“It’s not a line. It is an observation.”
Taylor trailed her fingers along the neckline of her dress before sliding her hair behind her shoulder. His eyes followed her every move. “Please. It was a sad variation of ‘Do you come here often?’ Come on, you can do better.”
Levi stared at her, his quiet intensity driving her crazy.
“You want a line? How about, ‘Spirit of Beauty, whose sweet impulses, flung like the rose of dawn across the sea, alone can flush the exalted consciousness with shafts of sensible divinity’?”
Taylor blinked a few times. “While impressive, quoting poetry is still not inventive.”
He stepped toward her now, pressing his body into her side. Taylor gripped the edge of the bar to keep her hands from clawing into him. Levi lowered his mouth to her ear and spoke slowly.
“Do you want stilted conversation and awkward moments, or do you want to skip ahead to the good stuff? If inventive is what you want, I can show you inventive.”
Taylor sucked in a breath, and with it came Levi’s scent—all manly cologne and beer. Her head was swimming, but she fought to stay strong in the role she was playing.
“I’m not sure you’d be up to the task.”
“Oh, Olivia, I believe you know that I am.”
She smiled now, knowing that he was going to be hers tonight. Taylor swung sideways on her stool so that Levi had to take a step back. He reached out and rested his tattooed arm on the bar. Her eyes followed the vibrant images of tropical flowers, fire, and some kind of exotic bird. Colorful feathers trailed from his elbow up to his biceps, turning into flames and smoldering ash. It was dark and beautiful.
“Prove it,” she challenged.
Levi grinned. He closed the distance between them before Taylor knew what was happening. He didn’t ask for permission or coax her into it slowly. He devoured her. Levi slid one hand beneath her hair and held her in place against him. His tongue dominated her mouth and she fought to keep up with him. When she felt dizzy and breathless, she pushed away from him.
“Point well proved,” she said between breaths.
“I’m not done.”
Levi wrapped his hand around Taylor’s, dragged her toward the end of the bar and through a door beside the stage. She looked around the space. It was some sort of storage room filled with equipment and chairs. Levi gripped her hips firmly and lifted her up onto a long table. Taylor leaned back, resting against the wall behind her, feeling the pulsing bass from the house music shoot through her body. Levi rested his palms flat against her bare knees and rubbed soft circles on the insides of them. Taylor sighed deeply at the feel of his skin on hers.
She watched his hands slide farther, pushing up the hem of her dress. Levi eased her legs apart and pressed himself in between them. He ducked his head, ghosting his mouth lightly over her collarbone; his hair tickled her chin. Finally, his lips pressed down and sucked tenderly right below her earlobe. Taylor hummed, trying to maintain some control.
He pulled back a bit and whispered against her skin, “Relax, Taylor.”
It wasn’t until Taylor processed his words that she realized how tense her entire body was. Her fists were balled up tight at her sides, every muscle rigid and every breath shallow. So she let go. Taylor gave herself over to him.
Levi’s fingers held firm to her body. His lips kissed, licked, and sucked every inch of available skin. Every place that their bodies connected was intensified by the vibration coming through the walls. Taylor couldn’t will herself to hold out any longer. She ran her fingers through his hair, gripped it tightly, and brought his lips to hers.
There was an unhinged passion behind this kiss, a building desire finally brought to reality. His lips sought hers over and over. Taylor tilted her head and allowed him to enter her mouth. She sucked on his tongue and wanted to bathe herself in his sweet taste. Taylor held firm to his hair, pulling and pushing at the same time. He kept his mouth pressed to hers, never pulling away for a breath. It didn’t matter, because in that moment, Taylor needed him more than air.
His calloused hands pushed her dress up farther, finally reaching her panties. He yanked them down her legs and off of her body. Levi roughly grabbed her hips and dragged her to the edge of the table, causing her dress to slide up and expose her.
Breaths came quick and heavy as Taylor anticipated Levi touching her. He leaned in and sucked her bottom lip into his warm mouth, slowly releasing it through his teeth. Then he dropped to his knees and buried himself between her thighs. Taylor gasped loudly and her fingers gripped his messy hair once again.
Taylor lifted her legs, placing her heels on his shoulders. His hot breath and the scratch of his beard against her thighs made her forget who she was. Each time he moved his hot tongue over her, she let out a cry. He was the master of her body, teasing her to the brink and pulling her back from the edge.
Taylor felt the familiar tingle start in her toes and concentrated on the feel of it creeping up her twitching thighs. When it reached the point where Levi’s lips and tongue were connected to her, Taylor surrendered to it. She leaned back on her elbows as her back arched and her hips lifted off the table. She screamed his name until she no longer had the breath to do so.
When Taylor came down from her intoxicating orgasm, she removed her feet from his shoulders and noticed where the heels of her shoes had dug into his skin. Taylor immediately sat up and ran her hands over them.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Levi stood up slowly, his palms still resting on the tops of her quivering thighs. “A small price to pay.”
Taylor reached up, slipped her hand into the waistband of his jeans and pulled him to her. She kissed his lips greedily, sliding her tongue into his mouth, tasting herself.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
He nodded, righted her dress, and pulled her from the room.
