“Better open this door before your neighbors get a show,” I growl, biting the tender flesh where her neck meets her shoulder.
With a light laugh, she fumbles for her keys. After handing them to me, I unlock the door while still balancing her on my waist; then, we stumble inside her place like a couple of lovesick fools.
Setting her down, I unbutton her jeans then tug them away from her toned thighs, not caring that we’ve only made it to her damn entryway. I need her. Now. My fingers dig into her ass as I press our fronts together to let her feel what she does to me. Not anyone else. Her.
Resting my forehead against hers, I make sure I have her full attention. As her crystal blue eyes connect with mine, I tell her, “I love the shit out of you, Charlie.”
She smiles. “I love you too.” Then she reaches for the belt buckle on my jeans.
I grasp her wrists. “I mean it. I love you, Charlie Bannon.”
“I know!” she says, twisting out of my grip and diving back for my buckle.
With a deep laugh, I shove her up against the wall, grapple for her wrists a second time, tug them above her head, and grind into her. The result is like music to my ears––staggered breathing and a soft moan.
“Is this all you want from me?”
“Well no—”
“Then let me finish,” I tease.
With a huff, she rips her wrists out of my hold, crosses her arms, and looks up at me with that same stubborn expression I’ve grown to crave. “Fine. Finish.”
“I love you. I’m here with you. And it’ll always be you. You’re it for me. We clear?”
“We’ve already discussed this,” she starts, though I can see her insecurities shining back at me.
“I know. But I also know you let me off the hook too easily today. Like you always do.”
Her haughty exterior slowly vanishes to reveal Charlie. My Charlie.
“You’re perfect,” I continue, taking in her makeup-free face and mussed up hair.
“Levi—”
“You are, Charlie. You’re absolutely perfect for me. I want you to know that you’re worth fighting for. That you’re worth fighting over, and that I didn’t regret turning down the job even though I didn’t know if it would get me another chance with you. Yeah, it all worked out, but even if it hadn’t, if I got another chance with you, the sacrifice would’ve been worth it because you’re worth it. You’re worth the world, Charlie Bannon. I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
And I start now. By worshipping every inch of her skin the way she deserves.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Levi
Looking around my apartment, I notice how empty it seems now that most of my stuff has been packed away.
I dig my fingers into the back of my neck then venture farther into the apartment.
“Hey, Conner?” I call out. We’ve been avoiding each other like the plague ever since our confrontation, but I need to say something before I hand over my keys.
After a few seconds, I hear him reply, “Yeah?” The sound comes from behind the closed door of his bedroom.
Raising my fist, I knock. “Can I come in?”
Another few seconds tick by.
“Yeah.”
I open the door to see a few fresh boxes scattered on his floor. Sensing the question on the tip of my tongue, Conner explains, “I’m going home for a while too.”
“New Hampshire?”
“Yeah. Seems like there isn’t much of a reason for me to stick around anymore.”
Sucking my lips between my teeth, I breathe a sigh. “I screwed up.”
“Ya think?”
“I’m sorry, man.” My fists clench at my sides as I register how pathetic that sounds. A simple apology isn’t going to fix shit, but I still need to try. “I was an ass, and it was completely my fault. You didn’t deserve the shit I put you through, and you definitely didn’t deserve a fist to the face.”
With a sarcastic laugh, he shakes his head. “I may have kind of deserved that one.”
His admission threatens to make me smile, but I keep it at bay. I have too much I need to say right now. Clearing my throat, I press on. “I swear I didn’t have some master plan to steal Charlie away from you after you botched your presentation. I had no idea things were going to play out the way they did, but it’s no excuse. You got the short end of the stick, and that sure as hell wasn’t fair to you.”
The surprise on his face is clear as his eyes bulge. “You’re right. But you’re not the only one to blame. If I wanted the job, I should’ve fought harder for it. And if I wanted Charlie, I should’ve probably fought harder for her too.”
My mouth quirks. “Is it wrong to say I’m glad you didn’t?”
With a dark chuckle, he replies, “Ass.”
I join in, throwing my head back as I let out a laugh that seems to ease the tension in my chest. “I know, but at least I’m finally being honest now, right?”
“Do you need a gold star?” he asks, sarcastically.
I shrug. “Are you offering one?”
“No, but I do have a question.”
“What’s that?”
“Why’d you turn down the job?” he probes.
I have no idea how he knows I turned it down, but I don’t bother to ask. Hell, part of me feels like I deserve to be left in the dark for all the shit I pulled.
“I didn’t deserve it,” I answer simply.
“Yeah, you did.”
“I didn’t feel like it,” I admit. “Hell, I still don’t feel like it.”
“Levi, take the job. And take the girl.”
I don’t know how to tell him that I’ve already accepted both with my greedy hands. I’m a selfish bastard and couldn’t let either of them slip through my fingers a second time.
Sensing my hesitancy, he says, “You already have, haven’t you?”
“I’m sorry—”
“It’s all good,” he counters. “I mean it, Levi. You really do deserve them, and I don’t mean that in an asshole way. Hell, part of me feels like I was trying to step into your shoes. It wasn’t right, and I don’t think it was what I really wanted, either.”
“Still,” I argue. “I feel like shit.”
“Don’t. You deserve this,” he reiterates. “The whole package. And maybe one day, I’ll figure out what I really want too.”
“You sure? Even after everything I’ve done to you?”
“It wasn’t just you, man. I needed to learn how to take responsibility for my actions too.”
Slipping my hands into my front pockets, I let out a dry laugh. “Trust me. I know how that feels. So…are we good?”
“Yeah. We’re good. I’m happy for you guys.”
“Thanks, man. That means a lot to me. Especially after everything you did for me, it just…,” I clear my throat. “It means a lot.”
“Stop thinking I gave you a handout, Levi. You earned this shit.”
I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel like I earned anything, no matter how many hours I put into landing the final position or how many hours I spend groveling at Charlie’s feet. Regardless, I appreciate Conner’s compliment and wish I could repay him somehow.