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

you to the bath. I’ll bring some breakfast for us to have in the bath as well.”

“Ooh. Breakfast in bath. I like it.”

Half an hour later, Jade was in heaven. Baths had always been something Jade loved. She could sit in warm water until every inch of her was puckered and be as happy as a clam about it.

Now she was sitting in a hot bath the size of a small swimming pool, eating a sweet, flaky food that reminded her of a dry baklava, while a tattoo-covered Adonis massaged her shoulders.

It was an understatement to say that last night had worked out the way she’d wanted it. Not only had he given up control, but now he seemed all but giddy.

He’d sauntered into the bathroom buck naked with a tray of delicious-looking food. His hair had been mussed from sleep and sex, and the purely masculine grin he’d shot her had made her weak in the knees.

Nothing is sexier than a well-loved Theo, she mused to herself.

He was different now. Affectionate. He rarely went a minute without finding some way to touch her or kiss her, even if it was just to brush a hair off her face. When he began rubbing her shoulders and back, he’d had to grab her around the waist to keep her from sinking into the warm water.

“Another well-deserved grade in massage, Theo.” She moaned, thoroughly content.

He pressed a hot open-mouthed kiss to her shoulder in response. “How long does it take for you to recover from sex?” he rumbled while kissing the nape of her neck.

“Hmm?” It took her a moment for her brain to catch up. “Oh, I’m not sure. I’m probably fine now.”

“Now?” he said incredulously, turning her to look in her eyes.

Jade faced him and backed away, treading water. “Yeah, why are you surprised?”

He gave her a hungry look and started moving toward her, but she held up a hand, indicating he should stay put. He frowned but sat back down. “Clecanian females need twenty-four hours to recover.”

Curious, Jade asked, “What exactly do you mean when you say ‘recover?’ Are they hurt or something?”

Theo looked confused. “No, their bodies just don’t allow them to have sex for twenty-four hours. I believe it gives the seed a better chance to take root. What do you mean by ‘recover?’”

“Their bodies don’t allow it? How?” she asked, ignoring his question.

“Their entrance closes tightly and they won’t produce any lubrication for twenty-four hours until their entrance relaxes again, sometimes longer. Sex would be very painful if attempted during that time.”

“Wild,” Jade said more to herself than Theo.

“Jade, how are you different?” Theo said sternly.

“None of that happens to me.” She shrugged, then asked, “So, does that mean Clecanian women can only have sex one time per day?”

“They only need time to recover if they’ve had an orgasm during sex. Technically they could have sex more than once a day if they didn’t reach climax, but it’s unlikely any female would stay with someone who was unable to bring her to orgasm.” Theo rushed through his explanation then asked, “Jade, are humans able to have sex more than once per day?”

Jade scoffed. “Once. Ten times. It doesn’t matter.”

Theo’s gaze darkened hungrily, but then a flash of concern lit his features. “Then why do you need to recover?” His jaw clenched. “Did I hurt you?”

A pang of affection ran through Jade when she saw how worried he was. She moved to stand between his knees. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she tried to reassure him. “I’m not really hurt, just sore. The more we have sex, the more I’ll get used to your size, and I won’t be as sore as often.”

He ran his hands down her waist and settled on her hips. Eyes riveted to the tops of her breasts, he groaned. “Be sure to let me know when you’re feeling better.”

“You will be the first to know.” Jade giggled.

Theo shot her an unguarded smile. If her plan was truly working, then maybe he was beginning to like her despite his earlier doubts. His treatment of her this morning gave her hope that he might want her to stay with him.

“Theo what’s changed?” she asked, searching his eyes for an answer.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re treating me so differently. Do you still think I’m a spy?”

She could almost see him working through the question himself. “I don’t know whether you are a spy,” he said haltingly. “I do know that I no longer care if you are.”

Jade flushed with pleasure. If his admission was true, maybe she had a shot of convincing him to let her stay longer.

Reaching up, he twined his fingers through the hair at her nape. “You could betray me a hundred times over, and I fear I’d still fall at your feet.”

Sincerity shone from his eyes. She felt as though her heart had skipped a beat.

One good lay, and you’re ready to latch onto him forever.

She had fallen for him. Was in so deep now that she knew she’d never recover. How could she persuade him to keep her? His parents had stayed together. Maybe he’d want to too.

She could tell Theo liked her; his declaration just now told her he may like her a lot, but that didn’t mean he wanted her to stay. The sex was amazing between them, no question about it, but he was an alien. She couldn’t be sure she was reading his signals right. If she admitted her feelings to him, she risked him becoming closed off again.

Asivva. She would know. That Gathering thing was in less than a week. Jade knew Asivva was going to be there, and she could only hope her sister in law would have some kick-ass advice for her on how to win her brother over permanently.

She leaned in to give him a quick kiss, but he snagged her around the waist, deepening the kiss. The student had become the master in the kissing department. He knew just