12. Chapter 12
“Are we there yet?” I ask, for the umpteenth time. “These shoes are more painful than I remember, and I’m getting thirsty.”
“Drink your spit,” Leo mocks.
“Oh, you think this is funny?” I challenge, a little more annoyed than I anticipated.
“I think you’re impatient.” Leo looks down at me and squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry about your feet. I promise a nice foot rub at the end of this.”
“It might help if I knew what “this” is.”
He shakes his head with a low chuckle. “Come on.”
All I know is that we’re somewhere on the Lido Deck, but not a part I’m familiar with.
We pass the usual area everyone meets for breakfast and head into a slightly secluded area where there are fewer people and the music is a bit quieter.
The view of the ocean from here is beautiful as the sun reflects its rays on the water’s surface with shimmer.
My wonder is interrupted as a small table with a cloth catches my eye in the back corner of the space.
There is a small vase in the middle with a rose, but my eyes immediately go to the pile of blueberry muffins.
Maybe it’s the hunger, or maybe I needed a lot more sleep than I thought, but I start to tear up at the sight.
“Leo, you did this?” I say as I rush toward the table. A few plates of bacon, waffles, and mixed fruits are splayed out before me. The smell alone causes my stomach to grumble as I realize I haven’t had a real meal since yesterday’s lunch.
“Of course I did. I figured we could use some privacy, especially away from any prying hands that might steal your muffins.” He pulls out my chair, making sure I’m seated and comfortable before sitting in the seat next to me.
My smile falters slightly as I glance around us. “What about—”
“I convinced Melody to take everyone to breakfast at one of the restaurants instead of the buffet this morning. No one will see us.” Leo reassures me before pouring us each a glass of orange juice.
Looking over everything again, recognizing the sweetness in his gesture, my hands come together in my lap. “I don’t know what to say. You thought of everything.”
“Say nothing. This is a small gesture compared to the endless amount of things I’m willing to do for you, Gina.” My hands smooth down my thighs, up and down, before Leo takes my hand in his. He runs his thumb over my knuckles, his grip firm within mine. “I always got you.”
“Well, thank you. This is really so—oh my god? Did you have them make maple glazed bacon?” My eyes widen as my mouth begins to water at the sight. My hand leaves his to examine it more closely. “Oh my gosh, the smell.”
Maple smoked is okay on the scale of what makes good bacon, but maple glazed is by far the superior bacon and very different than pouring syrup onto the bacon after it’s been fried.
“I did, but it took a little convincing. I remember it was your favorite at Hopper’s growing up,” Leo says before taking a piece for himself and snapping off a bite.
“Mmm, I forgot we used to go to Hopper’s,” I reply through a bite of my own, licking the greasy glaze from my lips. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
“Saturday mornings where our families didn’t act like they needed a personal chef for every meal and nobody fought or made us feel like we weren’t appreciative enough? Never.”
“True, although now they complain that I don’t seem to care for their attention as much anymore. Not that they gave it anyway.”
“I’m sorry,” Leo coos as his hand slides over my back.
“Don’t be. We’re on an all-inclusive cruise they paid for. The least I can do is have fun on their dime. Especially now that I have you.”
He leans in to offer me a quick peck that I gladly return.
It’s nice. For once, I’m not worried about what is or isn’t to come.
Although my heart still seeks to study itself, my mind is still.
It’s only me and Leo, and a part of me secretly wishes it had always been or that I hadn’t been so preoccupied to notice sooner.
Being with Justin is always a pipe dream.
Always out of reach and never something to be spoken out loud.
When I went on this trip, I had every intention of changing that, but I can’t help but question why.
Why did I want someone who needed so much convincing to see me in the way I’ve always longed for?
Was my self-worth really that shot that I needed so desperately to prove that I meant something to someone who never considered me?
“Can I ask you something?” I question as I roll a grape between my fingers.
“Anything.” Leo nods as he gestures for me to continue between a sip of his orange juice.
“Why didn’t you tell me before that you felt this way about me for so long?”
Leo sits back in his seat, setting down his cup as he stares into it.
I can feel the steady rise of my heart rate as I wish I could crawl into his mind and pull out the answer for myself.
