Iona opened her eyes, as she was being shaken back to reality. Freezing rain pelted her, stinging her skin with every droplet that made contact. She sat up, and wiped her face slick with water. Leo held her shoulders for a second before hoisting her up to her feet. Slow to wake, Iona realized she was shivering, and her fingers and toes were like ice. Wind whipped around the pair, and Leo pulled her towards the edge of the ring. They ran back to the palace to escape the storm, directly toward the sleeping wing. Iona reached her room, and veered into the bathroom, shut the door, and stripped off her sopping wet training clothes. She leaned over the bathtub to wring out her hair, trying to make sense of her dream. Maybe the conversation with Asa hadn’t been real, but the feelings she confronted were.
With a firm exhale, Iona tied up her hair, dried off from the rain, and pulled on her robe to get some warmth back into her body. Staring in the mirror, she took in her reflection. Her bronze skin glowed against the deep green silk, her cheeks rosy from the frigid air outside. Her face had filled out from eating regularly again, her arms and legs, shoulders and back toned with muscle packed on from training. Below the surface, she was no longer the haggard, hurting soul who arrived at the palace nearly four months ago. She had found ways to climb out from the slog of daily grief. She was healthier, happier. Content.
Unexpected as it was, Leo had been an integral part in that change. Nerves bounced around her chest at the thought of telling Leo how she felt, but they took on an edge of excitement and hope. Now was the time, no more hiding or choking on words. Iona turned away from her mirror to get dressed and find Leo. She opened the door, and saw finding Leo wouldn’t be necessary, as he was kneeling in front of the hearth, stoking a fresh fire. He had changed into a loose fitting, parchment colored linen shirt and dark brown trousers that sat low on his hips. His hair was damp from the rain, but he left it hanging free.
Iona gulped at the sight. Damn, he is…thoughtful. Steadying the flutters caused by the handsome, kind, generous man in front of her, she announced her presence, “Thank you for that.” Leo sat back from the fireplace, and stood, wiping the ash off his hands on a rag.
“You burned the moon drops,” he commented. It wasn’t a question, but Iona couldn’t stand the disappointment in his voice so she answered anyway.
“They were starting to smell, actually,” offering an explanation, “Like you said they would.” Hopefully that softened any sting she’d caused.
“Oh,” Leo said, “Oh okay.” He seemed comforted a tad by the white lie, which comforted Iona in turn. “I was looking for you all day today. Only you would sleep outside in the middle of a storm to avoid me,” he chuckled.
She huffed, tugging at the ribbon that cinched her robe, “I wasn’t avoiding you, I was just training a little extra. And you’re one to talk about the lengths someone will go to avoid another person.” She tried to keep her tone from turning harsh- she wanted to avoid a fight this time.
“Fair enough,” Leo relented, wandering from the fireplace. He kept his eyes fixed on Iona, and the attention made the tips of her ears heat. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation of the things he might say. Her chest was tight, as she ran through all the ways to apologize to him for her reaction at the ball and after, and maybe even for how she’d treated him over the years.
He cleared his throat, “Iona, I owe you an apology. Several, actually.” Iona shook her head in protest, but Leo insisted, “Please let me explain.” He motioned to the bed, and the two sat on its edge facing one another. “I had no right to be upset with you leaving the ball with Desmond. I just…I finally found the courage to kiss you after all this time, and I had this vision of it going much better than it did,” he shared with a slight grimace. “But that didn’t mean you owed me anything, and it wasn’t fair of me to avoid you. I’m sorry.” His sincerity hit Iona like a wall, how willing he was to hold himself to account. “But it’s not just how I reacted that night, but what I said at the stables. Not three months ago, I rebuked Lord Grayser for criticizing your…personal choices. And then I went and insulted you the same way.” Leo’s words were heavier now, as he hunched forward and looked at his feet planted on the floor. “You didn’t deserve that. I was just being selfish.”
