With a grin, Thea ground against him. And just as she’d wanted, Felix groaned. “Well, damn. We’re both virgins of a sort. Should I be gentle with you?”
Felix wound his fists through the fabric at the waist of his borrowed shirt, pulling Thea hard into his hips. “No.”
A smile curved on Thea's lips at the sound of his growl and the fire in his eyes. “Well. if you insist.” She spread her palms over his chest, bracing herself against him before reaching a hand to find his hard length. Without hurry, she lifted herself and slid onto him.
At the pressure of their bodies meeting, Felix closed his eyes and groaned, just like before. Tendrils of delight curled in Thea’s belly. “Do you like that?” she asked, her fingers digging into the skin of his stomach.
Felix half opened his eyes. They were awash with desire. “You know I do.”
Thea tipped up her chin before moving on him again, trying him on for size. “How about that? Does that work for you?”
“Yes,” Felix ground out, his breath ragged.
Thea shifted again, grinding hard against him with a smile.
“And this?”
“Thea,” Felix said her name with the rough growl she adored. “As much as I appreciate this is all new and exciting after both of our dry spells, please, just fuck me.”
At his request, a slow grin spread over Thea’s lips. “With pleasure, Mr. Walsh.”
34
THEA
Felix mumbled in his sleep, and Thea held her breath. She’d watched him for the last hour, studying his face. He lay next to her on the pillow, his eyelashes fluttering in sleep. In the eerie half-light of dawn, he looked like a cherub. His smooth skin wore none of his age or the stress of running a multi-million-dollar business. She’d never thought of him as beautiful before. He was usually too cross-looking for that. But here, in the promise of dawn, it was the only word she could find.
Incredible didn’t begin to describe her night with him. If she’d worried about her sex deficit prior to Felix, she could consider herself in full surplus now. They’d spent the last few hours exploring each other. Pleasing each other. She’d never done some of the things he’d asked her to try, but she’d been a willing participant. If sex with Felix was always as interesting and delicious, she’d happily be back for more.
But still, something gnawed at her gut and fizzled in her stomach. Like she’d had too much coffee.
Thea pushed up to sit, trying to make as little noise as possible. She swung her legs down to the floor, her bare feettouching the plush carpet. The fibres hugged her toes like she’d put on a pair of warm slippers. She stood and reached for Felix’s shirt, which lay in a crumpled heap at the end of the bed. Slipping her arms into its sleeves, she did up a couple of buttons and tiptoed towards the stairs.
On her way down, Thea took a last look at the man who’d had her squirming with delight only a couple of hours ago. He lay on his back, arms above his head, a white sheet twisted around his hips. Even in the pale light, she could pick out the freckles on his skin and the light dusting of fair hair on his chest. He stirred again and murmured something before turning over. His tight buttocks peeped out from the white sheets. Thea took a breath. Yes, Felix was beautiful.
She padded down the stairs, through the sitting room and towards the kitchen. She’d been up all night, and her body demanded caffeine. The stark lighting came on overhead as she entered the spotless room. Their glasses were gone, as was the bowl of strawberries she’d demolished. Thea’s phone was the only thing that lay on the marble countertop.
Warmth spread across her cheeks. Someone had been in and tidied up? She only hoped they’d worn earplugs.
She picked up her phone and checked the screen. The only message was from Ammy but sent from her brother’s phone. It was time-stamped at three a.m.
Josh: Mummy. Joshie and I are up in a thunderstorm. We have hot milck and are hiding under blankets with Wendy. I will chek on all the animals in the tomorro, but I think they will be safe. I miss you. Ammy xxx
Thea’s gut tugged. Ammy hated storms. She was terrified of thunder. What sort of a mum was she, miles away, having the best sex of her life while her child was quaking in fear with only her brother and his dog for company? She’d call the farm when she had at least one coffee coursing through her veins.
Thea stood studying the barista machine on the side. It wasa mass of chrome pipes and bright metal that made no sense to her. Obviously, the very rich and successful had never heard of kettles and instant coffee granules. Not wanting to break anything, she turned on the tap and gulped at its stream of cool water. It was hardly a good look for the plaything of a rich and powerful man, but it was the way she and Ammy drank from the tap in the farmyard on hot days. There were no cut crystal glasses at Small Oaks Farm.
The corners of her mouth tipped up at the word “plaything”. Is that what she was? Something for Felix to pick up and put down whenever he liked? No. She was sure he thought more of her than that. But, at the mercy of his tongue last night, she would have agreed to anything. A tingle sprung between her legs at the memory. Damn, she needed fresh air.
Leaving the kitchen, she headed to the doors that led to the balcony. In the now yellow glow of pre-dawn, the lights of the city had faded. Passing the harp, she plucked a single string before sliding open the glass.
The chill of the air hit her skin, and the smell of fumes and the grind of the traffic assaulted her tired body. London was awake already. Embarking on its daily adventures. The fizzing coursed through Thea’s body again, and she tugged at her bottom lip. This weekend with Felix had been an adventure. A break from her reality. But it couldn’t last.
She moved to the edge of the balcony and looked out over the river. Ginny’s words nudged their way into her brain again.Felix and Adrienne are anything but over.With a sigh, Thea drew Felix’s soft shirt tight around her. Ginny considered her a little dalliance. A roll in the haystack. A bit of a novelty for Felix. And maybe she was right.
Thea didn’t doubt he desired her, but she had to be smart. She wasn't the only one who could get hurt if things fizzled out. If he grew tired of her dirty nails and muddy boots. They had to consider Ammy and Lucas.
Their lives were too different to fit together.
