“I was doing okay, until...” She sniffed hard and glared at him. Until I saw you.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I need this job. So please...stop following me. Please!”
She walked backwards, staring at him to make sure he didn't follow her. Levi remained standing where he was, watching her back angrily away from him. Her eyes were full of hurt and humiliation.
When he still didn't move after she had put about ten paces between them, she spun on her heel and ran.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rebecca wrapped her jacket tighter around herself and resisted the urge to look back. She was out of breath, but she kept walking as fast as she could, her heels clicking angrily on the pavement. What a disaster. She had forgotten her moves, let her nerves get the better of her and made a damn fool of herself.
She wanted to scream. Everything had gone wrong. Her body just didn't listen to her. Instead, her limbs had become all wobbly and uncoordinated, her feet tripping over each other. Even her mind had decided to shut down and just forget all the dance steps. Even that big, beefcake Enforcer who looked like such a gentleman didn't listen to her.
She had told him to stop following her. But three and a half streets later, he was still behind her.
She huffed out a breath, stealing a glance over her shoulder. Yup, he was still walking quietly behind her.
He said he had to watch her all the time. But he wasn't a pervert, right? She had seen his Enforcer's Badge. Levi Madden, senior Enforcer. He was a PAC Enforcer, and he was doing his job. Enforcers patrolled New Moon City and checked on the blood bars and the clubs.
Rebecca balled her fists and took a shaky breath.
She couldn't even finish her dance tonight. Instead, she had tripped and fell gracelessly from the stage. And she would have broken her crown if he hadn't caught her.
But—she wouldn't have stumbled if she hadn't caught sight of him. Somehow, seeing him staring at her with those intense blue eyes made it impossible for her to carry on her routine. She couldn't, just couldn't peel off her clothes and bare her body to the crowd when he was looking at her like that.
It was his fault.
She had lost a night's earnings because of him.
Stopping suddenly, she spun round to face him. He was walking a few paces behind her, but his eyes were on her on the time.
“Look,” she said. “Can you please not follow me around? I...I just want to get on with my life, okay?”
She saw something flash in his eyes, but he managed to keep his face straight.
“What?” she demanded.
He seemed to hesitate. Then he said just two words, “Phin Lester.”
At this, Rebecca stilled. Phin! He was out of her house, out of her life, and still he continued to affect her. He was the biggest mistake she had ever made.
Rebecca lowered her head. “He...can't hurt me anymore.”
“Yes he can, Rebecca.” Levi approached her slowly. “He's still out there. And you know how vicious he can be. He will try to hurt you. Again.” Levi held her by the arms gently but firmly. “But I won't let him. I will protect you. Trust me.”
She swallowed. “I'll be fine. I'll be careful. You can't follow me around all the time. It's...crazy.”
The corners of his lips twitched, like he wanted to say something but was holding back.
“Just pretend I'm not here,” he told her. “Get on with your life, just do what you have to do. I won't get in your way.” He stepped back. “I'm invisible to you.”
She watched him back away until he was a few meters from her. Pretend he's not here? How could she pretend that she wasn't being followed by a devastatingly handsome, hot hunk?
Invisible? No way. He was very, very visible.
In fact, she had been acutely aware of his presence the moment she stepped on that stage. Her eyes had just unconsciously and automatically sought him out. He hadn't caused her to stumble. She had done that all by herself. She had been angry and humiliated, and just wanted to lash out.
The truth was, he was a comforting presence. He was like a beacon, a magnet, a safe harbor in a sea of strangers.
Rebecca turned and continued walking home slowly. Somehow, knowing that Levi was behind her, watching her back, walking with her made her feel—safe. And oddly warm and happy inside.
He was a nice guy. No doubt about it. He was professional and polite, and he respectfully kept a safe distance from her.
He wasn't trying to get in her pants or anything. Not like all those men at the club.
Levi was big, much bigger and broader than Phin. Yet she wasn't the least bit intimidated by him.
Trust me.
Rebecca blew out a breath. The funny thing was, she did. After what happened with Phin, she thought she would never trust another man again. But she trusted Levi Madden, the Enforcer sent to protect her.
She stole another glance at him as she walked on. He was really very handsome. The jolt of heat and desire she had felt when he held her arms had shocked her. Was she lusting after her bodyguard?
Was she out of her mind?
Rebecca scowled. Her body's reaction to Levi was utterly inappropriate. She put it down to the excitement of the evening, and her own exhaustion.
Still, she would be careful. She trusted Levi instinctively, but she had learned a very hard lesson. And she wasn't about to forget it anytime soon. She would still protect herself. Make sure all her doors were locked, and make sure that no one, not even that hot PAC Enforcer could get into her house while she was sleeping.
But where was he going to sleep?
Not my business, Rebecca told herself sternly. After all, he did tell her to pretend that he wasn't here.
I should do what he says.
He's invisible to me.
But no matter how many times she repeated the words to herself, she couldn't stop glancing back at him, and feeling increasingly guilty at having to lock him out of her house.
The poor man is going to sleep out in the open, her conscience nagged at her.