Iona reached out and pulled his chin to face her, leaving her hand caressed over his cheek. “You may not need an apology from me, but I am sorry about running away at the ball. I got flustered and nervous, and I just needed some air to clear my head. Truly, I didn’t mean to leave with Desmond,” she affirmed, “And I meant to tell you that at the stables, but, I’m not really the best at being honest about how I’m feeling.” At that, Leo sat up straighter, and Iona noticed he moved a bit closer to her. “Elia always used to tell me to be more sensitive, like you,” she smiled, evoking a smirk from Leo. She absentmindedly stroked her thumb on his smooth skin. “So here I am, trying.”
“Well, you’re doing a great job,” Leo whispered, his hair still carrying the sweet smell of rain. The air between them was buzzing, and Iona was very aware all of a sudden that she never managed to get dressed- she was still only wearing her robe.
“You know, Leo, you also called me dense, and I didn’t hear an apology for that,” she teased.
His deep laugh and warm smile charmed Iona in a startling way. “Ah, yes,” he lilted, “Apologies, but you said I kissed you out of nowhere. It was absolutely not out of nowhere.” She cocked her head to the side, needing further explanation. Leo rolled his eyes and specified, “I get out of bed at the crack of dawn every morning for you. I make sure the kitchen staff brews your coffee extra strong, since that’s how you like it. I wait to eat lunch because you insist on taking a bath after training every time, even though I am always starving. I let you beat me when we race Corso and Tower because I love watching your face when you realize you’ve won, and the way you stick your tongue out at me to gloat.”
Iona pulled back the hand that was still resting on Leo’s cheek and wagged it in his face, “You let me win?! You know how much I hate being let win, I should never kiss you again just for that!” Iona’s breath caught, as she felt Leo snake his arm around her back and pull her in tight against his broad chest. His hand slid up the side of her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. She could have sworn the tips of her ears were on fire now.
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Leo leaned in until the very edges of his lips brushed against hers. Iona’s heart was pounding, her blood simmering at the touch. He replied with a rasp in his voice that weakened her knees, “What a cruel punishment to propose. But if that’s the case, I swear to never let you win again, Iona.” The way he said her name shot jolts through her body; it thrummed in her ears, and she nearly begged him to say it again. Leo’s fingers tightened in her hair, as he skimmed his soft, tender lips against her neck. Iona released a hushed moan, her hands finding their way under his shirt. He placed a gentle kiss on her throat, then another and another, making his way to her jawline and nipped at her ear. “If you’d be so kind, High Commander, as to let me make it all up to you this evening,” Leo proposed, “Just follow my lead, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Nearly out of breath already, her eyes widened and she bobbed her head in agreement.
Leo pressed his lips to hers with intention, and Iona couldn’t pull him closer fast enough. There was no more hesitancy, whatever nervousness she felt at the ball had been quickly replaced with pure desire for the man in front of her. His kiss was insatiable; Iona’s was just as needy in return. Their tongues slid against each other in urgency, as Iona threw her arms around Leo’s neck and sunk her fingers into his amber locks. With his powerful hands gripped on each side of her waist, he lifted her onto his lap with ease. Iona clenched Leo’s hips with her thighs, grinding into him while she untied the ribbon holding her robe shut, allowing it to drift off her shoulders. Leo sat back for just a moment, dragging his eyes over her naked body, like he was drinking in every inch of her. Iona leaned towards him, pulling his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor, desperate to see more of him, too. His olive skin glowed in the firelight, as she ran her hands over his muscled torso, and under the band of his trousers. Before she could reach far enough, Leo flipped her on her back against the mattress. Her hair had come undone, splaying messily over the pillows beneath her head.
“Not yet,” Leo chided, kneeling between her legs. He laid his weight on top of Iona, pushing the evidence of his desire against her, as he kissed down her neck and chest. Iona arched her back into him, his lips closing over one of her peaked nipples. Her moans had turned from muffled to uncontained, as Leo worked his way over to her other side. Iona ran her nails down his back, leaving marks in their wake, every bit of her running white hot under his touch. She quivered with anticipation for him to reach even further down her body, but before he passed her hips, Leo sat up. She whimpered in disapproval, and a mischievous grin spilled across his lips.
