Broken Course (34 page)

"I love you, too." I turn my head and find his lips for a brief but no less meaningful kiss.

"He looks like you," Leo tells Slate.

"He does. Poor kid." Slate settles on the tiny hospital bed next to Erica.

"All right, Mr. Andrews. I’ve told you twelve times. That bed has a weight limit," a nurse says, walking in the room.

"I’ll buy you a new one," Slate responds, not budging an inch.

"Okay, everyone. I need to check on our new mom now, so I’ll need you all to step out into the hall for just a minute. Out you go."

"I’m not going anywhere," Slate growls.

"Oh lord, I don’t mean you, Dad." She tosses him a sugary-sweet grin only to roll her eyes when she turns to face us.

"We’ll be outside." Leo reaches, forward squeezing Erica’s foot, while Slate takes Adam from my arms.

"So, gift shop?" I ask as soon as we exit the room.

But Leo’s hands are suddenly in my hair. His mouth slams over mine as he pushes me up against the wall, stroking his tongue against mine. Screw the fact that we are standing in public—I meet his every thrust.

"Cásate conmigo,"
he says against my lips.
"No quiero ninguna parte de esta vida sin ti. Fuistes, mi ángel. Despues mi cielo y ahora necesito que seas mi todo."

"Are you talking dirty?" I whisper, laughing.

"It might just be the dirtiest thing I’ve ever said." He leans away and tosses me an insecure smile. "Thank you for coming with me,
ángel
."

"You’re welcome. I’m glad to be here." I give him a tight hug.

We stand in the middle of the hospital hallway holding each other. It’s nothing overly sexy like it was a few minutes ago. It’s just comfortable.
It’s Leo.

When the door swings open, Slate comes walking out with the nurse.

"I’m going to get some coffee. Can you sit with her for a minute?" he asks Leo.

"Oh, coffee sounds great. I’ll go with you." I smile and pat Leo’s arm. He needs a few minutes alone with Erica, and it doesn’t appear that Slate is going to leave her side often.

"Grab me some too." He kisses my forehead before going back into Erica’s room.

"So, how bad did he flip the fuck out earlier?" Slate asks as soon as the door clicks.

"Um, well…it wasn’t terrible. But seeing her in pain really affected him," I respond evasively. I feel bad talking about Leo behind his back, but I don’t exactly want to hide his struggles from the people who love him either.

"Right." He nods, not bothering to look at me. "Did Leo ever tell you that I used to have a real issue with their relationship?"

"No," I answer shortly. I’m unsure, yet very concerned, about where this conversation might be headed.

"Well, I had a big problem with it at first. I’ve heard Leo told you about their past." He glances over at me questioningly.

"He did." I once again give nothing away.

"Come on, Sarah. You have to admit it’s a weird friendship they have." He stops walking and turns to face me. His expression is kind, but his words are starting to annoy me.

"No. I don’t think it is. Sometimes, your only choice is to stick to the people who truly understand. It’s easier than opening up to those who don’t." I lift an eyebrow with a little attitude, causing Slate to grin.

"Is that why you and Leo are together?" he asks bluntly.

My eyes snap to his. I guess it’s not surprising that Slate and Erica know about my past as well. To hear Leo tell it, I had a big impact on his life back then. But his question still catches me off guard.

"I…uh…" I stutter, not exactly sure how to answer. I like to think that our pasts aren’t the only reason we are together. However, it might be the reason I truly fell in love with him. He gets me and accepts me for who I am.
God, I love him for that.

"Leo needs you."

"No, he doesn’t, but I’m more than happy to stay anyway," I inform him.

Slate’s smile widens a fraction of an inch, and I decide to close the conversation.

"Erica and Leo’s relationship is unconventional, but it’s real. I think, fifty years from now, they will still be close. And it’s not because they have some twisted dependency on each other. I don’t disagree with you that it might be how it started, but every day, I think it evolves. In my eyes, they are just two people who bonded over a shared experience, but isn’t that how all friendships start? Just because it was something ugly that brought them together doesn’t make the bond any less pure." I begin to walk away.

I didn’t exactly intend to be a bitch with my parting words, but I have a feeling that’s exactly how it came off. Slate struck a nerve with this conversation though. I’m well aware of how Erica and Leo feel because my relationship with Casey has been scrutinized by everyone who knows our story. This all just hits a little too close to home for me.

I hear Slate bark out a laugh from behind me as I march away. With one giant step forward, he catches up and grabs my arm to stop me.

"Sarah, I agree with you
now
. So stop getting upset. This isn’t what I was trying to say at all. You have no idea how fucking happy it makes me to hear you say all this. The truth can be a little overwhelming with those two, and I wanted to make sure that it doesn’t intimidate you. I like you with Leo. I think you are really good for him. I just wanted to make sure your head was in the right place and you don’t view Erica as some sort of competition."

"No, not at all. I mean, maybe I did that first night I heard them on the phone together," I say sheepishly.

"I can’t blame you there, but you have no idea what a relief it is for me to hear all this from you. See, if you give Leo hell about spending time with Erica, she’s going to, in turn, give me hell about…well everything." He scratches the back of his head.

"I promise. I’m okay with all of it. You don’t need to worry about me." I smile reassuringly and it seems to sink in.

