Levi
A Forbidden Desires Novel
By Justine Elvira
Edited by: Eileen Proksch
www.inkpot-editing.com
Cover by: Robin Harper
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Published by Justine Elvira
Smashwords Edition
©2017 Justine Elvira
[email protected]
www.authorjustineelvira.com
All rights reserved. This book contains material under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any Unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events, places, businesses, or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
Cover image used under license from shutterstock.com
Table of Content
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Epilogue
More books by Justine Elvira
Note to my Readers
Changing His Game
About the Author
Prologue
Sportscast: Load the Bases
Commentators: Mike and Terry
National televised sports program
MLB First-Year Player Draft
June 7th
Mike: Last night was what die-hard baseball fans dream of. We're talking about the first night of the MLB First-Year Player Draft and all I can say is the draft has started with some predictable picks along with, well, some choices straight out of left field.
Terry: That's right, Mike. I'm still sitting here wondering what the Kansas Club was thinking with their pick of high school third-baseman Grier Miller. He's got the potential to be a great player but he's young, cocky, and has a less than flattering reputation. He needs to gain maturity and grow a little body hair before he can play up in the big leagues. He just graduated high school and I think some time at the college level would have done him some good.
Mike: I was shocked by that pick by Kansas, too. I'm sure Kansas has some plan up their sleeves but right now it's unclear what they were thinking grabbing someone so raw as their first pick. Although, I do love it when a club can pick a player and shock the sports industry at the same time. I think this pick by Kansas might come back to kick them in the ass. Only time will tell. It will be exciting to see if he gets any playing time when they start him out on their Minor League baseball team.
Terry: There were so many other ways Kansas could have gone but a part of me hopes Grier hits his first season out of the park.
Mike: Enough about Grier Miller. I think what all our viewers want to hear about is how the Dodgers swept in and stole the Yankees' number one choice away from them. The Dodgers had the first overall draft pick, and boy, did they grab one of the hottest young players out there. Who would have thought we'd be calling the Dodgers lucky for having the worst record last season in the MLB?
Terry: Leviticus Bryant is not just one of the hottest players to hit the draft. He is the number one college prospect in America. The Dodgers were able to open the draft by selecting ASU pitcher Leviticus Bryant as the first overall draft pick. It's no secret the Yankees have had their eyes on him since he was a freshman and pitched that no-hitter against Oregon. I'm sure the Yankees aren't taking the loss of their golden pick very well in the clubhouse.
Mike: It's not just the clubhouse. There were already bootleg jerseys out on the streets of New York with Bryant's name on the back. It's a disappointing night for fans. The bleacher creatures are sure to call out of work tomorrow in mourning. Let's talk numbers here for a moment so we can really grasp what the Dodgers just achieved by snatching Leviticus Bryant. His batting average is .385.
Terry: Pretty damn good for a twenty-one-year-old pitcher, but let's be honest, his batting average isn't the top in the nation for division one baseball, and once he starts playing in the Majors we'll see his batting average drop. He was also one of the slowest runners on his ASU team. The boy wouldn't be able to steal a pack of gum from a drug store, let alone a base.
Mike: He doesn't need to be fast. No one gives a crap if a pitcher can run. Nine times out of ten they have a pinch runner come in for him anyway. He's there to pitch and with a fastball that clocks in at an average of ninety-nine miles per hour, I think it's clear why the Dodgers picked him. He just finished his junior year and in the last game of the season he had two fastballs clock in at triple digits. That's outrageous. Can you imagine what he'll be pitching after a few years in the right club? I can't believe I'm even saying this right now, but this kid could go down as one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. I could see him up there with Roger Clemens, Satchel Paige, and Pedro Martinez.
Terry: Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Bryant has potential but we'll have to wait and see what he does once he's wearing that Dodger blue. The Dodgers will probably have him play a few games on their Minor League team and then pull him up to the Majors as quickly as possible. He was drafted by arguably one of the best clubs in the league so the possibilities are endless. I think we'll get our first good look at what he'll bring to the Dodgers at spring training next year. I'm excited, though. I just love the way he plays with the strike zone. Even the umps get confused. I was able to attend a few of his games this past season and he pinches the corners better than any pitcher I've seen in years.
Mike: I'm telling you, the Dodgers have had their eyes on Bryant for a while. They like him a lot and to steal him away from the Yankees has got to be icing on the Dodger blue cake.
