Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 Victoria Aveline (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📖

his hand pointing into the corner of the kitchen at a small panel. “A synthesizer makes food for you. Type the dish you’d like, and it’ll appear.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! Why do you even cook at all? If I had that back home, I’d use it every day.” A machine that could cook for you sounded like a dream come true. “I’m a terrible cook. My aunt always said I could burn boiling water.”

Jade averted her gaze, taking another bite. The sudden mention of her aunt had sent a jolt of sadness through her.

Theo rested his elbow on the table, lifting his glass for another sip. “The food tends to be a bit bland when made in the synthesizer. Cooking the food by hand always yields better results for special occasions like tonight.”

Jade’s chewing slowed at his cool tone. Her mouth was still full, so she raised her eyebrows, implying a question.

“Tonight, we’ll bathe together as husband and wife for the first time.”

Trying to swallow too quickly, Jade choked and coughed. After a moment, she managed to wheeze, “Come again?”

Handing her the glass she had been clutching for, he calmly repeated, “Tonight, we’ll bathe together as husband and wife for the first time.”

Eyes still watering, Jade set her palms on the table and took a couple of deep breaths. “I understood the words, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not taking a bath with you.”

Theo sat back in his chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. Irked, she realized he was enjoying this.

“Traditionally, a newly married wife and husband bathe together the second night of their marriage and then again once a week thereafter.”

Her eyes widened further. “I don’t care about your tradition! I’m not getting in a bath with you. I didn’t know about this, and I’m certainly not doing it.”

“Ignorance won’t get you out of this. It’s not my fault you didn’t learn enough about our culture before you married into it,” he said coolly.

Jade saw red. She opened and closed her mouth wordlessly before screeching, “How dare you! I didn’t choose to get married! I—”

“It doesn’t matter how you got here,” he waved a hand dismissively, “You’ll be in that tub by the end of the night whether you want to be or not.”

“You can’t force me to go in there with you! I know that much.”

“Who’s going to stop me? You?” He chuckled.

“I’ll tell Zikas!”

“How?” He flashed her a wicked grin like he’d been waiting for her to make this threat. “Do you know where the communicator is? Do you know how to use it? Can you even read the numbers?”

How would she call him? She hadn’t realized it until now, but there was no way for her to get in contact with anyone unless he showed her how. He was right. He could do what he wanted, and she couldn’t stop him.

He smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

A plan. She needed an escape plan. She could take her chances in the woods. The front door looked too heavy to open quickly, so she’d have to run through the glass leading to the beach. She’d learned while exploring this morning that all she had to do to get outside was walk close to the glass.

“You wouldn’t make it to the door,” he chided, reading her mind. “It’s time. Let’s go.”

Gotta try! she thought as she sprang out of her seat. Hefting the chair above her head, she threw it at him.

Before seeing whether he was hit, she bolted to the glass wall. A pane of glass formed from the solid wall and slid out of her way silently. She dashed through the new opening and ran toward a trail on the opposite side of the beach.

Chancing a glance behind her, she saw Theo stepping onto the patio. He didn’t bother to run at first. He stalked toward her, like a predator. Then he bared his teeth in a terrifying grin and began to sprint.

Her legs ached as she tried to pick up speed while running through the sand. The night air was cold, but the sand felt warm against her feet as though the dark color of the sand had trapped the sun’s heat from the day before.

She could see the small trail drawing closer. Only a few feet away.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist and threw her forward. Before they hit the ground, he turned their bodies so she landed on top of him.

Once on the ground, he rolled and pinned her underneath him. Her wrists were secured above her head in one of his large palms. He wedged his hips against hers and forced her legs apart with his own legs, ensuring she couldn’t kick him.

Jade writhed and hissed underneath him like a feral cat. “Get off of me!”

“Calm down!” he bellowed.

His hold on her wrists tightened painfully. Jade whimpered but stilled.

Theo rested his forearm in the sand by her head. “That’s better,” he said, loosening his grip again.

The moons above backlit Theo so she couldn’t see his face. She could tell he was turned on, though, from the feel of his hardened cock as he absently rocked his hips against her. “You shouldn’t have run,” he grated out, his whole body tense.

He started to grind his hips more vigorously, and so help her, it felt wonderful. Jade had to stifle a moan as his shaft pressed against her clit.

This couldn’t happen. He’d just chased her like an animal. “Theo,” she said, her voice shaky.

It seemed to take all of his control to stop, because he shook violently.

“Theo?” she called softly.

Growling, his left hand shot out to cover her mouth. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. It took him a few moments to regain control of himself but when he finally did, he jumped off her.

Shaken, she got to her feet, but before she could rise all the way, he threw her over his shoulder and headed toward the house.

Chapter 22

I could kill him!

After