Page 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

THEODORE

Rise

Episode 574

New Orleans, Louisiana

I don’t want to be here.

It’s my birthday. The company put out a stereotypical social media post to wish me a happy birthday, but my coworkers don’t give a single shit. I haven’t worked hard to make friends here.

I tried with Aurora. I was nice, and she spat in my face and threw a hissy fit because I wanted to help her. We haven’t spoken since the parking garage. I texted her— multiple times— but she left me on read. Fuck it. Fine. Whatever. This is why I don’t bother being nice; it always comes back to bite me in the ass.

I spent most of my weekend drunk, spending time in nightclubs, but I couldn’t go home with anyone. I had offers, but none of them were a spunky redhead whose laugh became the highlight of my week until I crossed a line.

Pushing open the door to the shitty locker room of this venue, I’m moderately surprised when I see Aurora already inside. She’s leaning against the white brick back wall.

“What do you want?” I sigh. Just because we’re working together doesn’t mean we have to hang out. We tried. It went to shit. She doesn’t have to spend her time around me if she’s going to glare at me and tear me a new one anytime I open my mouth.

She rolls her eyes. “Whatever happened to ‘hi, how are you?’”

I push my rolling suitcase against the wall, keeping my back to her so she can’t see my face. “Why would I waste my time asking? I don’t care how you are. I wish you were far away from me right now.” Lies .

All I want is for her to be close to me, but she wouldn’t even get in my fucking car. My reasons didn’t matter. She didn’t want to hear me out.

Finally, I turn to look at her. Why does she have to be so goddamn stunning? She’s wearing leggings that highlight the curve of her hips and a white tank top that hugs her breasts. There’s a little sliver of skin visible between the tank top and the leggings, and I see a bit of the flower tattoo that’s haunted me from the moment I first laid eyes on her. I want to trace it with my tongue.

Her green eyes are on me as she pushes off the wall. “All right.” She goes to walk out the door but pauses, holding up a small Tupperware container. “I made you a cupcake…for your birthday.”

It’s hard to maintain this pissed-off energy when she says that she baked me a cupcake. I didn’t even know she knew it was my birthday. I didn’t expect her to give a shit, but she does. At least a little bit. I don’t want to show her how weak I am. I don’t want her to know that she’s dug her way underneath my skin and built a home there.

We’re supposed to be pissed off at each other.

“I don’t want your cupcake, Roo.”

I watch her stiffen. She really hates that damn nickname, so I use it anytime I can. I like calling her something that no one else does.

She shakes off whatever annoyance she feels but doesn’t continue out the door. She pops the lid off of the container, and I get a good look at the cupcake. It’s chocolate with dark blue icing and little glittery gold sprinkles on top. Her eyes lock onto mine before she runs her finger through the icing and brings it up to her lips, sucking the sweetness from her finger.

“It’s good,” she says once she pops her finger out of her mouth.

My cock stirs in my sweats. I have never wanted a cupcake more in my life.

“Give it here.” I reach for it.

“Mm, no.” She repeats the action, running her finger through the icing again and again sucking it off. Slower this time. Aurora knows what she’s doing.

My cock is awake and it needs her. I don’t even bother trying to tuck it up in my waistband. I reach out, trying to grab the cupcake from her hand, but Aurora holds it up. As if she can hold it out of my reach. I have a good six inches on her. I reach for it again and she steps backward.

We play this game for a few moments. Me trying to get the cupcake from her, and Aurora avoiding me until she’s back against the white brick wall. My body is pressed against hers, my erection obvious pressed against her thigh. She’s looking up at me, wide-eyed.

Her eyes darken, and for the third time, she runs her finger through the icing. The cupcake is practically bare of icing now. “Are you sure you don’t want a taste, Theo?”

She brings her finger to her mouth but doesn’t suck the icing from it this time. Instead, she licks it, letting the icing sit on her tongue. When her eyes lock onto mine again, I see the dare in them.

How do I deny this?

I give in to what I’ve wanted for months .

Leaning in, I slowly run my tongue over hers, licking the icing from her tongue. Sugar floods my tastebuds, but also the distinct taste of her. Her eyes widen like she wasn’t expecting me to take her little dare. If there’s one thing she should know about me, it’s that I don’t back down.

“Delicious,” I murmur before I lean in and fully press my lips to hers.

I’m giving into everything I want. It’s her. A deep longing that’s settled in the pit of my stomach, desperate for her. My hand slides into her red hair, cupping the back of her head as I pull her in. My heart is thudding in my chest, hammering away. When Aurora starts to kiss me back, there’s no stopping.

I have her pinned to the wall with my body, grinding my hips into hers. Trying to find some relief, but it’s not enough. I need more. I need her. I’ve needed her.

Her tongue flicks against mine, tasting me as I taste her. Her hand comes to my chest, and I think she’s going to push me again. I’d let her. I wouldn’t force this on her, but I want her. Need her. She doesn’t push me away. Her slender fingers twist into the material of my t-shirt, pulling me in deeper as her tongue teases mine, and I swipe my tongue in her mouth, collecting any remnants of icing.

