“Go see Rosa.” Ezio’s head shot up and he looked about to protest. Leonardo held up a hand. “I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to be saying it. But she is carrying your child, and you cannot ignore that. I do not want you to ignore that.”
“I would rather give up the child and have you instead,” Ezio growled.
“You can’t,” Leonardo snapped. “You cannot change what has already happened, Ezio. You have already betrayed me once, and that was once too often.”
Because if you did it once, you will do it again.
Ezio seemed to struggle with himself, fists clenching and unclenching as he fought a battle in his own mind. Then all the fight seemed to go out of him. “You speak the truth,” he muttered. “I will ... speak with Rosa.”
Leonardo nodded and kept his gaze on the floor. The door creaked open and then shut, and Leonardo finally allowed himself to sag and raise one shaking hand to cover his eyes.
Except that a familiar warm, large hand pulled it away and equally familiar lips closed over his, hard and demanding, fingers taut in his hair and a tongue sliding between his lips. Leonardo whimpered and grabbed onto Ezio with his free hand, caught between pulling him closer and pushing him away, damning the man for his stupid silent footsteps.
Ezio dropped his other hand and cupped his face with both palms, long fingers cradling Leonardo’s head as he kissed and kissed and kissed, desperately, like he was drowning and only Leonardo’s kisses could save him. Leonardo found himself clutching frantically at Ezio’s waist and back, heedless of the ludicrous amounts of weaponry the man carried, intent on pushing himself as close as possible because – because this was it.
This was goodbye.
The kisses tasted of salt. They tasted of desperation and all the love that still lay between them, as cut and bruised as it was. But they felt clean despite the hurt, like an infection cut out before it truly had time to take root. It left a savage pain that would take a long time to heal, but was still far better than the twisted wreck of a relationship they would have made otherwise.
“Enough.” Leonardo’s voice was hoarse as he pushed him away. “Enough, Ezio.”
Ezio stepped back. “I am sorry,” he said roughly. “That will be the last time.”
“Yes.” Ezio’s clothes were rumpled. It was clear that the rumpling had been done by another in the grips of passion, or perhaps a particularly addled wrestling match. Despite Ezio’s erratic visiting schedule, it was such a familiar sight that Leonardo had to look away, cheeks burning. “I think that you should leave now.” Leonardo swallowed. “And ... you would do me a kindness if you did not come back for a while.”
Ezio hesitated.
“What?” Leonardo snapped, abruptly uncomfortable – even more so than before. “We have said all there is to say. I have asked you to leave. Go—”
Casual Womaniser 4/5
“I would rather give up the child and have you instead,” Ezio growled.
“You can’t,” Leonardo snapped. “You cannot change what has already happened, Ezio. You have already betrayed me once, and that was once too often.”
Because if you did it once, you will do it again.
Ezio seemed to struggle with himself, fists clenching and unclenching as he fought a battle in his own mind. Then all the fight seemed to go out of him. “You speak the truth,” he muttered. “I will ... speak with Rosa.”
Leonardo nodded and kept his gaze on the floor. The door creaked open and then shut, and Leonardo finally allowed himself to sag and raise one shaking hand to cover his eyes.
Except that a familiar warm, large hand pulled it away and equally familiar lips closed over his, hard and demanding, fingers taut in his hair and a tongue sliding between his lips. Leonardo whimpered and grabbed onto Ezio with his free hand, caught between pulling him closer and pushing him away, damning the man for his stupid silent footsteps.
Ezio dropped his other hand and cupped his face with both palms, long fingers cradling Leonardo’s head as he kissed and kissed and kissed, desperately, like he was drowning and only Leonardo’s kisses could save him. Leonardo found himself clutching frantically at Ezio’s waist and back, heedless of the ludicrous amounts of weaponry the man carried, intent on pushing himself as close as possible because – because this was it.
This was goodbye.
The kisses tasted of salt. They tasted of desperation and all the love that still lay between them, as cut and bruised as it was. But they felt clean despite the hurt, like an infection cut out before it truly had time to take root. It left a savage pain that would take a long time to heal, but was still far better than the twisted wreck of a relationship they would have made otherwise.
Eventually, Ezio’s mouth gentled, feathering light, soft touches over Leonardo’s swollen lips.
“Enough.” Leonardo’s voice was hoarse as he pushed him away. “Enough, Ezio.”
Ezio stepped back. “I am sorry,” he said roughly. “That will be the last time.”
“Yes.” Ezio’s clothes were rumpled. It was clear that the rumpling had been done by another in the grips of passion, or perhaps a particularly addled wrestling match. Despite Ezio’s erratic visiting schedule, it was such a familiar sight that Leonardo had to look away, cheeks burning. “I think that you should leave now.” Leonardo swallowed. “And ... you would do me a kindness if you did not come back for a while.”
Ezio hesitated.
“What?” Leonardo snapped, abruptly uncomfortable – even more so than before. “We have said all there is to say. I have asked you to leave. Go—”
“I have another codex page,” Ezio blurted.