Page 49 of Ace of Hearts

Rose

July

Las Vegas, USA

Levi carries me to the bedroom, his hands under my bottom and my legs wrapped tightly around his waist. I’m still trembling from the confession I’ve just made, and my heart’s ready to burst.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he breathes, closing the door behind us.

Unlike the first two times, wild urgency has given way to gentleness. I sense the difference straightaway: we’re no longer rivals competing against one another. We’re finding our way together now, but the passion is just as strong.

His lips are soft, and his tongue is warm against mine. I kiss his neck, licking his Adam’s apple on the way down, and carefully unbutton his shirt.

It falls to the floor, as do my dress and his trousers. My whole body is on fire at the thought of what’s to come. Levi admires me, standing there in my matching bra and panties, breathing fast.

“If you only knew the thoughts going through my mind right now ...”

I just smile and walk backward to the bed. He stays where he is, his eyes running up and down my near-naked body as I climb onto the mattress. I ask him why he’s not following me, feeling suddenly shy.

“I’m memorizing the scene for later. As a souvenir.”

I want to tell him we don’t need souvenirs anymore, because I’m not planning on leaving him ever again.

“Why don’t you take a picture of me?”

He disappears for a second, then reappears with his camera and kneels on the bed. I lie down, and he adjusts my hair, spreading it artfully over the pillow. I’ve never done this before, but I don’t care. It’s only Levi.

I pose in my underwear as he takes photographs of me lying down, sitting; sometimes in provocative poses, sometimes modest ones. I ask him if I’m beautiful, and he replies, “The most beautiful,” so I lower his camera and kiss him.

Little by little, I remove my underwear, letting one bra strap fall, then the other. His hands touch me, bringing out goose bumps across my chest. When I undo the clasp, my bra slips down along my stomach.

I take Levi’s hand and put it on my breast, panting. His eyes gaze piercingly into mine over the camera, and my body warms to the touch of his loving fingers on my nipple.

“More,” I beg him. “I need more.”

He doesn’t make me wait. Setting the camera aside, he leans down and kisses my nipple reverently. His tongue licks it and traces light circular movements around it, making me moan. The sensation is divine. When he starts to suck it, I tremble even more and tense my thighs.

My chest is moist by the time he’s finished with it. He gives one last lick, then blows gently over each breast. My God .

“Let me immortalize the expression on your face,” he says, picking up the camera again.

He photographs me as I lie with my arms over my head, trying to catch my breath. My breasts are moist and burning hot, almost painful. His mouth glistens with saliva.

“Turn over, lyubimaya .”

I do as he asks, and he slides my panties down. I hear him taking off his boxers, too, and feel his hand on my bare back. His fingers trace along my spine all the way down to my buttocks. I shiver, nearly bursting with excitement.

I’m longing to touch him and try to reach around to do so, but Levi grabs my hand and clicks his tongue at me.

“No, leave this to me.”

“Quick,” I moan.

“Get on your knees.”

I do and hear him tearing open a condom packet. The sound makes me tremble with impatience. I expect him to penetrate me right away, but he makes the suspense last. I close my eyes, savoring the incredibly intense sensations made by his hand caressing my back and then my bottom.

Suddenly, his finger begins to stroke my clitoris. I moan and give a little start, but his other hand is on my buttocks, holding me still.

“Don’t move.”

Levi’s fingers make small, circular movements that drive me completely wild, and then he puts two fingers inside me. Pleasure slowly begins to well up. I stay as calm as I can, but I can’t help moving my hips gently under his hand.

“Faster, please,” I beg him.

He quickens the pace, and then he’s partly under me and adding the pleasure of his mouth. I can’t help swearing.

“Oh Dio mio.”

His tongue licks me, and I moan even more loudly, feeling like my heart could explode. His fingers find that sensitive spot that guarantees orgasm every time. The next minute, I climax like a tsunami.

I’ve never felt anything so good. My cheeks are red with excitement. I lower my head, my hair hanging over my face, and sigh with exhaustion as Levi kisses my buttocks.

“Sorry, but it’s far from over ...”

He pulls me toward him, and a second later I feel him pushing himself inside me. Even though I’ve just climaxed, I feel excitement growing again in the pit of my stomach. My arms are trembling, but I hold firm.

Levi groans as he enters me completely, his hands on my hips.

“Rest on your elbows; it’ll be less tiring.”

I do, and his fingers sink into my short hair and pull, a delicious sensation. Every thrust of his hips makes me moan, and I keep my eyes firmly closed.

He covers my back with a thousand little kisses, then leans over me, bringing his whole torso into contact with my body. His arm curls around my waist to support me, then to caress me again between the legs.

I’m struggling to support my own weight, afraid I might collapse before I come.

“Tell me what you want,” he murmurs, nibbling my neck.

“I want to see you.”

No sooner said than done—he gently pulls me up and turns me to face him. I open my eyes as I sit on him, our bodies entwined.

His gaze is like an electric shock. I tremble under his delicate hands, moved by the intimacy of our position. My heart, intoxicated by him, flutters in my chest. His cheeks are red and burning hot, making him even more beautiful.

