Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction

Chapter Five Lose Control

What with the family business and his profession, Theo felt like he was fairly knowledgeable when it came to baked goods. Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pies, he’d had them all and tried more flavors than he could name. But in all his life nothing—nothing—had ever tasted sweeter than Lucy Buchanan’s mouth.

That fact was true seven years ago, and it was still true now.

Bourbon, apple, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. It was because of those last three that he was in his current predicament. That scent had been haunting him for a week, and it filled his head as Lucy had pulled him across the bar. That alone would’ve been enough for him to lose his mind, but then there was the added fact that her hand had been in his. She hadn’t even flinched when he’d laced their fingers together, and he didn’t miss how she’d pressed herself into his hand at her hip.

It all magnified the possessive feeling in his chest, the one that had always been there like a flickering flame but was now a full-on inferno. The second he’d seen blondie start to talk to her, it was like someone had poured kerosene on him.

When he’d asked her for a word, he’d had absolutely no idea what he was going to say to her. All he knew was that he wanted to get her away from that guy . . . get her alone to tell her . . . something. Anything.

Maybe that she was driving him out of his ever-loving mind. That would’ve been a great place to start.

But then they’d gotten outside, and she’d let go of him, and the very last thing he wanted to do was talk. So, he’d just done the thing that he’d wanted to do for months now: pulled her into his chest and kissed her.

There’d been a moment, just a second of sanity after his lips touched hers when her body tensed, that he thought he’d gone a step too far. But that fear was gone when she started to kiss him back, her lips parting and letting him in as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Before he knew it, he had her pushed against the brick wall, one hand at the back of her head, his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss. The other was still at her hip, holding her against him.

They got lost in each other, neither of them coming up for a breath, neither of them letting go. It wasn’t until a shrill wolf whistle split the night air that Theo reluctantly pulled his mouth from Lucy’s.

“Get a room,” someone called out while people laughed.

Theo had never been big on public displays of affection, but in that moment, he didn’t care that someone saw them kissing. He wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest that they’d both lost control for a moment. And as he looked down into Lucy’s face, he was pretty sure she wasn’t either. The streetlights were bright behind him, and he could clearly see the dazed look in her eyes, and the flush on her cheeks.

“You kissed me,” she whispered.

“You kissed me back. Were you going to take that guy’s number?” The hand on her hip instinctively tightened.

“No. I was planning on letting him down easy before you walked up. As it turns out, I’m kind of into somebody else.”

“Is that so?” His hand at the back of her head moved to her face, his palm cupping her jaw.

“Yeah.”

“For how long?”

“Subconsciously?” She smiled, biting at her bottom lip as she tilted her head to the side in thought. Theo couldn’t help but move his thumb to her mouth, pulling that lip from her teeth. “I’m pretty sure it’s been months. I just didn’t realize it until you started dating someone else. What really happened with Joss?”

“She ended it before I could. As it turns out, it’s really hard to date someone when you’re into someone else.”

“Yeah, I’d imagine it is.”

“So, what do you want this time, Luce?”

“I don’t know what I want beyond wanting you . . . but I’m not staying here, Theo. I’m not moving back to Cruickshank permanently.”

“I know you aren’t. So, you don’t want anything complicated. Just sex?” Could he go down that path and not fall for her again? He had no idea, but the need inside of him was too much to deny any longer. He wanted her. He didn’t care how much he got, or for how long, he just wanted something.

“Just sex.” She nodded.

“Done.”

“Now that we’ve established what we’re doing, kiss me again.” She moved her hand to the front of his shirt, fisting the flannel before pulling him closer to her.

It was ingrained in him to always want to do the opposite of what Lucy wanted. To needle and poke her and drive her as crazy as she drove him, but there was no denying her. In that moment there was nothing he wanted more in the world than to put his mouth on hers.

She opened for him immediately, their tongues twisting. Lucy’s hand tightened in his shirt, the fabric pulling at his shoulders. Her other hand was at the nape of his neck, her fingers playing in his hair. It was something she’d always done before. Something that drove him out of his mind.

“Okay.” He pulled away from her mouth, shaking his head as he tried to catch his breath. “We have to stop.”

“Why?”

“Because at some point we have to walk back into that building where our friends—and your family—are currently located and I would prefer not to embarrass myself.”

“Oh . . . yeah . . . that. Can’t we just go? I’m one hundred percent sure it’s no secret to any of them what we’re doing out here.”

