Jealousy arrived unexpectedly.
During one conversation, Theo casually mentioned a female colleague in his time who had complimented his latest revisions. The words were innocent, but they stabbed Ava with unexpected sharpness.
"You sound close to her," she said, trying to keep her tone light but failing.
Theo paused. When he spoke again, his voice held a possessive edge that sent heat and thrill through her.
"Are you jealous, Ava?"
"Maybe," she admitted, cheeks burning.
A low, dark chuckle. "Good. Because the thought of anyone else touching you makes me want to step through time and claim you right now."
The shift in his tone turned the night intensely erotic. Theo's words became more dominant — telling her she belonged to his voice, describing how he would mark her skin with kisses and bites so no one else would dare come near. He guided her through a rougher, more intense session, making her come while repeating that she was his.
The possessiveness only heightened her pleasure. When it was over, Theo softened again.
"There's no one else for me," he promised. "Only the woman who makes this building — and me — feel alive."