Chapter 3
Kadence
I give the book proofs one last look.
You like it? Hey, don’t pin the topic on me! I’m not a fan of throwback books with women on desert islands being saved by suave pirates, who for the record spent more time having sex with other men rather than women, but it’s my job to create the covers for them. And well, any other romance novels that land on my virtual desk. Believe it or not I get handed the most unusual covers to create. The one’s that make you scratch your head at the synopsis and think who the fuck would ever buy that. My job has one specific task. Make even the most skeptical wanna stop their browsing whether online or in person to at least learn what the book is about. It’s my job to capture your attention and it’s one I get paid quite well to do. But I plan to one day get paid better and get awards instead of the bare minimums of ‘well done’.
After hitting send, I shut my laptop, push in my desk chair, and head across the hardwood floor for my bedroom door.
Hm? Oh yeah. This is the mega mansion I plan to move out of sometime in the next couple of years. It belongs to my best friend, Henley, who is a world famous actress. Don’t get me wrong. I fucking love this place. We all do. Me and my four best friends all have our own rooms, catered to our very different styles, each with their own en- suite bathrooms. As you can see, I’m more of a light browns and chocolate tones type of person. The cream colored sheets, rugs, and curtains make for an incredible contrast against the dark colored headboard, floors, book shelves, and chandelier. I personally think the silver framed playbills hung around the room tie in the quirky chrome bedside lamps I just had to have. Those tacky things are also my favorite. Maybe it’s because the uptight designer cringed when I brought them in? Maybe because my mom helped me pick them out? Maybe because I bought them all on my own….It’s not that I don’t appreciate the fact I get to live like a spoiled princess with none of the real cost, it’s just at some point we’ve all gotta grow up and move on. Living together is logical in many aspects, but longevity isn’t one. However at this point in my life the pros bucket definitely outweighs the cons.
The moment I round the corner into the upstairs loft, Henley Hopkins, tosses her hands theatrically into the air. “Well, there’s our Global Laundry star!”
Fucking beautiful and the biggest pain in the ass of us all. Guess that’s allowed when you look like a runway model and sound like a Bond girl. And before you even go there. She’s half Doctenn, not half British. Oh and don’t be fooled by her seemingly fair skin and light freckles. She’s also half black.
I fold my arms across my Phantom of the Opera t-shirt covered chest. “I don’t get the joke.”
“It’s not a joke.” Madison Calloway informs from the purple chair she is sitting in.
Yeah. She’s gorgeous as shit too. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Body easily made to look like Mattel, but it isn’t. Wanna know the best part? She’s the lawyer I mentioned. And she’s a super successful one at that. She looks like an airhead and typically leaves the men she has conversations with feeling like the dumb ones. It’s insanely funny to witness and also the reason she too never dates actors.
“Is it because of my t-shirt? Was someone wearing this in a picture?”
“No one should ever be wearing that in public.” Adrianna Patterson scolds, stretching her legs out across the love seat. “Or in this house for that matter. But like Maddie said. It’s not a joke, Nerdalina. You’re Global Laundry’s biggest and brightest rising star.”
Long pitch-black hair, honey brown eyes, and despite her unshakable bond with Cheetos, a body to die for. She runs her own luxury car service. A woman who not only plays with the big boys, but wins. Sometimes I would kill to have the confidence she naturally radiates.
Lani who is sitting at the opposite end of the purple couch from Henley lifts up her phone my direction.
You met her yesterday. Yeah, yeah, I already know what you’re thinking. Long tight curls. Sun kissed skin. Soft features. A woman this stunning doesn’t belong behind the camera so much as in front of it, right? Well, believe it or not, she’s insanely camera shy, which I know sounds like a shock when you take into consideration her blunt and often callous behavior. But let me put it on record that getting her to slip into selfies is a job within itself.
I lean over to get a closer look at the photo on display underneath the trite headline “Levi Locks Lips”.
Fuck….That’s me!
My bottom jaw plummets to the ground and Henley snickers. “Thought you didn’t date actors?”
“Ugh. I don’t.”
“You just mouth fuck them instead?” Adrianna pokes.
“I- But see- And then I- And then he- Of course- But-”
The flustered ramblings cause everyone to chuckle at my expense.
I point a sharp finger a Lani. “She abandoned me!”
“For free liquor.”
“You’re a bad friend.”
“Mmm…I’m a great friend with a never ending appreciation for free shit.”
Adrianna extends her closed fist for Lani to tap.
They tend to be on the same side for a lot of conversations.
An annoyed groan escapes me as I wrap my hands around the back of the loveseat. “It was a onetime thing-”
“The date or the mouth fucking?” Maddie questions in complete seriousness.
“We weren’t mouth fucking!”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Henley teases. “And if you read the article or the tweets or the IG comments, the rest of the world would agree with us. You would lose by the popular vote as well as the electoral vote at this point.”
Horror from the entire world gossiping over the first kiss I’ve had in about a year churns my stomach.
Gonna vomit.
Maddie shakes her head. “What were you thinking? You know the consequences of public displays. You know the penalties and persecution that come from such irresponsible actions. Do you need to be reminded of what happened when Adrianna got too drunk too early at our annual Christmas party two years ago?”
“Mistletoe is for making out with people!” She poorly defends. “That is literally the only reason people hang it!”
“Maybe,” Madison retorts. “But poinsettias aren’t for pulling off your panties. They are in no way, shape, or form meant to be considered an aphrodisiac.”
My head falls in defeat.
