The Pretense (Men of Meadowfall Book 7)

by Anna Wineheart

  Pleasure whispered through his nerves; Cole pulled Levi’s hand away. Didn’t want to get distracted. When he’d kissed his fill of Levi’s mouth, Cole dropped kisses over Levi’s face—his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks and nose and chin.

  “All of this is beautiful,” Cole whispered. “And all of it is mine.”

  Levi blushed, a tiny smile spreading through his face.

  Gods, that sight. Cole’s heart swelled. He brushed his wrists over Levi’s face, marking him with maplewood. Then came Levi’s chest, his shoulders and arms. Cole dropped kisses on Levi’s nipples, then down his chest, to his stomach and his belly. There, Cole covered Levi’s skin with kisses.

  “Doesn’t matter what happens,” Cole murmured. “I’ll be here.”

  Levi sucked in a sharp breath, his throat working. He caressed Cole’s face, his gaze tender. Cole swept his wrists down Levi’s front, until his skin smelled utterly like maplewood, too.

  Then Cole kissed down Levi’s hips, pulling his legs open. Levi blushed. Cole kissed his sensitive inner thighs, sinking his teeth lightly into creamy skin, just inches away from Levi’s straining cock.

  “Mine here, too,” Cole said, brushing his wrists down to Levi’s ankles and his feet. Then he returned to Levi’s cock and brushed his wrist up its hot, silky length. It jerked against him. “And especially this. I’ll tell you when you can come tonight.”

  Levi’s face turned beet-red. All the same, he opened his legs, inviting. Cole’s cock ached, needing to claim his omega.

  “Get on your knees,” Cole whispered. Couldn’t say it any louder; his voice had gotten stuck.

  Levi squirmed around onto all fours, spreading his legs. And Cole fought down the hungry pressure in his cock, that demanded he mount Levi and slide into him, fill him up. Even the sight of that puckered pink hole...

  Cole swallowed dryly. He leaned in, kissing Levi’s nape, then his back, brushing his wrists over every bit of exposed skin.

  “Stop teasing,” Levi whined. Then he leaned in, grinding his bare ass against Cole’s covered cock, his firm, supple body fitting perfectly against Cole’s hips.

  Cole’s breath rushed out of his lungs. He growled, pinning Levi down by the shoulders, squeezing Levi’s ass. “Mine.”

  “So claim me,” Levi hissed, wriggling his hips. “I’m all open for you. Waiting for you to get inside.”

  “There’s nothing more I wanna do,” Cole breathed, reaching between Levi’s legs to squeeze his warm, soft balls. Levi cried out, panting. So Cole closed his fist around Levi’s cock, savoring Levi’s pleased, helpless whimper. “Fuck my hand.”

  Levi made a soft sound, rolling his hips. He shoved his cock into the tunnel of Cole’s fist, his foreskin dragging down his flushed tip, his head glistening with precome. Cole tightened his fist; Levi’s thrusts stuttered, his body wracked with pleasure.

  “Harder,” Cole murmured, squeezing Levi’s thigh.

  Levi thrust harder into Cole’s hand, the friction of his cock making Cole throb. When Levi thrust again, Cole leaned in. Angled Levi’s cock back, toward himself, and opened his mouth.

  When Levi fucked his hand again, his emerging tip pushed into Cole’s mouth, all slippery and salty.

  “C-Cole—” Levi moaned low in his throat, his breath shuddering out of him.

  Cole released his cock. Took it all into his mouth, savoring the weight of it, Levi sliding against his tongue, thick and hungry. Levi panted, his spine arching, his fingers digging into the bed, a glistening trail of slick leaking from his hole.

  He looked beautiful from here, too. Cole tasted him thoroughly, sucking Levi until Levi trembled, his thrusts turning uneven and desperate.

  Right when Levi was on the edge, Cole pulled away, Levi’s precome slippery in his mouth, Levi’s fists closing around the sheets, his body twisted in frustration. “Cole!”

  “We’ll get there,” Cole murmured, sliding his tongue beneath Levi’s foreskin, licking him all around his sensitive tip. It wasn’t enough pressure to make him come, just enough for Cole to savor his omega. Levi shuddered and gasped, leaking onto Cole’s tongue.

  Cole swallowed every drop, his throat dry, his cock aching. Wasn’t sure he could wait much longer right now. “How do you want me to fuck you?”

  “Right now,” Levi whimpered.

