One Size Fits All (The Classy ‘n’ Sassy Series Book 3) (24 page)

CHAPTER
Thirty-Five

T
heo flopped
into bed at 4:43 a.m. His alarm was due to go off in an hour. But he knew if he slept now, he’d never wake up. He’d sleep right through it. So he was left with the decision of staying up and going to work on zero sleep, or calling in and dealing with the fallout of yet another sick day.

He rolled off his bed and grabbed an energy drink. He then woke up a sleepy Blitz, who had zero interest in moving until he heard the jingle of his leash. They ran a two-mile loop around the neighborhood as the sun rose, the cool air doing wonders for his exhaustion. By the time he showered and changed, he was about three-quarters awake, and that was going to have to be good enough.

It would have been easier to stay home and use the sick day. He could make up for it by doing detention duty for the rest of the year. But he went to work because he was desperate for a distraction. He needed something to keep his mind off Penny. Off what she threw away because she couldn’t trust him, trust what they had.

Love sucked, and this had definitely taught him a lesson. Stay the fuck away. The heartbreak hurt too much.

---------

PENNY FELL
hard asleep and didn’t wake until after eleven. Right away she called Bryn for an update.

“He’s asking for sex on the hospital bed, so he has to be feeling pretty good.” She laughed and Penny was happy to hear it.

“Take it easy on him. No freaky stuff until he’s fully healed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They hung up and Penny lay there. What the hell had happened to her life? How had everything gotten so royally screwed up? She knew the reason. Theo had been right. She’d let her fears rule her life. Why had she done that?

The last few months had been the most difficult she’d ever faced. Her financial situation had been unfamiliar and scary as hell, but she was succeeding. The voice mail with the job offer from Mitchell, Heinle, and Nuwer was proof of that. She’d been happy in love—for real—probably for the first time ever, but that had gotten too difficult to handle. Why couldn’t she succeed there, too?

Penny was faced with a huge decision. Should she stay single and live a predictable life devoid of love and true happiness, as long as it had comfort and safety? Or go back to Theo and the unknown? Which was sure to be a nonstop roller coaster of laughs and love, but not without hurt and sadness, too. Was the reward worth the risk? Or was it better to be safe and get no reward at all?

After everything she’d experienced with Theo—real love, real devotion, real happiness—how was there even a question at all?

Man, she’d been a real asshole.

I need to get him back.
If he would even have her. He’d been so mad at her the night before. So hurt. But he loved her. That couldn’t disappear that fast, right?

Penny leapt out of bed, Scarlett at her heels. “Sorry, baby! Your walk has to wait. I have to go win Theo back!”

It wasn’t until she stepped out the door she realized she was still in fuzzy pajama pants and a tee, no bra or underwear.

She stepped back in. “Maybe a shower first.”

---------

THEO’S PHONE
alarm went off at 7:30. He’d been so drained by the time he’d gotten done with school that he begged Sean to cover his practice again and headed home. Good thing the drive was only two miles. He’d barely been able to keep his eyes open. He got a decent nap in and was ready for job number two at The Red Brick.

He pulled into the lot and it was empty. Weird. Especially for a Friday night. He headed for the back entrance and pulled on the glass door, the only light from a lone lightbulb above him. He headed toward the bar. Complete darkness, with only the glow of a few neon beer signs on the walls.

“Seth?” He felt around for the light switch. “Is anyone here?”

Finally he found it and flipped it, fluorescent bulbs illuminating the space.

“What the hell is this?” he asked aloud. The place was empty, but every table was covered in gold cloth and treasure boxes overflowing with fake gems and jewels. He stepped to the bar, where not a single inch of mahogany was left uncovered. Gold coins, strings of pearls, and shiny rhinestones were scattered. There were gold cups, filled to the brim, and even a few swords and pistols.

Behind the bar sat a skeleton, donning a tattered jacket, hat, and a leather patch over one eye. “Did I sleep longer than I thought and wake up on Halloween?”

“Nope. Still have a couple weeks.”

He’d know that voice anywhere. He turned and there she was. Penny. And holy fuck did she look gorgeous. Golden hair flowed over her shoulders, an electric blue dress that accentuated every freaking curve, every delicious piece of skin.

