Bad Case of Loving You

by Deborah Cooke

  “You’re sure?” he murmured. He braced himself over her, trailing one fingertip down her cheek, his gaze filled with thrilling purpose.

  “I’m sure,” she whispered, watching his slow smile of satisfaction. Then he was on top of her, crushing her into the leather, framing her face with his hands and kissing her as if he’d never get enough. Lyssa didn’t care about the details. Her blood was on fire and she surrendered to her desire. This was what she needed. This was what she wanted.

  And she wanted it from Theo. She clutched his shoulders, welcoming his touch, and gasped when he lifted his head.

  “Probably,” he muttered with a bit of exasperation which made her smile. His gaze roved over her. “I’ll show you probably, Lyssa Monroe, and raise you a definitely.”

  Lyssa laughed because she knew that, just like always, Theo would keep his promise.

  Theo was surprised that their thoughts were finally as one. He hadn’t dared to hope that they could make a fresh start so quickly, but Lyssa’s decisiveness was part of what he loved about her. She surprised him. She provoked him.

  She kept him on his toes.

  He didn’t want their lovemaking to be quick this time. He wanted to linger over it, although he wasn’t sure he’d manage it. He stood up, holding her gaze as he kicked off his boots and jeans. She was motionless, a slight flush in her cheeks, her gaze devouring the sight of him in a very satisfactory way. Her eyes were sparkling and he could smell her arousal.

  He bent to brush his lips gently across hers. “Slowly,” he whispered and she exhaled.

  “Slowly,” she agreed, with welcome reluctance. She trailed a hand over his shoulder, then traced the little heart tattoo on his arm. Their gazes met and they smiled at each other. “It works,” she whispered.

  “Maybe.” Theo brushed his lips across hers again, so slowly, once, twice, three times before he kissed her lightly. He felt her sigh of satisfaction and saw her smile. She reached for him and he drew her into his arms. A long slow kiss later, he was simmering, but still determined to take it slow and make it last. He pushed his hand into her hair, letting the silk wind around his fingers, liking how the short cut made her look younger and cuter. She watched, then drew his hand to her lips, kissing the inside of his wrist where his pulse beat, then running her tongue down the length of his thumb. She took his thumb in her mouth, suckling it and raised her gaze to his. Her eyes were luminous, filled with promise, and Theo couldn’t resist her.

  He caught her face in his hands and kissed her again, feeling her hands grip his shoulders as she pulled him over top of her. He knew she didn’t like to be on the bottom, but it felt good to hold her captive for just a moment, to crush her into the couch, to stake his claim and feel her response. Her nipples were tight, so tight that he could feel them through the softness of her bra and her shirt, and her kiss was open-mouthed and hungry. He swept his hand over her, stroking her breast and she made a little incoherent sound of desire that he’d never tire of hearing.

  Theo unfastened her blouse, kissing her all the while, pushed it over her shoulders, then opened her bra. He trailed kisses down her throat, amazed by the softness of her skin, then kissed one of those tight nipples. Lyssa arched her back and moaned softly, one hand clasping his head and the fingers of the other gripping his shoulder.

  He teased her with his teeth and his tongue, liking how her skin heated and flushed, how that nipple got even harder, how she began to writhe beneath him. He wanted to taste it. He moved to the other breast, kissing that nipple as he gave the other one a little pinch and Lyssa squirmed. He slid his hand down her length and unfastened her jeans, easing them over her hips. She pushed them off herself, clearly impatient for the pleasure he could give, then sent her panties after them. Theo slipped his fingers into her slick heat and a shiver passed through her before she opened her legs wide.

  It was an invitation he had no intention of refusing. He pressed a series of tiny kisses against her flesh, from her breast down over her belly, replacing his lips with his hands. While he pinched and teased her nipples, he kissed her ribs, her belly, the tops of her thighs, then he closed his mouth over her and flicked her clitoris with his tongue. She tasted like honey and heat, just as she always had, a sweet addictive taste that he loved. He abandoned her breasts to grip her buttocks, lifting her from the couch to feast upon her.

