34. Hope
34
HOPE
L aughter filters into the kitchen as I put the final touches on the food. I’m finally hosting the dinner I dreamed about when I first moved into the house. It’s still a little unfathomable that I have friends to invite over now, but I’m going with it.
“Hey, love. Are you ready to put everything on the table?” I turn at Levi’s voice, his hazel eyes shining with love, as well as a little weariness. His hand lands on my hip, and I sag against him, overwhelmed with his constant support despite my inability to talk to him.
“Yes, everything is ready.”
He leans down, pecking me on the lips before taking the bowl of paella to the table. I grab the carafe of wine and follow Levi into the dining room.
Max, Lucy, Cooper, and Quinn meet us at the table. Each one says something about the meal looking amazing. Of course, I beam at the praise, ecstatic my friends are happy.
I wish the others could have come, too, but they were each doing their own thing tonight. It’s probably for the best with my nerves still feeling frayed beyond repair.
It’s been three days since I got Antony’s note, and I haven’t felt a moment of peace since. Which, I’m sure, was the point. His goal was to put me on edge, to scare me so he would have the upper hand, and I let him. I’ve let him scare me before, but this time, it’s different.
I’m not afraid for myself. I’m afraid for Levi. My friends. There’s no predicting what Antony will do when he’s pissed off. And he’s pissed at me. For many, many reasons. All of which he will use as justification for punishing me.
If I step out of line or tell anyone about the threat, I know he’ll go after my friends. He’ll use the ones closest to me since it would hurt me the most. He won’t just threaten them, either. He will actually cause them harm, both physically and mentally. I can’t have that on my conscience.
Going to the police is out since there’s nothing they can do anyway. I don’t have a restraining order in place, believing he’d be in prison for the rest of his life. He hasn’t physically attacked me. I don’t have proof he sent me the note since it wasn’t signed, and Antony isn’t stupid enough to leave prints. There’s nothing anyone can do.
No one has ever been able to stop him.
If I were stronger, I’d leave. Pack up and head out of town so he’d follow me instead of harming the ones I love, but I’m not. I’m weak. I don’t want to leave these people. Not when I’ve finally brought them into my life.
Like I said, weak.
Selfish.
All the cruel words used against me in my past are true now.
“Lucy, how are you feeling?” Quinn asks. They told everyone about the baby a few weeks ago, which, of course, caused a huge buzz of excitement in town. Everyone kept asking about it when they came into the store. I think the gossiping hens expected me to share the juicy details since I’ve been hanging out with the group more. They were highly disappointed that I was sticking to my predilection for being close-lipped.
“Pretty good, all things considered. I’ve had a little bout of morning sickness, but it hasn’t been too awful. It’s still early, though. I’ve heard it can get worse.”
“I will always be in awe of a woman’s ability to grow an actual human being in their bodies,” Levi says, shaking his head. “I mean, us guys get off easy. We get to do all the fun stuff while the girls get the shaft.”
“Glad you recognize the imbalance, Levi.” Quinn laughs.
“Hey, I’ve always been a huge supporter of worshiping women.” He winks.
“Oh, really?” I raise my eyebrow at him. “And what women are you worshiping?”
He starts sputtering. “Not, like, all women. You… you’re fantastic.”
I bust out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. Quinn and Lucy join in on teasing Levi as he shakes his head.
“How dark is it in that hole you’re digging?” Cooper teases.
Levi gently grabs the back of my neck and pulls me to him. “You’re evil.” He grins, then kisses me.
“You can worship me later to make up for your comments,” I whisper.
His eyes heat to a molten gold. “Happily.”
I turn back to my friends gathered around my table, laughing and eating the food I made, and a feeling of rightness comes over me. This is everything I’ve ever wanted in my life. A group of friends who unconditionally love each other and a partner who supports my dreams.
It’s beautiful.
I wish I could have it forever.
“Levi,” I grind out through my teeth. His answering chuckle only pushes me further to the edge. Teeth and tongue trace the skin on my inner thighs. I didn’t think I could be this close to orgasming when he hasn’t even touched me. He’s been kissing every inch of my body since our friends left an hour ago. It’s maddening.
“I’m only doing what you asked, my love.”
“I said worship . This is torture.”
A swipe of his tongue in the one spot he’s not touched this whole time turns my overheated body into an inferno. The quick flicks, the smooth thrusts, it all pushes me over the edge so fast I’m barely able to hang on to his hair to keep me grounded.
Suddenly, I’m flipped over to my stomach while my hips are lifted into the air. Then Levi is filling me with a thrust so deep I can’t help but call out his name. The tail end of my orgasm has me so sensitive; every push of his hips has me clenching harder around him. His loud groans surround us as we move in a frenzy. It’s overwhelming, heady. Freaking scorching.
He’s usually so careful with me, always in complete control, but tonight, I can feel our desperation to be closer to one another. To rebuild the bridge between us that’s threatening to fall because of my omission. Every sense of uncertainty is my fault. If I would’ve been honest from the beginning, I could’ve shared my fears with Levi instead of being alone with them.
“Fuck, Hope. I’m close,” he grates out. He reaches around my body to strum my clit so I’m right there with him.
“Yes, Levi.”
My body tightens, the orgasm crashing through me so hard my arms collapse under me. Levi’s hands clench on my hips to hold me up as he pumps twice more before groaning through his release.
He collapses on top of me, careful not to crush me. His hands run softly across my skin, soothing my overheated body. God, I love this man.
“Sorry, I got a little rough there,” Levi whispers into my hair.
“I didn’t mind. In fact, I really liked it.” I turn my body so I can see his face, taking in his beautiful hazel eyes that have told me I’m safe since the first time I saw them. These past few days, I’ve been so distracted by my fear, I forgot how safe I am when I’m with him. He’s my home. My soft landing pad.
He’s everything.
“I’m ready, Levi.”
His eyes search mine, attempting to read my thoughts. I’m sure he’s worried about what I have to say, and if it pertains to him or us. He should be worried, but not about how much I love him.
“We’ll talk tomorrow. Right now, I just want to hold you for a little while longer.”
“I love you so much,” I whisper into his chest.
“I love you, too.”
I hope our love will be enough.