Page 80 of Under Your Spell

So I do.

It’s hours later when we finally stumble downstairs, looking like we’ve both (barely) survived some sort of sexy tornado.

It’s the middle of the night and we’re in the kitchen. I am wearing Theo’s T-shirt and making scrambled eggs and toast.

Theo is leaning against the counter, completely naked because ‘we could have been doing this for weeks, Clemmie. We could have been naked together for weeks. I’m never putting on clothes again and neither should you. You should definitely always be naked from now on.’

‘I’m not going to cook eggs naked,’ I say firmly. ‘It feels… unhygienic and potentially dangerous.’

‘Who needs to eat?’ Theo exclaims expansively, snaking an arm around my waist and nuzzling my tangled hair.

‘We do!’ I huff. ‘I think we probably just burned ten thousand calories. If we don’t eat something and hydrate, my body might turn to dust.’

‘Hmmm, wouldn’t want that,’ Theo agrees, taking the plate I hand him. ‘And I think I like seeing you in my clothes almost as much as I like seeing you naked.’

I blush, which is ridiculous, given everything that has just happened between us, but I can’t help it. I don’t think any of this has really sunk in yet.

We eat our eggs at the kitchen counter mostly in comfortable silence. Theo clearly realizes he’s ravenous after all because once he’s finished his he starts trying to scoop food off my plate and I’m forced to threaten him with a kitchen utensil.

‘Careful where you’re waving that thing!’ Theo yelps.

‘This is another reason to put on clothes,’ I smile sweetly.

‘I can’t believe you’re complaining about my lack of clothing,’ Theo sighs, getting to his feet. ‘The shine is off already. You’ve had my body and now you’re tiring of me.’

Even though his tone is joking, I know him well enough to hear the tiny, truthful fear at the heart of those words.

I stand as well, wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him tight, plant a kiss on the perfect pectoral muscle in front of my face. ‘I honestly don’t think I could ever get tired of you, Theo.’ I smile against his skin. ‘Yes, I think you’re unbelievably hot and you’ve potentially ruined sex for me forever, but I also think you’re sweet and clever and funny and extremely, extremely silly, which is maybe my favourite thing about you.’

‘Really?’ He looks down at me, and there’s a vulnerability in his expression that makes my heart squeeze.

‘Do I really think you’re extremely silly?’ I go up on my tiptoes, kiss the corner of his mouth. ‘Yes.’ I take my courage in my hands. ‘I’m totally mad about you. Full of very big feelings.’

His hands at my waist, he lifts me off my feet, spins me round. When my feet touch the ground again I’m laughing, and he catches my mouth with his. ‘Very big feelings is good,’ he whispers. ‘Now, let’s go back to bed.’

The next morning I wake up in Theo’s arms. This time we shower together. This time nobody leaves.

PART THREE

Chapter Thirty

Two days and an obscene number of orgasms later, Theo and I pack the last of his stuff into his fancy car. When Theo insists I drive with him and I ask him what I am going to do with my own car, I do not appreciate his mournful sigh and answer of, ‘Just take the handbrake off and let the sea take it; it’s given all it can.’

Fortunately, Petty has roped Lil and Serena in to come and sort out the house once we leave, and oversee putting all of her stuff back in place before any holiday guests arrive. I am certain my sisters have agreed to this as a ruse so that they can come and check in on me and Theo, but Lil has offered to drive my car back down to London so I am not about to look that gift horse in the mouth.

‘Nice love bite.’ Serena greets me dryly at the door, at a disgustingly early hour of Thursday morning. ‘Tell me again about these purely friendly feelings you have for Theo.’

I flush, pulling at my T-shirt in an effort to cover up the mark next to my collarbone. I’d accused Theo of living out some Blood/Lust fanfic fantasy and he certainly hadn’t denied it. And, to be honest, I hadn’t really minded.

‘Holy shit, Clemmie,’ Lil whispers, awed. ‘You’re, like, glowing. Your skin is radiant. I think you’re surrounded by some sort of sex mist.’

‘Um, gross.’ I wrinkle my nose. ‘Please don’t ever say sex mist again, you creep. So, yes, okay, I may have some news…’

Serena stalks past me. ‘Please,’ she says. ‘The sexy writing was on the wall when we were here last week.’

‘Are you angry?’ I ask nervously, following her through to the now empty living room. I’ve been sort of dreading Serena’s reaction, especially given the very legitimate claim of unprofessionalism she could level at me.

Serena eyes me narrowly. ‘Because of the job? No. Whatever happened here, Theo had some sort of creative breakthrough, so everything worked out. But I did have to hear from David that you were going to his sister’s wedding before you texted us asking for help. And now here we are clearly bursting into the middle of your love nest. Not cool, Clem.’