Page 97 of The Executioners Three
Theo carried her around the car door, still kissing her. Like he could never stop. He kicked the door shut as they passed—which was astupidsexy move, and Freddie found herself kissing him all the harder for it.
Then he pressed Freddie onto the car’s hood and pressed himself against Freddie. The car was warm beneath her. Damp with melted snow too, but the blazer protected her.
Hisblazer that he had given her to keep her warm.
Her legs squeezed more tightly around him, and she slid up her hands to rest on Theo’s chest. He had such a nice chest, and Freddie especially liked the way his heart thumped against her palm.
Distantly, she realized Theo’s shirt was now wet with snow. And distantly, she realized he must be freezing without his blazer on. But that was a cursory, unimportant problem.
All that mattered right now was kissing Theo.
“Just… to clarify,” Freddie murmured between kisses, “thisdoesmean you like me too, right?”
“Yes,” Theo said raggedly. “Wasn’t that obvious?” He dragged kisses over her jaw. Onto her neck. “I told you, it’s tearing up my heart when I’m with you, and when we are apart, I feel it too.”
“Ah,” Freddie replied, and she couldn’t help it: she laughed. An irrepressible sound that fizzed up from her lungs.
Because really—no boy should be allowed to quote NSYNCandkiss her neck at the same time. It was like having every fantasy come true at once. All that was missing was Lance Bass, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted him anymore.
Theo Porter was more than enough.
Theo stopped kissing Freddie’s neck and looked at her. “You’re laughing at me.”
“No.” She tugged him back to her. “I’m laughingwithyou.”
“But I’m not laughing.”
“You should be, though. I mean, look at us: a few days ago, you hated me.”
“No, I didn’t.” Theo rested his forehead against hers. “I never hated you, Freddie. At least not after meeting you at the Quick-Bis.”
“Oh?” This was news to Freddie. Good news that she liked very much. “Why is that?”
“Because you made me laugh. Not many people can do that. Also”—Theo offered a cocky grin—“I have a thing for girls in glasses.”
Now this wasreallynews to Freddie. Her eyebrows shot high. “You could have told me that sooner, you know. Then I would have worn them every day.”
“And then you would have killed me.” He bit his lip—swollen and red. “I mean, glassesandthis hair? Do you have any idea what power you wield, Freddie Gellar?”
“You… like my hair?”
“Do I like your hair?” Now he was the one to laugh while he brushed a stray curl from Freddie’s face. He tucked it behind her ear, and for half a frozen moment, Theo stared at her. Lips parted, gaze hungry, and…
And there was something more, Freddie realized—a look on his face that she had never seen anyone direct at her before. That she’d never known shewantedto see.
As if Theo couldn’t believe his luck, like he was afraid that if he moved, it would all come crashing down.
And there was that vulnerability too—the tortured Theo from that morning. The one that, Freddie supposed, always lived beneath his smooth words and smiles.
She had no idea who moved first after that. All she knew was that onemoment, she and Theo were a few inches apart. The next, their lips were crushed together.
Fast, vicious kisses with his fingers tangling in her hair—hair she now knew he loved. Freddie clutched at his busted, beautiful face while they pushed harder against each other. No cold, no rising night, no empty parking lot to encircle them.
She could feel Theo’s desperation. He wanted distraction, salvation, and relief from whatever it was that tormented his blue eyes. His need filled each kiss, andgod,she liked it.
Except no, this was more than just liking. Sheneededit. As badly as he did, she needed distraction and salvation and relief. But until right now, she hadn’t realized how much she hungered for them.
Because Freddie’s world was also a mess. There were murders and secrets and poems about executioners tangled so thick she didn’t know where one knot ended and the next began. Yet right now, none of that mattered. Not while Theo Porter was kissing her.
