Page 19 of Slow Burn
“What’s all this?” He cradled her against his chest as he rounded the island, nodding towards the stove.
This was my famous mostaccioli. Even Lola knew I meant business if I made this dish, and she had made me promise to save her some. Levi’s kitchen smelled amazing, like basil and garlic and fresh tomato sauce. I was mixing a salad when he walked in, but my hands began to shake so really, I was just making a mess.
“I-I figured I might make you dinner before I go.” I twisted away from him as he peeked into the pot, brushing close against me.
It was the first contact we’d had in days. The first few days, he had shown no mercy. Standing too close, touching me too long, brushing his perfect body against mine when we switched off with Amelia.
Then, like the requests to stay, it had stopped. Now, I relished it as he pressed behind me, watching my hands work. It was the same position he had me in almost two weeks ago. My pulse was racing as my heart thundered so loud I couldn’t focus on his question until he repeated it.
“Why tonight?” Levi said this against my ear, his head lowered into my space.
“Because....I wanted to tonight.” I manage, swallowing hard as my eyes burn.
“I see. It smells amazing. You better be staying, baby.” I could not help my reaction. Whenever he called me that, my body reacted before my brain had a chance to shut it down.
I shuddered, my hands dropping to the counter for support. Levi chuckled, twisting his face to press an open-mouthed kiss to my ear. The heat from the stove was nothing compared to how hot that got me.
My thighs clenched when he pressed harder into me from behind. I could not turn off what his closeness, the smell of him, the heat from him did to me. His body seemed to have a mind of its own, and I almost moaned when I felt what it had in mind pressing to my backside.
“Mmm I am starving, actually. Can’t say there’s anything I want more than for you to feed me, baby.” Another shudder, and I felt-actual felt his cock jerk in his jeans.
“B…b-behave.” My voice was weak, fruitless and we both knew it.
“You behave,” He hissed against my neck, one arm bouncing Amelia against his hip leisurely, “Although I much prefer when you don’t. Just like you like it better when I ignore those bullshit demands and do what we both want.” My fingers ached from grasping the cool marble, they itched to reach behind me and touch him instead.
“It’s not about....” I arched my neck and back when his teeth sunk into my shoulder.
“Hush. Cook. Smells delicious.” Levi ran his nose along my neck, his teeth nipping at my jaw, tongue tracing the marks his teeth had left behind.
“Levi....” I had nothing and he knew it.
“What can I do, baby?” His hips circled slowly, grinding his dick against my backside.
“Set the table.” My voice was high and I felt feverish I was so hot.
“I can do that. Anything else?” Levi murmured, low and dangerous, his hips still reminding me what he was offering.
“No-not just yet.” I took deep breaths, struggling to get air into my lungs, when he stepped away.
Levi made quick work of setting the table, sliding Amelia’s new high chair up on one side, seated between us. Then he helped carry the pasta and garlic bread to the table.
As I was setting down the salad, he produced a bottle of wine and two glasses. I eyed him as he poured us both some of the red, smiling roguishly. It was dual parts sexy and evil, and it did stupid shit to my lady parts.
“This looks amazing, by the way.” Levi complimented as I served us both a dish with the cheesy pasta and some bread.
“Thank you. I like to cook, I just don’t get a reason to very often.” I sank into my seat across from him, flushing in the dim light.
“You have plenty reason now. You just don’t use me the way you should.” Levi chuckled when I choked on the first sip of wine.
“Levi! I am trying to...to try something...” I shook my head, wondering what exactly, I was trying to do.
I had never been good at relationships. Proof positive by the four years I allowed to go before I reached out to Lola. Oh, I had tried, but not enough. The complete breakdown of my family could be blamed for some of it. The rest was because I just didn’t know how to make it work.
Levi made me want things. Things I couldn’t have. From the moment I had met him, I had been almost entirely powerless to deny him. The weekend we’d spent traveling from Mississippi to Chicago had ripped down the walls I kept in place, brick by brick.
When I found out about his marriage, about how unfinished it was then, I had hastily tried to build that wall back up. But now, I realized I had done a shit job. Wanting him, wanting more, could only hurt us both. And that precious Princess.
I was growing closer to her every single day and it was both the best thing I’d ever had and the most painful. I knew I had to walk away, and soon. My time here had an expiration date and it wasn’t fair to Levi to start something knowing that. And yet.
