(TORREN) “I’m dead serious,” he said, his breath warm against my cheek.
“I’m so attracted to you.
You have no idea what you do to me, Torren.
I didn’t stop chasing you because I was bored.
I’m not supposed to have you, but I want you.
I’ve been dying to get my hands on you since we first met.
I’ve been dying to fuck you, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
About you.” His bluntness startled me.
No one had ever spoken to me like that.
I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t—” “I know you don’t, but you want me too.
I can see it.
I can feel it,” he said, lifting my chin again to meet his gaze.
“I won’t do anything until you ask me to.
I just needed you to know.” My throat tightened, my heart pounding so hard it drowned out everything else.
“Fine, I heard you.
Now can you back off?” He stepped back.
Leaning against Henry’s desk, he maintained a respectful distance.
His eyes remained on mine.
“I didn’t mean to mess with your head.” “Yes, you did,” I countered.
“Not like this.
I didn’t mean to make you doubt how much I want you,” he said, tilting his head slightly, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“What the hell do you want from me?” “I’ve just told you,” he stated simply.
I shook my head.
“I’m not doing this for a one-night stand, Theo.” His smile widened.
“I couldn’t be done with you after one night,” he said as he extended his hand toward me.
“Come here.” “No.” He was doing it again.
“Stop treating me like that,” I snapped.
“Like what?” “Like I’m your pet.” He chuckled, a look of amused surprise crossing his attractive features.
“Come here, Torren,” he repeated.
I shook my head again.
He dropped his hand.
“I told you I won’t do anything until you ask me to.
Please trust me to respect your boundaries.” We stared at each other, the silence charged and heavy.
Reluctantly, I stepped toward him, hating how my body betrayed me.
When I was close enough, he reached out, his hand resting on the back of my neck, drawing me nearer.
“Do you want me to tell you what I want?” he asked, his voice impossibly low.
His hand was warm against my skin.
I nodded, unable to speak.
Theo was forceful, even while being gentle.
Feeling it firsthand was unsettling but undeniably attractive.
I placed my shaking hands on his chest, intending to push him away, but he held me firmly.
Not seeing his face somehow made it easier, though.
That way, I wouldn’t be vulnerable enough for him to read any sort of interest or awkwardness in my face.
I couldn’t let him know I felt some type of way about him.
Wouldn’t.
“Let me step back,” I said, though I wasn’t sure that was what I wanted.
The frantic racing of my heart was like nothing I had ever experienced before.
His other hand tangled in my hair, his fingers threading through with an ease that sent a jolt straight down my spine.
Gently, he tilted my head, exposing my neck like it was his right.
“After I’ve told you,” he murmured, his breath grazing my ear, warm and tantalizing.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin as if every nerve had suddenly come alive.
“I want you to want this…” he began, his voice a low rumble that forced my eyes closed against the flood of sensation.
“I want you to beg me to touch you.” His grip in my hair tightened just enough to make my breath hitch.
My teeth sank into my lip, desperate to stifle the sound rising in my throat.
“When you do, I’m going to get my hands all over you.
And I’m going to savour every second.
I won’t fuck you until you’re aching for it too.
And when you are, I’ll give you the best fuck of your life.
And then I’ll do it again.
And again.
And again.
For as long as you want me to.” His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “Is that clear enough for you?” I managed a shaky nod.
He chuckled softly.
The moment he let me go, I stepped back, putting distance between us.
My hand pressed against my lips, trying to calm my uneven breathing.
Theo stayed where he was, leaning against the desk with that infuriating smug smile still in place, as if he knew he’d won.
“Can I go now?” I asked, my voice rough.
I cleared my throat.
His smile widened.
“Are you going to answer your fucking phone?” I avoided his gaze, giving a brief nod instead.
“Then, yes, you can go.” Without another word, I turned and left as quickly as possible, forcing myself not to look back.
My heart pounded in my chest.
“Oh, hey, did you make up?” Henry called out as I passed him, but I didn’t stop.
I didn’t stop until I was outside, the cool night air slapping me in the face.
Gulping it down, I threaded my fingers through my hair, trying to calm myself.
My hands shook as I exhaled hard, forcing my breathing to even out.
I wanted him.
The realization struck like lightning.
It wasn’t just the attention.
I wanted Theo.
I liked how he felt against me.
I liked the sound of his voice.
I even liked how he smelled.
I was undeniably attracted to him.
The thought twisted in my gut, both thrilling and terrifying.
I didn’t know what it meant, what it said about me.
I’d never looked at another guy like this.
Not before him.
How would it feel being with him?
Doing everything he’d so confidently promised I’d love?
How was this my life?
I thought I didn’t want this.
I thought I had no desire to let him consume me the way he so clearly intended to.
But.
But.
But it sounded so fucking appealing coming from him.