Page 45 of Sass

But bonus? The search had given the ibuprofen time to really kick in and my headache had receded to a background four out of ten, which was a lot less than I deserved.

“In your satchel, huh?” Leon’s eyes danced with mirth. “Who’d have thought? But I’m delighted you came back to reassure me. I’ve been rattled ever since you left. It’s been hell,” he deadpanned.

The man was walking a fine line and I narrowed my gaze. “I can tell.” I noted the half-drunk coffee in one hand and the toast with marmalade in the other—crustson.Something warm tingled inside. “Aw, and far too rattled to cut off your crusts, it seems.”

Leon looked down at the toast and then back up to me, and a slow smile spread over his face. “You always rattle me, Chris.”

And nope, I wasn’t going anywhere nearthatlook, and glanced away like the chickenshit I was.

“Was that all?” he asked, biting back another smile. “It’s just I’ve got another slice of toast waiting.”

I huffed and shot him a glare. “You know damn well it’s not. I seem to have also mislaid my... keys.”

“Oh.” Leon held out his cup and I took it without thinking, freeing him to dig in his pocket, producing a familiar lime green ostrich feather keyring which he held aloft. “You mean this? I found it in your trousers before I washed them.”

I snatched the keys from his hand and mumbled, “Thank you.” Then I turned to leave.

“Stay, please.” His hand landed on my arm, then fell quickly away. “I mean, you still have your office to paint, right? And as it happens, I’ve got nothing in particular planned for this afternoon. I could help... if you want. We could get it done in half the time.”

Alarm bells rang in my head as I stared at those pretty grey eyes. The thought of spending more time with him wasn’t exactly... terrible... and that was precisely the point. Feelings, especiallymyfeelings, were never part of the deal. There was really only one safe answer.

“Look, Leon.” I sighed as he stiffened. “I appreciate you looking after me, but I never asked you to do that. And maybe this joke between us about me getting you into bed was a bad idea. Just like you thought.” I took a deep breath and reached for his hand. “I’m not and I won’t ever be that person you’re looking for, and us ‘doing things together’”—I made air quotes—“isn’t going to change that. I won’t date you, Leon.”

He blinked but didn’t look away. “I don’t recall asking you to. Wasn’t this just about painting your office?”

“Was it?”I stepped into his space, his freshly showered scent making my pulse flutter, his huge presence an aching invitation to burrow in close. I went up on tiptoes and lifted my mouth to whisper just under his ear, “Are you sure about that?”

He stilled, and I dropped my heels to the floor but didn’t move, the raging heat of his body, so close, so fucking there, rolled like a wave through mine, burning my cheeks and drying my mouth.Move, something warned from deep in my brain, but the call went unanswered as Leon bent over to put his cheek against the side of my head, his hot, hot breath raising every hair on my neck as he pressed a single desperately soft kiss to the shell of my ear, the sound of it echoing through my body like a soft thunderclap.

“The answer to that depends on you,” he whispered. “Because I am done resisting you.”

His words floated through my brain as we stood frozen in his doorway, electricity humming between us. Then his mouth brushed my ear once again, the barest hint of plush lips and the soft hair of his beard moving over my skin.

My eyelids fluttered closed and a whimpering sound I didn’t think I was capable of fell from my lips. I turned my head just enough to bring our mouths within kissing distance but kept my eyes closed. “I can’t be that guy for you, Leon,” I whispered, although there was little force behind it. “This would have to be it. One and done. Can you do that?”

Leon ran his nose up my cheek to my hairline, inhaling deeply, a low growl rumbling in his throat as he pressed a kiss to my temple. Then his lips glossed over mine like a feather, once, twice, the delicate slide of his tongue teasing along the seam but no more.

I couldn’t move. Hell, I could barely breathe as my heart slammed into my ribs and my dick began to strain against my jeans, my common sense in tatters. I was so fucking turned on my hands were clenched at my sides just to keep from shoving Leon back into the flat and just getting the fuck on with things. “You need to tell me that you understand.” I forced the words between our lips.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his pupils blown all to hell as he answered steadily, “I understand.”

I searched desperately for what I needed to see—lust, want, but more importantly, acceptance and resignation. But what I found instead was who the fuck knew what, because whatever lay in Leon’s eyes was a hazy mess of emotions I couldn’t decipher. Worst of all, I couldn’t find a single fuck to give about it because I was too far gone down this path already. I wanted him. I’d wanted him for two years. I wanted him more than I could remember wanting anyone in my life. It scared the hell out of me, but hell if I was going to walk away now.

“Happy?” He ran his lips lightly over my face, pressing soft butterfly kisses to every inch as I purred my approval.

Happy? I was fucking ecstatic.

“Can I kiss you, properly?” He rubbed his cheek against mine, humming softly like I was some frightened child he needed to soothe, like he knew.

Leave. Don’t hurt him.The warning rang in my head and a stronger man might’ve walked away, but that sure as shit wasn’t me. And I couldalwayswalk away.

Leon cradled my face, his lips brushing across my forehead and down the other side. “Let me kiss you.” He locked eyes with mine, his a stormy grey sky.

“Yes.” It came out on a sigh, more plea than permission.

His thumbs caressed my cheeks as he stared deep into my eyes. “So that’s a yes?”

Jesus Christ, say no. He’s given you a chance. Say no.“Yes.”

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