The Worst Kept Secret (Secrets, #2)

by Q.B. Tyler

Despite my instincts telling me not to react, I can’t help it; my eyes are inexplicably drawn to Theo whenever we share a room. It’s been like that for longer than I can remember. He knows how to command attention in any room. He knows how to command my attention anywhere.

Never did I think that he’d eventually be on the list of men I’d go on to kiss in my lifetime. Especially when I’d spent the majority of my ninth-grade year making out with his son. For practice, not for romance. I shiver thinking about that night when Theo had lifted me in the air and pressed me against the wall like I was nothing. Holding me up against him as he pressed his lips to mine. I can still recall that dizzy feeling of his hard body pressed against me and I feel my nipples harden and press against the fabric of my dark green dress at the memory.

I haven’t seen Theo in almost six months. Six months ago, when we’d made out in his car and I’d sat in his lap and fucked myself with my fingers until I came with the promise of more. It wasn’t the first time we’d hooked up, having done so once the previous summer, but it was the furthest we’d ever gone. We hadn’t spoken about it after, almost as if we were both pretending it hadn’t happened. Me out of humiliation and hurt and him to keep it hidden from the one person he was sure it would hurt the most. Lucas Graham. My best friend. His son.

“Oh? Here I thought you liked indulging in things you might be a little old for?” I raise an eyebrow at him and his eyes widen as he stares me down. His eyes close slowly and when he opens them, they’re full of lust and maybe a little irritation at me for bringing up something we have never spoken of out loud. “You’re playing with fire, Avery.”

“That you’re too gorgeous for your own good and one afternoon after I’d had a few drinks, I stupidly allowed myself to think that you were an option for me.” He shakes his head and his eyes flit to mine, dark and maybe

“What happened to fucking me into the middle of next week?” “Ummm, your father called?” He gives me a look. “Kind of lost my hard-on when I remembered you’re my friend’s daughter which also reminded me that you’re my son’s best friend.”

face. “I can’t do that to him.” His

eyes dart away from my phone to my house. “Either of them. They both trust me and…fuck, I don’t deserve it.”

“Because I shouldn’t touch you.” “But you did and now…I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Thank you for coming to get me.” “When have I ever not come when you called?” He asks and my heart begins to race.

“I couldn’t pull my eyes away from you all night.” “I know.” I push open the door and pull him inside with me. “Every time I searched for you, you were already looking at me.” “You are impossible not to look at. Believe me, I’ve been trying,” he tells me as he slides his jacket off.

“You’ve been such a constant in my life for so long, Theo. But, I don’t want him to find out. I don’t want the drama, and you’re right; he wouldn’t like it and he’d be angry at you and hurt by me and I don’t want to do that to someone I care about.” My tongue flicks out and drags along his bottom lip. “But it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about what your dick would feel like in my mouth.”

we’ve been dancing around this for three years.” He looks away from me and lets out a sigh before his warm brown eyes reach mine. “And maybe once you let me inside of you, I’m going to lose my

fucking mind and want it again. Maybe you only want it once, but…I don’t work that way.”

“A part of me hates myself for this,” I tell her honestly. She nods in understanding before she bites her bottom lip. “And the other part?” “The other part hates myself for denying me this for so long. Denying myself what and who I want.” “It would be a shame. Denying us both.” “I absolutely believe you’d eventually break me down.”

“I’ve thought about this moment and you and what it would be like so many times in the last three years that nothing else works to get me off anymore.” She gasps and her mouth falls open. “You think about me when you touch yourself?” “Exclusively.” “Same,” she whispers. “For longer than three years though.”

“I should put you over my knee for having a body that looks and feels that good.” He pauses. “Don’t fuck anyone else, Avery,” he says through gritted teeth. “I won’t.” I cry. “I won’t. I don’t want to!” “Good.” He grunts. “This pussy is fucking mine now.”

“Fuck, it’s too much, Theo.” “You can take it, baby. Take me. You’re doing so well.”

me recover from that.” My eyes immediately meet his. “Plenty of times?” He’s still on his back as he sighs. “I already know I want more.” I’m warm everywhere instantly at the thought of that. “Me too.”

Alright. Looking forward to being alone with you. I don’t even mean just for sex. I just feel like I breathe easier around you.

“Don’t you want to see me?” I ask, giving him my most innocent expression. I blink my eyes at him several times. “Or I suppose I’ll just have to spend the night with the other Theo Graham.” I sigh and his eyes darken. “Excuse me?” “My vibrator I’ve named after you, of course.” I run my hands through my hair. “He’s gotten a lot of action over the years.”

I stare at Theo, who’s still staring straight ahead, not looking at me and I wonder if all of this is worth it. I care about Theo and if this is going to torment him, I don’t want to be the reason for his internal struggles.

“Theo…we don’t have to do this. If it’s too much…you and me?” I let out a breath and pull my eyes away from him to look out the front window. “We can just stop. I don’t want to add to everything you’ve got going on. I—”

My words are halted by his hand behind my neck and then his lips on mine. I would have imagined it would be aggre...

