Page 135 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

I sent a parting glance to Nelly who was watching us with far too much delight before I let Theo guide me out into the chilled morning air.

It was cloudier than it’d been the last few days. Thick, gray clouds gathered in the north, though the horizon over the lake that stretched on to the south was blue.

My spirit leaned in its direction.

Right then, it felt like maybe if I could just reach it—if I could remain within the rays of the sun—I could outrun the demons that hunted me.

“You’re fuckin’ gorgeous when you sleep.”

The words that were suddenly murmured at my ear knocked me from the trance, and Theo looped his arm tighter around mywaist and tugged me even closer as he poured the persuasive words into my ear.

“Thought you on your knees with my cock in your mouth would eclipse everything else, but no…have never seen anything more beautiful than you lying in my arms. Lost to everything but the fact that I’m holding you.”

My pulse careened out of control as Theo guided me off the porch and down the path toward his truck that had been left at an odd angle in the snow off to the side of the little round drive.

As if he’d tried to drive away last night but had ended up stuck, captured by the insanity that had driven us into greed last night.

He pushed the button on his fob. Red lights flashed, and he wound me around to the passenger side and opened the door.

Again, his hands went to my waist to hoist me up, and I could only release a shaky breath at his grunt of need as he settled me onto the seat.

He turned his gaze up at me, fingers light as he tapped them along the edge of my jaw before he tucked a wayward lock of hair behind my ear. “Think that’s just you, though, isn’t it? Beauty of every fucking kind.”

“Theo…” His name rushed out of me. A plea and a warning. “You can’t say things like that to me.”

He hooked the knuckle of his index finger under my chin. “Sure, I can. Told you I was going to spend this time showing you exactly who you are and exactly what you deserve.”

Then he stepped back like he didn’t have my heart completely fisted in his hand, a smirk taking to his mouth as he said, “Affirmations now. Orgasms later.”

A surprised laugh ripped out of me, and I shook my head as he slammed my door shut and hurried around the back side of the truck.

One second later, he climbed in on his side. He pushed the button for the ignition, and the truck growled as it roared to life.

He messed with the dials, making sure the heat was turned up high and the seat heaters were on. “Cold as fuck this morning.”

I cast him a searching glance as I buckled my seatbelt, and I figured if we were doing this for a little while, there was no point in tiptoeing around it.

“What time did you leave?”

His expression twisted into something that appeared so much deeper than the simple question I asked.

Something profound.

“Slept until five.”

In question, my head barely shook.

“Don’t really sleep.”

Oh.

Sadness pulled at my spirit. Awareness rippling through my being as it twined with his.

His sorrow distinct.

I had the urge to reach out and trace my fingers over his jaw.

To whisper that I was glad that he found some respite in me like I did with him.