: The Million-Dollar View

Leo's POV

The air up here was thin, but the tension was thick enough to choke on.

Standing in Sienna’s living room, surrounded by a skyline that looked like a scattering of diamonds on black velvet, I realized I’d never felt more acutely aware of my own rough edges. My boots felt too heavy for her pristine hardwood floors. My grey henley felt faded against her expensive black cashmere.

But then her eyes locked onto mine. There was no judgment in them, no comparison of social status—just a quiet, breathless anticipation that made my heart hammer against my ribs. Her hand was warm where it rested near my chest, and the faint, intoxicating scent of her perfume completely wiped out my lingering doubts.

"You notice a lot of things about me, Leo," she whispered.

"It's hard not to," I murmured, my voice dropping lower than I intended.

I didn't think about Jax's warnings. I didn't think about the price tag of the sofa right behind us. I just looked at the way her lips parted slightly, the way her hazel eyes darkened, and I let my instincts take over.

I leaned down, bridging the final few inches between us.

When my mouth found hers, any remaining illusion of our "two different worlds" shattered. It wasn't a tentative, polite first kiss; it was deep, electric, and fueled by two weeks of built-up morning tension. Sienna let out a soft, sharp intake of breath against my lips, her hands instantly sliding up my chest to wrap tightly around the back of my neck.

She pulled me closer, her body molding perfectly against mine. I brought my hand up to cup the back of her head, my fingers tangling in the sharp, silky strands of her bob. She tasted like the sweet, rich vanilla from her morning lattes and something entirely her own. The sheer contrast of it all—the absolute silence of her high-rise penthouse and the roaring thunder of my own pulse—was dizzying.

When I finally pulled back, just an inch, our foreheads rested together. Both of us were breathing heavily.

A slow, beautiful smile spread across Sienna's face, her cheeks flushed a deep, brilliant pink. "Well," she breathed, her thumbs gently caressing the nape of my neck. "That certainly beats a vanilla bean macchiato."

I let out a low, breathless laugh, my arms still anchored securely around her waist. "I can tweak the menu if you want to make this standard procedure, too."

Sienna's POV

If my heart beat any faster, I was convinced it would break right through my ribs.

I had been kissed by men who took me to five-star restaurants, men who wore bespoke Italian suits and flew on private jets. None of them had ever made my knees feel weak like this. Leo’s kiss was grounded, fierce, and utterly consuming. It stripped away all the layers of armor I wore to protect myself in the corporate fashion world, leaving me entirely exposed, yet completely safe.

"Come here," I murmured, taking his hand and pulling him toward the massive velvet sofa.

We sat down, but I didn't let go of his hand. I tucked my legs up under myself, leaning back against the cushions, suddenly feeling more relaxed than I had in months.

Leo looked around the room again, but this time, the intimidation in his eyes was gone, replaced by a quiet, affectionate amusement. He reached into the brown paper bag he’d brought and pulled out a slightly crushed chocolate croissant. "It’s not exactly a five-star dessert, but the bakery down on 4th street makes them fresh at dusk."

"Give it to me," I laughed, snatching it from his hand. I tore it in half, handing a piece back to him. "It’s perfect."

We sat on that million-dollar couch for hours, eating cheap pastries and talking about absolutely nothing. We laughed about Jax’s terrible attitude at the café, and I told him a horrific story about a model who accidentally tripped into a fountain during my spring show.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Leo looked down at our joined hands, tracing a slow circle over my knuckles. "Sienna... I really like you. You know that, right? But I'm not blind. Your life is... a lot. It’s fast, it’s expensive, and you’re about to have this massive autumn showcase."

He looked up, his hazel eyes completely honest, entirely devoid of pretense. "I just want to make sure I’m a safe harbor for you, not another thing on your to-do list."

A profound wave of warmth swelled in my chest. I shifted closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder. The worn denim-and-coffee scent of his shirt enveloped me, instantly calming the background noise of my mind.

"Leo, my to-do list is full of people who want a piece of me," I said softly, locking my fingers through his. "You’re the only person who just wants me to take a breath. You are exactly what I need."

He dropped a soft kiss onto the top of my head, his grip tightening around me. For the first time in a very long time, as I looked out at the sprawling, chaotic city below, I didn't feel lonely.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***