Chapter 38
Butterflies
It’s early evening when I return to the hotel room.
Isaac split off in the lobby to talk with a manager, and then to his room for the night.
It’s still raining outside as I pull my jacket off, noticing Leo sitting at the small table facing the window.
His chin is propped in his hand, and I peer closer to see no phone in it.
The folders are closed on the table. Everything is quiet.
Once the door shuts, he twists in his chair and gets up. “How was London?”
“It’s pretty, but also wet. Reputation stands strong, and it’s a bigger city than I thought.” I answer, locking the door and hanging up the jacket as I pull my boots off. “How’d meetings go?”
“Well enough.” He picks up the folders, walking them over to the desk near the bed. “I’ll be free to be with you tomorrow. Promise.”
I give a small smile. “It’s alright if not. You’ve got a lot on your plate.” He exhales sharply, sitting back down at the table. “Speaking of plates, we had a small dinner, but do you want to go get something?”
He shakes his head, and I nod as I walk to the kitchenette. I glance over the couple of mugs, noticing housekeeping came through due to the lack of mess. Humming, I run my hand down over my hip, thinking on how to spend a rainy night in. Well, television and tea sound nice and simple.
I turn my attention to Leo to ask what he wants, when I notice his lowered gaze.
The exhaustion that’s been constant on his face for over two days diminishes as his eyes roam over me.
His legs spread slightly as he lounges in the chair, focused on me.
I go still, noticing the usual slacks he wears and button-up that’s barely closed.
My chest feels flustered suddenly, breath shallow. “Leo?”
“Check in.” His voice is rough. Those hazel eyes reach mine, simmering with want.
Surprise flicks over me, heartbeat quickening.
The rest of me feels flushed as heat travels across my skin.
Tingling desire roams, almost foreign after the last few days, like when we first dated.
Butterflies and all. I’m unsure of my reaction, maybe just from the tumultuous events, but I answer, “Green.”
“Why’d you hesitate?”
“Uh, surprised.”
“Why?”
I look down, seeing the very normal, casual clothes I’m wearing. Nothing fancy like I’ve worn in Rome. No sundresses, corsets, silk blouses, or tiny red dresses. Just…average. It shouldn’t matter, but I keep my mouth closed unsure if that’s even why.
My hands rub against my jeans, trying to think as Leo stands. He practically saunters over, body lithe and fluid as the air feels sucked from the room. My stomach flips again, butterflies going rampant as he stops before me.
Suddenly, I’m in the bookstore. Leo flips through pages of the book in his hands.
The quiet music in the background, standing close to me.
The smell of his cologne I’ve given up learning the name of.
The commanding presence he always had that was alluring and mysterious.
Lastly, green eyes mixed with golds and browns like faraway forests.
Leo’s fingers stroke down my cheek. I’m brought back to the present, staring up at the man who’s consumed me every moment since that day.
“It’s been a long week, if you don’t want to, it’s alright, dear Watson.”
“Watson. The last name is Watson.”
“Very well…dear Watson.”
Why am I flashbacking? Even so, it causes a nervous giggle, and I shake my head. Leo’s brows furrow, creating those lines on his forehead. I smile, reaching up to touch them and his expression relaxes.
“I want to…” I finally answer softly, “…just, some reason I…have butterflies like I used to.”
“Used to?”
“Like whenever you’d come into the coffee shop.” His hands slide down my torso, thumbs stroking just above the seam of my jeans as he steps closer. “Those first dates. I’d always get this fluttering feeling in my stomach. Nervous.”
Leo dips his head, pressing his face against my hair as he inhales deeply. I close my eyes as he nudges his nose against my cheek to the underside of my ear, and down my throat. He then kisses my skin delicately, murmuring against it, “You gave me butterflies, too.”
I giggle. “No, I didn’t.”
He pulls back as I open my eyes, finding seriousness in his. My brows raise, mouth opening. “Oh…I did?”
“How else would I have felt about a woman who laughed when my coffee was spilled on her?”
“Look at that weirdo?” He smirks, slipping his arm around my waist. “What were you thinking?”
His other hand slides to the nape of my neck, holding me as my breath hitches.
“That I finally felt alive.”
