Chapter 35 Allie
THIRTY-FIVE
ALLIE
SECRETS
We all found seats and sipped on hot chocolate. While everyone’s eyes were on the little band, mine were stuck on the hot one as he laughed with Evan.
I am literally insane to let myself think of him. Well, “insane” sounds a little mean. Maybe I prefer the phrase “mentally creative” when referring to my sanity from this moment on? I needed to grip.
A grip on his tushy. Stop!
Kristina pointed. “Hey, a candy shop.”
Lexi let out a yell. “Let’s do it.”
Rachel tossed her cup into a trashcan. “I’ll come.”
Royce slapped Evan on the shoulder. “Let’s find some cigars.” He eyed me. “Levi, come with us.”
It wasn’t a request. It was a we don’t trust you out of our sight thing.
“I’m good.”
His head shook. “You’re being here is all jacked up.”
The delightful town square that was magical ten seconds ago was now a little darker.
I touched his arm. “Royce, it’s fine. It’s in the past. Nothing to worry about.” Was my nose growing?
My cheeks warmed as he examined my eyes.
Evan stepped between the two. “Let’s all calm down. It was a long time ago.”
Royce let out a huff. “Evan, you weren’t around. What he did—”
I stepped to Royce, the one who came to my house with Lexi every day after school to help me with my walking.
My parents installed a long ballet bar in the hallway where I’d practice.
When I’d feel sorry for myself Royce would stand at the end of the hall hurling insults at me until I finally made my way to him and he’d allow me to punch him in the arm.
“Royce, I promise you I’m fine.” I flashed my toothiest smile. “Today was fine, right?”
He glared at Levi. “I feel like today is The Fuckening. A day when things are going too well and you don’t trust it because you’re suspicious some shit is gonna go down.”
Levi’s voice was quiet. “Nothing is going down. I live in Brazil. I’m leaving in a few days.” He spoke as if talking to a toddler. “Do you know that Brazil is on a different continent, Rocey?”
I bit my lip to conceal a smile while Royce’s eyes bulged.
Evan patted Royce on the back. “Come on, let’s get those cigars.”
He pointed at Levi. “Anything shady and I’ll—”
Levi let a sarcastic laugh out. “You’ll have to get in line behind Rach and Lexi for that.” He whispered, “I’ve heard through the grape vine that poisoning is on the table.
Evan gave Levi a weak smile as Royce flipped him the bird before they walked away.
“This is not good.”
A moment later Levi extended his hand. “Dance?”
“Bad idea. Too many eyes around here.”
The little band played Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and he took my hand and led me behind the Christmas tree, hidden from all eyes.
He pulled me close, and I did the very last thing I should have, I melted into him. His eyes held mine and not a word was spoken, but so much was said. I was well aware that my mind was the Devi’s playground at this moment in my life.
We’d extended closure. Extended the time the most handsome man in the universe would wrap his arms around me. For better or worse I was in.
* * *
Once home in the quiet house everyone scattered. My first thought was how long I’d have to wait to be in Levi’s arms. Yes, I was chucking common sense into the fuck it bucket and living like a wild child until I exited Colorado.
Lexi leaned against the wall. “My back has been buggin’ me all night.”
“I have Tylenol—”
She stretched her arms over her head. “I think I’m gonna just crash on the sofa in the sitting area by Allie’s room.” Her head nodded. “Yes, it’s firm. Really good for a sore back.”
“What? You can’t sleep on that. It’s not comfortable.” Well, it appeared the evening wasn’t ending in an orgasm as I’d anticipated.
She flashed a transparent smile. “Yeppers, that’s what my back needs. A firm couch. That’s the ticket.”
At that moment I saw my ticket to Levi hop on a broom and zip off into the forest.
Or did it?
Rachel gave me a hug. “Night Allie.” She glanced at the hot one. “Levi.”
Evan slapped Levi on the back. “See you in the morning guys.”
The hall emptied and it was clear as an air raid siren that Lexi was my gatekeeper.
I watched Levi and his fine self disappear down the hall, and when I turned back around Lexi’s eyes were boring into me.
“What?”
“Allison, you are a smart woman. Do not—”
“I am smart. Remember that. And you’re crazy by the way.
