Waking up with Hayes in his arms was hands down the most memorable moment in Levi’s life. Second, of course, to the way she gave herself over to him. Freely and completely. Seeing Hayes come undone for him was beautiful. Awe-inspiring. Her trust astounded him.

Wanting to do something special for her, he slipped from bed to make her breakfast. He knew she didn’t normally eat much more than a muffin, so he went all out. Gave her a real feast. He planned on showing her that he wanted more from their relationship as well. She’d wanted last night to be about them getting to know each other, and they’d gotten carried away. Not that he regretted it. Being surrounded by her as she experienced the greatest high in the universe was something for him to pound his chest over.

Whistling on his way down to the kitchen, he was shocked by the fresh scent of coffee that assaulted him. Stepping into the room, he took in the sight of his mother humming softly to herself, and it made him nervous.

“Ma?” he questioned, fully entering the room and half-hoping Hayes stayed asleep. She didn’t know that his fighting was a secret, and since he wasn’t ready to tell his family about it, he didn’t want her to spill the beans.

“Hello, sweetheart.” His mother beamed at him as she spun around.

“What are you doing here, Ma?”

Handing him a cup like it was her own home, she replied, “I haven’t seen you in over a week, Levi, so I thought I’d stop by.”

He had to force himself not to look behind him and give his company away. “Now’s not really a good time.”

She ignored him. “I was thinking of throwing an engagement party for Lennox and Sophia in the next couple of weeks. What do you think?” There was something in her eyes.

“Sure, Ma. Whatever you want.” He’d agree to nearly anything at that moment.

“You don’t have some hussy here, do you?” She sounded pissed at the idea.

“Not a hussy, ma’am,” a soft voice said from behind him.

His head hung as Hayes entered the room, and his mother eyed her skeptically. Her shock at seeing a woman in his home was quickly masked.

Holding his arm out for Hayes, he turned his head briefly to notice that she was in nothing but his t-shirt. His groan of appreciation was torn from him before he could force it back down.

“Levi,” his mother hissed.

Once Hayes was in his arms, he introduced them, hoping against everything in his world that they would hit it off. “Ma, this is Hayes. Sugar, this is my mother, Lorraine.”

Hayes remained glued to his side as she spoke. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

His mother, the only woman who meant anything to him before now, remained the quietest he’d ever seen her. Her gaze travelled up and down Hayes like a bug under a microscope.

“Ma,” he prompted.

“How old are you, Hayes?” Not what he was expecting.

His girl looked up to him briefly before answering. “Eighteen, ma’am.”

Lorraine’s penetrating gaze flew daggers at him as she scolded him. “She’s barely an adult, Levi!”

“I’m going to go get dressed.” Hayes’ whispered words were full of hurt, so he let her go.

With hands on his hips, he had to count backwards from ten, so he didn’t blow up. “Ma,” he warned, “Hayes is an adult. In more ways than you could understand.”

“Is she even out of high school?”

He had to remember that he’d reacted nearly the same way when they first met. “She graduates in a couple weeks.”

“Levi!”

“Ma.” His voice held a warning. Hayes was his, there was nothing and no one that could change his mind on that.

“What am I supposed to think, son? She’s in high school. You’re a grown man.” He understood the struggle she was having. “She can’t possibly be mature enough for anything serious, and she’s too young for you to screw around with like that.”

“You don’t know her like I do, Ma, so I’m going to let that go. But Hayes isn’t going anywhere.”

Before he could say more, his girl walked into the kitchen.

“Sorry,” she muttered, not meeting anyone’s gaze. “Lys will be here in a few minutes. I’ll let you two talk.” She wouldn’t even come in the fucking room, and that angered him.

“Hayes.” His voice was commanding as she looked up at him, and what he saw in her gaze broke his damn heart. Walking over to her, his hands moved straight to her dishevelled hair, pulling her body into his as he took her mouth in a sweet kiss.

He could feel the struggle she was going through with accepting his affections in front of the woman who kept insisting she was a child. Nipping her bottom lip, she finally melted into his embrace, and her hands settled on his chest, flexing as he deepened the kiss.

Pulling back, both out of breath, he whispered to her, “I’ll be at your house at four.” She looked torn. “I’ll be there, Hayes, and so help me if you aren’t. I’ll hunt your sweet ass down.”

“Okay.” She turned to walk away at the sound of a horn out front, but manners insisted she say goodbye to the other woman in the room. “It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Hogan.” She was gone before his mother could reply.

