Page 29 of He's the One

Theo blinked.

Col edged closer until he could feel Theo’s warm, sweet exhalations hitting his lips.Just do it. Kiss him.Col still hesitated.

“Yes,” Theo whispered. “In case you were wondering.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, I am gay. Yes, I want you to kiss me. Please. Don’t make me beg. But yes, I will if I need to. Yes, yes, yes!”

Col brushed his fingers over Theo’s cheek, then paused when he touched his lips. Theo licked the pad of Col’s middle finger, and Col moaned. He slid his other hand to the back of Theo’s neck, pulled him in and as their lips met, crushed him tight to his body. Col sucked and nipped and teased as Theo clung to him.

He wasn’t sure how they came to be lying on the ground, but that’s where they ended up. Theo on his back, Col half on top of him, their lips together. Col sank deeper into the kiss, savouring Theo’s warm mouth, aware of the state of both their cocks, but ignoring the voice in his head that was telling him to slow down. Then Theo was on top, grinding against him and Col thought the world could have ended and he wouldn’t have cared.

But when Theo shifted and Col banged his head on a rock, he gasped. “Ouch.”

“Oh God. Sorry,” Theo blurted. “What did I do?”

Something about the expression on Theo’s face… Col pulled him in and kissed him again, curling his tongue under Theo’s, exploring his mouth, trying to be slow and gentle but feeling as if he was in an accelerating car, soon to race out of control. They rolled on the ground, hands all over each other as they writhed and humped and kissed, and at the same time they were laughing and gasping and—

“Good grief,” a voice snapped.

Theo scrambled to his feet alongside Col. Col clenched his teeth.Shit.This guy was Theo’s boss, and now Theo was going to be in trouble. Col couldn’t let that happen.

“What the hell have you been doing?” Darnley snapped. “You’re supposed to be getting ready. I need you back at the house. Now.”

“It was my fault,” Col said. Was he supposed to bow? Call him sir, lord?

Darnley glared at Theo. “I know exactly whosefaultit was.”

“Hey.” Col took a step forward, but Theo tugged at his sleeve and shook his head.

“Don’t blame Theo,” Col said. “Sir.”

“This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. Come with me now.”

“Check out the carrot,” Theo whispered.

“Look for my photo in the best poultry picture,” Col whispered back.

Theo smiled.

As the two walked off, Theo’s head and shoulders gradually sank lower and lower as Darnley spoke angrily to him. Col couldn’t hear what was being said but the tone was clear. Maybe Col didn’t want to work here. Why was he even thinking of it? This guy wasn’t going to give him a job. If Theo was right, Darnley was responsible for Nyman sacking him. Except why did it matter that he and Theo liked each other?

Chapter Seven

Theo wished Dastardly would shut up. He’d wrecked what was the best thing to happen in forever. An actual kiss! And Theo couldn’t revel in how wonderful it had been because Dastardly was still bleating in his ear about his appalling behaviour. A tiny, tiny part of Theo had been glad for the interruption because there had been the distinct possibility that he’d come in his trousers. But he wished he’d not walked off with Dastardly as if he regretted what had just happened.

“What the hell were you doing? Rolling around on the ground with a man! In public! Are you insane? I told you to leave your phone on and to be wearing your suit. You’re an absolute disgrace. Your mother would be appalled.”

How had Dastardly known where he was? Maybe one of his spies had seen him go into the woods. Or maybe it was because it was where he always went when he was trying to avoid something or someone.I’m too bloody predictable.

“Get changed, then go to the drawing room. Help my wife put leaflets about Asquith Hall into the programmes for the promises auction. That should keep you out of trouble.”

Theo stopped walking. “Trouble?”

“Your parents would be disgusted by your behaviour.”

Theo narrowed his eyes. “How dare you speak to me like that! There was no one else around. We weren’t hurting anyone. It was a kiss and it has nothing to do with you.”

---