by Ivy Jordan
The truth was, Theo was my problem. I thought about him constantly, fantasized about him in my dreams, and even caught myself thinking of him while masturbating in the shower. He was a big problem.
Chapter Five
Theo gripped the mic, letting his guitar sling to his waist by its strap as he yelled goodnight to the crowd of cheering patrons. They were good, real good. When Theo sang one of his originals, his eyes locked onto mine. My heart fluttered like a teenage groupie for a moment, but then I noticed the crowd of women all dancing to get his attention near the stage. I knew that game. I’d played it a dozen times with Mac. He’d sing to me, make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and then disappear to the back for a blowjob from one of the groupies. When I’d question him, accuse him, and even the time I caught him with his dick in some brunette’s mouth, he’d tell me he loved me, there was no one else but me. Didn’t you see me sing that song to you, baby? I didn’t do that for anyone else. It was all bullshit, and Theo was smoother than Mac ever dreamed of being, and actually had talent, to boot.
“They are amazing, aren’t they?” Lark asked, leaning into my ear from her bar stool.
“Yeah. They really are,” I said, feeling that stupid flutter again.
Theo jumped from the small stage, making his way through the crowd of women to walk towards me and Lark. Yes, my heart sped up as I watched him smile politely, stopping only to sign an autograph and never taking his focus off of where he was headed.
“What’d ya think?” Theo asked.
“I loved you—it,” I stammered, my cheeks heating instantly from my stumble with words.
“I’m so glad,” he said, his eyes turning a bright shade of sky blue.
I wasn’t sure why it meant so much that I liked his music, but for some reason, it made me feel good that it did.
“You girls enjoy your drinks. I have to go sell some music,” Theo said, sliding his hand onto my leg, letting it rest there for a moment before taking it away. The heat from his hand remained, even once he walked away. I watched him surround himself with fans, mostly women, and turn his charm on them as he pushed his demo CD’s on them to purchase. Remember, he’s a musician, Willow.
“What’s going on between you two?” Lark asked. Her tone was high-pitched and giddy.
“Nothing,” I snapped back a reply quickly.
Her eyes narrowed, her lips curled into a tight smile, and she nodded in my direction with that ‘I know what you did’ look on her face.
“Your bed hasn’t been delivered yet, has it? You sleeping in the master bedroom with Theo to stay warm at night?” she teased.
“Wow! You know me better than that,” I laughed.
“I know, I know. You’re Miss Goody Two Shoes,” she groaned. “But, it’s obvious you two have something brewing,” she added with a smirk.
I sucked down what was left in my beer glass and lifted the pitcher for a refill.
“Oh, I hit a nerve,” Lark said, moving her face to mine until our eyes met.
“Nope. No nerve,” I said calmly.
“Willow, he sang that entire song to you,” she purred.
“I don’t think so,” I lied.
“Yes. Yes, he did,” Lark smirked. “He likes you, and it’s obvious you like him, too,” she insisted.
“He’s a musician, which you knew and didn’t tell me. And you knew he was hot,” I scolded, trying to keep a straight face.
The beer was getting to me, making me light-headed, and for some reason, it also made everything seem a little bit funny. “It doesn’t matter that he’s a musician. He’s nothing like Mac,” Lark said, her tone and her face both serious.
“They are all alike,” I giggled, pointing to Theo, who at that moment had a blonde on each arm, and Samson taking a picture.
“He’s promoting his band. Benny said he never fooled around, that he had one girlfriend in the seven years he’s known him,” Lark spilled information I’d never heard before.
“Guys stick together. He isn’t gonna tell you his buddy is a hound. Hell, Benny may be one, too,” I growled.
“Willow, that isn’t fair. I’m just saying, don’t push him away because of someone else’s mistakes,” she warned, finishing her beer with a quick swig.
Lark knew how badly Mac had ripped my heart out, so why would she want me to go through that again?
