I crawled off Leo’s hips, but still felt his magnetic pull while I looked at the gift he dropped on the bed. The bubbly, fuzzing feeling of his flower shop story filled me up and convinced me he wasn't that bad. But I knew he wasn't that bad. Although he did hurt me, more than I thought he would. It hurt more than when I caught Paul fucking another girl or when my second boyfriend struck me across the face. It hurt more because I was falling for him, hard. Even though Leo was trouble wrapped in dark secrets and unsolved mysteries, I was falling into him with open arms, ready to be caught or dropped.

I grabbed the shirt and opened it up to see a cracked Led Zeppelin logo that was a faded black filled, with holes in it and one big bleach stain on the sleeve. I felt a gnawing feel in my gut the longer I looked at it, because it looked and smelled like Leo.

“Thanks for this, I can’t take it,” I pushed it toward him. I couldn’t have something in my room that reminded me of him, because it hit me. We were temporary, a game, and it wasn't going to last.

“Why not? It’s a gift to replace a shitty band,” he chuckled with his hands still under his head and his flower shirt still wrinkled from my grip. That stupid flower shirt that shouldn’t look good on a man, but it looked so hot on him. That stupid fucking black garden shirt.

“It reminds me too much of you.” I was blunt and aggressive, pushing it toward him to take it.

Without a blink or hesitation, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me in for kiss. Our first kiss. A kiss that branded my soul, pierced every part of my body and inked my mind. Leo placed his hand on the back of my neck like he was afraid at any second I would leave, and not just from the kiss.

“I want you to remember me. Whenever you set foot in your room or a coffee shop or an Italian restaurant, I want you to fucking remember me. Because Mallory Scarner, you are mine,” he growled while he bit my lip carefully.

He pulled me in tighter and I crawled on top, feeling his hard body against my soft body. We ate each other up, taking in each other’s moans, taste and tongues, which battled together in perfect unison. We were hooked on each other.

I ground against him, cursing my period, and wished for him to be inside of me. He spun me around and he was now on top of me, thrusting into me and fucking me dry like we were raw. I bit his bottom lip and he unleashed a devilish grin that almost dragged me down to hell.

“So, no sex?” he asked between kisses.

I hesitated, but my body knew the answer.

“No,” I moaned. “But you can have your turn.”

I bit his lip again and he pulled away. “Well, that’s not fair,” he kissed my forehead and stood up from the bed. “When should it end?”

“I’m a six day girl, so tomorrow morning the latest.” I hugged my knees and looked up at him with a long neck.

“We’re unfortunately lucky then. Come over tomorrow after work and stay the night.”

“To your place?” I watched him readjust his package, slowly cooling off but I knew he had blue balls, but he wasn't trying to push anything and I liked that.

“No, to the cabin in the woods,” he said dryly.

I burst out in a laugh and he smiled like he couldn't believe that stupid dry ass joke worked on me.

“To my house. In Massachusetts.”

“You live in the next state over?”

“Yep. I commute one hour each way and it’s worth every dime, time and ride.” Leo inhaled sharply while he adjusted himself again.

“Why?”

“You’ll see when you come over tomorrow.” He smirked then looked down at me with a serious face like he had just remembered something. “Oh, and if you ever smoke another cigarette again, you’re never kissing me again.”

“Got it.” I lied, but he caught it quickly.

“Ever.” He cupped my cheek and held his stern face still.

“I only smoke when I’m really stressed —”

“Ev-er.” He rubbed my lip with his thumb and kissed me. His kiss set my lips on fire like it was our fire all over again.

I nodded. And I didn’t lie this time.

“Perfect,” he headed over to my laptop. “Now show me what you have for my new business cards.”

I shuffled of the bed and headed to the window to retrieve my sketchbook. “These are just the drafts. I can design more if you want.”

Leo flipped through the three pages I scribbled on, one page mostly filled with stick figures, which best showcased my lack of inspiration.

“This one,” he pointed at one of the first logos I drew. “This one right here. But I want white cards, still textured, and the font in gold. Can you get the final version done in five days?”

I nodded up and down, knowing very well I could finish this project in a few hours if he wanted it.

“Perfect, I can pay you tomorrow when you come over.”

“And the second personal project?” I batted my eyelashes.

“Tomorrow,” he smiled a smile that would be imprinted in my mind forever.

He leaned on the desk and watched me. His forest eyes wrapped vines around me, making it harder to breathe from his warm glare.

“What?” I squirmed in my bed getting tingly with each second that passed.

He waited a few seconds and asked. “Why are you freelancing?”

“I had to quit my job.”

“Had to?”

I nodded. “My ex, Paul, cheated on me and we worked in the same place. He got me an internship, a job, then fucked his ex and I am now, I’m here.”

“The guy in the last picture of Steroid Polaroid?”

I froze but nodded, not really surprised that he knew which one he was. “Yep, I really know how to pick them.”

“What do you mean?”

I sighed heavily. The only two people I told about my other exes were Birdie and Klaudia. I hated talking about them because they were worse than Paul. So much worse. I looked at Leo waiting for my answer, and I let him have it. I don't know why, but I told him.

“They were worse. The first one took away my virginity to get back at his ex. And the second one used to hit me, so I left without saying another word to him. They were both rich. Both spoiled. Both thought the world was their game and I was just some pawn to be played with.”

Leo’s sadness hit him hard, his eyes darkening with each second until he lifted off the desk and ran toward me, grabbing me in his arms. This was a different hug — maybe even our first real hug, one that was in no way related to sex following afterward. It was warm, protective and soulful, in a way I never expected from him.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Really. I am over them both.” I lied.

Earlier today I had just bawled my eyes out, throwing pillows at Leo like a child. Oh my God, what is wrong with you, Mallory? But he didn’t stop me and I loved that. He instead let me release my stress the way I knew best — throwing things — and he encouraged me. Tossing his hands up, gesturing “keep ‘em coming” until I ran out of fuel and pillows.

“That’ll never happen again.”

Leo’s hands spread across my back and pressed me tighter against his hard chest. His heart was beating so fast I felt it on my chest. I gripped Leo’s shirt and took him in, letting my lungs fill with his unusual sexy scent that reminded me of ink, flowers, dirt and cologne.

I loved his scent.