21. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Cat

The wind howls around us as Leo and I burst out of yet another restaurant, the fifth we've toured today. Cold raindrops pelt my face, and I yank the collar of my jacket up higher. “Mierda! What happened to spring in Connecticut? This is some bullshit.”

Leo, his normally perfectly-styled hair now plastered to his forehead, looks like a drowned rat. I can't help but snort at the sight.

“Something funny?”

“Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the view of the great Leo Hartman looking less than perfect for once.”

He rolls his eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You're one to talk. You look like a drowned kitten.”

“At least I can pull off the wet look.”

We make a mad dash for his car, splashing through puddles that have already formed on the sidewalk. The sky above is an ominous gray, promising more misery to come. As we reach the vehicle, my foot lands in a pothole in the parking lot and I stumble.

Leo's hand shoots out, steadying me.

“Easy there,” he says, his hand lingering on my arm.

“Not my fault my little legs have to work extra hard to keep up with those monsters.” I point at those thick thighs of his.

Fuck, hockey players have the best asses and legs.

Leo unlocks the car, and we both dive in, slamming the doors against the wind. The interior smells of leather and his cologne. He cranks up the heat, and I hold my hands in front of the vents, trying to warm up.

“You know,” I say, breaking the silence that's fallen between us, “I'm starting to think a formal dinner might not be the best idea for team bonding.”

Leo raises an eyebrow, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Oh? And here I thought watching Mykyta try to use a salad fork would be prime entertainment.”

I snort, picturing the scene. “Yeah, because nothing says team bonding like collective confusion over cutlery.”

“You got a better idea, smartass?”

I sigh, running a hand through my damp hair. “That's the problem. You guys need to let loose, have some fun. But with your crazy schedule. . .” I trail off, frustration building in my chest. “I'm kind of at a loss here.”

Leo nods, his brow furrowing in that way it does when he's deep in thought as he stares out at the rain-soaked parking lot, droplets racing down the windshield. The patter of rain fills the silence between us.

“You might be right. But what else can we do? Chuck E. Cheese is looking better and better.”

“Oh, my God. Can you imagine? Wyatt would probably get stuck in the ball pit.”

Leo chuckles, the sound warming me more than the car's heater. “Hudson would be hogging all the skee-ball machines.”

“While you stand in the corner, brooding and intimidating small children.”

“I do not brood.”

I pat his arm. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the rain intensify outside. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and I jump a little at the sound.

“Afraid of thunder, Hellcat?”

I flip him off. “I'm not afraid, asshole. Just startled. There's a difference.”

“Right,” he says, clearly not believing me. “So, I, uh, I've been looking into some assisted living facilities in the area. I thought maybe if we presented Rosa with some options, show her that these places aren't as bad as she thinks . . . it might help.”

Warmth blooms in my chest, and I have to blink back sudden tears. The fact that he's put in this effort, that he's taken the time to research options . . . it means more than I can ever express.

“Leo, that's . . . I don't even know what to say.” I bite the inside of my cheek, because there is another serious matter that also needs his attention. “You need to talk to your daughter.”

Leo's brow furrows. “Is she okay?”

I shake my head, reluctant to betray Stella's confidence. “It's not my place to say. But you need to have a conversation with her.”

“Cat, if it’s something serious—”

I hold up a hand. “It’s not an emergency or critical situation, though she may feel it is to her. All I will say, is she doesn’t want to disappoint you.”

Leo nods, clearly still uneasy, then clears his throat. “How are things going with your apartment? Any updates?”

My muscles tense as he shifts in his seat. It’s definitely not the question I was expecting and, honestly, I haven’t been thinking much about my place lately. Well, outside of the occasional email from the owner that things might take longer than expected.

Is it wrong that I’m actually happy about that? I've gotten used to being part of the Hartman household, to the chaos and warmth of their family. I like feeling needed, not just by the kids, but by Leo too. The thought of going back to my empty apartment, of being alone again . . . it's not as appealing as it once was.

But why is he bringing this up now? Unless I’m starting to overstay my welcome.

“Are you asking because of what happened between us? Because if you don't want me around anymore, I can—”

“What? No! That's not it at all. I just . . . I mean, it was . . .” He stops, takes a deep breath, and then says in a rush, “It was the best sex I've had in a long time.”

My cheeks heat up, and I can't help the smirk that spreads across my entire face. “Yeah? I mean, I know I'm good, but damn, Hartman. Way to stroke a girl's ego.”

His neck is turning red, ears too. “Don't let it go to your head, Hellcat.”

“Too late. And If we're being honest, it was pretty amazing for me too.”

The air between us crackles as Leo's gaze drops to my lips, and I find myself leaning in. Outside, the storm rages on, but in here, it feels like the whole world has narrowed down to just the two of us.

Leo's hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing my bottom lip before he presses his lips to mine, kissing, biting, and nibbling. A groan claws its way up my throat as my fingers rake through his hair.

Leo's hand trails up my neck, his calloused thumb tracing the curve of my jaw before his lips crash into mine. He kisses, bites, and nibbles, devouring me with teeth and tongue. I moan into his mouth as my nails scrape his scalp, tugging at his hair. His short beard scratches my skin, igniting sparks that travel straight to my core.

