by Piper Rayne
Leo knows Ben’s speech made my uncomfortable but has kept the mood between us light. If I’d been on my own, I would’ve left the wedding early and driven back to Chicago. But I’m not. I’m here with Leo.
Once Rachel and Patrick have their first dance the floor is open to the guests and the dancing begins.
“Come dance with me.” He takes my hand and I stand, before he leads me to the dance floor.
“You’ll regret this, I’m not a good dancer,” I confess.
“I don’t care,” he says with a smile.
I laugh as he drags me over to the dance floor where we join the mingle of guests dancing to Kool and the Gang’s ‘Celebrate’.
I laugh even more when Leo starts dancing and I see he’s a worse dancer than I am. In fact I don’t think he can dance at all. It’s clear, though, he’s trying to cheer me up.
As he does something with his arms that looks like it’s supposed to be a snake move, a few kids nearby start laughing and we laugh in reply. In fact, I laugh so much I start to forget about Ben and focus entirely on Leo.
I stare back at him and I’m in awe. I’ve always seen him as this gorgeous guy who has his cool ways about him. Now he looks like he’s doing anything to make me laugh. And the kids too.
“That’s how it’s done folks.”
The kids clap and a few others who’d watched him. From across the room I can see Rachel and Patrick watching us with smiles on their faces.
When I return my gaze back to Leo he gives me a satisfied smile.
“You are so funny,” I say a grin.
“As long as you think so, I’m cool with that. You probably guessed that I can’t really dance.” He chuckles, bringing me close to his hard body.
“You get ten out of ten for trying.”
“It was worth the effort to see you laugh,” he says before he reaches forward to brush his finger across my cheek.
A spark of electricity flickers deep inside me and scatters over my body making heat flush my cheeks.
The music changes to something slower I don’t recognize, but it’s soft and sensual. The kind that brings the couples to the floor.
“I can dance better to this,” Leo says reaching for my hand. “Dance with me?”
“Yes.”
I set my free hand on his shoulder at the same time he slips his around my waist.
As we move closer, I think if I were asked I’d say this was the moment we felt different and anything I ever wondered about him in regards to how he might feel about me was answered with the look in his eyes.
It’s a look that sparks attraction and opens the door for desire to flow in.
More than anything, it’s a look that tells me he’s looking at me, more than a friend.
We dance to the song, swaying to the music but all I’m aware of is this newness between us, of feeling him so close to me and the hard press of his arms around me.
Time passes and I’m having so much fun. We pause for enough time to have a drink, and watch the bride toss her bouquet.
“Care for a walk?” Leo suggests. “I bet this place looks amazing at night.”
“I’d love that.” Looking outside I can see it does look amazing with the trees decorated with twinkle lights, and romantic lighting around. I take my silver clutch with me as we make our way, away from the guests.
We’re outside, under a dark sky scattered with thousands of stars. It’s beautiful. We’re holding hands and then Leo’s phone starts to ring.
Leo swears and looks at the caller ID. “Dammit. My boss would only call me now if it’s an emergency. Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
I move to a darkened corner, and take deep breaths, enjoying the scent of the flowers, and freshly mowed grass. The air is cool, crisp and clean. I feel relaxed and happy, and then Ben and Claudia are walking towards me.
I bite my lip hoping they don’t see me, but they do. There’s no way I can walk away without looking insipid so I straighten my shoulders and stand ready to deal with them.
“How nice that you paid your brother’s best friend to be your date tonight,” Ben says, as Claudia giggles.
I’ve never been one for violence but I can actually feel the anger in me making my fist clench, and a desire to punch Ben’s jaw.
“Yeah, cause he needs the money, you loser,” I mutter under my breath.
Ben’s not used to me challenging him. But he’s the kind of person who loves conflict.
“I’ve found someone better than you,” I say simply. Take that you tosser.
I stare back at him and can’t believe I was with him for five years. Five years. How did I not see the awful side of him? I used to blame myself as to how it went so wrong, and what made me miss the signs of who he really was. I thought he’d changed overnight but he hadn’t. It was my fault in not seeing who he really was.
“Just go away, you’re ruining the beauty out here,” I say.
“Don’t act like a charmed princess. You’re a disaster, just like your business ideas and your inability to win a scholarship,” he says and Claudia giggles again, her gaze focused on him. She reminds me of a Barbie doll making me wonder if she has any thoughts of her own.
“Excuse me?” Leo’s voice steals whatever words were going to come from my mouth, and stands next to me.
Ben’s eyes widened, and I’m thrilled to see him look surprised.
“You have no right to even speak to her,” Leo says in his deep voice.
“Piss off and mind your own business,” Ben replies as Claudia giggles yet again. Her giggling annoys me and I have an uncanny urge to slap her. Which I don’t, of course.
“She is my business,” Leo states in a determined voice. “You’re a fool to have let her go, but I’m thankful for your stupidity as it means she’s now mine.” He pauses. “Ivy is the most perfect woman and thank God she’s not wasting her time with the likes of you. Now leave her alone or you’ll have me to deal with.”