No. We’re not on a reality T.V. show that would easily out rank the Kardashians or Desperate Housewives of Plastic Surgery County. We don’t have scripts. We don’t have producers telling us to say shit like this….This is just us. This has been us for over two decades and I honestly hope it stays us for at least another five. I want us to be this crude and cranky when we’re wrinkly and the only thing we can eat without our fake teeth is Jell-O.
“All of it was a onetime thing,” I announce interrupting the age old argument. Looking back up, I greet all of the eyes now on me. “It’ll never happen again. I plan to tell him that today.”
“Like you were supposed to yesterday?” Lani’s reminder is accompanied with a smug smirk.
Ugh. Last night the plan was to show up, politely explain why dating him isn’t an option, and then leave with dignity. How he not only got me to stay until the bar was closing, but convinced me to continuously make out with him is still a mystery. I went into the situation with a speech I had spent all evening practicing while getting dressed. Had perfect points and precedents prepared. My cons list was stacked! We’re talking Jenga high. Like all he had to do was say one wrong thing and the list of reasons from A to Z would spill over into his lap. Yet some way, some fucking how, the exact opposite happened. He…was playful. A total jackass, but in a style that made me smile and wanna mouth off in return. Plus, there’s something about him I hate saying no to. He has this inexplicable thing to him that I can’t seem to resist and kept the tiny g-string I was wearing wet all night long. No…. Of course it’s not just because he’s fucking gorgeous, and I wanna see him naked. There’s more to it than that. There has to be more to it than that. I’m not Adrianna for crying out loud.
Henley grabs my attention again. “Kady, Levi’s currently a very hot commodity. Let’s pretend Hollywood actors are like stocks in the exchange. His prices are constantly skyrocketing. We’re talking in and out of the sheets. A week ago he was getting blown in Ryan Faulkner’s pool house by Heidi Verhoeven, the international super model who is like the face of Clara’s Culotte.”
“Isn’t that the really expensive fancy underwear we like?”
She nods quickly. “And on a professional note, there’s been talk over the past couple of months about him leading a new superhero franchise. He is literally the media’s favorite subject along with the recent royal engagement of Prince Kellan in Doctenn.”
Fantastic. I loathe dealing with the spotlight yet managed to get swept off my feet by the second biggest entertainment trend on social media. See. This is totally on the cons list of dating actors. I don’t enjoy dealing with the constant attention from strangers. Not a fan of the looks or random photos. Even less of a fan of rumors and ruthless attempts to discover deep, dark information. You know though, because of who Henley is I’ve had years to master the art of being hidden in the background. I’m almost an expert at avoiding cameras and circumlocution. If we were to continue to date I’m pretty sure I could stay out of media threads….Not that I’m saying I want to give it a shot. Truth is if I really want to settle down, pop out kids, and start picking out my white picket fence, I don’t have time to gallivant around South Haven with Levi Stone. He may…possibly…be more amazing than I wanted to initially give him credit for, but he still doesn’t fit into the life plan I’ve designed. We’re not even on the same page. His focus is fun. Feeling good. Mine is progression. Moving up. We want different things…much different. Too different. Too different to set aside and date for a few months….
“Stop adding shit to the mental pros and cons list you’re making!” Adrianna fusses loudly.
Busted.
“You guys, I really can’t date an actor. Social media spotlight aside? I’m not looking for Mr. Right Now. I’m looking for Mr. Right. Only he has a space on my five year plan.”
The collective groan around the room causes me to grimace.
Did I forget to mention I am very open about this plan with them? They all hate the idea. And just between the two of us? I think there might be a secret plot to do everything possible to destroy the well-designed check list.
“You should stop treating your dating life like a business proposal,” Madison scolds.
“Careful, Maddie. You’re coming awfully close to a pot, kettle situation,” Lani interjects.
“Has it ever occurred to you the only difference between Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now is you?” Henley abrasively questions. “At any point, Mr. Right could drop down to Mr. Right Now just like Mr. Right Now, could prevail when you least expect it and become Mr. Right. You’ve gotta have some wiggle room in your life, Kady. For fun. For spontaneity. For actual living. Clearly, you like Levi. How about you let go of the other bullshit and give him a real shot? I’ll teach you a few more tricks to help avoid ending up on the cover of every gossip mag, but only you can teach yourself to let your guard down.”
God I hate it when she goes all self-help on me. Oh and the powerful elocution? Totally from years of acting. Another example of something that belongs on the con list.
Henley reaches for her phone on the coffee table. “See Levi again today like you already planned, and if he keeps making your face do that thing it is doing right now, keep seeing him.”
Cautiously, I ask, “What’s wrong with my face?”
Adrianna answers, “You smile like a lunatic every time we mention him.”
“I do not.”
There’s a jumbled disagreement from everyone to my statement.
Shut up! It’s just a spasm.
My attention darts over to Lani. “Are you still coming with me?”
She shakes her head. “Can’t. Due at the studio in like an hour. Fill in. Again.”
“Lines?”
“Nope. Copy and delivering last minute edits of a script to the cast of some doctor show.”
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for work then?” Maddie asks in her authoritative tone.
Lani gives her black yoga pants and tank top a quick glance. “I am ready.”
“Haven’t we discussed professional attire?”
“This is professional when you’re running around a television set for fourteen hours playing script bitch. Trust me.”
“The key to success is dressing for the job you want not the job you have,” Madison lectures.
Overdramatically, I gasp. “Oh no! Did I miss tea and talks with Oprah this morning?”
My friends join me in a small laugh.
Not as funny as they are, but sometimes I sneak a good one in.
Madison flashes me her middle finger, a phony smirk, and folds her hands in a displeased fashion.
