Page 3 of Ho Ho Oh No

And it almost works.

Until Leo asks that dreaded question. “What’s the matter?”

My head wobbles from side to side like it’s on springs, and moisture leaks down my cheeks as the dam breaks. “I-I-I’m not gonna be a good...”

I don’t want to finish the sentence, so I don’t.

One of his giant steps must be equivalent to the three I’ve taken to reverse from the room because he’s pressing me into his chest a second later. His arms, so strong and sturdy, wrap around me, comforting and soothing me like only he can.

I snake my arms around his waist, gratefully soaking up the feel of his chest hair against my cheek. I attempt to sync my breathing to the familiar pounding of his heart.

He strokes my hair as he calmly reassures me. “I got you, angel. Just breathe.”

And I do as he says, knowing I’m safe as long as I’m with him.

After my worry recedes, I pull back to catch a glimpse of his troubled eyes. Still unable to speak, I let myself get lost in those sparkling blue pools for a long time. He grounds me in safety, patience, and love.

So much love.

“You okay?” he asks, voice like warm fleece.

I nibble my lower lip and nod. “Yeah. I was just?—”

“Overthinking again?” he finishes for me.

No need for me to answer since he already knows.

Overthinking is sort of my mantra. Especially lately.

He kisses my forehead. “What was it this time? You weren’treallyscared I’d get shit on my face and you’d have to divorceme, were you?” His playful grin accentuates his teasing, and itmakes me melt.

“No. It wasn’t that.” I sniff his chest, checking for remnants and gratefully finding none. “However, I’m thankful you got the sweater off so quickly and had an undershirt on. Hugging me like this would have been far less soothing if the stink had set in.”

He loosens his hold on me. “I didn’t think about your super senses. My bad.” Lowering his face toward his chest, he takes a whiff. “I better shower with you. Just in case.”

I playfully glare at him. “As if you haven’t been asking to shower with me every day for the last week.”

“Can you blame me?” His lower lip juts into a pout for the second time in the last ten minutes. “I miss the feel of your slippery skin and how delicious you look with droplets of water all over your flushed cheeks. Both sets of cheeks.” He gives one side of my ass a squeeze to drive home his point.

“You’ll live without it,” I toss flippantly, extricating myself the rest of the way from his embrace.

I hope he drops this topic. I’m not in the mood to beat this horse right now.

Unrelated, that’s a disgusting phrase. Who’s running around beating horses? Psychopaths. That’s who.

“Sadly, I won’t survive.” He unbuttons his jeans, his eyes burning me up. “Neither will the planet. We must conserve water. It’s our duty as concerned citizens of Earth.”

“Leo Mason,” I warn.

“We have a problem and a simple solution. You need to shower before we head to the party, and I need to ensure I don’t reek of shit. There’s only one solution, angel.”

With a waggle of his brows, he drops the denim and his boxers in one swift motion.

Instinctively, I gulp at the sight of his thick cock. My tongue twitches.

And great. Now I’m horny on top of barreling into a self-loathing tailspin.

Deflect. Deflect.

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