Chapter Eight
Levi sat on the chair he had pulled over next to Tessa. He was leaning forward, arms on his knees, staring at the back of Sam. The other man was sitting on the foot of the bed, flipping channels on the TV. Even though he wasn't touching Tessa, it was pissing Levi off that Sam was that close to her.
This little one is special. She feels like … mine.
He turned back to look at Tessa, who was yawning. It'd been a long night for them all but especially for Tessa. She hadn't expected any of this. Levi reached out and squeezed her leg.
"Love, it's all right to sleep. I'll be here."
Tessa yawned again, her eyes looking heavy. "Tell me something."
"Tell you what?" He pulled his hand off her.
Tessa's eyes closed for a few seconds. "Tell me something about yourself."
Levi smiled as it got increasingly harder for her to keep her eyes open. "All right. I love dogs, my birthday is December first, and I can speak three languages."
Tessa's eyes opened, and her pink lips curled into a smile. "You're more than just a hardened criminal?"
He let out a small laugh as her eyes closed again. "So much more, love."
Just then, Sam ruined the moment. He hooted loudly at something on the TV, bouncing on the foot of the bed. Tessa's eyes opened, and her smile was gone.
"Damn it, Sam." Levi clenched his jaw, hastily standing up. "Sam, take my chair."
"What?" Sam didn't turn away from the TV.
Levi pulled the chair around the end of the bed and spun it to face the television. "Here."
"I'm fine." Sam clicked the remote several times.
"Here." Levi growled.
Sam finally looked up at him. "All right. Geez. Why are you acting so weird with this job?" He stood and stepped over to take the chair.
Levi turned to look at Tessa, who was starting to doze off. Her beautiful eyes were closed briefly, but she was still fighting it. He watched her small smile return as her gaze fell on him momentarily. He could feel how comforted she felt when he was close to her. The stress literally fell off her when he hovered over her. It made Levi feel more like her protector and her man than any words could.
He looked back at Sam, who was already flipping channels again.
"Because of her. She's different, Sam."
****
Tessa's body jerked, and her eyes flew open. Where am I? She looked around, her breathing becoming panicked until she remembered what had happened. Her arms shook slightly, and she laid her head back down on the pillow.
How long have I been asleep? She looked toward the one window in the room. The curtains were pulled tight, but she could see a sliver of light under them. It was day, but she was unsure what time.
Sam was sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed, and a sudden spike of fear ran up her throat, almost causing her to groan out loud. She held her breath, searching for Levi, the only man she wanted to see at the moment.
He was nowhere to be seen, and more panic and fear tightened her chest. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and there he was, her captor and her savior. Tessa took a shaky breath, relaxing into the bed.
Levi now noticed that she was awake. He gave her a stunning smile before walking toward the bed. Tessa's chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't from fear. It was from longing. She rubbed her thighs together, causing her dress to inch up her legs.
I'm shameless.
"Love, I probably need to take you to the bathroom."
Tessa was a bit lost in his green eyes as he placed his hands on his hips. Her face heated, and a slow smile tried to pull on her lips.
"Take me?"
Levi snickered, his striking arms flexing. "The bathroom. You haven't gone since we stole you. Do you need to go?"
Tessa felt a bit embarrassed right away, but she really did need to go. She twisted on the bed before giving him a small nod. Levi flung the hand towel he had been holding back into the bathroom and walked toward the bed.
He paused to look over at Sam, who wasn't paying them any attention. Levi stepped to the side of the bed and smiled down at her.
"Love, you aren't going to freak out like you did before. Right?"
A little more embarrassment made her whole body feel too hot. She twisted a bit more against the ropes.
"No. Not as long as he doesn't enter the bathroom." She looked toward the end of the bed at Sam.
Levi's smile grew a bit crooked. "Don't worry, sweetie. I wouldn't allow that." He leaned down and untied her right arm. He paused as Tessa brought it down to her side. "Tessa, please don't make this harder. I mean, please don't try to run after I untie you. I promise you this will be over soon."
Tessa nodded. "Ok."
Truthfully, she didn't want to run now. Well, she'd run from Sam but not Levi. Should she be worried about that fact?
Levi stared at her for several seconds. It felt as if he was gauging how sincere she was about not making this difficult. Tessa reached her free arm up and lightly touched his hand. The sparks between them were instant and strong.
Tessa inhaled a deep breath as a tingle ran through her. His skin felt so warm and inviting. Her hand trembled on his for a moment before she swiftly pulled it back. Levi's smile faded and for a second, he looked worried, but that expression soon faded, as well. His eyes then showed her what Tessa was also feeling. Lust.
He took a deep breath and untied her other wrist. Tessa started to rub her wrist with her other hand, and Levi untied her legs. He walked back over to the side of the bed next to the bathroom, holding his hand out to help her.
Tessa didn't hesitate. She sat up and turned so her feet were off the side of the bed. She pushed herself up, but her legs faltered immediately. They were partially asleep. She gasped as she fell forward.
"Whoa." Levi gracefully reached out and caught her.
Tessa grabbed his inked arms as he lifted her up. She stared up at his gorgeous face, and he gave her a cocky smirk. Levi pulled her closer to his body, supporting her. Tessa almost couldn't breathe as she took in the man holding her.
"Well, love. I guess I don't need to worry about you running right away."