He opens the door, and we both walk inside. His arm is still around me and he turns me toward him. “You going to be OK? I think I should put you to bed.”
Every cell in my body hums a happy tune. The pleasant buzz of alcohol plays a sexy song, and I allow it to loosen my inhibitions. “I’ll let you under one condition.”
He inhales. “Anything the lady wants.”
“I’d like a kiss.”
Leo studies me, his blue eyes darkening. “You’re drunk.” Then he bends his heads and touches his lips to my cheek in a chaste kiss.
When he pulls back, I frown. “You don’t want to kiss me.”
“I did kiss you,” he says, brow furrowed.
“I meant a real kiss. Like you want me. A passionate, I-might-fall-in-love-with-you kiss.” I shouldn’t have said it, but it’s exactly what I mean.
“Babe,” he says and laughs. “You have no idea.”
“Kiss me again.”
He puts his hands on the back of my neck and pulls me to him. When his head lowers this time, I close my eyes instantly.
Leo’s lips part the seam of mine and I gasp as his tongue teases its way inside. The kiss accelerates like a bike coasting from the top of a hill. The thrill of the ride amps my heart rate and makes me want to hold on tighter.
His fingers tunnel into my hair and I grab the front of his T-shirt.
Leo’s mouth turns up at one corner in a smile I can feel and his lips move away from mine to trace kisses down my cheek and neck.
He gently kisses the base of my neck. “Is this what you had in mind?”
“Mmm…” I answer. My head swims a lazy circle, and I’m so drowsy that I can’t seem to open my eyes.
I drop my hands from the tight hold on his shirt to rake a trail down his chest, his stomach, and hips. Sliding my fingers to the back of his waist, I drag him closer to me. His mouth finds mine again.
He wins the Oscar, or Emmy, or gold freaking medal for kissing. Hands down.
The tips of my fingers slide into the back of his shirt and run along his waist where his jeans hang on his slim hips. He shudders.
“Babe,” he whispers against my lips.
His full erection presses against me, and I stop moving my hands. “You like this kiss,” I tease against his lips. “Me, too.”
Leo stops moving and puts a hateful inch of space between us. I groan a complaint.
“Bed,” he says, his lips against the top of my head.
“I want more kisses. I want you to know you are so beautiful.” I say to him with my eyes closed. “You are a beautiful enigma. The woods have secrets dark and deep…”
“You need to sleep this one off.”
“I’m not sleepy. More kissing.”
He leads me to my bedroom.
My brain slogs into gear. I open both eyes in unison and end up closing the right one to limit the sunlight burning a hole in my retinas. I have no idea of the time or the day, but I do know something.
There’s a body on the other side of my bed.
A wave of nausea rolls around my stomach. I turn my head to see the lump beside me and the dark hair. If someone were in my bed…I’d expect blond. I’d expect Leo. I’d expect…a larger body.
“Hey,” I say in a croak reminiscent of pond frogs on a summer night.
“What? I’m still asleep.” Josie rolls onto her back.
“Oh, it’s you.”
“Who’d you expect?” she says, her eyes slitting open and pinning me with a knowing look.
“I don’t know…oh, I’m going to be sick.” I take a shallow breath and push down the feeling.
Josie gently pushes me to the edge of the bed. “Go. If you puke on me, I’ll start puking.”
I drop my legs off the side of the bed and go to the floor. I’m on my hands and knees when Josie appears with a trash can.
“Here,” she says. “Take it, but I can’t stay. I cannot be around someone getting sick. It’s a vomit phobia. Sorry!” She puts the back of her hand to her mouth and makes a gagging sound.
“I’m not puking! Stop.”
“Just imagining. I’ll go get Leo. I’m so sorry. Just watching you…” She places the trash bin near my head and then her footsteps recede.
I lift my body and move toward the trash can. I’m not going to vomit. I can do this.
Then I put my head inside the canister and retch. So much for not vomiting. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I quit trying to fight it.
A faint rustling sound alarms me that either Josie is braving the vomit or she’s brought help. Please let it be the first.
“Here’s a washcloth,” Leo says in a low, soothing voice.
“Josie is a traitor.” I take the washcloth from him and wipe my sweaty face and then my mouth.
“She has a low threshold for medical emergencies. I, on the other hand, am an excellent nurse.”
“Gah,” I say in a self-disgusted groan. “Better than a low threshold for alcohol.”
He places a hand on my bare shoulder and squeezes. “I’m going to get you some water and aspirin.”
I sit up with my back to the bed, laying my forehead on my bent knees. When he returns, I lift my head. “Thanks.”
He hands me the glass and pills. “Try to drink all the water.”
I can’t do anything but obey. My head throbs in unison with my heartbeat. My mouth tastes like I’ve eaten something served in hell.
Leo takes the trash bin away and leaves the room, returning with a package of saltines. “Here. A couple of these on your stomach will help.”
“I need to die. Now.” I place a bite of cracker on my tongue and suck the salt before swallowing.
“Nah. You’re going to make it.” He sits beside me on the floor. “It’s my fault. I should’ve said no to the game. You can blame me.”
“You had more to drink than I did,” I say in an accusing tone.
He nods. “I never get sick. Josie doesn’t really either.”
“Oh.”
“Dane slept on my sofa, and he’s going to be as sick as you are.”
“I’m never drinking again.”
Leo grins as he stares at the wall. “You were pretty funny.”
“Did I do or say anything horrible?”
He looks up at the ceiling and then over at me. “You said you thought I was beautiful.” Leo’s mouth splits into a huge grin. “You can’t take it back. Liquor loosened your tongue last night, for sure.”
I cover my face with both hands. “Oh.”
“Yes. You did. But it was nice. And we kissed. Do you remember that?”
I’d shoved this memory to the back of my brain, and it rushes forward. That kiss. Angels must’ve laid down their harps and sighed.
Mortifying heat singes my cheeks. I’d asked for it. I think I may’ve begged for it. “Well, I am going to crawl back under the covers and hide for the rest of the day.”
“Good idea.” Leo stands and offers his hands to me. “Come on. Back to bed. I’ll drive Josie home and check on you later.”
“Leo?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks.” I get into bed, still wearing my clothes from yesterday.
“Anytime. You were fun last night. Sorry you’re paying for it today.” He walks to my doorway and lingers, bracing both hands on each side of the threshold.
“Tell Josie bye.”
He smiles. “Will do. If you feel better later, I’ll take you out for something more than saltines. Don’t fix lunch.”
My heart skips rope, performing double-unders that keep my lungs from functioning. How long can a person live without oxygen? Must. Breathe. “I could eat here. You don’t have to take care of me.”
“Yeah, well, it’s for my own good. Dane will be on my sofa, and it’ll be great to leave him be for a while. So, rest up and I’ll be back later.”
Leo takes a few steps out of the room and then returns.
“You forget something?” I ask.
“Just wanted you to know I think you’re beautiful, too.”
I inhale. There are my lungs again. I didn’t know I’d been holding my breath, but I obviously could forget to take in air again if he doesn’t leave soon.