by Leigh, Ember
LEVI: or beg for it
Riley crumpled against the couch. This was a losing battle, and it seemed wisest to give in. Raise the white flag. Surrender and let Levi have his way with her thighs, which she’d enjoy, probably too much. At this point, every damn thing he sent her was an aphrodisiac. Stoking that fire inside her that masturbation couldn’t touch, no matter how often she rubbed one out.
But still, she couldn’t make it easy. Because what if this was just a passing fancy? She didn’t want to be a flavor of the week, either.
Riley and Levi texted off and on the rest of the night. And when it came time for bed, she was so amped up that sleep wouldn’t arrive. Clearly, the only way forward was to masturbate.
Her panties were embarrassingly damp. The whole evening receiving Levi’s quips and disguised come-ons dotting the background of her mind like the constellation of freckles on his perfect, square shoulders meant that she was so turned on, she could have come if he’d texted her “goodnight.”
And god, she wished he could be here instead of her hand. As her fingers slipped and slid over the stiff peak of her clit, her hips bucked, searching for the weight of Levi’s body. She tried to imagine what his breath might sound like at her ear, or the throaty rumble that might come out of him if her fingers danced along the swollen ridge of his cock. Tried to feel those biceps straining around her. The heart-racing moment after his cock slipped inside her.
She came hard and way faster than normal. Because she was primed for it. Not just from editing the photos of his incredible fights, but because she’d been staring at him and craving him since the day she’d met him. As her pelvis jerked and pleasure left hot trails through her limbs, she could only think of one thing:
How much longer could she postpone experiencing the real thing?
She didn’t want to be on sabbatical anymore.
She wanted Levi inside her.
The next day, Riley knew a gym day was in order. Not for the chance to casually cross paths with Levi, of course. Strictly for physical well-being. She’d gotten out of her routine with the excitement of Levi entering her life. She needed to burn off some of this sexual frustration.
And if she ran into Levi, so be it.
Holt’s was bright and clamorous as usual when she breezed in around one p.m. Every time she entered, she was overcome by possibilities. Did she want to run the track? What about trying a Pilates class? Or would she join the muscly guys in the weight room?
She already knew the answer. She’d pick endless cycling while she quietly peered at the other gym patrons, wondering why everyone else seemed to have their lives so together. Wondering what everyone else’s bank accounts looked like. Except today, all she’d think about was sexiest thighs. She wasn’t even to the locker room, and it was already on repeat in her gray matter.
Before she could reach the reception desk, Travis was waving at her from across the foyer.
“Rileeeey.” He jogged toward her, a bigger smile than usual on his face. “Did you hear the news?”
Curiosity jolted through her. “I know of no news.”
He tutted, digging his phone out of his gym shorts pocket. He shook his head while he swiped. “Levi got picked up. Or should I say, your picture got picked up.” A laugh burst out of him, and he showed her the phone. “Check this out!”
It was a Buzzfeed article.
And her picture of Levi, his fist deep in the jaw of his opponent from the day before, had become a meme.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, gently taking Travis’s phone as he offered it. She’d stared at this picture a million times already, embarrassingly, but seeing it in this context made it feel totally new. Foreign, even.
“Isn’t it great?” Travis beamed like a proud father.
And it was. The expression on the opponent’s face was pure despair. The caption on the image read “Walking into this job interview like…” Someone had added in their post: I’m about to take prisoners with this interview! I’d say wish me luck, but I don’t need it, just like this MMA hotshot LEVI!!!!
“It’s a meme!” She exclaimed. At the bottom, in tiny print, was the photo credit: R. Montagne.
“It’s been shared like, nine thousand times already?” He checked the picture again. “I think we’re in viral territory.”
“Does Levi know?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s pumped as hell.” Travis pocketed his phone. “I’m gonna keep an eye on it, see how it affects gym enrollments and everything.”
“Smart idea.” Riley paused, hoisting her gym bag higher on her shoulder. “Seems like Levi is waiting for the spotlight.”
