Hand of Thorns (17 page)

I don't only look pretty, I feel it.

Leon is waiting for me in the hallway when I exit the room. His expression tells me everything I need to know, in fact, when he opens his mouth it immediately snaps back shut. I wonder to myself if by chance I have rendered him speechless. I would never expect someone like me to have that kind of hold over someone like Leon, but it takes a full thirty seconds for him to finally open his mouth and say, "Calling you beautiful is such an understatement."

I turn my head, trying to hide the blush, but he doesn't allow me to. His finger pulls my face towards him as he places a kiss on my lips. "Ready for your next surprise?"

"You have no idea."

He laces our fingers together again while he make our way up the small set of stairs to where the hot tub is. The sun is starting to set and tonight the sky is a purplish-blue with swirls of pink and yellow. "Wow, the sunset is stunning."

"It doesn't even compare," Leon whispers while standing behind me. The soft blow of air from his words tickle down my neck, causing goosebumps to erupt. He places several kisses on my shoulder. "Come here." He starts to walk towards the edge of the yacht.

I follow in step after him. He allows me to lean against the rail while he holds me in his arms. We look out to sea, there isn't land nor another ship in sight. The ocean looks like it goes on forever, the horizon a flat line where you actually begin to wonder if you would in fact fall off the face of the earth. There is faint music somewhere in the background, and he sways us back and forth while we relax into one another, searching for absolutely nothing.

"Do you think we could see a whale?" I ask.

"I don't believe it's actually the season for them to be passing through, but I suppose you never know."

"I'm not sure I want to see any. They're too big."

He chuckles. "We're safe, don't worry."

"Until the ship flips over and we fall in, only to have a sea full of Jaws attacking us."

"You really think that would happen?" I can hear his amusement in my fear.

"Well, it is a possibility."

"No it's not."

"How do you know?" I ask, peeking up at him.

He stares at me, a small smirk on his drop dead gorgeous face. "Because I would fight every single shark off to make sure you were safe."

"You're so corny." I laugh, but in reality, I'm swooning.

"Well if you don't like corny, I guess we can skip the next part of your surprise."

"I never said I didn't like corny," I argue. "In fact… I kind of love it."

He kisses my nose and looks off into the distance where he nods his head. Suddenly the soft hum of music increases into a loud melody. Holding my hand, he twirls me outward, then pulls me back, holding me in his grace. "May I have this dance?"

I don't have to answer him with words, he already knows I willing accept. We sway to the music, gracefully and romantically, while the sun slowly disappears, and one by one the sky fills with twinkling little lights. The purple and blue fade to black, and the yellow hues disappear altogether. We continue dancing under the stars for what seems like forever, but with Leon, forever isn't nearly enough time.

My stomach gurgles and I hope Leon doesn't hear it. I don't want to interrupt the most romantic thing that'll probably ever happen to me. When it gurgles the second time, and this time for a lot longer, I know he hears it. "Why don't we get into the hot tub, and have them serve us some food?" he asks.

"Are you sure?" I hate that he heard the grumbles, but his suggestion sounds perfect.

"Yes, I'm sure. Come on." With his hand placed on my lower back, he guides me over to the hot tub, which is surrounded by white dangling lights. There is a phone nearby which he picks up and calls for whomever to bring us food. While he is focused on that, I unzip my dress and kick it over to the side, then walk to the hot tub, plunging under the water before he is able to see me. When he comes over, he narrows his eyes in my direction. "I was hoping to see the bathing suit I bought you."

"You already did," I mock.

"On you." He reaches for the back of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head in that unbelievably sexy way you see men do sometimes. I wasn't expecting him to have a full blown six pack, but I guess I should have assumed it. Continuing down his torso, I practically drool at the deep v around his hip bones that submerge into the jeans he's about to take off.

Swallowing against my willpower, I look back up at him. He's watching me the same way I'm watching him. "Enjoying what you see?" His cockiness only causes my heart to pound faster.

"Maybe," I choke out. He chuckles, lowering his jeans to his ankles and kicking them off to the side. Leon dips himself into the hot tub next to me, reaching over to place his hand on my knee. Tortuously he moves it upward until it's gripping into my inner thigh.

"Just maybe, huh?"

"What?" I have no focus at this rate. I'm in my own world of delusion. "Oh, um, yeah. Yeah, I like it. I like it a lot." I sound pathetic and breathless, but he does that to me.

"Stand up," he orders. "Let me see you. I've been waiting to see that bikini on you."

"You knew what it looked like?" I ask.

"Yes, I had to approve everything before it was brought here. Now, let me see."

I bite nervously on my lip, still feeling like he's going to dislike how I look in it, but I brave myself to stand before him. "My fucking God, Monica. Turn, please." The words gravel through his teeth. I do as he says, yelping out when he smacks on me on the butt. Quickly turning, I face him with a disapproving glance, but when I see his boyish grin I immediately smile.

"Are we done now?"

"Are you cold?"

"No, I just..." I glance down at my stomach. "Would rather sit."

"What's wrong?" he asks when I plunge my body back under the water.

"I'm still getting used to being bigger," I admit bashfully. "I don't feel comfortable in something so tiny." At home I wouldn't care, in front of my friends I wouldn't care, but with Leon, I feel self-conscience. I shouldn't, but I can't control that part of my mind.

He places his hand against my cheek, causing me to look at him straight on. "You have no reason to feel that way."

"I don't normally, it's just..." I don't answer him this time.

"What? You don't want me to see it or something?" His voice grows thick, and I think he may actually be annoyed.

"Well... I don't know." It's the best answer I can give him.

