Читать книгу Rom-Com Collection - Kristan Higgins - Страница 29

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE WHOLE SEDUCTION thing...easier said than done.

They’d been home for eighteen minutes, and the only one seeing any action thus far was Blue, who’d attached himself to Levi’s leg the second they came through the door. Luckily, she’d asked Eleanor Raines from downstairs to walk the beastie; Ellie fell over herself to worship him on a number of occasions, so Blue was all set for the night. Good thing the dog was here, because conversation wasn’t exactly flying.

Levi was sitting on her couch, having successfully ended the humping session (well, Blue’s humping session) and was now scratching the dog’s ears as her pet stared at him worshipfully, tennis ball in mouth. Faith herself was leaning against the counter, drinking a glass of ice water.

Maybe she’d been wrong about Levi’s intentions. Was it possible, she wondered, that Levi had no idea she wanted him to, ah, do her? If he did, how come he was just sitting there? How exactly did people proceed? Should she just announce it? God, she was nervous! Heart zipping away, hands shaking slightly, stomach in knots. Where was that warm melting sensation from before? Hmm?

What to do, what to do. She and Jeremy had had dozens of conversations on the topic before doing the deed, but obviously, theirs wasn’t the typical male/female dynamic.

The facts were that Levi had kissed her. Twice. Three times, if she counted back a decade or so. And there was the neck stroking. Also, his sister had called nine minutes ago, and he’d let it go to voice mail.

Okay. Faith was gonna go for it. Sort of. In a way.

“Let’s get this party started, shall we?” someone said, and oh, hemorrhoid, it was her very own mouth that had formed those ridiculous words.

Levi gave her a long look. “Really?”

“Shut up, Levi,” she said, her face hot. “You want to get it on or what? Oh, God, I sound like such a slut. You know what? You can go. No hard feelings. America’s Next Top Model is having a marathon, anyway.”

Blue barked, wagging happily. It was his favorite show.

Levi got up. Faith’s heart rate tripled. Oh, yes, yes indeed, he was coming over. To her, or to the door? Oh, lordy, to her. There was a very faint, possibly imagined, smile playing around his mouth, and his eyes had that sleepy, incredibly hot look. He took the glass out of her hand and set it on the counter. Just the brush of his fingers against hers made her knees tingle and weaken. She inhaled the smell of his soap—Ivory, maybe? Who knew? He smelled good. Focus, Faith, focus. A heterosexual male is standing in front of you. Do something about that.

She didn’t. She appeared to be frozen. Well, there was some dried cuticle that could use picking. How about that? That’d be fun. Easier than this. She really didn’t know what she was doing, man-wise. Maybe America’s Next Top Model would be the best option, after all.

Levi put his hands on the counter, trapping her without touching. He was maybe an inch away from her, all bristling testosterone and heat. Faith swallowed, the noise gunshot loud.

“I’d rather stay,” he murmured.

Then he closed the tiny space between them, his body a hard, warm shock, and his mouth found hers.

And it would’ve been great, except, you know, sex was looming.

She tried pursing her lips, and crap, that didn’t feel right. What was she supposed to do, exactly?

“Relax,” Levi said, and she realized he’d stopped kissing her, and she was standing, clenched as tightly as new rope.

“Right,” she said, licking her lips. Unclench, unclench. She loosened her fists. “Okay. I’m trying. Go ahead. Kiss me again.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“Yes. Please. Please kiss me.” Great. Now she was begging.

His eyes were half closed now, those beautiful green eyes, and he leaned in, his hard, muscled arms pulling her against him. Then his lips were against hers, more insistent this time, and Faith tried to kiss him back, but she couldn’t quite breathe.

He sighed and pulled back again. “What’s the problem here, Faith?”

“I don’t have a problem,” she snapped. “Maybe you have the problem. Maybe you’re not as great a kisser as you think. Or maybe I’m worried you’ll hate yourself in the morning. I mean, you’ve kissed me twice now with absolutely no follow-up, so maybe you’re the one with the problem. Jeez.”

He stared. Blue flopped on the floor, belly up. The clock ticked. Futtocks, this was awkward!

“How many men have you slept with?” Levi asked.

Busted. “Uh, counting you?” she said, feeling her chest practically burst into flame with a blush.

His forehead crinkled with that incredulous look she’d seen so many times in their high school years. “We haven’t slept together, Faith.”

“No, I know that. You have a point. Can’t argue with that.” She closed her eyes briefly. America’s Next Top Model was looking better and better.

“So not counting me, how many?”

Faith nodded as if considering the question, glancing at something safer than Levi’s face. The fridge, or the bowl of green apples that had looked so pretty in the market but had tasted so sour in reality. Should really throw those out. “Let’s see,” she said. “Um...one.”

Her heart seemed to curl in on itself in embarrassment.

He didn’t blink. Even his eyelashes seemed disdainful.

“One,” he said.

“Yep.”

“You’ve only slept with Jeremy?”

“You are correct, sir.” Her face was hot enough to fry an egg. Not that she had anything to be embarrassed about. Chastity was a good thing. Being fastidious about one’s choices in life—an excellent quality.

This night was not going as planned.

“Look,” she said, perhaps more sharply than she meant. “Since Jeremy, I just never met anyone who... I mean, it’s not like I didn’t— There were a couple guys who...” She took a breath and forced herself to look at Levi directly, who was waiting, that look still on his face. “I didn’t want to sleep with someone just for the sake of it,” she finished.

Words that would make a man run. Especially someone like Levi, who seemed like the type to absolutely sleep with someone just for the sake of it.

