Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (Saltwater Kisses Book 8) (5 page)

I took the first step of the stairs, determined to get my brother and my new friend their fairy tale moment, even if it meant killing the auctioneer before the auction. On the second step, Bastian clearly asked if they could go speak somewhere else and my hopes rose slightly.

I was paying more attention to where Bastian and Ava were going than I was to the stairs and tripped on the last step. Luckily, Leo was there to catch me. His hands were warm on my bare arms as he made sure I was steady before letting me go. I wished he had held on for just a moment longer.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling a little silly for almost falling. My heart was pounding in my chest, and not just from nearly eating it. Leo looked amazing. His dark suit brought out the blue in his eyes and accented the strong lines of his shoulders and trim physique. Even his normally messy hair was brushed back and sleek. He looked every bit like a billionaire playboy and it had my body responding.

Damn him.
I needed to concentrate on Bastian and Ava, not how good he looked in a suit. But, he just looked
so
good.

“What's up with them?” Leo asked, motioning toward the receding outline of Bastian and Ava as they headed toward the back porch and away from the party.

“Come with me,” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along behind me as I followed my brother and his girlfriend. I needed to make sure they kissed and made up without that stupid auctioneer's words really ruining everything.

I realized I was still holding Leo's hand as we came to the glass door leading out to the porch, and I quickly dropped my hand from his as we positioned ourselves to peek out on the couple. I was trying hard to keep my distance and not touch him. Touching Leo only let my heart hope for things it couldn't have.

The night was dark and the porch unlit, but there was still enough light for us to be able to watch. I pulled on the curtain, hiding us further from their sight.

We huddled together in the dark, peeking through the small space available to see, and I couldn't help but notice how he was pressed into me. Or was I pressed into him? Either way, we were touching and it was making it hard to think. I took a deep breath to try and center myself, but succeeded only in taking in his scent instead. Pure, clean and male. My heart skipped several beats before I could force it to start again.

“What's going on?” Leo asked again, a chuckle in his voice. His muscled arm was strong under his suit jacket as I held onto him in the dark. “What are we doing here?”

“It's a romantic reunion,” I whispered back, trying my best to focus not on Leo and barely succeeding. Ten years of trying to ignore him helped, but it was hard with him this close.

Outside, Bastian was gripping the railing of the deck like he might tumble off the earth if he didn't hold on tight enough. Ava stood shaking in the pale moonlight with determination and fear on her face. I had promised her that he would welcome her back with open arms, and this wasn't exactly that.

“Damn it,” I hissed as Bastian's shoulders hunched. “He should have just kissed her when he first saw her. This isn't how it is supposed to go!”

“Just being happy? Eh, that's not Bastian's style. He's got to have the drama,” Leo replied, peeking out at the two of them with me. “What do you think they're even talking about out there?”

I shrugged, but noticed that Bastian had perked up at whatever Ava was telling him. Maybe this could be the romantic, happy ending I had hoped for. “I don't know. Hopefully something wonderful.”

I could feel Leo's eyes roll without even having to look at him. “You are such a hopeless romantic.”

I gave him a gentle push with my hip, trying not to notice how solid he was in the process. “I like being a hopeless romantic, thank you very much.”

Leo snickered and puffed up his chest. “Ava, I am a billionaire with a dark past, but I can't possibly look more handsome right now,” Leo said in a deep voice that was meant to make fun of Bastian.

I giggled. He had Bastian down perfectly.

“Oh, Bastian,” Leo continued, adopting a high, squeaky, feminine voice and tossing his head around like he had long hair. “You're absolutely right. The only man who could possibly look more handsome than you is Leo.”

I smacked his arm, but giggled anyway. “Shh.”

He grinned in the dark and reached for the door. I was afraid he was going to give us away, but the couple outside was too enraptured in one anther to notice. The smell of fresh ocean and sand wafted into the house, mixing with the wonderful scent of Leo's cologne. Their voices were soft, but audible.

“Why are you here, Ava?” Bastian asked, his voice thrumming with hope. Ava took another step forward and touched his cheek. She traced the scar from his cheek bone down to the tip of his lips before speaking. Her love for him was obvious.