Shifting towards her, he raised a brow as she watched Hayes leave his home. “Dammit,” she muttered, “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“I know, Ma.”

“It’s just after everything your brother and Sophia went through, I worry about you boys. More about you than anyone else.”

“Why more me?” He had a feeling he knew exactly why.

“You’re so secretive lately. You’re hardly ever around, and when you are, you’re covered in cuts and bruises.” She paused. “I just don’t know what to think anymore.”

Shit.

Striding over to her, he pulled her into his arms and assured her. “I’ll tell soon, Ma. I promise. I haven’t been ready to, but I think I’m almost there.”

“Because of Hayes?”

“Yeah.”

Taking a deep breath, she backed away. “I’d like to meet her over again. Do it right this time, and not be one of those evil mothers. Will you bring her by for dinner this week?”

“I’d really like that.” Kissing his mother’s cheek, she forced him to eat the breakfast he hadn’t realized she made, and then she was gone. Leaving him to get to the gym for an intense workout with Casper before heading to Hayes.

* * *

As soon as Hayes headed downstairs, she regretted it. She didn’t want to hear his mother convince him they couldn’t be together. Seeing the disdain on the woman’s face when she’d entered the kitchen was hard to deal with. Especially after the night she and Levi had spent together.

“You alright, Hayes?” Lys asked from the driver’s side of her car. She hadn’t told her friend why she needed a ride just that it was an emergency.

“Yeah, great.” It was a lie.

“Liar.” Her head turned to look at Lys. “I know you well enough to tell that you’ve done something, and either you regret it or you were hurt.”

“I don’t regret it,” Hayes admitted quietly. She could never regret being with Levi. It was everything she’d wanted it to be and more. He was attentive and possessive. He made her feel on top of the world.

“You had sex with him, didn’t you?” Lys’s question had her squirming in her seat. “You slut! I knew you were going to last night. That man is hot for you!” Lys continued squealing. “Was it good?”

Hayes wasn’t one for gossip but having someone to talk to felt good. “It was…everything.”

“So, what happened?”

“His mom was there this morning.”

“Shit.”

“Pretty much.” They were quiet for a moment while Hayes processed what she wanted to say next. “She made me feel dirty. Like he was using me.”

“Was he?” Her tone was as skeptical as Hayes felt.

“No. But with the way she looked at me…I don’t know. She didn’t even know my name, and it felt like she already hated me.”

“Maybe she’s a momzilla.”

“A what?”

“You know, one of those moms who think no one’s good enough for her boys and will make your life miserable and trash you every chance she gets.” Just great.

“Levi’s older brother is engaged. He’s never said anything about her being mean to her.”

“It’s his mom, why would he? He probably thinks she’s right and perfect.” Lys sounded bitter.

“Is Brett’s mom like that?” She wondered.

“She’s worse. That woman is a first-rate snotty bitch. I hate her. Thank gawd I won’t have to deal with her past graduation.”

“How come?” Brett’s attention to Allegra from a few days ago briefly entered her mind.

“Brett’s not in love with me any more than I am him. He likes to have me around because I piss his parents off,” she explained.

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I guess. Dad hates jocks, so it works both ways. We’ve never really been boyfriend and girlfriend. We just put on a good front to keep people away. He’s more like a best friend than anything. We’ve known each other for too long to mess that up.”

“Oh.” Hayes didn’t know what to say to that.

“Besides, he’s in love with that sophomore. Allegra something. She’s a real sweetheart. Maybe he’ll be able to open her up a bit.”

“I didn’t know you knew about her.”

Lys smiled at her. “Of course, I know. He watches her anytime she’s in the vicinity. Only he doesn’t know I know so let’s keep that between us because once he realizes it, he’ll go after her, and he can’t, or he could be arrested because she’s a year younger than he thinks she is.”

“She is?”

“Yup, she skipped a grade or something. She’s only fifteen. He’s got a couple years before his big ass can lay any claim on her.” Alyssa’s eyes were alight with amusement.

They spent the rest of the ride in quiet as Hayes thought about everything Alyssa had said about Levi’s mom being a momzilla. She had spoken with him about the woman a few times, and Hayes never got the feeling that she was like that. Everything Levi had said about her was centered around how much she loved her community, her boys, and her husband. How excited she was that his older brother, Lennox, was finally settling down and maybe giving her grandkids soon.

“You have free period tomorrow morning, right?” she asked Lys as they parked in front of her house.

“Sure do! I get to sleep in.”

