Chapter 36- Caught In The Act
Aurora froze.
For a moment, she wasn't breathing, just staring.
Leonard stood there, the faint light from the chandelier catching the glint of his rings. He wasn't dressed for a reunion; he was dressed like sin itself.
Sleeveless black jersey, veins running like art along his arms, tattoos creeping up one arm.
His joggers hung loose at his hips, and the silver studs on his ears caught the light when he tilted his head slightly.
Her throat went dry.
Gemma's voice broke the trance.
"Auri? What's happening there?"
Aurora blinked fast and stepped aside. "Come in." She muttered, walking away quickly to hide the heat in her face.
Leonard entered quietly, the scent of his cologne sliding into the air, sharp, dark, expensive.
Desmond's jaw tightened the second he saw him. "You call this reunion attire?" He muttered with a frown, but Charlene reached for his arm softly.
"Let him breathe, Desmond." She murmured, smiling faintly. "At least he showed up."
"Leo!" Amaya squealed, running to him. She wrapped her arms around him before he could react. He stood still, unmoved.
Melvin chuckled, breaking the quiet tension. "Leonard Grande," He said warmly, rising from his seat. "I can't believe this. You were barely two when I saw you last, and now..." He laughed softly, eyeing the tall, inked figure before him, "...Now I feel old."
Leo gave a small nod. "Good to see you."
Gemma smiled from where she stood. "You know I already saw you last week at the Grande mansion, but still I can't get enough how much you've grown." Her tone carried a teasing warmth, her eyes scanning the piercings with maternal curiosity.
'I don't blame my baby girl for melting to you.' She thought with a pretty smile.
Charlene stepped forward, her blonde hair gleaming under the chandelier. "My boy." She whispered, her voice breaking as she cupped his face.
Leo's neutral mask slipped a little. "Goldie." He said softly, leaning down for her to kiss his forehead.
She smoothed his hair, eyes misting. "You never change, still stubborn, still too handsome for your own good. This prettiness of yours will get you in trouble."
Desmond cleared his throat. "We're not here to talk about looks."
Everyone went quiet again.
Charlene, sensing the shift, forced a smile. "Let's move this to the dining room before the food gets cold, shall we?"
As they all began to walk, Melvin noticed something, the subtle glance between Leo and Aurora. The silence that followed them like a secret. When Leonard brushed her hand lightly, Aurora jerked away.
Melvin frowned slightly but said nothing. He simply gestured for Amaya to follow him. "Come on, princess. Let them handle their drama."
"But..."
"He's not going anywhere." Melvin said kindly. "You'll have time to catch up."
She hesitated, then nodded and followed him to the dining room.
Once they were gone, Leonard tugged Aurora back by the wrist.
"Let go of me." She hissed.
He smirked faintly. "You look hot like that, baby. Even in lazy clothes."
She struggled, glaring. "You have no shame, do you? After what you did..."
"I lost control." He cut in, his tone maddeningly calm. "Can you blame me? That body..." He leaned in, his breath grazing her ear, "...Could make anyone lose it."
"Don't," She snapped, yanking free. "Stay away from me, Leonard. Stay the hell out of my life."
He tilted his head slightly. "You forget, we've known each other since we were babies. We already kissed when we were toddlers, remember?" His voice softened to a whisper. "I'm just picking up where we left off."
Before she could answer, Gemma appeared at the entrance.
"Is everything alright?"
Aurora stiffened instantly, trying to pull back. But Leonard didn't let go. Not immediately. His hand still lingered at her waist, the ghost of a smirk in his eyes.
"Dinner's ready." Gemma said slowly, eyes darting between them. Then she gave Aurora that mother-knows-something look. "Let's not keep everyone waiting."
Aurora finally broke free and hit Leo's chest, hard. "Don't touch me again." She whispered furiously before storming off.
Leonard just exhaled, running a hand through his hair before following her toward the dining room, calm, unbothered, and maddeningly unreadable.
The dining room was warm and soft-lit, the long oak table gleaming under the chandelier. Nanny Mira moved quietly around the table, serving food for everyone.