Her eyebrows screwed together. “Me, crazy? I should get off this unicorn and slap you right now.”
“Ya know Lexi, you’re really starting to piss me off. I’m a grown ass woman and capable of good decisions.” It would’ve been a strong sentence, but some giggles fell out of me and ruined it. “You’re kind of being a bitch. I mean not a huge one, but sort of a medium one.”
“I will keep you safe, my Allie. As far as being a bitch, all you have to remember is that I’m ten times the bitch you could ever hope to be.” She pointed to my room. “Now run along.”
I turned on my heel and went into my room feeling as unsmart as one could be.
I changed into my pajamas with the candy canes on them and squirted a little perfume on my wrist as I looked out the window. It was a slanted roof. A good roof.
The one thing I could count more than the sun rising from the east was the fact that Levi would get to me tonight.
The past and the present swarmed together like a pack of pesty mosquitos as I sat on my bed just like I did every night we were together and waited.
Back in the day his dad normally worked late and either went to a bar, his girlfriend’s, or straight to bed. There was nobody to stop him.
My parents caught Levi in my bedroom once and the memory of him jumping out the two-story window with shoes in hand still made me giggle.
(He landed on the hood of my car so no real damage to him, just a dent my father pounded out while busting out some colorful language).
That was when my parents, Roxy and Jerry, invested in a high-tech security system so they could sleep at night knowing hooligan Levi couldn’t get to me.
Two days in, I used a nail file and loosened the sensor on my window so it appeared fine, but nope, it wasn’t.
He was in like Flynn. He’d come over after ten when my folks went to bed, parked around the block, and would watch Pretty Woman or old Friend’s episodes with me.
I’d set my alarm for five thirty and he’d be out of the house before anyone awoke.
It was perfect.
So I waited tonight in the big old house in Colorado, knowing with everything in me he’d get there.
Fifteen minutes later I jumped at the quiet tap. I had to fight my laughter as I slid open the window and Mr. Handsome crawled inside. Yes, this man was like Spiderman on a roof. Now a snow-covered roof may have been tricky, but the look in his eye said it could be no other way.
I closed it and immediately found myself caged against the wall. We were finally alone, no need to extinguish anything now. Well, except for the fact that Lexi was ten feet on the other side of the door. But we’d managed this predicament before. I could almost say we were experts.
Ice was under my skin, but I was burning on top.
Our lips moved in tandem as he cupped my face and kissed me like I was the only thing that could keep him alive.
He tipped my head farther back as his fingers slip down to the base of my neck and his lips went below my ear while his whisper sends tingles dancing up my spine.
“You were waiting for me?”
I nodded.
“What do you want, Allie?”
To be with him forever and ever and ever? Not possible. His whiskers slid down my neck awakening every nerve ending in my body.
“What do you want?”
“You.” It came out as a broken whisper.
His teeth grazed my collar bone before he kissed my fresh tattoo as his hot breath bathed my skin. “What?”
“You, I want you.”
His hands curled around my biceps, and his lips overtook mine while leading me to the bed. He sat and pulled me to him. While there were no words, his eyes told me what was about to happen and my skin heated.
I held his gaze as I pulled my pajama top off and dropped it to the floor. He sucked in air and let it out. The way his eyes traveled my body made me feel strong, like a powerful queen who can bring him to his knees because I’m what he wants. Me. It was exhilarating.
I was restless as he stared at me; Again.
How could he bring me to this place so many times in the past day?
Even the tiniest of muscles in me were pulsing.
His grin told me I was in control, and he didn’t move an inch as I shimmied out of my jammie bottoms. I stood before the man who knew me to my core left only in my purple lacy panties.
I climbed onto his lap facing him. He was still as I kiss his forehead, cheeks, and finally his lips. I pulled away and pushed his shirt up and over his head while my hands traveled. My fingers traced the lines in his biceps before moving to his chest. Our old tattoo, and the new one.
My eyes caught his for a second and he was watching me so intently it tightened my stomach. His muscles jumped when I touched his abs as he remained still. I trailed kisses down his neck and chest. His warm breath was on my face as I kissed the tattoo.
