H E A T H

After a British dinner of fish and chips with mom and Sarah, I headed back to the apartment and smiled when I thought about seeing Leonie again. She didn't have to rush. I knew that she was catching up with her mom and I wanted to have that time. But I still felt a little somersault in my stomach when I thought about having her in my arms tonight.

She wasn't in when I opened the apartment door. So I had a shower, pulled on a pair of sweats and lounged on the bed with some weird show on the television. It must have been a local drama. I wasn't giving it a lot of attention. Earlier, mom had been talking about what an amazing pair of people Leonie and her mom, Meredith, were. And how we'd never be able to repay them for their kindness.

She couldn't understand why they were being so giving. Mom assumed it was because of Leonie and how she felt about me. But she was wrong. Leonie was giving and it had nothing to do with me or what she may or may not have felt. It had everything to do with her soul and how generous she was. Sarah deserves to have someone like Leonie in her life. She deserved to experience the things that Leonie was so willing to give her. Even if I couldn't be with her in the way that I wanted, I was glad that Sarah had her as a friend.

Suddenly, Leonie burst through the door, breathless. I stood up from the bed and approached her, but she held up a hand to stop me from coming closer.

"Wait," she swung the door shut behind her. "We need to talk. Well, I need to talk. You need to listen. And don't interrupt me until I'm done. Because I need to get this out."

I slipped my hands into my pockets and nodded for her to go ahead, curious and sort of nervous.

She started pacing and occasionally shot me a brief glance. "Yeah well I've been thinking. A lot. About us," she said, restless. "And I've come to a sort of conclusion. About us."

She continued pacing and threw me a shy look. I had no idea where this was going but my heart started hammering.

"And well— the thing is— I like you. A lot. In fact. I like you so much that I want to shout it at random people on the street. I want to tell them that I'm crazy about you. I want to tell them that if I'm the wind, then you're the sky. Because you can't have one without the other."

She stopped pacing and faced me. But she was still fidgeting and breathless.

"And I wanna do life with you Heath. I wanna—" she threw her arms up, looking for the right word— "I wanna breeze through life's ups and storm through life's downs. I wanna— I dunno— rage, whip, whirl through life— with you. Because I'm the wind and you're the sky and— fuck, I have no idea what I'm saying right now," she put a fist against her forehead and exhaled a pent up breath. "But I wanna life with you. Okay? Like together. I wanna be your wind and you be my sky and lets be the real deal?"

I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Was this real? She wanted the real deal? I wasn't even sure if I was dreaming or not. After I'd been waiting months to make her mine and here she was, declaring that she wanted that too, I felt frozen.

Her breathless voice whispered my name. "Heath?"

I closed the distance between us in three long strides, swept her into my arms and kissed her, hard. Fuck, she was everything. Everything I'd ever want. Need. Her fingers went into my hair, her chest pressed into mine. Our kiss became frantic and furious. Hands were moving fast and I couldn't get her close enough.

With one hand around the back of her neck, I used my free one to grip her thigh and lift her up. She hooked her legs around my waist and squeezed. Her nails scratched my bare back as her little moans filled the air. "Is that a yes?" She was breathless as my mouth dragged down on to her throat, my fingers wound in her hair.

"Of course baby," I kissed her neck and tugged at the hem of her long sleeve so that I could pull it over her head. "You don't even have to ask. I'm crazy about you."

She gasped as I threw her down onto the bed. Her hair spread on the pillow, her half lidded eyes looked up at me as I knelt between her spread thighs and pinned her hands above her head.

"Mmm you're so beautiful," I groaned, looking over her full breasts, plump above her black lace bra. She thrust her hips upward, the friction on my erection made me tremble and I pushed back down into her centre. Her lips made a sensual 'o' and she whimpered.

With her hands still pinned above her head, I lowered my lips to her chest and kissed the top of her breasts. "I promise that I'll do good by you, baby," I wrapped one hand around both of her wrists and slid her bra straps off with the other. She was panting, pushing her chest up to me. "I'll look after you heart. Treat you well."

She cried out as I drew her nipple in between my teeth. "I know, Heath," I looked up and met her needing expression. "I know. I trust you. Completely."

I closed my mouth over hers and kissed her so hard that I thought I could taste blood. Her hands slipped between our bodies and she popped the button on her jeans. I helped her out of them, pulling the material down her silk smooth legs. The sound of her restless breathing made me desperate to be inside of her.

