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“Arena? Stadium? Oh, wait I know, court!”

“Um … sure.” Theo filled in court and Fee smiled. Good. She got one.

“Give me another one.” She leaned into him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. His rainy-day scent was so comforting, so familiar. Like everything else about him. Even when he was driving her crazy.

“Okay … blank B, aka Scary Spice.”

“Sam B? No, wait … Jen B? I think it’s Jen.”

Theo twirled the pencil between his fingers. “Sure. Jen B of Spice Girls fame.”

“Are you making fun of me?” Fee asked, faking outrage. “How dare you Mr. Slowest Hands in the west.”

Theo laughed, throwing the crossword book aside. “I’ll show you slow hands.” He turned on her, pouncing like the predator that he was.

“Theo … don’t you dare…”

His eyes glinted in the firelight as his fingers dug into her sides. Fee squealed and shrieked with laughter. She twisted and turned, thrashing under him as he tickled her.

“Theo! Stop!”

He did. Poised over her, his legs on either side of hers. His chest rising and falling, same as hers. They were both panting. One hand was still on her waist, the other braced beside her head. His gaze was locked with hers.

His mouth was right there. Soft and plush.

Fee thought about that kiss in the woods again. Thought about what he wanted to do differently. If he would try again if she asked him to right now. The firelight flickered over his golden skin. All his strength was tightly coiled as he held himself over her, just waiting for her to say the word.

“Theo,” she whispered, not knowing what else she might say, only that she needed him closer.

He leaned down, running his nose along her cheek, nuzzling against the space behind her ear, breathing her in.

“Yeah, Fee?”

His lips brushed the sensitive skin of her neck and her eyes fluttered closed. She let her hands come up to his head, her fingers raking through his curls.

He hummed low in his throat, nearly a growl, almost a purr.

“Tell me what you want, Fee,” he rasped. “Please.”

His body was lower now, nearly flush with hers, but he was still holding himself back, not doing what they both wanted, not giving in.

“Maybe we just need to blow off some steam.”

Theo stilled, his lips so close to her neck that she could feel every warm exhale on her skin.

“Blow off some steam?”

He sat up, leaving Fee exposed. She sat up, too, facing him on the couch, already questioning what she was about to say but she had to do something.

“This … this heat between us. It’s too much. We need a … release.”

Theo’s eyes darkened.

“Come with me.” She took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

Chapter Seventeen

Theo had a belly full of ramen and a raging erection, and he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. His wolf was prowling so close to the surface, he thought he might start howling at the damn moon in a minute.