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

Alcohol, give me courage.

“Let’s go sit on the couch,” she said, grabbing her glass and the bottle of prosecco 2.0. Jade moved to the living room and sat with one leg tucked underneath her. After long moments, she heard Theo follow. He sat stiffly on the opposite side of the couch.

“You look nervous,” she said, trying to keep the smile from her voice.

Jade felt powerful, knowing she could make a man as gorgeous and strong as Theo this nervous.

As though the words were pulled from him, he asked, “What do you want to do tonight?”

Feeling playful, she asked, “What do you think I want to do tonight?”

He stared fixedly at the fire and squirmed in his seat. “I cannot begin to fathom the torture you’ll put me through.”

Jade let out a laugh. “I sure hope it won’t be too torturous.” She reached over to trace an exposed scar on his forearm and grinned when goosebumps broke out over his smooth skin. “I want to teach you how to kiss.”

He shot a sidelong glance at her then downed his mott. “Very well,” he ground out, voice gone deep.

He made a move to stand, but she stopped him. “No, you can stay there. I’ll come to you.”

Jade started to crawl over to him on the couch. His eyes were now riveted to her. When she was right next to him, she slowly pulled her dress up to her thighs and then straddled him.

He seemed frozen in place. One arm was stretched long over the back of the couch. The other rested on the arm. Was he going to try not to touch her again? She could tell he was turned on. His chest rose and fell quickly, his eyes glued to her breasts, and when she settled herself in his lap, she felt his hard shaft jerk in response.

He was so large that sitting on his lap barely brought them face to face. She still had to tilt her head up to look into his warm green eyes. “You can put your hands on me if you want.”

He gave a long exhale, set his empty mott bottle on a low end table, and then placed his hands gently on the still-covered areas of her upper thighs.

Damn his control. We’re going to break that tonight baby.

She ran her hands up his chest and onto his shoulders, causing him to shudder. “Just follow my lead,” she said, leaning in. “And don’t bite me.” Smiling, she amended, “Don’t bite me…hard.”

When she pressed her mouth to his, his hands tightened on her thighs but he didn’t kiss her back. She continued to run her mouth over his, coaxing him to respond. Finally, when she gently bit his bottom lip, his quick intake of breath gave her an opening. Deepening the kiss, she touched his tongue with hers.

Theo gave a pained groan and slipped his tongue against hers in return. He began to kiss her back. Slowly at first but more feverishly as his confidence grew.

Soon, he’d taken the lead with a skill that made her moan and absently rock her hips against him. One of his hands snaked up to fist her hair while the other wrapped around her waist, crushing her to him.

Her nipples were tight, and even the soft material of her dress chafed. She pulled back, intending to remove her dress and his shirt so she could feel his skin against hers, but with a growl he wrenched her mouth back up to his and continued skillfully kissing her.

When he moved to nip at her jaw, she panted, “Theo, my dress. Take off my dress.”

He stilled under her. She leaned back to look at him. “This can’t happen,” he bit out between clenched teeth.

Jade wanted to scream in frustration.

His large hands moved to clutch her waist, but he didn’t let go of her.

Fucking overly controlled man! She could tell he was on the verge of losing it. His grip was firm as if he couldn’t decide whether to set her away or keep her in place. Despite his words, his hips rolled. Why was he holding back?

She ran her hands up his strong arms, enjoying the feeling of his muscles jumping at the contact, and asked, “Why can’t we do this? I can tell you liked kissing very much.” She ground against his erection to emphasize her point.

In one swoop he lifted her and deposited her on the couch. He then sprung to his feet and backed away.

She’d known this was going to happen. It’d all been part of her plan, but it still stung that he was able to resist her when she could barely keep her hands off him.

“Why? Tell my why?” she shouted.

His eyes shifted to her mouth, and he licked his lips hungrily. “I’m not in control with you, Jade.”

“That’s what I want!” she said, throwing her hands up. “I want to see the real you.”

“If I can’t control myself, then I can’t be sure I won’t hurt you,” he said, shaking his head.

He’d moved a safe distance away from her, but she could tell it was taking everything he had not to return. His hands clenched and unclenched as if wanting to touch her, and his eyes roamed greedily over her body.

“I believe you won’t,” she said stubbornly. “I’m not afraid of you.”

He let out a strangled growl. “Don’t you think I want to! All I can think about every day is pushing you down and sinking into your warm, wet cunt!”

He looked crazed as he shoved his hand through his hair.

“You asked about what food I like?” He barked a laugh. “No food has any taste. The only thing that makes my mouth water is the thought of devouring your sweet juices while you writhe and claw at me. I can still smell your arousal in my bed and I have to relieve myself ten times a night just to keep from storming into your room to taste you!”

He looked at her, defeated and