"I'm not sure yet." I lied. I had a secret ambition to be one of those people who was interviewed on TV shows about their area of expertise, but I wasn't about to admit that. Even Enrique wasn't aware of that particular desire. He'd just point out it wasn't possible, and I'd be left feeling somewhat dejected.
"You don't want to tell me, I get that." He looked away, apparently hurt by my comments.
"How come your English is so good?" I asked.
"I started learning at a very young age." He glanced back, his eyes softening. I breathed a sigh of relief, at least I hadn’t ruined my chances with him.
Silence hung between us, neither of us wanting to ask any more personal questions and get shot down. Though there was a part of me that wanted to tell him every deep and dark secret I had. The something about him I'd seen on the TV was still with me.
I closed my eyes seconds before his lips met mine. Warmth spread through me at their touch and I melted into him, yearning for more.
Another moan slipped from me.
"Sadie," he murmured against my lips.
Images flashed through my mind of the two of us together. I wasn't normally the move-too-quickly type, but there was something about him that just made me want to push him against a wall and have my way with him.
He pulled me closer to him, our bodies pressed against one another so tightly it almost hurt. I wanted him so much it almost didn't matter who we were.
Or where we were.
"Do you know anywhere private?" I asked before I could lose my nerve.
From the hardness pressing against me, I didn't think he was about to deny me. He seemed as into this as I was.
"Quiet, but maybe not private." His breath fanned against my lips as he spoke, only winding me up tighter and making me want him more. This man was intoxicating.
"That will do," I whispered, not wanting to admit I was that desperate.
"Come with me." He unravelled his arm and took one of my hands with his, pulling me away from the balcony and into a second, much quieter room.
The floors were the same polished wood of the dance floor, and the heavy velvet curtains gave the room a dark and decadent edge. This room would be perfect for what the two of us wanted.
A large black piano stood in the middle of the room. It was easily the most beautiful instrument I'd ever seen, and the urge to play it almost overrode my urge for Leo.
"Do you play the piano too?" he asked. He must have seen the longing gaze I was giving it.
"Yes, a little. I'm not as good as on the cello though."
"Would you like to?"
"Won't we get in trouble?" A short, nervous giggle followed my words.
"We might."
I didn't wait for him to say more, I was already drifting towards the instrument and taking a seat on the stool.
I lifted the key cover and ran my fingertips over the cold, smooth keys. They were easily the best I'd ever touched.
Breathing in deeply to steady my nerves, I pressed down on the keys, playing a song I'd learned by heart when I was still a child.
"Greensleeves," Leo said after a bit.
I glanced over to him and nodded, surprised to see his eyes closed as he listened to my music, a look of pure bliss on his face.
"Yes. It was the first song I was ever taught to play."
"You play it beautifully."
"Thank you."
We both stopped talking. Me concentrating on the song I was playing, Leo on listening to the tune.
I wanted to kiss him again, but my old piano teacher's superstition about always finishing a song filled my ears. He'd never have let me leave the piano stool until I'd played the last note.
Leo's face didn't change as I reached the end of the song.
"That was beautiful," he whispered, closing the small gap between us.
I scooted over on the stool slightly, fluffing out my dress so it wouldn't get in the way as I did. Leo took it as the invitation it was, and sat next to me, leaning in closely. I was going to get my kiss.
I licked my lips, looking up at him through hooded eyes.
Neither of us said a word as he threaded his fingers through my hair and pulled my face close to his. My eyes fluttered clothes as I lost myself in the moment.
This kiss was different to the one before. It was soft, reverent, full of mutual respect.
And it made me want him all the more.
Chapter Six
My dress fell away in waves as Leo easily found the fastenings through the fabric. It was only after a moment or two I realised that Enrique had probably designed it that way. Though he'd likely done it with the plans of making it easier for me to remove it at the end of the night, not when I was getting undressed on the floor of a random room in the palace.
Still. I didn't care. There was something about this moment I couldn't deny, even if the two of us were moving far quicker than I ever had before. And far quicker than I'd ever been comfortable with.
"Are you sure about this, Sadie?" Leo asked as my corset fell away, leaving me just wearing a strapless bra and my skirts.
"Yes," I responded, leaning in to kiss him hungrily.
That seemed to be all the confirmation he needed as he pulled me to him and took me with a ferocity I'd never experienced before. And definitely wanted to again.
My hands flew to his shirt, finding he'd already began unbuttoning himself. I smiled into our kiss. I did like a man who'd help do the job himself.
Our clothing fell away into heaps on the floor, neither of us caring about the mess, or about the wrinkles which would surely make themselves known. For my part, I could just disappear after this, satisfied in the knowledge I'd done what I came here for. He seemed to be a guest here. I assumed he'd be able to just pop back to his room and freshen up.
Our naked skin slid against one another as we came together, our kiss still searing and passionate.
A hand skated up the outside of my leg and I knew it would only be a few moments before he slipped it inwards and towards where I really wanted it to be. I thought about begging but decided I didn't need to. He was as into this as I was, so I had no doubts that we'd go where I wanted to.
