Thirty-Seven
Oakley
The house is dark, the sun having set a few hours ago, and it’s eerily quiet.
Unease prickles at the nape of my neck, and a flurry of goosebumps skate down my arms. Bandit doesn’t seem to be bothered though, skidding around the corner to sit in front of his food bowl before looking up at me expectantly.
I pat him on the head as I pass, heading to the pantry where his food is kept.
A light buzz has me jumping out of my skin until I locate my cell phone that I’d tucked into the waistband of my leggings. I grab the dog food and deposit a scoop, plus a little extra—for a job well done—into his bowl before checking my phone.
Levi
Hey, beautiful. How was your hike?
I almost fell off a cliff.
I smirk down at my response when the phone comes alive in my hand, vibrating with an incoming call from Levi. My grin grows as I answer, rounding the corner and climbing the stairs to my room. I don’t get a chance to say anything before Levi’s concerned voice fills my ear.
“What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I laugh lightly, earning myself an exasperated sigh. “I’m okay. Don’t worry, I didn’t actually fall off the cliff, but it was a little rocky for a minute there.”
“Don’t scare me like that,” he says, relief evident in his tone. “What trail did she take you to?”
“I can’t remember the name of it, but it had this bit of rock climbing at the end that scared the shit out of me. Bandit put me to shame.”
“Rock scrambling. I know the one. Bandit climbs up that part faster than any of us, myself included.”
“He does have two extra legs,” I point out.
Tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear, I gather what I need for a shower, including a change of clothes and some of my toiletries from the bathroom across the hall.
I could shower in there, but after the debacle last night, and especially after seeing how gorgeous Levi’s en suite is, I decide to treat myself to a more luxurious experience.
“You had a good time though?” he asks.
“Yeah, the view was incredible. Took my breath away. Figuratively and literally. It was nice spending time with Jessie, too. She’s actually coming back over in a little bit. We’re gonna have ourselves a girls’ night.” I’m rambling, but I can’t help it.
Maybe it’s the lingering endorphins from the hike, or maybe it’s the low timbre greeting me on the other end of the phone, but I’m reluctant to cut our conversation short.
“I’m glad you won’t be alone tonight. I selfishly wish it were me keeping you company instead.”
“Me too. I can think of a few things we could get into if you were here.” Where did that come from, Oakley?
One day of breathing the fresh mountain air into my lungs and now I’m flirting, albeit badly. Though if I truly think about it, I think my change of attitude has more to do with his wicked confession and mind-blowing kiss this morning.
“Oh yeah?” His voice dips lower, his tone heavy with a sultry curiosity.
“Mhmm.” I make my way to his room and into the bathroom, flipping on the dim lights above the counter and setting my things down.
“Care to share?”
I move to put my toiletries in the shower, but pause when the tub catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. The sight of it brings the memory of last night to the forefront of my mind. I think another bath is in order.
I cross the room and turn the faucets, testing the temperature with my fingertips before plugging the basin.
“Oakley…” The way he says my name is a gravelly warning, and it has my skin heating.
“Hmm?” I question, distracted by the very dirty thoughts running through my mind. Digging under the sink, I grab the bottle of rose-scented bubble bath he used last night and pour a generous amount into the steady stream of water.
“What’s got you so distracted? Is that the bath I hear?”
There’s a teasing edge to his voice, and I bite my lip as I smile. I put the phone on speaker and place it down on the windowsill beside the tub.
“Yup. I fear you spoiled me last night. There’s no way I’m gonna be able to go back to that shower down the hall.” I strip off my sweaty clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. I cut the water and groan as I settle in, the steaming water soothing my aching muscles and making my body go limp.
“Fuck, baby. It’s driving me crazy that I’m not there with you. Those noises you make…”
“It just feels so good. Especially after the hell Jessie put me through today.”
Levi’s breath hitches on the other end of the phone. I love the effect I have on him. Knowing I’m driving him crazy right now has something deep in my chest purring and a delicious heat pooling in my belly.
“God, knowing you’re naked right now and not being able to touch you is killing me.”
My hand slips beneath the water, and I run my fingertips lightly down my chest, circling one nipple and then the other.
I can’t believe I’m allowing myself to do this while he’s on the other end of the phone, but I’ve been a mess of nerves and want since this morning, and I deserve some relief.
The touch is a shot of electricity straight between my legs, my clit throbbing in time with the beat of my heart.
“Tell me what you’re doing.” His demand is rough, spoken through gritted teeth.
“I’m… I’m touching myself.” My admission is timid as nerves rack my body as I second guess whether I’ve taken it too far, too soon. Levi’s answering groan soothes my nerves, and I relax further into the water.
“Where are you touching yourself?”
I run my fingers over my nipples again, closing my eyes as I let the warm water relax me further as it laps over my skin. “My chest.”
“Come on, I know you can be more specific than that. Use your words, darlin’.”
“I’m touching my breasts,” I breathe, an equal measure of both embarrassment and need seeping into my voice as I lay myself bare to him.
“Mmm. I want you to listen to me very closely, Oakley. Can you do that? Can you be good and listen for me?”
“Yes.” God, the mouth on this man. Every single word he utters leaves me yearning for more, ready to listen and obey whatever he tells me to do.
