Chapter Twenty-Four

Leo

My hands slid up Brynn’s sides, her skin soft and warm under my touch. She was on top of me, her body moving fast. The dim light from the bedside table cast a soft glow over the room, but my focus was entirely on her—on the way her hair fell across her face, the way her lips parted as she breathed, and the intense, almost vulnerable look in her eyes.

It wasn’t just about the physical anymore. Not for me, not with Brynn. There was a rawness to the moment, an honesty that went beyond the touch of skin. She moved over me, her hands braced on my chest, and I couldn’t help but be struck by how much I loved her—how deep it went, how it consumed every part of me.

“Brynn,” I breathed, my voice rough as I gazed up at her. She looked down at me, her expression softening for a moment. There was something in her eyes—an intensity that matched my own—and it hit me hard, the weight of everything unsaid between us.

Her fingers slid over my chest, tracing the lines of my muscles as if she were memorizing me. She leaned down, her lips barely brushing mine. “I love you,” she whispered, so quiet I almost didn’t hear it.

My heart thudded hard in my chest at her words, at the way her voice trembled ever so slightly. I reached up, cupping her face with both hands and pulling her down for a kiss. It was slow, deep, and filled with everything I didn’t get to say to her for the past twenty years.

“I’ve always loved you,” I murmured against her lips. I felt her sigh, her breath hot against my skin. The weight of the years we’d spent apart hung in the air, but there was also something healing in the way we came together now, like we were rewriting our history with every touch.

Brynn’s hips slowed as she kissed me again, her lips soft and urgent. It wasn’t just about the passion—it was about all the emotions they’d kept locked up for so long finally spilling over. My hands slid up her back, pulling her closer, wanting to feel every part of her against me.

Her forehead rested against mine as she caught her breath.

“Don’t ever leave me again,” she whispered, her voice breaking the silence.

I gently rolled us over, careful to keep her close, our bodies still locked together. The warmth of her skin, the softness of her beneath me—it felt like everything I’d been missing for years was right there in my arms. Brynn’s breath hitched as she shifted, opening her hips more, inviting me deeper. Her arms were stretched above her head, her hands gripping the sheets, but her gaze never left mine.

“I love you,” I whispered, my voice rough but certain, echoing everything I felt. There was no hesitation anymore. No doubts.

Her lips parted in a soft smile; her eyes filled with a warmth that sent a jolt through me. “I love you too, Leo,” she whispered back, her voice just as full of emotion. Her hands slid down from the sheets, grazing my shoulders as I moved over her.

I kissed her slowly, savoring every second, every brush of her lips against mine. The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of us in this moment—something that felt more intimate than anything I’d ever experienced. We moved together, slow and steady, each touch, each shift bringing us closer.

Her nails dug into my back lightly as I thrust deeper, our rhythm naturally finding its pace. The soft sounds of her breath mixing with mine filled the room. There was no rush, just the pure connection between us, the kind that had been missing for too long.

Brynn’s legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, her body arching into mine. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen from our kisses, and I couldn’t help but lean down to kiss her again. This time it was hungrier, filled with the urgency.

“You feel so good,” I groaned against her mouth, feeling her tighten around me, her body responding in a way that drove me to the edge. She was everything—every fantasy, every dream I’d held onto. And now she was here, real, and mine.

Her breath quickened; her moans soft but growing in intensity as we moved together. Her nails scraped against my back as I thrust deeper, my pace quickening, feeling the pull of her body against mine. She gasped, her head tilting back, exposing the curve of her neck that I couldn’t resist kissing, tasting her skin.

I could feel the tension building between us, the intensity of the moment growing until it was almost too much to bear. My hand found hers, fingers intertwining, grounding us in the connection we shared. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and filled with something that went beyond just the physical—it was love, trust, and the years we’d lost finally coming together.

“I’m right here,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her softly. “I’ve got you.”

Her body trembled beneath me, her breathing coming faster, and I felt her tighten around me, the telltale signs of her release just moments away. I pushed deeper, feeling her fall apart in my arms, the sound of her moan sending me over the edge. With one final thrust, I let go, the sensation overwhelming as I came inside of her.

We stayed like that for a moment, our breaths heavy, our bodies still connected, but neither of us moved. I lowered my forehead to hers, our noses touching, both of us catching our breath.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered again, my voice rougher now but full of the same promise.

She smiled, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. “Good,” she whispered back, her voice soft but full of certainty. “Because I’m not letting you go.”