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

him cook so she could learn how to do it herself. He was still perplexed as to why she’d want to cook for herself, but he allowed it anyway.

Their time together was very nice, but there was still one problem. He continued holding back. While he didn’t blow up or get angry anymore, he also didn’t laugh or smile much. It was as if his passion were replaced with a lukewarm reluctance.

She could tell he still wanted her. Every so often she would catch him stealing hungry glances at her. At one point, when they’d been walking in the woods, she’d tripped and almost fallen on her face. He’d caught her easily and held her against him for a breath too long before he’d hastily righted her and let her go.

Still she hadn’t pushed it. Made sure that whenever she felt aroused, she quickly left so he wouldn’t scent her.

Tonight was going to be different though. It was females’ choice. The made-up ceremony Asivva and her had concocted ensured she could do what she wanted and he couldn’t leave. Yes, tonight she’d break that calm demeanor he’d been sporting recently.

Did she want him to touch her again? Absolutely. But it was more than that. This man she’d been hanging out with the last few days was nice, but it wasn’t really him. She struggled to admit it, but she missed him. Missed his ferocity, his sexuality, the way he pinned her with his dark stare. Jade wanted him to let go of that control he wore like a weight around his neck.

She had a plan. All she needed now was the guts to go through with it.

***

He looked nervous. Jade watched Theo cook as she’d done the past few days, but today, instead of the calm, focused expression he normally wore, a tight, anxious mien covered his face.

He kept sneaking glances at her, and she felt flush with success at her outfit choice. A sheer, gauzy material was covered in emerald green embroidery and lined with a flesh-toned fabric, giving the illusion that Jade was naked under the embroidery. When he’d first seen her in the tight dress, he’d had to clear his throat before speaking.

Dress? Check. Hot alien? Check. Cebo? Check.

Before heading down to dinner, she’d locked Cebo in her room so he couldn’t distract them.

When he was done cooking, he guided her to the dinner table, mott in hand.

Each meal he made was somehow better than the last. The fact that he continued to examine her food habits in order to cook more of the foods she liked made Jade melt. It also made her even more certain that she was making the right decision.

She’d decided that she wanted to stay on Clecania indefinitely. She’d also decided, despite her fear of rejection, that she’d make herself emotionally open to a real relationship with Theo. Putting herself out there was terrifying, but she’d realized during her time here that terrifying could also be good.

For all his bark, Theo didn’t have much bite. Not toward her, anyway. As she chewed a deep magenta vegetable similar to broccoli, she gazed longingly at Theo. Jade had come to learn that he was just a big softy with a hardened outer shell.

Theo glanced at her and then returned his gaze promptly to his plate.

“Do you like my dress?” Jade said with a smirk, not bothering to disguise her blatant complement fishing.

Theo gave her an exasperated look. “I believe you already know how I feel about it.”

Jade tilted her head at him. “A girl always likes to have verbal confirmation that her efforts weren’t in vain.”

The corner of his mouth lifted at that. “I received the highest grade possible in the culinary arts and yet I burned our food three times while cooking this evening. Is that enough confirmation for you?”

Setting her silverware down, she gave a mock shrug of disappointment. “I suppose it’ll do.”

Jade had finished her meal rather quickly tonight. Now she sat back and sipped the pink fizzy drink, which she’d dubbed prosecco 2.0. Theo, on the other hand, was eating much more slowly than normal.

Stalling, big man? she thought, downing her drink and pouring another.

Watching him eat like this made her notice that he didn’t look like he enjoyed the food he’d spent so long making. Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t remember him ever savoring any food. A pang of guilt ran through her to think that he might’ve been eating his version of liver and onions the past few days in order to keep her happy.

“So, what food do you like, Theo?”

He glanced down at his plate and gave a half shrug. “I like this food fine.”

“I think you make these things because I like them, but it doesn’t seem like you do.” Jade leaned forward onto the table. “What’s your favorite food?”

He gawked at her like she was asking, “What’s your favorite season of American Idol?” Obviously, he’d never been asked this before.

“If I weren’t here, and you wanted to make something special for yourself, what would you make?”

He chewed thoughtfully, and then answered. “A resh steak. I enjoy eating meat.”

Of course he does. You don’t get muscles like that without some protein in your diet.

“Can we have steak tomorrow?” she questioned.

He peered up at her suspiciously. “You don’t like it. I’ve tried a few different types of meat, steak on the first night, and you always eat around it.”

“That’s okay. We don’t always have to eat what I like. I can give it another try.”

He gave her a perplexed look but then nodded. “As you wish.”

Finally finished with his food, he sat back and took a long pull of his bottle.

She did the same from her glass. “I haven’t said it enough before, but thank you for all the cooking and clothes and everything. I really appreciate the effort you’ve gone to.”

The corner of his mouth turned down and he shifted in his seat as though uncomfortable with the compliment. “It’s