Page 86 of You, with a View

“Noelle.”

That voice again, this time singsongy with amusement. I hear my own irritated groan, but it turns into something more honeyed when a warm mouth grazes the back of my neck. A shiver skitters down my spine, shaking me into awareness.

It’s Wednesday morning, and we’re in our Sedona Airbnb. I’m in bed, rays of light pushing through the closed ivory curtains. Theo is spooned behind me, his hand running from my hip to my thigh and back as he kisses along the curve of my bare shoulder. Traveling is disorienting, especially when we’re moving from place to place, but there are perks. Being kissed awake is one of them.

“What are you doing?”

Silly question. I know a Theo Spencer seduction when I feel it.

And I really, really feel it.

“Waking you up,” he says. “It’s after seven.”

“Seven!” I try to sit up, but Theo slings his thigh over mine.

“Our tour doesn’t start ’til ten,” he says, his voice heavy with sleep.

We’re going on a Jeep tour today, but that’s not what I’m worried about. “Paul wakes up at the ass-crack of dawn. He probably—”

“Shh.” Theo’s lips skate up to my neck. He bites gently at my skin, drawing out a gasp. “My door is shut, and he’s not going to go barging in there. He has no idea I’m in here, and I’m good at sneaking out by now.”

“You’ve never stayed ’til seven,” I sigh out.

“Feeling lucky today. Andverymotivated to stay,” he murmurs, flipping me onto my back.

He hovers over me, naked, his hair everywhere, with sheet marks running down his cheek. I reach up to trace them, following the path until I get to his mouth. His eyes turn as soft as the early-morning light, as hot as the sun I was just dreaming about.

I love waking up with him like this—unhurried, quiet. The past few days Theo’s been pushing his luck, waiting until the sun peeks over the horizon to leave me. But it’s too good; not just the sex, but the after, tangled up together while we recap our day or talk about our favorite comments on my latest TikToks or watch a movie until we both doze off. I can’t stop thinking about how I want this every day, without an end date in mind.

I swear I would’ve said it if my teeth were brushed, and for once in my life I’m grateful for morning breath. After Theo told me I was free to have a relationship with Paul separate from him, I’ve been wondering if that was a subtle reminder of our terms.I’ve sunk so deeply into what we’re doing now that it’s been hard to remember what’ll happen when we go home.

It’s hard to remember thatthisisn’t home.

I pull Theo down until most of his weight is on me, wrapping my arms around his neck. He burrows his face against my throat, pressing whisper-soft kisses there. His back moves up and down in a long sigh, and I echo the movement until we’re breathing in sync.

A knock breaks the peace between us. Theo’s head pops up, a dark wave of hair cresting over his forehead, his eyes flying to the door.

Paul’s voice calls out, “Hate to bother you, but I just put a fresh pot of coffee out and cut up some fruit. Shall I make some eggs?”

I don’t answer immediately, panicked, and Theo presses his hips into mine. “Your room,” he mouths, graciously omitting the very deserveddipshit.

“Oh!” I squeak out, pinching his ass when he starts laughing silently. “Um, yeah, that’d be amazing. I’ll be out in just a few minutes.”

Theo frowns, pressing his hips forward again, sharing his ambitious erection. “Fifteen, minimum,” he whispers.

“Two minutes, tops,” I call, shooting him a triumphant grin even though my body is screaming for his again.

“That sounds fine, sweetheart, don’t rush,” Paul says.

“You’re gonna get it later,” Theo whispers against my ear.

“Oh,” Paul continues, the smile clear in his voice, “and don’t worry, Teddy. I’ll make your eggs over easy the way you like them.”

So, the cat is out of the bag.

When Theo asks how long he’s known, Paul gives him a lookover his readers and says, “Since the beginning. You’ve been downright cheerful.”

I nearly choke on a slice of pineapple. Paul gives me a wink.

---