Leo’s eyes darkened with concern. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” she replied, then before she could overthink it, Estelle leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
Leo went still for a heartbeat, then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest as he deepened the kiss. There was nothing tentative about it. This was recognition, claiming, the physical acknowledgment of what they both already knew.
Mates,her dragon whispered.
His mouth was warm and insistent against hers, his hands strong where they pressed against her back. Estelle felt herself yielding to him, the careful distance she had kept beginning to melt away. She slid her fingers into his hair, holding him closer as the kiss turned from exploration to hunger.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Leo rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve wanted to do that since I first sensed you.”
“I know,” Estelle replied, surprising herself with a small smile. “I felt it too.”
His hands moved to cup her face, thumbs stroking her cheekbones with a tenderness that made her throat tighten. “What now?” he asked, the question hanging between them.
Estelle hesitated.
The responsible answer would be to step back, to remind him of all the reasons they should be careful. But for once, she didn’t want to be responsible. She had shown Leo her truest self, and he hadn’t turned away. Maybe, just for tonight, she could allow herself this—not only the physical connection, but the deeper surrender of letting someone in.
“Now,” she said, her voice low and certain, “I think we should go inside.”
Leo’s eyes darkened, his pupils widening as her meaning settled in. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Estelle said, and she was. Whatever came tomorrow, tonight she wanted—needed—this connection. “Adara’s a sound sleeper, and I...” She took a breath. “I want you.”
The simple admission seemed to unlock something in Leo. He pulled her close again, his kiss deeper this time, more urgent. Estelle answered in kind, her body arching against his, seeking more contact.
They barely made it back to the house, stumbling up the porch steps between kisses. Inside, Leo paused, his hands on her waist.
“Which room?” he asked, his voice rough with want.
“Mine,” Estelle replied, leading him toward the stairs. “Second door on the left.”
They moved quietly past Adara’s room, where the soft sound of her even breathing confirmed she was still deeply asleep. In her own bedroom, Estelle closed the door and turned to face Leo, suddenly nervous despite her certainty.
He must have sensed her hesitation, because he approached slowly, giving her time to change her mind. “We can stop,” he said softly. “Any time.”
“I don’t want to stop,” Estelle whispered. “I just... It’s been a while.”
Leo’s smile was gentle as he cupped her face again. “Then we’ll take it slow.”
But slow wasn’t what either of them needed. The first touch of his mouth against hers lit something hot and immediate in her. Estelle’s fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt as he slid his hands beneath her top, palms warm against her skin.
“You feel so good,” he murmured against her neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive spot below her ear. “So right.”
Estelle gasped as his mouth moved lower, her head falling back to give him better access. She let herself feel everything—the heat of his mouth against her collarbone, the strength in his hands as they lifted her, the firmness of the wall against her back as he pressed her against it. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, reveling in the hardness of him against her.
“Bed,” she managed between kisses, and Leo complied, carrying her the few steps to the mattress and laying her down with surprising gentleness, given the urgency thrumming between them.
He stood for a moment, looking down at her with a hunger that made her breath catch. Then he pulled his shirt over his head in one fluid motion, revealing the broad expanse of his chest and the dark trail of hair that disappeared beneath his jeans.
“Your turn,” he said, his voice rough with desire.
Estelle sat up and removed her top, then her bra, acutely aware of his gaze following every movement. The cool air pebbled her nipples, and she resisted the urge to cover herself.
When she met his eyes, she saw the hunger there, raw and unmistakable, matching her own need.
“Beautiful,” Leo breathed, his gaze moving over her.
