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“Don’t make any decisions yet, okay? You’re hurting and that’s understandable. Give it time. I’m sure there’s someone out there for you who can rival your beloved book boyfriends.”
He picked up a paperback from the stack of books beside me and idly thumbed through the pages.
“Do you really think so?” I asked quietly.
Theo nodded. “Without a doubt.” Then his eyebrows shot up and he blinked rapidly a few times, his gaze locked on the paperback in his hand. “Wow, this is…racy.”
Heat flushed up my neck.
“Wait. I didn’t…I didn’t think you were actually reading it.”
I made a grab for the book but Theo held it out of reach, spreading the pages open with one hand. Then, to my horror, he began to read aloud.
“His cock brushed against my slick folds and I gasped.”
“Theo!”
He laughed and continued reading.
“My desire for him outweighs any trepidation or anxiety I have about the moment.”
“I’m going to kill you,” I growled.
Theo chuckled. “I’d like to see you try. You’re adorable when you’re angry, by the way. Hold on a minute, we’re getting to the really good stuff now.I want him buried inside me so deep that there isn’t an inch of space between us.Jesus, Haley. No wonder you’re addicted to these things.”
I lunged, sprawling into Theo’s lap, and snatched the book. Then I realized how close we were - nose to nose - my shoulder pressed into his chest. I could feel how firm he was underneath his shirt, body heat warming the fabric.
Theo’s pale gray eyes locked onto mine. I swore I stopped breathing and my heart hammered against my ribs.
Then I kissed him.
All it took was a slight shift of my weight and my world was never the same again. I leaned forward, brushing my lips against his. I dropped the book and it slid from my fingers, tumbling off the side of the bed where it thumped to the floor, face down and pages splayed wide.
Theo brought his hand up, fingertips lightly skimming my cheek, before he cupped the back of my neck. I sank into his touch, kissing him hard, the taste of coffee lingering on his tongue. Feeling a surge of confidence, I licked at his lower lip, smiling into the kiss.
This was…better than I could have ever dreamed of. No book could describe the electric rush that accompanied Theo’s touch, or the way his breath shuddered when I slid my palms down his chest.
I’m finally kissing Theo Greely,I thought,and I can’t believe I waited so long to do it.
Theo’s hands dropped to my hips with a squeeze, pushing me away from him.
“Haley,” he rasped. “Stop.”
I froze. Then I pulled back to look at him, confused. He wouldn’t meet my eye.
“You’re upset,” Theo said. “I get it. But I won’t take advantage of you when you’re like this. I don’t want you to make a decision in the heat of the moment that you’ll regret because you’re on the rebound right now and your emotions are haywire.”
I knew he was right. It was logical and practical and everything I needed to address in order to feel better. But it still stung. To be pushed away. To call Theo a rebound when he was the only one I’d wanted right from the very beginning.
“Oh,” I whispered. “I’m…I’m sorry.”
I climbed off him and pressed myself as far to the other side of the room as I could, my back against the wall. It wasn’t much distance though - Theo and I could reach out and clasp our hands easily without much effort.
“Don’t be sorry, Haley,” Theo said. “Please. You’ve been through a lot lately. It’s okay to be confused and not know what you want.”
A bit my cheek to stifle a pained laugh. I wasn’t confused. I knew without a doubt that I wanted Theo but since he was my brother’s best friend, it wasn’t possible. Besides, he’d had dozens of sexy, gorgeous girlfriends before me. I was just Haley, the bookworm, the virgin, the quiet, sweet girl that everyone overlooked.
My gaze fell on the book that had dropped to the floor. The spine was beginning to crease from the strain of lying face-down. A pang of guilt shot through me and I grabbed it, smoothing the crumpled pages out, rubbing my thumb along the spine as if I could erase the scar that sliced through the lettering.
