Page 11 of The Marriage Deal
“I know popular opinion says it’s amazing, but I found it a little dry.”
He chuckled.
I put the book back, moved on to an artifact that drew me. A sword mounted along the shelf. It looked like an authentic medieval sword, cleaned so well that light reflected on the steel surface. I removed the sword from the mount. It was heavier than I thought. "Where did you get this?" I swung the sword around, adjusting to its heaviness. "It's so cool," I said. Only to be stopped still by a hand closing around mine.
"Don't." He was standing behind me, my back against his chest. "It's antique." I twirled out of his embrace and turned to face him. I lifted the sword until the tip was lightly pressing into his chest. He stared back at me. "Elvira."
"I won't ruin your precious sword. I just want to play with it."
He stood still without responding. He was trying to intimidate me with silence. It would have worked any other day, but I was drunk and feeling a little reckless.
"How old is this thing?"
"It's from the fourteenth century."
"Impressive." I raised the sword with both hands a little higher until I was pointing at his neck. I took a step back. "Who originally owned it?"
"A knight." He didn't elaborate like I expected him to whenever he's asked anything about his favorite subject. Instead, he sidestepped me, took to stride over to my side, and stood behind me to grab the sword. Only I was holding it firmly. "Elle…"
I turned to face him, only to slam my eyes into his chest. I gazed up at him. His eyes were dark, his nostrils flared. "You've never called me Elle before."
"Elle," he said slowly. "Give me the sword." His hands slid down mine in a way that could only be described as caressing.
"Why? Is it precious?"
"Very precious."
He practically whispered the words in my ear. I leaned against his chest, embracing the Levi Hawthorne scent that was enveloping me.
"Elle." His voice sounded harsh with emotion. Hungry. His hand caressed mine again. It was an unmistakable caress this time. I watched as his hand slid up my arm to encircle my waist, and suddenly he swiveled me until I was facing him. The action was so fast, I slammed into his chest, and the sword slipped out of my hand and landed with a soft thud on the rug. My body plastered against his, and I could feel every part of him. Every. Part. Of. Him. My cheeks heated as his erection pressed against my stomach.
"Looks like you have a sword of your own."
He drooped down his head, and I closed my eyes, waiting for our lips to meet. I've never thought about Levi as someone I wanted to sleep with. Yes, he was handsome, but I've always kept my thoughts strictly professional. Or at least tried to. I would be lying if I said I've never thought about kissing him.
I stretched up on my toes, and our lips touched. We didn't fully kiss, but that simple touch shocked me. It ignited a fire that spread from my lips through my body and to every part of me.
"Fuck," he said against my lips. He never swears. Professor Levi Hawthorne never swears. My tongue darted to caress his lips, coaxing him to open his mouth. He swore again and tightened his hand around my waist. Then, suddenly, he pushed me away.
"I can't. You're drunk."
I wanted to say I'm fine. I know what I am doing. But my body had other ideas. And as though it wanted to contradict me, a bout of nausea returned. This one tougher to repel than the first. I slammed my lips to my mouth, and Levi did not needanother sign to know that I was about to hurl on his beautiful shag carpet. He directed me to a downstairs toilet, and I closed the door and let out the contents of the night.
???
WHAT WAS I DOING? I am not like this. I almost threw up in my boss's face, who I tried to kiss for some reason, because my boyfriend had cheated on me with my friend. So instead of seeking therapy, I seduce my boss instead? So stupid! And so mortifying. As the alcohol wore off, the thought of facing him tomorrow morning was not something I was looking forward to. And I couldn't exactly sneak out of his place after what he had done for me. After I came out of the bathroom, clean of the day's food in my stomach, Levi was waiting for me with a t-shirt of his and a bag of toiletries. He directed me to a guest room and bid me goodnight. He acted like a perfect gentleman. A perfect gentleman, I could not stop having lewd thoughts of. His t-shirt didn't help. It had his scent, and that alone was enough to make my groin tighten. What the fuck was going on? I don't like Levi Hawthorne. He is a douchebag. He doesn't like me. It was the alcohol. It was the help he had given me. That's why I was seeing him in a different light.
I tossed and turned in the sheets of Levi's guest bed until sleep found me. I woke up the next morning with a start, as if I hadn't snatched a few hours of sleep. The unfamiliar surroundings were probably to blame for my restless night.And Levi.I ignored the stray thought and got out of bed, ready to shower and leave this place as soon as possible. But just as I was about to enter the ensuite bathroom, I heard voices coming from downstairs. It sounded like Levi was arguing with someone. Someone whose voice was familiar. I marched downstairs to find Levi and Wyatt in the living room looking like they weresquaring off for hours. Wyatt was fuming, and Levi had his back to me, so I couldn't tell, but his arms akimbo stance didn't look too inviting. They did not see me as I hovered on the stairs.
"I know she's here! People saw you!" Wyatt screamed.
"So?" Levi's voice was calm and controlled. "Doesn't mean you have a right to see her."
"Where is the slut?"
"Don't call her that. Elvira Edwards is my subordinate, and when I saw her alone and drunk, I brought her here. That's all." Levi's steely tone did not fool me. I could hear the anger underneath, but I don't think Wyatt caught it.
"You fucked her, didn't you? I knew it. I've seen how you stare at her. You want that piece of ass."
