Page 114 of Gorgeous

My lips quirk in an innocent smile as Theo shifts away from the friction I’m creating. Increasing my tempo, my grip becomes firmer, my strokes more raw and erotic.

“Uh…I—” His hips grind into my hand instinctively as he struggles to speak clearly. “Ye—Yeah. Go for it, man.”

He springs from the booth, completely unhinged. “We gotta go.”

Smiling like an idiot when he pulls me from the booth, Theo uses me as a shield while he discretely adjusts himself. The guys say their goodbyes with claps on the back and an occasional hug (yes, it was Toby) before Theo yanks my ass out of the diner, damn near dislocating my arm.

We barrel into the car like two thieves on a mission. I’m giggly by the time I secure my seatbelt.

“Whew! It’s good to be out of there. The heat in that place made me fidgety. Did it make you hot too?” My smartass comment is laced with innuendoes and has the effect I intended.

Theo turns in his seat, his face flushed, pupils dilated. Tossing his hat on the dash, he rakes a hand through his flattened hair. “I hope you’re ready for a good fucking.”

He palms his crotch, showing me what I did.

My mouth goes slack as I swallow down the knot that’s suddenly taking up residence in my throat. Am I ready for a good fucking? I’m not sure now, but I nod anyway.

He chuckles at my lack of social skills and flips his hat back on, rotating it backward to show off those midnight eyes. Without another word, he guns his ‘67 Mustang out of the diner parking lot and onto the narrow road that leads to an endless maze of concrete junctions that have the power to get you lost with one wrong lane change.

We drive in silence for over an hour, the area becoming familiar to me. I already know where he’s taking me, though I haven’t been out here in four years. I’m not sure how I feel about coming here now, but apparently it’s important to him, so I go without complaint.

The driveway is overgrown with vines when we pull in. It’s obvious that no one has been here since they died my senior year of high school. The sharp pain I’ve learned to ignore jabs at my heart as we weave down the abandoned drive. My grandparents’ plantation house stands defiant in the center of hundreds of overgrown acres. The barn Theo and I used to play hide-and-seek in is barely visible behind the tall hay stalks that sway in the breeze.

Theo nudges me with his elbow. “You ready for this?”

I know if I were to say no, he would turn this car around and never speak of it. That’s the type of friendship we have. So, it’s not like I feel pressured to do this. I want to, even if I’m going to regret it, which is a distinct possibility.

“This old place has such classic beauty. Bittersweet memories,” I say absently. Shrugging my shoulder, I confirm my consent by squeezing his hand. “I’m ready. Let’s blow this friendship all to hell.” I’m chuckling at my own joke until Theo’s hand grows tense under mine. “I’m kidding,” I backtrack. I don’t want to make this more awkward. I give him a light shake and smile in the hope he will let it go.

He gives me a long look, those eyes conveying something I can’t read. Before I can figure it out or ask any questions, he pops the trunk and hops out.

The passenger door groans, breaking the tense silence as I open the door to follow. “I realize this is a classic, Theo, but damn, WD-40 it at least.” The air is dank and humid when I step out onto the grass. Georgia heat is killer this time of year. Too bad I didn’t think of this in the fall. Getting bitten by mosquitoes isn’t something I am looking forward to. I head to the trunk where Theo is piling blankets into his worn-out gym bag. “Need any help?”

He smirks, giving me that little asshole lip-tip he does when I say something ridiculous. “I got it.”

After he walks away, I slam the trunk and jog to catch up. He bypasses the house, making me curious as to what he has in mind for my devirginization. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Keep up. I don’t want a coyote dragging you off.”

“That’s silly. A coyote? I haven’t seen one of those in ages—” Howling yips sound in the distance, and I quicken my pace as I flank his ass. We bypass the barn, heading around the back, toward the pond. Theo keeps a brisk pace, not bothering to watch where he’s walking. I think we both know this place so well it wouldn’t make a difference if it were pitch dark instead of half lit by the moon.

Finally, we come to a stop feet from the pond. I help spread the blankets along the shore, the shaking of my hands going to high speed.

“You nervous?”

I glance at my hands, then back at Theo’s worried face and let out a sigh. “Yeah, a little.”

A muscle twitches in his cheek as he only nods in return. Don’t think I missed that he didn’t disclose whether he was nervous. He kneels, shifting his knee under him, appearing unaffected by what we’re about to do.

I freeze in fight-or-flight mode, weighing heavily my decision whether to lower myself to the blanket.

It feels like five minutes pass before he sighs, patting the blanket next to him. “This was your idea. Are you backing out?”

“Fuck no, I’m not backing out. I’m just… savoring the moment.” His expression tells me he doesn’t believe me for a second.

Come on, Ans. You can do this.Pull on, or off rather, your big girl panties and fuck Theo. Right here, under the stars like you wanted. Like he knew you wanted.

Damn you, Theo, for being so damn perfect. Damn you for being my best fucking friend.

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