Terry: Now, if only Bryant could steal a base or two. If I were the Dodgers I'd have him running sprint drills before every practice.
Mike: You got to get off this, Terry. The kid doesn't need to know how to steal a damn base. Besides, he's too busy stealing the hearts of women everywhere. You should see our twitter feed right now. We started talking about Leviticus Bryant five minutes ago. FIVE MINUTES AGO!!! The traffic on our twitter feed is now dominated with posts from teens and women of all ages.
Terry: Let's face it, Mike. He probably gets just as much action off the field as he does on it. We all know his ASU teammate, Max Creaton, loves to play the field.
Mike: There's an abundance of leaked photos online to prove it. I thought Creaton's bad boy reputation might be a source of worry for some of these clubs, but the Mets drafted him tonight so they must be confident they can tame his partying ways.
Mike: Good luck with that. Creaton parties too much and Bryant's squeaky clean. He needs to get a little dirty. If I were Bryant, I'd be going out with a diff
erent woman every night. Too many of these players settle down young. They don't get to enjoy the perks of being in the spotlight. I mean, look at the tweets we're receiving right now, Terry.
Terry: I'm scrolling through them now. Some of these tweets are so inappropriate we can't even read them on air.
Mike: Whoa, ladies. Keep it clean. We were just messaged a topless pic with Bryant's number painted on her nipples.
Terry: While we love your enthusiasm, ladies, I can assure you Bryant will never see any nudes you DM us. If anything, you're just making two middle-aged men wish they were twenty again.
Mike: Wait a minute. Holy crap! Wait just a minute.
Terry: What is it, Mike?
Mike: We have breaking news from the Dodgers. Leviticus Bryant isn't signing. They're letting him walk away. The Dodgers aren't signing Leviticus Bryant.
Terry: Wait, what? That's unheard of. How is he not signing with the Dodgers? He was drafted less than twenty-four hours ago. How can this be decided already? The Dodgers have the rights to sign each player they draft until August.
Mike: I know just as much as you do, Terry. There's an official statement. It's also up on Twitter in a series of tweets. I'll read the statement now: The Los Angeles Dodgers are a family and whether you've been playing with us for years, or were just drafted into our family last night, we want what is best for every member of our family. We regret to inform you that Leviticus Bryant will not be signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, or any other MLB team this season. After the draft last night, an emergency put Bryant on a plane back home with his family. After several conversations today, the MLB, Bryant, and the entire Dodgers family feel it best that we let Bryant deal with this personal matter at home. We will not be signing the ASU pitcher. While we will always consider Bryant a member of our family, he has his own family to put first right now and we wish him the best of luck in his future. We hope one day we'll get another shot at this terrific ballplayer in a future draft.
Terry: What does this mean? I've never heard anything like this happening before. He was the number one draft pick!
Mike: I don't know, Terry. I just don't know. I'm speechless right now. What I do know is something major must have happened for the Dodgers to let him go without a fight. You just don't let a player like Leviticus Bryant walk away.
Chapter One
Eight years later
Kendall
"You aced your finals. We have to at least celebrate with a drink once I close up for the night," I insist to my best friend, Skye. She just finished telling me how well her first year back at school went as she works hard to become a nurse. I'm so proud of her for going back to school and following her dreams after several disastrous years involved with a man who always put his dreams first. I'm so glad that relationship is over and she's moved on to a much better man and a blossoming future career.
"One drink, maybe two, but then I'm calling it a night. Noah hasn't had a day off in weeks. He's having a hard time finding new bartenders that meet all of his strict requirements. I don't want him waiting around for me for too long. He needs to get home and catch up on some much-needed rest."
"Something tells me once I get some alcohol in you the last thing Noah will be doing when you both get home is rest." Grabbing the closest thing on my desk I fist my pen and simulate a hand job as I give her a teasing wink. "I'll keep my promise. You just have to stay for one drink."
Pulling her short blonde hair with fresh new blue and purple highlights up in a ponytail she replies, "And I'd actually believe you if you didn't have a huge grin painted across your face as you try and convince me."
She knows me so well.
She continues, "A drink does sound good right about now. All of the science and math required to get my degree is giving me a permanent headache. I've been working so hard at trying to retain as much information as possible. My head is always in a book or researching online. Now that finals are over I finally feel like I can breathe a little. I'm going to make the most of summer break and do as little as possible so my poor mind can recuperate."