As soon as I'd discarded of her jeans, I kissed the inside of her thigh, biting, sucking as I moved toward her centre. She slid her fingers into my hair and pushed my face into her heat with impatience. The taste of her made me wild. I held onto her thighs, pinching to the point that she'd probably end up with bruises. She thrashed and cried and moaned my name.

Suddenly, she sat up, scooted out from under me and pushed me down before she threw a leg across my waist. Her flat palms spread out on my chest and her soaking centre settled on my stomach. I held her waist and watched her chest rising falling. "You deserve more than just sex," she sounded out of breath but her voice trembled as well. "You deserve my whole broken heart. And my commitment and so if we're doing this, we're doing it all. Dates, plans, romantic shit. All of it. And I'm going to introduce you to people as my boyfriend. I can't wait."

My heart was so full that it fucking hurt. She reached down, pulled me out of my sweats and lined herself up as she straddled me. Her touch made me tremble. Her words made me weak. I gripped her hips when my tip was inside of her and gave her another inch, slow and teasing. But I couldn't hold out for another minute and thrust, pulling her down at the same time so that I filled her with one strong slam. Her lips parted and she gasped.

"Mmm baby," I panted. "So good. You feel so fucking good."

In the morning, I woke up holding my girl. She was curled into me, her sweet smelling hair rested under my chin. The air was cold outside of the covers. But our bodies kept each other warm. Whenever I thought about last night, the way she'd told me how she feels. How she'd claimed me and made that move, it sent a burst of warmth through my veins.

It was Sarah's birthday today and I knew that Leonie wanted to make the most of the day. So did I. So I wasn't surprised when her phone alarm started buzzing before the sun had come up. She stirred but I reached over to the side table and tapped the screen of her iPhone until it stopped.

"I'm getting up," she mumbled, eyes closed and voice thick. I laughed and pushed a piece of hair from her peaceful face.

"Sarah won't be awake," I whispered and kissed her cheek. Whenever I looked at her, my heart pounded so damn hard. She was really mine. And fuck if it didn't feel like the best thing that had ever happened to me.

After a few minutes, she smacked her lips and crawled up onto my chest, her hair tickled my skin and she fit so well. "We have to get breakfast and take it to Sarah. And then I'm going to take her shopping and then we have lunch with Meghan and Harry."

"Wait, what?"

She propped her chin on my chest and gave me a tired grin. "No. I'm kidding. But that would be fucking cool."

I ran my hands up and down her back, laughing.

"We do have a full day of plans though. And I can't wait to take Sarah on a spree. So I need to get up and shower."

She sat up beside me and stretched her arms above her head. My dick grew thick at the sight of her gorgeous body. But the smile that she fixed me with, that set me on fire. I felt so fucking blessed. She stood up and wandered towards the bathroom, stopping at the threshold to peer over her shoulder. "Coming?"

"Yeah baby."

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Sarah! Happy birthday to you!"

Meredith set a cake down in front of Sarah who was sitting at the head of a small dining room table in her apartment. Meredith had a bigger place than our little studios. It was modern but painted with warm tones of taupe and dark greys. The decor was personal. Framed photos and canvas' of Leonie and a few of her father. Leonie looked so much like him.

Sarah inhaled a deep breath and blew out her sixteen candles. The cake was huge and almost appeared like glass with a marble swirls of pale blue, dark blue and sea green. It was cool. She wore a new outfit. One that Leonie had bought her during their shopping spree. The bags that covered our studio were insane. I didn't even want to know what had been spent. But Sarah was all smiles. Which was what counted.

"Tell us what you wished for!" Leonie ordered from beside me. She was wearing a tight dress. The neckline was low and squared. The sleeves were long and it cut off at her thighs. She made it hard to focus for real. Her arm brushed mine and I swallowed, hard.

"Can't do that," Sarah grinned. "It won't come true. But no. In case you were wondering, I did not wish that I wouldn't die. I kept it a little more realistic."

I wish she wouldn't hurt me like that.

"Well I don't know what it was, but just in case it has anything to do with your brother," Leonie said and laced her fingers with mine. "We're official. Title and all. A couple."

My heart warmed as I stared down at her. She was so casual. So flippant. But I knew her better than that now. Sarah slapped her hands to her cheeks and let out a loud awww. Mom smiled and so did Meredith. Although she didn't look surprised.

