Chip takes off, and a stunned silence takes over as Meredith moves in close to me with her never-ending scowl.
“I think we’re going to take off, too.” Levi rubs his thick fingers over my back and sends a tingle right down to my toes.
I scratch that scruff along his cheek once again because, face it, touching Levi is like crack. One hit can never be enough. “We’ve got a lot to do ourselves.” I give a cheesy wink toward his skank of an ex. “I’d better put this one to bed, if you know what I mean.”
An unintelligible choking sound emits from Mer’s throat as Bonnie comes over and lands an arm around her shoulder.
“We’re taking off.” Levi gives his mother a kiss.
“Oh, dear, say it isn’t so! You just got here.” She offers me a forlorn look that I’ve seen Raven give me a thousand times before. “We’re serving cake in five minutes. It’s bad enough you missed the buffet. Please stay. I’ll make sure you’re served first.” She takes off with her hands in the air shouting for the waitstaff to move it, move it!
Chip comes back and tries his best to hand the pretty little princess to her mother, but Meredith cringes like she might be sick.
“Oh, hon, I’ve done my duty for the next eighteen years.”
“Wow, and you think I’m the peach,” I whisper to Levi, and we share a private laugh.
“What was that?” Mer squints over at me with a death stare, and personally I’m thrilled to have achieved such a level of disdain in her. It’s most likely a compliment. Miserable people gravitate toward miserable people, thus the spontaneous departure from Levi. Although Chip doesn’t seem all that miserable—at least not what I know of him.
“Dude.” Chip shakes his head at his brother. “What are you doing with this chick? Everyone knows it’s a farce.”
My mouth falls open.
Levi’s chest thumps, and I’m hoping that means he’s good and pissed on my behalf. If he’s not, he’s so getting cake in the face.
“This chick has a name—Ester.”
“Evie,” I’m quick to correct.
“Peaches.” He looks down at me and winks, his lips curving into a warm smile. Levi Masterson has a calm about him that I have never seen in another person before. Certainly not in his spaz of a sister. I’m guessing this apple rolled far away from the twisted family tree. “And she happens to be the love of my life.” His eyes dig into mine, and for a moment I believe every word.
“Please,” Meredith huffs with her voice registering so low she manages to sound like a demon. What a shocker, showing her true colors right here at her daughter’s christening. Ten bucks says she morphs into a bat at midnight and flies the hell away.
“He’s right.” I offer an impish grin, but it quickly fades. The moment grows serious, and I can feel myself drawn to him like fire to oxygen. “There isn’t one fake thing about us.” I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him down. His eyes round out before his lids grow heavy with lust, and just like that, I crash my lips over his.
Okay. Perhaps kissing Levi Masterson in front of God, his soon-to-be ex-wife, and his two-timing twin brother wasn’t the best scenario for our first kiss, but I couldn’t hold out one second longer.
His lips linger over mine, pillow soft and yet commanding. His chest expands beneath me and takes my body for the ride. I’ve kissed my fair share of male suitors. I’ve kissed a helluva lot of frogs, too, but this kiss, this magical, warm, inviting lip-lock for two is by far the best action I’ve received in a lifetime.
I pull back, my heart racing into my throat, my face burning bright and hot as the sun. A waitress shoves a cake plate into each of our hands, and I giggle as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
Meredith and Chip have long taken off, and I’m glad. It’s just Levi and me.
“Would you like a bite?” I carefully offer him a forkful of white fluffy goodness.
“From you or the cake?” His brows do the worm, and, honest to God, my sweet spot just tingled at the sight.
“If you play your cards right, I can arrange for you to have both at once.” GAH! I just formally propositioned Raven’s brother at his childhood home. I’m pretty sure that beat down Raven promised is just around the corner.
His head ticks to the side with a slightly puzzled look on his face. “You are aware we’re alone, right?”
“You are aware I’m a living, breathing woman who’s been swept up in your brute charm and caveman-like qualities.”
