Loving the CEO (Whitley Brothers #7)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Leo

I zeroed in on Tory to make sure she wasn't just faking it for Gran's sake. But she didn't show any signs of feeling cornered. Still, I was going to stay with them because Gran could go from zero to fire in no time at all.

"Since you're here, you can carry one of the platters," Tory said.

"Sure. Happy to loan my muscle."

Tory grabbed one plate, and I took the other one. Gran beamed at us.

"You two will bring some beautiful great-grandkids into the family."

I was too stunned to react.

Tory, on the other hand, loosened her grip but managed to get ahold of her plate once again—except for the five tarts, or whatever they were, that landed on the floor.

"I’m so sorry," she mumbled, setting the platter down.

"I'll get them, babe. Don't worry."

She laughed nervously. "Thanks."

"Was it something I said?" Gran asked.

And then, to my astonishment, Tory rolled her shoulders back and said, "Jeannie, that was a bit too much even for you."

Gran jerked her head back slightly. I had real respect for my woman. She’d just chastised grandmother in a very polite and kind but also firm way .

"Too expressive?" Gran asked her, smiling.

Tory laughed. "Way too expressive."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss something?"

"We girls can have our secrets, can't we?" Gran winked.

Tory merely nodded.

I tossed the fallen tarts in the bin, and the three of us headed to the living room. Jake and Natalie had arrived in the meantime, as had Maddox and Cami.

"Mini quiches!" Natalie exclaimed. "Oh, Jeannie, thank you so much."

Grandmother kissed her cheek affectionately. "Anything you want, darling! Just say it and I'll make it for you."

"I was just craving quiche so badly."

"Craving?" Maddox asked slowly. "Are you...?"

Natlie’s eyes widened. "Oh, shoot. Jake, help, please."

He kissed the side of her head, laughing. "There's no way I can help, babe. We just have to fess up."

She looked around the room, beaming. "I'm pregnant. We wanted to wait for a bit until we told you, but I can't keep it to myself anymore."

Both of my grandparents had warm expressions, but neither seemed surprised, which meant Natalie had already shared it with them.

Everyone started congratulating them at the same time, including me.

Tory was all over Natalie. "How far along are you? Do you know what you're having?"

"No, we don't. I’m only eight weeks."

"What do you want it to be?" Tory went on.

Natalie looked at Jake.

"I have no preference," he said. "I just want both of you to be healthy. "

As Tory stepped to one side so others could talk to Natalie, too, I hugged her from behind. She looked at me over her shoulder. To my astonishment, her eyes were a bit glassy.

"Babe, you okay?"

"Yes," she murmured. "This is a very beautiful moment.”

“It is.”

I could imagine us asking Gran to throw a dinner so we could share similar news with the family.

Only a few months ago, even the thought of that would have sent me running for the hills, but not anymore. I'd always been adamant that I didn't want to be a father. In reality, I figured I’d be a shit one. But now I was starting to think that that didn't necessarily have to be true. Spencer was a great father, and I was sure Jake would be one as well.

I kissed the back of Tory's head and tightened my arms around her.

"I'm sorry I'm being so silly," she said.

"You don't have to be sorry. Just feel whatever you want. I'm here for you."

Why in the ever-loving hell did I tell her that I would support whatever decision she made? I didn't fucking want her to go to New Orleans. What if she decided it was a good idea to stay there? Hell no. Tory belonged here with me and my family, but mostly with me. Didn't she know that? Why was she even entertaining the thought of going there?

She probably wanted closure. Closure was good. She’d dropped her entire life there in one day. Of course it was naive to think that she wouldn't have to go back again. Not only did she need to settle things with her mom, but she had other things to finalize there as well. Tory had a whole life before me, and I needed to respect that.

The doorbell rang, startling Tory.

"That would be the caterers," Gran exclaimed .

With another kiss to Tory’s head, I went with Nick to open the door, my brother whistling on the way.

"Why are you suddenly looking so cheerful?" I asked.

"Because Gran is getting another great-grandkid, so everything will be right in the world. She'll focus on the little one and..."

"Forget about you?"

"Indeed."

"How are you still hoping for that?"

He looked at me with a very serious expression. "Because otherwise, I’ll show up here with a date one day, and I won’t even know how the hell that happened."

I didn't contradict him because that was completely plausible.

The catering team moved around efficiently, and before long, we were all enjoying dinner.

I had to give Nick credit. Gran's focus had completely shifted. She was glued to Natalie, asking her all sorts of details and offering advice. But long term, I didn’t think my brother was completely off the hook.

"Ginger candy is very good for morning sickness," Gran mentioned.

"That is a good tip," Natalie said. "I'm not doing too bad right now, but I'd still rather not be sick at all."

After dessert, which was panna cotta and tiramisu, everyone started to leave. Tory and I left along with Cade and Meredith.

