Page 67 of Dark Bonds

Yeah, we’re pretty different. My brain’s always working overtime, while Leo just goes with his gut. I’m the quiet one, and he’s the life of the party. Somehow, it just works.

“Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t both come to Shadow Locke? The alternate timelines and paths not taken?” I ask.

Leo’s brow furrows slightly, a rare moment of seriousness crossing his features. “Sometimes, but then I think about everything we’ve been through here, and everything we’ve discovered about ourselves and each other, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. It’s like it was meant to be, you know?”

I think about the night we first met and how something just clicked between us, and then I think about Frankie and the connection we both feel with her. The variables in our equation suddenly multiplied.

“And where does Frankie fit into all this?” I ask, finally giving voice to the question that’s been gnawing at me for weeks.

Leo’s eyes light up at the mention of her, his usual playful demeanor returning. “Frankie,” he says, his voice filled with affection and concern. “She’s something special, isn’t she?”

“She is,” I agree, feeling a surge of protectiveness. “But she’s been through so much. Sometimes I wonder if we’re doing the right thing by pulling her into all of this. The potential outcomes are… daunting.”

Leo sits up, his expression serious but still carrying that underlying warmth. “We’re not pulling her into anything, Matteo. She’s at the center of it all, whether we like it or not. The best we can do is be there for her and support her. Sometimes, even you have to let go of the calculations and just feel.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. “It’s just… I’ve always been taught to plan, but with Frankie and everything that’s happening, it feels like we’re flying blind. The data set is incomplete.”

Leo’s hand finds mine, his touch grounding me. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Sometimes you need to trust your instincts and go with your heart. That’s how I ended up with you, after all,” he adds with a wink. “Best impulsive decision I ever made.”

I look at him, the man who’s become my partner in every sense of the word. “Is that what you did with me?” I ask, a rare moment of vulnerability seeping through my usually composed exterior. “Just… went with your heart?”

His smile is soft and full of love. “Every single day,” he says, leaning in to kiss me.

As our lips collide, a familiar warmth ignites within me, threatening to consume my entire being. The kiss intensifies, and I am in awe of how Leo can simultaneously make me feel secure and electrified. With every breath, I dissect the sensations, reveling in the plushness of his lips, savoring his taste like it’s the elixir of life, and relishing the way my heart races with every touch.

Our bodies meld together, generating an inferno of heat between us. My hands roam hungrily over Leo’s sculpted physique, tracing each ripple of muscle. In response, he emitsa throaty moan that sends a jolt of desire down my spine. His fingers tangle in my hair possessively, pulling me farther into his molten embrace.

“Matteo,” Leo murmurs against my lips, his voice husky with desire. “I want you. Gods, I want you so much it hurts.”

I pull back slightly, meeting his gaze. My voice drops lower, taking on a more commanding tone. “Tell me what you need, Leo. I want to give you everything.”

Leo’s eyes darken with desire, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. “Why don’t you put that big brain of yours to work and figure it out, Mr. Mastermind?” he teases, always pushing my boundaries.

Brat.

I raise an eyebrow, accepting his challenge. “Very well. I predict that if I do this…” I trail my fingers down his body, noting each shiver and gasp. “And this…” I wrap my hand around his cock, applying precise, calculated pressure. “You’ll be begging me within two minutes.”

Leo’s breath hitches, but his grin widens. “Bold claim. Care to test that hypothesis?”

“With pleasure,” I growl, my controlled demeanor slipping as I slink down his body and devour him.

I taste the sharp tang of salt as I eagerly take him deep inside my mouth, savoring the sensation of his thick tip hitting the back of my throat. Leo’s hips arch off the bed, and I push him down, lapping at every inch of him with fervent hunger. My entire being is consumed by the taste and feel of him, and wild desire takes over as I devour him with reckless abandon.

Leo’s fingers tangle in my hair, gripping tightly as I work him with my mouth. His breathing grows ragged, interspersed with low moans that send shivers down my spine. I can feel him trembling beneath me, fighting to maintain control.

“Matteo,” he gasps, his voice strained. “Oh God, Matteo, please…”

I glance up at him, noting the flush spreading across his chest and the way his head is thrown back in ecstasy. My internal clock tells me it’s only been one minute and thirty-seven seconds. I smirk around his length, doubling my efforts.

Leo’s hips buck wildly, and I have to hold him down. “Please,” he whimpers. “I need… I need…”

“What do you need, Leo?” I ask, pulling off him with an obscene pop. “Tell me.”

“You,” he moans. “Inside me. Now. Please, Matteo, I’m begging you.”

I grin triumphantly, pressing a kiss to his inner thigh. “One minute and fifty-two seconds. I win.”

Leo lets out a breathless laugh. “You and your damn calculations,” he says, his eyes dark with desire. “Now are you going to claim your prize or what?”

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