Page 90 of Wilder at Heart
My future.
I meet Theo’s eyes.
‘Yeah. I do.’ My voice is a whisper.
‘Okay then.’ He blinks, nods to himself. ‘Right. Got it. Well, it looks like I might pull off the Manhattan gig, thanks to you, so I still have to uphold my end of the bargain.’ He leans in and kisses me on the tip of my nose. ‘I’ll help you get him.’
I’m anxious. Panicked. Off-kilter. I feel as though I could burst into tears. It’s as if everything’s shifted, but I’m not sure why, because nothing about our plans has changed.
It’s just our relationship that’s changed.
‘Do you want me to move out? I could—I think Elle’s place is nearly sorted.’
‘No.’
He snags my wrist, encircles it with his long fingers.
‘I want you for as long as I can have you.’
I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like, walking away from him without a backwards glance. On second thoughts, I’m stealing that t-shirt.
I look up. He’s staring at me, his gorgeous bare chest heaving slightly. He gives me a grin that’s tight. Tremulous.
‘I still have so much dodgy fuckery I want to trick you into.’ His fingers slide down my wrist. ‘I want to tie these to my bed, for starters.’
I catch my breath, shocked, and his grin turns dirty. His eyes gleam darkly. That’s the Theo I know and love. Despite my life-changing orgasm, a thud of excitement hits me low and heavy in my belly, because putting myself in Theo’s hands is proving to be the journey of a lifetime.
‘Would you be disappointed if I didn’t put up as much of a fight as you expected?’ I pop another fry in my mouth and wiggle my eyebrows suggestively.
This I can handle.
Banter.
Heat.
Anticipation.
When it’s like this between Theo and me, I know where I stand.
I know the score.
I understand the dynamic. I’m the ingenue. He’s the educator.
And we’re both fucking loving our roles.
‘Eat up.’ His voice is low and rough. ‘Cos when you say things like that, it makes me need to fuck you again.’
I flush and reach for my burger.
CHAPTER 34
Theo
Do you know the joke about the tart and the prude?
I’m pretty sure what the punchline should be, but it’s not working out like that. Because I’m the punchline.
I’ve gone and fallen for the most uptight, obstinate, prudish, judgemental woman I’ve ever met.
