62. Levi
LEVI
Ithrottle the four-wheeler to its limits the whole trip across Gideon’s property to reach mine. After making quick work of checking on my bees, I clear the porch steps in one stride.
I came back here for two things: clothes and my burner phone.
Once inside, I head straight for my nightstand drawer to snatch up the burner. My eyes snag on the journal and pen my mom bought me when we first moved to Florida because all my old ones had been confiscated by the Feds.
Impulse has me grabbing them, too.
He back yet?
Tossing the phone on the bed, I head to my closet, grab a duffel bag from the top shelf, drop in the journal and pen, and begin shovelling clothes on top. Only a few moments pass before I hear the soft buzz of Jeriko’s reply.
Yes.
My heart riots in my chest.
Finally.
How long is he in town for?
An ellipsis bubble pops up and disappears a couple times while I add my Benchmade SOCP dagger, and several spare magazines for the Heckler and Koch HK45C that’s holstered beneath my shirt. The same one I used to turn at least half of Azrael’s head into ground beef.
Finally, the phone buzzes again.
No idea, but his pilot is on call.
Fuck.
My mind wars between finally having my revenge and claiming Violette. Which would postpone my revenge indefinitely...
I’m surprised by how vehemently my mind rejects the potential of sacrificing my relationship with Violette. Since I met her, thoughts of killing my dad’s usurper have dwindled to all but nothing.
Beau was right when he said meeting the right woman would change a man.
That being said... I won’t let go of revenge too easily.
Maybe I could convince her to take a little road trip with me.
She could portal me there, but the idea of getting to spend extended time with her in such close proximity is just too good an opportunity to pass up.
Even if it means sacrificing precious time in making it there before my target leaves again.
I send a feeble prayer to the universe that Violette’s actually open to the suggestion and willing to leave Don Juan behind.
“What in the hellish fuck are you doing?”
Speak of the devil.
A grin teases my lips as I zip my duffel bag closed. My gaze lifts to meet Violette’s, standing across the room with one hip cocked and arms folded across her chest in a way that gives glorious emphasis to her breasts.
Fuck me, I need her.
“Packing my bags.”
“To go where?”
My brow quirks.
“Your house, princess.”
Her lip curls. “You’re awfully presumptuous.”
“You didn’t honestly think I would just let you run off with Azrael, did you?”
“Perhaps I should make you sleep outside. Like a dog.”
A rumble of laughter rises from my chest.
“Is that supposed to be a threat? I spent more than half my career sleeping in the jungle and the desert while bombs and gunfire sang me to sleep. So long as the God of Fuckholes isn’t inside the house with you, I’ll be happy as a clam.”
Violette’s face twists into the prettiest scowl I’ve ever seen, making my heart flutter. Her eyes dip briefly to my duffel bag.
“And who exactly was that knife and ammunition for?”
My throat closes around the truth.
I haven’t spoken of this to anyone outside of Jeriko.
“My father was killed when I was a kid. And I’ve finally found the man who did it.”
Violette’s mouth pops open briefly before snapping shut. Her gaze grows distant, gradually sliding to some corner of the room until she seems to reach a conclusion. She straightens, uncrossing her arms and lifting her chin.
“And when exactly did you plan on wreaking your revenge?”
“As soon as fucking possible.”
Her brows knit together. “Does he live nearby?”
“Well, I was hoping we could take a little road trip together. Make a vacation of it.”
She gives me a confused look. “As opposed to me folding you there?”
I clear my throat, trying my best to sound romantic.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to spend some quality time together.”
Violette blinks at me, brows pinching and mouth tilting in a way that might suggest I’ve just shit at her feet and proposed she step in it.
“I beg your pardon?”
I can’t help but bristle. I don’t often make myself vulnerable to people. Not emotionally anyway. The words come out more disgruntled than I’d intended.
“You. Me. My truck. On the wide open road. Driving across the country. Getting to know one another.”
Violette gives me a dubious look before pinching her brow and drawing in a deep breath. “What changed, Levi? Salvatore. Whatever your name is. And don’t think I’m going anywhere with you until I get answers.”
I try to muster cautious words. “The moment I stepped through that portal in your bathroom, I knew I’d made a mistake. That same night, Somnus came to me. He showed me you, begging Azrael to destroy the bond—our bond—and it broke me. Then he asked to court you, and everything crumbled.”
Violette scowls, shaking her head. “Of course he did. Meddling god. And it wasn’t as if I hadn’t warned you, Levi. I told you my plan.”