My head was swimming, and I pushed him back on the bed. I placed his hands on my chest and as if I was handing over the “I’m in control” key, and he came alive. His mouth and hands were everywhere as my aching body moved against his.
In a split second he flipped me on my back and hovered over me as air caught in my throat.
His lips nipped and kissed down my body, his steamy breath on my chest, stomach, and lower leaving pleasure coursing through me like a raging river while I pressed my lips together to remain quiet as he was painstakingly slow as if trying to torture me.
As he moved north, I wrapped a leg around his hip as he pinned me to the bed and pressed against me while his tongue ran up my neck.
He’d tossed the match, and I was suddenly a wild woman clawing and holding him as close as possible.
I was consumed and restless as he pulled the strings like he always had.
Being under his control was a mind-bending excitement that had my heart palpitating.
Yes, it could kill me, but what a way to go.
A little moan escaped me before his hand covered my mouth and he picked me up. My legs wrapped around his waist, and he carried me into the bathroom before the door shut, the little lock clicked, and he set me on the vanity.
His hands pushed my hair back and a mischievous smirk appeared. His lips hovered closer before his mouth met mine. His fingers were in my hair as my arms wrapped around his waist. His mouth and the reaction of his touch rushed through me pushing heat to every vein in my body.
Lust was humming through me as I pulled him closer.
I gasp when he bit my lower lip playfully before stepping away, turning on the shower, and then back to me.
I scooted off the vanity and dropped to my knees in front of him.
His eyes were dark when he looked down as I unbuttoned his jeans before he fisted my hair while I took a little control of my own.
I was pulled up by my biceps and led into the large walk-in shower. Before I could turn back around, he was all over me as steam rose and hot water showered over us.
My hands glided over his slippery skin, and it was somehow taking it to an even higher high. He kissed and teased me while I pressed into him. He grabbed my wrists and held them above my head while his other hand traveled leaving me whimpering.
“Can you stay quiet?” His deep voice speaks low in my ear.
“Yes, I promise.”
Stars explode in front of my eyes as he nudged forward while holding onto my bottom. His breathing quickened and it was an electric strike as I tried to catch my breath. My skin was crackling while his head nuzzled my neck. “I’m lost in you.”
The ability to speak the English language had vanished. I forgot where I was. Everything was just a fuzzy dream.
His body was made for mine and through the silence we both knew exactly what the other needed. I clung to his shoulders as he whispered my name again and again while hot water poured down on us.
He turned off the shower and as I stood on the rug, he used a towel and dried every inch of me.
Back in my bedroom I grabbed my pajamas from the floor when he caught my wrist and pulled me into bed with him. He lay on his side, and I curled into his warm chest as he wrapped those arms around me. I listened to his soft breathing as I had so many times before.
This was perfect. Was it because we were in a beautiful vacation home in the Christmasy mountains of Colorado? Because we hadn’t discussed anything about our current lives? Because he wanted a few days of action and then would be wheels up on a plane?
He wasn’t in a relationship in Brazil. He didn’t do relationships. I would’ve been certain someone as perfect as Levi would’ve been scooped up by now. Probably multiple times. So the single Levi was in my bed and every part of me today. This was okay.
Then I dozed off and slept like a baby.
But that didn’t happen. First of all, my freaking brain wouldn’t shut off. I rolled over and faced the sleeping man beside me. The moonlight shined in on his thick, messy hair and those amazing lips. I scotched closer so we were nearly chest to chest and eventually fell asleep.
* * *
I woke up feeling on top of the world. Maybe that’s because I spent some time on top of Levi at two in the morning.
Either way I crawled out of bed and into a hot bubble bath in the soaker tub.
I touched my lips still a little swollen from my midnight make out maneuvers and couldn’t remove my dorky smile.
My mind was running endless laps around Levi.
I hopped out of the tub, into my Agolde jeans that make my bum look nice, white American Eagle tee topped off with my fuzzy black cardigan and candy cane earrings. Yes, the holiday spirit was alive and well.
I entered the bedroom to find Levi hopping into his Levis, which I found to be hilarious, before he pulled me into him. “I’ve got to get out of here.” He laced his fingers through mine and spoke quietly. “Let’s get some ointment on your stitches, okay?”