“Will you take me to his shop?”

“Seriously?” Hayes nodded. “Fine. But why?”

“I don’t know. Just feel like I have to.”

“Alright, see you in the morning.”

“Thanks for the ride!”

Walking up to her house, Hayes worried about what to tell her father. She’d explained to him that she wanted to spend the night with Levi and get to know the man, deepen the feelings they had for each other. She hadn’t planned on them having sex, but in the moment, it felt like the right thing to do. She worried he wouldn’t understand.

“Hey, kiddo.” The man himself walked out from the small garage next to the house.

“Morning, Dad.” She grinned seeing him covered in oil and grease.

“Was that Alyssa dropping you off?”

Shuffling her feet, she dreaded answering. “It was.”

He watched her as she fidgeted. “Did he do something wrong?” The man stepped towards her, on the verge of anger if she said yes.

“Levi is wonderful, Dad.” Her face beamed as she said his name. “His mom was at his house this morning, and I don’t think she likes me.”

“It’s her loss then, honey. Doesn’t tell me why Alyssa drove you home and not him, though.”

“I called her before he had a choice. It seemed like the two of them had a few things to talk about.” Her father thought about her explanation before nodding his head. “What are you working on?”

He seemed surprised by her question.

“Changing the spark plugs and doing an oil change.”

Now her dad wasn’t the most mechanically inclined person in the world, but he’d done these things her entire life. Mostly when he was stressed out about something. So, she offered to help. Something she’d never done before.

“I’d like that, Hayes.” His eyes lit up with joy, and for the first time, she realized just how broken her family had become since her accident and Ryder’s death.

Hugging him, she whispered, “I love you, Daddy,” before pulling back.

“Love you too, kiddo.”

“I’m just going to run in and say hi to Mom and change.”

He nodded before turning back to the garage. She went inside feeling lighter than she had in over a year. Even with how the morning started out, she had hope for the day. Hayes refused to let Levi’s mom’s attitude bring her down.

* * *

“So, Knuckles,” Tiny started in on Levi the minute he walked into the gym. “She got a sister or something? I’d like me a piece of that.” He laughed like it was a joke.

Levi ignored the giant of a man and went straight to the changing rooms, fully intent on getting his workout over with and going to get Hayes. He didn’t have anything planned other than spending time with her. It’s all he wanted to do. Being around her gave him a fresh perspective on his life. She made him feel whole when for so long he was an empty shell.

“She outta your system now or what?” Casper interrupted him.

“Excuse me?” Levi turned, glaring at the man.

“I can only assume the sappy look on your face when you walked in is because you banged the chick. You good now, or what?”

“Fuck you, Casper.” No matter how much he itched to flatten the prick, he couldn’t. Yet.

“Get your fucking head in the ring, Levi. She ain’t worth more than a ring bitch, and you know it.”

His control snapped.

Slamming Casper against the wall, he growled. “Call her a bitch one more fucking time, and I’ll end you.” Shock lit the man’s face like a fucking Christmas tree. “I told you before, she’s not to be messed with. She’ll be around as long as I am.” Dropping his arm from the man’s neck, Levi spun around to leave. Just as he reached the door, he said, “Don’t forget, Casper, you need me more than I need you,” before walking out.

“You good?” Cam asked clapping him on the back.

“I think I’m done,” Levi confessed to the other man.

“Seriously? Even with the sponsors coming at you now?”

“Yeah. I don’t know, man. This was never meant to be a long-term thing for me. And I fucking hate lying to my family.”

“So, why do you?” Cam was genuinely puzzled about it.

“They’d worry. Ma has enough shit on her plate after losing Dad. My brothers wouldn’t understand. Nox has everything. He wouldn’t get how empty I’ve felt.” The honest truth was, he couldn’t handle the disappointment he knew he would find in his big brother’s eyes when he found out.

“And the younger one? He looks up to you, don’t he?” Cam was an only child. Levi got the feeling the man envied him having brothers.

“Loch is soft, man. Violence would confuse the fuck out of him.”

“All I’m saying is, give them a chance, Levi, you might be surprised.”

Give them a chance.

That phrase was the only thing Levi could think about as he trained. Sparring first with Tiny in the ring and then Cam. Working himself into exhaustion. He still wasn’t convinced his brothers would understand the driving need in him.

Hell, half the time he didn’t understand it.

Since meeting Hayes, the need to feel pain wasn’t as strong either. He half-hoped she would fill the void in his heart. In fact, he knew she could.

