46

As we moved together, Lea brought her arms up and clasped her hands in my hair, tugging slightly. I let out a soft moan against her ear and let my hands slide up her sides and arms as she slowly sank to the floor, turning her knees first to the right and then the left as she sank lower and lower. As she came back up, I ran my hands back down her arms, down her sides, and back to her waist, never taking my eyes off of the woman in my arms.
The way Lea had transformed from a girl that used anger and sarcasm to protect herself to this openly sensual and sexy woman had me mesmerized. And I wanted more of her. If I thought that I had fallen for Lea before, then I was fucked as hell now.
Lea raked her fingers softly down my arms and back up, spinning to face me once more. I let my hands roam her back and over her hips and back up to her hair as her hands worked their way over my chest and up to the back of my neck.
Kiss me.
I didn’t hesitate to oblige. I pulled Lea close as our bodies continued to move in sync with the beat of the song.
I kept the kiss soft, nipping at her lips, asking for entrance. She answered with a soft gasp followed by a moan. We both slowly explored the other ; our hands, our mouths, our tongues, touching and tasting one another. I couldn’t get enough of her. I tangled one of my hands in her hair and tilted her head back, deepening the kiss and smiled against her mouth as she sighed out.
As the song ended, we broke apart, both of us breathless. I leaned my forehead onto hers as I had done the first night I took her out and repeated the same words to her, Fuck, do you know what you do to me ?
She simply nodded and pulled her hair up and off her neck as I pulled her into my side and wrapped my arm around her waist and led her from the dance floor. Our guards kept their eyes lowered, avoiding our eyes, their cheeks all tainted red.
If we hadn’t been in the club, I would have been pissed at the way Lea had been dancing. And I would have been pissed at the looks she was receiving. However, as it was now, everyone knew that Lea was totally and completely off limits to them. And if they didn’t know it before, they now knew that if anyone of them caused or allowed anything to happen to her, they would have to answer directly to me.
I pushed the door to the dining room open and raised an eyebrow as everyone turned from the glass enclosure overlooking the dance floor. They briefly met our eyes before ducking their heads and scrambling back to their tables, small smiles lighting each of their faces.
Looks like you have some admirers, I whispered into Lea’s ear as she stopped and groaned beside me. I pressed a kiss into the side of her hair and tugged on her hand, Come on, you need to re-hydrate.
Eva walked up behind us and let out a low whistle as she laid a hand on Lea’s should, Damn girl. You were fucking hot as shit out there.
Thanks, I think, Lea mumbled as Eva walked to her table and picked up her drink.
We made our way back to our table and Jenny brought out two fresh glasses of water. Nice moves Ms. Lea.
Thanks Jenny. Lea’s blush deepened.
Lea took a few sips of water as she looked around the room.
Why do they keep looking our way ?
I glanced up and smirked as most of the the room hurriedly turned back toward each other, talking animatedly among themselves.
Because of you Lea. Darrell took the seat he had before.
Why because of me ? Lea had reached for my hand and was playing with my fingers, something that I was quickly learning to enjoy.
Darrell looked to me before turning back to Lea.
Because, even when you are being a total pain in our asses, your sassy attitude and defiant nature brings a lightness to the house that didn’t exist before. You have shown them that there is hope where there use to be none.
I stayed quiet as Darrell continued, Before you came along, no one got to see the human side of Carter, Lea. All they ever saw was the same side of him that you saw that night outside the diner, someone that didn’t feel anything but hardness and coldness. In their eyes, you complete him Lea, you balance him out. For that, you have earned their resepect.
Darrell stood to leave, Carter may think that you are his greatest weakness, but in fact, you Lea, you are his greatest strength. The people here in this room, we would all lay down our lives for you, just as we would lay down our lives for him. That is why they keep looking at you.
I had been watching Lea as Darrell spoke, every word coming from him was the truth. I reached over and wiped a tear that had spilled out of her glistening eyes.
None of that. I spoke softly as Lea grasped my hand and held it in hers, pressing the back of it to her lips.
She drew in a shaky breath and let it out slowly, releasing my hand to wipe under her eyes. I stood and pushed back from the table holding my hand out to Lea.
Come, let’s go home.
We drove most of the way back to the house in silence. I had my hand in Lea’s lap, our fingers intertwined, my thumb making small circles on the side of her hand.
Lea was facing away from me, looking out the window as I drove. I knew she was thinking over Darrell’s words. I could see the conflicting emotions she had for me passing through her eyes as he had spoken. I hadn’t known he was going to say any of that. But that was just Darrell, always the insightful one.
Is what he said true ? Lea’s soft voice broke the silence.
I didn’t hesitate, Yes.
I turned onto the exit that would take us to the house as silence once again filled the car. It wasn’t uncomfortable. I knew Lea needed the time to think, to sort through how she was feeling.
We pulled into the showroom garage a little while later. I switched the car off and turned to face Lea.
Lea, I reached over and gently cupped her chin, keeping my voice soft. Look at me.
Lea turned toward me, her tear stained face causing my heart to fall. I carefully wiped under her eyes and pushed back her hair.
Talk to me Lea.
She shook her head and reached for the door handle. I dropped my hand and made my way out of the car. Lynx would secure it and put it in its place.
Lea reached for my hand as we made our way into the house, our guards silently walking close behind. I pulled her into me, savoring her touch.
As we entered the hall to our rooms, Lea stopped, her eyes flitting between her room and mine. She had stayed in my room only the one night that we had been followed.
You should go get some rest Lea. I tugged her toward her door.
As much as I wanted her to be near me, I knew she was struggling to keep herself together, struggling to come to terms with her feelings for me. I knew Darrell’s words had affected her, but until that moment, I didn’t exactly know how much so.
Can I stay with you tonight ?
Have you told anyone else about this ? I needed to keep this quiet, to keep whoever the mole was from knowing that we knew they had hacked our system.
No. I called you as soon as I was certain of what had happened.
Good. I want you to keep it quiet. No one else needs to know about this. Keep working on finding the bastard and get me a list of who was and wasn’t in the house on the days in question. Got it.
On it Boss.
And Tony, I looked the man over as I spoke, meeting his brown eyes with my cold steel ones, you do know what will happen if I find out you’re fucking with me, yes ?
Yes, Boss. I do.
I turned and left Tony as he sat back at the computer. This was bad, very bad.