by L. P. Lovell
“Hey guys.” I greet them. Will waves from where Hugo now has him in a head lock.
“Hey Theo. How’s it going?” Henry sits on the stool next to me. Henry is an old school friend of ours, he was wild back in the day, but now he’s married and settled down. Fuck. That. “He seems in a good mood.” He nods at Hugo.
“Yeah, he just got laid.” I say.
“That explains it.” He chuckles.
“Move your arse’s bitches. COD calls.” Hugo says in a theatrical singing voice and then mimic’s like he’s riding a horse out of the room. I have never said that I think Hugo is completely sane, but he does make for entertaining times, of which we’ve had many.
I don’t even know who won the game. Only that Hugo accused us all of cheating, in a game where there is no cheating, just tactics.
By the end of the night I end up drunk enough that I crash on the floor. I wasn’t drunk enough to forget what happened on the couch and sleep on it.
Chapter 12 – Lilly
I meet Molly for dinner at Albi’s, which is our favourite local pizza parlour. Its two pounds for a huge slice of pizza. If there’s one thing better than pizza, it’s cheap pizza.
“So, Hugo invited me to go play pool with him and his friends tonight.” Molly says once I’ve demolished my huge slice of pepperoni.
“Hugo? As in ‘even more of a whore than Theo’ Hugo?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Firstly, you can’t listen to the papers. Secondly, we’re just having fun.” She takes a bite of her pizza.
“Does just having fun include the swapping of STD’s?”
She sighs. “Lilly.”
“Okay fine. How did I not know about this? I thought it was just a one night thing?” I huff.
“Well I haven’t seen you since last weekend, there’s been a couple of times since then.” She shrugs. “Don’t judge Lill’s.” She points a warning finger at me.
I hold up my hands. “Oh believe me, right now I am in no position.”
She laughs. “True. So you and Theo have a thing now?” She muses.
“Thing? No” I laugh. “Sex. Yes. I figure there’s a few week’s worth of sexual tension built up. It’ll fizzle out soon”
“You don’t think it could become more?”
I snort. “Definitely not. Would you want more than just sex with Hugo?” I tilt my head.
She laughs. “Definitely not.” She raises her beer bottle. “A toast to the using and abusing of man whore’s. May they fuck well and move on quickly.” I clink my bottle to hers. “So, will you come play pool with me anyway?” She gives me her practiced puppy dog eyes. “I don’t want to go on my own with a group of smelly boys.”
I sigh. “Is Theo going to be there?” I ask.
She shrugs one shoulder. “No idea. You could text him and find out.”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Wait, you want to see him, or you don’t?” She asks.
“Don’t. I do not want to socialise with him.” She frowns. “Lines Molly, lines!”
“Oh, okay. Well look, let’s just go. If he’s there, he’s there. If you’re chilled out about it then it’ll be fine.” She smiles. “Pretty please.”
“Molly.” I whine.
“I’ll owe you.” She grins, sensing an easy victory.
“You’ll owe me big time.” I huff.
The bar is a traditional English pub. A large mahogany bar sits to the right hand side of the room and is packed with people.
Molly texted Hugo to say that I was coming, to which he replied; ‘Great, she can play with Theo. He’s being a miserable fuck.’
We’ve just got here and are now sat in a booth with Hugo.
My gaze drifts across the room and finds Theo's tall frame stood at the bar amongst the crowd. His black t-shirt clings to his broad muscular shoulders, making my mouth water and my mind wonder to less than innocent thoughts. He turns his head and I find myself staring into his startling blue gaze. I can't help but smile at him. He flashes a devil may care smile at me and winks before turning back to the bar. I swear that man could melt underwear with his thoughts alone.
Molly and Hugo are chatting loudly. Hugo seems like a nice enough guy, but he is a dirty dog.
You get players like Theo, now players like a challenge, they like the game. An easy lay is of no interest to the player. He likes to manipulate and inflate his ego with his own seduction abilities. Then there are dogs. A dog will stick it anywhere, the easier the better. Hugo, is a dog. Molly see's through it as easily as I do though, calling him out on some of his more predictable lines.
