Page 4

4

STETSON

Ugh, someone turn off the sun!

Voices carried up the stairs, which made my eyes snap open. I lived in a ground floor apartment. I shot up in bed, only to groan and fall onto the pillows once more, pressing the heels of my hands to my temples. Slower this time, I sat up, and the room came into focus. Bright sunlight poured in from sheer curtains, bouncing off the walls and worsening my headache. A crisp white sheet pooled in my lap.

The hell happened last night ?

I risked a glance under the blanket. I was still wearing underwear, and the other side of the bed didn’t appear to have been slept in. I then looked at the nightstand to my right. An empty water bottle held down the corner of a sheet of paper. The ache of a full bladder explained why it was empty .

I snatched the paper from the nightstand.

My name is Levi. You had too much to drink last night and were in no condition to get yourself home. Your phone is charging on the dresser. The bathroom is directly across the hall. Your clothes are clean and there’s a toothbrush on the counter. Towels are under the sink. There’s Tylenol in the medicine cabinet. Come downstairs for breakfast whenever you’re ready—or simply sneak out the front door. The choice is up to you.

I set the note aside and crawled out of bed. Sure enough, my phone was on the dresser. I disconnected it from the charger and cringed at the texts that came through. Slowly, memories from last night flooded in. The name Levi sounded familiar. Then the image of the man who pulled me out of the bar finally formed.

Fuck .

Levi Grant was the one to tug me out of the bar. He took me home , and not for the reason I might have wanted. I scrubbed my hand over my face as I made my way across the hall to the bathroom. I heard the front door shut, and hoped it was him leaving so I could make a clean break.

I found the Tylenol and towels exactly where he said they’d be and after taking the pills—and trying to keep them down—I threw myself in the shower. Once I was dried and dressed, I had every intention of leaving, but the smell of food drifting up the stairs had my empty stomach grumbling.

Another memory surfaced of me puking my guts out in an alley, and I groaned.

Where nearly everything in my apartment creaked or complained under my weight, the steps of the grand staircase in Levi’s house didn’t make a sound. I padded down in my socks, shoes in my hand. I made it to the front door but with my hand on the knob, Levi coughed, redirecting my attention.

What if …

My stomach growled again. Maybe breakfast wouldn’t be a bad idea.

I dropped my shoes, then moved slowly through the entranceway. A formal sitting room sat to my left, and a closed door to my right. I passed through another small dining area before entering the kitchen. Beyond that, Levi sat curled up on the couch with a book in his hand. The other mindlessly twirled his hair around his finger. He hadn’t noticed me yet, so I took the time to drink in the view.

Damn, he was gorgeous. Even with his brows furrowed in concentration. A shadow of dark stubble had appeared on his jaw, and I got the sudden urge to know what it would feel like against my skin. His top half was bare, giving me a stunning view of a soft chest and stomach I wanted to bury my face in. I’d never been picky when it came to men but the hair that decorated his body made my stomach flip. A dangerous move in my state. I coughed against a wave of nausea, which caught his attention. The look he gave me only increased the fluttering in my belly.

“I was hoping you’d join me,” he said, sticking a bookmark between the pages and setting the book down. “How you feeling?”

“Better now,” I told him, returning his grin with one of my own. I took a step toward him, praying that the skin he was showing continued under the blanket spread over his legs. I extended my hand out to him. “I’m going to assume that I didn’t get to introduce myself properly last night. I’m Stetson. I think I owe you an apology for my behavior.”

“Levi.” His strong hand slid into mine, amber eyes sparkling as he gazed up at me. “But I think you knew that already. You’re good at that.”

“Good at what?”

“Deflecting.” He stood, letting the blanket fall and revealing muscular legs and a tight pair of black boxer briefs. I only glanced for a second, but the glint in his eyes when my gaze returned to his told me that I’d been caught. He tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me close. “You hungry?”

My stomach answered for me, and heat crept up my cheeks. Levi only laughed and released his grip, directing me toward the kitchen. “Come.”

He parked me on a barstool and pulled a plate out of the oven. Even before he heated it up my mouth was watering. “What do you remember about last night?” he asked me, throwing the plate in the microwave.

“Three tequila shots?” I answered with a laugh. “Not a lot after that.”

Levi set the plate in front of me, bending down to a drawer for cutlery. “So, you don’t remember the four shots after that, belting out Backstreet Boys classics, then getting in the face of someone out to ruin your night?”

