CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: CHLOE

Butterflies danced in my tummy as I stood outside Theo’s front door.

It was hardly the first time I’d been to his place, but it was the first time I was coming here for something other than work. It felt strange, almost as if I was doing something wrong.

Especially since I was clutching a bag full of things so that I could stay here overnight.

I was just thankful nobody would find it too weird if we both arrived at work together. Arriving and leaving together was something we’d done many, many times, so we didn’t have to go to too many lengths to hide it.

I hoped.

I took a deep breath and raised my hand to knock on the door. I rapped my knuckles against it a few times in quick succession and instinctively stepped back, pressing my hand to my stomach.

Ooft.

Why was I so nervous?

I was twenty-nine-years-old, for goodness’ sake.

The door swung open, and Theo appeared with a blue towel on his head. “Good timing. I was about to order dinner. Come in.”

“Did you just take a shower?” I asked, following him inside.

“Mm. I went to the gym after work since you were going home.” He pulled the towel off his head and grinned at me. His wet, dark hair fell over his face in an unfairly sexy way, and I had to resist the urge to walk over to him and mess it all up even more.

Breathe, Chloe. Breathe.

He took the bag from me and carried it inside. “Why do you look disappointed?”

“I’m not disappointed,” I muttered.

“Tell that to your face.” He pulled me against him and playfully nibbled my earlobe. “Did you want to join me?”

“Not after you’ve been to the gym.” I poked his side, making him twitch away from me. “Been there, smelt that.”

“You know just how to hit me where it hurts, don’t you?”

I laughed, leaning into him and hugging him. “I’m just keeping you on your toes.”

“Mm. You did that at lunchtime when you told me we needed to talk. I was about to report Harvey to HR for harassment.” He wrapped his arms around me again, burying his face in my hair.

“Why on Earth would you report him for harassment?”

“Harassment to my emotions. Did he tell you to end things with me?”

“No, he was surprisingly insightful. Although he did call me stupid a whole bunch.” I leant back and looked up at him. “Apparently, you’re head over heels for me.”

Theo’s lips quirked to one side. “I am.”

“You are?” I blinked. “You didn’t tell me you liked me that much!”

“I didn’t want to scare you.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “I thought you’d run away if you knew how much I lo—”

I quickly turned my head and kissed him, stopping him before he could finish that sentence.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hear it.

I did. I’d have to be a terrible person not to hear such a word from someone I cared about so much, but it wasn’t time. Not yet. Not until we were on the exact same page about everything in our relationship.

If we weren’t, things would go wrong, and I didn’t want anything to go wrong.

“Did you just stop me telling you that I—”

“Psht.” I covered his mouth with my hand. “Don’t keep making me stop you.”

“Ut eye are oo topping ee?”

“Say that again.” I pulled my hand back, trying not to laugh. “I don’t speak palm.”

“Why are you stopping me?” His eyes glinted with a bit of uncertainty, and his grip held the same hesitance.

“Because I know what you’re going to say.” I laid my hand against his cheek. “And we need to talk, Theo. We need to make sure we’re on the same page with everything if we’re going to make whatever this is between us work.”

“Whatever this is.” He turned into my hand, brushing his lips across my palm. “Am I the only one of us thinking this is a relationship? That you’re my girlfriend? Because I told you, Chloe. I’m yours. I have been for a very long time. I will be for the rest of my life.”

Goosebumps skittered across my skin. “How can you say that with such certainty?”

“Because nothing and nobody else has ever made me feel this way.” He grasped my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist. A water droplet trickled off his hair and landed on my arm, and he flicked his tongue against my skin, clearing it up. “It’s unfathomable to think that anyone else ever would. There’s nobody else in this world I could ever consider dying for.”

“How can you—” I squeezed my eyes shut. “This is not the conversation I came here to have.”

“I know, but you won’t let me say how I really feel, so you’ve left me no choice.” He kissed down my forearm until it rested on his shoulder and his lips had reached my neck. “I would take a bullet for you. Jump in front of a moving car for you. Walk through fire for you. All without a second thought.”

“Stop.” I turned my face into his. “Whatever I am to you, the one thing I am not is equal to the value of your life.”

“I disagree.”

“Then we agree to disagree, because I would be very upset if you did any of those preposterous things.” I kissed his cheek. “But I get it. You’re head over heels for me, so calm down, Casanova.”

He laughed against my neck, and my skin tingled with each rumbling chuckle. “About time. Now, shall we order dinner and talk? That’s what you came here for, after all?”

