Chapter Sixteen
M y body ached.
In all the right areas.
There were a few twinges of pain here and there, but it was just an amazing reminder of the amazing leather-filled sex Leo and I had last night.
God, I can still feel the flogger sting against my chest and thighs, including a few images popping up in my head of how hot my man looked working his dom magic on me.
I lay on my back in bed, stretching slightly while biting my bottom lip allowing the naughty thoughts to linger a little while longer.
“Good morning,” I say, reaching over to touch him.
Empty.
He wasn’t there.
A frown creases my forehead as my fingers brush over the cold, empty sheets beside me. I push myself up onto my elbows, looking around the room. The faint morning light spills through the blue curtains, making soft shadows across the bed up onto the wall.
“Leo?” I call out, slightly raspy.
No answer.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the cool floor against my feet. My body protests with a dull ache and delicious throbs.
Standing up, I head to the bathroom for the ritual morning relief only to be stopped in front of the mirror to see very minimal bruising in various spots-luckily they’re in areas where clothing can easily cover it.
But I don’t want to cover it.
My fingertips graze over them one by one, they don’t hurt. To me these feel like hickies, the kind you feel giddy about after a hot intense make-out session with a really hot guy.
This is how I feel when looking at them.
From the bedroom, I headed to the kitchen to get some coffee—knowing me, my day won’t function without it. The closer I got, the more music could be heard getting louder.
“Oh baby, baby” Leo’s faint voice said under the music.
“So, you see the problem is this. I’m dreaming away, wishing that heroes, they truly exist. I cry, watching the day...”
Is that Britney Spears?
Turning the corner, Leo’s back was to me, working hard in front of the stove, making breakfast in nothing but tiny underwear and an apron shaking his thick bubbly ass to OG Britney.
I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms and watching him for a moment, trying not to make any noise. A grin tugging at the corners of my lips.
He swayed side to side, completely in rhythm with the beat, and I couldn’t help but stare at the way his muscles flexed. His carefree singing, if I’m being honest, wasn’t exactly suited for pop stardom-but damn if it wasn’t the hottest thing I’ve seen a man do.
“Oops, I did it again,” he belted, holding the spatula handle to his mouth pretending it was a microphone while attempting to add some choreography.
Unable to contain my laugh any longer, I finally called out, “Leo, you know you’re killing it, right?”
Leo jumped, almost dropping the spatula he was holding, spinning around to face me with wide eyes.
“Oh my god, you scared me!” His cheeks flushed, a bashful grin spreading across his face, “How long have you been standing there?
“Long enough to see you make Britney proud,” I teased, pushing out of the door frame and walking over to him, “You’ve got some moves in and out of the bedroom, your singing though, could use some work.”
He rolled his eyes.
I wrap my arms around his neck, brushing my lips against his, tasting the coffee he’s already been drinking.
Leo hummed against my list, pulling back slightly to look at me, “How are you feeling after last night?” He playfully said.
Shrugging with a joking smile, “I’ve had better.”
His jaw dropped as he couldn’t believe the audacity of what was just said. Leo was getting ready to start a tickling match but instead gently traced with his fingers over my shoulders and down my arms. My cheeks warmed, and I nuzzled my face into his neck, inhaling the comforting scent of him.
“It was amazing last night. I’m still thinking about it,” I confessed.
“You were amazing last night,” he murmured, “So open, so trusting. I’m getting hard thinking about it.”
And he certainly was as a chub emerged in his underwear.
Feeling his cock against mine certainly woke me up, who needs coffee when you have something stronger in front of me.
“You’re starting to get me hard,” I said.
“It’s your call, I can devour your cock and get a protein cum-shot or have scrambled eggs for breakfast, either way it’s a win for me.”
“Who knew somebody could be so dirty this early in the morning.”
“I’m a man of many talents,” he proudly says.
“Since my body is still spent from last night, the eggs will have to do, and some coffee,” I said, flirtatiously teasing him.
”Have it your way,” Leo teased back, “Coffee cups are in the cup to the right and coffee is just underneath it. I’ll make you a plate.”
“Leo, are you home?” a woman’s disembodied voice said.
I look over at Leo in the mid-keurig cup installation phase wondering who was in his house and wondering if I should run for the bedroom to quickly put on clothes.
My now boyfriend mouthed the words “sorry" before saying, “I’m in here Carrie, and I have company.”
“Who is Carrie?” I whisper, in a nervous tone.
“She’s my sister,” he whispers back, “Remember, I told you about her in the car.”
My pulse quickens at the mention of Leo’s sister. How could I have forgotten about his sister? I wasn’t entirely ready to meet family and it’s not like I’m ashamed or anything-far from it. I’m proud to be with him. The thought of meeting his family half-naked in his kitchen for the first time isn’t exactly the impression to make.
Carrie’s voice gets closer, and I glance around for something to cover myself with. Leo, sensing my unease, gives me a reassuring smile and leans in close.
