Chapter 8
Nora and her dad stood under the chandelier of Theo’s beautiful porch. They had just rung the bell and she could already hear the soft tunes of classical music inside the house. She was wearing a black cocktail dress with a swing skirt and long sleeves. Her shoulder length hair was smooth and shining golden and she’d gone with a more natural coral makeup.
Theo opened the door and had a happy expression on his face as he reached out to thump her father’s back. He had walked into the house, while Theo remained at the door to greet Nora in. He was in dark tailor made pants and a light blue shirt and had his sleeves rolled up. His stubble looked fresh and his green eyes sparkled as he smiled at Nora.
“Hello, Nora,” he said in his deep voice and that lingering smile on his face made her knees wobble a little. It was like he had completely forgotten that he had touched her the previous night or that he had seen her practically naked just the day before.
“Hi,” she said, searching his eyes for a sign that he was thinking the same thing she was.
“Do you want to come in?” he asked with a laugh and she flushed and nodded her head.
“Of course,” she said, fumbling nervously with her words. Theo led the way into the living room, and as they walked towards the loud voices of his dinner guests, he placed a hand on the small of her back.
She looked up at him sharply, but Theo was looking ahead. Unbothered and unaffected by their touch, while Nora had to do everything in her power to not scream or throw herself at him. She gulped, feeling her throat go dry as they walked into the living room.
The Millers, Sam and her father were sitting about on the lush leather couches, talking loudly and pouring themselves drinks freely.
“Nora, you look absolutely beautiful,” Mrs. Miller said and she walked over to the woman and they exchanged hugs. In the next moment, Theo had appeared behind her and was offering her a glass of his finest red. She took it from him and their gazes locked again. This time, he seemed to peer into her eyes for a little longer.
She watched him as he walked around the room, offering everyone drinks before he sat down on the seat next to her father. Nora was sitting on a chair between Sam and Mrs. Miller, trying to pay attention to what the woman was chatting about.
All she could really think about was Theo, and how comfortable he and her father looked as they talked together and laughed. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought of wanting him. Of fantasizing about him and she wondered if he even remembered that she was in the same room.
Mrs. Miller was in the middle of saying something when she sensed him looking and she turned her face. Their eyes met again and this time Theo wasn’t smiling. He had an expressionless straight face, but his eyes were sparkling and he took a sip of his whisky as he watched her. Her face, and then his gaze dropped to her breasts and then to her legs crossed together. Nora’s father said something and Theo looked away at him but she felt like he had just touched her again. He had never looked at her that way before in front of people.
“Nora, I was just telling Theo about the apartment you bought,” her father said, interrupting her thoughts and she looked at them again. Theo was staring at her, directly at her face and she held his gaze. She didn’t care if anyone else had noticed. She wanted to get her fill of watching him.
“It’s nothing special, dad. It’s just a regular sized New York matchbox apartment,” she said and Theo pressed his whisky glass to his lips, but his eyes remained on her. It was as though they were trying to have an entire conversation with their eyes.
“It’s still a huge achievement for your age, Nora. And in New York!” Mrs. Miller chipped in, but she didn’t turn to look at her. She had eyes for Theo alone and it was thrilling to be watched by him so intently. She moved in her seat and purposely leaned forward a little, aware that her cleavage would show. Theo’s eyes dropped to her breasts, just for a moment but she had noticed the change in his gaze.
He cleared his throat and turned to her father.
“It is impressive,” he said and Nora suddenly felt giddy with desire. It was as though she was upset that he had broken his gaze, that he wasn’t looking at her anymore. She stood up from her chair, and with her cheeks flushed, she placed her empty glass on the coffee table.
“Theo, can I please use your toilet?” she asked.
“Of course, let me show you,” Theo stood up as well.
“Sure she remembers the layout of your house,” her father interjected, but neither Theo nor Nora looked at him.
“She’s a guest, Andy, I don’t mind showing her,” Theo said and walked up to her. “This way,” he said to her in a deep low voice and Nora followed him, forgetting about the people in the living room. She mildly registered that the others had quickly fallen into another conversation as Theo and she left the room, but all she could really only see the man walking in front of her. His wide shoulders, his athletic muscular back under the thin material of his shirt.
They didn’t exchange a word as he led her up the stairs to the floor where she remembered the guest bathroom was located in. And she didn’t say a word when they walked past it. The hallway was dimly lit and Theo lightly opened the door of a room that Nora didn’t remember being in before. She stepped in and he followed her and shut the door.
Nora turned slowly to him, her feelings and desire crashing in her ears. She felt like she was going deaf. Theo stepped towards her, as her eyes adjusted to the dark.
“This is so wrong, Nora,” she heard him say.