Vivian #3
“She’d never admit to the second part,” I paused and considered my next words. “I think she’d like more community and agency.” I’d asked around about accessibility aids today and was told I’d need to travel a few towns over for them. I was already contemplating how to make that trip work.
“I met with a landlord today. He has a duplex unit available—single floor. It’s not fancy, but it’s in way better shape than her cabin. If you think she’d like living in town, and wouldn’t be offended by the offer, I’d like to pay for it.”
My jaw must’ve been gaping. Who the fuck was this man?!
He shows up out of nowhere and offers to build me a homestead.
That was weird enough, but at least somewhat explainable by a sense of owing me his life—as he kept reminding me whenever I was weird about a favor.
Then, he buys a bunch of stuff for me and Ida.
He said he had money, and I wasn’t about to let my pride get in the way of my quality of life.
But this?! This wasn’t a summer of commitment.
This wasn’t a day of splurging. This was a long-term significant expense to house a woman he met once.
“Why?” My throat was tight.
“I’d like to help.”
“Why?” I leaned forward while still holding my shirt down, my back hunching. I locked my eyes with his. “And don’t say it’s because you owe me your life.”
He looked away from my stare and scratched at his new scar. “What can I say? I’m devout. This is a way to help a goddess.”
An unbelieving smile cracked my features as I leaned back. “I’m no goddess. Why do you really want to help us?”
He sat up and shifted forward upon my retreat, closing the space between us. He was on his knees now, towering over me by a good two feet. My neck had to crane to meet his gaze. A seriousness had overtaken his expression.
“Do you want my help? Yes or no?”
I was overwhelmed by his generosity. I was suspicious of his intentions.
I was annoyed he was so physically intimidating like this, making my voice choke into a silent squeak in my throat instead of pressing for more context.
I was horrified when I realized that I… liked it.
The nurturing. The dependability. The resolve.
All wrapped up within the sexiest packaging I’d ever seen and thrown into bed with me.
I fought the urge to lean my hips into my wrists. Those hidden parts suddenly felt sensitive, warm, and damp.
Theo swallowed thickly. “Is that a yes? I can close the deal in the morning.” His voice growled, tongue dabbing at the corner of his lips. It was no longer just his eyes that seemed to blacken, his tattoos looked less like ink and more like empty voids carved into his skin.
“What if Ida doesn’t want to move?”
It felt so fucking wrong to be feeling this way during this conversation, but my body didn’t give a shit what my brain was focusing on. They were on two entirely different pages.
My hands were no longer listening to my brain. They shifted from their very important job of holding the white fabric in place over my lap. I rested my wrists over my kneecaps, knowing full well I was somewhat exposed like this. An invitation? I didn’t know. I was moving on instinct alone.
“Then I suppose you have a vacation home for the length of the lease.” His eyes flashed down to where my shirt—his shirt—had just lifted.
A low rumble sounded from his ribcage. Theo’s weight shifted away from me quickly, the bed shaking from the movement. He seated himself on the far side of the bed, lifting the covers. “Sleep on it, we can decide in the morning. Can you kill the light?”
“Oh,” I breathed, my cheeks burning.
The heat of guilt was fiery across my skin.
Why did I do that? Was I asking for something more?
I’d never made the first move in my life!
Intimacy wasn’t something I’d prioritized or even craved on Earth.
The handful of times I’d dipped my toes in those waters had been initiated by the guy and disappointing at best.
I clicked the lamp off, shuffling into the covers he’d already climbed under.
I was suddenly extremely aware of how small this bed was.
Had our legs been touching last night? Was I too tired to notice?
Had he been this warm? Had I felt this deep, foreign vibration in my bones?
It was barely noticeable, but soothing. Like the subtle quake of sleeping in the back seat of a car on the highway on a warm summer night.
I squirmed my hips, only for my thighs to slip against each other.
Fuck I was horny. I slowly shifted an arm around my stomach, indulging in just a single press into my clit before the shame overtook me.
I was not about to touch myself next to Theo while he tried to sleep.
I was just going to have to let these feelings simmer out.
I needed to think about something other than the four-armed god in bed with me who was solving all my problems one unrequested and undeserved favor at a time. Maybe I was mistaking gratitude and genuine enjoyment of his company for something more.
Whatever it was, so much for a dry night’s sleep. At least I was exhausted enough to doze off almost immediately.