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ChapterTwenty-Nine
THEO
“Get the fuck away from me. I won’t tell you again,” I hiss at my ex who has no concept of personal space.
“Now Theo, aren’t you happy to see me?”
“No. Now fuck off.” I step away from her and the kid she tried to pass off as mine not too many months ago. My eyes search for Thalia, who I’m sure has seen the women standing beside me.
I forgot to tell my piccola that Mel was coming here. Not because I didn’t want her to know, it just slipped my mind. I make my way to where she’s exiting the arena on Roman. She did an amazing job, and I can honestly say her riding has improved even more since the last time I saw her ride.
I wait for Laney to finish whatever she’s saying to Thalia before I go over there. She hops off the horse and Jess leads him away. She spots me and smiles. I have seen her briefly since I’ve been here in Italy, but I haven’t really stopped to have a conversation with her. “Hey, Theo,” she chirps.
“Jess,” I say with a nod of my head.
She looks from me back to Thalia. “Don’t break her heart this time,” she whispers before disappearing. I frown after her and wonder if my piccola told her about us or if she guessed. It’s probably the latter. I wasn’t exactly discreet in the way I looked at my girl when she was training with me.
Thalia makes her way towards me, concern on her face as her gaze goes to who I assume is Melody. I look behind my piccola to Laney, whose brows are furrowed in confusion as she watches Thalia step up to me. My gaze sweeps to the woman in front of me.
“What is she doing here?” she asks calmly, but I don’t miss the accusation in her voice.
I sigh. “She’s here with Dean Carruthers. They’re dating.”
“Did you know?” she hisses.
I can’t lie to her. “Yes.”
Hurt flashes in her beautiful gray eyes. “And you didn’t think to tell me? After everything she did? Good start at proving yourself to me, Theo. Already hiding shit,” she growls.
I want to grab her. Wrap her in my arms. But we decided we are going to wait with going public on the circuit. Her parents need to be the first to know. There is no doubt in my mind people will already be making assumptions regarding us. How could they not? One look at me and you know I’m a goner for this girl. “I didn’t hide it from you. My father called and told me she was coming. He was worried for me after all she has done. I forgot to tell you, that’s all. In all my craziness to get you back, it slipped my mind. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. We don’t have to worry about her anyway, piccola. She’s moved on.” Even as I say the words, I don’t quite believe them. Will Mel ever move on from tormenting me?
Thalia snorts. “She doesn’t look like she’s moved on.” Her gaze shifts behind me again. “Not with the way she’s looking at you.”
“Forget her. I have. I moved on from Mel the moment I met you, so it doesn’t matter whether she has or not. She will never have me, and I will never let her hurt you or us again,” I murmur, resisting the urge to press my lips to hers.
Sighing, she focuses back on me. “Okay, but if she makes one move that I don’t like, that I feel threatened by, I will be filing a restraining order. She killed my horse, Theo. And lied about assaulting you. Who knows what else she is capable of?”
“I promise, she won’t get near enough to hurt you or any of your horses. And if she does? Well, let me worry about that,” I say darkly.
* * *
“You want me to meetFrannyofficially? Now I know he isn’t your boyfriend?” I stare at Thalia, my brow cocked. We’re in my apartment. My piccola smirks as she watches me. Although, I now know there wasn’t a sexual relationship between them, I still feel threatened by him. He’s had her these last ten months, probably knows her as well as I do.
“Yes, Theo. Is there a problem with that?” She cocks an eyebrow back at me.
Sighing I wrap her in my arms. “No, baby. No problem.” I kiss her hair.
“Good, because he’s important to me.” She looks up at me, her big gray eyes a mixture of content and worry. I know I’m responsible for both emotions. She is content in my arms but worried about me meeting the prince.
“I know, piccola. If he’s important to you, then he is to me too,” I lie. I couldn’t care less about the fucker but if it makes her happy, I’ll play nice.
She beams up at me as if I just gave her everything with those words alone. “That makes me feel better. Because he will be here shortly,” she rushes out, pulling away from me as if she’s going to run. I shoot forward gripping her waist and tickling her. She squeals. “Theo, stop. Please stop,” she pants with a laugh. Her happiness is contagious, and I can’t help laughing myself. I pause the tickling and spin her to face me.
“My piccola thinks she can trick me. Thinks she can take me on. Hmmm?” I inhale her hair, her sweet scent. My cock hardens in my pants, and I know she feels it when she gasps. We haven’t had sex since the bathroom incident and although I’m desperate to take her, I want her to be the one to initiate it. To take that next step. After all, she’s the one that asked to take it slow. And I respect her need to do that; I’m not a complete asshole. I know it will take some time for her to feel completely comfortable and secure in our relationship again.
“Theo,” her breath hitches as she says my name. Her voice is so breathy, so hot, it makes my dick turn to steel.
“I know. Now is not the time though. We’ll wait until you’re ready.” I reach down, shifting my cock away from her. Her eyes narrow, lust swims in them. It’s clear she’s aroused but I won’t push it.
