Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
Levi
She walks down to meet me at the fire pit as I toss my clothes into the flames.
We can't risk there being any evidence, and I already called my guys in to clean up the body and the barn. I don’t know if it’s better or worse that we do it so often, we have a near-flawless protocol in place.
I take a long swig of my beer as I watch her hips sway on the walk down in some sort of thin nightie that Dakota must have purchased for her.
It accents every curve she has, and it’s the last thing I need to be seeing her in right now.
“Can you get this button? My arms are sore from being in that position on the saddle stand, and it’s hard to reach.
” She turns her back to me, and I get a waft of the soap she showered in.
It’s turning into my favorite scent. I'll have to find out what the inn uses and keep it in my apartment once she’s gone.
The thought of her being gone echoes through my head, and I push it away.
I don’t have time for my own bullshit right now. I have to be here for her.
“Sure.” I close the distance between us.
She sweeps her long red hair over her shoulder and to the side, exposing her pale skin under the low light.
The long line of her neck and spine dips down to meet her shoulder blades, like delicate wings beating as she moves.
My dirty hands contrast against the pastel fabric of the nightgown, a stark reminder of where we stand.
She’s barely free, and the last thing she needs is another man with a penchant for violence. Even if my causes are nobler.
I probably scared her half to death today, anyway, with how far I’m willing to take things when the situation calls for it. If she wasn’t ready to run back to the convent before, I’ve sealed that fate now.
“It’s a shame we have to burn it. It’s pretty.” She frowns at the sight of her dress being consumed by fire.
“I’ll buy you another one. There are plenty more in the cabin. Fuck, even this nightgown is pretty. Dakota has good taste; I’ll give her that.” I offer up a smile, trying to let us both come down from all the adrenaline of the day.
“It felt nice to feel pretty in front of him for once,” she admits quietly as she risks a glance up at me.
It grinds over my heart to hear it because the woman is gorgeous.
Stunning in light like this. Even without her makeup or hair done.
I still remember the first time I set eyes on her in person.
The dull black of her uniform couldn’t dim the way her hair shimmered in the light, or how soft her skin looked, and how bright her eyes shone as she smiled and laughed.
“You’d look pretty in a paper bag. You know that, right? Whatever he said or did to you, whatever doing time with the rest of the chastity cheerleaders has convinced you of. I hope you know that much, and if you don’t, I’m happy to tell you as many times as you need to hear it.”
“Careful. I’ll pretend just to hear you say it again,” she teases, turning to look at me with a small smile on her face as her nightgown slips off her shoulder with the movement.
A grin breaks on my lips in return, and I turn back to the fire, nudging the pretty set of lace panties she wore today into the heat of the flame.
“Having to burn those is the real shame,” I mutter without thinking it through.
“There are plenty more in the house.” Her voice has that melodic quality to it that I love so much. “Minus the pair you stole, but I gather we’re still not talking about that.”
“Probably better that we don’t.”
“What if I want to?”
“Meaning what exactly?” I take a draw off my beer, annoyed with myself for letting curiosity get the better of me rather than shutting this down immediately.
She stands a little straighter and crosses her arms over her chest.
“I was thinking that I’m free now, and all the things that means. All the possibilities it finally opens up for me.” She pauses and studies me.
“More once we get your money back from those accounts he hid it in.”
She shakes her head. “That’s going to be impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible. Not if you want it bad enough.”
“Well… I suppose you have a point there. I thought it was impossible to ever get out from under his thumb, and you managed that. But I still think some things are highly unlikely.”
“Like?” I’m curious what else she’s hoping we can take care of, but ready if I can take another worry off her plate. Especially now that I know just what kind of scum she was subjected to for years.
“You—sleeping in the bed tonight.”
My hand tightens around the bottle for half an instant before I realize what she's saying. She’s probably raw and vulnerable, processing a fuckton of emotions even if she did hate him. I doubt she wants to be alone. I’m not even sure if I would in her position.
“You know I don’t sleep much, but I can lie with you and keep you company. Happy to if you need it,” I offer.
“I’d like that. I just don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“You’re never alone here. I’m always around, and I won’t let anything happen to you.
” I know the last few days have been hard on her, even if the outcome is one she could be happy with eventually.
I’m sure she’s worried about what comes next.
