His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Alexis Winter

  “I didn’t,” Bennet says. “But I’ll ask around. We might get lucky.” He quickly looks over at Maddie, who is standing by the door. “In the meantime, I’ll get someone up here to clean this up. Levi, you can work in my office today, and Danielle, you can go ahead and go with Maddie since you usually work with her anyway.”

  I nod before walking over to Levi and giving him a quick kiss. “I’ll see you at lunch?”

  He nods. “Don’t go outside without me. Meet me in the lobby,” he insists.

  “Okay,” I agree, now afraid of Nick.

  All the years I’ve been with him, I’ve never been scared of him. But he’s showing his true colors lately. I can’t believe he’d do something like this. I wonder if he trashed Levi’s office because he protected me last night and made him leave, or if he’s starting to think something more is going on between us. I don’t know how he would, though. He didn’t act like he was picking up on anything last night, but maybe he’s pretending so I won’t know he suspects something.

  I think back on the conversation we had before Levi came in.

  “Fine, I’ll talk to you. But only if you promise to leave when I ask,” I say, pointing my finger at him.

  He nods. “Fine, please, just hear me out.”

  We sit on the couch, and he takes a deep breath to clear his thoughts. “Danielle, I miss you, and I’m sorry for everything I did. I swear, if you give me another chance, I’ll never make that mistake again. We’ve been together too long to throw everything away now.” His eyes are pleading with me, glassy and bloodshot. He’s either been crying or drinking. And knowing him, it’s probably the latter.

  “It’s too bad you didn’t think of that before you threw everything away. We’re done, Nick. I don’t even know what else to say. You ruined this. Now it’s time you accept it and move on.”

  “I love you, Danielle. Please, just look at me. You know I’m telling the truth.”

  I look at him, but he doesn’t look the same to me anymore. I no longer see the cute guy I met in college. Now, all I see is an alcoholic who has a drug habit and a sex addiction. Someone who couldn’t keep his word, no matter how small or simple.

  “I’m sorry, Nick. But I’ve moved on. I’ve been talking with a guy at work. Now, please leave.”

  Levi opens the door, drawing Nick’s attention away from me.

  When lunch rolls around, I stand in the lobby, waiting for Levi. I cross my arms over my chest and wait, feeling as if everyone is watching me. I don’t know if Maddie asked the security guard to keep his eyes open, or if he’s doing it because of the vandalism, but he’s watching me like a hawk. He’s not even trying to blend in. He’s standing directly across the big lobby with his eyes pointed directly at me. He’s not even blinking. I laugh when I think about walking over there and making faces to try to get him to move.

  “Hey, ready to go?” Levi asks, stepping up to my side.

  I nod. “Yeah.” I push myself off the wall.

  “What’s so funny?”

  I wave him off. “Nothing, it’s just been a weird day.”

  Levi ends up leading me down to the cafeteria. I’ve worked here for years now, and I’ve never eaten here. But I’ve heard good things about it. We both grab a tray and get in line.

  “Why are we eating here?” I ask, grabbing a salad and putting it on my tray.

  He shrugs. “I was just talking with Bennet about how to handle your situation. He thinks that Nick came and trashed my office because I’m the one that made him leave last night—like he’s going to try and make everyone’s lives miserable until they write you off. So, we decided we’d try to keep him from seeing you altogether. Bennet gave me a parking spot in the garage, and nobody but upper employees have access to it. So Nick won’t be able to see you coming into work or leaving. We can have lunch here so he won’t see you then either. He’ll either get the hint and give up or…”

  “Or what?” I ask.

  “Or things could get worse. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  “What about at home, though? He’ll still be able to see me going in and out of the building.”

  “I called and rented a spot in the underground garage. It costs a lot more, which is why I’ve never done it. But again, it’s worth it to keep you safe.” His hand rubs gently up and down my back.

  Everyone seems concerned about my safety, but this is Nick we’re talking about. If he really wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done so last night, right?