He barks out a laugh. “Now for that I apologize.”
“How about we forgo the apology this time and hit the road instead. I think we have a few more rules we should hammer out to our little arrangement.”
His arms ride up and down my back freely, and we feel every bit like an official couple. My heart says steer clear, this is your bestie’s big bro, but all of those tingling bits and pieces down south scream bang him until he’s dead or blind. What Raven doesn’t know won’t kill her—but if she ever did find out, she might kill me. Oh hell, what’s a little homicide between friends? One night with Levi might be well worth a satin-lined casket.
Levi Masterson scours every inch of my face with a look of stoned lust in his eyes.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” He marches me straight through that overgrown palace, and we do just that—we get the hell out.
The house is lit up a cheery peach before we ever get out of the car. Levi has his tiny house—and honest to God, after being in that mausoleum of his mother’s, I’d swear this place shrank a good thousand square feet—anyway, he has the place hot-wired to an app on his phone, and the house obeys his every command from whatever locale he chooses. He proudly showed off the feature not long after I moved in and screamed my head off because I was sure the place was haunted. He was quick to assure me of the fact that the reason the lights were flickering on and off for an hour straight was something that amounted to a butt dial on his part, and he apologized profusely.
No sooner do we get inside than I pull out the brownies I made earlier and plate them for us to share. I hurry back to the living room, where Levi points a remote at the fireplace, and soon a blaze roars out of it, licking up the side of the walls. Even his fireplace is hot-wired for flame-licking success. Gotta love a boy who’s a techie nerd at heart.
For the most part, Levi’s décor is on point—stained wood floors, enough marble, and top-of-the-line appliances in his kitchen to assure any master chef would be happy—and this amateur baker is pretty psyched herself. Nevertheless, there is one decorating faux pas that Levi here has committed, and it’s a level one offense. On the mantel, seated in a place of honor, dead center for all to see, is a ceramic monkey with five arms—yes, you read that right—five arms and in each tiny primate little hand is a knife-sharp sword. Seriously, it’s a weapon and a mindfuck. Sure, it does double duty in that respect, but really? Does any home need a monkey wielding five swords? I think not.
He turns the volume up, and flames come shooting out of that fiery orifice, threatening both the monkey and me. “Slow down there, cowboy. I’d hate to be the barbeque special of the week at The Pelican.”
He frowns, and his dimples go off like two sharp little darts. I’ve always thought Raven’s dimples were the best, but after seeing them on her brother, I’ve relegated her to second place. Everything about Levi is next level compared to Raven, and I feel a little bad about even having the thought. For so long I worshipped my roommate, but after meeting her brother, well, let’s just say there’s a new deity in town.
He leans in, his lids fall heavy, and oh my God, he’s going to do it! Levi Masterson is going to give his little sister the big FU and kiss me right here in his home—lips first, body to follow. My body trembles to have him as I scoot in close. The heat from his skin sears over mine, and he lets out a deep resonant groan that brings me to the brink. My thighs shake. My panting picks up, and it feels as if I actually might faint. Now that would totally suck, and I’ll throat punch myse
lf once I come to should that happen.
He leans back and clears his throat with a startled look in his eyes. “Let’s talk about The Pelican.”
“The what?” I squawk so loud you’d think my head was on fire. Something is on fire, all right, but it’s down a little farther south than my prime apex.
“The menu.” He clears his throat again and leans so far back you’d think his mission was to push through the wall. “You were working on revisions.”
“Oh, right.” I glance down at my purse. “Actually, I printed out a list for you to share with Axel and Brody. I dig through it and hand it over to him. My phone gives an obnoxious burp, and it’s a text from Raven. While Levi pretends to busy himself with my many upgrades that will undoubtedly save his restaurant from the ranks of all things humdrum—and thus Chapter 11, I steal a quick moment to see what my bestie is up to.
Who the hell is Evie Slater? And why in God’s name is her skank ass all over my brother?