I move against him, my arms tight around his neck, and he holds me in the same way.

“Levi?”

He kisses me before I can say anything more. We stay like that for several long minutes, until, unable to hold back any longer, he lays me down on my back and penetrates me forcefully.

We reach orgasm at the same moment.

Levi collapses against me, his cheek against mine, and kisses my ear.

“What did you want to tell me?” he whispers.

I try to catch my breath. My skin feels sticky as I plunge my fingers into his dark hair. I feel completely serene.

“I’ve decided to fall madly in love with you. If you want to run away, now’s the time. After that, it’ll be too late.”

He doesn’t move for a few seconds, but I can feel his heart beating faster. Finally, he turns his head toward mine and strokes my cheek.

His expression mirrors mine, contented and carefree.

“I’m happy right where I am.”

“I’m not sure I could ever go without this now.” I sigh and rest my cheek on my knees, which are drawn up to my chest. Levi is washing my back with slow, gentle movements, sitting behind me in the bath. Settled between his long legs, I blow on the foam to make it fly in the air like snow.

“What, the sex?”

I close my eyes, feeling totally relaxed. I feel him trace invisible letters on my shoulder blades, tickling me.

“Everything. The sex, but also moments like this. It’s so sad ... I feel like we haven’t experienced anything together yet, but we’re going to have to go our separate ways soon.”

I can’t explain it. We only met a short while ago, and even though things have moved fast, we don’t really know each other. I know he killed his father by accident and that his mother took the blame, but I don’t know what his favorite food is, or what sort of films he watches when he’s sick.

He doesn’t reply for a long time. I start to wonder if he’s going to say anything at all, but then he wraps his arms around my stomach and draws me closer to him.

The foam moves in waves around us, making me smile.

I lie back against him, my head on his shoulder, as he joins our hands together over my stomach.

“I feel the same,” he says into my hair. “But ... we don’t have to part ways. You could come with me to Russia.”

My heart leaps. I know he can’t suggest coming with me to Venice. His mother is about to get out of prison, and he needs to be with her and make up for lost time. Give her the life she’s dreamed of.

I’m sorely tempted. I don’t want to say goodbye. But ...

“I miss my mother,” I admit quietly. “I’ve been traveling too long. I’m tired of running away. I want to be back in my own home, my own bed, my own sheets ...”

He nods in understanding. I know he doesn’t resent me for it. He plays with my fingers and asks me what my mother is like.

“She’s amazing,” I say with a big smile. “She was born deaf, so it hasn’t always been easy to communicate. But now we couldn’t be closer.”

“I wonder how she could have fallen for a man like Tito. I suppose he was different back then, when he was young.”

“Not really ... he was always a bad boy. She gave in to him because she was too kind, that’s all. Then, when she got pregnant, she was trapped. They didn’t marry for love.”

He holds me more tightly, bringing our hands up between my breasts. “I’m sorry.”

I shrug. To be honest, it doesn’t affect me much. I ask him if he thinks his mother would like me. That makes him laugh. I turn around to scowl at him, annoyed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She’d adore you; don’t get me wrong,” he says. “But I think she’d be quite ... surprised.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think she’s expecting her son to marry a girl like you. Not that there’s anything wrong with you,” he adds quickly, seeing my murderous look. “But you’re very free, very uninhibited, very independent, very ... passionate.”

I’m silent for a few moments, something inside me warming at his words. I think of the ring hidden in my suitcase and say teasingly, “Nobody’s said anything about anyone getting married.”

He kisses my cheek in reply. My feet wrestle playfully with his at the end of the bathtub. I ask him what he plans to do once his mother’s home. He tells me he wants to sell the Rasputin and set out with her for some country where the sun always shines.

“Somewhere where my mother can rest, and I can ... maybe ... take up photography again.”

I hide my happy, astonished smile, but he must have seen it because he laughs softly.

“For how long?” I ask.

“Forever.”

Oh.

“You know ...,” I tell him, “the weather in Italy’s pretty good ... I’m just saying. And Spain and France are right next door. You’d love Paris. They haven’t got any casinos, but they’ve got great cabarets.”

“I know.” He smiles. “A good friend of mine works at the Moulin Rouge. I’ll take you there.”

“Show-off.”

He runs his finger under my chin and turns my face to kiss me. I find his tongue with mine, and we sigh.

“Stop worrying,” he whispers. “We’ll see each other again soon; I promise. In the meantime, it turns out it’s possible to make love over Skype ... according to Lucky and Li Mei.”

Oh my God. I can’t help laughing. I don’t even want to know how he ended up in that conversation.

“And we’re still here now, aren’t we? So let’s enjoy it while we can.”

He’s right. We’re both going home for a while, but that doesn’t mean forever. I’m just afraid that the distance will affect our relationship, which is still so new. What if he realizes that his feelings for me were just part of the surreal atmosphere that is Las Vegas?

What if he gets home and decides there’s no place for me in his real life?

“Stop it. Stop brooding and kiss me,” he scolds.

I’m only too happy to obey.