Page 77 of The Romance Library

Theo was still holding my hand as he led me out the pub door, then we ran across the road to the beach laughing, still high on adrenaline.

‘That was brilliant!’ I said when we eventually stopped.

The gentle sea breeze tickled my face. Moonlight and the lamps dotting the street behind us dimly lit the beach.

‘It was!’

‘And that whole bow-tie-ripping, jacket-throwing, stool-kicking thing was very hot!’ The words slipped out before I could stop it.

‘You thought it was hot, eh?’ Theo wrapped his arms around my waist.

‘I did.’ I locked my eyes on his. My heart was beating at a hundred miles an hour. The heat from Theo’s arms was electrifying. ‘And I thought you said you couldn’t dance?’

‘It’s not my forte, but I get by.’ He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal. ‘I liked when you did your freestyle dance back at the B&B. I saw how happy it made you, and I wanted to make you smile.’

‘Mission accomplished,’ I said.

‘Good. And you were incredible. You are incredible.’

‘Thanks. You’re pretty cool yourself.’

‘Fuck.’ He squeezed his eyes shut as his face inched forward. ‘Jessica, I want to kiss you. Tell me you don’t want it. Please. Tell me it’s a mistake.’

‘I could tell you that I don’t want it. That I want you to walk away. I could say that I hate you and don’t want you to kiss me. But I’d be lying. Because right now, there’s nothing I want more.’

Without saying another word, Theo crushed his lips onto mine. I stumbled on the sand, but Theo caught me so I still managed to stay upright as our hands roamed everywhere and our mouths moved hungrily against each other’s.

I parted my lips and Theo wasted no time sliding his tongue inside.

Every time it flicked against mine, my pulse rocketed and a zing of excitement shot down my spine.

‘Oh God,’ I groaned into his mouth as my knees buckled. Theo was kissing me like he’d been struggling to breathe underwater and I was air. The kiss was passionate, wild and nothing short of amazing.

There was a chance that anyone walking by or standing outside the pub might see us, but right now I didn’t care. Even if a TV crew rocked up, shoved a camera in our faces and threatened to broadcast live to the world, I’d still carry on. I didn’t want anything to interrupt this kiss.

My hands tugged at Theo’s hair, then moved down to his back before gripping his arse. I pushed him into me and felt his hard-on press against my belly. Before I’d even realised what I was doing, I lifted my leg and hooked it around him. My knickers were soaked through. I wanted him so badly.

‘Fuck,’ he growled, and the sound sent a fresh wave of tingles down my spine. ‘I want you, but not here. Not now.’ Theo pulled away slowly. ‘If I’m going to fuck you, Jessica, I’m going to do it properly.’

‘Let’s go back to the B&B.’

‘The results will be announced soon.’ He looked at his watch. ‘We’d better go back inside.’

‘Shit, you’re right.’ I’d completely forgotten about the show. That kiss was so hot it melted all my brain cells. ‘Um, maybe you should go first. I’ll be in soon.’

‘Okay.’

‘Wait.’ I reached into my bag and handed him a tissue. ‘Might be a good idea to wipe my lipstick off your mouth first, though.’

‘Thanks.’ He swiped it over his face. ‘See you inside.’

Once Theo had gone in, I slipped inside and headed straight to the toilets to try to make myself look like I hadn’t just had the hottest kiss of my life.

My hair was dishevelled from where Theo had been touching it, my top was twisted and I had lipstick smeared over my mouth, cheeks and neck from where Theo had kissed me.

As I relived the kiss, butterflies erupted within me.

‘There you are!’ Barbara poked her head around the toilet door. ‘Come on. We’re about to announce the results!’

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