Chapter 30 - Re-Conquering

Mia and Leo walked into their hotel room at the W Hotel in midtown. She still couldn't believe he was actually in New York with her and never imagined she would be going home with him that night. After Leo had showed up at her party, the only thing she could think of was desperately running off with him, but she knew she had to act civil. After all, she couldn't leave her own birthday party.

She had spent the rest of the night introducing Leo to her sister and friends. It turned out Leo had already been in contact with Teresa over email, so she already knew about his plan to surprise her and they acted like they had already met before.

Leo had also been really friendly with others and spoke with people quite effortlessly. That made her happy. But as soon as she decided it was a decent hour to leave, Mia had dragged him the hell out of there. There was some serious business she needed to attend to. She was a woman on a mission and wouldn't let anything get in her way.

They had barely walked into the room, when Mia started kissing him and tugging at his shirt.

"Don't you wanna talk for a bit or something?" Leo laughed as he slightly pushed her away.

"No way, we talk all the time. But this...we never get to do," Mia said motioning a finger between them.

"But I haven't even given you your present yet," Leo teased.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm staring right at it," Mia eyed him seductively. "I can't wait to unwrap it," she said trailing her fingers against his chest.

"Who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?"

"C'mon Leo, are you going to make me beg for it?"

"Depends...you have to tell me what you want first," Leo said pulling her towards him.

Mia stepped back and quickly stripped off her clothes, leaving him running his dark eyes eagerly down her lingerie clad body. She then pressed against him and whispered a few naughty things she could think of in his ear. She didn't have to wait much longer afterwards because he immediately picked her up and brought her to the bed, reenacting every last detail of her request.

*****

They woke early on Sunday morning, mostly due to Leo's jet lag, and spent the next few hours rolling around in bed completely immersed in pillow talk.

"You're wearing it," Leo said reaching for the bracelet on her wrist.

"Of course. I told you I would," she said smiling.

"I love seeing you in nothing but my shirt, too. It's beyond sexy," he said, pulling her near him.

"I like it because it smells like you. Do you mind if I hang on to it? Maybe I'll sleep better at night."

He looked at her amazed. "It's yours," he said kissing her on the lips. "Will you give me something?"

"Well, what would you want?" she asked curiously.

"One of your babydolls. The black and beige one," he said almost immediately.

"So you've thought about it before. You like that one?"

"You have no idea."

Mia laughed. "Okay. So it's yours. Hopefully they won't open your suitcase at the airport."

"Let them open it," he chuckled. "I missed you so much, baby," Leo said trailing his fingers against her back. "I really don't know how I survived all this time without you. Even my family constantly asks me about you...especially the twins."

"The twins ask about me?" Mia said in disbelief.

"Every time I call home. It nearly kills me when I have to explain it to them. In a way I'm glad I'm not in Madrid...I don't think I would have been able to bear it. There's just too many memories. Sometimes I can't believe I let you go."

"So why did you?" Mia asked.

Leo sighed. "Because I'm in love with you and as much as I wanted to be selfish about it, I knew you needed to do this for your career."

"Well I missed you more," Mia said giving him a kiss. "You know what's strange? Even though I haven't seen you in months, it almost feels like I just saw you yesterday. Like we've been together this whole time," Mia confessed.

"I'm glad to hear that. I feel that way too, like we just picked up again where we left off."

"I guess it's a good sign then."

"A very good sign. I knew we could do this," Leo said playing with her hair.

"Yeah, me too," she smiled.

"Somehow I always knew we would end up together. Ever since I laid eyes on you during orientation. I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen."

"I noticed you too that day. There were so many people introducing themselves it was hard to keep up, but you were so clear in my mind. You just stood out to me so distinctly."

"I remember thinking how alike we were, given our backgrounds. Except you were this mystic creature from the new world and I was a lost soul from the old. It seemed like we would be a good match."

