Chapter 15 #2
I open my eyes, only to wince and close them again when the blinding sun streaming from the window hurts me.
“What in the world?” I mutter, knowing I usually keep my blinds closed, preferring to sleep in complete darkness after being forced to live in a fully white room with constant surveillance. “How could I—”
I freeze when I shift to the right a little, and my knees hit hard muscle, only then realizing my body seems tangled with another.
That’s when everything that happened last night comes crashing back, and I sit up on the bed, gasping at the naked man lying next to me, who might as well be a freaking Norse god for how handsome and perfect he looks under the morning light.
The scars all over his body, intertwined with various tattoos, only add to his charm and appeal, making me wonder what might have happened to him to experience such pain, and a certain sense of awe fills me because he’s so proud of them.
He doesn’t see them as something bad, while my whole life, I considered my scars my weakness.
Maybe they are my source of strength after all?
Wrapping my hand around my throat, I feel the tender skin on my neck along my scars, remembering how this so-called Norse god took my virginity last night, right after mapping my body with hickeys and bite marks.
My cheeks heat as the carnal images play in my mind, sending heat into my cells and urging me to indulge in the illusion just a little longer.
But the sunlight is here, so I have to go, or I’d start to believe last night meant something.
Shaking my head, I force myself to push all the flashbacks away and not believe whatever he whispered in my ears because that’s what men do, right?
Promise all kinds of sweet things during sex to get what they want, although that’s not fair.
I was a willing participant and don’t regret a thing. I’m also a realist despite my limited experience.
To Levi, I’m a game and a challenge, plus a way to stick it to my brother for what he has done to Aileen. His attraction to me has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the outside factors.
He rolls from his back to his side, and the muscles in his arms flex as he searches for me next to him, so I quickly slide the pillow toward him and let him hug it.
I gently touch his cheek, and he doesn’t even so much as flinch. He must be a heavy sleeper. Maybe that’s what happened when no nightmares disturb your sleep. Must be nice. “Thank you, Levi,” I murmur. “I’ll never forget it.”
Quietly, I get off the bed and find my clothes, deciding to take a shower at home because if Levi wakes up and tries to stop me, I won’t be strong enough to resist.
That’s a lie.
I’m afraid he won’t try to stop me, and it will feel awkward and traumatic. Despite wanting to have a one-night stand to gain some experience, I simply don’t have the emotional capacity right now to handle them.
Putting on my clothes and slipping into my flats, I grab my phone and, without even bothering to study my reflection in the mirror, dash downstairs, where different smells waft through the air. I hear voices coming from the kitchen in the otherwise silent space.
I didn’t have much time to walk around the mansion or find out if anyone works here. Levi brought us inside in the middle of the night and took us straight to his room. I was half asleep by that point.
I just assumed since there was no security that there was probably no staff either, and that’s why he brought me here. It provided more privacy.
I halt my movements at the sight of the butler in a standard black suit and white gloves. He must be in his late sixties, judging by the wrinkles on his face and his gray hair.
He is in the middle of receiving a package, and blinks at me. “Good morning, Miss Wright. How can I help you?”
He acts as if we’ve seen each other many times, and this is a regular morning! “Hello.” I clear my throat when his eyes scan over me, lingering on my neck. I throw my hair over it, hoping it covers whatever needs covering. I really wish now I’d looked in the mirror earlier. “I’d like to go.”
He ignores this and instead takes out from the package a hot, steaming paper mug, the mint tea scent floating in the air.
I recognize the brand name right away. I usually stop by this coffee shop on my morning walks after exhausting nights filled with nightmares and bad memories.
“Your favorite, I believe. Breakfast will be ready shortly. Would you like to wait in the living room in the meantime?”
A sudden rush of anger washes over me, and the now familiar green monster awakens again, because all of this?
Looks like a well-rehearsed routine.
Maybe that’s what Levi does all the time.
Brings women to his secret mansion, has wild sex with them, and then his butler handles the rest?
Feeds them and sends them on their merry way with some gifts, so they won’t be a problem in the future?
That would explain why he has his reputation, yet no one ever calls him an asshole. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him with any women. So he’s discreet, I’ll give him that.
