Chapter Nine
J ill left Leonard sitting on the bench and took off up the road. She needed to find a bus stop, because she couldn’t afford a taxi, it had been more than she’d expected on her way here. She knew she should not have come. Now, she felt even more lonely and undesirable than she had before she’d set out for the evening. The way Leonard had attracted attention had been truly astounding. She’d thought some of her previous dates had been disasters, but they’d been positively joyful compared to tonight. It wasn’t that he was a terrible person, or bad company, no. It was because the man drew women like flies to shit. They swarmed around him as if he were the light to their moth. Not that she could blame them. Hell, he was something else to look at. He had an untouchable quality about him, but at the same time it invited you closer, like a magnet. It was as if he had an invisible aura that whispered and seduced. His eyes were beautiful, especially, the deep clear purple colour, but surrounded by those thick, black sooty lashes, they were spectacular. His face looked sculptured, the planes and angles utterly masculine, but beautifully symmetrical. He had that dip in his chin that invited your tongue to taste after sucking on that plump, sensual bottom lip. Then there was his hair. Well, what could she say about that, it was thick and so black it had shone blue in the interior lights of the bar. Her fingers had practically itched to bury themselves in it and tug, holding him as she ravaged his mouth. The shock of the instant desire she’d felt for him had shaken her. Then there was his voice, now that in itself had made you think of sex, due to the sinfully, husky quality to it. It had evoked all kinds of thoughts, mostly of sweaty entwined limbs, tangled sheets and moans of pleasure. It had sent tingles down her spine when he’d spoken to her, his full attention trained on her now and again. It had then been as if he’d stroked a talented fingertip down her aroused flesh. Her stomach had fluttered and her heart rate had sped up. Then he’d began to joke with her about his incisors, offering to bite her, and oh my god, she’d grown instantly wet at the thought.
What in the hell had happened to her?
Then the spell had been broken by yet another female parading before him. His eyes would shift from her, and her senses would return.
She’d been shocked when he’d been outside the toilets waiting for her though.
Why had he done that?
That’s the bit that baffled her, why had he not just stayed at the table, because he’d have had willing company in seconds.
But no, he’d come after her, why?
Was it the whole challenge thing?
Was he the kind of man that just played games?
Her head hurt as it went around in circles, trying to figure out what his angle was, when she felt heat at her back. Then the buzz of arousal hit her as the scent of heat and sex filled her nostrils.
“Leo, I’m going home. I’m going to crawl into bed and pretend that this evening didn’t happen,” she said over her shoulder.
“You’re inviting me into your bed? A little presumptuous of you don’t you think,” he grinned, stepping to her side and keep pace. Jill growled and he nudged her again with his shoulder, a playful tap. “Where are we going?” he asked, curiously, stepping around a couple who were busy sucking face outside a closed hair salon.
“I told you I’m going home,” Jill mumbled, grumpily.
“This is the way to your home?”
“No, this is the way to the bus stop,” she clarified, as she stopped before the bus shelter, with the broken glass on one side.
“If you want to go home, I will take you,” Leonard informed her. Then taking hold of her arm, he turned her around, pulling her back the way they’d come.
“Leo, I don’t know you from Adam, I’m not getting in a car with you.”
“Ring your boss, he’ll tell you that I’m not a serial killer,” he informed her as he tugged on her arm to get her moving. “Go on, if you don’t trust me, ring Thomas, he’ll vouch for me. Ask him if he’s thinking of visiting Essex again any time soon while you’re at it.”
“Why?” she asked, giving in and walking back with him towards the ‘Snail and Cabbage’ pub’s car park.
“He’ll understand, it will also let him know that I am who I say I am.” He was not going to explain to her that Thomas, was in fact a lion shifter, and that in an inebriated moment, had shifted while out drinking in Essex. He’d then been snapped by a holidaying couple and the picture had been plastered all over the papers, causing a man-hunt. He himself had been called in to alter a few perceptions and it had all blown over.
“Oh, okay,” Jill stopped and turned to him, frowning, her mind completely blank. Leonard looked down at her, his just over six-foot frame towering over her at only five-foot-six in her three-inch heels. Giving her head a shake, Jill tried to remember what she was meant to be doing, but her eyes once again lifted to his.
Leonard gazed into her wide, confused melted chocolate eyes, her brow furrowed and her pulse beat wildly in her throat. Someone walked passed, nudging into them and Jill fell against him. Leonards hands automatically went to the tops of her arms to steady her. He froze as her heat and scent invaded his senses, then picked up on the overloud sound drumming in his ears as her heart rate sped up. His eyes dropped to her throat at hearing the accelerated rate, and watched in fascination as the pulse in Jill’s throat fluttered wildly. Eyes dropping lower, he saw her chest rise and fall quickly as respiration increased. Satisfaction thrumming through him at all the signs of her own body’s chemical reaction to him. Leisurely, his eyes once again lifted, where he caught and held hers as his hands rubbed up and down her arms; as if to warm or sooth. He then slid them up, one to the back of her neck, staying her, and the other went to her throat. He then rubbed the pad of his thumb over her hammering pulse.
