CHAPTER 14

THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN; BY THE TIME THEY left the park. With their daughter half dozing at the backseat.

“We really had fun today, thank you.” Claire said, as they drove off.

“I’m happy you did, because the fun is not over yet. I still have something planned but it’s for the two of us alone, that’s why I asked you to bring along a swimming wear. Oh you thought I forgot?” he smirked, his mouth twitching.

“You are just naughty” she said, “is that why you wore out our daughter with lot of fun activities? So that you can have your way with me uh?”

“What? Me? I’m a gentle man.”

“Indeed” she snickered causing both of them to laugh.

“So you think I can have my way with you uh?” he teased, his eyes flickers to her before concentrating back on the road.

“I guess if you are good.” It feels good to flirt with each other.

The two changed the moment they got back to Leo's place. He changed into a black brief, and padded shoeless to the pool area, with two wine glasses in his hand. Claire has settled Tonya down for the night; the girl was so tired from having so much fun that she was already asleep before they got home.

He had asked her to meet him by the pool when she’s done changing into her swimming wear, but what he was not prepared for was how hot and mouthwatering she looks in the one-piece black suit she wore. Her face bare of makeup, skin looking so flawless and soft under the pool light, making him to salivate.

“Hey, hope I didn’t take long” she said, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious as she walked up to him by the pool.

“No darling, I just got here. You look so beautiful” his eyes raking her from head to toe.

”thank you.” She said taking the wine glass he extended to her. She sip out of it before placing it by the pool side as they both entered the king size pool.

The water felt cool on her over heated body. They thread water around each other, teasing and flirting. It’s obvious to both of them, how the night is going to end, and there’s no doubt in their heart. So when Leo close in on her like a shark that smelled blood in the pool, she surrender to his gentle touch, and intense kisses. Leaving a trail of fire all over her body.

She clung to him for support, past caring that they are in the open. Thankfully, he had given the staffs a day off. He dragged the suit she was wearing down to her waist bearing her full firm globes to his intense gaze. “You are so beautiful” he said gruffly. Raining kisses on the valley between her two breasts, worshipping them with utmost care. She moaned in ecstasy, her legs wrapped around him as he supports them both with his body.

He held her upright with one hand, cupping her breast with the other gently. “See how good it is between us” he mutters between kisses.

“Yes” she moaned. Returning the kiss with the same intensity and possession, she felt the proof of his desire between her thighs beneath the waters.

“Then marry me” pressing a light kiss on her nose.

“Yes”

“Yes?” his brow raised up in surprise.

“Yes, I will marry you” Claire whispered, her eyes locking with his.

“Thank you.” Resting his forehead on hers, with his eyes closed. Relief washing through him, he pressed a light kiss on her nose. “Let’s take this inside”. He carried her out of the pool, as though she weighs nothing, only putting her down to dry her body with the towel on the cane chairs before scooping her up again into his arms. Leo carried Claire to his bedroom, placing her with tender care on his bed; he helped her out of the wet swimming suit, then discarding his own briefs. His eyes twinkled with delight at her reaction to the sight of him, naked and ready for her.

Claire’s eyes darkens with desire, her breath quickened and her core tightens. She lifted her hands to his body, holding him close to her heated body, his body pushed her down on the bed, while his hands caresses her, feeding the hunger he has awaken in her. She arched up against him whimpering beneath him as his lips and tongue wreak havoc on her senses.

The feel of his hand cupping her sex was something that tilted her over the edge, she was ready for him, just as it had been between them the first time, but it’s even more better this time. The smell of her arousal heightened his as well as he surged into her.

They moved together, matching each other’s movement and speed. No words needed, their body was making up for that. Her body welcomed his, as they soared into the cloud of ecstasy together, then fall back to earth.

They lay together, their breath quieting slowly, with just the bed side lamp casting a glow on their sweat coated body.

Leo had to face the truth. This is more than fulfilling tradition, he could not control the intense desire and protectiveness he feels towards Claire and their daughter, he is feeling emotions he could not explain for her. He also realize another thing they just made love without protection. If they had a child despite using protection the first time, what are the odds that she will not be pregnant again now that they did not even use one?

