His eyes didn’t meet mine. “Nas stole her away.”
I checked the time on my phone. “She’s going to be hungry soon.”
“Yeah. Nas is keeping her for dinner. Ada made spaghetti.” He sighed, stepping into the room. “I need you to understand something about me.” I waited carefully. He opened his arms wide and stated, “I’m selfish.”
My brow bunched. “No, you’re not. You’re not selfish at all.”
His jaw tight, he sat on the edge of the bed and nodded. “I am. And I’m ruthless. When I want something, I will do whatever I can to get it.”
That didn’t sound like the Lev I knew. “You’re being dramatic.”
His warm eyes met mine. “I didn’t want you to see the Petersons for two reasons.” He held up a finger. “I wanted to punish Maggie Peterson in the knowledge that you were looking for her, but she couldn’t find you. I wanted the salty words she spoke to you the day you ran away to rot in her mouth like maggots. She hurt you. I wanted her to suffer the consequences of her actions that day.”
Whoa. That was kind of ruthless. I cleared my throat and asked, “And the second reason?”
He lowered his face and ground out, “The son, James, is recently divorced.”
I didn’t understand. “What does that mean?”
His expression fierce, he stated, “I wasn’t going to lose you to a man you once loved. It wasn’t going to happen.”
My irritation sparked at that. “Don’t you trust me?”
He pinned me with a knowing stare. “When Anika is around, is it me you don’t trust, or is it her?”
“Her,” I squawked in disbelief that he’d even ask me that. Then I realized he had made a point. “Okay,” I began, “I understand your stupid reasons for not wanting me to see them, however invalid they are. But,” I sighed, “things have changed. I’ve changed. I think I’ve made it clear that I love you. You. Not James.”
Lev reached up to unbutton the collar of his shirt. “You don’t know that seeing him wouldn’t bring up old feelings.”
“That’s true,” I admitted. “But those feelings you’re speaking of were that of a sixteen-year-old girl who was shocked that a guy would actually notice her, not a twenty-four-year-old woman.” I reached over to wrap my hand around his. “I don’t swoon at every guy who throws me an appreciative look, do I?”
He sighed, fighting to loosen his tie with his free hand, jerking it roughly. “You loved him.”
He was not wrong. I did love James. But that was an age ago.
That love had faded and made room for a bigger love. A mature love. A real love.
Taking his hand, I placed it in his lap as I worked on loosening his tie gently. I spoke softly, “I love you.” I undid the silken tie, draping it over his shoulders. “I want you.” Pulling on both sides of the silk, I drew him close and got right in his face. “Do you understand me?”
His hand came up to rest high on my waist and he huffed out a long breath. “I can’t lose you.”
I leaned forward just enough to capture his lips in a warm, loving kiss. “Do you trust me?”
There was no hesitation in his rough response. “Yes.”
I laid a hand against his stubbled cheek then threw his words back at him. “Then trust me.”
We spent the afternoon in bed, holding each other and kissing like a couple of sixteen-year-olds.
It was tame and exactly what we needed.
Any day spent with Lev was perfect.
Just perfect.
Chapter Forty-Two
Mina
When Nas wanted something, she played hard at getting it.
Around six, Lev walked over to her house to fetch Lidiya, but came back empty-handed with a scowl on his face.
I fought my smile. “What happened?”
He shut the door with more force than necessary, grunting, “Sleepover. No boys allowed, apparently.”
I did laugh then, making my way over to him and wrapping my arms around him. “You’re not the only one who missed her, you know?”
He frowned down at me. “I just want her here with me.” His face softened. “With us.”
“It’s only been a week, sweetie. They’re excited. It’s going to take time for them to get it out of their systems. They love her to death.”
He lifted his hands to unbutton his shirt. “They’re going to be the death of me.”
My brain grinned. I had the perfect distraction. I squeezed his waist. “Hey, can I get your opinion on something? I need you to be honest though.”
He looked tired, but was ever obliging. “Of course, mouse.”
I was going to remedy that exhaustion. I smiled innocently. “Great. You get comfortable, and I’ll be back in just a second.” I rushed over to the en suite, grabbing the black garment bag on the way. I closed the door just in time to see Lev throw himself back on the bed, resting an arm over his eyes.
It took less than five minutes to dress, and when I opened the door, Lev was in the same position I left him in. I walked slowly, careful in the heels, so as not to embarrass myself by face-planting. When I made it a few feet from the bed, I cleared my throat.
Lev lifted his head with a sigh, and when his eyes landed on me, they widened comically. Unconsciously, he kept his eyes on me but reached for his dick, gripping it firmly in his hand.
I stood tall, legs apart, expression pure. “Honest opinion, sweetie.” I turned for him slowly, and asked a sultry, “Is this hotter than boobs and butts?”
His eyes trailed the teeny-weeny navy blue and white sailor outfit. The skirt frilled prettily and added no coverage at all, revealing my navy satin and lace panties. The white shirt coming just under my breasts, I wore it open but tied at my cleavage. My cute sailor hat pinned high up on the left side of my crown, I watched as his eyes trailed my legs and the thigh-high fishnets that covered them then down lower to my white peep-toe heels.
Grinning, I spread out the feathered fan and waved it in front of my face. “Sweetie, I need your sincere opinion.”
Lev’s full lips parted lightly and he squeezed himself tight. He muttered distractedly, “Much hotter than boobs and butts.”
“So this burlesque thing could work?”
He nodded slowly before standing and stalking slowly toward me. I swallowed hard and took a wobbly step back in my heels. “Lev?”
I squeaked when he pounced on me, tackling me to the ground. I moaned when he turned me on my knees, pulled down the scrap of satin covering my pussy, and drove into me from behind. I sighed when we released moments apart. I smiled sleepily as he carried me to the bed, laying me down with gentle ease, wrapping his arms around me.
Oh, yeah.
This burlesque thing could actually work.
“Slow down!” I hollered, lightly hyperventilating.
We were going to get there too soon. I didn’t want to be early. What kind of loser showed up early?
Me. That’s who.
Lev reached over to squeeze my hand. “We’re going under the speed limit, mouse. We’re not going to get there early.”
We were on our way to meet the Petersons. It was a forty-five-minute drive from where we currently lived, and with Lidiya in the back seat, singing to herself, I made every excuse in the book to pull over.
The first one had been that I thought Lidiya was cold, but when Lev checked the rearview mirror and saw Lidiya smiling back, waving her wobbly wave and saying her sweet, “Hewwo, Papa!” he turned to me, brows raised. I shrank into myself.
I was not going to admit I was nervous. No way, no how.
The second time, I tried to tell Lev that I needed to pee. He told me I didn’t. I yelled that I did.
So he smiled at me.