Theo’s eyes went wide for a fraction of a second, then reality hit me.
“T-that’s just how I feel. I don’t expect ... You don’t have to say it back.” My heart hammered in my chest. I didn’t want to take it back, but I wish I’d found a way to say it in a more romantic way.
“You know I’d normally try to convince you that I don’t deserve that.”
My embarrassment faded and I let out a sigh. “Don’t even start.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” he replied. “It’s no secret that I struggle with this stuff. I hide from people I care about. But you make me want to accept it. In fact, I think you taught me how.”
“You always could.”
Theo reached out slowly and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “And I want you to be the one I give it back to.” He took a breath. “And for that reason, I love you too.”
We stood in the kitchen, and the only thing I could hear beyond his words was the pounding of my heart. I’d written grandiose love confessions, ones that had people swooning.
But this was better.
This wasn’t a fire. It wasn’t showy or over the top. It was a steady warmth that washed away the chill of everything else that had happened to me.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
I was a writer, yet I didn’t have words. All I could do was kiss him and hope he got my message. Judging by how tightly he pulled me to him, I was sure he got it.
My body was warm from what he’d said to me, and with his mouth on mine, that quickly turned to heat.
“Couch?” I murmured into his mouth.
“Don’t you want more blueberries?” he asked, his breath hot.
“I don’t care about them anymore. Fuck me instead.”
He huffed out a laugh. “One kiss is all it takes?”
“That, and the best confession I think I’ve ever heard.”
“It was basic and?—”
I kissed him to shut him up. I waited until he melted into it before pulling away. “It was perfect.”
He opened his mouth, and I had a feeling I knew what he was going to ask. A rebuttal was already at the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t need it. Instead of saying anything, he only nodded and pulled me back into him.
For a while, I was content to just kiss. But as always with Theo, my body begged for more. After going from nothing for so long to this, I wasn’t sure if it would ever be enough.
I moved him backward toward the couch and he flopped onto it willingly. I ended up on top of him, hair falling on his shoulder as I continued the kiss.
Theo’s hands roamed and every touch of his sent sparks along my skin.
Would I ever get over the disbelief that this could happen?
Maybe not.
He grew bolder and slid his hands under my shirt. I let out a moan. While he gave me plenty of time to pull away, I also loved it when he took charge and did whatever he wanted. It didn’t take long for me to feel his cock hardening, and when I did, I ground down onto it.
One of his hands stilled my hips.
“Don’t make this go too fast.”
“Maybe I’m trying to make something happen. I still think about the time you came in your pants.”