12
SERAFINA
“ I don’t like any of these,” Levi mutters, scrunching his face up at the bright yellow dress in his hands. “This feels too scratchy.”
“Thank god you’re not the one wearing it then,” I snark, glaring at him at the same time. After last night, I didn’t think he would be talking to me. It appears that he’s still taking his position seriously and not leaving my side.
“Yellow isn’t my color, anyway.” He turns to grab a silver, backless dress from a hanger. “Now this, I can imagine you in.”
“Really?” I raise my brows at him.
“And out of,” he adds with a wink.
Despite what happened, I can still feel the ghost of his lips pressed against mine. I won’t lie that our kiss was hot—all of them have been. Every part of me wants him. I want to explore the feelings that have developed—even if they came out of nowhere. I trust Levi enough to know that he wouldn’t hurt me. Because that’s what is holding me back, and I think he knows that.
Sure, I miss my best friend. Sure, Enzo’s words will haunt me. But that’s not what lingers in the back of my mind. It’s the fact that my last relationship was so toxic and destructive that I lost myself. It put me off relationships forever, and I can tell just from the palpable attraction between Levi and I that he wants more than just a one night stand. But I don’t know if I can give him that.
Through my grief, I’ve sort of forgotten how gorgeous he really is. I guess the similarities of my best friend riddle me with enough guilt to push any ideas of something happening to the back of my mind. Levi is still beneath me, he’s my second in command. Neither of us can afford distractions, or our emotions getting in the way of our plan.
I’m currently warring with my sensibility as I flip through the dresses on the stand. I can’t have anything to do with my second in command. It would be stupid of me to even entertain the notion.
So why do I want to kiss him all over again? Why do I want his hands to tug my hair or cup my face? Why am I desperate for more of his touch, his attention?
Maybe I just need to get laid. It’s been so long that it’s no wonder I was so turned on my Levi and his demanding kiss.
“What d’ya say?” he asks, waving the floor length dress at me.
“That’s a little too dressy.”
“Says who? You’re Donna Bianchi, you wear whatever the fuck you want.”
I gaze into those tempting eyes, tracking the way he licks his lips at me until I finally give in.
“Add it to the pile then,” I sigh.
He drops it into the chair by the dressing room. “I’m grabbing some coffee. Can I rely on you to keep her safe for ten minutes?” he asks Giovanni.
With a stoic nod from Giovanni, Levi heads out of the store. I pick up a few more options before I head over to the dressing room. Giovanni is already waiting for me as he stoically checks they are empty. Once he’s satisfied, he holds the curtain open and gestures for me to enter.
I try a navy blue lace dress first. It hugs my body beautifully, but it’s short. When I step outside to see Giovanni shaking his head, I know it’s not the right one .
The yellow one is next. It’s bright and simple, elegant in a beachy vibe kind of way.
“Gio!” I call out for him as I slide my arms through the sleeves. “Can you zip me up?”
He appears without a moment’s hesitation. I can see why my father picked him. He’s both obedient and reliable, he doesn’t question anything. Levi is still giving him a hard time about last night, making digs wherever he can.
In any other situation it would probably do him well, but after almost two weeks of silence, I won’t lie that it’s starting to grate on me a little.
Giovanni steps forward, and I watch him through the mirror as he tugs the zip up. His warm knuckles run up my back, a subtle tingle on my skin catches my breath, stunning me into silence. But when I meet his green gaze, I see the gentle hint of a smile.
“Is that a yes on the dress?” I ask him, but he doesn’t react.
“Definitely not!” Levi’s voice carries into the stall, making Giovanni and I both jump. And then his head pops over the side of the curtain. “Try the silver one!”
Rolling my eyes, I turn away but don’t miss the way Giovanni slowly retreats, taking a coffee cup from Levi.
“You’re going to need it,” he smirks at my bodyguard before returning his attention to the zip. It’s nice to see his mood has shifted a little already. But I’m still wary. It wasn’t Giovanni’s fault after all.
I put myself in that position with D’Angelo, I knew what I was doing and my bodyguard was ready to step in. He only obeyed my order. Had it been a different situation, I doubt he would hesitate.
Shaking my head, I peel off the yellow dress and slide into the silver one. I can’t really fault Levi’s choice. The more I gaze at it, the more I like it. It’s more of a rose gold than silver, but it clings to my curves and accentuates them perfectly. It’s far too sparkly to wear at a wedding, but I need to remember what Levi said.