Leo kisses me, clutching me as my hands grip his shirt. I sigh against him as he kisses me tenderly, lovingly as his hard body presses against me. The fluttering continues in my stomach, traveling up with growing desire.
He reaches down under my ass, lifting me up against him.
My legs wrap around his waist as he continues to kiss me fervently, mouth sliding over mine.
Our chests press against the other as the kiss becomes more frantic, a yearning that’s deep as his hands grip me.
He starts to walk us over to the bed. I tighten around him, sliding my hands up to grasp at his hair as he groans against my mouth.
Slowly, he lays me down onto the bed and blankets me with his body.
He grabs my hands and pulls my arms up. His fingers become interweaved with mine as he pins me against the bed, the weight of him sinking me further into the covers.
Leo kisses me deeper, tongues wrangling as his pelvis rubs against mine.
I can feel his erection, breath hitching as my hips involuntarily move up towards him.
I gently nudge my arms, and he quickly lets go to start moving his hands along my sides.
I reach back up, grabbing the back of his neck as we continue to make out.
Fingers trace under the hem of my shirt, and then slide under to pull it off me smoothly.
Swiftly, he takes my bra off next. I work on the last of his shirt buttons, yanking it off and tossing it aside.
For a few moments, I stare at the ink covering him.
Leo sits up onto his knees, legs on either side of my upper thighs.
My hands continue to caress him, fingers trailing after roses, fire, and weapons tattooed upon him.
Leo’s head tilts to the side, watching me while shadows play over his face from the dim light and rainstorm outside.
Intense eyes filled with need gaze down as I trace the artwork. Muscles flex when I hit certain spots.
His fingers start to move over my own torso, following small scars before coming up to caress my breasts.
He skims over my skin, up and then trails his fingers down the middle of my chest. When he gets low enough, my hips kick up from the sensation.
A smirk comes over him as he does it again, making a giggle escape me as he leans down to glide his tongue between my breasts to the base of my throat.
Leo kisses my neck, placing more up to the underside of my jaw. His breath skitters over my skin. “How do you want me, dear wife?”
Another kiss upon my neck. I rasp, “You inside me.”
“Like this?”
He sucks on his fingers momentarily, then unbuttons my jeans to dip his fingers under them and my underwear.
He strokes me before his fingers slowly push inside me, causing my breath to hitch.
My hips rock, wanting more as he gently thrusts his fingers while his thumb circles my clit.
My breathing picks up as I continue to wiggling my hips to his movement.
A whimper leaves me as his fingers brush my inner walls, hooking up and then scissoring gently.
Muscles contract around him as he sits up again on his knees, darkened eyes watching me.
He twists with two fingers, adding a third which makes my body shudder and back arch.
My legs are trapped under him as I reach for the blankets, clutching them as he brings me closer to the precipice of coming.
“Like this, dear Watson?”
“No,” I plead. “More.”
“More?”
I moan as his thumb flicks over my clit. “Leo. Please.”
His hand suddenly disappears as I’m on the brink.
I gasp in shock as he gets off me and pulls his pants off.
He then makes quick work of tugging my jeans and underwear off.
I’m still breathing heavy as he pulls open the bedside drawer, grabbing some lube before crawling back on top of me.
His fingers slide over my sex once more, before he nudges his cock at my entrance.
It’s not long before he gradually plunges into me.
A satisfied groan is what I give at the fullness of him.
The closeness and connection as he pulls back, driving himself deeper.
Leo’s hips meet mine as I reach for him.
His hips roll against my pelvis, and I moan into his neck, back to cresting towards bliss again.
He moves fluidly as his cock hits the right spot, and my muscles clench around him as I come.
My body tenses as I clutch at his back with a death grip.
Leo groans against my ear, holding me still as my hips gyrate against him.
Pleasure travels over me, tingling as my legs and body trembles.
Leo abruptly pulls out of me, gently flipping me over to face the window.
Rain drips down the glass, drizzling against the foggy surface as he pulls me up onto all fours.
His hands run up and down my spine, caressing my skin.
He carefully stops at my shoulder blades, pushing down my front.
I press my chest against the bed, keeping my hips up as he continues to stroke my skin with reverence.
Soon, the heat of his body engulfs mine as he leans over to kiss along my shoulder blades and spine. I sigh at the light touches, listening to the rain as he lovingly worships my body. Hot breath drifts over me, causing shivers as his lips press upon my skin.
