Page 58 of Well Played

“This has nothing to do with what I want and everything to do with what Idon’twant. I don’t want to mess up your relationship with your brother.”

“What relationship?” he muttered angrily before throwing the towel aside. He let out a long breath. “I know what you’re saying, alright? And I respect it. In fact, you’re right. I have no business wanting you like this. Tanner did you wrong, but he’s still my brother. So maybe it makes me a terrible fucking person for what I did last night. I might even hate myself a little. But Istilldon’t fucking regret it. I just don’t.” He placed his big, strong hand around my cheek. “You told me what youdon’twant, but you didn’t answer my question.” He rubbed his thumb against my skin. “What do youwant, Presley? And don’t say it doesn’t matter. Because itdoesmatter. What you want matters. Your happiness fucking matters.”

I closed my eyes and let those words sink in. “I want you,” I whispered. My eyes fluttered open. I meant that with every inch of my soul.

His pupils dilated as he stared into my eyes, but he said nothing.

“I don’t know what’s happening, Levi. All I can say is, I feel alive again. I’m invigorated whenever I’m with you. This all feels dangerous—but at the same time, you make me feel safe. I could’ve never predicted thatyouwould be the first man to make me feel this way in a very long time.” I exhaled. “I had many preconceived notions about you. But you’re not the heartless player I imagined. You’re caring and protective. I just…love being around you. I love the time we spend together with Alex, too. And I’m as scared about you leaving as I am of something more happening between us.”

Levi pulled me into a tight embrace. I could feel his heart thundering against my own. What he said next floored me.

“My life over the past few years—it’s been lonely. Even when I came home to visit, it didn’t feel the same here. Until this time. When I’m around you, I feel a sense of home again. And it’s not because of this house or Beaufort. It’s you—your passion, your spirit—which I know is damn ironic, considering how much we butted heads in the beginning.” He pulled back to look at me. “I respect you. I respect you as a mother, and most of all, I respect you as a woman. But I’m also deeply attracted to you in a way I haven’t felt with anyone else. I don’t think I can just pretend like these feelings aren’t there. But I will do what you ask of me. If you want me to try to forget about it…I will. I won’t pressure you. I know what’s at stake.”

Maybe it was the mother in me, but my inclination was always to do whatever it took to prevent the people I cared about from getting hurt.

“I think we have to at leasttryto control this,” I told him. “Before we know it, you’ll be gone again. That’s the reality, no matter how strong these feelings are right now.”

He said nothing as we stood there, staring into each other’s eyes. Despite what I’d just said, the energy in the room felt like it was about to combust. It felt likewewere about to combust.

I moved to walk past him, and the moment I met his gaze again, he stopped me, gripping my arm and pulling me close. He kissed me so hard that it felt like my lips were slowly burning. I savored his tongue, immediately recognizing the taste from our kiss last night. My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. And somehow, I knew there was no going back now.

Levi lifted me up as I wrapped my legs around his massive frame. Immediately I felt the heat of his erection pressing against me as he carried me out of the room as if I weighed nothing. I certainlyfeltweightless in his strong arms.

“Tell me to stop and I will,” he groaned over my lips.

Him saying that caused me to kiss him even harder, a silent message that the last thing I wanted to do was stop. I hadn’t even known how desperate I was for him until this moment, because it felt like Icouldn’tstop, even if I’d wanted to.

When we got to my room, he laid me down on the bed, took my bottom lip between his, and slowly released it. “I have never wanted anyone like I want you. I’m gonna say it one last time. You need to tell me to stop, or I won’t.” He lowered himself over me and placed a kiss on my lips, gentler than the last. “Last chance,” he whispered. “You want this?”

I lifted my hips, pressing my crotch into his erection. “Yes.” I nodded, pulling his face toward mine and kissing him hard as I raked my fingers through his thick mane of hair.

“Fuck, Presley. I don’t even care if we go to hell for this.”

The next thing I knew, he ran out of the room. At first I was alarmed, but then, about thirty seconds later, he returned holding a strip of condoms.

As Levi covered my neck in kisses, I felt myself throbbing. Not only had it been so long since I’d had a man over me like this, I’d never been more turned on and ready for anyone in my life. I was already so wet and could feel my arousal pooling between my legs.

Levi lifted my shirt before lowering his mouth over my breasts, taking each of my nipples into his mouth and sucking until it hurt so good.

“You taste fucking delicious, Presley. Even better than you smell, and that’s saying a lot. I want to devour you.”

“Please,” I begged.

Levi twirled his tongue over my nipples before slowly sliding it down the length of my abdomen.

He stopped short of my bikini line before taking off my shorts and panties. Once I was completely naked, Levi took a few moments to take me in.

“Fuck. Me,” he muttered. “You’re so freaking beautiful. I swear to God.” He shook his head slowly. “Spread your legs wide for me.”

I did as he said and watched as he unbuckled his belt, throwing it clumsily to the side. He slid his pants down and kicked them off.

Left only in his boxer briefs, he stopped short of taking them off, instead lowering his head and landing right between my legs. He got right into it, wasting no time before lapping at my clit as I bent my head back in ecstasy, screaming in pleasure as he hit all the right spots.

I yanked on his hair. “Levi…”

“I’m not done…” he teased, flicking his tongue over my clit harder, nearly bringing me to orgasm.

“Stop.” I moved his head back. “I almost came.”

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