“No. Stop. It’s okay,” I assured him. “You can talk about her with me. I cared for Mrs. Black, too.”
He was relieved. It showed all over his face, his eyes sparking.
“You want my honest opinion?” I asked.
“Please?”
“I don’t think you are ever going to be able to stop thinking about her, no matter where you live or how hard you’re trying to move forward in life. It’s natural. I mean, I still think of my Granny Joan sometimes. She was the fun grandma.”
“That’s true, but at least I’ll know that the place I move to wasn’t shared with her. Sort of like starting fresh.” He hesitated for a moment, dropping his hands and running his palms across his jeans. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but we shared a lot of good times in that house, and I hate that I used to have Trixie walking back and forth in there. I feel guilty in there—like I shouldn’t be living freely. Like I still owe a debt to someone that isn’t even alive.” He sighed. “I see her red recliner in the corner of the living room, and I can’t seem to get rid of it. Isabelle doesn’t want it, and I refuse to just throw it out. Janet loved that chair. She’d flip in her grave if she saw it was in a dumpster somewhere.”
“I understand,” I murmured. I looked towards the ocean, allowing an idea to sink in. “Hmm… maybe I can take it off your hands. I could use a chair for my dorm at school.”
His eyes lit up. “You’d do that?”
“Sure.” I waved a hand. “Why not?”
Appreciative, he grabbed my hand again. “You know, you don’t have to do stuff just to please me. You don’t have to always be so generous.”
“I don’t mine, Theo. I swear.”
His head shook, not negatively, but more in a she-is-too-good-to-me kind of shake. “Thank you, Little Knight.” He smiled. I returned one. “So… you think I should move out?”
“I think if that’s what you think will make you happy, then go for it.” I squeezed his hand. “But I will miss not seeing you across the street whenever I happen to be in Primrose.”
His smile was sweet and innocent. “You can always come visit me.”
“Yeah…” My lips twisted. “That all depends on when you plan on moving.”
“Well, see, that’s the thing.” He smirked. “I already found a place. I can move into it in two weeks.”
“Two weeks?!”
One of his cheeks quirked up as he played innocent “Yeah… crazy, huh?”
“So why’d you ask for my opinion if you’d already made a choice?” I laughed.
“Just wanted to see what you’d think. I needed someone to talk to… hear me out and maybe back me up if Izzy throws a fit about me moving to a smaller place.”
“Wait—you haven’t told her yet?”
“Nope. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
“Really?” I lit up inside, grinning like a giddy idiot.
“Yes. I’ll let her know when I’m all moved in…”
“Where is the apartment?”
He pointed somewhere behind me. I looked out of the window, spotting a small tower in the corner. “The condos right over there. They were just built right in front of the coast. It’s convenient. Close to my job. Right down the street from the market and only a short walk to my boat… speaking of…” he smirked.
I laughed. “What?”
“You still haven’t answered me about the boat thing?”
“What exactly will we be doing on this boat?”
His eyes focused on mine. “Do you really care for the answer to that question?” His leg brushed my calf, but something else was there—his hand. It ran up my thighs, nearing my heat. I clenched as he got closer but purposely kept his hand in the center, feeling weak as I helplessly let my legs fall apart.
“I don’t,” I breathed. “I’m just curious.”
“So many questions, huh?”
“Tons…”
“Let me answer them out there,” he pointed towards the water. “Out at sea where no one can watch us. No one can hear us. No one will matter outside of us.” I watched as his tongue ran over his lips, his hand moving higher.
He was right there, provoking me, expecting an answer. “You think we should jump right into this?”
He shrugged. “I told you, Chloe. Don’t think. Don’t wonder too much. Just let it be.”
I inhaled and then exhaled deeply, reaching under the table and holding his hand. His brown irises sparked from the sunset, shimmering as he looked me over. The sun made them appear to be an amber color, as clear as whiskey.
He looked at me as if he wanted to take me right there on that table. But he knew better. He was a wise man with a lot of self-control. That came in handy when it came to my desires.
“Okay,” I finally responded. “Fine. I won’t think. I won’t wonder.” I leaned over the table, and he did the same. Our lips touched, but instead of kissing him, I sank my teeth into his bottom lip and sucked.
“Fuck,” he groaned, eyes hooded, fixated on my mouth as I pulled away.
“I’ll just let it be.” My voice was breathy, full of seduction.
“Damn right,” he groaned. He tossed some money on the table and grabbed my hand. Within seconds we were out of the restaurant, me with my heart racing and him with a hard cock that he tried so hard to conceal. I couldn’t believe I had this effect on him. I mean it was Mr. Black. We knew each other well, but who would have thought we’d be where we were now?
Kissing.
Grinding.
Holding.
Hugging.
Touching.
Caressing like lovers, right before fucking like wild animals.
God, this man did so much to me. To my body and mind and even my spirit. But it wasn’t bad. It was good. Theo allowed me to forget reality, which was what I needed that summer.
I needed to forget.
To let go.
To get exactly what I’d been dying for all those years.
Him all over again.
Thirteen
She didn’t want to go home yet, which was more than okay with me. She’d complained about her dad causing her stress and said something about a caregiver that she knew would actually look out for him.
Instead of driving back to Primrose, I took her to the beach, hoping it would clear her mind. We walked the shore, her arm linked through mine, a soft smile touching her lips.
“What are you smiling at?” I asked, glancing down at her.
She peered up at me before pointing her gaze to the ocean. The waves clashed with gentle force, the sun causing the blue water to shimmer. “I’m just thinking…”
“About what?”
“Well, tomorrow, on your boat.” She looked up at me again, stopping mid-step as her lips twisted. The face she made was cute. Confused and childlike. “Is it an all afternoon thing or…?”
“Ahh.” I smiled as she did, knowing exactly what she was getting at. Turning in her direction and placing my hands on her waist, I stepped in closer, my mouth pressing on her forehead. “Do you want it to be an all-day thing?”
“I think at least four hours would work best. Food, music, and drinks included of course. Does the boat have a deck?”
“A pretty big one,” I assured her.
She clapped her hands ecstatically, bouncing on top of the sand. “Good! Maybe I’ll bring my bathing suit to tan a little. I haven’t been able to all summer.”
“You kidding? You don’t need a tan.” I tugged her slim body into mine again, and she blushed as my nose skimmed her jawline. When my lips found the shell of her ear, I murmured, “You’re perfect, baby.”
I felt goose bumps crawl along her skin, her lips parting as she slightly gawked.
I couldn’t help my laugh. This girl had no clue what I was capable. She was accustomed to young men, boys that were impatient and too eager to bust a quick nut. But for me, I was patient. I wanted my lover to achieve ultimate bliss and satisfaction, and then I’d go for the kill.