  “I’m just not sure that’s what he’s after—hurting me, I mean.”

  “Dani, at this point, Nick is stalking you. And we all know how quickly things can spiral out of control. He’s bothering you because he wants you. But what’s going to happen when he realizes he’s not getting you back? He’ll hurt you just so nobody else can have you. Please, just trust me on this.” His blue eyes glisten as they narrow on me. I can see the love and concern he holds within it.

  I nod, silently agreeing.

  We sit and have lunch, and to my surprise, it’s good. After we finish eating, Levi walks me back up to Maddie’s office and leans in for a kiss.

  His lips softly brush against mine before he pulls away, keeping his hand under my chin. “So, Maddie is my babysitter?”

  “I just want you safe. Please, don’t go anywhere alone.” He leans back in and kisses me deeply. I can’t help but close my eyes and savor this kiss that somehow reaches my soul.

  “I got a better idea. Let’s go home and spend the rest of the day in bed,” I say with a smile, against his lips.

  “I’d love to, but I have a meeting to attend before I can leave.” He offers one last, quick kiss, then turns and walks away, leaving me staring after him.

  With a sigh leaving my lips, I walk into Maddie’s office. She’s sitting behind her desk. She looks up, eyes locking on mine, and she offers a smile.

  “How was lunch?”

  “Pretty good, actually. Yours?” I sit across from her.

  “Good. Bennet called in lunch from my favorite restaurant, and we ate up in his office.”

  I cross my legs and lean back in the chair. “What are we supposed to do?”

  “Well, I have a few things you can help me with.” She stands and turns to the filing cabinet, taking out a few folders.

  13

  Levi

  It’s been a month since we last heard from or saw Nick. The order of protection went through without a hitch—Nick didn’t bother showing up. And our plan of keeping Dani out of sight has worked well. It took a couple of weeks, but finally, he’s no longer being caught on security cameras, waiting to run into her. Everything has pretty much gotten back to normal, or I guess a new normal. Dani and I go to work and don’t leave the building until it’s time to come home. I’ve paid off the guy in the security room of the apartment building, and he’s supposed to let me know any time Nick’s caught on camera around the building. After the first two weeks, he hasn’t been seen again.

  Dani is itching to get out of the apartment, and while I want to give her what she needs, I’m also afraid we’ll run into Nick. She wants to go out on dates and go dancing and shopping, but I keep putting it off until I know for sure that Nick won’t be a problem. We’ve had all the food, groceries, and household supplies delivered, and I never leave her side.

  She gets up from the table, taking both our empty plates with her. I can see how unhappy she is, and it kills me. Finally, I stand up and walk over to her at the sink. I press my chest to her back and kiss her neck softly. She tilts her head, giving me more room to kiss her flesh. She lets out a sigh.

  “Maddie and Bennet are having a BBQ at their place tomorrow. You want to go?” I ask, finally putting it out there since I’ve been mulling over it all week.

  She spins around to face me, eyes wide with excitement. “Really?”

  I laugh and nod as I wrap my hands around her waist. “I figure we haven’t seen Nick in a while. And Maddie and Bennet’s house is out in the c
ountry. I think you’ll be safe there.”

  “Thank you, Levi,” she breathes out, pulling me in for a kiss.

  “I’m sorry if I’ve been a little overbearing lately. I just want you safe. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

  She pulls back to look into my eyes. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’ve completely uprooted your life for me. I should be the one apologizing.”

  “I haven’t uprooted anything, Dani. I like having you here. I know we haven’t talked about us in a while, but…”

  She kisses me softly. “I’m yours, Levi. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.” She offers up a shy smile.

  Hearing her words, I feel like my heart expands, now taking up my chest completely. “You mean, you want to openly date, take the next step, and tell people?” Before, I was too worried that she wasn’t ready for anything more than what we were already doing, but now, it feels like we’re together even without saying it.

