Chapter 4

Iwake up wrapped in Levi's arms, his strong embrace binding me against his warm, hard chest. Our legs are tangled together in a mess of blankets, and sometime during the night, I've discarded my pillow in favor of resting my head on his bicep.

There's an ache between my legs that makes me grin like a crazy person. It's a reminder of what we've done, a reminder of the fact Levi and I are actually finally properly together. Whatever worries I had about him not wanting me because of my history with his brother were clearly for nothing.

The truth is, even when things were good with Edward, I've never been happier in my whole damn life than I am right now, snuggled up in a ridiculously cozy bed with the man of my literal dreams.

I'm still smiling widely when Levi blinks his eyes open, sleepy gaze meeting mine. The deep forest green of his eyes sends total comfort flowing through me, and I melt further into his hold.

"Morning, baby," he tells me.

I swear if I wasn't already lying down, I'd have swooned so hard I'd end up horizontal anyway.

"Morning, handsome," I whisper back, leaning in to kiss him.

For a moment, we just lie there together, soaking up the happiness. Then, Levi asks what my plan for the day is, and I remember that I promised Crystal, my co-worker and friend, that I'd cover her afternoon shift today. I groan, not wanting to move out of this bed. "I have to work at one," I tell Levi with a reluctant sigh.

He chuckles, deep and rich. "Well, as much as I'd like you to walk around in my shirt all day," he says, tugging at the hem of the shirt I wore to sleep in, "you'll probably need to go home and change, right?"

For a split second, the still-aching, damaged part of my heart that Edward stomped on burns with pain. Is Levi kicking me out? But just as soon as the scared voice asks that thought, the warmth and comfort of Levi's arms around me chases it away. No. Levi isn't his brother. He's so much better. He cares about me, he's proven that. Hell, he's taken care of me for months, asking for nothing in return.

I take a deep breath, calming myself.

"What happened there, baby?" he asks, stroking a warm hand down my cheek.

I swallow. "I just got worried for a second," I admit, knowing I can share these things with him. I trust him. "Thought that maybe you wanted me to leave and go back home. But I know you didn't mean it like that and I know it's just my negative mind talking?—"

"Whoa, no, baby, I meant that I'd come back to yours with you," he clarifies. "I'm sorry, Lace, I didn't mean to make you worry. I'm not leaving your side, baby. You're mine now. I meant that."

"How are you so perfect?" I ask in awe, my heart feeling all warm and soft for him.

Levi shakes his head, sitting up and taking me with him, the blankets falling off us. "You're the perfect one, Lace," he says softly, helping me to my feet and stretching. "All I'm doing is trying to make you see that."

Yeah, perfect doesn't even cover it. If I didn't feel the evidence that he was very real, I'd have questioned if I was hallucinating him because surely men like this didn't actually exist. Or, if they do, they don't want someone like me. A silly girl who didn't see that her fiance was cheating on her for months, then went and got her heart broken by a man who never really loved her in the first place.

I refuse to let the thoughts of my ex ruin this, though.

Reluctantly, we get dressed, him in comfy clothes that look insanely mouthwatering on his muscled body and me in my dress from last night. I offer to help with breakfast when Levi goes to cook, but he pins me with a look and says, "You're going to sit that cute butt on my sofa and let me take care of you. Understand, Lace?"

I nod dumbly, following his instructions. Is it weird that I like it when he bosses me around like that? There's a loving demand in his voice that does weird things to my heart.

He feeds me a delicious meal of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and toast before calling a taxi to take us to my place. I don't live far, but I'm wearing the heels from the club and really don't want to walk in them.

Still, my apartment's on the third floor, and I'm vowing never to wear these stupid things again by the time I finally get inside. I kick them off immediately, smiling as Levi laughs at me.

My smile dies the moment I take in my place, a weight settling over me. The apartment itself is nice, warm, and cozy but with more than enough space not to feel cramped. It's the memories attached to it that make it feel suffocating. Immediately, I miss the peace of Levi's place.

"All I can see in here is all the bad memories," I mumble quietly, sighing and beginning to walk to the bedroom to get changed. Levi follows closely, a welcome presence.

"From here on out, you're gonna have good memories, baby," he promises when we reach the bedroom. I pause where I'm searching through my wardrobe, grabbing plain black jeans and a T-shirt for work. "I'm gonna give you good memories."

Emotion clogs my throat, and I yank my dress off over my head to hide the way my eyes water at just how sweet Levi is. For a man everyone thinks is a scary grump, he's got the warmest, kindest heart of anyone I've ever met.

Abandoning my quest to get dressed into work clothes, I step towards him. He meets me halfway, arms open and ready to embrace me. I tuck myself against his chest, naked skin rubbing on his clothes.

"Are there bad memories in this room?" he asks gently as he holds me close.

I nod against him, loving the way his hand strokes up and down my spine.

