by Chey M. Burn
Katie wasn’t sure what had just happened. What made Levi kiss her, touch her, bring her the most amazing pleasure she’d ever experienced in her life. But whatever it was?
Katie didn’t regret it whatsoever.
This was turning out to be the greatest Christmas ever.
Chapter Eight
Levi groaned as he attempted to walk down the hallway with a massive erection pressing against the zipper of his pants. He shifted and kicked out a leg, trying to discreetly move his cock into a more comfortable position. At least until he grew soft again.
Once he was far enough away from Katie’s door, and there was no one around him, Levi lifted his still slightly damp fingers to his nose and inhaled the scent of Katie’s arousal. It was intoxicating. Alluring. Better than anything he’d ever smelt in his entire life. He wondered if she tasted as delicious as she smelled?
Without thought, Levi placed the first two fingers of his hand in his mouth and his eyes rolled up into his head. He leaned against the wall as he luxuriated in the taste of Katie, her most intimate of places, wafting over his taste buds.
She tasted better than she smelled. She tasted of ambrosia. Of sweetness. Of something that was unique to her. To him, she tasted of heaven.
He was addicted. He would never get enough. Even if he lay between her legs for days, weeks, months, years, living off her juices, her body his sole means of sustenance… he would still never have enough of her.
Even now he was jonesing for a hit of her once more and his boxer briefs were damp with the evidence of his pre-cum. All it would take is one touch from Katie. One look. And Levi knew he would shoot his load. Hard.
He inhaled deeply and removed his fingers from his mouth. Wiping them on the back of his pants, he continued on to the trash chute, shaking his head at himself in disgust. At the barest hint of acceptance… approval… encouragement from Kevin to pursue Katie, to have what he’d wanted for so long, Levi had behaved like a horny, idiotic teenaged boy. He hadn’t asked her if it was okay, he’d just taken. And after all the seminars and classes that the Bureau had made them all go to, he should know better.
She hadn’t seemed particularly upset, but who knew how she felt now that he’d given her time to think?
He’d gone about this entirely the wrong way. He knew that. He had to make it right. He’d have to apologize. After what Cassie had gone through right after she and Kevin had started dating, Levi knew he had to tell Katie he was sorry. Not for wanting her. Never that. But for kissing and touching her without permission. Yeah. He’d have to for that.
He opened the door and called out to her. When Katie stepped into the room wearing nothing but a robe, Levi almost swallowed his tongue. Shoving away his lustful urges, he gave Katie what he hoped was an apologetic smile.
“Katie-bug, I just want to say, about what happened just a bit ago? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. Levi watched as Katie’s face fell and disappointment crossed her features. He wanted to specify what he meant, to make sure she knew he was only sorry about his actions, about not getting her permission first, he wasn’t sorry about wanting to do everything—and much more—to her.
Katie gave him a wobbly smile and shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, Levi. We’re still good. We’ll just chalk it up to sexual tension caused by growing up around each other and having a sort of perverse fascination about the other, okay?”
Levi frowned and shook his head in response, taking a step towards her. She was getting it all wrong. He didn’t have a “perverse fascination” about her. He was in love with her. Always had been. Always would be.
“Katie, no. You don’t understand,” he began.
“No, no. It’s fine, Levi, really,” she cut him off. “Um,” Katie looked away from him and glanced around the room. “I’m going to go ahead and get in the shower. Why don’t you go to your place and get changed? I’m sure I’ll be okay for the short amount of time it takes you to go and grab a suit or tuxedo and get back here. Or you know you can go get your clothes and come back here to change. Whatever works, but I’m going to go and get fixed up so that we can leave here in two hours. Does that work? Okay, great,” Katie stammered out and without waiting for him to reply, she spun around and rushed back to her bedroom, Bruce following at her heels. She closed the door behind the both of them and Levi was left standing alone, wondering how he’d taken two steps forward with her, and fifteen steps back so quickly.
