Val chuckled. “What about the time you were parading past my booth at that festival in Vancouver and fell face first in the mud?”
Levi’s eyes lit up. “Good one, Val.”
“It got your attention, didn’t it?” Garrick said.
I’d been watching Levi all night to see if what Val said was true—that he was nicer to her now. He was. He was still quiet, even a little brooding at times, but something had worn down his hard edges. I just had trouble believing that something was me.
We finished dinner and retired to the living room with snifters of brandy. Gerhart and Molly puzzled over the app for their music system on their phone, rejecting help from their kids, until soft Christmas music began to play from speakers in the walls.
“Presents!” Gerhart announced, clapping his hands. “Everyone take a seat, and I’ll hand them out.”
I took my seat in the armchair again, while Garrick and Val pulled the love seat forward and Molly and Levi sat on opposite ends of the couch. Gerhart began to enthusiastically hand out presents like he was Santa Claus himself, and soon the room filled with the sounds of tearing paper and cheerful exclamations.
I didn’t have anything to open, nor did I have anything to give, but I enjoyed sitting there and watching them. I could tell how much they all loved each other and it reminded me of my own family.
I wondered what they were up to right now. Since New York was three hours ahead, I could easily imagine my dad snoring in his recliner while my four little nieces and nephews raced around him and played with their new toys. My sister would be enjoying her first Christmas as one of the adults proper, and she and my mom had probably retreated to the kitchen to drink red wine and gossip about the neighbors. My brothers and their wives were all close with one another, and they would be out on the back deck, smoking cigars and complaining about parenthood.
And me? Where would I fit in if I were at home? That was the beauty of my family—anywhere. I’d spent Christmas evenings snoozing on the sofa, playing pirates with my nieces and nephews, wine drunk with my mom, and out on the patio in a cloud of cigar smoke. The house was never peaceful growing up, and there was always someone yelling at someone and calling someone else an idiot, but we loved each other, and it showed whenever we came back together. I missed them a lot.
Still, Dad had his surgery, and that was more important than anything else. He’d have many more years of peaceful Christmas naps to look forward to.
The Wheelers finished opening presents and Levi went around to gather up the wrapping paper. He stopped next to my chair and looked at me, almost like he wanted to ask if I was okay, but continued on. I knew why it was weird for him that I was here, and it wasn’t just that only a week ago he was fucking my brains out. He was different with his family. Even if I could accept credit for him being more courteous to Val, the rest of his behavior was just him. And I liked it. I liked that he pushed his mom’s buttons and was goofy with his brother. He was a different person here, and I knew from experience he didn’t like to share that person with just anybody.
“Let’s sit and have another brandy,” Gerhart announced, retrieving the bottle from the sidebar and walking around to fill everyone’s glasses.
He and Molly snuggled up together on one half of the sofa while Levi sat on the other, one leg folded aristocratically over his knee and his glass of brandy dangling from his fingertips. The pose would have been reminiscent of a model if it weren’t for the ridiculous Christmas sweater.
Garrick and Val spoke together in hushed tones, giggling and flirting, but Gerhart and Molly just put their heads together and listened to the music. I stared at the tree so I wouldn’t be staring directly at the couch in front of me, but every once in a while I snuck a glance at Levi. Sometimes I caught him sneaking a glance back.
I found myself wishing he wasn’t so far away. I imagined curling into his lap on the armchair, head tucked under his chin. I could still remember the way my body seemed to fit into his perfectly, how secure I had felt in his arms.
I blamed it on the brandy.
Then again, was it that crazy to want him? The sex alone was enough to keep me wanting more, but the side of his personality I’d glimpsed on the mountain and caught more of today intrigued me even further. I’d traded the heat of my hatred toward him for something else, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about his mouth on mine. Maybe it wasn’t crazy, but it was still a mistake. He said himself he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and that I wasn’t his type. If I let myself fall for him I would fall hard, and then what? I’d probably end up ruining Val’s wedding. That was why I didn’t get involved with my clients’ friends or family. Too messy. I had a job to do, and I couldn’t let myself get distracted from that.
