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As Leo drives away from Rachel’s house, he can’t help but smirk to himself at the fiery exchange they just had. Despite her defiance, he can see the desire in her eyes, and he knows that he has a similar yearning for her. He tries to shake the thoughts from his mind as he drives, but they linger like an unwanted companion.
He pulls into his driveway and walks into his house, stripping off his clothes as he heads to the shower. The cold water beats down on his body, but it does little to calm the storm of desire raging within him. He can still feel the heat from her lips on his, and the thought of her sends shivers down his spine.
Leo tries to distract himself, but the image of Rachel keeps creeping back into his mind. He knows that she is playing a dangerous game, trying to resist him and push him away, but he won’t let her win. He won’t be deterred from what he wants, and he won’t let her go without a fight.
With a determined grin on his face, Leo steps out of the shower, determined to make Rachel his once and for all. He knows that the battle for her heart will not be won easily, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. The thought of finally having her in his arms, surrendering to his touch, is enough to make his heart race and his desire soar.
He dries off and heads to bed, but sleep eludes him. Instead, he lies there, lost in thought and consumed by the thrill of the chase. As the night wears on, he is filled with a sense of anticipation, knowing that their game of cat and mouse is far from over. And with that, he drifts off to sleep, a smile on his face, ready to take on whatever challenges may come his way in the pursuit of the one he wants.
Leo rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he made his way down to the dining room for breakfast. His mother was already seated at the table, sipping on her coffee and reading the morning news.
“Good morning, Mother,” Leo greeted her, kissing her cheek before sitting down at the table.
“Good morning, my dear,” she replied with a warm smile. “You seem to be in a good mood today.”
Leo couldn’t help but grin as he thought of Rachel. “Yes, I suppose I am,” he said, reaching for the coffee pot.
His mother raised an eyebrow, setting her newspaper aside. “And may I ask why?”
Leo shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know, just feeling good I guess.”
His mother’s expression softened as she studied him. “It’s because of Rachel, isn’t it?”
Leo sighed, knowing there was no use trying to hide it from his mother. “Yes, I suppose it is,” he admitted. “She’s finally starting to open up to me and it feels like we’re making progress.”
His mother smiled, reaching across the table to pat his hand. “I’m so happy for you, Leo. Rachel is a wonderful girl and I know she’ll make you very happy.”
Leo finished his breakfast and headed to the office, his mind filled with thoughts of Rachel. The day passed by quickly, filled with meetings and conference calls, but all he could think about was seeing Rachel again.
Later that evening, the company was hosting a celebration for one of their board members. The party was in full swing, with laughter and conversation filling the air. Leo searched the room for Rachel, finally spotting her deep in conversation with a man he didn’t recognize.
He made a mental note to ask her about the man later, knowing that it would give him an excuse to talk to her.
***
Rachel was feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as she finished up her work for the day. She had been eagerly awaiting the chance to meet with the informant who claimed to have information about her father’s accident. The day had been dragging on, and she found herself counting down the minutes until she could finally make her way to the meeting.
Just as she was getting ready to leave the office, she received a message from an unknown sender. The message stated that their meeting would have to be rescheduled, and Rachel’s heart sank. She felt as though she had been so close to finally getting some answers about her father’s death, and now she would have to wait even longer.
Rachel was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice Leo approaching her in the cafeteria. She had been sketching in her notebook, trying to take her mind off the disappointment of the rescheduled meeting, and she was so focused that she didn’t hear his footsteps.
As Leo came up behind her, Rachel quickly tried to hide the sketches in her notebook, but he was too quick. He picked her up and sat her down on his lap, much to the amusement of their coworkers who were watching. Rachel felt a flush of embarrassment wash over her, as she was not used to public displays of affection.
“Leo, what are you doing?” she hissed, trying to keep her voice down.
Leo just chuckled and brushed her hair back from her face. “I just wanted to be close to you,” he said, his voice low and husky.
Rachel couldn’t help but feel a warm feeling in her chest, despite her embarrassment. She was torn between wanting to push him away and wanting to stay in his embrace forever. She looked around the cafeteria, feeling self-conscious as all the staff members watched their interaction.
“We should probably stop this,” she whispered, trying to pull away.
Leo tightened his grip on her, not letting her go. “Why? Everyone here knows that we’re together now,” he said, his eyes shining with amusement.
Rachel felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She didn’t want everyone at work to know about their relationship, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart fluttered at the thought of being with Leo.
As Rachel and Leo sat there in the crowded cafeteria, with her sitting on his lap, she couldn’t help but feel both embarrassed and pleased at the same time. All eyes were on them and she was sure that everyone was speculating about their relationship, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort and security in Leo’s arms.
“So, who was that man you were talking to at the party last week?” Leo asked, breaking the silence.
Rachel sighed and leaned back against Leo’s chest. “He’s an agent from a fashion competition. He’s interested in my designs and wants me to pitch in for the competition,” she replied, her voice filled with excitement and hope.
Leo’s eyes lit up. “That’s fantastic, Rachel. I always knew you had talent, and it’s great to see it finally being recognized.”
Rachel smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. “Thank you, Leo. I’m so glad you believe in me.”
“Of course I do,” Leo replied, his voice warm and reassuring. “I believe in you more than you believe in yourself.”
Rachel was taken aback by his words. She had always felt like an outsider in the fashion industry, always second-guessing her abilities and feeling like she wasn’t good enough. But with Leo’s support and encouragement, she felt like she could take on the world.
Rachel felt her body relax as she heard Leo’s encouraging words, she was taken aback by the prospect of finally having the chance to showcase her designs to the world. She felt her heart swell with hope and her mind buzz with excitement at the thought of finally getting the recognition she deserved. She was so caught up in the moment that she forgot that she was still sitting on Leo’s lap, but as she tried to get up, she felt his strong arms tighten around her, holding her in place.