33. Theo #2
I’m already on top of her, but I know what she means.
She draws my mouth to hers, arms circling my neck, legs wrapping around me.
The heat of her chest comes flush with mine, warming me through.
Just being in her embrace has my cock aching, and I kiss her fiercely, hands tangling in her hair, hips bucking.
We part to shuck our pants and underwear, then I’m on her again, not inside her yet, just touching each other, kissing, savoring.
I graze my lips on her jaw, loving the feel of her naked and spread out beneath me, realizing for the first time we’ve never had sex in a bed. We’ve never been this close.
I draw away to look at her, really look at her, and my heart stutters at the sight. Her flushed cheeks, swollen lips, hair splayed out on the pillow. My chest burns as her eyes search mine, questioning, filled with something more than heat. Something my heart recognizes before any other part of me.
And it knocks the air from my lungs.
Shifting my hips, I ease inside her, needing to be closer. Needing to be one. Her breath catches, eyes softening, surrendering. I can’t look away as I roll my hips, watching the pleasure play out on her beautiful face. Watching as she gives herself to me, without question, without hesitation.
That’s what she’s always done, since day one. She’s given herself to the school, to the kids, to me. She’s been open, and generous, and full of something it’s taken me so long to recognize.
Love.
She loves the school. Loves her work. Loves Safe Harbor.
And if I’m lucky, she might love me too.
My heart is a hot ball of emotion as I stroke into her, watching her melt for me. This woman I didn’t want to work with, whose ideas I dismissed. I was blind, and stupid, and scared, but not now.
Now, I know what I have.
And I’m so fucking in love with her I could cry.
I press my face into her shoulder as she trembles through her orgasm, falling apart inside her. Giving myself to her in all the ways I know how in this moment, knowing they’ll never be enough.
Then we lie there for the longest time, breath slowing as we hold each other.
At last, I draw back to kiss her, to study her face.
How did I not realize I was in love with her?
I’m pretty sure I have been since that first kiss in the parking lot, when she fought so hard for me.
When I saw how big her heart was, and wondered what it would feel like to be loved by her.
“Theo,” Eleanor whispers at last, stroking my cheek. Her expression shifts to something uncertain, something vulnerable, and my heart tightens. “I… I want this. With you.” She sucks in a shuddering breath to steady herself. “For real.”
Oh. God.
I press my eyes shut as warmth pours through my chest. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve someone as sweet and kind and wonderful as her, but I can’t let that slip through my fingers.
I swallow, bringing my gaze back to hers. “Me too,” I say, voice catching with emotion. “So much.”
Relief colors her eyes, then just as quickly fades. “But school, the board…”
“I know.” I stroke her hair, unable to face that right now. I don’t have the answers we need, but we can’t let that stop us. “Let’s get through the fundraiser, okay, sweetheart? Then we’ll figure it out.”
She chews on her lip, brow dipped in concern, then nods. “Okay.”
We part and, with a quick kiss to my brow, she heads to the bathroom to wash up. I gaze after her, pulse thrumming. She wants this. She wants it as much as I do, and fuck me if that isn’t the best feeling in the world.
But… my stomach hollows as I imagine going to the board, telling them.
We’d have to rake over every interaction we’ve had, justify every meeting.
We’d have to prove we haven’t crossed lines we weren’t supposed to, when we both know that’s exactly what we’ve done.
Rumors would swirl, people would speculate.
The things they’d say about Eleanor… My fists clench at the thought.
No, I can’t ask her to go through that for me.
She smiles sleepily as she pads back into the room, climbing into bed with me, still naked. I pull her warmth into my side, kissing her forehead.
“Goodnight,” she murmurs sweetly, and my throat grows thick again.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
I stare at the ceiling as I listen to her breathing become rhythmic and even, then ease myself away from her, slipping from the bed.
Tugging on my sweats, I pour a glass of whiskey from the minibar and sink into a chair.
Then I take a sip, hesitating as I slide on my glasses.
With a weighted sigh, I open my laptop and begin to type.
To the Board of Wetherly Cove Preparatory School…
I pause, taking a long pull of whiskey, glancing at Eleanor again. She’s fast asleep, lips tipped in a gentle smile, and my gut wrenches. How can I keep her and remain the headmaster? I can’t, can I?
The only thing I can do, if it comes down to it, is leave. Leave the school and hope that’s enough. Enough to save it from scandal, save her from humiliation. I force myself to type the next line.
After deep consideration, I am submitting my resignation as Headmaster of Wetherly Prep, effective immediately…
My hands shake as I continue, chest taut with a maelstrom of emotion.
I shouldn’t abandon the school.
But I can’t imagine losing her.
I finish the letter, making it quick and to the point. I don’t send it, not yet. But it’s ready. Ready for when I need to.
Then I shuck the sweatpants and climb back into bed with her, heart easing as I do. She stirs, snuggling into my side, and I bury my nose in her hair.
We just have to get through the fundraiser, I tell myself. Somehow, after that, we’ll figure it out.