CHAPTER 378: CHAPTER 378 KISSABLE

The music faded into its last soft notes just as he spun her again, his hand firm on her waist. Bella let out a tiny breathless sound as her body turned and landed right against his chest. Their fronts met, warmth to warmth, and she froze for a heartbeat, shy and startled by how close they suddenly were.

Her lashes fluttered, and she stared up at him with cheeks blooming pink. The world seemed to slow around them, the lanterns glowing softer, the lake shimmering as if it were holding its breath. Bella stood still, her heart beating so loudly she was almost certain he could hear it through her dress. Very slowly, her arms rose, hesitant at first, then guided by something bold and trembling with emotion. She tiptoed closer, her soft hands cupping his face gently, her thumbs brushing along the sharp line of his jaw.

"Leoo..." she whispered, her voice shaking with affection she could not hide. Her eyes softened as she looked at him, no shyness, no fear, only open-hearted love glowing right there for him to see.

Leo felt it hit him like a wave. That raw tenderness in her eyes made his breath stop and start again in a painful rush. His chest tightened, something warm blooming so fiercely inside him that he almost forgot how to breathe. His heart stumbled, losing its usual calm rhythm.

But Bella swayed suddenly, her balance slipping because of the wine. Her feet wobbled, her body tipping backward, and she would have fallen if his hands had not instantly gripped her hips, steadying her with firm, protective strength.

"Careful," he murmured, his voice low and almost shaken.

Bella blinked up at him with a silly, dreamy smile, her head leaning closer to his chest.

"You are... so kissable..." she blurted.

The moment the words left her lips, her eyes widened in horror. She slapped her hand over her mouth, her entire face turning crimson.

Leo’s world stopped.

Kissable.

She thought he was kissable.

A sharp thrill shot through him so fast it nearly made him dizzy. Something primal and electric sparked down his spine, racing through every nerve. His blood rushed hot to his head, then downward, then everywhere at once.

Before Bella could even lower her hand, the control he always held so tightly snapped.

In a single swift movement, Leo grabbed her waist, turned her, and pushed her gently but firmly onto the solid table behind them. Her back arched as her upper body lay half on the table, her hair spilling like a soft curtain over the polished wood. She gasped in surprise, her hands flying up to grip his shoulders.

And then—

His lips crashed onto hers.

It was not a soft kiss. It was deep, urgent, and fierce, like a man who had been holding back for far too long. His hand slid to the back of her head, angling her perfectly, while the other held her waist possessively, keeping her steady as he devoured her lips.

Bella’s breath caught in her throat, her fingers curling into his shirt, her heart racing wildly as his kiss grew hotter and deeper, stealing every thought she had left.

His breath came heavy against her lips, warm and uneven, and Bella felt her own lungs forget how to work. Her body trembled when his hand slid along her waist, his thumb tracing slow strokes over the curve of her side, light, teasing touches that made her shiver as if he were brushing a feather across her skin. The contrast of his heated kiss and his gentle fingertips made her head spin, her thoughts dissolving one by one until nothing remained but his mouth on hers.

She tried to push him weakly, breathless and overwhelmed, but Leo caught her hands with one swift motion, his fingers closing around her wrists as he deepened the kiss with fierce determination. His lips moved over hers with the kind of intensity that stole every bit of air from her chest, his mouth claiming hers again and again until her body felt boneless beneath him.

When he finally let her breathe, Bella gasped sharply, her lips parted as she pulled in air like a startled little fish. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her eyes unfocused, her cheeks burning a deep rosy red.

Leo smirked, the sight of her completely undone stirring something dark and satisfied inside him. "You need more practice," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

Bella wanted to slap his arm on instinct, but her hand only sliced through the air, missing him entirely. He laughed softly, warm and amused, as if her failed attempt to hit him was the cutest thing he had ever seen.

Once her breathing steadied, he leaned in again, slower this time. His lips brushed her cheek, traced the corner of her mouth, and grazed lightly down her jaw. His hand rose from her waist in a slow upward trail, the back of his knuckles brushing the fabric just below her chest. He did not touch anywhere improper, yet the nearness alone sent a powerful wave of heat rushing through her body. Her toes curled tightly inside her shoes, her knees trembling from the flood of sensation he stirred so effortlessly.

In the haze of their closeness, his arm bumped the wine glass behind her. It clinked sharply against the chair before falling to the ground with a soft tunk. The thick glass did not break, rolling harmlessly across the floor while the world around them held its breath.

Bella could not look away from him.

Leo did not look away from her.

Then he pulled her off the table with a sudden decisive strength that made her breath hitch, her body falling naturally into his. His hands locked around her hips, firm and unyielding, pulling her so close she could feel every line of him through the thin layers of their clothes. Before she could even steady herself, his other hand rose to cradle the back of her head, guiding her into a kiss that stole the ground from under her feet.

His lips were hot and demanding, moving against hers with a hunger that made her knees weaken. Bella felt her fingers clutch at his shoulders, her whole body reacting before her mind could catch up. His chest pressed tightly against her, his breath warm, his touch sure, too sure, too intoxicating.

And then she felt it.

A heated, hard pressure nudged against her stomach, unmistakable even through the fabric of her dress...