I start to stir awake when the sunlight streams through the curtains, casting a golden glow into the room. I feel the weight of an arm draped over my waist and I realise that I'm still in Theo's room. I stifle a yawn and very carefully stretch my arms in his hold so as to not wake him up in the process.

"Stop wiggling your butt against me like that." Theo groans from behind me.

His warm breath hits the back of my neck and I immediately still. His voice sounds even deeper in the morning and it is actually hotter than usual.

I close my eyes and feel him lean closer, dropping a single kiss on my shoulder. The arm wrapped around my waist pulls me even closer to him.

I can't tell if Theo fell asleep again because he went completely silent. I didn't bring in my phone last night, so I am not sure what time it is. It could be somewhere around six. My alarm will go off in about an hour so I have to leave before that.

I turn around after a while to face him. His eyes are closed and his breathing is deep and even, chest rising and falling with each breath. His t-shirt got discarded last night before we went to bed and he is only wearing his dark sweatpants. He sleeps without a shirt every night.

I raise my arm and brush his hair out of his forehead. A smile tugs at my lips when I look at his sleeping face. He looks so peaceful like this. And adorable.

I almost never get to see him waking up next to me, or hear his morning voice, since Theo leaves my room every morning before I even wake up. He's been having to wake up early every day because of me. And I am worried that he might not be getting enough rest.

I trace a finger over his cheekbone, delicately dragging it down to his jaw. His lips curve into a small smile but his eyes remain closed. I knit my eyebrows at him in confusion but, of course, he doesn't notice. He is so pretty that I could admire him all day.

'Shit. I feel like some creep watching him sleep.'

What he said last night about me falling in love with him, almost gave me a heart attack right then and there. I thought he found out about my feelings and that I have been caught. But then I realised he was just teasing... like he always does.

And I need to be more careful with my words and actions. I can't let Theo know about how I truly feel for him. Because what if he doesn't see me that way? What if doesn't like me like that? I wouldn't want him to distance himself from me, thinking I have some stupid crush on him. Nothing more than a mere infatuation.

Even though what I feel for him is so much more than simply liking someone. I am in deep. Each day falling more and more for him. He is the first guy I fell in love with. And I can only pray that he doesn't turn out to be my first heartbreak, too.

I swallow the rock-sized lump in my throat and rub my eyes with the heel of my palms. Leave it to my stupid brain to ruin my day before it even starts. Now this peaceful morning will soon turn into one filled with overwhelming thoughts for the rest of the day.

I try to change the direction of my thoughts and think back to last night.

I still can't believe what happened last night was all real and not just a dream. I'm half tempted to pinch myself to make sure I'm not in a dream. Looking down at my chest, I find a few purple and red marks. And I'm guessing my neck isn't any better thanks to a certain someone.

I am so glad my half-baked plan to seduce Theo worked out in the end. I was worried for a second that he wouldn't want to take things far, resisting despite himself. And I don't exactly know how to work him up. So it's really a wonder that neck kisses turned out to be his weakness, too.

But I don't know where I even got the courage to act so bold. To blindly follow my natural instincts. Theo brought out that side of me. And I can't find it in me to feel ashamed because it felt so right. Everything with Theo feels right.

I don't think I'll ever forget the words he spoke, or the power he held over me. And yet, it wasn't the least bit intimidating. If anything, his dominating side only turned me on beyond comprehension. I let out sounds that I wasn't even aware I could make. It's funny to think that I hadn't even had my first kiss until Theo.

"Oh, God," I breathe out, dragging a hand down my face. I don't think I'll be able to look Theo in the eyes again. If his normal teasings didn't make me flustered enough, his dominating voice sure has me weak in the knees. I never knew being called a 'good girl' by Theo would give me a swarm of butterflies in my belly.

A kiss on my forehead pulls me out of my train of thoughts. "Good morning," Theo says, voice still heavy with tiredness. When I look up at him, he smiles warmly at me.

"Good morning." I return his smile. "Did I wake you up?"

"No, this is when I normally wake up." He blinks a few times, trying to get rid of the remaining sleep. "Did you sleep well?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Yeah, I would hope so," he says in a teasing voice and I playfully roll my eyes. "I can help you every night, you know."

"Shut up," I mumble, feeling embarrassed.

"Alright. Just teasing." He laughs under his breath. "But my offer still sta—"

"Theo!" I cut him off, hitting him on his chest lightly.

"Okay, okay. I got it." He tries to hold back his laughter, but fails.

Leaning over, I grab his face and press my lips on his. Theo holds the back of my head when I'm about to pull away. Deepening our kiss, he rolls us over on the bed and hovers on top of me.

"Well, that's one way to shut me up." He leans in for another kiss but I put my index finger over his mouth, stopping him. He gives me a look that clearly screams he is not happy with what I did and I have to bite back a smile.

"I have to go now," I tell him. "It's getting late."

He kisses my finger before removing it from his mouth. My stomach does a somersault at his simple gesture.

"No, you can stay a little longer." He pins my hands above my head and leans in again.

"Theo," I sigh when his lips find my jaw. "I..." I struggle to find words when his lips trail down to my neck. "I want to make breakfast today." I don't think I'll ever get used to his kisses.

"But you don't have to. I'll make it," he says against my skin. "I just—" He sighs deeply before continuing. "I don't want you to leave me." He buries his face into the crook of my neck.

