CHAPTER EIGHT
"Hey baby? You okay?" Levi leaned over and whispered the question in Theresa's ear. She'd been acting strange ever since she came into the banquet room for the rehearsal dinner.
It was crazy how much he'd missed her while in his room getting dressed. He'd needed to have her by his side and not let her out of his sight. There was something in him that needed to be close to her.
Trailing his fingers down her arm, he felt a shiver go through her body. He hoped she was remembering last night, and this morning as well. Because he sure as hell was. Even now, his dick was hard as a rock from thinking about all the things he wanted to do to her tonight.
He'd been so stupid. Why hadn't he seen what was right in front of him this entire time? His head had been so focused on keeping his daughter free and clear of his ex-wife, he'd forgotten to pay attention to the one woman who could make him happy.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Swatting his hand away, she shot him a look. "You'd better stop doing that, Levi. Someone is going to see you and then we'll have to answer a ton of questions." Her tone was firm, but the smile teasing at her lips gave away that she wasn't truly annoyed.
Now he was feeling brave and wanted to push her a little more. She turned to him and flashed those pearly whites. In a sudden flash, he pictured himself taking her right here in this room. Slamming his thick cock in her silken sheath, forcing her to take him deep inside her body as he fucked her in front of their friends.
Could he get away with tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her upstairs to his room?
He gave serious consideration to doing just that before deciding against it. No need to go caveman just yet. The night was still young.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to control himself. Acting like a caveman at the rehearsal dinner would not go over well. If he had to hold back for the moment, he was certain she would be in his bed tonight. He could live with waiting a bit longer.
"Don't tell me to stop. If I want to touch you, I will. Come on, baby, how long have we been doing this?"
Her eyes widened, and she turned to him, her finger coming up to his lips. "Shush, Levi. Don't you embarrass me."
The words were tough, but there was no heat. Her lips spread in a wide smile as she looked at him.
"You're so fucking beautiful. Do you know that?" he whispered in her ear.
Theresa dipped her head shyly. "Thanks, Levi. But really, someone is going to say something and how will we respond?"
"So what? Let them ask. I'm not ashamed to finally admit I have the most beautiful and sexiest woman in the room."
"Won't Bridgette be upset? I mean, it is her wedding day. We should be focused on her and not ourselves."
Her words registered, but he didn't feel the need to respond. His eyes focused on her face and all he could think about was making love to her again. Shaking his head in confusion, he wondered why his every waking thought was now about Theresa. He needed to go get some fresh air. These past couple of days, he seemed to be going a bit overboard with his declarations to her. This wasn't like him at all.
"You okay, Levi?" Theresa looked at him, a frown on her face.
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine. I think I need a bit of fresh air. Order me a drink, would you, sweetheart?" Standing up, he gave her a soft kiss on the lips before walking toward the side door that would take him outside.
In his haste, he didn't notice the look of shock on Theresa's face, nor the knowing smiles of their friends who saw the kiss.
Levi walked out of the room at a brisk pace. The night air would clear his head. Stepping out into the cool air, he took a few deep breaths and tried to get his bearings. It was as if something had come over him. Like a spotlight had shined on Theresa. And in that moment, he knew with full certainty; Theresa was the most important woman in his life. He would never give her up.
Not that she wasn't drop-dead fucking gorgeous, because she was. And the sex between them was mind-blowing every fucking time. Remembering how free and open she was with him last night had his cock thickening in his pants. Being inside of her gave him peace.
But why now? Why this trip? They'd been fighting each other all this time, refusing to get serious. Both had agreed to keep it light and easy. And now he was changing the rules. That wasn't going to fly with Theresa at all. She'd fight him tooth and nail all the way.
But he had to find a way to let her know this weekend wasn't a fluke. That he meant what he said about them being together.
"Nice night for a walk," a soft voice said from the side of the hotel portico.
Looking over, he noticed the speaker looked like the lady from the gift shop he'd visited. But why would she be here? "Yes, it is. Was getting a bit stuffy inside."