  “Now that I’ve finally gotten rid of Nick, yes. You’re the right person for me. I don’t know why I didn’t see it back then. It could’ve saved us both a lot of trouble, time, and heartache.”

  I pull her in for a lip-crushing kiss, tangling my tongue with hers as my hands move around her body greedily. It’s amazing how everything about her fits me. My hands fit perfectly on her ass. Her body forms against mine like we’re two pieces of the same cloth. Our hearts, souls, and minds are all the same. I always laughed when I thought about how some people believed in soulmates, but now I see it’s something that can’t be understood. It can only be felt.

  I lift her and sit her down on the kitchen table, our kiss never breaking. Her hands fall from around my neck, but they catch the end of my shirt, and she quickly pulls it upward, ripping it off of me. Our kiss breaks for only a moment so I can pull the shirt over my head and toss it onto the floor. I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her ass closer to the edge of the table.

  Tap.

  “What was that?” Dani asks, pulling away and looking in the direction of the balcony.

  It’s dark out, so all we can see is the refection of the kitchen.

  “I don’t know,” I answer, pulling away from her and walking toward the door.

  I see her stand up from the reflection in the glass. “Don’t go out there.”

  “Shhh.” I grab my baseball bat out of the closet and slowly open the door, stepping out onto the balcony. I look to my right and then my left, but find nothing but the grill and the patio table. I turn back to her. “There’s nobody out here.” I hold my hands out at my sides.

  She has a concerned look on her face as she walks out to see for herself.

  I move to the edge and look down, only finding a window washing lift at the bottom. Since the building is doing some repairs, I don’t think anything of it. “The lift probably just hit the building or something. It is pretty windy tonight.”

  She leans over the balcony and looks down for herself.

  “Come on. Let’s get inside before we catch a cold.” I wrap my arm around her and lead her back inside, locking the door behind us. I don’t usually bother locking the balcony door since someone would have to climb the outside of the building to get inside, but tonight, I want to be extra careful with Nick still out there doing God knows what.

  We quickly finish cleaning up the kitchen and retire to the bedroom. She sits on the edge of the bed and starts taking off her jewelry, placing it all on top of the bedside table.

  I sit on the opposite side and kick off my socks and shoes. “Want me to fill the tub up?” I ask, glancing at her from over my shoulder.

  “Yeah, I’d love a good long soak. Do we have more of that oil?”

  I stand and lean over the bed to press a kiss to her shoulder. “Let me check.”

  I head into the bathroom and turn on the water. Digging around in the cabinet, I find the oil she likes so much, and I add a few drops. By the time she comes into the bathroom, I’m already stripped and climbing into the tub. I can’t take my eyes off her while she removes her clothes and climbs in with me. She leans her back against my chest and sits between my legs. I push the button, and the jets kick on.

  She leans her head back and takes a deep, relaxing breath, causing her chest to rise and slowly fall. I wrap my arms around her, gliding my fingers up and down her thigh, stomach, and between her breasts.

  She lets out a soft whimper. “I don’t know how such a simple touch can make me want you this much.”

  I feel a grin take over as I let my hand drift below the water, across her hip, and to her folds. With one stroke of my fingers, her body tightens, and she lets out a gasp. I kiss and nibble on her neck and earlobe, wanting to tease her.

  After several long minutes, she sits up and spins around to face me. Her eyes are hooded with desire as she finds me with her hand under the water. She works my length up and down slowly, teasing me with her sexy smile.

  I sit up and catch her mouth with mine as her hair clings to both of us. When I’m painfully hard and can no longer wait, I pull her against me and stand with her in my arms. I carry her, still dripping wet, to the bed, where we both fall onto it in a tangled mess.

  I kiss my way down her body until I come to the junction between her legs. When my mouth closes in around her clit, she lets out a loud moan and arches her back off the bed. I place my hands on her hips and hold her down while I continue with my torture.

