Newmar, Lola - Leo's Crown [Scarlett Rose and the Seven Longhorns 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) (3 page)

A wicked smile crossed her lips as he began to dig in his pocket for his black American Express card. She took it from him slowly then leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Thank you, lover. I guess someone deserves a little young-pussy feast for dessert tonight for being such a good boy.” His body tensed as her tongue snaked around the outer edge of his ear. “Get ready for me to ride that mustache, lover.”

His breathing almost hit panic mode, and Todd was quick to increase the oxygen intake on the tank. Alisa went back over to her mother and continued their Russian talk as if nothing had happened. The upside of being impotent was there was no longer a need to hide the rock-hard cock he’d have been sporting if he were just a little younger.

* * * *

Once Charlie was wheeled out of the room, Alisa let out an exasperated sigh as she turned back to her mother. “Goddamn, I can’t wait to get this all over.”

Her mother smiled and lightly rubbed Alisa’s cheek. “You are doing well, my child. Soon, your wedding day will be here. Everyone will be looking at you, the ravishing bride, and you’ll be legally married to a very rich and dying man. Things are looking up, my Alisa. It looks as though my lessons have served you well, my child.”

“Ugh!” Alisa groaned as she began to unsnap her corset. “You can’t imagine what I had to do to convince him out of that pre-nup.”

Dasha scrunched her nose. “I’m sure I don’t even want to.”

“Yes, well, it worked. And once we know for sure Scarlett is dead, I will no longer have to worry about that spoiled brat stealing the spotlight on
my
wedding day. The money she was to inherit is going to make it that much sweeter.” Alisa turned back to the mirror and stared at her now naked body. “I don’t get it, Mother. My tits are twice as big as hers, and she still manages to turn every head in whichever room we happen to walk in.” She shook her head in disgust. “I’ve worked way too hard to get the American wedding of my dreams, and this time, all eyes will be on
me
.”

Dasha moved in behind her, putting her hands gently on Alisa’s shoulders as she looked her over in the mirror. “And they will be, daughter of mine. I’ll make sure of that.”

Alisa smiled at the wicked wink her mother gave her through the reflection. When her mother had a plan, it might as well have been carved in stone.

Chapter 3

Leo watched Scarlett nibble at her pimento grilled cheese from across the table. He felt a little guilty at the relief he felt. A human’s love was never guaranteed to last forever, but it seemed she missed his brothers as much as they were no doubt missing her. A good sign of her love, so far.

She’d developed a little pattern, he noticed. She would swirl her spoon around her tomato soup for a couple of slow circles, dip the corner of her sandwich, take a tiny bite, put it down with a long sigh, then repeat. It took effort for Leo not to form a smile.

“You’re pouting.”

His observation had her looking up at him. He was still amazed at the way his chest would warm
every
time he looked into her baby blues. And to think that was never going to go away.

“I’m sorry, Leo.” She dropped her spoon on the saucer with a loud clink and crossed her arms as if frustrated. She gazed down at the table, but he could tell she was just looking right through it. “I guess I’m not going to be much fun tonight.”

Leo reached across the table and pulled one of her hands away from her body until she held it out to him. “If you’re comparing it to last night, I wouldn’t beat yourself up too much about that,” he said softly with a wink.

Her deep giggle brought a smile to his face. It was the first time she’d laughed all day. It was much too long to go without her utmost happiness.

“Yeah, I guess I kinda screwed myself with that one, setting the bar so high,” she replied, shaking her head.

He cupped her cheek in his hand. “Naw, you got
us
for that now, darlin’.”

She laughed again at his corny joke, her bright white teeth like a ray of sunshine in the thick, mundane air of the room. She leaned her cheek deeper into his palm, holding it there with her dainty hands. “You know, even when I’m sad, I still feel like I’m the happiest woman in the world.” She blinked, and a single tear from each eye fell atop her rosy cheeks.

He might not have known much about his new mate, but he did know one thing. “I love you, Scarlett.” He swallowed hard.
Don’t cry, you damn pansy.

“I love you, too, Leo.”

As they went back to finishing their lunch, he couldn’t help but wonder just what Scarlett’s life was like back in Dallas. Not that anything she’d done in her past mattered to him. What really mattered was she was there with them now, where she belonged. But anything having to do with Scarlett sparked his interest, and his curiosity was beginning to get the best of him. “Scarlett, baby, would you mind if I spent a little time in my office this afternoon?” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on his lap. “I shouldn’t be more than an hour, and then I’ll be right back to keep you company.”

She swallowed down her last bit of sandwich then wiped her hands on her napkin. She reached back over the table to grab his hand again. “Honey, you don’t have to ask me that. I’ll be okay on my own, you know.”

“I know, baby doll, but I wouldn’t blame you for feeling uncomfortable being alone. You’ve been through a lot and¬”

“And it’s all the more reason for me to slowly gain my independence back,” she interrupted. She sighed then smiled at him as she ran her thumb across his bottom lip. He felt the spark travel from his mouth to his hardening cock. Just one touch, that’s all it ever took with her. “Besides, I’ve been dying to watch that old movie you’ve been telling about with the woman with my name. The one you said I reminded you of.”

He couldn’t resist kissing the finger she still held at his lips. “
Gone with the Wind
. It’s because you’re as bewitching as you are breathtaking.”

He watched another tear escape her pretty eye. “There you go again, Doc. Making me feel things I never felt,” she teased.

