have a nightcap at my place, then I’ll take you home. I’m tired of these people staring at me, thinking I’m a monster to mar such lovely skin.”
Somehow, she trusted him, despite his obvious desire. Despite his well known power. Aiva knew allowing him to take her to his home was a no-no. Where were their chaperones, anyway? But her curiosity, her growing desire and the way he made her feel- dainty, beautiful and cherished- softened her resolve to take things slow, remain at a distance. Evaluate with her head and not her heart, and body. It was so hard.
Especially when he escorted her into the modern townhome in the heart of the city center, leading her to the kitchen when stools sat around an island. On top the island lay a small black box.
“Open it,” he said, watching silently as she flipped open the lid.
Aiva’s breath caught. The bracelet was exquisite, the platinum filigree work ethereal, a myriad of tiny gems winking at strategic places. He slid it onto her wrist.
“Your first courting gift,” he said. “Wear it so everyone knows.”
She licked her lips. “Thank you.” And made the mistake of looking up at hm. His body, frozen, eyes trained on her mouth.
“I want something in return, Aiva,” he said.
“W-what?”
“A kiss. A simple kiss.”
Nothing would be simple about kissing him. And in his home there was nothing to stop him from overwhelming her with desire except his own conscience and her dwindling self-control.
But still she hesitated. Aiva knew her own value, knew the value of the mind and heart she would give to a man who would guard them properly. Didn’t want to fall into an affair because the man was charming and said all the right things and she began to fall in love with music- only to find later here was no substance.
“Just a kiss?”
He watched her steadily. “A kiss, a caress, whatever you want. This isn’t a romance novel, where I overwhelm you with my manly attentions.”
Her brow shot up. “You don’t read romance novels.”
He snorted. “And how do you think I learned about sex? Of course I read romance novels.”
Aiva knew he was messing with her. She didn’t know whether to be appalled, amused, or irritated. “You learned about sex because handsome, powerful, rich men are all horndogs.”
Leon leaned against the island, grinning. “Are you maligning my virtue? I don’t give it up just for anybody, Aiviana.” He leaned towards her, finger tracing her lips. “I’m waiting for someone special.”
“You’re no virgin.”
His dark brow rose. “No? Is that so impossible in this day and age? A man who saves himself for marriage?”
His lips touched hers, breath just slightly scented with the red wine from dinner caressing her mouth.
“It’s... unusual.”
Her eyes drifted shut, body shifting to fit to his own. He straightened, hands splayed across her waist, gently pulling her against him. Her hands wrapped around his biceps, the crisp cloth of his dress shirt the only thing between her touch and bare flesh.
As he kissed her, she felt the shimmering awakening of her body, the heat pooling low in her groin, the gentle throbbing of a clit that ached for his touch. Aiva arched into him, full breasts pressed against his chest, mouth opening wide to accept his tongue. His hand on her tightened, the muscle under her hands tensing as he sensed her sudden eagerness. He tore his mouth from hers.
“If you don’t want this to go any further, I need to take you home. Now.”
The heat in his eyes, clenching of his jaw, saved Aiva’s feelings from hurt. She knew he wasn’t rejecting her- he was trying to save her from him. Sweet. She smiled, stepping away. If he really had saved himself for marriage, then she would honor that by holding out a little while longer- at least long enough for them to both respect themselves in the morning. Her smile widened into a grin at the thought.
Leon’s eyes narrowed when she began to chuckle. “What are you
Somehow, she trusted him, despite his obvious desire. Despite his well known power. Aiva knew allowing him to take her to his home was a no-no. Where were their chaperones, anyway? But her curiosity, her growing desire and the way he made her feel- dainty, beautiful and cherished- softened her resolve to take things slow, remain at a distance. Evaluate with her head and not her heart, and body. It was so hard.
Especially when he escorted her into the modern townhome in the heart of the city center, leading her to the kitchen when stools sat around an island. On top the island lay a small black box.
“Open it,” he said, watching silently as she flipped open the lid.
Aiva’s breath caught. The bracelet was exquisite, the platinum filigree work ethereal, a myriad of tiny gems winking at strategic places. He slid it onto her wrist.
“Your first courting gift,” he said. “Wear it so everyone knows.”
She licked her lips. “Thank you.” And made the mistake of looking up at hm. His body, frozen, eyes trained on her mouth.
“I want something in return, Aiva,” he said.
“W-what?”
“A kiss. A simple kiss.”
Nothing would be simple about kissing him. And in his home there was nothing to stop him from overwhelming her with desire except his own conscience and her dwindling self-control.
But still she hesitated. Aiva knew her own value, knew the value of the mind and heart she would give to a man who would guard them properly. Didn’t want to fall into an affair because the man was charming and said all the right things and she began to fall in love with music- only to find later here was no substance.
“Just a kiss?”
He watched her steadily. “A kiss, a caress, whatever you want. This isn’t a romance novel, where I overwhelm you with my manly attentions.”
Her brow shot up. “You don’t read romance novels.”
He snorted. “And how do you think I learned about sex? Of course I read romance novels.”
Aiva knew he was messing with her. She didn’t know whether to be appalled, amused, or irritated. “You learned about sex because handsome, powerful, rich men are all horndogs.”
Leon leaned against the island, grinning. “Are you maligning my virtue? I don’t give it up just for anybody, Aiviana.” He leaned towards her, finger tracing her lips. “I’m waiting for someone special.”
“You’re no virgin.”
His dark brow rose. “No? Is that so impossible in this day and age? A man who saves himself for marriage?”
His lips touched hers, breath just slightly scented with the red wine from dinner caressing her mouth.
“It’s... unusual.”
Her eyes drifted shut, body shifting to fit to his own. He straightened, hands splayed across her waist, gently pulling her against him. Her hands wrapped around his biceps, the crisp cloth of his dress shirt the only thing between her touch and bare flesh.
As he kissed her, she felt the shimmering awakening of her body, the heat pooling low in her groin, the gentle throbbing of a clit that ached for his touch. Aiva arched into him, full breasts pressed against his chest, mouth opening wide to accept his tongue. His hand on her tightened, the muscle under her hands tensing as he sensed her sudden eagerness. He tore his mouth from hers.
“If you don’t want this to go any further, I need to take you home. Now.”
The heat in his eyes, clenching of his jaw, saved Aiva’s feelings from hurt. She knew he wasn’t rejecting her- he was trying to save her from him. Sweet. She smiled, stepping away. If he really had saved himself for marriage, then she would honor that by holding out a little while longer- at least long enough for them to both respect themselves in the morning. Her smile widened into a grin at the thought.
Leon’s eyes narrowed when she began to chuckle. “What are you
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