Page 103 of Tempt

They calledin the shooting as Seth took me away and I watched the news unfold on television, just like everyone else. Elizabeth and Lily held my hands until they had to head home, at which point Ava and James took over.

Theo thought it was best that we stay as far apart as possible until the dust settled because he didn’t want anything to blow back on me. It was the hardest month of my life and I hated every second of it.

The only comfort I had was the hand delivered notes and nightly news. Theo’s notes promised he was fine and the news echoed every detail he fed me. Donald’s murder shocked everyone, but the evidence held up Theo’s version of events. Once he was finally cleared of everything except the self-defense charges, Theo gave a press conference discussing his grief over the death of his father, and the family shock at discovering his criminal ties. He publicly disavowed his connection to the Duncan Boys Mob. Privately, however, Nicki told me that Donald’s right hand had happily taken over the Duncan Boys and agreed to permanently part ways with what remained of the Sutherland family dynasty.

Theo was free of Dan, his father, and their illegal family business…all in one felled swoop. He really did outsmart them all, not that I’d ever had a doubt.

My anger and frustration had slowly faded away. Especially as I spent time with Nicki and Higgins planning their wedding. Alone it was easy to fixate on the bad things, but with them I couldn’t ignore all the good things. Theo had gone to hell and back to break free of his past and he’d do it all again.

The kicker was that he’d done it for Nicki and so he could have a life with me.

Those actions counted for more than the rest.

Nicki recovered from her initial shock and then, like a switch was flipped, became an entirely new person. For the first time since I met her she seemed to be free of the demons that haunted her. She smiled and bounced as she walked. She left her flat and was making plans (plans!) for the future. And Higgins? You’d have thought he’d won the lottery or something. The man was so happy to see Nicki happy that he practically floated on air.

“I think I want to do something more,” she said as we sipped cocktails in a private suite overlooking the dance floor at Higgins’ speakeasy. I hated being alone on Saturday nights by myself so she’d adopted me. We were dressed up because it had distracted us, not because we felt like dancing.

“More?” I asked.

She nodded. “Painting has been what helped me survive but I think I need a break. The ‘dark period’ of my painting is over.” She air quoted. “I think I’m ready to sell most of them and do something different for a while. Get some fresh air and new blood before I pick up the paints again.”

Nicki had always been beautiful, but she was absolutely stunning now that she wasn’t so haunted. “What did you have in mind? Taking over Sutherland Industries?” I knew Theo still didn’t particularly want to head up the legal part of his family business, even if he had inherited most of it.

Nicki wrinkled her nose. “Heavens no. Not ever. And Michael said no too. The memories, man. We all want away from those bad vibes.”

Higgins appeared behind her. “We’re trying to convince Theo to sell it off. Put it in the past with everything else.” He was dressed to kill tonight. Black suit, white dress shirt open at the collar, scruff on his handsome chin. “By the time we get married I want the only things ahead of us to be the future we chose.”

He rested his hands on Nicki’s bare arms and pulled her back into him, nuzzling her ear. Nicki melted, closing her eyes and breathing in the moment.

My cheeks burned witnessing such a tender moment, but it also gave me hope. If they could fight through everything and still believe in love, then maybe Theo and I could, too.

Nicki giggled and craned her neck around for a real kiss, then grabbed her cocktail and took a sip, smiling wickedly at me. If only she could see the heated gaze of her handsome fiancé…she wouldn’t be smiling at me. She’d be pulling him into the supply closet.

“Well, then what else would make Nicki Sutherland happy?” I asked.

She grinned so wide I thought her face might split in two. “I have an idea, and you’re the perfect person to ask.”

I was shocked by the perfection of her proposal and promised to find out what I could. I’d barely had time to process it all when someone tall and imposing stopped directly behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

A shiver of recognition raced down my spine.

Theo was a damn sight for sore eyes. I launched myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist.

He caught me and held me close, kissing me hard and long until I could barely breathe. Then he looked around me. “I hope you don’t mind, sister dear, but I’m going to take Allison home and celebrate the end of this whole fucking exhausting ordeal. Properly.”

He turned to the side so I could see Nicki, too. But my attention was really only on him. His beard under my palms, his bright eyes drinking me in, the sexy fucking smile on his lips. Oh god…and his erection growing underneath my hips.Yes.Yes we needed to go and we needed to gonow.

Nicki and Higgins smiled knowingly at the two of us. “Have fun you two.”

Chapter 37

Absence makes the heart grow fonder…and hornier. We were like animals, desperate to have each other. We barely made it through the door before we were on the floor and I was on top of him, riding him as I tore his dress shirt open. Skin…I neededskin.And not just his cock. All of him. I needed to feel his heart beating beneath my palm, the warmth of his body as it heated under my attention, the feel of his hair between my fingers.

As usual, Theo was not content to lie still and let me have all the control, and I’m sure he was as thirsty and needy for everything as I was. He squeezed my ass, holding on and driving me down onto his cock harder with each stroke, kissing me almost constantly. It was as if he refused to let his lips part from mine.

I ached as he stretched me over and over. A month had been a long time without his cock, but I didn’t care about the bite of pain or the overwhelming feeling of being so full of Theo after so long.

He slipped his large hands up to my waist, planting one across the small of my back and the top of my ass. He slid his other arm up, wrapping his it around and pulling me close.

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