by L. P. Lovell
"I'm glad it's not just me." He raises a suggestive eyebrow.
My eyes automatically survey his body and I note the subtle bulge at his fly. I look up and meet his amused gaze.
He stands and strolls towards me, placing a gentle hand against my neck. "I can't help it." He whispers against my neck "... you look seriously hot right now." His eyes flicker down my body and I can see the burning hunger in his gaze.
He traces one finger down my neck and along the line of my collar bone, his touch sets my skin ablaze. His sapphire gaze meets mine, the longer he stares at me the more intense the atmosphere becomes as though the air is charged with static electricity crackling between our bodies.
"Lilly." He whispers as his lips brush mine. I can't help the low moan that escapes me at the sheer pleasure of his touch. I throw my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his and deepening the kiss. He kisses me back, tracing my lower lip with the tip of his tongue. One arm wrapped around my waist pulling me to him, while the other holds my neck still.
All too soon he pulls away from me and presses his forehead against mine. Damn it.
"I'm sorry." He smirks.
"Theo, you can kiss me..." I sigh in frustration.
He shakes his head. "Sugar, when it comes to you and me, it’s never just a kiss." He smiles lazily.
I scowl at him. "Let's go." I turn on my heel and stalk out of the room.
Theo drives us to the restaurant which is about twenty minutes outside of London. It's an old country house which is now used as a hotel. The restaurant is lovely with all the classical features from the original house. It’s all very cosy but upmarket.
We're seated at a large table next to one of the huge floor to ceiling windows. We appear to be the first ones here.
"So who are we meeting again?" I ask when we're seated. Theo didn't really tell me who we were meeting, only a business associate.
"Steve Hillford. He's the director of Media Inc. at the moment. I intend to keep him on in the business. He seems to be good at his job, but I like to get to know the people who work for me. His wife is also coming and my uncle Mike who you've met. Mike and Steve are old business acquaintances." He states matter of factly. It surprises me that Theo would take the time to get to know an employee.
“You and your uncle seem close.” I ponder.
He nods. “Yeah, he was pretty much the closest thing to a parent Cat and I had growing up.” This information surprises me. I sort of assumed that Theo was from a super stable background. I feel bad that I’ve never asked him about this. In fact I haven’t really asked him about much. I am curious, but I don’t want to ask about his parents in case he asks about mine. I really should know more about him though.
“I’m curious about something.” I muse.
“What’s that?” He smiles.
“Well, you run all these businesses and would by anyone’s standards be considered a businessman, yet you don’t actually do all that much.” I smile. “I always thought businessman worked twenty hours a day and died of heart attacks at the age of forty.” I raise an eyebrow at him.
He laughs. “Ah well you see sugar, business and pleasure can easily be mixed.” He flicks his gaze down to my chest. I roll my eyes. “It’s all about delegation. I make sure that the people who work for me are the very best, that way they do the work and make me money whilst I play millionaire. It suits me very well.”
“But surely if they can run your business they could run their own?” I ask.
“I pay them so well that the stress of finding funding and setting up an entirely new business just doesn’t appeal. If someone is vital to your business then you treat them as such. I value my staff, and so they stay loyal to me.” He shrugs.
“Huh, and I thought you were just a pretty face with a trust fund.” I smirk.
“I do have a pretty face don’t I?” He smiles and winks. I roll my eyes at him. “Anyway, you’re not entirely wrong. William and I did start the business with our trust funds.” He shrugs.
“So William runs it with you?”
“He runs the offices in Paris. Went out there for a business trip, met a woman, next thing I know he’s moving out there. Crazy bastard.” He shrugs clearly baffled by his brother’s behaviour.
"What would you like to drink?" He asks changing the subject.
"White Wine please." As he speaks to the waitress I notice that the soft lighting and the glow from the fire give his skin a rustic tone making his eyes glow brightly. He looks too beautiful, almost inhuman. The waitress blushes and stutters as he speaks to her. He doesn't even seem to notice her tripping over herself. She glances nervously in my direction before scurrying off.
