Chapter sixteen

"Leonardo, what are you doing drop me," Alison said worried that people might see. Given that Leonardo is a well-known individual, compromising situations such as this tends to pass the wrong message across to the public.

Wanting to punish Leonardo for teasing her like that, but she never meant for him to have this kind of proximity with her.

It does feel good to be in his arms though, he smiled looking into her eyes she felt an unknown emotion hammering hard on her heart. She felt weird, with her heart racing against her ribcage pounding hard. He can't hear her heartbeat, right? He would begin to assume things.

"Leonardo!" She pressed again passing a pleading look to him, he wasn't budging he held her tighter and walked towards the edges of the pool's rim, a smirk gracing his features.

"Okay, I am sorry for lying to you and tricking you, seriously this... people might have the wrong impression that you and I... Ugh...just let me down," giving an apology isn't the way out either as his chuckles echoed across the silent night, provoking her even more. Alison jerked harder and tried wriggling out of his strong arms at the end of it all she gave up tired.

He laughed harder at her attempt, well his laughter was really beautiful she felt heated as her soft body pressed the hard ridges of his body, she could feel each pattern of his packs, pressing hard on her left side.

What more? What she wore was skimpy.

Okay, not that skimpy just some denim shorts and a long shirt.

"You know it is a weird thing to see you apologize to me in that manner, and I don't mind you and me... You know.. " he paused as she passed him a glare

"Let's see, if this becomes like a scandal then we would be lovey dovies," he said wanting to add more to her miseries. He was more surprised to see her taking interest in what he is saying.

He momentarily stops to look at her, he felt intrigued as her green orbs glistened in the soft moon rays, her soft feel against his skin make him think about holding her tight against him in a cuddly manner

"You know what Leonardo, that can work," she said her fingers playing with the edges of his shirt.

Alison smirked inwardly at how distracted Leonardo has become, well keep on with the act and soon you would be free.

Thinking about it, she should have adhered to Paige advice. She wasn't expecting to see Leonardo here at all. But, then she recalled this is his father's hotel and down there he has a restaurant. So he might as well own the hotel, he has the right to stay here whenever he wants.

Just a little more.

"What can work?" He asked distracted by her hands playing with his shirt, it was kind of ticklish and the look in her eyes, damn it was sexy.

"Us! silly, it just that?"

" It would be just another trick, from my side again," She said a mischievous smile gracing her lips.

"Trick what are you talking about?" Just then she slipped out of his strong arm laughing hard. It takes him a second to realise what just happened, she got him there.

Stupid.

"Next time, you want some payback think of a more efficient way. You are so easy to get," he frowned as she laughed harder, he fell for her again.

There is more to Alison than she let out, he saw a very mischievous, funny and naughty woman. Why is she hiding this personality from others? He felt graced he saw this other non-serious side of her.

A smile appeared on his lips as he watched her beautiful smile slowly dissipating.

"Okay, since you can't hold me as your prisoner anymore, I would be going to my room, have a long day tomorrow, Goodbye Leonardo," she smiled moving back, should he tell her she was about to fall in the pool.

No, this is his payback, go back all drenched up, he could not stop the smirk appearing on his lips. He moved closer blocking any existing path she has. There was no more ground for her to stand on noticing the full-blown grin she stared at him suspiciously, "Why do you look suspic..." There is that yelp, her little scream of surprise filled the whole pool, but before she falls into the pool she reached out to him grabbing his shirt.

What do they call that force? Yea, gravity pulled them faster towards the dark menacing water. What's more, the water wasn't in any way steaming it was ice cold. The chill spread through their bodies, at the same time Alison and Leonardo but popped their head out of the water gasping for air.

She smacked him hard in his arm, "What the ... Hell is wrong with you? You knew I was going into the water and you let me, No! you deliberately let me go into this... Icy water," she said annoyed slowly they pulled themselves out of the water.

"Ow, I also fell into the water too, the lesson of the day everything I planned against you backfired, I am at the losing side here," he said, she ignores him squeezing the water out of her shirt.

He watched her and felt his blood rush back at the outline of her body, her clothes glued to her skin.

His eyes went up to her chest and he could see the outline of her soft mounds, her white shirt tuned transparent as he could see some faint colour of her skin. Her naked thighs were glistening in the moon rays, he turned his eyes away from her.

Why is he having these thoughts? They are just friends, right why does he feel so attracted to her? Tracing his eyes up to her face, which scrunched up a bit in annoyance.

To him she just looks adorable, her dark hair was twisted in wet threads that clung to her back and part of her face. She looked up at him and hissed in annoyance, he reached out and removed some wet hair that clung to her face.

Alison jerked back at his touch, what is he doing?

She looked up at him and was shocked by the look in his eyes. She gulped harder as she stared at him surprised by his actions.

She saw desire in his eyes as he reached forward again peeling off the remainder of hair tucking it gently behind her ears. The care in his hand, the tenderness in his touch. Her throat was starting to tighten.

"You look so much prettier without the hair covering your face, I am sorry for letting you into the pool," he said softly tugging at the strings in her heart.

His actions mean nothing right?

He should not make her feel this way, she felt way too much for this man in front of her.

She felt confused, the need to clear her head was present.

Leonardo was always like this with other women this is his trick the only way he makes them fall into his arms.

He was the heartthrob of many ladies, she wasn't exactly pretty, to begin with, she was different. She was a silly divorcee, with a child what is she doing here? Is she always this free around him, she is getting loose and he is responsible she was starting to lose herself with his carefree attitude, whenever she is with him the probability of leaving him with a smile on her face was almost one.

His influence is contagious, his presence around her needs to be avoided.

Leonardo felt as Alison moved further away from him slowly detaching her wet clothes from her skin, "Um.. it is late I need to go to bed. Long day tomorrow," she stood up trudging towards the chair picking up the papers he bought.

She walked out of the pool area, he watched her retreating back and suddenly felt empty

He laid back on the cold floor and thought more about Alison and how innocent her big green orbs were.

When his hands touched her face, he loved the way his heart pumped at the feeling of her skin on his.

It felt like a thousand fireworks were being set off in his chest, he felt like his heart was about to explode in happiness and content whenever he is with her.

He was certain that deceiving himself about the feelings he was starting to have for Alison was pointless. It started the day he held her at the office elevator and felt lost in her forest green orbs, he saw the endless depth of emotions in her.

It grew the day he saw her at the restaurant with her carelessly wrapped hair that had strands falling on her face.

She was making him forget about Felicity betrayal, his one-sided love for her. Alison gave him hope of having someone to love him back, having someone who won't hate his choice of occupation even with his huge success story.

He smiled, to be sincere he won at the end given that she looked flushed almost to crimson.