Chapter Fourteen
Tris
After all the overthinking I’ve done today, not once did I imagine that I would be spending the last three hours sitting on the porch, talking and looking up at the stars with Levi.
This man is infuriating. I spent the better half of my morning pretending that his not inviting me to go out on the boat today didn’t bother me, and the second half pissed off that I actually cared a lot more than I’m willing to admit.
Now here we are, a little after midnight, laughing and still exchanging lingering glances.
Aside from passing conversations here and there, this is the first time we’ve really talked like this.
It’s easy, natural, like we’re in our own little bubble in time, and a part of me is afraid that after tonight, it will go back to how it’s been instead of staying like this.
When we aren’t at each other’s throats, it feels like I’ve known him forever, and it’s not a feeling I’m ready to let go of, but I can’t tell if he feels the same.
Now and then, I think I catch his jade-green eyes filled with warmth, where usually they seem so cold and distant, looking my way.
“You know,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “When you’re not trying to verbally castrate me, you’re actually pretty good company.”
I attempt to fight the smile forcing its way onto my lips with little success.
Looking down, then back to him, I smirk.
“Yeah, well, when you’re not complaining about how I make your coffee, breaking into my duplex, or telling me I’ll be utterly alone forever,” I pause, letting the words linger and stretch, waiting to see if he’ll catch on that I’m teasing.
When his eyes narrow, the corner of my mouth twitches up.
“No, I think even now, I still prefer Ellie’s company. ”
He huffs out a surprised laugh, loud in the quiet of the night and so out of place, but also perfect.
Now I can’t help the wide smile that fills my face.
I stifle a laugh and pet behind Ellie’s ears, whose tail started to wag the moment she heard her name.
Levi looks between the two of us with a grin and shakes his head.
“I think she prefers your company over mine, too.”
“Well, of course she does. We girls have to stick together.”
Ellie’s tail sways in a slow, lazy rhythm, hinting that she’s tired.
“I think it’s way past someone’s bedtime,” I say as Ellie lets out a big yawn.
“I’d go inside, but I don’t want to leave you out here alone.”
My stomach flutters at his words, and I internally roll my eyes. I’m suddenly a woman who can be affected by a simple, sweet gesture.
Since when?
I look up and see my answer smiling back at me.
“I have a confession,” I say, feeling a flush creep into my cheeks.
“Is it that you didn’t have work today?”
I open my mouth to argue, but close it quickly, covering my face with my hands. “No, it’s actually worse.”
I peek through my fingers to see his brows furrow and his posture stiffen.
“Tell me,” he urges.
“I’ve been locked out of my duplex since this afternoon,” I spit out, cringing.
“What?” he asks, his brows squishing together with a slight shake of his head.
My face, neck, and ears become impossibly hot as I drop my hands. “I tried to fix my door today and wound up getting it stuck closed.”
He rubs his jaw, and I swear I see an amused twitch of his lips before I get up to prove my point.
“Here, look.” I jiggle the door handle, but nothing happens. For the hundredth time today, I slam my shoulder into it, but it doesn’t budge.
Of course, he laughs.
I cross my arms, pursing my lips, unamused. “I’m glad you find this funny.”
“Why didn’t you call anyone?”
I let my raised brow be my only response.
“Your phone’s inside, isn’t it?” he asks, but judging by the way he shakes his head, he’s already gathered the answer.
“Such.” I turn back to the door. “A.” I twist and push the door handle. “Butthead.” I slam my shoulder into the door one more time, my final attempt, but instead of the door giving way, I bounce off and slam into Levi’s strong and steady chest.
I’m suddenly engulfed by his heat, by the unmistakable scent of him, leather, bergamot, and whiskey.
It wraps around me until it’s seeped into my lungs.
My mouth goes dry as his presence presses in from all sides.
His hands settle at my waist, firm yet careful, steadying me before one lifts to my shoulder, easing the ache I hadn’t even realized was still there.
The touch is unguardedly gentle, intimate in a way that steals the air from my chest. For a beat too long, I forget how to speak.
His gaze trails a path from my eyes to my lips, lingering there before returning up.
When his eyes meet mine, there’s an intensity in them that has my heart beating and my lips parting on a small gasp.