"Wow. That was just embarrassing." I murmur under my breath. Theo smiles wryly at me.
"Yeah, he gets that a lot. I keep telling him, he's a taken man now. Send them my way. I thought there was something going on with you two at The Ivy. I knew I was right." I look up and into the infectiously smiley face of Theo's uncle Mike. We met briefly at the poker table.
"You wouldn't know what to do with them if I did, and please, you thought for years that I was shagging my over-weight maths tutor." Theo rolls his eyes.
"Don't listen to him, I taught him everything he knows. As for Lola, there is something to be said for a larger lady, they try harder." Mike winks at me. I can't help but smile at the two of them. I get the impression that Theo isn't close to many people and it's truly heart-warming to see him so at ease with his uncle, even if they do talk about shagging fat girls.
"Lilly, may I say you look stunning." Mike takes my hand and kisses it. Theo just rolls his eyes.
"Maybe he did teach you..." I tease Theo.
"Oh, please." He scoffs.
Steve and his wife are shown to our table and seated. Theo sits to one side of me and Steve's wife on the other. Steve introduces his wife as Sarah, who seems nice if not a little quiet.
"Steve, you know Mike." Mike shakes his hand. "And this is Lilly Parker, my girlfriend." Theo says with a little too much enthusiasm. I glance up at him, but can't bring myself to correct him, despite the panic that crawls in my stomach. The look on his face is so proud and full of joy. I shake Steve’s hand. His lingering eyes do not escape my notice as they rake over my frame. I sense Theo stiffen slightly beside me and place my hand on his thigh in a calming gesture.
The waitress takes our food orders and the conversation is very quickly business. I chat to Sarah politely about her life, she tells me that she is a full time mother of three boys who sound like a handful.
"What do you do for a living Lilly?" She asks in her quiet soothing voice.
"I'm a solicitor, specialising in business law." I reply brightly. I notice her eyes flick to Theo and then back to me with a confused expression.
"That sounds very challenging." She nods enthusiastically.
I shrug. "I enjoy it."
The food arrives and the conversation turns to business which let’s be honest isn’t exactly thrilling.They're discussing possible options for Media Inc. as a company.
"I think scrap anything to do with the old company and rebrand it entirely." Mike says.
"But the company is a trusted brand, you should stick with it." Steve counters. Theo leans back in his chair looking totally controlled and self-possessed. He's removed his jacket and his muscular shoulders strain at the fabric of his shirt making me suddenly overheated. Once again images of his naked form burst through my mind. What is wrong with me? I have no control over my own thoughts! My chest feels tight and my pulse starts thundering in my ears. Theo places his hand gently on my thigh as he chats away, seemingly unaware of me hyperventilating next to him. Jesus, this is ridiculous.
The guys carry on their conversation as I fairly innocently place my hand on Theo’s thy. I drag my hand up until my fingers just brush the edge of his package. His hand settles over mine stilling me. He tilts his face to me and narrows his eyes, a smirk fixed on those beautiful lips. He leans over as
if placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.
“Don’t play games you can’t win sugar.” He whispers.
I smile innocently. “I don’t know what you mean.” I say, before taking a bite of food.
He removes his hand and picks up his glass of wine. He swills the glass as he appears to listen to the conversation, but I’m the one with my hand on his crotch, and I know better. I drift my fingers very carefully over the material of his trousers, which becomes increasingly more taught with each passing second.
Once again his hand clamps over mine. He carries on his conversation whilst lifting my hand and placing it on my thigh. He guides my fingers up the inside of my thigh ever so slowly, taking my skirt with him. Okay, so perhaps I am playing with fire here.
“Lilly?” Steve and Mike are both staring at me. Theo has a smug grin on his face.
“Oh, sorry. What was that?” I try to compose myself.
