Page 12

B ack at Mandy’s house, Sara took off her dress and hung it in the closet in her room.

The upstairs bedroom had been cleared, and last Sunday, they’d even gone shopping for a new bedspread. She had splurged and hung a few seascapes on the wall.

Making her way into the bathroom, she showered, skipped washing her hair, and pulled on a pair of pale pink pajamas. The bruises on her legs had turned purple, but hopefully they would fade soon.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she gazed around the room.

She loved it here already, and she mostly felt safe.

Not like when she was with Levi, but mostly.

Maybe feeling completely safe when she was alone would come over time? She hoped so, but until that day came, she had to be diligent.

Standing, she wandered over to the balcony doors, slid them open, and stepped outside to gaze up at the stars.

“Sara.”

Her name whispered loudly from below had her gazing over the balcony and down to find Levi Huxley.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed.

He smirked.

“Did you follow me home?” She glared, but it was probably lost in the distance.

“Would you have given me your address if I had asked?” he drawled.

She gripped the railing and curled her toes. He looked too damned sexy in his tux with the bow tie unbuttoned, shirt sleeves cuffed up his strong forearms. He’d left the jacket somewhere and she glanced around to find a black limousine parked a bit down the block.

“No, I wouldn’t have,” she finally answered. “What are you doing here?” she asked again.

“Stand back, I’m coming up,” he whispered loudly and took a running jump.

Oh, sweet Jesus! She didn’t stand back. Instead, she leaned over to watch him climb up the drainpipe on the side of the house. It should have buckled under his weight, but Levi moved so quickly that it didn’t have time, and before she knew it, he leaped up and over the railing just like a jungle cat.

She did back up then and gripped the sliding door. She found herself looking him over, memorizing his frame. His lips were firm, his jaw square, and his eyes piercing even though she couldn’t see the blue in the dark. His hands were huge—that probably accounted for the size of his…her eyes dropped to his crotch and she flushed.

Levi was too male.

He made her pulse race and her heart beat way too fast. Being this close to him reminded her of the night they’d spent together.

His nearness reminded her of the hot, aching kiss outside of the event.

Levi leaned a hip against the railing, not moving closer, and maybe that was why she released her death grip on the slider.

She chewed her bottom lip and his gaze zoomed to her mouth.

He took a slow step toward her and she backed up through the open door.

He took another step and she froze, indecisive. She could shut the door on him. In fact, she suspected that he was waiting for her to do just that.

But for some insane reason, she didn’t.

He took her hesitation as her consent, and perhaps it was. She didn’t know, nor did she care. All she knew was that heat was pooling between her legs and her nipples were pressing against the pink button-up pajama blouse.

Levi reached her and she stepped back. Then he followed. Lifting a hand, he brushed the back of his fingers where the material covered her nipples.

She released a breath.

He fisted the hair at the back of her head and held her still.

She parted her lips and lost her breath when his head swept down.

His mouth took hers, and she whimpered. When his fingers unbuttoned her blouse and palmed her breasts, she was gone.

She tore at his tux and he shed her of her pajamas. Once they were both naked, he carried her to the bed and sat with her over him.

He stilled.

She paused, and she watched as his eyes ran over the bruises on her thighs.

Something dark and dangerous flashed in his eyes, and she took a breath.

“I was attacked in the alley after work,” she whispered, tracing his lips with one of her fingers.

His throat bobbed in a hard swallow as if he couldn’t find the words.

“Nothing happened, my boss came out and chased them away,” she assured him.

He ran his fingers over the bruises as if he didn’t believe her, but she didn’t want to think about that night. She wanted to lose herself in his touch and wipe away the memory completely.

Sara gyrated her hips down, pressing on his cock and grinding.

His hands gently gripped her hips as if to slow her down, but Sara didn’t stop.

She wanted him. Reaching between them, she grabbed his hard, thick cock and placed it between her legs before sliding deliciously down to take him to the hilt.

This time, it was Levi who groaned.