“Mom,” Theo says sharply. “We don’t need to talk about that right now.”
“No, I suppose we don’t,” Patti says, still oblivious. She turns her attention to me. “I’m just grateful he’s met you, Kelsey. You’ve helped him get out of his slump.”
I glance over at Theo, who looks like he wants to die. “We’ve been there for each other,” I say truthfully.
“Theo mentioned you two started out as friends first,” Patti says. “Isn’t that the best way to fall in love? With your friend?”
Fall in love? Yeah. I don’t think so. But I paste on a bright smile and nod, making my way over to Theo so I can stand beside him once more. “It’s the best.”
Theo slings his arm around my shoulders, his gaze on someone else. “Hey.”
His brother approaches, the one who was standing by the barbecue only a moment ago, and good Lord, I think he might be more physically attractive than Theo. Hazel eyes, dark, wavy hair that’s a little bit overgrown, and he walks with swagger. My absolute crack not even a few years ago. “Is that your girlfriend, bro? She’s way too fucking hot for you.”
“Jesus, Mason. Watch your mouth.” Jim slaps the back of his son’s head. “There are ladies present.”
“Sorry.” He doesn’t sound sorry at all. His gaze is only for me, and it’s currently eating me up with it. “This is really your girl, T?”
Theo’s arm tightens around my shoulders. “Kelsey, this is my obnoxious younger brother, Mason.”
“His charming younger brother.” Mason doesn’t even hesitate—just reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me out of Theo’s arms and in for a hug. He smells good. He’s muscular, but I feel nothing. Not even a glimmer of attraction. “Nice to meet you, K.”
“He shortens everyone’s name,” Theo says irritably.
Everyone’s talking at once, voices rising as if they’re all trying to be heard over one another, and Theo tugs on my hand, pulling me away from the group. “Let me show you around outside,” he says.
We walk through the backyard, past the picnic table that now stands empty. “Who was your sister sitting with? One of your brothers?” I ask, glancing around.
“Yeah. She was with Max. Don’t know where they went, though.” Theo sounds distracted. Maybe even a little…angry? Frustrated? I don’t know why. He said his family is big and loud and obnoxious, and they’ve already sort of proven to be exactly that, and not all of them are here yet.
Not that I mind. It’s kind of fun, to see them all in action. His parents seem really sweet. His mom is overprotective, but I can tell she means well. His brother is a cocky asshole, but I’ve always been drawn to cocky assholes, so we’ll probably get along fine.
“How many brothers do you have again?” I ask, practically running to keep up with his long strides.
“Three,” he says distractedly. “There’s five of us total.”
I realize we’re heading toward another building that sits in the near distance. It looks like a smaller version of the main house. He walks right up to the front door and opens it, striding inside, our hands still linked.
“Ali?” he calls, but there’s no answer.
I’m frowning. Pretty sure he’s calling his sister. But why?
“Looks like no one’s here,” he says, stopping abruptly in the short hallway.
I turn to face him fully. “Are you o—”
He grabs hold of my face and kisses me, cutting off my words. The kiss is long and deep and with plenty of tongue, and at first all I can do is just stand there and take it, I’m so shocked. His lips soften, become coaxing, and I find myself falling under his spell. Returning the kiss as if I’m starved for him.
And I am. Starved for him. It’s just as good between us as last night. Maybe even more so, here in this small, empty house I’m assuming his sister lives in. In the middle of the afternoon with bright sunlight pouring through the windows and out in the open where anyone could catch us. Not that they would care.
We’re supposed to be together, after all.
Theo breaks the kiss first, and I blink my eyes open to find him watching me. His damp, swollen lips are parted, and there’s this…feral gleam in his eyes. Like he’s on the hunt and he’s scented me. Ready to move in for the kill.
A shiver streaks down my spine and my heart rate speeds up.
He streaks his thumb across my lips back and forth, his touch, his gaze hypnotizing me. “Your mouth drives me fucking crazy.”