He probably wasn’t even asleep.
“No, thank you…”
“Gavin.”
“It’s nice to meet you, but I have to go.” Since he ignored my earlier request, I slide open my phone, ready to order a cab or call Gordon, only to notice there is no signal. Groaning inwardly, I ask, “Can I borrow your phone?”
Something akin to amusement flickers on his otherwise indifferent face. “It won’t be necessary, Miss Wright.” He opens the door, and I blink at the sight of Gordon hanging by my car and waving at me. “Your driver is here.”
Oh my God.
He’ll tattle on me to my brothers, unless that was Levi’s goal all along?
Coldness replaces any warm feelings I might have had earlier, and my usual survival mode comes crashing back, screaming at me to prevent disaster from happening.
I should have known better!
“Thank you, Gavin, and have a nice day.”
Ignoring the still extended tea, I quickly reach the car and nod at Gordon, who says, “Lavender.” Hopping inside, I wait for him to get in as well and start the vehicle.
“I have to say, I was very surprised when Gavin called me earlier and told me to pick you up.” Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror. “Very happy for you.”
Could it get any worse?
“You can’t mention this to anyone. Especially to my brothers.
I know you report everything to them, but this has to stay a secret.
” His brows rise, and I exhale heavily. “I’m not mad and understand why you’d do it.
However, if they found out I had spent the night with Levi, it might affect Rush and Aileen’s relationship. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
His hands flex around the steering wheel as he flies through the gates, and his voice sounds strained and slightly offended even when he finally replies. “I never shared anything with your brothers despite their orders.” He rolls his shoulders back. “I work for you.”
“Rafael was the one signing your checks, so technically, you were working for him.” I’d have to change that and ask Scarlett to make sure everyone who works for me gets paid from my account.
“And still, like I said, I work for you. I’m not a snitch.
” He huffs under his breath. “I grew up on the streets, Lavender. You get more than stitches for snitching, so I know how to keep my mouth shut. Your secrets are safe with me, always.” He meets my gaze again, and the wrinkle between his brows deepens.
“If your brothers know something about your whereabouts, they didn’t learn that from me. ”
He sounds sincere, so I choose to believe him and relax a bit. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
“Loyalty is not something you should be thanking people for.”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I notice the signal is back. Levi must have installed something on his land to block it, protecting his property.
I scroll through various messages, each one only spiking my anxiety.
We stopped by your apartment. They told us you weren’t home. Are you okay?
We thought you might like to grab some dinner since you couldn’t make it to lunch.
Okay, so it’s been like two hours with no reply, we are getting slightly worried here.
Just tell us to get lost, and we’ll get it. Otherwise, we might actually use the spare key you gave us and check on you.
Your sisters-in-law have been blowing up my phone trying to find you. Are you okay? If you’re doing something naughty, let me know, and I’ve got your back.
Where are you?
“Oh my God,” I whisper, and groan into my palms, hating how accessible I’ve been to them all this time. I can’t even spend the night with anyone without everyone worrying.
For one of my brothers to text me, it means shit has hit the fan big time.
I’m about to call Rush, but stop at the last minute, preferring to do that once I take a shower.
Plus, I need to come up with an excuse, even if everything inside me rebels against the idea.
I’m a grown woman. Why do I need an excuse anyway?
Still, admitting to sleeping with Levi will not go over well, so I prefer to hide this little fact or not make him dig too deep into my private life.
And while life proved I’m a great liar…I’m too raw after last night to pretend and school my features. My perceptive family would get suspicious right away, and it would be just a matter of time before they discovered what happened.
“We’ll be home soon,” Gordon says as if reading my mind.
“That’s great,” I reply, then freeze when I notice several other notifications popping up across my screen from a specific app.
Lev.
An odd sense of relief glides through my veins at seeing his message, along with guilt because I missed our Saturday night chats.
Hi. How are you?
He sent me this message on Saturday, and I know he’s never online in the mornings but still I type back.
Hi! I’m okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk on Saturday. Something came up.
It’s Monday morning, so he’s probably working or…