Page 71 of Botched

“No felonies,” Aurora gasps as I suck that nipple into my mouth, treating it the same way as I did the other one. Except I let my teeth scrape over this one and she whines, fingers tightening in my hair. “They’re not necessary.”

Fuck. I love the sound of her voice when it’s desperate and breathy, when she’s losing her mind for me.

“No promises,” I growl back. My lips leave her breasts and I set my sights on what I’ve wanted to see for so long. The start of the floral tattoo along her side. I can take in all the details I don’t usually see because of her clothing concealing it.

Detailed flowers start right underneath her armpit, down her ribcage, wrapping slightly onto her back. Darkly shaded leaves and stems connect the flowers, complete with a black and white ladybug settled on one of the leaves. It’s photorealistic, continuing down her side, over her hip, and stopping at the top of her thigh.

I trace my fingers over the details before my tongue follows that path. I’ve dreamed of this tattoo. Naively, I thought seeing the black and white ink would mean I finally reached my goal. I would be able to let go of the woman who’s wrapped around my heart like barbed wire, sinking into the organ and refusing to be pulled away without ripping it apart.

“You have consumed my every thought. I can’t go twenty minutes without wanting you in my life. Wanting to hear your voice, see your smile, watch you roll your eyes when you’re done with my shit. You know how long it’s been since I’ve been able to think about something other than myself or wrestling?”

I spill myself to her as I kiss down the tattoo, listening to the little hitches of her breath and the way she sighs.

Then she inhales sharply, her voice shakes as Aurora utters three words that stop me in my tracks. “You love me.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

AURORA

Saying that was a mistake.

I can see it in Theo’s brown eyes, he’s panicking. I terrified him by making that observation. I said what felt right, what we’ve been dancing around. Putting the pieces together, that was the conclusion that was made crystal clear. I don’t think Theo was ready to come to that conclusion. His lips are frozen against my ribcage. His fingers had just hooked underneath my shorts and now they’ve stopped.

When he pulls his hand away, I reach for him without a second thought. I don’t know how, but I need to fix this. Walk back my words and hope they are erased from his brain and allow me to continue having this moment.

Theo swallows hard enough that I see his Adam’s apple bob. “It scares me,” he whispers.

Our eyes lock, my fingers brush over his shoulder. My mouth suddenly feels dry and I lick my lips in an attempt to remedy that. That was an admission, wasn’t it? Was Theo owning up to his feelings? I need to respond but it feels like making that observation took all of my courage.

Now I know that I’m not the only one who’s been terrified.

He brings his hand up my body, cupping my cheek. “More than anything,” he admits. “It scares me how much you mean to me. How badly I want you to be happy and safe.” He hovers over me again, pressing his forehead against mine as his thumb lightly strokes my cheek.

Hot tears sting the corners of my eyes. One slips down my cheek. “It scares me too,” I whisper back to him. Leaning down, he kisses the tear from my cheek. The gesture gives me a bit more courage to continue. “You scare me. I know who you are. I know all the bad and all of the good.” Theo is fire. He could keep me warm or he could burn me to ashes. “All your red flags have always been on display.”

“You can see them from space,” Theo chuckles. He leans down, brushing his lips against my cheek. “I’m not going to change, baby doll. I’m not going to suddenly become a good guy. I’m still a villain—I’m just yours.”

There’s something about that that’s comforting and frightening at the same time. I know what I’m getting into, but I don’t have a choice anymore. I’ve fallen into this maze and I have to follow it through until the end. Either I burn or I don’t.

I move my hand to the back of his neck, fingers lightly playing with the soft hairs there as I pull him down for a kiss. My eyes flutter shut when our lips meet. It’s soft and sweet until Theo’s tongue slides along my bottom lip and I open for him. Our lips and tongues crash together as his hips settle between my thighs. My tongue chases after his as his hips grind down against my core. I can feel the hardness of his cock through his pants and I press myself up into it, making him groan into the kiss.

“You’re going to drive me insane,” he breathes when the kiss breaks. His lips brush against mine as he speaks. “You have no idea how badly I’ve needed you. Once was not enough, Roo. It’s never going to be enough.”

I smirk up at him. “I amrighthere, Theo.”

“Right here is where you’re going to stay,” he growls. Sitting up, he reaches down to undo his belt. It’s the same black leather Ferragamo belt that he always wears, the signature belt buckle glinting in the light. He pulls it through the belt loops of his slacks until it’s free. “Hands,” he demands.

I offer my wrists. He loops the belt around them, ensuring it’s not too tight before he attaches it to the headboard. It’s loose enough that I could break free if I wanted to—I don’t want to.

His eyes are dark. Caramel has turned into pools of black as they rake down my body. Bringing his hands to my shorts, he rips them down my thighs without a second thought, my panties following them. I’m naked beneath him as Theo drinks me in.

“Fuck,” he groans. “Look at you.” He trails a finger from my collarbone to the top of my mound, grinning. “Such a beautiful sight.”

I sigh, arching into his touch, trying to angle his hand down just an inch or two. I want to feel his fingers or his tongue or his cock. Something.Anything.

I think he’s going to give in. His index finger trails down, running along my slit. Theo chuckles, the sound dark and velvety. Sin from the devil himself. “You’re soaked and I’ve barely done anything to you, baby doll. Is this how badly you want me? How much you need me?”

Words are stuck in my throat again. Not out of fear, but desire. Talking is the last thing I want to do. I want tofeel. I want him to fuck me until the mattress breaks and we get noise complaints. I need everything that’s been building up between us to be said with our bodies. No more fighting or denying it.

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