Chapter 15
LEVI
Pressing the big circle button on top of the countertop appliance, the steam carries a rich, bittersweet aroma through the small kitchen in Northfork Veterinary Clinic.
It’s only eight in the morning, and I’m already making my fourth cup of coffee.
Impatiently, I tap my fingers on the counter as I wait for my large mug to fill up.
I barely slept last night. After Blake forced Walker to go home and leave the crash site, I went to Santiago’s and spent the night in his bed. We comforted each other the only way we knew how—with our bodies.
Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was the blood flowing from Walker’s head wound.
When I got there, he was still in his truck.
The fire department was grabbing the Jaws of Life to get the driver’s side door open—a detail I didn’t share with Blake.
I didn’t want to scare her more. She was already worked up when I found her screaming at Johnson.
If Santiago hadn’t been there to verbally rip him in two, I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold myself back from punching him in the face.
I’ve always known Blake had a little crush on Santiago, Walker, and me when she was younger. I didn’t realize how much that had matured until I witnessed her relief when I brought her to Walker in the ambulance.
“Levi? Are you here?”
The echo of my name from the lobby pulls me from my introspection.
“Can I help you?” Abbott responds.
“Oh! You scared me.” The customer’s voice registers when I realize it’s Blake.
Nabbing my full mug, I head for the front. On my way, I unintentionally overhear their conversation.
“I’m sor—” Abbott’s voice cuts off. “Blake Jennings?” A hint of genuine delight enters his tone.
“Yes,” she answers plainly.
“Abbott Sutton,” he informs her, reminding her who he is.
I forgot that they’re the same age. They probably went to high school together.
“Oh my God, Abbott,” she exclaims contentedly. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?”
My grip on my coffee tightens as pain flares in my jaw from clenching my teeth.
“Good. Just working here,” Abbott converses casually, “When did you get back?”
“I’m not really back.”
We’ll see about that, Butterfly.
“We should get a drink sometime. Catch up.”
My footsteps storm into the lobby. Blake stands there, alluring as ever. Her hair falls in its natural wave. Her oversized, cable-knit sweater and straight jeans do little to hide the curves of her figure. It takes every ounce of energy not to grab her and kiss her until we’re both breathless.
Abbott is situated on one side of the counter, and she’s on the other, but anything less than ten feet is too close for my comfort.
“Hey, Blake.” I give her a simple smile, then turn to my assistant with a plain expression. “Abbott, you can go home. It’s a slow day.”
“I don’t mind help—” he starts.
“I got it covered,” I interrupt.
He straightens his spine, ready to dispute further, but after a moment, he relaxes his shoulders and retrieves his things from where he stores them behind the front desk. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
Once he’s out the door, my muscles loosen. “Did you get back to your motel okay last night?”
“Yep,” she answers tersely. “You didn’t have to snap at him.”
“I didn’t snap at him,” I deny, taking a swig of coffee.
Blake’s raises an eyebrow as she folds her arms across her chest. “Would it make things easier if I let you pee on my leg and mark your territory?”
Bringing my mug to my mouth for another sip, my hand pauses halfway, and I perk up. A smug smile curves my lips. “Does that mean you’re mine to mark?”
Pink colors her cheeks. “I—Well—If you—” Blake stammers then shakes her head, changing the topic. “How’s Bear doing?”
We’ll circle back to this later.
Setting my mug down, I ask, “Bear?”
“The dog needs a name,” Blake clarifies as her chin dips.
My expression softens. “It suits him.”
“I thought so,” she returns with a closed-mouth smile.
“Let’s go check on him,” I invite, offering her my hand.
Her body shows no reservation as she strides toward me, placing her hand in mine and entwining our fingers together. My chest expands, finally allowing me to take a full breath.
I didn’t realize how badly I needed her here after last night until now.
Leading her through the clinic and to the kennels.
Once the pitbull comes into view, Blake releases my hand and rushes forward. “Hey, Bear! How’s my guy doing?”
Bear jumps up from his bed, licking Blake’s hands through the wire door, and his tail wags behind him.
I stay back, giving them room to reunite. “He’s happy to see you.”
“I’m sure he just smells the treats in my pocket.” Blake reaches into her denim pocket and pulls out a bacon-shaped treat, feeding it to Bear.
“Or he remembers that you saved his life,” I debate, challenging the way she’s downplaying her role in Bear’s rescue.
Blake shakes her head, petting Bear’s snout. “I didn’t do much. You’re the one that nursed him back to health.”