He reclines his seat, then hauls me over the console and onto his lap. His erection strains against his jeans, and I grind down, as his hands explore under my blouse, tracing the lace of my bra before he pushes the cups aside and palms my bare breasts. He rolls my nipples between his fingers, pinching until they're hard peaks, and a gasp rips from my throat.

I break the kiss, my head dropping back. “Fuck, you’re making me so wet.”

He growls and thrusts up, squeezing my tits harder. “I want inside that tight pussy. Want it to milk my fucking cock dry.”

I lean forward, biting and sucking at his throat as I work his button and zipper open. He lifts his hips, pushing his jeans down to his knees, and his cock springs free, heavy and thick. Precum beads at the tip, and I swipe my thumb through it, bringing it to my mouth. I suck it clean, humming at the salty taste. “You taste like sin, Hartman.”

Leo grabs my ass, actually the material of my yoga pants, and rips them open. He yanks on the torn material again until I’m exposed, then quirks a brow. “No underwear, Hellcat?”

“Nope.”

He palms my pussy, fingers slipping inside me. “Such a wet cunt. My cock turn you on that much?”

I reach down, my fingers joining his, and together we fuck my pussy while his thumb circles my clit. Then I pull my fingers out and push them into his mouth. “Taste me.”

He sucks them clean, his tongue swirling around them as he continues to fuck me with his own. His hips surge up, his cock sliding against my ass. He leans forward, reaching for something, and accidentally pushes me into the steering wheel. The horn blares, and we both freeze. “Shit, sorry.”

I look down trying to figure out what he’s doing, but he leans back, wallet in hand. I take it from him and pull out the condom, then remove it from its foil back. He squeezes the base of his cock as I roll the condom down his length, my fingers tracing the thick veins. “God, you’re veiny.”

“Hurry up and get on, Cat.” His voice is husky and deep.

With the condom in place, I adjust and sink down onto him, letting his dick fill and stretch me. My eyes flutter closed as I moan until he’s fully seated. Grabbing onto his shoulders, I begin to rock and swivel my hips.

Leo grips my ass, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he guides me up and down. He leans forward, capturing a nipple in his mouth, sucking and biting until I'm writhing on top of him. “Ride me, Cat. Fucking ride me hard.”

I rock faster, grinding my clit against him. Each time I come down, he thrusts up, meeting me with a force that sends waves of pleasure crashing through me.

“That’s it, Hellcat. Use my cock and make your pussy feel good.” He slaps my ass hard, then kneads the tender flesh.

He does it again and again. Each time I clench down on him, riding him faster and harder until we’re both nothing more than two wild animals savagely fucking. I’m so wet I’m dripping all over him.

“Leo . . . . fuck, fuck, fuck . . . Leo, don’t stop. Fuck me harder.”

His grip on my hips tightens, his fingertips pressing into my flesh likes he’s claiming his territory. He’s not gentle, not that I want him to be.

A few seconds later, my belly tightens as my pussy clenches one last time before I launch into one of the most powerful orgasms of my life. He fucks me through it, dragging it out, before he starts pounding into me harder.

“That’s it, Hellcat. Milk me with that tight cunt. Make me come.”

His thrusts become erratic as he chases his own release, sweat beading on his forehead. He looks down, watching himself fuck me. “Gonna come. Oh, fuck. Now. Now!”

He pushes deep, pull me tight to him and yells as his own orgasm hits him—hard.

I collapse onto his chest, our bodies heaving as we catch our breath. The windows are fogged but at least the rain is still coming down in a torrential torrent. No way anyone would’ve been paying attention to what we just did.

Hopefully.

Leo chuckles beneath me and I gingerly sit up. “What’s so funny?”

“Can’t remember the last time I had sex in a car. I think it was back in high school.”

I shake my head. “Really?”

His eyes shoot up to mine. “You . . . do this regularly?”

“Well, not like that. But yeah. Why does it have to be something we did as kids? Possibly getting caught is half the fun.”

Something flickers across his face, a tightening of his jaw, and his lips press into a thin line. His eyes narrow slightly, darting away for a split second before coming back to meet mine, as if he's holding back an impulse he doesn't want to reveal. It's brief, so quick I might’ve missed it if I hadn’t been watching closely.

But it’s there, that fleeting hint of unease. Not that he’d have anything to worry about—I haven’t gone out on a date since before I moved in, and I’m not looking to either.

I’ve got enough going on in my life. Plus, I’m comfortable with my current situation. Well, except for . . . “So, hotshot. What’s your plan for my pants now that you ripped them to shreds? We’re obviously not checking out anywhere else for the party, but you can’t expect me to walk into the house like this?”

He lifts me by the hips and I climb back over to the passenger side. “Have a pair of sweatpants in the back. We can say you fell in a puddle.”

“A puddle?” I laugh.

He shoots me a wild grin. ‘If I hadn’t have caught you back there it’d be the truth.”

“Ass.” I smack his chest, to which he laughs, then reaches back for the pants, even helping me put them on.

Yeah, I could definitely get used to this, and that’s what scares me the most. Good things never tend to last.