“On what?” She shifts her gaze down to the fingers she has pressed against my chest. “Leo, I need to know if you’re just going to walk away again the moment they leave. You can go on all you want about how none of this is a choice, but you made it a choice this morning when you decided to end things. I don’t care how noble your reasons were.”

  “Things have changed,” I tell her.

  “And what happens when they change again? When the reporters aren’t an immediate concern?”

  I don’t think she comprehends how long they will be a concern, that the media isn’t something that can be switched on and off like a faucet.

  “You’re here because you feel responsible,” she continues. “But you’re a prince, Leo. We live in completely different worlds.”

  “That doesn’t matter to me.”

  “But it matters to me. I love my job, Leo. I have things I want to do in this world. I can’t sacrifice my career for something that can only ever be a temporary distraction.”

  “I’ve already told you this isn’t a temporary distraction for me,” I say, growing frustrated.

  “It can’t be anything else. Leo, you live on a different continent. And even if you have the money to visit me whenever you like, you’ll still have responsibilities. I’ll still have responsibilities, assuming I manage to find a job after this is over.” Her fingers curl slightly against my chest, and she finally looks up at me again. There’s no anger in her eyes—only a sadness, a tenderness that I feel deep in my bones. “This was never, ever going to last, Leo. And I can’t let myself fall in any deeper.”

  I’m already in too deep. There’s no stopping it now, no halting the course of things. I haven’t let myself think about the future—I never do. Why should I? The world changes around us constantly. This morning, I thought I could leave Elle. Now, I have no intention of doing anything but staying with her for as long as circumstances allow.

  Soon, I will have to think about how I will handle Andrew—and my father. But there is no reason for us to concern ourselves with potential future responsibilities that don’t even exist yet. We don’t know what will happen in the coming days. I only know that nothing she can say will make me leave her now.

  “Leo,” she says softly, and her head falls forward, her forehead coming to rest against my chest. “Leo, I’m not sure I can put myself through that.”

  Her breath is warm against my chest, and gooseflesh ripples across my skin. My body has started to come alive again, aroused by her nearness.

  I let my hand slide into her hair. “I won’t leave you.”

  “You have to.”

  “No, I don’t. And I won’t. I refuse to make any decisions based on your unfounded fears about the future.”

  She lifts her head. “They’re not unfounded. How exactly do you suggest we make this work?”

  “There will be time to address any issues as they arise,” I tell her. “There’s no point in speculating about challenges we have yet to understand.”

  She presses her lips together. She must be running out of excuses, and her eyes glisten slightly as she pulls back. She doesn’t cry, though, and her hands remain on my chest.

  “Part of me wants to believe you,” she says. “But I’ve made too many errors of judgment around you already. I’m not one of those silly, naive girls who believes that I’m different. That I’m the one magical woman who can change you and cure you of your womanizing ways. That’s not how this world works. And it’s definitely not how my world works.”

  “Elle, you are different,” I insist.

  I can see in her eyes that she still doesn’t believe me. That she’s still determined to drive a wedge between us, to push me away before we’re drawn deeper into this madness. I thought I made it clear that it’s too late for me, that I’m beyond hope. But perhaps I need to make some grand gesture before she’ll accept the truth. I want to be with her, and I want the whole world to know it.

  I don’t think. Right now, there’s no thought for potential consequences. No concern for how my father or my older brother or the rest of the world might react. I care about one thing and one thing only—showing Elle that I will most definitely not be going anywhere.

  I yank her the rest of the way toward me, capturing her mouth in a kiss before she even has the chance to make a sound of surprise. She stiffens for the briefest of moments, then melts against me, kissing me with a passion that matches my own. Her response only encourages me. She may try to drive me away with her words, but it’s clear from the reaction of her body that her need goes just as deep as mine.

  Perhaps this is enough. Perhaps joining in passion again will make her see that this thing between us cannot be denied. But I suspect I need to do something more.

  Without breaking the kiss, I twist her slightly. One of my hands presses deeper into her back, while the other slips away and finds the handle to the door. I give it a quick twist, then kick out with my leg and send the door flying open.

  Exposing us completely to the paparazzi outside.

  Elle

  He slides his tongue deep into my mouth, and I swear every part of me melts. His hand presses against my back, pulling me impossibly close, and our bodies meld together again. It’s like he’s made for me, how perfectly our bodies fit together. There’s something about when he takes control that makes me lose my inhibitions—makes me lose all sense of reason. It’s like I’m transported to a different place, and I’m not one hundred percent sure I like losing control like this. This is how I get into trouble—when I leave reason at the door, things never end well.

  He pulls my hand into his, moving it to his bare ass. He stiffens slightly and breaks our kiss before he dips his head to whisper into my ear. “Don’t move.”

  My eyes flutter open, and I see the door is open behind him. It takes me a second to realize what’s happening—and it really isn’t until I hear the clicking of the cameras and the calls of “Eleanor! Eleanor!” from the sidewalk that I realize what he’s done.

  There’s not going to be any denying a relationship between the two of us now. And I have no idea what that means. Other than my stomach twisting itself into a knot and having a strong urge to puke, I’m not sure how I feel about anything that’s happening.

