“I’m sure I will.” Levi paused for a moment, then shifted his tone to something more cautious. “How did their date go?”
“According to my dad’s text, ‘A fun night was had by all.’ So, I’d say well. They’re going to a movie tomorrow.” I tried to sound upbeat, but maybe failed because Levi made a speculative noise.
“And how do you feel about that?”
“Good.” I tightened my hands on the steering wheel again before forcing myself to relax. “I mean it. I do. Having you around helps, both in terms of giving me perspective and helping me move on. Dad’s not the only one who was in rut.”
“Well, if there’s one thing I’m good at it, it’s rut-busting.” Levi’s laugh was a welcome distraction from my complicated emotions.
“Brat.”
“You like it.” He used a singsong tone for the tease as he bounced in his seat.
“I love it.” I might love him too, but like with my living together idea, it was too soon for the words. Not too soon for the feeling, but it felt fragile, like one of Mom’s rose bushes right before it bloomed. Someday, though. Someday I’d tell him, and I wouldn’t wait for him to go first either.
“Oh, I like this place already,” Levi crowed as I turned into the restaurant’s parking lot.
Olympia was in a converted older house on a street mixed with apartments, single-family dwellings, and small businesses. The building was painted in cheerful shades of blue and cream, and simply seeing the sign was enough to bring back decades of memories. But unlike a few months ago, the past didn’t make me ache. Rather, it was nice, bringing Levi here, making a new memory to add to my collection.
After I parked, we went inside, with Levi stopping to admire all the gingerbread trim on the building and noting the little garden off to one side. Although the place was fairly full, we didn’t have to wait long for a table.
“This was an awesome pick,” Levi said midway through our entrées. There hadn’t been a single weird silence, and we’d easily arrived at a plan to share several dishes. We were even seated in a nook that I’d been in before, but the memories continued to feel as cozy as the place itself. Mom would have liked Levi, that much I knew.
“I had no idea dating could be this easy.” I laughed, but I was also serious.
“I know. Or fun. Not that I have a ton of comparison, but we didn’t even disagree over the appetizer order.”
“We should do this again.” I waggled my eyebrows at him, simply to get another of those gorgeous, dimple-filled smiles.
“We should.” Levi’s expression went from playful to seductive. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I pretended not to know, even as I used my eyes to silently list off all the things I was going to do to him back at my place.
“Like you’re the big, bad Daddy and I’m dessert.”
“Maybe you are.” Sitting back in my chair, I watched him squirm in a way that had me ready for the check. Funny how easily the Daddy role came to me now. “You prancing around in your present might be better than a pastry.”
“Good.” Levi’s cheeks were bright pink, but his eyes were still mischievous. “But I want baklava too.”
“To go,” I said firmly as I signaled the waiter.
“Eager?” Laughing, Levi accepted the boxes the waiter brought over for our leftovers.
“Always.” I meant it to come out as a sexy promise, but there was a deeper tenderness welling up in my chest.
Someday, I was going to take Levi home for good. But I could wait for that day, for the right moment, because I trusted our path now. One way or another, we were meant to be.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Levi
“Do I look pretty?” I asked as I emerged from Joe’s master bathroom.
While he’d put away the leftovers and secured the house for the night, I’d taken a lightning-fast shower so I could show off the new panties. And to better enact the plans I had for the evening. But Joe didn’t know that part yet.
“You know you do, brat.” He lounged on the bed, window fan softly whirring across the room.
The heat wave had broken, and it was warm and balmy but not unbearable. Next year, I’d talk him into getting a window A/C unit. Speaking of talking him into things, Joe had stripped down to his boxers. Willingly, and yeah it was hot, but still, it hadn’t taken any begging from me.
Gradually, he was getting more comfortable with being naked around me, and I liked to think maybe he was starting to believe me that he was hot as fuck and that I loved every thick inch of him. Of course, I hadn’t used the L-word with him yet. Too soon and too close to our fight. I didn’t think the sentiment would scare him off, but I also didn’t want him doubting my sincerity.
So, not yet.
But soon.
At the moment, we had the distraction of my new red panties which were thin, silky, and high-cut. They showed off the groove between my thigh and pelvis and skimmed the curve of my ass while managing to barely constrain my hard cock. I gave a little spin in front of the big bed.
Joe’s room was easily my current favorite spot on earth—the cool earth tones, chunky furniture which was sturdy and functional, and the guy himself right there on the bed.
“Nice. Very nice.” Cock tenting his boxers, Joe shifted on the bed as I finished my little dance.
I scampered onto the bed, straddling him and making sure the silk of my panties dragged against his thighs. His cock was hard underneath me, and he growled softly when I raked my fingers through his chest hair.
“You were very good tonight.” Groping my ass, he pulled me more firmly against him. Every thick inch, indeed. “But also naughty, teasing Daddy. Now, should I punish or reward you? Hmm…”
“Do I get a say?” Time for my plan. I grinned at him.
“Always.” His eyes were strangely serious, like he meant way more than simply the current scene.
Chest going warm, I looped my arms around his neck and kissed him. I’d meant it to be a soft acknowledgment of the emotion zinging between us, but the second his tongue met mine, the kiss transformed into a hot and dirty grind that almost distracted me from my big idea.
Almost.
Pulling away from the kiss, I rested my forehead against him. “I want to fuck.”
“Levi…” Joe shifted so he could peer deep into my eyes.
“I know you’re going to say how we don’t have to—”
“We don’t.” Joe frowned and his grip on my hips tightened. “I’m not coddling you or lying when I say it’s nice and fun and feels good, but it’s not my all-time favorite sex act. I’m not in any hurry.”
I smiled because we were on a similar page there. I liked that he wasn’t all ass-obsessed like a lot of tops seemed to be. We’d fooled around a little with fingers, but ass play always felt like a bonus, sprinkles on an already awesome cookie. But I was curious, had been curious but too nervous for years, and now I simply wanted to know what fucking was like.
“Maybe it won’t be my—or our—favorite thing either, but I still want to try. There’s no one else I’d rather have my first time with.”