32. Levi

"He finally emerges!" Matteo's deep voice boomed from across the patio.

Perhaps he underestimated the assault his body was able to take. Everything hurt! His back, his stomach, his jaw, and even his ass were in so much pain. But it was soooo fucking worth it!

Being stretched out and fucked so deep by Chase all night was the best fucking feeling in the world. Talk about being dicked down by a champ!

Now, if he could only walk straight and not look like he had been riding a horse bareback all fucking night.

Judging by the large grin on Isaac's face and the twisted smirk Jared was trying but failing to hide, it was clear that everyone at the table knew what he and Chase had been up to all night and all morning.

"Here, I saved you a seat," Isaac said, pulling out the chair next to him and patting the fluffy pillow he had so graciously laid out for him on the chair.

"Thanks a lot… asshole," Levi said as he sat down on the pillow, secretly loving the softness pressed against his tender hole.

"Trust me, I know from first-hand experience how much it can hurt being rammed all night," Isaac whispered loudly enough for the entire table to hear.

Levi felt his face flush.

Jared threw a grape at Isaac from across the table.

"Jared," Matteo scolded. "Isaac, watch your mouth."

Beside him, Chase let out a soft chuckle. Apparently, he found it amusing when Matteo went all "dad" mode on them.

"Levi, please rest your broken ass, and Chase, please do a better job of not destroying Levi's insides the next time you two decide to fuck."

Chase and Levi's mouths dropped open. They had never heard Matteo speak so crudely before.

Isaac burst out laughing so hard that tears began rolling down his cheeks.

"What? What's so funny?" Teo asked, walking toward the large table with Diesel in tow.

"Nothing. Daddy M just made a sexual joke that put Levi and Chase in their place," Isaac laughed.

"Ooh, I want to hear!" Teo cheered, pulling out a chair and sitting down next to Jared.

"Never you mind," Matteo grumbled, eyeing Diesel as he sat down next to him. "Glad to see you're doing well."

Diesel shook his shoulders. "The rest has been good. There's not much to do when you're under house arrest."

Levi had to admit, Diesel looked so much better since he returned back home. Whatever Matteo was doing for him was clearly working.

Next to Matteo, Raj let out a soft purr, letting his master know that he was ready for another piece of his breakfast.

Chase stiffened when he realized that Matteo's pet Tiger was sitting next to the man at the table. Matteo tossed a cube of beef into the air and watched as Raj caught the piece in his mouth without barely moving.

Matteo had cared for Raj ever since he was a tiny cub, and most of the guys who worked at La Maison were used to seeing the large cat roaming the gardens. Some were still a bit squeamish, so they kept their distance, but Levi and Isaac loved the gentle furball.

"Where's Marc and Alex?" Levi asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"They're down at the police station, going over the details with the detectives. Looks like it should be an easy case to close, given there were so many victims who are able to provide testimony confirming that Peabody was the perpetrator."

"What about the man who killed Peabody? Any word on him?" Levi asked. He liked Simone. The man had been caring and kind and had looked out for him while he had been held captive.

"It seems that he was the first person Peabody took captive over two years ago. He was a co-worker who worked at the university with Peabody. Given that the murder was in self-defense, the man was released."

"Oh, good. I'm glad to hear. The poor man had basically given up hope of ever being rescued. I'm glad that now he has his life back," Levi breathed.

"It will take a lot of time and therapy for that man to ever get his life back. Being held against your will and stripped of your identity and independence for such a long time is bound to wreak havoc on a person's psyche," Matteo explained.

What Matteo had said was true. Many of those taken captive would spend years of their lives struggling to get back what Peabody had stolen from them: their life, their independence, their trust in people.

Taking Chase's hand in his, Levi looked around the table at all those whom he loved. They were his family, his friends, and those who had his back no matter what.

They spent the next hour enjoying lunch together. Isaac went on about what a badass he and Jared had been, even recounted the punch from Chase that sent Peabody flying across the room, apparently.

They really were one big and crazy family. Levi loved it. He may have been born to two less-than-perfect parents, but the family he ended up finding was more than he could ever wish for.

Levi glanced at the man they all considered their father and felt nothing but love and respect for him. Without Matteo's love and compassion, Levi never would have met all these wonderful people gathered around this table.

From beside him, Chase let out a boisterous laugh.

He loved seeing Chase in such good spirits. God, he loved this man. With that thought in his mind, he leaned over and gently kissed Chase on the cheek.

"What was that for, babe?" Chase looked lovingly at him.

"Just because." Levi smiled back, then glanced over at Matteo. "Can you and I talk in private for a moment?"

The table fell silent.

"Of course, we can." Matteo pushed his chair away from the table and signaled for Raj to stay put. The large cat looked at its master with big, sad eyes but obeyed his instructions. "Shall we?" Matteo gestured for Levi to follow him into the gardens.

They walked over to the large water fountain that stood in the center of the massive grounds and sat down on the ledge.

The fountain had been sculpted by a famous sculptor who had died nearly eighty years ago. Levi had heard his name mentioned once years ago but had long since forgotten the name. He would have to look it up sometime, but that was a job for future Levi, not current day Levi.

Levi always wondered if Matteo was part nobility or something. Given the massive size of the chateau and the gigantic fortune that Matteo had locked, he often wondered about Matteo's past. That was one topic Matteo never discussed, and the history books didn't seem to cover. Was that a coincidence?

Matteo sat patiently and waited for Levi to make the first move.

God, he felt so nervous. He didn't want Matteo to think that he was ungrateful or was turning his back on the family, but if he wanted to be with Chase, he needed to do this.

"Well, first off, I wanted to thank you for all that you've done for me. You rescued me from the streets and gave me a family and a future. Without your love, compassion, and generosity, I would probably be dead."

Matteo took Levi's hand in his and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Seriously, M. You don't realize how much you mean to me and the other guys. We think of you as a father figure, and we'd be lost without you."

"Thank you, Levi. You boys mean the world to me, and I'm so glad that you are all a part of my family."

Now, for the hard part.

"Now that I've met and fallen in love with Chase, I would like to see where things go with him. Hopefully, one day soon, he will be added as part of our family as well."

Matteo nodded slowly. He knew where this was going.

"And in order for that love to continue to blossom, you don't want to work for me any longer," Matteo whispered.

"Well, kind of. I know I don't want to continue to entertain your guests. Now that I've fallen in love with Chase, my body belongs only to him."

"Understandable." Matteo nodded and lowered his head. "You know that you will always have a home here at the chateau. And I will be more than happy to help you achieve whatever career goals you choose. You name it, and I'll make some calls."

There goes Matteo, showing his big heart and always willing to help those he loves.

"Well, actually, I love working here. Being surrounded by the people I call family and being close to you."

Matteo's head lifted, and he stared at him, confused.

"I don't understand. You just said that you didn't want to entertain any longer."

"Yeah, but I was hoping that perhaps you could hire me as a bartender or a server or something. This way, I could still work with you at the chateau, but I wouldn't have to get naked and dirty."

They both chuckled.

Matteo leaned over and wrapped his arm around Levi. "Of course, you can bartend. I'm so happy that you want to stay." He pulled Levi in close and gave him a big hug.

A huge weight had been lifted off Levi's chest. He couldn't wait to tell Chase and the guys.