His hand at my waist spreads across my back, tugging me softly, almost as though he’s unaware he’s drawing me closer.
I arch my back slightly toward him, unable to stop myself from giving in to his gravity that seems to pull me in.
His hand glides slowly up my shoulder, my neck, leaving goosebumps in its path and sending a shudder of longing through me for more.
When he reaches my face, he tucks a stray hair behind my ear, then, placing a finger under my chin, tips my head up toward him with a small smile.
“Did you just call me a butthead?” he asks, a now playful glint in his eyes.
His question breaks me free from the intensity of the moment, and a nervous laugh escapes. I bite down on my lip and shake my head. A fire flashes quickly behind his eyes at the site but it extinguishes just as fast as he drops his hand.
“Let me.” He shifts me to the side, and I immediately miss his warmth.
I take the space he gives me to catch my breath, steady my heart rate, and silently wonder what the hell that was about.
I’m no stranger to attractive men, but Levi isn’t like any of the men I’ve ever been attracted to before.
Come to think of it, he’s unlike any man I’ve ever known.
He’s intense, raw, and up until a few seconds ago, I wouldn’t have expected him to be capable of showing such gentleness, but it’s the fire in his eyes that’s pulled me in, making me want to stay there.
A blaze that’s threatening to unleash and has left me longing to be in its direct path when it does.
Well, fuck.
How’d this happen?
“Ithink you need to invest in a bigger TV,” Rory says while lying upside down on my couch, legs hanging over the back and her head dangling off the front. “I need to see Charlie Hunnam’s abs in 4k.”
Ainsley laughs from her spot on my mismatched lounge chair.
We’ve started the tradition of girls’ night every other Friday, and although I was apprehensive at first, I’ve got to say, it’s been fun.
Two weeks ago, after Levi successfully damaged my door even further by helping me get back in, that Friday, the girls and I went downtown to see a comedy show at one of the local venues.
It was hilarious. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much. Now it’s movie night at my place.
“I don’t know how you can see anything hanging upside down like that,” I tell her, quietly admiring her quirkiness.
“Oh, I see plenty, trust me.”
A shirtless Charlie Hunnam fills the screen just as there’s a knock at my door.
I spring up and pause the movie, but I’m too late.
Ellie barrels in and knocks me to the floor, smothering me with cuddles.
Levi follows close behind, dressed for work, looking undeniably handsome in his fireman gear, his chuckle low and knowing.
I look up at him from my knees, narrowing my eyes in mock accusation.
His gaze lingers a beat too long, his jade-green eyes flashing with amusement, like he’s enjoying a private thought of something unreadable.
Heat creeps up my neck, blooming across my cheeks before I can stop it.
That familiar flutter stirs again, the one that’s been taking up more space lately with all our late-night chats.
It settles deep in my chest, curling low in my stomach every time we circle each other like this.
It’s getting harder to ignore and even harder to deny.
“Now that’s a sight,” he murmurs, extending a hand.
When I take it, his fingers close around mine, firm, unhurried.
The weight of his words lands all at once, and a shiver slips through me, tightening something beneath my skin as he pulls me to my feet and doesn’t let go right away.
I’m all too aware of his presence as I’m pulled in by the scent that is all him and all-consuming.
His thumb strokes my hand softly, and I realize he still hasn’t let go.
His eyes linger, taking in my shorts and tank top, and making me all too aware of every piece of flesh I have on display.
As I’m slowly being drawn in like a moth to a flame, someone clears their throat.
I yank my hand from his, too quickly, like I’ve been caught doing something wrong.
We turn to a very amused-looking Rory and Ainsley.
Rory wears a shit-eating grin, her tongue poking through her cheek, and Ainsley’s smile is way too sweet to be innocent.
I glare at them both openly, my hands landing on my hips as I shoot them daggers.
“Ladies,” Levi says, greeting them with less hostility than I can manage. They redirect their attention from me and smile at him, saying hello.
I lean back, creating space between Levi and me, as an awkward silence descends.
“So I—”
“You still—”
We both start and stop at the same time. I bite my lip, and he scratches at his beard. I swear I hear one of the girls snicker from the couch, but I close my eyes and ignore them, silently wondering if I keep them closed long enough, maybe I can disappear from this moment, too.