“I'm here because I had to tell you I love you.” She smiled, and the truth of her words shone in her eyes brighter than moonlight. “I love you, Bastian.”

Bastian didn't respond with words, he simply pulled her into him, kissing her like she was everything he had ever needed in his life. I couldn't help but blush at the sheer passion, but I knew a sappy smile was plastered across my face. This was the ending I wanted for them.

“I love you, too, Ava,” Bastian replied, his voice rough with emotions. He bent to kiss her again and I grinned.

I wanted to whoop and jump for joy. My brother and my friend were happy. This was the moment I had wanted to create from the moment I saw Ava pull up in that cab. I grabbed Leo's arm and gave him a hug. He was so solid and strong beneath me that I let myself stay there for a moment. “It's perfect, Leo. That's love.”

Leo frowned, his whole body still as he watched the reunion scene. “He really loves her, doesn't he?”

“Well,
yeah
!” I grinned up at him, still keeping my arms wrapped around him. “Isn't it great? They're so perfect for each other. You should see them together, Leo. It's honestly the happiest I've ever seen him. He smiles more and he isn't so damn angry all the time. He actually can control his temper now. He's
happy
. Like really, honestly joyful.” I knew I was rambling, but I was just so giddy with their love. Bastian deserved someone as wonderful as Ava in his life.

“You really think they're going to last?” Leo asked, frowning as he continued to peer out the window. “I just remember the last time...”

I knew that Leo had been one of the major supports for Bastian the last time Bastian's heart had been broken. “You're a good friend to worry about him, Leo.” I looked out, reveling in the warm glow that surrounded the lovers. It brought tears to my eyes. “But, yes. I do. I really, really do. I've never seen anything like the two of them. It's basically magic.”

“Magic, huh?” Leo asked, turning to look at me. I realized I was still snuggled up and holding onto his arm. I released my grip on him go with a blush. Leo's eyes were dark and I could see thoughts running through them. He was probably just thinking of his friendship with Bastian and how it would change with a new girl in the picture.

I went back to looking out the window at the happy couple, wrapping my arms around myself. I was just so glad to see two people I cared about getting their happy ending. I was glad it was Leo here sharing it with me. Of all the people in the world, I wanted to share a moment like this with him.

He was still close enough for me to be able to feel his warmth. The air conditioning was running at full blast inside the house, so his heat was a welcome respite from the cool. I wished I could cuddle up into him and soak the heat from him directly. My chest squeezed with longing, my heart aching for more of Leo than I could ever have.

“Charlotte...” My name came out heavy like honey on Leo's voice. The way he said it sent pleasurable shivers down my spine. It was how I always wanted him to say my name right before he kissed me.

I turned, expecting to see Leo looking at me the way Bastian was looking at Ava, hopefully as caught up in the magic of their love as I was, but instead I found him looking at the event coordinator hurrying down the hallway.

“There you are!” the woman called out gratefully, stopping whatever Leo was going to say next. She hurried up to the two of us, barely giving our strange position behind the curtain a second glance. “Do you know where Mr. Belrose is? It's time for his speech. The champagne is being passed out. There isn't much time.”

“Thank you, I'll let him know,” I replied, rising from my spot and smoothing my dress. I hoped she didn't think we were peeping toms. I just wanted to make sure that my brother and my friend got the happy ever after they deserved.

The woman nodded and hurried back toward the sounds of the party. With a sigh, I looked over at Leo. “Were you going to say something?”

“It can wait.” He shook his head with a sad smile that made me curious. He probably just had some droll comment about me being a hopeless romantic. “Go get him for his speech. He worked hard for it.”

I grinned at him and went to the door.

“I'm sorry to interrupt,” I announced stepping outside. I grinned at the two of them, even though I was obviously interrupting their kiss. “But it's time for your speech, Bastian.”

Bastian grinned at the beautiful woman in his arms. “Come with me.”

She willingly took his arm as he escorted her inside. I held up my hand and gave them both high-fives as they passed. The two of them walked with a happy glow surrounding them that I couldn't help but envy as I held the door open. I'd never seen my brother look so happy, and that filled my heart with joy.

