21. Why the Ellipsis?

Chapter 21

Why the Ellipsis?

Ethan

I would have laughed if someone had told me I’d actually be reconsidering my thoughts on Leonardo Caponetti. While I still wasn’t entirely convinced about his intentions, he seemed serious about at least trying not to hurt Libby.

That was really all I cared about—her not being hurt. She had enough reasons to keep people at arm’s length and didn’t need another. The fact that she was willing to give Leo a chance spoke volumes in his favor, but maybe she was in a rebound period after her last relationship.

Thank fuck that ended. I hated that guy, and I was pretty sure he hated me too.

The sun had fully set now, leaving Leo and me in the glow of strategically placed lights around the deck as we finished our dessert. I hated to admit it had been the perfect dinner, but it had. It would have been way too noisy at a restaurant to talk.

Leo stood and stretched, his shirt lifting enough to show off a sliver of skin. “How do you feel about going for a swim?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is this your sneaky way of getting me naked? Because I hate to break it to you, but I didn’t exactly pack my swim trunks.”

Leo’s lips quirked up in a smirk. “As tempting as that sounds, I do have some extra trunks on board… Unless, of course, you’d prefer to skinny dip.”

I stood, trying to push down the swell of lust at the thought of being naked with him. “In your dreams, buddy. Lead the way.”

We made our way down to the deck with the pool where there conveniently were towels, swim trunks, and more drinks.

I grabbed the blue pair that had anchors on them and followed Leo inside the gym area where there were changing rooms. The yacht was like a cruise, and it had everything.

Once in the room alone, I pulled out my phone to find I had several messages from Libby.

Libby: I hope you are having a good date.

Libby: I wanted to clarify that when I said to have fun, that meant any kind of fun.

Libby: Like… if he kisses you or you kiss him… or whatever.

Libby: Ignore me.

Me: You’re so adorable. The date is good…

Libby: Why the ellipsis?

Me: *face with tears of joy emoji*

Libby: Did you kiss him?

Me: OMG Libby. No… not yet.

Libby: Ethan!

Me: I promise I’ll tell you all about it when I see you in the morning…

Libby: Ethan Roberts!

I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I changed into my swim trunks. I was probably going to pay for teasing her.

When I emerged back onto the pool deck, Leo was already there, his toned body making my mouth water. I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes up to his face.

“Race you to the other end?” I challenged, desperate for a distraction.

Leo grinned. “You’re on.”

We climbed the steps to the raised infinity pool and got into position. The water was the perfect temperature, and I found myself relaxing. Well, as much as I could considering I was about to race Leo.

“Ready?” I looked over at him and my mouth nearly hung open at how fucking sexy he looked with water dripping from his hair and face.

“Yeah.” He took off without waiting, and I cursed.

The pool wasn’t huge, but it was big enough for a few good strokes before we reached the other side. I touched the wall a split second before Leo, letting out a triumphant whoop.

“Suck it, cheater!” I splashed water in his direction, happy my long limbs helped me seal my victory.

Leo laughed, running a hand through his wet hair. “I let you win.”

“Sure you did.” I rolled my eyes.

We swam a few more laps before settling into a comfortable float. The lapping of the water against the pool’s edge was oddly soothing.

I glanced over at Leo, who had been mostly quiet since we’d gotten in. His brow was furrowed slightly, like he was lost in thought.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Leo seemed to snap out of whatever reverie he’d been in, his eyes focusing on me. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What exactly happened that night at the Christmas party?”

The question caught me off guard; I hadn’t expected him to bring that up, especially not now. “The Christmas party? What do you mean?”

“I don’t remember any of it besides small flashes here and there… like how did we go from the Christmas party up to the room to you hating my guts?”

“You really want to know that badly?” Unlike him, I remembered every detail, even though I had been drunk too.

“Yes. Tell me everything.”

Nine months earlier

I slid onto a barstool at the Diamond Lounge at the Bella Grand Hotel, not quite ready to end my night after the company Christmas party. It had been too long since I’d gone to a bar to see what the night brought, but after several drinks at the party, I was feeling… festive.

The bar was more of a lounge with comfortable seats and no nonsense for rowdy behavior. I’d expect nothing less from one of the most expensive hotels in Manhattan. A hotel that one of my boss’s families owned, along with several others in the city.

“What can I get for you?” The bartender was cute and gave off ‘fuck me’ vibes, which had me straightening in my seat.

Usually, I stayed away from bartenders since they were sneaky and flirted just to get tips, but this one exuded bottom energy. I could have gone either way at that moment, honestly.

“A shot of your best tequila.” I started to get my wallet out when a hand landed on my arm.

“Make that two, Trey, and it’s on the house.” Leo slid onto the stool next to mine, throwing a hundred on the counter. “And keep them coming.”

I turned, my knees bumping into his thigh. “Maybe I only wanted one.”

“Who just has one shot of tequila?” He looked over at me, his eyes sweeping down my body.

I grinned, taking my shot glass from where the bartender set it and clinking it against Leo’s. “I guess not us.”

