The Pretense (Men of Meadowfall Book 7)

by Anna Wineheart

  “Let’s get some food into you,” Sam said, handing Levi a plate with a couple of buns. “It’s no good if everyone worries and no one eats. You’ll need your strength.”

  Levi assembled a tiny hamburger for Jenn first. Then he pinched off tiny pieces of bread for Taylor, and made up a sandwich for himself. Taylor grabbed at Levi’s food, cheering him up.

  The minutes dragged by. Some of the other omegas had grouped together to chat. Sam wandered over to Ian, talking to him, too. Levi checked his phone. No word from Cole.

  A couple of firefighters had remained behind at the station—no one Levi recognized. They had radios clipped to their belts, but no one volunteered any updates.

  At first, Levi distracted himself by planning out the things he had to do at the music shop. Then he thought up dinners to make, and typed out a grocery list on his phone.

  When he’d finished his food and collected Jenn’s empty plate, and there was still no update from the firefighters on-scene, Levi’s stomach began to flip.

  Was Cole okay? Or was there gunfire and they couldn’t radio back? Or was Cole running out onto the streets, saving injured people and risking himself?

  What if Cole didn’t come back?

  Levi gulped, his eyes burning. He should’ve held on to Cole for a while. He should’ve told Cole what he felt. Maybe he should’ve been a little more selfish, and said, I love you. Regardless of the consequences.

  Because that was what he felt, deep down. Watching Cole with the children, having Cole smile so warmly at him, snuggling up against Cole’s warm, safe chest.

  He touched his flat belly, wondering about the baby in there. If he somehow managed to carry his child to term... What if Cole wasn’t around to witness it? Levi swallowed hard, his insides knotted tight with fear.

  “Hey, it’ll be fine,” Ian said, coming over to sit with Levi. “They’ll all come back safe.”

  Sam sat on Levi’s other side, squeezing his shoulder. “Let’s talk about something else,” he said. “Did you know that we boil pork bones for eight hours at Wy’s Drive-In?”

  “I thought it takes a lot more time than that,” Ian answered, surprised.

  Sam grinned. “That’s the final boiling stage, but there are a few initial steps, too.”

  Levi let their conversation distract him. He watched as Jenn played with the other kids, showing them her paper airplanes. Then Taylor wet his diapers, and Levi excused himself and Taylor for a diaper change.

  It was when Levi had gotten back and Sam had launched into an explanation of all the different sauce mixes at the restaurant, that the first fire truck pulled back into the station. Levi’s heart stopped. Next to him, Ian and Sam looked up.

  Firefighters disembarked from the truck. Levi recognized Brad and Harris. Ian and Sam blew out relieved sighs; they hurried over. The other firefighters exited the truck, but Cole wasn’t with them.

  What if something had happened to him?

  Nervously, Levi made his way over, where Harris was briefing Sam and Ian on the situation.

  “It was a civilian car with failed brakes,” Harris said. “It just so happened that it was the Army Recruiting Center they crashed into. Took a while for the police to give everyone the green light.”

  So it wasn’t a terrorist threat. Levi’s stomach unclenched, but only a little. He wouldn’t stop worrying until Cole returned, until he could touch Cole’s face and convince himself that Cole was fine.

  Another truck pulled into the station, then a third. The off-duty firefighters headed back toward the department party, but Levi only had eyes for the alpha who climbed down from the cab of the ladder truck, his bumblebee outfit peeking out past the short sleeves of his Fire Department shirt.

  Cole was unhurt.

  The weight on Levi’s heart rolled off, leaving him space to breathe.

  With a relieved whimper, Levi took Jenn by the hand, leading her into the garage. Cole dropped lightly to his feet, his gaze raking over Levi, burning hot.

  Levi released Jenn and barreled into Cole’s chest, breathing in his maplewood scent.

  “Hey, I’m fine,” Cole whispered, rubbing Levi’s back. He took Taylor, then wrapped his free arm around Levi. “Hello again, Taylor. I hope you didn’t give Uncle Levi too much trouble.”

  “He didn’t,” Levi croaked, smiling when Jenn flew her airplanes around them. “I fed him and changed his diapers.”

  “But how are you?” Cole leaned back, looking into Levi’s eyes.

  He was rugged and he smelled like fresh sweat, and Levi wanted so badly for this alpha to be his.

