CHAPTER 199: CHAPTER 199 HE ONLY LIKES SOFT TOUCHES NOW

Bella’s steps slowed when her gaze landed on the man stretched out on the couch. Leo was leaning back, his head turned slightly to the side, eyes closed. The sharp lines of his face were softened in sleep, his breathing steady. In the dim light, the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw made him look both tired and devastatingly handsome.

"Hello, little sister-in-law~~"

The teasing drawl pulled her attention away from Leo. Casper was lounging lazily in the seat opposite, his shirt collar slightly askew and a faint lipstick mark on his cheek. His grin was far too knowing.

Bella nodded awkwardly, her fingers curling around the strap of her bag. "Hi."

The heat in her cheeks betrayed her, and she could feel her ears turning red.

Casper chuckled under his breath, clearly enjoying the sight. "You know," he added with a wink, "you might want to wake him before someone else tries to."

Her eyes flicked back to Leo, and for a moment she hesitated—unsure if she should be more worried about him being drunk... or about what he might say when he woke up and saw her here.

"Leo?" Bella’s voice was soft as she stepped closer, the thumping music fading into the background in her mind. She crouched down beside the couch and gently tapped his cheek with her fingertips.

A low hum rumbled from his throat. "Hmm...?" His lashes fluttered, and for the briefest moment his deep eyes cracked open, catching the light. Then, just as quickly, they slid shut again, as if she hadn’t just traveled all the way here for him.

Zion, who had been standing with his arms folded, sighed. "We’ll help you get him to the car," he offered, already moving forward.

Bella gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."

But the moment Zion reached for Leo’s arm, the man’s reaction was immediate. With his eyes still closed, he shoved Zion’s hand away with surprising force.

Zion blinked. "...Okay then."

Casper, amused, decided to try his luck. "Come on, big guy, let’s get you up." He reached down to grab Leo’s other arm—only to be pushed away just as easily, his grin slipping into a scowl.

"What the hell—" Casper started, rubbing his arm.

"Bella, maybe you try?" Zion cut in, his lips twitching like he was fighting back a smirk. His eyes flickered with mischief, as if he already knew what was about to happen.

Bella hesitated, glancing between the two men. "...Alright."

She lowered herself back onto the couch beside Leo and lightly touched his arm. "Leo, we have to go home now," she coaxed.

To everyone’s surprise, he didn’t shove her away. In fact, he leaned slightly toward her, as if her voice had drawn him out of whatever hazy place he was in.

Casper’s jaw dropped. He leaned close to Zion and whispered, "Let me tell you... Leo has become naughty. He only likes soft touches now."

Zion shot him a glare, but his shoulders shook as he tried not to laugh.

Meanwhile, Bella was bracing herself. She slipped one arm around his back, the other under his hand, and tried to guide him to his feet. "Come on... up you go..."

Leo moved, but only because she was there, his weight making her work harder than she expected.

When she finally managed to get him standing, she exhaled in relief, her forehead damp with sweat and her cheeks flushed pink from the effort. She glanced down at herself, realizing she must look ridiculous trying to wrangle such a tall, broad-shouldered man.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny spark of pride. "See?" she said, smiling faintly at Zion and Casper. "Not so hard."

Zion raised a brow. "Mm-hm. Totally not hard."

Casper smirked. "I’ll remember this next time I need to move a stubborn drunk."

Leo, still half-asleep, leaned his head slightly toward her shoulder, murmuring something too low for the others to hear, making Bella’s blush deepen all over again.

Zion walked ahead, clearing the way, while Casper trailed behind Bella as she guided Leonorado toward the car. It wasn’t easy—he was tall, broad-shouldered, and much heavier than he looked when he was sitting. Her small hands gripped his arm tightly, doing her best to steady him, but his slow, unhurried steps kept pulling her closer to his side.

Her cheeks were a warm cherry red, partly from the effort... and partly because of him. He kept mumbling something under his breath, the low rumble of his voice brushing against her ear. Every so often, his head tilted down, and his lips brushed lightly against the curve of her neck. It wasn’t quite a kiss, but it was enough to send a little electric flutter through her stomach, making her feel oddly breathless.

She tried to focus on walking, but the heat of his breath lingered, the faint scent of his cologne mixing with the warmth of his skin. For someone who was supposed to be drunk, he seemed far too comfortable pressing this close to her.

Finally, they reached the car, and Bella eased him into the back seat. She straightened up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and turned to the two men. "Thank you, both of you," she said, still a little flustered.

"No thanks, little sister-in-law~" Casper teased with a chuckle, his eyes glinting like he knew exactly why her face was so pink.

Bella slipped into the back seat beside him, closing the door gently so as not to jolt him awake. The driver started the car, the city lights flickering across Leo’s sharp jawline. For a moment, he sat still, head leaning back against the seat... and then, without warning, he shifted toward her.

His arm slid around her waist, pulling her closer until her side was pressed firmly against the solid warmth of his chest. "Mmm... don’t move," he muttered, his voice husky from the alcohol, but there was a softness in it that made her heart skip.

"I’m not going anywhere," she whispered back, trying to keep her tone light, but her pulse was racing.

He made a small sound, almost like he didn’t believe her, and buried his face in her shoulder. His breath was warm against her skin, and she felt the faintest brush of his lips—whether accidental or not—near her collarbone. Her fingers tightened on her dress to stop herself from reacting too much.