fingers across my cheek.
I kept my eyes closed, not trusting myself to look at him or say anything.
“Look at me.”
I didn’t want him to think he’d hurt me. He hadn’t, not in the way he would think. I didn’t want him to see my tears or push me to confess why I was crying. I wanted to run.
“Ezra, look at me.” His voice was firmer now. He was using the commanding tone that made me want to obey him. I opened my eyes and looked up at him.
“Are you okay?” He looked so fucking worried.
I nodded, not sure what to say.
“Ezra?”
“I am. Really. You didn’t hurt me. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just…”
Leo used his thumbs to brush the tears from my cheeks, then he pulled out of my ass. I couldn’t keep from wincing.
“Oh, sweetheart. I should’ve been gentler. You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
“I don’t mind,” I said. “It’s not that. It’s…”
“Tell me. You can tell me anything.”
Could I? “I want… I wish I could really be yours.” I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side, unable to look into his eyes after saying those words. “I know that’s stupid. I know—”
Leo cupped my cheek and encouraged me to turn back. “You are mine. Look at me.”
“I mean… I know you’ll protect me, and I’m thankful for that, but…”
“You should be angry. I should never have put you in danger in the first place. I should’ve done a better job of protecting you already.”
“Leo, you… I’m the one who wanted to know, who chose to eavesdrop, who went after you when…”
“That’s not why this man will be looking for you. He’ll try to use you against me because he knows…”
“He knows what?”
“That I care about you.”
He couldn’t mean that like it sounded. “You mean he knows you brought me home? Do you think he’s watching your apartment?”
“I have no doubt he’s watching this place and that he knows you’re here, but that’s not what I meant.”
He blew out a long breath. “You should be basking right now, enjoying how you feel. Let me worry about this.”
“But I…” No. I wasn’t going to say more. I wasn’t going to humiliate myself. I would take what I could get from Leo. If that meant he was taking care of me right now and I could pretend I truly was his, maybe that could be good enough. “Okay. I’ll let you take care of this and me.”
“That’s good, sweetheart. You stay right there, and I’ll be back.”
It only took a few seconds for him to return with a warm washcloth. He insisted I lie still while he wiped me down. He touched me gently, and he was especially careful as he pressed the cloth to the tender skin around my hole. I felt very well used, but that was what I’d wanted. When he finished cleaning me up, he massaged my legs and my feet, his thumbs pressing into my arches and making me groan. By the time he stopped, I felt like I could melt into the mattress.
He tossed the cloth in the direction of the en-suite bathroom, then he stretched out next to me and pulled me into his arms. “Tired?”
“Mmm. Yeah.”
He drew me closer, and I laid my head on his chest. I’d almost drifted off to sleep when my stomach growled loud and long. Leo chuckled. “Hungry too, I see.”
“I didn’t eat much lunch, and I was going to have dinner when I got home, but then… this happened.”
“You definitely need to eat. I took a lot out of you.”
“Literally,” I said.
He chuckled. “Pizza?”
“Sure. I’m easy.”
He laughed at that. “No, I don’t think you are, but I’m up for the challenge.”
As he left the room to get his phone, I stared after him, eyes glued to his gorgeous ass. What did he mean by that? I hadn’t been a challenge at all. I’d given in to everything he wanted.
Leo returned and leaned against the doorframe, still completely naked. I could hardly believe how amazing his body was—his wide shoulders, the thick dark hair on his chest, his cock which still looked large even when it had softened.
“What do you want on your pizza?” The question startled me, and I raised my eyes to his. He had a smug smile on his face. “I don’t want you to think I mind you looking, but I’ve got to put our order in.”
“Pepperoni. I’m basic like that.”
“No reason to get fancy.”
Before I could complete