Darn Knit All (All Access #3)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

THEO

Theo

Why did you decide to become a designer rather than a baker? Your cakes are divine!

Mai

Because not everything I enjoy needs to be monetized

Theo

Oof! Words to live by. FUCK CAPITALISM!

Mai

We march at dawn!

I awoke slowly, enjoying the feel of the woman in my arms. Nuzzling her hair, I held her close, pressing lazy kisses to her shoulder.

“Theo?”

“Mm?” I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

“Did you rest your leg?”

I became aware of her soft lips touching feather-light kisses along my chest. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I registered gentle hands caressing my thighs.

“Um….” I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep. “What are you doing?”

I felt her smile against my skin, her breath warm as her tongue swirled around my nipple. “I promised we’d try again if you rested.” She tilted her head back, giving me a pouting look. “Did you rest?”

My cock hardened. “Yes.”

Her smile reminded me of sin. “Good.”

She gently disentangled herself from my arms to squirm under the blankets and dance her mouth down my body, her tongue teasing and stroking as she went.

“Babe, you don’t have to,” I protested weakly, gathering her hair in my hands under the blanket.

I felt her hot breath against my cock. “I need the words, Theo,” she teased, echoing me from last night.

With a groan, I tightened my grip on her hair. “Fucking yes.”

She took me into her hot, wet mouth in one smooth move.

My brain might have taken a minute to catch up, but my cock stood ready to do his duty.

Curses rained down on her as I struggled to breathe, her wet heat fully engulfing my erection.

“Oh fuck,” I gasped, as she swirled her tongue around my crown. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

I threw off the blankets to reveal her gloriously naked body crouched between my thighs.

God, she was beautiful.

Her black, sleep-mussed hair stood in tufts here and there, adorably wild. The angry red marks of the previous night had faded, leaving behind a light shimmer of aloe on her dark skin. Her mahogany eyes looked up at me, teasing me as she ran her tongue around my cock.

Propping up on my elbows, I watched her, mesmerized by her confidence. Early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Mai’s naked body as she worked my length.

Smiling, she held eye contact a moment before she took me deep, the tip of my cock hitting the back of her throat.

“Fuck!”

I dropped back on the bed, burying my hands in her hair. “Come ride my face while you do that.”

She started, and I could tell she wasn’t sure.

Ignoring her uncertainty, I crunched up, hooked my arms under her, and dragged her off my cock and up the bed.

“Theo!”

“On my face,” I demanded, helping her shuffle until she was in reverse cowgirl position.

Humming happily when she finally complied, I gripped her hips, lowering her down.

“Good girl.”

She bent, wrapping her mouth around my cock as I licked up her slit, savoring her sweet, musky taste. I fucking loved how she shuddered at the touch of my tongue, how she moaned around my cock as I began to work her sensitive folds with my mouth.

“You taste amazing,” I murmured as I swirled my tongue around her clit. She whimpered and took me deeper, sucking me hard as her hips rocked against my face.

I focused my attention on her clit, licking and sucking while she writhed above me, her thighs clamping down around my ears.

Fuck yes.

Her moans vibrated deliciously around my shaft as I built her up, pushing her closer to the edge. With a shuddered gasp, my cock popped free of her mouth as she arched back, rocking against my tongue.

“Right there,” she panted, fisting my cock in time with her rocking. “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop!”

Gripping her hips tighter, I feasted on her like a man starved, licking and sucking greedily as her thighs trembled. She cried out as her orgasm crashed over her, flooding my tongue with her taste. Growling, I thrust up into her hands, fucking her fingers until I came.

“Fuck.”

She flopped forward on the bed, rolling to lay beside me, her head by my foot. I entwined our fingers as we panted, both of us wrecked by our releases.

“Shit,” I muttered, slowly rolling over to stare at her. “That was not how I expected to be woken up today.”

She chuckled. “Well, good morning to you.”

“And to you, Ms. Sakamoto.”

I captured her legs, dragging her up the bed and spinning her around as she squealed until I could gather her in my arms. Our first kiss of the morning was slow and easy, full of gentle reverence.

We cuddled, exchanging soft, slow kisses, our hands gently exploring but not igniting. After the craziness of the last few days, this slowdown felt right.

I gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. “What do you want to do today? We could stay in bed all day, or go grab some breakfast, or go win a competition. I’m also open to marriage proposals.”

Surprisingly, I was only half-joking about the proposal.

