Page 84 of Raising Love
Before I could fully process it, he closed the space between us. His hand cupped my chin, gently turning my face to meet his gaze.
His eyes were locked on mine, softer than I’d ever seen them, but still carrying a playful glint. Yet, beneath that playfulness, there was something serious.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I’m so sorry for how I acted last month after we got physical. It was childish and stupid. I couldn’t make sense of what was happening between us, and I didn’t want to fuck anything up if we continued to take things further.”
“And what’s happening now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I glanced between him and the roses on the dresser. “What’s all of this?”
Leo licked his lips slowly, his expression growing more resolute.
“You being here, cooking…” I gestured toward the Lego roses. “Filling my room with these. What’s happening right now?”
“I caught feelings for you, Ivy,” he admitted. “Big feelings. Colossal.”
My brows shot up.
“I caught feelings for you that I never knew were there until we uncovered them.” He took both my hands in his, stepping even closer. “I didn’t know how to process what happened between us the first night. But when I couldn’t stop thinking about you—even when I tried to hang out with Vanessa the way we used to—I realized that night wasn’t just a hookup. It meant something.”
I swallowed hard, nodding as he continued.
“That was just a hunch until the second time. That time… things felt different for me. Real.”
“They felt different for me too,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “And I haven’t been able to figure out why. We’ve known each other for years, Leo, and not once have we seen each other like that. I don’t know. Maybe it’s all this stuff we’ve been through together these past few months.”
“But what if it’s not?” His thumb gently stroked the back of my hand. “What if it’s something more? Something real? Something we didn’t notice before because we didn’t allow ourselves to?”
I shook my head, glancing away, overwhelmed by the weight of his words.
“It’s crazy, I know.” He chuckled softly. “It feels crazy to me too. But it feels right at the same time.”
I studied him, my heart racing as I watched the rise and fall of his chest.
This was unreal.
Leo and I had been opposites from the start. We wouldn’t have even been friends if not for our mutual friends. But now… now it was like we couldn’t ignore whatever was building between us.
His gaze dropped to my lips, and I scoffed. “Why are you looking at me like you want to kiss me?”
He cradled my face with both hands, his touch warm and steady.
“Because I wanna kiss you,” he said.
“An interested Leo seems to be a more honest and forthcoming Leo.” A smile tugged at my lips. “I’m not used to that.”
His fingers brushed along the edge of my jaw, then buried themselves in my hair. His simple, “Mm-hmm,” was all the warning I got before his lips claimed mine.
I exhaled sharply against him, my body instinctively closing the distance between us. My hands ran up his back, my fingertips pressing into his warm skin as he lowered his tall frame to deepen the kiss.
In one fluid motion, I was in his arms, and a second later, he was walking me to the bed.
It didn’t take long for us to shed layers, our movements eager but deliberate. His hands moved quickly, helping me out of my tee and jeans before stripping out of his own clothes with just as much urgency.
When he stood at the foot of the bed, sliding his boxers down, I couldn’t resist crawling toward him. My hands wrapped around his dick, and without hesitation, I lowered my mouth to the tip, tasting him.
“Shit,” he groaned, his voice husky and weighted with need. “Damn.”
The way he stiffened against the roof of my mouth sent a rush of heat through me. Slowly, I worked him, sucking him in and letting him slide out with intentional tension. His hand found its way to my hair, holding my strands in a firm but gentle grasp.
“Fuck,” he whispered, his breath hitching. His head dropped back, and he gave up trying to stifle his groans. “What can’t you do, baby? Mmm…”
