Cook's Choice: A Bad Boy Protector Romance (Lost Boys Book 4)

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  Levi’s eyes narrow. “What do you mean you didn’t have it before today?”

  “I mean it came in the mail at work today.” I reach up to trace the line of teal curving along his neck. “What’s the first thing, Levi?”

  I’ve never been this brazen with a man, but his hesitation only makes me more positive this is what I want.

  Him.

  Last night I experienced something I’ve only heard other women talk about. I’ve never felt comfortable with anyone like I do with him, and it’s definitely showing.

  “I love your skin.” I continue trailing my finger down the lines inked in his flesh. “It’s beautiful.” I lift my eyes to his as a realization hits me. “It’s your armor.”

  “I’m not a fucking knight, Pinky.”

  I smile. When he can’t hide behind how he looks, Levi hides behind an abrasive attitude.

  Just like all the grumpy old men I deal with every day.

  “Why can’t you be?” I rest one palm against the center of his chest, spreading my fingers wide over the solid wall of muscle. “You’re certainly strong enough.”

  His head dips and his ears turn red.

  “I like complimenting you, Levi.” I slide my hands up and across his pecs, over his shoulders and up to the pink ears that give him away every time. “Why don’t you like it?”

  I wait. Sometimes it takes him a minute, but I know the answer is coming.

  I ease closer, moving my hands to the back of his head. I like that he’s not much taller than me. I can look him in the eye without craning my neck. My body fits right against his, lining up perfectly.

  “Only one person has ever complimented me.”

  “Who?” I don’t argue with his belief. I’m sure many more have laid praise at his feet.

  But maybe there was only one he believed.

  “My great grandma.” His eyes slowly lift. “She raised me until I was seven.”

  I don’t say anything. I just wait. Levi needs patience. He’s skittish. Thinks he hasn’t already shown me who he really is.

  That I’ll turn my back on him when he does.

  I smooth down the back of his head. His hair is clipped short there, but it’s still so soft. I brush over it with my thumbs, trying to soothe him the way he does me.

  “Then she died and I went into foster care.” He swallows. “And then King found me. Took me in. Gave me a family.”

  A family. It sits heavy in my stomach. “I’ve never had a family. It was just my mother and me until she died.” I lean into him a little more. “Then it was just me.” I lift one shoulder. “After I lost her I lost myself. I didn’t know who I was anymore.”

  Maybe I never did.

  Levi’s lips curve. “I think you’re figuring it out real quick, Pinky.”

  13

  “I’M TIRED OF living the way someone else told me I have to live.” Carly’s fingers continue their exploration of my skin, and I can’t make myself want her to stop. “I’m tired of pretending to believe what I know isn’t true.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone telling you what to think, Pinky.” I know she’s not as openly strong-willed as Kerri, and Shelly, and Felicity, but this woman is every bit as defiant as they are.

  Every bit as confident.

  She smiles, soft and sweet. “You don’t see me the way most people do.” Her fingertips pass across my lips. “You see me as more than I am.” Her eyes linger on my mouth a minute before lifting. “You make me want to be more than I am.”

  “If you get to be any more than you are, I’m not sure I’ll survive it.”

  Carly’s lips twist into a smile. “I bet you’d be just fine.” Her touch moves along my jaw to brush against my ears. “You’re strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”

  I have to fight to keep my eyes on hers. “Why do you say shit like that?”

  She doesn’t look upset at all by my irritation. “Because it’s true.” Carly tips her head. “Why is it so hard for you to believe?”

  I do drop her eyes now and shake my head a single time.

  Carly’s arms loop around my neck. “I think I might be stubborn, Levi. You should probably just go ahead and tell me what I want to know.”

  A laugh jumps up and out of me. “You think you’re stubborn?” My eyes go back to hers. “You followed me around. Stalked me. Parked your sweet little ass on my bed and refused to leave until I gave you what you wanted.” I tip her chin up with my pointer. “I think it’s safe to say you are stubborn as hell.”

