Page 34 of The Revenge You Seek

"Don't you go getting any ideas, Hunter." He winks at me, and I giggle like the schoolgirl I’m sure he remembers me as. “I’m here purely in a friendship capacity.”

“I know. And I really appreciate it. You… um…" My cheeks heat as he drops his jeans and dives toward me. "You look really good."

"Aw, you getting all shy on me, Cupcake?"

Curling into his side, I bury my face into his chest in an attempt to hide the fact my face is burning up.

He wraps his arm around my back, holding me tight against him and I pull my face away and snuggle in. He's surprisingly comfortable seeing as he's a solid body of muscle.

"Coach Butler works us really fucking hard," he admits. "My fucking brother is a bit of a slave driver too."

"Is it what you thought it would be?" I ask, staring across the room as the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear grounds me.

The fear that consumed me when the first knock on my door is long gone with him here now.

Anything could happen and I know without a doubt that Leon would protect me.

Luca was always the one who was utterly obsessed with the game. Sure, it was Leon's dream too, but he wasn't quite as dedicated to the cause as Luca was.

Luca has always lived and breathed the game whereas Leon sees other things. He's deeper, doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve and he keeps his walls up for almost everyone. I've only seen him let a couple of people in over the years and I'm so grateful that I'm one of them. Because the person he hides behind those walls is genuinely beautiful.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Wow, spell it all out for me why don't you," I joke, walking my fingers across his ribs and to his other side.

"I don't know. It's really hard work but the payoff is pretty sweet."

"The throng of adoring girls?"

He chuckles. "Sure can't complain about them but they weren't exactly what I was talking about."

He never was one to put it out like Luca. He was a little more choosy about his women. I can only assume that's the same now.

"Enough about me. What's put the sadness in your eyes, Cupcake?"

His old nickname warms me from the inside out but I don't think anything will ever be enough to make me willingly share. Not yet at least. The pain is still all too raw.

"I… I can't, Lee."

Wrapping his other arm around me, he holds me tighter.

"Sleep, Cupcake. You look exhausted."

I don't need telling twice because not two minutes after he says that does my body succumb to the rest it needs.

Being in the safety of his arms means I sleep the whole night.

* * *

Part of me expected him to slip out once I had drifted off but when an unusual ring starts up at God knows what time the next morning, I find I'm proved wrong because I'm still plastered against his hot body.

And by hot, I mean quite literally because I am freaking melting with him in this small bed.

"What time is it?" My voice comes out raspy and deep as I attempt to detach myself from him.

"Five a.m."

"Five a.m.," I echo. "Why the fuck do you have an alarm set for five freaking a.m.?"