I suck in a quick breath and pull the phone close to my chest. Levi actually seems to be embroiled in that silly list I gave him, so I take a moment to text right back.
No clue. I shoot it over to her quickly. What gives? Is she texting you?
That’s my way of saying who the hell ratted me out?
Meredith—his ex, let me know. They christened my beautiful niece tonight, and I feel like a sack of crap for missing it. I swear, one of these days I’m going to quit my job. Trust me, I’d much rather be in Hollow Brook right now than in Milan.
I can’t help but roll my eyes.
Levi looks up. “Everything okay?”
“It’s great. This will just take a sec.”
Milan, huh? Wow, I really feel sorry for you. Never mind who your brother is dating. Maybe this Evie chick can finally get him to stop stomping around town like he’s out to eviscerate everybody. BTW, word on the Italian street says Milan is a hub of butter soft handbags. Any brand will do! Hint hint! I hit Send.
Okay, so that’s a mild exaggeration regarding Levi’s somber stomping ways, but only a mild one. Then in a moment of devilish delight, I pull the big kahuna on her.
Maybe if he finally gets L-A-I-D it will be for the best. Nine months and counting is a pretty long time for a dry spell.
Okay, so my own dry spell makes that look like a hop and a skip, which only goes to show that jumping in the sack would totally do the both of us a world of good.
She texts right back. I guess. I just hate the thought of some dumb twat jumping in the sack with him just so she can get her rocks off. There is no way in hell they’re in love, and if my brother deserves anything, it’s to be in love with the right person forever.
And just like that, she’s managed to defuse my lady boner. My pink parts protest like a three-year-old who just had her sucker revoked.
Feeling sleepy. Better go! TTYL! I drop my phone back into the bowels of my purse and kick it to the side for good measure. Who knew my bestie could be such a killjoy? I bet if I texted Lex she’d cheer me on from the sidelines while decked out in couture from head to toe. Her sense of style is ridiculously on point at all times.
“So, what do you think?” I swoop a brownie off the plate and hold it out in front of his lips. Levi twitches his brows before taking a quick bite and letting out a scrumptious moan.
“I think you make a damn mean brownie.”
“Great. You can add it to the menu along with my other suggestions.”
“I don’t know.” His arm swings over my shoulder, and I scoot in until I’m nestled under his wing and we’re both glossing over my new and improved menu for The Sloppy Pelican. “Foie gras, truffle wagyu beef burger, Sevruga caviar bites, asparagus fries, seafood paella?” He rattles off less than half the list. “These sound a little too refined for the bar.”
“That’s your problem. You think of it as a bar. It’s a refined establishment for those looking to graduate from the Black Bear. Look, as soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the atmosphere. Your décor is to die for. But the menu screams dated. I’m warning you, if the blue-haired society gets wind of that early bird dinner menu, you’ll be looking at a sea of gray from here on out. And that whole AARP thing will be a reality. Only this time you’ll be in the pamphlet listed as a top senior hot spot. And you can forgo the band. It will be way too loud for them. On second thought, you can just ask the clientele to turn down their hearing aids upon arrival.”
His chest thumps with a laugh. “You really know how to sock it to a guy where it hurts.” He pinches his eyes closed a moment before turning to face me. “I like it, though.”
“I can hurt you all night long if you want me to.” Wow, nothing screams desperate to get some action than resorting to threats of bodily harm. Oh hell, what’s a little bodily harm between friends—and hopefully, soon-to-be lovers.
“Low.” He pulls back an inch, and I pull him right back in.
“Don’t you Low me,” I growl it out like a threat. His arm secures over my shoulder, and I soak in every inch of warmth his body is giving me. “It’s Peaches to you.”
A deep rumble of a laugh percolates in his chest, and he pulls me over his lap. “You don’t know the things you do to me.” His eyes reduce to slits, his expression as somber as can be. “We can’t.” He shakes his head. But I’m not about to protest. Not with words anyway.
