“Hold on, you little shit, at least let me dry you off.” I manage to get him partially toweled off and release him when I look up to see Theo covered in mud…and blood. I physically flinch at the sight of him.
“Oh my God!”
He raises butchered arms up, “I’m alright. Don’t you worry.” His hair is coated in mud, a blue headband sits lopsided above his brows like it got knocked down and he never bothered to fix it. His eyes are glassy, and his grin crooked.
“Are you drunk?”
He lifts his pointer and thumb close together. “Lil bit.”
“I’ve been texting you all day.”
“I’ve been doing guy stuff.”
“Guy stuff, huh?”
He flashes a proud grin. “I did Tuff Man.”
“What!” Covering my mouth with my hand, I can’t help my smile. “And you call me crazy.”
“About you.”
He saunters up to me in full drunken swagger. “I’ll have you know I did my worst, and it’s been well documented and publicly posted all for you. I’ve been a very good boy and have come to claim my reward.”
“Have you now?” I ask, shaking my head.
He bites a swollen lip, his eyes roaming me appreciatively before he bobs his head. “I guess a kiss will do.”
He leans in, and I step away.
“Mind if I scrub you off a little first?”
“What’s a matter?” He turns his head and lifts his chin, his hands fisted on his hips. “Can’t handle all this manliness?”
I laugh through my reply. “Too much for me, baby.”
He shrugs and holds out his arms with a sigh. “If you must.”
“Keys, phone?”
“Phone, inhaler, I got dropped off.” He says, handing me his phone and then puffing his inhaler before tossing it into the grass. Slipping the phone into my pocket, I survey the damage. His eyes are swollen to slits, there’s a cut above his right brow, and his chin is purpling.
“Stand back, Houseman, this is going to be cold.” I put my finger on the mouth of the hose to create a pressure spray and manage to get most of the mud off him. He’s got scratches everywhere as I gently wipe away most of the grime covering his lower half.
“What is with the men in my life today? First Max decides to hump a sap-covered tree, and you show up looking half dead.”
“I got stung by a bee, too, I think,” Theo supplies in a slur. “That’s why my eyes are swollen.”
“Did that bee pin you down and kick the shit out of you too?”
He chuckles, but I see his wince.
“Yeah, well, tough man, Max decided to play commando today too, so you get the same treatment. Take off your shirt.”
It’s when I see twice as much mud caked on his torso that I realize my work is far from over.
“What in the hell made you think this was a good idea?”
“I got talked into it.”
“This little Indian summer must have put idiot in the air.”
“I can’t even argue with that right now.”
“Good thing, you would lose. Come on, I smell like a wet dog, but you’re going to have to deal with it.” Theo follows me inside as I gather half the contents of my medicine cabinet before I lay down a towel on my bed. “Strip to your boxers.” He complies, gracing me with a smirk. I wet a washcloth and take a seat on the mattress next to him before gently cleaning the cut over his eye.
“What happened here?”
“Elbow.”
“And here,” I say tapping the purple on his jaw before wiping over the small cut on his lip.
“Another elbow?”
“And your arms?”
“Barbed wire.”
“Jesus.”
“Lort,” he says through swollen lips in perfect Madea, and I grin shaking my head. “You’re something else, Houseman.”
“You’re everything else.” He’s so sincere with his sentiment, it damn near brings tears to my eyes. Clearing my throat, I rub some Neosporin on the cut and press the cooling cloth beneath his eyes as they trace my face and dip down to my chest before doing a slow climb to meet mine. “Did you take something for the sting?”
“Yes, Mom.”
It’s then I meet his gaze and see amusement. “Don’t you ‘yes, Mom,’ me. What in the hell are you trying to prove anyway hanging with a bunch of dumb ass jocks and get—”
Gripping my wrists to stop my fuss, he takes my lips in a kiss that dizzies me. With each swipe of his tongue, I melt into him, the fight leaving me.
“Mmmm,” I murmur into his mouth as he draws me into him, fully tasting me before he pulls back with a grin.
“You keep kissing me like that,” I say stupefied.
“You keep letting me,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“You want a pain killer?”
“I’ve got one, I’m staring at her.”
“Smooth. But that was a bullshit stunt. Seriously,” I say dabbing his lip. “Why would you do that?”
“Aren’t I allowed to do a penis thing once in a while?”
“Definitely a dick move.”
“You’re so clever,” he leans in for another kiss, and I turn my head.
“Seriously, what’s gotten into you?”
He shrugs. “I was basically raised by a bunch of women. I never really got dirty. I wanted to see what it’s like to roll around in the mud.”
“And?”
“And I got my ass kicked. And I don’t like mud. But in a way, I feel like I got into my first fight. It felt good…kind of.”
“Yeah well, you won’t be singing that tune when the beer wears off,” I say dotting the cuts on his arms with witch hazel. “Men. You guys claim women are a mystery, but it’s because you idiots run on impulse.”
“Sometimes impulse is good,” he says huskily with clear insinuation.