Levi shakes his head. “Living it was another thing entirely.
Tears swell in Violette’s eyes as she seethes. “It shouldn’t have taken you seeing me with another male to make you want me! You should have wanted me from the beginning!”
My heart shatters at that.
“Oh, Vi…”
Her chin wobbles beneath the weight of her trembling lower lip. My feet can’t carry me fast enough with the sheer overwhelming need that swells in my chest to soothe her. I pull her against me and find my hands stroking her hair with a gentleness I never thought myself capable of.
She stares up at me with the most adorably obstinate pout I’ve ever seen. The words are barely a whisper. “I hate you.”
Remorse is an ache in my chest, mingling with a hint of relief.
Hatred, I can work with. It’s her apathy I fear. Those glittering lilac eyes shine up at me with so much pain and sorrow, I can’t resist their call. It’s like every ounce of pain I’ve ever felt is mirrored in her gaze—the other half of my soul, soulbond or not.
I lean down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead. When I straighten, her eyes are closed, and two watery paths streak her reddened cheeks. Violette’s gaze returns to mine as I speak.
“Vi, you make me feel things I don’t have words for.
That night you kicked me out of your house, I realized that I don’t stand a chance at this life without you.
I just made the mistake of thinking that if I didn’t let myself get close to you, I could prevent all the heartache I’ve spent my entire life trying to avoid, but I don’t want this life without you. ”
I don’t miss how uncomfortably similar those words are to my mother’s, and in that moment, I find whatever last bit of resentment and judgment I’d had towards her dissolve. As if by begging for my own forgiveness, I am finally able to forgive her.
Tears spill down Violette’s cheeks in a continuous stream. The sight makes my mouth salivate with the need to consume them. To hold a small part of her inside me.
I am wholly aware that’s probably a creepy-as-fuck impulse, but I embrace it. I look forward to the day she gifts me her blood.
Pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks, I collect them from my lips with my tongue. The saline taste of her fills me with satisfaction.
With my lips still grazing her cheek, I pour every ounce of my emotion into my words. “I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you, Vi. Please come on this trip with me…”
My mouth brushes across the apple of her cheek and descends towards her neck. “Give me a chance to prove myself to you.”
I know I shouldn’t be teasing her like this, clouding her decision-making with arousal, but I can’t stop myself.
I’m too selfish and greedy for her. With my fingers carded through her hair, my grip tightens to bare her throat to me, where I graze my teeth against my bitemark upon her throat, and press an open-mouthed kiss.
“Please, Vi. I can be good... for you.”
Her response is a soft, barely there moan.
My cock throbs with the need to fill her as my fingers itch to grab her feminine curves. Lowering one hand to grip her waist, I pull back slightly to meet her gaze. Her eyes are still red, but her tears have dried; replaced by lust and dilated pupils.
“Let me show you, princess.”
When she doesn’t protest, the hand at her waist only has to travel a few inches down to greet her soft flesh peeking through the hip-high slit of her dress.
I pause, searching her eyes for any hint of hesitation.
Finding none, the back of my hand slips beneath the fabric to slowly trace the curve of her inner thigh.
Each pass teases higher and higher until my fingers finally meet wet warmth and slick flesh.
Fuck. Me.
My forehead drops to hers as I plummet further into need for her.
It’s a miracle I manage to maintain my composure. A miracle that I don’t cum in my pants on the spot, even as I feel a tinge of jealousy and possessiveness heating my veins.
I arch a brow at her. “Have you been without underwear this whole time?”
With a subtle shake of her head, a corner of her mouth curls with a tiny, guilty grin. Her words are more than a little breathless.
“Just the last... five seconds or so…”
A chuckle rumbles as relief and satisfaction swirl in my chest. I reward her by swiping one finger across her entrance. Arousal wets the digit, making each pass slick as I take my time nudging closer and closer to her clit.
Violette widens her stance, tilting her hips.
My mouth brushes against hers. “Take this off. I need to see you.”
The dress is gone before I even finish my sentence.
My gaze drops to her bared breasts—full, heavy, and nipples hardening—and to the fading dark gold veins in between them.
Her expression hardens with defiance when she sees where my attention lingers.
My anger sparks at the reminder of him, but my eyes slip down the soft curve of her belly.
Beyond to the soft, mostly hairless mound between her thick thighs.
Only a slender, groomed line of black curls trails towards her lower lips.