Who was I kidding? I was already distracted. I could hardly be in the same room as Levi without breaking into a cold sweat. I was desperate for any sign of affection from him but terrified that he’d give me one. I felt like I was going insane.
I finished up the brandy in my glass and coughed as I swallowed it wrong. All eyes fell on me.
“Looks like somebody’s ready for bed,” Gerhart said, laughing.
“Bed sounds amazing,” I replied. “I’m half asleep over here.”
Gerhart’s eyes filled with mirth. “Garrick, could you show Frankie her room?”
“Yeah, we’re going to head to bed too.” Garrick stood and helped Val up, securing an arm around her waist when she wobbled on her feet.
We said our goodbyes and Garrick and Val walked me up to a guest room on the second floor. My bag was waiting for me inside. I said goodnight to Val and Garrick and rooted through my backpack for my pajamas. I changed and made my way to the bathroom, which Garrick had pointed out on the way up. As I closed the door, Levi arrived at the top of the stairs and slipped into a room a couple of doors down the hall from mine.
I finished in the bathroom and went back to my room, walking a little slower past Levi’s room. I wasn’t sure why. When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and sighed. I didn’t feel tired in the slightest.
I grabbed my phone from my suitcase and flicked off the light, climbing into bed. I figured I’d surf on the web until I started to feel sleepy—though with Levi just down the hall, I didn’t know if that was even possible.
I had a few new emails, but only one stood out to me. It was from Levi. Weird. The subject was a booking confirmation, and I figured he must have sent it to me by mistake. I opened it and started to read.
No...it couldn’t be. I reread the email, then scanned it once more just in case, but it still didn’t make sense. The confirmation was for a business class flight from Portland to New York just before noon tomorrow, with a return on January 2. And the name on the booking was mine.
I flung back my covers, face hot, and sprang for the door. I tried to make as little noise as possible sneaking down the hall, not wanting Garrick or Val to hear me creeping down to Levi’s room. For the same reason, I didn’t knock when I reached it.
Levi was stripping off his t-shirt when I entered and whirled around in surprise. He saw it was me and his forehead creased.
I ignored the tempting buffet of muscles and tattoos on display and showed him the screen on my phone. “What the hell is this?”
Levi’s eyebrows rose. “I believe they call it a cell phone. It’s a communication device.”
I rolled my eyes and moved closer to him, shoving the phone in his face until he leaned back to get away from it.
“Don’t be a smart ass,” I said. “What did you do?”
“Relax, Frankie.” He batted my hand away and stepped around me, folding his shirt and placing it on top of his suitcase. “I felt bad that you didn’t have any presents to open. It’s not a big deal.”
“I can’t accept it,” I said, shaking my head.
Levi unbuttoned his slacks and I turned to face the wall, suddenly shy. He chuckled, and the fabric swished and hit the floor. The thought of him half-naked behind
me sent a bolt of desire twirling through my limbs. I licked my lips, mouth suddenly dry.
“It’s a non-refundable ticket. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but it’s not like I can return it or anything.”
I could be home tomorrow night, hugging my parents and razzing my sister about school. I wanted to snuggle into the thought. I spun back, and Levi was standing in nothing but a tight pair of boxer briefs. I had to force my eyes not to stray down to the impressive bulge in the front of them.
“I’m confused,” I said. “Why would you...”
At my loss for words, Levi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, it sucks that you couldn’t be home for Christmas. I at least wanted you to make it for New Years. Don’t overthink it. Just accept the present.”
He walked toward me and guided me toward the door with a hand on my shoulder. Confusion threatened to overwhelm me. What did this mean? It was such a sweet, thoughtful thing to do, and sweet and thoughtful were not two things I attributed to Levi.
“Have a good sleep, Frankie.” Levi opened the door, but I shot out a hand and closed it, turning to look up at him.
He frowned down at me in confusion, letting his hand fall to his side. I could feel the heat radiating from his bare skin. The same masculine smell I’d been inhaling from his sweater all day wafted to my nose, drawing me closer.