Thank God that she has agreed to marry him.

“Hey” he mutters to her, pressing a kiss on her head, enjoying the feel of her lying worn out on top of him.

“Hey. I can’t move a muscle, if I try” she chuckles.

“It’s alright darling, I don’t want you to anyway, like you here in my arms.” His hold tightens around her. “So how soon can we plan our wedding?”

“How does next month sound to you?” she asked, grinning at the surprise on his face.

“Really?”

“Really. I want something simple, a civil wedding, no fuss.”

“Then that’s what you shall have. Leave the plans to me.”

“Your family?”

“Don’t worry about them, they will understand. Besides we can always do a mini party for my family when you are ready to travel to Nigeria, it’s just for formality and for my father. But let’s get married here first.” Leo did not want anything to change her mind about the wedding. The thought of not being in her life permanently is something he realized that he could not bear.

“Alright then, next month it is. Sighing with content in his arms, she is head over heels in love with Leo and there’s no use resisting it anymore. Claire wished she can screamed it to the world, tell him how good he makes her feel, but she held back. His low voice cut into her reverie.

“You know that night we met, the next morning when I woke up, have already decided that I will give a long distance relationship a try between us, but then you were gone already before I woke up. I was hurt a little because I thought that night meant something to you the way it does for me.” He whispered, running his hand over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry. The truth is, I didn’t want to leave that morning, but I got a call from my mother. The two of us were supposed to have dinner together that night we met, but she later cancelled on me. She told me she could not make it for our dinner again, because she just met a hot dude she will like to hang out with, I was hurt of course but I let it go since I was the one that’s always pushing her to start dating again.”

“So you decided to have dinner by yourself”

“Yes. I hate having dinner alone, then I saw you and I couldn’t resist this handsome stranger” she said with a giggle, earning a tickle from him, she rolled around on the bed giggling like a child.

“Of course you can’t resist, who can resist all this hotness” he drawled.

“You are so full of yourself” chuckling before settling back into his arms. “Unknown to me, that my mother was lying. There was no hot date anywhere, she just received the result of the test she did, she has cancer and its serious, but she didn’t want to tell me. It was her close friend that called me in the morning, she has been trying to reach me but my phone was on silent mode since have already sent a text to my mum that I’m not coming home that night.”

“I’m so sorry”

“Thank you. So I had to leave immediately. I have never felt what I feel for you that night with any man in my entire life, that’s the truth, I understand that you have commitment in Nigeria and we’ve already agreed that it’s going to be one night. I don’t want to be that girl that gets clingy, besides I hate long goodbyes, so I left.”

“Why didn’t you tell me the moment you realized that you are pregnant? And I want the truth this time.” Peering down at her.

She sighed, “I didn’t know on time that I was pregnant, I was busy battling with my mother’s health challenge and when I finally did, I felt it’s not right to make you shoulder a responsibility that you are not ready for, when we did not have anything between us more than a night. There are times I really wanted to tell you, but at the same time my pride will not allow me, I felt you should have reached out to me, if the night means more to you as well—”

“It did, but my ego was also bruised. I tried asking my brother to locate you but later changed my mind since I don't even have enough information to work with."

“Guess life happens. Then as Tonya grew, I realized how much she needed a father in her life and also my mother will not let me be, pestering me to let you know. I imagined that you will be married and I didn’t want to disrupt your life. Also have seen enough pictures of you with other beautiful women to last me a life time, but She made me vow to reach out to you on her death bed after fighting the cancer for years and finally losing the battle. So I had to uphold the end of my deal, it was the right thing to do.”

“I’m glad you did, and about other women, you don’t need to worry because at this moment I can tell you that you are the only woman in my life and it will remain that way.” He assures her, raising her chin up to kiss her, her lips parted beneath the pressure of his probing tongue.

A whimper of longing draw out of her, she could feel the hard arousal of his body, quickening her pulse all over again.