by Kar, Alla
Levi scoffs. “Says the New York editor.”
I roll my eyes. “What difference does it make? We both do things that make us happy. Who gives a fuck what Katy Harrod thinks?”
Levi moves his neck and it pops. I never realized how sexy that is until now. “You’re right, Kitten. Who gives a fuck?” He smiles. “All that was a long time ago.” We both nod and drink a little before the music changes from line dancing to a slow country song. I see Levi smile from the corner of my eye, and I bite my lip. He leans over and whispers into my ear. “Would you like to dance with me, Ms. Wilks?”
I take a long sip at my drink and nod. “Why the hell not. Let’s give these hillbillies something to talk about.”
Levi gets up and offers me his hand. “Watch ya mouth, miss. I’m one of these hillbillies and you used to be one yourself.”
I pretend to bow and take Levi’s hand. He leads me out to the middle of the clustered dance floor. The slow song has brought tons of couples out onto the dance floor and I think I see Katy and her fiancé. Levi pulls me close to him. I rest my hand on his bicep and his back. I feel the muscles under my hands, and I close my eyes. “I haven’t danced in so long.”
Levi makes a soft groan and pulls me closer. His hand on my back radiates heat through me. “Christopher doesn’t take you dancin’, sweetheart.”
I shrug. “We go to parties but don’t dance. It’s more for show I guess.”
“That seems pointless,” he says.
“Yeah, it is. Rather boring, too.”
Levi smiles into my hair. “Remember prom night? We danced all night.” I nod and press my face to his chest. “You wanted to dance to every song and we did.”
I laugh. “I was a silly teenager.”
“You were amazin,’ Bridge, you still are.”
I hold back the tears that threaten to fall. The image of Levi standing at my parents’ house after he proposed burns into my skull. I press my lips together and try to keep from crying. “I’m sorry, too, Levi. I’m sorry I left you here, I’m sorry I didn’t give us a chance.”
Levi is quiet for a few moments and we dance in sync. Levi places a long index finger underneath my chin and lifts my face up toward his. “Bridget, I forgave you a long time ago. It was hard, I was bitter for years, but I realized that you were better off in New York. You weren’t meant to be here.”
Biting my lip, I nod. “Thank you, Levi. Thank you for not hating me.”
Levi laughs and shakes his head. His hat cast a shadow over his face and his dark eyes are piercing me. “I couldn’t hate you, Bridget.”
Just at that moment a booming voice interrupts the mood, “If y’all haven’t realized, the damn song ended two minutes ago and it’s time to get some real Southern dancin’ going here.” I turn and my breath catches.
Levi stiffens beside me. “Brandon,” Levi says. I feel my face turn red and I look down at the ground.
“Well, Ms. Wilks, it’s nice to see ya again. It’s been what? Six or seven years?” I look up and smile.
“Yep, been a while.”
“You still in New York?”
I nod and notice Levi is tense beside me. I haven’t seen Brandon since high school. And I realize Levi hasn’t either. I can tell he doesn’t like him anymore today than he did prom night when he tried to force himself on me in the lobby.
“It’s nice to see ya, Brandon,” Levi says, wrapping an arm around me. I stand stiff, my eyes wide.
Brandon’s eyes avert from mine to Levi’s. His green eyes are cold, his blond hair is cut short and he is dressed in a crisp button down shirt and loose jeans. He looks more like Christopher than Levi. “Levi, I see you’ve snatched Bridget up as soon as she got back. As always.”
Levi tightens his arm around me. “We were just catchin’ up. We were just about to leave. It was nice seein’ you.”
Levi wraps his arm tightly around me and pulls me off the dance floor. We walk out of Nicky’s and Levi doesn’t say anything. I don’t look back at the bar because I don’t want to go back, and I don’t want to see the look on Brandon’s face.
“Levi,” I say. “Didn’t we just talk about getting over high school stuff?”
Levi turns to me, his eyes are dark, stormy. “I hate that, bastard. He is so arrogant and…”
“Grown up.” I step toward him. “Levi, don’t let something that happened seven years ago mess up a good night.”