“What do you do?” Steve asks, his eyes drifting far too far south of my face.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m a solicitor.”
He frowns. “Really?”
No I just made that up for shits and giggles. “Yes.” I smile sweetly and see Theo shaking with laughter slightly beside me.
“Wow, you don’t look like a solicitor.” He shakes his head.
“And what do I look like Mr Hillford?” He gives me a smarmy smile.
“Well you are with Mr Ellis here, and he is well known for dating models.” He nods toward Theo, that slimy grin still on his face. “And you look like that. I figured you probably put those looks to good use.” He laughs and looks at Theo and Mike like he just said something hilarious. Oh, he did not.
Theo smiles before leaning into Mike. “Brace yourself.” He whispers.
If there is one thing I cannot stand its dicks like this. “I do hate to burst your bubble, but just because a woman is sporting a set of tits does not mean she is automatically discounted from any intelligible profession and must get naked to earn money.” I say, very calmly I might add.
“I didn’t say you get naked, but now that you mention it I expect you’d make more than you do as a solicitor if you did.” He laughs again. “Just saying.” He holds up his hands. Mike groans and puts his head in his hands. Sarah seems completely oblivious to the fact that her husband is an arsehole who is making inappropriate comments to another woman.
I turn to Theo. “Really?” He looks at me and frowns. “These are the type of people you have running multi-million pound companies?”
He smiles. “No.” That’s it, just no.
“What?” He is so odd sometimes.
“It’s been a pleasure guys but we have to go. Steve I’ll call you on Monday.” Steve looks as white as a sheet. Theo pulls me to my feet. I glare at Steve as I leave.
Theo tucks my hand under his arm as we walk to the waiting car. The temperature has dropped outside. I shiver as he holds my door for me.
"Here." He takes off his jacket and places it over me like a blanket.
"Thanks." I say grateful for its warmth. It smells of him, cologne and masculinity.
He climbs behind the wheel and turns to face me. “Well done sugar.”
“What? What are you on about?” I ask.
“You did exactly what I thought you would.”
“What, call your staff out on their sexist shit.” I frown.
“No, confirm my suspicions. There have been some informal insinuations of sexual harassment against Hillford. I won’t have that in my company, but I needed confirmation as no formal complaints were made.” He chuckles. “So I brought the most beautiful woman that twat will ever see to dinner and waited for him to make a comment. Like I said, I only have the best running my companies, I have to fish out the rubbish.”
“Gee, thanks. Nice to know I’m good pervert bait.” I grumble.
He grabs my chin and presses a kiss on my lips. “The very best.” He says with a smile.
"Lilly." Theo's voice breaks through my deep unconsciousness.
I pull back my eyelids squinting against the bright light.
"We're home. Come on." He places a firm arm around my waist and helps me from the car. I lean against the side of the car feeling totally disorientated, when did I fall asleep? Theo sighs.
"Dear god woman, a couple of glasses of wine and you're like the walking dead." With that he suddenly scoops me off my feet so that I’m cradled against his chest. I want to tell him to put me down and I am perfectly capable of walking, but his chest is so inviting, radiating red hot heat and that wonderful fragrance he has. I snuggle closer to him and instantly fall back into unconsciousness.
I awake at three in the morning with a mouth like the Sahara. The bed is cold and Theo is nowhere to be seen. I climb out of bed and walk into the hallway, I realise that I’m wearing one of his t-shirts, but I don't remember putting it on. There is a soft glow filling the hall which seems to be coming from upstairs. I groggily climb the stairs. As I reach the top it becomes apparent that the light is coming from behind me, from Theo's desk. He sits at the desk staring at the computer screen. He's still dressed in the same suit he wore to dinner.
He smiles when I step into the light. "Hey sugar." His face is drawn and there are dark circles under his eyes.
I round the desk and perch in front of him sitting on the edge. I pick up his bottle of water from the desk and take a huge gulp, quenching my burning throat. He watches me as I place it back on the desk before wrapping his arms around me, pushing his hands under my t-shirt to caress the bare skin of my back. I place my hands on either side of his face and stare into his bloodshot eyes.