"Monica." His voice stern. "The first time I saw you I thought you were breathtaking, but seeing you pregnant with my child is... it's something I can't even explain. You radiate exuberance. Every time I see you, I swear you've somehow gotten even more beautiful. And when you're wobbling..." The side of his mouth lifts in a sideways smirk full of humor. "It'll be hard to keep me away. I'm going to want to kiss you and hold you every chance I can."

"You can't say things to me like that," I warn him.

"It's the truth."

"But it makes me want you even more."

I watch as his expression turns sad, and that is when I know that he feels the same way- that he wishes we were together under different circumstances as well. Dropping his hand from my face, he relaxes into the water a little more. "We should probably get you back to your friends soon."

This isn't what I expected for tonight. I should have kept my mouth shut about it all. Although I feel better about how he thinks of me, and us, and my pregnant body, I'm still saddened by the sudden change. Thinking quickly, I decide to do something daring, something I've never done before. Leon gave me a huge confidence boost, I need to try to show him how much I appreciate it, and also how much I
want
him.

Staying in the water, I turn with ease and glide one of my legs over Leon's lap. Curling my knees, I press myself down onto his lap, making sure we're close together. He instantly grabs my ass, keeping me in position while he starts to kiss along my skin. I throw my head back, giving him full access to my throat.

As he works his mouth towards my chin, I casually bring my mouth to his. There isn't as much passion in our kiss as earlier, but I still feel equally aroused. My hips rock back and forth slowly, feeling the exact moment Leon wants more than kissing as well.

"Monica," he whispers when he breaks our kiss.

"Yeah?" I moan, still moving my hips, needed to feel more of him.

"We need to move this into the room."

Within in a second I'm climbing from his lap, agreeing completely to his statement. We don't bother grabbing our clothes before heading downstairs. Before the door closes to the bedroom, he pulls the string to my top, then to my bottoms, and I'm immediately struck with his reasoning on approving this suit. I'm completely naked and exposed to him as I crawl onto the bed. When I turn to lay on my back, I zero in on the fact that Leon, too, is exposed to me.

And holy fuck, I'm not sure he'll fit.

"I had something else planned," he says, while looking me over head to toe and back up. "But that can wait until next time."

"The bag?" I ask breathlessly.

He nods. "I don't have time to strip you from the lingerie." He climbs over me, looking down at me with loving eyes. The intensity he normally has in his features softens as he lines himself up with me. I can feel the tease of his erection pushing into my opening, and I want to thrust my hips forward, needing him inside of me, but I tame myself. It's hard not to focus on the way his eyes gaze down at me, and the way his lips are parted so perfectly while his breathing increases.

As he pushes forward I tense up in pain. "Are you okay?" he whispers.

My body relaxes while he waits for me to answer. I nod, embarrassed to say anything. It takes him a second to do anything, but he eventually starts to push forward again/ I hold back from crying out while he slowly yet gradually becomes deeper inside of me. "Fuck, you're so tight, Monica."

Closing my eyes, I focus on his soothing scent and the feel of his warm skin against mine. He stops pushing forward, and I'm not even sure if he's all the way in or not. "Baby, look at me." I peek my eyes open. He looks incredibly concerned for me. My heart swells over the idea of him caring that much for me. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah, it just hurts a little," I admit softly. Even though it actually hurts
a lot
. I don't think it was even half as intense the first time I had sex.

"Do you want me to continue?"

"Please," I beg.

"You're not... a virgin are you?" I shake my head back and forth. "Okay, beautiful, only if you're sure."

"I am."

He kisses my forehead while he pushes in the rest of the way. This time I can't hold back the scream, but it somehow turns into a moan when he pulls back. He slowly pushes in again, and it starts to feel pleasuring, despite the sting. As he continues the thrusts, slow at first but increasingly faster, the pleasure overtakes the pain immensely. My body heats up all over, and as we get into a rhythm, he intensifies his thrusts. My screaming only echoes louder.

As I'm about to fall apart at the seams, I scream out Leon's name repetitively.

"Fuck, baby," he breathes. "You feel so amazing. I don't think I'm going to last long."

His words give me encouragement to wrap my legs around him more. He feels even deeper inside of me. The effect has me screaming once again as it pushes me over the edge for the second time.

Leon's body stills and I can feel a warming sensation inside of me which gives me chills. With one more slow yet deep thrust, he pulls from me, moving my body with his as he turns to the side. We're both on our sides, facing one another. "I'm sorry I was so quick," he mumbles.

I didn't think it was quick at all, but to imagine him lasting twice as long causes my insides to pulsate with desire once more. "It was... incredible."

"It certainly was." With a pause, he adds in, "Your pussy is so damn tight."

Nobody has ever talked to me that way, and as much as it should embarrass me, it does the opposite. I almost feel inspired. Desirable even. I want more of Leon already.

"Does this mean we can make love more often?" I make sure to throw in the words he swears he never does, but to me, that is exactly what we just did. It was romantic, and sweet, and he made sure that I felt alright. He wasn't rough or rude. There was no kink to it. It was simple, sweet, and... I loved it. I loved the man I did it with. Why wouldn't I call it making love?

Placing a tender kiss to my forehead, he starts to move from the bed. "I told you, I don't do that." He pauses when he gets from the bed, glancing over at me with a quirky smile. "But yes, we can definitely do that more."

"Thank you," I whisper.

"For?"

"Everything. Tonight. This was the best birthday I could have ever imagined."

He flashes a grin in my direction, leaving me even more spent. "You deserved everything and more."

We finished the evening by eating the snacks that were left at the hot tub, while cozied up inside a large blanket wrapped around the two of us. We sat in front of a fake fireplace that still blows out warm air, and I ended up falling asleep against Leon's shoulder. He awakened me when we were docked, but I ended up falling back asleep in the car.