Did she see something in Theo that I didn’t? No, I saw it. It was something different, something special, and it scared the living shit out of me.
“I’m grabbing a ride home with Benny and Kayla. You okay?” she asked, waving to Benny, who was standing at the door motioning for her to c’mon.
“I’m fine. I’m just a couple blocks away,” I smiled.
“Yes. And, I know Theo wouldn’t let you walk this late alone,” she smirked, and then took off towards Benny before I could say something snarky.
I paid my tab, left Sal a nice tip, and then headed towards the front doors. Theo was still surrounded by women, all batting their eyelashes, laughing for no reason, and pushing their breasts towards his face in a sad attempt to be selected for a one night stand with a not-so-famous rock star. Okay, so maybe Theo had a real good chance of being famous, and then that lucky girl could say, “I fucked him when”—but right now, it was just sad.
“Willow,” Theo’s voice called out.
I turned, surprised that he noticed me. “Wait up,” he said, picking up his guitar, and making his way from the circle of pussy smothering him.
“I’m just headed home. You don’t have to walk me. Stay, enjoy your fans,” I said as sweetly as I could muster without throwing up in my mouth.
“No thank you. I like to get outta here quick after a good set. Sell my CDs and then head home for a beer and game of pool,” he laughed.
“You play solo?” I asked, my eyebrows rising to show my confusion.
“Benny used to play. I forgot that’s part of the ground rules: my roommate has to play pool with me after a gig,” he grinned.
“I’m not very good,” I admitted.
“Good. I don’t like losing,” he laughed, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close to his side.
My body tensed as his arm fell over my shoulder. “You gotta be cold,” he said, pulling me in even closer to his side.
“It actually feels good out here. It was sweltering in that bar,” I replied.
Theo lifted his arm from me and smiled. “Okay. I don’t want to make you hot. Well, hotter,” he grinned.
I knew he was flirting. He couldn’t have been more obvious.
I was relieved to be home, not wanting to admit I actually was cold. His arm around me was nice and warm, but the closeness was too intimate. It was to the point where I wasn’t as worried about trusting Theo as I was myself.
“Home, sweet home,” Theo announced, opening up the front door, and motioning for me to enter first.
He disappeared into the kitchen where I heard bottles clanking together. “Beer, my fair lady,” he said in a horrible British accent.
“You sound like Paul,” I teased.
He rolled his eyes. “Okay. I’ll never try that accent again.”
“Is Paul even British?” I asked, watching Theo’s eyes brighten with laughter.
“No. He was born and raised in Jersey,” Theo chuckled.
I tried to hold back my laughter, but the night had me giddy, and the thought of Paul being raised in Jersey just pushed me over the edge.
Theo’s face contorted, his mouth pushed out, and his eyes watered until finally, he let loose of a loud, deep belly laugh. “You know, none of the guys ever questioned it,” he laughed.
“Ever?” I asked, tears rolling down my cheeks from laughter.
“No. He came back from the UK talking like that,” he said with a guffaw.
Tears fell from his eyes as he gasped for air. “We all just ignored it, I guess,” Theo laughed so hard he had to lean against the pool table to hold himself from falling to the floor.
> “He toured all the places where his favorite punk bands got their starts,” Theo gushed, still trying to talk through the laughter. “Shewee,” he sighed, wiping his cheeks.
“I’m so glad I asked,” I said softly, watching his eyes dance on mine.
“I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard, ever,” he paused, and then reached for my hand.
That familiar electric surge shot through me when his hand touched mine. My eyes dropped from his, staring at his hand as it worked its fingers in between mine.
“So, Lark and all the girls are raving about your images. I can’t wait to show them to you,” I said, changing the subject, and pulling my hand from his to push my blonde hair from my face. It was an obvious pull away, even though I tried to be smooth. I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
“Oh, yeah? What are they raving about?” he asked, the disappointment quickly disappearing.
“About how fun you were, and how good you looked,” I said.