"Are you okay?" I asked her once we were in the car. "What did Gran tell you when she dragged you to the kitchen?"

She looked at me with a solemn expression and moved her fingers over her mouth, as if she was zipping her lips. "What was said in the kitchen stays in the kitchen and in here." She tapped her temple.

"No wonder Gran likes you," I told her.

"You're so lucky to have her. To have the entire family. "

"I know. It’s a privilege. It was hard work for us half brothers to all get along, but I'm happy we put in the effort and made it work. Now I can’t imagine my life without them."

Tory yawned. "I figured I would get some energy from all those sweet treats, but I'm starting to feel sleepy."

"You want to come over to my house?" I asked.

"Hmm," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Taking advantage of my sleepiness to get in my pants?"

I laughed. "You know it."

"That was a solid effort in seduction," she said, "I give it a seven out of ten."

I growled. "What?"

"It was enough to convince me. So, yes, I totally want to come to your place."

"Seven out of ten," I muttered.

I was going to show her seven out of ten.

It didn't take long to arrive home. She was even sleepier when we got there.

"Stay put," I instructed.

"You plan to seduce me in the car? Because that might just drop your grade to a six."

"Tory!”

She grinned. "I'm managing to rile you up. That's good."

"Why would you even want that?"

"Just for fun," she replied in a sassy tone.

I went to her side and opened the door, taking her in my arms.

"Oh, I see. You're aiming for ten out of ten, huh?" she joked.

"Hell no. Eleven out of ten."

"Well, I have to say, this here just earned you another solid point," she said as I walked us to the front door .

The second we entered the house, I set her down on her feet. Her eyes were more alert than before. I put one hand at the small of her back and the other on her rib cage, then feathered my lips from the corner of her mouth up to her right ear.

"I’ve been fantasizing about this the whole day."

"Oh!" She fisted my shirt with both hands.

"Every time I think I've had my fill of you, I just start craving you more," I confessed. "How is that even possible?"

"Leo. Kiss me, please."

She opened her mouth slightly and darted the tip of her tongue out, wetting her lower lip.

I cupped her face, only touching her with my fingers, not my palms, and then licked her lower lip. She shivered at the contact. I licked her upper lip next. This woman was preparing herself to be thoroughly kissed, and I was going to oblige.

I covered her mouth with mine, exploring her deeply. She tasted like sweets, and I fucking loved it. She tugged even more at my shirt until I heard a ripping sound. She pulled backward, looking down at the fabric.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I’ll buy you a new one. I didn't even realize I was pulling so hard."

"Fuck, Tory." I tugged at my belt. I'd never gotten so hard so fast in my life.

She grabbed the buckle as well, and between the two of us, we yanked it away in no time. I undid the zipper and the button on my pants. The relief was overwhelming.

I kissed her again, and this time I wasn't teasing anymore. I was all about pleasing. She moaned against my mouth, and I kissed her even deeper. We moved through the entrance, and I pushed her up against the wall right next to the closet. I didn't have enough self-restraint to take her anywhere else.

"You belong here," I said between kisses. "In this house, with me. You’re mine, Tory. Only mine." I kissed her neck and then fisted her hair, tilting her head back. I wanted all the fucking access right now.

She moaned even louder than before. I knew I couldn't be the only one who felt this intense pressure already building inside me.

I cupped her pussy over her jeans, pushing the seam of the zipper into her, and she cried out, "Leo, God."

I undid the button and moved my hand into her pants and panties until the tips of my fingers grazed her clit. The second I brushed it, her hips bucked. She was so wet already.

"How long have you been walking around wet like this?" I asked against her skin.

"I don't know," she confessed. "One moment you kissed me, and the next..."

My groan drowned out the rest of her sentence. I knew what she was about to say, and I understood her surprise. I couldn't believe the reaction of my own body either.

Even though the jeans were tight around her middle, I still managed to rub her lazily up and down.

"Leo," she murmured.

I covered her mouth again, kissing deep and touching her relentlessly.

I didn't increase the rhythm, but I knew the long drawn-out motion would be enough to make her come. She was still on edge. Then again, so was I.

She kissed back harder, putting her hands on my chest again and lowering them to the exact spot where she'd ripped my shirt earlier. She tugged at the fabric even more. I smiled against her mouth .

She wanted me so much that she didn't even have the self-restraint to take it off. I loved that I made this woman so wild that she forgot where she was and that she was just being herself with me: unapologetic and unrestrained.

When her moans turned to gasps and she’d drenched her panties even more, I knew she was close. Without any warning, I pushed two fingers inside while I continued to draw circles around her clit with my palm.

Tory had never climaxed so fast with me before. It was a damn privilege to feel her come apart like this against the wall in my hallway. She was always ready for me. It was a fucking turn-on.