“You’re ridiculous,” I sigh as I try and fail to brush more dirt away from his hairline until I’m forced to give up. “We both need a shower, badly.”
The side of his mouth hitches. “Then we better get to it before the rigor mortis sets in.”
“How romantic. I’m the proud owner of two insane beasts.”
Shaking my head, I lead him into my bathroom. He doesn’t move when I begin to strip and has no shame at all as he crosses his arms at the door while carefully following my every movement.
“You comin’ in with your clothes?” I ask, pushing down my cutoffs.
“Nope.”
Unhooking my bra, I smile in his direction and let it fall away. His eyes flare as I finger the sides of my panties.
“What are you doing, Houseman?”
It’s the first time I’ve been consciously aware of being completely naked in front of a man in years, and I love it. It’s his stare, the way he appreciates me, compliments me without uttering a single word. His curiosity is sexy as hell as is his needful expression.
“Theo?”
In front of him now, I look up at him through my lashes. He unhooks his arms and slowly, so slowly, slides warm hands down my sides before gripping my ass. It’s all I can do to keep from moaning.
Eyes full of amber fire, his lips part as I hang on a breath. “You’re so…”
“So?”
He leans in and nips the shell of my ear. “Beautiful, crazy, unusual, perfect…alive.”
“All I heard was crazy.”
“Of course you did,” he says before biting down on my shoulder and pulling me against his erection. “Did I say it the right way?”
“You’re drunk.”
“So, take advantage of me,” he murmurs, manipulating me into a puddle in his arms. He turns me to face the mirror and captures both my hands behind my back, holding them tight. He bites my neck again and again as my clit pulses between my thighs.
“Theo?” I barely recognize my own voice. I’m so turned on, in tune with his reaction to me, to the way my body responds to him. He pushes his boxer shorts down with one sweeping movem
ent, and I can feel his girth at the top of my back. We’re just standing there, staring, admiring. He pins me to the counter with his thighs, intent on his seduction as I moan in response and then he’s inside me in one swift thrust. I scream out in welcome as he holds me close to his chest, never breaking the contact as he rides me, our eyes locked.
“Oh God.”
He bites his lip, sinking in again, and again, taking his time, as he uses the hand he’s not binding me to him with to massage my breasts, weighing them in his hands, brushing deft thumbs over my nipples. Groaning, he slides a hand down my chest, past my waist until his fingers meet his cock sliding along my center in time with his thrusts. I go feral, thrashing in his hold, but he only presses me lower, so that I’m bent and taking more of him. He pistons, losing some of his control when he fully fills me and both our mouths part. And then I’m set free as he drives. Braced against the counter my nipples grazing the cold surface as he thrusts like a madman and we both start calling out to the other with praise and affection.
“Yes,” he murmurs, “this is what I’ve been looking for,” he grunts out as he presses tongue-filled kisses on my back. “For you, Laney,” he growls as he rears back and thrusts in hard.
“Theo!” I cry out hoarsely as he rubs my center with his middle finger stroking me expertly while my legs begin to shake. He cups my mouth and draws me back to him as I detonate, my whole body shaking with the weight of my orgasm as he slows his pace, his fingers working methodically at my clit and making it last a small eternity.
Tears of euphoric orgasm streak my cheeks while I go slack against him. He caresses me everywhere, keeping us connected as he murmurs to me.
“I love watching that.” Fingers tangle in my hair, and he pulls at the fistful he has and sinks his teeth in my flesh just before he pulses inside of me with his release, his face twisted in a sexy grimace. When he comes down, I turn in his arms and capture his lips. Surprised by what’s behind my kiss, he matches it, kissing me back just as aggressively. I rip my lips away and look up at him with narrowed eyes.
“Look, I’m going to have to call bullshit.”
He frowns. “On what?”
I start the shower and test the temperature of the water before we both step into the tub under the spray.
“Seriously, Theo?” I say wetting my hair and turning to give him access to the shower head. “You want to tell me where you learned all that?”
His lips part in a smug smirk. “When you spend five years of your life trapped in foreplay, you get good at it. I paid attention.”
I lift a brow.
He shrugs and clears his throat. “And I quote, ‘clitoris, learn how to find it and then worship it, because it may save you some relationship miles.’”
“You really scare me sometimes.”
He gives me a sly grin as his wavy hair gets drenched by the faucet.
Theo
“Should I feel guilty for the things I’ve done to you in your childhood bed?”
She looks up at me, our legs tangled on her damp sheets. “Yes, you should totally feel guilty. I was rocked to sleep in this room. And you’re a filthy, drunken lover.”
“You love it,” I say, running my finger through her thick locks.
“Shocked the shit out of me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I should know by now nothing is what it seems with you.”
I try and fail to hide my prideful grin.
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t go gettin’ a big head.”
“Don’t go cuttin’ this hair,” I murmur to her temple playing with the locks laying on my chest. “I love it.”
“You do, huh?”
“Yes, it’s beautiful.”
“Then, I won’t.”
“Good.”
“We should probably get dressed. My mom gets off in an hour or so.”