“Of that I have no doubt. They all figured it out before we did. But your purse and our coats are inside.”

“I could make it home without them,” she said as a shudder ran through her body.

Theo lifted his eyebrows.

“It’s not the cold making me shiver. And I have a hide-a-key. We can get into my place, no problem.”

“Who said we’re going to your house?” he asked as he moved both of his hands to her arms, rubbing his palms up and down in an attempt to keep her warm.

“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?” Her eyes narrowed in that way he knew meant a challenge.

“Yeah, that’s how it’s going to be.”

“Fine.” Lucy pulled him close again for one last kiss before grabbing one of his hands and leading him back to the front door. “We’re finishing our last round of darts and changing the bet. Loser goes home with the winner.”

“Agreed.” Theo again laced his fingers with Lucy’s, reveling in the feel of her hand in his. He didn’t let go when they got back to the table either. The need to touch her was more of a demand at this point.

“You two good now?” Sasha grinned as she looked at their joined hands.

“Work out whatever you needed to work out?” Jeremy asked.

“I don’t know what you guys are talking about.” Theo shook his head, squeezing Lucy’s hand before reluctantly letting go. If they were going to play, they were going to need two hands.

“You know you’re not fooling us. Right?” Oscar chimed in.

“Dude, Lucy’s lipstick is in your mustache.” Gavin pointed to Theo’s face.

“Shit.” Theo immediately reached up, wiping his palm over his mouth.

“Yeah, that’s not going to help you.” Max laughed as he pushed one of the apple bourbon tumblers across the table. “Take a drink, man.”

Theo downed a good portion of it before he looked over at Lucy, catching her eyes, which were brighter than usual, a lightness in them that he hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Lucy moved closer to him, grabbing the glass from his hand. “I believe you’re up first as I lost the last round.” She nodded to the board before she tilted her head back and took a long drink. When she brought the glass down, she licked her lips.

It was so fucking sexy he couldn’t think straight.

“You’re playing dirty,” he said.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Her lips slowly curved up into a seductive smile and it was then that he noticed her red lipstick was lightly smudged around her mouth.

Theo leaned forward, bringing his mouth to her ear. “Just so you know, I will be kissing off every last bit of that lipstick before the night is over.”

She turned, her lips brushing his earlobe. “I can think of a few other uses for my lipstick.”

Her words caused him to inhale quickly, which was a huge mistake since he was so close to her. His lungs and head were now filled with vanilla and cloves, not the best circumstances for him right before taking his turn.

They pulled apart when Gavin loudly cleared his throat next to them. “So, apparently this is going to be different than last time. You two aren’t hiding anything this time around?” He gestured to the two of them.

“Last time?” Oscar asked. “What do you mean, last time?”

“You knew what happened seven years ago too?” Lucy turned to Gavin, her mouth open in surprise.

“Too?” Theo looked to Lucy. “Who else knew?”

“Sasha, but I didn’t tell her. Apparently, she . . . uh . . . caught us making out.”

“You weren’t very stealthy.” Sasha shook her head. “At least I didn’t catch you in the act.”

“You what?” Theo rounded on his friend.

“Wait a second.” Lucy moved her hands in the air to get Sasha’s attention. “You knew that Gavin knew?”

“How did any of you know and not tell me?” Oscar asked in mock outrage.

“You were off at college.” Sasha waved off her brother’s protests. “Gavin and I had to confide in each other. But we promised not to tell anyone else since these two clearly wanted to keep it a secret.”

“Did you know?” Oscar asked Jeremy.

“I didn’t find out until Lilah told me last Monday.”

“Hey, that’s when Caro told me.” Max cheers’ed his glass against Jeremy’s.

“Can open, worms everywhere.” Theo grabbed the glass of bourbon back from Lucy and downed the last of it.

“Well, now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, let’s finish this game.” Lucy patted Theo on the chest. “Unless you would like to discuss it further.”

“Not at all.” Theo shook his head, setting the empty glass on the table before grabbing his darts. He moved around Lucy, doing his best to focus as he took aim. They were going to need to wrap this game up real quick so that he could get her naked and underneath him.

Or naked and over him; he really wasn’t too picky at this point.

* * *

Theo just lost the third round, only one throw behind Lucy. But as he was going home with her, he didn’t really think himself much of a loser. Besides, he’d had a few beers and two of those spiced apple bourbons, so he was in no condition to drive. His house was a few miles away while hers was only a ten-minute walk . . . seven if they were quick about it.