Leo slipped off the end of the bed, towering over her where she lay. “I’ve followed thousands of your commands over our years together,” he stated, Iona leering at his sculpted chest, “But now, you’ll follow mine.” The desire coursing through her was becoming unbearable; she could hardly muster a nod in response. He slid his hands under her thighs, and dragged her hips to the edge of the mattress. “Spread your legs,” he instructed. She complied, trying her best to steady her breathing. Leo stared at her opening and his eyes narrowed, as she realized how wet she’d already become. Her cheeks flushed, while Leo lowered himself onto his knees, centering his face between her thighs.
“Now,” he growled, “You’re going to come for me, loudly, and recklessly.”
“Is that an order?” Iona taunted. Leo looked up at her, a wicked smile forming on his lips before he leaned in, and draped her legs over his shoulders. He ran his tongue slowly along her slit, before taking her core into his mouth. Iona gasped, overtaken by the immediate pleasure, as he continued to move up and down her folds, sucking her swollen bud in rhythm. Iona was hungry for more, her moans growing urgent and eager. Leo slipped a finger inside of her, adding a firm touch to his slick mouth. With his other hand, he gripped her ass, pulling her even closer against his lips. Iona moaned in desperation, Leo’s name escaping her lips over and over. Mere minutes, and he had her at the edge, her climax building until she couldn’t hold on any longer. Falling over the edge, Iona bucked her hips, but Leo held her steady, while she rode out the waves of ecstasy on his tongue. Leo stood with a look of satisfaction, and pulled Iona up off her feet, wrapping her legs around his waist. She savored the way he whisked her about, as he carried her to the front of the bed, climbed up, and tossed her on the pillows.
He stalked towards Iona like prey, and his deep voice rumbled, “You did very well, Commander, but I think you can do better. Can you?” Iona nodded, reaching out until her fingers found the drawstring barely holding up his trousers, and untying it with ease. Leo wrapped his hand around her neck, eliciting a soft whimper. “Say it,” he demanded, his unwavering gaze turning Iona’s will to argue molten, ready to be shaped at his whim.
She promised, “I can do better.” Leo, clearly pleased with her response, shrugged off his pants to reveal sharply toned, rugged legs and his length, hard and ready for whatever Iona could take of it. Just the sight of him made her core ache in anticipation, as he pushed her back against the headboard.
“Louder this time,” he growled in her ear, pulling her legs around his hips, and sliding into her. His motion was delicate at first; Iona could tell he was being careful to make sure she was tolerating his size, but she wanted it all. Leo’s forehead rested on hers, and Iona’s eyes flicked up to meet his, alight with craving.
“Harder,” she whispered, digging her nails into his back to match her request.
“Beg for it,” Leo commanded, as he turned them in tandem, Iona on her back once more.
At the swift, thrilling dominance of her body, she abandoned any lingering thought of composure or restraint; “Fuck me harder, Leo,” she pleaded. He gathered her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand, obliging her instantly. His pace quickened, thrusting with a ravenous greed. Iona rocked her hips in time, allowing him to plunge even deeper inside of her. His breath was heavy and hot against her skin as he dragged his tongue up her neck. “You are a fucking dream, Iona,” he moaned in her ear, their bodies moving as though they were made to fit this way. Her cries grew louder, the fever building every second until she was flooded by euphoria once again. Leo entwined his fingers with hers, and kept his motion steady, pounding into her while he, too, reached his peak.
Their chests heaved against one another, the room filled with the sound of belabored breaths. Leo pushed onto his elbows, and hovered above Iona, holding her face in his hands. She’d never felt so vulnerable before, as though Leo could see every little bit of her, inside and out, all at once. He leaned in and kissed her, deliberate in his tenderness. The way he looked at her, with such sincerity, gifted Iona a comfort she hadn’t dared to want in a long time.
She pushed a lock of his dampened hair away from his face, tucking it behind his ear. “To think I’ve taken your sensitive nature for granted all this time. How foolish of me.” Leo smiled, peppering her with light kisses in response; he rolled to his back, and pulled Iona on top of him so she was resting her head on his chest.
With a long night of activity ahead, there certainly would be no need for training the next morning.