Chapter 8

 

 

Elle

 

“I’m seriously shocked right now!”

That was me talking to Levi. 

We just finished having dinner about thirty minutes ago and Levi surprised me.  After eating a piece of the baked chicken, he stuck his fork into a piece of the fried chicken.  He cut it in half and only ate that single half, but I was blown away.

“Because I ate half a piece of fried chicken?”

I gave him a disbelieving look and answered, “Um, yeah.”

“I mean, I might not eat unhealthy foods, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know when something is going to taste good.  You can fry pretty much anything and it’s going to be great.  The baked piece was so good that I knew it would be worth it to try it fried.”

“So you enjoyed it?”

“It was great, Elle.  All of it.  Was this your own recipe?”

“No.  I’m in love with Pinterest.”

“You’re in love with what?”

“It’s an app that allows you to collect and pin images to boards.  It’s a great way to plan for future events or to get inspiration for your wardrobe.  I love finding new recipes to try.”

“Enough said.  Sounds like social media stuff to me.”

“I’m not a fan of social media either, but Pinterest is different.  Speaking of social media though, I did make a promise to Leah today that I’d make the effort for the next two weeks to manage my social media accounts.  She showed me today how each of the apps works.  I tried it out and had fun.  I even did a live session and was able to interact with my fans.  Of course, that’s why the battery on my phone died so quickly today.”

“You’ve got to be careful with this, sunshine.”

My head dropped to my shoulder and I asked, “What do you mean?”

“You want to post stuff to promote what you do, I get it.  Please try to limit the live sessions.”

I stared at him, waiting for further explanation.

“When you go live, people can see where you are and who you are with.  It leaves you vulnerable.  We don’t need to add to the current stalker situation.  It’s bad enough someone knows when and where you are performing.  I’m not keen on them knowing where you are day-to-day.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I admitted.  I paused for a moment to reflect on the sad state of affairs.  “Well, this is frustrating,” I huffed.

“Sorry, El.”

“Any luck today at the office?”

Levi shook his head and explained, “This guy knows what he’s doing.  He didn’t place the order online.  The owner of the floral shop said it was a kid who, looking like he was just out of high school, came in to order the flowers.  He paid cash.”

“What about the card?  Didn’t she think what was written on the card was enough cause for concern?”

“She had no idea what was written on the card.  They have the cards there and allow the buyer to write their own personal message if they wish.  The kid filled out the card and sealed it in the envelope before handing it over to her.”

“This is so infuriating,” I complained.  “Of all the things I want to say to this guy when you find him, my biggest question is why.”

“Hate to burst your bubble, but depending on how this all plays out I’m not certain you’re going to be given an opportunity to say anything to this guy.”

“Why not?” I challenged.  “He’s attempting to destroy my life right now; I think that entitles me to have it out with him.  I’m heading out on a mini-tour in a few days to see if I want to take my career to that level and I’ve got to be worried about some psycho who has nothing better to do with himself?  How am I supposed to focus on my music?” 

“I’ll be there with you, sunshine.”

I shook my head in disbelief and gasped, “Excuse me?”

“Not sure if you planned on going on this tour alone, but I’m coming with you.”

Well, at least my father would be pleased.

“You can’t do that.  Levi, you have a business.”

“Like hell I can’t,” he retorted.  “I do have a business.  I also have a highly-skilled, extremely qualified team that I employ.  Cruz is more than capable of running the show until I’m back.  My most important case at this time is yours.”

I dropped my head in defeat.

“I’m sorry I’m ruining your life right now,” I lamented.

“Elle, look at me.”

When I lifted my head, Levi continued.  “You are not ruining my life.  I’m very serious about the work I do.  I fucking hate that someone is doing this to you; however, there is an upside to this.”

“And that would be?”

His face changed and he seemed slightly alarmed.

“I can sit here and name at least five things that have me looking at the bright side of this situation.  I’ve got to admit it stings a little that you can’t think of one good thing that’s come from all of this.”

Oh no.

“Levi, I didn’t mean it like that.  I just think it would have been nice for us to get together under different circumstances.”

He nodded, but said nothing.

I got up from my chair and walked toward him.  He remained seated as I stepped between his legs.  I took a chance and settled myself in his lap, bringing my hands up to frame his face.  He wrapped his arms around my waist. 

My voice was soft when I spoke.

“Please believe me.  I didn’t mean to diminish the one very incredible thing that has happened because of this debacle.  I’m beginning to really like you.  I like the way you make me feel, especially when I’m scared.  You bring me a comfort that nobody else does.  The two of us together is the only thing that makes me happy about this whole situation.”

Levi continued to stay silent, but something changed in his expression.

“It’s good, Levi.  You and me…it’s so good,” I whispered.

