Page 217 of Under Her Skin

‘I’ll bewithout you for a week, missy, I’m taking my time.’ He slid his hand into her panties, felt her body relax as he began to stroke her. He pressed his lips to hers, taking his time to taste her, his tongue gently massaging hers. Jess reached inside his pants for his cock, let her fingertips drift up and down the stiffeningshaft.

‘Damn, that feels so good,’ Theo murmured and the air shifted, became charged as he slipped a finger inside of her, their kiss becoming hungrier, their breathing ragged. Theo kicked off his pants and hitched her legs around his hips. He held her wrists in one hand, forcing them above her head. Jess arched her back so their bellies touched as he drove himself hard into her, slamming his hips against hers. Her lovely face flushed scarlet as he fucked her, a dewy sheen of sweat making her glow. So fucking beautiful, was all he could think now. How could he leave her here alone, how could he be without her for an entireweek?

Jess tightenedher legs around his waist, wanting him to plough her hard into the bed, her hips burning with the pain of being forced so rough apart. She clenched her pelvic muscles, grinning as Theo groaned as she gripped him, gave him the tightness, the friction he wanted, that made him shudder with pleasure. Theo’s mouth was on her throat, her neck as he thrust, not caring if he hurt her. The intense ache in her back, her legs, her hips twined around the absolute pleasure of him ravaging her body, owning it, leaving her inruins.

Afterwards, hey lay, their limbs tangled, gazing at the other. Theo let the back of his fingers drift down herface.

‘No matter what happens,’ he said softly, ‘it’s you and me forever. Fuck anything and anyone else. Whatever comes our way, as long as we’re together, we can beatit.’

She kissed him softly. ‘I love you, TheodoreStorm.’

He left after supper and she grinned at his chagrin at having to leave her. When he’d gone, she double-locked the door and tugging her hair out of its messy ponytail, went to run a bath. As the tub filled, she made herself some tea and chose a book from the stack she’d brought withher.

For a moment,she stopped and just listened. Aside from the running water upstairs, the evening was utterly silent. It was comforting. Jess slowly went upstairs and undressed, slipping into the hot water with a sigh. It felt an age since she had been alone anywhere - not that she complaining, she loved Theo more than anything but it felt good to clear her head. She had some serious decisions to make, she thought now, letting the hot water soothe her aching body. She wanted Theo to come get her in seven days with her future somewhatplanned.

The only thing she was sure of was her future lay with Theo Storm and she would anything to protectthat.

Even if it meant breaking free of Jules forever – whatever thattook.

Max smiledat Theo as his boss and best friend wandered into his office and flopped into the chair opposite. Max chuckled at his woebegoneface.

‘Seriously, dude… you’re useless without Jess. It’s only a week – not even that now – six days. You’re letting the ‘Bro’ crewdown.’

Theo laughed then. ‘Just can’t settle to anything. Oh, except I want to talk to you about setting up a foundation – the Stormfront Foundation for theArts.’

Max grinned. ‘Oh ‘for the Arts’? Nothing to do with your girlfriend being an artist, ofcourse.’

‘Ofcourse.’

‘Joking aside, it’s a great idea – I assume you want Jess to runit?’

Theo nodded. ‘Well, I’m going to try and persuade her that it isn’t a handout, that it’s something that we were planning to doanyway.’

Max gave him an amused look. ‘Good luck with that. Have you broached the subject at allyet?’

Theo grinned sheepishly. ‘She said it was a great idea then when I told her I wanted her to run it she said ‘Why yes, of course you want a twenty-four-year-old to run a multi-million dollarcharity.’’

Max laughed. ‘God I love that girl, she has you all figured out.’ His smile faded. ‘Is she doing okay? Really? I got a call today from the M.E. They’re releasing Camilla’s body nextweek.’

Theo nodded. ‘Jess told me to let her handle the funeral. Apparently Camilla didn’t have anyfamily.’

The men were silent for a long moment. ‘What a mess.’ Max sighed and leaned back in his chair. ‘It’s my fault, I shouldn’thave….’

‘No,’ said Theo roughly. ‘The killer is to blame. You sound likeJess.’

‘She’s blaming herself?’ Max put his hands on the desk, leaned forward. ‘We should tell her, then, tell her whatI…’

‘No. No way. She’ll only feel worse that we were trying to protect her. No. Wewait.’

Max nodded unhappily then locked his gaze on his friend. ‘You think it wasGachet?’

Theo stared back evenly. ‘There’s no doubt in mymind.’

Jess openedone eye to look at the clock. Seven a.m. And that was definitely someone knocking at the front door. She clambered out of bed and fell over, the duvet tangled around her legs. She cursed and stumbled down the stairs. Pausing at the mirror in the hallway, she took in her ragged appearance, hair sticking up, old t-shirt hanging to just below her knees. She grimaced and opened thedoor.

A good-looking dark haired man stood outside, smiling at her. For a second she gaped at him, trying to place him and then it clicked. Her neighbor – or rather Theo’s neighbor –Ollie.

‘Hi.’