“Trail those fingers over your nipples, baby.”
I obey. The only sound connecting us is the sound of our uneven breathing. I circle my fingers again, my breasts heavy and aching.
“Levi,” I moan.
“It’s not enough, is it? You need your fingers somewhere else, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I breathe.
“Go ahead, baby. Put that hand between your legs.”
I do so immediately, not wanting to wait any longer when I can practically taste the release his filthy words are drawing me closer to. I groan as my fingers graze over my clit, and I repeat the motion, the feeling too good to wait for his next instruction.
“That’s it. Are you wet for me?”
I dip my hand lower, my fingers sliding through my slit with ease. “S-so wet.”
“Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to feel you right now. To run my tongue between your legs and taste that sweet pussy I’ve been salivating for. Push your finger inside yourself for me.”
I do and, fuck, it feels too good. I slowly pump my finger in and out, loving the feel of how my body responds with a rush of heat. The unmistakable clink of a belt buckle greets me, and it sends another flood of desire right through me.
“Are you touching yourself?” I ask, embarrassed at my question, but not enough to not ask it. I need to know for sure, like I need the next breath of air in my lungs.
“Yeah, darlin’, I am. You like that? You like knowing exactly what you do to me?”
“Yes.” I draw the word out on a moan as I push my finger in and out again.
Levi’s quiet grunts fill the bathroom as he strokes himself, echoing off the tile and lighting my blood on fire. Our sounds are lewd and desperate, and I drink them down greedily like a glass of cool water after a hike.
“Rub that clit for me, baby. Make yourself feel good.”
The stroke of my fingers over my clit has sparks darting across my vision, but I keep going, already feeling that familiar tightening that tells me I’m close. I couldn’t stop right now even if I wanted to.
“It’s not enough. I need more. I need you,” I whine as I bring myself closer to the edge.
“I know, baby. Fuck, I’m close. I need you to make yourself come for me. Let me hear those pretty moans.”
The sensations overtake me, building until it feels like I might combust right here on the spot. It’s too much and not enough all at the same time. Levi’s breaths grow labored, each sharp exhale of breath sending my body into overdrive until it’s almost painful.
“I-I can’t. It’s too much,” I whimper as my core tightens like a bowstring, ready to snap and release at any moment.
“You can. You’re doing so fucking good for me. Such a good.” Grunt. “Fucking.” Groan. “Girl.”
I cry out his name as my release crashes into me, catapulting me right off the edge of a cliff as wave after wave of pleasure courses all the way down to my toes. Levi groans out his release a moment later, his primal noises sending another shockwave of pleasure through me.
We sit in silence on opposite ends of the phone, both of us trying to catch our breath. My eyes drift closed as I bask in the aftermath of my orgasm.
The slam of the front door startles me back to reality at the same time that Jessie’s voice floats up from the bottom of the stairs.
“I’ve got your nasty-ass olive pizza! Come and get it!”
The water sloshes as I sit up fully. “Shit! Fuck! Not good!”
“Not exactly what a man wants to hear after phone sex,” Levi chuckles.
I swing my leg over the side of the tub and climb out, making myself a promise to come back and clean up the water later. I grab a towel and hastily dry myself off before pulling on my clothes, struggling to yank them up over my damp skin.
“Sorry, not you. That—that was great. Seriously, ten out of ten. But Jessie is downstairs, and I am naked.”
He laughs again, the sound carefree and relaxed, and I crack a smile myself, recognizing how ridiculous I sound right now. Blame it on my frazzled nerves.
“Go. Have fun with Jessie. I should get some sleep. We have to be on the job at five tomorrow. Though, with how hard I just came, I’ll be asleep in no time.”
“Glad to be of help. I’m starting to think there’s something about this tub. It’s got to be some sort of weird aphrodisiac.”
“I disagree. It’s all you. I personally think you should take baths every night from now until the end of time if this is how they’re going to end.”
I laugh off his comment and yank open the bathroom door moving with ease through his bedroom and down the hall.
“Oakley?! Come help me pick a movie! Levi is more than capable of jerking himself off without your help.” Jessie’s voice calls up to me from the living room, and mortification washes over me.
“Oh my God,” I mutter as I dump my dirty clothes in my room and make my way down the hall to the stairs.
“Tell Jessie it’s way more fun when you help me,” Levi says, and I can practically hear the Cheshire grin taking over his face.
“Yeah, I’m not telling her that,” I laugh. “Talk to you tomorrow?”
“Talk to you then,” he agrees. “Have a good night, love.”
The line goes dead as he ends our call, his newest term of endearment hitting me right in the feels. Love. There’s something gentle yet possessive about the way he uses it, and it makes my heart swell.
I round the corner into the living room to see Jessie sitting cross-legged on the couch, Bandit at her side, and Netflix already loaded up on the TV.
The pizza boxes are set up on the coffee table, complete with a six-pack of a hard apple cider I’ve never heard of.
Jessie gives me a knowing smirk as I sit down next to her and scratch the top of Bandit’s head.
“Now that you’re nice and relaxed,” she waggles her eyebrows suggestively at me and motions to the screen, “Bridesmaids or Bad Moms?”