Page 130
Theo’s face falls. Levi looks at him for a second, then sighs and takes out his wallet. At the counter, he notices me looking at a small stuffed giraffe.
“You want one too?”
“I was thinking for Fifi,” I say.
He glances at me, then at the giraffe, and puts it with the penguin without saying anything.
“That’s very sweet,” I tell him.
“It’s not sweet,” he says, not looking at me. “It’s strategy. She keeps pissing on me and I’m not allowed to retaliate, so we’re trying gifts.”
I shake my head, but I can’t stop myself from smiling at him.
By the time we leave, Theo is tired but happy, with the penguin tucked under his arm. We stop for burgers on the way home, and he spends the whole drive telling us his ranking of every animal he saw. The tiger is the winner.
Later that night, we watch a movie on Levi’s new couch. His living room is still mostly empty—just a couch, a TV, a coffee table, and almost nothing else—but more than he had before. Fifi is asleep in her bed. Theo is curled up against Levi’s side with his penguin, and I’m tucked under Levi’s other arm with my cheek on his chest.
On the screen, cartoon animals go on their own zoo adventure. Theo laughs at every joke. Levi looks down at him and says quietly, “You’re an easy audience, kid.”
“It’s nice,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” he says, so softly I almost miss it.
My heart gives a warm little ache.
When the movie ends, Theo’s fast asleep. Levi carefully sits up, lifts Theo with his good arm, and carries him down the hall. Theo mumbles something about penguins and presses his face into Levi’s shoulder.
I follow and stand in the doorway while Levi tucks the blanket around him, and places the penguin beside the pillow.
Then he steps out, closes the door most of the way, and takes my hand.
He leads me down the hall to his bedroom. I’ve been in the house many times, but never in his bedroom. It looks exactly like I expected: plain and simple. A big bed, a dresser, bare walls. No pictures. No extra things. Just what he needs.
He closes the door and locks it.
Then he’s on me.
He backs me against the wall, kissing me hard and deep, like he’s been desperate for it all day. His hand slides under my shirt, palming my breast, thumb brushing over my nipple. I moan softly into his mouth.
“Theo’s right down the hall,” he says against my lips. “You’re gonna have to stay real quiet while I fuck you.”
Before I can answer, he peels my shirt off and drops it. His fingers make quick work of my bra. He sits on the edge of the mattress and pulls me between his legs, then slowly tugs my jeans and underwear down my hips. I step out, heart racing as cool air touches my bare skin.
I reach for his shirt and ease it over his head. The sight of him hits me hard. His broad shoulders, powerful chest, hard-earned muscle.
He notices. A slow smirk curves his lips as he guides me onto the mattress. He follows, bracing on his good arm, his body hovering over mine.
We kiss slow and filthy, tongues sliding, breaths mixing. Then his mouth moves down, kissing along my neck, over my collarbone, until he closes his lips around one nipple. He sucks hard, just enough to make me bite my lip to stay quiet. He gives the other the same treatment before moving lower.
He settles between my thighs and his eyes darken at the sight of me. My hair has grown back in.
“That’s what I like,” he says, voice rough with approval. He leans in and kisses my pussy—open-mouthed and greedy.
His tongue drags slowly through me, tasting every inch, before he settles over my clit and sucks gently.
The steady, rhythmic suction quickly drives me out of my mind. I slap a hand over my mouth to stifle the moan trying to escape, breathing hard and fast through my nose. My thighs tremble around his head as wave after wave of intense pleasure crashes through me. I’m trying so hard to stay quiet, but the more he sucks, the wetter and more desperate I become.
Until I can’t hold it back.