“How good I looked?” he asked, that sexy, crooked smile creeping back onto his face.
“Yes. They were amazed at how photogenic you are,” I replied.
“They are?” he asked, his face pushing closer to mine.
He was close. So close. I could smell the scent of his cologne beneath the layer of sweat from performing on stage all night. Hints of feminine perfumes wafting around the testosterone kept me from leaning in to kiss him. He’s a musician, Willow. They are all the same.
“Yes. They are,” I said, pulling back just slightly to remove some of the temptation.
“They, not you?” he asked.
“No. Me too,” I said quickly.
He inched towards me. His hot breath lingered on my lips. I could taste him, his whiskey drink, and even his spearmint chewing gum. I inhaled, sucking him in, savoring the flavor of his mouth without touching it with my lips.
“You too, what?” he asked softly, inching a bit closer.
“I thought you did amazing,” I whispered.
“Did you think I looked good?” he asked, his voice dripping like honey from his lips onto mine, leaving sweetness sticky on my tongue as I inhaled again, this time deeper, longer.
I expected him to pull back, to tease me, but he didn’t. His eyes locked onto mine. The warmth of his hand pressed against my hip, and then he leaned down, letting our lips meet for the first time.
I melted against him, my mouth clinging to his, my lips parting, my tongue eagerly greeting his as it entered my mouth. I was lost in him.
The weight of his body pushed into me. His hands gripped my hips, turning my back to the pool table. Heat surged through his loins, and then his excitement became evident with hardness against my side.
The struggle between my mind and body for control of the situation was tearing me in two different directions. I’d start to pull away, and then his lips would pull me back in, or his scent, or his touch. I’d get a whiff of the sweet perfume, one that came from his groupies, and I’d pull away again, harder, but his grip on my hips was tight.
He’s your roommate, a bartender, a musician….
He’s so fuckin’ sexy, he tastes so good, and this feels too good to stop….
“We can’t do this,” I said softly, pulling away, this time far enough that he couldn’t pull me back in so easily. His hands were still on my hips, but their grip loosened by our distance.
“Why not?” he asked. His voice was so deep, so husky, that my nipples hardened as the vibrations of it hit my ears.
“We’re roommates,” I hesitated.
“That’s not it,” he said, tightening his grip, and pulling me back towards him.
I wanted to let him, to get one more taste of his delicious lips, to feel his hard cock pressed against me, warming me, wanting me. “No. It’s only part of it,” I said, refusing to let my body take control.
Theo loosened his grip from my hips and took a step back. His steely blue eyes widened as he spoke. “Then tell me what it is,” he said softly, gently, with sincerity.
“You’re a bartender, a musician. You’re surrounded by women all the time, women who want you, who throw their bodies at you,” I replied as gently as possible.
“I told you, Willow. All musicians aren’t alike. You have to trust me,” he pleaded, his eyes honest and pure. I wanted to trust him. Oh God, how I wanted to trust him.
His lips curled into a smile, that crooked, charming smile I couldn’t resist. “The last sexy guitarist who said that to me ripped my heart out,” I admitted.
I couldn’t stand there, looking at him, having him look at me one moment longer. I knew I’d cave. I walked towards the bathroom, making sure to avoid getting too close to Theo for him to grab me. “You think I’m sexy?” he called out. Oh God!
Chapter Six
It had been over a week since Theo made his move on me, and luckily, we’d both been too busy with work to have too much time alone. He was still flirting every chance he got, but with our schedules out of sync, he was limited to a few comments, a sexy glance, or quick grab at my waist as I left for a shoot.
It was playful, fun, but at the same time, it was nerve-racking. This was my roommate, the man I had to live with, or risk going back to the tiny apartment with three women, cracked paint, no bed, and that smell. No. I couldn’t handle that smell again.
“You need to quit overthinking things,” Lark lectured me as we walked to the bar.
“I can’t,” I groaned.
