Valentine's Theory (2 page)

If she didn't go through with this, she may lose her only chance at that elusive thing other women were always prattling about. She wasn't about to even think the word because she was still not sure it existed. So in a way, this really was an experiment. Only she was the test subject in more ways than one. And she had involved the man she trusted most in the world under semi-false pretenses. She didn't want to see if people reacted differently on the commercialized holiday for lovers than any other day. She wanted to see if she was capable of having a full relationship with someone on a truly intimate level.

Okay, that was another half-truth. She wanted Theo. She craved Theo. But was she capable of giving herself completely to another? If so, then it would truly be with Theo. He was her rock, her hero...

The chime of the doorbell startled her out of her chain of thought. Oh God, he was here.

        Theo had driven around the block four times, turned around and started back home twice, and yet he ended up on the doorstep of Misha’s small cottage right on time. This was seriously twisted. As much as he wanted Misha—hell, want was putting it lightly—he shouldn’t be taking advantage of her like this. He should just walk in there and tell her exactly how he felt.

        Riiiiight. And watch her blank stare before she kicked him out of her life for good. As twisted as it was, he would rather be her “friend and colleague” than to not be in her life at all. To confess how he felt before going through with this ridiculous experiment would possibly guarantee she’d never want to see him again. He just wasn’t sure he could go through with this whole thing without giving himself away.

        Still, he was going to go through with it. The alternative being unacceptable, this was the last option left to him. He’d tried talking himself out of it, but he just couldn't seem to figure out a way to get Misha to understand he was in love with her. To tell her he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. Or more truthfully, he was way too chicken shit to tell her to her face how he felt. He kept expecting one day she would catch on. But for ten long years she never had. The only glimmer of hope he’d ever gotten was how insanely jealous she’d been over his very brief fling with Denise Hunt. That had been the one of the few things that had given him so much hope in the first place. As soon as he noticed how upset Misha had become over Denise, he’d dropped her like a hot potato. But that had been seven years ago. Since then, nothing.

        He was going to have to tell her. It would be dishonest not to. Just...after. Because if he didn't touch her, hold her, kiss her—just once—he was going to lose his mind.

        Mentally pulling up his big boy pants, Theo rang the doorbell. He had a key, he could’ve just let himself in, but it just seemed wrong. Expecting to wait a while, as generally Misha was reading or typing or jotting down notes or—

        Sweet Mother Mary and her son Baby Jesus!

        Theo’s knees almost gave out as he beheld a woman that had to be as opposite from Professor Misha Collier as Dr. Jekyll was to Mr. Hyde. The woman who swung open the door, wide, was wearing a deep red lace teddy that hugged her very luscious curves like second skin. The crimson color was perfect against the darkness of her skin. Her bountiful breasts stood out, full and tempting, her dark legs bare, yet shimmering. And her hair fell down softly to just above her shoulders, not pulled back in a ruthless bun.

“Are you praying?” Theo blinked at the sound of the incredulous question. Had he said that out loud?  “Theo, are you all right? We can most certainly call this off if you—”

“No!” Okay, he certainly hadn’t meant to shout. Did she not realize how she looked? Standing there. At her front door. Door wide open. Shit.

        Misha barely had time to blink before finding herself forcefully moved back out of the doorway into her home. Theo didn’t shove her. Instead he picked her up as if she weighed nothing at all. The man didn't let her go either, but turned with her in his arms and slammed the door closed before locking it securely. Latching the chain and everything. She’d fully expected him to put her back on her feet after that, only he didn’t. Instead he stalked straight to her bedroom, dumping her unceremoniously on the bed.

        The thought occurred that at the very least she should feel outraged at being manhandled. That was the normal reaction for something like this, right? Only, she was thrilled. Who knew Theo was so strong? Yes, he was larger than most academics in height and in build. She’d often admired his physique, she’d just never considered that all those muscles could be used for such a delightful purpose.

        “Do you—have you—Misha, look at yourself!” Theo sputtered, waving his hands at her person.

        One glance down and heat suffused her face. Oh yeah, the teddy. She’d bought this, and the other one in hopes that she could perhaps entice Theo into getting in the mood. Studies indicated men like a show of skin, and weren't as picky about the condition of the skin as women were led to believe. In her panic she'd completely forgotten she had the damn thing on.

        “Oh yes, well that.” There was no point in being coy about the lingerie at least. Even if she had brought him here under false pretenses. “My research shows that men are not particularly finicky about the female when blatant sexuality is displayed.”

        “And you thought you needed that?” He sounded completely baffled. Misha could not recall Theo being this dense. Maybe it was the lingerie. Must’ve thrown him for a loop.

        “Of course I needed it,” she patiently explained as if he were one of her freshman students instead of a professor of psychology and sociology. “I asked you here to engage in an act in which you needed to be aroused. These things tend to make men aroused. Are you not aroused?”

        Shit. If he wasn’t she was going to have to do it manually. No worries, she’d read up on it and was quite eager to engage in some of the activities she had often dreamed about doing with Theo. If he would allow it, of course. Maybe he needed to relax first? A drink seemed to get people to lower inhibitions. It even allowed some to pretend they were with the person of their choice rather than the person at hand.