She giggled, idly tracing patterns on my chest with her fingertip. “Hmm, breakfast does sound good to start.” She sighed. “We have to finish today’s challenge.”

I touched my finger to a stray piece of wax on her arm. “You think we’re not going to win?”

She shrugged. “I think we’ll do our best.”

“Then that’s all that matters, right?”

She nodded, remaining silent as she continued to trace patterns across my chest.

“Hey.” I waited until she looked at me before continuing. “We’re getting to the grand finale.”

Her lips twisted. “You’re far more confident than I am.”

I wished she had more faith. Mai was too fucking talented to underestimate herself.

“I’m too ignorant to be intimidated,” I corrected. “When you don’t understand the stakes, it’s easy to be fearless.”

Kissing her once more, I reluctantly disentangled myself and rolled to the edge of the bed. “C’mon, beautiful. Let’s go fuel up. We’re going to need the energy.” I reached for my crutch, then hauled myself up and out of the bed.

Mai laughed. “I’ll hold you to that, mister. Now, do you want to join me in the shower or watch the show?”

This was definitely a win-win situation.

I gave myself permission to trail my gaze down the length of her as she lay in bed, a teasing smile on her swollen lips.

My jaw clenched at the sight of her curves, her skin, her dark nipples, the little thatch of black hair between her thighs.

I wanted to fuck her on every surface of the hotel room. I wanted to tease her slowly, making love to her until we were both mindless and desperate. I wanted to savor the build, revel in the anticipation until both of us burned with need.

I’d become so used to jumping into things without thought that to pause seemed almost counterintuitive. But then I’d never been playing to win Mai’s heart.

“Shower,” I said definitively. “I want you on my lap while I make you come once again.”

She swallowed. “Will we…?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. But we will. I want to savor the buildup a little longer.”

“Oh, you’re dangerous.” She waggled her finger at me. “I should be calling your exes to get the lowdown on you.”

I grimaced, following her into the bathroom. “Please don’t. I might be friends with a few, but they’re bound to tell you all the dumb shit I’ve done over the years.”

“I already know half of it.” She pulled the bench seat down and moved out of my way as I transitioned into the shower.

“And I’m glad you only know half.”

She chuckled as I turned on the overhead shower. Stepping into the water, Mai climbed up on the bench seat, straddling my thighs.

“Ready?” she asked as water dripped down her gorgeous body.

I slid a hand between us, finding her wet heat.

“For you? Always.”

We made it to the studio with two minutes to spare. Sound technicians frantically miked us up as makeup artists and hair stylists fought to make us TV worthy.

We took our places with the other contestants, and I could feel the nervous energy. It appeared everyone was keenly aware of how much was riding on today.

I caught Mai glancing at my leg and sighed.

“I told you, it’s fine.”

She bit her lip, flushing. “I know. You know your body best. I’m sorry.”

I leaned in, brushing my lips against her ear. “You’re forgiven if you do that thing with your tongue again tonight.”

I chuckled as her face flushed.

“Contestants,” Michelle called from her place on the stage. “You have just eight hours left to complete your look fit for a royal. Go forth and create!”

“I’ll do the gloves,” I said, already planning the structure.

“You’re not just applying straight to skin?” Mai asked, checking the fabric pieces she’d pinned to our mannequin the day before.

“No, I had an idea while you were washing my co—er,” I coughed, remembering the microphone tapped to my chest. “While you were washing my sock. ”

I could see her shoulders shaking as she bent to pin the skirt on the mannequin.

“What was your idea?”

“I want to create a melted wax glove.” I held my hand out, cupping my palm. “If I use a thin band of wire and canvas that slips around the model’s hand, the wax should melt onto it.”

Mai tilted her head to one side, tapping a finger against her lower lip. “How does that fit with the dress?”

“I’ll make the wave look like stone. We’ll rig the cords of the skirt to the gloves so when the model opens her arms, the cord will pull to reveal the full skirt.”

We’d designed this piece to look like a skin-tight dress until the wearer tugged at the clever hidden ties and released the full skirt into the train—turning the dress from stone to water.

“I’m not sure I completely understand, but I’m happy to give it a try.”

“Trust me,” I told her confidently. “It’ll work.”

It didn’t work.

The wax warped the wire frame, and dripped off the canvas before it had a chance to set. I cursed under my breath, trying to salvage the mess—and contain it to my small corner of the workbench. Mai glanced over, her brow furrowed in concern.