  “I-I...” I love you. “I was worried,” Levi said, chickening out at the last moment. “I didn’t know what was going on, and I was so afraid you’d be hurt.”

  “I’m fine,” Cole murmured, pressing a kiss to Levi’s temple. “See?”

  But Levi was afraid of all the other times Cole would go out on a call, too. Knowing the risks, sitting helplessly in wait while Cole went on a rescue... “What if you get hurt? On other calls,” he mumbled.

  “I save lives, Levi. That’s what I do.”

  Cole ran his fingers through Levi’s hair, his wrist skimming down Levi’s back, marking Levi with his scent.

  “I know there’ll always be a risk,” Cole said. “But I’m gonna do the best I can to get me and the victim out alive, ‘cuz I know there’s someone waiting for me back home.”

  His gaze never once wavered from Levi’s face. Levi’s throat grew tight. Cole was amazing, and so much stronger than Levi could ever be.

  “I love you,” Levi croaked, his cheeks prickling with heat.

  Cole’s gaze grew molten then, its intensity lighting up Levi’s nerves. “Yeah? You do?”

  Levi nodded, almost afraid. But there were no thunder strikes or sirens, just Cole cradling Levi, pulling him close. He slanted his lips against Levi’s, hot and hungry, and the kiss warmed Levi right down to his toes.

  “Love you too,” Cole whispered, nipping on Levi’s lower lip. “Wanna get you home, make you mine.”

  He pressed Levi against the ladder truck, tipping Levi’s face up, sliding into his mouth, claiming him inside like how he’d claim the rest of Levi’s body.

  Levi moaned, his blood swooping south. He hadn’t tangled with Cole for a while—the babysitting had left them both exhausted. But if he could have Cole touch him, if Cole wanted to kiss down his body, suck his cock...

  “Very nice,” Cole whispered, sniffing down Levi’s jaw to his neck, where Levi’s musk coiled off his body. “Gonna get you hot for me.”

  Then he patted Levi between the legs, squeezing Levi’s cock through the spandex. Pleasure shot through his body; Levi jerked. He wanted more, and the station was the wrong place for it. Especially when anyone could see his cock straining behind the bumblebee outfit.

  Not only that, but it was 10AM, and... and Levi was supposed to be at Olivier’s Strings, opening shop now.

  He yanked himself away from Cole, panicking. “The shop!”

  “Ah, shit.” Cole handed Taylor back to Levi. “Here’s a distraction. No one’s gonna look down if you’ve got a cute baby in your arms. C’mon, Jenn, let’s say bye-bye to the rest, and we’ll head over to the shop.”

  Cole returned his borrowed uniform. They bade goodbye to the department staff; Sam and Ian hugged Levi. The other alphas waved. Levi was reluctant to leave after they’d welcomed him so warmly.

  “They’re really like a family,” he mumbled when they were back in the car.

  “Aren’t they?” Cole grinned. “It’s great too, ‘cuz I know they’ll always have my back.”

  They reminded Levi of his family—his parents and brothers, and his gran. “What about yours?” Levi asked. “I mean... your mom had a big confrontation with Ollie and Eric last year.”

  Cole shrugged, his gaze faraway. “I’m not speaking to my mom so much right now.”

  “So... your parents don’t know about this.” Levi flicked his finger between Cole and
himself.

  “Not yet.” Cole sighed. “I haven’t thought that far. But enough talking.” He reached over, squeezing Levi’s thigh. Then his fingers brushed up between Levi’s legs, an electric touch. Levi sucked in a sharp breath.

  “When we get some time later,” Cole murmured, “I’m gonna warm you up a little. In bed.”

  And from the look in his eyes, the things he’d planned would scorch Levi to the bone.

  Levi gulped, his throat suddenly dry. “I’ll make sure I’m ready.”

  “Naked, and on all fours,” Cole growled. “Wanna make you all mine.”

  15

  LEVI

  BY THE TIME they arrived at the mansion, Cole smelled like old sweat and musk, and all Levi wanted was to get the children in bed.

  So he could present himself to Cole, and have Cole claim him, deep and thoroughly.

  Through the afternoon, during the times when both Levi and Cole were awake, Cole had crowded Levi up against the backroom wall.

  Then he’d cupped Levi between the legs, squeezed his balls, stroked his cock until Levi panted and squirmed, his precome soaking through his clothes.