She was testing this hypothesis with Travis, the man who probably knew him best. Maybe he could confirm the dark fear that lined her attraction to Levi.
“I think he was born for it.” Travis’s smiled kicked back up to beaming. “He’s a smart guy. You wouldn’t believe how much work he puts into his career. It’s one of the reasons I took him on.”
“What does he do, exactly? For his career, I mean.” She picked at the cuticle of her thumbnail, embarrassed about how little she knew, but desperate to learn everything. “I don’t know much about what you guys do on the business side.”
“Levi hunts sponsors like a shark,” Travis said. “I’ve never seen someone with his dedication. When I picked him up in Chicago, he had fifteen sponsors. And we’re talking in a little league of MMA fighting, you know? Even his favorite brand of almonds he’d gotten as a sponsor.” Travis hefted with a laugh. “That’s the thing. I only picked him up because he emailed me.”
“Oh, so you didn’t like, find him on your own?”
“I wouldn’t have. But he sent me a pitch. Like a business proposal. I flew out to Chicago to watch him fight. And I was blown away. The kid goes after what he wants and doesn’t accept any less. That’s why we made your contract for as long as we did—Levi is winning the title.”
Travis’s glowing review spurred butterflies in her belly. It was hard not to get excited about Levi’s career or get swept up in the outcomes of his hard work and dedication.
“I can tell he’s a really good guy,” Riley said, the words damn near sticking in her throat. It felt like a confession. Something fit for a priest.
“The best. He makes it easy to overlook his bad habits, you know? I’m gonna blow up this picture and hang it in the back gym. I can’t wait till he sees it.” Travis laughed as the receptionist called for his attention. Riley waved as he trotted off to attend to an issue, his words sticking in her head.
His bad habits.
What the hell did that mean? His chronic nail biting or something worse? Maybe he meant the dad jokes. Those could be considered a bad habit. But no—those didn’t need overlooking. Those required tolerating.
Travis’s insights unfortunately inspired hundreds more questions, and the only person fit to answer them was Levi. She felt like a detective of the worst kind—inquiring about a crush because she was too chickenshit to admit she had one. And the more she learned, the more the information acted like cold water on the flames of her desire.
But one thing was clear. Levi was headed for greatness. She’d suspected it the minute he walked into her studio. He’d confirmed it with his bravado. Whether he got there by nudes or memes or sheer physical superiority, Levi would get there.
Because he wasn’t simply open to fame. He was hungry for it.
And when a newcomer to the scene was hungry for it, Hollywood responded by devouring.
This town preyed on three types of people: the young, the gorgeous, and the starving. There was no other outcome. Levi was hungry enough to pose a risk. And whether he ended up on the positive side of fame or the negative, one thing was certain.
Levi would become a superstar.
Which meant she needed to stay far, far away from him.
Chapter 9
Levi parked his SUV in the closest handicapped spot on the street. They’d come to a place called HOME. So technically, they’d arrived home. Tes
ting brunch spots was practically their job in LA, and they had yet to find a replacement for their favorite place in Chicago. With any luck, they’d find their favorite. Even if it took months of attempts.
“This one looks promising,” Levi said, peering out the passenger window. The entrance led to a big, woodsy-looking patio, with an archway that said “There’s no place like HOME.”
“As long as they have bacon,” Gage said, which was a fair assessment. Levi unbuckled and went to the back of the SUV, where Gage’s motorized chair sat on a ramp connected to the vehicle. He waited as it lowered to the ground, and then he maneuvered the chair to the sidewalk by Gage’s door.
Gage peered out at him, then glanced around the sidewalk. It was always the same. Checking to see who might see him. Levi got it—he really did. He wished he could take away the self-consciousness. Gage would never be like the other kids. He’d be better.
“Come on, buddy.” Levi leaned into the car. Gage reached for his neck as Levi scooped his hands under his brother’s light body. His legs were damn near useless at this point. A few years ago, he could still sorta stand and wobble out of the car. But now? He was totally dependent on Levi helping him transfer.