She came to stand beside him, as if waiting for someone. She was dressed differently, but still very similar to what she'd had on the other day. He was surprised she could still pull off a revealing outfit like that at her age.
"Do I know you?" Levi's mind tried to figure out who she was. Something told him he'd met her before.
"We've met. Yes."
"The lady from the gift shop, right?"
"The one and only. How's your weekend going so far?" Turning to face him, she looked interested in what he had to say. Then he remembered her words from their first encounter.
"Are you a fortune-teller?" His face held an indulgent smile.
"Hmmm, a question answered with a question. I may have to watch out for you."
Placing both hands in his pockets, he stood casually as he tried to understand what was happening. Not that the woman couldn't go wherever she wanted, but it seemed odd that she was right here, and right at this moment.
"Everything happens for a reason, Levi. You should go with the flow. Whatever is meant to be, will be. Don't force it. But you must be ready to make a decision when the time comes." Her face held a smile as she spoke, but she looked at him as if imparting significant words of wisdom.
Wait...
"How do you know my name?" he asked, standing up taller and removing his hands from his pockets.
"I know more than you think," she said. A car pulled up and a man exited the driver's side door. Although it was nighttime, he wore very dark glasses over his eyes. Dressed in all black, he looked like an old-school chauffeur as he walked around the car and opened the rear door.
"Don't wait too long, Levi," she called out as she began to get into the dark sedan. "Time moves faster than you think. When the clock runs out, will you have wasted your time wondering about what others would have said? Or would you have gone after your own happiness? You only have a little time to convince her. Don't waste it out here talking to an old lady."
Levi was struck dumb. What the hell was going on? The chances of him meeting the old lady from the shop here at the hotel were slim to none. He watched the car drive slowly away from him and thought about her words.
Could she be referring to Theresa? How could she know what the hell was going on? He didn't even know what the hell was going on. This sudden desire to claim Theresa in front of their friends and family wasn't new. Was it?
It wasn't that he'd been trying to hide their relationship. They'd both agreed to keep things quiet for a while. It wasn't her fault he'd begun to regret agreeing to those terms.
When she'd said it was the only way she'd allow the two of them to be together, he'd seen no other way at the time. He'd agreed, never expecting that more than two years later, she'd still be holding him to it.
With her, he felt whole. But it was more than mind-blowing sex. They laughed. They talked. They simply enjoyed each other's company. And yes, the sex was fucking amazing. What red-blooded man wouldn't want a woman like Theresa by his side?
He'd wanted her then. He wanted her now. Things had changed for the two of them. It was time Theresa understood that.
Because there was one thing she needed to understand--no other man would ever have her. She was his.
He may not have done it the right way before now, but this weekend had opened his eyes. Being without her was no longer a choice. Leaving New Orleans without making his intention known to Theresa was never going to happen.
Startled by the sound of loud laughter, he looked around and saw people walking all around him. Looking down at his watch, he hissed when he noticed the time. He'd been outside for more than thirty minutes.
What the hell? How had so much time passed without him realizing it?
Levi turned back toward the hotel and walked inside. More than fifteen minutes had passed. He was positive Theresa was wondering where he was. Laughing to himself as he thought about her, he plotted how to get her upstairs to his room. He'd been trying to steal a kiss from her all night., but she wasn't giving in to him. Then he'd kissed her briefly on the lips and walked out. What others thought no longer mattered to him. It was time for him and Theresa to stop hiding.
Entering the banquet room, he knew Theresa had already left even before he'd gotten all the way inside. Not sure how he knew she was gone, but he could tell her presence was no longer in the room. Walking over to his two friends, he nodded to them as he tried to look around the room without giving away his intentions.
Patrick was the first person to approach him. "Hey, man, where'd you disappear to?"
Not willing to give away everything just yet, especially not without talking to Theresa, he gave a vague answer. "Stepped outside for a few minutes. All the single ladies' intent on snagging a husband were giving me hives."