A hand wrapped around the back of my neck as Levi leaned forward and brought his mouth to mine.  He kissed me good before bringing an arm under my knees and dropping the other from my neck to the middle of my back.  He stood and walked to the family room.

After setting me down gently on the couch, his hands came to the hem of my shirt before lifting it over my head.  Levi wasted no time in removing my shorts and panties next.

He looked down at my body, taking in my figure, before he spoke.

His voice was deep and husky when he wondered, “I need my mouth on you, sunshine.  I need to know if you taste as sweet as I think you will.”

My body trembled in anticipation.

I wanted Levi’s mouth on me.

He pulled his shirt over his head, tossed it aside, and sat on the couch next to my thighs.  His fingers came up and caressed the skin at my throat.

“So soft,” he said, his voice hoarse as his fingers slowly moved from my throat down my chest.

My hand gripped his thigh.

The lower his hand went the more I wanted him.  In any way that I could have him. 

His fingers brushed over my breasts, my nipples hardening under his touch. 

My breathing was shallow while I eagerly waited for what was ahead.

Levi lowered his head and took my breast in his mouth.  His tongue teased me and his hand continued to travel down my body.  When his hand reached the lowest part of my abdomen, he freed my breast from his mouth and looked down at the spot he planned to devour next.

The wetness had pooled between my legs and, attempting to relieve the ache there, I squeezed them together.

“Let me see you, sweetness,” Levi urged.

I parted my thighs and allowed him to look at me.

His dark blue eyes were pure ink when they came up to meet mine.  The intensity of it all was too much.

“Be my hero and save me from this torture, Levi.  Put your mouth on me.”

He moved quick and settled himself between my legs.  With one hand wrapped around my leg, Levi’s lips trailed kisses all along my inner thigh.

I moaned in agony.

This was cruel.

I needed his mouth on me and he thought teasing me was the way to go.  I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Please,” I begged.

He didn’t oblige me.

I desperately needed him to relieve this ache.

“Levi?” I called as I propped myself up on my elbows.

His eyes came to mine.  I gave him the sexiest, bedroom eyes I could muster up and hoped that what he said to me earlier was true.  Sure, I said I’d never exploit that weakness, but he was tormenting me.  I figured it was only fair.

Thankfully, my plan worked because within seconds of delivering my bedroom eyes, Levi’s mouth was on me.

I moaned loudly in relief before I heard the sounds coming from him.  He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I was thoroughly enjoying what he was doing.

“Oh, fuck,” I groaned.

Levi’s tongue licked and tasted me before he sucked on my clit.

Never.

Never in my life had I felt something so incredible.

So intense. 

So phenomenal. 

It was all Levi.

I moved my hips, looking for more.

He knew it and he gave it. 

Levi’s tongue pushed inside me and worked me while I reached down, wrapped my hand behind his head, and held his mouth against me.  He continued working until I climaxed, my body shattering at the sensation.

I barely had time to think.  Levi stood and removed the rest of his clothing.  He sat back down on the couch, picked me up, and situated me so that I was straddling his lap.

“Are you on birth control?”

“Yes.”

“I’m clean, Elle.  Promise you.  Are you good with nothing between us?”

“I’m more than good with it.”

“Ride me, sweetness.”

Bringing my hand down between my legs, I lifted my hips and positioned him at my entrance. I gave him my eyes before I lowered myself onto him.  His fingers sunk into the flesh of my thighs.

“Fuck, sunshine,” he started.  “You taste like honey and feel like Heaven.”

Considering he had done such a remarkable job with his mouth mere moments ago and was now saying all kinds of sweet stuff, I decided it would only be right if I gave him what he deserved.  With that, I began riding him. 

I moved my hips and worked myself over his length.  He felt unbelievable and I loved that I was having this experience of nothing between us with him.

His couch had deep cushions, so while Levi was sitting, he was still leaning back quite a bit.  I moved my hands from where they were resting on his shoulders and placed them on either side of his ribcage.  Then, while shifting my weight into my hands, I moved my hips faster.  He brought his mouth to mine and consumed me.

Levi’s hands roamed my body.

First at my thighs.

Then at my ass.

Up my back and over my shoulders.

Down to my breasts.

It wasn’t long before I was there again. 

“Levi,” I rasped as I tore my mouth from his and threw my head back.

It was coming.

I moved quicker, seeking my release.

When I was nearly there, Levi ordered, “Eyes, Elle.”

I dropped my head and gave them to him. 

Levi kept his hungry eyes on mine.

We never dropped our gazes as we came apart together, the heat of his release now inside me.  I loved it.  Even though I was always so caught up in how I was feeling when we were having sex, I loved that Levi always made me give him my eyes.  The connection to him only grew stronger in those moments.  I liked that he gave that to me.