I brush off the pout. “Does anyone not have plans and wanna join me?” A hopeful look fills my expression as I glance around the room. “We’re hanging out at the beach, which all of you love and Levi’s making lunch.”
“Leaving the country,” Madison snips.
“Lunch with my stylist,” Henley informs.
“Are you afraid to go on a date alone?” Adrianna quickly questions. “We’re not in middle school anymore. We don’t have to use the buddy system.”
My face falls her direction. “His best friend is in town for the weekend, and he hates the idea of him being treated like the third wheel.”
“Yes because being foisted off is much better.” Maddie lightly laughs.
“That’s what I’m thinkin’,” Henley mumbles under her breath.
Adrianna playfully investigates, “Does he have a face that even whiskey wouldn’t make me wanna sit on?”
Unexpectedly, there’s an audible sound of annoyance out of Lani.
You heard that too?
When our eyes all land on her, she gives her hair a ruffle, stands, and says, “I um…I should probably head in.” My mouth twitches to inquire about the noise, but she intervenes. “But you should go, Adrianna. He’s not bad to look at. Or…talk to for that matter.”
Lani makes a swift exit that leaves us exchanging baffled expressions.
She dates about as often as I do and to be completely honest, I’ve never seen her demonstrate even remotely jealous actions before. You, my friend, basically just witnessed a total eclipse with a blue moon. Congratulations.
Adrianna is first to speak, “I’m in. I need to meet the man who is going to inevitably blow the cob webs off that pussy.” Her eyes shoot up to mine. “And speaking of cob webs and pussy-”
“Your language gets progressively more vulgar as the day goes on. Have you ever realized that?” Madison immediately inserts.
“It’s a skill.” Adrianna winks. “As I was saying before our favorite bitchy blonde rudely interrupted, you’re gonna need to shoot him a text that says we’re gonna be a little late.”
My eyebrows lift in suspicion.
“We’re gonna swing by my favorite salon. Get you an Italian wax.”
“What’s an Italian wax?” Henley asks what I’m thinking.
“It’s a pussy wax that hurts so bad you have to treat yourself to some Gelato afterward.”
The three of us erupt into laughter while shaking our heads at her.
See why staying friends with them until we die has to be on my life plan?
**
Adrianna hits me with a look of disapproval. “He just left his front door unlocked? Who is this fucking trusting?”
“Trusting? We had to pass through two security check points and key in a code to get through his front gate.”
It’s not that complicated to get into our neighborhood, but then again we don’t live directly against the beach nor do we live this close to the esteemed South Haven Island.
Something deep inside of me pushes to defend him. “He knew when we were coming, Adrianna. I texted him. He told me they were going to try to catch a few waves, so he’d leave the door unlocked.”
She folds her arms across her chest. “We should steal something. Prove a point.”
“That we can’t be trusted?”
“That you shouldn’t let a random chick you tongue wrestled the night before just escort herself into your million dollar mansion.”
Feeling frustration build, I give my wavy hair a ruffle, and plead, “Could you just…take your crazy down two notches? At least until we’ve had lunch.”
Her grin grows lopsided. “You must be into this guy. He got a second date-”
“That you watched Henley bully me into.”
“You waxed-”
“Which gelato did not help.”
“And now you’re asking me to be on my best behavior.” The slow nod of approval is frightening. “Definitely gotta meet the guys who are dick slaying my best friends.”
My appalment is immediately bypassed. She opens the white front door instantly introducing us to a breathtaking sight.
Whoa.
There are two steps that lower you to the vast living room and open kitchen. The wall to the left contains a ridiculously large flat screen T.V. along with low level built in bookshelves, while to the right is the open kitchen being separated by a white island bar. Just on the other side is a hallway and a curved staircase. Directly in front of us are floor to ceiling windows exposing the captivating ocean in all its glory.
Doesn’t matter how much I hate the damn thing, it still looks absolutely beautiful from here.
Adrianna casually saunters towards the patio door on the far side of the kitchen. I quickly follow behind admiring the nautical theme decor. His dark navy blue couches are decorated with white throw pillows that tie in nicely with the lamps. It’s devoid of artwork like I expect a bachelor pad to be, but there are numerous family photos plastered all around.
Definitely giving myself a tour of this place later.
We step out onto the patio, which flows like an extension of the house’s glass design. The area is boxed in with a glass railing and is home to an entire outdoor living space, including a kitchen.
My eyes barely have time to drink in the setting before they’re being beckoned to the beautiful vision exiting the water.
Good God almighty….
Levi starts to exit the water with his surf board tucked underneath his arm. Droplets of water cling to his bare chest and abs for dear life, igniting every instinct in me to dry him with my tongue. Sunlight shines down like a spotlight highlighting the muscle definition at his waist. He gives his wet blonde locks a tussle and the whimper that falls from my parted lips is in high def.
Adrianna mutters under her breath, “I heard that.”
Pretty sure astronauts in space could’ve heard that.
Calen jogs to catch up to him giving my best friend a decent view of his body as well. “At least Lani’s got a good reason to be huffy. He looks good almost naked.”
We tried to talk to her again about the unusual noise she made, but she is sticking to the bullshit story about having phlegm in her throat.
My hands nervously toy with my wristlet. The strings to the top of my two-piece swimsuit. The sides of my black maxi dress that are covering it.
It’s just a second date. A supervised date at that. It’ll be a casual lunch, hopefully away from photographers, and then he’ll be out of my system. Erased from the “maybe” margins I spent time scribbling him into.