“She’s cool,” he says.
“She may be, but I’m not. Give me your apron, now!” I say, panicking.
A small chuckle leaves Leo as he unties the straps and hands it over and I snatch it right from him hastily covering myself up and mentally preparing for what was about to happen.
She rounds the corner, a woman in her late twenties or early thirties with the same sharp blue eyes as Leo. She’s got a vibrant energy, her short brunette, curly hair bouncing as she walks. She pauses when she sees me, her eyes lifting in surprise before a wide grin spreads across her face.
“Morning,” she says, amusement clear in her voice as her gaze flicks between me and Leo, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important?”
“Just breakfast," he chuckles lightly, turning back to the stove casually as if this a completely normal situation.
And maybe for him, it is. For me, though? I’m still half-dressed, and my face is definitely burning from embarrassment.
I clear my throat and offer a smile, extending a hand to her, “Hi, I’m Drew,” I say, trying to sound calm and casual.
She shakes my hand firmly, her grin not fading, “Nice to meet you, Drew. I’m Carrie, Leo’s much cooler, younger sister.”
“Cooler is debatable,” Leo interjects, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk, “Though, she does make a mean mojito.”
I laugh awkwardly trying not to make things anymore weird.
“Honey, if you need to go put some clothes on,” she suggests.
“Gladly,” I replied.
“Grab me a shirt while you're in there,” Leo asks.
Grateful for my escape, I scurry, making my way back to the bedroom, letting out a breath once out of sight. Meeting Leo’s sister wasn’t on the agenda for this morning-hope she didn’t see any of the marks.
I rummage through the pile of clothes scattered on the floor and I am able to find a pair of black gym shorts and t-shirt, and a tank top for Leo.
It doesn’t seem entirely fair that my private viewing of my shirtless boyfriend, in his tiny underwear, gets cut short unexpectedly.
Seeing him in this tight tank top will have to do for now.
Mentally preparing myself, I was back in the kitchen stumbling upon Carrie and Leo laughing, her voice a light, teasing tone that’s easy to like. Leo’s face brightens when he sees me returning, offering a quick wink that manages to calm my nerves a bit.
”Here,” I say, tossing him the tank.
He pulls it over his head with a casualness that I envy, as if having his boyfriend almost naked in the kitchen with his sister present is the most normal thing in the world.
”Thanks,” Leo says, giving me a peck on the cheek.
His sister watches us with keen eyes.
”You guys are too damn adorable,” she says, sliding onto one of the bar stools at the kitchen island, “And my apologies for dropping by unannounced. I wanted to stop and see my baby brother before heading into work.”
“It’s fine,” I reply, “Just, you know, not quite the grand entrance I was planning for meeting any sort of family.”
Carrie laughs, “You’re the first guy I’ve ever met, actually.”
“What?” I responded, completely shocked.
She leaned forward slightly resting her elbows on the counter, “Yeah. Leo’s usually pretty tight-lipped about his relationships or guys he’s seeing or even interested in. Or even if he has any.”
Leo kept his demeanor casual as he blushed, “Don’t make it sound like I’m some sort of saint, Carrie. I don’t rush into things.”
“Sure, Sure,” Carrie teases, leaning into me, “Let me tell you a secret, in the two flings I’ve kind of known about, him not rushing meanings two weeks before wanting to solidify the relationship.”
“Is that so?” I say, looking over at Leo.
“It’s not a bad thing, Leo is an amazing guy. I should know, I’m pretty amazing myself,” Carrie says, playfully teasing.
I could see Leo’s attention drifting, his mind clearly not interested anymore in the conversation, maybe because he isn’t comfortable, and so I decided to steer it in another direction.
”What does the amazing Carrie do for a living?”
“Marketing is my game,” she replies, “I handle campaigns for a few brands. It’s busy but fun. What about you?”
“I’m in publishing, editor to be exact. Chaotic profession, but I love it.”
Leo finishes preparing breakfast and serves us all plates, all of it smelling delicious. We continue to laugh, Carrie exposing more and more about Leo, as any older sibling does. It’s rather nice to be in the company of Leo’s family. He seems to really come to life and is a little uninhibited with Carrie around.
Her anecdotes about Leo are charmingly embarrassing, from childhood mischief to his karaoke nights-which explains his kitchen concert I just witnessed. Leo’s playful retorts only make her dig deeper, and I can’t help but laugh at the way she can get under his skin in a way no one else seems to.
It's clear there’s a lot of love between them, especially since both of their parents are gone. Seeing this side of Leo makes my heart swell with warmth.
Carrie finishes her plate and sips down the last of her coffee, glancing down at the time on her watch, and sighs. ”Damn, time flies too fast. Unfortunately, I’ve got to run. My boss expects miracles, and I’m already late.
We all stand, and she pulls Leo into a tight hug. She then turns to me and gives me a tight hug, catching me a little off guard.
