by T. R. Graves
Looking around again and deciding the sounds I'd heard while I was asleep were part of a medication-induced dream, I sink back down into the bed and let Levi hug me close. When he leans over and kisses my neck, letting his tongue brush my skin, I tilt my head to the side and give him complete access to my collarbone.
He sweeps my hair away and pulls me up to him before kissing me deeply. When his tongue touches mine... desperately searches mine out, a blazing heat shoots through me and settles firmly in my stomach and every area below that.
All of this—our being together, Levi's kiss, and Levi's hands caressing me—reminds me too much of the night on the cliff. I suddenly and uncontrollably want him. Again.
As if his urges mimic my own, he slides his hands down to my thigh, up my hip, and under my hospital gown. He doesn't stop until the palm of his hand is tenderly cupping my breast. I arch my back, and he twirls my nipple within his fingertips unil it's hard.
With my head thrown back and my eyes closed, I bask in the way he's worshiping my body, appreciating every permission I grant him.
When he pulls the gown up, dips his head, and kisses the nipple he's now massaging, I moan. The warmth of his breath and the wetness from his tongue are more masterful than his fingertips. Everything about what he's doing makes me want more of him. I want what we had at the lake, and I want it now.
All I can think and moan is, "Oh my god, Levi.”
As if my words were all he needed to hear, his hand drops to my stomach—resting there only briefly—before finally falling between my legs. I spread myself open.
For him, I'll give anything.
For him, I'll do everything.
Before I know what he's doing, he sinks down and kisses my stomach. Somehow, the gentleness of the kisses to my stomach is more intimate than any he's given me so far. I run my fingers through his hair and pull him into me. He spends lots of time there before he very bravely trails those kisses down my belly, getting lower and lower with each one. The farther down he goes the more desperate I become for him, the surer I am that I have to have this man, and the wider I spread my legs.
Just when I'm sure I'm about to spontaneously explode, he's hovering centimeters above my pelvis and looking desperately up at me. He's silently asking permission to go beyond where we've been before and to do things I've never even dreamed possible. Without hesitating, I bob my head once.
The instant he kisses me between my legs, I moan long and loud.
Jesus!
The only thought pinging through my head is, 'How can I make this last forever?' His wet and warm kisses between my legs are almost as amazing as having him inside me.
Jesus!
Inexperienced, I'm not sure what to do with my hands, but keeping them in his hair and holding him into me feels as right as anything.
After the first few glorious kisses, Levi's tongue begins twisting, twirling, and invading me. Soon... way too soon, because I want to live in a world where I feel like this always and forever, I have that warm feeling that tells me I'm about to be consumed... that I might explode. At that exact moment, my world turns into bright lights and fire and spasms.
Jesus!
I arch my back with an uncontrollable convulsion. I hear a loud moan in the background and don't realize it's me until Levi covers my mouth with his, like he did at the lake, but I don't stop until the fire has burned out and I'm smoldering instead of blazing.
When I've calmed, Levi undoes his pants. I reach down and pull him out. While I show him the same tenderness he's just shown me, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a foil packet.
Using his teeth, he greedily rips it open and spits the wrapper away from us. He takes both of my hands into his and shows me how to roll the condom down his entire length. Before it's completely on, he stops helping me and cups my face in his hands. Squirming, I feel his gaze as he watches me, but I don't look away. I'm too focused on the job I've been given.
I can't help but study him. I've never really seen a man before. Something about this—him—is incredible. I take my time, teasing and watching to see what happens with each experimental stroke I offer.
Finished, I keep my head down and look up. Through the veil of lashes, I can see the heat with which Levi is staring into me. Unable to contain himself any longer, he pulls my lips into his and kisses me with an urgency that makes me want him more than ever.
