Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Warren
Seeing Levette like that, in the grasp of his anger and jealousy, was terrifying.
Not because I was scared of him, but because I feared what losing himself to that would do.
Levette had tried to keep the darker parts of himself contained, locked away, and he was willing to throw all that work away because of me.
I would not allow it. So, I did the only thing I could do without thinking: give him a confession of my own.
I had been falling in love with Levette since the moment he walked into The Carousel, though I had not been able to admit it to myself. To admit it to him was a finality, a way of giving myself over to Levy and closing myself off somewhat to the fears I clung to.
Loving Levette confirmed to me that I was damned—in love with a man, in love with a demon.
And yet, I did not even try to stop the words as they came tumbling out. I ran headfirst into the danger, into the darkness, and sealed my fate with a kiss.
He had killed that priest in a brutal show of control and theatrics, and while I knew it was wrong, a small part of me understood.
Levette had seen the Church hurt him and others for so many years and had heard the stories of my own pain.
The knowledge that these sects were hunting people like him—like us—was enough to push him over the edge.
It was an overreaction, but also a way to prove something. He needed me to see exactly how dark he could be to ensure I chose him and all his shadows.
I let him pull me through the streets of New Orleans, making our way to my apartment because it was closer.
His hand was in mine, our fingers entwined, and I did not have the capacity to think about the public perception of us—I would worry about that later, if I had to.
Somehow, I did not think I would have to fear much when Levette was by my side.
We stumbled into my apartment like the lovers we were, excited and anxious to be together after such big confessions.
“What happened tonight cannot happen again,” I warned Levy. “I may not be there the next time you lose control, and somehow I doubt my professions of love will bring you back every time.”
Levette laughed, stalking forward until I was pressed up against the wall.
“Cher, hearing you tell me you love me will bring me back always. But I cannot promise not to lose control again—I meant it when I told you that this is who I am. I will not always be in control, and I will not always feel remorseful afterward. I can, however, promise always to try to hold back.”
I nodded, suddenly not caring about much of anything with him standing so close. “That seems like a good deal. I can cope with that.”
“Hm,” Levette said, leaning in to press his nose against my neck. He inhaled deeply and a shiver went down my spine. “You smell so fucking good, mon amour.”
I had to bite down on my bottom lip just to stop myself from moaning at hearing his voice like that, so low, and heady, and filled with hunger. “Thank you? I am unsure if there is a proper way to respond to that.”
Levette chuckled, his lips pressing soft kisses down my neck. “Your heart rate increasing due to my closeness is thanks enough. Being able to hear your physical reaction to me will always thrill me. But I must confess something else…”
“What’s that?” I asked, dazed and distracted by his administration.
“If you ever let another man into your apartment, friend or not, I will not hold back. I will kill them and I will torture you for it,” he warned before slamming his lips into mine in what I could only describe as a punishing kiss.
I loved it. Once my lips were plump and sore, he pulled back and smirked. “Comprendre?”
“Compris,” I replied, nodding my head. Oh, I understood completely.
Levette shrugged off his jacket and let it fall to the floor.
I began to unbutton his shirt, desperate to see the chiseled expanse of his torso.
He helped by untucking it and dropping his arms to his sides as I pulled it off.
I ran my fingers across his stomach, taking pride in the way his stomach tensed and relaxed at my touch.
“May I?” Levy asked, his hands twitching at my shirt. I nodded and watched him carefully, painstakingly slow, unbutton my own shirt and slide it off.
Instinct told me to cross my arms over myself and immediately grab the material to cover myself, but I would not allow fear to rule me when it came to Levette. He had given so much to me, and I wanted to do the same.
His eyes roamed over my chest and stomach, his fingers tracing the raised skin.
Scars littered my front and back, permanent reminders of my failures, a way for my father to always be marked on my skin.
I closed my eyes against his touch, the gentleness of it a stark contrast to the way the scars were created.
“I am so sorry that you suffered so much,” Levy whispered, running his hands over my skin and taking my hands in his. “You did not deserve it.”