"Okay, coffee. Come on. My treat." He holds the hospital cafeteria door open and motions for me to enter.

Two weeks later….

"WHAT DO you think about moving in with me?" I ask Sarah over the computer during our Thursday night chat. Broaching this topic over a video chat while I’m in LA is probably not my most romantic move, but I couldn’t wait any longer.

I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now. We stay together most nights, but a few times a week, she goes home to clean her apartment or get more clothes. Slowly, the contents of her closet have been trickling their way over to my place. First, it was just some shampoo and pajamas. But it gradually became more. Now that she’s working for me, it’s not too hard to convince her to spend the night at my place.

"Seriously?" she asks, surprised.

"Yeah, seriously," I laugh. "Don’t look at me like that."

"Leo, we haven’t been seeing other each that long."

"You planning on breaking up with me anytime soon?" I ask, leaning back against the bed, suddenly wishing I hadn’t blurted this out tonight. I’ll be home tomorrow. I should have done it then when I could have coerced her with my body.
Mmm, her body.

"I don’t know. I like to keep my options open," she responds sarcastically.

"You know what I like for you to keep open? Your legs. Jesus, I can’t wait to get home."

"Focus, Leo. Moving in together," she scolds.

"Right. Break your lease. I’ll pay the fees."

"I’m less worried about the fees and more worried about how it’s going to affect us."

"
Ángel
, we already basically live together. This will just make it permanent. And I’m not sure if you have missed this somehow, but
we
are absolutely permanent."

"I know we are. It’s just… It seems like a huge step. We still have so much talking to do and stuff," she says quietly.

"What else exactly do we have to talk about? You might not have noticed, but we don’t actually do much talking on Thursdays anymore. We mainly talk about our days and then have sex. Thursdays are officially my favorite day of the week." I smile and she lets out a soft laugh. "I think we’ve covered all the hard stuff and we’re both still here."

"Yes. We are getting along so well. Clearly, it’s time to move in together and start fighting about who should pay the electric bill and who left the cap off the toothpaste."

"I like those kind of fights," I tell her honestly. "Because I know they always end with me apologizing, even if I don’t mean it, and then you get naked."

"Leo James! I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that part about you not meaning it!" she shouts, making me laugh.

"Come on. Move in with me," I exaggeratedly beg. "Besides, I don’t like the idea of hiring a maid, so really this would be a win for me."

"And they say romance is dead," she deadpans.

"I love you, Sarah. You know I was joking…kinda." I wink. "But I’m serious about you moving in with me. I want you there all the time. I want to come home to you every night and know that you’re safely tucked into my bed when I’m away. I want a life with you,
ángel
."

"I’m wet," she replies out of the blue.

I sit blinking at the screen for a minute. My neck should ache from whiplash after that sudden change of topic. I’m reasonably sure she’s just trying to distract me, but I can’t say that I really care.

"Show me," I answer, leaning in close to the computer, but she doesn’t move a muscle.

"Last night, I woke up about an hour after I fell asleep. I was so turned on. I was having a dream that you snuck into the bedroom and pinned me on my stomach as you slide in from behind. I swear I could feel you inside me, Leo."

"I like this dream." I lick my lips as I immediately go hard.

"When I woke up, my hand was between my legs. It was a sad substitute for you, but it was working."

"Fuck,
ángel
." I begin to rub my growing cock.

"It was amazing until I completely woke up and remembered I told you I wouldn’t come without you. Then it fucking sucked." She crosses her arms over her chest in an adorable show of attitude.

"Well, I’m here now." I tug down my pants, revealing my erection.

Her eyes glance down the screen for a second before she lets out a groan. "It was all hot and sexy at first when you claimed my every orgasm, but I’m not playing games anymore. I shouldn’t have to ask for permission to get myself off. Especially on nights like last night when you were gone."

"Take off your pants. Show me what you would have done."

"I’m just letting you know that the deal is officially off."

"No. Every time you come is for me and me only. I’m sorry I was gone, because had I been there, I would have rolled you over and made good on your dream. You should have called me. I would have told you all about what I would have done then listened to you moan my name as you came."

"You were working," she says, pulling her shirt over her head, exposing her fucking perfect tits.

I begin stroking my cock as I watch her fingers roll her nipples. "Take. Off. Your. Pants. I want to see that wet pussy," I growl.

"See, I figured you would get all caveman. ‘Grunt. Your orgasms belong to me.’ So I will repeat. I’m not asking here. I am, however, willing to make a compromise."

"Oh yeah? What’s that?" I continue to stroke myself as she reaches down to the button on her jeans.

"What if I agree to only make myself come while I’m in your bed? Well, I guess it would be our bed at that point." She smiles and my hand stills.

"You moving in with me?" I ask as a huge smile creeps across my face.

"I don’t know. Are you going to throw a macho shit fit about me rubbing my clit while imagining your long cock buried inside me?"

Holy. Fucking. Hell.
I can’t decide if I’m happy or so turned on that I need to push the computer back a few inches to keep it from forever glowing under a black light.

"Yeah, I’m going to throw a fit." I pause, and I can tell by her face that she’s about to get annoyed and shut me down. "But only because I like the idea of you coming in my shower too."

She smiles and temporarily disappears offscreen only to reappear a second later completely nude. "Our shower," she corrects, reclining on the bed and dropping her legs wide open.