Chapter 20
HAVEN
Snuggling against his side, I whisper, “Leo.”
“Yes, stellina mia.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
Suddenly, loud bangs go off, and I scream.
Darkness engulfs me as I fly through the air before landing on hundreds of hands that are clawing at me.
“Leo,” I scream, the hands pulling me into the floor. My chest closes up, and I begin to suffocate.
My eyes fly open, a scream tearing from me, and completely disorientated, I struggle against the arms locked around me.
When I can’t get free, I let out a sob, crying, “Leo!”
“I’m here. Shh… I’m here.”
His voice gets through to me, and I burst out in uncontrollable tears, the intense terror I felt in the nightmare still fresh in my mind.
“It’s okay. It’s just a dream.” He presses kisses to the side of my face while his hand brushes up and down my back. “I’ve got you. It’s okay.”
Feeling safe, the horrible emotions begin to retreat, and I slowly calm down until I’m able to take deep breaths.
It’s only then that it sinks in that the bedside light is on and Leo is holding me.
For the past two weeks, he’s taken me on dates, and it’s given me time to get used to him. I’ve fallen into a routine of visiting Mom during the days and getting to know Leo better at night.
Things have been good, so I don’t understand why I had a nightmare tonight. Nothing upsetting happened that would trigger one.
When I pull back, I notice he’s only wearing boxers, and my brain short-circuits while my eyes take in every inch of his golden skin.
Sculptured dips and swells carve a perfect six-pack into his abs, and his chest makes my hands itch to touch him.
“Better?” he asks, tilting his head to catch my gaze.
“Ahh…” I keep staring at his chest, where there’s a tattoo that’s a black swash of ink with stars shining out of the darkness. “It’s beautiful.”
“What?”
“Your tattoo.”
Leo takes hold of my jaw and nudges my face up until our eyes lock. “What did you dream about?”
I shake my head, sucking in another deep breath of air. “I’m so sorry I woke you. You can go back to bed.”
His eyes flit over my face, concern tightening his features. “Don’t worry about me. Want to talk about what had you screaming like that? Did you dream that I did something to you?”
Realizing what he’s asking, I quickly shake my head again. “Oh no, it was nothing like that. I have nightmares all the time. It’s really nothing.”
The concern etched all over his face doesn’t lessen. “You get them all the time? I haven’t heard you at night.”
I slump back and rub my palm over my face. “I got therapy when I was younger, but since you shot Luciano, they’ve come back. I’ve had a good two weeks with no dreams.”
“ Gesù Cristo . I’m sorry I triggered you.”
When Leo lies down beside me and wraps his arms around me, I snuggle against his chest. He’s so much warmer than me, and I soak up his heat like a sponge. I wrap my right arm around his waist, taking the comfort he’s giving me.
Even though the stitches have been removed and my wrist has mostly healed, I still take it easy with my left hand.
Lying in Leo’s arms, I think about everything.
Leo said Mom will be able to move into her own house at the end of the month. It’s situated near Mrs. Toscano’s place, but the garden needs a hell of a lot of work. Mom’s excited to start planting flowers. I’m not. I don’t enjoy gardening like she does.
My thoughts turn to last night. Since our first date, Leo hasn’t kissed me again, but after supper, while we were sitting on the couch watching a movie, I think he came dangerously close to losing control. He kept brushing his nose up and down my neck, and I’m pretty sure I might have a hickey.
Remembering how hot and bothered I felt, it doesn’t take long before the atmosphere starts to change. The ever-present tension that’s always between us skyrockets.
I rub my cheek against Leo’s chest, and his arms tighten even more around me. I feel his breath in my hair, then he drops kisses on the top of my head.
My abdomen tightens, and every nerve ending in my body comes alive, taking notice of where Leo’s body is touching mine.
Jesus, the attraction between us is going to drive me insane.
I won’t be able to keep him at a distance for much longer. Especially not after seeing him in boxers.
“Think you’ll be able to sleep again?” he asks, his voice hoarse.
