Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

“I’m not as sweet and innocent as you think I am,” I said.

“I never thought you were sweet and innocent,” Theo said. “That’s why I like you so much.”

I shimmied back up her body and laid myself across her chest. Post-coital, all I wanted to do was snuggle.

“You’re being kind of sweet right now, though,” Theo said, her hands still in my hair. I ran my fingers across her collarbone.

“I hope you like cuddling,” I said.

“I like cuddling with select people,” Theo said and then sighed. “I guess you’re one of them.”

Theo didn’t let me cuddle for long, though. Her fingers moved from my hair and down to my nipples, pinching and flicking them until I moaned and figured that we could both get off at the same time, so I reached for her and we ended up finger-fucking each other to an almost simultaneous orgasm.

My hair was an absolute disaster and Scout was barking to be fed, so Theo and I dragged ourselves out of her bed and took a quick shower that turned into us soaping each other up and having a good time before we rinsed off and got out.

Theo let me borrow one of her old t-shirts, which was so long that it hung halfway to my knees like a dress. I’d brought pajamas of course, but I would much rather wear something of hers.

I followed Theo into the kitchen where she scooped some food for Scout and refilled his water.

“You look so adorable right now,” she said, pulling me toward her with the shirt. I stumbled into her arms with a laugh and she kissed me until my knees were weak.

“You really changed your mind about that whole friendship thing, huh?” I said when I could breathe again.

“Maybe,” Theo said, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.

I needed to ask her where we were going from here, but I was too scared to pop this beautiful bubble we were in with reality.

So I kissed her again and let her feed me some snacks she pulled out of the pantry and the fridge. We split a beer and went back to bed and talked about everything and nothing. I loved hearing what Theo thought about things, even if she did go on a rant about golf courses being a scourge on the environment.

“They should be banned, and that’s all there is to that. The planet is dying, but you’ve got to play your little rich boy game. Oh, and don’t even get me started on how racist and sexist golf is,” she said.

I hid a smile and nodded. She was so cute when she got fired up about something. I had no idea how we got onto the topic of golf, but Theo had a whole lot to say about it.

“Is it weird that hearing you rant about golf makes me want to kiss you?” I asked.

Theo tried not to smile and failed. “It’s a little weird, but I’m not going to judge.”

Scout whined at the door and Theo let him in. He jumped up on the bed as if he needed to check on us and then jumped off to go curl up in his bed in the corner.

“Does anyone call you Theodora?” I asked, using her full name. It was something I’d been wondering for a while.

She made a face. “Please never call me that again.”

“Okay,” I said. “You really hate it that much?”

Theo nodded. “It’s just…not me. It never felt like my name. Like it belonged to someone else.”

I leaned forward to kiss her. “Then I’ll never use it again.”

“Thanks,” she said. “People always think I’m being dramatic when I tell them how much it bothers me.”

I stroked my fingers up and down her arm. “I’m sorry. People can be assholes.”

“They can,” she said. “I’m glad you’re not.”

“You’re not either, I’ve told you this.”

Theo shook her head. “There are a lot of people who would argue with you.”

“Line them up. I’ll fight them,” I said, putting up my fists in a boxing stance.

Theo burst out laughing, the sound beautiful and bright.

“You’re too sweet for your own good.”

That led to her kissing me again, which led to making out on her bed until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.

“Okay, time for bed, princess,” she said, tucking me under the covers. I scooted over until we were curled together.

“Goodnight,” I said.

Theo kissed my nose. “Goodnight.”

The next time I awoke, I was completely disoriented. It took a few seconds to realize where I was, and that I was alone.

“Theo?” I called, my voice raspy with sleep. Soft sunlight peeked through the curtains. I had no idea what time it was.

She came through the door, her hair a chaotic mop on top of her head.

“Hey, sorry I woke you. I had to let Scout out.”

She leaned down to give me a kiss. “Want some breakfast and coffee?”