As if reading my thoughts, Leo slipped his hand inwards, skating it against my clit. I moaned loudly. I'd never been so sensitive before, not even when I was on my own, doing things exactly how I liked them.
He sunk his fingers into me, curling them upwards and hitting the spot only I knew about. I gasped loudly, breaking the kiss. Leo took full advantage of that and trailed kisses over my jaw and down my neck, nibbling gently as he went and driving me closer to the edge.
I'd never come just from fingers alone, but I was damned close. If anyone could manage it, then it would be Leo.
His lips caught around one of my nipples and he tugged it lightly with his teeth. Pure pleasure raked through my body and straight to my clit. Without even touching it, he was managing to make me feel so alive.
Changing his focus to my other nipple, he repeated the movements, only serving to excite me more. I didn't know how I knew, but something within me was certain about what he was going to do next.
He left my nipples, both of them stinging slightly from the scrape of his teeth against them, and continued his path down my body, kissing and nibbling as he went.
I sucked in a breath as I waited, anticipation thrumming through me and hard to ignore. I glanced down my body, meeting his eyes as he watched me.
Neither of us said a word. There was no need for any. He could read my body as well as I could, I didn't need to give him instructions.
He blew hot air across my sensitive skin and I shivered in response. His fingers still moved inside me, making it impossible for me to ignore him. Not that I wanted to.
Slowly, he lowered his head and took my clit into his mouth, sucking and circling his tongue around it.
All thought flew from my mind. There wasn't space for anything but pure pleasure and sensation. He was setting me on fire unl
ike anyone ever had. It took mere moments for it to become too much. Throwing my head back, I let out a long low moan as shudders wracked my body and my vision went black.
As I came back down to earth, I was aware of Leo crawling back up my body, a smug expression on his face. He leaned down and kissed me. I responded, sort of. I wasn't able to do much more than the token effort.
A few more moments rest was all I needed before want bubbled up inside me. His fingers and tongue were one thing, but they weren't all I wanted. Nor were they all I needed.
Slipping my hand down between us, I wrapped it around his cock. He groaned in response, his weight falling on me ever so slightly as the pressure of what I was doing took over. Satisfaction at his response grew inside me. I liked the reaction he was having. A lot. It was winding me up tighter all over again. There was something electrifying about being with him.
I pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the time or place to think about it. Not with my hand wrapped around his cock and the two of us naked and risking it all in a random room of the palace.
There was no way I'd admit it aloud, but the threat of being caught was definitely adding to my excitement. I'd never thought of myself as an exhibitionist before.
"Sadie," he groaned.
"Leo," I replied, barely getting my words out as I stroked along his hardness. "Do you have a condom?" I murmured, hoping he'd say yes. I wouldn't be able to contain my disappointment if he didn't.
"Yes," he whispered, grabbing at the pile of clothes.
I released my hold on his cock as he rooted around in his pockets and I hoped he hadn't misplaced it. We'd had so much fun so far, I couldn't imagine it coming to an end before the main event. It just seemed so wrong.
"Here," he mumbled, letting the clothes fall back into a pile and brandishing a glittering packet in front of me.
I wet my lips, hoping he'd move quickly now we had the protection we needed. I might be reckless at this moment, but I wasn't stupid. A pregnancy could ruin both of our lives, especially as we barely knew one another.
He sheathed his cock in one swift movement, his hand gliding down his cock smoothly. I gulped, my eyes widening. It hadn't felt that big when it was in my hand.
"Are you sure about this?"
I nodded. There was no going back now. Not that I wanted to stop. I needed him with a passion I'd never felt before.
"Please," I begged, not caring how it was coming across. Desperation to feel our bodies joined together as one filled me. The two of us wasn't just a want, it was a need.
He ran his hands along my body, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. His fingers dipped between my legs, checking I was still ready to take him. I could have told him if he'd asked, but this was so much hotter.
"Now." Need filled every word and I didn't even care if he could hear it or not.
Thankfully, he seemed to share my desperation and he settled between my legs, the weight of him both foreign and welcome. It had been a long time since I'd had sex, and this was just the man to end my drought with.
With one swift thrust, he seated himself inside me, his cock filling me in the most delicious way. He rocked back and forth, eliciting all kinds of whimpers from me.
An easy rhythm started between us as he moved inside me. I pushed my hips upwards, urging him on. Pleasure coiled up inside me, taking me higher and higher. This would be the first time a man had ever made me come like this, but I wasn't surprised. Leo had been playing my body right since we'd entered the room.
It didn't take long for the two of us to approach the edge and my body began to tremble beneath him.
Leo's thrusts became more erratic as he got closer to his own finish. The two of us barely made a sound, our breathing was too rabid. His breath tickled my ear as his moans and groans mingled with mine.
The moment Leo came, it pushed me over the edge and my vision went black as pleasure unlike I'd ever experienced wracked through my body.
We collapsed into a heap, my hand resting on his chest. I fought with the urge to fall asleep, knowing that was a good way to get caught unaware. But it was tempting. Oh, so much so. His smell enveloped me and comforted me in a way I hadn't expected.
I wasn't sure how long we laid there, it was too easy to lose myself in him. I closed my eyes, willing the moment to last forever.