When he begins to sit up, I tighten my arm around him. “Stay with me.”
What the hell am I doing? I should let him leave. Lying in a bed with him is playing with fire.
Leo relaxes again, engulfing me in a hug that makes me feel unbelievably safe.
Instantly, the sexual tension rushes back, creating overpowering hunger deep inside me.
I focus on my breathing, but that only makes me aware of how good he smells.
“ Gesù Cristo ,” Leo growls, right before he pushes me onto my back.
His mouth finds my throat, and as my eyes drift closed, his hand brushes over my middle. I feel him gripping my cami, then he scrunches the fabric in his fist right between my breasts.
“God,” I whimper, every inch of my skin begging for more.
His voice is a rasp as he groans against my chest, “Tell me to leave.”
“I probably should,” I gasp, while his lips nip and suck their way down to my collarbone, “but I can’t.”
I rub my palms over his shoulders and muscled back, desperate to feel all of him.
Leo’s left hand pushes beneath my head, and fisting my hair, he pulls me to him. Our mouths crash together, and as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, my body shudders from how amazing it feels.
The tension that’s been building ever since we laid eyes on each other explodes between us, creating so much desperation to taste, to feel, to claim.
Our hands hungrily roam over each other, and when Leo grips my breast hard, my back arches, and I moan into his mouth.
Suddenly, he breaks the kiss with a rough curse. “ Cazzo! ”
As I open my eyes to look at him, he moves down, pressing hot kisses over my chest and abdomen. He grips the side of my shorts and panties, and as he pulls them slightly down, his lips and teeth rain havoc on my hip.
It's easily the most hot and sensual moment of my life, making my need for this man something I can’t resist.
“ Cazzo. Cazzo. Cazzo .” The words sound like a plea from him, his touch making my skin tingle. I feel his hand trembling where he’s gripping my panties and shorts, telling me it’s taking everything in him not to rip them off.
Slowly, he stills, his rushed breaths hot against my hip, then he groans, “ Per favore . Tell me I can bury my face between your legs. I’m fucking starving and need to taste your pussy more than I need my next breath.”
My big, bad mafia boss is begging.
I move my hand to the back of his head and pull my fingers through his ruffled hair. Leo’s eyes flick up to my face, his features dark with hunger.
My hand brushes over the stubble on his jaw before I tug at his bottom lip with my thumb. “Yes.”
His teeth nip at my finger, his expression growing even darker. The next second, he moves fast, ripping my clothes down my legs. My thighs are shoved open, and a predatory growl rumbles from him right before his mouth latches onto my soaked opening.
Holy. Freaking. Shit.
My body arches off the bed, my hands desperately searching for something to grab hold of while sharp pleasure hits the air from my lungs.
Leo’s tongue and lips create one hell of an inferno between my legs, tearing a cry from me.
His teeth tug at my clit, then I feel his finger circle my opening. Having him touch me down there is so freaking intense, I don’t know if I’m coming or going.
The pleasure buzzes in my abdomen and clit, teasing me as my orgasm remains just out of reach.
“Leo,” I gasp, then his finger pushes inside me, and he begins to lick and suck my clit into oblivion. “Oh God,” I whimper, my back arching. His finger curls, and the next second, intense ecstasy has every muscle in my body locking up.
God, within seconds of him touching me, I’m going to come. It usually takes torturously long minutes.
“Oh!” I pinch my eyes shut, and gripping hold of the rumpled covers, my orgasm rolls through my core and abdomen like a destructive force hell bent on bringing me to my knees.
I’m lost to the pleasure Leo is wringing out of my body, and only when it begins to subside does he kiss my oversensitive clit tenderly before pulling his finger out of me.
He laps at my entrance, drinking every drop of my arousal, and by the time he moves up my body, I’m bathing in the afterglow of the heavenly orgasm I just experienced.
Leo takes hold of my cami, pushing the fabric up. He’s breathing hard, as if he’s the one who came.