“It is of little consequence now. I have changed,” I said proudly, opening my eyes so he could see that I was being honest. It seemed that Levette took away the crippling pain somehow, making it more tolerable. “It is in the past.”
“Then let me make new memories on your skin that make you look to the future.”
He lifted our hands above my head, pinning them there as he dropped his head to my chest. Carefully and slowly, he placed a soft kiss on every scar I had. It sent shockwaves through my system and I whimpered, needy for his touch.
Letting go of our hands, he guided me towards my bed by my hips, stopping when my legs hit the mattress.
I dropped down, looking up at him as he stood between my legs, looking every bit as handsome and regal as he was.
Levette should have been born a king, living a life in a position where he was worshipped every day.
“We do not have to do this,” he told me, gesturing to the bed. “We can just lie together if that is what you want. All I need is to be near you.”
I shook my head, shuffling backward. “I want this. I want you.”
“Are you positive? Know that if we do this, there is no going back. I cannot hold back the hold I will have on you, the way I will want to possess you, mon amour. You will be mine, and I will be yours. I am an immortal being; this is forever to me. I will never let you go.”
My heart pounded, my stomach fluttering at his declaration. I grabbed his hand, placing it over my chest. “Feel the steady rhythm as I speak this truth: I am unwavering in this, Levette. You claimed me the minute we met. Make me yours.”
Levette took a deep breath before leaning down to kiss me. He gently pushed me onto my back, climbing onto the bed over me.
I thought, just for a moment, about how ashamed my parents would be of me, but whereas before the thought would have crippled me, it only spurred me on now.
I let my lips wander across Levette’s skin as he reached between us, unbuttoning my pants.
He leaned back to pull them off, quickly ridding himself of his own.
Only our undergarments stood between us and complete nakedness.
“We can go slow,” Levette whispered, moving some of my hair out of my eyes.
“Okay,” I confirmed, nodding. He removed his last remaining layer, standing still as my eyes took him in. He was intimidating to look at, but every bit as glorious as I imagined. “You are a vision.”
Levy let out a slow breath and moved to lie beside me, taking his time to touch all of my exposed skin. I lay still and watched him, taking pleasure in his touches and trying to gain the confidence to explore him, too.
“Levette?”
“Oui, mon cher?”
“Touch me, please,” I asked breathlessly, aching for more.
Levette tilted my head so I was looking at him as he leaned in slowly, capturing my lips with his, while reaching between us. I gasped into his kiss as his fingers slowly traced my length, teasing and gentle.
“Are you alright? It feels good?” Levette asked, his hand stilling.
I closed my eyes, grabbing onto his arm. “It feels…amazing. Please don’t stop.”
Chuckling, Levette continued to touch me, and I felt dizzy at the sensation. I had never allowed myself to touch another person or be touched. It seemed fitting that it was Levette who would be my first.
I was overwhelmed with love and a hunger for more.
Suddenly I was grabbing at him, needing to feel his skin on mine and his lips touch my skin.
Levette obliged, kissing me all over, until I felt his teeth on my neck.
I groaned, permitting him to bite me. He sank his fangs into my neck at the same time as he increased the movements of his hand, my back arching into him.
He licked and sucked at my neck, taking and giving at the same time, until I was a writhing mess, ready to come undone.
“Do you want more?” Levette asked, his voice husky. He sat back, his hand stilling, and looked at me with lids so heavy in lust that made my stomach flutter.
I grabbed the back of his head and crammed our lips together, pushing all my feelings into that kiss. “Give me everything.”
Levette looked towards the ceiling, moving his lips as he whispered quietly. I could not hear what he was saying, but it looked like he was praying, and I felt a delight in that. Levette made me want to thank God for him, too.
He reached down between us and slowly adjusted himself.
Taking his time, he kissed me like he needed it to breathe, leisurely sinking into me.
We sighed at the same time, a languid moan leaving his lips when he was fully seated.
He placed a hand at either side of me, looking down at me as he began to move again.
Every action caused a wave of pleasure to ripple through me. I gasped at the sensations, my hands grabbing at his strong arms like I was about to fall off a cliff.
“Warren…” Levette moaned, my name on his lips sounding like he was immortalizing his devotion.