“I assume you want to order food because you have nothing in your kitchen.”

“An accurate assumption,” he confirmed. “So, what do you want to eat?”

“Korean food.”

He stepped back and handed me his phone. “I know nothing about Korean food, so here. You’re in control tonight.”

I took his phone and eyed him. “Just for the food, or for everything else?”

“Don’t get cocky.”

“I thought that was why I was here.”

“Chloe.” He said my name in such a low tone that it was almost growly, and the dark glint in his eye told me not to push it anymore.

I laughed and dropped back onto his sofa. “All right, all right. How are you with spice?”

“Good. Go wild. Order whatever you want.” He sat next to me and peered over at what I was doing.

That was a problem.

I was going to take his words at face value.

I selected my favourite restaurant and scrolled the menu. I ordered mostly my usual things but added a few I usually only got as a treat, including a couple of bottles of soju, and then handed Theo back his phone. “Pay, please.”

“Is this my future?” he asked, taking it and inputting his card details.

“What, ordering food every night? No. I’d be cooking if you had food in your fridge.”

“You’d be cooking if we were at your place. I bet you already went shopping, didn’t you?”

“Of course. It was the first thing I did on Sunday morning. My best friend stocked the essentials for me on Saturday, so I didn’t have to worry.” I smiled. “And you can’t come to mine. I told you that. I live in the company apartment building, and it would be weird if anyone was to see you.”

He sighed, resting his head on my shoulder. “I know. You should move out.”

“Alternatively, you should go shopping.”

“I can’t. It makes me think of you.”

“You’re just a big baby, aren’t you?” I stroked his hair, smiling.

Theo wrapped his arms around me, scooting me closer to him. Somehow, I ended up sitting between his legs with mine resting over one of his thighs. He had his fingers linked at my hip, and I was perfectly nestled against his body.

“That’s better,” he muttered.

“What’s this for?”

“To trap you so you can’t escape when you start talking.”

“How very efficient of you.”

“I thought so.” He nuzzled my neck. “Food will be forty minutes. So, answer my question.”

I paused. “What question?”

“Am I the only one thinking of you as my girlfriend?”

“No!”

“That was emphatic.”

I grabbed his arm and looked at him. “I thought I was the only one thinking of you as my boyfriend.”

Theo stared at me. “Maybe Harvey was right. Maybe we are a stupid couple.”

“He said the same thing to me,” I said forlornly. “We definitely are.”

“Mm.” He tugged down my jumper and kissed my exposed shoulder. “Was that all you wanted to talk about?”

“No, so stop trying to turn me on. I’m being serious here.” I wriggled away from his lips, but his grasp on me was too tight.

“I don’t think I will.” He brushed his nose along the curve of my neck. “Turning you on is my favourite thing to do. Second favourite, actually. Maybe third. I’m not sure. But they all involve you, don’t worry.”

I was a little afraid to ask what the others were. “Theodore.”

He stilled. “I just got shivers. Not the good kind.”

“Excellent. Now I know how to control you.”

“I would happily be your puppet, Chlo.”

“That’s a bit creepy.” I laughed, leaning against him. “Let me tell you what’s on my mind, damn it.”

“Is it me?”

“Theo!”

He chuckled, loosening his hold on me. “All right, fine, I’m sorry. Go ahead; tell me.”

I took a deep breath and slowly let it back out. “What would you say if I told you I’ve changed my mind about resigning?”

His entire body tensed, and almost as if it were contagious, mine did the same. It was clear that what I’d said wasn’t what he’d expected in the slightest, and a wave of nausea rolled through me.

What if…

“Have you?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I traced my fingertip up his forearm, making him shiver. “It’s a serious consideration. That’s why I called your gramps and delayed our meeting. I know he’s going to ask me if I still want to leave, and I just don’t know.”

“Shit,” Theo whispered. “Why have you changed your mind?”

My heart thumped. “Are you upset with me?”

“No! No.” He unlinked his fingers and tightened his hold on me. “I just… convinced myself you were going to resign no matter what. I’m surprised you’re considering not doing it, that’s all.”

“What if I don’t resign?” I asked quietly. “Are you okay with that?”

“I want you to do whatever makes you happy, Chlo.”

“You make me happy.”

He groaned. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Well, it’s true,” I said hotly. “But this is important. I was resigning because you were near impossible to work for, but you’ve changed. Even before the trip, you changed. And now… I just… I don’t know anymore.”

