Theodore: BWWM Romance (Members From Money Book 25)

by Katie Dowe

  He tore his mouth away from hers and could not stop the aching groans emitting from his mouth as he spilled inside her, his hands gripping her hips as he emptied himself inside her. His body shuddered on top of hers and he felt himself going weak with the violent passion that overwhelmed them. He put his head against hers and breathed through his mouth as he tried to get control of himself. It was too much, he thought in panic! He had never expected to feel this violent emotion and he wondered if over time she would use it against him! He rolled off her when he had garnered enough strength and climbed off the bed, grabbing the robe that the housekeeper had placed there, making his way to the bathroom. He needed a minute to recoup before he faced her again!

  *****

  She waited for him. She was still recovering or trying to. Her body still shook a little from the aftermath of the emotions that had poured through her as he made love to her. She had never felt this way before, nothing so violent and crazy and she was scared. She had always held a part of her aloof and detached because of the way she had been brought up. She had told him about her parents, something she had never told a single person before, not even Andrea. Her father had been wrapped up in her mother and had resented even the time her mother had spent with their only child and she had realized it from a very young age. She had even said as much to her mother and she had tried to make excuses. “Your father is very possessive when it comes to me, honey,” she had said in her soft voice. “Love tends to close others out.”

  But Ebboni could not believe that you could love someone so much that there was no room for others, especially your own child, and she had vowed never to love anyone like that! She eased up as he came back into the room. He still had the robe on but it was belted loosely around his trim waist and his hair was tousled. “How about some food?” he asked her softly as he came back onto the bed. “Eaton is going to be upset if we let his efforts go to waste.”

  “We would not want that,” she said lightly, feeling shy and uncertain.

  “Let me find you one of my shirts.” He leaned over and brushed back her hair before bending to take her lips with his. Ebboni clung and deepened the kiss unconsciously. He hauled her up and devoured her mouth, her nipples rubbing against his chest and causing friction. His hand drifted down and found the wetness of her sex, his fingers plunging in and making slicking sounds as he thrust into her rapidly. She rode them furiously, her body igniting in flames. She cried out inside his mouth, her body bucking against him as he brought her to another crashing orgasm! He had to force himself to move away from her. He had to force himself not to climb on top of her and plunge his dick deep inside her. Instead he went to find a shirt and handed it to her and waited until she had put it on before climbing off the bed. He did not trust himself to touch her so he preceded her out of the room and into the kitchen.

  “Sit.” He indicated to one of the many stools around the granite counter top. The kitchen was sumptuous and ultramodern. “Eaton rules this place with an iron fist,” he said, throwing her a grin, his body tightening as he looked at her in his shirt. He was going to have to find some way not to let what he was feeling consumed them both, he thought suddenly as he took the meat out of the warmer. “He goes to bridge every Tuesday and Saturday and I use that time to putter around on my own. Even then he always makes sure there is something for me to eat.”

  “You said he was like a dad to you?” Ebboni asked him curiously.

  “My dad was not really parent of the year.” Theodore unscrewed the top of the wine and poured it into glasses, handing one to her. “Eaton took me under his wing making sure my homework was done along with Mother. He was always respectful and showed absolute devotion to me during that time. I will always appreciate him for that.”

  “He does not have a family of his own?”

  “We are his family.” He lifted his glass in a toast. “To us.”

  She lifted hers but did not repeat the words.

  They ate right there around the counter and she found herself relaxing and laughing as he told her some of the escapades of his childhood and the stories of his travel. After they had finished eating he took her back to the bedroom where he made love to her slowly until she curled into his arms exhausted and sated!

  Chapter 6

  “I need time to tell Andrea,” she told him that morning when they were getting ready. He had woken up early and had made love to her quickly. She had told him about her best friend. Her eyes met his in the large vanity mirror as she put on her makeup. It felt strange to see him getting ready along with her.

  “You have one day.” He knotted his tie as he looked at her. He wanted her in his bed and his life and he was not willing to wait. “I have to call Mother and my sister to tell them about us. When I do that they are going to want to meet you immediately. What happens from then on will be out of my control. The press will get wind of this and it will be in the papers.”

  She felt the panic and turned to face him. “It’s happening too fast.”