I grimaced. Not at the 90s boy band karaoke, that was a typical Friday night for me. But at losing my temper. Again. “No, I don’t. How was it?”

“The music or the fight?” The corner of his mouth kicked up in a grin that started up that fluttering in my gut.

“Both.”

“I personally think that Nick does it better, but you weren’t bad. As for the fight?” He rounded the kitchen island and sat next to me. “It didn’t happen. I dragged you out of there before you could do anything. What were you thinking?”

Levi pulled himself close enough for me to smell the soap coming off him from his shower. My heart pounded in my chest. Normally, I would have popped off with some smart-ass answer, but stuck in my throat at the sight of Levi’s intimidating eyes on me. Stetson Holloway never got intimidated. I took a bite of my food to buy myself some time, but no snarky reply came.

“I guess I wasn’t thinking at all,” I answered meekly.

I couldn’t mistake the way Levi leaned in closer. “That’s not going to work if you want to make it in the majors.”

I sighed, pushing my hand through my damp hair. “I know.”

“Do you have anyone to help you?”

“I’ve got an agent.”

Levi laughed, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. I kept my attention on my plate, shoveling food into my mouth even as he pulled his stool over. Long, muscular legs spread around me, thighs closing in on my hip. I could feel the heat of his body through my shorts, and my brain wasn’t the only organ to take notice. I squirmed against the pressure building low in my belly.

“I’m not looking to represent you, Stetson.” He reached up to brush my hair away from my forehead. A shiver rolled down my spine. Whether it was from his touch or my name coming off his lips, I wasn’t sure. His finger trailed down the side of my face, to my jaw before dropping to my thigh. My legs practically fell open in invitation, his fingers curling around the muscle and giving my leg a squeeze. “I’m talking about someone to take care of you, to keep you in line.”

My stomach churned so violently that I gave up on eating, letting my fork drop to the plate. I moved to face Levi, but he clenched my thigh hard enough to make me gasp. “Finish your food.”

“I’m not?—”

“Finish. Your. Food.” His voice was firm, but not aggressive. He picked up the fork and put it back in my hand.

Levi was coming on strong . I loved it. Perhaps I should have been uncomfortable, but I wasn’t. I was turned the fuck on, and I wanted more.

I don’t know what made me obey, but I did. His grip on my leg loosened with each bite I took, and eventually his thumb started to stroke the skin. I was hard as a rail now.

“Wh-what…” I stuttered. “What do you mean, exactly?” With my plate clean, I dropped the fork again and pushed the dishes away from me.

“Your rookie year is one of the most important in your career. You need discipline. Someone to tell you when to reign it in, someone to reward you when you do as you’re told—such as finishing your breakfast.” As soon as I could move, Levi slid back on his stool and beckoned me with his finger. “Come here.”

I eyed the space in his lap. I wasn’t the biggest, but even I questioned how I would fit. Emboldened, I threw one leg over, straddling his hips and holding onto his shoulders. His strong hands squeezed my hips, and I smiled as the realization dawned on me.

“You’re a Daddy,” I muttered. I suppressed a moan, those tough hands massaging my hips.

“Mmhmm. Do you know much about what we do?”

I was no stranger to kink. I’d been to clubs. I’d seen the boys with their Daddies. I couldn’t say I’d ever had the itch to participate myself but hovering over Levi’s lap, the gleam in his eyes as he looked up at me, I was intrigued. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

“Sort of. But what would— oh !”

Levi had pulled my hips down, granting me the delicious friction I needed. “We can talk specifics later if you want, but right now?” He arched into me, his cock hard against my own. “You finished your breakfast, so you get a reward. Stand up.”

I hastened to obey, and Levi guided me to lean back against the island, legs spread. My breathing grew ragged when He tipped my chin with a single finger until our lips touched. Sparks shot through my veins. My heart rate skyrocketed. I whined, tried to deepen the kiss but he pulled back, flatting a palm on my chest to hold me in place. “Relax, little one. I’ve got you.”

Little one . I hadn’t been called “little” anything in a long time, but my heart fluttered. Levi tucked into my neck, peppering kisses over the skin. Fingers slipped beneath my shirt and I gasped, unable to do anything but obey when he pushed the fabric up and tossed it aside.

Then he dropped to his knees.