She whines into the kiss, and I’ve never felt weaker. I want to hear that whine over and over again. I want to record it and play it on repeat. That single sound is going to bring me to my knees.

There’s a thud, and I realize that Aurora’s dropped the cupcake. Doesn’t matter. I don’t give a single fuck about that cupcake right now.

My teeth gently scrape over her bottom lip as the kiss breaks. My forehead is pressed against hers, my hand still cupping the back of her head. We’re breathless, panting. She’s looking up at me with blown pupils and eyes that are begging for more.

“Tell me to stop,” I whisper, looking down at her. “Fucking tell me no right now, Roo.” I clench my hand at my side, so damn hard that my short nails are able to dig into my palm. It’s taking every ounce of my self-control to not rip her clothes from her right now.

If she doesn’t, I’m not stopping. I’m going to take what I want. I don’t care how awkward this makes working together. I don’t care if she hates me and if she’s the biggest pain in the ass that I’ve ever met.

Slowly, she shakes her head. “Why would I?”

“Because I’m going to ruin you,” I whisper back to her. My fingers run down her side, stopping at her hip. “I’m going to make it so you can never think of anyone else. You’ll always come crawling back to me.”

Her teeth worry her bottom lip as she thinks it over. Then she whispers the words that will be my demise: “Ruin me, Theo.”

My lips are on hers again. There’s nothing gentle. My tongue needs to be inside her mouth. I need to taste more of her. Swallow down every bit of her. I tug her closer, rutting against her thigh so she can feel what she does to me.

When I pull away from her lips, there’s still a string of saliva connecting the two of us. I lick it and watch as her eyes flutter.

Moving my lips down to her neck, I pause to inhale her scent. She’s so goddamn sweet. Sweeter than any cupcake. I work a trail downward, over her collarbone and shoulder, playfully nipping. I want to leave bruises. I want to leave marks, but I can’t risk anyone knowing.

Nathan wouldn’t be happy if he knew my debauchery had extended into my work life.

One thing is on my mind. I drop to my knees, my hands keeping her pinned against the wall. My fingers hook into the waistband of her leggings and with a glance up at Aurora, seeing the glazed look in her eyes, I rip them down, helping her out of them.

She doesn’t put up a fight. Her eyes are glazed over with white hot need, chest heaving as she steps out of them. She wants this as badly as I do.

I’ve never done this before. At least not without the girl pouting and begging and telling me I owe her. I don’t even know why I feel like I have to do this right now, but I do.

Her pretty little pussy is right in front of my face, the landing strip of soft red hair makes it look even prettier. I put one of her legs over my shoulder and without any warning, I bury my face in her sweet cunt. Her fingers shoot to my hair, tangling in the curls and holding me in place. Not like she has to; there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

My tongue runs up her slit, teasing her and tasting how wet she is. I chuckle, stealing a glance up at her. “Aw, sweet thing, is someone needy for me? Someone desperate for my tongue inside of her cunt?”

“Shut up,” she hisses, gripping my hair a little tighter, trying to pull me closer.

“Uh-uh.” I run my tongue along her slit again, biting back a groan. “Say it, baby. Tell me you want my tongue in your pussy and I’ll give it to you. I need to hear you say it, Roo.”

Aurora groans in frustration, trying to buck her hips against my face. “Theo.”

“Say it, baby doll. Come on. Beg for my tongue in that tight cunt of yours.” I bury my face between her thighs and take a deep breath, my eyes rolling back. My cock is screaming that it wants to plunge into her. I lightly blow over her clit, savoring the way her thighs quake. “Fuck, Roo, please.” It comes out as a pathetic fucking whimper. Why am I the one begging? “Do it for me, baby. Beg. I want it so badly.”

It feels like I’m teasing myself more than her at this point. Thank God my mouth is hidden because I’m drooling. I want to eat her pussy more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life.

She whines and keeps trying to pull me closer, but I won’t give in. I’m a stubborn bastard and I want to see her break for me. Aurora’s fighting it—hard, but I see her green eyes soften as they relent, as she gives in.

Her grip on my hair tightens, hips rocking toward my face. “Theo,” she whines my name and I feel like I’m floating. “Please, eat my pussy. Please? I need your tongue.”

“Damn right, you do.”

As fun as it would be to keep her begging, I’m only torturing myself in the long run. I need this, too. Spreading her with my index and middle finger, I bury my face between the apex of her thighs. My tongue slides up and down her slit, collecting all of those sweet juices before I focus my attention on her clit. Sucking it into my mouth, my tongue flicks at the swollen nub.

Above me, Aurora is gasping. Her fingers stay in my hair. The sounds coming from her are going to be ingrained in my head. Those soft little gasps and cries are music to my ears. I slip two fingers into her pussy, feeling her juices drip onto my hand as I begin to fuck her with them.

All I can think about is making her come. I need to. I’ve needed to since the moment I first saw her. There’s not a better birthday present that I can think of than having her come all over my face, crying out my name. I’m determined.

My fingers curl against the spongy spot inside of her, pressing up against it as my tongue swirls around her clit. I bounce between sucking it and gently teasing it, figuring out which makes my Roo cry out louder for me. Her hips rock against my face, her fingers tighten in my hair.

