Chapter 16 - Jenna

My hand tingled where his lips had touched, and I couldn't look away from his captivating eyes. He was like a cobra, entrancing me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I had to fight the urge to lean closer, my body slowly turning to jello with every passing second so that I didn't tug my hand away or drop my gaze. I didn't want to do either of those things and held my breath. What was he going to suggest?

As if Lev suggested things. He was about to make a command, and his touch was making me so weak. Would I be able to fight? Did I want to keep fighting?

Just the fact I wasn't going to have to give up school because of my rash decision to marry him had me so thrilled I would have agreed to anything. Now I could have my cake and eat it, too. Keep up with my old life so I could easily slip back into it after I thoroughly destroyed his.

Right? I still wanted to destroy him, didn't I? Because the way I was leaning closer and closer so that I was almost sprawled across the deli table belied my plan for revenge.

No, it was still there, deep down and hidden by the spark of desire he lit in me. Maybe, just maybe, I could take advantage of the perks of being married to such a magnetic man. It was all part of the game. At least, that's what I told myself while I practically drooled under his intense stare.

Lev swept his deep blue eyes down my body, and my free hand rose to press against my chest, as if I could contain my heartbeat. Goosebumps erupted on my arm as he slid his fingers from my hand, and his eyes traveled back up to meet mine.

"You need more clothes. I'm taking you shopping," he declared.

Shaking myself, I smoothed my hands over my jacket. I had on the suit I wore to interview with his lobbying firm. It was my only nice business outfit and probably looked a little rough from all the wear. My cheeks heated up, and I prepared to defend the outfit, fervently denying I needed anything.

He stopped me with a brisk shake of his head. "You look amazing, as always. But there's no reason to keep wearing the same thing, especially with all the meetings you'll be attending as my assistant."

There was no arguing with his firm tone. His mind was made up. I slumped back in my chair, almost laughing at my life. I got into this damn marriage so I could stop accepting things from a mafia lord, and here I was, once again having to accept things from another one.

"Fine, I agree, but only if we can go to the boutique where my friend works. So she can get the commission."

"We can go wherever you like," he said magnanimously since he'd already won.

Brooke was excited to see me at the shop, but kept it under wraps as much as she could since I was with my boss. We kept up that little ruse remarkably well, with Lev hanging back and barely nodding every time I held up a selection. There was no way Brooke suspected anything, or so I thought.

The moment we were alone in the dressing rooms, she tossed my clothes onto a bench and grabbed my arm. "Are you sure he's just your boss?" she asked in a stage whisper, a smile about to tear her face in two.

"What? Of course," I said, willing my cheeks not to turn bright red. "Why would you even say something like that?" I forced a sour face, as if the thought of touching Lev made me sick.

Thankfully, she shrugged it off, catching me up on what she'd been doing the last few days. It felt like a month since I'd seen her, and it boggled my mind that I'd only been Lev's wife for such a short time. As Jenna prattled on about her classes, I felt that familiar stab of guilt again.

I hated lying to her, but now that I knew the truth, there was no way I was staying married to Lev. Despite his animal magnetism that kept shaking my resolve, I was getting myself out.

I'd seen him in action during our sparring match, and there was no way I could ever hope to overpower him, but I could bide my time. Play along, pretend to be the dutiful wife, and uncover everything I needed to get him locked up for life so I could get back to mine. Maybe even be a hero, which would be great for optics, one of the things Councilman Hardy's campaign manager had explained was incredibly important.

Brooke left me to try on my pile of outfits, and I quickly went through them all, tossing the ones that fit in a keep pile. It didn't matter to me much what they looked like or how much they cost since Lev was footing the bill, and the more, the better since Brooke would get a hefty commission from his generosity.

One of the dresses was particularly pretty, though, and I couldn't help sighing as I held it up. It was green silk with a subtle shimmer of beading at the low neckline, and hung in elegant lines on the hanger. Lev had assured me we'd also be going to evening functions, and something like that was as necessary as the pencil skirts, blazers, and simple blouses.

It fit like a dream, and I wanted to step outside and twirl in front of the three-way mirrors, but I couldn't get the zipper all the way up. I called for Brooke, but there was no answer. She was probably busy with another customer, but Lev was a busy man, too.

"Anyone?" I called, hoping the other salesgirl or the manager would hear my pathetic plea for zipper-pulling reinforcement.

"They're all with someone," Lev said from outside the dressing room doors. "I can step in and help."

There was no one else in there with me, so I told him to hurry. I tugged him into my spacious cubicle, and he chuckled at my flustered look. I turned to present him with my back, holding the dress up with my hands as I waited.

He caught my eye in the mirror, then looked down at my back. His eyes darkened, and he smoothed his palm down the length of exposed skin, resting his fingertips at the base of my spine. Not making any move to pull the stuck zipper up. His hands moved to rest at my waist, lightly gripping into the slippery fabric.

"This is perfect on you," he said, his lips curling in a slow smile. He dropped his head to nuzzle the side of my neck, his hands sliding forward to smooth across my belly. "It would look even better off of you," he murmured, his breath warm against my collarbone as he kept kissing his way down.

The small space became almost unbearably hot. His touch made me forget everything but that underlying ache for him that never seemed to leave me. Not since he awakened it. My brain struggled to get the last word, desperately reasoning with me.

