Page 27 of Flawed Revenge

One man who set her blood on fire, who made her feel alive, who made her feel protected and safe, who made her feel respected and valued. A man who had hurt her more than she’d thought anyone had the power to inflict, but who was also truly remorseful of that pain he’d caused.

There was no doubt in her mind that if Leo could take back what he’d done, wind back the clock and go back in time, he would have made a different choice that day. He would have found a way to protect her and their baby from the anger that lived inside him.

Once she was in the hall, Kate realized she had no idea where to find Leo. It was late and the mansion was quiet. She assumed everyone was in bed, but she hadn't asked Leo where his room was.

Turned out she didn't have to worry about it.

“Kate?” A door across the hall opened, and Leo stepped out. Although his hair was mussed, and the sweatpants he was wearing rumpled, his gaze was alert, like he, too, had been struggling to shut off his mind and go to sleep.

“I didn't realize that was your room,” she whispered, suddenly shy now that he was standing half naked before her, and she realized she was wearing only this old T-shirt of Leo’s and nothing else.

“It’s not,” Leo replied.

“Then why are you sleeping in it?”

His dark eyebrows arched, and she realized the answer. Because this was where she and Ariella were, and he couldn’t bear to be too far away from them.

Something softened inside her, and she took a step toward him. “When did you get rid of all your hair?” she asked.

If he was surprised by her question he didn't show it. “A few months ago.”

“Why?”

“Needed a change.”

The shorter hair wasn't the only thing that had changed about him. His skin was tanned, and every muscle clearly defined. In the ten years since she’d seen him, he’d definitely bulked up a lot, looking more like a marble sculpture than a real person.

What would it feel like to trace every one of those ridges with her fingertips?

Her tongue swept along her bottom lip as she wondered what it would feel like to trace those muscles with her tongue. What would he taste like? She’d been young and inexperienced when they were together, and she’d mostly let Leo guide things, especially since he always made her feel so good and took such good care of her.

But she wasn't an eighteen-year-old girl anymore, and she knew what she wanted. Apparently, part of what she wanted was to taste every inch of Leo’s body, run her hands all over it, and remind herself of what those muscles felt like beneath her palms. Have that thick length of his stretch its way inside her.

Only that was a bad idea, wasn't it?

When her feelings were all mixed up, having sex with Leo would be a mistake.

“Babe, you can't do that.” Leo groaned.

“Do what?”

“That thing with your tongue.”

“What thing?”

“Where you drag the tip of your tongue along your bottom lip. Do you have any idea how sexy that is?”

“Umm … no.” But she sure as heck knew those sweatpants he was wearing were sexy as hell. What was it about sweatpants that almost had her drooling? They did little to hide the bulge from his erection, and they hung low on his hips. Just a little lower, and she’d be able to see his more-than-impressive length.

“Babe.” Leo groaned again.

“What?” she asked, innocently twirling a finger around her hair.

“You know what. You can't look at me like that when we both know you're not ready for anything to happen between us. Might never be ready.”

“I can't not look at you like this when you're wearing those,” she said, waving a hand to indicate those sexy as sin sweatpants of his.

A slow smile curled up one side of his mouth, making him look deliciously handsome, and she knew why he looked so smug. He knew exactly what those sweatpants were going to do to her, and he enjoyed every second of watching her squirm.