"Let me chase them away, baby," he offers. "Let me show you all the ways I've dreamed about filling you with nothing but bliss for months."

My body reacts immediately, absolutely on board with this plan. And my heart, as bruised and sore as it is, wants what he's offering. Wants to have something good to chase away the shadows of all the bad things that have happened. Levi knows exactly what I need, and I want to let him give it to me. I'm safe with him. There's no need for hesitation here.

In answer, I tip my head back and kiss him. It starts off sweet, a brush of lips, a little pressure, but when my tongue flicks against his, we grow hungry. The kiss turns needy, our combined moans rushing through my bloodstream. I feel myself growing wet, pressing my naked thighs together even though I know nothing will ease the ache between them except him.

"Are you sore from yesterday?" Levi breaks the kiss to ask.

"A little but I like it," I tell him honestly. "I want more."

He smirks at that, possessive satisfaction flashing across his rugged features. "Let me kiss it better."

Before I can answer, he grabs me just to throw me on the bed.

My back hits the mattress, but my ass is right at the edge, my legs dangling off the bed. I go to sit up to stop myself from slipping, but a huge, calloused hand presses against my stomach, pushing me back down. I gasp at the way his hand looks splayed over my torso, loving the claim of his grip.

"Lie there like my good girl while I kiss this pretty pussy better, Lacey," he growls.

Oh my God, there's no way in hell I can deny that request.

I flop back down onto the mattress as Levi kneels at the edge of the bed. His hands move to my legs, spreading my thighs wide and hooking my knees over his shoulders. Then he leans in, making my eyes widen as he makes a delicious rumbling noise of satisfaction.

"You look good enough to eat, baby." His voice is all raspy in a way that pushes my need higher.

And then he delivers on his words and devours me.

His tongue swipes through my center, hungry and searching. The soft heat of his mouth on me makes my head spin. It feels so different from what we've already done but so good. My thighs shake as his tongue works its way to my clit, and he kisses the swollen bud before sucking on it, making my back arch and my whole body shudder.

"Levi!" I cry out, unable to stay silent when he's doing this to me.

"You're my new favorite treat," he says, still pressed between my legs. "I fucking knew you would be. Been imagining the way you'd taste for months, baby. So good."

His mouth will be the death of me, in every way. My mind is scrambled, and when his hand slides from my thigh to add to the pleasure, I think I might actually explode. Levi works in a garage, so it"s obvious that the man's good with his hands. But when he slips two fingers inside me, curving them and moving them against a sensitive spot inside me, I realize I've severely underestimated just how good he is with his hands.

I can't believe we've spent so long not doing this. I've been missing out on so much. Then again, there's literally nobody I want to feel like this with other than Levi, and God, the wait was so worth it.

I can't hold back the pleasure. I come with a scream, my thighs tightening around Levi's head, trapping him as I dissolve into nothing but bliss.

When the haze of pleasure eventually fades, I realize Levi has joined me on the bed and bundled me up in his arms, holding me while I pant and shiver.

"You good, baby?" he asks, a smile on his face.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I know there's nothing for me to be embarrassed about. "More than good," I answer. "I don't hate this bed nearly as much now."

He laughs, placing a kiss on my head. "Good."

I squirm against him, feeling his cock hard and pressed against me. I pause, eyes wide. "What…um, what about you?" I ask, realizing that he's just made me see stars, but I haven't given him anything in return.

"This isn't about me, baby," he says, shaking his head.

"But—"

"No arguing, Lace," he interrupts, pinning me with a look that demands I obey. And dammit, I really like obeying him. "Besides, feeling you come all over my tongue gives me more satisfaction than you know."

I'm pretty sure I'm bright red now, but I can't deny that I kind of like that. He makes me feel treasured, even in the filthiest moments.

Reality slowly seeps back into our little bubble, and I sit up straight, panic running through me. "Oh, shit. I'm going to be late for work!"

Levi laughs and hops off the bed, helping me find the clothes I dug out, and tug them on. "You've got fifteen minutes to do whatever it is you do to get ready, then we need to go."

"Shit!" I curse again, rushing around like a crazy lady.

"Regret the delay, Lace?"

I yank a brush through my hair and try to smooth it back into a ponytail. I catch his gaze in the mirror with a smile. "Not for a second."

* * *

By some sort of miracle,I'm not late to work. In fact, I arrive at exactly one o'clock, bustling in the front door of the cafe and rushing to the back room to hang up my jacket and tug on my apron.

I've worked at this cafe for years, and I truly do love it here. My coworkers are friendly and easy to work with, my boss is great, and the customers are kind. Plus, I get free coffee, which is always a perk.

Levi doesn't have work today, and instead of going back home to relax, he sidles up to the counter, orders a coffee from me, and settles into a cozy corner booth with a book.

My shift is only a few hours, and he spends the whole time there, seemingly content to just be around me even if I'm working the whole time. It fills me with warmth, and I spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at him instead of focusing on my job.

God, I love him.