Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

Theo leaned down to kiss me thoroughly before undressing me with impatience.

“You’re so beautiful, princess,” Theo said, the word full of reverence and desire. I loved it when she called me that.

“So are you,” I said, and she made a face.

“You are,” I insisted. “You’re beautiful because you’re Theo. My Theo.”

She and I still hadn’t talked about what we were doing, but we’d spent every night together and as many hours as we could during the day, so I think our actions spoke louder.

Theo licked her lips as she looked me up and down. She made me feel so sexy when she looked at me like that.

“I am, you know,” she said. “Yours. I have been since that first day. I was just really pissed off at you about it.”

I snorted. “Yeah, I kind of figured. You sure fought it, didn’t you?”

“What a fucking asshole,” she said, her hand stroking my core.

“You can make it up to me,” I gasped. “You’re already headed in the right direction.”

Theo chuckled and leaned down to kiss me. “I’m yours, and you’re mine, aren’t you? All mine.”

“Yours,” I gasped as she drove three fingers inside me. I was so wet that there was no resistance.

“Mine,” Theo growled against my lips before fucking me with her hand so hard that I came within moments.

“I’m going to start your shelves tomorrow,” Theo said. “I’ve got an order of walnut coming in that I think will be perfect.”

We were curled around each other, my head on her legs and hers up by my feet. She’d been giving me a foot massage as we talked.

“Don’t use fancy wood on me, I’m on a budget, Theo. Books aren’t cheap.” Sarah had warned me but sitting down and doing the math on what initial inventory was going to cost almost gave me a heart attack. I was so glad I didn’t have to get a loan for any of it.

“I will use fancy wood if I want. You can’t stop me,” she said, moving to my other foot and digging her fingers into my arch.

“Oh, right there,” I said. “Fine, then I insist on paying full price.”

“Girlfriends don’t pay full price,” she said, and I sat up in surprise.

“So, you’re saying I’m your girlfriend?” I said, my voice squeaking a little.

Theo gave me an exasperated look. “Obviously, Kendra, what the fuck did you think we were doing?”

I threw my hands in the air. “You never said anything! We never talked about it. I was afraid you’d blow up and run away again if I talked about it, so I didn’t say anything.”

Theo started laughing.

“This isn’t funny,” I said.

“Kendra, I picked you. I chose you. I’m all in. When I came back and told you that I wanted to be with you, I meant it.”

“You still never said anything,” I argued. “And you were very clear about not wanting a relationship. What was I supposed to think?”

Theo tried to hold in her smile. “Okay, then will you be my girlfriend, Kendra?”

“Well now I have to think about it,” I said, crossing my arms, which was a little silly, considering I was naked.

“Hey, don’t cover those,” Theo said, pushing my arms down. “I like looking at them.”

I glared at her for changing the subject. “Take a good look, because you might not be seeing them anymore,” I said, taking my breasts into my hands and cupping them.

“What?” Theo asked, completely distracted by staring at my chest.

“Theo! Are you even listening to me? We’re talking about our relationship.”

She reached out and stroked one of my nipples. “Are we?” Her voice was distant.

“Theo! Look up here.” I snapped my fingers and she finally looked up at my face. “Do you want me to be your girlfriend?”

Theo blinked at me once. “Obviously.”

“Okay then.” It wasn’t a romantic declaration, but it filled my chest with so much joy that I thought I was going to float to the ceiling.

“Can I go back to your boobs now?” Theo asked.

I hit her with a pillow.

Time started to feel like it was moving too fast. I signed my lease, got my permits, and started working on the bookstore. To my surprise, I had a lot of help.

Paige, Sasha, Hollis, Hayden, Alessi, Natalie, Em, Mckenna, and even Piper came and helped clean and work on things.

Theo declared her order of walnut to be some of the finest wood she’d ever had and that it would work for the bookshelves. She also finally delivered my rocking chair, my tables, and the rest of the furniture. Wild to think that when I’d first ordered it I was just a girl with a really bad crush and now I had my dream woman in my bed every night. Life could change so fast.

Mom and Dad made plans to come up and see the house, and Theo helped me order my pictures and put them on the wall.