“You decent?” Levi’s voice sounds from the other side of the curtain.
“Yeah,” I sigh, turning sideways to admire the fit. It just touches the ground, but with the trail along the back, I know it’s going to get ruined. It’s almost summer here, the dusty hills will wreak havoc on any clothes we wear to the wedding, this one included.
“I knew you’d look good in this,” Levi smiles, running his knuckles down my back.
I fight the shiver and lock eyes with him in the mirror. “Just good?”
His gentle touch on my neck makes the hairs stand to attention. My entire body is alert with his simple gesture, my legs are already pressing together automatically.
“How about beautiful?” He whispers, leaning in to pull my hair to the side. His hot breath skates over my skin, and this time there’s no way I can stop myself from shuddering excitedly. “No. Gorgeous,” he says, running his lips across my bare shoulder. “Breathtaking.”
“Stop.” The word falls out sub-consciously, but it does nothing to halt Levi. Maybe it’s because it sounded so weak. Maybe it’s because my chest is heaving with apprehension and lust. Whatever it is, Levi must sense that I don’t mean it.
He looks at me through the mirror, his lips edging across the shell of my ear. “Stop what?”
He’s not an idiot, but even I can tell he’s playing one of his games. Only I’m not sure if I want to join in.
“Stop looking at me like you want to kiss me.”
Suddenly, the room spins. My back slams against the plastic wall, the stall shaking under my weight. Levi slides my arms up above my head, stepping in close so that he’s all I can see, all I can focus on. “I don’t just want to kiss you, Bianchi. I know what you taste like, and now I’m craving more.”
“What about last night?” I have no idea why those are the words I say. Call it a delay tactic, but I’m beginning to grow apprehensive about Levi’s proximity. The fact that it hasn’t even been a month since we lost Enzo and I’m already spiraling. That’s what it feels like anyway. Or maybe Levi and I just need comfort. Yeah, that’s what it is.
Levi leans in until his chest is pinning me to the wall, until my chest heaves against his so obviously that there is no mistaking what he is doing to me.
Game or not, I’m falling for it.
“What about last night?” he whispers, running his fingertips down the column of my neck.
“You left.”
“I wanted to give you space,” he explains.
It tells me all I need to know. I can see the defeat in his eyes telling me he wants me but he doesn’t want to push me. He knows what I went through, he understands without me having to tell him.
“I don’t want space.”
“I know.”
And there it is. I’m so oblivious to it; the fact he knows me so well. It’s the reason I chose him as my second in command, because nobody else could advise me better than someone who knows me. I chose him because I know I can trust him. And maybe, it’s none of that at all?
Levi runs his lips across my collar bone. I remember how surprisingly soft they are, pressed against mine, soft yet demanding all in the same effort. For a moment, I think I can fight this. For a second, I think I might be making a mistake. But then his hand runs down my ribcage, staying between the areas that could define what this is for us. It catches my breath; the blend of his hand and his lips spins me through a loop until I’m hot and flustered.
I have no doubt how skilled Levi might be. If our kisses are anything to go off, I would say that he is more than experienced in this field.
“Damn, you smell so fucking good.”
I think those words mixed with his sultry kisses are my final undoing because a whimper escapes me. I try so hard to mask it, but it’s unmistakable that Levi’s teasing is turning me into some horny little bitch.
“Tell me what you want, Serafina, and I’ll give it to you. All you have to do is admit it.”
Admit it. I don’t need to ask what he means. He asked me before to admit that I felt it, that attraction between us and I couldn’t. Admitting it is the first step to chaos. But the fact he was willing to walk away last night and give me space to think on his words means more to me.
I did think on his words—all night in fact. I woke up with a damn headache because of the revelations from last night and it left me with only certainty. Letting Levi in will make me feel. I’m too used to the numbness and I don’t like it.
I want to feel.
Levi’s hands glide into my hair, tugging my head back to expose my neck. He runs his tongue along it, his hot breath sharpening the sensation. It feels like I’m connected to a battery, one flick of the switch and I’ll be a live circuit.
One snap of that elastic band that has me wound so tight and I’ll cave.