He held his lips against my shoulder but said nothing.

“I think I’m too used to being with you.” My voice was gentle. “And now, I don’t know what to do. Me being your secretary will make you uncomfortable if we stay in a relationship, but I don’t know if resigning is the right thing to do.”

“Chlo. Baby.” He kissed my neck. “I’m not going to lie and tell you I don’t care. I do. I care a whole lot about this, but you’re not the only one who’s been thinking about it. This office isn’t the same as the one I was in before. The people aren’t the same. You’ve been here for years, and I think everyone knows your character. But I am nervous about it.”

“I am, too.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Our relationship has changed so much since we left, and I’m worried about what people will think. Even if your grandfather would smite them.”

“You’re aware of that, huh?”

“Please. The man has been trying to talk me into marrying you for at least four years.”

“You have to appreciate his dedication,” Theo said. “You should have seen him earlier. He was excited at the thought he’d get a granddaughter.”

I leant back and met his eyes. “He already has one.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t like that one. His words, not mine,” he added quickly. “Honestly, my biggest fear is that you’re too good to stay as my assistant forever.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed. “You don’t know this, but when we were discussing how things would change after Gramps retired, he made it very clear that you were always overqualified for your position.”

“He had mentioned that to me before, but I didn’t take him too seriously. I’ve been an assistant since I started at the company.”

“You have a degree in business management though, right?”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean I have real life experience in it.”

“But you do, Chlo. At the very least, you’ve spent the better part of a decade cultivating the necessary skills to be successful.” Theo met my gaze. “Gramps always had an eye on promoting you when I’d settled in.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Really?”

“Yes, really. He does a lot of things that don’t always make sense, and if you asked him about this, he’d swear blind that I was on drugs, but it’s the truth.”

“Now that I believe,” I replied. “But why are you telling me this?”

“Because maybe there’s a way to figure this out.”

“I don’t want a new role in the company just to make our relationship easier.” I cupped his face. “If that happens and people find out about us, then it’s nothing more than the embodiment of your fears, Theo. I don’t want to be given anything, even if I have earnt it. People will say I got it because we’re together. Either way, we’d have to hide something.”

He jutted out his lower lip.

“Are you pouting?”

“Yes.” He nestled his face into my neck once again. “Why don’t you just resign? You can be a kept woman. Run a charity or something. Co-ordinate protests. Organise remote control boat races. Host illegal raves.”

What the… “That went from reasonable to what-the-fuck really quick.”

“It’s fine. I can cover for you if you host illegal raves.”

“I can’t say illegal raves are anything I’ve ever aspired to host,” I said slowly. “And do I really look like a kept woman to you?”

“No. That’s why I suggested the protests, boat races, and illegal raves.”

“Protests and boat races aren’t my thing either.”

“Why don’t you make them your thing?”

“Theodore. Be reasonable.” I touched a finger to his lips. “I just don’t want to talk to your grandfather on Friday and tell him I don’t know if I want to resign anymore without us discussing it first.”

“Hmm. Maybe talking to him and Dad is a good idea.” He kissed the inside of my wrist. “After all, both Grandma and Mum worked with them when they got married, and they never had any issues.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “So, you’re telling me we’re getting ourselves all in a tizz, but it’s normal for the President and Vice-President of the company to work with their wives?”

Theo paused. “I suppose so, yes. But I think they only worked together after they were married.”

“Then we absolutely cannot discuss this with your grandfather.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can tell you exactly what he’s going to say. He’ll clap his hands together and go, ‘Then get married! Problem solved!’ and he’ll have us marching down the aisle within two weeks.”

Theo tilted his head to the side, looking over my shoulder.

“If you’re thinking that’s not such a bad idea, I suggest you shelve those thoughts immediately,” I warned him.

He looked at me with slightly pinkened cheeks. “I was just imagining marrying you, that’s all.”

“Ugh.” I covered my face with my hands. “Don’t look at me like that. Your face is a weapon.”

He laughed, peeling my hands away and leaning in. He kissed me, and the softness of his lips against mine was so comforting that it drew all the stress out of my body.

“Chloe.” Theo pulled back my head and kissed my neck. “I want you.”

“We still haven’t—ah!” I shivered when he slipped his hand between us and unbuttoned my blouse, exposing my bra. “Theo, we need to—”

“We’ve talked enough. We’ll work it out. I’m not letting you go either way.” He tugged my blouse out from my skirt and undid the last of the buttons. “You scared the life out of me earlier when you said we needed to talk. Don’t ever do it again.”