"You really thought that? It's an interesting analogy," Mia said intrigued by the concept.

"I did. I guess my instincts were already telling me I wanted to conquer you," he said pulling her closer.

"Well, you have me now. You just have to make sure I don't rebel against the crown and claim independence," Mia teased.

"I'll never allow it. Not until the end of mankind and all of its history. You're mine." He playfully pinned her against the mattress as if to reemphasize his point. His iron tight grip around her wrists left no doubt there was any escaping him.

Wanting to test just how serious he was, she tried to move but the weight of his body pressed against her kept her immobilized in place.

"Don't tempt me, baby," he said huskily. He ran his nose down her neck and nibbled on her ear.

She squirmed underneath him but he didn't move an inch. He was just so heavy. It was so frustrating...and surprisingly exciting.

"Don't worry I'll be your prisoner for as long as you want. I wouldn't be very good at fighting you off anyway," Mia giggled. "So are you hungry?"

"Ravenous," Leo responded looking down at her with starving eyes. Apparently she wasn't the only one getting turned on by all this.

"I'm being serious!" Mia laughed. "I know this great French bistro nearby that plays jazz during brunch on the weekends," Mia suggested.

"Anything you want, sweetness." Leo shifted his position back to his side.

"It's going to be pretty funny walking around in my crazy 80's outfit in broad day light. Total walk of shame."

"Walk of shame? It's not if you're with your boyfriend," Leo protested.

"Oh, I think it still is. You should've seen my sister last week after Halloween. She had stayed at her boyfriend's place and when I met up with them for brunch the next day, it was the craziest sight ever. She was wearing half of a schoolgirl outfit mixed with baggy sweatpants and a soccer jersey. It was hilarious. I even took a picture, I'll show you." Mia reached for her phone and noticed she had a lot of pending messages. She quickly scrolled through them.

From her friend Cynthia: "Great party! Ps- Leo's definitely a keeper."

From another friend Adriana: "Your bf is so hot! Where can I get me one of those? I'm thinking I should move to Spain myself!"

From Teresa: "Hope you had fun last night! I can't wait to be the maid of honor at the wedding..."

She shook her head in disbelief, but disregarded the messages for the moment to show Leo the picture she had mentioned.

"Wow, that is pretty ridiculous! What's up with the Hello Kitty lunchbox?" Leo said cracking up.

"It was part of the outfit. She even had a pizza cutter inside of it for no reason."

"Well, as much as I would love seeing you walk around like that, you're not going to have to."

"What do you mean?"

Leo got up and walked towards his suitcase. He pulled out a Topshop bag and handed it over to her.

"Leo! What is this?"

"It's part of your birthday present."

"Part?" Mia asked in disbelief.

"C'mon Mia, open it."

She couldn't contain the excitement and unwrapped the gift. She pulled out a chic cotton day dress.

"Leo, this is perfect. How do you even think of these things?"

"Easy. All I do is think about you," he said rubbing his thumb across her cheek. "Check the bag again...there's more in there."

"More? It's already too much, Leo." Mia's eyes flew open as she peeked in the bag again. She pulled out a white envelope. It was a birthday card with a really cute note written in perfect penmanship.

Hey there beautiful!

I'm usually really bad with notes, so I thought I'd stick to the point for this one. I need you to know how amazing you are. You've changed my life in so many ways, I can't remember what it was like before I met you. I know you never believe me, but you really are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm grateful for you every day. I hope you've been taking good care of my heart. I've been a mess without it, but I know it'll always be safe with you. Happy birthday, baby.

Eres mía, sólo mía.

Te amo,

x Leo

She looked over at him and gave him a huge kiss. "Thank you," she managed to say before she got overly emotional. "I feel bad that we didn't get to celebrate your birthday earlier this year."

"Don't worry about that, baby. I wasn't exactly in the celebratory mood back then. There's always next year, which is in a couple of months," he winked at her.

"I hope I'll get to be with you," she said sadly.