He’s so close to my lips that I’m anticipating them, eagerly, desperately. What the hell am I doing? Have I suppressed my emotions for that long that I just want to feel something now? Anything…
“Sera—”
Snap.
“Kiss me!” I gasp.
Levi obeys. He’s swift with his actions, sliding his lips across mine, slowly nipping at my bottom lip with his teeth.
When the second whimper comes, he wastes no time in swallowing it. He’s greedy with his kiss, his tongue sliding against mine, his lips demanding in their pressure. I let him take the lead, certain that he would make me if I didn’t. The kiss is deep, erotic in a way I’ve never been kissed before. It has the deepest parts of me awakening because Levi seems to know how to move against me, how I like to be kissed.
I can already feel how hard he is as he presses against me. His lips start touring down my neck, kissing towards my shoulder. We’re a heaving mess, and I have no doubt that Giovanni can hear everything.
Damn, why does he have to be such a good kisser? It would definitely make all this easier if he wasn’t, but somehow I know there’s no coming back from this .
Levi’s kisses move lower, down the center of the dress that dips to my navel. “What are you doing?” I hiss, but it’s more of a hush.
“As your second in command it’s my duty to ensure you have everything you need.” He looks up at me from where he’s kneeling, and something about the sight of a man as attractive as Levi on his knees for me does something to my insides. I’m instantly hot for him, definitely turned on to the point where I can feel my panties dampening by the second.
He hikes my leg over his shoulder, drawing the dress up my thighs. “Let me take care of you.”
I gulp audibly. Feeling his hot breath so close to the junction between my legs has me gasping with anticipation. Levi is still looking up at me, those dark deviant eyes silently waiting for my consent. Though, I’m not sure he needs it.
All I can manage is a sheepish nod of my head because through the haze of this moment, the lust suffocating me, I know I want it.
With delicate movements, he moves my underwear to the side. His eyes stay on mine until the very last moment, and then he draws his tongue along my slit; one, long, languid stroke that has my hips bucking, and my hand slamming over my mouth.
I can’t let anyone hear me. I can’t allow anyone to know what we’re doing.
But Levi is making it so damn difficult.
“Fuck! Your pussy tastes better than I imagined.”
My cheeks heat up under his words, my whole body is alive as Levi teases my clit. It’s soft and sensual at first, but he’s soon picking up on my tells, on what I like. He slides his tongue between my folds, lapping me up and tongue fucking me.
I writhe beneath him, beneath the pleasure. My breaths expel so loudly there’s no mistaking what’s going on behind these curtains. I’d have to be dead not to react this way because just like I thought, Levi has a talented mouth.
He sucks on my clit, sliding one hand up my thigh. I feel his fingers dig into my flesh, and I’m so high off the pleasure that I might tip at any point. Higher and higher, Levi’s hand slides up until he’s grabbing my ass and pressing me closer to his face. I’m pretty sure I could be suffocating him, but his rhythm never falters.
I’m closer than ever, riding on the edge of my climax. It’s ready to unfurl, like a ball of yarn on fire, and I don’t care who catches flames because this is the best I’ve felt in months. Years in fact.
It only takes two fingers to make me fall apart, and he slides them into my entrance just once for it to be enough.
I bite down on my hand as the sensations rock through me, my hips gyrating against Levi’s face. I can already hear my breaths filling the stall, my muffled whimpers piercing the silence. There’s no way Giovanni doesn’t know what we’re doing now.
The wave of euphoria sweeps me away, a current I can’t fight, nor do I want to. I could forever float away in this feeling, because I have never had an orgasm like this before. Nothing as earth shattering as this.
I don’t know when I do it, but it’s not until Levi clutches my face that I open my eyes, realizing I’ve had them shut for the longest time.
“Sera?” he frowns.
Before I can stop it, a single tear rolls down my cheek. I don’t know why or what for. It feels close to relief, happiness even, but I can’t make head nor tail of what just happened, or how I feel.
“I’m good,” I pant, nodding at the same time. “I’m good.”
I meet his dark gaze, noticing him rearranging himself in his slacks. He’s still looking at me with what I can tell it’s doubt in his eyes. The only thing I can’t make out is if it’s for me or him.
He pulls out his pocket square, dabbing his mouth. Then he kisses me on my cheek, licking my tear away. “Buy the dress, Bianchi.”