A moan leaves me when he enters me again, going deep with his cock.
I grip the blankets as he starts to steadily thrust. Leo clutches my hips, pulling me back to him firmly as he fucks me from behind.
I whimper with need as he stretches me, rubbing against sensitive spots due to the position.
My skin tingles as the core of me ignites and spreads through me with bliss.
Leo’s hot chest covers my back, damp skin slides over me as he snakes his hand to my throat.
He grips it gently, hips moving faster with a fervent pace.
Every few times, he pauses long enough to push himself deep inside making us both moan.
My muscles tighten, grasping for pleasure as my head starts to swim.
His other hand comes over mine, fingers threading together in a tight hold as he slams his hips into me again.
“I love you,” he rasps against my ear. “Fuck, Autumn, I love you.”
“I love you,” I respond breathlessly.
His hips jolt forward, and I’m thrown into ecstasy.
We come together, almost overwhelmed as I silently scream into the bed.
Leo clutches me, tightening around me as pleasure explodes from the bottom of my spine as everything tenses.
Leo groans against my ear, breaths short as his body shakes, grinding himself into me.
His hand releases my neck, sliding his arm under my torso to keep me close as he kisses my sweat sheen skin.
Outside rain pounds against the window. We remain there, clutching each other as I feel him soften inside me. It’s comfortable. Warm, even when our skin dries all I feel is his warmth. I watch the storm, staying present for this. Savoring this moment in the chaos together.
Finally, Leo pulls out and picks me up to carry me to the bathroom.
We’re quiet as we shower together, washing the other with small smiles and tender touches.
He rinses the soap from my hair as I kiss his chest, and then lay my head against him to hear his heartbeat.
His hands rove down my spine as the water streams over us.
We finish, taking our time, and Leo orders food to be delivered. We then cuddle up onto the sofa to eat as I find a show, Would I Lie to You? to watch. For a few hours it felt like everything outside this moment had been a nightmare. That we’d waken up and were on our real honeymoon in London.
Except, like many times before, the calm didn’t last.
It’s late into the night when we’re woken up by a call that our nightmare was indeed real and not finished.
Renato’s dead.
His body was found in Mezzanotte, hanging from the second floor for the entire club to see.
His ankles were nailed together, while his arms were stretched out nailed to the concrete all the way to his biceps, naked and covered in whip marks.
Across his chest, carved likely before his death was: Veritas Aequitas.
His head was gone, a rosary hanging from where his neck should be, stapled to his skin to not fall off.
The head was soon found in Vincenzo’s private room, propped upon the bed with the pillows.
It’s 1am as I stare at the crime scene photos. I’m in shock, I can’t even feel horror at this point from what I’m looking at. Leo and Isaac sit at the table with me, all of us quiet while the storm continues outside.
“Cause of death could be blood loss or beheading, too hard to tell until the autopsy,” Isaac mutters. “But they already know he was dead before the attack.”
“He probably refused to help Gabriel. That’s what he got in answer,” Leo says darkly.
“The head placement is The Godfather obviously,” Isaac murmurs, then points to the obvious crucifixion symbolism. “Is the other reference from Passion of the Christ?”
“Doesn’t fit the other movies he’s used,” Leo answers. “Thrillers, mainly.”
“What about the Latin on his chest?”
“Boondock Saints,” I say, easily recognizing the phrase the brothers used.
“Lot of Christian symbolism in the movie.” I then look up at Leo, slowly remembering more of the plot through my numbed state.
“Tell Vincenzo to leave Rome. They kill a character of the same name who’s part of the mafia.
If he did this to Renato, who knows what he’ll do to Vincenzo for agreeing to work with you. ”
Isaac mutters under his breath, rubbing a hand over his face.
“We’ll send a warning. See if he listens or not,” Leo says in a rough voice.
We’re all quiet, staring at the photos in disbelief that Gabriel actually killed Renato. Not to mention, in such a brutal way and for so many to see. The rain taps on the window like an omen.
“Not sure if I should be impressed or…horrified that he knew you’d catch that,” Isaac murmurs.
I look out the window, finding my grave expression in the reflection.
For the first time in my life, I really hated movies.