“Yes?” Her voice was higher pitched than the Ariana Grande song DJ Malcolm was currently playing. Was Felix about to bend her over his knee and spank her with a chocolaty hand? The idea brought a nip of interest to her body and a smile to her lips. She could just picture it. He’d be very cross with her, furious and red-faced, and she’d be….
“It’s not funny,” he ground out, straightening up.
“I know, but I didn’t mean it. Really, I didn’t.”
He viewed her through narrowed eyes. “I highly doubt that.”
“It’s true.” Thea brought her hands to his chest, just like Persephone had. What was it about Felix Walsh, wrist deep in chocolate, that drove women to want to touch him? Still, the pecs under her fingertips were surprisingly solid.
Shaking the thought from her mind, she again tried for humour. “At least I’m consistent. Two-for-two. The puddle was deep and brown, just like the fountain. Does it burn?” she asked, reaching to examine his hands.
“Get off me!” Felix jerked away from her. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage already?” His glare almost took the skin off Thea’s face. Turning back to the fountain, he flickedhis hands in the air to clean them off. A glob of warm chocolate landed on Thea’s arm.
“Ow!” she yelped, staggering forward. Perhaps it was an overreaction, but the chocolatecouldhave burned her. At the sound of her squeal, though, Felix turned back around, arms outstretched, landing one of his coated palms straight on Thea’s right boob.
For the longest beat, they stared at his hand as it cupped Thea’s breast in her flimsy white top. Neither of them spoke. Thea swore neither of them breathed. Until, wide-eyed, she looked up to see Felix’s face. He looked like she’d caught him stealing from the cookie jar.
“Shit,” was all he said, peeling his hand from the fabric. The warmth of his palm left Thea’s skin, and she looked down to see not only a large print of his hand, but her hardened nipple fully outlined by the thick coating of chocolate.
Before she could explain away her body’s reaction, to defend her part in “boob-gate,” Felix’s gaze shot over her shoulder, and Persephone’s voice assaulted her from behind.
“It’s okay, Felix. I’ve brought you some towels. We’ll have you cleaned up in no time.”
Thea sucked in a breath, and, searching for a quick escape, wheeled around, coming face to face with Persephone. The cougar’s eyes zeroed straight in on Thea’s hand-printed boob. Like a fish left on a riverbank, her mouth gasped and gaped. Finally, when her lips finished their wobbling, her perfectly plucked brows screwed together.
“Well!” She drew away from Thea and Felix as if they were radioactive. “I don’t need to ask what’s been happening in my absence.”
Felix shook his head, stepping forward and holding his dripping hands out in defence. “Persephone.”
“No!” she said, stuffing her paper towels into his open palms. “I don’t want to hear it. Couldn’t the two of you havewaited until you got into the car park? This is a charity event, for goodness’ sake, not a fetish club.”
Thea scoffed despite her predicament. Was there really a fetish for being covered in chocolate? She’d have to do some research later. It sounded delicious, if not a little messy.
“It’s not what you think,” Felix spluttered.
Why was he attempting to placate Persephone?
“Oh, I think it is,” she countered. “And I’ll just say I’m shocked, Thea. You’re a widow. Have some decorum.”
Thea’s heart sank heavily in her chest. Oh, great. Now Felix knew, and he’d pity her, just like everyone else. She dared a look in his direction, and his face confirmed her suspicions. He wasn’t staring at Persephone but at her, with his brows peeking and mouth hanging open.
Awesome.
As if only now realising she was standing in a room full of virtual strangers with one boob rudely outlined in chocolate, Thea turned and bolted out of the gym.
12
THEA
She reached the sanctum of the hallway, breathless but unscathed. Besides a few pointing fingers and giggling faces, she’d made a quick, painless escape, away from Persephone’s shock and Felix’s pity.
All she cared about now was getting the stain out of Kitty’s top.
“She’s going to kill me,” Thea said to nobody in particular. Her voice echoed off the locker-lined walls as she pulled the sodden material away from her skin.
“Who’s going to kill you?” A deep voice rolled through the corridor. Felix. He must’ve followed her. “If anyone’s going to murder you, Thea, I’d rather it was me. I think I’ve earned the privilege.”
How could he be so calm? He’d just manhandled her boob in public, for goodness’ sake. “Take a spot in the queue, then.”
