“If someone heard–”
At that moment, the frayed thread of reason I’d been clinging to these past few months snapped. I didn’t care what anyone thought anymore. I didn’t care how Rafe would be affected by my feelings for Drea. How despite how he felt for Drea, I’d still be betraying him.
Instead, I was going to be a selfish bastard.
I only cared about freeing myself of the paralyzing fear of not being able to express my feelings. “I don’t care about whatanyone else thinks right now. I need you to know what I truly feel for you.”
Her brows popped wide in surprise. “For me? What about Harper?”
My head snapped back in surprise. “How the hell do you know about her?”
With a sheepish look, Drea replied, “About a month ago, I Googled you. There were all these pictures of the two of you together with articles saying how you were taken.”
“Those were bullshit PR pieces that Harper had her people put in,” I argued.
“I thought it might be, but then I saw the two of you at a party.”
“What party?”
“It was in Philadelphia.”
“Youwere atthatparty?” I questioned in disbelief.
Drea nodded. “My roommate at college got an invite.”
Something like regret flashed in her eyes, and I couldn’t help wondering if there wasn’t more she wasn’t telling me about that party. But apparently she’d spent the last few weeks thinking I was with someone else.
I ran my hand over my face. “I only went to that party because Harper's brother invited me, and I’ve been trying to suck up to their family to get the ball rolling on my casino.”
Drea blinked at me in disbelief. “So you and Harper…you’re not…”
Shuddering, I replied, “Fuck no.”
“Oh,” she murmured.
“Trust me, she’s the last woman on earth I’d ever settle down with.”
“Even though I shouldn’t say it, I’m glad to hear it.”
“There’s only one woman for me.”
Before she could tell me to stop, I took a step forward. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I said, “I love you, Drea. I think I’ve been in love with you since you knocked me off my feet that first day I met you.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes. “Oh, Leo,” she murmured.
“It’s so fucking wrong to tell you this tonight, but after tomorrow, I can never, ever think what I do about you, least of all say it.”
My declaration sent the pulse point in her neck beating wildly. Her eyes dropped from mine to stare at my lips. She brought a shaky hand to cup my jaw. As her thumb rubbed along my bottom lip, I flicked out my tongue, causing Drea’s eyes to flare with desire.
Despite how much I wanted to kiss her, I knew that I needed her to make the first move. Leaning in, her breath fanned against my cheek. It smelled sweet like the sorbet we’d had as a palate cleanser between courses.
Her chest heaved with her harsh breaths, which thrust her breasts against me. After that night at Inferno, I’d forced myself to push all thoughts of the perfect globes out of my head. But now, I reveled in the feeling, my fingers itching to cup and squeeze them.
But this wasn’t about foreplay–this was about emotion and admission.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Drea’s eyes fluttered closed. “Kiss me,” she whispered.
I didn’t give her a second to change her mind. I wanted nothing more than to harshly claim her mouth by crushing my lips against hers, but I held myself back. Bringing my hands to cup the sides of her neck, I slanted my head to hers.
