Before Liars Loved (Before Series, Book 3)

Beautiful

Leo forgot to breathe.

He must be dreaming. Had he heard correctly?

He decided to test the theory.

"You want to come home with me?" he asked, not being able to keep the huskiness from his voice.

She nodded. It was a distinct nod, not to be confused at all with a shake.

"Scarlett, I..." Leo wasn't entirely sure what to say, but he wanted to know that she was certain—that she knew what she was asking.

"Take me home," Scarlett murmured. The tone in her voice as she looked at him beneath her lashes was equally husky. Scarlett seized Leo's hand then, and the gesture spurred Leo into action. He readjusted her bodice before nearly dragging her through the conservatory and back out the glass door. The chilled air from the Aston Manor hallways hit them as they exited their small slice of paradise.

He managed to arrange for a carriage in an alarmingly short amount of time, and Leo made a mental note to urge his parents to raise the wages of their servants.

It was exceedingly cold out as they fled the ball. Leo and Scarlett had thrown on their cloaks to shield them from the winter wind, but to be honest, the frigid air didn't bother Leo. His body was burning within.

Scarlett was sitting across from him now in the confines of the vehicle, and Leo was mentally undressing her. His brain was running wild, his body eager to hold her in his arms once more. Leo forced his hands to stay at his side and his lips to stay sealed as he raked his eyes across her, drinking her in.

This was perhaps the most torturous carriage ride ever.

She had looked so good in the moonlight. She had felt so good.

"Leo?" She gave him a curious look.

He merely raised a brow.

"Are you having regrets?"

Leo threw his head back, unleashing a laugh. Then he leveled his gaze.

"Darling, you must know that isn't the case."

"You're awfully quiet," she pointed out.

"I'm thinking," Leo said succinctly.

"About?"

Leo's lips curved upward in a smile. "Taking you home, of course. And everything that entails."

Scarlett returned his smile, her own being mischievous. She inched forward ever so slightly, but Leo put his hand out to stall her.

"No." He gave a deep chuckle. "You need to stay over there, Scarlett. Otherwise, I'll end up taking you in this carriage, and that is not what I want to happen."

She obeyed with wide, sparkling eyes, sitting back against the carriage cushions. She was breathing deeply, the same as him, and her face was flushed. Desire. He felt it so potently. It was ready to overpower both of them.

"I don't know what's happening to me." The words released from her mouth in a breathless whisper.

"I do," Leo murmured, leaning forward onto his knees. "You're finally allowing yourself to feel, Scarlett. Now you know what it's been like for me. For so goddamn long."

Scarlett merely stared at him in response, her gaze holding his in an enchanting moment.

Luckily, it wasn't much longer before they reached Leo's townhome. He guided Scarlett to the front door, pushing through it hurriedly. Leo's butler greeted them, taking their cloaks from them in an efficient manner. Then Leo took Scarlett's hand, not wasting any more time before he got her into his bedroom, lest they succumb to their urges in the foyer.