"Bella…"
His voice was low, almost a whisper, carrying both tenderness and fire. Before she could respond, Leo's arms slipped around her, and he lifted her effortlessly. Bella gasped softly, her wide eyes finding his. The way he looked at her made her breath tremble—so focused, so sure, as though she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
He walked across the room with slow, steady steps and placed her gently on the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight as he leaned closer. Bella's heart fluttered, her fingers curling against the sheets as he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, soft and reverent. Then one to her temple. Another to her nose. Her giggle broke the quiet, light and shy, and the sound drew a smile from him, slow and dangerous, like something melting through his restraint.