His wet shorts slip a smidgen lower.
Probably be out of my system. Most likely. Possibly. Um…no comment.
The moment Levi is up the patio stairs he completely disregards his board to crash our lips together. His fingertips anchor themselves to the nape of my neck and his tongue sweetly swirls around mine, sweeping away previous protests about this being wrong.
Geez, I hate how everything about Levi Stone feels right…almost too right.
His lips slide away at the same time he lightly presses our foreheads together. “I’ve been waiting to do that all damn day.”
The compliment causes me to bashfully smile.
“Is that why you were surfing like shit?” Calen adjusts both boards to lean against the glass. “Haven’t seen you crash that many times since college.”
Levi’s eyes stay planted in mine. “What can I say? Kady has a way of keeping me off balance….”
See. Actors. Perfect lines.
Playfully, I push out of his grasp. “Nope. Don’t blame me for your shitty round out there.”
Calen chuckles, but it’s short lived when he glances at Adrianna. “No Lani?”
“Work,” Adrianna announces.
“Last minute,” I add.
“It happens….” He tries to bury the disappointment with a forced smile. His hand stretches out towards my best friend. “I’m Calen.”
“Adrianna.” She shakes. “And you can relax. Lani’s made it crystal clear you belong to her.”
The comment renders him speechless yet the color creeping into his cheeks informs us all there is definitely something between them.
What’d they put in the fucking whiskey?!
“I’m Levi.” He extends one hand to her and folds our fingers together with the other. “Auditioning for the role of the boyfriend.”
My scoff is drowned out by her laughter. “Lead or understudy?”
“Lead. There’ll never be an understudy. I don’t share.”
“Well played. You….I definitely like for Kady.”
“You hear that?” He cockily smirks at me. “Your best friend likes me.”
“Eh. I’ve got four of ‘em. You need majority to get the part.”
Levi laughs loudly and the sound weakens my knees.
I’m in major trouble. Maybe I should move? Find a new city to live in far across the country.
“Don’t let her fool you,” Adrianna smoothly states. “You already have it.”
His smile widens. “You two hungry? I’ve got some salmon and veggie skewers ready to throw on the grill.”
My surprise is instant. “You cook?”
“Sometimes.” Levi tugs me a little closer to him. “Maybe our next date, I’ll show you the skills I have in the kitchen.”
“And then the ones he has in the bedroom,” Adrianna adds loudly.
Do not laugh! It only makes her ego grow bigger.
Levi insists we have a seat on the white patio couches while he and Calen tend to getting lunch going. The conversation remains casual, mostly filled with fun arguments about the best places to get seafood in the city. We laugh, mock, and even recall some of the worst experiences we’ve had at others’ suggestions. By the time we’re sitting on the floor around the black wicker table, shoveling forkfuls of his delicious entrée into our mouths, the choice of topic takes one I was hoping we would avoid for a bit longer.
“I typically try to keep lunch light if I’ve been surfing most of the morning or plan on going again in the afternoon,” Levi explains, pulling his legs up towards his chest. “Hate feeling full when I’m on my board.” His attention swings back and forth between me and Adrianna. “You two wanna catch a wave with us? I’ve got extra boards.”
Her lips press together to suppress replying.
I pretend to cut my fish to prevent making eye contact. “I don’t….do water.”
The curiosity in his tone is apparent. “Meaning?”
“I avoid it at extreme lengths.”
Levi’s foot nudges mine in a demand to meet his gaze. When I do, he lifts his brow in a quiet request for more information.
“I don’t like…water outside the drink form. I don’t do oceans. Lakes. Rivers.”
“Pools or hot tubs?”
“Don’t even take bubble baths.”
“But you shower, right?”
Though the mirth in his voice is relieving, I give him a playful slug to the shoulder.
“Are you afraid of large bodies of water?”
“Kinda.” Contemplation over sharing the reasoning is surprisingly brief. “Almost drowned when I was six at summer camp and never really got passed it.”
Calen questions, “When you say almost drowned you mean-”
“Unconscious for a couple of minutes. Hospital visit. That type of thing.”
“Wow,” Calen less than quietly croaks.
“It was a shitty year at camp and the reason Kady never went back,” Adrianna somberly sighs. “The rest of us only made it through two more summers without her.”
“How did it happen?” Levi cautiously ponders out loud.
“All of the counselors were barely legal morons more concerned with blowing each other on bunk beds than insuring the campers were safe,” my best friend gripes.
“It was during free swim one afternoon,” I start to explain. “We were playing Marco, Polo in the lake and I got a leg cramp. I tried to swim back, but the pain was too much. Adrianna and Lani rushed to try to save me but.…”
Levi acknowledges the sentence’s premature ending with a nod. “And the lifeguard was busy fooling around rather than watching out for you?”
“Pretty much.”
A long, uncomfortable stretch spreads between all of us.
Didn’t mean to put a damper on the whole damn date. Who knows. Perhaps this story is exactly what he needed to be scared off.
All of a sudden, Levi shifts his body a little closer to mine. “You made an exception to dating actors for me….Maybe you’ll extend that extension to being in the water with me.”
Not likely.
I offer him a small smile. “What about you? Big surfer? Big swimmer?”
“I basically live in the water when I’m not on set,” he confesses.
Fear clogs my vocal chords. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I absolutely love it. Swimming. Surfing. Wind surfing. Wakeboarding. Skiing. Snorkeling. We even took a white water rafting trip for my birthday a couple years ago and it was probably the most exciting shit I’ve ever done.”
