Chapter 19
Leo woke up feeling like both a teenager and the winner of the fucking Ironman triathlon.
Molly had kissed him. And he’d gotten a chance to explore her body.
Despite all the times he’d warned himself to stay away from her.
Last night, he’d finally got what he’d wanted.
And he hadn’t messed it up. In fact, it had been perfect.
When was the last time he’d spent the whole night kissing and cuddling with a woman?
Fuck, when was the last time he had kissed a woman? He hadn’t been lying when he’d said it had been a long time. A truth now emphasised by the growing member in his trousers.
He cracked an eyelid open. He was on the sofa in the living room. The room was cool, but despite being shirtless, he wasn’t cold.
Leo curled his arms around the slumbering figure next to him. Molly lay beside him in the yoga pants and the bra he’d reluctantly tugged back into place before they’d fallen asleep last night.
Leo grinned. She brought out this sex-crazed part of him.
It was goosebump-inducing how much like a first date last night had been, albeit a first date between best pals.
They’d talked about their dreams, where they’d like to travel to, and he’d told her just how attractive he found her before the need for each other had overtaken them again.
Leo had brewed them peppermint tea and brought the baby monitor to the living room table somewhere between all that. Then sometime after two a.m., Molly had finally given in to sleep. He’d held her against his chest just as sleep had come for him too.
Now intertwined together, hugging each other, their bodies so close, he thought this was a position he could be in forever, but at the same time had to run away from. Because, fuck, his member’d had enough. It needed Molly. Pronto.
He wasn’t a bastard who would deny her sex the night before and wake her up for a round in the morning. For their first time, she had to be fully awake and ready for him. And they wouldn’t be on a fucking sofa. He would romance her and love her right. This was a start of something major.
The baby monitor crackled.
Leo blinked at the clock on the bureau against the other wall. The clock’s dial was too small and the room too dark for him to make out the time.
When Rose gurgled again, he took it to mean it was morning. He slipped out of Molly’s arms, tucking the throw around her to keep her warm, then padded his way to the loo.
He rinsed his mouth, staring at himself in the mirror. The right side of his face had a red sleep mark, but his eyes were wide and well-rested. When was the last time that had happened?
He rubbed his face, then went into his bedroom to check the time on his phone. Half seven. Wow. He hadn’t slept in like this for years.
It also explained why Rose was up. But after the ordeal Molly had gone through last night, he would let her sleep longer. Leo pursed his lips. But he couldn’t go about his day with a hard-on, could he?
Grabbing a towel, he hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower.
He shucked his clothes, turned the shower on, and stepped into the warm stream. His angry member was up and demanding attention as if asking, Why the fuck didn’t you move past second base?
That question pulled him down a path of what-ifs. What if he hadn’t drawn a line? What if he’d slid into her wet heat? What if he’d buried his head in between her legs and kissed her—
Fuck! The power of his orgasm rocked through him, almost blinding him, and he exploded, his cum jetting ahead and staining the bathroom tiles. Oh fuck, Molly. He rubbed himself, watched in amazement as more beads of his cum sprayed onto the walls.
Shite. He hadn’t had sex in a while, but he’d been masturbating. He’d had to, being around Molly every day. It had been the cause of his shame, knowing he was thinking about her without her knowledge.
He rested his head against the cool tile, panting. Had he ever been so hungry for another human being?
What the hell was he going to do? Molly had a past. She had a daughter she had to think of.
Being pals had been safe. It had ensured he’d be there for the two of them, as a friend. But after last night, and after seeing what the mere thought of Molly’s body, her moans, her eyes did to him, they couldn’t go back to what they were before.
Leo cleaned himself up. He’d taken longer in the shower than he’d anticipated, needing to get himself off a couple times before he’d been totally spent.
Then repulsed by his thoughts, he’d scrubbed his skin raw.
When he finally rushed into the living room, neither Molly nor the baby monitor was where he’d left them. In fact, he could hear voices in the kitchen. Voices that sounded like Molly, a babbling baby, and a… man.
That’s our only solution, Molly was saying when Leo walked in. She was dressed in a housecoat, hair tangled up in a bun.
Rose sat in her highchair, snacking on fruit. She noticed him first and grinned up at him. ’Eo!
Well, well. Look who joined us, Alasdair said from where he’d been poking his head into the pantry. Where the hell are the eggs? I could only find six.
