Page 70 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“You okay?” he murmurs as we get to the door.

“Never better,” I reply, leaning against the door as I watch him unlock it.

“Let’s get you into bed.”

I simply nod, thank god, since I’m really thinkingwill you be coming with me?

The last thing I need to do is say that out loud.

Leo peels off his coat, and I lean against the wall, attempting to take off my shoes. Losing my balance andstumbling, I catch myself last minute. But Leo is there in a second, holding me up.

“Here,” he says, his voice a whisper as he bends down. This mass of a man squats in front of me, his giant, strong hand gripping my calf as he unzips my boot, carefully slipping it off my foot before doing the next one.

As searing as his touch is, it’s only a friendly one. He doesn’t try anything, and even when he looks up at me, his eyes filled with something I can’t quite place, he blinks it away, standing up.

Swiping his thumb over his lips, he holds my gaze for a moment longer before pursing his lips, looking away.

“I can help you to your room if you need it,” he says, not meeting my eyes.

Closing my eyes, I stretch my neck, sighing. “I can get there myself, but thank you.”

Without waiting for him to respond, I set off through the kitchen, family room, and down the hall.

And when I walk into my bedroom, my heart melts.

Elara lays under my blankets, her arms folded under her head, her stuffed rabbit right next to her.

On top of the blanket is Heidi, who lays on her back, her red hair around her head like a halo, one hand in the bucket of popcorn between the two. Champ whimpers at the end of the bed, her eyes huge as she watches me enter.

The TV flashes with the Netflix homepage, Elara’s favorite kids movie in their recently watched.

I hate to wake her, but I have to. Rounding the bed, I place my hand gently on her shoulder, moving it just slightly. Heidi’s eyes open wide as she looks around.

“I’m so sorry I fell asleep, I was trying hard to stay up!” she whispers when she sees Elara asleep.

I shake my head. “No worries at all. But I don’t want you driving this late unless you have to. If you want, there’s a guest room right next to Elara’s room across the hall.”

She nods, yawning before looking at her watch. “If that’s okay with you,” she looks toward the hallway.

“Totally fine. I’ll let Leo know you’re here.”

“Thank you Briar.”

She gets up, gathering her things and heading to the guest room. Turning the TV off, I kiss Elara on the forehead before heading into the bathroom.

For a moment I consider taking a shower, but the alcohol has settled within me, and I’m getting a burst of energy. Instead, I find myself at the bathtub, filling it.

I send a quick text to Leo letting him know that Heidi will be leaving in the morning, and to not disturb her before I throw my phone on the towel on the floor, peel off my clothes, and climb into the tub.

I wasn’t expecting to have so much fun tonight, and even though dinner started out awkward, and it was weird having Leo spend so much on my clothes, I found myself more relaxed than I’ve been in a long time.

At some points, it almost felt like he was treating this like it’s real. But I know it’s not, and I know not to allow myself to even consider that, so I wipe the thought from my mind.

And when we were asking each other questions at dinner? I’ve never felt so hot and bothered in my life. The thought of a man coming up behind me in bed, his large hands on my back as they work their way up, massaging me as his dick slides into?—

My head falls back onto the edge of the tub as my left hand cups my breast, my fingers gently plucking at my nipple while my right hand finds its way to my clit, lightly circling it.

His mouth comes down, kissing the sensitive sides of my neck as his hips retreat for a moment. His hands come under me to cup my chest before gently sliding back into me, all the way, filling me.

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