Huh. Just when I thought him being a magnet for paparazzi was going to be the reason we couldn’t date, I am unexpectedly bitch slapped with this. And before you go on any tangent about us having different interests being a normal thing for people to deal with when dating, let me highlight the fact that’s alright as long as their hobbies don’t contain one another’s phobia. See the problem? See how we need to move ‘love of water’ to the top of Levi’s very long cons list?
Calen recalls the trip less fondly. “I thought I was gonna fucking die.”
Levi lightly laughs. “He was such a fucking pussy about the whole thing.”
“We could’ve died!”
“There was a sixty year old woman in our raft with us who paddled better than him. He was too busy panicking to be any real help.”
We try to stifle our snickers at the same time he gives Levi the finger.
Adrianna pushes her empty plate away. “So, you’re a fish stuck on land too?”
Calen quickly nods. “Pretty much, though frankly, I prefer surfing and swimming to the other shit.”
“That’s good. Lani pretty much has gills. She’ll only date someone else who would also trade in their legs for fins.”
He tries to hold back his excitement. “Good to know. What about you? You like the water? You like to swim?”
“I’m half Cuban. Not swimming isn’t really a choice for obvious survival reasons.”
Her racial remark shocks them both but gets a smirk out of me.
Yeah there really aren’t very many lines she’s not willing to cross. Out of the five of us, she’s the least concerned about hurting anyone’s feelings with her vulgar jokes or churlish comments. You’d think the fact she owns her own lucrative company would help dial down her abrasive patterns or at least remind her to gauge a situation before speaking her mind, but it doesn’t. If anything, her clients love her more because she lacks a filter.
Once they both steal a glimpse of my lighthearted look to confirm it’s alright to laugh, Levi asks me, “Did you grow up far from the coast?”
“Not really. Outskirts of Cliffsworth.”
His brow furrows. “Then didn’t you take trips down to the beach with your family? Or do the whole Spring Break thing with your friends?”
“Parents? No. Friends, yes, but I would just hang out on the beach under an umbrella with a paperback until they were ready to play beach volleyball.”
The intrigued expression on his face has me beaming brighter. “Beach volleyball, huh? Any good?”
“Good enough to beat you.”
Levi’s grin returns in full bloom. “Listen to that arrogance.”
“How about a little Top Gun action?” Adrianna slyly suggests. “You know, since you two are already shirtless and sweaty. Two on two. We win and the two of you ditch this co-dependent Boy Scout style of dating you’re holding onto and ask Kady and Lani onto individual dates of their choosing.”
“And if we win?” Calen inquires.
“Lani and Kady have to be our dates to the Walking Mirrors premier on Friday.”
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head. “No way. Not happening. I don’t even walk the carpet for Henley.”
Levi’s head tilts in question. “Henley?”
“Henley Hopkins. She’s one of our other best friends. The one we live with.”
“Twinley?!” His stunned stare deepens. “You’re best friends with Twinley?”
“Don’t call her that!” Adrianna and I bite in unison.
The double assault has his hands flying up in surrender. “Sorry!”
She loathes the nickname attached to her and her twin brother who are both actors. Their incredible sibling performance in a set of world famous fantasy movies based on a worldwide bestselling book series, launched their careers and aided in the destruction of their relationship. The whole world is convinced they are as close as ever, but what really happens where the cameras don’t see is every tabloid journalists’ wet dream and key to financial freedom.
Levi clears his throat and drags the conversation back to the original discussion. “Those are the terms. Date vs date.”
I fold my hands into my lap, still shaking my head. “Can’t do it. Won’t do it.”
“Finally realizing maybe you were a little too cocky before?” Levi teases with an irritating smirk.
And now I’m thinking we won’t have a third date because no one asks out the chick who back handed you during your second one. You’re keeping my list of reasons not to continue dating him. Add invokes violent outbreaks to it please. Why aren’t you writing? I said please….
“I know damn well we wouldn’t lose.” My smile is smug. “Just can’t speak for Lani.”
“I can,” Adrianna playfully snips. “We have a deal.”
My jaw drops to argue but they’re already shaking hands.
“Let me clear the dishes and then Calen and I’ll get the net set up.”
“Kady and I can take the dishes inside. You two get started on the net.” After the four of us stand, Adrianna adds, “Oh….I guess I should probably tell you guys, I’m really really good too. Hell, I’m the reason any of my girls are worth a damn on the court.”
Levi chuckles. “I see arrogance is abundant in your group of friends.”
Don’t answer that.
“Absolutely.” She nods, still grinning. “But I could’ve gone pro. Like was being groomed for the Olympics level of pro.”
The change to nervous in their expression causes my smirk to sparkle in the sun.
“Why...um…didn’t you?” Calen cautiously asks.
“Realized I only liked training competitively because I had the hots for my coach. I never really had the drive that everyone else seemed to. So, when I turned eighteen, I gave it up and started banging him instead.”
Yeah.…That was a rough start to our senior year of high school.
Her overconfident smile is preceded with, “However, I do still play frequently for fun. Year round.”
Unlike Calen who looks ready to throw in the towel, Levi pokes, “Then winning will be that much sweeter for us.”
Calen drops his head, shakes it, and begins his route to the deck steps.
Once we’ve collected the plates, utensils, and empty water bottles, Adrianna and I relocate them to the kitchen sink as promised.
Thoughtlessly, I turn the lever to rinse off the dishes.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?”
“Like you’ve forgotten to mention to me you now live here.”
Placing the food free plates on the side of the sink closer to the dishwasher, I state, “I don’t understand.”
“You’re washing his dishes.”
