AN: Once again, sorry it took a bit to update, but college is starting and things are getting a little crazy. I will try to update at least once a week, but I can't make any promises. And thank you to everyone who reviewed so far, I hope you enjoy this enough to leave me at least a little note to say whether or not you liked it. If I get more reviews, I might get inspired enough to update sooner!
Leo stood in front of Piper's door wearing very nice blue jeans, a white button up shirt and a black sports coat. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before knocking on the door, which was promptly answered by Piper, who was wearing a black dress that not only showed off her curves, but also a conservative—yet still very enticing—amount of skin. Seeing her in what she was wearing made him stand there momentarily looking completely dumbfounded.
"Uh...Leo? You going to stand in front of my door all night, because if so, I'm leaving you to go eat dinner before it gets cold," she told him with a smile. She'd chosen to wear her hair down that night with the sides pulled back with a beret so as not to keep falling in her face.
"What?" he finally realized she had said something to him. "Oh...oh right. This is for you," he said, entering her penthouse and handing her the bottle of wine he'd brought her.
"Leo, you don't have to bring me something every time you come to see me," Piper told him as she took the bottle from him and kissed his cheek. "But thank you. Why don't we save this for later? I've already got us some white wine poured," she added, taking his hand and leading him into her kitchen.
He just smiled and followed her lead, freezing once again when he saw the kitchen. The dinner itself looked like a picture straight from the brochure of some fancy five star restaurant, and the table setting looked picturesque as well with a couple candles, a nice tablecloth, elegant place settings and a vase of the roses he'd sent her earlier serving as the table centerpiece. The kitchen's lights were dim, but from what Leo could tell, Piper had already cleaned up everything she'd used to cook with; her kitchen looked spotless. "Wow," he finally managed to get out. "Piper...you didn't have to do all this." It was a definite change from the last dinner they'd shared together in her kitchen.
She just gave him a smile. "I know, but the last time we had dinner in here, both the kitchen and I were in a frazzled mess. Things were pretty hectic...I just wanted you to have a better impression. When I ask a guest to dinner, that's not usually what they get. And while this is more romantic than having my sisters or friends over, it's supposed to be a date, so I did the candlelight and roses thing. I hope you don't think it's too much...I know this is really only our second date..."
Leo pulled her close and kissed her lips softly, interrupting her nervous rambling. "It's perfect," he told her honestly.
"Um...ok then," she said a bit breathlessly. Seeing her lipstick had smeared slightly on his lips, she reached up and gently wiped it off with her thumb. "That is definitely not your shade," she laughed, pulling out of his arms and moving to sit down.
After dinner Piper carried the dishes to the sink and began cleaning up. Leo waited until Piper had her hands in the dishwater before coming up behind her and gently sliding his arms around her small waist. "Have I told you that you look amazing tonight?" he whispered softly in her ear, one hand rubbing across her flat stomach.
Piper felt a slight jolt at his touch and had to remind herself how to breathe. If his touch felt that good through her clothes, she couldn't wait to find out what it would feel like on her bare skin. Stop...you have to quit thinking like that. You don't want to jump into another relationship this quickly, she tried to remind herself. Unfortunately for her, his touches were quickly erasing her common sense. God, Phoebe is right...I really need to get laid. "Thank you," she finally answered his compliment with a smile, doing her best to continue cleaning up like he was completely unaffecting her.
"Thank you for dinner," he replied back, bringing a hand up to push some hair aside and kissing her neck.
Oh God...that feels amazing...she thought, closing her eyes as her breath caught slightly. "Thank you for coming over. I enjoy cooking, and I enjoy cooking for other people," she got out, hoping her voice sounded much calmer and steadier than she felt.
Leo grinned and moved his body closer against her back. God, she smells amazing. "Would you like some help with the dishes?" he offered as his lips moved down to her shoulder.
"Ah..." she trailed off, already having a war between her body and head, and his kisses were only making it harder to think. Piper's head finally won the battle temporarily, and she carefully ducked out of his embrace. "I can handle the dishes. Why don't you go in the living room and make yourself comfortable? Besides, it's not going to take me very long. I'm very quick with dishes," she told him with a smile. "But you are very sweet to offer."
Leo backed off a bit then, realizing he may have been moving too fast, and he definitely didn't want to pressure her. He knew she had a painful past with her ex-husband, he didn't want to scare her away, and he didn't want her to do something in the heat of the moment she didn't feel ready for. "Only if you're sure you don't need any help."
