27. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Cat

I groan, shifting on the leather couch, my eyelids heavy and mouth dry. God, I hate antihistamines. But thanks to not paying attention to what I’m eating, I can’t really blame anyone but myself. And who knew Red Velvet was made with cocoa.

This girl sure didn’t.

As I yawn, the soft clinking of dishes from the kitchen draws my attention. I push myself up, wiping my eyes.

"Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes." Leo's voice drifts in from the kitchen doorway. "I was beginning to think I'd need to kiss you to break the spell."

I snap my mouth shut, running my fingers through my hair, trying to fix what I’m sure is a rat’s nest. “Very funny, Prince Charming. You're hilarious. But why are you still home?”

Ugh, that came out harsher than I intended. But he has morning practice for their home game later. Speaking of . . . I turn to look at the time on the cable box.

Fuck me sideways, I've slept half the day away.

Leo chuckles as he sits next to me, placing a tray with a sandwich and a bowl of soup onto the coffee table. “Took the day off. You still need to rest.”

My eyes go wide. “But you have a game tonight.”

His jaw ticks. “Your health is more important right now.”

“Leo—”

He holds up a hand. “Shut it, Hellcat. Decision’s already made.”

“Thank you.” I smile at him, then grab the bottle of water on the tray, open it, and take a swig. “Fuck, that tastes good.”

He laughs. A full-on loud, belly laugh.

I just roll my eyes. “Have dry mouth and be out for two days and see how much you appreciate the taste of water.”

“Not arguing with you. Did you know some water actually has taste based on mineral percentages?”

“Dork.” I place the cap back on the bottle, then place it on the table before reaching for the sandwich. “So what did Chef Hartman bring me today?”

He leans back against the couch, shaking his head. “Just a grilled cheese sandwich.”

My teeth sink into the toasted bread, melted cheese, and tomato. Fuck. This tastes heavenly. The bread is the perfect amount of crispy without being burnt.

We watch TV for a bit as I eat, neither of us saying much. Over the past two days Leo and the kids have been taking care of me. While I normally hate being sick or in a state where I’m vulnerable, the care they've shown me is like a warm, safe hug. I can’t help but wonder if I could’ve felt this way more often if I’d let down my walls with people in the past.

Leo’s fidgeting, which is highly unlike him, and he’s staring too intensely at the screen, so I nudge him with my foot. “You okay?”

He takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "When you had that allergic reaction . . . Fuck, Cat, I've never been so scared in my life."

"Hey," I say softly, reaching out to take his hand. "I'm okay. Still kicking and ready to give you hell."

Leo nods, his fingers intertwining with mine as he looks at me, his blue eyes more intense than I've ever seen. "I'm in love with you. Have been for a while, I think. And the thought of losing you . . . I can't. I won't."

For a moment, I'm sure I'm hallucinating. That can happen if too much antihistamine builds up in your system.

"You . . . you're in love with me?" I manage to stammer out, my brain trying to catch up with what's happening. "Did you hit your head at practice or something?"

His lips twitch as he fights off a smile, unsuccessfully. “Look, I know it’s putting the cart before the horse, and that we haven’t even gone out on a date yet . . . but, yeah. I am.”

I gnaw on the inside of my cheek, gaze focused on his face. The kids, this family, they mean so much to me. Leo means so much to me. Instead of speaking, I surge forward, pressing my chapped lips against his. It’s not graceful or sexy, and I sort of lick his lips because he didn’t open his mouth fast enough.

But still . . . it’s perfect.

He reaches up, his fingers running through my hair as he pulls me closer, deepening our kiss.

When we break apart, both a little breathless, I can't help but laugh. "In case that wasn't clear enough, I'm in love with you too."

Leo cups my face in his hands, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. "Yeah?"

I nod, leaning into his touch. "Yeah."

He laughs, the sound rich and full of joy, then he's kissing me again, his tongue invading my mouth like he owns it. His calloused hands slide down to my waist, pulling me onto his lap.

I tug at the hem of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He breaks the kiss just long enough to pull it off, revealing his defined chest. My hands run over his muscles, tracing the ridges of his abs, then dip under his sweats.

Gripping his thick, hard shaft, I marvel at the hot silkiness of his skin as I tug and pump him, feeling him grow even harder in my hand. "So fucking hard already, big guy."