All I can do is stare. His words seep into me and a bubble of triumph rises to my heart.
Ben looks shocked. He seethes like he’s trying to think of some snarky come back but at least he’s wise enough to hold his tongue. Leo is all muscles and height, not a man to mess with. That warning to leave me alone was caution at its finest.
He takes my hand and leads me away from Ben and Claudia, towards the lake.
In the darkness, with only the moon giving us light, we are away from prying eyes, and away from the two people in the world I can’t stand.
We stand opposite each other and I stare back at him. “Sorry, I know you’re quite capable of defending yourself, but he makes me sick. I just couldn’t stand by and allow him to be rude to you.”
“I love that you stood up for me.” I’m still so taken with all the beautiful things he said about me I can’t think of the right words to say. Saying thanks doesn’t feel like it’s enough.
“You’re important to me, of course I’d be there for you, Ivy.”
I reach up and trail my fingers down his cheek, and he sucks in a sharp breath. It’s dark but he’s looking at me intently, and all I can think about is him touching me. . .all over. “Do you really think I’m the most perfect woman”
“Yeah. I do.” His voice is raspy as though his throat is dry.
I’ve never been given a higher compliment than that. Never. Those words were enough to eradicate every self-doubt I ever had about myself and heal every disappointment I ever felt.
A surge of something passes through me that I can’t quite explain. It compels me to do the thing I’ve always wanted to do.
By the time I step closer to him I know I’m acting on what I want to do most and there’s no turning back. Definitely not when he stays in place and lowers to meet me halfway as I stand on the tips of my toes to plant a kiss on his lips.
It’s brief and his lips are as soft as I imagined.
I want to kiss him again but the shock of what I just did has me backing away.
&nbs
p; “No,” he says and reaches for me before I can take my next step.
He tugs me to him and his lips come crashing down on mine robbing me of my last thoughts and all I feel is him. It’s the first time that I think of him as Leo. Not Cory’s best friend.
Just Leo Haller.
He’s kissing me and I’m kissing him. I’m finally kissing him.
The kiss courses through my veins and cascades all over my body from head to toe whispering secrets of longing and desire. He cups my face to deepen the kiss and I know as his tongue teases mine that tonight won’t end with just a kiss.
I don’t want it to.
“I want you,” I tell him with a sigh.
“I want you too. Let’s go back to our room,” he suggests.
“I’ve always wanted to make love in the open. I press my body against his. Will you help me fulfil that fantasy?”
His hands reach down and cup my bottom. “Ivy, I’ll do anything you want.”
He kisses me again and I melt into him, before tugging his shirt from his pants, and I run my hands across his torso feeling every ridge before tugging at his nipples.
“Ivy, you’re killing me,” he says.
Shrugging out of his jacket, he lays it on the grass as a blanket for me, and helps me lie down, before he joins me. He tugs down the bodice of my dress exposing my bare breasts to his greedy gaze and the cool night air. “Ivy, you’re magnificent.” His mouth zeroes on one of my nipples and he sucks hard till it becomes a pebble, then he feasts on the other. I watch in delight as he tongues and nibbles my full breasts with his mouth. I’m so turned on I can barely breath.
His fingers trail along my thigh till he reaches the junction of my thighs. I am breathing heavily and desperate for his touch. He pushes up my skirt so my dress ends up as a large belt around my waist.
“My God, that’s what you had on all night, under your dress.” He stares at me, and I lie back as his gaze feasts on my near naked body. “I can’t wait to taste every glorious inch.” His mouth zeroes in on my hot core and I cry out. In seconds he’s removed the thong and his mouth is pleasuring me so intimately. My fingers curl in his hair, as I breath heavily. “Oh yeah,” I cry out. And then his fingers join his tongue and I scream out his name, not caring who hears me. I love oral sex and Leo is a master at it. Within minutes, I’m sobbing his name begging for completion, and then he thrusts his tongue into me and I cry out as an orgasm washes over me.
I lie back, my back pressed against his jacket, the stars and moon watching us come together for the first time. Wow. I’ve never enjoyed sex this much before.
“That was amazing,” I sigh.
“We’d better get dressed so we can return to our rooms. I don’t think you should walk around like that?”
I tug him towards me and kiss him hard. I taste my scent on his lips. “I brought protection with me, it’s in my clutch.”
A smile tugs at his lips. “Always prepared, huh?”
“Always,” I say, before biting my lip.
He reaches over, finds the condom, and within minutes, he’s sheathed himself and is lying on top of me. “I’ll pleasure you longer back in the room but now, I need you. I want you so bad.”
“I want you too, Leo.” I urge him on. “Take me now.”
I feel his penis tease me and then he takes me in one long stroke and my head falls back with pleasure. Joined intimately, he kisses me, before he withdraws and plunges in hard. I cry out. “More, more, more,” I plead. And then he’s quickened the pace and I’m loving how deep he thrusts into me. I clutch at his bottom, my legs scissors around his waist.
Our ragged breathing fills the air. Yes, yes, yes. And soon, the pleasure becomes so great, I cry out his name. I tighten around him and then I see him bite his lip. He swears, “I’m gonna come,” he says as I feel his release.
