Sexting With A Vampire
Chapter 143

Nora

Slipping down in bed feels different with Leo in the same room. I'm nervous and insecure. I know we have had s*x, but you ignore details when you're busy with pleasure.

It's not like that now. My belly pouch is spilling out, and I dumbly enough s**k it in before I'm hidden by the covers. I know I'm acting weird, but I'm embarrassed.

I'm also scared Leo will point out that I have freckles everywhere while Mr. Perfect has smooth skin-something that probably comes from being an angel.

"Just so you know, I always run in the mornings with the pack warriors, and then I usually shower and head back to bed."

I glimpse up at him and almost choke on the view. Leo is stretching, and his body is wet from washing himself in the bathroom. Every delicious ab has water dripping down from it. "That's okay," I tell him. "I'm a heavy sleeper."

He breathes a laugh and approaches the bed. "Is that right?"

The mattress creaks underneath his weight. He shoves a leg under the blanket and my heart races. Suddenly I'm thinking about ridiculous stuff, like Leo wanting to leave me because my arms are pudgy or I don't look good without makeup. "Y-yeah," I can't tame my voice. It comes out as nervous as I feel. I can't help it. I'm filled with butterflies. "I would..." I clear my throat. "I would probably sleep through an earthquake."

"My, oh, my, are you nervous right now?"

"What? No! Of course not! W-why would I be nervous?"

Leo slips underneath the cover. I soon feel his warm, hair legs brush against mine, and I yelp when he slips an arm around me. It makes breathing harder, especially when he inhales the back of my hair.

"Because your heart is pounding so fast..." Leo murmurs, tightening his grip on me. "But you don't have to be embarrassed. If you haven't noticed already, my heart is pounding too."

I fall silent, letting myself listen to Leo's hammering heartbeat. It baffles me that he is nervous too. This is new. I didn't think I had that effect on the big alpha.

I can't recall Leo being shy around me in the past, or maybe I wasn't paying attention because I was too busy fighting my own racing hormones.

I take a deep breath. "Are you sad that I'm your mate and not Lily? Like... Would you rather have been with her?"

Leo's hand is busy skimming over my side. It makes my skin tingle with an unquenchable yearning.

I love his touch and fear that I will become addicted to it.

But what I fear even more is letting down my guard and falling in love with my mate. Especially since I know that Leo's head has a death mark. He will die in the future, something I wish to prevent from happening. "I'm not sad, but I wonder who killed her... Believe me, I felt nothing for Lily, but I don't want anything to happen to you."

My heart thuds. "So you're worried about me?"

"Of course I am. We are mates."

A smile curls my lips. "Even if we are mates, I don't take everything for granted, you know. People can be mates and still not like each other. Hell, some people reject their mates."

"Well, you and I are already mated, and the only thing that can separate us is death," Leo nudges my head with his nose. It's like he can't get enough of my scent. "I care about you, Nora."

I press my eyes shut. "I care about you too... Things are moving scarily fast, but I'm okay with that... If I don't count Evan and William, you're the only person who has made me feel accepted for who I am. And that's why I get the feeling you and I aren't a mistake." "Good, because we are not a mistake..."

"You think so too?"

"Yes, because I've liked you since that one summer in high school after you returned from your trip to Sweden."

I blush and mutter. "You bullied me like crazy when I came back... Called me Ugly Duckling and shit..."

Leo breathes a laugh. "I was scared you would find out how you affected me. I was a hormone-filled boy, and you came back to school wearing ponytails and that tight t-shirt that did nothing to hide your hard n*****s. You had not yet started to wear a bra." My skin burns brighter when I remember it. "I know... I had bralets, but they hardly covered my nipples... Gosh, thinking back to that is so embarrassing..."

"Embarrassing?" Leo laughs. "No, you're mistaken. It was hot. My first boner ever was given to me by my enemy. Imagine my confusion and the hatred I felt toward myself."

I snort. "I made you hard?"

"Yes."

"Seriously?"

"Yup, I'm hard for you now, too, Nora. Do you feel that? That's the effect you have on me all the time."

Leo inches closer. I can feel his erection pressing into my b**t, making me bite back a smile.

"You pervert..." I tease.

Leo inhales me again, smiling against my skin before he whispers. "Can I kiss your skin? Would that be alright?"

My response is to turn around and meet his eyes in the dark. His are glowing in green, and my hands skim his body.

Which might be a mistake as it manages to make me horny. I touch Leo's granite-hard abs and let my fingertips feel him up before my hands land on his broad shoulders.

Leo is staring into my eyes. Time stops, and I hold my breath before kissing his lush lips.

His lips taste so sweet, and a thousand goosebumps prickle over my skin when his mammoth hands stroke the cold skin on my back. He is so warm. So lovely.

His tongue meets mine, and heat spreads over my skin like a rapid fire.

The passion behind our lips is sizzling in the air. I melt against Leo's body, mold to him like clay. He makes me sparkly, and I swear doves are spreading their wings inside my chest.

I nibble on his lower lip and laugh when his large white wings spread behind him, making the blanket fly away.

A sheepish smile crosses his features. "Sorry... My wings have a will on their own and come out wherever they feel like it..."

My lips strain when I beam at him. "I love your wings."

Those words seem to quench some of the insecurities on Leo's face, and he smiles back at me. "Are you cold?"

"A little," I admit.

Wordlessly, his wing folds over us, and my lips curl higher before I kiss Leo again. I'm balancing on the edge of sweet surrender and then just decide to dive straight in.

I can't keep myself away from my mate any longer and let the walls surrounding my heart crumble to pieces. I want Leo, but I know that I might lose him.

Leo breaks our kiss much too soon. My expectant gaze lands on his beautiful emerald eyes. His lips twitch in amusement, and soft laughter rings in my ears.

"I still can't believe I'm making out with Nora Howler. This is like a childhood fantasy coming to life."

My heart squeezes in delight before I decide to bite back. I can tease my mate back.

"Well, I'm making out with Leo Saint, which is mind-blowing. I never thought you would be my mate."

Leo smiles at me, but it soon falters. "Can I admit something?"

Worry settles in my chest. "Of course."

Those beautiful eyes meet mine, and Leo silently pushes some strand of hair out of my face, setting it behind my ear.

"I don't want to die, Nora," Leo whispers in a shattered voice. He looks torn. Frightened. "The future is terrifying because the more time I spend with you, the less I feel like an alpha. I know I need to sacrifice myself to defeat the demons, but... I'm scared." Tears are already prickling behind my eyelids. "Isn't there any other way? Have my other self said anything?"

"She hasn't said anything..." Leo dries one of my tears with the tip of his thumb. A smile tugs on his lips. "Are you crying for me, Nora Howler?"

"Of course I am... How could I not?"

He breathes a laugh. "This makes me feel a little bit better because you don't want me to die."

My voice cracks. "Why would I ever want that?!"

Another laugh, and then Leo kisses my lips. Hard and passionate. When he breaks away, I cry even more. I don't understand how he can be smiling at a moment like this.

Leo's lips part. "I think I might be in love with you, Nora Howler. In fact, I think I've always been in love with you. My heart belongs to you, and I love you more than words can describe."

I throw my arms around his neck. "I love you too, and I don't want you to die... There must be another way..."

Leo doesn't reply.

Instead, he holds me close and hugs me while I cry against his shoulder. My heart breaks a little further with every tear because now that I've tasted heaven, I don't want to give him up. I won't let Leo die.