Leo - Mr. Boss: The 12 Signs of Love (The Zodiac Lovers Series Book 8)

by Tiana Laveen

  “That’s true. I do what I do well. That’s just a fact.” He winked at her, and she winked back.

  “The Fallen Angel has been featured in magazines as a great nightlife attraction. The youngsters love it. Anyone who loves ya, truly loves ya, has to accept that you can’t let this go. Once you find your niche, that’s just it…” She shook her head. “You’re in, ya know? All in… with both feet. I’m proud of ya, Laz… so proud of you.” Mom’s voice trembled and he dropped his head, sporting a smile. “Just promise me that you’ll make time for yourself every now and again, too. Don’t want life to pass you by…”

  Boy does that sound familiar… He shuddered at that.

  Had Sky somehow wrangled up his mother’s number and called to complain?! No… she wouldn’t have… would she?

  “Thank you, Mom.”

  She was quiet for a spell, only the sound of the sink water running as she filled a large pot with water and transported it over to the stovetop.

  “So, who is she?”

  “Huh?” He was shaken out of his thoughts like an apple from a tree. “She?”

  “Just stop it, all right? I know you’re gearin’ up for some big song and dance, the kind where you’re pretending to be totally surprised, flabbergasted, taken aback… the drama! What a divo my son is! Geesh!” She rolled her eyes, causing him to burst out laughing. “The only time you act like a complete fool is when you’re in love. I thought after that stripper who I told ya not to marry, that was it! Now, who is it that has done this to you?”

  “She wasn’t a stripper. She was an exotic dancer and now is a professional adult film artist,” He stated with his finger in the air, then burst out laughing.

  Mom cut her eyes at him, hissed, and turned back towards the sink.

  “She was garbage! Tried to blackmail you in court… lied about being pregnant, even. What a classless slut. You haven’t had any decent woman since Charity, Laz.”

  “Oh, Mom, come on! Why do you always bring up Charity? We could be talking about the weather, and you’ll bring that woman up. That was a million years ago. She’s remarried, has kids, and works for some nonprofit place, last I heard. Come on, now.”

  Mom stood there and glared at him, then began to mess with a loaf of frozen garlic bread.

  “How is she, by the way?”

  “Really?” He flopped back in his chair, closed his eyes, and placed his hand across his head in disbelief. “So you’re really doing this, huh? Just gonna pretend like I didn’t ask you to not do it.”

  “She hasn’t called me in a while… been busy with her husband and kids, I suppose.” Mom shrugged, completely ignoring his feelings about it all. Once Mom had found out Charity had remarried, she was devastated. She’d wanted them to work it out and try again, although they’d both admitted to her countless times that despite the fact they still loved each other, that wasn’t enough to sustain a relationship. Surely, Mom had to understand that.

  “I dunno how she’s doing. I haven’t spoken to her in at least a couple of years.”

  Mom walked over to the oven and tapped her lower lip, trying to figure it out again. She always forgot how that oven turned on.

  “Third button to the right…” he offered.

  She turned the knob to 350 degrees and then returned her attention to him, looking him dead in the eye.

  “You’re not off the hook about the ‘she’ you’ve yet to identify. Come on, we don’t talk all the time, but you tell me everything. What’s up with the secrets? What’s going on?”

  Yes, it was time. This conversation was long overdue.

  He pointed to the chair across from him, the same one Dad always plopped in when he’d show up at the oddest times. She sat down.

  “Mom, I know after I filed for divorce from Mimi, I was upset and told you I was done… that I didn’t want to be involved anymore, but…”

  “I knew it.” Mom smiled wide, her head held high. “I told Eliza that you were in love again! She said, ‘Naaah, Mom! He treats women like shit! He’s really done now!’ I knew it!”

  His smile slowly faded.

  “Eliza thinks I treat women like shit?” That was his little sister. How horrible for her to think that of him.

  Mom shrugged and grimaced, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.