“I’m sorry,” I said sheepishly. “It sounded good in theory.”

Mai set down the bodice piece she was working on and came over to assess the situation. She picked up the failed attempt, turning it over in her hands.

“The issue is the wire.” She tapped on the razor-thin metal. “The glove needs a sturdier structure, something that can withstand the heat and weight of the wax without warping.”

I rummaged through our supplies. “Let’s see, wire, wire, oh, look! More wire. Thread. A condom.” I tossed the packet over my shoulder ignoring the muffled laughter of the crew. “Ah-ha!”

I held up a roll of masking tape triumphantly. “This could work.”

Mai returned to the dress as I began to wrap the tape around my left hand to create a mold. Layer upon layer of tape wrapped around each finger before I was finally satisfied. Carefully removing the tape—only losing a few hairs in the process—I selected a set of shimmering gold and black candles to go with her dress, adding some super-strength glue to the dripping wax.

Please God, let this work. I don’t want to disappoint Mai.

Knowing time was of the essence, I lit every candle, rigging them to drip onto the makeshift glove while I began to make a mold of my left hand.

“This just might work,” I murmured as I swapped the first mold out and positioned the remaining candles to cover the second.

Leaving our experiment, I returned to Mai’s side, assisting her to tackle the challenge of completing the actual gown.

Precious minutes slipped away as we worked feverishly to add the final flourishes—delicate lace at the hem, glittering crystals cascading down the back, and a last-minute cape made of beautifully soft feathers.

Our model arrived, and Mai helped her into the dress as I checked our gloves. Holding my breath, I gently peeled the tape away from the wax, praying to whatever God that cared that it would hold.

“Moment of truth,” I muttered, breathing a sigh of relief when they held their shape, the wax smooth and unblemished.

“You did it,” Mai breathed. “It’s stunning.”

“Let’s see if they’ll go on the model.”

Slipping each wax glove onto the model’s hands took far longer than I had anticipated.

“Hurry,” Mai whispered, dancing around me as the clock counted down to zero. “Please!”

Gritting my teeth, I continued to slowly slide them on the model, knowing if I moved too quickly the integrity of the wax might be compromised and our entire design would be wasted.

Sweat trickled down my back, my chest tightening. I had to get this right or Mai’s chances were toast.

“Ten seconds!” Michelle called from the stage.

“Theo!” Mai wailed behind me. “Hurry!”

I slid the final glove on, breathing a sigh of relief when the model held up her hands, giving me a nod.

“Tools down!”

I stepped back just as Mai careened into me, wrapping her arms around my middle and throwing me off balance.

I shot a hand out to steady us, laughing at her enthusiasm. “Whoa, babe. Chill. Anyone might think you’re warm for my form.”

“More than warm,” she said, swiping at her eyes. “Look at our design, Theo. It’s magnificent.”

I had to agree. The dress reminded me of Mai—understated but not in any way simple. Evocative and powerful, imaginative and clever, it captured the eye and held your interest.

A gown fit-for-royalty, just as the brief demanded. And the gloves, with their glint of gold, added an unexpected edge, a twist of avant-garde flair.

“Not bad,” I said, slipping an arm around Mai’s waist. “I think we pulled it off.”

The judges seemed to agree, praising our innovative use of materials and the cohesive overall look. We were ushered backstage to await the final decision, our hands clasped tightly together.

“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Mai whispered, leaning her head on my shoulder.

I knew that was a lie, but I appreciated the sentiment.

I pressed a kiss to her hair. “We make a good team—despite you screeching at me to hurry up.”

She elbowed me in the side, and I chuckled, pulling her back into me.

And then it was time; the judges filed onto the stage, their faces inscrutable. My heart pounded as they began to speak, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of each look.

“And the first team moving on to the grand finale is....” Erike paused dramatically.

Mai’s hand clasped mine tighter, crushing my fingers.

“Jude and Keeley!”

I sagged in my seat, watching as the blonds nodded as if this were their due and not a prize.

They announced Gretchen and Jodie next, leaving only one spot left.

“Mai and Theo,” Minerva began sternly. “This look shows immense creativity and skill. However....”

My heart sank. “However” was never a good word coming from the judges. I squeezed Mai’s hand as we braced for the blow.

It’s okay. I’ll help her achieve her dream some other way. No matter how long it takes, Mai is going to have everything her heart desires.