Jumping up from my black leather chair I shout, "Hell yes! This means I'll have my partner in crime back. I feel like I haven't had a block of quality time with you since September. Does this mean I get to drag you to workouts with me again?"
"As long as you promise to buy me a slice of my favorite cake afterwards, it's a date."
My hands pat down the creases in my black skater skirt before I sit back down in my chair. "Don't worry, best friend, I remember just how you like it," I tease.
"How do you always manage to make everything you say sound dirty? With that mouth of yours and your runway model looks, you're going to make some guy very lucky one day."
Skye always knows just the right thing to say. If she weren’t already my closest friend, I'd hang out with her just for the self-esteem boost. She's right, though. I've always been aware of the way men look at me. With my tall, slender and fit frame, straight long black hair, light eyes too unique to assign a color, and creamy clear complexion, I'd fit right in with the super models of the world. Karlie, Gigi, Kendall, and Bella would have one more woman to add to their squad.
The fact that I think about sex just as much, if not more than a man, makes me the entire package for most guys out there. Too bad I'm not interested in anything long-term.
Skye is my physical opposite but still cute and sexy. She's short–I mean, pixie short, while I have legs that go on for days. She has beautiful small curves that work for her petite frame, while my curves are voluptuous on my svelte frame. Her short hair is sexy and edgy; her green eyes are hypnotizing with their hint of blue and yellow rings around the iris. She has an infectious smile. She's kind and generous, and honestly, if I was a dude or a lesbian, I'd be fighting Noah for her ass.
"I just say what's on my mind, Skye. The sexual innuendos flow naturally, especially when all I can think about is having a drink with you and then going on the hunt to find someone to help me release some of this pent up sexual frustration."
"You act as if you haven't had sex in a while. Weren't you telling me how just two nights ago you ran into a guy who looked like Taye Diggs at a club down in Tribeca, and ended up screwing him inside one of the bathroom stalls?"
"Oh, yeah," I answer thoughtfully as I remember his hands on my body. "He had me pressed up against the green partition wall. It was a good night." I lift up three fingers indicating how many times he made me come, as I sigh out and lean back in my chair.
"How many guys is that for you now?"
"How should I know? Sex is supposed to be fun. If I start counting and keeping track then we're bringing math and guilt into my bed. That's not going to make my orgasms come any easier."
Skye laughs. "That's true. Plus, you should get it all out of your system now because once you meet the right guy the only number that will count will be his."
"Awe, that's romantic. I don't believe a word of it, but it's sweet."
She sighs and rolls her eyes. "So you've given up on Levi then. Couldn't he be the love of your life?"
Just the sound of his name makes my back tense, my shoulders fall back, and my heartbeat race with unwanted anxiety. Levi Bryant is over six feet tall and two hundred forty-five pounds of pure muscle. I want to trace each line on his chiseled chest with my tongue. I've never been more physically attracted to a man. He's also the most frustrating man on the face of the planet. He's the Rubik’s cube I can't figure out. He's played hard to get for so long that I'm on edge even thinking about him.
I met Levi about a year ago. In fact, it was the night before Skye's engagement party to her ex-fiancé, Caleb. Caleb, Noah, Skye, and I had all been drinking at Bar Forbidden when Levi stopped by our table to talk with Noah. That's when Noah introduced us all to the guy who won't give me the time of day. Back then Levi was the newest member of Noah's security team and I've wanted him ever since he smiled over at me with those gorgeous dimples of his. I haven't been able to seduce
him yet. Honestly, the chase was fun in the beginning but now I just want to know why he's so hard to crack.
"Hardly," I answer honestly. "After all this time I'm still trying to get him under me. I want to rub my hands over his closely shaved head and lick his dimples. Have you seen his dimples?"
"I have."
"I mean, come on! I want to ride his dimples until the lips between them work me so good I'm screaming out his name. You could help me, you know? Start fishing for details about him from Noah."
"I've tried but Noah is a sealed vault. He won't tell me anything. He said he's not meddling."
"Well, if he doesn't start meddling I may do something crazy. I've tried just about everything else to get the man to notice me but nothing works."
It's true. I've tried everything short of dragging him to a secluded space and laying on a table naked in offering.
"He notices you, Kendall. Any man in the same room with you would have a hard time not noticing you."
"Thanks, doll. I needed to hear that." Not to sound conceded but she's right. I'm a fucking catch. "New subject. Do you have any plans to go back to Michigan and visit your parents?"
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