“What did you talk about in there?”
“Oh, this and that.”
“I won't stop prying until you tell me, Karin, so give it up already.”
Theo eyed me sharply as I busied about his apartment, putting my art supplies away. He had been bugging me the entire afternoon, demanding to know what went on between Estelle and me earlier. I knew that he was worried she’d done something to hurt me.
In a way, she had. The cruel things she said about Theo had shaken me more than I’d expected.
“She said some nasty things about you,” I finally admitted.
“It's nothing she hasn't said to my face, I assure you.” Theo watched me closely. “Did she say anything to you specifically?
“Kinda,” I shrugged. “But I told her off.”
Theo tilted his head, a slow smile spreading on his face. “Did you now?” he murmured. “What a brave girl you are.”
“I just told her she won't get to hurt us anymore in the future.”
Theo came to me, plucking the brushes from my hands and setting them aside, an unmistakable look of desire in his eyes. He ran his hands down my waist and hips, squeezing suggestively. “You’ve gotten good at divination too, apparently.”
“And I've got a free reading for you.” I took his hand, tracing the lines on his palm. “I predict happiness and contentment in your future. It won’t come right away, but we’ll get there.”
“That doesn't sound half bad.”
I bit my lip. “This isn’t the end of it though, is it?” I asked worriedly. “Charles Presley will be charged, that’s clear-cut, but Estelle won't let this end that neatly.”
Theo sobered when he saw my worry. “It won't. We’ll be embroiled in it, for months at least, but I’ll do everything I can for this to be put to rest.” He watched me carefully, his gaze solemn. “I owe it to you for a proper closure, and I will give it to you.”
“I know you will, but I don’t want anything to happen to any of you either.”
“I doubt Wyatt and Lancaster stock prices will take much of a hit.”
“Don’t joke, it's you I’m worried about.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling disquieted. The other guys had powerful families backing them, and Theo didn't.
Theo exhaled, returning my embrace. “I know influencers in the industry,” he admitted, “so I do have ways to affect the trial. On the other hand…”
“It won’t be legal?”
“Not entirely.”
I considered this carefully. I had long realized that Theo would never truly be tamed. Under these civilized clothes he was chaotic and wild—and I didn’t want him any other way.
“Do it. Keep everyone safe, including yourself. As long as you use your powers for good, right?”
Theo’s gaze softened. “I’ll do my best. I don’t want to speak too soon but… I think we might be alright.”
I was beyond relieved to hear that. The past few weeks had been the most nerve-wracking in my life, what with Theo’s injury and the upcoming battle with Estelle. Thank god Ryland was managing Charles Presley, or I’d have gone crazy by now.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, how about that present you promised me?”
My heart skipped at Theo’s sinful smile. “Sure. Are you ready for it?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” He grabbed the skirts of my dress by the handful and began hiking them up.
“Not that!”
Theo raised a brow that seemed to say “Is that a challenge?”
I hurriedly amended my words. “I mean, later, but that’s not what I wanted to show you.”
I took his hand and led him to the room where he kept my paintings—my gallery, I now called it. A new painting had been added to the collection, hung up on the far wall. “It's this.”
“A portrait of you.” Theo smiled slowly, touching the canvas.
In a flash of impulsiveness, I had chosen to paint myself in the nude, with my body half-hidden behind strategically placed hair and arms and legs. It was meant to be a sign of me baring my soul, but Theo, being Theo, saw something more lewd.
He trailed his fingers over my naked body in the painting, going unerringly towards the parts of me that were hidden. I felt his touch as if it were caressing my own skin.
“How generous of you,” he murmured, his lips curving slowly. “Now I'll have something to keep me occupied when you're away.”
“Be serious, there's a purpose for it.” I cleared my throat. “I strongly believe that my portraits have a certain kind of property that can make the viewer feel a certain kind of way.”
Theo raised a brow pointedly, his mind still in the gutter. “I know.”
“Not that way,” I protested. “You're supposed to fall in love with me when you see it.”
“You're saying that your paintings work like aphrodisiacs?”
“It sounds silly when you put it that way, but it totally worked for Ryland and Allie, I swear.”
Theo took another considering look at my portrait. “The idea isn't outlandish,” he finally said. “You see the good in people, so you paint them as their best possible selves. It's easy to fall in love with that.”
