19. Levi

CHAPTER 19

Levi

I caught a glimpse of Aiden as he handed something to my sister and cousins from LA, Brandon and Cody, who were spending the holidays with us on the farm. He was bundled in his coat, the edge of a scarf tucked beneath his chin. His face was tight, as if he was holding back a storm, but there was something else there too—something I couldn’t name.

I forced my gaze away and headed for the barn to grab the last of the cleanup supplies. But exhaustion clung to me, each step feeling heavier as I hauled another load of trash toward the bin. The day had been a success—better than I’d expected, even—but it had drained me in more ways than one.

It wasn’t just the event. It was him .

Avoiding Aiden had been the hardest part of the day, and it wasn’t like he’d gone out of his way to make it easier. Every time I caught a glimpse of him—his smile, the way he lit up around his brother like they were finally getting along with each other, how natural he was even in moments when he looked overwhelmed—it was like a tether pulling me in. And I was doing everything in my power not to get caught up.

Before meeting and getting to know Aiden, I would have told anyone who cared to listen I wasn’t that guy. The one who wanted what he couldn’t have. But Aiden? He made it hard not to be. The more he pushed me away, the more I wanted to pull him closer, the more I wanted him.

“You’re staring again,” Mom’s voice came from behind me.

I jerked, spinning to face her. “I’m not.”

She smirked, dusting off her hands. “Sure, you’re not. He’s a handsome one. And sweet. I like him.”

I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. “Don’t start, Mom.”

She patted my arm and headed off, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

By the time the last of the cleanup was done, the clearing was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the trees.

The fatigue settled deeper in my bones, but as I wiped my hands on a rag, a voice behind me made me freeze.

“Levi?”

I turned, and there he was. Aiden. His face was unreadable, but his voice had an edge of uncertainty.

“What’s up?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

He took a step closer, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I... I need to talk to you.”

“Yeah?”

“I—” He hesitated, looking down at his boots. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. For the other day. For saying some stupid shit about you… your family. For kicking you out like that. For being an asshole.”

That caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected an apology, not after the way he shut me down. “You don’t have to apologize, Aiden. You don’t owe me anything.”

“No, I do.” He looked up, meeting my gaze with those piercing blue eyes of his. “I’ve been... short-sighted. And stubborn. And—I don’t know—I’ve been thinking about you. A lot.”

That admission hit me like a punch to the chest, knocking the air out of me.

“Aiden...”

“Let me finish,” he interrupted, his voice firmer now. “I’m not... I’m not looking for something serious. I don’t think I even can do serious. Not right now. But I can’t stop wanting you. And if you’re interested in something... casual, I’d be open to that. As long as we both agree it doesn’t go anywhere.”

His words should’ve hurt, but instead, they lit something inside me—a dangerous blend of hope and desire. I knew I should say no. Knew it wasn’t smart to get involved when I already wanted more than he was offering.

But when I looked at him—his cheeks flushed, his lips parted slightly as if he was holding his breath—I couldn’t make myself walk away.

“Casual?” I repeated, my voice coming out lower than I intended.

He nodded. “No strings. No expectations. Just... us.”

I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair. “You sure about this?”

“I’m sure.” His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed him—there was a flicker of vulnerability, one I wasn’t sure he even realized was there. “Meet me at the chalet when you’re done here?”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”

As he walked away, disappearing into the shadows, I leaned against the nearest post, my heart hammering in my chest. This was a terrible idea. I knew it, deep down. But another part of me—the part that wanted him so badly it hurt—clung to the idea this was his way of testing the waters.

While I grabbed a quick shower, my mind was a mess. Doubt whispered in my ear, telling me I was setting myself up for heartbreak. But when I stood outside Levi’s chalet door, none of that mattered.

I knocked once, and the door opened almost immediately. Aiden was standing there, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dark.

“Levi,” he breathed, and before I could say anything, he was on me.

Aiden surged forward, his lips claiming mine with a raw intensity that stole my breath. His kiss wasn’t gentle or patient—it was desperate, hungry, as if he’d been holding himself back for far too long. Heat flooded my veins, and I couldn’t think, couldn’t process anything beyond the way his mouth moved against mine, the scrape of his teeth, the slick press of his tongue.

His fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt, yanking it upward, and I followed his lead without hesitation, breaking the kiss just long enough to pull it over my head. Before I could toss it aside, he was already reaching for me again, his hands roaming over my bare skin like he needed to memorize every inch. I didn’t just let him—I craved it, craved him. My hands found their way to his waist, gripping, pulling, desperate to close the gap between us until I could feel the erratic beat of his heart against my chest.

We fumbled with buttons and zippers, our breaths growing heavier, filling the charged air between us. Aiden let out a quiet curse as he kicked off his jeans, the sound low and throaty, making something primal stir inside me. My own pants joined the growing pile on the floor, and we stumbled toward the bed in a tangle of limbs, too caught up in each other to care where our clothes landed.

The backs of my knees hit the mattress, and I let myself fall, guiding Aiden with me. He hovered above for a moment, his lips swollen, cheeks flushed, and eyes dark with something that sent a shiver straight through me. Then he sank onto me, his body warm and solid, his hands bracketing my face as his mouth found mine again.

When we finally stilled, tangled together on the bed, Aiden tilted his head back just enough to meet my gaze. His lashes cast faint shadows across his cheekbones, and his chest rose and fell in time with mine. “Levi...” His voice was barely more than a whisper, hoarse and trembling with need. “Please, Daddy.”

I froze, my breath catching as those two words sent a jolt through me. But it wasn’t just the words—it was the way he said them, the way his lips trembled, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing he needed in that moment. The weight of it settled in my chest, and I couldn’t resist him even if I tried. Still, I needed to say something.

“You sure about this?” I asked, my voice gruff.

He nodded, his cheeks flushed. “Yes. Please, Levi. I need you.”