  He drove her almost to the edge, then halted, nuzzling the tops of her thighs before he began again. She whispered his name, a little plea for mercy that he had no intention of giving.

  Not yet.

  She’d made him wait and now he’d have a sweet revenge.

  He watched Lyssa’s arousal build higher, he tempted her to reach for more. He urged her to new heights with his lips and his teeth and she was almost incoherent with need. She twisted in his embrace. She was sweet and hot and needy, and this time, when her pulse raced and her skin flushed, Theo couldn’t hold back. He pinched her clitoris between his teeth and tongue and Lyssa came in a rush. She roared as the release swept through her and was shaking in its wake.

  “You are dangerous,” she said with a smile, her breath coming in ragged pants.

  “Speak for yourself,” Theo replied, moving so that she could see his erection. Her eyes shone and her smile turned mischievous. She rolled him to his back and laid on top of him, her breasts crushed against his chest. “Condoms are in the bathroom.”

  “That’s okay,” she whispered, running a fingertip around his mouth. “There’s something I want to do first.” Theo tightened at the promise. Lyssa watched the lazy path of her finger, then dipped her head to kiss him instead, her hand splayed against his chest, her lips as sweet as honey.

  Theo locked his hands around Lyssa’s waist as she kissed him with that familiar slow heat. She took forever at it, and it was perfect, a lazy sampling of each other that could have lasted forever. His erection was crushed against the softness of her belly and he liked the weight of her atop him. He tried to brace himself for the unpredictable flick of her tongue, but Lyssa still surprised him and he loved it.

  When she eased down the length of him, kissing his jaw, his ear, his throat, running her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, his mouth went dry with the surety of what she would do. She moved lower, her fingertips halting to trace a circle on his arm. He realized after her hand had slipped lower that she’d encircled his tattoo again.

  “I should get one, too,” she whispered.

  Then her hands were on him and her mouth was around him. His fingers slipped into her hair and Theo moaned as Lyssa tormented him with pleasure. He wanted to hold out, but there was just no way. When she touched him so boldly and caressed him so perfectly, it was inevitable that his desire would escalate at lightning speed. He had time to console himself that the next time would be slower, and that was it. She flicked her tongue. gave him a squeeze, and pushed him over the edge to ecstasy.

  As only Lyssa could.

  The last thing Theo wanted to hear was the ringing of his cell phone. Lyssa was curled against him on the couch, her soft warmth and the scent of her skin filling him with satisfaction. The phone rang four times then fell silent, the call having gone to voice mail.

  Then it rang again.

  “Persistent,” Lyssa said and rolled away. “It must be important.”

  Theo had a hard time believing that anything could be more important than getting the condoms and making love to Lyssa, but he supposed it was an opportune moment for a call.

  It was Kyle, which surprised him.

  “It’s the baby,” Kyle said, his voice so strained that he didn’t sound like himself. “She’s coming!”

  “But it’s not April,” Theo protested.

  “Not nearly!” Kyle replied in panic. “I did all the things. I made all the calls and we’re at the hospital and I think I’m going to lose my mind because there’s nothing else I can do but wait.”

  “Okay,” Theo said, already making a list of what needed to be done. He wa
s aware of Lyssa watching him. “Rachel must have everything in hand at the club.”

  “I gave her two weeks off for busting her butt over the holidays.”

  “Right. You have a lot of new members, right?”

  “And media interviews. I don’t even remember. I just know that there’s no one to pick it up and I’m like useless.”

  “Is Lauren’s mom coming?”

  “She doesn’t know yet. I called doctors first, and got us here, and now you.”

  “Good plan.”

  “I guess I should call Ty...”

  “Go and be with Lauren,” Theo said firmly. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “But you’re supposed to be taking a break, too.”

  “You’re the one who told me that there was no rest for the wicked.”