Neil was also there, sitting quietly beside Rose’s highchair, watching the bairn. She’s hungry.
Leo crossed his arms over his chest. Apparently he was a cook today, serving breakfast not just to Molly and Rose, but also to his hungry brothers. Didn’t you find a single café on your way here?
It was too early. Alasdair reached in and pulled out a carton of eggs. Ah, found them.
Molly reached out for them. Perfect. I’ll get started. I think there are bacon rashers in the fridge as well.
Leo stalked into the room and took the eggs from her. These are for Rose. They’re organic. And I’m making her pancakes.
Again? Molly shook her head. She could have a scramble.
After the ordeal yesterday? She deserves a treat. Leo pulled the pan down. Would you like pancakes?
I would. Alasdair raised a hand.
You get scrambled. Leo pulled out the other carton of eggs and set it next to the hob. Neil?
Scrambled, please, Neil replied in that several-octaves-lower-than-Alasdair sort of way, his gaze still on Rose. How does a human being that tiny even grip a spoon?
I was in the car too, remember? Why don’t I get pancakes? Alasdair grumbled, head still inside the pantry. You’re supposed to be my big brother. Don’t you care about me?
Leo cracked the eggs on the pan, then fetched a bowl to make the pancake batter. You may seem like it, but you’re not three. And we share half our DNA. So make yourself useful and brew coffee for us, will you?
Tea for me, please, Neil said.
Make it yourself, Alasdair grumbled. And Leo, get your girlfriend under control. She’s woken up with wild ideas in her head.
They’re not, Molly muttered, then reached into the fridge for the bacon rashers. She pulled out a carton of milk as well. All I said was the only way to get any legit info on Newtar would be to break into Knox’s office.
That gave Leo pause. Excuse me?
Molly hopped onto a stool by the counter and shrugged as if breaking into people’s offices was like brewing coffee.
Given what she’d told him yesterday, it probably used to be for her.
If Newtar is the black ops, illegitimate arm of Buchanan Security and none of you know about it, Knox must if he’s CEO.
Leo plated up the scrambled eggs and passed the plate to Molly. Then he pulled out another pan to make the pancakes. So you figure we should break into Knox’s office?
You are all part owners. It should be like walking into the office every day. Besides, Neil, aren’t you the one who handles the IT stuff? Can’t you just log into Knox’s devices and find files on Newtar? Molly waved her hands.
Leo turned around, crossed his arms, and observed the woman. When they’d first met, Molly had been frail, walking on eggshells. She’d slowly opened up, asked questions, and shown her snarky personality. But this strategic side of Molly was new to him. What’s gotten into you?
Molly tilted her head. What do you mean?
You’re taking risks, talking about breaking into Knox’s office, taking revenge on Johnny. Leo sighed. I know what you told me yesterday, but—
I’m doing this because I’m tired of hiding. I won’t raise Rose like this. Not anymore. Molly lifted her chin, waiting for Leo to admonish her.
But who was he to dictate what she did? Why now?
For personal reasons.
Seriously? Molly, we’re pals. Besides, you can’t go against someone like Johnny. He was Buchanan’s fu–forking enforcer. I will make sure he doesn’t hurt you again.
Across the room, Rose’s head was oscillating between her mother and Leo, eyes wide as if she understood what they were saying.
Molly nodded. Ah, so you—being the one in possession of a dick—can go against Johnny, but I can’t?
That’s not what I said. But, shite, hadn’t it been what this appeared to be? He had told her he’d avenge them without even asking what her thoughts were.
Molly smacked her hand on the countertop as she stood. Just because we fooled around last night, you don’t get to boss me around. Especially not when you refused to have sex with me!
Oh, Alasdair interjected.
Leo just stood there, rooted to the spot, the pancake he’d been making burning behind him on the hob. Molly, I never—
I’ve been ordered around by Johnny before. I’m not doing that again with you. She strode over to Rose. And as much as you think you know me, newsflash, arsehole, you don’t.
Rose slid into her mother’s arms, her mouth now wide. Leo and Molly hadn’t ever argued. Not like this.
I’m glad. Molly said, that we didn’t take it further. Because a man who wants to make decisions for me is not the sort of man I want in my life. Or Rose’s life.
That cut deep. Leo gaped at her like a fish, unable to get any other words out. That’s how she managed to take Rose and leave the room without Leo stopping her.