Page 78 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
It felt good to have finally told him the truth, but it felt terrible, too.
Her eyes welled up with tears, and she made an irritated sound, turning away from him. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to stop the pain.
He grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him.
“Wha—”
Before she could ask, he crushed his lips to hers.
She gasped, utterly shocked, but recovered a second later, kissing him back. The kiss was rough, built up out of frustration, and his lips moved against hers desperately. He kissed her hard enough to make her head spin. She felt weak in the knees, and she swayed.
He pulled back, still holding her face in his hands. He met her gaze, eyes dark.
“Do you mean it?” His voice was breathless.
“What?” she asked, utterly confused.
“Do you mean what you said?” he asked, voice breaking as if he couldn’t dare to hope. “You’re in love with me?”
“Of course I mean it,” she replied, heart hammering, and his eyes welled up with tears. “What is it?”
“Lavinia, I’m in love with you,” he said. “I have been this whole time; I probably have been my whole life. I just never realized it, or never allowed myself to be because I was afraid of ruining our friendship, of losing you.” He swallowed. “And then you were with Calahan, and I was trying to be supportive, but it was killing me, it was actually killing me.”
He broke off, catching his breath. “You really mean it?” he asked again, eyes awed.
“Yes, I mean it,” she repeated. “I’m in love with you. I have been for a while, but I thought you were rejecting me that night at the engagement party, so I tried not to feel it, but I failed. Obviously. I failed miserably.”
She laughed, and he laughed, too, surprised and delighted. His eyes still shone with unshed tears.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Lavinia asked, hitting his chest. “I thought I was losing my mind!”
“I didn’t know how!” Theo replied, baffled. “I really thought that you were happy with Calahan, and I just want you to be happy, Lavinia, that’s all I want.”
“I’m happy, now.” She reached for his hand, and he smiled.
“My heart beats for you,” he said, bringing her hand to his heart. She felt it beating hard and fast against her palm. “Only for you.”
He leaned down and kissed her again, and she rose up onto her tiptoes. She wound her arms around his neck and his hands settled on her waist, holding her tight, bringing her closer to him.
Desire made her limbs loosen, and she walked backwards, bringing him with her until the back of her knees bumped against her bed. She fell back, pulling him over her. The heavy weight of his body settled over hers, and an electric current ran through her, sharp and strong.
She felt the burning impression of his hands on her bare skin as he lifted her top up, and she raised her arms, letting him pull it off. She gasped against the cold air, but she was soon enveloped by the warmth of his body as he kissed her again. Her body ached, and she knotted her hands into his thick hair, pulling.
He nipped at her bottom lip, then her jaw, and she threw her head back, heat pouring through her.
“I can’t believe we were wasting so much time being stupid when we could have been doing this instead,” she said, undoing the buttons of his shirt.
He pulled back, a smile to his lips. “Not to worry,” he said, kissing her throat. “We’ve got loads of time now.”
She laughed, fumbling with the rest of the buttons before she pushed his flannel shirt off his arms. He threw it to the side. “I’m stealing that,” she informed him.
“Take whatever you want from me,” he said, kissing her again, smiling against her mouth.
His skin was so warm, and her hands explored every inch of him, every contour and dip. They had known each other for years, but she had never known him like this, and she was hungry for him, for every inch.
Her hands moved lower on his stomach, and he kissed her harder, movements frantic. The bare skin of his chest burned against hers, his fingers pressing into her skin.
Heat zipped down her spine. She couldn’t get close enough. She wanted more.