“He was tryin’ to make you have sex with him!” he yells.
“Yes, seven years ago. Don’t let him get to you, that’s what he wants.” I shake my head. Levi sits on the tailgate of his truck and rubs his forehead. “I have an idea,” I say.
He looks up, and I can’t stop the way my heart beats an extra thud. “Let’s go to the water hole.”
A slow, seductive grin crawls up his face. “Oh, Ms. Wilks, you do remember our youth.”
I smile and roll my eyes. “You better take me there before I change my mind, cowboy.”
***
The water hole was a small spot out by one of the lakes where we used to go swimming. Our entire senior class used to stay out there most nights, drinking, dancing and being with one another.
Levi pulls up and leaves his lights on. “I haven’t been here since senior year,” he says.
“Really? Why not?”
We both get out and Levi falls into step beside me. He shrugs. “I don’t really know. It’s just so much happened here; this was such a big part of our lives that it’s sometimes hard to come back and be reminded of everything.”
I swallow a large lump forming in my throat. Levi keeps his head bowed and walks with his hands deep in his pockets. When we get to the water hole, the lights from Levi’s truck and the shining moon lights the water enough to see.
“Hasn’t changed any,” I say, taking off my shoes and letting my toes dig into the bank the water has made soft. “The swing is still there, too.”
Levi laughs. “I busted my ass so many times on that thing.”
“You broke you’re arm, too.”
He nods and takes his hat off. “Well, let’s get in.”
I shake my head. “I’m not getting in there. I just wanted to come see if it looked the same.”
Levi smiles, unperturbed by my answer. “Come on,” he says. He takes off his boots.
“Go ahead,” I gesture, “I’m not getting in there. You go ahead and make a fool of yourself.”
Levi pulls off his shirt and I nonchalantly glance over at him. He looks so innocent until he glances up and catches me looking at him. His eyes darken, and he tilts his head to the side as he unzips his pants. I shiver despite the Texas heat.
Levi pulls them down and doesn’t stop until he is standing in his boxer briefs. And damn it, he fills them out so well. “Come on, Kitten. Live a little.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Levi says stepping forward. He reaches toward my waist, and I think he is going to try and kiss me, but he pulls my shirt over my head instead. I gasp and push at his chest. But his eyes do not falter. He glances down at my breasts and his eyes stay there. I’m glad I wore a descent bra.
“Levi!” I screech.
“What?” he asks. His eyes drift down to my jeans and he cocks an eyebrow. “You need help with those, too?”
I bite my lip to keep from smiling. “No, I learned how to dress and undress myself a long time ago. I don’t need your help.”
Levi smiles and gestures toward me. “Then what are you waitin’ on, sweetheart?”
I cross my arms over my chest and shrug. “I can’t do it while you’re watching, Levi.”
“You watched me.”
“I did not!”
Levi steps forward, his mouth close to mine. “You did, I watched you watch me. Now, strip down, Ms. Wilks or I’m never takin’ your ass home.”
A red-hot heat spreads through me. Levi always did like to see me, like to watch me do things. Holding my head up high, I unzip my jeans and pull them down to my ank
les. I kick them off and look at Levi. He is watching me, closely, his fist clenched tight.
Embarrassment is warring with lust and want deep down, fighting to get out. “Well,” I clear my throat.
Levi lifts his eyes to meet mine. “You look damned good, Bridget.”
“It’s not like you haven’t seen me before,” I breathe out, wrapping my hands around my middle.
Levi makes a low animal sound in his throat. “Not in so long, not like this. You’re grown up now.” He is still standing close to me, really close. He reaches out to grab my arm but pulls back. “Let’s get in.”
I watch as he stalks off toward the water. That tight ass clearly visible in his boxers, I want nothing more than to take a handful of it. I wait until he is chest deep in the water before I follow him. “Shit, it’s cold,” I say, retracting my toe.
Levi turns and watches as I test the water again and slowly walk in until I’m standing next to him, shivering. He is uncharacteristically quiet.
“Remember this was the first place you ever got drunk,” Levi says, and I shake my head.
