Out of the Storm - COMPLETE

Chapter 19

Jules

"SHIT," HE SAYS.

"What?"

"My contacts are really bothering me. They get really dry at night." He leans down and gives me a quick kiss. "I promise we'll go in a second. Let me just go change into my glasses."

"You wear glasses?" Stupidest question ever, Jules. He just said that. Apparently, having sex is all it takes for me to become clumsy with my words. Okay. Sex twice. Mind-blowing sex. Sex like I've never had it before.

He kind of laughs, his eyebrows lifting as if to ask, "Really" without saying a word. He looks totally amused. And gorgeous with his biceps straining against the cotton of his shirt, those sweatpants hanging just so on his hips. And never mind the tennis shoes. I don't know what it is about seeing a guy in sweats and tennis shoes that makes me hot. Except Theo's not just any guy. He's like one of those Greek god sculptures. But he's real. My stomach flips, and up until today, the only guys who were capable of making me swoon like this were in magazines or celebs on television.

"I know. Stupid question. Don't mind me."

He kisses my forehead. "Give me a minute. I'll be right back."

I nod. My mouth is parched, so I walk into the kitchen and start opening cabinets. I hate to plunder, but we did just have sex. Twice. Surely, I have earned the right to water. They're immaculate, perfectly organized. Did he do all this?

When I find the right cabinet, I pull a glass, place it on the little lever on the fridge, and watch as it dispenses water so cold it causes the cup to fog up. Dragging in a sip, I savor the coldness as it slips down my throat. In fact, I can't stop drinking. Partially because I want to hurry and put it in his sink before he comes back in, and also just because even his water is delicious. After I'm finished, I carefully and quietly put it in the ceramic sink.

Turning around, I nearly jump through the ceiling. Theo's hunched over the bar, his chin resting in his palms, his expression impassive. His glasses are old school, the kind with the black frames like a professor would wear. Except his aren't black. They're kind of marbled brown. My heart pounds in my chest like it's a caged animal dying to be set free. Covering it with my hand, I swallow. I point behind me at the sink. "I hope it's okay I went through your cabinets. I was thirsty."

He smirks. "You were so cute trying to be discreet about getting a glass of water."

If there were something I could safely throw at him, I would. Instead, I just narrow my eyes. "Shut up."

Theo chuckles. "You can make yourself at home when you're here. You don't have to ask for something as basic as water." Then he frowns, closing the distance between us, and caresses my cheek. "Tell me you don't have to ask for water the way you do orgasms?"

"No." I avert my gaze.

He tugs my chin. "Jules."

"No. He doesn't. I just never really thought about all the times he's made snide remarks about my dietary choices until just then. About how controlling he is." I shrug. "I never noticed it until you. I didn't know any different."

He shakes his head, his jaw ticking. "That's twice you've fucking said that tonight." He pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a second. "Has he ever hit you?" he asks when his eyes flash open. Those glasses only make his eyes pop more, accentuating the amber hue to them.

"No."

Theo runs his hands through his hair. "You're a fucking terrible liar, Jules. I wish I'd known that before I got in so deep with you."