I collapsed on top of him, my head falling to his shoulder.  His arms wrapped around me and held my heated body tight against his.

After several minutes, I managed to regain control over my breathing.  I lifted my head and looked at him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Thoroughly confused, he asked, “For what?”

“For exploiting your weakness before.  You were doing too much teasing and I was certain I’d die from the torture of not having your mouth on me.”

Levi chuckled and reassured me, “I’ll let it go this time considering I’ve never tasted something so damn sweet.  Maybe you won that battle but, I’ve got to be honest, I think I’m the one who reaped the greater reward.”

I gave him a soft kiss on the lips and let him believe he’d won.  When I pulled back from him I wanted to make sure he knew how I felt about us.

“We got a bit side-tracked there, but I want to know that you know how I feel about the two of us together.  It is everything good and special and wonderful.  I just don’t like how it came to be, that’s all.”

“I know, Elle.  I need to assume some responsibility here.  You expressed interest in me back when we first met and, even though the attraction was mutual, I didn’t pursue you.  My reaction earlier doesn’t fall on you.”

I held his eyes and nodded.

“I feel sleepy,” I announced as I brought my head back down to his shoulder.

Levi laughed and pointed out, “That’s because you’ve just had two orgasms.”

“Hmmm.”

A smile spread across my face as my eyes drifted shut.

That’s when I felt movement.

“Wrap your legs around me,” Levi instructed as he sat up on the edge of the cushion.  “I’ll carry you up to bed.”

“I can walk,” I replied with my head still resting on his shoulder.

“You can’t even pick your head up, sunshine.  I’ve got you.”

He was right.  I was spent.

I wrapped my legs around him and he carried me upstairs. 

He stopped just outside of the bathroom and asked, “You want to get cleaned up?”

I nodded.

Levi set me down on my feet and once I was steady I walked into the bathroom to take care of business.

When I walked out a few minutes later, I found Levi in bed with the blanket pulled up to his waist.  I walked over to the drawer newly cleaned out for my nighties in and pulled one out.  After slipping it over my head, I walked to the bed and climbed in.  Levi watched me the entire time.

I settled in next to him on my back.  He was on his side with his head propped up in his hand looking down at me.

“What?” I asked.

His eyes lit up and he gave me a warm smile.  It melted my heart.

“Just feeling happy,” he admitted.  “I loved being with you that way.  Nothing between us.”

I closed my eyes briefly trying to recall that feeling of him inside me for the first time with nothing between us and my body tingled at the thought. 

“I loved it, too,” I confessed when I opened my eyes.  “I’ve never been with anyone like that before.  I’m happy that I had that with you.”

Levi lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

After a bit, he asked, “What day are we leaving for Denver?”

“I’m planning to fly out on Thursday afternoon.”

“Ok,” he began.  “Tomorrow, I’m going to need to go over the schedule with you.  I’m going to need the details on the Denver flight.  I need to be booked on it or you don’t fly it.  I’m also going to need to know what days we are traveling, what hotels you have booked, and at what venues you’ll be performing. Depending on the size of the venue and how many people each one can hold, I might have one of my guys meet us for a few of the stops on your tour.”

“Levi, are you sure about this?  You already won’t bill me for this and you are planning to drop everything to come with me.  Now you are talking about flying one of your guys out, too?  It’s too much and I feel like I’m taking advantage.”

“Elle, we’ve had this discussion already.  You aren’t paying me.  I’m doing this whether you want me to or not.  Let it go.”

I let out a frustrated sigh.

Then, I figured I’d try one last thing to get him to see reason.

I closed my eyes briefly, thought about something naughty, and opened my eyes to look at him.

Sexy, bedroom eyes.

I was hoping I delivered just that and, thankfully, didn’t have to wait too long for an answer.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t the one I wanted. 

“Sweetness, I’d do anything for that fuckin’ look in your eyes.  Liquid honey and sexy as fuck, but it’s not going to work this time.”

I harrumphed.

“Care to enlighten me on what put that look in your eyes?”

“No,” I pouted. “I’m angry with you right now.”

Levi laughed.    

“Ok, so you’ll share with me later when you are no longer angry?”

I turned away from him in the bed.

“I’m going to sleep,” I informed him.

“Like hell you are,” he protested as he snaked an arm around my waist and hauled me back against his body. “You aren’t going to bed angry at me, especially when what you’re angry about is ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous.”

“Elle, listen to me,” he said softly as his arm tightened around my waist.  “I’ve already told you that you’re someone I’m beginning to care a great deal about.  Seeing this sassy little side of you is cute and something I’m hoping I’ll see a bit more as the days go by because it’s a huge fuckin’ turn on, but don’t throw an attitude with me about your safety.  Your life is non-negotiable.”

