Page 46 of Just Between Us

I feel a little embarrassed that I don’t get it. I’m sure if Cole was here with Levi he could laugh in the right places and nod when needed. I’m like a fish out of water, a council estate boy given the chance to look into the exclusive world of high society.

By the time we finally escape, my mood has shifted from the earlier elation of the project getting approved to a strange nausea.

We step out into the cold night and Daniel is waiting by the sleek black Range Rover, a cigarette in his mouth.

“You coming over?” Levi asks. “I think Aleeta made pasta ragu.”

A part of me wants to but I know it’s not a good idea. The feeling in my stomach has me confused. Levi just kissed me outside of sex and whilst I know he didn’t mean anything by it, it’s left me unsettled.

I look back at him, his hands in his coat pockets, watching me expectantly. “I have to be up early tomorrow. Promised Jenna I’d go to the gym with her.”

It’s not a lie exactly. Jenna is going to the gym, and I did tell her I might come with her.

He looks away for a second before smiling back at me.“Can Daniel and I at least drop you off?”

I’m glad he doesn’t push because I would give in.

When we reach my apartment building, Levi leaves the car with me and walks me to the entrance door. “I had a great time tonight. I get the feeling art isn’t your thing, but I hope you liked it a little,” he says.

“Was I that obvious?”

He laughs, waving a hand. “Nah, you were great. You definitely fooled Emiko into thinking she just created the best thing since the Mona Lisa. I’m sure Cole would be happy if you came with me to these things all the time, he mostly swings between uninterested and visibly annoyed. Doesn’t go over well with many people.”

And just with those words, my nausea dissipates and I’m floating again. Amazing what a little praise from Levi Bellamy can do.

“I did have fun. Thanks for asking me to come,” I say, meaning it.

Art might not be my thing, but Levi clearly is.

Nope. Not thinking that.

“By the way, I have good news,” I say with a grin. “The project got approved so I wanted to be the first one to say thank you. Without you, we wouldn’t have gotten the budget.”

A wide smile breaks out on his face, eyes shining. “Oh, Kai. Congratulations,” he says and pulls me into a tight hug. “And really, it was no problem at all. You deserve this.”

He pulls away slightly, but he keeps his arms around my waist. Our eyes meet and I try not to but my gaze dips to his lips. Around us, the world stills, the sound of traffic a distant harmony. Levi leans in first and presses his mouth against mine. He pulls back an inch and smiles.

“Levi,” I start but he doesn’t let him finish. He holds me close again, kissing me. It’s slow and gentle, and he takes his time, his tongue probing, exploring my mouth, taking control. Heat rushes through me as I bunch his coat in my fist trying to pull him in.

It tastes like something I shouldn’t have, a glimpse of forbidden euphoria. And yet, everything is light and safe. Levi feels safe. But he isn’t mine and I don’t know where the line is. Sure, he kisses me during sex, but this is different. This feels like a fly falling into honey. Sweet but inescapable.

This blurs the lines.

This is something I don’t get to want.

So, I pull away, breathing heavily, my thoughts racing and my heart desperate to escape.

He’s smiling, eyes sparkling, completely unaffected. “Goodnight, Kai,” he says and before I can say anything, he is walking back to the car where the driver Daniel is waiting for him. I stand there, jaw loose, until they drive away.

Chapter Thirteen: Levi

3 YEARS AGO

I wasn’t trying to die.

At least I don’t think I was.

I just needed to exercise, get the energy out and an evening swim sounded like the best way to do that. It was too cold to go running anyway and a wild night with a couple of models didn’t sound appealing either. Something was eating at me, but I didn’t know what it was exactly. I’d been feeling weirder than usual since the night at Adam’s apartment.

---