Page 62 of Hell Storm

I stared at him startled, knowing this wasn’thisnature talking, but … mine.Of coursemy stupid morals would find some way to ruin this for me.

A final kiss was placed on my lips instead of my neck this time, and it only made me want him more. However, the part of me that stayed up late nights with Liv, dreaming of a whirlwind romance I didn’t think possible, saw the beauty in Levi turning me down.

It was different, unexpected.

It was … sweet.

My heart was still racing when I nodded, agreeing to settle down, but the cat was definitely out of the bag. If Levi hadn’t known before how hard he was to resist, he certainly knew now.

Reluctantly, I removed my hands from his waistband, and could hardly believe how forward I’d been, but who could blame me? As I stared at him now, his fleshy lips that begged to be kissed, it was a miracle he hadn’t spent his entire adult life naked, and entangled in bedsheets.

But then again, I was almost certain that was how hehadspent his entire adult life.

Levi didn’t let me retreat completely, which I liked. He kept me close, pushing my hair behind my shoulder before placing a kiss there.

“I fed, which means I held up my end of the bargain. So, now it’s your turn,” he crooned. “Sleep.”

I didn’t say it out loud, but I felt completely safe in his arms. Even with uncertainty lurking just outside the door of our cell.

As if he had willed me to do as I was told, I felt my body relax against his. However, this wasn’t trickery or magic, it was natural.

“I’m a woman of my word, so I’ll rest like I promised, but just keep something in mind,” I offered before leaning into him. “I wouldn’t be mad if you decided to wake me,” I whispered.

Soft lips pressed to my forehead as he laughed. “Sleep well, Corina.”

Accepting that I’d been shut down for the night, I submitted to his request.

For now, anyway.

***

Levi

I heard them coming long before they arrived. The short warning gave me the chance to awaken Corina subtly, her body stirring when I brushed my hand against her cheek, instead of allowing the guards to startle her.

She’d slept in my arms all night, and I loved every second of it, which made me dread having to ruin it now. But we weren’t on our own schedule. We were on theirs.

Whoever these peoplewere.

If it were up to me, the night would have been spent on a yacht, or in a lavish penthouse overlooking whatever city her heart desired, because any woman of mine deserved to be spoiled to her heart’s content. Not stuck here, where we’d been imprisoned like criminals. My pride wouldn’t let me admit it, but chivalry was not theonlyreason I resisted her advances. Truth be told, I had a gentlemanly side to me when I cared not to suppress it. And, with her, I wanted to let that part shine through.

After all, we were now mated for life.

I couldn’t imagine being intimate with Corina under these conditions. I was wise enough to know the idea of there being a perfect time was merely a myth, but there certainly was a such thing as an absolute wrong time.

And this was one such time.

“Wake up, Love.”

She blinked at the sound of my voice and I smiled watching her yawn and stretch like a sleeping child.

“They’re on their way,” I whispered against her ear, prompting her to sober even quicker.

Both arms extended past her head, hanging over the edge of the cot. “It feels like I slept for a year,” she groaned, a groggy rasp to her voice. “Do you feel any better?”

It was kind that she asked.

“If by‘better’you mean do I feel my abilities returning? Then the answer is, a little.”