The music was slower here, couples swaying, the lights low. Bella fit herself against Leo, her hand on his shoulder, his hand low on her back.
"That was unnecessary," he murmured, but his eyes were dark with sothing that wasn’t anger.
"She was annoying."
"She was nothing."
"Still." Bella looked up at him, chin lifted. "She needed to know."
Leo’s hand tightened on her waist. "Know what?"
She smiled, slow and confident. "That you’re mine."
A sound escaped him, half laugh, half growl. His forehead dropped to hers.
"Yours," he agreed.
Bella looked up at him, her brown eyes bright, fierce, like she was holding sothing inside that wanted to burst out. Leo pulled back slightly, confused by the look on her face.
"What’s wrong?" he asked, lifting his hand to her cheek. His thumb brushed her skin, soft and slow.
"Leo, I can do anything for you," she said, not blinking, her voice low and sure.
He smiled, sothing warm spreading through his chest. "I know, my sweet little bunny." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, letting his lips rest there for a mont longer than usual. When he pulled back, she was still looking at him with that sa intensity.
"I can even kill," she said. "If soone tries to hurt you."
Leo stared at her. Then he laughed, his hands coming up to cup her face, squeezing her cheeks gently until her lips pushed out into a pout.
"Killing soone doesn’t suit you, bunny," he said, still laughing. "Just stay how you are. Sweet. Soft. Mine."
She tried to talk, but with her cheeks squished, it ca out muffled. "I can be dangerous."
He laughed more. Her pout deepened, her brows pulling together, and she looked so adorable he wanted to squeeze her forever.
"Stop laughing," she managed.
"Can’t." He let go of her cheeks and pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her waist, her body pressing against his. "You’re too cute."
"I’m serious."
"I know." He kissed the tip of her nose. She wrinkled it. He kissed it again. "That’s what makes it cute."
She scowled up at him, but her hands had found his shirt, fingers curling into the fabric, holding him close so he couldn’t pull away.
"If anyone ever hurt you again like last ti—"
He kissed her. Soft. Quick. Just a press of lips to stop the words. When he pulled back, his eyes were warm, the laughter fading into sothing quieter.
"I know," he said. "But I’d rather you didn’t have to."
She leaned her forehead against his chest, breathing him in. "I hate when you laugh at ."
"No you don’t."
She lifted her head, cheeks pink. "Maybe a little."
He smiled, his thumb brushing along her jaw, tracing the line of her face. "My fierce little bunny."
She smiled back, the pout finally gone. "I’m not little."
He looked down at her, at the way she fit perfectly against him, her hands in his shirt, her chin tilted up. "You’ll always be my little bunny."
She slid her arms around his neck, fingers playing with the hair at the back of his head. The music was soft around them, other couples swaying, but Bella didn’t notice anyone else.
"Leo," she said after a mont, her voice softer now.
"Hmm?"
"I really would do anything for you."
He looked at her for a long mont. Her eyes were steady on his, no joke, no shyness. Just truth.
"I know, Bella." He pulled her closer, his forehead dropping to hers. "I know."
She smiled, small and sweet, and pressed a kiss to his jaw. Then his cheek. Then the corner of his mouth. Each one soft, light, like she was leaving pieces of herself behind.
He caught her lips with his, held her there, kissed her slow.
When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed, her lipstick slightly smudged.
"You ruined my lipstick," she whispered.
"Worth it."
She laughed, burying her face in his chest, and let him hold her.
anwhile, across the dance floor, the girl Bella had dismissed stood with her friend, watching Leo and Bella sway together, close and wrapped in each other.
Leo’s forehead was pressed to Bella’s. His hands were low on her back. She was laughing at sothing he’d murmured, her fingers playing with the hair at his nape. They looked like two people who couldn’t bear to let go.
The girl’s face twisted.
"Look how close they are," her friend said, shaking her head. "I told you not to go. He’s obviously in love with her."
"I know, I know." The girl waved her hand, embarrassed now. "Ana told it was a loveless marriage. She said he married her for so family arrangent, that they barely talked, that he was going to divorce her sooner or later. I thought..." She trailed off, watching Leo dip Bella slightly, making her laugh. "I just have a crush. He’s so handso, you can’t bla for trying."
Her friend snorted. "He’s married. Handso or not."
"It’s not just ! Half the company thinks they’re just playing pretend. Ana started it, and now everyone talks about it. How cold he is, how she’s never around, how they’re probably only together for appearances." She crossed her arms. "No one actually thought he loved her."
"Well," her friend said dryly, "looks like they were wrong."
They watched as Leo tucked Bella’s hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering. Bella smiled up at him, sothing soft and intense in her eyes.
The girl sighed. "Fine. I was stupid. Can we just—"
"Actually," a voice said behind them, low and smooth, "I’d love to hear more about these rumors."
Both won spun.
Jay stood behind them, a glass of red wine in his hand, his expression unreadable. His dark hair caught the light, his suit sharp, but his eyes, his eyes were cold. He looked nothing like the easy, laughing man who’d been charming everyone all night.
"Jay sir—" the girl started, her face draining.
"Ana, you said?" He tilted his head. "Ana from accounting? Or Ana from legal? There are so many Anas in the company, I want to make sure I know exactly who to talk to about this."
The girl’s friend grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "We didn’t an anything—"
"Half the company," Jay repeated, his voice still light, still smooth, but there was steel under it now. "That’s what you said. Half the company is talking about my brother’s marriage. Spreading rumors. Deciding for themselves that he doesn’t love his wife."
He took a slow sip of wine.
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