Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Levi

D id I pick out a coat that matched my eyes? Why, yes, I did. The sudden possessiveness I felt for this woman was unmatched, and I cleared my throat as I backed away before I did something like spin her around and claim her as mine.

I helped her out of the coat, putting it back on the hanger. “Let’s go look at shoes.”

“Shoes?” Her eyes went wide with disbelief, and I had to fight back a grin at how adorably flustered she looked. “Levi, really, the coat is more than enough. I can’t let you buy me all this.”

“You can and you will.” I kept my tone playful as I guided her toward the shoe section with a gentle hand at the small of her back. There was no way I was letting her walk out of here without a complete outfit, especially when I was planning on picking everything out.

“This is so unnecessary,” she mumbled, but kept step with me.

The shoe department wasn’t too busy, and I took the coat to the clerk at the counter to hold. Emery was already at the display of boots, running her fingers along the smooth leather.

“Anything catch your eye?” I grabbed a pair that would look perfect on her. “What size?”

“Eight.” She sighed and handed me another pair. “You aren’t going to take no for an answer, are you?”

“Nope.” I flagged down the clerk as I scanned the displays, spotting a pair of black heels that made my mouth water imagining them on her. “You need these heels too.”

“Sir, really, I-” Emery started, but I was already handing them to the eager clerk.

I guided Emery to a plush bench. “Sit.”

She sank down, looking simultaneously flustered and amused. “You’re kind of bossy, you know that?”

“Only when necessary.” I knelt in front of her, my hands hovering over her foot. “May I?”

Her breath caught. “I can do it.”

“Let me.” My voice came out rougher than intended, and her pupils dilated in response.

She nodded, and I carefully lifted her foot into my lap. Her current shoes were simple tennis shoes that had breathable mesh meant for running. My jaw clenched thinking about her walking in the cold with these.

“These are a safety hazard.” I untied the laces.

“They’re not that bad and they’re comfortable to move around in all day. I’m not so sure those boots and the heels will be.” She bit her lip, and I had to force myself to look away before I did something inappropriate like surge up and kiss her right here in the middle of Nordstrom.

“Maybe not the heels, but the boots are high quality with arch support.” I slipped off her shoe and ran my thumb along the arch of her foot.

She inhaled sharply, her eyes going wide with a mixture of surprise and something more heated as I began massaging her foot with firm, deliberate strokes. The intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on me, and the way she tensed then gradually relaxed into my touch sent a jolt of satisfaction straight through me.

The clerk returned with the shoes, and I gratefully focused on helping Emery try them on instead of how good it felt to touch her. And man, did I want to touch more than her foot.

“Perfect fit.” I adjusted the strap on the first boot. My thumbs pressed lightly against her calf as I smoothed the leather, and I swore I heard her whimper.

She flexed her foot, and the supple leather hugged her calf perfectly. After I helped her with the second boot, she stood. Her entire posture changed when she took them for a spin.

I helped her with the next pair, my hands lingering longer than necessary as I checked the space between the leather and her calf. Every brush of my fingers against her skin sent a flash of warmth through my body, and I found myself inventing reasons to check the fit so I could maintain contact.

When we got to the heels, I nearly swallowed my tongue. I steadied her ankle with one hand while buckling the delicate strap with the other.

“These are gorgeous but completely impractical.” She wiggled her toes and bit her bottom lip in consideration. She wasn’t helping my willpower one bit.

“Sometimes impractical things are worth it.” I begrudgingly let go of her foot and stood, pulling her up with me. “Let me see you walk in them.”

She took a few steps, and I bit back a groan. The heels made her legs look a mile long, and the way she moved in them... Christmas on a cracker.

“Well? What do you think?” She turned, wobbling slightly like a newborn deer.

I caught her waist to steady her, drawing her close. “Perfect.”

Our eyes met, and the air between us crackled with tension so thick I could barely breathe. My thumb brushed the strip of warm skin where her shirt had ridden up, tracing small circles there before I could stop myself. The simple contact shouldn’t have affected me this much, but something about her made every casual touch feel dangerous and absolutely addictive.

The clerk cleared her throat, but we didn’t break apart, too caught up in the moment. “We’ll take them all.”

“Levi...” She placed her hand on my chest, probably meaning to push me away, but her fingers curled into my sweater instead.

“Let me do this for you.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers trail down her cheek. “Please?”

She nodded and swallowed hard. I forced myself to step back before I forgot we were in public.