"I give up!" Hugo finally shouts. "There is no impressing you." He smiles weakly at me, feigning hurt.
"Oh you can impress me...but it certainly won't involve talking." She cocks one eyebrow and smiles wickedly at him. I burst out laughing at Hugo's shocked and then amused face.
“So where are the rest of your friends?” I ask Hugo.
“Theo told them to fuck off when he heard you were coming. He doesn’t want the guys seeing you.” He smirks.
“Um…okay.” Shit, I ruined their guy’s night.
“Don’t feel bad princess, the guys are cool, but you two would provide them with a year’s worth of wank bank material. I’m cool with it, but he’s…well he’s Theo, and you’re not a normal casual fuck.” His eyes flick down to my chest as he raises an eyebrow. “…at all.”
“So, he wouldn’t let the other guys come, but you’re here.”
“I’m special, and fucking the friend that brought you here. I’m not that bad, I promise. We’ll be besties before you know it.” He grins like a naughty little boy. I chuckle at him. He is endearing in a really strange way.
"What's so funny?" Theo asks, quietly sliding into the seat beside me.
"Nothing." I whisper, smiling at the weird high I have from his presence, like a buzzing energy that thrums through my body. Its strange being out with him like this, as though he were just another friend, one I have sex with...which would make him awfully close to a boyfriend. That’s a scary thought which I completely asked for by coming here. Why do I have to make life so complicated for myself? He pours me a glass of wine from a bottle he's brought over, before pouring Molly one.
"Well ladies, it would appear that you owe us a game of pool. I think you two should play Theo and I." Hugo has a boyish charm that I can imagine could be very hard to resist.
"You're on." Molly stands, unfolding her lengthy frame from her chair. "But I only play for gain..." Molly flashes a seemingly innocent smile at Hugo. I know better. The girl’s got game.
"Oh sweetheart, I’m sure we can arrange something." Hugo winks at her before snaking an arm around her waist and guiding her toward the pool table.
"Okay, I’m going to apologise in advance for him..." Theo says sheepishly before standing, he offers me his hand pulling me to my feet.
"Molly can handle herself Theo. She's a big girl." I run a hand over his defined forearm and smile at him. He exhales and shakes his head.
"Come on." He shocks me by grabbing my hand as we walk over to Molly and Hugo. "You play?" He asks.
"Oh, I play." I cock an eyebrow and he laughs lightly as he squeezes my hand tighter.
The first game is won by the boys and the second by Molly and I. We're now on our third and the gloves are off so to speak. Molly and I are winning. I've just sunk two balls in a row and am going for a third. I line up my shot and just as I pull back my arm to strike Theo gently brushes his fingers over the exposed skin of my lower back, where my top has ridden up.
“Do you remember the last time we were near a pool table sugar?” He says in that dripping in sex tone of his. Heat surges through me and I miss my shot. This is the third time he's done something like this. I turn around and lightly slap his chest.
"Violence is totally uncalled for." He smiles wryly at me, looking devious and good enough to eat.
"Oh, you haven't seen violence. Your turn." I say quietly. He smiles arrog
antly before picking up his queue. He bends over the table to reach a long shot. I wink at Molly and Hugo before walking up behind him and pressing my hips against his arse.
"It'll take more than that to distract me sugar." I can hear the amused arrogance in his voice. Well then, I shall just have to do 'more'.
I bend over, folding my body over his, bringing my chin to rest on his shoulder. I slip one hand under his shirt, wrapping it around his waist and trailing it down his defined abs toward the waistband of his jeans, I can feel his muscles tremble under my touch. I bring my lips close to his ear. "How badly do you want to bend me over this pool table Theo?" I whisper against his ear.
He groans and his breath hitches and becomes shallow. He huffs a laugh under his breath.
"Come along, we don't have all day. Take your shot." I say a little louder as I run my nails across his stomach and press my pelvis against him more firmly.