  Cole grinned, flipping Levi onto his back so he could see Levi’s face. Levi gazed up at him, his lips bitten red, his chest flushed, his eyes raking hungrily down Cole’s front, lingering at the bulge in Cole’s pants.

  “You’re not naked yet,” Levi said, pulling his knees up to his chest so his hole was completely exposed.

  Cole groaned, shoving his pants off. Couldn’t wait. He wanted to be knotted inside Levi, wanted to claim Levi as his own.

  His boots thudded onto the floor. The clothes fell in a rustle, and Cole returned to his omega, pinning Levi’s legs open, fitting himself between them. So his cock pressed up against Levi’s hole, his own precome smearing over Levi’s skin.

  Levi took Cole’s hand, pulling it closer to his face. At first, Cole thought Levi might suck on one of his fingers to tease him. Except Levi nosed down to Cole’s wrist, right where Cole’s scent gland was.

  Cole’s heart stopped. Levi met his eyes.

  “Okay?” Levi whispered, dragging his lip against that sensitive spot.

  And now Cole’s heart hammered twice as fast. Levi wanted to mark him.

  “Yeah,” Cole rasped. “But only if I can mark you, too.”

  Levi cracked a smile, shy. “Where?”

  “Anywhere. All over.” Cole slid his fingers down to Levi’s free wrist, rubbing into that one sensitive spot. Levi gasped, his pupils blowing wider. So Cole brought Levi’s hand to his lips, sniffing out the spot where that jasmine scent was strongest. Levi groaned, dragging his teeth against Cole’s scent gland.

  Then he sank his teeth into Cole’s wrist, breaking skin. Pain and pleasure twisted down Cole’s nerves; Cole jerked, his cock swelling bigger.

  Years back, Levi had allowed Cole to mark him, but he hadn’t returned the marking. And now Levi’s mark was on Cole—Cole belonged to him.

  With a growl, Cole bit into Levi’s scent gland, breaking skin, drawing blood. Levi tensed against him, his eyes fluttering shut with pleasure, a smile curving his lips.

  “Mine,” Cole whispered, kissing the broken skin.

  “Yours,” Levi agreed.

  And something changed then. Things were different now, because Levi had promised himself to Cole. Cole was his—Levi wouldn’t leave him again.

  Cole leaned close, pressing his nose to Levi’s shoulder, just breathing him in. His heart was full for his omega, his body thrumming with hunger, needing to complete the bonding.

  “Please,” Levi whispered, wrapping his legs around Cole’s waist, leaving himself open for Cole.

  Cole swallowed hard. “I don’t want to hurt our baby.”

  “Then go slow.” Levi tipped his head back, bearing his neck. “But I want you inside.”

  Cole groaned, leaning in to suck on Levi’s throat. Levi gasped; Cole tipped his face closer, kissing Levi deep on the lips. He slid into Levi’s mouth, swallowing Levi’s moan, groaning when Levi reached down to stroke his cock. Levi tugged desperately on Cole.

  Cole gave in to his omega, rolling his hips to lodge his tip between Levi’s smooth cheeks. Levi relaxed for him; Cole fitted his head against Levi’s hole, pressing kisses down Levi’s jaw, his throat, his shoulder. Wanted to savor all this before he forgot himself.

  Then he thrust lightly against Levi’s hole, his breath rushing out when Levi opened around him, his hot, tight body swallowing Cole’s cock, squeezing him.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” Cole breathed, bracing himself against the bed, holding himself back so he wouldn’t thrust too hard.

  “More,” Levi whispered, drawing Cole closer with his feet, inviting him inside.

  Inch by inch, Cole sank into him, sliding deeper, aiming for th
at sweet spot inside Levi. With each thrust, it felt as though he were sinking into a bit of heaven, with the way Levi’s body stroked around him, begging him for his come. Cole gritted his teeth, grinding against Levi’s prostate. Levi jerked in response, leaking onto his belly.

  Gods, Levi looked beautiful. And he loved having Cole inside him, from the way his spine arched, his toes pressed up against Cole’s back, encouraging him deeper and deeper, until Cole could bury himself no further.

  And now Levi had taken Cole’s entire cock, his expression blissful and ravenous, his balls drawn up tight. Cole squeezed his sac, something in his chest rumbling when Levi writhed beneath him, his tip pushing out past his foreskin, his cock flushed dark with desperation.

