Chapter 10
GAbrIELLA
I would be lying if I said Daisy’s words didn’t affect me. The problem was, they did— very much.
Over the next couple of weeks, living alongside Leo had become straight torture.
It was the thoughtful gestures. The way he would leave little notes around the house, or how he always stocked up my favourite kombucha, despite hating the drink himself, which endeared him to me to the point of him becoming irresistible.
However, I wasn’t the only one affected by his charm.
I had managed to gain employment at the same hospital as Leonardo, slotting into my respective field of paediatrics with relative ease. Although my new position wasn’t a form of contention, all the thirsty single women were.
I was surrounded by a workforce that was caught in a constant state of infatuation with the smart, handsome, empathetic stroke specialist.
He never said anything to me, but the whispers and flirty remarks from the female personnel were hard to miss. Leonardo was the renowned bachelor everyone wanted a piece of, and being in close proximity to that made jealousy spear through my chest—as proven by Exhibit A.
I stood at the nursing station, signing off my documentation when I heard the head nurse whisper to her colleague, “How can any man be so perfect? Good-looking, rich and great with kids. Sign me up.” My gut dropped as the duo combusted into hushed giggles.
My gaze traced down the ward corridor, knowing who I’d find.
Leonardo was crouched down, having an animated discussion with a four-year-old patient.
The boy was showing off his dinosaur toy, and Leo followed on, enthusiastically encouraging him, his face open and beaming.
He’d be a great father… So why didn’t he ever settle down and have children?
He then rose upright, his hand ruffling the boy’s hair before his eyes gravitated to mine. Everything seemed to disappear into the background until all that remained was us. At that moment, I desperately wanted to be alone with him.
“Ready for home, Ella?” he asked, approaching the station, ignoring everyone else.
Yes.
Dinner and post-cleanup were complete. After my evening shower, I impulsively slipped on a thin, short nightgown. I told myself it was in direct retaliation to those low-hung grey sweatpants Leo lived in. They should have been illegal.
We sat on the couch to watch a documentary on the retired professional running back, Ethan Harris. His vulnerability on national television was inspiring, and had my mind reeling about how to approach what was eating me up inside.
“Everything okay, Ella? You’ve been quiet since we left work,” Leo said, placing a light hand on mine.
My flesh sparked at the faint contact, causing goose bumps to scatter up my arm. Naturally, I panicked.
“Why’d you never have kids? Did you not want any?” My breath caught, wanting the universe to swallow me whole. I avoided his gaze to try to salvage some form of dignity.
“Where’s this coming from?” Leonardo asked, voice hesitant. “I don’t think you’re ready for that answer.”
My head whipped towards him, which I immediately regretted as his face hovered before me, his grey orbs bleeding with sincerity and something else.
“I thought we were going to be honest with one another?” I asked, reminding him of his previous promise, my insecurities aggressively taking over.
“And I meant that, Ella. Whatever you ask, I’ll answer truthfully. I just don’t want to scare you—” He cleared his throat, running a frustrated hand through his dark hair.
“Please, Leo.”
He huffed. “Because... I didn’t want to have a baby with someone I wasn’t devoted to.
That wouldn’t be fair on the mother or the child.
My entire life, I’ve only loved one, only wanted to share that miracle with one.
If I couldn’t have a child with you, I wasn’t going to settle for anyone else. Now, I’m sorry if that offends—”
I cut him off by swiftly pressing my lips to his. The action wasn’t planned or well thought out, simply an automatic response to his beautiful words.
We were both surprised, a split second of hesitation lingering before I sank more heavily into his side, and he enveloped me.
Leo’s mouth opened a sliver to grant my tongue access to massage against his own. Broad, solid hands skirted up my arms to sink into my hair, pivoting my head at the perfect angle so he could delve in deeper. “So soft, darling. So fucking soft.”
My heart rampaged against my rib cage as lust overtook my system. It had been so long since I was touched like that, like I was precious. Taking advantage of the euphoric high, I shifted to straddle his lap, my thighs cushioning his hips between them.
Leonardo groaned as I surrendered my weight, our centres colliding, creating a sinister friction. I couldn’t help but gyrate over his impressive length.
Long-buried feelings rushed forth—longing, craving, love. And when his addictive kisses ran down my neck, my lips released reckless mutterings.
“Need your cum, Leo. Need you so fucking bad. Fill me up. I want your baby.”
His hands froze, and he immediately pulled back, tracking my face with knowing precision. “Ella?”
With my name said in that way, I knew playtime was over.
“Never mind,” I said, attempting to detangle myself, which he wouldn’t allow, keeping me prisoner in his lap, where he could read every last trace of my cold, shrivelled soul.
“Talk to me, darling,” he said, his hands massaging my body. Not needy or seductive, only comforting. It had me unravelling.
I licked my lips, tears gathering in my lash line. “I’m sorry. I-I—”
“I’m right here.”
I concentrated on my breathing, and when I had somewhat calmed down, I gave him my truth. “After speaking with Daisy about my future, I realised I still want a baby. Desperately. Leo, I want to have your baby.”
His eyes widened, features steadily morphing into shock as he processed my request.
He wasn’t expecting that.