Chapter Twenty-Six
Mina
“A brother, Lev,” I breathed as I slipped of my dress. “A brother.” Standing in the middle of our room, wearing panties and a strapless bra, I couldn’t hide my delight. “I have a brother.”
Lev stepped out of the closet, wearing nothing but his dark grey boxers. “Brothers aren’t always a good thing.”
I snorted, knowing full well he was speaking of experience with his own brother.
He came to a halt, staring blatantly at my near naked body. I was too happy about the discovery of my long lost sibling to notice. “An hour ago, I was alone in the world.”
“You had me an hour ago,” Lev cut in, sounding somewhat disgruntled.
God, he was sweet. He was killing me with the sweet.
I couldn’t deny it if I tried. I was so in love with Lev Leokov.
I made my way over to him and took hold of his hands. “I know, sweetie. And I love that. But…” I shrugged. “This is family. I have family.” I could see that he wasn’t sure how to react to this news. I told him, “I’m excited about this. Can we go and see Laredo together, please?” I needed Lev to know that my plans included him. “I won’t go if you don’t come with me.” I squeezed his hands. “You’re important to me, Lev. I want to share this with you. Just you.”
He exhaled through his nose. “Of course I’ll go with you.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and pressed a whisper-soft kiss to my knuckles.
I grinned. “So, we’re dating, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
“And I can call you my boyfriend?” A goofy smile spread across my face.
His brow rose, but his eyes smiled. “I’m hardly a boy.”
Oh, baby, don’t I know it.
“And I don’t have to wear my jammies to bed anymore?” I asked innocently.
He stilled, feigning disinterest. “Not if you don’t want to.”
I sighed in relief. “Thank God.” I went over to the dresser, brought out a white tank top, slid it over my head, and then went about removing my bra, pulling it through my armhole. How great did it feel to take off your bra? “Ugh. Freedom.”
Lev locked the bedroom door and we slid into bed, leaving the lamp by my side of the bed on. I turned to look at him, resting my head on my hand. “How’s your head?”
He sat up in bed, his broad back against the headboard. “Better. The massage took the bite out of it. Thank you.”
“My mom used to do that for me whenever I had a headache. It always worked.” I smiled, moving to kneel on the bed, shuffling closer to him. “And now that you’re better…” I lifted my leg and maneuvered myself to straddle his thighs. His hands gripped my hips tightly. “I would like another shot at that first kiss, if you please,” I requested, my hands resting on his wide shoulders as I lowered my face to his.
He kissed my smile until it melted away and all that was left was raw hunger. I moaned low in my throat when the hands at my hips coaxed me down to sit on his thick erection. His stubble scratched lightly while his full lips soothed the burn with kisses that rocked the foundation of my world.
Unconsciously, my hips began a dance on their own, grinding my panty-covered sex over his rigid length. He groaned into my mouth, and I panted into his. It wasn’t long before he used his hands to guide me in a slow rhythm that had my panties in a knot.
I wanted to play.
I breathed into his mouth. “Take off your boxers.”
The hands at my hips stilled and he pulled back to look at me. “Wait.”
“No!” I was sexually frustrated. I needed his cock inside me now! “No, I’m tired of waiting. I’ve wanted this for weeks.” I kissed him, pushing my chest into his. “I’m not waiting anymore, Lev. Now.”
He kissed me back with all he had then pecked my lips. “I’m sorry to put a kink in your plans, but…” His brow rose. “Don’t you have your period?”
“Oh.” Well that freaking sucked. I buried my face into the space where shoulder meets neck and I mock sobbed. “No.”
He ran his hands down my back tenderly. “We can wait.”
I lifted my face and shot him a look of disbelief. “For a week? A whole week?”
He kissed my nose. “I would wait ten years if you asked me, Mina.” His eyes softened. “I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for you. A week is nothing in comparison.”
Shit.
I was going to cry. For real.
My throat thick, I whispered, “Shit.”
His expression turned panicked at the sight of my wet lashes. “I’m sorry. I told you I’m not good with words.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pressed my lips to his and spoke against them, “You are perfect, Lev. Your words are honest and colored beautifully. You make me feel things I thought were lost to me. And I’m in danger of losing my heart to you.”
I didn’t add ‘and that scares the bejeezus out of me’.
He squeezed my hips with his big hands. “One day at a time.”
I nodded. He was right. One day at a time.
Reaching across the bed, I turned off the lamp and lay in the center of the bed, waiting for Lev to take his place behind me. He fitted my body to his, spooning me sweetly, but the erection in the center of my back was hot and bothered. I could feel its anger.
In the dark, I whispered, “Want me to take care of that bad boy for you?”
The arm he had around me tightened and he repeated his previous words, “One week, Mina.”
One week, indeed. One week of hell.
“Okay,” I spoke quietly. “Night, Lev.”
He moved my hair and kissed the base of my neck. “Goodnight, mouse.”
I needed a glass of water. My mouth was drier than the Sahara.
On nights like this, I could walk all the way down to the kitchen in the middle of the night, or I could go into the en suite, run the faucet, and stick my mouth under it.
I chose the easy option, obviously.
Flinging back the covers, I slid out of bed, shuffled over to the en suite, and noticed a little too late that the light inside was already on.
I opened the door carelessly, unaware that I was about to walk in on something private. Very private.
My sleepy eyes widened and my lips parted as I took in Lev, leaning against the vanity, boxers off, his head thrown back in bliss as he tugged on his thick cock with a firm hand.
And what a cock it was.
A small squeak escaped me.
Lev’s eyes snapped to me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off his furious erection. It was long, and thick, and it looked as though Lev had manscaped. I was petite. I stood there a moment wondering how on earth it was going to fit inside me. Clearly, we’d have to take it slow.
“That looks painful,” I mumbled sleepily, my hand still on the handle. It took a moment before I realized this was not a dream, regardless of how hot it was. I gasped, covering my face with a hand. “Shoot, I’m sorry! I didn’t know anyone was in here. I’ll…” I slipped back out and closed the door behind me. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I rushed back into bed, but my body was hot and bothered. I couldn’t cover myself.
Five or so minutes passed, and finally, Lev came out of the bathroom. He slid into bed and we lay in a long silence.
My cheeks flamed. It couldn’t be avoided. We needed to talk about it or it would become ‘that awkward incident that shall never be named’. “I’m sorry.”
He reached out and took my hand in his. “It’s okay.”
“Did…” Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask! “Did you finish?”
He ran his thumb over my palm, hesitation clear. “Uh, no.”
My stomach coiled in distress.
He didn’t finish, and it was all my fault. I gave him stage fright. I was the reason he couldn’t take care of business.