23. Chapter 23
Getting home from dinner, Melanie made Levi come upstairs with her. He’d said that he wanted to go back to work, but she wasn’t having it. He needed to rest, and they needed to talk. She pulled him with her to the bedroom. “Change clothes so we can lie down,” she said before going into the bathroom to take off her makeup and brush her teeth. That cake was delicious, but it was way too sweet.
When she made it back into the bedroom, Levi was laying back on his side of the bed in just his boxers. She could work with that. At least he had listened and not pushed to talk then go back to work. She took off her clothes and slid a nightgown over her head, pulling off her bra and panties on the off chance that she could cheer him up enough for them to celebrate their engagement. It was almost 9:30. She made sure the doors were locked before shutting off all the lights and joining him in bed.
As soon as she laid down, she scooted over where she could put her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” she whispered.
“I’m thinking that I’m a lucky man.” His hand covered hers on his chest and played with the ring there. “Knowing that I’ll be able to call you my wife someday is a fantastic feeling.”
She smiled and kissed the skin by her lips. “What I said in the car about seeing him sometimes in the mirror…”
“Yeah.” He tightened his arm around her back and rubbed lightly in comfort. One of the things she loved about him was how patient he could be when it really mattered.
“It never happens when you’re staying with me. You make me feel safe, Levi.” She raised up on her arm to look him in the eye. It was hard for her to talk about, even with her therapist, but she wanted to be honest with him. “I can live and be on my own. I’ve done it for years now. The thing is, since I’ve met you, I haven’t wanted to. You’re the one I want to share things with and be with.” She took a breath and watched his brows furrow. It was understandable because she wasn’t sure why she was saying all of this either. “What I’m trying to say is that I know I said yes to your proposal, but it’s important that you know I didn’t say yes just because I was upset. I said yes because for almost seven months now, you’ve proven time and time again that you’re the man I want by my side through thick and thin.”
His smile was cute when he processed everything she’d said. That it took him a few extra seconds was a testament to how tired he was. “You’re so special to me, Melanie. Thank you for telling me that.” She wasn’t expecting him to roll her over where he was laying partially on top of her. It made her giggle and smile up at him. “I love you,” he whispered and kissed her cheek then her nose before kissing her other cheek.
“I love you too.” She threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled him in for a proper kiss. When he pulled back, there was a smirk on his lips. “I found some apartments and houses for us to go look at when you get done with your case.”
“Oh, yeah?” He kissed her neck and laid his head on her chest for a minute. Sometimes he did that while she played with his hair. It was cute.
“Yeah. I think we should look at houses instead of apartments though.” He hummed, and she saw him take a deep breath. “And you know my mom is going to want to throw us an engagement party or something,” she said with a huff that made him laugh silently. She felt it vibrate through him. “My dad will complain about having to pay for another wedding, but secretly be excited about it…he really likes you.”
“He’s a good man,” Levi said quietly. That tone of voice always meant he was fighting sleep. “I can pay for the wedding though.”
“No, babe. He’ll insist. That man has worked his whole life to put his girls through school and to pay to walk us down the aisle. He wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Yeah, he said something like that when I went to ask his permission to marry you.”
She pushed his head back where she could see his eyes. “You asked him? When?”
“The day I got the ring from Andrea. I went to his work and told him I loved you and wanted you to be my wife. We had a drink in his office.” He laughed when she still looked shocked. “I know you’re sometimes a traditional girl even if you are a modern woman who makes her own decisions. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
And it was. She pulled him back up where she could kiss him more. They were practically making out when Levi adjusted and started inching his hand up her leg and under her gown. But then he stopped. She opened her eyes to see what was wrong. “Before I make love to you, I want to say something.”
“Tell me,” she whispered, tracing his jaw with one of her fingers.
“If Andrea doesn’t make it through her surgery tomorrow, I’m going to be a wreck. She may not be my mom, but she’s pretty fucking close. If I lose another—” Melanie cut him off by putting her fingers over his lips.
“She’s going to be fine. But if she’s not, you aren’t alone. I’ll be here with and for you,” she promised. Thinking about how he’d already lost two sets of parents was heartbreaking enough. If they had to cross that bridge tomorrow then they would, not tonight. Tonight, they were going to be here with one another to push the pain and the rest of the world away. “Now, quit thinking bad things about what could happen because I need something from you. Are you up to it?”
“Depends on what you need,” he said, letting his lopsided smirk form again.
She wasn’t the one in their relationship to talk dirty. This was a special occasion though. He would appreciate it. “I need you inside of me,” she whispered, trying to hold back her blush.
“You’re so sexy when you say things like that.” His hand moved up her thigh to sit right at the edge of where she wanted it. “I see you skipped a piece of clothing tonight,” he said against her neck as he kissed and sucked gently. “Tell me, cupcake, what part of me do you need inside? My fingers?” He brushed them across her slit and dipped them inside the slightest bit to feel the wetness there. “My tongue?” He drug his tongue down her neck and across her collarbone. “Or did you have something else in mind?” When he raised his head to look at her, there was that twinkle of mischief that always made her heart race. He wanted her to say it.
“Your dick,” she whispered, feeling her ears go hot. She wasn’t a prude like he thought, there were just things that didn’t always need to be said out loud.
“Hmm, there’s my dirty girl,” he said with a laugh and sat up to help her out of her nightgown. As he laid her back down, he let his hands trace the curves of her body. “I really am the luckiest man in the world.” She watched his tongue swipe over his lips as his hands palmed her breasts. Arching up into him, she pulled on his hips where he was straddling her. When his length pressed against her, she moaned quietly because she knew it would get him going. “Youre impatient tonight, baby, I like it.”
“Please, Levi.”
He’d never been able to resist it when she begged. After he kicked off his boxers, he laid down on top of her and kissed her some more, letting his right hand find her left. He laced their fingers and pushed her hand up into the pillows as he lined himself up. Even as he pushed inside, he didn’t let go of her hand. “God,” he breathed against her neck.
It had been close to a week since she’d felt him like this and her body craved him in a way she couldn’t explain. As he moved in and out of her, she gripped his hand tight and wrapped her leg around him. “Ah—yes,” she moaned into his ear. Having him fuck her while holding her hand was a level of intimacy that she hadn’t expected to feel from such a simple act. It made her feel more connected to him, cared for by him.
He slowed down and kissed her neck then her lips. She knew he was trying not to come yet. It was ok if he did though. All she’d wanted was to feel their connection and to let him know they were going to make it through everything together. “It’s ok,” she said when he squeezed her hand and started kissing her neck again. “Come inside me.” The noise he made caused her to smile. “I want you to.”
He picked back up his pace and stared down into her eyes. Their rapid breathing and the sounds of their bodies moving together surrounded them. Levi’s thrusts always got erratic right before he came. She held his hand tighter and scratched his back with her other hand. That was all it took. He jerked a few times and collapsed down on her, kissing her neck and chest through his labored breaths. No doubt he was going to sleep well tonight. When he pulled out, she rolled him on his back and covered him up.
“Mel?” he questioned when she shut off the lamp and rolled out of bed.
“Be right back.”
“But you didn’t give me a chance to make you feel good too.”
She walked around the bed and bent over to kiss him in the dark. “You made me feel loved and cared for,” she whispered and ran her hand over his cheek. “That’s all I needed. Close your eyes, I’ll be right back.”
“Ok.” He didn’t sound convinced though.
After a quick pit stop in the bathroom, she made a glass of water and went back to the bedroom. He was already snoring softly when she put on her nightgown and got in bed beside him.