Chapter Thirty-Two

Danica

W rapped in Theo’s arms, I close my eyes, letting the sensuous beat and the feel and smell of my ghost consume me as we lose ourselves to the darkness and to each other. With skilled movements, Theo spins me around, pulling my back into his front, and I melt into him as our movements become one. In time with the music, I raise my arm, wrapping it around the back of his neck, pulling his head down closer as I thread my fingers through his short hair. Goosebumps overtake me, causing the hairs on my arms to raise as he runs hands across my waist, my bare midriff tingling with awareness and the electricity of his touch.

His hands are sure, his hold on me firm without being painful like that of the creeper he rescued me from. Pulling me closer, he wedges his leg between my own, and I open for him, the feel of his powerfully muscled thigh rubbing against my center and igniting a fire in my core. I can’t help but be in the moment, lost to the memories that this scene has brought front and center, and do a sensual shimmy in time with the beat, rubbing my ass more firmly against his crotch. And I’m not disappointed when I feel his hardness throbbing against me, straining against his well-fit jeans.

Encouraged by my wanton dancing, I can’t even be mad as his hands begin to wander, one slowly inching down to the waist of my leggings and resting just below the elastic, fingers gentle and teasing. With his other, fingertips graze softly against my skin, eliciting another round of goosebumps as they trail their way up to my bra, brushing temptingly against the underside of my breast. A slight tilt of my head as I nod along to the beat allows him the subtle opening he needs, and he doesn’t hesitate, running his mouth in a sensual taunt along my exposed neck, breathing soft kisses along his path until he takes my earlobe in his mouth, eliciting a moan which I hope is covered by the music.

The rumble of his chest, a moan of his own, tells me he definitely noticed. But right here, right now? I don’t even care. Turning my head, I give in to the moment and pull his mouth down, taking it with my own. Completely oblivious to the dancers around us, we are lost in our own world as we grind against one another in time to the beat of the music. After a brief pause, a moment of shock on Theo’s part that I am actually letting him kiss me? He quickly takes control, running his tongue along the seam of my lips and giving my pouty lower lip a firm nip when I don’t allow him immediate entry.

I smile into the kiss, opening for him, and my tongue brushes against his, tentative at first, before falling into a familiar rhythm. It has been years since he has touched me, years since I have had the taste of him and smell of him so close to me, but I have dreamed of it often, of him, and this feels like coming home. Opening wider, I allow him to deepen the kiss, meeting him stroke for stroke as his fingers rise, playing with my hard nipples through the thin fabric of my workout top. Vibrations ripple through me and I can’t tell if it is the music or the man but I let the sensations in, as my need for him washes over me.

The vibrations continue, and Theo’s other hand slides out of my waistband but drifts lower, and for one heated moment, I think he is going to touch me there, where I need him most. Instead, his hand glides firmly to my side, even as he continues kissing me, my hand trailing over his forearm while the other tugs gently on his hair. With sure movements, his hand reaches down, into my pocket, and pulls out my phone. And through the haze of my Theo-drunk brain, it takes me a long moment to register that the source of the vibrations was not caused by the beat of the music or the madness he was eliciting with his touch, but from the ringing of my phone. I couldn’t even hear it over the loud beat of the music.

With reluctance, he breaks our kiss, though still holds me close, grinding his hard cock into my ass in time with the music as he lifts the phone to check it. Roberts’ name flashes across the screen and a wave of guilt hits me as I realize that I was so lost in the moment, in the feel of Theo that for one blissful minute I had forgotten why I had come here in the first place. . . and why I shouldn’t be here in Theo’s arms. Abruptly, I stop, forcing Theo to stop with me or risk trampling my poor feet. His eyes narrow when he sees who’s calling, and he pulls me away from the crowd, to a dark corner of the club where a neon exit sign lights up a doorway.

He leads me out into the dark night, and I am met by a frigid blast of winter air and damp Seattle drizzle. As the door to the club snaps shut behind us, my ears are suddenly ringing from the drastic change in volume. I shiver, rubbing my hands over my exposed arms before hugging myself in a pathetic attempt to block out the chilly night, forgetting my thin jacket that I had tied to my waist. In one swift move, Theo removes his signature leather jacket, draping it across my shoulders and I am engulfed in warmth and the soothing scent of him.

My phone rings again, and Theo presses the green button before placing the call on speakerphone.

“Danica! Where the fuck are you?!”

