Page 70 of Run to Ground
Pressing his hips even more firmly against her, pinning her securely against the door, Theo released his grip on her legs and caught two handfuls of her blouse at her waist. He tugged upward, and Jules untangled her arms from around his shoulders to help. Impatiently, she wiggled and pulled, probably hindering his efforts more than helping, but she wanted the intrusive fabric gone. There was apopas a button flew off and a tearing sound as a seam gave way, and then her shirt was over her head. Theo tossed it away.
Without pausing, he yanked off his T-shirt. He ducked his head to begin kissing her again, but she held him off, entranced by his chest, needing to touch the lightly furred expanse of muscle. As she looked her fill, running her palms across his chest and making him groan and jerk under her touch, Theo reached behind her and unhooked her embarrassingly serviceable bra.
As the last barrier between their upper halves fell away, Theo caught the back of her head and yanked her in for another kiss, his mouth taking over hers in that irresistibly bossy way of his she was beginning to know and love. Her breasts met his chest, skin to skin, and she gasped into his mouth at the incredible shock of pleasure that flashed through her at the contact.
He continued to kiss her in that all-consuming way, holding her with the weight of his body pressing her into the smooth wood of the door—living hardness in front of her and inanimate hardness behind—as he unfastened his jeans and shoved them down his hips. When Jules heard the crinkle of plastic and guessed it to be a condom wrapper, reality hit her, and she pulled back.
Theo went still except for his chest heaving against hers, and he eyed her carefully. “Okay?”
This was it. He was giving her an out, an escape path, if she wanted it. If she were smart, she’d take it—pull away and excuse herself and never see him outside the diner again. The thought brought such a rush of sadness that she flinched.
Misinterpreting her reaction, Theo squeezed his eyes closed and gave a short jerk of his head. “Okay.”
When he started to lower her to the floor, though, she clung, her arms and legs tightening around him. “What?” Her voice was almost nothing, a husky, scratching murmur that barely made it to her ears.
He paused, hope reigniting in his expression. “Did you want to stop?”
“No!” Her answer was out before she could consider it, before she could listen to the nagging sane voice in her head, the one telling her to put down the hot cop and back away slowly. “No. I really don’t.”
Theo waited another few seconds, watching her expression as if checking to see if she would change her mind. When Jules, her entire body buzzing with arousal, got tired of waiting, she palmed the back of his head and jerked him toward her. Jules tried out the role of aggressor, giving him the same bossy kisses he’d given her, but that didn’t last long. With a low growl, Theo took over again, his mouth even more ferocious than before.
He must have managed to get the condom on while kissing her, because the next thing she knew, his hands were under her uniform skirt. He shoved her panties to the side, and she cried out as the touch of his fingers lit her up inside. Her hands worked on his neck, kneading the tight muscles, as her body strained to get closer to his touch.
Then his hands were at her hips, holding her steady as he buried himself inside of her. They both went still, frozen against the front door, as her body adjusted to him, to the incredible sensations that he caused. It was that same mix of exhilaration and safety and affection that Theo always made her feel, only more—a thousand times more. The way he watched her, the way he held so tightly and yet so carefully, as if she was something precious, made her breath catch. Jules hadn’t expected to feel this way…not ever. Now there was Theo, and he was touching her like he cherished her, and making her dream come true—a dream she hadn’t even known she’d had. Her heart squeezed with so much love for this heroic man that it was agonizing and amazing, all at the same time.
As if he couldn’t wait any longer, Theo started to move, his hands almost painfully tight on her hips. She clung to him as they found a rhythm, unable to believe what was happening, or how right it felt, or how perfectly they fit together, moved together. The entire time, he still kissed her, as if he couldn’t stop, couldn’t tear his mouth away from hers. Jules didn’t mind at all.
He shifted his hips slightly as he drove deep, hitting a spot that sent shock waves of pleasure through her, and Jules made a hungry sound. His muscles tightened in response, and he closed his teeth on her bottom lip. The slight sting made her gasp and then moan. From Theo’s answering growl and the way he moved faster and harder, he loved her eager noises.
As she lost her grip, her hands slipping from his taut, sweat-slicked back, she tensed, instinctively worried about falling. He didn’t drop her, though. His hold didn’t waiver at all, and Jules relaxed, quickly falling into the abyss of pleasure once again. Now that her hands were free, she explored, drawing her fingers up the straining tendons of his neck and scratching lightly at his scalp.
A shiver vibrated through him, and he inhaled sharply. His kiss intensified as he thrust into her, making Jules forget about everything but the feel of his body against hers,insideher.
The pressure built in her, almost scary in its intensity, and she shifted against him. He tightened his grip, keeping her steady. That security, that strong hold, eased her worry and allowed her to let go, to let the pleasure flood her cells and drown everything else until all that was left was sheer joy.
She cried out against his mouth, gripping him as tightly as he was holding her, and he groaned, his rhythm changing, speeding up as he looked for his own climax. Still, he kissed her, not releasing her mouth until they slid down the door and landed on the floor in a sweaty, boneless, blissful heap.
It wasn’t until her muscles began protesting their position that Jules reluctantly stirred, lifting her head to meet Theo’s eyes. Her laugh was just a puff of air. It would take a while to recover from having her mind blown so completely. “You look so sleepy.”
He gave her a smile, a real smile, and what little part of her that wasn’t already in a puddle on the floor melted again. “Want to take a nap with me?”
“Yes.” Her answer was out almost before he’d finished his question, and it was Theo’s turn to give a little laugh. He stood, scooping her off the floor in the same motion, making her yelp and then giggle.
“How are you carrying me?” she asked as he headed up the stairs. “Why aren’t your muscles mush? Because mine are mush. Mushy mush.” She laughed again, giddy because Theo was holding her and they’d just had incredible sex, and she felt safe for the first time in a long, long time.
He smirked at her. “So you’re done, then? We’ll have to work on your stamina.”
When he hesitated at the top of the stairs, Jules pointed in the direction of her bedroom. “My stamina’s fine. Excellent, even. I could go another five rounds. I just said that about the mushy muscles so you didn’t feel bad if you were feeling weak.”
He laughed as he maneuvered them through the doorway. Although it was a little rusty, his laugh was the best sound she’d heard probably ever. “Nice of you.”
Jules tried to respond but couldn’t, because Theo was in her bedroom.Theowas in herbedroom. And then he took a few strides and tumbled onto the bed with her. Theo was now in her bed. In. Her. Bed. Amazed, she stared at him lying next to her.
“Five rounds, huh?” His smile was sweet and crooked, and Jules’s muscles suddenly didn’t feel like mush anymore.
Chapter 18
“You’re happy.” Dee’s glare was almost accusatory.
