Page 22 of Worth the Risk

Stepping into the hallway, I close the door to give us some privacy. “You seemed a little bothered after we talked.”

Moving closer to me, he says, “The only thing bothering me right now is that you’ll be in this house all night, but you won’t be in my bed with me, where I want you.”

Without thinking, I murmur, “I want that too.”

He gives me a half-smile and leans in closer. I think he’s going to kiss me, but he changes direction and pecks my forehead in an endearing gesture. I remember what Sierra said about forehead kisses when she gave me advice the first night I met Leo and her saying it’s what I deserve.

“Kylie, I want to kiss those soft lips of yours, but if I do, I won’t be able to stop, and I don’t think you want our first time together to be in a hallway where anyone could see.”

When he lowers his gaze, I follow the path of his eyes and see his erection is tenting his trunks.Wow, that was quick. It wasn’t there a minute ago.

I swiftly look up at him again, and he smirks when I nod in understanding.

With one last heated stare, he heads downstairs. I take a deep breath and am about to open the door, but something catches my attention in my peripheral vision. A flash of red hair enters another room.

Amber.

Stepping back into the room, I grab my clothing from earlier before handing one of the T-shirts to Sierra. Sophie is now in the room again, and I hug her in thanks for having us over tonight, and Sierra does the same. After grabbing two pairs of cotton shorts and giving them to us, we are about to leave the room, but as we head out the door, Sophie stops us.

“Leo is not perfect, but I can tell when he cares about someone. If he allows himself to open up to you, he’ll be taking a risk with his heart, so please be gentle. Beneath the bravado he shows everyone is someone just as scared as the rest of us to let someone in again.”

This stops me in my tracks. She said ‘again.’Has he been burned like me?

“I’m also scared to put myself out there again, but if it should go somewhere, I hope he will handle my heart with care too.” When I smile at her, she gives me one in return, then Sierra and I enter the room Sophie pointed out when we first came upstairs.

Once inside, Sierra asks, “What do you make of what Sophie said about Leo?”

“She loves her brother and is looking out for him. Leo and I were talking earlier in his room, but when I asked about his family, he completely shut down. He didn’t want to talk about it.”

“I wonder why.”

I shrug. “Not sure, but he was different after that.” Talking about it has me wondering if he truly is okay. “I’m going to check on him. Make sure he’s okay.”

“Yeah, sure, you want to make sure he’s okay.” She laughs while making air quotes for the word ‘okay.’

I do want to check on him, but I also want to spend more time with him. Even if it’s not talking, I’m not too proud to admit that I want him. For once in my life, I’m going to see where this attraction takes me.

I can only pray I don’t regret it.

“Of course I do. But if he doesn’t want to talk, I’m okay with that too,” I admit.

She chuckles as we change out of our swimwear into the shirts and shorts Sophie lent us. When she’s done, Sierra climbs into bed. She’s tired, so she’ll be out in no time. “I’ll be right back,” I inform her.

“If you are, then he’s not doing something right,” she says with a giggle.

I tiptoe to Leo’s bedroom, and when I’m outside his door, I debate about whether I should knock.What if he fell asleep and the knock wakes him up?

What am I thinking? I would want him awake.

After tapping on his door, I get no response, so I open it as quietly as possible. His end table light is on, but he’s not in bed.

The shower is running, and I sit on his bed and wait for him to come out.

A moment later, I hear a groan. Then my name comes from the bathroom. Curious, I sneak to the door. I have a feeling I know what he’s doing, and I don’t want to miss the show. He told me he does it, so he’s obviously not shy. Besides, him doing that has run like a movie in my head since he told me he masturbated while thinking about me.What hurt would a little peek do?

I open the bathroom door, and although I expect him to be naked, seeing him in the flesh is a sight within itself. Standing in a glass-enclosed shower with his hand on his cock, he strokes himself. His bicep muscles are taut and straining with every stroke, and his head is thrown back as if staring at the ceiling.

If his body wasn’t enough to make me wet and wanting, watching him stroke himself makes me want to throw out any lingering inhibitions I may have. A switch is flipped. I’ve never been so aroused in my life. Staring at him in all his naked glory, my body instinctively gravitates toward him.

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