He was like chocolate, delicious, sinful, and the only thing I wanted to sustain me. But he was also addictive and unhealthy. Deadly, in fact. The only way to get over the cravings was to go without, quit him cold turkey. A total Lev diet.

But the small space and his towering presence alone was too much. His touch was a stray spark in a shed full of dry kindling. I turned in his arms and tilted my chin up, mouth open and ready. He gripped my neat bun and claimed my lips at once, as hungry as I was. My hair fell out of its twist, and he ran his fingers through it before sliding his hands down my arms to circle my waist. With his palms pressed against my bare back, igniting me even more, I tugged myself closer to him, digging my fingers into his hard shoulders.

He broke the kiss just long enough to pin me with one of his searing looks. "I missed you," he said raggedly.

I made an incomprehensible noise and dragged his head back down, fingers twined in his hair. His slight stubble rasped against my cheeks as his tongue pushed into my mouth. Yanking me tight, I gasped against his lips to feel the hard bulge against my belly.

"Everything working okay in there?" Brooke called.

I jumped back, stifling a giggle, because everything was working perfectly with Lev. He pinched the bridge of his nose in silence as I made sure the door was locked and assured Brooke I was doing fine. The last thing I needed was for her suspicions to be proven correct. That would take too much explaining. Not to mention, the fact I was just making out in a dressing room was horrifying. What came over me?

As soon as Brooke left and the coast was clear, Lev pulled me back into his arms with a mischievous look. I locked my arms in front of me and wriggled away.

"No way, we'll get caught for sure," I said. "Let's assume this dress is fine. I don't need help with the zipper anymore. Now, go before we get thrown out."

He laughed at that, as if anyone would dare. "Just one more kiss," he said, so sweetly and uncharacteristically boyish that I couldn't resist.

"Just one."

As soon as his lips touched mine, time seemed to lose all meaning as I became lost in the sweet strawberry taste of him, intoxicated by his masterful fingers and heady cologne that filled the small room. The next thing I knew, the dress was pooled at my feet in a puddle of green silk, my legs wrapped around Lev's waist.

With a firm grip, he lifted me, pressing my back against the wall. I curled my arms around his neck, breathing him in as his thick rod rubbed against my damp panties. Another second later, the panties were off, the sturdy white cotton ripped at the seams. I couldn't make myself care, completely lost in the feel of him as he pushed his way inside me.

It was over in moments, furious and fast and so, so good. All it took was one little command, deep and rumbling in my ear as he pounded deep and hard.

"Come for me, Jenna."

His fingers swiped against my swollen nub, and I moaned, much too loud. Biting down on his shoulder, I let the pleasure wash over me, gasping and panting when he gave his final thrust.

His arms trembled slightly as he held me close to his body, his heart beating as fast as mine. The whole session couldn't have been five minutes, but we were sated and spent. He loosened his grip, and I slid down his body, my legs unsteady as my feet hit the floor.

With a low laugh, he held me up. "They had to have heard," I whispered, mortified now that I was returning to earth.

"Not a chance," he said.

His rumpled sandy hair and the gleam in his eyes almost had me reaching for him again. Then I heard Brooke outside the dressing rooms, making a sales pitch to someone.

"You have to get out," I said, terrified another customer was about to come in.

"One last kiss," he said, winding my hair around his hand and tugging my head back.

This time, he was true to his word, leaving me with my mouth hanging open, alone in the dressing room. The panties were ruined, so I stuffed them in my purse and put my own suit back on. Weak and wobbly, I steeled myself to face Brooke with my pile of clothes. I wasn't sure what I was getting, but that was fine as long as my best friend didn't see right through me.

Thankfully, it was busy and she didn't have much more time to chat, and Lev had somehow managed to sneak out of the store, returning in time to pay as if he'd been outside on a phone call all along. When Brooke rang up my purchase, I couldn't make eye contact, going so far as to fake my own phone call so Lev and I could hustle out of the shop before I broke down and confessed everything.

In the car on the way back to Lev's apartment, I put my head in my hands, ignoring his teasing laugh.

"I've never done anything like that before," I groaned. I hated that he had such an effect on me in the first place, and it was worse that he knew it. It was a rude imbalance of power.

"I'd hope not," he said, grinning.

I sniffed. "You're supposed to say, neither have you."

He looked thoughtful, as if going back over his long list of past lovers. It gave me a sour feeling in my stomach I didn't like at all. It was too much like jealousy, as if I cared what he'd done before he met me.

"I actually never have, either," he said, tugging on my hair.

Oh God, I'd gone in with a sleek bun and came out with a tousled mess. That instantly erased the sudden warm glow Lev's admission gave me. My phone dinged, and I checked it, just to keep from having to look at him. That was much too dangerous when he was in such a teasing mood. Before I knew what happened, we'd be going at it in the car.

It was a text message from Brooke. Are you sure he isn't more than just your boss? Then, a row of winky face emojis. I was mortified all over again, not just for losing control in the store, but losing control again, period.

One upside was Lev's stellar mood. He was completely relaxed, after seeming a bit tense after our visit to the councilman's office. After all, keeping Lev in a good mood was part of the plan. I was probably just acting on instinct in the shop. Yes, everything I did was for the revenge plan.

That was it, the only reason.