Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Only for Tonight

Leon stood there beside Tori—his first love, the woman everyone assumed he’d one day marry. She clung proudly to his arm, elegant and assured, certain she belonged at his side. But I didn’t care. Because from the moment I stepped into the room, his eyes had left her and fixed only on me.

It was maddening, intoxicating. He walked in with her… yet he looked like he belonged to me.

I didn’t hesitate. I walked straight through the crowd, heads turning as I passed, and stopped right before them.

“Hi,” I said—clear, steady, unapologetic.

A faint, knowing smile touched his lips. He bit his lower lip, slow and deliberate, letting me see exactly how much he liked me taking the lead. Tori’s hand slipped from his arm, unnoticed.

“Hi, Ava,” Arthur greeted warmly, stepping forward.

I gave him a quick, polite smile, then turned my gaze straight back to Leon. “You don’t mind if we talk, do you?” My voice was bold, steady, like I already knew his answer.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying me. I could almost hear his thoughts: Why is she coming to me first? Why is she this brave?

“Doesn’t your cousin hate the idea of you near me?” Leon asked, voice low and cool. “He told me to stay the hell away from you. Warned me off clearly the last time we saw each other.”

I rolled my eyes, feigning indifference. “If you’d rather not… I’m sure Arthur can keep me company tonight.” I rested my hand lightly on Arthur’s arm, brushing my fingers over the fabric. Arthur caught my hand at once, laughing softly, not missing a beat.

“Come on, man,” Arthur grinned at Leon. “It’s not every day Avar Sloan walks up to your table. You’d be a fool to turn her away.”

Tori cleared her throat—loud, sharp, impossible to ignore. She stepped forward, clutching Leon’s arm tight again, knuckles white. “Excuse me. He’s with me.” Her voice was icy, eyes flashing.

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

She was older, more poised, more experienced in every way. But I wasn’t backing down. Not tonight.

“Enough,” Leon said—cold, firm, final. He gently but firmly peeled Tori’s fingers from his sleeve. “We’re just talking. That’s all.”

I nodded, saying nothing. He sighed, hands sliding into his pockets, glanced once at Tori—disappointment plain in his face—and told her he’d be back.

She stood there, stunned, watching us walk away. Poor thing. She had no idea. He wasn’t coming back to her tonight.

I winked at Arthur over my shoulder.

We moved through the crowd, and I scanned the room until I spotted Tyler—up on stage, loud and drunk, singing into the microphone like he owned the place. Good. He’d never notice I was gone. If he lost sight of me, he’d tear this building apart looking.

I followed Leon out the back doors, into the quiet garden. The air was cool and sweet with jasmine. A few guests lingered on the terrace, but out here beneath the trees, it felt like the rest of the world had fallen away. Just us.

Leon stopped beneath a lantern, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. The flame cast gold over his face, sharp and shadowed. He stood with his back to me. “What do you want to talk about?”

I couldn’t answer. Not yet. I just stood there, drinking him in—broad shoulders, strong frame, every line of him solid and unyielding beneath his dark suit. My throat went dry. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might break free.

I stepped forward, close enough to feel his warmth, and wrapped my arms tight around his waist. I pressed my cheek to his back, breathing in cedar and smoke and him.

He stiffened instantly. Caught completely off guard.

“I want you,” I whispered. My voice trembled, rough with longing I’d kept locked inside for months.

Silence.

Long, heavy silence.

My pulse raced. Was he going to turn me away? Push me back? If he did… I swore right then I’d close this part of myself forever. I’d never let anyone touch me—not even the stranger I was meant to marry.

Slowly, he turned. His hands came to rest lightly on my arms, holding me just far enough back to look me in the eye. He leaned down, bringing his face level with mine, close enough that I could feel his breath. “Why?” he asked, voice low and raw. “Why me, Ava?”

“Why not you?” I shot back, unflinching.

He held my gaze for a long, aching 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 bob as he swallowed hard. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, slow and deliberate. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”

I scowled, hurt and pride warring in my chest. “If you don’t want me… fine. I’ll find one of your friends. Someone who won’t make me beg. If you’re going to stand there hesitating like this—”

I turned on my heel, ready to storm back inside, furious and burning. Any man could give me what I wanted. But I didn’t want any man. I wanted him. Why was he making this so difficult?

My hand had barely touched the door handle when he caught my wrist—firm, certain—and spun me around. Before I could breathe, he backed me hard against the wall, one arm caging me in above my head. Just like that night in the elevator.

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

My shock melted into a slow, wicked smile. He was inches away, and God—he smelled incredible. Warm, rich, intoxicating. Just his scent alone was enough to unravel me.

I reached up, cupping his face in both hands. His stubble grazed my palms, rough and real, sending shivers racing straight through me.

“And here I was coming to you… giving myself to you… and you still act like you don’t want me,” I breathed, my thumb brushing over his bottom lip.

He leaned closer, forehead nearly touching mine. “It’s just… I never thought you’d be the one to come find me. I never thought you’d dare.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” My hand slid down to rest at the base of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. My eyes locked on his lips—full, firm, the ones I’d dreamed of for so long.