“Wait! My panties!”
“I’ve got them,” he said, his voice a scratchy kind of growl.
Taylor closed out her tab with Gregory, handing over a wad of cash and very generous tip. Levi was back by her side after grabbing his guitar case. She followed him out to his piece of junk truck. He opened the door for her and waited until she was in before closing the door and climbing in on his side. He placed his guitar between them.
“Anyone at the house tonight?” he asked.
“Can we go to your place?”
He hesitated, then nodded and eased the truck onto the street. The drive was quick and the silence only amped up the pulsing tension between them. Taylor could barely contain herself as Levi opened her door and ushered her up to his apartment. He unlocked and pushed the door open, placing a hand on her lower back to urge Taylor inside.
“It’s not much, I know. But it’s home.”
Taylor looked around at the secondhand furniture and drab decor before shrugging.
Levi set his guitar down near the door. “Do you want something to drink? I have beer, water, and scotch.”
“All the basics,” she countered. “No. I’m fine.”
* * *
Taylor was driving him crazy. She looked so shy and out of her element here in his apartment. Levi stalked forward and pinned her to his door. Her blue eyes looked up into his, and he could see that this raging lust was not just his. They were both affected. He kissed her again, because he could. She tasted like citrus and smelled like flowers. Her skin was smooth beneath his hands and he couldn’t get enough of it.
Taylor’s hands came between them as she pushed his T-shirt up. He helped by pulling it off and throwing it to the floor. Her fingers ran down his chest and over his abs before curling into the waistband of his jeans. His hips snapped forward, letting her feel what she’d done to him. He wrapped his hands around her waist and they stumbled to his bedroom. Levi flipped on the light and Taylor turned it off.
“I want to see you,” he said, turning the light back on.
“Okay,” she whispered.
&
nbsp; Levi walked over to his bed and sat lazily on the end. He motioned for her to come closer. Taylor sauntered over, the confidence she’d displayed at the bar wavering. It felt so strange to have her here, so strange seeing Taylor in his space. She wedged her body between his open legs, wrapped her hands in his hair, and pulled his face into her cleavage.
Levi’s hands were busy worshipping her body when he found the zipper on her dress. He turned her and delicately slid the metal pull down, revealing that familiar flawless skin. Taylor slid the straps down over her shoulders and pushed the dress to the floor. Levi lay back on the bed, resting on his elbows, drinking her in.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, so low it was barely audible.
Taylor leaned down, resting her hands on his thighs, and attacked his lips. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, dragging it through her teeth and creating the most delicious bit of pain. Levi moaned into her mouth.
“You’re really good at that,” he said.
Levi removed the last of her clothes and pulled her into a sitting position on his lap. Taylor leaned against him and lifted her arms up to grab handfuls of his hair while Levi kissed and sucked on the tender flesh of her neck. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand massaging her breast while the other found its way down to her inner thigh, squeezing hard.
“Levi,” she panted softly. “Please.”
Levi flipped them over, pinning Taylor beneath him. She unfastened and pushed his jeans down as far as she could, and Levi finished, kicking them off the bed. Taylor sat up, flipping them over again, and looked down at his body like she wanted to feast on him. Straddling his waist, she placed her palms on his chest and raked them down his body. When she got to his boxer briefs, she slid her fingers under the waistband and slid them all the way down.
When she lowered herself onto him, both of them squeezed their eyes shut and let out matching moans of pleasure. Slowly, Taylor began rocking her hips, grinding down onto his body. Levi’s lips trembled, his eyes rolling toward the ceiling before he forced them back down to her body. She set a frantic rhythm, one he fought hard to hold on to.
Needing to regain control, Levi turned them over and pushed into her so hard that his bed frame cried out in protest. She wrapped her hands around his strong arms and her legs around his body, leaving no space between them. The creaking of the bed and their pleasing rhythm filled the room.
“Fuck, Taylor. Give me what I want, baby.”
Mixed with the feel of Levi inside her, the scent of their sex, and the taste of his salty skin, the sound of his demand brought her over the edge. Taylor screamed long and hard, her entire body tense, his name on her lips. Levi followed right behind her, closing his eyes to the blinding pleasure that ripped through him. He leaned into Taylor and covered her face, neck, and chest with small kisses until their breathing returned to normal.
Levi got rid of the condom, returned to bed, and pulled her close to his body. Taylor lay there tracing the patterns of his tattoos, moving over his shoulder and down his arm, before entwining their fingers and resting their joined hands on her stomach.
* * *
Levi woke to an empty bed and a burning smell. He threw on his jeans and raced into the kitchen, where Taylor Hudson stood wearing only his T-shirt from the night before. The vision was jarring and provocative at the same time. In his apartment, even among the low-end appliances and ugly carpet, she seemed at home.
“Good morning,” she said, giving him a smile that was shy and questioning.
He stepped toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Levi buried his face in her hair and placed a kiss at the base of her throat. Taylor hummed in approval.
“I made breakfast. I hope that’s okay.”
Levi released her and gave a skeptical look. “Breakfast? That sounds promising.”