“It was great meeting you, Drew,” Carrie says, in a genuine heartfelt tone.
“Likewise,” I smiled.
“Oh, Leo. Don’t let this one get away,” she adds, “I like him.”
“Oh he’s not going anywhere,” Leo says, looking lovingly into my eyes.
Leo walks Carrie out, looking to get some extra time with her since he mentioned it’s far few and between. Having met Carrie, it’s nice to see another side of Leo beyond Wonderland and the playroom. Though it does raise a question...does she know about the dungeon and that comes with it? The kitchen is suddenly quiet, and Leo wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry for the impromptu sister meet and greet. You did great,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my neck.
I turn in his arms, looking into his eyes with a smile, “You don’t have to be sorry, things happen. Your sister seems great. And you...” I brush my fingers through his hair, “You’re even more amazing than I realized. Just needed the insider scoop.”
Leo’s eyes darken with tenderness.
“Can you do me a favor?” I asked, in the cutest voice.
“What’s that?” Leo said.
I slipped my hands under the hem of his tank top, fingertips brushing the arm, firm planes of his skin. Slowly, I lifted it over his head, savoring the way the fabric dragged over his chest before tossing it onto the counter. My arms snaked around his shoulders, pulling him closer, my lips brushing his ear as I murmured, ‘No shirts allowed. I want to enjoy every inch of this view.” My fingers trailed down his back, nails grazing lightly, my eyes taking in the way his muscles tensed under my touch.
My boyfriend pulled me in closer, “Is that so?”
He then nuzzled his face in the nape of neck, giving me light kisses that sent shivers all over my body. A guy could get used to this every morning, minus the surprise sister visit. I pressed one of my hands on the back of his neck and the other through his messy blonde hair.
“Fuck, Leo,” I gasp.
A faint telephone ring could be heard coming from the living room.
“Hold on,” Leo said.
He pulled from me, giving me a quick peck on the lips before power walking to the living room to see who was calling. Whoever was calling better have a good damn excuse for interrupting the beginning of some quality sexy time.
“Hello,” he said in a hard tone.
A small pause before Leo continues, “Yes he is, let me grab him.”
As he comes back into the kitchen, I watch as his face shifts from playful to serious. My heart skips a beat, wondering who could possibly be calling for me on Leo’s phone.
”It’s the chief of police,” he mouths to me.
I swallow, a knot forming in my stomach as I take the phone from his hand.
“Why are they calling you and not me?” I asked.
“The benefit has my information, and I didn’t want you there for another second. So, they probably gave my information to them.”
Nodding, I take the phone and answer, “Hello?” I answer.
“Hello, Drew,” a deep, authoritative voice on the other end greets me, “This is Chief Reynolds. I need to speak with you about an urgent matter. It’s regarding the incident that occurred last night.”
My mind races, flashes of Kyle assaulting me flicker.
“What about Kyle?” I asked, in a worrisome tone.
“We spoke with him. But I prefer to speak with you in person. What time can I expect you downtown?”
I feel Leo’s eyes on me, his concern radiating like a beacon, and I try to steady my voice as I respond.
“I can be down in an hour,” I say, my voice slightly shaking, “is that okay?”
“That works. We’ll have an officer waiting for you at the front desk,” Chief Reynolds replies before hanging up.
I hand the phone back to Leo, his eyes search mine, worry and anger mixing in their depths.
“What did they say?”
“They have Kyle in custody,” I say, with a lump in my throat, “They need a statement if I want to press charges.”
“I’m happy they have him under custody. I should have-”
Pulling him into my arms, “You came at the right time. Neither one of us knew he was going to be there,” I interrupted.
Leo pulls me into a tight embrace, holding me as if he could shield me from everything.
“I’m coming with you. I need to give a statement as well,” he murmured into my hair.”
For a moment, I let myself relax against him, absorbing his love, kindness, and strength. A part of me wanted to let this absolve, but Kyle has to face the consequences. If he’s willing to do this with me, who knows who else he could do this to or already has done to.
“Thank you,” I whisper, pulling back just enough to look at him, “Your sister is right, you are an amazing person. And here I had doubts.”
He rolled his eyes, brushing a strand of hair from my face, this thumb lingering on my cheek ready to say something.
“You’re such a butthead,” Leo says.
“Butthead? I haven’t been called that since elementary school. That’s the best comeback you have to offer?” I rebuttal.
“I’ll have a better one next time. Now, let’s get dressed and get downtown.”
“Fine, I guess,” I sarcastically say.
Leo leads us to the bedroom and a large number of emotions surface; mostly fear. Kyle comes from a wealthy and powerful family, something like this is nothing but blimp on his radar. I honestly don’t think a statement or even Leo’s will be enough to see jail time happen to Kyle-a slap on the wrist if that.
I just hope it’s enough to keep Kyle away for good.