Chapter 102 Bright Future
ALICE
Work went by in a blur for me because I couldn't take my mind or my eyes off the ring on my finger.
A few months ago, I would never have thought that I'd be in this position. That I, Alice Ann Rhodes, would be thrilled at the thought of being in a committed relationship with Theodore Linden-Hawthorne, my arrogant, asshole of a boss who drove me mad with rage ever since he took over for his father.
The world was a crazy place.
Theo was there to pick me up after work. I didn't take my car this time. We promised to spend time together afterward so this was the best solution.
We were naked in bed in my apartment, holding each other after about an hour of making love. My body was still trembling from the last orgasm he'd given me and I felt so at home with my head on his chest.
His fingers were running up and down the arch of my back.
“Excited?” he suddenly asked. His voice was muffled because his lips were pressed against my hair.
I knew what he was referring to. “Honestly, I’m not as nervous about it as I thought I’d be. But I am excited.”
Emma wouldn’t be there to torment me, so I had nothing to worry about.
“You’ll have your whole crew with you.”
That was the part that I was looking forward to the most. I’d gotten so close to the other Ember & Ink employees, especially Freddie. The fact that we’d continue working alongside each other was thrilling. “Yeah. It’ll be different from the first time.”
“A lot of things will be different.”
“Yeah. I guess so.” I raised my head to kiss his chest. “You know, things like this don't happen in the real world.”
Theo laughed. His chest vibrated as the sound poured out of his lips. “This is the real world.”
“No. Your world isn't real.”
He shook his head lightly.
“What happens to your cousin?”
The mention of that irksome Brit changed the mood right away and I regretted bringing him up. Theo’s response was sharp. “He'll no doubt hang around to pester me. I wish I could fucking get rid of him, but I can’t do that without ruffling some feathers. Granny advised me against it.”
“I still owe him a screen apparently.” I was definitely not looking forward to that interaction. I knew he’d find a way to talk to me about it.
Theo turned his body so we were face-to-face. His expression was stern. “If that bastard approaches you in any way, you tell me. If he even looks at you the wrong way...I mean it, baby.”
I caressed his face. “Calm down, Theo. I didn’t mean that I was threatened by him at all. I’ll probably just ignore him.”
He closed his eyes and his long lashes brushed against his cheeks. When he reopened them, he was staring at me with so much intent that my heart started beating faster. “I don’t mean to overwhelm you with any of this.”
I hooked my leg over his hip and his fingers immediately went to my sensitive clit. I sucked in a breath as he caressed me with them, moving them up and down my slit slowly but with enough pressure to make me wet all over again.
“We're in too deep already,” he claimed. “I already told you that I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting or upsetting you. It’s built in me, Alice. I can’t change who I am. I can hide for a little while, but I don’t want to have to walk into this relationship with a brand new face.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Theo. You’re hiding from me?”
“I am.”
I went still. “Why?”
His fingers circled my clit and I had to try hard to focus on what he was telling me. “Because I’m protective of you. I want to take proper care of you and the need to do so drives me crazy.” He slipped a finger inside of me and my walls clenched around it. He pumped it in and out slowly. “You’re so independent and you hate it when I try to control you. I don’t want to do that.”
“Then don’t.”
“But it’s more complicated than that.” He went deeper and oh, it felt so good. Distractingly good. “I need to know what you’re doing at all times. I need to know who you’re with. I need to know you’re safe, baby. It might look like control, but I need to know so I don’t lose it.”
My lips fell open and I moaned. He had another finger inside of me and the rhythmic pumping was going to take me right over the edge. I curled my toes and moved against his hand. Shit.
He stopped suddenly and my eyes flew open. “I need you to talk to me. Will you let me take care of you the way I need to? I know you can handle yourself, but give me this.” His fingers went in a little deeper, brushing right against my G-spot. “Please.”
I bit my lip, deciding to lighten the situation because it was getting a little too intense. “I give you this, and what do I get in return?”
Theo’s pupils seemed to dilate. “Whatever you want. Ask and it’s yours.”
He was moving his hand again. This time, I reached between my legs and rubbed my clit. I was so close. I said jokingly, “I want an island with my name.”
His lips fell to my neck. “Done.”
I came so hard. Moisture gushed out of me and pleasure coursed through my entire body. I felt fucking dizzy with it. I settled back against the pillows, breathing a lot easier. He brought his fingers up to his mouth and sucked on them.
I grabbed his wrist to stop him, deciding on a whim that I wanted to have a taste, too. Our tongues touched occasionally as I ran mine along his thick fingers coated in my arousal. His cock hardened beneath the sheets and poked my belly.
“You’re so fucking filthy,” he groaned as he turned so he was lying flat on the bed with me on top of him. “That island is all yours.”
“You do realize I was joking, right?” I asked as I grabbed the base of his cock and positioned myself on top of him. “You better not.”
“Mhm.”
“Theo!” I exclaimed as I lowered myself on him. Soon, I was too distracted to continue the conversation. I rolled my hips with him inside of me, enjoying the feel of him clenched between my walls, then I rode him.
He slapped my ass hard, raising his hips to pound into me. I dragged my nails along his chest and moaned loudly. My clit was rubbing against him every time I rolled my hips and I was close to the edge again.
Everything was sensitive. Spasms of pain traveled down my spine when he rubbed my nipples between his fingers again. They were already red from our session earlier.
“I’m gonna come,” I panted, moving frantically and throwing my head back.
God.
I had no strength left in me this time around. My head was on his chest once more, and he was still inside me, his come mixing with mine.
“I’m done,” I proclaimed as I looked up. Our eyes met and it suddenly hit me that he was so damned handsome. Did I really hate this face once upon a time? I remembered when even his smell bothered me.
The line between love and hate truly is thin.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he requested as his hand brushed against my hip.
“I think I love you, Theo.”
He stilled. “I know that’s not easy for you to say.”
“It’s not.”
“Well, then, it’s my turn to confess,” he claimed, grabbing my face. “I love you, Alice. I have for a really long fucking time. You’re mine. All mine. And I’m yours. You have my love, my loyalty, and my heart. All of it. It’s right in your hand.”
Tears gathered in my eyes and made my vision blurry. “I’ll squash it all. Turn it to mush.”
His lips curved into a smile. “Make sure you’re riding my dick when you do. The sadist in me would have a field trip.”
“You’re a sadist, huh?”
“Not in an extreme sense, no. But the thought of spanking you when you misbehave…”
Why did that excite me?
His eyes met mine. I thought he might say something else, but he kissed me instead. Long and slow.
I was over the moon. Genuinely. The future never looked so bright for me, not even when I thought I had everything figured out.