He collapses on me, and we remain intimately joined for minutes while our breathing slows.
“That was incredible,” he says, kissing my neck. “We need to do that again.”
I wake in Leo’s arms the next morning. Somehow we managed to clean up ourselves and make it back to our room last night without running into anyone.
Jenna’s lucky dress was tossed to the floor as we made love on the floor, against the wall, on the couch and finally on the bed.
Thank God for the condoms Jenna had gifted me.
I ache all over from the incredible night we just shared. The bright sunlight spilling through the window makes me close my eyes and as I open them again reality and all that we did last night comes rushing to the forefront of my mind.
Leo’s sleeping and I stare at the man beside me. He looks like a dream I could get lost in all over again but the longer I look the more I realize I’m not sure I can.
Last night was amazing. More than amazing and I don’t regret a single moment of it. What I’m hit with now is what I feel.
Before last night all I did was wonder what it would be like to be with him. Now I know what it’s like, the door to my heart has unlocked and I feel alive.
I haven’t felt like that in a very long time and the fact that I feel like this now with him, a man I’ve always dreamed about, might not be such a good thing.
What if he doesn’t feel the same way? We haven’t even dated yet and I’ve had sex in numerous position with him, and also had him fulfil a fantasy of mine. We’ve really crossed the friendship line.
What if he thinks I’m needy? Or if last night was just a one night stand to him?
I’ve never known Leo to have a long term relationship. Not even one. There wasn’t a woman in the lineup of women I’ve seen him with that he classed as serious.
Do I want to be with a man who just wants to hook up and have fun?
And, God… what will Cory think?
Leo is his best friend.
I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can face Leo when he wakes up, and I don’t know what to say. We slept together.
That changes everything and I don’t know how I’d feel if he woke up and just filed last night away in his list of one nighters.
I’d be so hurt.
Carefully I slip out from his arms, get dressed and leave.
Chapter 8
Leo
Damn it…
She’s gone. She’s not in the bathroom but then I realize her clothes are still here, so she’s somewhere around.
Our suite has two bedrooms, and the bed in the other room is immaculate. She’s not there.
I lower to sit on the edge of the bed and go over everything in my mind. I need to go and find her and talk.
Talking is what we need to do before I jump to conclusions and land on the worry that she thinks last night was a mistake.
It definitely wasn’t for me and now that last night happened I know what I want.
I want her. But her absence speaks loud and clear that she could be thinking anything and she might not want me.
I have a quick hot shower, my muscles sore after the incredible night we shared. I think back on the intimacy we shared. It was more than sex.
You don’t make love like that, with just anyone.
I drag on clean clothes, fix myself up, grab my cell, and keys before heading out to find her.
I make my way down to the reception where I’m greeted by the same elderly lady with the purple beehive hairdo from yesterday.
“Good morning,” she beams. “I hope you enjoyed your stay here.”
“Yes, thanks so much. I can’t find my friend I came here with yesterday.” After last night it sounds so weird to refer to Ivy as my friend. “Did she come down here?”
The receptionist should remember her, she told Ivy how beautiful she was.
“Oh yes, she did dear. She said she was going for a walk.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, thanks for letting me know.”
I smile and walk outside and head to the lake.
I know I probably shouldn’t be pissed but I am. I just wished Ivy had stayed and talked things through with me, not just left me.
I feel like I waited my whole life for last night.
When we kissed it felt like I should have always been kissing her. Didn’t it feel that way to her too?
I thought it did. I get that we have a lot to think about and factor in, but last night felt special.
My phone rings in my back pocket and I grab it thinking it’s her. It’s not, it’s Cory.
I almost expected this call, and while I dread answering I know better than to ignore him. A few weeks back when I told him I’d be going with Ivy to the wedding, he didn’t look like he was too fond of the idea.
I already guessed he wouldn’t be.
Then we all joked around about it the Sunday after and he seemed cool but not.
I answer and do my best to act like everything’s fine, and that I haven’t just spent the most incredible night with his sister.
“Hey there,” I say.
“Hey man. I was just checking in. I called Ivy but she’s not answering her phone.”
“We’re just out for a walk, the phone reception is a bit ordinary here.” I lie. “We had a great time, at the wedding, last night.”
“Good. How was she with Ben?” I can hear concern in his voice.
My jaw tightens just at the sound of that loser’s name. “He was rude to her, yet again. I still reckon he’s jealous of her business, and success. She’s an entrepreneur with an innovative idea. She’s her own boss and everything he’s not. She’s better off without him.”
“I can’t stand that guy,” my friend says.
“Don’t worry. I put him in his place, but even if I hadn’t, Ivy would’ve. You would’ve been so proud of her.” My heart warms just saying her name. Yep I got it bad with Ivy.
“Thanks for doing that,” he replies.
“All good. I can’t hear you very well, bad reception.” I lie. “I’ll call you back later,” I disconnect the phone and put it in my pocket.
Cory has been my best friend for fifteen years, he’ll know I’m lying so best to end the call.