  “Honestly, babe, ya do. I know it’s because you’ve been hurt, but yeah. I mean, when ya tell a woman one thing and then do somethin’ else, that’s treatin’ them like shit. You’re a womanizer, Laz. You went from being a hopeless romantic, a real sweetheart, to this mean, awful… shit.” She waved her hand, as if it were all too much for her to say.

  “No… say it. Tell me.”

  She hesitated for a brief moment. “You just hurt so badly, baby, that you wanted them to hurt, too… just like you.”

  Mom’s eyes were full of pity, as if he were in need of prayer, as if he were some leper. That wasn’t what he wanted! He didn’t want to be that man… he wasn’t that man. That was all an act! Couldn’t she see through it? Why didn’t she know?

  “But I know that was all for show…” He sighed with relief, and his forehead hit the table. He felt her hand as she reached over and rubbed his hair. “You just couldn’t take anymore. You were in protection mode. I explained that to Eliza. She saw it as plausible, I suppose. She did agree that you’d changed. I told ’er, not really, ’cause when someone is playing pretend, that’s not actually changing. That’s just a role, and it’s always temporary.”

  He sat back up. “Yeah, well, that role is over. The wall is down. I met someone and she… she makes me believe in love again, Mom.”

  The older woman grasped both his hands and squeezed.

  “Her name is Sky. She’s a professional dance choreographer. Mom, she’s good, too! She’s worked with a lot of big name celebrities on their music videos and she does a lot of work for commercials, things like that. She teaches classes for children and adults, too. She’s… she’s fucking beautiful! And she’s got a good heart. She was raised in Brooklyn… and she’s so sweet, and… she doesn’t want me for my money. Her actions prove that.”

  Mom’s eyes glossed over, but he suspected those tears that threatened to fall were ones of happiness. Perhaps he was right… Maybe she’d trust one more woman who’d entered his life. Just one more.

  “She sounds wonderful, honey.” She patted his hands before slipping hers away. “I never want to see your heart broken again, sweetheart. I worry about you, Laz, because when you love, you love so hard that it drives ya crazy. You don’t sleep… you don’t eat… It’s awful watching you explode from the inside out when things don’t go right. So I think that’s why I understood why’d you taken another approach, though it was drastic and harmful. But I knew one day, sooner or later, because you’re such a passionate man, that you’d fall prey to your one and only weakness… and that’s love. It’s your kryptonite—but you need it.”

  He sighed and nodded.

  “I want to meet her. Can you arrange that soon?”

  “Of course. How about next week? I’ll ask her what day works for her.”

  “Yeah, any day but Wednesday. Oh wait! Your birthday is next Thursday! What’s the plan?” Getting up from her chair, she made her way over to the uncooked chicken and began to season it.

  “I don’t know. I was hoping you were planning some big lavish party on my behalf.” He chuckled, but he was certain that she knew he in fact hoped a big deal was being made about his special day.

  “I’ve got some ideas, but they’re none of your business. Back to what we were discussing for a bit. Ya ready to listen?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Let me tell you somethin’, Laz.” She grabbed the black pepper and began to sprinkle it all over the thighs and breasts. “The problem is, you stopped trustin’ your own judgment. After you realized you weren’t pickin’ the ones that were right for you, you stopped trustin’ yourself. That can do some damage to one’s ego, ’specially to a man like y
ou. Everything you do, you do it big! ‘Fallen Angel’, parties, gifts, the whole nine. People see you as the loud one, always in the middle of the action, the center of attention. But, what they don’t know about you, something only a mother would, is you don’t do all of that for the attention; you do it to make people smile. It’s a gift, from you to them. Why? Because that’s what real bosses do. They give, even when they no longer have it to spare. Because giving, especially of one’s time, is the greatest gift of all…”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The Lion Sleeps Tonight…

  “OKAY, OKAY… I get it now.” He smirked as he sat across from her on her couch. Sky placed her glass of red wine down on the coffee table and leisurely crossed her legs. She’d been flirting with him for the past ten minutes, but he hadn’t yet taken the bait. Instead, he focused on business matters… her business matters. “So, the studio is part of that, I see. When are you thinking about looking at other properties?”