“This will be the first time we’re out together since last week,” I pointed out.
Lark’s face lit up, her lips puckered, and she wrapped her arms around herself to mimic making out like we were in third grade. I slapped her shoulder playfully, “Stop it.”
“You know you want to. Just do it,” she ordered.
Walking into the bar, I expected to find Theo at a table with his band, playing it cool until I arrived. I didn’t expect to find him behind the bar working.
I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I’d looked forward to hanging out with him. “Why are you working?” I asked, pulling up a barstool on the corner.
“Sal got sick. They didn’t have anyone else that could come in and help,” he moaned, leaning over the bar like he’d been shot.
“Can’t Nancy do it alone?” Lark asked, motioning to the blonde bartender at the other end of the bar.
Theo laughed and then leaned in. “She’s just eye candy. She can’t make a drink to save her life,” he whispered. “I’m sorry, babe. I know you wanted to grind me on the dance floor tonight,” Theo teased, winking in my direction.
Lark giggled, but I quickly jabbed her in the ribs with my elbow to shut her up.
“No. Grinding on the dance floor isn’t my thing,” I smirked.
“But, you do want to grind on me?” he laughed.
I didn’t have a chance to shut him down before he was waved to the other end of the bar by Nancy. I watched him, smiling, laughing, and then taking the time to show her how to make the drink her customer ordered.
She was blonde, attractive, and had boobs as large as Dolly Parton’s. I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d ever hooked up, if they possibly still were hooking up.
A burning sensation settled in the pit of my stomach as I watched them, how she looked at him, how he looked at her. “What’s wrong with you?” Lark asked.
“Nothing,” I lied.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s so obvious you’re hung up on him. I don’t get it.”
The night ended early since Benny and Kayla had big plans early that morning. Planning a wedding was exhausting; at least that’s what Benny told me. “I’m hitching a ride with them,” Lark said, pulling on my arm to come with them.
“I can walk,” I said sternly.
“Take her home. She’s drunk, I don’t need her grinding any of my nice neighbors,” Theo called out with a laugh.
I wasn’t drunk, but I was buzzed. I barely remembered how I got home when I woke up in my bed
, still wearing most of my outfit from the night before.
Alcohol oozed from my pores, and my head was throbbing. I made myself get up, grabbed some comfortable ‘day off’ clothes, and headed to the bathroom across the hall.
I noticed Theo’s door was open, so I carefully tiptoed down the hall to peek inside. The bed was a mess, but no more so than usual. No sign of Theo. I left my clothes in the bathroom and checked downstairs. He hadn’t come home.
My desire for a long, hot shower dissolved as my anxiety took over. I washed my hair, my body, and slid a razor across my legs to ensure there was no stubble. Where did he go if he didn’t come home?
I’d managed to towel dry my hair, get dressed in my comfy short-shorts, and was brushing my teeth when I heard the door. I rinsed my mouth, pushed my damp hair from my face, and frantically searched for at least my mascara as footsteps made their way up the staircase. “Good morning,” Theo said, peeking in as I finished applying mascara.
“Good morning,” I said coolly.
“Damn. You’re even sexier wet,” he teased.
I didn’t even turn to look at him. I gathered up my dirty clothes and walked past him to my room.
“Mad isn’t a sexy look for you,” he joked.
I shut my door, sat on the edge of my new bed, and fought back my tears. I was angry, hurt, and confused as to why. I was the one who didn’t want this. But he didn’t know that. He’d flirted with me all week. If he hadn’t worked last night, who knows what would’ve happened?
I decided I was overreacting, and I had no right to be upset, so I moved toward my door, slowly opening it to see if he’d gone downstairs or to his room.
When the door opened, Theo was standing in my doorway, leaning against the frame.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, hoping to avoid the conversation I knew was unavoidable.
“Don’t lie to me,” he said, his lips curling into that crooked, sexy smile.
“Did you not come home last night?” I asked, trying to keep my cool.