I try hiding my face in embarrassment, but Leo catches my hands in his. “Hey, remember the weirdo in the elevator who was popping wood in nothin’ but his skivvies?”
A very unladylike giggle bursts out, which makes him laugh. Suddenly, it’s not awkward. No, but it’s definitely warmer in this laundry room.
He’s still holding my hands. His white T-shirt is stretched thin across his broad chest and shoulders. The moment fills with tension as he licks his lips, those dark eyes bouncing between my eyes and my mouth. Is he unsure I want this? Or is he unsure he wants to kiss me?
Leo’s thumb gently moves across my skin, and I decide to shoot my shot.
“Will you kiss me already?”
His smile curves wide across his face. The shy, boyish grin is replaced with beaming white teeth, and that’s my last thought as his mouth seeks mine. Southern gentleman he might be, but his mouth is a filthy beast. I’ve never kissed a man with a beard before, and I’ve decided I love it. His brown whiskers are soft but punishing as he deepens our kiss, running his fingers into my hair and taking complete control.
My hands find his waist and pull him flush to me. I feel what he was showing off in the elevator. He’s hard again. Or still. Have I ever affected a man like this before? After mentally searching my awful track record, that is a resounding no, and the thought pumps me up, like the old man who coached Rocky Balboa.
I push my mouth hard against his, but he doesn’t lose footing like I hoped. Instead, his grip tightens in my hair. The intense hunger of this kiss makes me moan. I’m used to taking control, but Leo is showing me things I didn’t realize I liked. His tongue tastes sweet, like chocolate, and it vibrates with his own moan in my mouth when I grab his cock through his sweat pants. In a sudden motion, he manhandles me against the door, his strong body pressing me flat as he melts into me. Each movement of his sinful mouth is slow and skilled, his lips pillow soft.
“I should be ashamed of myself,” he says, moving his hands around my hips.
I shake my head. “Don’t be. You’re still a gentleman if you make the lady come.”
I laugh as the crude words hit him. A pure blazing inferno erupts in his eyes at my permission, and I bite my lip in anticipation. Something about teasing this bull is more fun than I’ve ever had in my straight-laced, always-by-the-book life.
CHAPTERFOUR
Leo
Just as my hand creeps between the folds of the Christmas robe Olive is wearing, there is a pounding on my door. I reluctantly break our kiss, groaning as I run my nose on the bridge of hers. We’re both breathing hard, our bodies yearning to stay close and just tell the person at the door to fuck off, but I can’t do that. That’s fuckin rude.
“I’ll be right back.”
She nods, pressing her fingers to her lips. The lipstick she was wearing, now washed off, has been replaced with red, rubbed raw from my kiss. How sick is it that I love the sight? Only makes me long to claim her, as if it’s only one mark and now she needs the other. The one I’ll spray deep inside her as I hold her to me, my teeth to her skin. Fuck, this woman deserves a lot better than laundry room wall sex.
Damn it, Leo. You’re better than this. She’s someone’s daughter—like my Penelope. Nothing like thinking about my daughter to help calm me down. I head to the door, finding Fitzy waiting with Blakley.
“I need you, Leo. It’s for a good cause, I swear. Not at all to fund my trip to Greece next month.” She winks, but I can’t help but laugh.
I know it’s not, and the fact she would lie is just funny. Fitzy is beyond charitable, and I know this because I’ve often helped her on her many crusades for a good cause—whether it was putting quarters in every Aldi’s cart, or taking in all the carts for Target so the employees could keep helping customers and not have to worry about it. Those were her words. And that’s why, if she ever needs anything, I help. There’s always a charity benefiting from her crazy antics. So as much as I’d rather be in my laundry room, I nod and agree to help Fitzy.
“I’ll be down in just a few.”
Blackley hands me a dry Santa suit, and I give my thanks. Fitzy tries to look inside my condo before leaving, but I step in and close the door. Laughing, I make my way back to Olive.
“Hey.”
“Hey. I heard.”
I love that she sounds as disappointed as I feel.
“I’m sorry. I’d much rather be here with you.”
She blushes and nods. “Me too.”
“Will you win me?”
“What?”
“I have a somewhat crazy idea, but hear me out.”
“Okay.” She nods cautiously.