"I really hope so, too."

She felt a knot in her throat as she placed the card back in the envelope. Only then did she notice there were tickets in the envelope as well and pulled them out.

"The Xx?" Mia cried.

"Ever since you told me about them I've been listening to them non-stop. They're really popular in London right now. Tonight is actually the last concert of their tour," Leo explained.

"Are you serious? I absolutely love them. I can't believe you got tickets!"

Leo shrugged. "I had to pull a few strings but I think it'll be fun to go together. Anything to see that smile on your face."

"Thank you, Leo, for an incredible birthday. More than I could ever imagine."

"It's not over yet. We still have a couple of days left to celebrate. Including right now." At those last words, he pulled her down on top of his chest and continued where they had left off the previous night.

It wasn't long before he picked her up off the bed and headed towards the bathroom. He placed her on top of the ledge next to the sink as he turned on the knob in the shower. When she looked at him curiously, he shrugged it off and smiled seductively at her. "It's a recurring fantasy...I can't help it."

He peeled off his shirt on her and quickly discarded his briefs before whisking her into the shower. Mia felt the warm spray hit her back and she closed her eyes as the water splashed down her face. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and she sighed contentedly against his chest. It really did feel like home.

He reached towards the shampoo, pouring some in his hands, before carefully massaging her hair with it. "I wish we could do this every day," he said.

"I know. Here, let me do you," she said reaching towards the shampoo.

"You can do me anytime you want," he said with a smirk.

Mia laughed. "You know what I mean," she said running her fingers through his thick hair.

"Mmm. Yes, I do," he said closing his eyes.

She grabbed the soap and ran it leisurely over his chest and abdomen, the suds trickling suggestively down his body. He immediately flexed his muscles and puffed out his chest, grinning at her wickedly.

"Try to stay still," she giggled as she leaned into him and worked his back.

"It's an impossible task with your hands on me like that," he said, playfully stealing the soap from her. "My turn."

Her complaint was left in her throat as he reached down her body, cleaning her thoroughly with eager hands and leaving her skin hot with desire. He pulled them under the water to rinse them off and then gently pinned her against the wall.

"I don't want to be without you anymore, Mia. I don't want to miss you anymore...I don't want to miss any of this," he said whispering into ear.

"I know, Leo. But it's almost graduation and we have time to figure it out. You can move here...or I can go to London..."

Leo searched her eyes. "You would move to London for me?"

"If I can find a job, sure. You wouldn't move to New York for me?"

"In a heartbeat."

"So there you have it. I love you, Leo. I also want this to work," she said smiling.

He leaned into her again, kissing her tenderly. "God, I love you," he whispered against her neck, pressing kisses all over her. His hands snaked down to her waist and smoothed over her bottom, enfolding her into him.

His fingers ran up her inner thigh, circling around her most sensitive parts, and she instantly felt moisture pool between her legs. "Oh, Leo..."

He finally delved a finger into her and groaned. "Always so responsive. You're so good to me, sweetness."

She reached for his mouth, biting his bottom lip, and then kissing him deeply. He responded in turn as his tongue swirled with hers and pressed her impossibly closer to him.

She felt his hard length against her stomach and gasped. She tentatively reached down and clasped her hand around him. It still surprised her how big he was and that notion always turned her on even more. He moaned into her ear as she held him more firmly and glided her fingers up and down his smooth skin.

He felt so hard in her hand, she began to frantically imagine what he would feel like inside her. She knew the feeling so well now. Her movements became urgent as the need to have him took over.

"Fuck, Mia. You're killing me," he groaned, his eyes filled with longing.

"I need you, Leo. I need you so badly."

"I want to take you right here, baby. I want to feel you...no barriers," he whispered.

She moaned at his words and whimpered against him. Her breathing was becoming embarrassingly erratic. He removed his fingers from inside her and it almost ached how much she felt the instant loss of pleasure. She desperately needed to feel it again. "Then take me," she let out on a pant.

