CHAPTER 63AureliaLeviAurelia #2
“And there’s something else.” She took a measured breath.
“I need to apologize for how fast I pushed physical intimacy. It was the only way I’d ever known how to feel…
wanted. In control. Like I mattered, before people got bored with me.
” She winced, clearly uncomfortable with the confession.
“Not that it wasn’t incredible with you,” she added quickly, cheeks flushed.
Levi’s eyebrows lifted, surprised by the admission, but he didn’t dare interrupt.
“I just…I still have things to work through. The doctor gave me a referral for a therapist this morning that I’m going to reach out to,” she whispered.
“But I missed you, Levi. I missed having you next to me more than anything. I miss this …because I love you too. I love being with you, in every way.”
Levi’s heart stopped at those four words.
I love you too.
Out of everything she had said aloud, those four words echoed through him. Over and over reverberating through his very being, embedding into his very essence.
There was so much he wanted to say, but the only thing that mattered was her…and right now she was too far away.
With a wide grin, Levi grabbed her by the waist and pulled her flush against him. His forehead dropped to hers, his breath warm against her lips.
“I love you, Auri,” he whispered. “There’s no scar too deep, no hurdle too high, that we can’t overcome. Together.”
Then he kissed her.
Deep, assertive, and utterly consuming, he poured every ounce of his love into it. His tongue relished the taste of her like it was the first time all over again, like he had found something precious he never wanted to lose.
When he finally pulled back, both of them panting, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and grinned wickedly against her. His hands slid down to cup her backside, pulling her closer still.
“Why don’t we finish this conversation in the lagoon?” he murmured against her ear. “The water’s nice and warm…and doesn’t require any pesky bathing suits.”
Aurelia arched into him, her body already aching for his touch.
“Warm and wet…like your wife,” she breathed, threading her fingers through his hair.
Levi laughed low, dark, and sinful as he stood and swept her into his arms.
And with nothing but the quiet sounds of the night around them, he carried her toward the steaming water.
Aurelia
They barely made it to the edge of the dock and the picnic before their clothes vanished, discarded without a second thought. Levi was unable to wait another moment to taste her.
Before Aurelia could blink, she was sprawled across the cushioned patio loveseat, her legs draped over his broad, tanned shoulders.
The carefully curated picnic lay forgotten on the nearby table as Levi buried his head between her thighs, his tongue on a relentless mission to rediscover every inch of her.
Her cries echoed through the secluded woods, lost to the night as he worshipped her with every stroke and flick.
When her senses finally returned, she pushed him back against the cushions, her eyes gleaming with delicious intent. Levi sat back, watching her every movement like a predator in his element, muscles taut, waiting for her next move.
With a knowing smirk, Aurelia shifted to the table and bent over the picnic spread, intentionally lingering as she searched for the right selection.
Levi hissed through his teeth at the sight of her arched back, her body on display, but he held himself still, anticipation thrumming through his veins.
She cast a sultry glance over her shoulder, her grin widening when she saw the raw hunger on his face.
His body was hard, proud, and unabashedly hers.
Her mouth watered at the sight, her desire spiking as she turned back to the table, plating the juiciest fruits she could find before placing them beside him.
Climbing onto his lap, she leaned in and kissed him deeply, her lips tasting faintly of sweet wine and promises.
“You look positively famished,” she teased, her lips brushing his.
“I’m wasting away,” Levi rasped, his voice rough with need as his hands slid up to cup her breasts, thumbs circling her hardened nipples, drawing a soft moan from her lips. “But right now, I’m far more concerned with feeding you.”
Reaching for a piece of ripe pineapple from her plate, he held it to her lips. She laughed softly, biting into it as the juice ran down her chin and spilled onto her chest.
“Damn it,” she gasped between laughs, the liquid trailing over her skin. “You stole my idea.”
Levi growled low against her collarbone, his tongue already following the path of the sweet juice down her chest. “Oh, was that your plan?” he murmured against her skin. “Then allow me to execute it to perfection.”
And god did he execute it…slowly and thoroughly until Aurelia couldn’t bear it any longer, desperate to eliminate what distance remained between them.
Once they had polished off every piece of fruit on the plate, Levi shifted her over him, gripping her hips as he guided her down onto him, inch by glorious inch.
Aurelia’s head fell back, a gasp leaving her lips as she took him fully. She didn’t think she would ever tire of this—of the exquisite fullness, the way his body stretched and completed hers like no one ever had before.
She began to move, slow and unhurried, setting a sensual, torturously sweet rhythm. This time, there was no urgency, no desperate chase toward release. There was only connection, reverence, and love.
Beneath the twinkling lights and under the midnight sky, they took their time reacquainting themselves and their bodies, quietly rewriting their story.
One kiss, one stroke, one whispered promise at a time.
The stars glittered like diamonds against black velvet, casting silver light over the steaming lagoon.
After Aurelia collapsed, boneless and satiated against Levi’s chest, hunger eventually won out.
They migrated to the edge of the deck, spreading the forgotten picnic across the floor within easy reach of the lagoon’s natural stone shelf, which was a perfect swim-up bar in the hot, soothing water.
Remaining in the water—and completely naked—Aurelia indulged herself in a little of everything, delighted to find a chilled bottle of sparkling grape juice waiting in a bucket of ice. Levi hadn’t forgotten her distaste for alcohol, a small, thoughtful gesture that melted her all over again.
Once their stomachs were satisfied, Levi wasted no time filling her in other ways; this time in the warm, mineral-rich waters.
A different, more playful side of Aurelia had emerged when she lured him close…
only to dunk him under the surface without warning.