“We said-”
“We’d bring them inside. We never agreed to Alice this shit.”
“I’m being polite.”
“You’re a guest.”
Who oddly feels at home here. Just between you and me? I really didn’t plan to rinse this shit off. It just happened. Like autopilot. Like it’s my responsibility because these are our dishes. Because we are entertaining our friends for lunch. Whoa. This can’t be normal….Definitely put ‘causes me to act irrationally’ in Levi’s con column.
“Lani’s gonna kill you.” I turn off the water and reach for a towel to dry my hands with. “Either way. Whether we win or they do.”
“She’s like ninety-five pounds and made up of Spring water and cheap shrimp cocktail. Pretty sure I can take her.”
A small snicker falls free.
“Besides, she’ll be singing my praises when she remembers how good a no vibrator orgasm feels.”
“Ri, I really don’t wanna go to that premier and not just because those trailers look like shit.”
Weird horror meets romance movie. Not two genres I particularly liked mashed together.
“You won’t,” she reassures while putting her hair into a high bun. “Trust me. Aside from my skills we also have secret weapons.”
“Which are?”
Adrianna reaches over and bounces my boobs.
My lips press together for a minor moment. “Those aren’t weapons, Ri. Those are tits.”
“When used properly they can create mass destruction.”
Will you please stop giggling at her? She really does make life more stressful than necessary….
After getting bold and putting the dishes in the empty dishwasher, I follow Adrianna outside to where the guys are setting up the net. We only get to enjoy the delicious view of them for three or four more minutes before they’re finished. She waits until their attention is on us to non-verbally instruct I ditch my cover up.
In one swift movement, I remove the dress concealing my two piece black and white crisscross swimsuit.
I am so not used to exposing this much skin. Most of my swimsuits are tankinis. Cute. Solid colors. Hug my curves in a flattering way. Not this. This was Adrianna’s doing and the tantrum she threw in the store might’ve got us banned for life.
The playful design showcases less than a pair of string bikini bottoms, but still exposes my defined hips and firm ass while the top takes a similar approach by accenting my chest and distracting from areas I’m not the most proud of.
Hey, I work out! I do! I really do! I like the dance sessions offered at our gym and even take an occasional spin class with Henley, though… that typically pisses me off. Not because she has a habit of sleeping with the instructor the night before, but because there’s something about rapidly moving my legs and not getting anywhere that irks me.
My eyes lift to see hunger in Levi’s stare. Seeing his mouth slightly agape and his hands twitching in anxiousness encourages me to stand a little higher. I give my hair a small ruffle and the simple action causes his lips to purse together in desperation.
Adrianna whispers in my ear, “Told ya.”
Feeling more confident than ever, I call out, “You ready or what?”
Levi tries to shake away his arousal, rearranges his obvious hard on, and waves us over.
Calen tosses him the ball as we take our positions on the opposite side of the net. “Anything past there,” he points to a patio chair, “or there,” he points behind them closer to where the dock stairs are, “is out of bounds. First to ten?”
We nod our understanding and agreement.
My date delivers one last smug smirk. “Just so you know. If you don’t have an evening gown, I’ll make sure to have my stylist help you out.”
I lower my eyes to a glare at the same time I do my body to a prepped stance. “Bring it, pretty boy.”
Levi chuckles and serves the ball. It’s barely over the net before Adrianna is hitting it back lightly tipping it back to their side.
It hits the sand with a definitive thud.
“Point,” she announces proudly.
Calen grabs the ball and tosses it to her. “Your serve.”
She nonchalantly tosses it to me. I deliver an underhand serve, and Calen effortlessly bumps it back. Adrianna hits the returned ball a little harder hoping to take Levi off guard, but he smoothly bounces it to our side of the net. We volley back and forth until Adrianna sees her opening. She spikes the ball down just over their side of the net.
“Damn it!” Calen grunts. “Again with just the tip!”
“That’s what she said,” Adrianna and I childishly taunt in unison.
Levi chuckles loudly receiving a glower from his best friend.
Adrianna and I switch places allowing her to serve. Her overhand is harsh yet it doesn’t stop Levi from diving to deliver it back. It’s returned and Calen tries to pull Adrianna’s infamous move. Unfortunately for him, it’s my turn to eat sand to save the ball, which ultimately flies up to the perfect height for her to execute another spike.
“Point,” I announce as she helps me onto my feet. Teasingly, I say, “Thought you two were good at this game?”
Levi shakes his head though he maintains a joyful expression.
Adrianna adds to the fire. “Kinda hope she makes you do something awful like a slam poetry session done by high schoolers.”
I would never do that, but the look on their faces right now is priceless.
Her suggestion causes Calen to huff, “No fucking way I’m doing that, Levi. You better step your shit up.”
“Step your shit up!” Levi laughs at the same time the ball lands in my possession. “You’re not exactly running the best defense.”
I make a tisking sound while backing up into the serving position. “Not good to fight with your teammate.”
“Just serve,” my blonde haired dream boat demands.
With a small shrug, I deliver another underhand. Levi sends it soaring straight towards me, obviously hoping it’ll fly past my reach, but still on this side of the boundary line. Foiling his plan causes me to dive again except this time I land on something hard in the process. The sharp scream that escapes me sends the three of them darting my direction.
Motherfucker!
I roll over and grumble at the agonizing ache in my knees.
His face is the first one hovering over me. “What’s wrong, Kadence?” The panic increases as his gaze soaks in my body. “What do you need? What can I do?”
Seeing his concern causes my body to relax. “I’ll be okay….I…landed on something.”