Levi easily set Gage into the chair, where his brother visibly relaxed. The chair was like a second skin for him. He whipped it around toward the restaurant entrance.
“This place better be good,” Gage said in the ominous way only a teen could.
Levi thwacked his head, where a flat-billed hat that said LAKERS sat cocked to the side. He’d spent damn near two hundred dollars on that hat, but it was worth it to make sure Gage looked—and felt—as he good as he could.
“Have you ever wondered why we cook bacon but we bake cookies?” Levi asked as they headed into the patio.
Wooden tables filled the tree-shaded space. Hipsters and professionals alike filled the gorgeous space. A funky hostess with a septum piercing greeted them and led them to a two-top near the tiled patio wall. She removed the extra chair for Gage without making a big deal about it, which Levi silently thanked her for.
“Damn. This place looks good,” Levi said as he perused the menu. “Though I think I’m gonna ask for some baked bacon. Just so that it makes sense.”
Gage cracked a grin. “I’ll have mine cooked, thanks.”
“Did you hear about the meat packer that got arrested?” Levi asked, trying to keep his tone casual. This was half the battle: trying to trick Gage so that he didn’t see the joke coming.
“Why?” he asked, glancing up.
“He was bringing home the bacon.”
Gage snorted with a laugh, and Levi couldn’t help but relish the victory. It was the least he could do to brighten his brother’s days. Their dad had always told the stupidest jokes, and although Levi had hated them growing up, it felt like something small he could do to keep their dad’s memory alive. To make it feel like they weren’t quite so fucking alone.
Because that was the truth which haunted the shadows of their days. They had no one. Not a single fucking soul fighting for them or making sure they could get the bills paid or checking in to see how they liked that new movie. Mom’s family was unknown; she’d been the youngest adopted daughter in an elderly family. And Dad’s family was estranged. They hadn’t grown up with even a damn aunt.
Which meant Levi had the work not just of one father or one mother, but of a whole clan.
When a waitress appeared to take their order, Levi flashed her his most dazzling grin. He had a knack for winning over anyone. Except, apparently, Riley.
After a very exciting series of texts for a full day and night, she’d ghosted him. Hard.
“What can I get you two?” the waitress chirped.
Gage winked at her before he ordered a bacon-filled omelet. Once Levi had ordered avocado toast with a veggie omelet, Gage leaned forward.
“Did you know my brother is in a meme?”
The waitress was curious, so Gage brought out his phone. Levi crossed his arms, acting like the attention bothered him. But it didn’t. Not one bit.
“Wow. Are you a fighter?” The waitress’s eyes sparkled when she looked back at Levi. He had her attention.
“Yeah. I’m in this big league.” He wanted to come off like he was downplaying it, but this was exactly the sort of thing that helped get the ball rolling—and stay rolling. “There’s another match next week. You should check it out.”
“I definitely will.” When she left with their order, Gage smirked.
“I thought I was the biggest flirt in the family,” Levi cracked, reaching across the table to swat the bill of Gage’s hat. “But you took the title.”
Gage laughed. “I learned it from you.”
Levi narrowed his eyes at him. “Better not be stepping on my turf, brother.”
But the mere mention of flirting with another girl made him think of Riley. His dark angel. Not that he’d call her that to her face—yet. Maybe someday, once he really got to know her. She fascinated him. And he couldn’t figure out what had caused the about-face in their texting. He’d thought they’d been getting somewhere. Thought she was finally seeing him as a person and not as Levi the Fighter, or Levi the Client.
But he’d been wrong. Riley clearly didn’t want things to move forward on a personal level, and Levi hated how much that grated on him.
She was the only woman he was desperate to know on a personal level. Part of him had thought about inviting her out on this sacred brunch occasion. That would have been new territory.