He wasn’t going to give up, though. He’d gotten a taste of her, and now that he knew what he’d been missing all these years. What they’d both been missing all these years. Now that he knew that Katie was at least attracted to him and saw him as more than merely Kevin’s best friend, Levi knew he would stop at nothing until she was his.
But first, he had to run down to the nearest department store to buy a tuxedo. He didn’t have one in his closet at his place. And he needed roses. And a gift.
Levi nodded as he headed out. It was time for him to woo his woman.
Chapter Nine
Three Hours Later
Katie walked out of her bedroom, hoping that her eyes weren’t as red as they’d been an hour before. She’d hopefully gotten all of her crying out while she’d been in the shower. Or when she’d spent an hour doing her hair, and getting dressed, then another hour doing and redoing her makeup. All of this, she spent weeping and in tears, before she slid her feet into her red pumps, and finally felt strong enough to face Levi once more. Bruce had patiently sat with her through it all. Never judging her. Not huffing or sniffing at her in indignation. He’d even licked her fingers when she’d felt as if she were about to cry again.
He was such an amazing dog.
Now, she felt as if she were ready to see Levi and not collapse at his feet, begging him to give her another chance. At what, she wasn’t exactly sure, they’d never really dated, and other than the passionate encounter they’d had just a few hours before, they’d only been friends, but she would restrain herself from making such a dramatic gesture, and smile.
She smoothed her palms down her thighs, covered by the form-fitting, off-the-shoulder, knee-length, crushed red velvet dress. She’d chosen the dress over the green cocktail dress she’d originally intended to wear to her company’s Christmas party. While the dress was gorgeous and made her blue eyes shine even more, the dress she wore currently made her feel sexy. Desired.
Delicious.
Which was exactly what she needed to feel after Levi’s rejection.
Squaring her shoulders, Katie stepped into her living room, Bruce right at her heels, and stopped at the sight of Levi, dressed in a tuxedo, leaning against her fireplace. His gaze was fixed on the view outside, one hand tucked inside his pocket, the other arm resting at the edge of the blonde wood mantle.
God he is gorgeous.
Katie took him in for a long moment without making a noise. While it would take her a while to accept that she and Levi would never have anything more than mere friendship between them, she decided to take this chance to just admire him. From his dirty blond hair pulled back into a short ponytail at the back of his head, the dark stubble on his cheeks, his broad frame pressing against the material of his tuxedo. His strong jaw, clenching as he ruminated over whatever it was in his mind, stood out starkly against the backdrop of her fireplace. She wanted to cross the room and kiss him, lick his dimpled chin, tear his clothes off his body and beg him to fuck her into the next week.
“Are you just going to stand there and watch me, or shall we go to this party?” Levi’s voice startled her from her leering and she swallowed and nodded.
“Y-yeah. Let’s go,” Katie answered and stepped into the room fully, heading for her entry closet where her coats hung inside.
Turning around when the sound of whining reached her ears, Katie squatted down in front of her dog, Bruce, who knew she was leaving him. She rubbed and scratched behind his ears, smiling as he licked at her chin. She may not have Levi, but she would a
lways have Bruce.
“I’m sorry I have to leave you here, baby,” she murmured softly. “But I promise I won’t be gone for too long. I’m just going to drop in on this party and say hello, then I’ll be right back home. I swear.”
Bruce gave her a puppy smile as if he understood her words, licked her chin once more then walked away to lay down on his soft, blue, cushioned puppy bed next to the fireplace where a blanket waited for him and a small stash of toys. Katie made a move to stand up, looking up in surprise when Levi’s hand came into her line of view to help. She gave him a small smile then turned away to open her closet door. Reaching in she pulled out her long, black peacoat.
