Page 61 of Spelling Disaster

The things he does to me with just a kiss. I wonder what—

I lose the last strands of thought when Theo drops his hand from my hair to the side of my breast. He pauses there for half a heartbeat, waiting for my answer, and when I kiss him harder, he touches. He cups my breast in his palm, massaging it before tweaking my nipple between his thumb and forefinger. My grunt of approval spurs him on further and he delves his hand inside my shirt and beneath my bra, touching my skin.

Theo presses me against the desk and although I know there are important things beneath me, he doesn’t seem to care. Not when he sweeps everything away and hoists me up onto the desktop, widening my legs and stepping between them.

His hand dips from my breast to southern territories and the heat between my legs is almost too much for me to bear. I break away to stare up at him.

It would be easy to go farther. To let his fingers explore my body the way I want him to. He pauses again overtop the fabric at my core with a question in his gaze. Whatever he sees on my face has him nodding once and shifting to place his hand on the top of my leg.

“We have time,” he says, almost breathless. “Isn’t that what I said before?”

“You did.”

He pulls away to grab a shirt and drag it over his head. Without looking at me again, he tosses some things into a bag.

“I’m coming with you to help.”

“I’m sorry,” I start. “I don’t want you to have to sacrifice your studies to help me. It was a mistake to drag you into this. Theo.”

He’s not paying any attention to me.

“If we hit the ground running tonight, then we can do something even more important than just theoretical bullshit.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “Right, Yas? We can make an actual difference. We can save your family and your people.”

I’m awestruck. “Yes,” I say, swallowing hard. “Yes, we can.”

ChapterTwenty

Alump forms in the back of my throat and I know that no matter how hard I try to clear it, it’s stuck for good.This man. This man who knows everything about me now, who gave me a chance, is all in.

Tears prick the corners of my eyes and I know if I give myself even a second to think about how huge this moment really is, I’ll break down.

He sees the tears and rather than telling me to buck up, or acting like they’re an inconvenience, he kisses me again until I’m breathless for a completely different reason.

“We’ve got this,” he assures me.

“I don’t know how you’re so calm. I’m freaking out. This is insane.”

“It’s pretty insane, yeah, but it’s also a chance to actually do something. Stop.” He barks out the words before I have a chance to say anything else. “Stop thinking you’ll owe me for this.”

“I never said that.” I sound petulant.

“You don’t have to. I see the guilt on your face. I’m going because I want to go. And because I want to protect you.” He tosses me his cell. “Now call your sister and your roommate and tell them the deal. We’re leaving in five.”

Controlled Theo is even sexier than Poet Theo. I never would have guessed.

Rather than giving myself even the barest opportunity to overthink this, I use his cell to call the room. I’d told them to leave but knowing them, they’re still there. Waiting to see what I’ve done and worrying.

Blaire answers on the second ring.

“We’re all in,” I tell her. “You guys head out. Theo and I are going to catch up to you on the road.”

She blows out a breath. “I knew you were crazy, Yazzy, but this is beyond. Okay. So I’ll ride with Remi and Atlas and we’ll meet you and your boy-toy at the border. Is he—”

“Yes,” I interrupt, sparing a look at Theo as he finishes with his sneakers and straightens. “We’re fine. We’re good.”

Maybe my luck really has changed, I think as I hang up the phone. Being here with him, having Theo not only willing but able to help me in this moment, it’s everything. It’s a wish, it’s a dream.

Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a nightmare before we’re done. The kind where he regrets helping and wants nothing to do with me.

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