We've been at this for 2 hours.

No, not what you are thinking. We've been working on this article I'm writing for 2 hours and I still barely get the terminology.

I picked a few pictures, and I was trying to write what happened leading up to them, as well as describing them but the problem is I know nothing about what happened. I know when they score because the loud buzzer goes off, but that's literally it.

"It's not that hard," Leo said, which is the same thing he has been saying for an hour. No Leo, it is very hard.

"Can we take a break? This is hurting my head," I complain. He laughs but nods his head at me. I shut my laptop and sigh, leaning back against the headboard. In the 2 hours, he had moved across from me, so he had been facing me. He plants both hands on the bed and twists his body, moving back to rest next to me like he had been from the start. The veins on his forearms appear from the movement and I can't help but stare at them.

Okay, weird thing about me, I have kind of an arm kink. I've never really had sex so I don't think you could qualify me to be kinky, but arms turn me on. I'll admit to that.

Leo's arms rest, one brushing my thigh, but he doesn't move his hand. I feel my body start to tingle and I mentally slap myself for letting the small gesture affect me. I turn and see his head is leaned back, and his eyes are closed. This is the most at peace I've seen him.

"I can feel you staring," He suddenly says, which causes me to turn away quickly, "It's okay. I look at you a lot too," My cheeks feel like they're on fire right now. I can't even form proper words at this point.

Leo being Leo, he makes me even more flustered when he slips his large hand on my thigh. My breath hitches, causing a small gasp to let out before I could stop it. I'm so embarrassed to face him.

"Is this too much?" He asks. Still not looking at him, I shake my head. Please don't remove your hand. I can feel the spot in between my legs heat up and tingle, causing me to squeeze my thighs together.

I finally gain the courage to look at Leo and I see his eyes are fixed on my legs. I need more. I don't know what is causing me to think this, but the little touch isn't enough to relieve the tension.

I slowly grab Leo's hand, which causes his eyes to shoot up to mine. His hazel eyes look darker, telling me he may be affected as well. How do I know this? I read. Very, very dirty books.

I begin moving his hand using mine, slowly up my thigh, holding eye contact. Once I make it to the top of my thigh, I stop but keeping my hand over his. I can feel the heat in my core intensify at the closeness of his hand resting next to the center of my legs. I focus my attention on Leo and see his eyes have drifted back to where his hand rests on my thigh.

He looks at a loss for words, "Aria, I-," he says, his voice sounding strained, "Fuck. You don't know what you're doing."

I tilt my head, "I do know," he shuts his eyes for a moment, but opens them again, "You started something and I'm helping you finish," I don't know where this sudden boldness has come from, but it clearly has affected not only me but Leo.

Leo's gaze meets mine, his eyes filled with a lustful look as he stares at me. My gaze flickers to his lips for a brief moment before lifting back to his eyes. Though, his eyes are fixed on my lips, causing me to dart my tongue out and moisturize my lips from the nervousness I feel. It feels as if the small distance between us is closing, but before I could be sure, a ringing sound fills the quiet room.

Le flinches back, removing his hand from my thigh and taking a deep breath. I grabbed my phone that laid next to me and saw my mom was calling. I pull my finger to my lips, telling Leo to be quiet.

"Ciao Mamma," I say lightly into the phone.

"Ciao Aria! Come va?" She asks.

"Sto bene. Come stai?" I replied.

"Bene bene," I hummed in response, "So ... Will said you could bring someone to the wedding."

I groan, "Mamma, non volevo che tu lo sapessi," She chuckles in response.

"Lo avrei scoperto comunque," She's not wrong. She would've jumped out of her skin the moment she saw me with Leo.

"Lo so, lo so," I glanced at Leo, seeing him looking down at his hands that were in his lap, "Non è un grosso problema."

"Senza senso! Non stai con un ragazzo da..." She trails off. She knows what happened. Josh called her the moment we got to the hospital. Her face had been filled with worry when she arrived and saw me in a hospital bed.

