Page 30 of A New Era

I dare to sneak a glance at him and find him glaring at Zara. Which is replaced with a smirk when he snaps, “Fuck off then, don’t hang around on my account.”

She storms off without another vile word out of her mouth, but I find myself brimming with anger.

Leo’s lips press onto the top of my head, and he says, “I knew you had a wicked slap in you.”

Cringing, I curl into him and hide the embarrassment on my face from him.

“You saw?”

“Yep, and I’m glad I did.”

“I can’t believe I hit her. I haven’t hit anyone in my life, but she was saying the worst things.”

“Hey, own it, it’s certainly getting my dick hard.”

“Trust you to be thinking like that,” I say, leaning back to look up at him.

“I’m not just thinking about it, I’m gonna show you.”

He tugs on my hand, and I turn to say goodbye to Nina, but she’s already gone.

Leaning down, he throws me over his shoulder and walks into the house as a giggle escapes me. As soon as the door is shut and we’re across the room, I’m lowered down onto the couch, and he unzips his jeans. Popping the button open, he lowers his jeans and his dick springs free. Sitting up, I lean forward and take him into my mouth. Cupping his balls, I make quick work bringing him to orgasm with a suction built from a vacuum and a magic tongue driving him into a frenzy. I swallow every drop that pumps out of him and look up to see his thighs shaking and him falling onto the couch beside me.

“Give me a minute and I’ll repay the favour.”

I cuddle against him not bothered about the return, for now, and Zara fills my mind.

“Sometimes when I’m falling asleep, I imagine a life where I don’t wear my gloves. I walk around showing everyone my scars don’t bother me, but she was right…”

“Babe, you don’t need to imagine life like that.” He leans up and runs his finger down my cheek. “I swear to all that’s unholy, no one who matters notices your gloves. Every brother, every old lady, they all have something they wanna hide. Zara is a fuckin’ no one and always will be.”

I sit up and clutch my hand over my chest to relieve the pain that’s suddenly shooting across my heart. In the strangest way, it’s a good pain.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just… I hope I can one day see myself the way you do.”

Ever so softly, he kisses me, and I never want it to end.

“Until that day comes, I’ll hold you up. Always. You good now?”

I nod. “I’m fine.”

Tilting his head, his eyes narrow and he tells me, “From now on, those two words aren’t allowed to leave your mouth.”

I laugh. The lightness seeped through the dark thoughts.

“No? What will happen if they do?”

Pinching my chin, he grins. “I’ll just have to make sure your mouth’s too busy to say anything.”

Playfully slapping his arm, he pulls me back down to him and I roll on top of him.

* * *

Rayna runs into the house and Harper has to jog to keep up with her. Rayna shoots across the living room and throws her arms around me, resting her head against my stomach. Stroking her hair, I ask, “Did you have fun at Aunt Harper’s?”

“Yep, yep, yep. Where’s Daddy?”

---