by S. L. Morgan
Harrison gave Levi a harsh expression before glaring up at the innocent musicians, and then pointedly ignoring Levi and Reece by staring out at the water they were gliding through.
This entire five-star vacation was, no doubt, all of Harrison’s planning. Reece caught on to that after all of these wonderful romantic outings they had been on thus far. She still hadn’t found the courage to look in Levi’s direction. He was so somber that she really didn’t know how to approach him anymore. She’d hoped that if he saw her acting normally again, he would start to interact with her again.
She tried to move past the way she’d treated him and his family in order to gain the confidence to apologize; but Levi’s unremitting stolid demeanor reminded her of how horrible she was to him. She wasn’t giving up; she was simply waiting for an open opportunity. Harrison served as an excellent way to relieve the tension, and until Reece knew how she’d approach Levi, he was excellent entertainment for all the tours they’d been on.
It was at dinner that night in Venice, that she became overwhelmed with the fact that things would never be the same with her and Levi again. They dined in a restaurant on an outdoor terrace. It was beautiful and perfect, and she longed to spend this time alone with Levi.
It would have been amazing to have had her arm in his as they toured through the popular sites in Athens, but it didn’t happen. She observed Levi as he engaged Harrison in conversation at their dining table. She watched every expression play out on his face; he was so unbearably handsome. She missed him so painfully that she could hardly stand to be separated from him any longer. What are you going to do about it, Reece? Should I just tell him I love him and deal with whatever reaction I get? she thought, as she searched for confidence to talk to him again. She ran her moist palms over the cloth draped across her lap and softly exhaled. She had to get over her insecurities and uneasiness about approaching Levi. She was a stronger woman than this.
She was so distracted by Levi, that she didn’t notice Harrison had been watching her. She was startled when, for no reason, Harrison stood and extended his arm to her.
“Reece, would you mind joining me for a dance?”
Reece looked around. All that surrounded them were couples dining quietly at their candlelit tables. A string quartet played in the corner, and there was a large open area in front of them. It was obvious patrons could dance out on the terrace if they wished; however, no one was doing so.
When she caught a glimpse of Levi, she realized that he didn’t know what his cousin was up to either. Her heart nearly stopped when her eyes locked with Levi’s; she saw that his brilliant eyes were radiant with humor, and for the first time in too long, they were directed toward her.
She eyed Harrison warily. “That would be fine, but no one is dancing. I don’t want to interrupt anyone’s dinner.”
Harrison came around, smoothly pulled her chair back, and kindly took her by the arm. He placed her hand in the bend of his arm as he gracefully led her to the open area. He held her in an elegant dancing frame, and began to lead perfectly to the rhythm of the slow, romantic music.
“Don’t you think this is a little awkward, Harrison? Nobody is—”
“Reece,” he interrupted her, “do not tell me that you worry about what others think. You see, in all my time serving as Guardian on Earth, I have learned that those of Earth instinctively follow others. This dance floor will be full in no time.”
She smiled at him as other couples slowly began making their way to the dance floor.
“So, Reece, I must know; have you fallen madly in love with me?”
Reece nearly choked with disbelief at what Harrison asked her. “Of course not, Harrison. What are you talking about?”
He grinned. “Well, it is obvious that you no longer care for poor Levi over there, so the only other obvious choice is that you have fallen in love with me. Why else are you demanding that I come along on all of these romantic escapades with you two?” He arched his eyebrow in reproach at her.
Reece stared earnestly at him. “I love Levi more than anything,” She looked down, “but I don’t know how to approach him anymore after everything I’ve done. I can’t believe how hatefully I treated him.”
Harrison chuckled. “It is all in the past now, Reece; however, Levi feels as though you will never love him again.”
Reece looked up at him in astonishment. “He still loves me?”
Harrison exhaled. “You two need to work on your communication skills! Of course he still loves you; he’s only keeping his distance since he is unsure of your feelings. For the reason that you two can’t manage to talk to each other, I’m stuck playing middle man.” He clasped her hand. “Please know, this goes against everything I am.”
Reece laughed. “I understand. I’m glad you told me. I’ll take it from here. I caused all of this, and I’ll fix it.”
“Finally! So does this mean I will no longer have to follow you two from here on out?” He winked at her.
“No, you’ve outlived your usefulness,” she teased, “Although, you could have told me this earlier and saved yourself a few romantic escapades.”
He shook his head. “I would have, but Levi had standing orders that I was not to make you uncomfortable in any way. I did very well, I might say; but that gondola ride was the last straw.”
Reece smiled widely at him. “Well, I think watching you ride on that had to be the most amusing part of this entire trip.” She laughed.
“I’m glad I could accommodate you, since this is also my way of making up for forcing Levi to cancel your engagement celebration.”
Reece looked up at him sincerely. “I really don’t know what possessed me to be so furious about the cancellation. I need to apologize to you for my outburst that night; it was completely uncalled for. The strangest part is that when I left the palace, I felt completely normal for the first time in more than a month. While I was there, my emotions seemed uncontrollable; it was like something was driving me to hate everyone around me, especially Levi.”