“Sticks,” Adrianna comments, kicking the remaining sand off of them. “Fucking sticks.”
He slightly cringes. “My fam was over last weekend. My nieces and nephew were building sandcastles. They use the sticks to build a fence to ‘protect’ it from the ocean while they’re gone.”
Levi’s touch grazes my knee igniting a shudder that erases the pain.
Would it be wrong to fake the severity of my injury so he’ll caress me again? Shit…. It really has been far too long since I’ve had a boyfriend if a knee touch is threatening to make me wet. No! No you cannot put enjoys his touch in the pro section for Levi!
“Let’s get you back to the house and cleaned up.” There’s no room for disagreement or my insistence of us continuing the game. He helps me onto my feet, hooks his arm protectively around my waist, and announces, “We’ll be back.”
Adrianna happily hums, “Take your time Terminator….”
Levi leads us inside to a small guest bath right off the living room I didn’t realize was there. He helps me up onto the long white marble counter across from the glass shower before he starts rifling around in the cabinets below me. I take the opportunity to admire the white, sleek beach themed décor that matches the rest of his home.
He wasn’t kidding about the whole lives in water thing.
When he pops back up, he places the bottle of rubbing alcohol on the counter beside me along with cotton balls and two different boxes of Band-Aids. He gives my scraped up knees a skeptical stare. “I don’t think you need surgery, but you’re definitely going to need a boo-boo fixer.”
The phrasing sparks my laughter.
“Question is, who do you want doing the job? Batman or Rainbow Dash?”
I helplessly giggle. “You’re really letting your true colors hang out today.”
Levi laughs in return, reaching for the cotton balls. “I’m a very complex individual.”
“Obviously.”
He wets the object. “This is my nieces and nephew’s doing. These are here for the scrapes and falls that hugs can’t fix.”
His kind tone kicks my smile up a notch. “How many do you have?”
“Three. All from my brother Brian. Two girls. One boy. Five. Three. And one.”
“Take it the nieces are into My Little Pony?”
“That’s actually all my nephew, Malachi. He really likes brightly colored things.”
The cold liquid making contact sends a chill through my system. “How many siblings do you have all together?”
“Four. Two brothers. Two sisters.”
“Are you the oldest?”
He tosses the used cotton ball in the trash. “What gave it away? My doctor skills?”
We lightly chuckle together at the cute comment.
“They’re on par with your MacGyver ones.”
His actions momentarily pause. “Not sure if you’re complimenting or criticizing.”
“Sad you have to contemplate that.”
He lets go of another chuckle under his breath. “My brother Brian is two years younger than me. Harper a year younger than him. Jordanna two years behind her and the baby, who is legally fresh to the drinking scene at twenty one, is Sebastian.”
“Wow. Big family.”
“Yeah, but I love it.” He dangles the boxes at me. After I indicate one of each, he adds, “I want my own someday just as big if not bigger.” Once the objects are stuck on he meets my eyes again. “What about you? Any siblings?”
“An only child, though as close as me and the girls are, that’s almost a lie. We were always in and out of each other’s houses, tagging along on one another’s family vacations, fighting like we all came out of the same womb.”
Levi’s smile brightens. “You mentioned starting a family on your five year voyage-”
“Plan.”
“What are the details on size? Big or small?”
“Whatever fits me and my husband.”
To my surprise his expression softens.
Hm…I never expected him to want a family and definitely not a large one. I also didn’t expect him to recall much of our conversation from last night. Yet again. He does the unexpected. Yet again…he makes me wanna ditch the list of reasons for us to keep our distance and drag him closer.
My voice takes a meek volume. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“How can you want a big family if you’ll always be filming?”
The question crinkles his brow.
“I mean, isn’t that…unrealistic? Or at the very least unfair to your future wife? Do the math. You’ll be out roaming the world, making out with A list actress after actress while she’s home trying not to pull her hair out with a dozen kids needing every portion of her attention. You’ll be enjoying sunsets in Switzerland and she’ll be praying for the sun to set so maybe she can get some sleep. You’ll be eating the world’s best Mahi Mahi and all she’ll be hearing while she’s trying to eat is ‘mommy mommy’. How can you just expect someone to deal with all of that? Even if you get her a nanny, which your ass better for that amount of children, you don’t think she might get a little insecure over the idea of you feeling up models turned actresses while she can barely squeeze into her favorite jeans?”
What? No! I wasn’t speaking as if I was picturing me as his wife. It was merely an easy, mindless example. I’m sure I’ve probably read it in a book somewhere….It wasn’t my imagination inserting myself into the role.
Levi cages me in by placing his hands firmly on the counter on each side of me. “The woman I marry will always know she is the only one in the world I want whether or not we’re in the same house or the same country.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Her size won’t matter because obviously, I fell in love with more than just her body….” His eyes lick the inches of my skin he can see. “And lastly, she won’t be raising them alone. The trick to working and having a family is learning to prioritize. Learning when to compromise. Learning when it’s time to completely surrender and put the other people in your life first. If that means packing everyone up and bringing them with me to New Zealand or Australia, it’s what I’ll do. If it means taking on one project a year instead of four then so be it. If it means quitting and returning to life at Spike’s, then I’ll call my dad and beg for a job. Any job to support them. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
His reply has me barely able to breathe.
My volume is just above a whisper, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
He leans his face closer to mine, voice dropping to the same level. “You have no idea how much I love hearing you say that.”
Our parted lips collide allowing our tongues to tenderly touch. I wind my arms around his neck like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like they don’t belong wrapped around anyone else. The action elicits a possessive groan from Levi who expresses his excitement by increasing the speed of our kiss. Our tongues spin around each other in eager circles, calling our bodies to gravitate closer with every push.