“Good girl.” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and her sharp intake of breath told me exactly how they affected her.

Interesting. Very interesting.

I offered her my arm, and she looped her hand through, letting me lead her to the clothing section. “Pick out some clothes.”

With a stubborn roll of her eyes, she headed down a row. I followed her, watching as she hesitantly touched different items. Her fingers lingered on a soft burgundy sweater dress before pulling away like she’d been burned.

“See something you like?” I grabbed the dress, unable to resist imagining how the deep burgundy would complement her skin tone. The soft fabric was high quality and would last her more than one season.

“I couldn’t possibly ask you to buy me that.” Her eyes glazed over with that familiar mix of longing and hesitation I was quickly learning to recognize.

“What did we say about protesting?” I stepped closer, using my height advantage to give her my best no-nonsense look, though I couldn’t quite hide my amused smile. “Pick what you want and don’t look at the tags. In fact, I’ll make it easier; I’ll hold them all so you can’t sneak peeks at the prices.”

She gave me a look that was both exasperated and grateful. “You’re impossible.” She sighed, but the way her lips curved up at the corners told me she was secretly pleased with my persistence. I was beginning to live for those little contradictions of hers.

“Thank you.” I grinned, following her to a rack of jeans. When she wasn’t looking, I snuck a few more items into the stack—another dress in emerald green that would make her brown eyes pop, a silky blouse that begged to be touched, and a pair of leather pants that made my mouth water imagining them on her.

“I think that’s enough,” she said after about twenty minutes, eyeing the mountain of clothes in my arms.

“Probably right. I can barely see over this pile.” I lifted my chin toward the fitting rooms. “Ladies first.”

There was no attendant on duty, so we just went in. I handed over the clothes, and backed out, wishing I could stay and watch.

I needed to shut my train of thought down pronto before I let myself get carried away. Who was I kidding? I’d already gotten carried away.

Settling into one of the plush chairs outside, I scrolled through emails while listening to the rustle of fabric and occasional muttering from her room. The department was surprisingly empty for this time of day—probably because most sane people were home having dinner instead of clothes shopping with their employee they definitely shouldn’t be thinking about kissing.

My phone buzzed with an incoming text from Ronan.

Ronan: You aren’t home yet.

Me: Aren’t you usually still at work?

Ronan: I am.

Me: Stalking me, are you?

Ronan: Levi, she is an employee. There are guidelines about this.

Me: I quit then.

Ronan: You can’t quit, you own the damn company.

Me: You’re right! Effective immediately, I’m allowed to do what I want.

“Levi?” Emery called out. “I need help.”

I jumped up and went into the fitting rooms so fast I nearly dropped my phone. “Everything okay in there?”

“The zipper’s stuck and I can’t...” She made a frustrated noise. “Could you maybe...?”

Holy shit. “You want me to come in?”

“Yes? I mean, if you don’t mind. I’m decent, I just can’t get out of this dress.”

I stood slowly. “Coming in,” I warned before pushing open the door.

Emery stood in the middle of the small room, wearing the burgundy sweater dress that hugged every curve perfectly. She’d managed to get the zipper halfway down her back before it caught, leaving a tantalizing strip of skin exposed.

“Hi.” She met my eyes in the mirror.

“Hi.” My voice came out rougher than intended as I shut the door behind me and stepped closer.

She turned her back to me, gathering her hair over one shoulder. The simple gesture exposed the elegant line of her neck, and I struggled to stop myself from trailing my lips along it. Instead, I focused on the stuck zipper, trying to ignore how warm and soft her skin felt under my fingers.

“It’s caught on the fabric. Hold still.” I carefully worked the zipper free.

She shivered as my knuckles brushed against her spine, and I watched goosebumps spread across her exposed skin. The urge to trace them with my tongue was almost overwhelming.

“There.” I dragged the zipper the rest of the way down, revealing more creamy skin and the top of black lace panties that made my mouth go dry. “All set.”

She turned to face me, clutching the front of the dress to her chest. We were standing so close I could count flecks of different shades of brown in her irises.

“Thank you.” Her eyes dropped to my lips.

I should have stepped back. Should have left the room. Should definitely not have been thinking about pressing her up against the mirror and showing her exactly what that dress was doing to me.

My feet were glued firmly in place, my body refusing to comply with the desperate pleas from my brain to back away. Every muscle tensed with the effort it took not to close that last inch of space between us.

But I didn’t have to fight long because she closed the distance for me.