Chapter 28: The Moment of Surrender

NADIA

“Thanks for helping me, and I’m glad I finally got to meet the girl who has Theo wrapped around her finger in person,” Etta said.

“He’s not wrapped around my finger,” I replied.

“He bought a house for you,” she said.

“It wasn’t for me.”

“Yes, it was. He said it was time for him to settle down, and he wanted to have a place for you and him to live in. He doesn’t want to settle down with anyone but you.

He is madly in love with you. I don’t know what you did, but he would change his life for you and Nathan. He talks about the two of you all the time.”

“Really?”

“So, you think I’m a bitch?”

Etta let out a laugh.

“No. I think you’ve been hurt and taken advantage of, and you’re trying to protect your family. I understand it better than anyone.

“Did Theo tell you how I started dating Reece?” she asked.

“He said Reece was a family friend.”

“Yes, but we started dating when I came back to Sterling’s wedding. I used his wedding to escape my abusive boyfriend.

“Reece was there for me, even after I found out I was pregnant with my ex’s child. It didn’t matter how mean I was to him or how much I pushed him away, he stayed by my side.

“I know what you’re going through, but give him a chance,” Etta said. “He loves you and Nathan, and he will do anything for the two of you.”

“I’m sorry. I know Theo loves me, but it’s like my brain panics and can’t handle it.”

“I had a breakdown after Caroline was born. I felt like I trapped Reece, and I tried to leave him. He followed me and told me if I ever doubted him to talk to him.”

“I started seeing a therapist,” I said.

“That’s a good first step. It helps to talk to someone who you know won’t judge you.”

“I feel like it’s helped a little. I was more than willing to tell Theo what’s wrong. Before, I would push him away and make him leave.”

“Small steps are all it takes.”

Etta was right. Theo would do anything for us, and I hadn’t been fair to him.

I had been taking him for granted.

“Thanks for talking with me.”

“I enjoy it. I don’t have any sisters. You’re the closest thing to it.”

I liked that she compared me to being a sister. It had been Nathan and me for so long that I forgot you could love other people as if they were your family.

***

“I didn’t have time to talk to you alone today. How was your time alone with Etta?” Theo was sitting on the edge of the hotel bed in boxers. We were getting ready for bed.

We had spent all day with his sister and her family, and it was nice. I wished Nathan had someone his age, but they made sure he was included.

I walked over to Theo and straddled him, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

“It was nice. We had a sisterly talk, and I realized I take you for granted, and I’m sorry for that.”

“Well, I know how you can make it up to me,” he said, grinning.

“Really? How?”

Theo quickly flipped us over, and he was now on top of me. I liked playful Theo.

He always seemed laid back, but he wasn’t usually the playful type.

“You’re going to let me worship this amazing body of yours,” he said.

“Hmm. I’m okay with that, but it seems a little unfair.”

“It’s completely fair,” he replied.

Theo stood from the bed and yanked my shorts and underwear off before pulling me to the edge of the bed and kneeling down.

I was embarrassed when I first let him go down on me. I still was, but I had learned to enjoy it instead of overthinking it.

Theo didn’t waste any time burying his face between my legs. He was aggressive, and my body was welcoming the roughness.

It had been a while since we’d been intimate, which was my fault. I realized I withheld sex to build a wall between us.

I relaxed into the bed as I let Theo work his magic on me. It didn’t take long for my orgasm to build.

Theo wasn’t into playing games tonight. His finger was moving quickly, mimicking the speed of his tongue.

I bucked my hips into his face, hoping to cause more friction, but he held me still and concentrated on sucking and biting me until my orgasm hit me.

It hit me harder than I expected, and I let it run through my body until every inch of me was relaxed.

Theo gave me a few seconds to recover before telling me to roll over.

“Lay on your stomach.”

I did as he said when he got undressed.

I then heard the crinkle of the condom wrapper. I thought about telling him not to wear it, but it would be stupid of me to risk pregnancy just to prove my trust in him.

I needed to show him I was done being scared, that I was ready to let myself be loved. I wanted him to know that I was all in.