Page 77 of Aching for His Discretion

I ran my fingers through her hair, and we simply listened to the water as it poured.

My Tesoro... I’m beginning to fall deeply for you. I don’t think I’ve ever been in love, and I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. But I had to keep you safe...

I will always keep you safe.

Teegan

Waking up inside Levi’s room, I felt a minor headache coming on as I pretty much had a restless sleep. Feeling something crawl on my legs, I smiled softly as my little kitty purred in my ear. He lay on my neck as if he was forcing me to get more rest, and I giggled as I pulled him away and sat up. Holding him under his little arms, I smothered his face with kisses as he simply looked up at me.

I sighed at my little emotional support animal. “Mommy is okay, baby… she is,” I said, trying to convince myself, and he simply purred while I placed him over my shoulder as I walked to the bathroom to brush up.

Dressed in one of Levi’s oversized sweatshirts and a pair of tights I left over, I walked out of his room only to hear bickering downstairs.

Going through the penthouse, I smiled softly as I watched Nico, Elliot, and Micah standing in the kitchen doing their version of what seemed to be cooking. Micah had an apron around him, while the two other boys had scowls on their faces.

“How the fuck do you make an omelet?”Elliot whispered angrily, and Nico tried to figure out the back of a pancake mix box. I assumed Micah, on the other hand, would be doing a bit better given his attire, but I feel as though the apron held him back slightly as he was working with burned bacon.

“Good morning?” I said, confused, and their heads snapped over to me.

“You should still be sleeping. You’re tired,” Elliot practically growled.

“I’m not right now.”

Nico sighed as he placed the pancake mix down. “We tried making you breakfast, Little Mama. We’ve been here for about forty-five minutes.”

“Hmm. Well, I appreciate the gesture, however I think I could make something for all of us in the next twenty minutes…” I said, and Micah nodded enthusiastically as he ripped his apron off, but Elliot stopped him as he glared at me.

“You’re tired,” he reiterated, but I walked inside the kitchen as I grabbed the utensils from their hands and shooed them away. They seemed hesitant to walk away, but eventually, they made their way to the kitchen island and sat on the barstools.

As I redid their failed attempt at making breakfast, I spoke. “Where’s Levi?” I asked as I could feel myself wanting to feel his arms around me.

Nico replied, “Busy at the moment. He’ll be back soon.”

I nodded.

“How do you feel, Teegan?” Elliot asked, and I paused for a small moment.

I didn’t have the energy to think back to last night. From the frightening message from Levi’s father to Mr. John’s betrayal, everything felt like a nightmare, and I didn’t want to relive it through my memories.

“I feel a little… scared and hurt. That’s all,” I whispered, and they stayed silent for a while.

I finished breakfast after some time and sat in front of the three of them a plate of eggs, pancakes, bacon, a bowl of fruit, and a glass of orange juice.

I placed my plate down on the island but paused momentarily as I looked at Nico’s bandaged arm. He looked over to wheremy eyes were directed and shook his head quickly as I felt tears come to my eyes.

“I-I’m sorry, Nico…” I whispered, and he shushed me softly as he turned in his chair and gave me his undivided attention. He placed his hand over my now trembling one.

“There’s absolutely nothing you should be sorry for, Teegan. I would take another fifty bullets for you if it meant you would be safe. Nothing matters more to us, more to Levi, than your safety. Do you understand?” he asked, and I nodded as I tried to wipe away my tears. Elliot and Micah gave me a look letting me know they would do the same, and I did my best to calm down.

Before I ate, I quickly did a bit of tidying up in the kitchen, and the three of them glared at me as I wasn’t eating. However, I didn’t want Levi to come home to a messy kitchen…

Speaking of him—

“I thought I asked you idiots to make her breakfast this morning,” Levi muttered, and I felt my heart flutter as he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. He placed a kiss on my cheek.

Micah spoke before he shoved a bite into his mouth. “We tried, okay?”

Levi didn’t say anything as he walked me over to my food and made me sit and eat. He directed the boys to finish cleaning, and they began to bicker about who would do what task. I, on the other hand, received a kiss on the forehead and a small “good girl” as I continued eating.

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