Considering what he was dealing with, it was a miracle that he’d been so close to winning. Throughout the entire round she kept touching him, running her palms across his chest or up his arm. Though it wasn’t like he was exactly keeping his hands to himself either. He grabbed her hips on more than one occasion, pulling her in close before whispering something into her ear.

“You ready to go?” he asked as his mouth moved along her jaw.

She pulled back, biting at her bottom lip again in a slightly nervous way. “Yeah.”

Theo let go before he grabbed her coat, holding it open. Lucy slipped her arms into the sleeves, and once he had it settled on her shoulders, he gathered her chestnut-brown hair in his hand, pulling it free. She tilted her head to the side while he did it, and he got a glimpse of a tattoo where her neck met her shoulder. It was the black outline of a kite, the string disappearing down the back of her sweater.

Lucy had only had one tattoo seven years ago, a vine of roses on her hip and upper thigh. He’d been fascinated with it then and was more than excited to get reacquainted with it that evening.

Though now he was thinking about her new tattoo . . . where that string led down her back . . . and if there was something at the end of it. He wanted to know if there were more tattoos on her body. He wanted to know what else had changed over the years.

“You in a hurry to get out of here or something?” Gavin waggled his eyebrows.

“Yeah, you two have plans after this?” Max laughed.

“Why weren’t we invited?” Sasha added.

Theo really didn’t care about his friends razzing him, because he was about to go home with Lucy.

“We’re just giving you guys an opportunity to talk about us once we leave.” Lucy pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

“Yeah, there will be some talking.” Oscar frowned. “I still can’t believe I was the last to know about this.”

“You’re going to have to get over that,” Sasha told her brother.

“You two have fun!” Max said.

“But not too much fun.” Jeremy shook his head.

“Okay, you all better enjoy this while you can.” Theo frowned at his friends. “Because there will come a time that I’ll be giving it back tenfold. Especially you two.” He pointed at Sasha and Gavin.

“Hey, why are we worse than them?” Sasha asked in mock outrage.

“You just are,” Theo said as he held his hand out for Lucy. “Good night.” And for the first time that evening, Theo was the one who led her through the bar.

The second they were outside—and clear of the patrons coming and going from the door—Theo pulled her to him again, covering her mouth with his. It was a good couple of seconds before he finally pulled back. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we walked back in there.”

“Well, there are a number of things that I want to do to you. Take me home, Theo.”

“Let’s go, then.” He kissed her one last time before he pulled away and they started heading through downtown Cruickshank.

It was cold outside, but it wasn’t a bad walk to Lucy’s house. Just a couple of blocks down, a turn to the right, and another few blocks before they’d get to her neighborhood. The streetlights were all shining, their amber glow illuminating the sidewalks. It was just after eleven, so all of the shops and restaurants were closed. The people mingling about on the street were most likely doing a bar crawl, going among the handful of establishments open late.

“So,” Theo started. “I know how Sasha knew what happened; how did Caro and Lilah find out?”

Lucy hesitated for a moment before awkwardly clearing her throat. “You might’ve come up in conversation at our last girls’ night after I found out about Joss . . . and they might’ve all correctly called me out for whatever this is.” She gestured between the two of them. “And in my denying it, I might’ve accidently let it slip that we’d slept with each other previously.”

“So, I’m assuming you never mentioned anything before then.”

“Nope.” She shook her head. “And you didn’t either.”

“Nope. We’d agreed it was just sex then. There was no need to complicate it any further getting everyone else involved.”

Just sex . . . exactly like it was this time too. It hadn’t worked out well for him then, and he wasn’t sure it would this time either. But it was what it was. He’d deal with the consequences—whatever they were—later.

“Well, I think the cat is out of the bag this time.” Not wanting to stay on that particular topic of conversation, Theo moved the subject along. “Ever had that one on your cliché bingo card?”

“Well, as Estee often likes to jump into my grocery bag before I can unload it, yes, I have. She’s also fond of getting into my suitcase when I pack.”

Theo was well acquainted with Lucy’s cat, the dark gray Scottish fold with orange eyes and a penchant for mischief. He’d seen the videos on Lucy’s social media when she’d found the cat on the side of a busy road in LA three years ago. The feline was easily won over with treats and belly rubs. Though the belly rubs were always on Estee’s terms.