        “I will get you a drink.” Misha bounded off the bed and attempted to go fetch the wine she had purchased just in case, only Theo moved directly in front of her, halting her progress.

        “Not aroused? Are you serious?”

        Misha’s face fell. Theo was upset. He didn't want this. It had all been a horrible mistake. She had no one to blame but herself, really. Had she been honest, it would have at least given him the opportunity to let her down easy. As it was, she felt as if there were a pit in her stomach. She felt sick, humiliated.

        “This was a mistake.” Turning so he wouldn't see the hurt on her face, she moved toward the dresser that held her sweats. The drive to cover herself from head to toe was suddenly paramount. “You can leave. In fact I insist on it. Honestly, this wasn’t—”

        Theo hadn’t meant to grab Misha and force his kiss on her. Really the only thing that had been on his mind was getting her to shut up. He was going to come clean; he had decided that when he parked in her driveway. The very last thing he expected was Misha coming to the door in that— that—

        Oh God, he couldn’t stop! Once his lips descended on hers, his long-held need to taste her overrode all else. He engulfed her, forcing his tongue into her mouth and devouring until her body melted pliantly against his own. And he didn't stop then. He had wanted this, needed this for far too long. The woman had to realize what she was doing to him. This was the perfect time. Maneuvering them both back to the bed was far easier than he’d hoped. Picking her up and placing her where he wanted her was a temptation he didn’t want to resist; so he didn’t.

        The teddy had to go. So did his clothing. That meant he had to stop kissing her. Damn, but that was hard. Her lips were so soft, so pliant, now that she wasn't speaking nonsense. He’d wanted to do this forever...

        “Where is the camera?” She’d said she wanted to videotape this. For research. Theo knew if he didn’t get the damn recording started now, there wouldn’t be one. The very last of his control had snapped the moment she’d opened the door. Wearing that red scrap of lace. That really needed to come off.

        “What?” Misha looked up at him dazed, her lips swollen. Theo’s cock throbbed just looking her. This was not going to be quite the study Misha had in mind. And he was going to force her to watch it over and over again until she could admit they were meant to be together.

        “You wanted to tape this.” Theo moved back, removing his shirt as he kicked off his shoes. “Never let it be said I stood in the way of scientific progress.” Even if he couldn’t understand the so-called experiment.

        “Oh. It’s over there on the tripod. But, Theo, about that. We should talk.”

        “No.” No talking. Stalking over, he grabbed the camera and placed it closer to the bed before turning it on.

        “No? Theo, I think we really should discuss this.” Was he crazy or did she sound breathless, perhaps more than a little turned on?

        He hoped like hell she was turned on, because he was burning the hell up.

        “I said no, Misha. No talking.” To punctuate the statement he divested himself of his slacks and boxer briefs at the same time, throwing them over his shoulder. His cock stood out painfully full and thick, leaking at the mushroomed tip as if it were crying for her. Hell, it was. They’d both wanted Misha forever, him and his dick.

        “But...”

        Moving back to the bed, Theo gripped the teddy with both hands and ripped it right down the middle, then did the same to the tiny lace thong that accompanied the garment. Whatever Misha had been about to say turned into a cute little moan instead of actual words. Half lifting her body, he threw the ruined clothing away. Where, he didn’t really care.

        Finally. Misha in her full glory. Perfect.

        Holy shit she was wet. Very very wet. Her mons was waxed smooth and glistening for him. The most beautiful pussy he had ever been blessed enough to behold stared back at him with naked longing. It mesmerized him, called to him. No way he was ever letting her go. But first, he really had to taste her.

        Holy crap! Professor Sullivan was packing some very serious equipment in his pants. Of course, Misha had always suspected as much. She'd witnessed an occasional tent in his slacks when he wasn't being vigilant about hiding his basic human reactions. The reality of his bare penis was far, far more impressive than the few involuntary hard-ons she’d witnessed. The confession that had been on the very edge of her tongue evaporated as she forgot to do anything more than gape.

        Then he had ripped the lingerie right off her. Just grasped it and rent it in two like some sort of primitive.
That
had certainly not happened the first three times she’d attempted intercourse. If it had, she might have attempted the act many more times. In theory she supposed such an act could be seen as violent and thereby threatening... Who the hell was she kidding? It thrilled her right down to her toes.

        But the way he was looking at her now… Her channel began flooding with nature's mysterious lubrication that only seemed to work for her when Theo was around. However, her core had never been quite as wet as it was now. There was no way to hide it either. Theo had taken her thighs in hand, holding her open as he stared at her core. The wonder and hunger in his eyes were enough to stop a woman’s heart.

        Or so she thought.

        Cunnilingus was something Misha had read about extensively, but never really saw herself as a recipient. The name seemed so clinical. The act read as something far-fetched. Only as Theo lowered his head to her mons, she realized she had been so wrong. Egregiously wrong. The carnal kiss was nothing like she’d imagined. Unlike when he had taken her mouth, the kiss to her pussy was soft. His tongue swiped, teased, soothed before probing deep inside her channel. Her hips moved up involuntarily, rolling against his mouth. Funny, she’d always thought oral sex would feel cold and wet. Not so, she was discovering. Gradually the mouth against her sex became far more demanding. The gentle caresses gave way to aggressive suckling, nibbles with the slightest sting, and oh God, his fingers joined in the play.