Suddenly, everything was clear in his mind. He acknowledged what he needed to be happy. Nox had his shop and Soph, Loch was still figuring shit out. Him? He had Hayes and the life he could see with her.

Three more fights remained on the contract he’d already signed, and then he was free. Fighting had never been meant as a long-term thing, at least, he hadn’t thought so. However, until Hayes, he’d had his doubts that he’d ever get out. Leaving now, while he was undefeated, was as good a time as any he figured.

Looking at the clock, he saw the time and called it quits, much to Casper’s dismay. The man only gave a fuck about two things: easy pussy and money. Neither of which did he get for himself. He piggybacked off Levi, Cam, and Tiny when they won a fight.

“Got a hot date?” Tiny called as Levi was heading out.

“Fine as fuck!” he called back, not bothering to stop.

The traffic gods were on his side as all the roads were clear, and the lights stayed green for him. He’d made it to Hayes’ house sooner than he told her he would, with time to spare.

The scene that greeted him had his cock hardening and his libido skyrocketing. “God damn,” he muttered as he parked.

She glanced over her shoulder when he slammed his door shut. Striding across the street, he made it to her before she could move from her bent position over the hood of a car. Her giggling as he wrapped his hands around her waist tightly and buried his head in her hair made him grin like the Joker.

“Nothing fucking hotter than this, sugar.” His words were only loud enough for them to hear.

“Hello,” a masculine voice said from behind them.

Levi groaned before turning, hoping his massive erection wouldn’t be visible to his girl’s father.

“Afternoon, sir.”

“Glad to see you, Levi. Hayes says you’re quite the mechanic.” The man’s warm smile was shocking considering Levi had made his girl cry more than once.

“On a good day.”

“We’ve just finished up here. Perhaps, next time, you’d like to give me a hand instead of miss squirmy pants.” He looked back at Hayes, who was blushing and glaring at her father’s words.

“Yes, sir. Be happy to.”

“It’s Eric, son. I have a feeling you’ll be around quite a bit.” Winking at his daughter, the man went back inside as Hayes slammed the hood and began putting tools away.

“Squirming, huh?” He smirked when she turned her scowl his way.

“This stuff is disgusting. I don’t know how you do it every day.” She grumbled the whole time cleaning up. He watched fascinated as she moved around.

When she finally made her way back to him, he saw the stain on the front of her dark blue tank top and couldn’t help the quiet laughter trying to break free.

“Shut. Up. Levi.” She was fighting her own smile.

“Come her, sugar.” He gripped her hand, pulling her into his body. Leaning down, he buried his head in her neck. Just breathing in her scent mixed with grease and oil was a big fucking turn on.

“Levi,” she moaned out when he pressed her more firmly against his throbbing erection. He had a tentative control on his need to claim her again.

“Hey, Hayes!” was called from somewhere in the distance, and he growled fiercely into her neck.

“Hi, Johnny!” she responded back, her voice cracking when he nipped her throat.

“Who the fuck is that?” Levi couldn’t help the snarl.

Laughter colored her words as she answered. “My neighbor.”

“Don’t sound so fucking happy when you say his name.” Before she could comment, his lips were on hers. Nipping, sucking, devouring.

His hands roamed her back as she fought to give him what he wanted. Her. It was all he wanted. Hearing another man’s name slip from her sweet tongue made him crazy with the need to possess her. Her fingers played on his neck before delving into his hair. When she gave a sharp tug, he smiled against her lips. She was trying to show her dominance as well.

Hayes was a force to be reckoned with, he was learning. She may be meek and quiet, but she sure as fuck knew how to get what she wanted. When she leaned her body completely into him, he realized it was her showing off who owned whom. She was claiming him in front of her neighbor and anyone else watching.

“Eeek!” she suddenly screamed, pulling away from him as he realized her father was spraying them with a hose.

“What are you two, dogs in heat?” The man laughed as Hayes tried hiding behind Levi.

“No, you don’t, sweet cheeks.” He chuckled, picking her up, so she got the brunt of the water.

* * *

She couldn’t believe they thought it was so damn funny! When her father had sprayed her in the back with the hose, Hayes thought for sure Levi would allow her to hide behind him. It wasn’t until she was dripping wet and her dad had gone back inside amidst the laughter that she realized Levi hadn’t sheltered her because her shirt was nearly see-through, and her nipples were peaked from the cold.

His cocky smirk slipped away as water dripped into his eyes and was replaced with lust and the biting of the corner of his lip. Her gaze traversed down his body to see his pants tented with his arousal.

