Chapter 30 So good, so gentle
Veronica's POV:
I was curled up like a ball on the bed, staring dazedly at the pillow beside me, too numb to get up and eat dinner… even though I knew Theo and Max were waiting.
“Hey… Veronica…” I heard a knock on the door, followed by Theo’s calm voice. “I’m coming in. I figured you must be feeling bad, so I brought your dinner here.”
He looked at me with those gentle green eyes full of concern. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine,” I murmured, still curled up.
Theo let out a soft sigh and sat beside me on the bed, his hand gently patting my hair. The warmth of him so close was calming… and yet, somehow, it made me feel even hotter.
“I understand what you’re going through,” he said quietly. “Chase and your dad—those were two important men in your life. It sucks that they’re messing with you like this. Just… ignore them, Veronica. You weren’t able to see their true nature before, but now you’re aware. It’ll get easier.”
I blinked at him, fascinated by how sincere he sounded.
“You’re worth so much more than what they made you believe,” Theo continued. “And we’re going to prove it to them, okay? One day, your father is going to be proud of you—truly proud.”
Something inside me cracked open at his words. Before I knew it, I had wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For being so supportive… I’m so lucky to have you in my life right now. You understand me better than anyone.”
Our eyes met—soft, warm, unguarded—and my heart flooded with gratitude and affection.
I leaned in… and kissed him, tasting his lips.
He gently kissed me back, melting all I numbeness I had with his kiss. His head tilted slightly, deepening the kiss just enough to make my heart race. It was like he was comforting me with kiss, reassuring me that I would be fine with the way he touched me protectively.
I wanted more of him... so I moved on the bed, swinging one leg over his lap with instinct. Now I straddled him, my weight gently pressing against the firm warmth of his thighs as my knees sank into the mattress on either side of his hips.
Theo was surprised, completely taken aback by my bold invitation. Clearly, I know he wouldn't make the first move, he never did before even just for kissing... so I was taking the drastic step, as I was throbbing for him inside.
My invitation made him feel relaxed, and his free hand came to rest on my waist, thumb tracing slow circles over the fabric of my shirt, the touch igniting sparks that traveled straight to my core.
I could feel the heat of him through our clothes, the subtle firmness of his body beneath me, and it made my breath hitch as I leaned in again, capturing his lips with more urgency this time.
His response was immediate, as he brushed his warm tongue over my lower lip, making my toes curl in impact. He was so gentle, and so good in burning me up! I parted for him, letting the kiss turn like exploratory, as our mouths moved in a rhythm that built like a slow-burning fire. My hands... they were moving on their own, tracing his angelic body, his muslces that were tense under my touch.
I was fully enthralled as I rocked forward instinctively, a soft gasp escaping as I felt the growing hardness of him.
My body was the one that was shouting louder than my mind. This was it! This is what I wanted!
"Theo," I murmured against his mouth, my voice desperate and husky with need, breaking the kiss only to trail my lips along his jawline, nipping his skin there.
He pulled me even closer against his chest and one of his hands slid up my back, under my shirt, his palm flat and hot against my bare skin, tracing the curve of my spine with slowness that was driving me to the edge. It was as if he was mapping me out, savoring every inch of my body... and the way he did it very slowly was driving me crazy... making me feel hotter.
I desperately ground down against him again, more purposefully this time, the pressure of his length making me whimper. The fabric of my shorts was no match for the slick heat building inside me, and he felt it too—and hissed in response that was just too sexy to hear.
"Veronica," he whispered warmly against my sensitive ear, his voice now roughened by desire, "You feel incredible."
I was so emboldened that... I tugged at the hem of his shirt, pulling it up to expose the taut planes of his abdomen. My fingers traced the ridges of muscle, dipping lower to toy with the waistband of his pants, feeling the heat radiating from his skin. He helped me, shrugging himself out of the shirt with a fluid motion, and then his bare chest was against mine.
This was exactly how I wanted him... since the day one I met him.
.....
Max's POV:
I didn’t understand why Theo hadn’t come back down yet. The food was getting cold, and I never ate without him—we always ate together. The servants were busy cleaning, so I finally pushed my chair back with a groan.
“Great sacks, brother,” I muttered under my breath. “You’re making’ me climb a whole flight of stairs on leg day. My muscles are already screaming.”
I dragged myself upward, every step burning… until I reached Veronica’s door.
I raised my hand to knock—but froze.
A soft moan slipped through the crack of the door. Veronica’s voice. And then Theo’s.
My entire body went still.
Something sharp pressed into my chest, deeper than any gym soreness I felt. I exhaled, lips pressed into a thin line, hearing their noise.
Without knocking, without saying a word, I turned around and walked back downstairs.
Strangely… my legs didn’t hurt anymore.
Because, all the pain had moved to my heart.