Find the truth bare, so I know I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
So that I have a reason to hold on and hope.
Leo turns to face me, leaning in as if to emphasize the clear and strong tone in his voice.
“If I’m being completely honest, I don’t know for sure.
I was definitely jealous of Justin and the fact that you wanted him, of all people, and I guess I got caught up in trying to prove that he was the wrong guy because I cared more about you realizing you deserved better than I did about my own feelings.
I didn’t want to push you in a direction you didn’t want to go in.
Probably would’ve been easier had I just been honest though, huh?
” He chuckles to himself, shaking his head.
“I agree it would have been easier, but yeah, definitely tell me things sooner next time.” I pop the grapes into my mouth. “Does that mean what happened before was all on purpose? The dance lesson, Florence?”
“Well…” His voice jumps up an octave as he shrugs. “Yes and no. Stealing you as my dance partner was on purpose. I did plan to whisk you away in Florence so that you’d forget about Justin, but I really didn’t mean to get us lost.”
My eyes narrow at him as I waver in the grey area of his efforts. “You really will do anything.”
“I’m a man of my word.” His eyes soften with heat as his gaze moves over his face and down my body—slow and deliberate. “You’re right, though. I would love to make up for it if you’ll let me.”
He hooks his hand around the leg of my chair, the wood grinding against the floor as he pulls me toward him, his legs trapping me in. “You can always tell me to stop, Gina.”
And maybe I should. That small, yet disruptive voice in the back of my mind tells me to stop now before someone sees.
To not do anything to embarrass myself now.
But the way Leo licks his lips and the way he doesn’t hide his hunger throw all unreasonable doubt out of the window. I don’t want to stop.
I lean over, kissing him sweetly and savoring the salty and sweet taste of his lips.
The devious smile that he forms against me sends vibrations throughout my body as I rest my hand on his lap to satisfy more of my craving.
Leo cups my face, his fingertips lightly grazing me in a way that threatens to send me crashing into him.
His other hand dances up my side, kneading into me as his fingers find their way under my shirt and up to the side of my breasts.
I just had to put on the bra with the heaviest padding today as my nipples painfully strain against the fabric.
Leo’s kiss deepens with mine, and our breathing turns heavy alongside the wetness that sleeks between my thighs.
“Fuck, I have to get you back to the room,” he whispers in between quick and lazy pecks.
I break away from him briefly to check my watch as he continues to shower me with kisses along the side of my face and jaw. “I don’t think there’s time. There’s an excursion in like 30 minutes, and we were already late here.”
“Do you trust me?” Leo asks, needing to see the truth in my expression as he pulls away.
I look at him and then around at the nearly empty space, my nose crinkling. “Here?” I whisper.
“No.” Leo shakes his head. “But I mean…”
“No,” I say firmly. “Definitely not.”
He nods his head toward the opposite direction from which we came.
“Follow me.” Leo holds his hand out for me to take.
It’s only now that I noticed I’m slightly trembling.
Except I know it’s not out of fear, at least not completely.
The desire to break free rushes through me like a hot spring, and I surrender to it as I take his hand and allow him to pull me toward the exit.
At first, I think he’s looking for a supply closet, but we instead carefully take the stairs up to the Sky Deck, where rows of loungers look out over the main area below.
Leo pulls me over to the side of the ship, away from prying eyes but not completely out of view.
My eyes dart around the corner where other passengers rush up and down the stairs, some looking over the railing at the ocean as its waves ripple against the ship. I grab onto Leo’s arm as it comes around my waist and pushes me up against the railing. My grip tightens.
Leo steps back slightly. “We don’t have to if you’re uncomfortable. I know it’s public, and I don’t want you to feel forced.”
I peer over his shoulder down the deck. Not a single person seems to notice us, but what if they do? So what if they do? A new flame burns my skin and melts in between my legs. My pulse races as my body presses into Leo.
“I want to,” I whisper into his ear, and he moves me back against the chilled bars.
Leo looks down at his watch. “I can at least take care of you.”
He presses into me as his mouth lands on mine with fervor.