“But it’s you he wants,” I point out.
She seems to accept my claim as she showers Bear with more love.
Unexpectedly, Blake gets a far-off look in her eyes. “I always wanted a dog, but Dad never let me.”
The mention of Landon Jennings has my lips pressing together. It’s a good thing Blake’s back is to me because my body is on the verge of shaking, but my emotions aren’t her burden to bear. She’s already been through enough.
Exhaling a deep breath, I shove my fury deep down and lock it away. “Well, now you have one.”
“That’s true. I do.” Pivoting to face me, she gets up. “Is there anything I have to do before I take him? Do we need to try to find his owner?” Her second question holds a note of apprehension.
“I already tried. No one’s claimed him. I even scanned him for a chip, but he doesn’t have one,” I reassure her.
Even if I did find out that Bear had an owner, I would still give him to Blake. I wouldn’t hurt her by separating the two. She’d act like she’s fine, but I know this woman. She’d be heartbroken.
“He’s had his shots. His teeth are in good shape. No broken bones.” I recite the facts like I’m going through a checklist.
Blake reaches for me without my prompt. She returns her hand to mine, resuming the hold we had before. “Thanks for checking him out.”
A fire enters my veins, increasing my pulse and making me want to shed my clothes and hers, but I keep my voice soothing. “Not a problem. I just need you to sign some paperwork, then he’s all yours.”
Blake nods her head, and I steer us back the way we came and into my office.
At my desk, I pull out the proper papers and point to two signature lines.
“There and there.” Blake snags a loose pen and scribbles her signature.
“Congratulations, Blake Jennings. You are now the proud owner of a very happy pitbull.”
Her smile is bright, lighting up my whole world. “Thank you, Levi.”
Blake has the body of a woman—a very beautiful woman. Nothing like the fake and over-edited pictures of women in magazines that have become the standard today.
Unable to hold myself back any longer, I step into her space, backing her up against the edge of my desk. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and her pupils are blown wide. My cock grows hard in my pants. I lift my hand, brushing her cheek with my fingers as I tuck her hair behind her ear.
She swallows, and her gaze drops. “Levi…”
I rest my hand on the side of her neck. “Don’t push me away.” My other hand grips her hip, and I seal our bodies together. “If you don’t want me, then say it.”
“It’s not that.” She gives me a pleading look, her eyes gathering tears. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I know,” I state firmly, cupping her face with both hands. “Look at me, Blake.” Her eyes flash up to mine. “I know.”
Blake shakes her head vehemently. “You deserve someone with less baggage—someone easier.”
My thumb wipes the tears that fall free. “I don’t want easy, Butterfly. I want you.”
Her shoulders relax as if my statement has lifted a weight from her.
As Blake lifts onto her toes, I lean down, and our lips meet in a furious passion. Blake immediately opens her mouth for me, and I take the opportunity to swipe my tongue inside. A feral groan rumbles in my throat.
One of my hands glides down her chest, around her hip, and grips her ass while my other hand cups her breast. I swipe my thumb over the peak, causing Blake to whimper into my mouth.
Blake’s hands dive into my hair, scraping my scalp with her nails and eliciting another moan from my chest. Her teeth scrape my lower lip, biting me with just enough pain to make me want more.
One moment, Blake and I are losing ourselves in each other, and in the next moment the world goes pitch black. The animals back in the kennels go into a full-blown pandemonium, barking and crying at the top of their lungs, alerting me to whatever is coming.
My reflexes take over, rotating me to face the door to my office and shielding Blake with my body.
Blake tries to peek around me, but I swing my arm back to hold her in place. “What was that?”
I remain silent, listening intently for any sign of life. When one doesn’t come, I dart to the cabinet along the wall and retrieve my Sig Sauer P320. “Stay here.”
Blake tracks my movements as her hands shake. “Where are you going?”
“To check the fuse box. It’s back by the kennels,” I answer, checking the slide and turning off the safety. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Then what’s with the piece?” Blake holds her hands out at her sides in frustration.
“Just in case,” I lie. “Wait in here and lock the door.”
“But—”
I don’t give Blake time to argue with my plan. On light feet, I enter the hallway. The dim emergency lights are the only source of luminance out here. I don’t like it, but I’ve been in worse situations.
My blood pumps in my veins with anticipation of what I might find. I check both exam rooms and the storage closet, coming up empty. Sweat drips down my back as I approach the door that leads to the kennels.
God help the motherfucker who threatens me and mine.