Felix wasn’t a muscleman, but he had definition and a lean, toned stomach. In fact, he was rocking quite possibly the best dad-bod Thea had ever seen. Her eyes roamed over him until they lifted to his face, and their gazes locked.
“Thank you,” she mumbled as he held out his shirt for her. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“What will you wear?”
“I’ll wear my jacket. ChannelMiami Vicefor the rest of the night. It should match the DJ’s music beautifully. Very early eighties.”
Thea snickered. She reached out and took the shirt, keenly aware of every inch between them, every vibrating molecule of air.
“I’ll let you get changed,” he said, picking up his jacket from the floor.
Thea’s mouth twitched, and the urge to banter with her nemesis was overwhelming. “Oh, you’re not staying to watch? I thought that was what you had in mind with allyourstripping off. I assumed you were leading by example.”
Felix’s brow creased as he shucked his jacket back on and growled her name again. At the sound, Thea pressed her thighs together, quashing the little tickle that sprung between them. What the hell was even happening to her? He was only saying her name. Why did she feel it all the way in her knickers?
“Relax, Felix,” she said. “I’m not trying to jump on you, either.” And with a half-smile and a glance from under her lashes, she opened the door to the bathroom and disappeared inside.
Standing over the shiny white sink, Thea pulled closer to the mirror. Her eyes were bright. Alive. But at least most of her makeup had remained intact in all the excitement. The dripping of a tap echoed inside the room, and she glanced down at the large splodge of chocolate still sitting on her arm. Thea smiled, remembering the sight of Felix, wrist deep in the fountain, and with a giggle, she scooped up the brown blob before sucking it off her finger.
Satisfied her face was mostly in order, she moved her eyes down to Kitty’s top and the big brown stain that now decorated its front. His hand-plant had been a freak accident, of course,an unfortunate slip. But Thea couldn’t shake the memory of his warm, chocolate-coated palm closing over her flesh through the thin cotton.
And then her body, her nerve endings, had sprung into action, and her traitorous nipple had peaked under his touch. Heat kissed Thea’s cheeks. Had he noticed? Felt its hardness through the gloop of the chocolate. If so, his face had given nothing away.
Thea let out a short, ragged breath. The more she thought about his hand on her breast, the more the nagging little tug between her legs demanded attention. The image of his body materialised in her brain, standing against the lockers, so relaxed, so casual, so toned… so…
“Stop it,” she said into the room, her words bouncing off the tiles. Shehadto stop it. She couldn’t and shouldn’t be lusting over Felix Walsh. Even in private. And certainly not in a primary school bathroom.
With a slow exhale and not much care if anyone walked in, Thea stripped off Kitty’s top and dipped one arm into the sleeve of Felix’s shirt. She did the same with the other arm and drew the material onto her shoulders, the smell of his expensive, spicy cologne enveloping her. She lifted the fabric to her nose and breathed him in.
With a smile, Thea pulled the shirt closed against her bare breasts, wishing the drag of the fabric came from his hands instead. Damn, she had to get a grip. This daydreaming about Felix served no purpose. She didn’t like him, on any level, plain and simple.
Thea tied the ends of Felix’s shirt into a knot at her waist. Satisfied she didn’t look completely ridiculous, she left the bathroom.
He was still outside, waiting for her, leaning against the same locker as before. Felix straightened up, an odd smile on his lips as he swept his eyes over the shirt.
“Better?” he asked, checking his watch.
Thea tightened her eyes a little at the gesture. “Yes, thank you. Am I keeping you up? I guess you’ll have to get some serious beauty sleep before your date with Persephone.”
Felix’s face fell, a hard glint flashing in his eyes. Thea grimaced internally. Why couldn’t she just stop talking? Not feel the need to say something nasty or provocative every second they were together.
“I need to get home,” he said, voice monotone. “Lucas has been with the babysitter all day. I’ll see you later.” He turned and walked away, leaving Thea standing in the hallway, her apology unvoiced.
She counted out thirty long seconds before following Felix back into the gym. Thea wanted to give him a head start. A clear run at them not bumping into each other for the rest of the evening. She needed space to process what had happened. How her body and her brain had reacted to him. How having his shirt on right now, with its lingering scent of cologne, was impossible to ignore.
Sure she’d left enough of a time gap, Thea pushed open the door to the party. With no sign of Felix, she let out a sigh. Why had she been so stupid to mention Persephone and the silent auction? Just when it seemed they might call a truce. Abandon arms. In ten seconds flat, she’d reminded him of all the reasons he had to detest her.
With an odd ache in her chest, Thea went looking to find her bag. She’d left it near the DJ booth earlier. As she crossed the dance floor, thumping music blasted the crowd, and she spotted Persephone Murray. She and her cronies danced in a tight huddle, and when she saw Thea, a look of pure malice sparked in her eyes.
The old witch ran her gaze over Felix’s shirt and gave Thea a shark tooth smile. All teeth and dead eyes. Her words fromthe chocolate fountain rang out in Thea’s head. Words about decorum and accusations about her behaviour.
Thea clenched her hands into fists. So Persephone wanted Felix, did she? Well, tough luck. Thea wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. And she wouldn’t condemn him to a night with Persephone, either. He may not survive, and then who would she spar with?
The corners of Thea’s mouth bowed, and reaching the table with the auction box, she grabbed a green sharpie and a bidding slip from the pile.
Within three seconds, Thea had finished her work. She’d made an outlandish offer on the only prize that mattered. She would outbid Persephone for one night with Felix Walsh.
