by Aliyah Burke
Levi frowned. All that she said was confusing. A war hadn’t happened yet. There was talk of an impending one if Lincoln freed the Negros, but nothing yet. And here she was talking about it as if such a thing had already occurred. Maybe she wasn’t all there? Twenty-first century?
One thing was for sure, he didn’t like the nervousness that filled her face as she watched him. Pushing away from the stool, he moved toward her. His steps were slow and as unthreatening as he could make them.
He watched her as he prowled closer. Her eyes widened slightly before she narrowed them and stared right back. He knew she was scared but he admired how she refused to give into it.
Her gaze swept over his body and he recognized the admiration. Ignoring that, he stopped before her and bowed slightly. “I apologize for ‘freaking’ you out. I guess I did get into the role more than I had thought. My name is Levi.”
He noticed how her eyes grew larger as he said Levi, but he filed that information away for later. Would she pick up on his lie? Would she figure out that he had no idea how he’d got to where he was and recognized none of the things she had in her building, aside from the basics? Would she know how scared he was about his body’s reaction to her?
Ta-Mara shoved back her sexual reaction to this man. He had moved like a predator across the room toward her. His eyes were equivalent to the Kanchanaburi Sapphire, in her opinion—a deep, endless blue. They swirled with many different emotions but the one she focused on was passion. This man desired her.
She trembled. When she licked her lips, she saw another flare in his eyes. The closer he got, the more impressive he became. Even dripping wet, there was this power about him. His pants only accentuated the strength in his legs, and the shirt plastered to his torso showed off his wide shoulders, flat belly and strong arms.
Her body reminded her in a not-so-subtle way that it had been missing the touch of a good man for far too long. And to top off the gorgeous package he was, he went and told her his name is none other than that of the man she had been fantasizing about from her book, Levi. Moisture pooled between her thighs.
This must be a dream. One night with him would be heaven, but would it be enough? The way he made her feel with a look was more intense than any touch from previous lovers.
“Levi, is it?”
He nodded.
“My name is Ta-Mara LeBreaux.”
“Ta-Mara,” he drawled it out, rolling the ‘r’ as if making love to it.
Her breathing became heavier. He moved closer to her, his eyes dropped to the pulse in her neck and he smiled as if he could tell how fast her heart was beating.
“You should get out of those clothes,” she sputtered, desperate to say something.
Perhaps something different.
One jet-black eyebrow rose.
“I…I…I only meant that you could get sick if you stay in them.” Ta-Mara knew she was blushing. Oh, she just wanted to fall below the floorboards.
Another step closer then there was nowhere for her to go. Her back was against part of the wall that didn’t have any books on it. She could feel the light switch poking her but she didn’t care. All her focus was on the man taking up most of her air.
Her knees were weak and her heart pounded so hard she was surprised it was still behind her ribs. Each inhalation swamped her already overloaded senses with the scent of raw masculinity. He smelled like the outdoors. There was a hint of sweat but it only added to the allure, and something else which Ta-Mara merely labeled Levi.
He reached out with one hand and stroked the side of her face.
The room was encased in darkness as the lights went out again. Ta-Mara remained still, his hand by the corner of her mouth, the sensual strands of John Legend still playing.
“What happens now?” he murmured in her ear. Water dripped from his hair to her skin and seemed to sizzle with the heat between them.
Ignoring all the logical voices in her head, Ta-Mara pushed her face into his touch. “I don’t know. You tell me, Levi.”
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About the Author
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is married to a career military man, and they have a German Shepherd, two Borzois, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.
Email: [email protected]
Aliyah loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Aliyah Burke
Through The Fire
Seducing Damian
Code of Honour: A Marriage Of Convenience
Code of Honour: The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
Code of Honour: A Man Like No Other
Code of Honour: When Stars Collide
In Aeternum: Casanova in Training
In Aeternum: Harbour of Refuge
In Aeternum: Protected by Shadows
In Aeternum: Polar Opposites
Interludes: Temporary Home
Interludes: Alone With You
Interludes: Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore
What’s Her Secret?: Preconception
Keeper of the Stars: Part One
Keeper of the Stars: Part Two
Keeper of the Stars: Part Three
Keeper of the Stars: Part Four
Keeper of the Stars: Part Five
Astral Guardians: Chasing the Storm
Astral Guardians: Highlands at Dawn
Astral Guardians: Fields of Thunder
Astral Guardians: Branded by Frost
With Taige Crenshaw
Unbreakable Bonds
Kemet Uncovered: Talios
Kemet Uncovered: Devi
Kemet Uncovered: Linc
Kemet Uncovered: Saffron
Kemet Uncovered: Taber
Kemet Uncovered: Ashia
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