She surrendered the garment when Levi wordlessly took it from her and held it open for her to put her arms through. Katie turned her back to Levi as he settled to coat over her bare shoulders. She shivered as his heat warmed the back of her body. While she was sure that she was merely imagining—or dreaming—it, she could have sworn Levi placed the barest of kisses at the back of her neck.
“I like your hair up like that,” he said from behind her, his voice rough and hoarse.
Katie nodded and swallowed the lump which had formed in her throat.
“Thank you,” she whispered in response.
Neither of them moved; sexual tension intensifying between them as Katie and Levi breathed each other in. Katie’s hand shook slightly as she reached back to touch Levi’s thigh. She felt the muscles clench beneath her hand, and feeling emboldened, ran the tips of her fingers up towards his groin. She heard his soft groan when she finally made contact with the… holy shit, how big is he?
Katie didn’t know whether to run in fear or shout in exaltation at the size of Levi’s erection. Happiness did surge through her as she realized that Levi’s physical attraction to her was not a one-time thing. While it wasn’t what she wanted, perhaps she could build on that? They could start off having a purely carnal relationship and slowly but surely, over time, she could get him to fall in love with her and they could have a truly intimate relationship. Then they could get married and have kids and maybe even another dog…
Whoa, Katie! Slow the fuck down, girl, her subconscious roared at her and she inadvertently squeezed Levi’s hard shaft. His answering groan let her know that Levi didn’t mind her momentary lapse. One step at a time. You’ve been in love with him forever. He’s just starting to see you as a woman. Ease him into things.
Just as Katie went to turn around the loud, harsh sound of two cellphones ringing sliced through the air, tearing apart the passionate atmosphere, and destroying the mood. She heard Levi curse behind her and mentally echoed the sentiment, as she reached inside of the red clutch purse she’d placed on the sideboard table to grab her phone. Seeing the name on the screen, Katie groaned then fixing her lips into a fake smile—because those types of things could be heard through the phone—she answered.
“Rebecca! How are you?”
Rebecca Londstrom, Katie’s direct supervisor, responded with annoying, high giggle.
“Barry, stop it!” Rebecca said breathlessly to someone on the other end. “I have to talk to Katie now.”
Katie rolled her eyes as Rebecca’s blatant attempt to make her jealous by flirting with Bartholomew Winchester, an heir of the Winchester fortune and someone Katie had gone on exactly one date with when he and Rebecca had been on a “break”. Though Katie had repeatedly told Rebecca that she wasn’t interested in Bartholomew in that way, the woman still didn’t get it. Or else, she just didn’t believe Katie. Either way, Rebecca’s actions were more than beginning to piss Katie off. Especially when the woman called and interrupted Katie just as she and Levi were beginning to get much, much closer.
“Was there something you needed, Rebecca?” Katie asked through clenched teeth.
“Oh honey, no. I don’t need anything at all. I was merely calling to see if you were coming to the Christmas party tonight?” Rebecca asked.
Katie inhaled deeply, trying to calm the various and conflicting emotions and thoughts that were colliding within her. Giving herself a mental shake, she smiled again. “Well we were on our way actually. You caught us just as we were about to step out the door,” she answered.
“Oh…” For a moment it almost seemed as if Rebecca was disappointed by Katie’s response, but she rallied quickly and gave a tinkling laugh. “Well do you need a ride, sweetie? We can drop by in our limo to pick you up. I’m sure you and your friend, Cassandra, don’t want to ruin your dresses in your Miata ™.”
Before Katie could respond and point out to Rebecca again that Cassie was not only her best friend and sister-in-law, only, but that she hated to be called Cassandra, her phone was plucked out of her hand. She turned to glare at Levi and he merely smiled at her before pressing the phone against his left ear. “Hello? Hi, whom am I speaking to?” he waited for a response, nodding at Katie with a quirked eyebrow. “Well hello Rebecca, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m looking forward to meeting you this evening. Me? Oh, my name is Levi Stroud, I’m Katie’s boyfriend.”
