Page 160 of One Wealthy Wedding

“Fine. I’ll drive. But let’s go. Tonight.”

I want to be that girl. The one who says yes, damn the consequences. The one who sucks the marrow out of life. I want Theo. Before I can question it, I smile at him. He looks a little stunned. “I’ll come on one condition,” I say. “We do the whole list. And we don’t come back until it’s finished.”

He laughs, loud and surprised. “Deal, princess.”

49

Cat

“Wake up, Theo.”

I poke him in the shoulder, and he groans softly.

“Come on. You said dawn. Let’s go.”

“Changed my mind,” he says in a sleep-rough voice. “Come back to bed.” His hand wraps around my wrist, and he tugs me hard enough that I tumble back into the bed. He scoops me under him until all I feel is warm skin and all I smell is Theo. His lips play over my neck. “Isn’t this better than being awake?”

“We’re supposed to kite surf. You told me this was high tide and the wind would be better in the morning.” Little shivers rack my body as he chases my pulse with his tongue.

“What time is it?” he asks.

“Just before dawn.”

He sighs and lets his forehead drop to my shoulder. I tangle my fingers in his hair. He held me last night without making any moves on me, and I so badly wanted him to, even if I know things are fragile between us.

“All right.” He sighs into my neck, then levers himself up. I could watch him get out of bed a hundred times. His arms flex, then his shoulders, then his abs. Each muscle moves in a dance with the others. “You’re staring, princess,” he says, his green eyes teasing.

“So what if I am?”

He stretches, luxurious and long. “Go ahead. You’re my wife.” The word settles inside of me. It sounds right, and I stop that train of thought in its tracks.

“And that means I can objectify you?” I stand and stretch too, just to watch his gaze sharpen.

He grabs me around the waist, pulls me close. My hands go to his firm chest. “Tell me how much you like me, Cat.”

My pulse speeds at the intensity of his gaze. He’s hungry and full of longing, and I want it all for myself. I might have turned over a new leaf, but I’m still selfish when it comes to Theo.

“I like you,” I say. “I’ve always liked you.” I press a hand to his tattoo. “Do you know that, at seventeen, I thought you were the hottest man I’d ever seen? I compared every boy I met to you.” I smile sheepishly. “I still do.”

“I like that about you,” he murmurs. He squeezes my waist. “I like that you’ve always liked me. I know I’ve been less than perfect.”

“Maybe that’s why I like you so much.” I run my fingers over his sharp jaw, feeling his stubble and his warm skin. “Perfect is boring. Perfect would intimidate me. You have rough pieces like I do.”

“Is that a declaration, Cat? Have I won you yet?” He smiles at me. My heart squeezes.

“I told you I can’t be won.” Liar. Theo is so close to breaching my walls, to keeping me with him forever.

“Guess I’ll have to try harder, then.” He might be smiling still, but his eyes are determined.

“What does trying harder entail? Sounds dangerous.”

He dips his head, lets his lips caress my ear. “Let me show you what it would be like to be my wife.”

“I am your wife,” I say, my voice thready. “How much worse can it get?”

He huffs a laugh, his breath hot and damp on my neck. “My wife for real.” He presses a kiss to my pulse. “Whatever you want, it’s yours. A hundred bucket lists, a thousand trips across the globe. I’ll get up every day at dawn. Work. Don’t work. I don’t care.” He pulls back to smile at me. “Take over the world and use me to do it. I’ll be your sword and shield. You’ll never fight your battles alone. I’ll be right there fighting with you.”

My pulse is pounding. He’s impossibly wonderful. I’m going to fall for him, and it’s going to destroy me. “Theo, I—”

---