Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Leon was there with Tori, his first girlfriend. But I didn’t care—because his eyes were only on me.

Funny how he walked in with her, yet he looked like he belonged to me.

“Hi,” I called out, cutting through the crowd swarming around him.

He gave a faint, knowing smile, biting his lower lip just enough to show he liked me taking the lead. Tori’s hand slipped from his arm.

“Hi, Ava,” Arthur greeted me.

I smiled back briefly, then turned my gaze straight to Leon. “You don’t mind if we talk, do you?” I asked, bold and sure.

He narrowed his eyes at me. I knew exactly what he was thinking—why is she coming to me first?

“Doesn’t your cousin hate the idea of you near me?” he asked. “He told me to stay the hell away from you last time we saw each other.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you don’t want to… I’m sure Arthur can keep me company tonight.” I rested my hand lightly on Arthur’s arm, brushing my fingers over it. Arthur caught my hand at once, laughing softly.

“Come on, man,” Arthur grinned. “It’s not every day Avar Sloan walks up to your table.”

Tori cleared her throat loudly, as if reminding everyone she was still there. “Excuse me—he’s with me,” she said sharply, clutching his arm tight.

I met her gaze evenly. “I don’t care.”

She was older, more experienced… but I wasn’t backing down.

“Enough,” Leon said coldly. He gently pulled Tori’s hand away. “We’re just talking. That’s all.”

I nodded. He sighed, hands in his pockets, glanced once at Tori, and told her he’d be back.

She had no choice but to watch us walk away. Joke’s on her—he’s not coming back to her tonight.

I winked at Arthur.

I scanned the room for Tyler and found him busy singing on stage. Good—he’d never notice where I’d gone. If he lost sight of me, he’d tear the place apart looking.

I followed Leon out the back door, into the quiet garden. A few people lingered nearby, but it felt like only us.

“What do you want to talk about?” Leon asked, lighting a cigarette, his back turned to me.

Even in the dim light, I couldn’t stop staring. Broad shoulders, strong frame—every line of him was sharp and solid, hidden but not lost beneath his clothes.

My throat went dry. I stepped closer, heart hammering so hard I could barely breathe, and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek to his back.

He stiffened, caught completely off guard.

“I want you,” I whispered, voice rough with need.

Silence.

Was he going to turn me away?

If he did… I’d close myself off to every man. Even the one I was meant to marry.

“Why?” he asked, turning slowly to face me. His hands rested lightly on my arms, holding me back just enough to keep me from clinging to him. He leaned down, bringing his face level with mine. “Why me, Ava?”

“Why not you?” I shot back.

He held my gaze for a long moment, then stood straight and sighed. “You’re forbidden—”

“Isn’t forbidden the sweetest thing there is?” I cut him off before he could finish.

I watched his adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”

I scowled. “If you don’t want me… I’ll just find one of your friends to take what’s yours tonight. If you’re going to act like this—”

I turned on my heel, ready to storm back inside. Any man could do it—but I wanted him. Why was he making this so hard?

My hand had barely touched the door when he grabbed my arm and spun me around, slamming me back against the wall—just like that night in the elevator. He caged me in with his body.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled.

My shock melted into a slow, wicked smile. He was inches away, and god—he smelled incredible. Just his scent alone was enough to drive me wild.

I reached up, cupping his face. The stubble grazed my palm, sending shivers straight through me.

“And here I was coming to you… and you still act like you don’t want me,” I breathed.

“It’s just… I never thought you’d be the one to come find me,” he murmured, voice thick and rough.

“Why wouldn’t I?” My hand slid down to his neck, eyes fixed on his lips. How long had it been since I’d tasted them? Years? Years indeed.

I didn’t wait for him. I leaned in and pressed my mouth to his, unsure at first, then letting myself fall completely when he took control. He pulled me flush against him, claiming me like I was made only for him.

“Your place or mine?” he asked against my lips.

“Yours,” I gasped.

He took my hand and led me to his car, holding it like he already owned me. And for tonight… he did. Tomorrow, and all the days after, I belonged to someone else. But tonight—he had to make it count.

“Damn it, Ava… why are you dressed like that?”

I glanced down at my dress: halter‑neck, cut low at the chest, long skirt with high slits showing off my legs. “I wore it for you. You don’t like it?”

I saw him swallow hard. He’d never seen me this bold, this exposed. Usually I left things to the imagination—but tonight, I wanted him to see everything.

“You're really something,” he muttered.

He parked at a building I knew well—I had a unit here, though I hadn’t visited in ages. I never guessed he lived here too.

I reached for the door handle, but he pulled me back, his grip firm.

“Eager, are we?” I teased.

His hand slid to my waist, yanking me close. My arms wrapped around his neck. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” he whispered, kissing me deep and hungry.

His touch burned through my clothes, and I knew I’d never regret this.

The elevator dinged, and someone gasped. I tried to pull away, embarrassed—but he held me fast, kissing me harder.

“Sorry,” a woman’s voice said softly before the doors closed again.

He didn’t stop. His kisses trailed down my neck, stoking a heat I’d never felt before. I was breathless by the time he pulled me out into the hallway—right on the same floor as mine and Saint’s.

Before I could wonder more, he had me pressed against the door of his penthouse the moment we stepped inside, kissing me like he’d starved for years. I gasped, clutching his shoulders as his mouth moved down my throat, slow and deliberate, sending waves of pleasure through me.

Then he lifted me up easily.

I looked into his eyes—wild, dark, hungry.

“Leon,” I purred.

“Are you still sure, baby?” he asked, voice rough as gravel.

Baby. It sounded so right.

For tonight, I was his.

I cupped his face and pulled him back to me. “Fuck yes.”

He kissed me back hard, and I moaned into his mouth, already throbbing with need. I don’t remember how he undressed me, or how we ended up on the sofa—only that he was taking me apart piece by piece, claiming every inch of me.

His mouth was hot on my skin, lingering over my chest, tasting me like he wanted to memorize every part. I moved my hips against him, desperate to feel him inside me.

“Leon… please… I need you,” I whimpered.

But he only suckled harder, guiding my hips to roll against him, urging me to take what I wanted.

“Keep moving, Ava,” he said, then took my other breast into his mouth.

His hands were everywhere—caressing, squeezing, claiming. I moved against him, slow and unsure at first, then letting my body take over. It felt so good I almost cried out. I wanted nothing more than to feel him deep inside me.

He kissed my neck and whispered in my ear, “I want you so wet, baby… so wet you can hear how much you want me.”

I gasped, eyes fluttering shut when he grazed my earlobe with his teeth. My hips moved on their own now, building a tension coiling tight in my core. He knew exactly what he was doing—drawing every last sensation out of me until I was trembling.

Then he laid me back gently, stripping away the last of my clothes until I was bare before him.

“Fuck,” he cursed, eyes dark and fixed on me.

I never expected what came next.

He spread my legs and leaned down, tasting me slow and deep. My face burned hot, and when he looked up at me—eyes dark and predatory—I almost lost it right there. He smiled, then pulled my last piece of underwear away and feasted on me, licking and sucking until I was writhing, crying out his name.

“Leon… stop… I can’t—” I tried to say, but he wouldn’t let up.

He never did. He made sure I felt every second of it, taking me higher and higher until I didn’t know where I ended and he began. No wonder women fell apart for him. No wonder they always came back.

And no wonder even girls who’d never been touched dreamed of this.

Because god—he was perfect.