Page 94 of Cuffed By Love

“Oh, I will.” Levi laughs, and my heart leaps when the motorbike roars to life, and I feel the vibrations between my legs when he revs the engine. Oh boy.

As promised, we went slow until I got used to it, and then he gradually sped up, and before I knew it, we were soaring down the empty roads. I was terrified to my very core, but at the same time, it so exhilarating, and he was right about me wanting him to go faster.

“You okay back there, babe?” I hear him call out and nod in response. I can’t hear, but I feel the vibrations of his low chuckle against my chest where I’m leant against him. “Not complaining, but you think you can loosen your arms a little bit so I can breathe?”

I laugh, loosening my arms and feel him suck in a deep breath. I close my eyes and, just as I was getting into the bike, he pulls over. I open my eyes and look around. “Where are we?” I ask once Levi pulls off my helmet. The smell of different types of food wafts through the air. I can hear the sound of music. Is that Gypsy Kings? The warm breeze blows my hair back, cooling my damp skin where I had perspired from wearing the helmet in this sweltering heat.

“Verano de amor,” Levi whispers in my ear. I frown, I don’t remember much of my Spanish from school, but I could make out a little.

“Summer of Love?” I repeat warily, and he nods, grinning.

“Yes, it’s a Spanish festival that happens every year, each year it’s a different country. This year it’s London.”

I follow Levi through the crowd of people. I take in my surroundings, food carts of different types of Spanish food and drinks, Tiki torches illuminating the area. You feel the buzz of the atmosphere the moment you walk in. Spanish music playing by a live band, people dancing and having a great time. I look up at Levi when he smiles warmly down at me. “Levi, this place is…”

“Magical.” He finishes for me, and his eyes sweep around the crowd before they find mine again, crinkling at the sides a little. “Kind of like that first night we spent together in Thailand.”

A warmth fills my insides at the memory of us in Thailand. Carefree, having fun and passionate. I return his smile and nod. “Shall we, bebesita?” He asks, holding out his hand to me. I look down at it and, without hesitation, slide my hand into his. Our fingers entwine, and he squeezes my hand as we walk through the crowd. “Hungry?” I nod, watching couples dancing together as we pass by them.

When I said before, Levi is all about living life to the fullest; this is what I meant. He doesn’t take himself too seriously; he’s laid back and genuine, he knows how to have fun. Devin was a lot like that, too, before he left. My Devin. I shake off the thoughts of him and focus my attention on Levi.

We spend the first hour enjoying some Spanish cuisine. Chicken Paella was heavenly. I gorged on that without an ounce of shame, and then we fed each other tapas. “Close your eyes.” Levi smiles. I narrow my eyes at him in scrutiny. “Close your eyes.” He laughs, leaning closer and pressing his forehead to mine. I sigh and close my eyes. I feel something brush my lips, and my instincts tell me to drawback, but I keep still. “Eat it.”

I thought it was his lips at first, but then I realised he was just trying to feed me something. “What is it?”

“You’ll like it. Open up.” Levi insists. I stick the tip of my tongue out and lick whatever it is first to investigate. Okay, it doesn’t taste bad. Levi cracks up laughing as I take whatever it was into my mouth and chew gingerly. I couldn’t work out what it was. It was salty and sweet and soft in texture.

I open my eyes and see he’s almost crying with laughter. “What? What did you feed me?!” I demand, throwing a napkin at him.

“Octopus.” He cackles when I gawp at him in disbelief and swallow a piece of octopus. I pick up my strawberry daiquiri to wash it down with a shudder. “You liked it. It tastes good, admit it.”

“I hate you,” I grumble with a pout and throw a pistachio nut at him when he continues to laugh at me. “That’s the last time I trust you blindly, you jerk.”

“You need to open your mind and experience new things, precious. Like right now, you’re going to dance with me.” I look up at him when he stands and holds his hand out to me.

“A gentleman would ask not demand it.” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest and smirking at him wickedly.

Levi leans in close, towering over me; his dark eyes bore into mine. “Would a gentleman be thinking about fingering you under this table for the last ten minutes? You love that I’m not a gentleman.” My smirk slowly fades, and an uncontrollable heat rises up my neck filling my face with blood until I resembled an overcooked tomato. I stare up at him, stunned. “Dance with me.”

I take his hand and slide off my stool, following him into the crowd of people as the band starts to play Volare by the Gypsy Kings. Levi pulls me up against him, wrapping his arms around me, and we sway together to the song. Falling into a rhythm quickly. I laugh when he spins me out and tugs me back, dips me down. I peer up at him breathless, losing myself in his soft brown eyes. Everything around us evaporates, leaving the two of us, our heavy breathing and the melodious strum of the Spanish guitar. Levi’s long fingers curl at the nape of my neck, the warmth seeping into my skin.

I watch his lips make a slow descent on mine. Our eyes close just as our lips meet. I’ve kissed him more times than I can count, but each time makes me feel more nervous than the last. My God, he’s such a good kisser. I’m talking knee-weakening, head-spinning kind of good.

My wandering fingers make their way to his jaw. The coarseness of his beard against my fingers sends a prickle thrumming through me from head to toe when I recall the feel of it against my neck, my thigh, my lips. Levi kisses with such deliberation, unhurried but urgent all the same time. The way his tongue caresses mine with such attentiveness makes me want to come apart for him there and then, in front of everyone, without a care in the world who is watching.

Levi King—the Gypsy King from down under is the calmness my heart and soul yearn for. But why do I still feel like something is amiss?

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