Page 17 of Meet Me at the Metro (Gildenhill #1)

17

EYES ON ME

E L L I E

T he door to Theo’s flat is more than relieving to see. I relish the fact that it’s situated on the first floor of the building, knowing that my throbbing ankle can’t take too much more for the night.

And I sure as hell am not letting Theo carry me anymore tonight.

We’re both soaked and shivering as Theo unlocks the door and motions me inside his flat. He closes the door behind us and flicks on the lights, and I sigh as the warm air of the place greets my damp skin. I prop my crutches up against the wall and give my armpits some much-needed rest, making sure to take the weight off of my foot as I stand.

Dim, gold lamps illuminate the flat, revealing the unique industrial appearance of the small living space. I admire how neat but lived-in everything is as my eyes skim the place.

A rustic brick wall contrasts against the dark palette of his living room, which remains relatively empty. Only a small, black grand piano and an espresso-brown leather couch occupy the space. My eyes look past the living room and into the kitchen that it casually merges into. Black cabinets and gray countertops accent the small cooking area, matching perfectly with the darker colors spread throughout the rest of the apartment.

“You can explore,” he nods.

Stepping carefully, I walk across the ashy hardwood floors and return toward the open staircase by the front door. My gaze trails past the metal railing of the contemporary stairs, intrigued by the loft bedroom that lingers at the top of them.

A bright smile covers my face as I turn back to Theo. “Wow, your place is—”

“Not much, I know, but—”

“Not much? Are you kidding me? I love it! It’s exactly how I imagined it would be.”

“Yeah?” he grins, crossing his muscled arms across his chest. “And how’s that?”

“Dark. Mysterious.”

“Shut up.” He rolls his eyes. “Let’s go get you some dry clothes. You’re shivering.”

With those words, Theo approaches me, his intentions set on carrying me again, but I quickly stop him. “Don’t even try. We’re not going to do this whole charade again. Remember what happened last time? We don’t need any more bruises tonight.”

“Nora, your foot is going to be fucked by the morning.”

“It’s already fucked,“ I say, waving him off as I begin making my way up the steps. “Now, quit worrying.”

He sighs behind me, and I can’t help but smile.

My legs are wobbly when I finally reach the top of the loft, but Theo’s hands find my waist and give me a sense of balance again.

“Your place is so clean,” I note out loud as my eyes skim his open-floor bedroom. The warm glow of his bedside lamp illuminates the comfy space so perfectly.

“Did you assume I was a slob?”

“I assumed your place would be at least a little messier than mine.”

He snorts. “You live with Evie, remember?”

Theo’s bed is centered against the dark beige walls, his king-size mattress lying atop a stack of deep-stained wooden pallets. I walk over to it and smooth my palms against the soft fabric of his grey comforter, sheets, and pillows.

“So soft,” I tease. “What’s the thread count on these?”

“I’m not sure. Why don’t you lay in them and see?”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Theo smirks.

I try to ignore the ache lingering between my legs and force my attention on something other than the heat suddenly growing in my chest. My eyes quickly search the room for a distraction and notice a vintage record player hiding in the corner beside the bed. There’s a box of records beside it, and I busy myself by flipping through the different albums and artists he has in the collection.

Goo Goo Dolls, Hozier, The Fray, Matchbox Twenty, Bach, Frank Sinatra, Radiohead, and Oh. My. God…

I pull the vinyl out of the stack and hold it high in the air. “ The Pussycat Dolls ?!”

“No!” He rushes toward me in an attempt to snag it from my hands. “That one isn’t mine!”

He struggles badly to catch ahold of the vinyl case, and I’m giggling so hard I can barely breathe. “And you critiqued me on my taste in music?”

“Evie bought it for me.”

“Evie bought it for me,” I mock, attempting a British accent. “I’m sure she did. I don’t think I can ever look at you the same.”

“Oh, yeah?” He pokes his fingers against my sides, his free hand gripping my waist to steady me and keep me from losing my balance. “You think you’re so damn funny, huh ?”

“Stop!”

“I’m sorry, what was that? You want me to stop?”

“Theo!” I squeal.

I’m relieved when he quits his playful torture but taken by surprise when he suddenly hoists my bottom up into his arms. The record falls from my hands as my arms cling around his neck and my legs wrap around his midsection. In one quick movement, he swings us around and tosses us back against the mattress. There’s a swarm of butterflies in my stomach as the full weight of him hovers above me. Our bodies aren’t touching yet, but somehow my mind can still conjure up the feeling of his against mine.

The thought has my pulse racing, my heartbeat a steady drum in my chest. Our heavy breaths become the only thing my ears can discern .