Soon, I'm climbing onto his lap, straddling him, and pushing him back in the bed with an aggressiveness I've never felt in my life. Under normal circumstances, I'd be ashamed of taking control of this situation, but that's not the kind of relationship I have with Levi. Besides, I can tell by the way Levi stirs beneath me and the way his pupils are completely dilated that he loves every bold move I make. That knowledge makes me more determined to go farther and do more.
Levi reaches down and positions himself between my legs. I then push, letting him enter me. I slowly move back and forth, closing my eyes and memorizing the fullness that comes with having him in me. It's as if I'm whole for the first time since we were together at the lake. This is right. Levi and I were meant to be together, and I know it.
Soon, I stare down at my Levi. He never stops watching me. It's like he's afraid I might disappear. I begin studying him with the same intensity. It only takes a second for me to realize that my actions and reactions turn him on as much as anything else we've done. Finally, he closes his eyes and gives into to what he's feeling. Everything about the sensual moment he's having makes me want to please him even more.
My every movement is slow and purposeful. I go up and down, watching for the instant when I do just enough to push him over the edge. At the same time, I concentrate on the way he's rubbing against me and filling me up in ways I never knew I craved. Before long, I feel the heat slowly building inside of me and I'm sure it won't be long before it consumes me.
Jesus!
When Levi can't stand the slowness—the teasing—another second, he grabs my hips and begins moving me up and down himself. Soon, there's nothing slow or soft about what he's doing. We’re pounding together fast and hard.
Everything he's doing is made more special when I see how much he truly appreciates what I'm willing to try for him. My heart squeezes with love, and an instant later, I'm ready to explode again. This time it will be with him.
As soon as he groans and releases, I feel my own eruption, and I collapse onto his chest while the sensation of being swallowed up into a blazing fire devours me.
Jesus!
With my eyes closed, I breathe in his scent and listen to his heart beat as it slows. We both lay quiet and exhausted.
Tope
When I got to the hospital, I'd put my phone on silent, leaving me dependent on its vibration to let me know when I had a call or a message. As soon as it began pulsing, I pulled it out and clicked on the text button.
Baby: I'm getting messages that both Emily’s and Levi's vital signs are out of control. Where's Levi?
Me: At the hospital in the room with Emily.
Baby: Where are you?
Me: In the waiting room. Levi wouldn't let me go in her room with him.
Baby: Oh! Right now would NOT be the best time to check on them... if you know what I mean.
Baby’s last text is followed by a winking smiley face, and it only fuels my anger.
Me: Yeah. I've fucking got it. Thanks.
Emily
We huddle together and refuse to let go of each other. Having never felt so content in my life, I never want to leave Levi's side. I swear to myself that I never will.
A long time later, it occurs to me that I should be grateful that the nurses turned off the monitors the night before. I blush when I realize what would’ve happened if those monitors had been connected to me when I made love to Levi. The beeping and dinging would have gone crazy, and the team of nurses would have gotten an eyeful of something they hadn't bargained for when they came to check on me.
Hearing voices in th
e hall outside my room, Levi jerks away from me, rights my gown, and tucks the blankets around me. He's just finishing when someone knocks on the door. Levi and I glance conspiratorially at each other and laugh at how close that call was.
"Come in," I say.
Tope pokes his head in and looks at Levi like he wants to kill him. Suddenly, I'm reminded that Tope has his own way to monitor us. Based on his glare, he knows what we just did.
He clears his throat a couple of times and says, "Gran's just about to come in. I wanted to make sure the two of you were... presentable."
He looks at me like he's hurt, bows his head, and closes the door behind him.
"Damn! I totally forgot your stalker would know by our vital signs every time we have sex."
"Dear God! Is there no end to my embarrassment?" I, mortified, sigh.
"There's nothing for you to be ashamed about, Em. You and I are consenting adults. I love you, and you love me. If we want to make love, we can. This isn't the commune," he says, trying to justify the appropriateness of what we've just done even though we both know the hospital isn’t the most appropriate place to do any of the things we've just done.