"Lo so. Mi fido di questo ragazzo però," She makes a hm noise. I can tell she's debating whether or not to be happy or to demand to talk to the guy sitting next to me.

"Posso parlare con lui?" She asks.

"Sì, è accanto a me in questo momento," She hummed in reponse. I pull the phone away from my ear and put it in Leo's hand.

"My mother would like to talk to you," I whisper. His eyes widen, but he slowly lifts the phone to his ear.

I can barely hear my mom speak, but I can tell she switched to English. He quietly hums to a lot of what she says and occasionally says something short. He's quieter than usual. Is he nervous? He laughs at something she says and says goodbye. He hands me to the phone, telling me she had to go.

"She's nice," Is all he says.

"She didn't harass you?" I say shocked. He shakes his head, "She must like you," He lightly smiles at me.

"She said that she was excited to meet me, but if I tried anything with you, she'd smack me," I laugh. That's definitely something she'd say. In the little time, I spent with my mom growing up, I got to know she's protective. It didn't seem like it at times, but she made sure I was safe, whether it was a big act or not.

"I agree with her. Don't you dare try anything in front of my parents," I say half-jokingly. Yes, I was half-joking. Something in me wanted something to happen between us, but the other half was scared out of her mind. In the little time, I've known Leo, he's seemed to respect me as much as he could, even if he didn't understand me that much.

"No promises chérie," He says through a smirk. I roll my eyes at his flirtiness. My mind drifts back to the moment that had happened minutes before my phone had rung. I didn't think through what would've happened if my phone hadn't rung. I'm attracted to him, yes, and my body wants to do things with him, but I don't know if I could trust him with something so personal. The last time I trusted a guy with myself, he ended up taking advantage and scarring me. I can't go through that again.

"I think we should continue this another time," I suggest. His face falls into a frown and I immediately regret saying that, "I might have plans tonight," I say, remembering how Josh asked if we could get dinner tonight.

"Who are you going out with?" He questions curiously.

"Josh," I replied nervously. The last time I was with a guy, he went full murder mode. Understandably though.

"You're leaving me for him?" He says offended, but I could hear the slight anger in his tone.

"I don't want to ditch him Leo," His jaw tenses and I tilt my head in confusion. He can't be mad at me for hanging out with my best friend.

"Do you want me to drive you and Brielle back?" He says quietly, his jaw loosening a little.

"That would be nice if you're okay with it," I carefully replied. All he does is nod and get up from his seated position on the bed. I follow his movement and grab my laptop.

We make it down the stairs and I see Bri and Matthew laying on the couch quite close. I grin to myself. They would be a cute match.

"Hey, Ari and I are heading out," Leo speaks, causing Matthew and Bri to turn around, "Brielle, do you want to come?" Bri thinks for a moment.

"Yeah let me get my shoes on," She replies. Leo and I nod our heads and put on our shoes and walk out. Bri knows Leo has a jeep, I told her, to which she screamed about how hot that is.

~

The car ride to my dorm was pretty quiet. The only sound heard is the peaceful music playing on the radio.

When we arrive, Bri gets out first, but Leo tells me to stay for a moment. Bri raises her eyebrows, but nonetheless says she'll see me inside.

"Are you okay?" I ask once Bri gets out.

"Yeah, just...call me when you get home, yeah?" He says slowly, stuttering over the last part. Leo has never once sounded this...embarrassed? Quiet? Nervous even? I'm slightly taken back.

"Yeah I can, but why?" I ask curiously. He fiddles with his fingers in his hoodie pocket. I have the urge to place my hand over his covered one and ask him why he seems nervous. I don't though, keeping my hand on the jeep door handle.

"I don't know...I just want to hear you talk, about anything," He replies so quietly that I could barely hear him. My heart flutters at his words.

"That's okay Leo, I'll, uh, call you later then," I manage to say. To be honest, I had no idea how to respond.

He thanks me quietly and says goodbye, which I return. I walk out of the car with a clouded mind and my heart still melting from his words.

~

things are spicing up a bit...