Page 72 of Burning for You

Caro

Hearing Josh’s voice at the hospital shook me, as if he’d been a hostile stranger. I realize how far I’ve come since I left New York. I can’t imagine going back to my fiancé and leaving behind the magical company of Levi. Being around him makes me feel like I’m a good person—beyond my wealth, beyond who I am.

Jesse has been home for a couple of days. He still doesn’t talk to me, but at least he has stopped wanting to kill me (although I think he did momentarily, when I mentioned rehab). Levi has asked their mutual friend to keep an eye on his brother while he’s driving me to the airport.

The further I am from Random Valley, the more I feel the need to look back. My ordeal has led me to leave a piece of my heart there—earnestly, dotingly. There was peace in that God-preferred stretch of nature, and I’m determined not to let Teller or my fiancé ruin it. But most of all, it’s the place where I rediscovered my safety, and myself.

Two years ago, I told Rupert to pursue the new gold rush in Montana as if it was just another project. How pathetic of me! The ranches, the farmlands and the nature don’t deserve to be called a gold rush. They’re more precious than gold, and no one has the right to mine or destroy them.

After almost an hour of watching Levi behind the wheel, I reach out my hand, playing with his cute chin. His untidy beard tickles my fingertips.

Levi catches my index finger with his lips, and then nibbles at it.

I throw him a question. “Hey, why did you have tampons back at the ranch?”

Letting out a little laugh, he replies, “They were my ex’s.” I pout. “Hey! Lucky you, she left her toiletry bag when she came over for my dad’s funeral. I turned your suitcase inside out looking for them. Why didn’t you bring any?”

“I thought my period was over.”

“Don’t girls always know?”

“Sometimes our egg factory works overtime for no reason. You never had that with your ex? Or exes?”

“I never snoop into their menstrual businesses.”

“Really?” I say, like he was a bad boyfriend. “Well, if you stick around long enough with me, you’ll see.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Huh…”

“I mean it!” he says. “Whatever you need, I’ll be at your service. PMS, that time of the month, or whenever.”

My heart goes all soft and fluffy. That’s what a real man does.

He then asks me tentatively, “Can I ask how old you are?”

“You don’t ask a lady her age.”

“Well, I made love to her, so I have the right to know. Jesse thought you were old enough to be my mother.”

I eyeball him. “I heard!” As he chuckles, I hurry my words. “That was even worse than wanting to kill me.”

Levi indulges in his own laughter.

I hold his hand, nudging him to stop laughing, and to stop the truck. “Let’s fuck now, and you tell me how old I am.”

Levering myself out of the passenger’s seat, I gingerly swing my leg over him. I perch my butt on his lap. Without patience, I unzip his jeans. I’ve decided that for the rest of our journey to the airport, he’s mine and I can do whatever I want with him.

“If I told you I was forty, would you still be turned on?”

“You’re not forty.”

“If I was?”

“You’d still be too fucking hot to say no to.”

“Great answer.” My words glide, as if I’d poured honey on every syllable. Meanwhile my impatient hand is caressing the globular form under the crotch of his briefs. “So, guess then.” I unbutton my shirt, not taking it off completely.

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