Leo (Vigilance 3)

I summoned the nerve to glance over at him. He was watching me with hungry eyes. I almost went to my knees for him right there. I was sure he’d take total control in bed, and part of me wanted that desperately.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Leo took my hand in his, and the way he touched me was gentler than it had been before. He laced our fingers together and led me down the hall toward his apartment. The heat from his hand seemed to run up my arm and into my chest. Suddenly, I knew I would do anything he asked of me.

We stopped in front of his door, and he studied our surroundings.

“Do you think—”

He held a finger to his lips, then pointed to his ear. I listened carefully, but all I heard was laughter coming from the apartment across the hall and a buzzing sound from the lights overhead. Leo slid his key into the lock and gently pushed me behind him like he had at the shop.

I wanted to press myself to his back to feel that solid wall of muscle against my body, but I knew he needed to concentrate. After we moved slowly through each room, I saw his shoulders relax and heard him exhale.

“It’s clear.”

“Did you think someone was here?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t hear anything or see any evidence that someone had entered, but I never make assumptions. At least I know better than to do that. It always gets me into trouble.”

Like the assumption I was making that he would protect me? He took my coat and hung it next to his by the door.

“You’re safe with me,” he said, brushing my hair off my forehead. There was heat in his eyes but something softer too. How could I look at him and not believe him? I’d wanted this man for so long. I never thought he’d show any interest in me, never thought…

He trailed the backs of his fingers down my cheek, along my neck, and skimmed them over my collarbone. “You’re staying here with me. That’s nonnegotiable, but if you don’t want me to touch you, tell me now. I want to do so many filthy things to you, and I need to be the one in charge. But only if you want to.”

I licked my lips as I stared into his eyes. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”

“Do you understand what I want from you?”

“I don’t think you’ll hurt me.”

He smiled, but it was the way a lion might smile at a gazelle. “If you let me take control, I promise you’ll feel more pleasure than you ever have. I want to make you feel incredible.”

I shivered. He was all my fantasies come to life. I gave into my urge to drop to my knees. As I looked up at him, he cupped my chin and rubbed his thumb over my lips. I opened and sucked his thumb into my mouth, letting my teeth scrape over the rough pad.

His eyes went wide. “You’re not as innocent as you look.” He must’ve seen something in my expression because he pulled his hand back and took hold of each of mine. “Are you?”

I looked away as heat rushed to my face. “I’ve done… some things.”

“Are you a virgin, Ezra?”

“If I say yes, will you stop? Will you send me away?”

“I already told you you’re staying here.”

“But will you…”

He hesitated, and I squeezed my eyes closed.

“Sweetheart, I’m no good for you. I don’t know if I can be gentle. I don’t know if I can—”

“I don’t want gentle. Every time I imagine…” My cheeks were burning, and I was sure they were bright red. How could I tell him that a big, dominant, older man was exactly what I fantasized about? “I don’t want a nice, quiet man.”

“You should.”

Anger flared. I was tired of other people thinking they knew who I should be with or what I should do. That was the reason I’d left school and started on my own path. “Don’t tell me what I should want.”

He took a slow breath, then dropped to his knees in front of me. “You’re right. Tell me about your fantasies.”

“This. You.”

“Be more specific. What do you want from me?”

“I…”

He slid a hand into my hair and pulled me down so he could kiss me softly. He was wrong. He knew exactly how to be gentle if he wanted to be.

“Tell me.”

My voice shook, but I found the courage to say the words. “I want you to fuck me. I want you to take me any way you want to. I want to submit to you.”

He smiled and rose to his feet, tugging on my hands until I stood as well.

He held the side of my neck with one hand and pressed the other flat against my chest, slowly sliding it down my body. I sucked in my breath as he rubbed his palm over my hard cock, squeezing me gently and teasing the head. My cock pushed against my pants, begging to be freed.