“I’m a horrible drunk.”
“You are,” he laughs. “You’re whiney and you laugh ‘bout the dumbest things. You’re the funniest drunk, though.” He trails off and he finally sighs. “Do you not miss it here, Bridge?”
“I didn’t think I did until I came back.” I tug on my hair and pretend to pick at it. “I feel like deep down I knew I missed it. I just didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want to come back, because that is what everyone told me. They always said I would be back. I don’t want that.”
Levi laughs, it’s low and deep in his throat. “Bridget, that’s a stupid reason not to be happy.”
“I am happy, I just miss home. Can I not miss home?” I snap.
Levi raises an eyebrow and I realize his hat is off. His hair is pushed back with sweat. “You can. Calm your horses, Bridge.” We are glowering at each other. He is the first to crack a smile. He steps closer to me and I cringe, his body is radiating toward mine.
“Maybe we should go,” I whisper, turning toward the bank. Levi grips my arm and pulls me to him. His body touching mine.
“We just got here,” he whispers.
“Levi, don’t.” I shake my head. Levi grits his teeth and pulls away from me.
“Stop fightin’ it, Bridge! Stop it! When the hell did you become so fuckin’ bitchy! You’re like an ice princess.”
I bite back my tears. They are threatening to get out. I turn and start toward the bank, I feel Levi’s arm around my waist; he pulls me all the way to him, his face to my face.
“Bridget,” he whispers, running his fingers through my hair. It is dark; the moon is a single crescent low in the sky. I bite my lip to keep a desperate yearning sound from slipping out. I know that his touching me is wrong. I know that the burning desire I have is wrong, but I can’t shake it. I want him touching me. I want to feel him on me. The wind blows a hot and dry current over us. I swallow hard and lift my head to look at him. “I’ve missed you so much, Bridget.”
Levi leans his head down toward mine, and just when I think his lips are going to crush into mine, he stops. “Tell me I can kiss you, Kitten. Tell me that you want me as bad as I want you.”
Every morsel of my body is on fire, begging me to say yes. “Kiss me,” I breathe against his lips. That is all he needs. His mouth crushes into mine and my body lights fire.
Levi is warm, aggressively perfect and tight underneath me. I wrap my hands in his short hair and he lifts me up from the rivers’ bottom, closer to him, encircling my legs around his waist. I feel the hard cock in his pants pressed against my pussy. His tongue touches my bottom lip and I let him in, moving my tongue to the rhythm of his. Levi rest his hands on my back, his fingers sliding over the cool spots the water left against me.
Levi is moving but I can’t seem to take my mouth away from his to ask where we are going. The water disappears from me and I feel the sand beneath me, while the water tickles my toes. Levi releases my lips and glares down at me. His eyes stormy with want. “God, I’ve wanted to do this for so long, Bridget.” He bends down and presses his full lips to my neck. I arch my back and dig my fingers into the sand below me. He takes my earlobe in his teeth and pulls so lightly. He smiles when his positioning himself over me brings a moan to my lips. I wrap my legs around him and he grinds into me. I feel his cock pressed against me, hard and ready. I grip his back and bring him as close as we can get.
Levi reaches around, and I feel my bra unsnap. He pushes the cups out of his way and he stares down at me. I desperately want him to take one in his mouth but he just stares, biting his lip.
“Tell me to,” he whispers, leaning down toward my ear. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
I gasp and arch my back against his body. “Levi…”
“No. Say it.”
“I want you to suck my breast,” I gasp out, feeling the blush riding along my cheeks, but I’m too far-gone to give a damn. Levi is different than before. He is aggressive, naughty and knows what he wants to make him happy. To make me happy.
He smiles and leans down, kissing a trail of hot kisses down to the top of my breast. He stops and I grit my teeth. “Do it!” I scream.
Levi groans and takes one of my breasts in his mouth; sucking so hard I can feel the wetness building between my legs. His other hand reaches up and grabs my other nipple squeezing it in his hand, twisting and pulling.