We downed the shots, the tequila burning a path down my throat. I set the glass down on the bar with a thud, grabbing a lime. The bartender immediately refilled our glasses.

Several shots later, I was feeling good, and it seemed like Leo was too.

“So, Ethan.” His eyes were glossy, and there was a playful smirk on his lips. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”

I laughed, leaning in a little closer. “If I tell you, then someone else will know.”

Leo’s hand found its way to my knee, squeezing gently. “I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

I looked down at his hand, then back up at him, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the tequila. “Only if you tell me something in return.” Like if you’re a top or bottom.

“Deal.”

I leaned in closer, my lips nearly brushing against Leo’s ear. “I find you very attractive, and I wonder what you’d look like from my knees.”

Leo’s grip on my knee tightened, and he turned his head slightly, his lips grazing my cheek. “Is that so?”

I pulled back enough to look into his eyes, a smirk playing on my lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He chuckled, his hand sliding up my thigh. “I would, actually. In great detail.”

I didn’t know Leo that well, but I did know I’d never seen or heard about him with a man. But who was I to question it?

“But it’s your turn now, so if you want to hear more, you’ll have to share something.” I took another shot of tequila, feeling the liquid courage spread through me.

He took two shots in a row while he thought of what to say. “You… are a very beautiful man.”

I threw my head back and laughed, causing him to join in. “That’s cheating.”

“It’s not. There weren’t any rules.” Leo’s hand found its way higher, his fingers tracing patterns on the inside of my leg very close to my dick.

“My turn.” I trailed a finger down his arm and leaned in again, my lips brushing against the shell of his ear this time. “Move that hand one more inch and you’ll feel what you’ll be choking on later.”

Leo’s breath hitched, and I could see the effect my words were having on him. His pupils were dilated, and his hand on my thigh was gripping me tighter. “Fuck, Ethan,” he growled.

My cock strained against my pants. “Your turn. Tell me something no one else knows.”

“I have a room upstairs. We could continue this conversation in private.”

I thought he’d never ask. He was sexy as hell, and the thought of what we could do behind closed doors sent a wave of heat through me.

“Lead the way.” I downed the last of my tequila and stood up, discreetly adjusting myself.

Leo did the same, throwing another hundred on the counter and leading me out of the bar. We made our way to the private elevators, bumping into each other as we walked. Once inside, Leo pressed the button for one of the top floors, and as soon as the doors slid closed, he turned to face me.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine, soft and gentle at first, then more insistent. I kissed him back, my hands finding their way to his hair, pulling him closer. He tasted like tequila and a bad decision, and I couldn’t get enough.

I pushed him back against the wall of the elevator, my hips pressing against his. I felt his arousal and it sent a surge of desire through me. He moaned softly, his hands gripping my ass, pulling me closer.

Kissing down his neck, I moved one of my hands to rub him through his pants. Fuck. He was the perfect size for all kinds of fun.

The elevator dinged, signaling our arrival at his floor, but we didn’t stop. We stumbled out into the hallway, our lips still locked together, our hands exploring each other’s bodies.

Somehow, we made it to his room, and he fumbled with the key card, finally managing to open the door. We practically fell inside, and I kicked the door shut behind us.

By some miracle, we ended up next to the bed, and I pushed him down. Climbing on top of him, I straddled him, pressing our hard cocks together through our pants.

I ground against him, eliciting a groan from deep within his chest. His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging in as he pulled me down harder against him.

“Fuck, Ethan. You’re driving me crazy.”

I leaned down, my lips brushing against his ear. “That’s the point, isn’t it?” I nipped at his earlobe.

His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer, and our lips met in a heated kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, and I met it with my own.

One of his hands slipped under my shirt, and I gasped as his fingers brushed against my nipple.

“You like that, don’t you?” He trailed his lips down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin.

“Yes.” I wanted more. I wanted to feel him inside me.

As if reading my mind, Leo lay back on the bed, rolling and pinning me beneath him. His eyes were dark with desire and his breaths came in ragged gasps. “I need to be inside you, Ethan.”

I nodded, my heart pounding. “Inside where?”

“Your ass.” He claimed my lips in another heated kiss.

His hips moved in a slow, sensual rhythm that had me anticipating what was to come.

“Condoms,” I gasped, tearing my lips away from his. “Lube. In the bathroom?”

Leo nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah, on the counter.”

I extracted myself from beneath him, my body protesting at the loss of contact. I hurried to the bathroom and found the condoms and lube right where he’d said they’d be. I grabbed them, my hands shaking with anticipation. I took a moment to steady myself, taking a deep breath before returning to the bedroom.

But when I stepped back into the room, Leo was sprawled out on the bed, his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling with steady, even breaths. He was fast asleep.

You have to be fucking kidding me.

“Leo?”

He didn’t stir and started to snore softly. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, my body still humming with desire, my cock still hard and aching.

I set the condoms and lube down on the nightstand, disappointment washing over me. I had been so ready, and he had been too.

It wasn’t the ending I had hoped for, but I realized that maybe it was for the best. We were both drunk, both caught up in the moment. Maybe it was better that we hadn’t.