Rebecca stormed up the front steps of her house. Her conscience could take a hike.
She wasn't letting any man into her house. Her life, her safety was her responsibility.
Rebecca unlocked her front door with trembling hands and rushed into her house. She slammed the door and bolted it, then leaned against the wall, gulping and panting.
After a few minutes, she peeked out of the window and saw Levi standing across the street, watching her house. She watched him walk to a nearby tree and lean against it. He looked relaxed, but she knew that his senses were fully alert.
Easing back from the window, Rebecca went to her room and peeled off her costume. She didn't look at her reflection as she stepped into the shower. She would scrub all that makeup, the raven tattoo and the smell of the club off her, and Raven Rose would be gone.
She felt much better after her shower. Wearing a comfortable old t-shirt and shorts, she padded to the kitchen. She was famished. She had done some grocery shopping in the afternoon, and she could whip up a simple bowl of pasta in a few minutes.
On a whim, she added more pasta into the pot. Why she did that she had no idea. After all, she was just cooking for one, right?
Just as she sat down at her kitchen table with a steaming bowl of pasta, there was a loud rumble of thunder. She heard the pitter-patter of raindrops against her windowpane, and in a few minutes, what started as a drizzle became a flat out thunderstorm.
The rain poured down in sheets and as Rebecca rushed to close her windows, she glimpsed Levi crouching under the rusty slide in the abandoned playground opposite her house.
He could barely fit his massive frame under the flimsy slide, but it was clear he wasn't leaving. He persisted in sitting out in the downpour and keeping watch on her house.
Strange, stubborn man.
Rebecca grabbed an umbrella and went out. She couldn't leave him there. That just wasn't right.
Holding on to her umbrella w
ith both hands as the wind whipped it in all directions, she marched across the street and right up to him.
“Get up,” she said.
He raised a brow at her. “I'm quite comfortable here. Thank you.”
“Oh, for heaven's sake, get up and get out of the rain!” she snapped, tapping her foot impatiently on the sodden ground.
He grumbled as he squeezed out from under the slide. She let him take the umbrella from her, and huffily led him to her house.
“Oh, don't just stand there. Come in!”
He stood at her doorway, dripping wet. He had leaned the umbrella towards her, shielding her completely from the wind and the rain with his broad body. A puddle was forming around his big boots.
Rebecca went to him and ordered, “Take off your jacket.”
“I...”
“Just take it off. I'll dry it for you. And leave your boots by the side of the door.”
“You sure...”
“Yes, yes, just come in already. Really. You've been out there for hours, watching over my house. The least I can do is dry your clothes, and...feed you.”
CHAPTER NINE
Her house smelled of warm food and...her. Her sweet, feminine scent was everywhere.
A growl erupted from him at the glorious smell. But the sound didn't come from his throat. Levi stared down at his stomach, trying to silence it with his most intimidating, ferocious glare.
Rebecca pulled him into the house and locked the front door behind them. “I'm about to eat,” she said. “I'll get you a bowl.”
“It's really all right...” he began, and his stomach rumbled again, louder and longer this time.
Rebecca took his jacket from him and beckoned him into her kitchen. She stared at his drenched t-shirt and motioned for him to remove that as well. “I'll throw them both in the dryer. They'll be ready when you finish your meal.”
“It's really...”
“You've been out there all night. Feeding you and drying your clothes is really the least I can do.” She put one hand on her hip, and the other hand out for his shirt.
Levi held Rebecca's gaze as he slowly tugged his t-shirt out from his leather pants and pulled it over his head. He saw Rebecca blink, and drag her eyes down his chest and torso. Her lips parted slightly and he heard her swallow.
“I...I'll put them in the dryer now,” she said breathlessly, her eyes still glued to his bare body.
There was a growl, but this time it wasn't from his stomach.
Rebecca was aroused. He could scent it, and he saw the flush in her cheeks. She was aroused by him, her mate.
She doesn't know she's your mate. She can't even remember you! Levi mentally screamed at his bear.
He watched her bend and push his clothes into the dryer. The sight of her generous buttocks sticking out and quivering a little under her micro shorts almost drove him to his knees.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, hearing the chair creak and groan under him.
What was he thinking? Levi shook his head hard.
Coming into her house was a very bad idea.
Being so near her, having his senses filled with her scent and her presence was going to drive his bear mad. How could he just sit here and not touch her? Did she even know the effect she had on him, what she was doing to him?
Levi clenched his fists and his jaw. He was a disciplined man. And he would control his beast and his lust.
An aromatic bowl of pasta appeared in front of him. “Eat,” she urged. “I'm not much of a cook, so...”
Levi dug in with gusto. “What are you talking about? This is great! The greatest!” He ate like he hadn't eaten in days. He hadn't realized how hungry he was. Shoveling the last spoonful into his mouth, he looked up and saw that her bowl was still full.
“Why aren't you eating?” he asked.
She smiled a little sheepishly. “I like watching you eat.”
Levi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I eat like a hog.” He grinned. “But that's because you're a great cook.”
She actually blushed at his compliment. “I...thank you,” she stammered, looking down.
