Page 20 of Beyond the Facade
“Nope.”
I stayed with Andrew in his bedroom until his friends arrived. When dinner was ready, we all ate together.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t sleep. After so much tossing and turning, I got dressed and headed to Leonardo’s house.
When the cab stops in front of his townhouse, I step out feeling a little stupid. It’s almost midnight. What if he’s not home?
The night is chilly, and the sky is cloudy like it’s about to rain. I wrap my arms around myself, praying that he’s home, as I head to his front door.
Before I ring the doorbell, the front door swings open, and Leonardo is standing there shirtless, his hair disheveled like he had been running his fingers through it. From the look of it, he hasn’t been able to get any sleep either. Or does he have company?
The intensity of the wind increases, whipping against my skin and causing my hair to fly around.“You shouldn’t be out in the cold,” he groans, pulling me inside.
I let out a breath as the warmth of his living room envelopes me. He walks over to his couch, picks up a throw blanket, and drapes it around my shoulders.
“I’ll make you a coffee,” he says, now walking toward his kitchen.
“I don’t want coffee,” I say, stopping him in his tracks. “I want to know what this is. Why won’t you let me be? Why are you insistent on having me? I’m not a toy or some property you can acquire.”
“And I already told you I don’t see you as a toy.” He turns to face me.
“Then what is it that you want? I need to know. We started off on business, and I need to know if this is still business for you. What exactly is it that you want from me?”
“I want you to be mine, Kaitlin. Not because I want to acquire you, but...” he trails off, swearing under his breath. “You want to know if this is business for me? No, it’s not. This isn’t business. I care about you, Kaitlin, way more than I’d like to admit. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else, and…” He inhales deeply, pulling his fingers through his hair.
I feel a strange mixture of relief, fear, and hope. I feel relief because I now know his intentions are sincere, and I feel fear because letting him into my heart terrifies me.
“You’re all I think about; you’re always in my thoughts. So, no. It’s. Not. Business. For. Me.” With each word, he closes the gap between us, making us stand so close I can feel the warmth of his breath on my face. The intensity in his eyes is almost overwhelming. I’ve never seen him so raw, so open.
“Leonardo,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
He reaches out, gently cupping my face in his hands. His touch is warm and reassuring, grounding me in the moment. “I care about you, Kaitlin,” he says, looking into my eyes.
Without thinking, I stand on my toes, throw my arms around his neck, and pull him down for a kiss. The moment our lips meet, a jolt of electricity courses through me, igniting every nerve ending. His lips move against mine with a gentle urgency.
I taste the faint hint of coffee on his breath, mingling with the warmth of his mouth, creating an intoxicating blend that leaves me breathless. His hands slide around my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. I thread my fingers through his hair, my body slowly melting against his with each kiss.
His kiss becomes hungry, like he’s trapped in a desert, and I’m his only chance at being saved. A soft gasp escapes my lips as Leonardo hooks my legs around his waist, carrying me out of the room without breaking our kiss.
When we reach his room, he kicks the door shut behind us, setting me down just long enough to help me out of my dress. Our breaths are ragged, feverish gasps. Our movements are frantic, almost desperate, as we undress each other. My dress slides off my shoulders and pools at my feet.
I run my hands along the chiseled perfection of his torso. His skin is warm and smooth under my fingers, every muscle defined and sculpted as if by an artist’s hand. He pauses for a moment to take me in, his eyes dark with desire, and then he closes the distance between us again, his hands roaming my body.
He lifts me onto the bed, the soft sheets cool against my heated skin. I lie back, watching him as he quickly sheds his sweatpants, his movements swift. Leonardo joins me on the bed, his body covering mine, and the heat of him is intoxicating. His mouth finds mine in a fierce, hungry kiss, and I arch into him, needing more, craving the connection that only he can provide.
His hands travel down my body, caressing every curve, igniting a fire deep within me. He positions himself above me, and I feel the anticipation coil tightly in my core. His gaze locks onto mine, intense and unyielding, as he enters me slowly, the sensation exquisite and overwhelming.
We move together in a primal and perfect rhythm, a seamless dance of passion and longing. Each thrust, each caress, brings us closer to the edge, the world outside disappearing as we lose ourselves in each other.
The intensity builds, pleasure and desire that leaves us breathless and desperate for more.
Our bodies move in perfect harmony, every touch and kiss driving us higher.
In this moment, I realize our connection is undeniable, something powerful and profound that transcends the physical.
Chapter 12
Leonardo