He reaches out and smooths a few stray hairs back into my bun, his fingertips teasing and light. He doesn’t take his warm, playful eyes from mine; it’s like I’m trapped in his gaze as I become aware of every place that our bodies touch. He’s doing that eye-fucking thing again as his teeth sink into his bottom lip. It makes my knees weak, so I’m glad I’m already sitting.
His thumb lazily traces across the side of my thigh, and my whole body prickles and braces for impact when his mouth slowly starts descending towards mine. I hold my breath, my heart jackhammering against my ribs. I’ve never wanted to be kissed more.
“Uncle Theo!”
We both startle just as our mouths were about to connect, and he jerks back, whipping his head to the side as Carys comes bustling out of the hotel, hurtling towards us, everyone else following behind her with drinks in their hands. My mouth drops open, and I blink rapidly in shock because of what almost happened. We were about to kiss.
Theo pushes himself away from me slightly. There’s a fumbling against my back as he rearranges himself downstairs, and then he stands and grins at his niece. They hug, and she basically drags him by the hand away from me and over to her mum and Finley.
My heart still hasn’t stopped racing.
Heather looks at me over the top of her sunglasses, her eyebrows in her hairline. “Good grief, that was hot. Damn. So much sexual tension. I might have to go for a cold shower.” She vigorously fans her face.
I chuckle and nod, puffing out my cheeks and dramatically blowing the air out. “Me too.”
Amy plops into the lounger next to me and looks between Heather and me as she sips her Coke. “What did I miss?” She frowns, clearly sensing the charged atmosphere.
Heather opens her mouth to speak, but I shake my head, trying to look innocent. “Nothing.”
I settle back and get comfy, pulling my knees up and slipping on my shades. Theo comes back then and starts exchanging some stupid banter with Amy, but I don’t hear any of it because at the same time … he also removes his shirt. It comes off in one smooth, sexy movement, inch by inch, exposing tanned, toned skin, abs, pecs, shoulders, muscles. He even has the V-line thing going on.
Holy moly.
My thighs clench, and my mouth goes dry. My eyes seem to have a mind of their own as they zero in, taking in every damn fine inch of it, committing it to memory. He’s beautiful, all tall, sculpted perfection. I want to lean in and press my face against his chest, tickle my nose on that small spattering of hair he has below his belly button, let my tongue follow that V line …
He stows his shirt with mine and pulls on a black baseball cap before turning to go back to his niece.
Oh, good Lord, the back view! I didn’t even know backs could be sexy until now.
Sucking in a ragged breath, I look around to see if anyone else is feeling this ridiculous attraction, but they’re all simply going about their day like nothing’s happened. No one even glances in the magnificent man’s direction. Meanwhile, I feel like I’ve been hit with a frying pan—right in the vagina.
I can’t drag my eyes from him at all. And when he plucks Finley from his sister’s arms and starts playfully throwing him up in the air and catching him, a big grin on his face, I feel like every womanly part of me explodes with longing.
“Theo is a professional uncle,” Amy jokes at my side.
I startle because I was so in my own little pervert fantasy world that I forgot she was there.
“We could hire him out to kids’ parties. He even does magic tricks.”
“Shut up. Magic tricks?” I look over to her to see if she’s joking. And now, I want to see one.
Amy nods, sipping her drink through the straw. “Yep. He’s a right dork.” She doesn’t say it like it’s an insult though; the fondness to her voice is easy to spot. “So, listen, tomorrow morning, we’re having girlie time before the wedding. Heather, Emily, and I are getting our nails done and having massages. Want to come? I can tell them at reception that we’ll be adding one more.”
A wave of affection washes over me that I’m being included. She is adorable. I can see why Theo likes her so much. I hate that I’m a tiny bit jealous of that knowledge now. “Oh, that would be great. Are you sure you don’t mind me crashing?” I would love a bit of pampering.
Amy waves her hand, as if it’s nothing. “Course not! Theo will likely be busy talking Jared down from the edge tomorrow, doing his best-man duties, so you’ll be able to come and hang with us.”
“Great, thanks.” I grin happily and look back over to recommence Theo Watch.
He’s now in the water, up to his knees, bending so Finley’s little toes dip in, as he and Carys run around, making loads of noise and splashing each other. All three of them are laughing, and I can’t keep the smile from my face.
It’s bloody adorable.
After a little while, Emily takes the baby back into the shade, and Theo and Carys start building sand castles, bantering back and forth as they make it bigger and bigger, even adding a moat around the edge, which Carys attempts to fill by going back and forth to the water with a bucket.
Suddenly, she stops and puts her hands on her hips. “Mum, I’m hungry!” she calls, pouting.
Emily sighs and digs in her bag, coming out with a pack of Oreos, which she tosses in Theo’s direction.
“Oh, score!” He grins as he catches them.
Carys does a happy jig as he tears them open for her. They both take one. Theo twists the top from his. Then, I watch in absolute fascination as he brings the cream-filled half to his mouth, and his tongue strokes across it.
My whole body tightens, and my skin prickles with sensation. Leaning over, I pick up the magazine Amy’s discarded and open it across my knees, pretending to read. Thank heavens my sunglasses are mirrored, so no one can tell what a damn pervert Theo Stone has turned me into.
I can’t take my eyes from it. It’s probably the sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed, and all he’s doing is eating a biscuit. Jeez, who knew I was into voyeurism? Not me—that’s for sure.
He stops torturing the poor biscuit (and my libido) and finally pops it into his mouth, chewing. I let out the breath I was holding and feel my body relax … until he reaches for another.
Oh, dear God.
Somewhere in the deep depths of my mind, I know I should probably pull out my phone and record this, maybe play the Diet Coke advert “I Just Wanna Make Love to You” song in the background just to sex it up that little bit more, but I can’t move. I can barely breathe.
He repeats it over and over, twisting off the top and licking the cream from each one, and I have never wanted to be a damn foodstuff more in my life. I clench my thighs together, trying to relieve the building ache.
I know it’s not supposed to be erotic, but try telling that to my vagina.
I can’t tear my eyes from him, his mouth, his tongue, his shoulders, his abs, his skin …
I continue to slowly turn the magazine pages for show.
A soft kick to my shin makes me jump.
“Stop staring,” Amy says.
“I’m not staring. I’m reading!” I splutter indignantly.
“The magazine is upside down, Lucie.”
What? Shit!
I look down at it, and she’s right.