Chapter twenty-five
Everly
I woke the morning of the Springboard event before the alarm.
Surprising, since Levi had interrupted my sleep several times during the night.
Not that I was complaining. After he teased every ounce of pleasure from me, we’d fall back to sleep in each other’s arms. At some point after the last orgasm he gave me, he’d rolled onto his side, so we were sleeping face-to-face.
He was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes and my stomach fluttered.
I liked it. It was more than excitement or nerves, a recognition, perhaps, that I wanted every morning to begin with him.
“You’re staring,” he said, his voice rough with sleep. Instead of opening his eyes, he pulled me closer.
“Impressive way to say good morning after last night,” I said as his hardening cock brushed against my thigh.
He finally opened his eyes and smiled at me. “Had to make up for lost time. Hope I let you get enough sleep.”
I laughed. “You’re saying you would have woken me up more?”
His eyes filled with heat. “If you hadn’t worked so hard this week, and we didn’t have the event today, I’d have kept you up all night.”
“I’ve never done that before,” I said on an exhale.
He smirked. “Is that an invitation?”
“I’m not sure my body could handle it,” I said with a laugh. “I’m sore enough as it is.”
The humor drained from his face. “You have to tell me if I’m hurting you. When I’m with you, I don’t—It’s like my lizard brain takes over.”
“Same,” I said, patting his chest. “And I said I was sore, not hurt. Like, I’m going to feel what we did last night all day.”
His dick twitched between us and he groaned. “Nope,” he said, hopping out of bed and yanking on a pair of gym shorts that did nothing to hide his erection.
“What’s the rush?” I asked.
He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Let your body rest today.”
“All day?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Well, until after the event,” he said with a grin. “If you stay here tonight, I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself, and I really hope you’ll stay. I want to wake up with you again tomorrow.” His thumb caressed my cheek and his eyes softened.
He wanted to wake up with me. Not rail me into Sunday or keep me up all night doing things to my body I never thought possible. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but his soft expression made me feel lighter, happier.
“I guess I could stop off at my apartment and grab more clothes,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, kissing me quickly before tugging a shirt over his head. “You want pancakes or omelets or both?”
“I can just grab a protein bar.”
“Both it is,” he said, giving me a look that made pressure build between my thighs.
Again. This man did things to me. Before I could convince him I didn’t need a rest day, my alarm blared and he started for the door.
“It should be ready by the time you’re out of the shower,” he said, disappearing into the hallway. “Just come down when you’re dressed.”
“What? No breakfast in bed?” I shouted after him, smiling.
He stuck his head back into the room with a grin on his face to match mine. “Some other time when I don’t need to behave. Shower. Food. Event. Then I’ll fuck you.”
“OK, Mr. Bossy Pants.”
He smiled wider before disappearing into the hallway.
If anyone had ever told me I’d get turned on by a guy bossing me around, I’d have laughed in their face.
Whenever men tried to assert dominance over me professionally, I shredded them to pieces with my words.
So much of the time, I had to be thinking three steps ahead.
It made me a great trial attorney, but it meant I operated at an intense level all the time.
I enjoyed being able to just relax with Levi.
It also scared me to death. We’d only been together a little over a month, yet I felt at ease with him in a way I never had before.
I sighed and headed for the shower. One thing was certain.
The more time we spent together, the faster I fell for him.
I’d never felt so close to someone so quickly.
Even that was a lie. I’d never felt so close to someone period.
By the time I’d showered and got ready for the day, Levi had outdone himself in the kitchen.
“Who’s going to eat all this?” I asked, taking in the pancakes, fried potatoes, biscuits, eggs, and fruit salad. I paused at the bacon and glanced down at Sherly, who was at her bowl chowing down on her pig pellets.
“Beef bacon,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “And I didn’t know how late we’d be today, so I figured we could have leftovers for dinner.
Minus the eggs. I’ll make those fresh again.
No one should have to eat reheated scrambled eggs.
Speaking of, let me know what you want in your omelet. I forgot to ask.”
“You’re joking, right?”
He gave me a small smile, almost hesitant, and ran his hands down my back. “I told you I’d make you an omelet.”
My chest tightened. “You know you can change your mind about something like that, Levi. No one has ever fed me as well as you do, including my parents. I’ll eat whatever you make.”
He bent down and nuzzled into my neck. “I like keeping my word.” He murmured against my skin. “It’s cost me everything before, so it means everything to me now.”
Hearing the pain in his voice, I pulled him closer. “I know. It’s one of the reasons I—” I almost said love. It was right there on the tip of my tongue. Fortunately, I’d caught myself and pulled it back. “Trust you.”
Levi straightened and his eyes searched mine a moment before he took my face in his hands and kissed me. I gripped his t-shirt and let the intensity of the kiss melt the nerves that surfaced when I almost told him I loved him.
Sherly squealed, and I pulled away. Levi laughed.
“That’s her happy squeal,” he said. “I guess she figured out kissing is a good thing.”
Sure enough, Sherly pranced nearby. I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “That’s a relief.”
Levi tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, his eyes warm. “Certainly is because I plan on kissing you every chance I get.” He traced his thumb down the side of my face. “I care about you, Everly.”
“You do?” I asked.
He nodded. “Just waiting for you to catch up. We better eat before everything gets cold.”
I wanted to tell him I’d caught up. I was falling for him fast. The intensity of my feelings didn’t make sense given how long we’d been together. Perhaps that’s why he’d changed the subject, but part of me wished we’d stayed in the moment long enough for me to find the courage to tell him.