“Well, I tried,” she answered, giggling. Taylor waved her hand toward a plate of burnt toast triangles covered in jam.
His eyes swept across the counter to the open jar with the handwritten label. Anger ripped through him as he picked it up and peered inside.
“Shit, Taylor! Why did you open this?” he yelled.
Taylor shrank away from him, pressing herself against the refrigerator. Levi felt himself teetering on a dangerous edge and stormed into the living room to put some distance between them. He threw himself onto his sofa, resting his elbows on his knees, and stared down at the open jar. His heart drummed against his chest as he took deep breaths in search of calm.
Taylor approached him carefully, tucking herself against the opposite end of the sofa. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Tell me how to fix it.”
Levi shook his head and kept his eyes on the jar. “When I was little, my mom used to take me to this farm in Irvine. One day a year you can go and pick your own strawberries. It’s one of the most vivid memories I have of her. I can picture her giant sun hat and her smiling face. I remember her letting me eat berries right off the vine, like it was the biggest secret. Every year, when we’d get home, she’d go crazy cooking and baking to use all the berries. My dad and I always complained about eating it all, but we loved it.”
Taylor scooted forward, placed her hand on Levi’s back, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“After she died, my dad and I would go to the farm every year, but I hated it without her. Eventually, when I was a teenager, I refused to go anymore. This jar is the last of the strawberry jam she made before she died. I found it in my father’s cabinet when he passed away. It’s sixteen years old, probably not even good anymore.”
“I’m so sorry, Levi.”
He set the jar down and leaned against the back of the sofa. Taylor wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his bare chest. She placed several kisses there.
“It’s fine,” he said. “You didn’t know. I’m not sure what I was saving it for anyway.”
Taylor felt good wrapped around him. She soothed him in a way that made all his anger and dejection disappear. He was comfortable and relaxed beneath her touch. And then he remembered who she was and who he was and what they were doing. His body tensed at the realization. Every lie seemed to surface at once, propelling Levi off the sofa and away from her touch.
“Uh, I’ve got to be somewhere in an hour. So…”
Taylor looked up at him, the hurt evident in her expression before she wiped it clean.
“I’ll just go, then,” she said.
Levi nodded and walked to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. A few minutes later, Taylor emerged dressed in her clothes from the night before. She eyed him leaning against the counter, sipping his morning drink. Levi returned her gaze but didn’t say a word.
“You need a ride?” he asked.
“I called a cab. I’ll see you Monday,” she said icily.
“Monday,” he agreed.
He didn’t watch her leave, but the slamming of his apartment door told him all he needed to know.
15. happy birthday and good-bye
Levi woke in a cold sweat. He rolled over in bed and checked the time on his phone: nine o’clock. They had a meeting with the Boss at noon to discuss Plan B. Levi dragged a pillow over his head and held it there. He wanted to stay in the dark for just a little while longer. He didn’t want to face his defeat or his growing frustration and feelings for Taylor.
A couple of hours later, he slid out of bed and into the shower, where he let the hot water wash away his self-loathing. By the time he made it to the meeting, he was fifteen minutes late.
“Nice of you to join us,” the Boss said. “We’re on my time now, Levi, not yours.” Levi nodded and took his seat between Kyle and Crystal. “Because you were unsuccessful in finding the safe, we’re moving on to Plan B.”
“But—” Levi said. The Boss raised a hand to stop him.
“You are done talking. The plan is set in motion already. Crystal, Kyle, I’ll need a copy of the updated bluepr
ints. After that, your services are no longer needed. Levi, I need you to return to work like normal on Monday morning. Taylor will be taken before noon that day. I need you in the house. Once the target is acquired, you’ll be free and clear.”
The trio stared at the Boss and then threw anxious looks at each other.
“Don’t worry,” the Boss continued, “you’ll each be compensated fifty thousand dollars for your work once I receive the ransom.”
Levi dropped his eyes to the table. He took slow, deep breaths, trying to hold on to the last bit of calm.
“Who are these guys?” he asked.
“The less you know, the better. They’re instructed not to harm the girl. Unless I say otherwise.”
That last statement was a direct jab at Levi and he knew it. It sent him over the edge. He jumped up, his chair tumbling to the floor behind him. The Boss matched his stance, their eyes held firm in a standoff.
“Is there a problem, Levi?” the Boss asked.
So many words and thoughts screamed to be set free. Fear and anger clawed at his chest, but somehow he was able to hold them at bay.
“Are we done here?” Levi asked.
The Boss nodded, and Levi stormed out of the building, slamming the door behind him. When he reached his truck, he banged his fist against the door and immediately felt splintering pain shoot up his arm. He hurled his fist at it again, screaming out when his knuckles connected with the metal.
“Fuck!” Levi swung again, and this time the skin of his knuckles split open and blood ran into his fist.
“Levi.”
“No!” Levi shouted.
“Levi,” he heard again.
A hand wrapped around his shoulder. Pure instinct drove him to turn and swing. Kyle caught his fist midair and lowered it. Levi fought for breath, his head swimming. He ripped his hand out of Kyle’s grip and slumped against the beaten truck.
Perfect Betrayal Page 18
