12. Theo

12

THEO

I'm like the luckiest bastard in the world. If that card reader had to break, this was the perfect time. The maintenance staff is out of town— almost like I couldn't have planned this any better. Even if I tried.

Once we're in my apartment, I close the door and her big brown eyes wander around my space.

Just when I feel like hauling her to the bedroom, it's a good thing we're interrupted by a phone call from her sister. I was in the kitchen, but sounded like the phone call was more one-sided. Maybe Francesca didn't want me to hear.

I bring two colas out to the coffee table just as she finishes the call.

It's hard to read her right now. She quickly blinks a few times and puts a smile on that doesn't meet her eyes.

I plop down on the couch, lean my head back, and put the icepack to my check.

She stands above me— like a beautiful angel looking down on me. She gently moves the icepack aside and examines my injury.

"Does it hurt bad?"

I shrug. "It isn't great, but I'm used to this type of stuff." I open one eye to take in her pretty face. "The Bucks actually played a clean game today. Coach was happy with how we handled ourselves. Only a few penalties. He said it's one of the cleanest games he's ever seen between our two teams."

"When I first saw your face, I hoped you hadn't gotten into it with that hammer guy."

"Hammer guy?"

"Richie."

"Oh, you mean Richie Tomjack?" I laugh. "The Jackhammer."

"Hammer." She rolls her eyes. "Or Jackhammer. Whatever."

She's so adorable.

"Hey, I can see you're not feeling well. I'm going to take off now and grab a room at the Brighton."

"No way. I only have one bedroom, but you can take my bed and I'll sleep here on the couch."

"On this couch? This is way too small for you. I don't want to put you out."

"You're not putting me out, sweetheart."

"Then at least let me take the couch."

"Absolutely not. I'm a gentleman and I wouldn't be a gentleman if I let you sleep on the couch." I raise a brow and give her a smirk. "Besides, it's not bad."

"You've slept on this couch before?"

"Well, I passed out on it. If you want to consider that sleeping."

"You got drunk and passed out on this couch?"

I give her a sheepish nod. "Guilty."

"You'd almost have to be drunk to sleep on this thing."

"It'll be fine. I promise."

We order Chinese take-out and once it's delivered, we sit on my couch and share the foods from the assortment of carryout boxes.

"You've really never had this chicken," I ask as I hold the box to her.

She peeks into the box. "I've had Kung Pao chicken before, but this looks different."

I dig my fork into the box and hold the chicken out to her. She moves closer to me, opens her mouth, and accepts the fork.

She closes her eyes and moans.

I'm a goner. I can only imagine what she'll sound like when I get her in my bed.

"That's delicious," she exclaims as she puts her hand to her mouth. "A little bit spicy."

"Did you get an eggroll?" I take another bite of the rice.

She leans forward, grabs an eggroll from the box, and takes a bite. "Oh, this is good."

She holds her eggroll out to me, and I take a bite. I nod. "Good."

I smile when I notice a drop of sauce near her mouth.

"What," she asks with a smirk. She pulls her napkin to her mouth. "Do I have food on my face or something?"

I move my thumb to her mouth and wipe off the sauce. She grips my hand. "Thanks," she whispers.

If things couldn't get even sexier with us sharing food and utensils, she grips my hand and puts my thumb into her mouth. Her eyes stare into mine. Her warm tongue swirls around my thumb, she sucks hard and pulls out my digit with a pop.

I groan.

"What're you doing to me?"

Blood moving south.

"The sauce is delicious." She waggles her eyebrows.

My hands ache to touch her soft skin. Touch her in all the places I know she needs me most. I'm hard from that little mouth on my thumb tease.

She takes a small bite of the rice and grins. "You better eat some more."

"Uh... a little distracted here, sweetheart."

She dips her fork into the rice box and holds the fork to my mouth. "Taste. It's good."

My pulse races and this flutter in my chest practically makes me dizzy with want. I gently take the box from her petite hands and set it on the coffee table in front of us. We turn to face each other.

"When I'm not with you…" I swallow hard. "I can't stop thinking about you."

