Tread

November 1

"Em and Kate leave?" Leo asks as he walks into the kitchen.

I start, sending him a glare over my shoulder before continuing to wash a plate. "Yup. Few minutes ago."

"I don't remember you all being so close before."

"We weren't. It's been a hard few months for all of us and we got closer because of it."

"Have you spoken to your father since the fight?"

I pause, hands pruney and soapy around a dish. When I'd caught him up on everything that happened while we weren't together, I'd mentioned my father and my walking out. But I'd been careful to make it seem like a footnote, unimportant to the overall story.

Deliberately, I shrug. "No."

"Has your mother?"

"Yeah," I mutter. "She told him she was getting married."

"That's all?"

"And that he needed to talk to me," I grit, uncomfortable with the conversation.

He comes up beside me, undoing his cufflinks and placing them in his dress pants as he rolls up his sleeves. "Go sit down; I'll do the rest."

"Thanks." The second my butt hits the seat, I sigh, sinking deep. Almost 24 hours on my feet, running around, putting out fires, slapping my cheeks to get the least fake smile I can muster. Hell on Earth basically.

"Where's Helmi?" I ask, propping my feet up on a chair and wiggling my toes.

"Sleeping."

"After all that candy she ate?"

He chuckles, glancing at me over his shoulder. "Don't forget the cake. She had a—what's the word?"

"Sugar high."

"Yes. A sugar high and crashed. But not before she told me she had her first kiss."

"Really?"

"Yes. One of your cousins. Fred or Felix—"

"Franklin?"

"That's it."

"Good for her."

The look he casts me is so blatantly dad, I can't help but laugh. The sound peters out as he washes, only the clang of dishes, splash of water, and our even breathing heard in the room. It's nice.

Perfect time to tell him.

"Leo, I—"

"You should talk to your dad," he interrupts, head bent over the sink.

"What?"

"You should talk to him. For no other reason than closure, but..." he stops cleaning and turns to me. "I spoke to Kate. She told me about her dad."

"And?" my voice is strained. My business with my father is just that: mine.

"I think it would be good for you," he says, completely ignoring the look on my face. "You only get one father and—"

"You of all people should understand," I seethe, straightening in the chair and dropping my feet. "Your father left your mom and you. Or did you forget that?"

His jaw clenches. "I didn't."

"Right. Well, my father is an abusive asshole. You don't know what I went through growing up with him."

"But—"

"But nothing. I don't want him in my life because he's toxic to me. How he treats me. Makes me feel. Maybe there will always be anger and disappointment, but it's better than fear and anxiousness."

Leo rakes a hand through his slicked back hair, ruining the styling job. "I don't want you to feel those things."

"You can't help it," I say quietly, sadly. A moment passes before a yawn takes me over. Tears leak from the corners of my eyes, as I try my best to stay awake and present. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad about it. Maybe, down the road, I can reconnect with him. But not right now. If he dies tomorrow—God forbid—I won't regret the choice I'm making now. This is to protect myself, even if it hurts."

"You know I'd never do that to you," Leo whispers, dropping his gaze to the floor.

Oh.

Bringing up my dad had never really been about him, it was always about us. Even worse, it was about my trust in Leo. Closing my eyes, I force away the sleep crowding me in and really try to see it through his eyes. I'd dropped Leo like a hot potato, showed that I could do the same thing with blood family. For all my words, my actions screamed that I would run away from him.

Could that be the reason he spoke in Finnish instead of English?

The reason he wanted me to reconcile with my father.

The reason I still wasn't wearing his ring.

Damn.

Moving toward him, I lay my hands on his chest. "Leo, I love you. I want to marry you. I want to wake up everyday with you and fight with you and raise a hoard of kids with you. I want to grow old together. The good times and the bad times and the absolutely amazing ones and the god-awful heart wrenching ones—all of it. All of you. It's what I need."

His lips crush mine in a kiss equal parts gentle and brutal. Hands gripping my hair in a tight fist, he takes everything I give. Even after months together, months apart, days spent in bed, nights spent in clubs, we don't change. I have no clue how that is even possible, but when my skin touches Leo's, the sharp contrast reminding me of our completely different backgrounds, it also reminds me that none of it matters. Nothing matters but my lips on Leo.

With his hands on my ass, he lifts me and urges my legs around his waist. He leaves the kitchen and takes the stairs two at a time, never breaking the kiss, never pulling away. The cool sheets of my bed hit my back and I tug my skirt up. My black nylons rip away from my body with the help of Leo's needy fingers and I push my panties aside with one hand while my other unzips his dress pants. Then he's there—too big, just right. Pushing through hot, swollen tissue.

"Damn, kultaseni. Does it hurt?"

The groan that rips from my throat answers his question, and I'm empty, writhing on the bed for more. I moan loudly. Fucking lose my mind when his tongue hits my clit, nibbles my lips, plunges inside me. "Wait."

"You need to get wet."

Two fingers plunge deep and my spine bows off the bed. Then he's back; sliding in easily, deeper than before and my toes curl in my shoes. My nails score the back of his dress shirt as I raise my hips and meet him thrust for thrust. "What's your name?"

What? I clench tight around him, waiting until he grows still inside of me, coming down on one elbow. "R-Raiqah."

"Last. Name."

My eyes cross and I bite his shoulder. "W-What?"

"Pananan. Say it."

Sweat drips onto me and I finally get it. Nudging Leo with my knee, I flip him onto his back. His gaze rakes my body as I tug my dress over my head and unhook my bra. A growl rips from his throat as he throws an arm over his eyes, facial muscles tight. I give him mercy, "Raiqah Pananan. The woman who's going to be your wife and have your kids."

His smile is concentrated sunshine, and I can't help but return it. That's when I start. Head thrown back, palms flat on his chest, knees gripping his flank, I ride. Ride until I come all over his cock and feel him come inside me. No barriers between us.

I collapse on top of him of him, panting. Seconds blend into minutes as we regain our breath. "Marry me. Soon."

I smile at the command. "Okay, Mr. Bossy Pants."

He's kissing me breathless in the next second and I'm laughing over his lips. It's a long moment before he looks down and stares at me, green eyes catching and holding mine. Whatever he sees in my gaze makes him nod, assured. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Do you want some water?"

Blinking at him, a laugh crawls up my throat and then I'm dissolving into a fit of giggles. He pulls me up, gives me breath and life and most especially love.