CHAPTER 379: CHAPTER 379 DO YOU WANT ME?

And then she felt it.

A heated, hard pressure nudged against her stomach, unmistakable even through the fabric of her dress. A slow, fiery awareness spread through her body, starting from where he pressed into her and crawling upward like molten warmth. Her breath caught, her lips parted in shock against his, and she gripped him without thinking, her heart hammering so loudly she thought he might hear it.

His hold tightened just slightly, as if he already knew she had felt it... as if he wanted her to know.

Bella’s whole world narrowed to that single point of contact, to the way her body trembled, to the sudden overwhelming realization of how much he wanted her.

Bella drew back just enough to look at him, her breath unsteady, her cheeks burning in a shade so deep it felt as though the warmth had seeped all the way to her chest. Her lashes trembled as she tried to speak, her voice barely more than a shaken whisper.

"Leo..."

Her shyness wrapped around her like a soft, trembling veil, making her eyes heavy and hooded. She looked so overwhelmed, so tenderly undone, that for a heartbeat he simply stared, drinking in the sight of her.

"You feel it, bunny."

His voice dropped, thick and husky, brushing over her skin like warm smoke. His hand slid up to her hair, his fingers threading through the soft strands before he gave the barest tug—gentle, possessive, enough to tilt her head back and steal her breath once more.

A small gasp left her lips, her knees threatening to give out. Her body curved toward him instinctively.

"It was caused by you," he murmured, his lips ghosting over the slope of her neck, each word sinking into her like fire. His breath was hot against her skin, his tone laced with something dark and addicted. "Every bit of this... is because of you."

His tall nose traced a slow path along her neck, his lips brushing lightly, then pressing deeper as he tasted her warmth. Bella’s fingers curled helplessly into his shirt, her heart pounding as if her entire body responded to the way he touched her—slow, intentional, like he knew exactly what would make her melt.

Her breath hitched again, her voice trembling as she whispered his name. "Leo..."

His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer still, as if he couldn’t bear even a breath of space between them.

Bella’s breath trembled as the question left him, hot and demanding, his voice vibrating gently against her skin.

"Tell me, Bella... do you want me? Do you want me?"

The words were raw, stripped of all control, and they melted something inside her. She looked up at him through half-lidded eyes, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

"Yes..." she whispered, soft and helpless, her voice soaked in shyness and longing.

She didn’t even have time to understand what she had admitted before the world moved.

Leo lifted her off her feet effortlessly, one arm sliding beneath her thighs, the other supporting her back as if she weighed nothing at all. Bella gasped, her arms looping around his neck on instinct, her cheek brushing against his shoulder as he began walking with steady, determined strides.

The night air felt cool against her warm skin as he carried her along the quiet path that led back into the palace. Every step was firm, purposeful, and the world around them softened into a blur until it felt like only the two of them existed.

Within minutes—five at most—they reached the private room he had prepared, and for a moment Bella simply stared, her breath caught in awe.

The room was breathtaking.

Soft golden lights draped from the canopy above the bed, falling like warm stardust. Petals were scattered across the floor, forming a trail that led toward the silk sheets. Gentle lamps painted the room in a dreamy amber glow.

Bella’s lips parted.

"You... you also prepared all this?" she asked, her surprise wrapped in awe, her voice barely steady.

Leo adjusted her in his arms, his chest rising with a quiet breath as he looked around the room once, then back at her. His expression was unreadable, hot, a little embarrassed... but mostly full of a deep, quiet intention.

"Well... in case we need it," he said softly.

Bella blinked, stunned. Her face warmed, and without thinking, she reached up and gently tugged at both of his cheeks.

"Aww..." she whispered shyly, a tiny smile blooming.

Leo’s gray eyes narrowed immediately, a cold glare flashing down at her.

"Don’t do that," he muttered, though the faint twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed him.

Bella giggled, leaning closer, her small fingers still pulling at his cheeks. "But it’s cute," she murmured.

Still holding her securely, Leo’s grip tightened around her, his voice dropping low in a warning that made her heartbeat stumble.

"Bunny... be careful how you tease me now."

Bella pretended not to notice the heat in his tone, her curiosity suddenly stronger than the warmth still rolling through her body. She tapped his shoulder lightly, nudging him.

"Let me down," she said, ignoring the dark intensity in his eyes. "I want to see the room."

Leo paused, visibly displeased. His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking near his cheekbone as if he was debating whether to deny her and continue what he had started. The air around him felt charged, hot, impatient, his body still reacting to her soft confession and those trembling kisses.

But Bella looked up at him with innocent determination, and Leo exhaled slowly through his nose before lowering her gently to the floor.

The moment her feet touched the thick, velvety carpet, she slipped away with slow, curious steps, completely unaware of the storm raging behind her.

She drifted toward the balcony first, her fingers brushing over the golden drapes, then the carved railing, then the small table decorated with floating candles. She leaned forward, gazing at the lake shining under the night sky, her steps unhurried and peaceful... painfully slow for the man standing behind her.