Chapter 13 #2
This shouldn’t be hot. The possessive alpha-male bullshit should be toxic, not hot.
Still, the reptilian parts of my brain are reeling, along with my nether regions, which are currently on fire.
His mouth works over mine, while my heart beats a steady rhythm as if whispering ‘Safe’ with every beat.
I moan into his mouth, eliciting a growl.
He bites my bottom lip before kissing it better.
Finally, he pulls away, leaving us both panting.
My mind is still a mess. Possessiveness isn’t new to me.
I was used to possessive outbursts and jealousy.
But somehow, they were always my fault. My clothes were too revealing, my gaze too seductive.
My words were too flirty, or my breasts too large.
This — Leon blaming the man — is something else entirely.
It warms my blood in a way not even his kisses can.
Leon leans back onto the couch, changing the subject once again. “So, second-best steak you’ve ever eaten?”
With my thoughts still hazy from the kiss, it takes me a second to collect them enough to answer.
“Yeah. The best one is in New York.” His eyes show interest, so I continue, “It’s my favorite restaurant, actually.
Super hard to get into, so I only went twice, but it’s worth both the effort and the money.
It sits on the roof of a hotel, overlooking the entire city, and it’s covered in plants.
Like an enchanted forest in the sky.” My lips turn up at the memory.
Both times I went, it was magical. Sitting a hundred feet taller than other buildings, with only one point of entry might be a nightmare for people afraid of heights, but it was a miracle to me.
“Sounds great.”
“Oh, it is.” I tried to convince Sophie to join me, but every outing from her house causes her anxiety, let alone traveling to New York with me. “But this steak is a pretty close second.”
“I guess eating it on a granite floor doesn’t help its case.”
“Well, at least the company is good.”
“Mine is better.” He shoots me a wink, and any tension I had leaves me.
I look away, and my gaze catches on the mess of papers strewn over his desk. “You know what you need here? To help you be more productive.”
“What?” He cracks a curious smile.
“Energy crystals. Maybe some citrine. Or fluorite. Ooh, maybe even a Tiger’s Eye?”
“Crystals?” He arches a brow.
“Yeah, crystals. There are plenty of them with energetic properties.”
“A rock can make me productive?”
I roll my eyes at his tone. “Not a rock. A crystal.”
“And you believe in those properties?”
“Well, poker is mostly skill, right?” He nods in agreement.
“But luck still plays a part in it. Life is similar, I guess. Having luck on your side couldn’t hurt.
” I shrug my shoulders, my cheeks heating.
I’m not ashamed of my crystals, and his opinion on the subject is irrelevant to me.
But I may have shown the cards I keep close to heart, revealing how desperate I am for luck not to betray me.
He blinks twice as if surprised by my answer. “I’m not sure about it solving my problems, but I can definitely understand what it’s like needing luck on your side.”
Somehow, I know. It’s the same camaraderie I felt the first night I saw him. We’re both battling our own demons. The hand of a luxury gold clock reaches one, and I barely suppress a yawn. “I should get going.”
He follows as I get up from the floor. “I’ll drive you.”
Twenty minutes later, he pulls to a stop next to the building that is now officially my fake place of residence.
I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling guilty about lying to him, but it’s not like I have a choice.
I’m on the run, and the last thing I need is to lead dangerous men to Sophie’s apartment.
She’d hate having to move when she gets back.
If she gets back. Leon interrupts my negative overthinking by pulling me in for a kiss that leaves me breathless.
He opens the door for me and walks me to the building entrance. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he says, retreating to his car.
“Who says I’ll be there?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he repeats, turning my face into a cheesy smile.
I keep it as I enter the building, completely forgetting it’s not my actual address.
The doorman, the same old man from last time, scrunches his face, pointing a finger at me.
“It’s you again. What are you doing here? And tell me the truth before I call the police.”
I sigh, pulling my purse to my chest. Good thing I earned some money tonight. “Want to know the truth?”
He nods profusely, his hand clutching the phone.
“I started dating again after some… unpleasant experiences. Do you have daughters?” I glance up at him.
“Three daughters, Miss.”
“Then you know how it goes. How uncomfortable it can be, meeting strangers for dates. The worst thing is, some of them want to drive me home. I try to refuse, but they don’t take no for an answer, and I really don’t want them to know my address.”
“You should never give them your address.”
“I’m trying not to. I made up random addresses, but simply ran out of them. That’s how I found myself here. I just need like two minutes here before I can be on my way out, back to my real place.” I open my purse to extract a stack of bills. “I don’t mind paying for it.”
The doorman lifts his hand. “Nope. No need. I’m worried sick thinking about my daughters in the same position, and I hope someone would give them the basic decency you’re asking for. You come whenever you need to.”
My heart warms with the gesture. I reach my hand out. “Thank you…”
“Pete. I’m Pete.” We shake hands.
“Thank you, Pete. I’m Alex. I should get going.”
“How are you getting home, Miss Alex?”
“I’ll just walk. I don’t live far from here.”
He shoots me a dad-glare. “I’d prefer you to take a rideshare.”
“I’ll think about it,” I respond with a smile and leave the building.
My feet start toward Sophie’s apartment, choosing that over sharing my address with a rideshare driver.
The chill night air cools my skin, but my stomach still swirls with butterflies.
I’m vaguely aware that the safest thing for my heart would be to put some distance between us, but the thought is unbearable.
There’s something about the way Leon makes me feel, like there’s still hope for the life I wanted to live.
Next to him, I feel cherished, something I’m not sure I’ve experienced before.
I shouldn’t listen to what he says and come to the casino tomorrow night. But I guess we both know I’m going to.