63. Violette
VIOLETTE
I’m reluctantly aware that time is ticking...
That Gideon, Winnow, and Azrael may or may not be done by now.
I feel a tinge of guilt at potentially making him wait, but I have no doubt he knew what he got himself into the moment he saw Levi making me squirt in my foyer—yet still, he proclaimed his desire to court me less than an hour later.
Even encouraged me to allow both of them to pursue me.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s patiently waiting in Levi’s living room by the time we finish cleaning up.
What I should be worried about is Levi’s reaction when I tell him I want Azrael to join us on our road trip. For more reasons than to simply fulfill our vow in allowing him to court me.
I want him there.
Before we step into the shower, I will the water on and turn towards him as I release his cock.
We’re standing just outside the shower’s threshold, waiting for the water to warm.
I take the liberty of willing away his clothing.
My attention locks onto the bronze veins in the center of his tattooed chest. Failing to mask my gasp, I reach out to touch them.
They’re faded, like mine. When my skin connects with his, Azrael’s magic faintly hums through me.
Levi looks down at me, watching my reaction. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you in the least.”
My heart is a bittersweet ache, and I’m not ready to start prodding at it by having another discussion.
With one finger, I trace just beneath his balls, making my way around the heavy curve, up to the base of his thick cock, all the way down its considerable length, until I reach the swelling bead of pre-cum at the tip of his broad, thickly flared crown.
His dick twitches, and when I lift my gaze to meet his, his lips are parted, breath suspended.
His tongue sweeps across his lips, and the need in his eyes is so intense that it awakens my own hunger.
I don’t feed often. I don’t need to, but after spending so much time stalking Levi and travelling back and forth to Terrenea, there’s a certain hunger in my belly that food alone isn’t satiating.
Steam whirls from the open shower door in invitation, so I cross the threshold, leaving him behind.
He follows closely behind me. Like a pup at my heels.
A grin teases my lips as I step beneath the warm water.
Levi stands at my back, waiting. When I step out from beneath the water, he guides me to lean against his chest. I tip my head back, and I’m promptly rewarded by the gentle kisses he presses to my throat.
My heart swells with immeasurable joy.
This is what I want.
Devotion.
Tenderness.
The moment is sweet despite his engorged cock being pinned between us. His touch isn’t merely sexual or desirous. Strong arms wrap around me and squeeze as he buries his face in my neck.
The realization strikes me like a honey-tipped spear to my bitter heart.
This is what it feels like to feel loved.
Tears burn my eyes, and I find my arms tightening around his. Squeezing him back.
Levi lets out a soft, but rough grunt. One laced with both the weight and liberation of relief.
With my back to his front, he’s none the wiser to the purge of emotion happening. So I allow my tears to fall—and to just luxuriate in this moment—because in his arms, hidden in a cloud of steam—a lifelong wound is being healed.
A wound that I think only this man could heal.
Minutes pass, my tears fade, and I let myself lose track of time.
I need this moment with Levi like I need air.
And I get the impression that he does too.
An unfamiliar urge comes over me, and I find myself bringing the palm of his hand to my mouth and pressing a kiss there.
Levi reciprocates by squeezing me a little harder, and lazily peppering my neck and shoulders in more of those achingly tender kisses. He groans into each one, fingers digging deeper into my flesh, as if trying to pour a part of himself inside of me.
The simmering heat in my core seems to ignite—yet again. Overwhelmed by the need to burrow deeper against him, I turn to face him and weave my arms around his neck. In one smooth movement, he lifts me from beneath my thighs.
Our mouths meet with the same firm but gentle urgency, lips and tongues caressing in perfect harmony.
Without breaking our kiss, Levi carries me to the built-in tile seat of his shower and sits down, settling me in his lap.
His arms return to thread around my waist, sealing me against him as he groans his pleasure into me.
He isn’t trying to push me to do more, but instead is simply holding me against him with an intensity that says his heart will stop if I let go.
As if reading my mind, or perhaps I read his, he breaks our kiss, pressing his forehead to mine as he cups my jaw.
“I want this with you, Vi. Always. ”
I suddenly feel more vulnerable than I’ve ever been before.
As if admitting that I don’t want this to end—that I want this with him—in perpetuity will be the equivalent of forsaking what little armor I have against him.
I don’t want to ruin this moment, but the words won’t come.
I feel like a rabbit arming itself with a butter knife against a wolf.
Levi pulls back slightly, eyes seeking mine.
“It’s okay, princess. I’ll show you that you can trust me. All I need is time and your permission.”
He pulls me against him, nuzzling against my throat.
His arms shift, and I hear the squeak of a bottle being opened.
Taking his time, he begins massaging the shampoo into my hair, and whatever tension had returned to my body gradually melts away beneath his touch.
The unhurried motions have a satisfied hum escaping me.
His stiff length is pinned between our bellies, but his efforts remain tender and unseeking of sexual gratification. Perhaps it’s because such a concept is new to me—to be taken care of, without any expectation or demand for me to give part of myself in return, is the most arousing gift of all.
Sitting up, I lean back into the rainfall shower above us, rinsing my hair. Levi grips my hips to hold me steady, all while the weight of his gaze takes in the sight of my bare flesh, further stoking my want for him.
Reaching for the handheld showerhead fixed to the wall beside us, I rinse whatever shampoo had transferred from me to him. My hands slide over the thick slabs of muscle decorated in tattoos and a slight peppering of dark hair.
Sacred fuck, there’s no denying how right this feels.
So much so, I’m almost able to forget the phantom sensation of where our bond is supposed to be.
Remorse swells inside of me, inspiring another round of tears to rise, but I swallow them back.
Why am I so impulsive?
If I’d only waited... things might have resolved themselves. Levi would have returned to me on his own.