I couldn’t resist. I’d been resisting him all day, trying to ignore the throbbing lust that ran down to my very bones. If he could give me a gift out of the blue, then I should be able to do the same, right?
I told myself it would be the last time. It wasn’t a big deal, and I shouldn’t treat it like one. I just needed to get him out of my system.
If I ever could.
Chapter 23
Levi
“Frankie, what are you doing?”
Her hand rose and pressed against my shoulder, turning me until my back hit the wall. She looked up with burning eyes and pink cheeks and my cock stiffened.
“Shh.” She pressed a chaste kiss to my chest and a shudder rippled through me. “I don’t want anyone to hear us.”
Frankie started kissing down my stomach, igniting an inferno in my veins, and I thought I might topple over.
“Frankie, I don’t expect anything in return for those tickets.” I tried to grab her shoulders, my mind fighting my body, but Frankie twisted free and continued her downward path.
“I know,” she said between kisses, lips grazing the waistband of my boxer briefs. “Just shut up, would you?”
A growl rumbled in my throat. My cock throbbed against the tight cotton, aching to feel her touch. After a whole night of wanting her from a distance, I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d be jacking off to the thought of Frankie tonight. Again. I never imagined she’d come slinking into my room in a pair of pajama shorts and a revealing tank top to satisfy me personally.
Frankie dropped to her knees and looked up at me, long black lashes framing the wondrous sea green of her eyes. Her pouting lips parted, and she licked them. I gritted my teeth.
Frankie leaned forward and rubbed her lips and nose along my covered shaft, fanning it with her hot breath. I groaned and clenched my fists at my side. My fantasy of seeing her take my cock between those swollen lips was finally coming true, but she was torturously slow about it. With Frankie, I’d expect nothing less, and I knew she’d make it worth it in the end.
Finally, she reached up and pulled down the waistband of my briefs, sliding the fabric down my legs until I stepped out of them at the ankle. My cock swung toward her face, a drop of precum glistening at the tip.
I was dizzy with how much I wanted her. It felt like my entire body pulsed with want. My vision narrowed to the sight of Frankie on her knees and nothing else. Nothing else mattered.
Frankie gripped the base of my shaft and squeezed, then brought the tip to her mouth and licked it. My knees quivered. She licked it again from the underside, then from the top. She kept licking, like my dick was a melting ice cream cone and she didn’t want to spill a drop, and my heart raced so fast I thought it might explode. She took teasing to another level, but just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, she sucked the tip between her lips and went down the length of me in one swoop.
My legs nearly buckled. I leaned against the wall for support as Frankie began to suck me in earnest, bobbing up and down my shaft in long, smooth strokes like she’d never even heard of a gag reflex. She cupped my balls in her free hand and massaged them gently, sending sparks of electricity flooding through me. I was in fucking heaven.
I watched her expertly take me in, letting her hand fall from my shaft so she could suck me down to the base. She gagged a little but kept pushing.
Saliva dribbled down her lips, but she pushed further until her nose rested against my groin. She held me in her throat for a couple of seconds then pulled off, coughing and sputtering. She stroked my cock and then took me in again, picking up a smooth rhythm that left me weak in the knees. I wrapped her hair around my fist and guided her to the pace I wanted, and she was eager to comply. Frankie was a wet dream come to life. My wet dream.
Searing pleasure built between my thighs and I leaned my head against the wall, shaking. Frankie’s hot mouth never stopped for a second. She kept taking me deep, working me with her lips and tongue until my world threatened to implode. I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I’m gonna cum,” I rasped.
Frankie moaned. It vibrated along my shaft, right down to my balls. It felt so fucking good. My thighs tensed and my cock exploded with pleasure. Frankie swallowed down every drop, licking my shaft when it was over and kissing her way up my chest. I stayed against the wall, unable to move. Unable to think. Only the sight of Frankie reaching for the door handle spurred me to action.