Abruptly, he pulls back, eyes filled with conflicting emotions. “We should stop.”
Am I doing this wrong or is he being a giant fucking tease? I thought women were supposed to be the teasers….
“Why?”
Levi’s fingers float to my hips. “Because I don’t want you to get the impression you’re like every other woman that’s entered my life. I really like you, Kadence, and the last thing I need is you believing you’re gonna end up being just another body to keep my bed warm.”
The words steal a small swoon.
See. Problem with actors. Is he being honest or is that a well-rehearsed line he’s delivered more than once in his dating career?
“How often do you bring your dates here for lunch?”
“Never.”
“How often do you make them lunch?”
“Never.”
I tug myself closer to him. “And how often do you bandage their scraped knees with Band-Aids reserved for the most important people in your life?”
His lightly chuckles. “Also never….”
My tongue steals a swipe of his top lip and his fingers dig into my sides. “Then kiss me again.”
Levi pounces my lips once more, this time holding nothing back. His tongue overpowers mine. Dominates. Demands I hand over the deed to my mouth without deliberation. I melt into his touch, submitting to each stroke like an executive order. He groans his approval yet continues his feverish presses until my body begins to wobble from being overwhelmed. All of a sudden the grip on my hip trails itself slowly downward towards my open thighs. Just when I’m about to put the brakes on the situation the tip of his finger grazes my bikini bottom covered clit.
The impact of my surprised moan momentarily parts us.
Holy shit I need more of that….
Unlike before he’s not cautious about continuing. He holds my eyes hostage and repeats the previous action applying a little more pressure.
The ache between my legs grows excruciatingly painful as does the one in my lungs from panting. I slightly rock into his teasing; hoping he’ll take the initiative to give me what it is we both know I desperately need.
Hey, it’s rude of you to ask me the last time I let someone else get me off.
“You have to tell me what you want, Kady.” His tone is firm. “I’m not gonna fuck up my only shot with you by going too fast….”
His consideration and determination to prove he can be more than just a huge man whore is highly appreciated, but he picked a shitty time to want to make those points.
“You’re gonna fuck it up by not going fast enough,” I rasp.
He growls and increases the movement against the sensitive nub. “This what you want?”
There’s a quiver in my voice. “More.”
Levi groans, relinquishes his touch, and yanks me to the edge of the counter. He hooks his fingers into the sides of my bottoms and peals them down my thighs with a wildness thrumming through his glare. Only mere seconds after the article has been banished to the floor is his thick finger drowning in wet heat.
I arch forward, anchoring my fingers into his blonde locks at the same time I moan, “Oh my God.”
He groans louder this time, lips brushing my earlobe. “I wanna hear that sound again.”
Fuck, I wanna make it again…
His finger slides itself completely out and the emptiness I immediately feel is shocking in more than one way. I prepare to gripe about him stopping, again, when my pussy is suddenly being split open by two fingers as opposed to the previous one. Feeling the muscles stretch to accommodate the size has me shaking on the edge of a climax. Levi waits until they’re good and soaked before beginning a slow, hard thrusting.
My face falls to the crook of his neck, which prompts him to whisper, “That fast enough, babe?”
A moan on the border of a scream springs from my throat and blazes his skin.
He growls at the contact provoking me to scrape my teeth along his collarbone. “Fuck….”
I nip harshly at the area, and it falters his movements.
Loving the newfound power I have over him, I start a cycle of sucking and biting that mirrors the pressure and speed of his brutal pumping. The two of us fight for control though I’m willing to bet I’m much more anxious to concede than he is. With one hand nestled between my legs and the other planted firmly on the small of my back, Levi dictates the depth of every push. His entire body rocks into mine with such force I have to dig my teeth deeper into his neck to prevent begging him to bang me against the countertop with his cock instead of his fingers.
The sounds of our heady moans and my wet pussy creating an erotic harmony sever the string I was holding on by. “Coming!”
My muscles fiercely clamp around his fingers determined to keep them there permanently. He stills the overworked digits and viciously grumbles his enjoyment in a slew of profanities. I repeatedly buck. Tighten my hold on his blonde strands. Scream against his skin until I’m convinced it’s going to blister from my scorching breath. By the time I’ve finally finished coming it feels like I’ve somehow managed to migrate right back to the edge again.
How the hell is he making me this horny?
Levi’s voice is hoarse, yet sweet. “Wanna go again?”
The underused muscles twitch around the visitors who seem to still be enjoying their current location.
“I-”
Heavy knocking saves me from saying the wrong thing.
Pretty sure I was about to make a big mistake. Pretty sure I was about to throw away every logical decision about where we go from here.
“Everything okay?” Calen’s voice nervously questions from the other side.
“Cock block,” Adrianna’s huffs in return.
Oh shit! How did I completely forget we weren’t alone?
“Just a sec,” Levi replies, removing his fingers.
Our eyes finally make contact again and I can’t help but notice the way his seem brighter than ever.
He uses his other hand to tuck a few strands behind my ear. “Stay for dinner too?”
Hearing him treat me once again like I’m more than a pair of great legs and a decent face has me smiling wide. “Maybe….”
The mirth in my tone sparks his own grin. “You’re gonna make me work for it, aren’t you?”
“Every step of the way.”
Levi snatches up my bottoms and slowly slides them back over my legs. When I slide down to finish putting them back in place, he seals our bodies together and states, “Like I said. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
And for some unknown reason I absolutely believe him.