  My chest feels tight, and I can’t breathe. My mouth is hanging open and I’m looking out at the sea of cameras—there are so many, I can’t even see the people behind them. I can only hear them calling out my name.

  Leo whispers to me again. “If you move, they’re going to see exactly how I feel about you.” He tips his forehead to mine and grins. “Hold on.”

  I slide my hands up to his neck and lace my fingers together. I tip my head to his chest—and I do the last thing I would have ever expected to do in this situation. I start to laugh.

  He turns his head to the cameras, flashing one of his famous smiles. “This is Elle—the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Have a nice day, everyone.”

  He lifts me up, pulling my body into his again, and he walks me back into the house, pulling the door closed behind him before he sets me down.

  I press my lips together and cover my mouth, trying not to giggle. But I don’t want to lift my gaze to his—I can only stare down at the floor. I still can’t really believe any of this is happening.

  “Do you believe me now?”

  “Believe what? That you’re insane? Yes, I suppose I believe that, Leo.” I finally look up at him. “You’re definitely crazier than I gave you credit for. What was that for? You think embarrassing yourself is going to save me from the humiliation they’re about to dish out to me?” I shake my head at him, my smile falling. “You don’t need to do that—to try to protect my honor or whatever. There’s really nothing to protect.”

  He stares at me for a long moment, smiling. “I wanted them to know. I wanted you to know I have every intention of being seen with you. Every intention of acknowledging our relationship to the media and anyone else who will listen. And yes, I suppose a nude photo of me will relieve some of the pressure that is sure to build around you now that they know who you are. Not that I haven’t been photographed in the nude before…”

  I look up into his eyes for a moment before dropping my gaze back to the floor. “You’re sure that little show wasn’t meant to embarrass me?”

  He reaches out and tips my chin so I look into his eyes again. “Hardly. I want to be seen with you. I can think of nothing that would please me more.” He pauses for a moment before he grins. “Actually, I can think of many things that would please me more, and considering my current state of disrobe, perhaps we should take advantage—”

  I lift a brow. “So you thought baring your ass to the world was going to make me want to drag you back to bed?”

  He gives me a shrug that I’m sure is meant to convey his innocence. “Not at all.” His grin widens. “Though, it does appear you are wearing far too much clothing, at least for the moment—”

  “Oh, I’ll be clothed for longer than a moment, Leo. After that little stunt? I’m not sure this is such a great idea. What if they can see in? What if there’s some way they can hear us?”

  He smiles, tilting his head. “No one will be seeing or hearing anything unless we want them to. Though I have heard your cries of pleasure, Elle, and I must say it’s certainly possible someone might be able to hear them from the street. Not that I’m complaining, of course. I welcome anyone and everyone to know how pleased you are with our current arrangement. And I’m perfectly willing to tell them I am equally pleased. Perhaps more so…”

  My eyes roll to the ceiling before I look back at him. “My God, you never stop, do you?”

  He grins at me for a moment. “My stamina is world class.”

  “Insufferable.”

  “No, I believe we established the proper word is insatiable. Though you’re hardly one to talk, Elle. You’ve kept up with me better than I could have ever hoped—”

  “Oh my God, stop. Please.” I resist the urge to put my hands over my ears so I don’t have to listen anymore. “We have to stop.” I motion between us. “All of this really needs to stop. Now. It’s been fun, but honestly, this is getting out of hand. I mean, the sex is one thing, but the thought of hundreds of reporters out there, waiting for any salacious detail they can get their hands on…” I shake my head at him. “We really, really have to stop.”

  His smile falls. “Elle, I don’t believe you understand that it’s far too late for that. As I’ve been trying to tell you, something has happened to me. I can’t explain it. But nothing is as I expected it to be.” He takes a step toward me. “And it’s not only about the sex, though I’ll admit it is glorious.”

  “But it is only about sex, Leo. There can’t be anything else between us. Haven’t you been listening to me? We live in completely different worlds. They…” I motion toward the door. “They don’t care that I need to have a life after this. They’re perfectly willing to try to ruin it for me because I decided to pursue this little fling between us. What am I supposed to do now? Now that they know who I am? How am I supposed to make a living after this? And what if they…” My breath hitches in my chest and I pause, looking up into his eyes. I only barely stopped myself from asking him what would happen if they found out what Owen did. What happened in my personal life before I left for Rio de Campo was bad enough. The last thing I need is for anyone to go digging anything else up about me.

  I can’t run forever. And I can only run so far.

  “Elle…” He reaches out for my shoulder.

  I flinch away. “You should probably cover yourself up. They might be able to see through my curtains. They’re pretty sheer.”

  He looks over at the curtains before he turns his gaze back to mine. His lips curl into another smile. “If you’d rather I be clothed, I have no objection. I seem to remember we’re fairly adept at accomplishing our goals while relatively clothed—”

  “Leo, please stop. You say I don’t understand the gravity of this situation or how it’s affecting you, but I think maybe you don’t understand what a problem this is for me.”

