Page 62 of They Will Fall

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The morning sun beams through the vaulted window of the room I’m in and it takes me a second to realize where I’m at. Turning my head to the left, I see Lev sitting up on the bed, his eyes on me.

“Sleep well?” he asks.

I scoot up until I’m sitting beside him. “Actually, I think I did. How about you?” The bags under his eyes answer my question, but I wait for his response anyway.

“Nah. Haven’t slept.”

I reach over and take his hand and he watches intently as he twirls his fingers around mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t stay up with you.”

His eyes bolt to mine. “Don’t apologize for sleeping. You’ve been through hell and need the rest.”

A lump lodges in my throat and I fight the tears that threaten to break free. I hate that he’s hurting. “So do you.” My voice is almost a whisper.

“I’m just glad you stayed with me. It’s been a while since I’ve had anyone care as much as you do.”

“Lev,” I say sternly as I turn my whole body toward him, “so many people care about you.”

“Oh yeah? Name a few.”

“Me, Ridge, Maddox…”

“And the list ends there. Face it, Trouble. I’ve got nobody. Which is fine. This is my life. It’s been this way for years.”

“Well,” I squeeze his hand tightly, “I’m not going anywhere and neither are Ridge and Maddox, so you’ve got us for life.”

The corner of his mouth twitches with a smile. “You mean that?”

“Hell yes, I do. We’re all in this together. For the long run.”

There’s a beat of silence before he looks at me and says, “I know I fucked things up—”

“Stop it,” I spit out. “Don’t even go there. We’ve all fucked up.”

“True. But I was going to say, I know I fucked things up, but I really like where we were headed before I did.”

His words pull at my heartstrings, eliciting a smile to my face. “I did, too.”

Lev leans in slowly and presses his lips to mine. It’s gentle and soft, and not at all like any other kiss I’ve shared with Lev.

My eyes close and I bring my hands around his head, cradling it in my palms so he can’t pull away. I want this feeling to last. The butterflies in my stomach. The tingles shooting through my core.

Lev turns more toward me then lowers his body down on mine, blanketing me with his warmth. One hand glides up my side beneath my shirt and goosebumps break out on my skin.

My insides quiver in anticipation of what’s to come, and God, I hope something more is coming. Then I feel his erection pressing into my thigh and I’m certain he wants this is as much as I do.

The timing is terrible, but maybe this is exactly what we both need. We deserve to feel love and happiness despite the hell around us. Isn’t that who we are to each other? The calm in the storm, the breath of fresh air after a wave sweeps you under. And there’s nothing I want more than to breathe him in until he’s as much a piece of me as my heart is.

I run my hand down his back then move it around his waist, dipping my fingers beneath the waistband of his boxers. My heart is hammering in my chest as I slide lower, feeling the silky smoothness of his head and the cool steel of that piercing I love so damn much. The feeling alone is enough to have me panting already.

Lev lifts his head, bright blue eyes peering down on me. “I need you, Trouble.”

I respond by wrapping my hand around his girth, stroking in slow, subtle motions and flicking his piercing with my thumb when I twist. He lifts his hips, giving me room to work.

His mouth trails lingering kisses down my neck and jawline. A wave of heat floods through my body as his hot breath touches my skin.

I keep stroking him, feeling the metal of his piercing graze against my palm. I forgot how big Lev is, and he is really fucking big. My pussy clenches at the thought of him being inside me. It’s both terrifying and exciting at the same time.

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