The phone rang and shattered the silence that had descended in the room. With his pounding heart, it seemed infinitely loud to Leo who just cut the call and tossed his cell on the kitchen table without bothering to check who was calling. Andy was startled and stared at the cell in confusion.

She met Leo's gaze and then lowered hers and bit her lip. Leo immediately knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. She seemed unsure, which was a terrible thing. Leo had had his share of girlfriends who had hinted that they wanted to move in, but he had never lived with anyone before.

But with Andy, it just felt right. He wouldn't spend all his time worrying about her. He needed her close. And he would do everything in his power to keep her safe. 

If only she would agree.

Andy shook her head slightly but even before she could complete her head shake, Leo pounced on the split-second uncertainty. "I have to tell you. I am extremely easy to live with. Though I haven't had a roommate in a long time, I didn't display any TV-hogging, bathroom-trashing or loud snoring behaviors. And I am a decent cook. I can even provide recommendations."

Andy smiled at him. There was relief, mingled with fear and hopefully something more for him in her gaze. "It's the worst possible time for me, Leo. You know that."

"How so? You told me that you only needed to get rid of the house and that's what you would be doing in a few weeks. If you're worried about your job, you can get plenty of jobs in LA or better yet, work for my recording company. We need someone to help with the-"

But Andy was already shaking her head. "I-I still have to think of Mary. She has no place to go-"

"We'll give her the best care possible. I will promise you that." Though getting a bit sick of all the single-minded devotion that Mary got from Andy, Leo didn't tell Andy that the main reason he wanted Andy close was because of the mess that she had gotten into with Mary's husband, Phillip Bremer. Leo knew that after getting bail, Bremer raved about like a lunatic, blaming a red-haired witch for stealing his wife. He had some detectives tailing him, but it didn't bode well for his peace of mind that Bremer raved about "burning the witch".

"Don't you wanna live with me?" This last sentence was uttered by Leo with just a slight hint of desperation. So this is what Andy had reduced him to. Begging for attention or a pat on the back like an over-eager puppy. He almost chuckled at the image. Surely, Andy wouldn't be able to resist his fabled charm?

"To what purpose? I- You already knew I wasn't looking for a long-term relationship. Maybe it's better to end it this way." Leo calmly met Andy's gaze as he felt his heart stutter and die. But then, he consoled himself, it was a long shot to expect her to accept him this soon.

"Are you ready to walk away from what we have? Am I really just a sex toy to you? Will it honestly not matter to you if I walk away?" He rose and pulled up Andy with him, a bit roughly, but he was getting fed-up of these games. His hands moved over her body from the sides till he cupped her face. The green eyes that had driven him crazy right from the onset stared at him wide-eyed. But they weren't wide-eyed from surprise, they were wide-eyed with barely suppressed excitement. His touch always drew her crazy, but then she always drove him crazy when he touched her.

Her nostrils flared as she licked her lips and stared at Leo's lips. Well, Leo wasn't known for his self-control anyways. He slanted his mouth over hers, evicting a small "Oh" and went on nibbling inside her mouth. He swept his tongue in and grabbed her hips, grinding against her, making it clear that he was madly aroused. Andy had never been shy to respond to him. She sucked his tongue and linked her arms around his head. Leo groaned. This wasn't what he had planned.

"Give me an answer, Andy!" He didn't know if he was demanding or pleading anymore. Andy just groaned in response and her hands moved across his chest and pecs, and finally cupped him. So, that was that.

He quickly pulled her top over her head, thanking the Lord that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. As he pushed her on the table and mounted her, barely taking the time to take off their pants, she let out a shriek. Madly, he groaned and strained against her, all finesse forgotten. But Andy seemed to like it. She urged him on and moved against him driving him insane.

After a long time, spent and satiated beyond belief, Leo pulled away from Andy. She lay loose-limbed on the table, her breasts exposed and her pants down to her ankles. Leo pulled on his pants and finger-combed his hair. He gave Andy a grin. She looked so cute, maybe he should take her back to the bed.

Belatedly, he remembered the reason he had come on to her so strong. He meant to drive her crazy, make her admit that she needed him badly, but she had just turned the tables. And now she was helplessly giggling.

"Why are you grinning?" he snapped.

"I think I have toast stuck to my bum." She hopped off the table and showed her round bum. Damn it, and he went into heat again. Maybe Andy was really a witch.

She casually tossed the toast in the trash and crossed her arms. "Why are you smiling?"

"I was just thinking that you're a witch. You drive me crazy." Leo's smile was self-deprecating. Really, they would be crazy to walk away from the connection that they shared.

"Must be the red hair." She shrugged and dressed.

"Andy, you ARE moving in with me."

She arched a brow at his tone of command. "Just coz I owe you money, it doesn't mean you own me. In fact, I should be able to pay you back in a few weeks, regardless of whether the house sells."

Leo ran a hand over his face. "Are you doing that thing again? Be obnoxious and pick a fight and distract me from the topic at hand?"

"What? I'm never obnoxious!" But Andy couldn't stop her guilty flush. 

"Andy, I don't care about the money, please say yes."

Andy sighed. "Not unless I pay you off."

"Ok, then take the offer on the house. Everything will be resolved in a week."

It made Leo madder than he could imagine when he could see her fishing for more excuses. It was pathetic how much he wanted her to say yes, in fact, he had secretly hoped that she would be glad of the offer. Her reticence hurt his ego and made him mad.

"I- Who's Robin? And why does she keep calling you? I don't know so much about you." Andy muttered under her breath.

Leo crooked a finger and Andy leaned closer. "Move in with me and I'll tell you."

***

A/N: ok, so I am doing camp nanowrimo, so I thought I should get part of this chapter out soon. I usually like to write and read longer chapters, but let's try this for a change.

Please read/vote/comment.

Part 2 will follow soon and then I will merge into one chapter or maybe renumber them, I don't know. Depends on all your preferences so let me know.

Cheers and hugs,

S.