“However,” Minerva continued, “we feel that you rose to the occasion and delivered a gown fit for royalty. Congratulations, you’re moving on to the grand finale!”

I physically jerked as relief crashed over me like a wave.

“We did it.” Letting out a whoop of joy, I turned and wrapped Mai in a fierce hug, capturing her lips with mine. Laughing, I pulled back. “Holy shit, we?—”

Mai’s hug cut me off. She clung to me like a barnacle, sobbing into my chest.

My mood shifted, turning from joy to warm understanding.

“Baby.” I cupped her head, turning my back on the cameras as she hugged me tight. “It’s okay. We did it. We’re through.”

She lifted her head, her tears wet against her cheeks. “I know. It’s just—” She sniffed, shuddering. “—I wanted this so bad. So bad, Theo. And now—” She shuddered with another sob.

“Happy tears,” I chuckled, swiping at her cheeks. “Happy, happy, happy tears.”

She nodded.

We turned back, thanking the judges and commiserating with Dakila and Nina who were eliminated.

“And then there were three,” I murmured as we left the warehouse.

Mai nodded, pressing hands to her flushed cheeks. “Tomorrow’s the grand finale. We might win.”

I chuckled. “Might? Babe, we’re going to.”

She sighed, leaning against me as the elevator slowly moved up to our floor. “We can only try, right?”

I kissed her head. “Exactly.”

“But darn knit all, I want it.”

Chuckling, I took her hand, spinning her out of the elevator as the doors opened.

“Then we better get you to bed, Ms. Winner.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Hate to interrupt this touching moment,” a snide voice said from behind us, “but some of us have to sleep before our big win tomorrow.”

I turned to see Jude glaring at us, Keeley at his side.

Mai tensed, her hand tightening in mine. I gave her a reassuring squeeze before releasing her.

“Congratulations on making it through,” I said, keeping my tone carefully even. “Guess we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

Jude rolled his eyes. “That assumes you can keep up.”

I met his gaze evenly. “The fact you’re bothering us suggests you’re intimidated.”

Jude scoffed. “Please. You and your little girlfriend got lucky today. But luck won’t be enough to win the grand finale. It takes real talent—something you two clearly lack.”

I bristled, but I kept my expression neutral. I wasn’t about to let this jerk get under my skin. “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” I replied coolly.

“Leave them,” Keeley said with a bored sigh. “They’re not worthy of our time.”

Jude glared at us one last time before he turned on his heel and strutted away, Keeley following close behind.

I watched them, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “Those arrogant little?—”

“Theo.” Mai’s soft voice broke through my rising anger. “They’re not worth it.”

I blew out a breath, forcing my muscles to relax.

“You’re right,” I said, throwing an arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get some rest. I want us in peak form to wipe the smirks off their perfectly symmetrical faces once and for all.”

Mai giggled. “Stop! That’s not nice.”

“You can’t tell me you didn’t notice how perfect their jawlines are.”

She snorted. “No, I didn’t.”

“I guess I must be the one with an eye for lines then.”

She chuckled, opening our hotel door. “Your hemming is getting better.”

“Better? It’s perfect. Did you see my line today?”

“Mm, it was as straight as you are,” she teased.

“How dare you!”

I crowded her into the room, pressing her against the wall as I shoved the door shut. Nuzzling her neck, I pressed kisses along her sensitive skin.

“Just for that,” I said between kisses, “we’re going straight to bed.”

She groaned, turning her head for a kiss. “Not even one orgasm?”

I wanted to say yes, but Mai deserved someone who put her needs above their own—even if that need happened to be mine, damn it.

“Nope. Not until we win tomorrow.”

She accepted my kiss, melting against me until I pulled back with a rough groan.

“Nope, we’re not doing this. Bed, bed, bed!”

She glanced pointedly down at my erection. “He says otherwise.”

“He isn’t handling needles tomorrow.”

She chuckled. “Fair enough.” She kicked her shoes off, lining them up next to the door. “You can shower first.” She hesitated. “And just to say, I wouldn’t be mad if you put on a little show.”

“Minx.” I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her back into me for a quick kiss. “Tomorrow, after we win.”

Later, I lay awake, staring up at the ceiling as I listened to Mai’s soft snores.

Winning tomorrow would launch Mai’s career to the heights she deserved.

A devil perched on my shoulder. What happens after her dreams are realized?

I tightened my arms around her sleeping form protectively, shoving the negative thought away. I’d make sure she got her dream. No matter what it meant for us.