I hooked my free arm around her back because she seemed to no longer be in control of her body. She went completely soft in my hold. Her knees wobbled, but I didn't stop moving my hand. No, I wasn't going to stop at all. I wasn’t going to give her a break.

From the way she kissed me back, she needed my cock. Instead of taking her upstairs, I simply paused the kiss and took my hand out of her panties, turning her around.

"Put your hands on the wall."

She looked over her shoulder. "Leo..."

"I'll have you right here, Tory. I can’t stand not being inside you even a second longer."

"Yes. Yes, please." She pushed her jeans down.

Fucking hell, this woman.

I did the same with mine, but I actually kicked them off and out of the way because I wanted to be able to move freely.

"Put your hands on the wall," I instructed again.

She leaned forward as I pushed her pants farther down but not too much. I could only hold back long enough for the necessary moves .

Her ass looked fucking delicious like this, up in the air, waiting for me. I positioned myself so I could easily reach her clit too. The second I pushed in, my knees threatened to give out. Everything was heightened tonight. I couldn't explain why, but I felt more in sync with her than any other time we'd been together.

She sucked in a breath. "Oooooh," she whispered.

Knowing she was right there with me, I gave her another inch and stopped circling her clit. She was so damn tight from her previous orgasm that I couldn't push in all the way even though I wanted nothing more. We stayed just like that, me slowly giving her another inch and another, and then I circled her clit again. Her pussy opened up for me, accommodating all of me at once. When I was balls deep inside her, she bit into her own arm, groaning. I was still circling her clit as I increased the rhythm.

"Leo. Oh, wow. Yeah, I'm going to..."

I knew exactly what was happening.

"I need to lie down."

"I've got you, babe," I assured her. "Come on, I'll take care of you."

She unhitched both hands from the wall as her back spasmed, as did her pussy. She laid the back of her head against my shoulder, crying out. I liked hearing her and even lowered my head so my ear was right next to her mouth, but I couldn't wait any longer. I fucked her through her orgasm, pushing in and out.

Grabbing both of her hands, I plastered them right back onto the wall because I needed the liberty to move. She obediently kept them there while I thrust in and out. My moans mingled with hers. I loved the way my pelvis slapped against her ass. She tightened around me even more, and I nearly forgot how to breathe.

She took one hand from the wall.

"No, keep it there. ”

"Please touch me. I need it."

I put my right hand over her pussy, pressing three fingers against her clit.

"Leo." Her cry was animalistic, and it spurred me one even more. We were going to scream the house down between the two of us, I just knew it. I felt it deep in my bones that this orgasm would be unlike anything either of us had ever experienced before.

I alternated between pressing my fingers on her sensitive skin and drawing circles. She loved both, but I knew she couldn't take any single motion for too long.

When her groans gave way to release again, I took my hand away, letting her ride the wave. It gripped her beautifully. I only had a few seconds to drink her in before it took me too.

All I could think about was that this was what I wanted to do my whole life: bring this woman home with me and pleasure her until she couldn't take it anymore. Tory was mine to please and no one else's, now or ever.

Once we’d both regained our breaths, I led us to the couch in the living room.

"You're lost in thought," I said.

"Yeah, I..." She hesitated. "Tonight has been amazing, and it sort of pushed the whole B&B issue to the back of my mind."

"Now it's front and center again," I finished for her.

"Exactly. It's frustrating."

"No, it's simply an unresolved issue. Did you think more about how you want to deal with it?"

She sighed. "Well, I think I should go."

I nodded. "You have my full support. "

A million thoughts were racing in my mind. I could find her the best damn one here in Boston, but she wasn't asking, and I didn't want to push.

"I have half a mind to go right away and getting it over with."

She wasn't going to let this go. And if she didn’t solve it tonight, she'd probably sleep badly. So, even though all I wanted was to take her mind off it permanently, I reached for my phone instead.

"Let's look up flights."

"How are you so supportive? You've always been like that," she said.

"Yeah, I have."

As we scrolled through flights together, I couldn't help but remember that the last time I was so “supportive” was when she had to decide back in college if she should take a job here in Boston or go back to New Orleans. But this was something else entirely, not history repeating itself.

"The cheapest option is three days from now,” I told her.

"I'll take that one. Let's book it."

"Sure."

"Oh, it's actually a new moon that day. I'm not even sure if it's a good or a bad thing," she murmured.

Oh, fucking hell. I loved this woman and all of her quirks.

***

I kept my promise. I was a fucking supportive boyfriend without even offering my opinion... right up until Tory got on the damn plane. Then I realized I was making a huge mistake.

Taking my phone out, I called Debbie.

"Finally," she said. "I've been waiting for this call. "

"Why?"

"Well, that depends on what you'll say next.”

“I fucked up. Tory just got on the plane."

"And what exactly are you going to do about that?" she asked.

"I have an idea."

"Fantastic. I'm all ears," she said.