“I… um… can’t remember. It’s probably a family name or something.”

“My round,” Aspen announced, standing up.

“I’ll come and help you,” Jason offered.

Leo stood up too.

“Are you okay?” I whispered when he kissed my cheek. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, beautiful.” He cupped my face with his hands. “You’re perfect. I’ll come back when I can.”

I watched him walk away, knowing something was off.

“Wonderlove,” Sia stated, and I turned back to see her dreamy expression. “You’re going to marry that guy.”

A part of me wanted to laugh, but her speech at Juniper’s wedding was said with such sincerity, I knew she really believed in seeing the difference between lust and love.

“It’s all new, Sia. I am happy though. He’s a really good guy.”

“And fucking hot,” she added with a wink.

Jason and Aspen returned with drinks and we spent the next few hours chatting and laughing. It was the most fun I’d had possibly ever. I was surrounded by genuine people and I had the whole weekend with Leo ahead of me.

“Let’s dance!” Aspen exclaimed, grabbing my hand. “Come on, Jase. Sia, get your butt on the dance floor.”

The four of us headed to what had become a dance floor. The music was so infectious that people were dancing everywhere, but a large group had converged near us and were creating a buzz of energy. Jason and Sia were really good, natural dancers. They had an effortless rhythm and seemed to really enjoy it. It was impossible not to have a great time with these three.

“So you and Leo are one hot couple,” Aspen shouted in my ear. “The guy is completely smitten.”

I looked at her a little shocked. My cheeks turned into hot fireballs and I shook my head.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve seen the exact look before.”

“What do you mean? We only just started dating.” Shouty conversations are always a little hard going, but I was taken aback by what she’d said.

“My brother, Ryan. He’s planning to propose to his girlfriend, Holly, next month on her birthday. They had a rough time for a while, but seeing them together, it was obvious they were crazy about each other.”

Butterflies, too big to be real, turned my stomach upside down. I glanced towards the bar and caught Leo’s eye. He smiled and waved but was flat out with customers. I closed my eyes and allowed the music to consume me.

A few hours later, I felt Leo’s lips on my neck, feathering kisses down my sensitive skin from behind and snapping me out of my dance meditation. “Ready to go?”

I turned into him and put my arms around his waist, looking up into his gorgeous face. “I’m ready.” I meant it in every way.

He kissed me and our tongues went to war, driven by our mutual desire.

Aspen, Sia and I retrieved our coats and bags and met Jason and Leo out the front.

“So nice to meet you,” I said to Jason and Aspen, giving them both a hug. “Hope we can catch up again before you go back to Sydney,” I directed at Jason.

“Me too,” Jason replied, his arm firmly around Aspen.

“What are you lovebirds up to this weekend?” Sia asked Leo and me.

“I’m taking Jules to my farm in the Yarra Valley tomorrow night.”

“Really?” I asked, excited to go there again, invited this time.

“I promised you a light show.”

“You are out of this world.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

I whispered in his ear. “Without a doubt, and I plan to show my appreciation in about fifteen minutes’ time.” I winked at him and heard a low groan come from deep in his chest. He gripped my hand and started pulling me away from the group.

“That sounds amazing.” Aspen winked at me and gave me an ‘I told you so’ look.

“Bye, guys,” I called out as we parted ways.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Leo

“I had such a good time tonight,” Juliette said as we walked into my apartment less than fifteen minutes later. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of the weekend with you.”

Juliette was finding herself, and part of that was being surrounded by genuine people. Bea and Angus were the most down-to-earth and loyal friends I could ever have and they already loved her. Seeing her so happy at the bar with Sia, Aspen and Jason, I knew they too were the type of people she needed in her life. I wanted that for her.

She’d told me she’d never felt sexy before we met. My jaw clenched thinking about her with her ex-boyfriend, Dick. His name suited him perfectly, but I felt almost grateful to him. His loss had changed my life and I’d never take her for granted. She was special and she was mine. There was no sexier sight than her.

“You know what I can’t wait for?” I asked, raking my eyes down her body.

She smirked, but her eyes were filled with lust. “I’ve got a pretty good idea.”

I was on her in two seconds flat. Our physical attraction was there from the moment we saw each other, but now we were more. So much more. I couldn’t get enough of her, and it wasn’t even just about getting into her pants. I wanted to talk to her, get to know her, help her and maybe one day, I would open up to her.

“Come with me.” I held out my hand and she took it without hesitation.

She chuckled as I dragged her towards my bedroom. “Are you going to have your wicked way with me?” she purred.

Standing next to my bed, I cupped her face in my hands. “I’m going to worship you the way you deserve to be worshipped.”

Her beautiful navy eyes blurred and I kissed her, wanting her to know how important she had become to me. Resting my forehead on hers, I whispered, “Tonight is all about you.”

She groaned and I smiled.

“Get on the bed.”

She lay down, never taking her eyes from mine, and I watched her in awe. She was spectacular. I climbed on top of her, my face an inch from hers. I was going to enjoy bringing her pleasure. I kissed her lightly on the lips before venturing to her neck. She tried to reach for my belt buckle, but I grabbed her hand and clamped it down by her side.

“My pants are staying on tonight.”

She groaned again. I enjoyed the sound so much.

My right hand grazed her body from her neck, across her breasts, and then slowly undid her jeans. When I lowered the zip, her hips raised, allowing me to slip the jeans down over her perfect backside. I released her hand and quickly removed her jeans and underwear, throwing them off the side of the bed.

I pushed her sexy black top up, exposing her perfect breasts.

“Take your top off,” I instructed.

She obliged immediately, and I could see her nipples immediately harden under my gaze, waiting for attention. I wasted no time sucking each one, slowly torturing her with my tongue. Her back arched off the bed, and I could feel myself getting harder by the second.

I stroked her toned stomach, trailing light kisses everywhere I touched and slowly making my way south. As if sensing where I was headed, her whole body tensed. When I reached my destination, her head shot up off the bed.

“God, Leo,” she panted. “No one has ever done that before.”

“Good,” I replied, plunging my tongue into the most intimate part of her beautiful body.

“Oh my God!” she half whispered, half shouted, convulsing beneath me.

I was in heaven and wanted to bring her this pleasure more than I’d ever wanted anything before. Before long, she was writhing and screaming my name, her body shuddering in waves of ecstasy. Watching her come apart for me was the most incredible experience of my life. She kept her eyes closed, and her grin remained in place as she came down from her orgasmic high. I made my way back up the bed and lay down next to her, revelling in her afterglow.

Eventually, she opened her eyes and then turned on her side to face me. “Thank you. That was… fucking incredible.”