Harrison cocked his head to the side as he stared down at her. “That is interesting. Perhaps it was all the wedding excitement that overwhelmed you more than we all expected; that coupled with the fact that you decided not to eat or sleep for a solid week.”
Reece sighed. “I guess so.” She then lifted her chin. “Well, it’s all over now, and I need to make this right with Levi again.”
Harrison ended their dance. “Then, let us go. The helicopter awaits. I’ve planned for you and Levi to have a lovely day at sea tomorrow; I suspect that you and he will have a lot of catching up to do.”
Reece woke up from a dreamless sleep, hoping it was nearing sunrise. She had fallen asleep on the ride back from Venice, and the last she remembered was closing her eyes, trying to plan how she’d approach Levi the next morning. She wanted to talk to him on the journey back to the villa, but with Harrison and four other Guardians riding in the helicopter with them, she knew she would have to wait.
She lay there wide awake, and unable to return to sleep. All of the thoughts she had about Levi, since she spoke with Harrison, started running through her mind again.
The room was illuminated somewhat by the moon’s light, and it was obvious that it was not nearing daybreak yet. She glanced over at the clock and discovered it was only two in the morning. She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she had the patience to wait until dawn to make everything right with Levi again. She so desperately wished for all of this to be over, and for him to hold her in his arms again.
Her entire body ached with longing for him. As she rolled onto her side, she re-opened her eyes; her heart quickened by the sight of Levi, sound asleep in an oversized chair at the foot of her bed. She had no idea why he was in her room, or why he slept in the chair. She knew him well enough to know that he would not have stayed unless she asked him to. What could I have said in my sleep to make him stay with me like this?
Her heart po
unded in her chest as she tried to decide what to do next. Just go over to him, Reece. She quietly got out of her bed, and walked over to where he was asleep. His long legs were stretched out on the floor before him, attempting to seek comfort in the chair. He had fallen asleep with his head resting against his propped-up arm, staring in the direction of where she was.
She studied his face as he slumbered. Even as he slept, she saw the lines of distress apparent on it. This was the expression he had worn ever since he had approached her at Simone’s estate. Until now, she believed it was a look of disdain for her. However, it was not; instead, it was a look displaying his agony.
She delicately traced the creased lines of his brow, distraught that she had caused him such pain. She ran her fingers gently through his hair, and in that instant, two brilliant sapphire-blue eyes were staring up at her. She caressed his face with her hands, and sat on his lap gently.
“Reece?” Levi questioned.
She nodded, and smiled brilliantly at him. Her eyes sparkled radiantly as the moonlight peering through her open doors reflected in them. You will never know how much I love you, he thought, as the pain of losing her vanished the moment she smiled at him. Levi stared silently at her beautiful face, and memorized its image, unsure of how long it would last.
The next thing he knew, her soft lips were at his ear. He shivered at her warm breath against his skin. The sweet aroma of Reece assaulted every cell in his body. He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer to him.
“My love,” she whispered breathlessly.
Levi couldn’t respond.
Her urgent lips found his. He accepted her kiss gradually, but was unsure of her intentions. After the kiss they shared in his room, he wasn’t sure if he could trust her motives; but it seemed different now, and she seemed different now. This was his Reece, kissing him slowly and persuasively. He sensed the true love and passion within her loving kiss that he’d always felt before he’d lost her.
Levi returned her kiss with more eagerness than he ever thought himself to be capable of. Lost in the desire of what he had so desperately missed, and never assumed he would have again, his kiss became more powerful than it had ever been.
He noticed that Reece didn’t let his impulsive and demanding kiss overwhelm her; instead, she responded to him with the same hunger and urgency. Without breaking his fervent kiss, he cradled Reece into his arms, stood effortlessly, and moved toward the bed. Her fingers continued to massage through his hair, reminding him of all the passionate times he had kissed her before. By some miracle, the woman he loved had come back to him.
He laid her down gently, and covered her body with his own. All sense of control and propriety was rapidly slipping away, and Levi didn’t care. He willingly gave himself over to his emotions, letting the passion and desire he felt so deeply for Reece control him.
Reece’s hands firmly pressed into his back, drawing his body closer into hers. “I need you, Levi,” she whispered breathlessly, before bringing her lips to the base of his neckline.
Reece determinedly kissed along his jaw and down the center of his throat, while she steadily started to remove his white undershirt. It was obvious that she wanted him; and as driven as Levi was to renew their love, he also knew there was a possibility that Reece would regret this sudden impulse of emotion.
After she successfully removed his shirt, Levi used his mental strength to maintain his focus. He gently raised his hands to each side of her face, bringing her eyes up to meet his. Her usual bright-blue eyes were wild with desire, and he was instantly transfixed by the beauty of her gaze.
He exhaled slowly, calming himself. “Are you sure this is what you desire?” he asked quietly.
“All I want is you.”
Before Levi could say any more, her hands massaged along his lower back, and her soft lips were on his chest. A low groan escaped him as her fingertips ran up his back, and she gripped his shoulders. “Please,” she pleaded as she stared into his eyes.