Lucy leaned into Theo as they crossed the road from the downtown area and made their way onto Avondale Drive.

He turned his head, pressing another kiss into her hair and she shivered. “That the cold or something else?”

“Both.”

“Well, you’ll be warmed up in no time at all.”

“Of that I have no doubt.”

When they got to the house, Theo was a little relieved to see no lights flickering through the windows, meaning her dad was asleep. Not that he thought Wes was going to come out with a shotgun or something. It just had the potential to make for an awkward conversation.

They made their way through the yard and to the detached garage. There was a porch light above her door, illuminating the stairs that led to her little loft apartment. It took Lucy a moment to fumble around in her purse for the keys. All the while Theo played with the ends of her hair.

The click of the lock echoed in the cold air before Lucy pushed the door open and they were inside. They were greeted with warm air, the soft glow from a lamp in the corner, and a loud meow from Estee, who was on the squishy teal sofa.

Theo shut and locked the door behind them. Lucy flipped on the overhead light before making her way into the living room. She pulled her coat off and tossed it onto the magenta accent chair, toeing off her Converse sneakers in the process.

It wasn’t the first time he’d ever been in a space that belonged to Lucy. She’d snuck him into her bedroom a number of times during those months they’d been sleeping together. Just like he’d taken her to the shabby house he’d once shared with Gavin. It had been easier to go over there as Gavin was working at Quigley’s and typically didn’t get home until after one in the morning. Theo had thought it was the perfect setup as Lucy was always long gone before Gavin got back . . . but as he’d learned that evening, they weren’t as slick he’d thought.

He pulled off his jacket as he looked around, taking in the turquoise walls. “I haven’t been up here since you unpacked. You painted. Wasn’t it yellow before?”

It all contrasted well with the teal sofa, magenta accent chair, and deep purple rug that took up the majority of the living room. Her throw pillows were sapphire blue and emerald green and the floor lamp in the corner sported a burnt-orange tasseled shade. He stopped by the sofa, leaning down to scratch Estee’s exposed belly. The cat’s purr started to fill the room.

“Yeah. It was a girls’ night with a lot of wine when Caro, Lilah, and Sasha helped me paint,” she said before pointing toward the kitchen. “Do you, uh, want a drink or something?”

“Sure, but probably not any more alcohol.” As he didn’t plan on going to sleep anytime soon, he didn’t want to drink anything else that would make him tired.

“I have that cider I bought the other day. Want me to heat some up?” She moved toward her tiny kitchen.

“I can help you.” Theo followed.

“Well, take off your boots first.” Lucy looked over her shoulder and pointed to his feet. “I do believe you’re staying awhile.”

“I do believe that I am.” It wasn’t lost on him that they’d never stayed the night with each other . . . never slept in the other’s bed . . . that he’d never slept next to her. But tonight would be a different story.

Theo made quick work of his shoes, putting them by the door, before joining Lucy in the kitchen. She was messing with the burner, trying to get it to light. The white stove was on the small side . . . though most stoves seemed smaller to him, what with what he used at the bakery and the six-burner he had at his own home.

Once the flame popped up, Lucy reached for a pot that hung from a hook on the wall. There were a few open shelves on the other side with half a dozen mismatched cups, plates, and bowls stacked up.

Lucy reached for the jug she’d already gotten from the fridge, pouring its contents into the pot before setting it back on the counter. Deciding to be useful, Theo grabbed the cap, popping it back on before returning it to the fridge. It was one of those retro refrigerators—mint green and also smaller than normal. It was covered in random magnets that Theo assumed Lucy had collected over the years.

A loud meow filled the kitchen as Estee came padding in, circling their feet and rubbing her body against their legs.

“I fed her before I went to the game, but she wants a snack. Can you stir this while I get her something? She won’t leave us alone until I do.”

“By all means.” He waved a hand at the cat before they switched places, Theo grabbing the handle of the whisk and taking up where she left off.

Lucy moved back toward the living room and the mustard-yellow cabinet that apparently held the cat’s treats.

“If you’ve got that under control, I’m just going to . . . uh . . . freshen up,” Lucy said from behind him.

Theo turned around just as she disappeared into the bathroom.

* * *

Lucy leaned back against the door, taking a deep steadying breath. Her hands were shaking a little while her heart was beating out of her chest.

Theo was in here, in her home.