I grimace at his shout. Belatedly, I wonder what time it is, and just how many times he has tried to call me. “Sorry Roberts! I’m here, I’m still at the club.”

“My guy has been waiting out front for at least ten minutes, and we have both been trying to reach you. Are you alright? Why didn’t you answer your phone?” I hear the exasperation and concern over the line and cringe a little in shame. Roberts is a former member of Jay’s team. In his late 50’s, Jay has regaled me with many tales of Roberts’ exploits. He was one of the best men Jay ever worked with, the man that trained him when Jay was still fresh-meat in the military scene, and it was for that reason that he was pulled out of retirement to move in next door to me and be my watchdog whenever Jay was unavailable with his other obligations.

I was intimidated by the man when we first met. Every bit the stereotypical military man with his cropped hair, thick muscles, and rigid routines. But over the last few years I have gotten to know him and have seen his softer side. In many ways, he has become more of a parent to me than either of mine ever were. And I know he genuinely cares about me, which only adds to the guilt I feel after causing him to worry, especially after what he had to deal with at my place.

“I’m so sorry Roberts! I had a run-in at the club with a drunk asshole who got a little too handsy. Thankfully, my ghost stepped in from the shadows to lend a hand. It just . . . it distracted me and I didn’t notice my phone was going off. I’m sorry.”

“Right.” His tone is clipped. At my mention of Theo or of the drunk asshole who accosted me, I’m not sure which. “Well, my guy is waiting for you out front.”

“That’s not necessary.” Theo’s eyes had narrowed, watching me closely as I responded to Roberts’ scolding. “I’ll take her home. Your guy can follow.” He hangs up the phone before Roberts has a chance to respond, and pockets it, rather than giving it back to me. Grabbing my hand, he pulls the oversized sleeve of his jacket up slightly so he can thread his fingers once more through my own and leads me out of the dark alley and down the street, nodding at the SUV where one of Jay’s men is waiting with watchful eyes, before guiding me over to his truck.

Opening the door, he turns and grabs me by the waist, lifting me into the seat with a swift movement, then leaning over and buckling my seatbelt. Placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth, he mutters against my lips “this isn’t over yet,” before firmly closing the door and rounding to the other side.

Smoothly, he hops into the driver’s side and signals to pull away from the curb into the busy street. The dash illuminates the darkness and I can see from the clock that it is well past midnight. Damn. I had to have been in there for a good thirty minutes, at least. Furtively, I glance over at the man sitting next to me, before I turn to look silently out the window.

“Wanna tell me what you were doing in that club, diavoletta?” His tone is clipped and I would almost swear he was upset with me, whatever the hell for I don’t even know.

My lips flatten as I think back to the events that led me to that moment in the club, the feel of him pressed into me, the heat simmering between our bodies. To all the reasons why I shouldn’t have danced with him like that. And shit, I sure as hell shouldn’t have kissed him like that. But damn, that kiss!

My cheeks flush and the heat stings as I bend my head down, trying to hide my shame and embarrassment, before a thought clicks into place. Snapping my head up once more, I turn to glare at him. “Wanna tell me why you appeared at the club tonight, just when I happened to show up there?”

He chuckles, a humorless laugh. “That’s easy, il mio passerotto. I was following you .” Throwing a look in my direction that I can’t quite decipher; he quickly redirects his attention to the road once more. “Now, why the hell were you at the club la mia diavoletta? And dressed like that.”

I bristle at his words. “Ex-fucking-scuse me? What the hell do you mean by that?” How dare he make a comment about what I am wearing. This is the year 2024, not the goddamn 1800’s. I can wear whatever the hell I damn well please, and he can’t do a fucking thing about it. How dare he insinuate that he has any say in the matter? He better not fucking be insinuating that I had it coming with that drunk asshole who wouldn’t leave me alone.

Theo lets out a frustrated breath, running a hand through his hair in agitation. “I didn’t mean it like that. Jesus. Put away the damn claws, will you? I just meant, you’re in your workout gear. You obviously went home after work but then left abruptly, didn’t bother to change. And the clothes you are wearing aren’t exactly suited for clubbing.”

He shoots me another glance, eyes lingering briefly on my bra which is peeking out through his open jacket, before forcing his gaze reluctantly once more to the street ahead. “Not that I’m complaining.” His grin full of promises, of both sin and pleasure. “And you didn’t meet up with anyone there, so I highly doubt it was a date. So, what’s the deal, Danica? Why were you at the club?”

I just shake my head, refusing to answer. “Please just take me home Theo.”