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“Why?” Murmuring into my ear, he leans down, lowering himself over me so that we’re chest to chest and then his lips are only a whisper away from mine. “Because I say so.”
I don’t get a chance to reply, his lips come down on mine so hard that the force plasters me to the side of the carriage. Teeth sinking into my lip, he pulls it into his mouth with a hungry groan that vibrates all the way down to my core.
The only thing I can do is open my mouth to him and brace myself so I don’t collapse onto him as his tongue duels with mine, licking and
stroking every nook and cranny. Until all I can taste is him; sweet vanilla and sour cherry with the tiniest hint of clove.
And God, he feels so much more than good. Leo feels like everything I’ve waited for my whole life. Every beautiful dream and every dirty fantasy.
Pulling away a tad, he licks my top lip before dropping a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Want to leave yet?”
I’m still breathless, my heart is stampeding in my chest and the only answer I can manage is a shaky nod because as much as I’ve been wishing for it, I didn’t think he was going to ask me to leave with him.
At least I assume that’s what he’s asking, and if it is…shit, I’m not sure what I should say. Leo knows what he’s doing and I…I don’t. All I know is what I want, and whilst I’m trying to figure out how to get it, I don’t know whether he’ll want to help me with that.
I hope he does.
“We don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, but the crowd is getting a bit rough and grungy now.” The gentleness with which he brushes my sweaty hair from my face is completely at odds with the fierce look in his eyes. I’d be a fool to think that Leo is a man that is simple to figure out, but I want to. I want to learn all there is to him and I want to give him all my time. And time is such a precious thing, you never know when it’s going to be up.
I’d never thought about the day my grandfather wouldn’t be here anymore, and then one morning, I woke up and he was gone. Tears prickle the back of my eyes, and for the umpteenth time, I wish I’d had the chance to say goodbye.
Goodbye.
There’s this niggling panic in my chest for when I have to part with Leo tonight, and I’m scared that tomorrow he’ll go back to watching me from a distance and ignoring me.
That idea makes me want to keep him here until we are made to leave.
Taking a step back as I stand, his gaze trails my face until it finds mine again. I have to gather every bit of strength inside of me to take a deep breath and ask, “What happens after tonight?”
The silent pause as I wait for him to answer feels like the longest moment, and when he parts his lips to speak but nothing comes out, fuck, it hurts.
It’s a rejection I’ve never felt before and it’s crippling.
“Cassie…”
“You said you couldn’t watch anymore.” My reminder earns me a gentle smile.
“I can’t.”
“Then what happens next?”
“I’m trying to do the right thing for you, Buttercup.”
“Screw the right thing, Leo, what do you want?” My palpable desperation and frustration should make me cringe. I should feel embarrassed and I know that it probably makes me look like a whiney little girl, but I just want to know what this means.
Rolling his lips between his teeth, it feels like he’s studying me, and just when I’m telling myself that his answer is never going to come, he says, “I want to keep you.”
Shock, awe, and relief. Those are the first feelings to flood me. Shock, because he actually answered. Awe, that he wants me too. And the relief that I won’t have to pretend tonight didn’t happen. That he didn’t kiss me and touch me like he has.
This time when he kisses me again, it’s softer and his hands circle my waist like he knows I’m about to lose my ability to stand, and I need him to hold me up.
Peeking through my lashes, I’m taken by the way his closed eyes crinkle at the edges. He’s so beautiful even with the scar over his brow. Every little thing about him fills me with wonder, because I don’t think he realises how wonderful he is, even with his standoffish ways.
Chapter 12
Cassandra
The line for the loos has finally died down and as we wait for the last group of women to come out of the makeshift toilets Leo’s still holding me so close that it’s starting to feel like we’re melded together. I like it.