She didn’t know why she was so nervous. She’d done this before, had done this with him before, and yet there she stood, with a handful of lingerie clutched in her fist. She had no clue what she’d even gotten, she’d just stuck her hand in the drawer and grabbed what she could. She set the pile on the counter, picking through it.

If someone had told her when she’d woken up that morning that this was going to be how the day ended, she would’ve said they were crazy, there was no way. Because if she’d been even remotely prepared, she wouldn’t have been wearing the nude bra that was more for comfort than style, nor the cotton pair of pink panties that could only be described as granny.

She held up a red lace teddy, pretty sure it wasn’t the night for that. They needed something with easy removal, not complicated snaps. A bra and panties would do the trick. Too bad nothing she’d grabbed was a matching set. In the bra department her options were leopard or black lace.

“Black lace it is.” She nodded as she set it aside, now looking for a pair of panties. There was a green satin pair with black lace edges. “Perfect,” she said before she opened the top drawer of the vanity and shoved everything else inside.

Lucy stripped down in record time, making quick work of her “freshening up” before slipping into the lingerie. She stuck her hand inside the cups of the bra, pulling up and giving her cleavage the best possible opportunity. The bra was definitely more for looks, the underwire digging into her skin. Good thing she wouldn’t be wearing it for long.

She had a thin cotton robe on the back door, black with big flowers on it. Tying the sash in place, she gave herself one last look in the mirror before taking a deep breath and heading out of the bathroom.

Theo had done more than heat up the cider. The overhead light was off, and he’d turned on the strand of twinkle lights that hung across the beam that separated the living room from her bedroom. The electric fireplace was also on, adding an amber glow to the room along with the candles he’d lit. He’d found the toasted marshmallow one that sat on her dresser, and the spiced chai on her bookcase.

There was also music playing; she hadn’t heard it in her rush to get ready but could now pick out the deep sultry voice of a man. Theo had apparently figured out how to pair his phone to her Bluetooth speakers.

Theo was standing in front of the television, looking at the wall that she’d covered in a wide variety of art. He turned at the sound of the door opening, his eyes going wide as he pulled in a breath through his nose, his nostrils flaring. He didn’t comment on her change of attire, instead just held out an orange mug with tiny white hearts patterned on it. Had he somehow known it was her favorite?

“Your cider.”

She crossed over to him, taking the mug from his hands. “Thank you,” she said before taking a sip. He’d gotten it to the perfect temperature, the sweet apple and cinnamon flavor filling her taste buds and making her go warm all over.

“I’ve just been admiring your art wall. Where’d you get that?” He pointed to a framed vintage map of the world.

“A flea market in Pasadena.”

“And that?” He indicated the old guitar that had been turned into a clock.

“When I went to New York with Caro.”

He took a sip from his own mug, covered in a black and white cow print. “Your record collection is pretty impressive.”

They were hung up in a square, all four of them signed by the respective artists—Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, and June Carter Cash.

“But I think my favorite is that one.” He nodded to the framed drawing that was the main focal point. It was a charcoal sketch that Caro had done a few years ago. It was Lucy’s favorite as it was a portrait of their mother.

Rachel was wearing a crown of flowers, and her dark hair was blowing behind her in the wind, the ends turning into birds that were taking flight. Her lips were parted, her head tilted back as if she were singing.

Rachel had always loved music, something she’d instilled in all three of her children, but most specifically in Lucy.

There was something about watching Theo as he took it all in, as he looked at her little home, that felt more personal than she was prepared for . . . an intimacy that she’d never experienced with him before.

A feeling that was intensified as she was standing next to him wearing next to nothing. Her eyes lingered on his beard, and she had a sudden urge to rasp her fingertips over it.

Theo’s focus moved from the wall of art and back to her. “This whole place is so unmistakably you.”

“I can’t tell if you mean that as a compliment.”

“I do. I very, very much do.” He smiled before he leaned down and kissed her. She could taste the apple and cinnamon on his lips, so much stronger than the bourbon drink at the bar. He pulled back after a moment, his eyes lingering on her mouth. “You should finish your cider.”

Lucy took a step back, putting a little space between them before she lifted the mug and took a good, long drink. It warmed her up way more than the bourbon had. She’d finished about half of it before setting it on the coffee table. Theo followed her lead, putting his down too. And then he moved in closer to her, his hands landing on her hips as he pulled her in, their bodies starting to sway with the music.