Levi kept a strict division between home life and the rest of the world. Even Travis didn’t know that his little brother had muscular dystrophy. He still needed some more time before he opened Gage up to the Holt Body crew. Had to make sure this situation would last longer than a year or two, because he didn’t want to break Gage’s heart.
Gage fell in love with new people too fast. He’d learned the hard way back in Chicago. Levi had let some fighter friends into their life, but when they flaked out on Gage one too many times, the lesson was learned. Whoever Gage met on his own turf, that was fine. Levi let him manage those friendships. But anybody else? It took drilling through several layers of brick fortress for anyone to achieve hanging-with-Gage level.
Furthermore, Levi didn’t bring any of his one-night stands to the house. That was a hard rule. Which meant that Gage had never met any of the women from his life. Because Levi didn’t have girlfriends. He had fuck buddies and passing fancies.
Nothing else.
Except…Riley promised to be something else. But he couldn’t figure out what. The hottest photographer he’d never touch? Or maybe the first woman to make him tumble chin-first into the gravel. While she just watched and laughed.
When their food came, Levi already knew this was going to be the spot. His belly gave a warning rumble as the decadent omelet arrived, flanked by avocado toast on the seediest, brownest bread he’d ever seen. They dug in unceremoniously, their brunch punctuated only by appreciative groans.
“Oh, my GOD,” Gage said through a mouthful of egg, after half of his plate was cleared.
“Dude. I know.” Levi couldn’t slow down to say more.
No more words were exchanged until their plates were cleared. The waitress approached with arched brows.
“I was coming to see how you liked it so far but didn’t expect you to be done already.”
“Too good.” Levi stretched out, feeling the waitress’s gaze on him. “You’ll probably be seeing a lot of us.”
“I won’t mind that at all.” A barely-there huskiness lined her voice, one that made Levi snap his gaze over to her. Damn. He hadn’t been expecting that. She peeked under her lashes at him, a tiny smirk tugging the corner of her mouth up. “I’ll be right back with your check.”
Gage blinked over at Levi. “Um, pretty sure she wants to bang.”
“Gage.” Levi sent him a harsh look. He was right—didn’t mean Levi wanted to talk about that stuff around his brother. This
was the weird dance of being part-brother, part-father figure.
Gage smirked. “Maybe you can fry your bacon in her hot grill.”
Levi tried hard—so hard—to keep a straight face. But the laughter cascaded out of him. “Damn. That was good.”
Gage looked entirely too pleased with himself. The waitress returned a moment later with the bill and a wink. He wasn’t surprised to find her phone number scrawled across the top of the check.
Levi quietly counted out the bills plus a hefty tip. He grabbed the receipt and stuffed it into the back pocket of his shorts.
“Let’s go.” Levi allowed Gage to lead the way out through the patio and back to the car. They went through the familiar routine: load Gage into the car, load the chair onto the back, wait for it to lift. He’d done this song and dance so many times that sometimes he tried to unload Gage’s chair even when he wasn’t with him.
“You gonna call her?” Gage asked as soon as Levi turned the car on.
“Who?”
“That waitress.”
His brother was obsessed with girls these days. He couldn’t tell if it was because of his new school, his age, or some combination of everything. Levi had enrolled him in a public high school near their house. Gage was making friends okay, for starting the year smack dab in the middle. And now he was a hawk for pussy.
Just like his brother.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw her number on that receipt,” Gage said, the duh tone in his voice so intense that Levi wanted to backhand him. Sometimes teens were intolerable. “Are you gonna call her?”
Levi tutted, shaking his head. “Nah. I got enough girlfriends.”
Gage snickered. “How many?”
“Thirty-five,” Levi cracked.
“How do you keep up?”
Levi smiled. “Nah, bro. It’s not like that. I don’t have time for a girlfriend. With this new league, you know I gotta stay focused.” Levi patted his brother’s knee. “Gotta make that money.”
And he was telling the truth. Mostly. He wouldn’t be texting her. But he didn’t need to make her feel bad by leaving her number behind, like a slap in the face.