"I'm not going anywhere, Theo," I say softly. Why was there a hint of sadness in his voice just now? Did I say something wrong and upset him?

When he lets go of my wrists, I wrap my arms around his shoulder, holding him close. I want to ask him if something is wrong, but I decide it is better to not probe him right away. I know what it feels like to be pressured so I won't put him in a similar situation. Maybe some silence is what he needs.

******

I had already noticed Theo entering the kitchen from the sound of his footsteps before he wrapped his hands around my waist from behind.

"Hey, Princess. Do you need any help?" he whispers into my ear and kisses my earlobe.

"What are you doing?" I nearly screech. "Adrien might see you with me," I say in a scolding tone while removing his hands from me. I close the refrigerator door and move towards the counter, Theo trailing behind me.

"But he isn't here now." He stands next to me, getting closer. "It's just the two of us," he says in a low voice.

I should not be getting butterflies just from hearing him whispering something in a sultry voice. 'What is wrong with me?' As much as I love to see him back to his older playful self, I do not want to be teased so early in the day.

But I still can't shake the feeling that something is bothering Theo. And he is trying to hide it from me. He clearly has problems of his own. And yet, he always makes time for me. I want to be there for him, too. I may be younger than him but it doesn't mean I won't understand him.

"I know that. But he'll be downstairs any minute now." I pour some freshly squeezed orange juice into a glass and slide it over to him. "Have this." I go back to beating the eggs for my french toast. "And stay at arm's-length from me," I quickly add and fix him with a warning look.

"At arm's-length?" he speaks into the rim of the glass. "You're kidding, right?"

I give him a sweet smile before saying, "Nope."

"What am I gonna do, then?" he huffs in annoyance.

"You can watch. I don't need any help."

"Just like you didn't need any help last night?" Theo begins. "All I had to do was whisper sweet praises to you."

I nearly choke on my own saliva. "Theo!" I whisper yell when I regain composure, but he just smiles innocently and shrugs.

Shaking my head, I focus on what I'm doing and try not to pay him any attention.

When he doesn't say anything even after several minutes go by, I watch him from the corner of my eye and find him pouting. "I never knew you could be so dramatic."

"And I never knew you could beg so sweetly," Theo coos, making my breath hitch.

Yeah, I should've just kept my mouth shut.

"I didn't even have to ask you." He gets closer once again, obliterating the arm's-length rule. "You really are my good girl, aren't you, Princess?"

I close my eyes when Theo kisses the skin under my ear. My breathing picks up and a pleasant shiver runs down my spine. Pushing the bowl away, he threads his long fingers through mine and continues.

"You have the prettiest moans." He ghosts his lips down my neck and nips at my pulse point. "I want to hear you make those sounds again."

I whimper at his words, heat flooding my face immediately. My back is almost pressed against his chest, and I could feel his body heat through the layers of clothes.

"Next time, I want you to—"

Peeling open my eyes, I quickly turn around and cover his mouth with my hand, effectively stopping him from speaking another word. I look behind him in fear that Adrien might have heard what Theo just said. But no sight of my dear brother.

"You can't say those things in here," I weakly protest, removing my hand from his mouth. "Whatever happened last night has to stay between us. Adrien can never find out about it," I tell him, worry lacing my tone. "God knows what he'll do to you if he finds out," I mutter, more to myself.

"He won't find out, Princess." Theo looks down at me in amusement, running his hands up and down my arms. "Relax."

"But I can't!" I exclaim. "He once beat up a kid just because he broke my favourite green crayon." I sigh, remembering the incident. "...and Adrien was only nine then."

"Now he's a grown up. So what?" Theo retorts. "You think I'm scared of him? I can easily take him down in a fight," he says lightly, flexing his muscles, and clearly trying to lighten my mood.

"That's not it." I shake my head and lean against the kitchen counter behind me. "There was also this time he hurt a guy because he looked at me wrong."

Growing up, Adrien has always been very protective of me. And it's because he practically raised me since our mother passed away. And Dad was busy with his work most of the time. Still is. But I don't think I can fully explain the gravity of the situation to Theo.

"Please, take this seriously."

"I am taking it seriously, Princess," Theo says. "And I know where your brother is coming from. You don't have to worry over such a silly thing."

'Except it isn't a silly thing.' I remain silent and Theo watches me intently.

"Okay... Whatever happens between us, stays between us. Adrien can never find out about it. If he does, he'll kill me." Theo cites everything with a serious look on his face. "Did I get that right?" he asks with a smile.

"Yes." I nod my head, glad that he's finally getting it. "It has to be a secret."

"It'll be our little secret," he says and shoots me a wink. "Now, give me a kiss."

He leans in but I put a hand over his chest, pushing him back slightly. "I can't kiss you, either?" he asks incredulously.

"Not now, no."

"Damn you, Adrien," Theo grumbles under his breath.

I open my mouth to speak but the vibration of Theo's phone from inside his pocket gives me a pause. He takes the device out and takes a look at the caller, his face immediately hardening.

"I'm sorry. I have to take this."

"Yeah, of course." I give him a small nod and watch as Theo leaves the kitchen, pressing the phone to his ear.

'What was that about?' I frown to myself at his sudden change in mood.

———

A/N: around ten more chapters and then this story will be completed. The total word count so far is more than 55k.