“Ermm, Leo, what are you doing?” Jill whispered, her throat working beneath his palm. He didn’t answer, held immobile, entranced by her. His head lowered, lips lightly brushing over her own, making her gasp as his tongue stroked over her bottom lip. A slight taste before he dipped inside, their tongues now twining and duelling, before he slid it out again, his lips finally settling more fully over hers. Deepening the kiss, her took everything she offered, but needed more. Moving the hand from the back of her neck, upwards, Leonard cradled the back of her head, moving her where he needed. She moved restlessly against him and he hissed at the sensation, now feeding from her, ravenous, his lips crushing hers beneath them. The tasted blood hit his tongue, the sweet copper tang flooding his system, warming and filling him. Gasping, he pulled back, breaking their connection.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” he whispered. His thumb gently stroking over the nick he’d caused on her bottom lip with his fang. Her eyelashes finally flickered, lifting, then blinking, her unfocused gaze met his own lilac one. “I was careless with you, I’m sorry.” He leaned forward, tongue stroking over her lip, cleaning up the evidence of his carelessness, before he stepped back. He dropped his hand from her throat and instantly missed her erratic pulse beating beneath his flesh. The hand he’d been cradling her head with dropped around her shoulders. He turned, pulling her into his side as he again began walking, keeping her tucked beside him.
Once in the pubs car park, Leonard hit the fob on his keys for the jet-black Maserati. The headlights flashed and the interior lights came on, illuminating the interior as the internal lights came on as the car doors unlocked.
“Figures,” Jill smiled, rolling her eyes as he helped her to slide into the passenger seat.
“What figures?” Leonard asked, leaning over her as he fastened her seat belt.
“You and a flash car,” Jill grinned, lovingly stroking the soft cream leather of the seat. “Who’d have thought it,” she mock gasped, batting her eyes lashes.
“Jill?”
“Yeah?”
“Be quiet,” Leonard mumbled, kissing the end of her nose. He then closed the door on her shocked face, before moving around to the driver’s side and slipping into his own seat. He’d shocked the hell out of himself also with that move, he was not into public displays of affection. He’d never felt the need to do so either. Yet, twice now tonight, he’d done so with Jill.
What in the hell was happening to him?
“Any music preference?” he asked as he turned the engine over.
“Erm…” Jill cleared her throat, still confused over the way Leonard had not only kissed the ever-loving life out of her in the street, but had also treated her tenderly afterwards. Then, just now had shown her affection. The man was a mass of contradictions. “Jazz or rock, which do you prefer?” she asked.
“Rock, so long as it’s soft rock. I can’t abide the ones that scream,” his lip curled on scream and she chuckled as she moved through the radio stations.
The drive to her little house was quiet. Leonard only spoke to ask for directions; not that she minded, as they both seemed lost in their own thoughts. Jill was replaying the events of the evening and the weird reaction people seemed to have to him. Leonard, well, he had a poker face, nothing showed.
In the passenger seat, Jill watched him silently from beneath her lashes. His hair was held back with a loose tie, some kind of thin leather. She couldn’t tell how long it was as it had gotten caught in the collar of his suit jacket. He had a wide forehead, smooth and wrinkle free. Dark, nicely shaped eyebrows which looked as if he’d had them professionally done. A slim, aquiline nose, with a flared tip and a drool worthy square jaw. He now sported a little jet-black, short stubble, but on Leonard, even that looked designer. It was all nice and neat, no ragged or stray hairs.
I mean, as if it would dare to grow untidily.
It looked as if someone had taken a trimmer to it. Sharp angles under his high cheekbones and down over his chin before it moved up the sides of that kissable mouth, ending under his nose. She was so lost in her observations that she didn’t realise the car was idling by the kerb.
“Jill, are you okay?” Leonard asked turning to her and she blinked, her startled eyes staring through the windscreen.
“Sorry, miles away. Thank you for the lift and company,” she murmured, blushing at getting caught staring at him.
“My pleasure. Are you free tomorrow evening?” Leonard had decided that as he had to take her on five-dates, it was better to just get them over and done with. That way it should be easier for him to keep his hands to himself. Once the dates were out of the way, she was his, as he’d have kept to his end of the bargain with Luc.
“I am,” Jill replied, hand on the car door.
“How do you feel about the ballet?”
“To be honest, I’ve never been,” she told him, and he raised a brow, silently waiting. “Thank you, I would love to go to the ballet with you,” she replied and his mouth lifted at one corner, a twinkle in his eyes.
“I’ll be here at seven tomorrow evening.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then. Oh, and Leonard, I may be showing my ignorance, but is there a dress code?”
“Just smart casual, but I don’t think it’s as rigid as it once was,” he informed her.
“See you tomorrow, goodnight.”
Jill pushed open the door and closed it behind her. Leonard waited until she disappeared inside her home, before driving away.