CHAPTER 381: CHAPTER 381 ★

His bunny, with her timid eyes and soft mouth, was going to destroy him.

The warm wetness of her small mouth closed gently around his thumb, and Leo kept his eyes fixed on her as if he were watching something he had dreamed of far too many times. Her lips were soft and obedient, her lashes trembling, and the sight of her like that made his gaze turn darker and heavier, almost predatory in its intensity.

When he finally pulled his thumb out, a thin breath escaped him, half a groan and half a loss of control, because his skin glistened faintly from the heat she had left behind. Bella stared at him with wide, startled eyes, not fully understanding what she had just done to him, and that innocent confusion only pushed him further over that dangerous edge.

Leo’s gaze drifted over her face once, then he moved back slowly, bracing himself on his palms. Without a word, he reached for the first button of his shirt.

Bella’s breath caught instantly.

Her heartbeat hammered in her ribs as she watched him undo each button slowly, one after another, revealing warm skin beneath. His chest came into view, broad and sculpted, honey toned, with faint scars tracing across it like old memories. He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall beside the bed.

Bella could not look away.

The gentle rise and fall of his abs with every breath made her feel shy and warm all at once. She had seen him without a shirt before, but never like this, never with his eyes darkened by desire, never while her own heart fluttered so wildly she could barely sit still.

Leo leaned in again, bracing one hand beside her, his body radiating heat. He caught her lips in a soft, deep kiss, slow enough to make her melt and firm enough to remind her she was his.

When he pulled back, his lips brushed the corner of her mouth as he whispered, "Are you comfortable enough to show yourself to me?" His voice was gentle, but it carried something that made her entire body tingle.

He kissed her again, lingering, giving her a moment to breathe.

Bella swallowed hard and nodded, her cheeks warm, her eyes wide and vulnerable as she pushed herself upright. She looked up at him with those big trusting eyes that made his breath stop completely. She was nervous and shy, and yet she chose to trust him.

And that alone nearly brought him to his knees.

"May I?" he asked softly, as if the question mattered more than his own breath.

Bella nodded again, her fingers twisting in the sheets, her lashes trembling as she looked anywhere except directly at him. A deep shiver ran through her when he lifted a hand and let his fingertips brush the warm skin of her shoulder, following the delicate strap of her golden dress.

"Bunny," he murmured near her ear, his breath warm, "look at me."

She did.

Slow and hesitant, her gaze rose to meet his, and the intensity in his eyes made her swallow again.

His hands moved with a gentleness that did not match the fire inside him. He touched the thin fabric, tracing the line of it with his knuckles as if memorizing her shape through the dress before lowering it. Each movement was slow and careful, controlled only by his desire not to frighten her.

"Tell me if you are uncomfortable," he whispered, giving her one final chance.

Bella shook her head immediately.

Leo exhaled softly, something tender and fierce mixing in the sound. Then his fingers slipped to the knot at her back and loosened it carefully. The golden fabric loosened around her shoulders, sliding just a little, enough for cool air to touch her skin.

Her breath hitched.

He watched her closely, looking for fear, and finding only shyness and trust. He continued slowly, as if touching something precious. The dress slipped further under his hands, revealing the warm smoothness of her shoulders and the delicate lines of her collarbones glowing gently in the warm light.

Bella felt heat rise all the way to her ears. She lowered her gaze, her breathing unsteady, her fingers gripping the sheets as he took in every tiny reaction she made.

"Beautiful," he whispered under his breath, almost unaware he had spoken aloud.

The word made her heart stumble, and she lifted her eyes again, caught by the softness in his expression, the devotion in his desire.

Leo leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder where the dress had slipped.

"Relax," he murmured quietly. "Tonight I want to see you. All of you. Slowly."

His fingers gathered the remaining fabric again, waiting for her tiny nod. When she gave it, he slipped the golden dress down her body with slow, deliberate hands, letting the fabric slide around her waist before lifting it away entirely.

Bella sat there in her soft, pale innerwear, the delicate straps resting on her shoulders and the matching briefs sitting lightly against her skin. She felt exposed under his gaze, warmth blooming all the way to her chest, but Leo’s eyes did not wander with disrespect. They fixed on something far more unexpected.

A small scar, pale against her thigh.

His expression shifted, a small frown tightening his brow. He reached out and traced the mark carefully with his fingertips. Bella stiffened immediately, her breath catching. She bit her lip, wishing he would not ask, wishing the memory would stay buried. She knew he understood where the scar came from and why it was there, but the shame still stung.

But Leo said nothing.

Instead, he slowly eased her onto her back, supporting her as if she were something fragile he needed to protect.

Bella’s heart thudded wildly as she watched him move. When his lips brushed her ankle, a soft gasp escaped her. His touch was warm, his breath gentle against her skin as he slowly moved upward with a patience that made her stomach flutter.

He kissed the top of her foot first, then the delicate curve above it, each kiss slow enough to leave warmth trailing behind. When he reached her calf, his mouth lingered, his hands guiding her leg gently as if asking her to relax for him, and only him.

Bella felt butterflies tumble in her stomach, deep and warm and dizzying.