Neither of us move, so I pull her tighter to me. I love the feel of her against me. I’m getting used to it.
“So, who did you daydream about when you were in here?”
“Tim McGraw.”
“Of course.”
“Don’t hate. I used to put a cowboy hat on Ken and plan our weddin’. He was going to ride up on a horse. We were going to have those picnic pattern paper plates. Classy, I know. But he was my first crush.”
“Who was your second?”
She shrugs. “I kind of got over the boy craze after him. My dad visited and brought me an old briefcase filled with letterhead and office supplies. So, I ditched my Tim dream and decided I was going to be a professional. I still have the briefcase.”
“When is the last time you saw him?”
“Tim? In concert when I was five.”
“Not Tim,” I say, pressing my chin against the top of her head.
“That was the last time. I think my mom ran him off for good after that. It was probably a relief for him. He never fought her on it.”
“I don’t understand. When’s the last time you talked to him?”
When she doesn’t move, I nudge her. “Laney?”
“That was the last time.”
“Wait, you don’t talk to him at all? You told me you didn’t talk much.”
She rests her chin on my chest, guilty light brown eyes trained on my Adam’s apple. “It’s not a big deal. I’m sorry I wasn’t truthful, it’s just not something I freely go around admitting to people, you know?”
“You can tell me anything.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“For what?” She moves to sit, her hair cascading over her dusty pink nipples. “Do you have any idea how lucky I am to have been raised by two headstrong women? Seriously I don’t wrestle with it.” She taps her temple.
“But you’re talking about it.”
“Only because it came up. It’s not something I dwell on, like ever. Gotta let people be who they are. Jimmy Cox did not want to be my father. If it was forced, it would have made us both miserable anyway.”
“You’re right.”
“Aren’t I always?”
“Hell no. No. Not at all.” She grins and stands, and I admire her from my place on her bed. “I’ll bet your clothes are dry.” Hazel eyes trail down to my dick as it swells in wordless appreciation.
“Get up, maestro, you don’t want to make another bad impression on my mom. Even though what you’ve got going on there is mighty impressive.”
I move to stand and feel every muscle in my body scream in protest along with the beginning of an epic headache.
She pulls a long T-shirt over her head and grins. “Feeling good now, tough guy?”
“Even my earlobes hurt.”
“Poor baby.” She slaps my bare ass. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed and full of grease.”
“Laney,” I whisper. When she turns for the door, I pull her back to my chest. Arms wrapped around her, I simply hold her, and she lets me. No words are spoken. No declarations are made. We don’t need them. At least that’s what I tell myself.
Grannism—Don’t go trying to find the pretty in ugly people. That’s like saving your sunshine for shit. Even in better light, it’s still a glowing turd.
Laney
Feeling melancholy, I let the back door close and sit on our porch bundled up in my favorite fuzzy blanket with Max at my heels. My phone buzzes in my lap, and I beam when I see Theo would like to FaceTime.
I answer with a smile, but I can’t see him at all because it’s pitch dark.
“Hey, I can’t see you.”
“This FaceTime is more so I can see you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Laney.”
“You’re getting to know me scary well.”
“Scary bad?”
“No. Of course not. Devin well.”
“That’s good.”
“It’s awesome,” I say with a shaky voice. “You’re awesome.”
>
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s just Gran. She’s not here.” I don’t realize how much I’m hurting until I say the words and I’m misty-eyed. “This is my first Christmas without her and I just…I miss her so much.”
“I wish I was there to grab your hand right now and pull you to me.”
His words warm my heart.
“Me too. Why are you whispering?”
“I’m in my closet.”
“The three stooges messing with you?”
“I told them I was going to call you and they all had conniptions wanting to meet you. It took me an hour to slip away undetected.”
I laugh, and it feels good.
“Tell me about her.”
“I’m afraid I’ll cry.”
“So, what? She was with you for twenty-one of your twenty-two years. You’re allowed to be upset.”
She was painfully absent on my birthday last week too. Luckily, I had a Grand Band Man who picked me up after his last game day and took me through the drive-thru just before midnight to let me eat my weight in Dorito shell tacos. Right after, he’d presented me with a bow covered box of Famous Amos cookies. I insisted it was enough and that he cancel any other plans he’d made. He’d briefly fought me on it, but finally relented.
“I really wish I could see your face.”
“I can see yours. Hi, Max.”
“How did you know he was with me?”
“He’s the other man you’re sleeping with. I just assumed.”
“He’s at my feet whining now because he misses you,” I say honestly.
“I miss you too. Come on, tell me about her.”
“Well, she was strong, like unbelievably strong, and strong-willed, funny.”
“You just described yourself.”
“Yeah, well she knew her place in the world.”
“You will too.”
I nod, unable to hold my tears.
“She’s the third hero, isn’t she?” He asks, knowing the answer.
“Yes,” My voice cracks and I turn my head away from the camera.
“It’s okay to cry in front of me. I hate the sight of it, but holding it in isn’t good for you.”
The Underdogs: The Complete Series Page 19