I blink up at him again, shocked by his confession. I didn’t think any part of me drove him crazy. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” he practically growls, kissing me again. He somehow walks me backward until my butt hits the wall, and then he’s pressing me against it, his body close to mine, his hands dropping to curl around the back of my thighs and hauling me up. I go with it, wrapping my legs around his waist, shocked by his strength. Aroused by it.
Damn, Theo is strong.
I wore a dress because I wanted to make my best first impression on his parents, and at this moment I definitely don’t regret my decision. He slips one of his hands beneath the skirt, his fingers skimming the inside of my thigh. Grazing the front of my panties. I gasp into his mouth and he pulls away, his eyes never leaving mine as he strokes me there. Deliberately slow.
A complete tease.
“You’re wet,” he murmurs.
My eyes fall closed when his fingers sneak just beneath the thin fabric, making contact with my sensitive flesh. I press my lips together to repress the moan that wants to escape.
“And hot.”
A whimper leaves me when he presses his thumb against my clit. What is he doing? Why is he touching me like this? Like he can’t control himself and has to have me in the middle of the afternoon? Theo’s always in control.
Always.
His mouth finds mine again, and I kiss him with all the enthusiasm I can muster, which is a lot. His fingers keep time with every stroke of his tongue, until I’m a panting, moaning mess, so close to coming I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of the earth, ready to plummet into an endless sky. I thrust my hips against his seeking fingers, needing more friction when…
A door creaks open. The front door.
Oh. Fucking. Shit.
Theo retreats from my mouth, his fingers remaining beneath my panties, his entire body going still as he glances toward the front of the house. I’m panting, my chest rising and falling frantically with each ragged breath, and he sends me a meaningful glance, one that says be quiet.
I keep my lips tight, but it’s no use. Theo circles his thumb around my clit, and another whimper escapes me. He presses his body to mine to keep me in place against the wall, clamping his other hand over my mouth.
Oh fuck. That’s hot.
We stare at each other, my entire body trembling as we wait in breathless anticipation to get caught. No one says a word. Until…
“Theo?” a sweet voice asks. “Are you in here?”
I watch Theo tense up even more, his gaze cutting to mine. His expression is dark. Sexy. He strokes me again, sliding one finger inside my core, and a helpless noise leaves me, muffled by the press of his hand.
I glance down, catching sight of the impressive erection beneath his jeans, and I clench my inner walls around his finger, wishing it were his cock. His eyes darken even more, his gaze returning to mine as he inserts another finger inside me and starts move them in and out.
In and out. Again and again.
Oh. God. He’s touching me like this on purpose. Knowing his sister is looking for him, for both of us while he finger fucks me. We’re just on the other side of the tiny kitchen. It wouldn’t take long for her to round the corner and find us. Talk about embarrassing. Talk about making a horrible first impression.
But she never comes searching for us. Instead, we hear the unmistakable click of the door shutting, and once she’s gone, I figure Theo would remove his hand from my mouth.
He doesn’t.
“You’re close, aren’t you?” he whispers harshly, his fingers starting to move in earnest. “Do you want to come?”
I nod wordlessly, my lids wavering when his finger hits a particularly sensitive spot. God, that feels so good.
“Can you breathe?”
Another nod. His fingers loosen around my face but remain in place, and I can’t help but think how freakin’ hot he is. How forceful he’s being, how assured. I had no idea Theo could act like this.
He keeps stroking, his pace increasing, his thumb drawing tighter circles around my clit. It takes nothing to make me come. The situation alone had me halfway there, and an agonized cry falls from my lips when the orgasm slams into me. I’m a trembling mess, crying out against his hand and he drops it, replacing it with his mouth as he kisses me.
Devours me.
“You’re so beautiful when you come,” he murmurs against my lips once the shuddering has subsided. “I could watch you do that again and again.”
