Page 206 of Innocent

It feels sooo damn good holding on to him. His scent fills my lungs, and I didn’t realize how achingly empty my soul’s felt since walking out that door with the sounds of his sobs haunting me.

I guess Elliot wasn’t the only one adrift and lonely. Except I was able to self-medicate, first with my work, then by taking care of Elliot.

Leo waits until I’ve stopped crying, long after I’ve settled and quieted in his arms, before he finally looks at me with a peaceful, beaming smile. “I was afraid I’d screwed up and lost you forever. I should’ve known my sweet baby boy still belonged to me.” He caresses my cheek with his thumb, ending at my lips.

I kiss it. “Always, Daddy,” I whisper.

Yeah,that’sgoing to be athingnow. It’s like a sweet, healing salve on my soul.

His sexy smirk returns. “Daddy needs to reclaim what’s rightfully His, too,hmm?”

I nod.

His smile fades. “Anyone besides Elliot?”

I shake my head. “No, Daddy. Just you and the boy.”

A contented sigh escapes him as his smile returns. “Elliot’sours. From this moment on, it’s the three of us, andno oneelse.Ever. Understand?”

I nod. I don’twantanyone but Leo and Elliot.

Although before this happened, I had no idea how much I wanted Elliot. I think it’s safe to say Elliot hadn’t realized it, either. How much he wanted me, I mean.

Now that we have what we have together, I also think it’s safe to say Elliot has de-assed his head, as Leo always likes to say.

At least about the three of us. Still need to work on him about being out publicly.

“I haven’t been with anyone but the two of you, either,” he volunteers, relieving me.

Honestly? I’d been afraid to ask. I didn’t know if maybe there was someone Elliot didn’t know about.

That’s when something hits me. “What do you mean, ‘again’?”

“Hmm?”

“You said ‘fly down thereagain.’ What did you mean by that?”

I find it amusing that Leo almost looks…abashed? That’s not a look I’m used to seeing on his face.

He lets out a sigh that sounds like it’s made out of lead and ten times as heavy. “I’ve flown down to Florida five times since you left.”

I blink. “Fivetimes?” Elliot didn’t tell me that.

“The last time was a couple of days before Shae’s trip. I’d go down, follow you around, try to make myself approach you. I was afraid you’d tell me to go fuck myself. That last time, I was there a little before five in the afternoon. I actually stood outside your office building and tried to talk myself into going in. Then you left work. I followed you and wanted to kick yourassfor not paying attention to your surroundings. You had your earbuds in and your head down over your phone. I walked behind you all the way to your apartment building, watched you go inside, then I stood there and finally had to admit I was nutless.”

Stunned, I stare at him as I try to process that admission. “Youfollowedmemorethan once?”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Leo look sheepish before now. “Yeah. Technically, I think the correct term is ‘stalking,’ because I was in your apartment, too.”

Even his playful smirk can’t distract me. “You wereinmyapartment?” I’m simultaneously horrified and turned on.

Is “hornified” a word? It should be.

Then again, I think about him showing up at the residence, so this shouldn’t be a shocker. Heisdetermined, I’ll give him all due credit for that.

“Yeah. Just once. Your super was stupid-easy to play, by the way. I didn’t like him. No telling what kind of fuckery can happen with security that lax.”

“Good thing I don’t live there anymore, huh?”