The tension between us is so strong right now that I couldn't deny it even if I wanted to.

I sit up on my elbows and inch my head so close to his that our lips are nearly grazing one another. I finally break the silence between us. “It’s okay if you like ‘The Pussycat Dolls,’ Theo.”

“Watch yourself, darling,” he playfully warns.

“Or what?”

“Or else I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

“What makes you think that I want you to?”

A handsome, boyish smile spreads across his lips, and a rush of goosebumps travels down my chill body. In answer to what I just said, his lips crash into mine, and I can’t fight the need to have his body closer. My hands grasp the front of his shirt and pull him against me, enjoying the way his hips grind into me as our kiss becomes greedier. I can feel every solid inch of him this way, my nerves sparking to life as we start to move together, and his fingers trail into my hair.

We’re nothing but an entangled mess of desire and lust.

His fingers dig into my waist as I moan into his mouth, wanting and longing for so much more of him. He gives me just that as he rolls us against the bed and swings me over top of him. And he’s positioned me just right because my hips begin to move against him, and even through the layers of our wet clothes, I can perfectly discern how hard he’s becoming.

“Nora,” Theo says my name like it’s a plea. His desperation is evident in the way his hands clutch my hips and rock me harder against him. “I want to see every inch of you.”

“You first,” I insist, the craving to discover the warmth of his skin becoming a carnal desire.

He tears his shirt away without an ounce of hesitation, baring his toned torso for me to see. His chest is crafted so handsomely, a light dusting of hair covering his naturally built muscles.

Holy hell.

He was so much better than how I conjured him to be in my dreams.

“Your turn,” he says, peeling my damp shirt off my head.

His fingers play with the straps of my bra as his eyes quietly admire me, one less layer of clothing.My senses are sent into overdrive when his palms smooth down the lace, moving along the fabric covering my hardened nipples. His touch lingers there momentarily, circling and rubbing the peaked material— teasing me .

A mixture of nerves pervades me, and although I want nothing more than to feel his hands against my bare skin, I’m suddenly afraid that, somehow, some part of me might mess this up.

My worrisome thoughts are interrupted as Theo juts up from the mattress and reaches around me. His hands work quickly, effortlessly unfastening my bra and tugging it away from my chest before I can protest. He pulls my neck to his mouth, his teeth grazing my skin as he leisurely works his way down to my breasts.

I instinctively cover myself right before he reaches them, hating the sudden wave of insecurity washing away every shred of my confidence.

I’m a nervous ass wreck.

Theo’s so good at this right now. It leads me to believe he’s been with plenty of other women before me—that thought is nauseating. What if I don’t compare? What if I don’t live up to being as good at this as he’s expecting me to be?

“What’s wrong?” he asks, immediately recognizing my hesitance.

“I just—I don’t know if I’m— Shit, I’m so sorry .”

“Hey,” he softly whispers. “Don’t you dare apologize, you understand me? If this is all too fast, we can stop. I’m good with slow.”

I force myself to take a breath and calm my reckless nerves. “No, I don’t want to stop. I-I’m just scared that I won’t live up to your expectations…”

Theo scoops my body up from the bed and cradles me against his chest. Then, he lightly pries my arms away to allow his eyes to soak in the sight of my bare breasts and stomach. He’s looking at me as though I’m the first woman he’s ever seen, even though he and I both know that isn’t the truth.

“You’re too fucking perfect to try and hide, Nora.” There’s no stopping the blush that heats my cheeks, and I know Theo notices it because he grins smugly. “Now, may I continue?”

I release a shaky breath. “You may.”

After being granted my permission, Theo's mouth finds my skin again and kisses the soft tissue of my breast. I enjoy the warmth of his tongue as it laps around my pebbled skin, tracing the hardened flesh at the center. His movements turn greedy as he pulls me over top of him again and takes more of me into his mouth.

“That’s so nice,” I praise him, earning myself a playful nip of his teeth.

Theo’s dick grows completely stiff beneath me, adding the most tempting pressure against my core. I’m aching so badly between my legs that I can hardly stand it. The discomfort is enough to convince my hands to unfasten his belt and the button of his jeans.

“I need more,” I tell him, both a plead and a command.

He shimmies his pants off until there’s nothing but the thin fabric of his briefs, keeping my eyes from seeing his hardened length.Theo lays me back down against the mattress, working avidly to unfasten my pants and yank them off my legs.

He licks his lips as his eyes travel along the hem of my light pink, lacy panties. “So fucking sweet, Nora.”

“Touch me,” I beg, guiding his hand down.

