Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
LEVI
Steam curls through the bathroom, a contrast to the cool light spray of water sprinkling over us from the showerhead.
Piper stands directly beneath it with her back against the cool river-rock wall. Wet hair clings to her skin as the water glides in delicious rivulets down her bare breasts.
Christ.
She’s beautiful.
I brace one hand beside her head and the other near her waist, trapping her between my arms while I watch her.
This is another fantasy my wicked mind concocted, the two of us showering together naked.
She smiles at me as I look her up and down, taking in her perfect body.
I can still hear her laughter from earlier ringing in my head. I can still see her smiling out on the yacht with the sunlight catching. I can still see that rare moment when she gave herself to me.
It was different from the times when she chose me.
It looked like she gave herself permission to live, to feel, to be mine.
I watched her as I am now, slowly forgetting all the reasons she tried to stay away.
After last week, I wasn’t sure what to do. There’s a line between pushy and obsessive.
While I’ve obsessed over this woman since the moment I saw her, I’d never be the villain who pushed her into something she wasn’t ready for.
At the same time, that didn’t mean I’d stop chasing her.
Today changed something between us.
And now I have her all to myself. I don’t even know what the hell the time is. I’m supposed to be at the airport at eight in the morning. I have an alarm set, but for all I know, it could have gone off hours ago.
We’ve been at each other for what feels like days.
My gaze drifts lower.
“I dare you,” I mutter with a ruthless grin.
Water drips from the ends of her lashes as she tilts her face up toward me.
“To do what?” Piper smiles back, like she wants me just as badly as I want her.
“Kiss me again.”
“I accept.”
She stands on her toes, and I help her out by leaning closer. When she presses those sweet lips to mine, all the blood rushes to my dick, and I want her again.
I keep asking for kisses because I love her mouth.
No, not just her mouth. I love everything about her.
“Fuck,” I mutter against her lips
Piper’s mouth curves faintly at the sound. “More?”
“Fuck yeah.” My voice comes out rough with my greed to have her lips on me again.
She kisses me once more, and I know this feeling clawing beneath my ribs every time her lips touch mine, or when she looks at me, is becoming something else entirely.
Something far more dangerous than lust, or games, or this arrangement of ours.
The truth is, I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want her.
And the worst part is, it’s not just physical. Yes, I love her body. I love being inside her and feeling her unravel with pleasure. But sex is easy.
This unquenchable feeling that can only be satisfied when I’m near her isn’t.
Her fingers flutter over my chest, but I feel the ache low in my groin.
The intense need for her to touch me there takes over, and I grab her hand to guide it to my cock.
I clamp her hand around my length, and she rubs up and down my shaft.
“Harder. Stroke me harder,” I whisper over her lips.
She strokes harder, like she wants to obey my every request and give me pleasure, too.
My balls tighten, a sign I need to be inside her again, but I want one more thing first. I can’t believe we haven’t done this yet.
I pull away from her lips and catch her throat, caressing the smooth, elegant slope of her neck.
“I want those beautiful lips on my cock, Butterfly.”
The moment I release her, she lowers slowly to her knees. Watching this goddess on her knees for me could easily bring me to mine. To be fair, she’s had me on my knees several times since we met, worshiping her body.
I grab my cock and aim toward her mouth. “Open for me.”
Her lips part, and I slide right inside her hot little mouth. I close my eyes and groan deep, relishing the heat of her lips wrapped around my length.
She takes me deep and starts sucking. I lace my hands through the soft fiery strands of her hair, urging her to take me even deeper. She does, and then the sweet little butterfly blows my fucking mind.
Her head bobs up and down my length, and I thrust deeper and faster, fucking her mouth.
Holy. Fuck.
She’s going to ruin me. But didn’t I always know that from the get-go?
I really did meet my match, the one woman in this entire universe who could make me want to change everything in my world just to keep her.
A sharp bolt of pleasure shoots through me. I’m about to come, to empty in her mouth, but I want her pretty, little cunt again.
I stop her, pull out of her mouth, and lift her to stand.
“Levi,” she gasps.
“I need to be inside you again.”
I turn her to face the wall and bend her over so my cock is perfectly lined up against her pussy.
Feeling how wet she is for me sends unhinged desire spiraling through my mind, then I bury myself deep inside her.
I already know I won’t last long, but I’ll take what I can get.
“What a pretty fuck you are, Butterfly.”