  I don’t stop until her body is trembling, and her moans have quieted. Finally, I slide inside her, where I’m meant to be.

  We’re lying in bed, breathless. Our hearts are pounding a mile a minute, and neither of us can move after the things we just did.

  “I couldn’t spit if you paid me to,” Dani says from beside me.

  I laugh. “Want a bottle of water?” I ask, standing from the bed.

  The floor creaks, but it didn’t sound like it came from me. Instead, it sounds like it came from the hallway outside the open bedroom door.

  “Did you hear that?” I ask, not taking my eyes off the door.

  “Hear what?” she pants out.

  I grab a pair of boxers from my dresser and pull them on before walking out into the hallway. I walk to the end and flip the switch. The small area fills with light. I check out the bathroom and the guest bedroom but find nothing. I move back out of the hall and into the living room. I check the front door, but it’s still locked—something we both do the moment we come in from work. I walk into the kitchen and flip on the light. When I find the room empty, I shake my head.

  “What the fuck is my problem?” I mumble, moving toward the fridge and taking out two bottles of water.

  I walk back into the bedroom, handing Dani a bottle as I lay down. She takes a long drink before capping it and curling up beside me.

  When morning rolls around, Dani is bouncing with excitement about getting out of the house to go to Maddie and Bennet’s BBQ for the day. After a quick breakfast of oats, yogurt, and fruit, she heads for a shower. I know that if I join her, I’ll never be able to leave her long enough to get out of the house, so while she gets cleaned up, I pull out my laptop and sit at the kitchen table.

  While the computer starts up, I gaze around the kitchen. My eyes land on the balcony, zeroing in on the doorknob.

  It’s not locked.

  I know I locked it last night. I quickly stand and twist the knob. The door opens easily, and I step out, looking around like I might find someone. There’s nothing. It looks the same as last night. I walk to the edge and look down. The cleaning lift that was there last night is now gone, but now there are several men on the ground building scaffolding.

  I go back inside, locking the door, and I pick up my phone, calling Mark, the security guy.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Mark. It’s Levi. What’s going on with the scaffolding?”

  “Oh, the building is getting painted. They’re also going to do some minor repairs around the building: fixing some old windows, s
ealing come cracks, that sort of thing. Why? Is there a problem?”

  I run my hand through my hair and take a deep breath. “Um, yeah, actually. I’m having an issue with my balcony door. I know I locked it last night, but when I woke up this morning, it was unlocked. I’m just worried that someone has a key. Is there any way I could get the knob changed today?”

  “Sure, I don’t see why not,” he replies.

  “Oh, and Mark?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How much would you charge me to get some cameras put inside my apartment? You know, like some that only I have access to?”

  “I have a few laying around. I’m sure we could work something out. I can come up in twenty.”

  “Sounds great. Thanks, man.”

  “See ya soon,” he says, hanging up the phone.

  “Who was that?” Dani asks, walking into the kitchen in a towel.

  I open my mouth, about to tell her, but I also don’t want to freak her out. I want her to feel safe here. And nothing may be going on. It could be my overactive imagination. “Nothing. I’ve decided to add some more security. That way, I’ll be able to keep an eye on the place from work.” I close the distance between us and press my mouth to hers. Like every other time we’ve kissed, her sweet tongue gives me a sugar rush.

  14

  Danielle

  I’m in the guest bedroom that Levi had been sweet enough to turn into my beauty room. I have an entire walk-in closet to myself, and he removed the furniture and set up a vanity for me. I do all my hair, makeup, and dressing in this room. I sit down, turn on the vanity lights, and play some music on my phone.

  Since we’re going to a BBQ, I don’t want to smother my face in makeup, but I add a little cover-up, blush, mascara, and a pretty pink lipstick. My face looks fresh and glowing by the time I finish. I blow dry my hair and start curling it. Levi comes in with the building’s security guy, and they set to work on installing a camera in the corner of the room.