Page 18 of A New Era

Taking a deep breath, I tell him, “It was just delivered, and Harper and Victoria wanted to see me in it before the wedding.”

I have no idea why I’m so nervous around him, I’m due to marry this man yet my stomach is full of butterflies. “Besides, I need practice walking in heels.”

He closes the space between us and stops behind me, his breath hitting the back of my neck.

“I think fair’s fair if I practise taking it off of you.”

He pops one button open at a time and each time my lower stomach tightens, and my chest presses down, making it heavier to breathe.

“And I definitely think we should practise consummating our marriage.”

“I agree,” I choke out.

With my back exposed, he runs the back of his finger down my spine, sending a thrill through me. He helps me out of the dress and orders, “You have ten seconds to hang it up.”

It only takes me five.

We become a tangled mess of limbs and kisses, not able to get enough of each other. We end up on the kitchen floor with me on top and every time I rock my hips back and forth, riding him, the pressure builds in my lower stomach. We become a blur of desire, and a hunger for more takes over. It’s always more when it comes to Leo. I roll my hips faster and faster, tipping my head back, my orgasm chasing me hard and fast.

“Oh fuck,” Leo grunts, squeezing my thighs as he fills me with his load. A couple more pumps and I’m collapsing on top of him.

Once I get my breath back, I lift myself off of him and lie beside him on the floor.

Stroking my hair, he says, “I met with Effie today, me and Luca. We heard her offer, and she wants to pay us triple what the Haywards do to run the city and make the Kings disappear.”

“Did you accept?”

“No, but we didn’t decline either. She gave us twenty-four hours to consider.”

“And are you going to consider it?”

“I’m still thinking about considering.”

Leaning up on my elbow, I say, “Well, you know what they say?”

“What’s that?”

“Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. In my experience, your mind can find peace if the enemy is in sight.”

Though I never knew where the guy who hurt me was buried, I knew he was dead and never coming back. That alone was the only thing that gave me peace. It still does. There are still bad people who carry out horrific acts in the world but since I’m yet to meet them, they don’t exist to me. Curling into my man, I don’t think about the past. I enjoy the next few moments when it’s just the two of us.

“Was there a reason you came home?”

“I can’t seem to remember.” He laughs. “Oh yeah, I needed to grab my power cord. I told the brothers I’d only be a minute.”

“It’s a good job you’re the president and can do what you like, then.”

“Damn fuckin’ right, baby.”

I love it when he calls me baby. He doesn’t do it often but when he does, it sends butterflies crazy in my stomach.

“I can’t wait to marry you, you know that, right?” I ask him.

“I know. I feel the same.”

Life in the light is addictive. I’m completely and utterly addicted to Leo Jackson and the happiness he brings me.

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