  Her smile brightens, lighting up parts of me that have been dark so long I forgot what they looked like. “You’re right.”

  Carly drops her arms from me and slowly starts to back toward my bed. The one she’s taken over.

  Hell, she’s taken my whole life over. My room. My thoughts.

  My body.

  All of it. She’s all I can think of.

  All I want.

  Carly drops her butt to my bed and scoots back, kicking the plaid-printed flats off her feet.

  “What are you doing, Pinky?”

  She leans back on her hands. “I’m parking my butt here until you give me what I want.”

  I shake my head. “Not now, Carly. You’ve had a fucked-up day and I’m not taking advantage of that.”

  She straightens, her brown eyes narrowing on me. “Don’t think for a second I would do this if I didn’t want to, Levi.” She’s up off the bed in a flash. “I might be figuring things out, but I’m not some young girl wanting to be wild and crazy.” She stands right in front of me. “I’m an adult. I make my own decisions. I only do what I want to do.” Her eyes barely drop. “With who I want.” The tip of her tongue slides across her lower lip. “And that’s you.”

  “Why?” I’ve fucked my fair share of women.

  Never once have I asked why they wanted me. It didn’t matter.

  But with Carly it does.

  “Because I like you.” Her gaze slowly comes back to mine. “You take care of me. You are sweet, and thoughtful, and gentle.”

  “I’m none of those things, Pinky.” I hate giving her the truth, but she needs to see it.

  Needs to know I might not be all I pretend to be, but I’m definitely not all she wants to pretend I am.

  I expect her to argue a little. Maybe try to convince me differently.

  Instead Carly laughs. Long and loud. It’s light and easy, filling my room and those same spots she brightens up. “Maybe I’m not the only one figuring out who I really am.” She pokes me in the chest with her pointer fingers, alternating each stab. “And maybe we should stick together since we seem to know each other better than we know ourselves.”

  “I’m not sure you know me, Carly.”

  She’s still smiling, looping one arm around my neck and pulling hard. “I do. You’re the one with the problem, grumpy.” She drags me along.

  “I think you’re my problem, Pinky.”

  “Maybe.” She doesn’t look deterred at all. “But as we discussed, I might be stubborn, so you probably won’t be able to get rid of me easily.” Her free hand comes up to tap the spot between my eyebrows. “Especially if you keep frowning at me like that.”

  “I won’t get rid of you if I keep frowning?” I stumble a little as I try to avoid stepping on her bare feet.

  “I like it when you frown.” Suddenly her body tips backward, her arms holding me so tight I go right down with her.

  It’s the way this whole thing has gone. Pinky dragging me along, tripping and stumbling my way through until she takes me down.

  “I like you, Levi.”

  “You keep saying that.” I’m trying not to crush her with my weight. She’s not much shorter than I am, and I know her well enough to know Carly’s not as delicate as she looks, but still.

  I don’t want her to feel smothered.

  “See?” She grins up at me.

  “What?” I try to roll off her but she locks her arms.

  “You’re worried you’re squ
ishing me.” Her brows lift like she’s making an important point. “Thoughtful.”

  “That’s not thoughtful, Pinky.” I’ve never once worried about smothering a woman. Just her.

  I’ve never held a woman while she cried.

  I’ve never refused a willing woman I was interested in.

  And I’m more than interested in Carly.

  Her pale brown brows lift. “What would you call it then?”

  I clench my teeth together. She asks so many damn questions I don’t want to answer.

  Has from the beginning.

  “Giving me the silent treatment, are you?” Carly smirks up at me. “That’s fine.”

  “It’s not the silent treatment.” I try to get away from her again. I need space to think straight. “Sometimes I just don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “Just the truth, Levi. That’s all I want.” Carly’s eyes move over mine. “Why is this so hard for you?” Her question is soft.