Gemma had made sure everyone sat comfortably, Melvin at the head, Desmond across from him, Charlene beside her husband. Aurora sat opposite her mother, with Leo and Amaya on either side of her.
The tension between Aurora and Leo was sharp enough to taste, though Amaya's presence between them softened it just a little.
Gemma's smile carried the room. "I made everyone's favorites." She said proudly. "I know their taste buds haven't changed since they were kids."
Charlene laughed lightly, resting her hand on Gemma's. "You still remember, Gem."
"Of course I do." Gemma said, looking fondly at both children. "And Amaya, your mom told me you love spaghetti a lot. Mira made it specially for you."
Amaya's eyes brightened as she thanked her.
The parents continued to chat about old memories, laughter occasionally breaking through the polite air.
But across the table, Aurora barely touched her food. Leo kept stealing glances at her, his rings glinting in the light whenever he lifted his fork.
Melvin noticed but said nothing.
Gemma broke the quiet tension with a soft chuckle. "It's almost like old times." She said, raising her glass. "The Ravens and the Grandes together again."
Everyone raised their glasses.
Aurora sipped her wine slowly, sensing what was already coming.
Heck, he came after she slapped him yesterday. Still acted slutty, even in front of her mom.
It's not ending there. He's gonna keep misbehaving.
The psychotic gawd forsaken motherfucker.
LEONARD'S VILLA
Kiara stood at the massive iron gates of Leonard's mansion, her palms damp against the metal. The guards didn't even bother asking what she wanted before blocking her way.
"I just need to see Leo." She said, her voice tight. "Please. It's really important."
One of the guards shook his head. "Orders. No visitors."
Kiara swallowed hard. "Just for a minute, I promise."
"Miss, please leave."
Before she could argue again, Mara, one of Leonard's maids appeared. She folded her arms, looking at Kiara like she was an inconvenience.
"Another girl." Mara said flatly. "You can stop begging. He's not at home."
Kiara frowned. "Where did he go?"
Mara smirked a little. "Somewhere you're not invited."
Her chest tightened. "With who?"
Mara raised a brow. "You really want to ask that?" Then, lowering her voice with mock sympathy, "He went out hours ago. Maybe with someone special."
Kiara's heart sank, her stomach twisting. Someone special. Her mind flashed straight to Aurora, her face, her voice, last night she saw her step out of Leo's villa.
Were they together again?
Were they already having sèx with each other?
Her breathing grew uneven. She blinked fast, trying not to show it. "Tell him I came. I'm Kiara from college." She said quietly.
Mara shrugged. "If I remember."
The gate closed slowly, the iron bars separating them like a final insult.
Kiara turned away, her steps small and heavy. The cold air stung her face as she walked down the street, clutching her bag. Her chest burned with something between heartbreak and rage.
If Leo was with Aurora again... She wasn't going to forgive it. Not this time.
RAVEN MANSION ~
Dinner had ended in laughter and warm chatter, but Aurora barely tasted her food. She could feel Leonard beside her, close enough that his scent clung to her air, too close for comfort.
Halfway through, she'd felt his hand brush against her thigh under the table. At first, she thought it was by mistake- okay, maybe she knew it was on purpose, until his fingers stayed there, firm, teasing.
Her breath caught. She shot him a glare, but he only leaned back in his chair with that smug, calm face.
Aurora tried to ignore it, tried to focus on her mother's cheerful talk about old college days, but her pulse refused to slow down.
When dinner was finally over, she excused herself quickly, mumbling something about using the bathroom. She went upstairs, her footsteps soft against the marble floor.
Inside her room, she locked the door behind her and took a deep breath. Her reflection in the mirror looked just as unsettled as she felt. After using the bathroom, she stepped out and froze.
Leonard was there.
Leaning against the wall near her vanity mirror, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp and unreadable.
Aurora's heart jumped. "Are you serious right now? You followed me here?" She snapped.
He said nothing, just started walking toward her.
"Don't come closer," she warned, raising a hand. "Leo, I swear, just, stay back."
But he didn't. He kept moving, slow, and deliberate.
Aurora backed away until her back hit the wall. The air felt thick, heavy with something she didn't want to name. His eyes didn't leave hers, calm, daring, like he knew exactly what he was doing.