I soak in the feel of him as he moves against me, the fabric between us doing nothing to conceal the hard feel of his dick against my leg.
His kisses drag over my neck as his hand comes up my thigh and under my skirt.
My head falls back as I let out a sigh when Leo’s fingers find their way under the seam of my panties.
I move to help him pull them down, but he moves my hand away, wanting to take his time despite how little of it we have.
I arch my back, encouraging me to inch his fingers closer.
His lips curl against my collarbone. “You’re so needy.
I love it.” Leo’s mouth comes to mine, his tongue swirling against mine as he uses his knee to part my legs further apart.
He moves his large frame over me to hide me from view of anyone who might pass by.
Slowly, his fingertips lick up the inside of my thigh, doing nothing to satisfy my hunger.
When they finally brush over the fabric of my panties, I let out a quiet moan.
Leo adds slightly more pressure, enjoying my reaction, his eyes drift over my face as if to memorize me this way.
“Stop teasing,” I say, my breath light.
“Nah, I don’t want to rush this.” Leo pushes his fingers against my clit, causing my hips to buck into him. He holds onto me to keep me in place, biting softly at his bottom lip. “You’re soaked.”
“And you’re not helping that.”
“I never was,” he says as he rips my panties down my legs and lets them rest at my ankles. I look over him at some of the passengers who seem closer than before. “Don’t worry about them. Look at me.”
My eyes snap to him, and he holds my gaze.
The pleasure and longing take shape as his fingers glide over my pussy, his middle and index finger pinching my clit between them.
He caresses me at my entrance, dancing the tip of his finger playfully there before withdrawing and grinning at the desperate moan that escapes my lips.
My eyes drift shut as my knees grow weak and his thumb glides over my clit in slow, firm circles.
My hand hooks onto his shoulder to steady myself, thanking the rush of the water below for covering the sounds of my ecstasy.
When Leo’s fingers finally plunge into me, my breath catches in my throat as I stifle a satisfied groan. He works slowly at first, allowing my body to adjust and open more to him, before picking up speed and working his thumb against my sensitive bud.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful like this,” Leo whispers into my skin as his lips drop to the curve of my neck. “I need more of you.”
His mouth grows hungrier as he draws a path down my chest. Wasting no time, he pulls up my shirt just enough to expose my breasts that strain in my bra.
Hurriedly, he slides the strap over my shoulder before pulling down the cup, freeing my nipple as it perks up against the cool wind.
Leo’s mouth falls open with a moan, leaving me no time to prepare myself before sucking my nipple into his waiting mouth.
“Oh shit,” I groan as I hold my breast in place for him to take his pleasure and all that he can bear.
The world around fades into dust, and I lose sight of any risk this could cause.
Leo’s tongue darts out, lapping at my nipple in lazy circles and biting softly at its peak.
My moans grow wilder as he deepens the stroke of his fingers and the flick of his tongue moves with impatient desire.
My breath quickens as my hips roll with the steady pace of his fingers and thumb.
Wrapping my arm around his shoulders, I fall into him as my climax climbs and spreads through me until his name slips from my lips as I come.
Leo’s mouth comes over mine to quiet my moaning, and part of me wishes he hadn’t.
I wanted him to hear how good he made me feel, and something about others hearing sent a new spark of lust through me.
His lips part from mine as his fingers leave me only so that I can watch him lick my cum from his fingers and knuckles—slow and seductive. “Perfect.”
Leo fixes my bra and top before rushing around the corner to grab a clean towel. He gently cleans between my legs, not letting me lift a finger. When he finally finishes, he picks up my panties from around my ankles and shoves them in his pocket as if they were cash.
“And what are you planning to do with those?” I ask, more concerned than curious.
“I don’t think you’ll be needing these from now on.” As I draw a breath in protest, he raises a finger. “Before you argue with me, we’re 10 minutes late meeting Elijah and Melody downstairs.”
My eyes widen as I look down at my watch. Shit, he’s right. I told his ass to hurry up.
“Fine, whatever. Just come on.” I rush past him, but there’s not a doubt in my mind or a regretful bone in my body at what just occurred. If anything, I can’t wait to do it again.