I pump harder, admiring her lush, round ass and the way her breasts bounce with every thrust.
“Oh, God,” she cries, her fingers grasping for something to hold on to.
Her muscles tighten as I fuck her against the wall.
It doesn’t take long before I lose control and flood her insides with my cum. It flows out of me at the same time she comes, too.
The impact is so great I almost fucking black out.
Within the walls of my shower, nothing can be heard but our breathing.
I hold on to her, not wanting to let go yet. Or for the moment to end.
Fuck it. This ends when I say it does. I’m Levi Vale. I write my own rules and play my own games.
I pull out of her and scoop her up in my arms. She’s breathing hard and her skin is glowing.
“Where are you taking me now?” she giggles, but she’s still catching her breath.
“Back to bed. I want that pussy on my face.”
* * *
It’s just past seven. I have to leave now if I want to make my flight.
I just can’t bring myself to go yet.
I sit on the edge of the bed, watching Piper.
She’s asleep, curled slightly beneath the silky bedsheets. She fell asleep hours ago.
I couldn’t drift off. I liked watching her too much. And part of me thought if I closed my eyes, I’d wake up and she’d be gone. Like the first night we spent together.
It’s crazy.
If anyone had told me this could be me, I would never have believed it.
I hardly believe it myself.
The butterfly flew into the devil’s lair and made him feel things he never thought he could feel. Soft only for her.
Warm sunlight spills across her in golden ribbons, setting her hair on fire. One of her hands is tucked beneath her cheek, and the look on her face is pure peace.
I hope she feels it, too. She’s told me many things about herself, but I know there are things she’s kept hidden. Dark things connected to her ex.
I’m no saint. Fuck, I’m not even what most people would call a good man, but… I hope I can bring some light into her world. Something to take the edge off, no matter how small.
I sit there longer than I should, watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing while I continue falling for her.
When did I first realize that?
I don’t fucking know. Does it even matter?
My grandfather always said when you fall, you fall, and you don’t even realize you’re falling until you’re over the edge. It’s too late then.
That’s the kind of emotion that ruins men and makes them reckless.
Look at me here, stalling a trip destined to bring in several millions, all for one more minute with my butterfly.
I reach over to brush a strand of hair away from her face before finally getting up.
It’s time to go.
But I’ll be back.
And I don’t want things to be different when I return.
* * *
I pull up at the private terminal with minutes to spare.
The tarmac is already alive with movement. Ground crew wheel luggage across the concrete while the Vale jet waits ahead.
When I get out of my car, I spot Locke making his way over.
He’s walking in from the coffeeshop with a coffee in one hand and a duffel slung over his shoulder. Locke is usually as laidback as me, but today, he looks like he’s about two seconds away from committing a felony.
I shut the car door and head toward him.
The second I get close enough, I know something’s definitely wrong from the murderous look in his eyes.
I smirk. “Who spat in your food?”
His eyes narrow immediately. “Don’t test me, brother. I’ve had the worst day ever, and the sun has barely fucking come up.”
I laugh under my breath. “That bad?”
“Well, now, Levi, we can’t all be as fortunate as you.” His gaze drags slowly over me. “Look at you. You’re glowing like a woman who’s had a sex marathon.”
I nearly choke.
Locke’s eyes sharpen instantly.
And fuck. He knows me too well.
His brows lift slowly as realization dawns. “Oh my God. I’m dead on, aren’t I?” He steps closer, lowering his voice. “What the hell is going on with you?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to grin like an idiot.
“I had a situation,” I say carefully. “I had to move Piper in with me.”
His eyes bulge. “You what?”
“She’s staying with me.”
“No.” He points at me accusingly. “No, no. You don’t get to casually say that. What do you mean, she’s staying with you?”
I sigh. “Exactly what it sounds like.”
His eyes narrow slightly. “As in… living with you?”
“She needed somewhere safe to stay.”
“That’s not what I asked.” He folds his arms. “Are her clothes there?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s sleeping in a bed there?”
I hesitate a second too long.
Locke lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Holy shit.”
“It’s temporary.”
“She’s living with you.”
“She’s staying with me.”
“She has clothes there and sleeps there.” He points toward me again. “That means she lives there.”
“Whatever.” I shake my head and begin walking toward the jet. He falls in step beside me. “What’s going on with you?” I cast a sidelong glance at him.