  “I know.” He pulled her up to him, his eyes searching her face. “You could be pregnant with my child and I want us married before that is discovered. We are an old fashioned family, Ebboni, and we believe in having children inside before starting a family.” He smoothed his thumb against her flawless cheek. “I was not thinking about that when I made love to you last night and this morning. I seem to lose control when I touch you.” He felt himself hardening against her. Ebboni felt it too. She also felt her body’s reaction to his nearness. Her nipples were achingly stiff! He bent his head and ran his tongue over her full bottom lip causing her to tremble. She pulled away from him, even though her heart was racing and her body felt heated. It was happening too fast! This overwhelming passion for a man she had just met! What if she was like her father? Totally wrapped up in him that she could not see anyone else?

  She took a deep breath and turning back to the mirror, she finished putting on her makeup. “We need to go.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She moved out of his reach and went to get the jacket that matched her skirt. “I don’t want to be late.”

  “You are marrying the boss so that should not be a problem,” he teased her.

  She gave him a fulminating stare. “We need to go.”

  “Okay.” He nodded even though his eyes searched her face. “Eaton will insist on us having something to eat.”

  Eaton had breakfast ready for them. Scrambled eggs with bits of bacons and croissants so delicate that they melted on the tongue. The coffee was the best she ever tasted and she could not resist the second cup. She wondered what the man thought of her. He went about serving the meal with an efficiency that she admired. “Thanks, Eaton, this is delicious.”

  “You are welcome, Miss Ebboni.” He nodded and handed Theodore a cup of coffee and his phones. “You have a ten o’clock meeting with the board and your mother has been calling.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “There is nothing to tell. Or is there?” The man’s gaze swung to Ebboni.

  “Actually there is, but we are keeping it in the family for now. She has agreed to be my wife,” he told the man solemnly.

  “Congratulations.” He nodded his graying head at Ebboni with an unreadable expression on his face. “I suspect you will be informing the rest of the family soon?”

  Theodore nodded as he sipped his coffee. “Today.” He glanced at his watch and then at the silent woman seated at the table. “Ready?”

  She nodded, suddenly feeling out of place. “I will go and get my things.”

  “She appears skittish,” Eaton murmured as soon as Ebboni was out of the room.

  “She is not used to all of this,” Theodore told him.

  “What do you want me to arrange?”

  “An engagement dinner by the end of the week.”

  “I will see to it.”

  *****

  “A private jet?” Ebboni’s eyebrows lifted as he took her hand as soon as
they reached the helipad a few miles away.

  “We are taking the helicopter today. I want to show you the scenery from above.” He nodded to the man who came forward to greet them.

  “Your flight plan is ready for you, sir.”

  “Thank you, James.”

  “You fly?” She looked at him incredulously as they stepped inside.

  “I do.” He leaned forward to buckle her up before checking his instruments. “I like flying. It relaxes me.” He looked at her with a grin. “Ready?”

  “I suppose so. This is crazy!” she shouted above the noise. “I don’t belong in this world.”

  “You will get used to it!” he shouted back as he pulled back the lever to take off. Ebboni felt her heart plummeting as they ascended and for a minute she felt the fear rushed through her but it settled down right after as she looked down at the scenery whizzing by!

  “It’s beautiful!” she murmured as she stared down. “Everything seems so tiny.”

  “I took lessons when I was a teenager and got my license when I was in my early twenties. Want to see something cool?”H grinned at her.

  “It depends on your definition of cool-” She cut off the scream as the plane somersaulted and righted itself. “What was that?”

  “A wheelie.” His grin was boyish as he looked over at her. She had lost the stiffness about her that had stayed with her from they were at the house and there was a carefree expression on her exquisite face. He was going to do whatever it took to keep it there. She had not mentioned much of her childhood but he had a feeling it had not been all roses.

  “Please let me know when you intend to do something like that again,” she told him wryly.

  “So you can tell me not to?” he asked her. “Admit it! Wasn’t it fun?”

  “It was scary as hell.”

  He laughed at her and concentrated on the flying. They got to another helipad a few minutes later and there was a car waiting for them.

  “We cannot travel together,” she fretted as she looked at the car.

  “He is dropping me off first and then you. I am picking you up later.”

  “No,” she told him firmly. “I will find my way home. You promised me one day. I need to wrap my head around this craziness and tell Andrea. I have no idea what to do about work.”

  “As soon as you give me the go ahead I will talk to them there.” He slid in next to her and waited until the driver had pulled away before pulling her into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” She tried to push him away.

  “I am not going to be seeing you later so I have to make do.” He swooped down and took her lips with his. Ebboni sagged against him, her fingers curling into the lapels of his expensive jacket. He had given her a partial tour of the apartment last night and she had been amazed at the sheer luxury! He put her away from him firmly and brushed back her hair. “I am in danger of taking you right here. What have you done to me, Ebboni?’