I slowly open my eyes when he pulls away, frowning in confusion. Still in shock over his actions, how he had complete and utter command over me and my body. I don’t know what we’re doing, or why we’re doing it. But I don’t know how to ask. I’m almost afraid I’ll break the spell if I do.
So I remain quiet instead.
Eleven
Theo
I’m still not sure what’s come over me. Or why I attacked Kelsey like that.
Oh, fuck it. I know exactly why. I hated the way Mason looked at Kelsey. Like a potential conquest. As if he could snap her up, no problem. I’m sure he wonders why a woman like her is with a guy like me.
Can’t think about the fact that she’s not necessarily with me, though I definitely had her last night. Hottest night of my life. I did things to Kelsey I didn’t know I was capable of.
Same with just now. Who the hell am I, slamming her against the wall and fingering her with my sister only a few feet away? Pressing my hand against Kelsey’s mouth as I made her come with a few strokes of my fingers.
I’m feeling no remorse, though. No guilt either. I don’t apologize. Why should I? I think Kelsey liked it.
A lot.
Slowly I loosen my hold on her, my hands resting lightly on her waist as her feet land on the floor. Only then I let her go. She lifts her head, offering me a shaky smile as she runs her fingers through her hair, and I take a step back, giving her some space.
I steel myself, ready for her to ask what the hell is wrong with me, or why did I do that, but she says nothing. Neither do I. Reaching down, I readjust my cock, wincing as I do so. I’m hard as a rock. Would give anything to sink inside her tight, wet heat and fuck her senseless, but we need to go out to the backyard before my family launches a search party.
Knowing them, they totally would.
“You hungry?” I ask.
Kelsey throws back her head and laughs, as if my question surprises her. “I’m starving,” she admits.
“Me too,” I say with a grin. “I have no idea what my father is cooking, but I’m sure it’s delicious.”
“Let’s go then,” she says.
“Let me wash my hands first,” I tell her, making a stop in the kitchen and washing the smell of her off my fingers.
She doesn’t seem the least bit embarrassed, and I’m grateful. She doesn’t act full of regret either, which is a positive sign. What we’re doing is probably dangerous. We’re entering forbidden territory in regards to our friendship. Fucking on the low most likely isn’t the move. Something will happen and eventually, our friendship will be ruined. That’ll suck.
But it’s too late. There’s no turning back now.
We exit the house, me grabbing her hand and stopping her before she gets too far. She turns to me in question, her brows lowered, her mouth formed in a sexy little pout, and I want to kiss her.
Badly.
“You okay?” I ask, my voice low.
She nods, those sexy lips curling into a faint smile. Seeing it is like a punch to the solar plexus. She’s a gorgeous woman. A woman I made come only a few minutes ago, and take my word for it, that is some powerful shit. “I’m great.”
“You sure?” Jesus, I sound like old, insecure Theo right now. I need to knock it off.
“Yes.” She takes a step forward, her hand going to the front of my jeans, her fingers curling around my erection. “How about you?”
A choked sound leaves me when she gives my dick a firm stroke. “Could be better.”
Her knowing smile blows about a billion brain cells. “Maybe I could help you with that. Later.”
I raise my brows. “Is that a promise?”
She gives a throaty laugh. “If you’re lucky.”
We pull away from each other when we hear more laughter, and realize my family is closer than we realized. I let Kelsey walk ahead of me, my gaze locked on her swishing hips, her perfect ass. That dress will be my undoing. It’s red with little white flowers scattered all over it, and it shows off her long, sexy legs. Accentuates the dip of her waist, the curve of her hips. She is truly the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever been with. Totally out of my league. Maybe that’s why it was so easy to be her friend, when I realized that was all she wanted from me. I could forget about her beauty because I figured I never had a shot.
Now, I not only had a shot, I’ve taken a few. Took one after becoming a quietly enraged, jealous asshole. Over my brother, of all people.
This woman is turning me inside out. I don’t know if I like it.