  “Cole, please,” Levi whimpered, reaching for Cole, taking Cole’s other wrist.

  He sank his teeth into Cole’s unmarked scent gland. Pain and pleasure twisted inside Cole; his cock grew harder yet.

  Levi had marked Cole a second time. Something in Cole roared, hungry and possessive, needing to claim Levi as his. He slid out of Levi, then thrust all the way back. Levi moaned, taking Cole.

  Over and over, Cole gave Levi his cock, dipping into the sweet heat of his body, grinding up against Levi’s prostate. Levi writhed and shuddered, his climax approaching, his cock so full that the barest touch could set him off.

  And Cole kissed him, thrusting deep. Levi’s body clenched hard, come spurting across his chest, his ragged cry caught in Cole’s mouth. His spine arched, his nails bit into Cole’s skin.

  He was beautiful.

  Cole drank in Levi’s pleasure, the pressure in his own body building. He tried to hold back. Tried to go slow. It took all of his willpower to be gentle, until his own need brought him over the edge. He sank a last time into his omega, as carefully as he could with pleasure crashing through his body and his cock pulsing and Levi dragging him close, Levi’s kisses feverish against Cole’s jaw.

  Cole spilled inside his omega, panting, sweaty. Levi kissed him messily, his teeth sharp points on Cole’s lip, his gaze pleasured and satisfied.

  More so when Cole began to swell inside him, his knot locking them together.

  Levi moaned throatily, dragging his wrists down Cole’s sides, so Cole smelled like jasmine, too.

  “Mine,” Cole growled when he’d stopped panting, dropping kisses all over Levi’s face. “All mine.”

  “All yours.” Levi blushed, almost shy. “I can’t... believe this happened.”

  So Cole rolled his hips, sinking his knot a little deeper into Levi. Levi gasped, clutching at him, moaning in pleasure.

  “Believe it now?” Cole asked, grinning.

  “You’re so... dirty.” But Levi was smiling, relaxed and comfortable against Cole.

  After the week apart, it was hard to believe they were back together, Levi here with him, Levi’s bonding marks on Cole’s skin.

  “You really want me,” Cole said, his heart skipping.

  Levi smiled shyly. “I do. As terrible as I am.”

  “You aren’t terrible at all.” Cole tipped Levi’s face up so their eyes met. “I want you to believe that yourself, okay? You aren’t defined by the miscarriages. You’re strong, and you’re worth loving. I’m here because I choose to be.”

  Levi stared open-mouthed at him, his throat working. Then he bowed his head. “I’ll try to believe that. It’s been a while since anyone else said that to me.”

  “When was the last time?” Cole pressed a kiss to Levi’s nose, playing with the ends of Levi’s hair.

  Levi wet his lips. Then blushed. “That... was probably you, too.”

  “Gods, that’s such a long time ago.” Cole narrowed his eyes. “I almost want to tell Ollie to tell you how wonderful you are, too, except I also want to save it all for me.”

  “You don’t have to!” Levi looked incredulous.

  “I’m gonna,” Cole said, looking sternly at him. “Because I want you to see yourself the way I see you. You’re beautiful. You deserve to be loved. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  Levi blushed, stroking down Cole’s bicep. “If I’m going to believe that, then I want you to... to make peace with that accident. I don’t know how, but I’d like you to try.”

  “I talked to your gran about that,” Cole said.

  Levi blinked, surprised. “You did?” Then he squirmed uneasily. “What did she say?”

  “She wished you’d returned the keys in person.” Cole kissed Levi on the lips. “I told her you never planned to stay longer than a year.”

  Levi squirmed more, looking nervous now. “Does she hate me?”

  “I... don’t think so.” But Cole didn’t know for sure. “She didn’t say much. I think we’re gonna have to go back. I’ll ask her to forgive you.”

  “I can ask for it myself.” Levi bit his lip. “I deserve it.”

  “Well, maybe.” Cole nuzzled Levi’s jaw. “Except I don’t really blame you. Wouldn’t have gotten to where we were, if you didn’t agree to that deal with your gran.”

  Levi cracked a smile. “That’s true.”

  “And there’s this.” Cole slid his palm over Levi’s baby bump, watching as Levi gulped. He was still nervous about the baby—Cole was responsible for it, too. So he was going to provide Levi with all the support he needed. “Whatever happens, I won’t blame you.”

  Levi bowed his head. “I still worry.”

