I felt pretty shaken up as I headed back to Leo's place. Having to spend the evening with that guy William was terrible. I know I had to do it but I feel like taking several showers to remove the creepy sensation of his hands on me that still lingers.

When I left the lounge after receiving Leo's note, I saw William kind of hovering to see what I'd do. I had to pretend to be waiting for another date at a different bar in the hotel. With the way he was touching me and how he asked for me to go back to his room with him, well, it was all too much.

I hate to think what could have happened had Leo not been there watching and if I didn't have an escape route planned.

Escorting is a risky business. Leo was right. I never plan on being part of it again. Money or no money I'll survive some other way.

It's not worth putting my life at risk and having to endure unwanted sexual advances from men I don't know who think they've paid for me to spread my legs.

When I met my boss Roger, he assured me this kind of thing wouldn't happen under his watch but he was sorely mistaken.

I'm panting, as I took the stairs up fifteen floors before grabbing a service elevator to the penthouse. Who needs a Stairmaster when you live in a hotel? My thighs are burning from climbing so many levels. I guess I won't have to hit the gym tomorrow.

I knock on the door, catching my breath, anxious to see how Leo's faring. He seemed so miserable at the bar watching me with that guy.

He opens the door, his face pinched with worry. "Get in here now. You won't believe what just happened."

I go inside and he looks like a total wreck, pacing the floors and running his hands through his hair. He relays to me what happened with his mysterious encounter. Now I feel more under threat than ever. And I know it's all my fault. 

I curl up on the couch on the terrace near a roaring fire. Leo lights some candles and we joke. It seems like he's trying to set the tone, but for what?

"I finally have you here all to myself," he says, kneeling between my legs. 

"Leo, I can't tell you how sorry I am for causing this whole mess."

He looks at me in wonder. "What are you talking about? None of this was your fault."

I look away sadly. I can hardly meet his gaze because I feel so ashamed, so disgusted with myself. I was warned not to enter this business and I stubbornly refused. Now multiple people's lives and careers are at risk, and it's all my fault.

"Honestly, Leo," I say, wanting to convince him to let me take this guilt upon my shoulders. "My brother and you both warned me, and you’ve done nothing but to try to fix the mess I've made."

"Don't ever say that, Sienna. Not ever. I'm serious."

"Why, Leo? Why won't you just let me feel bad about this? You don't have to fix everything."

He grips my legs and leans closer as he says, "Don't ever say that because if you hadn't entered the escort business, I may never have seen you again. So you see, it all worked out for the best. It’s like this was meant to happen."

His words hit me in an odd way, warming me up and making me feel alive.

"You think so?"

"I know so," he says confidently.

I don’t say anything, wondering at the meaning behind what he's just said.

He pulls away and gets up, nervously pacing the floor again. It seems like something's bothering him, though I can't tell what.

Leo is usually very chill and very in control. But tonight he kind of looks like a nervous wreck.

It can't just because of the date. That's over now and I'm home with him, so why is he still acting out of sorts?

"How about some champagne?" he asks.

"Champagne? Sure, but I mean, are we celebrating something?"

My words throw him off guard and he stops his pacing.

"Celebrating? Yes. No. Kind of."

He disappears inside, presumably to the glass-enclosed wine room off the kitchen, and comes out with a bottle of Dom Perignon. I watch him grab two very expensive looking champagne flutes from the bar and he comes back outside to where I'm nestled near the fire.

"We do have something to celebrate," he says, placing the bottle on the coffee table. "Only I'm not sure how to begin. I need to talk to you. It’s something I’ve needed to say for a while."

"What?" I say concerned. "Wait a minute, why would you need to talk to me? Did something else happen?" I’m suddenly worried that there’s something else hanging over us, more blackmail or something.

He's at my side, and I can feel the nerves reverberating off his body.

"I think you should know, Sienna, that this means more to me than just a casual fling."

Wait, what?

"It does?" I'm shocked. 

"Yes, of course, it does."

"Leo…" I have to say it. "That doesn't make sense because..."

"Because of the way I left you?"

"Well, yeah."

"I need to explain that, Sienna. Listen to me, I love you. I’ve always loved you. I did then and I do now and I have for the past ten years. There's been no other."

There. He's said it. And while he leans back in relief, the words hang there in the air between us. 

My body is frozen in shock. I can’t believe the things I’m hearing. My own feelings for Leo have been growing, and yet I've put a wall up to protect myself.

He hurt me in the past so I've held onto my resolve to not let myself care enough about him to get hurt again.

But with Leo, that's hard.

His charismatic personality, gorgeous looks, and domineering personality make it easy to want to trust him. For some reason, I’ve always feel safe with him. I guess my own feelings have been on par with his and yet I would never voice that if he hadn't said it first.

"You loved me? For ten years? How is that possible? Leo, you just left me all those years ago without an explanation. How could I have known?"

"You couldn't have known. Your brother found out about us. He threatened me…among other things. But he wanted me to pull away from you. I should never have listened, Sienna, but I did. That's why I left, and I'm so sorry. I hope you can forgive me and know that I’ve thought of you every day since and I've regretted leaving you."

"My brother pulled us apart?"

"Yes, Sienna. It’s a long story but I want to make it better now. I want to fix the mistake I made."

I’m reeling. As he says the words, all my emotions that I've tried to repress come bubbling up to the surface. I’ve been running from this for years. I loved him too, but I’ve been too afraid to have my heart shattered again. 

He's looking at me apprehensively, waiting for my answer.

"Leo, I love you, too. I just never thought in a million years that you'd return the feeling," As I tell him this, tears stream down my cheeks. It feels almost too good to be true.

I still don’t understand completely what he means about how Jax was partially responsible for this, but I can’t think past the incredible feeling of hearing Leo tell me he loves me.

He grabs me by the waist and buries his face in my hair. Then his mouth is searching for mine, and it feels like a new beginning. My admission has collapsed some wall that was between us.

Leo is still the strong, confident, dominating man I know, but now I see a tenderness there that wasn't obvious before.

"Baby," he says. "I'm never gonna let you go again. Not ever. You’re mine."

The last part is said with almost a growl, and I feel my body ignite with need. I want him so much I can barely think.

He grabs the bottle and now I see what the champagne is for. A celebration, like he said.

When he first brought it out I had no idea my life was about to change so drastically. Now my body is aching and vibrating, ready to really start celebrating. There's a fire burning between us.

He's like a predator watching his prey, waiting for that perfect moment to pounce. I sit there, desire building, and I can’t wait for what’s coming.