Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Leonard
Raising my fist, I knock again.
Fuck!
“Shelby,” I call out through the door. I know that she’s home. What’s worse is that she knows that I know. After practically running out of my house this morning, Shelby hasn’t left her house, nor has she answered my texts.
Which is why I’m standing on her doorstep, with a baby monitor clipped to my belt.
I feel like a fucking teenager.
“Shelby!” I call sharper.
My tone does the trick, or maybe it’s my incessant knocking that’s worn her down. Either way, my neighbor’s front door cracks open.
I arch my brow.
“Sorry,” she mumbles sheepishly, “I was cleaning . . .” She jabs her thumb over her shoulder.
Shelby’s eyes drift to my feet as she shuffles her own.
Cleaning my ass. I keep the comment to myself
“If you need help packing, Riley and I would be happy to help.” I smile.
I watch as her face flushes. Caught red-handed, baby.
“I, umm,” she stumbles.
Raising my arm, I gently sweep her brunette locks behind her right ear. “Why are you running, Shelby?” I ask softly.
My girl flushes further. Locking eyes, I let her see my longing. I want this. I want her. My thumb is featherlight against the shell of her ear, and the brush of my skin against her lights up my body.
It’s only been a few hours since I was last releasing into her, but already the need to lose myself within her roars through my veins.
Our gaze breaks when she bites her lip, drawing my gaze to her mouth. As if the spell drawing us closer is broken, Shelby frowns, leaning left then right to look around me.
“Where’s Riley?”
“Watching her favorite show,” I reassure. Unclipping the baby monitor, I hold it up. Is Riley too old to need one? Maybe, but it makes me feel better knowing I can step out for a minute and I’ll hear if she needs me.
Shelby nods once, then shuffles.
“I just wanted to give you this,” I say, with a closed-lipped smile. Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out a white envelope.
The heat in my body doubles when our fingers brush.
“What is it?”
I don’t answer. Instead, I watch as understanding dawns on her face.
“Why would you give me money?”
“For looking after Riley.”
Shelby’s head rears back, as if I struck her. A second later, she thrusts the envelope back toward me.
“You don’t need to pay me for that. I love watching her. She’s my buddy.”
My heart warms at her words. “I know.” I smile. “But I also know that you’ve been taking fewer shifts at the coffee shop, and you need money. I don’t see why you can’t have both.”
Ignoring the money still held out toward me, I take a step back. “What time are you coming over tonight?”
“Leonard,” Shelby grumbles.
I chuckle at her tone.
“Shelby,” I match it.
Closing her eyes, my girl gives a long sigh. “It doesn’t feel right to take a wage. Not if I’m going to move in.”
“Well, you will,” I tell her.
I watch as she overthinks. “How much is rent?”
Anger fills me at her words. I take a large step, bringing myself even closer to her than before. “If you think I’m going to let you pay for anything in that house, you are sadly mistaken.”
Shelby blinks, her neck strained as she looks up at me.
“The only thing you have to worry about is helping me raise Riley. I want her happy and healthy.”
With a few siblings, I silently add.
“No.” She shakes her head, wiggling the enclosed money.
I blink at her.
“What do you mean, no?”
Something in my tone makes her look up from her extended hand. Disbelief maybe.
“Oh.” Her mouth twitches. “No, thank you?” The uncertainty in her voice makes it sound like a question.
“You will take the money, Shelby.”
“It feels wrong,” she mumbles.
I frown at her words.
“I’d live with you for free, no bills, no rent, and you’d pay me? What’s the catch?”
“No catch.” I smirk. “You’ll also leave your coffee shop job whenever you’re ready. I’ll make sure that you have more than enough money.”
“Leo . . .”
I shiver at the way she says my name.
“Shelby . . .” I start, my voice husky and deep, “The minute that you agreed to try this, you became mine. I take care of what’s mine.”
Her brow furrows.
I continue before she can argue. “If it makes you feel better, I would do the same for my girlfriend or wife, but instead of a wage, we’d call it an allowance.
I take care of what’s mine. And make no mistake, the minute you agreed to this, you became mine.
” Taking care of her is not something I’m willing to compromise on.
I let my tone and expression tell her just that.
“Thank you,” she relents reluctantly. “We’ll revise later,” she rushes, slipping the money into her back pocket without opening it. Probably best, no doubt my girl would argue about the two thousand tucked inside.
I grin at her hushed words. “We will not.” I shut her down.
Shelby’s eyes widen. Seems she hadn’t meant to argue out loud.
God, I love the way she challenges me.
“You never answered. What time are you coming home?”
My cock twitches. Home. That’s what Riley and I will be for her.
Shelby’s mouth twitches. “I’m staying here tonight, if that’s okay?”
I tamp down my frustration at her pulling away. She asked for approval, so that’s something.
“Why?” I ask softly.
Her cheeks flush.
Does she remember last night? No. If Shelby knew who I truly was, her reaction would be bigger. Worse.
If my girl needs time, then I’ll give it to her, for now.
“Okay.” I nod.
Reaching out, I capture her chin, holding her gaze.
“Go to bed early. No staying up late to second-guess what this is. And drink your juice before bed, all of it.”
A smile creeps onto her lips at my words. When she doesn’t respond, I raise a brow.
Shelby nods. My thumb moves from her chin to press the centre of her bottom lip, pulling it down.
My eyes are glued to her mouth as I release it. Her tongue sneaks out to wet her lip. The tip brushes my thumb, and my pants grow tight.
Fuck me.
“Yes, Sir,” she whispers.
“Good girl,” I praise.
It’s physically painful as I force myself to step away. I can’t wait to have her forever.
I’m running out of patience and self-control.
“I put some flat packs in your garage. Pack at least five boxes.” I keep my eyes on her as I retreat over the boundary lines.
“Yes, Sir.” Shelby’s words are lost in the distance between us. Quiet, they drift away with the winter wind, but my eyes catch it.
Her obedience warns me. I crave it more than anything.
Soon.