Page 89 of Sass

“Probably not, but we aim to please.”

He snorted. “Something I am forever grateful for. What are you up to?”

I looked around the office. “Sitting in my chair thinking of the excellent breakfast I had this morning.”

He snorted. “My come down your throat in no way constitutes breakfast.”

I gasped in mock horror. “Excuuuse me, I beg to differ. Your come covers all the food groups, particularly anything that was left in my stomach from last night.”

Silence, then, “Oh my god. You did not just say that. And now I won’t be able to rid that image from my brain for the rest of the day, thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome. Now, how can I help, or have you just rung to interrupt my day?” I grinned at his laughter. Maybe he was feeling better. Maybe he was going to ask me to go with him next Wednesday. Maybe—

“Stay where you are.”

“What? But—”

He hung up and I glared at the phone. Another score for the why-I-shouldn’t-have-a-boyfriend side of my list. They were too damn disrespectful. Admittedly, that side of my list was a little short on ideas so I might’ve been clutching at straws.

Five minutes later and I was eating my disrespectful words, along with an excellent coffee—Leon had recently perfected Alec and Hunter’s flash machine—and a couple of cherry compote-topped waffles with lashings of cream.

“Oh my god, these are delicious,” I mumbled around a mouthful, ignoring the covetous looks from my retail assistant. “Aren’t you supposed to be next door by now?”

Leon swiped a dollop of cream from his lips and—nope... not going there. “My first client cancelled, so I’m free until ten.”

“And your first thought was to make me waffles? Not to sleep in? I’m impressed.” I shovelled another forkful of waffle into my mouth.

“No, actually.” He shoved his empty plate to the side. “My first thought was to get you upstairs under false pretences and wow you with a new and improved version of the early morning wake-up call you gavemethis morning.”

I arched a brow. “Personally, I would’ve gone with that option. Although, FYI, thereisno new and improved version, honey. You can’t upgrade on perfection.”

“True.” Leon pushed his chair back and cradled his coffee. “But you can double or nothing.”

My fork froze halfway to my mouth, and I was pretty sure a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “Double?” I squeaked.

He grinned and reached across to tip my mouth closed. “Your cock in my mouth and a dildo up your arse.”

I swallowed hard. “Oh, that?” I dropped my fork to my plate with a clatter. “Pfft. Like everyone hasn’t donethat. It’s so... yesterday.” But the croak in my voice gave me away, and after a quick check to make sure the store was empty, I rounded the desk and straddled his lap. “But it has been a while.” I ran a fingertip down his nose. “Maybe we should try it again. Just so you can remind me how boring it is.”

He laughed and cupped my arse. “Excellent idea.Buttonight.”

I pouted. “Spoilsport. You’re killing me here.”

He brushed noses and said, “I have every faith you’ll survive.” Then he kissed me long and slow, like we had all the time in the world, and with such aching tenderness it made my nerves sparkle under my skin. And when he was done, he cradled my face, and I floated in those silver-grey eyes.

“Now, don’t freak out.”

I squinted at him. “Words which are absolutely guaranteed to freak me out.”

“Well, don’t.” But his smile was too uncertain to be reassuring. “This is just a heads-up because I’m done pretending.” His thumbs grazed my cheeks and he locked eyes. “I’m in love with you, Chris.” He drew a shaky breath like the admission might cost him everything, and I could hardly blame him for that. “I love every beautiful inch of you, and I figured it was time you knew.”

My stomach swooped and every drop of moisture in my mouth evaporated. He’s in love with me? In a month? Leon loves me? Who the hell does that?Disbelief and panic immediately rose to war with the unexpected thrill that thrummed through my body. “Leon, I—”

Leon pinched my lips together with his fingers, shutting me up. “I know you don’t want to hear it. I know you don’t believe it. And I know that right now you’re probably already mentally packing your bags and planning your escape, but I won’t lie about how I feel anymore. I also don’t expect anything from you in return. I just can’t keep pretending this isn’t happening to me, and I won’t.”

I shook my head.The man was crazy. Wonderful, but batshit crazy.

“Please don’t run from the idea.” His words tumbled out like he’d spent hours rehearsing and was determined to get through without interruption. He needn’t have worried. I was still stuck in the gobsmacked stage. “Take all the time you need to think about whether it’s something you can see yourself returning at some point. I don’t need to know today or next week or next month. I just want you to know where I stand. That I’m all in, baby. All the way.” And like he’d suddenly run out of words, he simply stopped and dropped his hands.

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