“So fucking perfect,” he murmurs, the dark timbre of his voice sending goosebumps over my skin, which only makes my nipples grow harder.
His teeth scrape over my right nipple before his hand engulfs my breast, and he lays his head on my chest.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers with reverence.
I bring my hand to his back and trail my fingers up and down his skin that’s hot to the touch.
When I don’t say anything, he asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I move my head to the side so I can try to see his face. “Are you okay?”
He shakes his head, finally lifting it to look at me. “Far from.”
I pull my hand away from his back and slip it over his shoulder and down his chest. There’s a seductive tone to my voice that impresses even me as I murmur, “Anything I can do to make you feel better?”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Yes.” He moves partially over me and rests his forearms on either side of my head, then his mouth nips at mine.
The second my hand brushes over his boxers and I feel his hard cock, his tongue strokes against mine, and he begins to kiss me wildly.
I grip his thick cock through the fabric, wanting to tease him a little, but the next second his body jerks and he hisses into my mouth.
Holy shit.
Realizing he’s coming just from me gripping him, I rub my hand over him.
God, he feels huge.
Leo breaks the kiss as he thrusts against my hand, and I find it incredibly hot that he wants me so badly that it only took one touch from me to make him orgasm.
When he stops moving, he buries his face in the crook of my neck. I pull my hand away from his boxers and wrap my arms tightly around him.
“Well, that wasn’t embarrassing at all,” he mutters before letting out a chuckle.
Not wanting him to feel self-conscious for losing control, I say, “It was hot as hell.”
Leo lifts his head to look at me, surprise on his face. “I came the second you touched me.”
A smile spreads over my face as I stare into his eyes. “Is it crazy that I love the way you want me?”
“No.” His expression turns tender. “I still don’t know what it is about you that has such a hold on me, but it’s made me fall head over fucking heels for you.
” He shakes his head, and it looks like he’s struggling to process his emotions for me.
“You’re the sweetest torture I’ve ever had to endure. ”
I lift my head and press a soft kiss to his mouth. “You’re the hottest temptation I’ve ever encountered.”
He smirks at me as he rolls onto his back, and my eyes widen as I watch him shove his boxers down. He takes them off and uses the fabric to clean his cock that’s already hardening again.
Leo is easily twice the size of my ex, and I drink in the sight of the velvety look of the skin and veins snaking up to the swollen head of his cock.
After he tosses the boxers beside the bed, he pulls the covers over us.
He lies down, and seeing I’m still wearing my cami, he orders, “Take it off. I want to sleep with you naked in my arms.”
“We’re going to end up fucking,” I mutter.
His smirk turns mischievous. “No, we’re going to enjoy torturing each other a little longer.”
He takes hold of my cami, and I quickly lift my arms as he pulls the fabric over my head. After tossing it aside, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest.
“The light.” I reach behind me and have to stretch to get to the switch. Leo’s mouth closes over my nipple, his hand massaging my breast hard just as I switch off the bedside light.
When I turn back to him, he moves his hand over my side and grips my buttcheek tightly.
I rest my cheek against his chest, and I get to listen to how fast his heart is beating. Closing my eyes, I settle in for the long hours of torture ahead.
“Thank you, Haven,” Leo whispers. “You could’ve kept fighting and hating me. Thank you for trying.”
At first, I didn’t have a choice, but over the past two weeks, it’s slowly changed.
“I’m a glass-half-full kind of girl,” I say, my tone lighthearted. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
“Yeah? Is that the only reason?”
I pull my arm in and place my hand over his pec. “No, it isn’t. Since you came home, you’ve been different and not the coldhearted bastard who scared the living hell out of me.” I tilt my head back so I can see his face. “I like this version of you much more.”
“It makes me very happy to hear that,” he whispers before pressing a kiss to the tip of my nose.
Leo places his hand behind my head, and I get comfortable again, pressing my cheek to his chest.
With the sexual tension satisfied between us for the time being, it feels very intimate lying naked in his arms.
I love it.
It feels as if my body has known his all my life.