I don't say anything. I just close my eyes and wonder how I'm ever going to face Tope again. I don't need to touch my face to know it's on fire.
A few minutes later, Dr. Bryson comes through the door, followed by Tope, studying the papers in his hand. Before he looks up, he's talking to me. "Emily, all of your labs look good. You've tolerated being off the intravenous fluids. Everything tells me you’re doing better. The only thing that still concerns me is the episode you had last night."
He's studying me with a wrinkled brow, and I'm self-consciously look away from everyone when I say, "I had a bad dream. That's all. The medicine helped."
Tope raises his eyebrows like he knows for a fact something more than the medicine has helped me. I ignore him. I'm not able to stare him in the eye for more than a second. He knows too much about me.
"Yes. I see that, too. It also seems as if my grandson here has worked wonders on you. You look much more refreshed than you did yesterday."
Tope's scowl is every bit as sardonic as Levi's grin is smug. Dr. Bryson doesn't notice anything that passes between his grandsons. He just keeps talking about his discharge plan.
"If you tolerate food this morning, I'll send you home this afternoon or tomorrow with prescriptions for a mild sedative that can be used when you have panic attacks as well as medication to prevent ulcers."
Before I have time to ask questions, Dr. Bryson's pager goes off. He glances down at it, and says, "There's an emergency I need to tend to. The nurses will get you discharged if you don't have any problems eating."
"Yes, sir."
Before anyone can say anything else, he leaves, rushing toward his emergency. There’s no time for awkwardness between Tope and me because nurse Sheila comes into the room just as Dr. Bryson is leaving and banishes everyone so I can take a shower, get cleaned up, and put on the clothes Tess has salvaged.
When I hold up a silk T-shirt and designer shorts and inspect the jeweled, flat sandals that buckle to the ankle, I'm impressed with the quality of clothes Tess's been able to come up with and give the stack an appreciative nod.
Levi kisses me and whispers. "I love you, Em."
"I love you, too, Levi," I say, watching him walk out the door and regretting his departure the instant he’s out of sight.
I feel so gritty and grimy that I'm out of the bed and ready for a shower almost as quick as Sheila suggests it. Unfortunately, Sheila has other plans for me before I can steal away in a long hot shower.
After assessing me from head to toe, she pulls the catheter from the vein in my hand and puts a Band-Aid over it. Then, she helps me pull off every last sticky monitor lead before she agrees to leave me alone and frees me for my shower.
In the bathroom, I turn the water on and wait for it to get as hot as it's going to get, which is only barely above lukewarm. There's certainly no risk of me becoming a burn victim here.
Before I strip, I remember I've left my nice new clothes on the chair outside the bathroom. Feeling better and more lighthearted than I have in days, I nearly skip to the door and swing it open.
My heart stops and my stomach drops to my toes when I see Lorenzo—the very Lorenzo who's supposed to be in jail—sneaking out of the room's built-in wardrobe.
Holy shit!
CHAPTER 16
Hate Thine Enemy
Emily
Lorenzo's too busy tiptoeing through my room to notice me. As soon as I gather my senses, I quickly and quietly close the bathroom door, leaving it open just enough to use one eye to peek out and see what he's doing.
While I study his every sneaky move, my heart—restarted and beating with a vengeance—pounds loud enough for me to hear the blood pumping behind my eardrums. I close my eyes and shake my head when I realize Lorenzo was the person I heard in my room earlier... when it occurs to me what that means.
Shit! That sadistic ass watched me and Levi have sex.
I slap my hand to my mouth before putting my eye back up to the crack in the door.
I watch as Lorenzo mimics what I'm doing by opening the room's door just wide enough to peer into the hall outside. He's obviously checking to see if the coast is clear. With an infinitesimal nod of his head, he slips from the room and closes the door softly behind him.
Sighing, I slide down the wall of the bathroom and sink to the cold tile floor. There's no mistaking the fact that my world has just changed and that change will be forever.
