Chapter 12

Kristen

Jesus fucking Christ. Apparently, fucking Leo was exactly everything I thought it would be.

He played perfectly into my fantasy—being wild and unhinged and uncaring about what I said that I wanted. He used me, just like I thought—fantasized—that he might.

Except, instead of taking me and completely owning my body even after we’ve both come, Leo shrinks away. Once the haze of coming wears off, he apparently comes to his senses and turns off the water.

I hold my arms over myself, at least pretending to have some decency as Leo steps out of the tub and then hands me a fluffy towel. I step out after him, and he makes room for me on the mat. But then, I turn around as I begin to dry myself off.

If he feels guilty for looking at me, then I just won’t give him the option.

I know that his mind must be in overdrive. I know he’s been fantasizing about sleeping with me ever since he saw me from across the dining room at the wedding. Now that I’m here, in his house, with apparently no ability to leave, he’s got every opportunity.

Unless he actually listens the next time I say no.

Even though I’m not looking at Leo, I swear I can feel his eyes on me as though they’re about to burn a hole right through my skin. With the absence of rushing water and a lack of moaning to fill the air, the silence drums against the two of us until I can’t take it anymore.

“Well?” I turn my head to look at him over my shoulder, and Leo’s toweling off his hair.

For a second, he pretends not to look at me, but then he turns towards me as I also pat myself dry.

“Kristen, I’m sorry.” He sighs heavily and runs a hand through his hair now that he’s finished drying it. His fingers split through the dark curls and make him look purposefully, perfectly, disheveled.

Huh. Apparently his hair is just like that naturally.

Somehow, his apology does little to soothe me. If anything, it just adds insult to injury. I know what people think of me—that because I’m a party girl, I must also throw myself at every guy I meet.

But it’s not true.

So, to have Leo look so fucking guilty about kissing me, and going down on me…cuts me in a place that I didn’t know existed. The orgasm he gave me was harder than any other I’d ever given myself. I enjoyed it.

But he didn’t.

“I mean it, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to you…I came rushing up the stairs because I heard you scream and when I saw you I just…” He sighs. “I couldn’t help myself.”

I turn my head away and let him stare at my ass as I use the towel to dry my hair.

“But I shouldn’t have done it. I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want you to think that because of what happened at the auction, that you’re obligated to have sex with me. I do want you, but that’s not why I did it.”

I look at him over my shoulder again and raise an eyebrow.

“I know I’m not obligated to fuck you, or let you fuck me. Even if that had been the reason you ‘bought’ me,” I snap.

“You’re right, and I want you to know that I won’t take you like that ever again.”

Now, I turn around and look at him. I can’t really work it out—Leo stands there, shifting his gaze from me to the floor, to the torn shower curtain and then to the last few drops of water as they drip down the drain.

I cross my arms and tilt my head to the side. My gaze on Leo’s face is unwavering. I want him to look at me. Where’s the wit of the man from the wedding or the sparks that I felt outside of the warehouse?

“Even if I want you to?”

“What?”

He turns to look at me, his dark eyes locking into mine.

“What if I beg you to take me, to fuck me and make me yours? Would you do it then?”

“Well that’s different—”

“Not that much,” I interrupt him, not caring if it pisses him off.

“Yes, it is, that’s you asking for it.”

“Who says I wasn’t asking for it now?”

“You told me that you weren’t fingering yourself at the thought of me. I shouldn’t have kissed you anyway.”

“But if I wasn’t into it, I could have said no, I could have pushed you away. If I’d told you to stop, you would have listened, right?”

“Of course, I—”

“Then, get over yourself!” I say, putting one hand on my hip. “Don’t act like I wasn’t also part of what just happened, that I didn’t also choose for it to continue.”

“But—”

“And, anyway, doesn’t this basically solve all your problems?”

“No!” Leo’s voice raises again, and then I see it—that spark.

There’s the dominant man who’s not afraid to take what he wants; all I need is to poke at him for a little bit.

“Why not?”

“Because I should never have put you in that position in the first place,” he snaps and takes a step towards the door. “Now that I have, there’re twelve new problems in it’s place.”

“So, sleeping with me is a problem?” I ask, following him out the door.

“No!”

“Then what?”

Leo walks through the hallway and into his bedroom, pulling open drawers and rummaging through them.

“Given that we only met a couple of hours ago and how I technically just ‘bought’ you at an auction, can’t you see how me then sleeping with you right away might be a little bit of a problem?”

I cross my arms and fall quiet for a bit.

Okay, so Leo has a point.

But it’s not like one mind-blowing orgasm is going to brainwash me into thinking that he only wants me for sex. Any man is lucky to be with a girl like me, and Leo is a change of pace from the guys I’m usually around.

For starters, he actually seems to care about me.

So, we stand in silence for a bit as Leo takes out a pair of grey sweatpants and a t-shirt from inside his wardrobe. From a small drawer in the corner, he pulls out a pair of lacy panties.

Not quite the neon pink g-string that I was expecting. Not that I’m complaining.

“So, do you want me to change here or…?”

Leo looks at me, still flicking through his wardrobe. “If you want.”

“Fine.”

I turn my back on him again, though I know he can see all of me in the reflection of the mirror. I drop the towel to the floor around my feet and dress myself in his clothes. He’s neglected to give me a bra, but I doubt he’ll have one in my size.

While I’m dressing, Leo does the same. I watch him through the mirror as he pulls out a dress shirt and suit pants. I see him hang a jacket over the door, and I cock my eyebrow.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got plans,” Leo says noncommittally, “and I can’t break them.”

“What about me?”

“You’ll have to stay put.”

He looks at me through my reflection in the mirror as he buttons up his shirt.

“What?”

“You heard me. Stay put. Do whatever: watch Netflix, order pizza or Chinese food or whatever. You could tear up all my pillows and destroy my bedroom if you feel like it…just don’t leave. You can’t do that.”

“Wow, so I really am a prisoner.”

“No.”

“So, I can leave?”

“No.”

I turn to face him, tilting my head to the side slightly. “Exactly.”

“Look, don’t make this difficult, Kristen. After I get back tonight, I’ll figure something out about what I’m gonna do with you. Trust me, I don’t really want you here any longer than you have to be either.”

I laugh dryly. “You’re such a charmer.”

“Oh, and one more thing…” Leo fastens cufflinks through his sleeves and doesn’t look at me. “There’s a door by the stairs. You might have missed it. But whatever happens, don’t touch it.”

“Why, is it your secret sex dungeon? Are you scared to show me how kinky you really are?”

“No. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just don’t touch it. Don’t even go near it. Don’t even think about it—”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Don’t touch this super-secret, super not-suspicious door under the stairs, or else you’ll kill me.”

“I won’t kill you.”

“No, you’ll just come back and ravish me in your secret kinky sex dungeon.”

Leo’s eyes narrow at me as he steps forward. He towers over me for a minute, with a dark look in his eyes.

“You know, Kristen? You’re really pushing your luck right now.” His eyes dart a look at his watch, and he shakes his head. “I have to go. I’ll be back after midnight.”

Then, Leo pushes past me and walks out of the bedroom. I listen to his footsteps go down the stairs, and then the front door slams.

I’m alone.