Levi brought his lips down onto hers, attempting to hold back the intense energy that was threatening to take control of the situation. It was when she moaned in satisfaction while gripping his arms that Levi thought of nothing more than answering her pleas. He clasped her wrists with his hands and stretched her arms up into the pillows above her head. As he interlaced his fingers into hers, his conquering kiss became wildly possessive.
When Reece withdrew, gasping for air, Levi began pursuing her tantalizing body further. After three weeks of being in torment, wondering if Reece would ever love him again, he became more aggressive with tasting her delicate body than ever before.
His mouth possessively ran down the center of her chest as he placed one hand under her thin top, feeling for the first time the soft skin of her firm abdomen. She was flawless, and Levi yearned for more.
Reece’s hands massaged through his hair as Levi’s hand slowly grazed her sides while proceeding to remove her top.
Before he could go any further, Reece called out to him breathlessly, “I’m sorry for what I did to you.”
His lips froze against her hot flesh, and his hand absently slipped out from beneath her camisole. He let out a slow breath, calming himself, and when his eyes reopened, he saw a tear slip from the corner of her eye.
What am I thinking? he inwardly scolded himself. He loved Reece, and all he wanted was to prove every ounce of his love to her tonight; but this wasn’t right. She smiled sympathetically at him; however, Levi would never take advantage of her like this while she was begging his forgiveness. He had to find a way to end this, without hurting her. It wasn’t easy, as he had already withdrawn and collapsed onto the bed at her side. Directly after, Reece positioned herself on top of him, aggressively pursuing him for more.
Levi gasped as he gently cupped the sides of her face with both hands. His heart nearly stopped she smiled widely at him. He didn’t know how he was able to speak the words, but he managed.
“Reece…please, we cannot do this. Not like this.”
His heart twisted in pain when he saw the remorse and embarrassment in her eyes. She had no idea the strength that he required at this moment not to appease her in this manner. He closed his eyes, fighting back the strong impulse to ignore the difference between what was wrong, and what was right.
He inhaled deeply, his mind still spinning, as Reece curled up to his side, crying uncontrollably. He tried to console her, but she would not allow it. She only pleaded with him to hold her instead, and that is what he did. She laid her head on his chest and cried into the blanket until she fell asleep.
Levi had no idea what the next day would bring; but by now, he was ready for anything, be it good or bad.
The sun shone brightly through the open doors of the balcony into Reece’s room. Reece was awakened by the gentle sounds of the ocean waves rolling into the shoreline just beyond their villa. Finally, and for the first time in weeks, Reece felt peaceful. Knowing Levi still loved her had changed her outlook completely.
Upon discovering that Levi was no longer in her bed, she began to wonder how he felt about her actions the previous evening. Hopefully Levi didn’t pass this all off as the erratic Reece he had been encountering over the past few weeks. Even if he did, today was the day she would put an end to any insecurity he might have in regard to her. She was determined to restore their relationship to the way it was before.
She got out of bed, feeling more rested and rejuvenated than she had in a long time. Excitement coursed through her as she recalled what Harrison had planned for her and Levi today. With that, she went directly to the shower, and began the process of preparing to leave with Levi on a boat for the entire day.
After her shower, she walked over to a dresser and searched for a swimsuit. Not wanting to waste any more time, she reached for a bikini, found the matching strapless dress to wear over it, and dressed for the day. Once she finished, she grabbed a pair of sandals, and quickly left the room.
She stepped out of he
r room and saw Levi and Harrison in quiet conversation, standing in front of the large windows that overlooked the pool. Their conversation halted, and both men turned when she entered the room. Levi’s eyes widened when he first noticed her, and he smiled warmly at her.
Harrison stared at her speculatively. She restrained her laughter. I bet I’ve given them a lot to talk about this morning!
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she greeted them cheerfully.
Harrison’s expression softened and he exhaled in relief, while Levi addressed her formally. “Good morning, Reece.” He glanced down at her outfit before his eyes met hers. “It appears Harrison has already informed you that we will be spending the day out at sea. Would you care for some breakfast before we depart?”
Reece could tell he was unsure of how to take the entire situation with her. It all encouraged her to tease him more. “Breakfast sounds great!” She looked at Harrison. “I hope you’ve made other plans today, because I’d like to spend the day alone with Levi.”
A broad grin stretched across Harrison’s face. He clapped Levi on his stiff shoulder, startling him as he stood there speechless.
“Reece, I believe I have three days of vacation plans I need to catch up on.” Harrison said as he nodded to his cousin. “You two have a marvelous time!” Harrison walked toward the door. “Wear plenty of sunscreen,” he called out as he left the villa.
Reece laughed softly, and then brought her attention back to Levi, who was still frozen in place.
She arched her brow at him. “I was told I needed a swimsuit for the day; please tell me you plan on getting in the water as well?” She crossed her arms and eyed his clothes. “Or do the Pemdai warriors swim in button-down shirts and slacks?”
A faint smile turned up in the corner of Levi’s mouth. It was easy to see that he was questioning her mood. “Give me a few moments to change. I will have breakfast sent up, and then we can leave after that.”
Reece smiled. “Hurry, I’m starved.”