Katie’s jaw dropped, and her eyes widened as Levi’s fabrication of their relationship. When he simply winked at her, she didn’t know if she felt anger or desire. Both emotions had heat coursing through her veins and trying to discreetly fan her face.
“Who? Oh, Garrett?” Levi laughed boisterously. “Ol’ Gare did me a favor. I work for the government you see, Rebecca. FBI to be exact. And many times, when Katie-bug had an event, function, dinner, or party, I couldn’t make it so Garrett or her sister-in-law and best friend, Cassie, would go in my stead. But,” Levi’s eyes darkened as he stared at Katie and she felt ensnared, trapped, in his gaze. “I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”
Was that meant for me? What is he trying to tell me?
Levi nodded at whatever Rebecca was saying on the other end of the call, even as he stepped towards her and gestured towards the front door. Without a word, Katie turned and walked out of the condo. She turned in surprise when she heard the door locking behind her without her pulling out her set of keys. She looked up at Levi and stared in surprise when he jingled a copy of her keys to her condo, and what appeared to be a copy to her Kevin’s home, though with the letter K scratched in the face of it, Katie couldn’t exactly be sure.
She wanted to ask him how, when, and why he’d gotten a copy but realized that him having a set wasn’t the worst thing. Not with him being an FBI agent, and not with her life currently being in danger. She shrugged and turned to head to the elevator in the hallway. She usually took the stairs up to and down from her condo, since she only lived on the second floor, but not in the heels she currently had on. There was no need for her to risk serious injury just to try and impress the special agent she was in love with.
When they stepped outside, Katie turned to head to the parking garage, but stopped when Levi’s hand on her wrist halted her forward momentum.
“I appreciate you offering us a ride, Rebecca. But I want my woman to arrive in style to this party and showing up sharing someone else’s limo just isn’t the way to go about it. We’ll simply meet you there. Goodbye now,” Levi said with a friendly, yet firm note to his words. Once he hung up, he handed Katie back her phone.
“So, where’s your car? Or are we taking mine? Because I’m not sure if you and all of those muscles,” Katie said waving her hand up and down to indicate Levi’s large frame, “will fit.” When Levi didn’t respond, merely smiled and gestured with his chin for her to turn around, Katie shook her head. “I hope you don’t expect me to get on your motorcycle. Not in this dress. I mean I always wanted to ride it when I was younger, but this just isn’t…” her words trailed off when a stretch, black SUV pulled up and stopped in front of them.
“Well? Get in, Gorgeous,” Levi said with a soft chuckle. “Can’t have you be late for the ball.”
Katie swallowed thickly and nodded. She headed for the open door and before she could allow the driver to help her inside, Levi dismiss
ed the man and held out his hand instead. She offered him a tremulous smile and took it.
She wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen that evening, but it was definitely going to be one she would never forget.
Chapter Ten
Levi watched Katie as she stood across the room from him sipping on her third drink and talking with her coworkers. He didn’t normally count the drinks of the people he was protecting, or his dates. If they got too sloppy to give consent, he merely saw them safely inside and into bed or onto their couch, set out water and aspirin and left.
He also usually never called them again. He never said he was saint; but getting so drunk that your date became your caregiver was not an experience he ever intended to repeat. But this was Katie and she was different. While he wouldn’t sleep with her if she couldn’t say clearly that she wanted it, he also wouldn’t leave her. She was his to care for. His to love.
His forever.
Seeing her look around the room, no doubt looking for him, since he’d excused himself to go to the restroom ten minutes earlier, Levi began heading towards her. He’d diverted to the open bar to have another shot of whiskey and had decided to take a moment to just watch her. But duty called, and he had to get to her.
As he walked through the crowd of lawyers, clients, judges, and even police officers and media personnel, snatches of conversation reached his ears. He catalogued pertinent information in his mind and tossed away the stuff he didn’t need to know.
“Did you hear who they put as the judge on docket H543-216-00-92?”