I grinned, bumping his shoulder with mine. “Told ya. So… is it working for you?”
“No.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
“It’s not working because I've already been in love with you for years.” Theo cocked his head, narrowing his eyes at the portrait. “It does stir up something else within me that I can’t quite put a finger on…”
“Lust,” I guessed.
“Quite possibly, but I’d have to test it out to confirm the hypothesis.”
“Please do, and while you’re at it, you’ll be glad to know about something else I have for you.” I held my breath for effect. “Surprise! I’m on the pill, so you can come inside me today.”
“That is very much appreciated,” Theo said solemnly.
“I know,” I replied just as gravely. “I’d even bet you fantasize about it.”
“Oh, more than you know.”
I held my breath as Theo stalked towards me, slowly backing me up against the wall. My throat went dry as he ran the back of his knuckles down my cheek to my neck. The sensitive vein under my skin pulsed against his hand in time to my heartbeat.
Theo’s gaze never broke from mine as his hands went to the row of buttons down the front of my dress. He began undoing them, taking his time with it. Each new button slipped his fingers under the fabric and against my heated skin, and Theo stole every one of those chances to caress me.
When all the buttons were finally undone, Theo eased the sleeves of my dress off my shoulders, moving agonizingly slowly. His gaze shifted to take in every inch of my body that was being revealed, darkening when I finally stood before him, clad only in my bralette and thong.
“I adore the lacy things you wear.” Theo traced the hem of my thong, trailing his fingers over my thigh. “They’re so damned tantalizing… revealing more than they hide…” His finger hooked around the thin waistband. “Would you mind if I ruined this?”
Without waiting, he snapped the lace and tugged the thong off me. The fabric fell to the floor, completely useless now.
I gave him a reproachful look. “That was part of a matching set.”
Theo was unrepentant. “Then I suppose this will have to go too.” He took my bralette and sent it to the same fate as my thong.
“Oy! That was my favorite one!”
“I'll buy you a thousand more.”
“That's not the point! Do you know how hard it is to find bras that fit—” I broke off when he nuzzled my neck, pressing his nose deep into the crook of my shoulder.
“Keep talking,” he murmured. “Just the sound of your voice turns me on.”
My eyes slid shut as he sucked on my skin lightly. “But I talk all the time.”
“Exactly.”
His hand found the place between my thighs, parting me until he was where he wanted to be.
“You’re wet,” he purred. “All ready for me.” He dipped his finger into my core, taking in how I aroused I was for him. “You like that?”
I bit my lip. “Yeah.”
“You want more?
“Mmhmm.” I braced myself against the wall weakly, parting my legs wider for his access.
The sheer size of Theo overshadowed me as he cornered me against the wall. He was so big and powerful and strong, even after how the people in his life had tried to hurt him. I loved him all the more for it.
I slid my arms around his neck, clinging on as he slid a finger into me. The intrusive pleasure took over me as I arched my back, pointing my breasts and nipples towards Theo.
“That was a very naughty present,” he murmured as he petted me. “How did you think I’d take it?”
I barely stifled a moan when he worked another finger past my pussy lips. “I thought… you’d thank me.”
“And so I will.” Theo’s heavy-lidded eyes watched me as he began to slide in and out of me in smooth, deep strokes. “How do you like this?”
It was mind-blowing, but I knew Theo loved a challenge. “It’s satisfactory.”
“Satisfactory?” he echoed. “That won’t do.” He curled his fingers inside me, plumping my flesh and working me ruthlessly. I moaned again, clenching my inner muscles around him.
But even that wasn't enough. Theo was deliberately holding back, making me go crazy for him.
In desperation, I began working my hips on his fingers to pleasure myself even faster.
“That’s it,” Theo’s voice murmured in my ear, low and seductive. “Take my thanks the way you like it.”
I was gasping softly, hanging off his neck by my hands and rocking my hips urgently. Theo took pity on me, giving me his fingers faster and harder. His thumb worked my clitoris with every thrust, and soon my vision was winking from the sheer ecstasy of it.
I needed him. Badly.
I reached for his shirt buttons with shaking hands, fumbling to undo them.