I clamped my hand around her arm. “Where are you going?”
Frankie smiled. “Just accept the present, Levi.” She winked. “Don’t overthink it.”
Frankie tried to pull away, but I drew her to me, circling my arms around her back and staring into the depths of her eyes.
“I’m not finished with you,” I murmured.
Frankie gasped. Her eyes blazed with life.
I kissed her before she could say anything, plunging my tongue deep into her mouth and pulling her tight against my chest. She melted into me, sighing as I deepened the kiss.
I could hardly believe I’d made it a week without kissing Frankie’s soft, pliant mouth. She opened up for me like a flower and I dove in, raking my fingers through her hair to tip her head back and give me better access.
I pulled at the hem of her tank top and she lifted her arms to ease it off. She was braless underneath, her nipples puffy with want. I cupped her fleshy globes and squeezed. Frankie moaned quietly.
All the sordid thoughts I’d had about Frankie during dinner crept back in, stirring heat in my balls. It wouldn’t be long before I was hard again. I guided her to the bed and pulled down her pajama bottoms, revealing a hot pink thong underneath that I committed to memory.
I wasted no time in removing it and getting to work, my mouth covering her clit. Frankie bit into the pillow, not wanting to be overheard. I didn’t tell her that I’d had plenty of girls in here in high school and never once been overheard because it was cute to watch her try and stifle herself. She bucked and panted as I lapped at her with the flat of my tongue, loving the taste of her feminine juices. I sucked on her clit and she went wild. She dug her fingers into my hair and urged me closer, and I was going to give this woman everything I had.
I moved lower and licked her entrance. She squirmed, releasing a sexy whimper. I stiffened my tongue and started to fuck her with it, growing rock hard at the thought of my cock replacing it soon.
Frankie loved it. She moaned into the pillow, but it came out like a desperate cry. I could listen to her little noises all night, not touching her at all, and still get off on it. Her head thrashed against the pillow. I kissed up to her clit and sank
a finger deep inside of her, curling it and tapping against her g-spot.
“Oh my god,” Frankie breathed. “Keep doing that!”
As my lady commanded, I lapped at her clit and fucked her slowly with my finger, adding another just as her body began to tense. Frankie’s hands bunched in the blankets and she arched up, giving me a great view of her tits. Her thighs shook. She looked so hot, so wild and undone. I wanted to remember her like this always.
Frankie fell back against the mattress, and her pussy squeezed my fingers. I kept going, riding through each wave of pleasure until I could tell she couldn’t take anymore.
I kissed the inside of each quivering thigh and worked my way up her stomach, over the swell of her tits, and to her perfect pouty lips. She smiled against my mouth.
“Are you ready for me to fuck you, sweetheart?”
“Please.”
I found my wallet on the bed stand and swiped a condom from it, sitting back to roll it over my jutting length. Frankie bit her lip and watched with the satisfied smirk of a cat.
I covered her with my body and ran my teeth down her neck. She shivered. Lining myself up with her entrance, I began to push inside slowly. She was molten and tight, taking me in inch by inch. I kissed her throat and thrust in to the hilt.
I groaned. “Fuck baby. You feel so good.”
Frankie surprised me by grabbing my face and slamming her mouth against mine. It was a primal kiss, one built on burning lust and passion. I began to move inside of her, bringing our hips together over and over again and her tongue tangled with mine. Our bodies rolled together. Danced together. We moved in perfect harmony and I couldn’t tell where I ended and she began.
Frankie pushed at my shoulder, and I rolled back, letting her take the reins. She rose above me like a sensual cobra, rolling her hips and taking me at her own pace. Her tits bounced above me. I reached for them, sinking my fingers into their softness. Frankie’s head fell back. She rode me with practiced ease.
I lay back and watched her work, admiring the soft curves of her body and the way her mouth fell open as her thrusts grew more erratic. She bent over me, breasts swinging pendulously, and began to bounce and shake on my cock. Her rasping breaths blew against my ear. I grabbed her hips and began to guide her in short, fast strokes.
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