“Have I told you how much you drive me crazy?” he asked as one of his hands grabbed hers, weaving their fingers together. “The way you smell.” He pressed his face into her throat. “I’ve been absolutely obsessed with vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon for a week. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Haven’t been able to get you out of my head. And then I walk in here and the whole place smells like you.”

“Well, you’re the one who lit the candles.”

He pulled away enough to look into her eyes, giving her what she could only describe as a wicked grin. “You can just call me a masochist.”

Lucy pulled in a shallow breath, finding it harder to breathe. “How much longer do you plan on prolonging the torture?”

“I haven’t figured it out yet.” He lowered his mouth to hers, this time his tongue slipping between her lips. And then his other hand was in her hair, tilting her head to the side so he could deepen the kiss. But it wasn’t deep enough for Lucy; she wanted more.

Theo groaned into her mouth, his lips leaving hers only long enough to say, “The taste of you drives me even crazier than the smell of you.” And then he was kissing her again, his body no longer swaying to the music but backing her toward the bed.

Both of his hands were at her waist again, and she felt his fingers at the front of her robe, untying the sash. Then he was parting the fabric, his palms sliding across the bare skin of her shoulders and pushing the robe away before it fell to the floor. He pulled back enough to look down at her, his breath ragged as his gaze traveled the length of her body.

“Holy shit, Lucy.” He reached out and traced the curve of her breasts, his fingertips barely touching her, and yet they were like a brand on her skin. And then they moved to the very top of her panties, where he fingered the lace. “Is this for me?” he asked before his eyes were back on her face.

“Yes.”

“And what about this?” He moved his hand down, finding the heat between her legs.

“Yes.” She licked her lips as she grabbed his shoulders.

“And is this for me?” His fingers moved under the fabric before he slid them inside of her, finding her wet.

“Yes.” Her nails dug into him as her head fell back and she moaned to the ceiling.

“Good.” He pressed his face to her throat again, as he pumped his fingers in and out of her. “I want you so much it hurts, Lucy.”

“Then have me,” she told him.

His hand moved from between her legs and she immediately felt the loss of him. He stepped away and started unbuttoning his clothes. He tugged the flannel shirt from his arms before reaching behind his head and pulling his T-shirt off in one swift move.

She didn’t think she’d seen anything sexier in her life.

He’d barely dropped it to the floor before she was moving toward him, starting to work on his belt, then the button on his jeans, and finally pulling down the zipper. Theo kicked his pants off and then his hands were on her again, his mouth covering hers. Lucy took the opportunity to slide her hand underneath the band of his boxer briefs, her fingers wrapping around his hard cock.

Now he was the one groaning.

“Is this for me?” she asked, biting at his lower lip.

“Yes,” he growled before tumbling them down onto the bed.

Theo wasted absolutely no time to settle himself between her legs, her thighs parting with ease. And his hands were everywhere, moving over every inch of skin he could touch. His mouth left hers to join the mission, trailing down her throat and over her breasts.

“Front clasp or back?” he asked.

“Front.”

It was barely a flick of his fingers before the bra popped open and Theo’s head was down again, his mouth covering one of her nipples. Lucy’s back arched off the bed as she cried out, her hands in his hair as she held him to her.

Theo moved to her other breast, showing it the same amount of appreciation, his tongue flicking and causing her body to shake underneath him. And then that mouth of his started to move down her body, his beard rasping across her skin in the process. He sat up, his fingers moving to the sides of her panties.

“So, can I cross off getting your panties in a twist from my cliché bingo card?” he asked as he started to twist those fingers in the lace.

“Theo, if it means getting your cock inside me, you can mark whatever you want off your bingo card.”

“Good to know, but we haven’t quite gotten to that part of the evening, Lucy. Didn’t I tell you that the taste of you was driving me crazy? Well, I have yet to sample every part of you.” He pulled at the sides of her panties, and she lifted her hips from the bed, helping him. He tossed them to the floor before settling his shoulders between her thighs.

And then his mouth was on her, doing that thing only he could do so well. It would’ve been enough with just the rasp of his beard on the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. That alone could’ve set her off . . . but he was doing so much more than that. He parted her with his fingers before his tongue started to move over her, move in her. But then he found her clit and it took him absolutely no time at all to make her come apart, the orgasm ripping through her.

Theo didn’t stop, pushing her higher and higher, the waves of pleasure almost more than she could handle. God, no one could destroy her like this man.

And she was pretty sure no other man would ever compare.