  Kyle laughed at that, although his humor was short-lived. “Shit. Here comes the obstetrician. Wish us luck.”

  “Go. Call me back and tell me what you find out when you can, but take care of Lauren. Looks like your paternity leave is starting early.” Kyle swore at that. “In the meantime, I’ll call Ty and get everything arranged. Don’t worry about F5. I’ve got it.”

  “Thanks!” Kyle said, exhaling the word in his relief.

  “What’s wrong?” Lyssa asked when Theo ended the call. He told her and she nodded understanding. “What happens now?”

  “I go to San Francisco and cover for Kyle.” To his relief, she nodded again.

  Ty answered on the first ring. “Something wrong?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Theo told him the news and heard Ty catch his breath. “I’ll go out to California ASAP and fill in for Kyle.”

  “Sorry about your break, but you do know the San Francisco club the best of all of us.”

  “Vacation will wait. Kyle said your mom should know.”

  “Not only that. She’ll want to be there,” Ty said. Theo heard tapping and knew that Ty was on his laptop. A baby gurgled in the background and Ty murmured to Michael. Theo heard Amy’s voice, then Michael let out a wail. The sound faded as Amy evidently carried him to another room. “There’s a flight at 6:15 out of JFK. Non-stop. Can you get there?”

  “Absolutely, but you don’t have to book it for me.” Theo opened his closet and pulled out his suitcase. Lyssa went into the bathroom and he heard the water running.

  “What the hell am I going to do with all these points now?” Tyler asked good-naturedly. “Sounds like a good cause to me.”

  “Thanks.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll get my mom on the same flight and have you seated together. She’ll be glad to have someone to talk to, so consider yourself in my debt. She’ll probably talk a lot.”

  “Understandably.”

  “She might be a bit more flustered than usual, too.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get her to the hospital before I go to the club.” Theo thanked Ty again, who said he’d text him the flight reservation, then met Lyssa in the bathroom. She had the shower running and beckoned to him with a smile. “You’re not upset?” he asked as he joined her there.

  “I have lots to do,” she said, lathering up her hands as she smiled up at him. “I’ll be here, Theo, and you, I know, will come back.” She kissed him then and he backed her into the wall.

  She opened her mouth to him, welcoming him with familiar enthusiasm. Theo’s body responded immediately and he heard her little purr of satisfaction. Her hands slid between them and he realized she had a condom. He whispered her name and she stretched up to slide her tongue across his ear.

  “We’ll do it slowly next time,” she promised. Theo captured her lips beneath his own, silencing her with a kiss, even as he eased inside her.

  It was official. He’d never get enough of her.

  And that was just fine.

  Once again, Lyssa witnessed the power of the friendships that Theo had in his life. Once again, she was impressed. This time, though, the observation filled her with possibilities. She went down with him to the lobby when he left and was aware that their parting kiss was witnessed by many. She’d brought down her skipping rope and was wearing her yoga clothes.

  Cassie came to her and they talked about Kyle’s call and the changes. Cassie made sure she had everything for the condo, then shook her head. “I’ve got to figure out a slogan to get Theo on a billboard.”

  “Excuse me?” Lyssa asked.

  “We have a billboard for the club in Times Square. All of us have posed for it, except Theo. He’s very private, so I haven’t pushed, but mmm, mmm, mmm. The line of new members would be around the block, especially after he did these pop-ups.” Cassie pulled up some images on her phone and showed them to Lyssa. They were one fit group of partners, that was for sure.

  “Tyler’s with his wife, Amy,” Sonja pointed out, coming to join them.

  “Why hasn’t Theo posed yet?”

  Cassie grimaced. “He hasn’t said no, but I want to present the perfect concept.”

  “So he can’t say no,” Lyssa guessed.

  “Exactly. But unfortunately I just haven’t thought of it yet.” Cassie’s gaze flicked over Lyssa. “So if you have any ideas that will convince Mr. Popularity to pose, rippling those rock-hard abs at the Big Apple, you’ll have my eternal gratitude.”