She looked so pretty when she blushed. Levi resisted the urge to reach across the table and take her hand.
Instead, he said, “Now it's my turn to watch you eat.”
She started and blushed even deeper.
“If you won't eat, I'll feed you,” he threatened, injecting a note of menace into his voice.
Rebecca laughed, and it was a lovely sound. “I think I can feed myself just fine.”
Levi leaned back, and looked around the kitchen. When he saw the faint blood stains on the wall, he felt his hackles and his bear rise. He wanted to rip Phin's black heart right out of his chest. How dare that piece of shit lay his hands on Rebecca?
He turned round and saw that Rebecca was following his gaze. Her face had paled and she pushed away her half eaten bowl of pasta.
Levi cursed under his breath. He had just reminded her of her past, her pain and horrendous suffering.
“Why did you choose to...become a stripper?” he asked, pulling her thoughts away from Phin Lester. He was genuinely curious as well.
She didn't look too surprised at his question. Taking the bowls to the sink, she began to talk as she washed the dishes.
“It made good money, and...I was good at it. Raven Rose was popular, and she could make quite a bit in one night.” Levi noticed that she talked about her stripper persona in the third person like she was talking about someone else, but he didn't interrupt her. “Raven paid the mortgage, the utilities, the expenses, the expensive clothes and entertainment, everything. I know, looking at me, you're wondering what expensive clothes?” She gestured at her own tattered t-shirt and shorts. “Well, I made the money, and he spent the money.”
Levi balled his fists, but Rebecca just shrugged as she dried her hands on a towel.
“Being a stripper is just a job. Raven is not Rebecca. Rebecca would never strip in front of a bunch of strangers. But Raven is a working girl. With Raven, it's all about the money. When I step into Club Mate, I check my real life at the door. That's how it works. You can't bring the real you into the club. I wouldn't be able to do what I do otherwise.”
She sighed and turned round to face him. “Raven is a real pro, but Rebecca would trip and fall from the stage, like what I did tonight,” she said softly. “When I saw you, I couldn't...I couldn't be Raven anymore. You...” She closed her eyes. “You're real, Levi. You're not like the other males at the club. A lot of them are married, mated, and they're at the club without the knowledge of their partners. They're there to play, to pretend, to escape. But you're not like them. I can see it, and I can feel it.” She put a hand over her heart. “You are real. And with you, I can't be who I'm not. I'm just Rebecca with you.”
She looked at him, her eyes brimming with her conflicting emotions and pain.
Levi pushed back from the table and went to her.
“Rebecca,” he said her name softly as he stood before her.
She stared up at him and took a step forward so that they were standing toe to toe. Levi held himself absolutely still. He badly wanted to grab her, hold her tight and kiss her. He wanted to do a million things with her, but he didn't want to spook her. She was still very fragile.
She kept staring at him, a mixture of wonder, disbelief and desire on her face.
Levi didn't even dare breathe. Rebecca was so close that he could feel her hot, shuddering breath on his chest. She raised her hand and lightly touched his shoulder, letting her fingers move slowly up to the back of his neck.
Levi swallowed.
Her lips were so pink and full, and he saw the tip of her tongue dart out to wet her lips.
God, she was so tempting, so insanely desirable.
He wanted her, so much. She couldn't possibly know how much he'd missed her, how much she meant to him.
Levi closed his eyes, feeling his whole body burn up at her maddening scent and n
earness.
He was going to have to grab her, kiss her, touch her in some way, or he would explode right here in her kitchen.
Mercifully, Rebecca raised herself up on her toes and tilted her face up. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
CHAPTER TEN
Rebecca's lips brushed softly, tentatively against Levi's. She let her hand trail up the contours of his biceps to the curve of his neck. Levi bent down to kiss her back very tenderly, but just that one kiss sent a jolt of pure lust racing through her body. She speared her fingers through his soft, blond hair as she deepened her kiss. He tasted sweet, pure, wild, and she could smell the scent of the rain and nature on his skin.
He was...simply amazing. Strong, powerful, and so gentle.
She had wanted to touch him the moment she'd laid eyes on him at the hospital. There was just something about him. Something familiar, and warm. It was like a sense of...home.
Rebecca gasped against his mouth as Levi pulled her to him and kissed her back. His kiss was now burning, demanding, full of pent up passion and desire. He had been holding back before, but now he took her mouth hungrily, his lips and tongue insistent and unyielding.
Rebecca's entire body sizzled at Levi's touch. She ran her hands down his strong back, feeling his tanned, smooth skin and the hard, bulging muscles on his arms. She had a half naked, towering, muscled male in her house, in her arms, and she never felt safer.
Levi kept kissing her as he walked her backwards. Rebecca felt her back push against the wall, but Levi's huge hand was holding the back of her head, protecting her.
His body pressed against her, and she felt her nipples stab into his chest. She was braless under her t-shirt, and Levi growled as his hand cupped her heavy, aching breast. Lightly, he ran one thumb across her erect nipple and she gasped at the electrifying sensation.
Wild Mate: BBW Bear Shifter Romance Page 5