Leopold: Part Four

T
his book is
a work of fiction. Any names, characters, locations or incidents are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Ember Casey and Renna Peak

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Edition: September, 2016

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T
hey say
Nicola Indell’s breasts are the most beautiful in the world. And truly, they are stunning—slightly larger than I could comfortably hold in my hands, and by all appearances, as soft and pillowy as I could ever hope for breasts to be. And that’s not even considering the rest of her. Her hair is long and golden blond, and her large, green eyes somehow manage to make her look both innocent and mischievous at the same time. She’s truly lovely from head to toe, and it’s no wonder this starlet is taking the world by storm. Everyone who lays eyes on her—no matter their gender or sexual orientation—can’t help but fall in love with her on sight.

Except me, apparently.

I’m sitting next to her by the pool at one of the most exclusive resorts in the world—a little gem on the coast of the Adriatic. She’s stretched out on her lounge chair, her arms extended above her head in a way that shows off her entire body to perfection. Aesthetically, I can appreciate her beauty. And judging by the way she’s been glancing at me all afternoon, I suspect she’s interested in a little fun. But in spite of myself, I can’t seem to be inspired to make a move.

What’s wrong with you? She’s gorgeous. Most men would be dying for her to look at them the way she’s looking at you. I bet you could have her up in your room in under an hour.

I take a long, slow sip of my drink. I know
exactly
what’s wrong with me. The same thing that’s been wrong for the past sixty-three days—every day since I left California.

But I’m not going to think about California. Or the woman I left there. I’m not going to think about anything but enjoying the company of the woman next to me.

Nicola isn’t the first woman to catch my eye these past few weeks. I’ve been out with starlets, supermodels, pop stars, and heiresses. I’ve spent long nights in clubs, drunk myself to distraction in some of the most luxurious bars in the world, but it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, I still find myself thinking about the one woman I’m trying to forget.

I need to get back in the game, or I’m going to lose my reputation.

I lean over toward Nicola. She pushes her sunglasses up on her head and smiles at me.

“I was wondering when you’d talk to me,” she says. She twists herself ever so slightly, and the movement nearly makes those luscious breasts spill out of her swimsuit.

Yes, she might be exactly what I need.

“I was just admiring the view,” I tell her, flashing one of my most charming grins.

“Oh?” She raises a golden eyebrow. “Like what you see?”

“Undoubtedly.” I reach out and trail a finger lightly down her arm. Good God, her skin is soft.

Something flirtatious flickers in those large, cat-like eyes of hers. “Well, what’s your next move?”

The words are on the tip of my tongue:
Take you upstairs. Peel that skimpy little bikini off your skin. Fuck you senseless. Watch those perfect tits bounce up and down as you ride me.

But for some reason, I don’t say them. Instead, I stand. “May I get you a drink?”

Her cute little nose wrinkles in confusion. “There are waiters for that.”

Indeed, there’s a white-coated server a few lounge chairs away, taking an order from a man I recognize as the CEO of an American software company. At the far end of the pool, though, there’s a full bar. And I suddenly feel the need to stretch my legs.

“I prefer to serve you myself,” I say. “I’m here to satisfy your every pleasure.” My grin broadens. “So what will you have?”

“Surprise me,” she says, stretching out her legs and reclining again. “And make sure you hurry back.”

“Oh, I will,” I say.

I stride around the pool toward the bar, and it’s not until I’m nearly there that I realize how relieved I am to be away from Nicola.

What the bloody hell is wrong with me?

I force myself to look back at her. She gives me a little wave, and once again I try to imagine what she must look like beneath that little bikini. How those golden thighs would feel wrapped around my hips. How that pouty mouth would feel around my cock.

It’s quite stimulating…for all of about a second. Then I turn back to the bar with a sigh.

I’m not sure what Nicola likes to drink, so I go with a classic. “A tequila sunrise,” I tell the bartender. “And a dry martini for me.”

“Ah, you don’t change, do you?” comes a familiar voice on my left.

I glance over. Sitting at the bar beside me is a woman I recognize—Lady Karina, whose father holds a duchy near the Central Alps. She and I had quite the heated affair before I went to South America only a few months ago. She’s exactly the sort of woman who always draws me in—the kind that looks sweet on the outside but is a complete animal in bed.

She’s drinking something clear with a lime floating in it. She gives it a stir with her straw as she glances back across the pool at Nicola.

“I should have known the two of you would hook up eventually,” she says, an amused smile on her lips. “You did always have a weakness for the blond ones.”

Elle isn’t blond
, I think. But I’m not supposed to be thinking about Elle at all.

“You know me well,” I say, leaning on the bar. In fact, it’s something of a relief to run into Karina here. She and I parted on amicable terms—she, like I, was looking for nothing more than a short, heated fling. There’s no need to hide any baggage from her—she doesn’t care about it in the first place.

“I thought you preferred to summer in the Caribbean,” I say. “But I must say, Italy is all the more beautiful for your presence here.”

She laughs. “Ah, I see your charm is as subtle as ever.” She gives her drink another stir.

I glance back at Nicola—who’s returned to sunbathing—before stepping a little closer to Karina. I’ve always enjoyed Karina’s company—and not just for physical reasons. She and I seem to understand each other. We’re two sides of the same coin, and if anyone can pull me out of my slump, it’s her.

“Are you here alone?” I ask her.

“Does it matter?” she returns.

“Not at all.” I glance over my shoulder once more before stepping even closer. “I came here alone. I have the whole penthouse suite to myself. We won’t be disturbed there.”

“Won’t your new
friend
have an issue with you slinking off with another woman?” she says.

“I have enough friends already.”

She smiles. “I’m not sure why I expected any other answer.” Her eyes fall back to her drink, and she gives it one more stir, apparently lost in thought.