He looked at her hesitantly for a moment, but primal desire soon clouded his eyes. He lifted her up effortlessly against the wall and brought her back down again, sinking her deep into him. She had never felt so full in her entire life. It just felt so right...so raw and completely natural.

"Wrap your legs around me, baby," he said huskily as he grabbed onto her hips. Her legs circled around his waist and she grabbed onto his neck.

He started moving against her in a perfect rhythm, bringing his hips up against her as he brought hers down. The sensation was simultaneously sweet and torturous, and she never wanted it to end. Soon he was all she could see, all she could feel. At that moment, it was just the two of them in the entire world and nothing else mattered.

The amount of love and emotion she felt for him was so powerful it still overwhelmed her sometimes. She couldn't even bring herself to think about anything besides the delicious feeling coursing through her. It was incredible how he could do this to her every time. Even Leo was uncharacteristically quiet, he normally let out everything from sweet nothings to exceedingly racy thoughts, which she absolutely loved. But this time she only heard his hot breath and deep moans against her neck. Together with the backdrop sound of the shower, it was decidedly intimate.

His fingers suddenly dug into her flesh, and she felt him come hard inside of her. He didn't stop his movements though, and the combined sensation built up inside her as she cried out at her own orgasm.

She slumped against him as he kissed her forehead and continued with kisses all over her face. He gently pulled out of her and set her back down on the floor. When their eyes finally met, his expression was full of adoration, mixed with surprise and a bit of caution.

Her breathing still heavy, she was looking at him lovingly when it finally hit. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth as she gasped.

"What is it, baby? I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked alarmed.

"No, it's not that," she said, shaking her head. "We didn't use..." she dropped her head as panic started to flow through her. God, how could she be so stupid?

"Shhh, baby. It's safe, trust me," he said, immediately understanding her train of thought.

"How can you be so sure?" she whispered.

"It's okay, Mia. You're on the pill and it's perfectly safe. We've just been extra cautious using condoms, but we really don't need them."

"Yeah, but what if...something happens?" she asked as tears started to threaten to come out.

"Sweetness, don't be afraid. That's not gonna happen. Please don't worry about that."

"I know. I just haven't had sex without a condom since..."

He brought a finger to her lips, interrupting her. "Baby, that was completely different. You weren't on the pill then. I promise it'll be fine."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be...that was just so...beautiful and I feel like I'm ruining it."

"Don't be. I was being selfish. I've just never done that before and I really wanted to with you. I wanted to feel you, all of you, skin to skin. It sounds stupid, but I guess I wanted to have that claim on you. I'm sorry."

"You already have me, Leo. I'm yours, always," she said, kissing him. "So this is the first time you haven't used a condom?" she asked curiously.

He nodded his head in response. "I've always been really careful about that, but with you...it didn't seem important anymore. I know for you it's different...but I have never felt the need to use protection with you."

"You know what that can lead to, right?"

He chuckled and grabbed her face. "It's me, sweetness. I'm not going anywhere, whatever happens...I would want this with you, Mia," he said caressing her lower abdomen. "I want to take care of you. This is it for me...you're my future. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

She stared at him in shocked silence, trying to absorb everything he had just told her. Were they really having this conversation? Did he just straight out imply he would want to have children with her?

"Mia? I know this isn't the easiest topic for you, but would you want to...I mean, do you want to have kids...some day?"

She looked at him, completely surprised. The question had just solidified what she was afraid of saying out loud to him. It still blew her mind how he could talk about things so openly.

"Sorry...you don't have to answer that," he added.

"No, it's fine. Unexpected, but fine." She sighed before answering. "Yes, I do eventually. Someday. That's why it was so hard to...you know."

Leo instantly looked relieved. "It would be a crime if you never had children, Mia." He leaned in to kiss her passionately. "I hope they look like you, exactly like you," he whispered.