"Yes," Leonie continued with a dismissive wave of her hand while Sarah clapped and smiled like a loon. "Send a bouquet or an E card, whatever form of congratulations tickles your pickle. But don't get in my face about it."

The three of them attempted to smother their smiles and nodded. "I'll fetch a knife to cut the cake," Meredith dashed off to the kitchen and mom let us know that she needed to use the bathroom.

I leaned down and brushed my lips against Leonie's temple as I wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. "I wouldn't change a thing about you, Leonie," I kissed her. And I meant it. Her humour. Her wit. Her independence. Her passion. Her walls could be hard to break down but I wouldn't change that either. I'd work on that broken heart of hers. Just as she'd offered me. Because that was a trust that didn't come light. I knew that. And it touched me to know that it was just for me.

"So," Sarah clasped her fingers and rested them on the table top, staring Leonie and I down like she was head of the mafia. "Who made the first move? I'd like details. I'd also like to take this moment to inform you both - while our mothers are not in the room - that our apartment is right across from yours and we can hear Leonie's enthusiasm for Heath. All. Night. Long."

My stomach dropped and I ran a hand through my hair. "Oh. Fuck. I'm—"

"Yes," Sarah pointed. "That's it. Those are some of the words that we can hear all night."

Leonie burst into a fit of giggles and buried her face in my side. "I'm not even sorry. It was too good to apologise."

"Eewww," Sarah pretended to gag. My entire face was on fire. I let go of Leonie and wandered out of the room, shaking my head in the hopes that I could eradicate this situation from ever happening. My sister. My little sister. She heard— oh lord.

"Mom heard too!" Sarah called after me as I passed the bathroom door.

It opened but I didn't even stop to answer mom when she asked where I was going. I just walked out of the apartment and closed the door to the sound of Sarah and Leonie laughing, loud.

When I came back fifteen minutes later, Jazz and Meredith were sitting at the table with a wine each while Leonie and Sarah washed up the dishes which had cake crumbs on them. Leonie turned around, a plate in her hand. She dried it with a dish towel and smiled when she caught me leaning on the door frame with folded arms.

"Hey," she grinned and I could tell she wanted to tease me. But I shook my head, biting down on a grin because as infuriating as she could be, she was so damn gorgeous and adorable. "I wasn't going to say anything," she shrugged.

"Mhmm," I gave her a narrow stare, walked forward, gave her a kiss and then tapped Sarah on the shoulder. "Wanna see your birthday present?"

Sarah turned around and pulled the plug. "I would have said yes before but now I'm scared."

I laughed and turned around, pulling my shirt over my head so that she could see my shoulder blade. I heard her little gasp which turned into a sob and then her fingers touched the fresh ink on my back. I winced.

"Sorry," she sniffed, moving her hand. "Heath, when did you do this?"

"Today. While you and Leonie were shopping."

I could hear the dining chairs scraping the floor as mom and Meredith came over to inspect the new tattoo. It was a portrait of Sarah and I when we were younger. The day that her adoption was finalised. We'd celebrated with all of her friends from school. We'd had a cake made. She'd dressed up in a fairy costume. It was a simple gathering but it had been the most fun that we'd ever had.

"It looks so realistic," Meredith said. "Like a real photo."

"Yeah," Sarah was sniffling. "It is just like the real photo."

Leonie stood in front of me, her smile was warm and genuine but then her gaze started to move over my bare torso and became heated. She drew her bottom lip in between her teeth and winked as she mouthed fuck me.

"Get out," I laughed.

She stuck out her tongue and disappeared again. Full of cheek. Fuck I was crazy about her. But the sound of Sarah's sniffles pulled me back and I turned around, tugging on the shirt so that I could give her a hug.

"Why can't you be a normal big brother," she sobbed into my chest. "Like, be embarrassed of me and punch me in the arm and tell me that I'm ugly."

"That's horrible," I laughed, nodding at mom as she fanned her face and communicated with me that she needed a moment. Meredith wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her out of the room. "I wouldn't call that normal. Mean. Not normal."

"Do you know any other brother's that would tattoo their sister on to their shoulder?! Hmm?!"

"I don't care what other brothers do. Doubt they have a sister as special as you."

"Ew," she sniffed with amusement. "Now you're rhyming. You're the embarrassing one."

Despite her words, she hugged me tight. As tight as her frail arms would let her. No matter what, I'd have her with me forever. And that wasn't just because I had a photo of her on my skin. It was because she was on my heart. My sister. Family.