“The things I want to do to you right now.” His words were quiet.

“Too bad for you, huh?” She teased him, running inside before he could say or do anything further.

“Son of a bitch.” She heard the words from behind her.

Peeking over her shoulder, Hayes caught Levi with his head bowed to his chest as he walked forward and knew he was fighting off his desire.

“Thanks, Dad!” she yelled as she ran through the door and straight up to her room. It wasn’t until she was in the shower washing the oil from her body that she realized she’d left Levi alone with her parents.

Deciding not to dry her hair but instead braid it on her way down the stairs after dressing in a loose t-shirt and shorts, she found her Dad and Levi sitting on the sofa watching Sportsnet. Noticing her watching them, Levi turned to her, his gaze roaming her body appreciatively. Lingering on her shorts. She saw the questions in his eyes at seeing her scars. Ordinarily, she didn’t wear anything that revealed them, preferring to stay concealed.

Shrugging it off, she went into the kitchen to check on what her mom was up to. “Hello, Hayes,” she mumbled without looking at her. Her voice was strained, too.

“You okay, Mom?”

Sighing, the older woman turned to her, her face a mask of sadness and pain. Hayes sat at the counter, aware that she wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

“I don’t like him.” Hayes blinked, shocked. Her mother liked everyone. “He’s dangerous; he’s made you cry. He’s older.” Huffing out a breath, she continued. “I don’t want him dragging you down some rabbit hole you can’t get out of, honey. We almost lost you once, I can’t do that again. After Ryder, then your accident, it broke me.” Tears hovered on her eyelashes.

“Tell me how you really feel,” Hayes muttered, unsure how to take everything her mom had said. Looking to the woman who raised her, who taught her to be independent, grab life by the balls and never let go, she saw the burning fear hidden behind her tortured eyes. “I could love him, Mom. He pulls at me. From the first moment he ran me down, to the first time he made me cry. When he defended me. He makes me feel alive again.”

Her mother’s eyes glazed over as she listened to Hayes. “I want you to have all that, honey, I really do. You’re so much older than your age, and I worry he’s younger than his. His cruel words nearly broke you. Again.”

Frustrated, she told her, “I know, Mom, I was there. I felt it all. I would love for you to give him a chance. I need him.” She could hear the desperation in her own voice.

A throat clearing had them both spinning to see Levi standing in the doorway, his eyes serious as he walked in the room. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, Mrs. Morrison, and I apologize for that. I won’t, however, apologize for who I am.” He moved behind Hayes, his hands searching out her shoulders. “I’m not perfect. I’m sure I’ll screw up more than I’ll ever be able to count. I’ll say the wrong thing, and lose my temper, and likely make you want to chop my balls off on more than one occasion.”

“You’re not helping your case, Levi,” Hayes whispered up to him.

“It’s alright, sugar. This is who I am, ma’am. I grew up watching and learning from parents who loved each other so thoroughly that they barely spent any time apart. I watched as my mother fell to her knees when my pops was diagnosed with lung cancer. Seeing her pick herself back up was a beautiful sight. She didn’t grieve before he left us, she gave him life. A life I’d kill to give Hayes. I can’t pretend to understand everything you and Eric felt when you lost one child and nearly the other all in one night. Frankly, I hope to never have to learn what that would do to my spirit.” He looked down to the girl in front of him with so much emotion reflected in his gaze. “Hayes brings me to life. I’ve witnessed my big brother fall in love the past couple of months and jealousy has eaten me alive that he found it before me. If your daughter lets me, I’ll give her the world.” Hayes’ father had joined them and was standing with her mother. “Hayes is mine. There’s no way around that. I’m not letting her go for anything.” He looked both of her parents in the eye. “Not even for you.”

Her dad reached his hand across the counter, saying, “Welcome to the family, son.” A huge smile of approval overtook his face.

“Well,” her mother wiped her hands on her apron as she walked around the counter, “you promise me something, Levi.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t break her heart.”

His grin was nearly blinding. “Not in a million years, ma’am.”

“You don’t let her give into her own monsters, either.” Hayes was a bit shocked when the woman met her eyes, a knowing look reflecting back. “She thinks I don’t see it, but I do.”

He turned to her, his hands cupping her jaw. “I’ll slay every last one of them.” He leaned down to kiss her with that promise.

“Don’t make me bring the hose inside,” her father warned, breaking them apart. Laughter filled the house for the rest of the evening.