  “It sounds like a challenge to me.”

  “But the reward...” Cassie said and rolled her eyes.

  They laughed together. “Is there a chance that I could skip somewhere?” Lyssa asked. “Since I’m staying in the building?”

  “Skip?” Cassie asked, her expression avid. “Like, HIIS?”

  “HIIS?” Sonja asked.

  “High intensity interval skipping,” Cassie said. “It’s super-hot with jet-setting people.” She eyed Lyssa.

  “Because it works,” Lyssa said. “I do it every day.”

  “And it’s skipping? Like skipping rope?” Sonja said.

  “Not like you used to skip rope,” Lyssa said. “You skip fast, then stop for twenty push-ups. Skip, then stop for twenty sit-ups. Skip, then stop for twenty lunges. And so on for about thirty minutes.”

  “Sounds brutal,” Sonja said.

  “And effective at burning calories fast,” Lyssa said. “All you need is a little space and the music on your phone.”

  Sonja smiled. “Sounds perfect.”

  “Show me?” Cassie asked. “We have members requesting a class.”

  “Of course.” Lyssa indicated the skipping rope tucked under her arm. “I was hoping to do a session now.”

  “Deal! Do we have an empty workout room?” Cassie asked and Sonja pulled up what looked like a schedule on her phone.

  “The small one by the women’s weight room is free for the next hour.”

  “Then, let’s do it!” Cassie said and led the way.

  Cassie offered Lyssa a part-time job teaching HIIS. Three one-hour classes a week to start, plus use of the gym.

  Lyssa accepted.

  Theo sent her a message when he arrived in San Francisco and called her later that night. It sounded as if he was getting everything under control, but that didn’t surprise Lyssa. She talked to Logan on schedule, finalized the financing for the apartment with the bank, and began to arrange for her things to come out of storage. She added Theo to Logan’s contact list at the school and ensured that Logan was scheduled to Skype with Theo’s parents.

  Her interviews went as well as she’d hoped and she was glad to have them behind her. The first interview appeared online Sunday night, breaking the news of her retirement. Lyssa was glad her old phone hadn’t been charged because she knew Justin would be calling. She treated herself to a nice dinner from Reid’s bodega and went to bed early, after talking to Logan. She wanted to look her best the next day.

  Justin showed up early for their lunch and Lyssa watched him come into the restaurant, propelled by his own indignation. “What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded, tossing down a print-out of the first article. “I thought it was crap, then I saw this
today.”

  “It’s true,” Lyssa said mildly and sipped her coffee.

  “The hell it is!” Justin roared. “You can’t just make a decision like that without consulting me. You can’t just retire when you’re at the peak of your career. I built this success for you and I’ll say when you retire.”

  She met his gaze steadily. “Just as you say what opportunities I even know about.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair and sat down. “Is that what this is about? All that charity stuff?”

  “They’re not all charities. I made a promise to the VP of the cosmetics firm...”

  “Angel, Angel, you don’t understand business.” His tone was condescending. “You only have so much time, and you have to use it appropriately. That stuff doesn’t pay, and it takes up your time. You can pursue it later, after things wind down.”

  “They’re winding down now.”

  “They are not.”

  Lyssa smiled.

  Mercedes arrived with a false smile, and this time, Lyssa noticed the quick glance she shot at Justin. She sat down and asked about Lyssa’s holidays, then both of them ordered.

  “We’re having a little difference of opinion,” Justin informed Mercedes. “Angel wants to know about all the opportunities that come her way, even the ones she doesn’t have time to accept.”

  “The paper says you’re retiring,” Mercedes said.

  “The paper’s right.”

  The pair exchanged a glance. “But what will you do?” Mercedes gave a little trill of a laugh. “You can’t just suddenly stop when your career is going so well.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because there are people depending on you, babe,” Justin said. “Mercedes and I are your team...”