His sputtered outrage was met with her laughter—full, bright, and even punctuated by a few unflattering snorts.
She tried to swim away, but Levi was faster. He caught her waist, lifted her like she weighed nothing, and tossed her playfully into the water. This time, it was Aurelia who came up sputtering, and Levi who roared with triumphant laughter, loud enough to scare off any curious critters nearby.
When she tried to dunk him again, his arms wrapped tightly around her again, refusing to let go.
What started as a teasing kiss quickly turned into something far more heated as she wrapped her legs around his waist and nipped his lower lip.
Before she knew it, her back was pressed against the stone shelf, and Levi was buried inside her all over again.
Now, floating in the warm water, spent and utterly content, Aurelia lay cradled in Levi’s arms. The tension that had gripped her for weeks dissolved under the stars and the security of his embrace. Her fingertips traced lazy circles across his chest, her cheek pressed against his shoulder.
“I have a confession,” Levi murmured, his voice a deep rumble against her ear. His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Her suspicion deepened. “Spit it out.”
“I…recorded the proposal.”
Her brows shot up. “You did what ?”
“I set up a camera on the roof of the cottage,” he admitted, a sheepish grin forming.
“High-quality, top-of-the-line. I wanted us to have a real memory of it, not something that fades or we remember differently for years down the road. I thought maybe we could even pull a few photos from it. Something tangible. A real memory, since…” he trailed off, guilt flashing in his eyes, “…since our actual ceremony was a disaster.”
Something warm settled deep in her chest. “Levi…” she whispered, her throat tight. “That’s…incredibly thoughtful. And sneaky—but wait.” She sat up, her eyes wide with panic. “Was it recording the entire time we’ve been out here?”
He smirked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Levi!” she gasped, scandalized. “You better have turned it off!”
He laughed, pulling her closer. “Relax, I’m kidding—mostly. I’ll delete everything after the proposal, I promise. I wanted to start capturing our story…on our terms this time.” He hesitated before cheekily adding, “Unless you want to watch everything we did in high definition.”
She couldn’t stop the snort that escaped as she fell deeper in love with this ridiculous, thoughtful man. She kissed him hard and fast, her lips lingering against his. “Thank you,” she whispered.
His arms tightened around her. “Since we’re already baring our souls…” His voice dropped into a serious, almost shy tone. “How many kids do you want?”
Aurelia blinked, then burst into soft laughter. “Wow. Jumping right into that one, huh?”
“I’m a planner,” he said, his grin unapologetic.
She bit her lip, growing thoughtful. “I used to think I wouldn’t be a good mother…that I’d become my mother. Now? I do want kids, a family. I want a real home—with you. Two or three kids, maybe? What about you?”
“Whatever you want is perfect,” he said simply. “We can have a whole brood of little monsters, but not right away. I want us to have time first. Just us. Travel. Try new things. Make sure we’re really ready when that time comes.”
She smiled, threading her fingers through his hair. “I like that. But you’re going to have to explain this ‘extensive plan’ of yours. What else aren’t you telling me?”
He gave her a mock-sober nod. “It’s a thorough list. Couples’ curling tournament, learning to keep bees so we can make our own honey—oh, and taking you to your first metal concert.”
She laughed outright. “Those are…ambitious options. How about we start with something simple? I want to travel. I’ve never been outside the city, never even been on a plane. And…I want a real wedding.”
Levi’s expression softened. “You do?”
She nodded. “Something small with only us and the people who truly love us. On the dock, maybe. With string lights. I want to walk down the aisle properly this time.”
“Then we’ll make it happen,” he said without hesitation, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Anything you want.”
She settled against his chest again, then drew a deep breath. “There’s one more thing I want. I…need your help.”
Levi shifted to look at her. “Anything, Auri.”
Aurelia hesitated, then let the words tumble free.
“I want to use the inheritance Eleanor left me to make something meaningful out of it—help kids like me. Kids who age out of the system and have nowhere to go. I’m thinking about turning Starhaven Manor into a transitional residence.
A safe place where they can figure things out. ”
Levi was quiet for a moment, his thumb brushing soothing circles on her arm. When she finally met his gaze, what she saw there wasn’t surprise; it was pride.
“You are incredible,” he murmured. “Funny story though…it’s already in motion.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
“I wanted to give you something real for our wedding, a proper wedding gift. I remembered you mentioning this idea at Moonlit Buns , so I had Charles start setting up the foundation. It’s legally established, ready for you to take the lead whenever you’re ready.”
She threw her arms around him, holding on like she might never let go.
“You, sir,” she choked out against his shoulder, “are going to be the death of me.”
He laughed, tightening his hold. “I love you, Aurelia. I want to build the rest of my life with you.”
She pulled back, searching his face. But before she could respond, a shadow crept across her features as thoughts crept in of Selene, Kyle, and the looming trial.
Her lips trembled. “Levi…there’s still something I’m afraid of. It’s hanging over us, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face it.”
His expression turned serious. “The trial.”
She nodded.
“It feels like they still have power over me,” she whispered. “I’m never really going to be free of them.”
Levi cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears threatening to fall. “I will be right there beside you for every court date and every hard moment. You’ll never have to stand alone again.”
She tried to laugh, but it caught in her throat. “I don’t know how to be brave enough to face the source of my nightmares.”
He leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss on her lips. “You are strong enough—you’ve always been. The only difference is that you now have me to remind you of that when you forget.”
In his arms and under the stars, she felt her fear begin to loosen its grip, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together.
From this point forward, Aurelia wasn’t just surviving anymore; she was finally living .