My gut twists with a flicker of doubt.
Perhaps, he did only return to me because of Azrael. Even if Levi claims otherwise...
The realization gives me resolve to muster patience.
Both males are kind and eager—now, because I haven’t given either what they want. Of course they’ll be on their best behavior. Shower me with romance and tenderness—whatever it is they think I want from them.
But to give Levi, and even Azrael, the time and space to show their true colors...
I don’t think I’ve ever given anyone or anything the opportunity to do such a thing.
Look at what happened with Lucen.
I’d literally leapt into his arms.
I am a creature of emotion and impulse. Always leaping, hoping, and trusting without giving the world a chance to catch up.
This road trip now seems like a brilliant and fortuitous, if not altogether bizarre, twist of fate. What better way to get to know both of them?
After all, I scarcely know anything about either of them.
Which reminds me...
“What is your real name?”
Levi gives me a sad smirk. “My birth name is Salvatore Enzo Levi Amato. Not even Gideon and Beau know. I was put into what’s referred to as ‘witness protection’ with my mother after my father was killed. Had to change our names and move thousands of miles away so no one could find us.”
My breath ceases somewhere around my heart as it pinches tight with sympathy, even as I am absolutely stunned by just how much we have in common.
“Akash almighty…”
He shakes his head as if to dispel my concern. “It was a lifetime ago, sweetheart. I’m okay now.”
My eyes search his for confirmation of this okay-ness.
“Which name do you prefer?”
His reply comes without hesitation. “Levi. Salvatore brings back too many painful memories. No one’s called me that since my parents were alive. Not to mention... I would have a lot of explaining to do if anyone else heard you calling me that.”
I steel myself as I ready to reveal my own past, and its wounds.
“I have my own confession to make…”
Levi’s expression—more content and tender than I’ve ever seen it—doesn’t waver. As if I could reveal even the worst and most shameful parts of myself, and it would do nothing to change his feelings for me.
“My name isn’t actually Violette, either.”
His thumbs gently stroke my waist as he gives me the space to continue.
“Like you, I took on my little-known middle name. My full name is actually Raia Lunessa Violette Vale. My father is... to be reductive and put it simply... evil. I’ve been living in Caerwynath—hiding from him—for the last fifteen years or so. I feel obligated to kill him…”
Levi’s brows knit together, eyes darkening with menace. “Did he... abuse you?”
Expelling a heavy breath, I shake my head.
“Not in the conventional ways you might be thinking. After my mother passed—something I have increasingly begun to wonder if there was more to her death than I could have grasped at the time—he disappeared from my life entirely, yet from afar, orchestrated every person and significant relationship I had from that point on. He is a powerful male. His connections run deep beneath the surface of society—like a fucking mycelial network of spies and henchmen he has, more or less, forced into subservience. As far as I know, I am the sole, rightful heir to the throne of Sinsól. I’m actually not even certain why he didn’t killed me to prevent challenging him for his throne when he had the chance.
Not that I want anything to do with his throne.
I want nothing more than to live my quiet, isolated life in the woods.
But he has destroyed too many lives, killed people I love… ”
My throat tightens as grief for Thessaly swells in my chest.
Having Thessaly murdered is more than enough reason for me to hunt him down, but even the remote possibility that he had anything to do with my mother’s death—outside of his neglect—is something that has been eating away at me for years. And the only way of finding out is confronting him directly.
Sensing my turmoil, Levi cups my cheek, stroking back strands of wet hair from my face. “I’ve killed for far less, princess. You’ll get no judgment from me. And if you need me to be your revenge, just say the word.”
My gaze holds his, taking in the verity of his promise, and my heart swells further. More romantic words have never been spoken. And I have no doubt he would fulfill them.
My own admission spills from my lips before I can think better of it.
“Truly, Akash sculpted you just for me…”
The emotion swirling in my chest is mirrored in his eyes.
A corner of his mouth tips up in a small grin as he arches a brow, voice gravelly with dark promise. “Shall we ride at dawn?”
My head tips back with laughter. It seems there are some universal narratives that transcend time and space, literally.
“I’m afraid this is my burden to bear,” I quip, using another common theme to portray the truth. I don’t want to risk his safety. Especially not as a human.
Levi’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “Not anymore, Vi... It's ours.”
Gods, soulbond or not, this male really is the other half of my soul.
Unable to stop myself, I press a lingering kiss to his lips, but withdraw before it can escalate.
The look in his eyes tells me he’d hoped it would have lasted longer, but he doesn’t push.
Instead, he just continues to caress the length of my thighs and my lower back with one hand as he holds me with the other.
“Do you prefer I call you Raia, or Violette?”
A corner of my mouth tilts. Truly, the parallels between us are too numerous to be coincidental.
“Violette. Like you, my first name brings back too many memories I’d rather forget.”
He nods in understanding, studying me. “Will you tell me one day?”
“Tell you what?”
“Everything. I want to know all there is to know about you. Everything about you fascinates me. Every time you reveal something new to me, no matter how small, I am... awed.”
My cheeks flush in a way that has nothing to do with the heat of the shower as I gradually nod and swallow back that pesky emotion threatening to break my restraint to just give every part of myself to this male.
“The feeling is mutual. Would you honor me the same?”
Levi leans forward, lips grazing my brow before pressing a kiss there. My core clenches. “I would deny you nothing, My Queen.”
Despite having read those words, in one form or another, in countless novels, they have never resonated with more fervor or sincerity than they do now.
My reply is but a whisper as I attempt to keep my voice from cracking beneath the weight of my emotion for this male—gratitude beyond measure, and an affection that I am too terrified to name.
“Careful, My King... I may yet ask for your heart.”
Levi draws back, gaze falling to mine as mirth curls one corner of his lips.
“It is already yours.”