I’m sure news of Corey’s demise will only antagonize her father and draw out his ire.
I need to remind Grant to bolster security later tonight.
“I know you won’t.”
“All right. Go on back to bed. I’m cold just looking at you. I’ll put this fire out and be right in,” I promise her, and she leans forward and kisses my cheek.
It’s a chaste kiss, but it leaves a brand on my skin all the same. Reminding me of the way I kissed her in the woods. The taste of strawberries on her lips. I’m lost in the thought when her voice breaks through again.
“Thank you. For everything. Truly.” She offers a small smile and then takes off back up the hill.
I drag my feet a little longer than I should going back to bed. I’m hoping to find her passed out and sound asleep. I'll still lie on the bed for a while to make sure she knows someone’s there, but then I plan to wander back out to the living room.
When you have the kind of insomnia I do, entertainment and distraction are your best friends.
The last thing I want to do is stare up at the ceiling, listening to her cute little snores while I contemplate how to choke myself just enough that I pass out, but not enough to die, because I can’t take the lack of sleep anymore.
Working on casino business, checking the security cameras, plotting our next move.
That’s what I do in the middle of the night when I’m all alone with no interruptions.
But I want to keep my promise to her, and if she needs someone next to her tonight, I’ll do it.
I creak the door open slowly and see her sprawled on the bed, looking angelic with her eyes closed and curled up on her side.
Reaching behind my head, I pull my shirt off, tossing it over the chair.
I hesitate as my hands go for my belt buckle.
Normally, I'd strip down every night if I were sleeping in my own bed, but with her here, I’m not about to.
I don’t need the temptation. So I slip the belt off slowly and the jeans and socks with it, but I leave my boxer briefs on when I slide under the covers.
I keep my distance from her, curling up on my own side of the bed so she’s still got plenty of room.
The sheets are soft, perfect really, thanks to my sister-in-law’s taste in decor.
I'll be in trouble for that mug Zephyrine’s ex broke, but I can replace it with a new set that she'll hopefully like just as much. I could look for that online tomorrow at breakfast. I’m trying to think about anything right now that isn’t the woman lying next to me as my head hits the pillow.
The vision of her wet for me and bent over the saddle stand won’t stop replaying in my head, even though I know it’s wrong.
It was meant for his benefit. I wanted to prove to him that he was a fucking loser for not treating her better than he did.
That she’s perfect in every fucking way possible, and he never had the fucking vision to see her for what she was. What she is.
She was wasted on him, but that doesn’t mean she’s meant for me either. Even if every day I want her a little more. She wants the convent, and I promised her I’d give her what she wants. I have to rein myself in.
“Levi?” She hums my name softly and turns her head. “You came.” I can hear the relief in her voice.
“I said I would.”
“I wasn’t sure.”
I wasn’t either. This feels like asking for trouble. Not to mention, I haven't slept in a bed with a woman for years. Breaking that streak with her seems as perfect as it is dangerous.
“Nah. I’m here. You can go back to sleep now, sweetheart.”
Her lashes flutter, and her eyes are heavy with exhaustion, but she offers up a small smile in the darkness. I don’t know how anyone could want to do anything but protect this woman.
“Would you…” The words fade on her lips, and she turns away from me again, like she wishes she hadn’t started the request.
“Would I?” I repeat the question. Curiosity getting the better of me.
She risks another glance back at me before she stares down at her pillow.
“Would you hold me?” She asks the question so softly it’s barely audible.
“Of course. Come here.” I force myself to sound more confident than I am. I want to be here for her when she needs someone. Tonight of all nights.
She slides across the bed tentatively, and I reach over, wrapping one arm around her thigh and another under and around her waist, dragging her until her body is flush with mine.
She curls up on her side, curving her body to meet mine.
When I move to pull my arm away to give her space, she wraps hers around it, pressing it to her chest. My heart thuds low, and my chest swells at the fact she's seeking me out like this. She’s an angel, and if she needs me to keep her safe, I’ll do anything she wants.
“Thank you for this. For everything. It means a lot,” she whispers.
Her words crack straight into my heart and momentarily steal my own from me.
I don’t want to say the wrong thing here, and I don’t want to ruin this moment, so I squeeze her tighter in response, hoping it gives her what she needs, and she rests her head on the pillow next to me.
We stay like that for a long time until her soft little snores lull me to sleep.