“Levi,” I moan, pushing my hand down my panties before he stops me. He pulls up my hand and keeps it above my head. His eyes meet mine in a lustful glare.
“That’s my fuckin’ job and don’t touch it again.”
My breath is coming in short, low gasps. I want to slap him across his smug face. I want to feel him inside me. I want to bring his head down between my legs and make him taste me.
“Do you understand?” he asks, bringing his head back down to my other breast. I nod and let out a desperate cry.
“Yes,” I breathe helplessly.
He smiles on my breast and I know he is teasing me, I know he is going to make me wait. I close my eyes and lean my head back. “Oh shit,” Levi says. I sit up, propping myself up on my elbows.
“What? What is it?” I look back and see a pair of headlights coming in our direction. “Shit, shit,” I say and grab my bra and shoes, the only two things I can find. Levi grabs my arm and pulls me to the woods closest to us. Our breathing is the only noise we are making. We watch from the shaded area as a few kids walk up with a cooler in their hands.
“Whose truck?” one asked.
“Don’t know, maybe they’re out there fuckin’ or somethin’.” I blush even though I know they can’t see us. Levi laughs lightly and leans down.
“I guess this is our chance, Kitten.” I nod and tiptoe behind Levi and we take off running as soon as we get close to his truck. We are laughing hysterically as he backs up and spins out of the dirt driveway. Levi is still in his boxer briefs and I notice his cock has gone down. I’m halfway disappointed.
“It can get back up as soon as you want him to,” Levi says.
I roll my eyes and then realize I haven’t put my bra back on. I reach over and grab my bra that is by Levi’s lap. He grins. “If I was smart, I would have hid that.”
I snatch it and pull my arms through each loop and hook it. “If you were smart you would have grabbed your clothes, too.”
“This was a favor to you.”
I laugh. “How so?”
“So you can look at me the rest of the way home.”
I shake my head and shift in the seat. I’m still wet and my body is just now slowing down on the overdrive of hormones.
“You look so good, Bridget. I forgot how good you taste…how good everything is.”
I look over at him. He is staring at me, with only his hat and boxers on. “You managed to get your hat but forget everything else?”
He shrugs. “What is a cowboy without his hat?”
I shrug and lean back into the seat. “I feel like a teenager again,” I laugh. Levi smiles and pulls down the road to my house.
“I know this isn’t right,” he says and a large, heavy weight presses on my chest.
“No, it’s not right. I’m getting married.”
Levi pulls into my driveway. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made you take off your clothes.”
I sigh. “The truth is, you didn’t make me. I wanted to and that makes me the bad person, not you.”
Levi opens his mouth and then shuts it. I glance out the window just to stop looking at him. “Shit! Holt is here. Is he ever at his own house?”
Levi laughs. “He is probably hidin’ from Cindy.” He laughs. “Well, I guess it’s time we really go back to the past.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
“It’s time to sneak ya lil’ ass into that window.”
I laugh. “Well, let’s go.” Levi, boxers and all, runs with me around to the back of the house.
“This is like Black Ops shit,” he says and I hold back a laugh.
“Just help me in,” I say and push at the window. Levi is behind me and pushes the window up. I allow myself two seconds of pleasure from the warmth of his body and I shake it off.
“Need a boost?” he asks low in my ear. I nod and let him grab my waist and the bottom of my butt. He pushes me up, his bare palm presses against the soft skin of my ass. I sit on the windowsill and turn to look at him.
“I had a good night,” I say, biting my lip.
Levi smiles. “Me too, Kitten.” He rests his hands on my knees and I glance at them and then back to his dark eyes. “I will see you tomorrow.” He turns and walks off. Half of me wants to jump down and tackle him. But he was right, this is wrong. This is very wrong.
I have no missed calls when I check my phone. I bite down hard on my lip and close my eyes. Christopher hasn’t even texted me or emailed me. At this point, I would deal with a damn carrier pigeon. I set my phone back down and slip into the shower. I take my time, caressing the spots where Levi had been. My nipples are still tingling from his lips and I rub them softly like he had. I push back the feeling of butterflies I get in my stomach. I haven’t gotten them in so long.