  “Who knows? Maybe things will turn out right this time.” Cole hugged his omega, just savoring him. “Maybe Bryce will be born healthy, and we’ll be parents.”

  “I hope so.”

  Cole had a sudden vision of Levi with their baby swaddled in his arms, Levi with a wedding band on his finger.

  His breath snagged. It was probably too soon, asking Levi to marry him. They’d only just gotten back together. Levi might not agree.

  But slowly, the beginnings of a plan formed in Cole’s mind.

  25

  LEVI

  IT WAS when Levi was five months pregnant, when he could drag his feet no longer, that they went to see Gran.

  Cole drove. They eased into Gran’s small driveway, Levi with his fingers twisted nervously together.

  “I don’t think she’ll want to see me,” Levi mumbled, his stomach flipping. Gran still hadn’t spoken to him, but she’d sent Cole a birthday card. In that card, she’d also written Send my very best wishes to Levi.

  “She might.” Cole gave him an encouraging smile. “I think you might’ve forgotten that you’re still her favorite grandchild.”

  “I was. I don’t think I am any longer.”

  Cole rounded the hood of the car, crossing to Levi’s side to pull the passenger door open. Levi stepped out carefully. The living room curtains swayed, but there wasn’t anyone at the window.

  “I think she hates me,” Levi mumbled, burying his face in Cole’s shoulder.

  He didn’t want to do this. He’d figured he would spend the rest of his life being estranged from her, with Cole’s occasional updates about her health keeping him going. It was Levi’s fault. He had lied to her.

  “C’mon. You still have to say hi.” Cole slipped his arm around Levi’s waist, gently tugging him onto the porch. Then he hammered on the door, and Levi wanted to sink into a hole in the floorboards.

  She’ll yell at me. When she’s done yelling, Cole and I will go home.

  That didn’t make him feel any better.

  The door opened before Cole could knock again. Levi tensed, leaning closer to Cole for support.

  Gran stood in the doorway, her hair all nicely-done, her clothes dressy, like she was about to go out. Gran met his eyes.

  Levi hesitated. “Did we come at a bad time? We’ll come back tomorrow—I’m sorry.”

  Just as he thought about stepping away, Gran sighed heavily. Then she closed the distance between them, pulling Levi into a tight hug.

  “Why didn’t you tell me, hon? I’ve been asking you for years about a great-grandchild.
And I didn’t know it hurt you so much!” Gran kissed Levi on both cheeks, her gaze sorrowful. “These few months, I kept thinking about how much pain I must’ve caused you. And I wouldn’t have known if Cole here didn’t tell me.”

  Levi stared, disbelieving. “You’re not... angry with me?” he squeaked.

  “No, I’m not.” Gran winced. “Well, maybe a little. You could’ve said something, Levi!”

  She frowned at him. Cole leaned in, pressing a kiss to Levi’s temple.

  “I thought it might’ve been that,” Cole said, squeezing Levi’s waist. “Couldn’t convince him to come visit at all.”

  “I thought Gran was mad at me,” Levi mumbled, squirming. “It’s... It was a very bad lie. I just wanted to live in the mansion for a while. But when you didn’t call or anything... I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore, Gran.”

  “No, it wasn’t that.” Gran sighed, rubbing Levi’s back. “I was so upset at myself. I thought you were angry at me, hon. I must’ve made you so sad.”

  Well... Levi couldn’t lie about that. He had been very uncomfortable when she’d talked about children. “That was my fault. I just... I didn’t want to disappoint you, too.”

  Gran sagged. “I am disappointed. But I don’t think any less of you, Levi. I’m still glad to have you as my grandson.”

  Levi bowed his head, relief unfurling in his chest. “I’m sorry for lying,” he said. “I... don’t know if this baby will be okay.”

  Gran glanced at his belly, where he’d worn a flowing shirt to hide the bump. “I hope everything will go fine for you both. I’m sorry for being pushy,” Gran said. “And for hurting you all these years. Will you forgive me?”

  Levi stared at her, his throat growing tight. Gran was asking for his forgiveness. “It should be—It should be the other way around,” he croaked. “I should be asking you to forgive me. For the—the mansion and everything.”

  “Oh, Levi.” Gran’s lower lip wobbled, and she pulled him against her bosom, patting his head. “I forgive you.”

  He couldn’t help breaking into a sob, so very relieved. “I forgive you, too.”