  “Well, I am not really sure.” She sighed and hitched her elbow on the back of the couch. “I would like to relocate the dance studio from Brooklyn to Manhattan, but then my rent would be double the price for half the space.” He nodded and took a sip of his wine. “I don’t want that. I need every square inch I can get. Rent is no joke in Manhattan though, but damn, the location would be awesome… if I can swing it.”

  “That’s exactly right. The costs may be even triple what you’re paying now. I tell you what, I have a friend who’s a great real estate agent. I’ll ask him to keep his eyes peeled, tell him the budget you wanna stay in, okay?”

  “Thank you, I appreciate that.” She also appreciated him not rushing to suggest purchasing it for her, to take control like she was certain he was dying to do. Nope. She wanted to do this on her own. It was important to her. He leaned in and kissed her.

  Ahhh, yes, the love I’ve been missing…

  She closed her eyes and took it in, the softness, the gentleness of his kiss. When he pulled away, her pink lipstick had imprinted on his lips. She reached out to rub it off with the pad of her thumb, then kissed his cheek. The hairs from his beard tickled her face, and she loved it.

  “Thanks for inviting me over tonight.” He leaned back into the blue throw pillow, propping his hand behind his head. “It’s been a few days since we got to sit here face to face. We’ve both been so busy. Sometimes a phone call just isn’t enough.”

  “Yeah, I missed you. Had to make time for my baby.”

  Lazarist smiled at her then glanced around her living room as he often did. He seemed to enjoy looking at her things, her stuff… her collections. His eyes rested on a framed photo of her father she’d just put out the day prior, setting it beside the television.

  “That’s your father, right?” He got to his feet, wineglass in hand, and walked over to it. Picking it up, he studied it intently.

  “Yeah, that’s him.”

  “Wow.” He looked at her from over his shoulder then returned the framed photo to the television stand. “I see the resemblance.”

  He went quiet for a spell—too quiet. She always wondered what was going on in his mind when he silenced himself like that. Lazarist was naturally gregarious—always talking, always joking, always saying something completely unnecessary or slick. When he was quiet, it set off her alarm bells.

  “Hey.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “Come here… I want to talk to you about something.” He made his way over. “You never, and I mean, never, mention your father. Is he, uh… is he still living?”

  “If that’s what you want to call it.” The room grew suddenly cold. Lazarist’s face turned impassive, blank, and it scared her. The smile was gone in a snap.

  Maybe I need to leave this alone. At least, for now.

  “Hmmm, okay…” The awkwardness between them hatched from some invisible egg, and now the creature that had morphed from it was racing around the room, poisoning the air with a sadness that was almost palpable to the touch. “So! Next question.” She laughed and slapped her leg in a playful sort of way. “What would you like for your birthday? I think it’s awesome that your mother is throwing you a party. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to get me anything!”

  The man blushed… but she wasn’t buying it.

  “You need to stop sitting there acting like it’s not important to you! You’ve been hinting around about your upcoming birthday for the past few weeks!” They both chuckled. “It’ll be your day to shine. We both know how you loooove that!”

  “Nah, it’s fine, really. I’m just lookin’ forward to all of my friends and family being there… and introducing you to everyone.” He leaned over and took her hand, his eyes on her as he intertwined their fingers. “I love being with you. I want people to see why I’ve been so happy lately. Besides, it’s time, ya know?”

  “I definitely agree.” She snuggled up to him, laying her head on his shoulder. She wrapped her hand around his arm and fixed her gaze on her father’s photo. “Speaking of meeting parents, I told my father about you…”

  “Well, good. What did he say?” Lazarist asked after a few moments of silence. He leaned to carefully place his wine on the coffee table beside hers.

