His brow rose. “You did that?”
“Yes. I did, and now my skin burns.” I let out a long sigh. “I should go home and change.”
I could also hide from the world while I was at it.
Theo held up the cream. “I can help. It won’t take the pain from the burn away, but it’ll help.”
“Do you speak from experience?”
“I was serious when I said I dropped coffee on myself. I’ve also done it with boiling water.”
I glanced down at my hand. It barely registered, but the skin was turning red already. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to do this or do you want me to?”
The idea of Theo helping me with that sent a shiver down my spine. I’d been mending my own wounds for far too long. I’d done it even before I had an aversion to touch.
This time I wanted something different.
“Will you do it?”
He blinked, obviously not expecting me to take him up on doing it for me. “Are you sure?”
I nodded and held out my hand. We both knew this was a big moment. He would be touching me, not the other way around.
When he got close, my body tensed in anticipation of what was coming.
Theo paused, looking at me with a silent question.
“I’ll be okay,” I said slowly. “I still want you to do it.”
When he took another moment, I wondered if he would stop, or say no because he thought it was too much for me. I’d experienced that a lot with Joey, and it kept me far too comfortable. I didn’t want the same for Theo.
“Let me test the waters first.”
I could only nod and wait for him to move forward.
It was scary letting him touch me this time, but I wanted it. I wanted it badly.
The pads of his fingers lightly grazed my skin. My breath hitched, but I didn’t pull away. I knew he was watching me, looking for any signs of discomfort. I couldn’t hide that I was nervous. But when was I not?
“Should I keep going?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m okay.”
“All right.” He added the burn cream to his hand before he moved back to me. I barely felt the burn since I was engrossed in this newness of having him so close to me, but it roared back to life the second he was treating it.
I was no stranger to pain, so I barely flinched, but I knew I would regret it tomorrow.
Even though this was so new, I liked Theo’s touch, and my mind went back to the woman who had hit on him.
Shame colored my cheeks. I didn’t like angerorjealousy, and yet I’d let one of them get the best of me.
“She was flirting with you.” I said it softly. “That’s why I crushed the cup.”
Theo’s fingers stilled. “I was telling her no.”
“I know. I still didn’t like it. She’s probably capable of doing way more with you than I’ll ever be.” The words came out bitter. “And I hate that.”
