Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“So, it wasn’t the relationship, but rather the aftermath?”
“Mm. That was the worst part of everything, and I swore I’d never do it again. I wouldn’t want to put anyone in the position I was in, even if it was unintentional. Gossip spreads like wildfire in companies like ours, and I don’t think I could handle that again.”
“That explains why you kept everyone at arm’s length when you moved to us.”
“That and the bastard board breathing down my neck.”
I smiled, stroking my thumb across his stomach.
“Stop.” He caught my hand, lightly squeezing my fingers. “Unless you want me to flip you over and fulfil your wish of fucking you again,” he said, nuzzling his nose into the side of my neck.
“Stopppp.” I pushed his face away with a laugh. “I’m too tired for that. Please behave yourself.”
Theo grunted, releasing my hand to hug me again. “Only because I know you’re telling the truth. You haven’t stopped all day.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“You must have a terribly needy and overbearing boss.”
“He’s the worst. He even makes me knot his tie on a morning, and I have to deal with women who fancy him all the time.”
He pushed me down and leant over me, kissing my neck. “I’m pretty sure he has to deal with men who fancy his assistant, too.”
“Unlikely.”
“Mm, you say that, but I’m absolutely sure Lennon has a crush on you.”
I rested my hands against his cheeks and pulled his face up until our eyes met. “Don’t say such ridiculous things.”
Theo raised his eyebrows. “You’re completely blind to the obvious things right in front of you, aren’t you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He dropped his lips to mine. “He can’t have you, anyway.”
“Nobody can. I’m not an object that can be possessed by anyone,” I retorted, kissing him back.
“And if you were, not many people could afford you.” He pressed one firm kiss against my lips again before resting his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. “Stay with me tonight, Chlo.”
“Stay with you?” I gently scratched my nails across the back of his head. “Where exactly do you think I’m going to go? My bedroom is only twenty feet down the hall.”
“No, stay here.” He flopped onto his side and wrapped me in his arms, pulling me against his body. “Right here.”
“You’re needy. Like a puppy.”
“Mm. So pat my head and tell me I’m a good boy.”
What the—
I laughed, reaching up with my free arm. I patted his head softly and said, “Good boy.”
He smiled, touching his lips to my forehead. “Thank you. Does that mean you’ll stay?”
“Mm, but only because I’m warm.” I cosied into him and turned off the part of my brain that was screaming that this was a Very Bad Idea. “We don’t have anywhere to be until tomorrow afternoon, right?”
“That’s usually my line.” He smiled against my hair. “But no. You can take it easy before lunch, so make sure you sleep in.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And don’t call me ‘sir’ when you’re lying naked in bed with me unless you want me to never get any work done ever again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Chloe…”
Hehe. “Goodnight, Theo.”
He sighed. “If I can’t sleep tonight, it’s all your fault.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – THEO
Morning Glory
“We aren’t romantically involved.”
My own words were haunting me. Even if they were a response to the perfectly accurate statement Chloe herself had made, it didn’t mean they didn’t sting.
It was true. We weren’t romantically involved.
It was also true that she was dense and couldn’t see the obvious right in front of her.
Not that I was in a position to be calling her dense. I was just as bad. I’d had my chance last night to tell her that I had feelings for her, and I’d let it pass me by. It wasn’t that I hadn’t realised the opportunity was presenting itself to me, but more than I wasn’t sure it was the right time.
Telling someone you were in love with them for the first time after sex was right up there with proposing halfway through.
You just didn’t do it.
I also wasn’t naïve enough to believe she felt the same way I did just because we’d slept together. There was almost zero chance that Chloe held any romantic feelings for me, and I doubted she’d have even slept with me if I hadn’t been the one to initiate it—which was exactly why I’d made sure to hear the word ‘yes’ from her lips.
This situation was uncertain enough without me complicating things with my feelings.
Even if I was lying here next to her more aware of them than ever.
If anything had changed with last night, it was my true awareness of how deep my feelings ran for this woman.
I was head over heels for her.
Completely and utterly at her mercy.
And she had no idea.
I doubt she’d even considered the possibility that I was in love with her. She had no reason to. It wasn’t as though I’d ever given her reason to believe that. I’d kept my feelings locked away for months on account of my unwillingness to enter into an office relationship.