Hugo laughs. "Damn, this is making me hard mate. I can't imagine your jeans are a comfortable place to be right now."
"Just so you know...you will be paying for this later...repeatedly." Theo whispers.
"I'm counting on it. Now take your shot." He pulls back his arm focusing on the shot. Just as he goes to take it I gently graze his earlobe with my teeth. His breath hisses through clenched teeth and he misses.
"Ah, too bad sugar." I mock, using his own term of endearment. Molly steps up to take the next shot, but I don't bother to watch. Theo straightens and turns around to face me. The look in his eyes is all heat and sexy as fuck. All that sexual power slams into me like a punch in the stomach. I take a step back away from him trying to control my thundering heart rate. A small smile plays at his lips as he stalks toward me like the predator he is until I'm backed into the wall. He leans down and brushes his lips across my neck.
"I warned you sugar." His breath tickles my neck. "Remember that when you're begging me later." His voice is deep and husky. His stubble brushes my cheek as he kisses me just below my ear. I’m practically drooling for him right now, never mind later.
I pull out my game face and smile at him cockily. "I look forward to it." I whisper against his perilously close lips before ducking under his arm and escaping. He raises an eyebrow at me shaking his head.
"When you guys are finished... it's your turn Lilly." Molly says.
Molly and I win the game and Hugo ends up owing Molly a bottle of champagne. Molly did stipulate that it needed to be a good one.
As we turn and walk away from the pool table a woman approaches us. She's dressed in a fitted dress that hugs her long, lean frame, its cut low in front revealing her ample cleavage. She looks a bit overdressed for the venue. Her platinum blonde hair hangs to her waist in a sleek curtain. Her heels click across the wooden floor of the pub as she approaches us. Her eyes fix on Theo and then on me when she sees his arm hooked around my waist.
"Theo." Her red painted lips are almost a sneer as she says it, her eyes darting between the two of us.
"Hey Edie." Hugo sounds almost bored as he greets her.
"Hugo." She turns and hugs him.
"I haven't seen you boys over at my place for a while. We've missed you." She purrs, her eyes flick to me again. God, really? She might as well just piss on him and get it over with she's so bloody territorial. I try to shrug out of Theo's embrace and leave him to talk to his 'friend', but he pins me firmly to his side. I look over at Molly who is glaring at the woman’s back.
"Is this your girlfriend?" She asks, very bluntly but seemingly politely, however the distaste is written all over her face. Before I can open my mouth to deny it, or tell her where to go Theo answers.
"This is Lilly Parker." I note that he doesn't deny nor enhance the fact that I may be his girlfriend. She eyes the length of my body.
"Lilly, this is Eden Croft, a friend of mine. She owns a club over in Pall Mall." I guess that explains the 'my place'.
"A pleasure." She raises an eyebrow at me. I only smile politely. I figure bitch slapping Theo’s friend might make me look a tad possessive or just crazy. Either way Theo and I are ‘just sex’, so what do I care?
"I'm going to go back to the table." I say to Theo. He studies me for a moment before releasing his grip.
"I'll be two minutes." He smiles at me.
"Bye." Eden flashes me a perfect blinding smile. I roll my eyes and walk away.
I'm sat at the table with Molly trying not to look at Theo and Eden, every time I look she seems to be touching him, his arm, his chest. It irritates me, but I'm pretty sure it's just her that annoys me in general, she's just so smarmy. He doesn't seem to return the gesture. Then I become irritated at myself for even remotely giving a shit, he can hang around with snarky bitches if he wants, it's nothing to do with me. We're just friends…with benefits.
Theo appears next to me, pressing his lips against my temple. I recoil against his public display of affection. Edie's appearance has sharpened my focus on the fact that we're not together, nor will we ever be. This is just sex, purely physical. I need to keep my head and not let his charm blur the lines in my mind, just sex or nothing at all. Why am I even here? Fuck! An all too familiar panic starts to crawl up my throat. I’m about five minutes away from a full scale freak out.
“I need to go. Molly are you coming?” I say as I jump up and put my jacket on.