Piper took a deep breath and offered him a smile. "I'm positive. I'll only be a few minutes and then we can get to my club." Piper let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding once Leo left the room. Now she had some time to clear her head before they went to the club.
Piper purposely took longer on the dishes than was necessary, mostly because she was having some serious trouble getting her head cleared again after the way he'd been touching and kissing her in the kitchen. One look at the time, however, reminded her that they needed to get to the club soon, so she finished the last of the dishes and went into the living room to find Leo. "Alright, are you ready to go see one hell of a concert?" she asked him with a smile.
Leo stood and returned her smile. "I'm ready if you're ready," he answered, letting his hand rest at the small of her back while they walked out to his car.
Once at the club, Piper led him through the crowd to her private booth in the VIP area. They shared a bit of small talk, which required him leaning down right next to her ear so they could hear each other since it was already so loud, and the band hadn't even come out yet. He had his arm stretched out along the seat behind her, while she gingerly rested a hand on his thigh, of course not really knowing how that one innocent touch alone would be enough to put all kinds of not so innocent thoughts about her into his head—more so than he already had.
With her that close, he couldn't really resist her, so he slowly leaned in to kiss her, wanting to make sure she had time to pull away if she didn't want it. Instead of pulling away, she closed the distance between them, running a hand along the lapel of his jacket. She felt safer kissing him in public, because she knew if they were in public then she wouldn't be so tempted to rip his clothes off and have her way with him. It was when they were absolutely alone in her penthouse together that she was really worried about.
Their kisses began innocently enough, but both wanted more, and so gradually the intensity of the kisses increased. Neither was really paying attention to anyone or anything other than the lips of the other, so when Phoebe approached and cleared her throat, it got absolutely no reaction.
"Geez, you two...get a room already," Phoebe finally said, tired of waiting to be acknowledged.
Piper immediately broke the kiss and blushed. "Phoebe...you didn't tell me you were coming tonight," she stated as she worked on returning her breathing to normal.
"Duh...you've got a band, and I want free drinks. Then again, I guess you've had your mind occupied with other things," Phoebe giggled. "Hi, Leo."
Leo smiled slightly in return. "Phoebe," he greeted.
"Apparently it's a good thing I did show up. Looks like you two need a chaperone," she teased her sister.
Piper just rolled her eyes. "Oh please...you're one to talk," she shook her head.
Phoebe laughed. "I know, but I always wanted to be the one who gets to say it instead of having it said to me."
"Just shut up and sit down," Piper replied, giving Leo an apologetic look. Had she known one of her sisters would show up, she would have at least warned him. Then again, Phoebe always showed up at her club when there was a band...or when she wanted free alcohol...so Piper realized she should have seen that one coming since her baby sister was such a freeloader.
Piper and Leo stayed for about half an hour after the band had finished their show. She knew there was no way Phoebe would be leaving since it was still before midnight, and she stayed and got all the free drinks she could fit into the night, but Piper's idea of a date with Leo definitely did not include her baby sister, so she and Leo said goodbye to Phoebe before leaving.
Once again, Leo was a complete gentleman and insisted on walking Piper to her door, even though it was only a few feet away from his own. "I'm really sorry about my sister showing up tonight. She drops by all the time for free drinks, especially when I've got a band playing...I should have thought to warn you. You should have had the chance to say no," Piper apologized to him.
Leo laughed slightly and shook his head. "It's ok. True, I wasn't expecting Phoebe to pop in, but it's ok. She didn't ruin our evening or anything. I had a very good time with you tonight," he assured her.
"Still...I'm really sorry. My sisters really do have he absolute worst timing," she apologized again.
"Hey, you were there...that's all that mattered to me," he told her softly, gently kissing her lips.
Piper smiled a little once he pulled back from the kiss. "You know, it's still pretty early. Would you like to come in and share that bottle of wine now?" she asked him as she pulled out her keys.
"I would love to," Leo answered her with a grin, following her inside once she'd unlocked the door.
"You go make yourself comfortable and I'll go get the wine and some glasses," she instructed him, leaving him to head off into the kitchen. She entered the living room a few moments later, as promised, as set the bottle and glasses on her coffee table before taking a seat on the couch beside Leo, who had removed his black sports coat. She had opened the bottle in the kitchen, so she leaned forward and poured them each a glass, handing one to him while taking a sip from hers.
"Dinner was really great tonight, Piper. And your club really is amazing. I don't remember if I told you that the first time I was there," he complimented her.
She smiled and took another sip of her wine. "Thank you. You don't mind if I take my shoes off, do you? I've been in these heels all day, and my feet are letting me know it," she told him.