  “Ah, but I do. Which is why I suggested our clothing is merely a hindrance, not an obstacle. If done carefully, we can both remain fully clothed—”

  I throw my hands in the air and groan loudly. I shake my head and walk to the couch, sitting before I look at him again. “I’m not talking about any of this again until you have your clothes on.”

  He smiles, staring at me for a moment before he walks toward the hallway without another word.

  He must know I have zero self-control when it comes to him. I don’t know what I can do to get the balance of power to shift back to my side. Considering he can get me to melt just by giving me one of those looks—I know I’m done for. I’m in too deep.

  After I sit, wondering how the hell I’m going to get myself out of this mess, I remember how I was interrupted earlier by his return. It seems like it was so long ago, but he did leave me. And I know he will again.

  He’s in the bedroom for a long time, so I decide to finish doing my laundry before I return to the living room. I need to keep myself busy so I don’t have to think about how the stunt he’s just pulled with the media has probably ruined any chance of my having a normal life ever again.

  He returns a few minutes later dressed in a white button-down shirt and gray slacks—he looks almost exactly like he did on the day we first met.

  He grins at me and holds his arm out like I’m supposed to get up and take it. “I thought we’d have a proper first date.”

  “You thought we’d…what?” I blink at him a few times. “Are you insane?”

  “I believe we have already determined we are both a bit out of our minds, Elle. Something about you makes me forget how things are supposed to be.”

  “Well, I guess we’re in agreement there. But I do believe there is a way things are supposed to be. And how the hell can we have a proper anything with a thousand cameras in our faces? How can we ever leave this house again?” I can feel my breaths coming a little too fast again—nothing about this is remotely how I planned. I was supposed to come home and try to rebuild my life. I spent a year in Rio de Campo to get the crazy out of my life. Not to bring more of it back in. And this…whatever the hell is going on here is more than crazy. It’s batshit insane.

  Leo drops his arm and comes to sit next to me on the couch. He sits on the opposite side, too far away to even reach over to me. He stares at the wall for a long moment. “Tell me, Elle. What is your worst case scenario? You seem very concerned about what the future may hold. I have to wonder why you’re trying to destroy what seems to be to be a very fine present moment.”

  My brow furrows and I turn to face him. “I… I’m not trying to destroy anything.”

  “Really?” His gaze snaps to mine and he lifts a brow. “You fear what may happen tomorrow or next week. That outweighs your ability to enjoy this moment. And this moment is pretty splendid from where I sit, Elle. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  I can’t deny he’s right—I have spent a lot of time trying to plan an uncertain future. But he doesn’t understand—having control over what’s going to happen is the only thing that’s kept me sane. Preplanning every moment of my life for the past year—at least, everything that could be planned—has been the only thing that’s allowed me to go on living at all. His presence in my life has thrown a giant wrench into everything I had already planned out.

  My voice drops to a whisper. “I can’t go out there with you. I mean—I don’t want them even to know I exist. If I could go back in time—even a few hours—I would have run the hell out of here.”

  He nods and rubs at his chin. “But the fact is, they do know you exist. You’ll have to factor that into your plans for the future from now on, Elle. I’m not going to lie and tell you it will be easy—it won’t. But you don’t have to deal with them alone. I’ll be here with you.”

  He sighs. “Tomorrow is going to come. And we don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow—no one does. Not even you, Elle. Trying to plan for an infinite number of possibilities is impossible. So why bother? Why not enjoy a perfectly pleasant situation? We’re here together now and this is what we both wanted. We have all the privacy we could ever want here, as long as we stay inside. And there’s no reason for us to leave until we run out of food. And I can assure you, I’ve had enough peanut butter delivered to this house to sustain us for a month if need be.”

  A smile comes to my lips despite my best efforts to cover it. My smile turns to a laugh only a moment later.

  “Good. Now, as I suggested, I believe we should have a proper first date.” He holds his elbow out to me again. “If you would be so kind…”

  “Leo.” I shake my head. “I can’t go out there with you. I mean, I know you’re experienced with dealing with them, but I’m not. I thought I might be able to go out there and talk to them before, but there are just so many of them—”

  “Elle,” he interrupts. “I never said anything about going outside. I want a proper date with you, but that doesn’t mean we have to leave this house. In fact, I would suggest we don’t leave, at least until the uproar tapers off somewhat.”

  I nod. “Okay. Then what the hell are you talking about?”

  He grins. “A second chance. You believe in second chances, do you not?”

  “I… I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.” A second chance for a guy—probably not. For me, though? I don’t know. I’m not sure I deserve one. I’m not sure it’s even worth discussing.

  He lets out a long breath. “A first date. We never had one—I was injured when we shared our first meal together. And you were merely doing your duties as a professional—I’m not sure you even remember how charming I was that evening.”

  “Oh, I remember.” Fuck, how could I forget? How he sat across from me, shirtless. How he smelled when he held me that night. How he kissed me.

  I stare at him for a moment, unable to read what it is that’s going on behind his gaze. “How are you?” I motion to his torso. “That should have been the first thing I asked you when I came in last night. As a professional, I mean.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11