  She did not respond but turned her head away to look outside. She felt as if her individuality was slipping away and she did not like it one bit!

  He watched her overtly and could almost tell what she was thinking. “It’s going to be okay,” he said quietly.

  She turned her head and looked at him. “Is it?”

  *****

  “Darling, isn’t this a bit sudden?” Emma nodded to the maid to indicate that they should be left alone. He had called and told them that he had news and he would come straight from the office. “I just met her when we went to look at the building.”

  “Who is she?” Eleanor demanded as she accepted the glass of wine he had poured her.

  “This delightful young lady who does a terrific job at the Apartment buildings on Lakeshore,” her mother told her.

  “You are marrying an employee?” Eleanor looked at her brother in shock.

  “Mind your tongue,” he told her mildly. “I met her at your coming out party last year and I have been smitten ever since.”

  “Then have her and be done with it.”

  “Eleanor, darling, don’t be crude,” her mother said mildly. “Honey, are you sure you know what you are doing?” she asked, looking at her son.

  “I do.” He sipped his wine. “I have given her a day to inform who she needs to and then we are announcing our engagement. We want a November wedding.” He looked at his sister. “A quiet ceremony which will have no effect on your lavish one.”

  “I don’t care about that,” Eleanor said impatiently. “What do you know about her, Teddy?”

  “I know enough.” He crossed his legs and settled back against the sofa. “I expect you to be gracious to her. She is going to be my wife and I will do anything to protect her.”

  “I am not going to roll out the red carpet,” she said with a sniff.

  “I don’t expect you will,” he said with an amused laugh. “There will be an engagement party at the end of the week at my apartment. You may bring Jeffry. Where is he by the way?”

  “In New York on a business trip,” she said defensively.

  “He seems to have a lot of those.”

  “Theodore,” their mother intervened. “We will welcome her, darling, don’t worry.”

  *****

  “Remember that solution I was talking about?” Ebboni handed her friend the glass of wine as she opposite her in the living room. She had called her and told Andrea that she needed to talk to her. She had no idea how she had managed at work today but she had done her best.

  “To what?” Andrea asked her curiously.

  “The problems of my finances.”

  “You won the lottery?”

  “Something like that.” Now that it was time to tell her friend she had no idea how to do so. “I am getting married.”

  Andrea stared at her in shock. “Stop yanking my chains.”

  “I am not.” Ebboni finished the wine in her glass and put it on the table next to her. “I met someone.”

  “Where?” Andrea demanded.

  “At work.”

  “One of those old men who are practically on their last breath? Girl, stop joking.”

  “Well, he does not live there.” She had to laugh in spite of herself. “He actually owns the place.”

  This time Andrea’s stare was longer. “Theodore Amberville owns the place, right? Among others?”

  “The same.” She nodded, almost grinning at the expression on her friend’s face.

  “What is going on here, Ebboni? What are you not telling me?”

  “He made an offer and I accepted.”

  “What kind of offer?”

  “I am no longer swimming in debt.”

  “He paid off everything?” she asked incredulously. “In exchange for what?”

  “In exchange for marrying him and providing him with an heir.”

  “You are not that type of girl.”

  “You mean the type who was desperate? The type who had no idea what she was going to do to pay off her enormous debts?”

  “Honey, what do you know about this man?”

  “He is kind and when he made love to me I am over the top.” She put her hands up. “Way over the top.”

  “You made love?”

  “I spent the night at his fabulous apartment and believe me when I tell you that we did not sleep.”

  “This is not you.”

  “I am doing this, Andrea, and I am asking you to be my maid of honor. We are getting married in November.”

  Andrea put her glass away and leaned forward. “Tell him you will pay him back in small portions.” She shook her head. “Hell, tell him that your friend will give him back the money. You are getting married to a man you don’t know. What happens when he gets tired of you?”

  “I might the one who will get tired of him,” Ebboni said defensively. “I am marrying him, Andrea. Things will work out between us. I will get married and give him a child and we will go on from there.”

  “Does he know?” she asked quietly.

  Eb
boni got to her feet and went to the window to look out. The view from her apartment was not spectacular, not like his but she could see the trees moving in the breeze. “I will get pregnant.”

  “And if you can’t?”

  “I will.” She turned to face her friend.

  “You have a hormonal imbalance and the gynecologist told you that there is a slim to none chance of you having a child. That’s one of the reasons you broke it off with Todd, remember? I am sure that a man like Theodore Amberville will not like being duped.”

  Ebboni closed her eyes in despair. “It’s too late,” she whispered. “I have already accepted his money. It will work out, you’ll see.”