"Mmm..." Bella’s breath slipped helplessly into his mouth as Leo’s hands tightened around her waist, grounding her there until her knees felt weak. The kiss was deep and overwhelming, stealing the air from her lungs and the thoughts from her head, and when he finally pulled back, it was only by a thin thread of control. She stood there flushed and breathless, her fingers still curled into his shirt as if she might fall without him.
He had just co ho and had not even bothered with words. He simply caught her the mont he saw her and kissed her senseless right there. Bella’s face burned with heat when she noticed the maid hurrying past the hallway, eyes politely averted as if nothing had happened, and her shyness spiked all at once. Leo, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered, his mouth curved in that dangerous, satisfied smile that always made her heart race.
"How was your day?" he asked casually, as if he had not just turned her mind inside out.
Before she could answer, he scooped her up with ease and sat down on the couch, settling her right onto his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. One arm wrapped around her back, firm and possessive, the other resting comfortably at her waist.
She glanced around the living room in a small panic, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper as she clutched his shirt. "Y-you... we’re in the living room," she whispered, half scolding, half embarrassed, her cheeks glowing pink.
Leo only humd, amused, leaning his forehead lightly against hers as if her shyness was the cutest thing he had seen all day.
"Don’t care," he whispered softly, the words brushing against her skin before his lips followed, warm and lingering at the side of her neck.
Bella’s breath hitched imdiately. She curled her fingers into his shirt, her shoulders drawing in shyly even as her body leaned closer to his warmth.
"Leo..." she murmured, half a plea, half a warning, though there was no real strength in it. Her voice softened as his breath traced along her neck, and she turned her face slightly, hiding her burning cheeks against his shoulder. "What if soone sees..."
He chuckled quietly, the sound low and calm, his arm tightening just a little around her waist in reassurance. "Let them," he said, his voice steady and confident, as if nothing could touch what he held. His forehead rested briefly against her temple, grounding her, and his thumb brushed slow circles at her side, soothing and possessive all at once.
Bella closed her eyes, her heartbeat gradually settling into his rhythm.
"Go shower," Bella suddenly said, opening her eyes and wrinkling her nose playfully as she poked his arm. "You sll."
Leo slowly turned his head toward her, his expression blank with disbelief. "Excuse ?"
She giggled, unable to hold back her smile. "You heard . You sll like outside. And sweat. And man. It’s a lot."
He stared at her for a long mont, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then, without a word, he scooped her up off the couch.
"Wha— Leo!"
"If I sll," he said calmly, carrying her toward the stairs and down the hall to the bedroom, "then you’re going to sll it up close. All night. We’ll sll together."
She laughed, squirming in his arms. "I was kidding! You sll good! You always sll good!"
"Not good enough, apparently," he replied, nudging the bedroom door open with his foot. He did not put her down. Instead, he held her closer, his face dipping into the curve of her neck. He took a slow, deep breath there, his nose cool against her warm skin.
Bella shivered, her laughter fading into a soft gasp.
"You sll like vanilla," he murmured, his voice rough. "And my soap. And ." He lifted his head, his eyes dark and intent. "And now you’re going to sll even more like ."
He finally lowered her onto the bed, following her down and bracing himself above her, his body a warm, familiar weight.
"Still think I need a shower?" he asked, his voice low.
"Yes," she said, her heartbeat racing.
His eyes narrowed, the playful glint sharpening into sothing darker and more possessive. "Very, very bad girl," he murmured, the words a low threat that sent a shiver straight down her spine.
He leaned closer until his lips brushed her ear. "You just earned yourself an entire night of this," he whispered, his voice a husky promise. "If I sll so bad, then you’re going to be drenched in it. We’ll see how you like it then."
Bella’s breath hitched.
After a good two hours, it was dinnerti. The long dining table was set, but only two places were occupied.
Bella pushed a piece of chicken around her plate, her movents slow and tired. Across from her, Leo ate with his usual calm, steady pace, looking like he had just woken from a nap.
Very refreshed.
She watched him for a mont, then let her fork clink softly against the plate. "I feel like I got run over by a tractor," she mumbled, more to herself than to him.
Leo glanced up, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips as he swallowed his bite. "That’s what happens."
"Easy for you to say," she sighed, resting her chin in her hand. "You look... fine."
He smirked, lazy and satisfied. "All the work was done by ," he said, his voice a low tease. "I’m not tired. Why are you so tired?"
She shot him an annoyed look. "Then don’t touch at all," she said flatly.
The smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a flash of genuine panic. "Bella—" he started, all playfulness gone.
But she could not hold the stern expression. A tiny, betraying smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, and she looked down at her plate to hide it.
He saw it. The tension drained from his shoulders, and he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a murmur. "You little liar," he said, but there was no sting in it, only relief and affection. "Trying to give a heart attack over dinner."
She peeked up at him through her lashes, the smile finally breaking free. "Serves you right for gloating."
He shook his head slowly, a real, soft smile touching his lips now. "Fine. You win. I’m exhausted. Completely worn out. Happy?"
"Very," she said, picking up her fork with a triumphant little huff and finally taking a proper bite of her dinner.
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