“We can. We should practice. You know, in the event we need to lock lips in public once again.” I lean in and take in his clean scent, my heart doing its best to jackhammer out of my chest and straight into his. My fingers strum across his cheek, across his lips, and his eyes close as if he were resigned to what comes next.
His dimples dig in deep, no smile, and I can’t take another second longer without this man on me or in me.
“Low,” he whispers, but I silence him with my mouth, and my insides squeeze tight at the feel of his butter soft lips over mine.
Levi starts in with a slow and lingering kiss, reminiscent of the one we shared earlier at the christening. Then as if he’s been resurrected from the dead, electrocuted back to life, he lands his hand to the back of my head and presses me over him hard and needy. His tongue teases me, begging for me to open for him, and I do. I open wide and hungry as he falls into my mouth, and we’re right back to slow and lingering as our tongues make the proper introduction. Levi tastes like chocolate, like lust and every lewd intention known to man all rolled into one. But mostly, he tastes like he’s mine, as if he were waiting for me all along, like he was meant for me.
And I think he is.
Levi
Low Hartley’s mouth is the first thing I noticed about her. Those hot as fuck lips, pink and perky, and most importantly calling to me. They alone sponsored a thousand inappropriate thoughts that I’m ashamed to say have been playing on a loop ever since that first night she barreled into my life like a hurricane. She was the first girl to elicit a heartbeat in this dead carcass I’ve been dragging around ever since Mer walked out that door. I thought maybe she might be the one. Everything in me was eager to believe it. And then the cops showed up. The next thing I knew I was at the station, bailing her out, bringing her home of all places. As soon as I found out she was Raven’s friend, it felt like a solid line in the sand had been drawn. Any indecent thoughts I was having about her needed to stop. The fact Raven herself asked me to stay away from her sent a personal cease and desist to my dick. But that didn’t stop me from wanting her. On a primal level I craved her. And as much as I wanted to deny it, my heart was reawakening every emotion I never thought I’d feel again—that I might not have ever felt. They were percolating to life one by one, and they were all for Low. I never felt this way about Meredith, and up until her, there was no one else who made me feel anything close to this either.
Low moans while straddling me, her dress hikes up dangerously close to her hips, and my hands smooth over those toned thighs. Her tongue toys with mine as if it were on a swivel, licking me, biting my lips, tugging at them, capturi
ng my tongue between her teeth playfully, then doing her best to suck it down. Low slips her cool fingers up my shirt and runs her hands over me, wild and free. It feels like heaven, and at the same time I realize there is so much more ground to cover emotionally. But, then, things can only get better from here.
My dick grows hard as she presses against me. Her kisses growing increasingly feral by the second, and, as much as I don’t like it, the rational side of me pipes up and starts asking the hard questions. What happens in the morning? Is this a one-time thing, or is this our new routine? I’ve had a few one-night stands before, something hot and quick that was urgently needed to satisfy an itch. We didn’t exchange numbers. We didn’t have to. Hell, I wouldn’t even recognize those girls if they stepped into the bar. But Low—I’m going to have her in my life for a long time to come. And not just because she’s Raven’s best friend, although that should be the chief reason. But I can feel a connection with her—a budding friendship, something genuine forming, and I don’t want to cut that off at the base simply because my dick got greedy.
My lips linger over hers, and I kiss a smooth line over to her ear. “I think this is good.”
Low bubbles with a laugh. “I think it’s great, but if you’re still stuck on good, it’s clear I need to step up my game.” She scoots back, and her hands go for the gold and I’m quick to stop them.
A laugh gets caught in my throat, and locked in this moment is something beautiful where the two of us exude nothing but joy while staring into one another’s eyes.
I love how playful she is. Meredith was a damn scientist in the bedroom. Every angle, every move needed to be analyzed ten ways to Sunday. It made for a hypnotically boring, outrageously unsatisfactory sex life. Hell, I’m still not sure what Chip is doing with her.
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