  Cole had kissed him through the spandex, licked at Levi’s tip, until the material darkened with dampness. Then Cole had pushed a couple fingers between Levi’s cheeks, just to test how wet he was.

  When Levi had writhed, right at the edge, Cole had released him, tying Levi’s hands behind his back. He’d slipped out onto the sales floor, tending to the customers.

  While Cole’s back had been turned, Levi had humped the wall, desperate for release. Only to freeze guiltily when Cole checked back in on him, his eyes knowing.

  I’ll make it up to you later, Cole had murmured, pressing his fingers up against Levi’s hole, right where Levi wanted him. Then he’d licked Levi’s slick off his fingertips, and Levi had whined, frustrated.

  So the day had dragged, and Levi had been so distracted that Cole had manned the music shop counter instead, Levi’s musk on his skin.

  Gods, the things Ollie’s customers must have thought about them.

  The porch lights were on when they pulled up to the front door. Cole slid his hand up Levi’s thigh, stroking Levi’s cock lightly. “I’ll grab the kids. You take the bags, and get naked on the bed.”

  Levi swallowed hard, his cock jerking back to attention.

  They parted ways at the bedroom corridor. Cole kissed him deep, his soft tongue tangling with Levi’s, his fingertips tickling the underside of Levi’s sac. Then Cole turned him toward the bedroom, and spanked him lightly.

  The whisper of pain and pleasure went straight to Levi’s cock.

  “Remember how I want you,” Cole whispered, squeezing him. Then he turned to Jenn, his tone turning light and casual. “C’mon, Jenn—time for bed!”

  With a soft laugh, Levi shut the door. Cole was so different around the children, in a good way.

  But when the children were asleep... Cole would return, and he would be nothing like a cheerful dad. He’d be Levi’s alpha, all hot skin and solid muscle, and by the gods, Levi wanted to be ready for him.

  Levi squirmed out of his clothes. By now, the bed smelled like them both, like home. If someone asked Levi to define happiness, this scent would be it.

  He stepped toward the bed, glancing down at his eager cock. Were it any other day, Levi would’ve been lounging on the mattress, just breathing the scents in. Except Cole had teased him all day, and Levi’s body flushed with warmth, needing his alpha’s touch.

  On the baby monitor, Cole tucked the children into bed. All afternoon, they’d exhausted Taylor and Jenn as much as they could. And it would pay off now, giving them a few hours to themselves.

  Before Cole stepped in, Levi hurried to the closet, fishing around the bottom drawer. He found the scrap of material he was looking for, tugging it up his legs. It clung to his ass, just barely hiding the base of his cock. Cole would like it, though. Levi was sure.

  When the door finally creaked open, Levi was on all fours on the bed, his legs spread open, his ass in the air.

  “Fuck,” Cole said, his voice turning husky.

  “Now.” Levi spread his legs wider, offering Cole his damp hole. “Inside. Please.”

  Cole growled, locking the door. He yanked off his pants, then the bumblebee outfit, his cock growing thick. Levi stared. Couldn’t help it.

  What else were you supposed to do, when your alpha was hard for you, his cock heavy, precome glistening at his tip? His chest broad and solid, his biceps the stuff of your dreams? And Cole’s eyes were rapt, his full lips damp, every bit of his body a promise.

  Cole strode over to the bed, his gaze raking down Levi’s body, as hot as his own touch. Then he clambered onto the bed, his nostrils flared, sniffing at Levi’s arousal. Levi panted, pushing his ass up, reaching back to spread his cheeks. He needed to be claimed. Needed to feel like he belonged to Cole.

  “Fuck, don’t do that,” Cole rasped, catching Levi’s hands. “Or I’m gonna mount you and fuck inside.”

  “You’ve been promising me that the whole day,” Levi whined, his slick trickling out of his hole. “Please.”

  “Not yet.”

  Cole paused behind him, cupping the back of Levi’s thigh with his callused hand. Then he stroked up, all the way to Levi’s ass, where the scrap of white lace clung to his cheeks, hiding little. Levi’s cock ached.

  “I didn’t know you had this,” Cole murmured, squeezing Levi’s cheek through the panties. He slipped his thumb beneath the fabric, rubbing Levi’s bare ass.

  “I never thought to use them.”