  “Well, he’s not really certain what to think, quite honestly. I mean, he and I are pretty close, you know? I told him I was seeing someone… let him know who you were. Let’s just say he has concerns, but he is still open minded about it all.”

  “Concerns, huh? Based on what? Race?”

  She sighed and sat up, but kept her hand on his arm. It was funny that the man couldn’t even fathom why someone would be apprehensive about a woman dating the likes of a man like him…

  “No, not because you’re White. You’re a local celebrity. You’re well off. You’ve been married a couple of times already and well…” She smiled ever so slightly as she cocked her head to the side. “Let’s be honest. You have a reputation for being a big-time playboy. He’s afraid you might break my heart. He thinks I’m too trusting, as well.” At this, the man burst out laughing. “What are you laughing about? How in the world could you find that funny?”

  “Because Sky! Your father apparently has no idea the hoops you made me jump through… too trusting my ass! You’re a man-eater! This soft, demure persona is a ruse! You’ve got more good sense than almost anyone I know. Play you, my ass!”

  All right… that was funny and she couldn’t help but chuckle. But, in this case, she owed some of her success to Scarlet, who knew her way around men such as the great Lazarist…

  “Okay, point taken, but still.”

  “Yeah.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “In all seriousness though, I know what you mean… Well, what he means, rather. But he has nothing to worry about…” He pressed his hand against her shoulder and leaned her down on the couch. The leather sighed beneath their shifting weight. “I’m going to take good care of his daughter… real good care…” She smiled up at him as he mounted her, pressing his groin between her thighs. She felt his hardness through her jeans, and when her gaze landed back on that photo, she grimaced.

  “Uh, hold up… Can you put that picture face down?” Dad’s dark brown eyes upon her and his smile proved suddenly unnerving. Lazarist burst out laughing.

  Lazarist hopped up and picked up the photo. He looked at it again for a spell, then placed it face down. When he returned to her, she was wiggling out of her pants, eager to feel him deep inside her. He reclaimed his position, grinding against her panties, then drove his tongue deep within her mouth. In seconds flat he disrobed, his clothing ending up in a heap alongside the couch. Hands roving all over one another, they went at each other like feverish wild animals.

  “I want you so bad!” She cooed as he shoved her purple sweater up to her chin and removed her bra.

  Gripping her right breast, he engulfed the left nipple as if his life depended upon it. Nails raking up and down his back, she held on as he administered delightful pleasure. He kep
t the pace, not breaking his stride as he tugged at her panties and managed to expertly snatch them down to her ankles. She kicked the damn things off, her valley now completely exposed for his taking. He didn’t bother to journey slow. He held her by the hips and jammed his hot tongue against her slit, flicking and sucking her zone. She clawed at his shoulders as he tongue-fucked her, then slid his finger inside of her ass, making her coo and squirm.

  “Baaaby!” He moaned as she came against his mouth, shaking and unable to slow down and control herself.

  He crawled back up her body as if he were a wild cat and she were some tree, and sank his teeth into her neck like some blood crazed vampire. She screamed, the pain and pleasure immense as he cupped her breast and pressed his erect cock against her pussy. He yanked her thighs further apart as if he were angry with the world, and then thrust ruthlessly inside.

  “Oh God!”

  His dick stretched her wide open, his thrusts hard and breathtaking. Lifting himself up onto his palms, he stared down at her with such intensity. His gaze drifted to his handwork…

  “Fuck! I love watching my dick goin’ in and out of your tight, wet, pink pussy, baby!” She sighed when he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, forcing her upward to take a front row seat at the fuck show, with tickets for two. “Look at this!” She eyed his thick, long cock thrusting deep inside her, over and over, coated with their mixed juices, and feeling so turned on. He kissed her then with such passion, breaking her concentration and making her heart beat harder and faster. “Sky! I love tha fuck outta you! Tell me this pussy is all mine!”