Theo gave a strained laugh. “That eager?”
“Just helping you out.” I attacked his belt next, then his pants. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
With the last of his clothing out of the way, Theo lifted me up in his arms and pinned me against the wall. I instinctively braced my hands on his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his waist, parting my thighs wide for him.
Theo made a sound of approval as he gripped my ass with one hand, supporting my entire weight between him and the wall.
With his other hand, he took his cock and rubbed the head against my slit. The hardness of his shaft pressed right against my pussy, pushing into the wet, aching heat between my legs.
My lips parted in a low moan. “Yes…”
“There's a good princess.” Theo’s blatantly sexual voice aroused me beyond measure.
His cock pushed harder into me, his fingers working my throbbing clit at the same time, stroking it over and over. My whole body was being pleasured so hard that my thighs were starting to tremble.
Theo watched me with a relaxed, arrogant expression that was pure sin. His knowing smile made me so wet that I coated his cock, making the blunt head slip against my sensitive flesh again.
I couldn't take another second of this torture. I needed him so badly I was willing to beg for it.
“Theo…” I licked my dry lips, my voice raw from arousal. “Please…”
He leaned forward and took the edge of my ear between his teeth, pinching hard. “Since you asked so nicely.”
In a single move he thrust into me, slamming all the way inside.
I tossed my head back and cried out in pleasure. I had been aching for Theo ever since we got home, and finally he was inside me.
Theo gripped my hips tight as he began to screw me against the wall, thrusting so deep into me that I could feel him in my womb. He was so damned big and hard between my legs that he was all I could feel. I clenched onto his intrusion greedily.
“Theo, yes, just like that…”
My moans seemed to spur Theo on. He began to move faster, his grip on my ass leaving marks from his urgency. He crushed me against the wall, thrusting into me in deep, steady strokes that penetrated me so completely my eyes slid shut in pleasure.
It felt surreal to be in the light of a winter afternoon sun, held in the arms of Theo Valentine as he buried himself inside me. His breath was hot against my neck as he whispered words to me, letting me know how much I was cherished, telling me how there was nothing he wouldn't do for me.
“I dreamed of this a thousand times,” he said raggedly. “Every time I was alone, and every time I wasn't and had to pretend…”
“I’m here now.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist, holding on to him like he was an anchor in a storm. “I'm not going anywhere.”
Every thrust from Theo was like a rogue wave threatening to overcome me. I clung onto him, our movements desperate and raw, guided purely by our desire for each other.
“Don’t stop, please don't—oh my god, Theo!” I was breathless with need, closing in on my orgasm.
Theo’s thrusts grew more unrestrained at the sound of his name on my voice. I felt his erection swelling even bigger, and so I kept moaning his name, telling him how much it thrilled me to have him inside me, how much I loved being his.
I was rewarded as Theo tightened his fingers around my ass and pounded into me harder, working his hips relentlessly. My nails dug into the muscles bunched at his shoulders.
“Keep going,” I whispered hoarsely. “Don’t stop, I’m coming… Yesss...”
My lips parted in a scream as I climaxed.
Theo thrust into me, going so deep that he was all I could feel. He held it there for me to squeeze, and I clenched greedily around him in my orgasm. I could feel him pulsing inside me, and he was just so damned big, it felt so damned good—
“Fuck,” Theo groaned, his handsome face stunned. “Karin… Fucking hell...”
He yelled my name as he came, thrusting into me so hard that my entire body trembled from the impact. I couldn't help squeezing him again, desperate for every ounce of pleasure Theo was giving me.
As our tremors subsided, Theo buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. His arms were like bands of iron as they held me close to his chest that was slick with sweat.
“Bloody hell,” he said in a ragged voice. “Karin. What the fuck are you doing to me?”
“Something good, I hope.”
Theo was trembling, from pleasure and from emotion. Even though I was the one wrapped inside his arms, even though he had nearly split my body in two with his sex, I had the feeling that I was the one holding him together.
“You said earlier that there was happiness and contentment in my future, but it won’t come right away.” Theo kept his face turned away, half-hidden my hair. “You’re wrong,” he breathed. “I’m already there.”
That was how I knew that finally, the last walls around Theo Valentine had come down.
And what I saw behind them was beautiful.