Out and Loud

Rory POV 

The voice hissed “Time’s up” and my heart slammed, my hands cold. Leo blocked the door, his back stiff, his breath fast, and I grabbed his arm, my fingers shaking. “Leo ” I started, my voice cracking, but he shoved the door shut hard bang loud in the storage room and locked it quick, his hands fumbling. My chest heaved, my legs shaky, and he turned, his eyes wild, pulling me close. “Later,” he muttered, his voice rough, his lips brushing my forehead. My stomach flipped, fear still there, but I nodded, my throat tight, holding him back.

We stayed tangled a minute my arms around his neck, his hands on my hips breathing fast, the air thick with cardboard and old liquor. My lips tingled from kissing him, my chest buzzing, and I couldn’t let go not yet. “We should move,” he said, his voice low, his fingers smoothing my messy hair, tugging it gentle. My breath hitched, my face hot, and I leaned in, kissing him slow, deep my hands sliding into his hair, pulling him down.

We stumbled clumsy, needy and hit the floor, my back on the cold tile, his weight pinning me. My legs tangled with his, my hands yanking his shirt, and he groaned soft, rough kissing me back harder. My lips swelled, wet and hot, my fingers knotting in his hair, and my heart raced wild, free, loud. The faint casino bass thumped outside, mixing with our breaths, and I grinned against his mouth, my chest full Fuck hiding, fuck everything, just us.

The door creaked slow, loud and my eyes flicked up, my breath stopping. Leo froze, his lips still on mine, his hand halfway up my shirt. A throat cleared sharp, awkward and my heart jumped, my head snapping to see. Mitch, the manager big guy, bald, always grumpy stood there, arms crossed, his face red. “Uh,” he said, his voice thick, shifting on his feet, “you two… done?”

My face burned, my chest heaving, but I laughed short, shaky my hands still tangled in Leo’s hair. He pulled back slow, stiff his eyes wide, his lips shiny and red. My legs stayed wrapped around him, my shirt rucked up, and I grinned big, cocky watching Mitch squirm. “Not really,” I said, my voice rough, my fingers brushing Leo’s neck. Leo’s breath hitched, his hand twitching on my hip, and he smirked small, nervous like he wasn’t sure.

“Break’s over,” Mitch muttered, his eyes darting away, his boots scuffing as he backed out. The door shut soft, quick and my laugh broke free, loud and real, my head tipping back on the floor. Leo’s smirk grew shaky, warm and he leaned down, kissing me quick, his hand smoothing my hair again.

“Caught,” he said, his voice low, his eyes soft but jumpy. My chest buzzed, my hands grabbing his shirt, and I pulled him close, my lips brushing his ear.

“Let ‘em talk,” I whispered, my voice daring, my fingers lacing with his tight, sure. He nodded slow, stiff his hand squeezing mine back, and my heart swelled big, dumb, unashamed. We stood, my legs wobbly, my hair a mess, and I tugged him out, my grin wide, my chest light.

The casino hit us lights flashing, slots ringing, voices loud. Eyes turned fast, sneaky co-workers glancing, nudging each other, whispering low. Tina leaned on the bar, her eyebrow up, a smirk tugging her lips finally and she winked, pouring a drink slow. My face got hot, my grin bigger, and I squeezed Leo’s hand, pulling him close as we walked.

“Storage room, huh?” Jake the dealer yelled over my table later, his grin wide, his cards flipping fast. Players laughed, heads turning, and my chest jumped, my hands shaky on the deck. “Heard you two got loud,” he teased, his eyes glinting, and I laughed sharp, cocky shuffling quick.

“Yeah, so?” I shot back, my voice light, my smirk daring him. My heart raced, my skin buzzing, and I glanced at Leo by the bar, his sleeves rolled up, his eyes on me. He smirked back small, warm but his fingers twitched on a glass, his shoulders stiff. My throat tightened, my grin slipping a bit, but I held his hand tighter when he passed, my fingers locking with his Stay with me.

Some cheered Nadia clapped my back, muttering, “Good for you,” her grin sharp. Others judged old guy at the slots glared, his mutters low, and a waitress sneered, turning away fast. My chest buzzed happy, bold and I leaned into Leo, my shoulder bumping his, my laugh loud. “Let ‘em stare,” I said, my voice soft, my eyes on his. He nodded quick, nervous his hand squeezing mine, and my heart pounded cocky, free, ours.

Shift ended late, the floor quieting, lights dimming slow. My hands shook, my shirt sweaty, and I grabbed Leo by the bar, my fingers tugging his belt. “You good?” I said, my voice low, my eyes searching his dark, soft, jumpy. He nodded too fast his hand brushing mine, but his jaw clenched, his eyes flicking away.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice rough, his fingers twitching again like he’d pull away. My stomach flipped small, cold and I gripped his hand tighter, my thumb brushing his knuckles Don’t you dare. He softened slow, shaky his smirk back, and my chest eased, my grin growing.

We walked out, hands locked, my sneakers loud on the tile. Co-workers smirked some clapped, some whispered and I laughed, my face hot, my heart big. “They’re jealous,” I said, my voice teasing, my shoulder nudging his. He chuckled low, warm but his hand stiffened in mine, his eyes darting to the door. My throat tightened, my grin faltering, but I held on daring, sure, us.

Outside, the air was cool, the street dark, and my chest buzzed light, happy, loud. I pulled him close, my arms around his neck, and kissed him soft, quick my lips tingling. “We’re good,” I said, my voice low, my fingers in his hair. He nodded slow, soft his hands on my hips, but his eyes flicked down, his breath fast.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, his voice flat, his hand slipping to his pocket. My stomach twisted small, quiet and I watched waiting, hoping but he didn’t pull away. My heart raced, my chest tight, and I grinned cocky, unashamed loving him out loud.

Then a cough hit sharp, close behind us. My head snapped around, my breath stopping, and my hands dropped, my legs shaky. A guy stood there tall, skinny, a dealer’s vest loose on him watching us, his eyes narrow, his smirk gone. My heart jumped, my chest tight, and I stepped closer to Leo, my hand grabbing his hard, fast.

“Who ” I said, my voice cracking, my eyes wide. Leo tensed, his hand squeezing mine, his breath fast. The guy didn’t move just stared his fingers tapping his pocket, slow and loud. My stomach flipped cold, sharp and Leo pulled me back, his voice low.

“Keep going,” he muttered, his eyes darting, his grip shaky. My heart raced, my legs stiff, and I nodded quick, scared walking fast, my hand locked with his. The guy coughed again louder, meaner and my neck prickled, my chest heaving. Footsteps followed soft, close scraping the pavement, and Leo’s phone buzzed sharp, loud in his pocket, his hand freezing on mine as a shadow stretched long behind us.