The truth of the matter was, Faith had wanted to be in love first. For eight of the past eleven years, she’d only ever imagined sleeping with one man, after all. Sex was far too intimate to do with someone she didn’t love. Gay or not, Jeremy had loved her and, God knew, she’d loved him back.

She wasn’t in love with Levi. And Levi certainly wasn’t in love with her.

This was ridiculous. Of all the men she might pick, Levi was not a likely candidate for husband/father of her adorable children. A) he barely liked her. And B)...well, who knew what B was. Hot or not (well, he was definitely hot), he was probably not the guy to—

He reached up and cupped her cheek with one hand and studied her, his expression unreadable—eyebrows drawn, the slight, omnipresent frown on his face. Faith swallowed, her throat dry.

“Do you want to sleep with me, Faith?”

The question took her by surprise. His voice was low and gentle, and Faith felt a tug low in her belly. “If you don’t mind,” she whispered. He smiled the slightest bit, then ran his thumb over her lower lip, and she drew in a shaky breath. Then he pulled out the clip that held her hair up, causing it to tumble down in a sweep. Slowly, almost carefully, Levi bent his head and kissed her neck, his arms going around her, and, oh, mercy, his mouth was warm and gentle, and a rush of molten gold seemed to flow through her limbs, heavy and electric. Her bones seemed to soften, and her head tipped back, her breath suddenly ragged.

Her hands didn’t know what to do. Levi took one in his and kissed her palm, then flattened her hand against his chest so she could feel the slow, hard thud of his heartbeat. And this time, when his mouth touched hers again...this time it was right. His hands moved through her hair, then down her back, pulling her against him, and, oh, he was as solid as granite, utterly dangerous and absolutely safe. Her mouth opened in a sigh, and he took advantage, tasting her, and the hot golden feeling was stronger now, pulsing hard. Her hands slid against his ribs, feeling the play of muscle against skin, and his kiss became deeper, more insistent, hotter. Faith’s knees loosened dangerously, a little moan escaping her throat.

Then Levi pulled back, and it took Faith a minute to open her eyes. Her breathing was ragged. So was his. His eyes...bedroom eyes. That was the term.

“You sure you want to sleep with me?” she said, her voice breathy.

He smoothed some hair away from her face. “I’m sure.”

She bit her lip. “Okay, then. Take me to bed.”

“I was thinking against the wall.”

“Good God!” she blurted. The golden heat surged hot, hard and heavy. “Okay, fine, whatever you think. You’re the expert here.”

His smile was slow, and it made the throbbing hotter, stronger. Then he bent and picked her up so that her legs wrapped around him of their own accord, and Levi Cooper did what he said he was going to do.

* * *

THEY DID END UP IN BED, and bed was good, Levi thought. The wall had gone well until Faith’s dog kept dropping his ratty old tennis ball at their feet, and she started to laugh. Besides, given that Faith had never been with a straight guy, he wanted to give her the whole experience, as it were. She was worth exploring, her body lush and soft, all pink and cream, and she made the most gratifying little noises, and had done a fair bit of exploring herself, her hands sliding over him, her mouth soft and sweet.

And when they were done, and her eyes were wide and her cheeks flushed and her skin damp with sweat, he rolled on his back and pulled her against him, a fierce sense of...something...swelled in his chest.

Even she was quiet. “So, was this, um...pretty typical?” she asked eventually.

No. “Pretty much,” he answered, his fingers playing in her hair. Now why’d you say that, dumb ass? his brain scolded.

Because he didn’t want too much too soon. That was all. He was being careful, and careful was smart.

The dog decided it was bedtime, too, and jumped up, draping himself over their feet. “Do you mind him?” Faith asked.

“He’s fine.”

She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. “Do you need to go?”

He blinked. “Kicking me out?”

“No. I just...I didn’t know if you wanted to spend the night. If you do, I have to take off my mascara and hide my, uh, undergarment.”

“I’ve seen your undergarment. I’ve also seen combat armor that looks more comfortable.”

“Is this your pillow talk?”

“Is this yours?”

“Don’t crinkle your forehead at me, Levi. I’m new to the game here.”

He felt a smile threaten. “You’re pretty good for a rookie.”

“Shush.” Here came the blush. He turned and pressed a kiss on her shoulder. Her blush deepened.

“You’re pretty and soft and you smell like cake. How’s that?” he asked.

She smiled a little. “Cake?”

“Yes. Edible.”

That flustered her. She pressed her lips together and looked away, still a little spooked around him. “So, are you staying?”

“Do you want me to?”

Her gaze flickered to his and away again. “Okay. If you want to.”

He could’ve claimed ten things, nine of them true, that would’ve gotten him home. He was on call. He had paperwork. Emails to answer. A grant to finish. He could take a cruise through Manningsport, just to let the good citizens know he was out there. He probably should’ve used any one of those because there was sex, and then there was spending the night, and this was way too early to spend the night.

“Sure,” he said.

“You really want to stay?”

“Yes. Now be quiet and go to sleep.”

She looked at him another second, unconvinced, and he felt a pang of remorse. He picked up a strand of her hair and gave it a gentle tug, then pulled her head back down to his shoulder.

“Levi?”

Women. Always with the talking. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for doing me.”

He laughed. “You’re welcome. Did you have fun?”

“What do you think?”

“You made a lot of noise. That’s generally a good sign.”

She raised her head to look at him, her coppery hair falling half over her face. “Well, well, well. Look at that. Levi Cooper, smiling.”

And sure enough, it seemed he was.

Then she kissed him, hesitantly, sweetly, then less hesitantly, and nobody went to sleep for a long while.

Except the dog.