“Theo!” She gasps out my name and I don’t care if the rest of the goddamn roster hears us. Nathan could walk in right now and I wouldn’t stop.

I look up at her, my tongue still stroking her clit as my fingers fuck into her. My eyes are begging. I’m weak for her. I don’t care. I need this as badly as she does at this point .

Her pussy squeezes around my fingers as the first wave of her orgasm crests. The cry she makes is more beautiful than any other I’ve heard. I don’t stop. I guide her through her orgasm with my fingers still inside of her.

“Good girl,” I murmur as I pull my lips away from her.

My chin is soaked. I lick my lips, tasting her salty sweetness. There’s a wet spot on my sweats from my cock leaking, desperate to replace my fingers. She doesn’t know what she does to me. When I finally pull my fingers from her, they’re dripping. Bringing them up to my lips, I savor the last taste of Aurora.

Looking at her now, she’s vision. A Renaissance painting. Flushed and panting. Her pretty eyes are wide as she looks down at me and I flash a smile that makes the devil look innocent.

Rising to my feet, my arm wraps around her waist. “Happy fucking birthday to me.”

I press against her, grind my cock against her sensitive core. I need to be inside of her.

I ask without words and my answer comes as Aurora’s fingers slip into the waistband of my sweats. She yanks them down to my knees in one swift motion. My cock springs forward, precum leaking from the thick, pink tip. When her soft hand wraps around my shaft, I feel like my knees are going to buckle.

“I made you a cupcake,” she murmurs as she strokes my cock.

“Didn’t want it,” I respond. “Found something tastier.”

Leaning up, she presses her lips to mine. I feel her tongue swiping over my lips, collecting the remnants of her release. She pulls away with a smile. “You’re right. Tastier.”

I fucking can’t. Can’t hold back. Can’t wait any longer. I lift her and her hand releases my cock. Once her legs are secured around my waist as I keep her pressed against the wall, I press inside of her. There’s no hesitation. There’s no more preparation. I don’t care if it hurts. I know she’s wet. I know she wants this as much as I do. Her head falls back against the wall, a cry spilling from her lips .

“Fuck,” I hiss. Her cunt is wrapped around me so goddamn tightly. Wet and warm and home.

I pound into her. Fast, hard strokes of my cock as her hips begin to move to meet mine as we set a pace. Rough and desperate. This is need.

“You’re stuck in my fucking head, Roo,” I hiss as she moans, burying my face in the crook of her shoulder. “Can’t stop fucking thinking about you. When I wrap my hand around my cock, I think of you. When I get a shot at another girl, I imagine you. You’re… fuck . What are you doing to me?”

My fingers hook underneath my arms, gripping my back, pulling me against her. She whines and moans, right in my ear. The sound is driving me fucking crazy.

My hips switch to a punishing speed. I don’t think she knows what she’s doing to me. She just exists and for that reason, she’s my weakness. The locker room fills with the sounds of moans and grunts. Our bodies slapping together as I take what I’ve wanted since the minute I walked into that shitty venue, since she became the only thing I can ever think about.

I drive her to another orgasm. Her nails dig into my back and I don’t care if she leaves marks in her wake. I don’t care if the internet starts to obsess over the claw marks. I don’t care if Nathan yells at me. As long as she keeps making those pretty cries for me, I’m so fucking good.

“Theo!” She cries through her orgasm, sensitive body trembling in my arms as I keep her against the wall.

Fucking her through her orgasm, I crumble soon after. I groan through my release, filling her. My head stays against her shoulder as I keep her supported against the wall.

As the beautiful post-orgasmic high begins to fade, we’re left with the truth of what happened. We fucked. I fucked Aurora. I can live with that. The question is, can she ?

When I lift my head and see the look on her face, I have my answers.

Green eyes are wide as she processes. I don’t say a word as I pull out and let her down slowly. Her legs wobble as she finds her footing. I don’t reach out to help her, opting to pull up my sweats instead.

“We…” she trails off like she’s in shock. Like she didn’t just come on my tongue, on my cock.

“Fucked,” I finish the sentence for her. Turning my back, I can’t look at her face. The last thing I want to see is her regretting what happened.

The idea of Aurora regretting me bothers me more than I care to admit. Other girls have regretted me. I’m not the best guy in the world. But Aurora…the idea chews at my heart. It takes what has been the best birthday of my life and sours it. When she doesn’t say anything, the familiar warmth of anger bubbles in me.

Anger is my comfort zone. It’s safe, like a blanket I can wrap around my shoulders and know nothing can touch me.

“We fucked, Aurora,” I say. “And you fucking loved it. You can hate me all you want, but you can’t take back the fact you begged me to eat your sweet cunt. Can you live with that?”

She doesn’t respond. I hear the shuffle of clothing. Everything that was good vanishes and all I can feel in the anger, the rage. All I need is for her to show me that I’m not a fucking mistake. Slowly, I turn to look at her. For the first time, I let hope take a hold of my heart. Hope that maybe something will go right.

Yet those beautiful green eyes meet mine, freckled cheeks still flushed in the ruined afterglow and she says, “That can never happen again.”