  Not when Cole had been initiating sex during the moments Levi least expected it, when Cole had pressed him up against walls and stripped his clothes, leaving Levi bare.

  Levi gasped as Cole pulled his cheeks apart, the cool air of the room brushing his hole. That was where he craved Cole’s touch, right now. “You promised to fuck me.”

  Cole chuckled. “But I didn’t say when.”

  “Now.”

  “Maybe.”

  Instead, Cole spanked him lightly, a burst of pleasure and pain twisting down Levi’s nerves. Levi panted, his throat going dry.

  “I love every inch of you,” Cole whispered, leaning in. His breath rushed warm across the small of Levi’s back. Then he trailed damp kisses up Levi’s spine, all the way to his shoulders, care in every touch.

  Cole brushed his fingers up Levi’s sides and kissed his nape, his bare cock nudging against Levi’s balls. Levi groaned, grinding down against him, trying to tempt him further.

  Except Cole pushed Levi’s panties up his cheeks, letting the material catch in the cleft of his ass. Then he grabbed Levi’s cheeks, spreading them, allowing the lace to bunch up against Levi’s sensitive hole.

  “You know where I need you,” Levi whimpered.

  “I do.”

  Cole squeezed Levi’s cheeks together, trapping the lace against his hole, so all Levi could focus on was the material scraping against his skin, right where Cole was supposed to be.

  “I’m gonna open you there,” Cole whispered in his ear, releasing Levi’s ass to brace his weight next to Levi’s arm. “And I’m gonna fill you up with my cock. Mark you inside.”

  He pushed his heavy cock against the bunched lace, shoving the material against Levi’s entrance. Levi panted, reaching behind to yank the lace aside. Except Cole caught his hand, anchoring it against Levi’s back. “No touching yourself, Levi.”

  Cole was so close to putting his cock inside. Levi trembled. “I need to come.”

  “You’ll come when I say you can,” Cole murmured, pulling his cock away.

  Those words made Levi burn, from his cock through the rest of his body. They’d done this a long time ago. Cole giving Levi orders, Levi trying his best to follow them. Most times, Levi had spilled all over himself, and Cole had swallowed his pleasure.

  Now, Cole pushed his cock between Levi’s legs, rubbing it against Levi’s aching length. Cole’s
cock was thick, flushed at the tip, but he only dragged it lightly against Levi, there and back again, too faint to be satisfying.

  Levi moaned, rutting at him, trying to chase his release. Except Cole nudged Levi’s legs further apart, reaching around him to squeeze his cock. Pleasure whispered through his veins; Levi gasped and jerked into his hand. Cole growled.

  “Very nice,” he murmured, pumping Levi’s cock with his tight fist until Levi panted and shook, his climax just within reach.

  Levi tensed, bucking his hips, his tip shoving lewdly out the other end of Cole’s fist, smeared with precome. Two more pumps—

  Then Cole pulled his hand away, leaving Levi swearing, his cock pulsing with need.

  “Cole, please!”

  Cole reached into the bedside drawer, pulling out a scarf. Then he pulled another out, tying their ends to Levi’s wrists.

  Levi watched in horror and sick fascination as Cole anchored the ends of the scarves to the headboard posts. He tugged on his restraints; they did not give.

  Cole wasn’t going to let Levi come anytime soon, was he?

  “I have a little bit more planned for you,” Cole whispered, reaching between Levi’s legs to squeeze his balls. That sent a jolt through Levi’s gut, almost as strong as a punch. Levi panted, trying to shove his cock at something, anything.

  Cole’s smile grew. “Mine.”

  “This is how you make me yours?” Levi whined, angling his hips toward Cole, trying to tempt Cole into fucking him.

  Cole growled. He straightened out Levi’s panties, then nudged a couple of fingers between Levi’s cheeks, allowing the lace to cling to his fingers. Then he pushed a finger into Levi’s hole, lace and all. Levi panted, his body opening around his alpha.

  “Gods,” Cole said hoarsely, sliding his finger deeper inside. “I want to open you up. Fuck inside. Give you all of my cock.”

  “Yes. Do it already.” Levi writhed, panting when Cole pushed another finger into him, stretching him further. The lace soaked up his slick, scraping lightly inside him, making Levi aware of every little movement Cole made.

  He couldn’t reach down to jerk himself off, but he could still hump the bed. Could still come by himself.