I shiver as his palm slips beneath the airy fabric, the warmth of his skin brushing along my bare cunt. I hiss with pleasure as he runs a finger between my folds.

“So wet. Is that all for me?”

I nod my head feebly, whimpering as he slowly pushes a finger inside of me.

His eyes are glazed over with desire as he watches me react. “How long has it been since you’ve been touched, Nora?”

“A while,” I admit breathlessly, trembling as he presses it further inside of me to the hilt of his knuckle.

“How long has it been since you’ve come?”

“So damn long,” I pant as it begins to move.

“That’s alright.” He dips his head back down to my breast so that he can take it in his mouth again. “I’m gonna help you out. Is that okay?”

“Yes,” I whine, barely able to find the will to speak.

I force my eyes to the ceiling, afraid that if I keep watching him, I might unfold within the next second.

I’ve never been touched like this before— touched so considerately .

“Eyes on me, Nora.”

“I can’t.”

He lets out a low, raspy laugh. “Why not, darling?”

“Because I’ll come. Like, fast.”

“Just like I want you to do.”

He lowers himself until his head is positioned between my legs, and he parts my panties to the side. I gasp as he presses another finger into my core, stretching me so delightfully as his lips hover right above my clit in a cruel tease.

“Shit, Theo,” I moan, growing wetter as his breath spills against my pussy.“I’m serious.”

“I am, too.” He gives my clit a long, slow lick. “Eyes. On. Me.”

That’s the only warning he gives me before he drives his fingers into me—rough and deep—and forces a loud cry out of me.

“That’s it,” he coaxes, licking.

His free hand grips onto my hip and steadies me as he begins to work me faster and harder. A once sensual and rhythmic pace builds into something more profound and hungry. It has the muscles in my body contracting and releasing as rushes of pleasure ripple through me.

I really am about to come.

He’s about to get exactly what he’s asking for, especially considering the way he’s looking right now as he takes care of me—all starved and possessive.

My hands are in his hair, gripping tight as I press his mouth further against me. I can't help it. I want his teeth on me—I want every ounce of pressure he can give me. Theo growls at my feverous behavior and gives me another dominating lick that has my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

“Where are those pretty eyes, Nora?”

I force my gaze back on his despite my fleeting will of concentration. There’s nothing I can manage to focus on but the steady thrum and movement of his mouth. Theo pulls his fingers out of me, drawing his hand beneath his briefs as he kisses my cunt. He begins stroking himself, watching me writhe against the mattress with pure fire in his eyes.

He’s getting off on this as much as I am, and it turns me on more than I could express in words.

His moans send a vibration along my cunt, creating another new sensation, and I can hardly even think coherently.

“Oh my, God, Theo,” I exhale, my voice strained and frail.“I’m so close.”

“You don’t need my permission. Remember?”

“ Teddy ,” I whimper.

“You go right ahead, darling. I’ll be right there with you.”

He only manages to get in one final, lingering sweep of his tongue before my entire body breaks out into a series of unrelenting shakes.

“That’s it,” he praises, jerking himself off as he watches me unravel against his bed. “Coming so sweetly like I knew you would.”

I try to work on calming my body down from its orgasmic high—try to work on quelling my labored breathing—but it’s no use. Watching his hand work his cock like that has me worked up all over again, and there’s only one thing I can think of to satiate my restless need. “I want you, Theo. I need more.”

“Yeah?”

“I need to feel you. Please .”

“Resorting to begging, eager little thing?”

“I’m not begging,” I snarl, reaching for his warm, stiff penis and dragging his tip between my wet folds. It makes him shudder— actually fucking shudder.

“Come here,” he growls, pulling me by the hips until my pussy is aligned right up against him. The muscles of his abs and arms strain as he reaches over to the bedside table and grabs a condom. “If you change your mind, you tell me, Nora. You understand?”

“My mind is set, I promise you.”

“Stubborn thing,” he croons.

He tears the wrapper of the condom open with his teeth and slips it over himself quickly. Then, he positions himself so perfectly at my opening, inching in a little way at my entrance. I brace myself for the thickness of him, biting down on my lip to stifle the pleasurable pain I’m sure is to come…

A set of banging against the front door makes us both jump, interrupting what we were about to do in cruel, cruel timing.

“The fuck,” Theo growls, his body tensing in full alert. Another set of thundering knocks echoes through the flat, and there’s irritation written all over his face as he jumps off the bed.

“Who is it?” I whisper, scrambling under his sheets.

“No clue. Stay up here, alright?”

“Okay.”

I watch Theo slip on his underwear and a shirt before heading down the stairs.

Then, I listen as he opens the door and lets out a long, annoyed sigh. “What in the actual hell, Evie?”