His words triggered something deep within me, something I hadn’t felt in all my years as a warrior. I had trained alongside the best in Carlo’s pack, fighting until my body was battered, bruised, and spent. Yet his words held a power that went beyond any physical strain I’d endured. They made my knees weaken, revealing the undeniable truth in every syllable he uttered.
Leonardo had always been brutally honest. He never bothered with comforting lies or softened truths. He spoke his mind without a second thought, a quality I’d come to respect even when it stung. And so, as my fingers traced the strong line of his neck, skimming over the vein that pulsed beneath his skin, I couldn’t stop the soft laugh that escaped me. I felt like a foolish, love-struck teenager, giddy and unguarded.
In that instant, I was struck by an unexpected wave of happiness. Here I was, in an unfamiliar realm, standing in a room that likely belonged to an enemy court. But none of that mattered, because with Leonardo, I felt stronger than ever. He was the cliff that kept the storming waves at bay, the anchor keeping me from being swept away.
His breath, cool and mint-sweet, brushed against my skin as he leaned closer, his storm-grey eyes widening with realization. For the first time, I had initiated this moment. It was my hand that reached for him, my touch that sought his. As he bent to my height, his arm locked firmly around my waist, holding me steady when my knees threatened to give out.
Our lips met, and for a blissful moment, I forgot everything. The snowflakes drifting down from the vaulted ceiling, the perilous court we found ourselves in, even the short nightgown I wore-all of it faded to nothing as he pulled me into his embrace. Only when my lungs began to burn did I pull away, desperate for air, though part of me wanted to stay lost in him a while longer. My lungs, annoyingly enough, seemed to disagree.
Leonardo’s gaze held something more than awe; his fingers cradled my face with a gentleness that belied his strength. “Love isn’t strong enough to capture what I feel for you, kitten,” he murmured, his voice so low I almost thought I imagined it. “I only hope that one day, you’ll feel the same.”
If only he knew, I thought, feeling the inevitability of my growing feelings for him. We were two forces on a collision course, and nothing would stop us from crashing together. “It’s snowing,” I laughed, looking around as the soft flakes melted on my warm skin. “Is this your doing?”
Flakes drifted down, catching in my hair and pooling on my shoulders. I could feel them melting against my skin, dampening my hair as they fell. Leonardo’s mouth curved into a wry smile. “It seems I’m not the only one who struggles with control,” he replied, his arm tightening around me, his fingers tracing a feather-light line along my lower back.
A dark glimmer filled his eyes, turning his gaze from icy grey to the storm-grey of gathering clouds. His voice dipped, a raw huskiness coloring his words. “It seems the Fae realm agrees with me.”
“Already back to your old self?” I shot back, though my voice wavered slightly as his fingers lingered. The flash of a wicked grin tugged at his lips, and I could feel the playful tension building between us, a spark that hadn’t existed in quite this way before.
“Deny it if you like, but I think you’re beginning to appreciate my usual self,” he murmured, his mouth grazing my neck. His lips were a curious mix of warmth and cold, making my breath hitch and echo in the still room. I felt the rumble of his laughter, imagining just how flushed my face must look.
“Now,” he whispered, his gravelly voice low and seductive, “do we continue this… or would you rather I tell you what happened while you slept?” His tone turned serious, a smirk lingering as he added, “As always, the choice is yours, kitten.”
It was hard to ignore the pull of his offer, his voice weaving a spell over me that left my wolf practically purring in response. But I wasn’t about to lose all sense of myself, not when I still needed answers. I took a shaky step back, feeling the edge of the bed press into my thighs. As I settled onto the soft surface, I could see the raw hunger in Leonardo’s eyes-a depth I hadn’t fully grasped before.
“Tell me,” I said, barely able to keep my voice steady as I pressed my thighs together, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way my body responded to him. “Tell me everything that’s happened since I was unconscious… and don’t leave out a single detail.”