  “I’m not the guy you think I am, Carly. I say the wrong things. I get irritated. I lose my shit.”

  “I hit you with a pillow.” Carly barely winces. “Really wailed on you with it.” Her shoulders lift in a small shrug. “Everyone loses it sometimes. It’s part of being human. That doesn’t mean you're not all the things I know you are.”

  I swallow hard. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

  Carly is quiet, her eyes staying on mine. “I wish you saw yourself the way I see you.”

  She’s killing me. Making me face things I never wanted to face.

  Making me want to believe I could be good enough for her. That I could give her what she needs.

  What she deserves.

  I drop my forehead to hers. “Damn it, Pinky.”

  She beams up at me.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “That’s what you always say right before you give in.” Her hands are on me in an instant, cupping my face as her lips lift to mine.

  And she’s right.

  She’s always right, and willing to wait patiently for me to see it.

  I slide my arm under her back and pull her close, barely moving my lips against hers. “I’m not good enough for you, Carly.”

  “Shut up.” Her arms hook me closer with a strength that no longer surprises me.

  I know what she is. I see it every time I look at her. Every smile. Every word.

  Every fucking breath.

  She’s everything. The sweet I need in my life. The strong it takes to deal with my bullshit.

  Stubborn and headstrong in the softest possible way.

  She’s also King’s daughter.

  Thinking about it makes me hold her tighter. Makes me kiss her harder.

  “No one will fucking hurt you, Carly. Not ever.”

  Her eyes open and fix on mine. “I know that.” Her fingers brush down my face. “I see you, Levi. I know the kind of man you are. I know you will do anything to keep me and everyone else you care about safe.”

  “You make me sound better than I am, Carly.”

  Her head barely shakes. “You’re wrong.”

  “You’re awfully comfortable telling me that.” I lean into her, breathing in the soft smell of roses.

  “I think I might also be opinionated.”

  “That would make sense.” I smile against her skin as I taste the spot just behind her ear. “I like opinionated women.”

  “You just like me.” There’s no doubt. No uncertainty.

  No question in the statement.

  “I do like you, Carly.” I catch the lobe of her ear with my teeth, wrapping my lips around it and sucking before letting it pull free. “I like you a hell of a lot.”

  “It’s because you like my sweater sets.” Her voice carries a smile.

  “You might be right.” I slide my palm over the soft knit of today’s sweater. “You’re a damn wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

  “Does that make you the sheep in wolf’s clothing?”

  “I wouldn’t say sheep.” I lean up to look down at her. “I’m not harmless, Carly. If you think I am then you’re wrong.”

  Her lips press together. “You’re definitely not a wolf.”

  “If you’re a wolf then I get to be a wolf too.” I can’t stop the smile trying to fight onto my lips.

  I don’t tease people. I don’t joke. I definitely don’t do it in bed.

  But everything with her is different.

  Easy even when it’s hard.

  Simple even when it’s complicated.

  “Fine. If you want to be a wolf, you can be a wolf.” She grabs my shirt and tugs me to her. “But you’re going to have to earn the distinction.”

  “That sounds like a challenge, Pinky.”

  “Do you respond well to challenges?”

  “I guess you’ll be the one to decide that.”

  I barely catch her smile as I work my way down the bed, shoving up her sweater to expose the soft skin of her belly. I run my nose and lips over her flesh as I push her shirt higher, over the basic white cups of her practical bra. It’s as plain as they come and cut for comfort.

  And it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  I work her top the rest of the way off and toss it away before going to work on her pants.

  They’re simple and conservative, like everything else she wears. The zipper is hidden on her hip. I catch it and slide it down.

  “You found that fast.” Carly lifts her hips off the bed so I can tug down the pants.

  “If you think I haven’t looked at everything on your body every day and thought about how I would take it off, then you are going to be wrong a second time, Pinky.”

  Her cheeks barely flush, making me smirk. “Glad to see I do surprise you sometimes.” I push onto my knees and let my eyes drag down her body. “Did you think I was some sort of fucking saint who didn’t imagine all the things he would do to you if he could?”