Leonard placed one hand against the wall beside her head, trapping her there. Their faces were inches apart, breaths mingling.
Neither spoke.
Her chest rose and fell quickly, his gaze dropping once to her lips before finding her eyes again.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered.
He took his face even closer...
"This..." He placed his thumb on the corner of her bottom lip.
She froze.
He snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "This..."
His hand went to her @$$. Her breath hitched. "This too."
The sound of faint laughter drifted from the garden downstairs, their families still chatting, unaware of the storm brewing upstairs.
She pushed away from him, wanting to leave him here but he pulled her hand.
"Don't you get it?!" She snapped, yanking her hand off.
"You kissed me without my permission and you're not even guilty about it! You're a psychopath!"
"Isn't that what you saved my number with?" He raised an eyebrow.
"How do you even know that- ugh! I hate you so much!"
"Get out of my room." She gestured to the door.
Her breaths were getting raged. Being alone in this room with him is making her uneasy already.
"Leave." She muttered.
He stepped closer.
She instinctively moved back.
"You should know I don't like it when you get close," she said, her voice firm and guarded.
Leonard didn't stop.
"This will be the last time you think of this as harassment when I touch you," he said. His voice was low and controlled, but intense.
He closed the distance between them, slowly and deliberately, until she couldn't move back anymore.
"When I touch you," he whispered, wrapping his arm around her waist, "it's not harassment. It's a reminder... that you're mine. Only mine."
"Leonard..." Her hand pressed against his chest, trying to push him away. "Stop."
But he just leaned in closer.
"You're mine. I dare you to forget that."
She froze.
His words were the same ones she'd heard before.
The same twisted claim that almost ruined her.
"It's the same thing he said," she whispered, her eyes narrowed. "It's what made him think he could try to rape..."
"Don't,"
"Don't put me in the same sentence as him."
But then his voice dropped again, raw and certain.
"Mine."
And before she could react, before her breath caught...
He brought her against him, his lips inches from hers, breath grazing her skin.
"What are you..." she began.
"Quiet."
"I'm not yours. You have no right over me," she said stubbornly, trying to push him away.
"Then stop me," he said hoarsely.
"Bastard! Let go," Aurora said firmly, trying to pull his hands from her waist, which were tightly wrapped around her.
His gaze flicked to her lips, dark and unreadable.
"Leo, no..."
But it was already too late.
His mouth crashed onto hers, muffling her words.
She was out of breath, so he broke the kiss for a split second which made their lips part with a pop.
"Stop-"
He shut her up by claiming her lips again.
She pushed, punched, struggled. And he punished her by deepening the kiss.
He pinned her hands over her head on the wall, worshipping her lips.
She tried to speak, giving him an opportunity to force his tongue into her mouth.
Eventually, she turned weak, couldn't struggle anymore...
Her breaths were heavy, unsteady, unstable. Her chest rose and fell.
She gave into the kiss.
At first she just stayed still, letting him do what he wanted, till her lips started moving with his.
She could feel his smirk through the kiss.
He broke the kiss again, and she found herself gasping for breaths.
"Sweet..." He drawled, pecking her lips.
"Ren..." She whispered.
"Exactly. That should be the only name coming out of your mouth." He pecked her lips again.
"I'm addicted to your lips." Another peck.
He guided her hands to his shoulders.
"Ren..."
"Shh..." he murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.
Then he kissed her again, soft at first, then deeper, hotter.
His hands slipped beneath her oversized shirt, gripping her small waist.
She shivered at his touch.
He brushed his fingers along her skin, and an unfamiliar sound escaped her lips.
Her chest rose and fell fast. His touch, his breath, his nearness, everything blurred together until nothing else existed.
Aurora didn't even realize her hands had found their way into his hair.
They were lost in the kiss.
Completely.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, his hand firm on her waist as if letting go would mean losing air itself. Their breaths mixed, shallow and heavy, filling the quiet room.
Neither of them heard the soft creak of the door.
Oblivious to the fact that someone was watching them, eyes wide, lips parted in pure shock.
Gemma.
TBC...