Once we get closer to the back patio where my family is gathered, I catch up to Kelsey, grabbing hold of her hand so we can look like a united front. Ali spots us first, her expression full of surprise.
“There you two are!” she says, a little frown wrinkling her forehead. “Where did you go?”
“We took a little walk,” I say vaguely.
“Your property is truly beautiful,” Kelsey says to my mother, who’s standing next to Ali. “I love it here.”
“Hopefully Theo will bring you around more often,” Mom says, shooting me a challenging look. I roll my eyes at her.
What is it about parents that make us revert to sullen teenagers?
I introduce Kelsey to my sister, and to Max, who both greet her politely, but not too over the top like the rest of them. They’re a little more restrained, like me.
Both Mason and Max are standing with Dad, both of them checking out whatever’s cooking on the barbecue. “Where’s Cam?” I ask, referring to my other brother, Camden. He’s the one closest in age to me, the one I fought with constantly when we were young. The one I’m closest to now.
“He said he’ll try to make it, but no guarantees. Had to work today,” Mom says, shaking her head. “I produced workaholic sons, I’m afraid,” she tells Kelsey.
“It takes a lot of coaxing from me to get Theo to leave his office at a decent time,” she tells my mother, sending me a warm look. Like we’re a loving couple who can’t get enough of each other.
Not so sure about the loving part, but I definitely can’t get enough of her since last night.
“Oh Theo. Here you have this gorgeous girl who wants you to spend time with her, and you’re always in your office?” Mom tsks and shakes her head. “Shame on you.”
“Hey, I’ve gotten a lot better.” Since Jessica.
The words hang in the air, unspoken but nevertheless true. That was Jessica’s biggest complaint. I never made time for her. Craig has all the time in the world for her, I guess. That’s why she left me for him.
That and our sex life dried up. We rarely did it, and when we did, it was fairly standard. Missionary. Boring. Hell, most of the time we didn’t even take all of our clothes off.
Maybe that’s why I’m unleashing on Kelsey now. It’s been so long, I’m like a deprived prisoner who’s finally broken free.
“Food’s almost ready,” Mom calls as she makes her way toward the kitchen door. “Ali, will you come and help me, please? And Kelsey?”
The panicked look Kelsey has on her face fills me with concern, and I lean over, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t be scared. They won’t bite,” I whisper in her ear.
She blinks at me, a tremulous smile on her lips. “You’re really good at this pretending stuff,” she says, giving my hand a hard squeeze before she releases it and joins my mother.
Once the women have entered the house, I go over to the barbecue to talk to my dad and brothers. Of course Mason has something to say.
“What the hell, T? Where did you find that gorgeous woman? She is way above you on the food chain, you know.” He starts laugh.
Dad smacks his shoulder and sends him a scathing look. Max shakes his head in disgust. They’re twins, Mason and Max, but they are also complete polar opposites of each other. Meaning most of the time, Max thinks his twin is an absolute asshole. Yet they balance each other out. They would do anything for each other. And all of us.
“Be nice,” Dad says with a scowl. “I’m just glad your brother found someone after Jessica.”
“We were afraid she fucked with your head permanently,” Mason says, his tone grave. “Getting ditched right before the wedding has to be a major blow.”
Leave it to my douchebag brother to remind me of that. “It sucked, yeah. But Kelsey has been a good distraction.”
“I’ll say,” Mason says right before he cracks up.
“You need to shut the hell up,” Max grumbles. “Leave him alone.”
Mason stops laughing. They may be opposites, but Mason is always seeking Max’s approval, which he rarely gets. “I’m just joking.”
“It’s a sensitive subject,” Dad says, making me sound like a baby. “Getting dumped practically at the altar will do that to a person.”
“Dad, what the hell.” He’s not making things any better. “It wasn’t at the altar.”
“Close enough,” Mason says. “And I heard Craig asked you to be one of his groomsmen? Is that true?”
Wedding Date (Dating Series Book 6) Page 9