“Baby, I’m always hard for you.” He shifts me off his lap and stands. “Take everything off, Hellcat. I need to see every inch of you.”

As I undress, he walks off, leaving me momentarily confused until he comes back with a string of condoms. I can't help but smile, my eyes falling to his light gray joggers. Not just at the way they're tented, but at the growing wet spot where his crown presses against the material. I bite my bottom lip, feeling a rush of wetness between my own legs.

“Turn around and brace yourself on the back of the couch. Spread those pretty legs for me, ass in the air.”

I adjust myself into position, but he pushes me forward until I’m mostly leaning over the back of the couch. Then he pushes my legs wider with his knees. I’m about to turn around to see what he’s up to when his tongue laps at my pussy, a long, slow lick that has my back arching. “Oh, fuck.”

“So wet for me already. Love the way you taste, Hellcat. Like fucking sin.” His lips wrap around my clit, sucking gently as his tongue flicks against it.

I push back, wanting more, especially when his tongue pushes inside me. Leo grabs my hips, pulling me tighter to him, then runs his tongue all the way up my ass, and I smack the back of the couch. "Holy shit!"

Okay, I’ve had good oral sex before, even great. The first time Leo went down on me was amazing. But this . . . no one’s completely eaten me out. And definitely not the way Leo is.

“Ride my face, Hellcat. Show me what a dirty girl you are.”

Dirty girl?

Oh, I’ll show him.

I place my foot on his chest and push him away, then flip over so I’m sitting on the couch. After throwing my legs over his broad shoulders, I grab a fistful of his blond hair and yank him back to me. “Show me what that mouth can really do.”

He growls, then devours me, his mouth and tongue working in tandem. I ride his face, covering his mouth and chin until they're dripping with my arousal. He licks me everywhere, sucking and flicking my clit until I come all over him, my body convulsing with the force of my orgasm.

As my body starts to go limp, he hoists me up and positions me back over the couch. “My turn.”

Once a condom is on, Leo pushes into me in one hard thrust, grabbing my hips for leverage as he fucks into me hard and fast. Looking over my shoulder I can’t help the mewl that escapes my lips when I find him watching how he fucks me.

“Like what you see, Hartman?”

His eyes snap up to mine. “Don’t last name me.” Then he slaps my ass. “Not after I told you I loved you.”

I push back into him. “Oh yeah. Is that why you licked not just my pussy but my ass? To make all of me yours?”

“Fucking right.” He grabs my wrists and pulls my arms behind my back in such a way it forces me to arch as he fucks me even harder. “I want you to be mine, but I need to hear it from you.”

He hits that spot deep inside, and my eyes roll back, a new orgasm building with such force, I fear it’ll blow me apart when it erupts. “I’m yours and you’re mine.”

“Fuck yes, I am, baby. All yours. Now. Always.”

When he hits the spot again, I have no choice but to scream, the force of the orgasm rocketing through me almost making me lose consciousness. But as the fog slowly clears, I realize I meant what I said. This man, this wonderful, filthy-mouthed man, has completely stolen my heart, and I know in my soul I'm safe with him.

I look over my shoulder, my gaze locking with his. "I love you."

“Love you too.” He leans forward to kiss me, gripping the back of the couch, his knuckles turning white as he uses it for leverage to push deeper into me.

His hips move in a steady, relentless rhythm, each thrust more intense than the last, filling me, consuming me. His breath is hot and ragged, panting in my ear. “See what you do to me? How fucking feral you make me? I can’t get enough.”

The room fills with the sound of our bodies slapping together, the wet, dirty noise echoing off the walls. Leo grunts, slapping my ass, and I push back against him.

“Give me all you got, big guy. Fuck me like a toy.”

He lets out a low moan, hips moving in short, sharp jerks as he comes. He throws his head back, the tendons in his neck standing out as he groans, a deep, guttural sound that sends a wave of heat through me.

When his orgasm ceases, he wraps an arm around me and we collapse onto the cushions. “Fuck, Hellcat.”

I laugh, reaching back to stroke his head. “Do you know how sexy you are when you lose control? It’s so fucking hot.”

He nuzzles into my hair, holding me tighter, and at that moment, I’ve never felt more whole or at home.