  Her wide eyes tell me she might have.

  “You’re not the type of woman a man doesn’t notice, Carly.” I barely brush the tips of my fingers up her thighs. “Especially with those fucking sweater sets.” I drag my touch over the slight rise of her mound, tracing the seam of her pussy through the white fabric of her panties. “Someday I want to fuck you while you wear just one of those damn sweaters.” I add a little pressure to my touch, pushing between her labia just enough so I can feel the swell of her clit through the cotton barrier between us. “I want to fuck you every way imaginable, Pinky.” I hook my finger under the elastic at her inner thigh and tug the garment to one side, running my touch along her heated folds. “You’re already fucking wet for me, Carly.” I lift my eyes to hers. “If you want me to shut my mouth, just tell me.”

  Her head moves side to side, eyes still wide, still completely fixed on me.

  I pull my fingers from her, leaving the line of her panties as it is, letting her pussy peek out at me so I can go back to it anytime I want.

  She barely gasps when I grab the straps of her bra and yank them down her arms, collapsing the cups in the process, making them drop under her tits. The puckered pink tips are just begging to be touched. Licked. Sucked. Pinched.

  I reach for one.

  Carly slaps my hand hard.

  I yank it back. “What’s wrong?”

  Maybe the dirty talk was too much.

  Maybe I’m too rough.

  I knew she didn’t really see me as I am. I shouldn’t have believed her.

  “Take your shirt off.”

  I don’t move.

  Carly uses her pointer finger to motion to my chest. “Less clothes on you too.”

  “That’s why you smacked my hand?”

  “I was trying to get your attention.”

  “If you want me more naked, Pinky, all you have to do is ask.”

  “May I have you more naked, please?” She smiles sweetly.

  I’ve had girls dirty talk in my ear. Yell my name loud enough the neighbors all heard it.


  None of it shot straight to my dick the way her sweet request does.

  “You are so fucking sexy, Pinky. I don’t think you have a clue how—”

  Carly wiggles her finger around. “Shirt off. I asked nicely.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I grip it behind my head and lift the back until I can grab it all and pull it off, back to front.

  Her eyes are already on my chest. “Thank you.” It’s barely a whisper, and the soft pass of it through her lips makes me groan.

  If she whispers like that while I fuck her I’m dead.

  Screwed right out of the gate.

  I’ve got to regain the upper hand before I lose the ability, and she has me begging for mercy.

  Before I can make good on my plan, Carly grabs me by the front of my pants and pulls me down. I manage to catch myself before I slam into her, but while I’m busy trying not to hurt her, she’s busy snaking her hand down my pants, shoving it in fast and hard until her fingers wrap around my dick.

  “Damn it, Pinky.”

  She leans up to catch my lower lip with her teeth, her warm tongue sliding over my skin as her free hand works my fly open. “I don’t want to just lay there while you touch me, Levi.”

  “That’s definitely not what you’re doing.” I squeeze my eyes tight as she starts to jack my already ready-to-go cock.

  “It almost was.” She shoves at the waistband of my pants. “You distracted me.”

  “I think that was a good plan on my part. You’re much less dangerous when you’re distracted.” I grit my teeth when the head of my dick bumps the soft skin of her belly.

  “But I don’t want to be distracted. I want to be doing this with you. Not having it done to me.” She squirms around, trying to go somewhere I’m willing to bet I’m not going to let her go.

  “Not sure what you’re trying to do, Pinky, but your mouth isn’t going anywhere near my dick right now.”

  Her eyes snap to mine. “What? Why?”

  I reach up to trace down the line of her throat. “Because I will end up filling that pretty mouth with cum and that’s not happening.”

  Her pupils dilate and her breath hitches.

  The tip of her tongue slides across her lips.

  I drop my head to the pillow. “Damn it, Pinky.”