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“Leo—”
“Go to sleep, Holly.”
I can’t talk about it, because if I do, I’ll have to admit this is the first thing I’ve done since India was taken from me that hasn’t felt wrong. The thought alone has me feeling sick.
Chapter Eight
Holly
Iwake, physically satisfied, but the darkness continuously pressing down on me hasn’t been lifted even an inch. Rolling over, I’m not surprised Leo is gone. But I am surprised he didn’t run as soon as we were finished. Closing my eyes, I let the memories of last night flood through my mind. I still feel his lips on mine. I grow hot remembering how he felt inside me, how slow he moved but hitting me right with every hard stroke. It’s like he laid claim to my soul, never to be owned by anyone else ever again. Glancing at the alarm clock, it’s after eight. I jump out of bed and rush to Rayna’s room. Her bed is empty and before I can whirl around and track her down, I hear Leo with her downstairs.
I dread going down and seeing his first reaction to me after what we did. I take my time pulling out clothes for today and then in the shower. I spend longer blowing out my hair and applying my makeup. I muster the courage to go down and face him. He’s sitting at the kitchen table. The breakfast things are still covering the table and I help myself to a mug of a coffee and a slice of toast, making sure not to meet his eyes.
“Now you’re up, I need to get going.”
I dare to look his way. I shouldn’t have bothered hiding from him, it’s not like he’s looking at me. He stands and leans over to kiss Rayna and kisses her on the top of her head. My heart pounds knowing any second, he’s going to walk out, and I won’t get any answers.
“Shouldn’t we talk about… last night?”
Still not meeting my eyes, he says, “There’s nothing to say.”
Standing, I cross my arms over my chest. I knew the second after we were done, he regretted it. Perhaps he acted out of pity, or just to distract me from the nightmare. The thought alone has me shrinking in on myself. I never want to be a pity fuck. Not a pity anything.
He says goodbye to Rayna and walks out, no goodbyes for me, nothing. I should be used to it by now but the fact we slept together last night should’ve changed something for him.
Shaking Leo Jackson from my thoughts, I focus on Rayna and get her washed and dressed for the day. Thankfully, she’s in her own little world all morning as we run errands in town. We’re nearly ready to head to the checkout with our groceries when I’m pulled from my thoughts.
“Hey, pretty girl, what have you got there?”
Pulling the cart closer to me, Zara’s hovering too close and has her sights on Rayna as she plays on her tablet.
“What can we do for you, Zara?” I ask.
Turning her bright smile on me, she says, “I was wondering if Leo’s had any visitors at the cabin lately?”
“Nope.”
My cheeks heat, knowing it’s not the visitors she has to worry about when it comes to Leo. She’s worrying about who he’s having sex with, she has no idea it was me he was with last night.
“Can I ask you something?”
She nods. “Sure.”
“Is Leo giving you any signs that he wants more from you?”
Her smile slips and she shrugs. I expect her answer to be from denial, but her answer knocks me back, not that I’d let her notice.
“I’ve been around the club long enough to know how the guys work. They do everything in their own way and in their own time. Now Leo’s president, he’s going to be even busier. He needs someone who understands what he’s going to need. Leo’s mom, Alannah… she’s held down Cas for years because she knows what he needs.”
“And you think you have what he needs?”
“Yes… I’ve been in love with Leo for years. I know what he needs.”
The words leave my mouth before my brain stops me. “But if he wanted you as his old lady, wouldn’t he have made you it by now?”
Her smile turns into a sneer, but I carry on, “And you’re assuming he’s sleeping with other women. Are you saying you’d push that aside if he made it official with you?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” she snaps.