She nods. "Same."

"When I'm supposed to be practicing hockey and focusing on my passes, I'm thinking about you."

She takes a piece of her long chestnut hair and twirls it around her finger.

I rub the back of my neck. "In the weight room, I can block out everything and just think about how soft you would feel in my arms… how I'd like to get my mouth on every inch of you."

Those brown eyes study me. "It seems like we get interrupted a lot."

I chuckle. "Yeah, like leaving the bar because I had an early morning practice."

"And the food delivery guys," she adds. She grins. "And Debbie at my door."

I shake my head. "No early morning practice tomorrow," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. I move closer to her on the couch.

Her gaze is drawn to my mouth. "No food delivery and no interruptions from the staff."

I move my hands to her shoulders. "Just us."

She scoots closer still, our faces only inches apart. So close I can feel her warm breath on my face and our mouths collide.

I want to touch every inch of her. How will I ever get enough?

My tongue runs across her bottom lip, and she opens for me. I let out a low moan. My fingers fumble with the buttons on her blouse. She untucks the blouse from her jeans, never breaking contact with my mouth.

I manage to undo the tiny buttons and the shirt falls open. I break the kiss to slip the blouse off her and toss it aside. She's wearing a tight pink tank top, her nipples on full display— even through her bra, I can see her desire.

She reaches for my T-shirt and I suck in my stomach so she can pull the garment over my head. Her eyes move down to my crotch. My sweatpants hide nothing, and she grins.

I move my mouth to her chin, her cheek, her ear. "Do you like what you see down there, sweetheart?" Sucking on her ear lobe, I run my tongue down the sensitive spot on her neck.

She leans her head back and moans. "That feels so good."

She pulls away and runs her hands down my chest. I have one tat on my pec and one that runs from my shoulder to my bicep.

She runs her fingers over the ink. "Tell me about these." She leans into me and runs her hot tongue on my neck and down to the tattoo on my pec. It's a hockey player's glove with a ring of thorns around it.

My fingers run through her long hair as she continues using her tongue across my chest. I suck in a breath. "That one's just a reminder to be tough no matter how tough things get. Not just in hockey— in life— in general. Gotta stay strong." I can barely get the words out.

She releases her mouth and studies the ink on my bicep. "A spartan," she says.

I nod. "Yeah."

"Spartans are known for their great self-discipline and their courage."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "I try." My voice comes out hoarse.

"Well, I think you're pretty amazing." She puts her mouth back on my neck.

I lightly push her away and reach for the hem on her tank top. "I've gotta get this off of you."

She sits up straighter and I lift the shirt over her head and toss the shirt onto the floor. This beauty sits on my couch in her blue jeans and bra.

The white, lacy bra shows her nipples. I pull her into me and ravish her mouth with mine. She climbs onto my lap and straddles me as she gyrates against my hard-on.

Not sure how long I'm gonna last.

I grunt and put my hands firmly onto her hips. Our mouths. Our tongues. In constant connection —the perfect rhythm— like a symphony in perfect time.

I reach behind her back and unfasten her bra. She pulls away and the bra falls between us. Her breasts are perfect. Perky. Not too big but definitely a handful. Just the way I like them.

"You're beautiful," I whisper.

She groans. "Touch me."

I rub her nipples until they get harder. She continues her gyration on my dick. I'm painfully hard and I want to be inside her.

No, I need to be inside her.

She lifts off my lap and rises to her knees on the couch, which puts her breasts in my face. Right where I want them.

Good girl.

I cover her right breast with my mouth and use my tongue to tease her. She moans and continues to move her ass around, in need of that friction in her most tender spot.

"How about we go to my bedroom?"

She nods. "Yes." Her voice is a breathy whisper.

I pick her up and she wraps her arms around my neck, her legs around my waist.

The lightest touch from her fingernails on my back and my mouth goes dry. My stomach flutters.

What are you doing to me?

Francesca doesn't feel like my typical one-night stand. She feels real, and I feel real with her. She's changing me. I'm not sure if I should be scared about that or happy.