I have too many emotions steering my thoughts... pumping through my veins... running along my nerve endings to settle on just one. I'm stunned, shocked, scared, and speechless.
Unable to do much else, I rest my elbows on my knees, lay my forehead into the palms of my hands, and rock. I think through all I know, all I think I know, and reason through the facts I don't.
Lorenzo was in the room when Levi and I had sex.
That part is absolutely true, and his perversion disgusts me but doesn’t surprise me after what I've seen from him the last few days. The things Levi and I did were for our eyes only and for the two of us to know about. No one else.
What's puzzling is the fact that Lorenzo, the man I'm promised to, didn't make himself known. He didn't jump from the wardrobe and fight or kill Levi or me. That's what the men of the commune would’ve done. Not Lorenzo. He stayed quiet and watched. I grimace again when I think about what he saw.
Even if he did enjoy the show, he would have, under normal circumstances, confronted us once it was over. Instead of doing what I would’ve suspected, he snuck out and made damn sure I didn't know what he discovered.
All of this is unsettling. Especially the fact that he left without any proof at all of what happened and without a confrontation that would’ve made my relationship with Levi public. I can't help but wonder about his motives. The price I'm going to pay for this indiscretion is going to be high, and he wants it to be unexpected. Lorenzo's a sociopath, which means I have to think like him in order to get ahead of him.
I do know there's no way I can tell Levi or Tope about this. They'll have me locked in the same cell Tope locked Levi in when he was trying to come see me at the hospital, and they'll leave me there until they're sure the coast is clear. By then, it'll be too late for me to save the people Lorenzo will retaliate against. Tess.
Right then, I remember that Tess is on her way back to the commune to check on the union hall and make sure the kids are being fed. She'll be his first victim. Lorenzo will beat her for every book she ever let me read, because he'll know she knew, and for the anger he has for me.
I want to run from the hospital and rush to the commune, but something deep inside me tells me I need to keep a level head and let this all play out. No matter how hard it is to do, I must pretend I don't know Lorenzo was in the wardrobe and that he knows I'm consorting with the enemy. There are no good or easy answers to thi
s, but the decision to keep quiet and play Lorenzo's game until I see where it's going may give me the chance to turn the tables on him and watch him fall from Owen's grace with a loud and malevolence-ending thud.
Taking down the commune's leaders doesn't seem as overwhelming—or impossible—when I focus my sights on one person at a time. Right now, Lorenzo is the man most threatening to me and my happiness.
Resigned to what I have to do, I stand up, square my shoulders, and strip. In the shower, I mindlessly, anxiously, wash, scrub, and rinse every square inch of myself. When I'm finally squeaky clean—and rubbed raw—I step out, dry off, brush my wet hair and teeth, and go back into the room to get the clothes I'd forgotten earlier.
When I first saw the T-shirt, shorts, and sandals, I may have admired them. Now, I could care less about the only set of clothes I own that might be considered fashionable. I robotically put them on and sit in the room's solitary chair to buckle the sandals. While I've done very little, I'm exhausted. My recent illness has left me uncharacteristically weak, and it's all I can do not to crawl back in the bed and go back to sleep.
I curse myself because I've always been stronger than an ox. Normally, I can run as fast as any man in the commune, lift heavy objects alongside those same men, and function perfectly on just a few hours of sleep. I know Dr. Bryson said I'd be puny for a few days because of all the blood I lost, but this is ridiculous.
Give it a day or two. You'll get it all back.
Finally, I give in, lean back in the recliner, and think about how I can carry out a preemptive strike against Lorenzo. Echoing through the silent room, there's a knock on my door. It's followed by a man poking his head into my room and saying, "Miss Riddle, your breakfast is here."
Before I can respond, he's next to me, putting a melamine tray covered with a silver dome onto the moveable table across the room. Once he has the table set, he slides the stand over, adjusts it so its height is appropriate, and puts the food right in front of me.