Heath laughed loudly and took a swig of the drink he held. "Man, you're thinking about this all wrong."
"How's that?" He didn't want to get into this conversation. Not now. Not ever. Levi wanted to leave and find Theresa, but he didn't want to ask about her. That would give too much away, and he wasn't ready to share anything without talking to her first.
"Okay, hear me out for a second. Look at all the choices in front of you. Skinny, curvy, thick and lush, brown, white, tall, or short. The options are endless," he finished. Waving a hand in front of them as if he were a genie granting a wish, Heath continued, "Take your pick of all the beauty in front of us."
Levi wasn't blind. Nor was he dumb. If he chose, he could have his pick of any woman in this room. He knew it. His friends knew it. It was no secret that he'd become an equal opportunity lover of women after his divorce.
But something was missing. No, make that someone. Even with all the options in front of him, the one woman he didn't see was the only woman he wanted. Theresa.
Clapping his friend on the back, he smiled. "I'll pass this time around. Too many options to choose from. I think I'll leave them for you two."
Patrick gave him a sideways glance. "Oh, so that's the story you're giving us now, that you can't make a choice. Levi, when are you going to admit that the woman you want isn't in this room?"
Schooling his features, he turned away from his friends and looked out at the room full of people, "What are you talking about?"
"We all see it, you know. All these months, the two of you were trying so hard to hide it. I didn't notice it at first, but now it's clear as day."
'I still don't know what you're talking about. How many drinks have you had, anyway?" Levi asked with a smirk, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, whatever, dude. Do you know when the cat was out of the bag? The moment we all realized you and Theresa were more than just friends?" Heath paused to look at a woman walking by. Her long dark hair brushed the top of her ass, and her thick curves beckoned to them. Any other time, Levi would have been the first one to approach her. Not today.
He had other things on his mind. "So, when was this imaginary moment you keep referring to?" Now he was curious.
"Oh, that? At the cookout with everybody. When Jessica chose Theresa as her partner. You were shocked at first, but then you and Theresa gave each other a look. Man, it was hot the way she looked at you. A woman only looks at a man like that when she knows he has dimples in his ass and how his 'O' face looks." Heath followed his pronouncement with a laugh. Patrick joined in, shaking his head in disbelief at Levi.
Levi couldn't help but join in. He remembered that day. And that look. When he'd gone to her house after the cookout, he'd done everything he could to make her scream his name as he fucked her up one side of the house and down the other.
A smile came over his face as he thought about all the things he was going to do to her tonight. As soon as he could get his ass out of this room.
"If you know so much, why didn't you guys say anything before now?" he questioned them both.
Patrick answered. "Because you were both so intent on hiding it. We figured you wanted to keep it hush-hush for a reason. None of us could figure out why you wouldn't want to scream it from the rooftops."
Heath picked up the story from there, "Bridgette figured Theresa was the one to set that rule. You're a bit of a man-whore, so if it didn't work out, no one would know anything different and she wouldn't be embarrassed."
Levi shook his head at his friend's words. "Wait. Everybody knows?"
His friends both gave him a smirk. "Yup. You two suck at keeping secrets."
"Well, damn." Pausing as he thought about what this meant, he smiled. If everyone knew, then that blew Theresa's "what-if" concerns out the window. "I need to go."
"Gotta find the one who's trying to get away?" Patrick teased.
"Damn right. I'll see you tomorrow."
Levi turned and quickly exited the room. He was on a mission. Theresa had denied them for too long. Enough was enough. She thought their friends wouldn't agree with the two of them being together. Little did she know, they'd already knew and had silently given their blessing. It was funny when he thought about it. They'd sworn what they were doing was the best thing for everyone.
Her time was up. There was no more denying what was between them. If it took all night for him to convince her they belonged together, so be it.
Entering the elevator, he pushed the button for her floor.
Time for mission Claim Theresa.