I tensed hearing those words.

Levi didn’t stop.

“I know you don’t want to hear me say that, but it’s the truth.  I’m busting my ass and I’ve got my team busting their asses to figure out who’s after you.  We’re going to do it as quickly as we can so that you can feel safe again and your life can return to normal.  By normal, I mean the new normal, which includes me in your life and you in my bed.  Don’t be bitter about this and don’t fight me on it.  You won’t win.”

I didn’t respond.

My body was still tense.

Levi’s arm stayed tight around my body.

“It feels like I’m trading my body for your protection.”

Now it was his turn to go solid.

“Sunshine, that is not what’s happening here.  I thought you would know that considering there was clearly an attraction long before this.  If that’s how you really feel, then I’m not having sex with you again until your situation has been dealt with and your safety is no longer a concern.”

My eyes nearly popped out of my head and I turned to look back at him.

“You aren’t serious.”

“Absolutely.  If you’re truly uncomfortable with us being together like that because I’m not charging you, then this is how I rectify that.  If I’m being honest -- it’s going to suck, but I am not ok with you thinking I’m viewing your body as some form of payment for me to make sure nobody harms you.  That’s not fucking what it is at all, Elle, and I’m pretty pissed that you believe I’m the kind of person that would use a woman like that.”

My lips parted at the harsh reality he just delivered.

Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure I had a problem with him not charging me.  Unfortunately, I was not going to admit that just yet.

I swallowed hard as his hold on me loosened and his arm left my waist.

Levi fell to his back and stared up at the ceiling. 

I was going to cry.

The wave of disappointment flooded through me and I knew I had to get out of there.  I rolled away from Levi and sat up on the edge of the bed.

When I stood and walked to the door, he called, “Elle?”

I didn’t answer.  I stepped through the open door and walked into the guest room. 

The second I crawled onto the bed and collapsed on the pillow, the tears flowed.  This was going to be an ugly cry.  I let the tears fall as I thought about how I made Levi feel.  That’s what this was about.  I was crying because Levi was disappointed with me.  He had been nothing but good to me from the moment he knew I was in trouble.  And because he wouldn’t let me pay him for the use of his firm’s services, I shelled out payment in the form of insults.

I’m not sure how much time went by before I stopped crying, but I knew it had been quite a while.  After, I just stayed there with my head buried in the pillow for a long time wishing I could fall asleep.  Every time I closed my eyes all I could do was hear Levi telling me that I wasn’t going to go to bed angry at him.  Hearing those words replay in my mind I realized I also didn’t want him going to bed angry with me.

Even though I knew he had probably already fallen asleep, I climbed out of the bed and walked back to his bedroom.  I tapped lightly on the door and walked in to find I was wrong.  The light on his nightstand was still on and he hadn’t moved from his position lying on his back, looking up at the ceiling.  Standing next to his side of the bed, I looked down at him and struggled to speak past the tightness in my throat.

“I don’t want you to go to bed angry at me either.”

He held my eyes a moment before he held his hand out to me.

I placed my hand in his palm and fought to keep the tears at bay. 

Levi tugged gently on my hand and pulled me toward him.  I fell forward onto him.  His arms wrapped around me and his body turned to the side.

“You ok?” he asked tenderly.

I was going to burst into tears again.  I made him feel like shit and he was worried about how I was doing.

I shook my head and answered, “No.  I said something horrible to you.  I know you aren’t that kind of person, Levi.  I don’t know what’s wrong with me.  My mind is all out of sorts over this whole thing, but that’s not an excuse to treat you the way I did.  I don’t like feeling like I’ve disappointed you and I’m sorry for what I said.”

“Are you done telling me you need to pay me for this?” he asked.

I nodded into his chest.

He didn’t say anything else, so I repeated, “I don’t want you to be mad at me.  I’m really sorry, Levi.”

His hands sifted through my hair as I felt his lips touch the top of my head.  He kissed me and said, “It’s ok, sunshine.  I’m not mad.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and snuggled into him.  His arms tightened around me in response.

We stayed like that a long time and I was still feeling tense, unable to find sleep.

“Levi?” I whispered, unsure if he had fallen asleep.

“Yeah, Elle?”

My voice was a hair over a whisper when I asked, “Can we still have sex?”

I felt his body vibrate with a bit of a laugh. 

“Are we good on what us having sex means?”

“Yeah,” I breathed.  “It’s not about what I insinuated a little bit ago.  It’s all about what happens when you make me give you my eyes just before we come together.”

“Fuck.  You were bitter not too long ago and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go after that.  But now I’m thinking if it’s like this, I’m ok with it because when you get sweet, it’s so fuckin’ good.”

“Is that a yes?” I pressed him for a definitive answer.

“Yeah, sweetness, that’s a yes.”