But he couldn’t let her know how much the sight of her affected him. “Is Seth doing a pirate-themed night I didn’t know about?”

She shook her head. “This is just for you.”

“For me?” He was completely lost. “Why?”

She stepped toward him. “My favorite part in
Goonies
is the scene where Mikey talks to One-Eyed Willie.”

What did that have to do with her and him and the bar? “Why did you do all of this?”

“He finally finds what he’s been looking for.” She took another step. “And so have I.”

What the fuck? She sure as hell wasn’t talking about him. She ran away away the second things got hard. Thor breathed deeply and crossed his arms over his chest, not sure why he was waiting for her to explain what that meant.

“I want you. I want our happily ever after.”

The nerve of her to come here thinking she could sprinkle a few fake coins, use this silly movie and its significance to their relationship against him. That she could say a few words and erase all the misery she put him through.

“That pirate ship has sailed.” Thor turned away from her. “Go live your safe, boring life without me.”

He walked through the hallway and out the back door. He was going home. To bed. To sleep off this day and forget it ever happened.

---------

THIS COULD
not end like this. Penny trotted after Theo in her platform heels. Why had she worn platform heels?

“I don’t want boring. I want messy,” she yelled to his back in the middle of The Red Brick’s parking lot. She reached for his arm and pulled him toward her. Made him look at her. “I want silly movies and pizza for breakfast. I want to spend all day naked in bed watching HGTV and eating cereal for dinner. I want to fight and have mind-blowing makeup sex. I want someone who helps people no matter what, because I know he’s there for me 110 percent, too. I want someone who loves me—really loves me—mistakes and all.”

She paused to catch her breath and he turned to face her. “I want you. I love you.”

He stared at her, no expression.
Please say something.

“What if you change your mind? What if you still can’t trust me? What if you get scared again and decide you can’t do this after all?”

That’s not what she wanted to hear, but she understood why he had to say it.

“Walking out on you was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Second only to thinking, for even one second, that I couldn’t trust you.” Her voice wavered as she continued. “Will you give me the chance to make it up to you?”

She wanted him to pull her to him, never let her go. He had to want that, too. She knew it deep down in her soul. But something stopped him.

Penny stepped closer, placing her hand on his chest. The warmth of his body permeated the soft cotton, and the thunderous beat of his heart vibrated against her fingertips. He looked down at it and she continued, the words coming out quieter than she wanted. “We can get through anything if we love each other. Please tell me you still love me.”

Theo stared at her. Nothing. Did he know how badly he was torturing her? He stayed silent and she knew. This wasn’t going to end happily ever after like she wanted. This was really the end. Her fears and stupidity had lost her the only man she’d ever really loved.

She blinked back tears and let her hand fall away from his chest. But he caught it in his.

“I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.” He lifted her hand to his mouth. After a soft kiss to her palm, he met her gaze. “I don’t ever want to stop.”

Theo’s lips crashed into hers so hard she lost her balance, but he caught her. He’d always catch her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him tight, his mouth capturing hers. Her body filled with joy as butterflies on speed raced through her, flutters to every extremity. She had him back and she’d never again be stupid and let him go.

A whistle and a howl interrupted their reunion, followed by clapping. Seth walked out from the shadow of The Red Brick Inn, Shelly at his side. “So glad you two crazy kids made up. But someone better get in there and clean all that shit up.”

“Stop it!” Shelly said, and slapped his arm. “I’ll clean it up.”

Seth kissed her on the cheek then turned back to Theo and Penny. “I only shut my bar down for a really good reason. Luckily I like you guys. Now go home and screw your brains out.”

“Yes, sir.” Theo gave a mocking salute, then folded Penny’s hand into his, leading her toward his truck. “You think they can hang on to that pirate getup? We can get you a wench costume.” His eyebrows rose. “That could be fun.”

“Whatever floats your boat.”

---------

WHEN THOR
left his house that evening, he never expected to end up in Penny’s bed. But here he was, peeling off that sexy dress and savoring every second.