His cock pressed against my hip, and a moan escaped me as he bent his head and flicked his tongue over my nipple.

“Now you have to pay for it.”

“This doesn’t feel like much of a punishment,” I breathed, clutching his shoulder.

He pushed his hand up between my thighs, and my skirt rode up at the same time. His touch was hot as he hiked my skirt up far enough that I could part my legs, and warmth flushed through my entire body at the sensation of him stroking my clit through my underwear.

“Theo…”

He slipped his fingers beneath the fabric and licked the side of my neck. “You’re a bit too wet for someone who just wanted to talk.”

“It’s your fault. You did this to me,” I said, grabbing his face. “So, do something about it.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and he pulled his hand from between my thighs. “Gladly. Get on your knees.”

“Wha—”

“Shh, we have to be quick.” He manuevered me forwards over his lap until I was on my knees on the sofa. “Stay there while I get a condom.”

I reached back and grabbed him. “I—it’s fine.”

He froze, then leaned over me, pressing his erection against me. “Are you trying to baby-trap me, Chlo?” he asked teasingly.

“I’m on contraception, you bastard,” I said, looking over my shoulder.

He chuckled against my shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind if you were.”

“Theo? You’re talking a lot for someone who said we need to be quick, so shut up and fuck me.”

He straightened up and pulled down his trousers, freeing his cock. My skirt was still partially covering my arse, but he quickly hiked it up until it was bunched around my waist and hooked my underwear to the side.

I dropped my head down as he rubbed the head of his cock through my wetness. Theo flattened his hand against my lower back, then slowly pushed inside me.

“Shit, Chlo,” he groaned. “You feel so fucking good.”

It really did feel good.

Better than good, actually.

And it only got better when he began to move. His grip on my hips was tight, and in his position, his cock went deeper than usual, hitting places it usually didn’t. Despite his insistence that we needed to be quick, he alternated between long, slower strokes and harder, more hurried thrusts.

It was torture. Pleasure ebbed and flowed through me in waves, and he knew exactly what to do to me to draw each and every little bit out of me. I gripped the cushion in front of me as my back arched and Theo pushed even deeper inside me.

“Hold on.” He stilled inside me and reached to the side. “Hello?”

Was he… on the phone?

I jerked my head up and around to look over my shoulder.

He was. He’d answered the phone.

He grinned at me. “Yes, please bring it up to the top floor. The passcode for the elevator is one-three-six-nine.”

“What are you doing?” I mouthed.

Theo gently pulled back before easing forwards again, and I pressed my mouth against my upper arm to stop a whimper escaping me.

“You can leave it outside the door,” he said, staring into my eyes as he kept moving his hips slowly. “Yes.”

Oh, no.

I pulled the cushion towards me and covered my mouth with it, but it wasn’t enough to completely stop my moan.

“Don’t worry. It’s the only one on the floor.”

How could he talk right now? I was dying. My muscles were clenching, and I moved my hips back, almost begging him to carry on.

But he was on the phone.

“Yes, thank you.”

There was a pause, then the sound of his phone thumping onto the floor.

“Chloe.” Theo pushed deep inside me, leaning over me, and gripped the arm of the sofa. “You were grinding your hips against me when I was on the phone. Don’t you think that’s a bit naughty?”

“You—ah! You were the one moving,” I breathed. “Why did you answer the phone?”

“Food.” He kissed my shoulder and reached around between my legs, touching his finger to my clit. “It’s almost here, so come quickly for me.”

His earlier slow strokes were forgotten, and he thrust into me almost roughly while rubbing my clit. The combination of his cock deep inside and his finger teasing my clit was too much, and my orgasm hit quickly and intensely.

Theo groaned, collapsing on top of me, and slowly eased his hand out from between my legs and wrapped it around my stomach, holding me against him. “Uhh,” he moaned. “I’m never fucking you with a condom again.”

I laughed, burying my face in the cushion. “Sure. Can you get off me now?”

“Mm. No.”

“But I’m hungry.”

“Five more minutes,” he murmured, kissing my shoulder and rocking his hips against me.

“Are you—” I stilled as his cock twitched, hardening inside me again. “Theo.”

He grinned against me. “Yes?”

“What are you—?”

“I told you,” he whispered, kissing my earlobe. “Five. More. Minutes.”