Footsteps scuffed outside the room we were hidden in and my eyes snapped open fully. I didn't want to admit it, but something about Leo had set me at ease and my mind was starting to drift. Almost as if we were in a bed and not on a piano room floor.
The person drew closer and panic began to rise inside me. I couldn't be caught here. Not by anyone. If my stepmother caught wind of it, things would be bad enough. But if the wrong people heard full stop...I'd be kissing any chance of my desired career goodbye.
"Sadie? Are you alright?" Leo asked, his voice still thick with desire.
"I need to go."
"Go?"
"Yes, go. Someone is coming."
I didn't wait for him to respond. Instead, I jumped to my feet, my naked body completely on display. He'd loved every inch of it though, so there was no need for false modesty.
"They won't come in here-"
"You don't know that." I tried to calm myself down, but something in my brain just wasn't buying it.
I grabbed my clothes from the floor and started dressing myself again, glad Enrique had made my dress easy to get in and out of after all.
"Thank you," I said to him, at a loss for what other words I could use. I leaned in and kissed him sweetly.
Loss and longing warred within me. I didn't really want to go. Quite the opposite. I wanted to stay. I wanted to ask him who he really was. I'd been a fool to think I'd be able to have him then leave him.
"Sadie...don't go?" His eyes pleaded with me just as much as his words, but I had no choice.
The footsteps grew louder still, almost like they were the other side of the door.
"I'm sorry." Panic filled my voice as I shrugged into my dress, buttoning it back up swiftly. My getaway would have to be a quick one.
Reaching down, I unzipped the hidden pocket with the shoes, grateful once more for my best friend's planning. The flats fit perfectly, as I'd expected, and reassurance flowed through me. The shoes Enrique had designed for me were one of kind gorgeous, but they wouldn't do for a quick getaway.
"Please, stay?"
I gave him a longing look. I wished I could do what he wanted me to, I really did. But I couldn't take the risk.
Leo struggled to his feet, not even grabbing any clothes to cover himself with. He reached out towards me, but I took a step back.
"I'm sorry, I can't," I muttered, trying to ignore the slight sting in my eyes. I really didn't want to leave him.
Without saying another word, I turned and fled, grabbing the beautiful bespoke heels as I did. I ran through the palace, trying to avoid as many people as possible. I was desperate to get home and know I was safe again.
Chapter Seven
I tripped over the threshold of my room, conscious of the crunch of gravel sounding behind me. My stepmother and Rita must be arriving back too. It was earlier than I expected them but that wasn't surprising. My stepmother had plans for Rita which were far too lofty. Plans I was convinced my step-sister didn't want herself either. She'd never expressed an interest in becoming a Princess. Or even a wife for that matter. She was too young for that.
If I were Rita, I'd be telling my mother where to stick her dreams of becoming the Queen's mother. It was utterly ridiculous to force the dream of being a Princess on someone in this day and age.
Trying not to fall over my own feet, I rushed up the stairs and into my room, throwing my clothing into the wardrobe as I stripped off and threw on my pyjamas. I couldn't risk being caught in clothing fit for a formal wedding reception, not when I wasn't supposed to have been there. Though if Rita had told her mother about my presence anyway, then there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to h
ope she stayed silent on the matter.
Shouting came from down stairs and I flinched despite myself. It wasn't me being shouted at, so I shouldn't be reacting that way. Even so, my stepmother's voice was so aggressive it was difficult to not be intimidated by her.
I grabbed my headphones from my bedside table and stuck them in my ears almost violently. I needed to escape from the house in which I lived.
Without consciously thinking about it, I thumbed through my music until I found a version of Greensleeves I particularly liked. The opening chords filled my ears and I let myself get transported back into thoughts of Leo and the evening we'd shared. Maybe running had been the wrong option. Somehow, I knew there was always going to be a part of me that wondered how things would have gone if I'd stayed. Where the two of us would have gone.
To a bed at the very least.
I didn't mean for tears to start leaking down my cheeks. The tune wasn't a sad one by any stretch of the imagination, but it was recalling a chance I'd had, but not been able to act on.
Why had I been such a fool?
I swiped the tears away. I didn't deserve to mourn something that couldn't be. I wasn't as big a fool as that. I'd known going into the evening that I was there to find the man I'd seen and nothing else. He wasn't a forever, he was just scratching an itch.
If I kept telling myself that, then maybe I'd believe it by morning.
The music changed, and my mood lifted slightly. Classical music had always been a safe place for me. Somewhere of beauty and emotions that weren't my own. If it wasn't so late at night, I'd have gotten my cello out to play some for myself. There was no better way for me to switch off my mind than by creating music.
A knock sounded over the string section and I frowned. No one knocked on my door. Ever. When my stepmother came up here, she just walked straight in, though she barely ever came up here anymore. I didn't have anything she wanted.
I pushed myself out of bed and walked over to the door, pulling it open carefully.
A small gasp escaped me at the sight of Rita stood there, tracks of tears down her face and rips in her ball dress. Without saying a word, I gestured her to come in.
If The Shoe Fits Page 3