Leo shook his head. "Here, let me," he offered, placing his wine glass on the coffee table and moving a bit closer to her on the couch so he could gently pull her feet into his lap. He carefully removed her shoes and began expertly massaging her feet.
Piper closed her eyes and laid her head back on the arm of her couch, careful not to spill her wine. "Oh my God...that feels amazing," she moaned in pure pleasure.
Hearing her moan, Leo felt his jeans tighten slightly. He had to force himself to breathe slowly and continue massaging her feet, knowing she wasn't trying to turn him on in anyway with her moans, she was just de-stressing herself. "You like that, huh?" he grinned.
Piper kept her eyes closed with a smile. "Oh yeah...you have the most amazing hands..." she trailed off in a husky voice, carefully sipping her wine as she enjoyed him pampering her for a bit.
He took the time she wasn't paying attention to him to indulge himself, letting his eyes trail over her face and body. She looked so innocent and beautiful lying on the couch with her eyes closed, almost like an angel, and her voice had been so sexy. Her ex-husband has to be a complete idiot to cheat on, much less leave a woman like this.
She felt his eyes on her, but gave him a few more moments before opening her eyes to meet his. "What?" she asked softly, emptying her glass and stretching out to set it on the coffee table.
Leo shook his head with a smile. "You're just so beautiful," he answered, stopping her foot massage momentarily as he got lost in her eyes.
The intensity of his gaze and compliment caused Piper to blush. "Thank you...but I'm not that beautiful," she told him modestly.
"And that just makes you more beautiful...you don't even realize it," he told her with a smile, his eyes still locked on hers. He continued watching her until he couldn't take it anymore. "Piper...the last thing I want to do is take advantage of you or hurt you...but God, I want to kiss you so much right now," he admitted to her. Sure it may have taken a little of the romance and spontaneity out of the situation to say it like that, but they both had some alcohol in their systems, and the last thing he wanted was to do something to screw up what they had going.
Piper giggled softly and nodded. "It's ok, I won't feel taken advantage of. And I really don't think a kiss is going to hurt me," she told him, impressed he was asking before just assuming he had the right to kiss her like other guys.
Leo gave her a smile before shifting his position and kissing her gently, once again letting her be the one to set the pace. He was just grateful she was open enough to give him a chance after her past, he was willing to take whatever she would give to him. After a few moments he took a chance and very carefully slipped his tongue past her lips, praying she wouldn't get spooked and pull away.
Piper's reaction was quite the opposite, as a small moan escaped her lips when his tongue met hers. This seemed to fuel both of them, as Piper's hand ran up his chest and tangled in his hair while he shifted his position even more so that he was now overtop of her. His position only served to make Piper moan again, and with each moan he heard, his pants got increasingly tight.
Leo shifted his position again slightly, trying to get a little more comfortable, which caused his hardening lower half to press against her, causing yet another moan to escape Piper, only this one coming from lower in her throat. She deepened the kiss, playing with fire as she let her tongue sensually move over his and into his mouth. Her body wanted him and was currently winning the battle, telling her common sense to shut up and take a hike.
Her actions were making it extremely difficult for Leo to focus and maintain control. She had no clue just how dangerous the game she was playing was. His hand found her knee and slowly slid up her thigh underneath her dress, which was when her brain finally took over.
"Leo...I can't..." she apologized softly, breaking the kiss. Once he moved off her and sat up, she did the same. "I'm sorry...but I'm not ready to be intimate again. It means a lot to me to go there...it's not something I just do. I want to...believe me, my body is screaming at me to go for it, but my head...I'm just not ready to give a man all of me again, not yet," she tried to explain.
"It's ok...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone that far," Leo quickly apologized, mentally kicking himself for pushing. "I'll go...I'm sorry," he said again.
"You don't have to leave..." she stopped him quickly. "I mean, you can if you want, but you don't have to leave on my account. If you just want to stay and talk..." she told him.
Leo took a deep breath. He wanted to do so many things to her and with her right then, and talking was nowhere on that list. But if she was okay with him staying and wanted him to stay, then he'd stay. He wanted to show her it wasn't just sex for him, so if he had to put his sexual desire aside temporarily, then he'd do it for her because to him, she was worth it. "Okay, if you're sure," he said, studying her face to determine that she was really okay with it.
Piper smiled and poured herself another glass of wine before moving closer to him and resting her head against his shoulder, stretching her feet out and getting comfortable, which was exactly how they fell asleep once they'd finished the wine and shared small talk a few hours later.