I have no idea why she’s hesitating—what we had together was explosive.

Slowly, I reach out and brush my fingers across the small of her back. I lean down and put my lips against her ear.

“Come upstairs with me,” I murmur. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

She gives another laugh and releases her straw. “Well, if you insist—”

“I do.”
You are exactly what I need right now.

She slides off her stool while I throw a few Euros at the bartender. I leave the tequila sunrise on the bar, but I take the martini and gulp in down in one swig.

Go fuck her brains out. Then you’ll be back to normal again.

The alcohol burns through me, driving me onward. The moment we step inside the resort, I grab Karina and kiss her. Hard.

She starts to laugh against my mouth, then quickly responds to the kiss, her lips fighting back against mine. It’s not exactly mind-blowing, but it will do.

My tongue slides into her mouth as my hands move down to her ass. She’s wearing a sarong over her suit, but the material is thin enough that I can feel the heat of her skin through it.

Just like those leggings Elle wore on that last day she and I were together…

I force the thoughts of Elle from my mind and try to focus on Karina. Karina is here—and warm and soft and eager. Things won’t get complicated with her. We’ll fuck like rabbits for a couple of days and then I can get on with my life again.

I back her toward the elevator and jab the button. A second later, the doors open and we tumble inside. I press her against the wall and grind my hips against hers.

It’s easy
, I tell myself.
Just fuck her.

And she’s certainly doing her part. When I shift my weight, she reaches down between us and starts to stroke me through my pants.

“You have no idea how much I need this right now,” she murmurs.

She
has no idea how much
I
need this.

“I hope you don’t have any plans tonight,” I say, my hand gripping her breast. “Because I’m going to fuck you senseless.”

“Mm, is that a promise?” She kisses her way along my jaw toward my ear.

“The minute we get to my suite, I’m throwing you down on the floor and fucking you there,” I tell her. “And then I’m going to carry you to bed and fuck you again. And then drag you into the shower and fuck you there, too.” Of course, saying those words only reminds me of that shower with Elle…but I force myself back into the present. “And then, if you can still walk, I’m going to take you out onto the balcony and fuck you in front of the whole bloody resort.”

My fingers find and squeeze her nipple through her swimsuit, and she groans before slipping her tongue into my ear.

You can do this
, I tell myself.
You can fuck away the memory of Elle.

The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors ding behind us. I grab her and drag her into the corridor, fumbling in my pocket for the key to the penthouse suite. The moment we’re inside, I grab her and kiss her again.

As promised, we only make it a few steps inside the door before I have her on the ground. She tugs at my swim trunks as I pull aside her sarong. Maybe I’ve been out of the game for too long, because she looks even curvier than I remember. I grab her bikini bottoms and drag them down her legs as she undoes her top.

This is your chance
, I think.
One thrust, and you’ll be cured of whatever spell it is that Elle put on you.

I lean down and kiss Karina, and she wraps her legs around my hips, pulling me closer. Pulling my cock toward her slick entrance.

Just do it. Bury yourself in her. Erase the feeling of Elle on your body.

In my head, I can see myself doing it—fucking Karina until she screams out my name. Flipping her over and taking her again. Losing myself in this woman until there’s no other woman on my mind—at least for tonight.

But I can’t.

With a jerk, I pull away from her. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

I clamber to my feet. My body is tense, ready, but something is stopping me.

I can’t do this. I can’t.

Karina props herself up on her elbows. “Is something wrong?”

Everything is wrong. Everything is so, so wrong.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her again. “We can’t do this.” I run my hands through my hair. “
I
can’t do this.”

She frowns as she sits up. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means you should probably go,” I say. “I’m sorry—this has nothing to do with you. Truly, it doesn’t. It’s me.”

She grabs her clothes. “I never thought
you
would use a line like that on
me
, Leo.” She stands, quickly dressing.

“I’m sorry.” I’m not sure I can say it enough. “I’ll make it up to you. Put all the expenses for your stay on my tab—”

“I’m not interested in charity,” she snaps, tying her sarong back around her hips. “I’m mostly just pissed that you let things get this far before leaving me hanging. Don’t worry—I can finish myself off. I was looking forward to one last good fuck before…fuck, just forget it.”

“Karina, I really wish I could explain—”

“You of all people should know better than to tease someone like that.” She storms out of the suite toward the elevator, and I go after her.

“I’m going through…something,” I say, unable to put it into proper words.

“That’s clear,” she says, jabbing the elevator button. She glances over her shoulder at me. “I have no idea what’s going on in that head of yours, Leo, but clearly it’s something if you’re turning down sex with me. We both know it would have been spectacular.”

I can only nod. “I know.”

“Do me a favor,” she says. “An hour from now, when you realize what a mistake you’ve made, go find Nicola instead.” The elevator doors open, and she steps inside. “Goodbye, Leo.”

I don’t have anything to say to her as the doors close.

What the fuck am I doing? That was my chance! I was finally going to get back to normal!
But it’s no use—there is no
normal
, not anymore. Not since Elle came into the picture.

I return to my room, pushing the door shut behind me. What the fuck do I do now?

Deep inside, though, I know the answer. I thought I could get over Elle. I thought I could forget her, but I can’t. She’s still in my blood, still burning through me with every breath I take.

I have to see her again. I have to…
God, I don’t even know. I just know I can’t go on like this.

Of course, I can’t imagine she’ll be very happy to see me—not after the way I left. I mean, I ran out her bloody back door without even telling her goodbye. I left her to deal with the media by herself. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear the press ever learned about the more painful parts of her past, but that only makes me feel marginally better.
Damned conscience.

Yes, it seems as though there’s only one choice. I need Elle in my life. There is no forgetting her. There’s no going back to the man I was before.

Elle will be mine again—no matter what it takes.