Leo stood up and walked around the table to stand in front of her. “Just promise me, Scarlett,” he brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, “promise you’ll never let anyone else let you feel that way.” She smiled up at him, and he could see the utter trust and admiration in her eyes. He hardly felt worthy of that heavenly look, but he’d take it without pause. His heart fluttered at the thought that she’d soon give them babies as beautiful as she was. Human babies void of the curse of the shifters. The lifestyle may have had its benefits, but hardly any parent would want their child to spend their lives pretending to be someone they’re not. Fooling people to believe a shifter was just a normal human wasn’t an easy existence.

“Leo,” she began as she wrapped her small arms around his hips, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“And I pray you never do.” He ignored her confused expression as he knelt down to kiss her forehead. His lips lingered on her soft, sweet skin before turning away and walking out the door.

Leo made his way down the porch steps before stripping down completely naked. He closed his eyes and imagined his beautiful baby doll wrapped in a red silk sheet, wearing the reddest lipstick he’d ever seen. He’d dropped on all four hooves before he’d even realized he was shifting. A bull-shifter who imagined or saw his mate in red made a world of a difference in how much more comfortable the shift was.

He made a mental note to himself to frolic the ranch more as he approached the clinic door. He was breathing pretty hard, and he knew his endurance wasn’t what it used to be since the new clinic cut down on a lot of his free time. But he knew that if he wanted to be the best shifter he could be and protect the most precious gift he’d ever received, his Scarlett, he’d have to make sure he was fit to protect her. His mate deserved everything in the world, and he’d promised himself the moment he saw her he’d die working to make that happen.

He quickly dressed in the extra jeans, T-shirt, and boots he’d kept in his office. As he sat in the chair in front of his laptop, he was aware his heart was racing at the anticipation. He typed “Scarlett Rose Dallas, TX” in the search engine and clicked enter.

As he quickly read through the first few articles that came up, his smiled widened and he shook his head with disbelief. “Just when I thought she couldn’t be more perfect.”

* * * *

Scarlett wiped a tear away as she watched the blond soldier reject Ms. O’Hara’s heartfelt confession. But she was happy that the more she watched the movie, the more the characters seemed to look familiar. That meant it was likely she’d seen the movie before, and as pathetic as it sounded in her head, Scarlett felt excited. Any kind of memory was progression toward losing the amnesia.

She looked up when the door opened, and Leo stepped inside. “Scarlett, come out here real quick. I have a surprise for you.”

The enthusiasm was clearly written all over his face, and his eyes were already starting to shine a hint of orange, a sign that whatever he had in mind had his libido up in flames. So of course, she gladly walked to the door and let him lead her outside.

“Where are we going?” she asked as she followed him down a trail behind the house.

“Patience,” was all he said.

With the way his back muscles flexed under his tight, white T-shirt as he led the way, and the way his luscious ass tightened under his jeans, she was far from running out of patience.

“Here we are.” Leo turned to her, his hands on his hips and pride beaming from his grin.

Scarlett looked around the open area where they stood in the tall field grass, but she was puzzled. “So...what am I supposed to be looking at right now, baby?”

He pointed up to a small flock of doves sailing over the trees. “Those.”

“I, uh, are those my new pets? Because I’m not really up to—” Leo turned around, holding two large shotguns. “Holy fucking shit, Leo!” Scarlett practically flew backward at the sight of the powerful, deadly weapons.

Leo calmly reached a hand out to her. “Come over here, baby. Let me just show you something.”

Scarlett hesitated for a moment, but the look in his eyes held so much confidence it was enough to make the most timid of women take his hand in trust. So she grabbed it and allowed him to pull her against his hard, muscled body. His heat seeped into her, and she released an involuntary exhale at the sparks it created throughout her body. He moved behind her and placed the gun in position for her. He began to give her instructions on how to shoot the gun, but she could hardly hear a word he said. She no longer felt fear as she held the lethal machine against her shoulder. All she felt was the way her nipples hardened with each feather stroke of his breath across the side of her neck as he talked in that sexy cowboy drawl. Picturing the image they created, a large, experienced cowboy teaching her how to hunt as she stood there in nothing but house slippers and a random Western shirt she’d borrowed from one of the seven men she loved, it was enough to make her come in her panties.

“Got it?”

“Yes,” she breathlessly answered.

“Good!” He clapped his hands as he moved away from her, snapping her out of her afternoon wet daydream.

She twirled her body toward him. “Wait¬”

He placed a finger to his lips, cutting her off. He pointed back up to the sky far in front of her, indicating he wanted her to make the shot.

She should have paid more attention to his instructions. Her hands began to shake as she brought the butt of the gun to rest against her shoulder. She didn’t want to disappoint her mate, and she panicked at the realization she had no idea what she was doing. Shaking her head frantically, she brought the gun back down. “Leo, I can’t.”

“Hey!” he shouted with a ferocious growl as he jumped up to his feet. It startled her, and she gasped at his anger. His eyes were flaming with his fury, and she couldn’t help but to take a step back as he ambushed her against a nearby tree. “You listen to me right now, Scarlett, and I’ll be damned if you make me repeat this ridiculous speech I’m about to give you.” He gently placed his large hands on her trembling shoulders, and his touch put her at ease a little. But his amber eyes were so intense she had to struggle to keep looking into them. “If there is one woman that can take on anything this hell of a world throws at them, it’s you, Scarlett.” He slowly bent down until their lips touched, and then he whispered against her lips, “You should know by now you’re anything but average, baby.” He licked the seam of her lips, but just before her knees buckled at his taste, he stepped away.