FIFTY SHADES OF THEO JAMES

Chapter 7

I stirred from my drunken state sometime later. Around me was still dark so I knew it was still night. Cheers and laughter could be heard off into the distance mixed in with the sound of music so I knew the party was still going on.

I pushed myself into a sitting position, clutching my head from a migraine that came from god-knows-where and then rose to my feet.

Glancing around at my surroundings I saw Theo laying on his back staring blankly at the top of the cabana's canopy. He turned his head to look at me and then quickly sat up.

"How long have you been laying there?" I asked him as he watched me.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I honestly couldn't tell you. I remember us drinking and we were both very out of it when we came in here and then I woke up. I just wanted to stay and make sure that you didn't wake up and stumble into the ocean for a night swim."

"Saving me from drowning again?" I teased as he rose to his feet.

"Don't be ridiculous." He said before leading the way from the cabana.

We walked across the sand over to where the party was still lively. Several faces were missing but Shai, Ansel, Miles, Zoe and a few others were still dancing.

"Hey," I greeted once we joined them.

"Hey!" They replied simultaneously.

"We thought you two lovebirds went to bed." Miles taunted as he hung a necklace made out of glow sticks around my neck.

I laughed. "Naa just drank a lot and blacked out for a bit."

"Well we can fix that. Just tell your boyfriend dearest to start bringing you to more of our parties and in no time you will have the tolerance of a Irishman."

I suppressed a grin as I glanced over my shoulder to look at Theo. "I'll definitely talk to him about that." I chuckled. "But then who is going to keep all you fine gents out of trouble?"

Miles threw his arm over my shoulder and inclined his head towards mine. "That is kind of the point. Go hard or go home." He said before he headed off muttering about getting another drink.

"Your friends are very friendly." I said to Theo as we walked towards the tide where everything was a little quieter.

"They are some of the best people I have met in a while. I think you and Shai and Zoe will make decent friends. You three are similar."

"Similarity doesn't count if you are comparing us with the fact that we all have breasts and vagina's and look decent in bikini's." I said as the tide crashed over our feet.

Theo let out an exasperated sigh. "No, I just meant that you are all down to earth and have strong personalities."

I turned to look at him and he smiled.

"Don't do that." I said in a low voice as I looked into his deep brown eyes.

"Do what?" he asked, his brows furrowing from confusion.

"Make things personal. This is business, between you and I. No emotions, remember?" I said as I started to move deeper into the warm pacific waters.

Theo caught me around my arm and pulled me back. "I'm not. I'm doing what a friend does and that is being friendly."

I rolled my eyes and turned away. "More like you are being ridiculous." I said as I continued into waist deep water.

"Do you have this problem with your old friends-with-benefits?"

"Actually I don't. It's just you."

"Me, what? What is so different about me?"

"Your lifestyle, Theo. Have you forgotten that you are a celebrity? On top of that, non of my past fuck buddies ever requested that I pretend to be madly in love with them and eventually marry them."