, and I quickly agree.
The sand is still warm even though the sun is just a sliver in the sky. The world around us is a strange orange color, and in the sky above the water, I can see the stars starting to peek out.
We walk to the edge of the water and splash through it as we head down the beach in the opposite direction of our properties.
Suddenly, Theo stops and pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me. I feel my body heat up as soon as his skin touches mine. "I care about you, Mia. I hope that’s clear from tonight.”
It’s clear from tonight and the hard thing pushing against my crotch area. I feel a rush of desire for Theo, but I don’t have time to process it before he’s kissing me. His lips are hungry for mine, and my body responds before I have the chance to think through our actions.
I want Theo, and that’s all that matters. I’m tired of being a responsible adult. I just want to be myself tonight. Theo bumps his hips gently against mine, and feeling how hard his dick is makes me start to get wet.
I reach between us and feel his erection pressing against his pants.
"Let's go for a swim," he suggests, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he pulls back from my lips.
I glance around. The beach isn’t too busy, and it’s already getting dark. I pull myself closer to Theo and whisper in his ear. “Why go for a swim when I’m already wet?”
Theo squeezes me closer. “Because I want to see you strip down to your underwear.”
I look down at the dress I’m wearing and try to remember what I’m wearing underneath. I think it’s one of my cute panty sets, but either way, it’s dark. And I want Theo. And I’m doing what I want and not thinking about consequences.
Theo starts stripping down first, and I watch as he unbuttons his shirt and tosses it onto the sand. His pants follow a moment later.
He grabs the front of his boxers, right around his dick, and smiles at me. His teeth seem to glow in the darkness. “Do you want to come for a swim with me?”
That’s all it takes for me to strip off my dress. We run into the water, the cool waves crashing around us. I feel free, like I did as a teenager, and I squeal as the waves crash into my bare stomach.
We get out past the point where the waves break, and the water laps around my neck.
Theo swims up to me, his arms going around my waist, lifting me easily so that my legs wrap around him. We kiss again, this time more passionately, the water swirling around us. I can feel Theo’s dick bumping urgently against me.
“Go ahead,” I tell him. “Do what you want.”
I feel Theo fumbling under the water, then he pushes my panties aside. I feel something smooth and hard rubbing against me, and I start to gasp. I can’t kiss Theo anymore because I’m busy trying to catch my breath.
“Theo, if you make me come here in the water…”
“That’s the idea,” his voice is low and urgent. He keeps one hand wrapped around my waist, but his other hand finds my clit. He moves his thumb in circular motions, and I throw my head back, groaning up to the sky.
“Theo, go ahead. Push yourself inside me,” I start to beg.
I want him to fill me, to make me groan as he pushes himself inside me as hard as he can. “Yes, ma’am,” Theo answers quietly.
Then, he pushes himself inside me hard, his dick causing pleasure to course up my spine. “Theo! Theo!” I call out, his name echoing across the water.
Theo has trouble finding his rhythm in the moving water, but he keeps his hand going on my clit, moving it hard and upping the pressure until I can’t even form his name on my lips anymore.
I’m just groaning as Theo thrusts himself inside me again and again. Finally, I feel a burst of warmth, and my orgasm hits me. I have no strength anymore, and I collapse into Theo’s arms. He yanks himself out of me, coming in the ocean water.
I laugh once I realize that we’ve actually just done this—something that has always been a fantasy of mine.
The waves push us around, and the wind whips my hair into my face.
“We should maybe head back in. There’s a strong current tonight,” Theo says.
Dripping wet and laughing, we fight the waves back to the beach. We gather our clothes and wrap them around ourselves, shivering a little as we sit in the sand near the beach access. Theo pulls me close, and I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling content and safe.
"Thank you for giving us another chance," he murmurs, kissing the top of my head.
"Thank you for fighting for us.”