Once they were off the porch, I came inside to follow them. I got two steps down the hall before Leo grabbed my hand.

“Come with me.” It wasn't a question or a demand.

“But the speech...” I stammered, feeling a new heat in his gaze as he looked at me. Something had changed in his eyes, but I wasn't sure what.

“You know what he's going to say,” Leo said, giving me a gentle tug back toward the moonlit porch. “Do you really need to hear it?”

I paused for a moment, looking after the happy couple and then back to Leo. His hand was still on mine and I didn't want him to let go. Ever.

“Okay,” I whispered, just happy to have him with me.

L
eo still had my hand wrapped up in his and it was doing strange things to my heart. He'd never touched me for this long, at least not on purpose. With every moment, I knew I was falling just a little more in love with him and that I would crave his touch for days after this. It was almost cruel to know I wouldn't get it.

Outside on the porch, the night was calm and beautiful. A cooling wind came in from the ocean, bringing the scent of salt and sand with it. The waning moon's small crescent shape was a silver glitter against the dark water of the Caribbean sea.

Just before Leo closed the door, I heard the soft rumble of applause as Bastian began his speech inside. The door sealed with a soft thud, separating Leo and me from the rest of the world. It was warm and dark out here, and still thrumming with the magic of Bastian and Ava's reunion. I wanted to be in a world with just Leo, even if it was only for a moment. Even if I couldn't really have him, I wanted this moment.

“Charlotte?”

I loved the way my name sounded on his lips. I smiled, slowly turning to face him in the dark. My pulse fluttered along the pulse points of wrists and along my neck the way it always did whenever Leo was close. He smiled, reaching for my face with his hand. Everything slowed and moved in slow-motion as he reached for me and then pulled me into a kiss. It was every dream I'd ever had come true.

His hands cradled my face as he pressed his lips against mine, our mouths searching and seeking for more. In his hands and pressed against his lips, I was his. He was claiming me as his own and making my heart soar for it. My fantasies had never done this first kiss justice.

I was breathing hard when he pulled back, his hands still on my face as his eyes searched my face. I knew I must have fallen and bumped my head and was dreaming, or that I was possibly dead- because this was heaven. Even though I had written our love story a thousand times in my head, I never once thought it would happen.

Leo kissed me.

“I've wanted to do that for years now,” he whispered with a grin as his eyes found mine. I had to be dreaming. There was no way for a human being to feel this happy after just one kiss. I didn't know why he was suddenly kissing me after all these years, but I didn't care. I just wanted to kiss him again and again and again.

“You wanted to kiss me?” I gasped, having trouble forming words after such an amazing kiss. “Really?”

Leo leaned in closer, tipping his forehead to mine. “It was even better than I thought possible.”

I couldn't stop myself from reaching up and pulling him in for another kiss before he could barely finish his sentence. If this was a dream, I was going to kiss him until I woke up. I prayed that I would never wake up from this. Kissing him felt so right.

“I've wanted to kiss
you
for years,” I finally said, needing to say the words. “I even asked!” I looked up at him, seeing the blue in his eyes even in the moonlight. He was so damn good looking I could barely stand it. I fit in his arms like a puzzle piece.

I didn't want to ask, but I knew I needed to. I was afraid that if I asked, I would break the spell and Leo would realize who he was kissing and would leave. But I had to know. “Why now?”

“Because Bastian has someone,” he said as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

“What? That makes no sense,” I replied, shaking my head. “Whether or not my brother has someone shouldn't determine if you're kissing me.”

Leo's eyes met mine and one side of his mouth quirked into a smile as he shrugged. “I always thought you and Bastian would end up together.”

I couldn't help it. I snorted. The idea of me and Bastian was utterly ridiculous. “You thought I'd end up with Bastian?”

“I'm serious,” he insisted. I loved the way his arms were still wrapped around me, keeping me pressed into the strength of his chest. “I thought you two were supposed to be together. You're good together. He obviously respects and loves you. I just thought that it would be the natural outcome. I didn't want to ruin a good thing.”