Chapter 102 I'LL FIND

Chapter 102 I'LL FIND
Leah

It had been a month since my whole world came crumbling down, leaving me a wailing mess. And now... it's time to finally let him go.

I folded the small shirt in my hands slowly, smoothing over the fabric like it would somehow make this easier. It didn't.

My vision blurred, and I tipped my head back, blinking rapidly, refusing to let the tears fall. 

I was going to miss him so much. His laughter, his voice, the way he smelled, the warmth of his little body when he curled into me.

God... I can't do this.

"For fuck's sake, Leah, stop being dramatic. He's only gone for two weeks."

I turned to Ivy who sat across from me on the bed watching me with clear irritation.

"But," I muttered, sniffing as I wiped the corner of my eye. "This is the longest he's ever been away from me."

Ivy groaned as she snatched the remaining clothes off my thighs and shoved them into the bag.

"I was folding that," I complained.

"Yes," she said dryly, "and at the rate you were going, Seth would fly there and back, and you'd still be folding the same shirt."

I rolled my eyes and snatched his pyjamas back, refolding them properly.

"I guess you now have two whole weeks with the house to yourself," she said, zipping the bag halfway before I stopped her to shove in more clothes. "No tiny human stopping you from screaming his name as loud as you want." She wiggled her brows suggestively.

"The fuck?" I scrunched my nose up in disgust.

"Oh please," she scoffed. "Don't act clueless. We all know about the man you keep hiding in your room whenever we visit."

Heat rushed to my face as I quickly tried to deny it, "I do not..."

Ivy folded her arms, daring me to finish that lie.

I bit my lip, avoiding her gaze. "Does the 'we' include mom and dad?"

"Are you asking because you genuinely don't know your parents?"

I slapped my hands over my face as the heat spread all the way to my ears. "Oh my God."

"Relax. If anything, they're just curious. We all are."

"That's not helping," I muttered into my palms.

"Well, instead of hiding him, why don't you just introduce him to everyone?" she said, shrugging. 

My stomach tightened at the thought and I slowly lowered my hands.

"I don't know if Dad would be okay with me seeing him," I admitted.

He did warn me to stay away from Aiden in the past and they both look like they wouldn't get along.

Ivy snorted. "Please. If Dad can accept Seth, why wouldn't he accept your man?"

Maybe because he runs a crime syndicate and kidnapped me once. But you all don't need to know about the last part.

"Don't overthink it, Leah," she said, softer now. "Dad's weakness has always been his wife and his daughter's happiness."

I sighed. "Okay. I'll tell him." 

She narrowed her eyes at me.

"I will," I laughed.

"You better do it before we get back."

I nodded quickly and let her finally zip the bag.

"Mummy!" Roman's voice rang from the hallway.

My head turned toward the door just in time to see him bursting into the room at full speed, giggling, his little feet pounding against the floor as he ran straight toward me.

I opened my arms as he launched himself at me then caught him and pulled him onto my thighs.

He buried his face into my neck, breathing hard and wrapping his arms around me.

"Uncle Des wants to ruin my new shirt," he cried.

"Your mother isn't going to save you from me!' Des yelled as he appeared at the doorway covered in blue paint that made him look like the smuffs.

Ivy and I burst out laughing.

Roman peeked over my shoulder. "He's the one that asked me to paint him!" He accused.

Des scoffed. "I said paint me on paper, not turn me into the paper."

"It's your fault for not making it clear then," I said, pressing my palm gently to Roman's cheek. "Don't blame my poor baby."

Roman nodded firmly. "See?"

"Come here, you little shit," Des said, stepping further into the room.

Roman shrieked, scrambling over me and nearly knocking me back onto the bed as he tried to escape.

"Alright, that's enough," Ivy said, standing up and clapping once. "We are already late."

Roman and I both turned to look at each other. 

My chest tightened as I pulled him closer to hold him a little longer.

"I don't want to go," he mumbled.

"You can just stay if—" Ivy started, but Roman pulled away so fast it almost gave me whiplash.

"Bye mummy," he said, already climbing off my lap. "Let's go, Aunty Ivy." 

And just like that, he was heading out of the room without looking back.

I stared after him. "That little traitor."

I walked Ivy to the door. We kissed each other's cheeks as we said our goodbyes. When Roman stepped out the door, he suddenly turned, ran back to me, and hugged my knees.

"I'll miss you, mummy."

"I'll miss you more, honey," I whispered, crouching to kiss his forehead. "You will be back before you know it."

Ivy started pulling him away. "If I let you two continue, we're never leaving today."

"Bye, mummy!"

"Bye honey!"

I waited for them to disappear into the elevator before turning to find Des still standing there all blue and very much in my space.

"Why are you still here?" I asked.

He looked down at himself. "I need to shower."

I shook my head, walking back in, circling once before placing my hands on his back and pushing him toward the door. 

"Go do that at your place."

"I can't go out looking like this."

I smiled sweetly. "Yes, you can."

Then, shut the door in his face.

Once the door clicked shut,  I rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

"I am definitely not dressing up for him," I lied to myself as I stood in front of the mirror, struggling to decide what to wear.

After what felt like hours, I settled on a black flared skirt, purely for comfort and not because it made things easier, and a yellow tank top. 

Definitely not because he once said the colour complimented my skin.

My heart jumped the moment the doorbell rang.

I smoothed down my skirt, tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and practically ran to the door, only slowing just before I reached it.

The second the door opened, Aiden was on me, hand sliding into my hair and tilting my head back as he devoured my mouth in a hungry kiss.

I gasped softly, my fingers curling into his shirt as I leaned into him, already melting.

He pulled back just as I was about to slip my hands under his shirt.

"Hi," he said, his deep, rough voice sending a shiver down my spine and straight between my legs.

"Hi," I breathed, hating how horny I sounded.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Where is Roman?"

"He went on a trip with my sister," I said, then added quickly, "He'll be gone for TWO WEEKS."

His smirk deepened as his thumb brushed slowly over my tingling bottom lip. "Is that so?"

Fuck. The way he said it had me soaking through my panties.

"Also," I said, glancing at him through my lashes. "My ribs have healed."

His eyes darkened just slightly.

"You already told me that yesterday," he teased, eyes glinting with amusement.

Heat rushed to my face.

This bastard knew exactly what I meant but wanted me to spell out how badly I needed him to fuck me.

I shoved him and turned to walk away, but I didn't get far when his hand caught my wrist and pulled me back.

My back slammed against the wall a second before his mouth found mine again. The kiss turned hungrier fast, his mouth demanding, mine answering, tongues tangling, teeth grazing, breaths breaking as neither of us seemed willing to pull away.

His hands roamed greedily, pushing my tank top over my breast and squeezing hard enough to make me moan into his mouth.

He broke the kiss just enough to growl against my lips, "Use your words, doll. What do you want?"

I purred, "Show me how much you missed me."

He groaned, the sound vibrating through his chest. "Lift your skirt."