I didn’t wait. I leaned in and pressed my mouth to his. Tentative at first, soft and unsure. Then he sighed—a low, rough sound—and took control. He pulled me flush against him, arms wrapping tight around my waist, kissing me like he meant it. Like I was his. Like I had been all along.

“Your place or mine?” he asked, his lips brushing mine with every word.

“Yours,” I gasped.

He took my hand and led me to his car, holding it like he was already claiming me. And for tonight… he could. Tomorrow, and every day after, I belonged to someone else. But tonight—tonight was ours. He had to make it count.

He opened the car door for me, then rounded to the driver’s seat. He started the engine, then glanced over and groaned low in his throat. “Damn it, Ava… why are you dressed like that?”

I looked down at my dress—halter-neck, cut low at the chest, the long skirt split high to show my legs. “I wore it for you. You don’t like it?”

I watched his throat work as he swallowed hard. He’d never seen me this bold, this exposed. Usually I kept everything hidden, leaving it all to the imagination. But tonight—I wanted him to see everything. I wanted him to know exactly what he was taking.

“You’re really something,” he muttered, shaking his head as he pulled away.

Minutes later, he parked at a building I knew well. My breath caught. I owned a unit here. I’d stayed away for months, but I knew this place. I never guessed he lived here too.

I reached for the door handle, but he caught my wrist and pulled me back into his arms before I could stand.

“Eager, are we?” I teased, breathless.

His hand slid to my waist, yanking me flush against him. My arms wrapped around his neck. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips. “Watching you. Wanting you. Holding back.” Then he kissed me—deep, hungry, claiming.

His touch burned through the thin fabric of my dress, hot and sure. I knew right then I’d never regret this. Not even when everything fell apart.

The elevator dinged as we reached his floor. A woman stood waiting—and gasped. I tried to pull away, cheeks burning with heat and shame, but Leon held me fast, one hand cupping the back of my neck, kissing me harder, deeper, like he didn’t care who saw.

“Sorry,” she said softly, rushing out the moment the doors opened.

He didn’t stop. His kisses trailed down my throat, open-mouthed and hot, stoking a fire I’d never known existed. I was breathless, dizzy, trembling by the time he pulled me out into the hallway—my heart nearly stopped when I saw the number. He lived on the same floor as me. And Saint.

Before I could think, he had me pressed back against his penthouse door, fumbling with the lock, kissing me like he’d starved for years. Once inside, he kicked the door shut and lifted me effortlessly into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist, clutching his shoulders, as he carried me deeper into the dark room.

He set me down only to look into my eyes—dark, wild, burning with hunger.

“Leon,” I breathed, his name falling soft and wanting from my lips.

“Are you still sure, baby?” he asked, voice rough as gravel. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his thumb lingering on my cheek.

Baby. The word sounded so right. So warm.

For tonight, I was his. Fully. Fearlessly.

I cupped his face and pulled his mouth back to mine. “Fuck yes.”

He kissed me hard, possessive and thorough, and I moaned into his mouth, already throbbing with need. I barely remember how he undressed me—his hands moving gently but surely, peeling away layers until I stood before him in nothing but my skin. I don’t remember crossing to the sofa. I only remember him taking me apart piece by piece, touching, tasting, claiming every inch like he meant to memorize me.

His mouth was hot on my skin. He lingered over my chest, tongue circling, teasing, learning me. I arched into him, breathless, and moved my hips slow against him—desperate, aching, wanting to feel him inside me more than I’d ever wanted anything.

“Leon… please… I need you,” I whimpered, fingers tangling in his hair.

But he only suckled harder, one hand guiding my hips to rock slow and deliberate against him, urging me to find my own rhythm. “Keep moving, Ava,” he murmured against my skin. “Just like that.”

His hands were everywhere—caressing, squeezing, holding me steady. I moved against him, shy and unsure at first, then letting my body take over. The friction built a heat that coiled tight and sweet low in my belly. It felt so good I almost cried. I wanted nothing more than to feel him deep inside me, filling me completely.

He kissed my neck, nipping gently at my jaw, and whispered low in my ear—rough, dark, and intimate. “I want you so wet, baby… so wet you can hear exactly how much you want me.”

I gasped, eyes fluttering shut, trembling all over. His words alone sent heat rushing through me. My hips moved on their own now, faster, needier, chasing that building pleasure. He knew exactly what he was doing—drawing every last sensation out of me, teasing, pushing, until I was shaking in his arms.

Then he laid me back gently on the cushions. He stripped away the last of my clothes, leaving me bare and shivering beneath his gaze. He stood back for a moment, looking at me—eyes dark, pupils blown wide, like he couldn’t get enough.

“Fuck,” he cursed, breathless.

I never expected what came next.

He knelt between my legs, pushed my knees wide, and leaned down. His tongue touched me—slow, deliberate, tasting me deep. My face burned hot, shame and pleasure warring, but when he looked up—eyes dark and predatory, watching my every reaction—I almost shattered right there. He smirked, then pulled my last barrier aside and feasted on me. Licking, sucking, learning exactly what made me gasp. I writhed beneath him, clutching the cushions, 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—drawing it out, taking me higher and higher until I didn’t know where I ended and he began. I came apart in his hands, shaking and sobbing his name, and he held me through it, kissing me sweetly afterward. 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.