“Leave the shoes on,” he said as he stood and tossed the dress onto the floor.

“Yeah? I didn’t know you liked sparkly platform heels.”

“I like them on you.”

He yanked his shirt off and dropped his jeans to the floor, his gaze glued to her body. So. Fucking. Hot. He’d never really cared for fancy lingerie before, but, man, did she look spectacular in black lace.

She rose up on her knees, her arms reaching behind. The lace peeled from her skin to reveal a perfect set of cotton-candy nipples, just waiting to be sucked. He actually salivated just thinking about it.

The bra joined her dress and his clothes on the floor. As he pushed his boxers down, she tucked her thumbs into the lace at each hip and did the same. She rested back and his dick twitched as those black panties inched down her legs. But then they got tangled in the spiky heels of her shoes.

Penny giggled. “This is why you don’t wear heels in bed.”

He grabbed one foot and gently pulled, tossing the shoe over his shoulder. Then moved on to the other.

“Much better.”

He rested his body between her thighs, her legs wrapped around his waist, the silkiness of her skin caressing him. Her fingers danced along his chest, his shoulders, then up his neck and into his hair. The best freaking massage he’d ever had.

“I love you,” she said. “So much.”

“I love you, too.” Their eyes locked on each other’s, and he knew she meant it. She’d meant every word she’d said at the bar. She’d finally let herself believe she was the only one for him. That they were meant to be together.

And he was going to have a real fun time showing her, over and over, for the rest of their lives.

He kissed her, but didn’t allow her the opportunity to deepen it. He needed to taste her, feel her bud against his tongue, the way she moaned and sighed when he flicked and sucked it. He loved how her body pulsed in his arms, her fingertips digging into his flesh, as he brought her to ecstasy.

But as he inched downward, she pulled away. Flashing that devious smile, she shook her head. “Uh-uh.”

“Why?” It was like being handed an ice cream cone that he could only look at. He just wanted to lick it.

“I promised you a show and I’m going to give it to you.”

It took him a second to remember. “Oh. That show.”

Penny propped up her pillows on the headboard as he sprawled out on the end of her bed, arm bent, head resting on his hand. Like he was about to watch a movie. She pulled out a dick-shaped toy, hot pink in color, and flipped it on.

“Are you ready?” she purred.

“Fuck yeah.”

She spread her thighs wide and his view was freaking amazing. She touched the vibrating member to her clit as she pinched a nipple with her free hand. His dick throbbed. She moved the dildo to the opening of her pussy, her gaze burning into his as she thrust it in. Fuck was he jealous. Of a piece of rubber! And it wasn’t nearly as big as he was.

“Touch yourself, too,” she begged, so he did.

She watched his hand as it squeezed and moved along his shaft. He couldn’t lie. It was all pretty damn erotic. But then her sweet sighs deepened, vibrating in her throat, and her body started to tremble. She was getting close.

“No. Stop. I can’t do this anymore.”

She ceased her movements, but her breathing remained rough. “Why? Isn’t it turning you on?”

“It is, but it’s killing me not to touch you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s what makes it fun.”

Moving toward her, he pressed a kiss to her inner thigh. “But I want to be the one to get you off. Not some stupid piece of rubber.”

He gently pulled the dildo from inside her and tossed it on the floor, immediately replacing it with his fingers, his lips to her clit, and sucked.

Her body jolted and her hands clenched the sheet. “Oh yeah. That’s better.”

Flicks and nips, he worked her bud with his tongue and teeth, circling it, then sucking it in, her body pulsing with euphoric energy. Finally he’d decided she’d suffered enough and drew her in one last time, constant pressure and stimulation until she shook in his arms. Her thighs clamped around his head, her hands on his scalp, he rode the wave with her, not letting up until she collapsed against the mattress.

He let her rest for the two seconds it took to roll on a condom, and that’s all she needed. The fire was back in her eyes. He pushed into her hard, his hands on the headboard, hers on his ass, drawing him in, fingertips pressed into his flesh. But then their gazes met. This was hot, and passionate, and sexy as fuck, but that’s not what lovemaking was. Not all the time, anyway.