At Leo’s insistence, I decide to take a shower after the incident to wash the dirty vibe of my stalker off of me. I can’t believe that just happened! I can’t believe how close I was to be being in real danger. If it hadn’t been for Leo... I don’t even want to think about what could’ve happened. If feels as though I’ve been operating in survival mode ever since this creep entered my life and tonight it came to a pinnacle. At least I hope that’s the last I’ll ever see of him. I hope Leo finds this guy so my life can get back to normal, and being able to just focus on the good things, like having Leo with me now.

I scrub and scrub, but I just can’t shake the icky feeling of that monster’s hands on me and of fearing for my life.  I might need another shower or three. As I rinse off, I hear Leo screaming, but about what I can’t tell. I let the water wash over me and picture all the ugliness in my life just going down the drain. A metaphor of course, but hey, it could happen. Especially with Leo on my side.

After I can scrub no more, I take my time toweling off and I apply my most special lotions and perfumes, to the benefit of Leo. I hope he notices how clean and fresh I am and he takes that as cue to make me dirty all over again. Leo’s dirt I can handle. Despite the chain of events and how shaken up I am, it makes me grin to think of Leo protecting me.

I open the door, wearing my white terry cloth robe, and Leo’s eyes direct their attention to me. He takes me in and observes everything about me, as though he’s still checking to be sure I’m alright. This makes me wet in more ways than one.

He stares at me while he barks orders into the phone. “No, man, that’s unacceptable. I need a full security force over here within fifteen minutes or I’m reporting you for negligence. You can bet I’m serious! Just try me!” he yells as he hangs up the phone, and I’m grateful it wasn’t me on the other line. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that carnal rage. I’m really getting to see what he’s like at work, when he’s pressed, and it’s not pretty. Leo is in full domination mode, and while it takes me a minute to get used to it, he’s also turning me on with his authority and prestige. This is one detective I wouldn’t mess with.

“What’s going on?” I ask as he hangs up. I’m towel drying my hair, and he softly runs his fingers through it.

“I’m trying to beef up your security. God knows you need it, and that son-of-a-bitch on the phone was trying to give me a hard time. We’ll see if he has a job in the morning.”

I hold him in my arms and try to soothe him. “It will be alright. I’m fine now, look. You were there, thank God, and everything didn’t go as that asshole planned, and now we’re safe. I’m safe.”

I kiss him, hard, long, pouring all my love for him into that moment. “I have you to thank for that.” I let my kisses linger to his neck, and I whisper in his ear, “It’ll be okay. I’m okay.” It’s not as if my reassurances are the truth, but hopefully it will calm him down. I can, however, feel that he’s still on edge.

“What’s really going on here, Leo? Why are you so upset?”

His eyes stay on mine, and I take in the full force of his masculine beauty. I could stare into that deep blue well for the entire night.

“I don’t get it,” I say. “This is your job. You’re a detective and you deal with this kind of thing everyday. Shouldn’t you be acclimated to it by now?”

He looks at me like I just don’t get it, like there are words he wants to say.

“This is different for me,” he says. “I’m not used to caring like this. Usually I can at least be objective about my cases, but with you it’s just… different.”

Finally he relaxes, as if saying the words has taken the brunt of the magnitude off his shoulders. I lean into him, into his giant, reassuring chest. I listen to his heartbeat.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve never had to worry about someone I love getting hurt before.”

I freeze.  All motion stops. Time stands still. I stand before him wondering if he means what he said. I’m hesitant to even ask if it’s true just in case; maybe, I heard him wrong, or maybe this is a dream.

“Are you . . . are you saying you love me?”

He takes my hair in his hands and pulls me in for a tender kiss. I know it’s my answer, but he states it again, “Yes, Elena, that’s exactly what it means. I love you.”

He stares hard into my eyes, searching for an answer. Of course, I answer him back in the only way I know how, which is with the truth.

“I love you too.” Tears sting my eyes as I say the words. I mean them with all my heart. And I know from this moment going forward we will be united like never before. I’ve never felt this way about anybody and I tell him so.

“Leo,” I cry gently. “You are the only one for me. I’ve never known this feeling before, but I know it with you.  I know I can trust you and that you are everything to me.”

With that, he pulls me in for a deep, passionate kiss that seems to last a lifetime. If this is just the beginning, then I have no idea how far we’ll go.