"You haven't been to bed. Why are you still up?" I whisper.
"I'm sorry. There's been some hassle in Italy. I've been trying to sort it, but I think I’m going to have to go out there." He drags his hand through his hair.
"How long for?" I ask.
"No longer than a week hopefully." He smiles at me.
"Okay." I whisper.
"I'm going to talk to Simmons, convince him that I need my UK solicitors on board. I want you to come with me."
I roll my eyes at him. "You don't have to do that. I'll be fine. I was just fine before you came along Theo." I smile at him.
"You might be fine, but I won't be. Besides I could genuinely use you. There are a lot of legal issues at the moment." He frowns.
"Bullshit, anyone could sort that out." I shake my head. "Look, now that we're 'together', I think it would be best if we keep personal and professional separate. I don't want my career to be affected by you.” I lightly brush my fingers across the stubble of his jaw. "I will miss you though." I wink at him.
He smiles. “Check you with the mushy declarations.”
“Don’t get used to it.” I grumble.
He laughs. “Look...we had a deal. Two weeks, and you would live with me to witness it, so you're coming. I made a promise and I will see it through. I'm doing this to prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt how much you mean to me, even if it kills me, which it may do." He smiles wryly.
“You call me mushy. I think I just wretched a little.” I smirk.
“Wow, that’s such an attractive image.”
“Hey, you’ve seen me throw up monumentally. You should be immune by now.” I smile.
“Sugar, I love you, but I have to say you are not a graceful vomiter, what with the dribbling and the crying…” I punch his arm as he laughs.
“Dick.” I mumble.
“So you’ll come?” He tries to catch me off guard.
I sigh. I'm not going to win this argument right now. "You're impossible. Come on. Let’s go to bed." I take his hand and lead him back to bed. He climbs into bed next to me wearing only his boxers. He wraps a strong arm around me pinning me to him.
“Theo can I ask you something?” I say quietly.
“Anything sugar.” He kisses my hair.
Okay, here goes. “What happened to your parents? I mean, you and Mike are so close, you said he
was a parent to you.” I feel like I’m prying, but I guess I’m just really curious. “You don’t have to answer.” I whisper.
“No, it’s okay. My mother lives in Italy. She’s been married six times. My brother William and I were the product of marriage number one, Cat from number two. My father died of cancer when I was five. Cat’s dad doesn’t want to know. She sent us to boarding schools when we were very young. Her husbands didn’t want kids around.” He squeezes me tighter. ”We don’t really speak much anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” Theo’s story is not indifferent to mine, except that I would have gladly been packed off to boarding school. Dead father, mother who doesn’t give a fuck. It’s all very familiar. “Do you think…do you think you’re mother loves you?” I whisper. It’s a question I ask myself all the time, but the answer is always the same and always hard to take. The truth hurts.
“In her own strange way maybe, but not in the traditional sense, no.” He says calmly.
“But you’re okay. I mean you’re successful, so you obviously got past it?” This seems important for some reason.
“I think that you can let the shit wear you down and wallow in it, or you can pick yourself up and make a life for yourself.” He kisses my hair. “What about your parents? You never talk about them.” I tense. “You don’t have to tell me.” He rubs my arm, trying to release some of the tension. He asked me once before about my parents, but I managed to change the subject.
“Um, my father died when I was five in a car crash. My mother…” Images of my mother’s demented face flash through my mind. Her standing watching me. “My mother is dead to me.” I say finally.
“Okay. I love you Sugar.” I smile. He knows exactly what I need to hear and when I need to hear it.
“Thank you.” I whisper, and I mean it. I’m truly grateful for him. I snuggle against his chest as he strokes my hair, soothing me into a deep sleep.
The next morning I wake up with Theo wrapped around me, his strong arms like iron. "Hey." He breathes.