“It’s not too much.” His voice washes over me and goosebumps erupt on my flesh as a low pulsing begins between my legs. “It’s no one’s business what goes on between you and me.”

“Who said we aren’t together?” “I—you?” I offer weakly. He narrows his eyes into slits. “When?” “Last night…” “I agreed that we couldn’t go shouting all over town that we are doing this, but I also said do not fuck anyone else.” I had forgotten that little fact but that still could have been something he said in the heat of the moment. A moment of possession where a man will say anything before the post-orgasm clarity. “I wouldn’t ask you not to do something and not expect you to hold me to the same. I’m not fucking anyone else. I don’t want anyone else. We are together. I take this very seriously, Avery.”

“And next week when I have an empty house, I expect you to figure out how you’re going to get out of your house and into my bed because I want you there.” He rubs his hands over my nipples before placing a kiss between them. “Just because this can’t be anything more than sex does not mean it doesn’t mean something.”

“You somehow grew into the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” She narrows her eyes like she doesn’t believe me and when she starts to pull away, I grab her by her jaw, squeezing it gently. “Tell me you believe me.” “Sure, Theo. You were a football star for a decade and met models and movie stars and women all over the world but the girl next door is the most gorgeous? You’ve already got me in bed,” she teases and shoots me a look. “I don’t need all that.”

“So you believe me when I say that while yes, I’ve met tons of women throughout my life, nobody has turned my head like you have. You are, by far, the most gorgeous.” She nods and if I’m not mistaken, I see her eyes glisten slightly.

Christ. It’s a clichéd saying but she may actually be able to suck the nails out of a floorboard.

I close the door behind me, and the skittering of my pulse at the thought of seeing her tomorrow sends up about a hundred red flags. I feel the exact moment my mind starts to shift and I realize that this is definitely not just a fling and I am in a whole lot of fucking trouble.

TG: I feel like this should go without saying since you’ve been around a minute and you know my relationship with her is less than pleasant, but you have nothing to worry about in regards to Rebecca. Me: I’m not worried TG: Good. You shouldn’t. No one should worry you.

“I don’t know if you know anything about dating a much younger woman, but they have all the power.” Avery’s face immediately flashes through my mind. “I can see that,” I tell him.

I didn’t see myself having a baby at this stage of my life but I want to give Raegan whatever she wants. Another thing about getting involved with a girl in her twenties.” He gives me a look like he thinks I understand and I look away in case it’s written all over my face.

I’m grateful for the moments of peace in the bathroom because I’m starting to pace thinking about how things are changing between Theo and I. I’m getting in fucking deep and pretty soon I’m not going to be able to pull myself out of it.

“The guy you’re with…” he starts and when I turn around his eyes drop to my hand, “I don’t see a ring on your finger, so I assume he’s not your husband.” “Not yet.” I hear Theo’s voice from behind me and then his hand snakes around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Theo moves to stand next to me and rubs my waist, holding me tighter against him. “Everything okay here?”

“I was making a point.” Goosebumps instantly pop up all over my flesh. “Which is?” “That you’re spoken for.” “Am I?” He narrows his eyes with a look of confusion and maybe also a little irritation. “Are you what?” “Spoken for.” “We’ve been over this. Yes. You’re fucking mine, Avery, just like I’m yours.”

“Avery.” “Theo.” “I’m already fucking attached.” “What does that mean?” I whisper, wanting to make sure I’m not misunderstanding. “It means we’re going to fuck now because my dick is hard and your pussy is wet and we need a clear head for this conversation. Then we’re going to talk and then we’re going to fuck again.”

I’d never been a jealous person. My guess is that’s how Rebecca got away with her affair for as long as she did, but the thought of anyone touching Avery, triggered a response I’d never felt before.

I drink her in from her feet to her eyes and the thump in my chest that matches the one in my dick tells me that everything is getting more complicated with every second that passes.

I continue fucking her through my frustration over letting things go too far with Avery and now I’m addicted

“I can’t let you go,” I whisper against her and she gasps. “I don’t want you to.”

“I want to make sure I’m definitely keeping you before I blow up my whole life.” I grip her jaw and tilt her face to look up at me. “You’re keeping me, Avery.”

“I want you,” she says quietly. “I want this.” She presses her lips to my neck. “We’ll make him understand. He won’t be upset forever.”

“In another life, it would be so easy.” “In another life, I probably don’t live right next door, so maybe we would never cross paths,” she teases. “I’d find you in every lifetime.”

We spent the rest of that night trying not to think too much about the future and just enjoying our time alone. It felt like a turning point for us. This is more than just exclusive sex. We are…together.

“I’ll let you and Rae argue that out. The reason for my call is I’m seeing someone.” “Oh, fuck yes. Fucking finally. And for you to be telling me means it’s not just sex and it’s serious.” “It’s not just sex and it’s…moving towards serious.”

I still want this.

“Are you having second thoughts about…us?” She doesn’t have tears in her eyes but I can see the sadness written all over her face.

“I don’t think so,” I tell her honestly. “I spent a year trying to ignore what I was feeling for you and now that we’re here…” I trail off as I mindlessly trace her hand. “I don’t know how to just turn them off. I’m in too deep now.”