“Um…no, I think I’ll stay a bit longer.” She frowns at me and tilts her head. She knows something’s wrong. I just need to get out of here, I feel like I can’t breathe.
“I can take you home.” Theo stands, a subtle frown on his face.
“No, you stay I’ll get a taxi. Thanks guys, bye.” I practically run out of the pub. I walk around the corner and lean against the wall. I close my eyes as I take several deep breaths. I rub at my chest trying to ease the tightness.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I curse under my breath. People pass by completely unaware of the mental breakdown happening right here on the street.
I feel Theo before I see him. “You okay?” He asks quietly.
I don’t answer him. I’m clearly not, so I can’t say yes, but I can’t explain this. God, I have issues.
“It’s okay.” He says. “I get it.” I open my eyes and glance sideways at him. He’s leant against the wall next to me. His arms are crossed over his chest and he has a small smile on his face. “You can’t be in a room with me for too long without wanting to rip my clothes off. It’s okay, I get it a lot believe me.”
I laugh. He’s an arse, but under it he’s actually an okay guy. He’s making light of the situation rather than drawing attention to it. I can appreciate that.
“That’s better.” He turns toward me, his broad shoulders blocking out the world around us. He brushes his knuckles across my cheek. “You’re much better looking when you smile.” He grins at me. I roll my eyes.
“So, can I give you that lift home?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Sure.” I smile. In the space of five minutes I’ve gone from major freak out to fine. He presses his lips to mine which sends my mind into a dribbling mess, ridding me of any traces of my former panic.
Theo keeps one arm securely wrapped around my waist as he guides me toward the waiting car.
I become increasingly aware of his closeness to me, my heart rate quickens into a familiar rhythm and my skin prickles, my body acting on pure primal instinct to the man stood next to me. It’s not my fault, my DNA is programmed to want him, knowing that he is on the winning end of the gene pool. I glance up at him subtly and can see his small smile. We reach the car and I turn and look straight at him, he continues to smile as his gaze brushes over me, igniting every nerve in my body. His fingers lightly brush my neck. This I can cope with, this is familiar and safe, just good old sexual attraction.
He traces a finger over my bottom lip before bending to press his lips to mine. I close my eyes and wind my fingers around his neck. I allow the blissful relief of my mind switching off and my body taking over, something only Theo seem
s to be able to achieve.
The stubble over his top lip brushes my face. I lightly nip his bottom lip and he growls against my mouth.
"Lilly..." He warns. He pulls away and holds me just an inch away from his face. His eyes are wild and savage with an animal quality. Apprehension coils in my stomach at the offered promise in that one look.
"Yes?" I sound breathy.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Behave or I’ll bend you over the bonnet right here in front of James." I smile and raise an eyebrow at him. "I'm a man of my word sugar...but you can push me if you like?" God I’m so horny right now. I clamp my thighs together as I try to calm myself. "That's what I thought." He smirks.
I want to argue, but I don’t doubt he’ll do as he says, so I bite my bottom lip trying to supress my less than tame feelings. He holds the door open for me and I climb in the back seat, he follows me into the car and James pulls away. The small space between us suddenly seems too much to bear, as though it's a physical pressure crushing my lungs. I grasp the door handle as though I were on a cliff edge and about to fall to my death. My breathing is embarrassingly loud and I know it won't have escaped his notice.
We sit in silence for a long time before he eventually chuckles quietly under his breath. I glance up at him.
"And to think you ever denied this." He gestures to the space between us.
I scowl at him. "Oh, sorry I didn't just immediately fall at your feet with willingly spread legs." I roll my eyes sarcastically.
"It is exactly your lack of willing that causes this. You make me so crazy. Most of my time is spent either thinking about the last time I had sex with you or plotting how to get it again as soon as possible."
I look up at him. "Well you know Theo there's really no plotting necessary. This..." I gesture between us again."... is really very easy. I want sex, you want sex. Simple."
He smiles brilliantly at me. "I most certainly do...right now." He opens the door and pulls me out. I hadn't even noticed that we'd stopped.