Page 102 of The Retaliation You Deliver

I stand still, shocked by his request.

“What’s wrong, Red? Think I’m going to be a better dancer than you,” he jokes.

“I’ve got the rhythm of a baby giraffe so it’s highly likely.”

Laughing, he spins me around and presses our bodies together as his hands land on my lower back, ensuring there’s not an inch of space between us.

Pressing my cheeks against his chest, I breathe him in and just move with his body.

Emotion clogs my throat and my eyes burn with tears as the significance of the moment hits me out of nowhere.

I learned years ago to lock up how I really feel. Showing it was a weakness. I wasn’t living with Richard for long before I discovered this fact.

He didn’t understand that I needed to cry for my loss, for the fact my life had been turned upside down, and he really didn’t get that how he treated me made me want to cry most of the time.

I contained my tears to my room after only weeks of being there, but after a while, I even trained myself to keep them in while I was securely behind that door.

I sniffle, unable to stop myself and Leon stills, looking down at me.

“What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, laughing at myself.

“Nothing. I’m happy.”

The most incredible smile curls at his lips, as his eyes soften, the concern leaving them.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Thank you,” I whisper.

“I don’t deserve your thanks, Macie. I should be the one saying that to you every minute of the day.”

I shake my head. “You think I saved you, you’ve got no idea what you’ve done for me. You’ve brought me to life, Lee.”

“I’m glad I could help, baby. You just needed someone to be a little crazy with.”

“You’re most definitely crazy.”

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,” he laughs.

“Everyone is going to think I’m crazy for this.”

“Fuck everyone else, Mace. They haven’t lived our lives. They don’t know what it was like. They can fuck off with their opinions and judgement. The only person’s opinion I care about is the one in my arms right now.

“I want you to be happy, Macie. I want you to keep discovering the incredible person you’ve kept hidden inside, and I want to be right there with you as you experience all the pleasures in life.”

“Always about sex,” I mutter lightly.

“Hey, I could’ve been talking about ice cream.”

“Were you?” I ask, quirking a brow at him.

“Well, no but I could have been.”

“Sure.” Looping my arms around his neck, I stretch up on my toes and press a kiss to his jaw. “Thank you for this.”

“This was luck. I was just craving one of Paulo’s sandwiches.”