Levi Read online

  "You’re incredible," I blurt out. Never have I met someone so selfless and devoted to his child. I'm in awe of him right now. "Most people wouldn't be that selfless. You're definitely the superhero in our dynamic duo."

  "So I'm Batman. Please tell me I can be Batman?"

  "You're Batman and I'll be a barely dressed female version of Robin."

  "Yes!" he shouts dramatically. "I've always wanted to be a superhero."

  "In my book you already are. Your love and dedication to Brody is...everything."

  "I loved him from the moment he was born. I loved his mother. She was my best friend and we would have done anything for each other. Taking on the role of his father was the only thing that felt right and I've never regretted that decision."

  He spends the next hour telling me more about his life with his son. He even explains in more detail why he decided to abstain from sex.

  When Brody was three he walked in to Levi's bedroom and the woman Levi slept with the night before still hadn't left. Brody had questions–questions Levi was embarrassed answering but normal for a three year old boy who never met his mother to ask. Brody wondered if the mystery girl in his father's bed was going to be his mommy. That was the moment Levi decided that he was done sleeping around. It wasn't fair to Brody and he was not going to have sex until he was in a serious, committed relationship and considering marriage.

  The more I learn the more I realize they've had to overcome so many obstacles over the years and Levi has always figured it out. It makes the difficulties in my life seem obsolete. My parents may have been absent, but I was always provided for. My health has been perfect and I've always had enough money to pay the bills.

  "Did Brody start playing baseball because of you?"

  "I taught him how to play catch but I never dreamed he'd love the game as much as he does. It gives us another thing to bond over, not that we have a hard time bonding. Most of the time we're attached at the hip."

  Every time he answers one of my questions, I have ten new questions to ask him. I want to know everything I can about him and his son.

  "What grade is Brody in school?"

  "He's transitioning into third."

  "Is it hard for him to make friends because he's deaf? Do kids make fun of him?"

  "He goes to a school for the deaf. The only thing that's hard for him about school is that it's year round, so in the summer when he sees public school kids playing outside on the way to school, it bums him out because he wants to be playing, too. They get a little break in the summer, but it's nothing close to the ten weeks public school kids get."

  "That would make me sad, too."

  "You must be so bored listening to my life."

  "No." I gasp. "I love hearing about your life. I like you, Levi." I want to say more, but I don't want to scare him off. Levi is an amazing dad by choice, and my father was a horrible one. It makes me care for him more than I did before. For the first time in my life I'm feeling things I never felt before. I'm falling in love.

  "I like you, too."

  We have a moment. You know that moment. It's that brief moment in time where it feels like we're the only two people in the world. He leans in. I lean in, and we're about to share a tender kiss...

  But then the moment is gone as soon as Brody comes skipping back into the room.

  "I thought you were sleeping." Levi looks annoyed but hides it with a teasing smile.

  Brody signs something to his dad and Levi laughs. "You finished the book already? You just picked it out yesterday."

  He signs again and Levi answers, "No more reading tonight. I'll be right there to tuck you in. We can go back to the library tomorrow."

  Brody waves to me and then runs back down the hallway and out of sight. "I should tuck him in or he'll never get to sleep. Do you want to stick around for some coffee, or maybe we could not watch a movie on the couch?"

  I lick my lips and glare at him. "I should get going before I tempt you into doing something you don't want to do with Brody in the house."

  I'm prepared to do the right thing but then he cups my cheek and his lips crash down on mine passionately. Our mouths mold together as our tongues come out to explore and when the kiss is over I'm out of breath. His lips move to my ear and he whispers huskily, "I've changed my mind. You should stay the night."

  He kisses my neck and I groan, wanting to stay but knowing he'll regret it in the morning. He's just opened up to me, bringing out emotions he's probably had buried for a while. That's how I know he's not thinking straight right now and I don't want to take advantage of the situation and have him second-guessing us in the morning.

  "I want to. I really do–"

  "Then stay," he mumbles against my skin.

  Using the last bit of willpower I have I grab his shoulders and push him away. "I can't. You'll thank me in the morning. Now go tuck your son in and I'll let myself out."

  After a moment of hesitation he agrees with me. He kisses me chastely before brushing his lips along mine in several more lingering kisses. With every kiss my lips get more needy and he sets my body ablaze. We have to stop this, but I can't seem to pull away this time. His hand slips between us and then he's pressed between my legs. The pressure is exactly what I crave. It would be so easy to just stay the night. Brody wouldn't hear us. There's a good chance we wouldn't get caught.

  Even as I think the words I know I'm smart enough to do the right thing. I pull away from his hold and push him down the hallway. When he disappears into Brody's room I collect my things and get out of there fast. I'm too comfortable in his home and I don't want to give myself any more time to change my mind and stay. I'm looking for this to be a lasting relationship. I don't want to do anything that could jeopardize that.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Levi

  Going in to work happy is a drastic change for me, but I feel an extra skip in my step ever since starting things up with Kendall. She fills a void I didn't even know was missing until I opened myself up to her and allowed her to be a part of my life. She's fun to be around. She makes me feel alive, and it helps that Brody likes her.

  A part of me wishes I wouldn't have closed myself off for so long now that I see a relationship can work, but a much larger part of me is happy I stayed closed off. I'm convinced Kendall is the only woman who could handle the responsibilities I have in my life and still give me all of the things I need. She's emotionally supportive and the sex is off the charts. Fuck, does she give me what I need in bed. She's insatiable...and I love it.

  Tonight, I'm surprising her in the office with a dinner of burgers, fries, and chocolate shakes. My life doesn't really allow me the time to take her out to dinner so a dinner date in the office is the next best thing. I know she'll appreciate the gesture.

  I'm not really sure where this thing between us will go. It's been a long time since I've had to consider anything other than what Brody needs. The possibility of where a relationship with Kendall could lead is exciting.

  I knock on the door to the office and she opens it, looking like a model on a billboard in Time Square. I want to drop the food on the ground and eat her instead. She's in a nude blouse and teal pencil skirt. Her long legs lead into a nude stiletto and I want to feel those heels dig into my ass while I fuck her against the wall. She always looks incredible and I can't remember a time that we've been alone and I haven't wanted to rip her clothes off.

  She leans in and brushes her lips along my chin. "Hey, handsome."

  "Are you busy?"

  "I just finished working on Xaria's schedule for next week. I have a few more schedules to do but I always have time for you."

  "Good. I thought we could have dinner together."

  She looks down at the paper bag filled with food and bouquet of wildflowers I'm juggling in one hand and then the shakes in my other. Licking her lips she replies, "I'd love to have dinner with you."

  I bring the food over to her desk and then steal Noah's chair away from his desk so I can si
t next to my girl. She takes the food out, correctly sorting out what food is hers and what is mine, and then she takes a picture of her burger and fries with her phone and her thumbs start typing away.

  "The food is meant for consumption, not to be posted all over Instagram."

  "I need to text Brody what I'm eating. It's only fair since he sent me a picture of his tacos earlier."

  "Is that weird that he texts you pictures of his food?" I ask as she sets down her phone. I hand her the wildflowers I picked for her on my way to work and kiss her on the cheek. "These are for you." I take a huge bite out of my burger and let the juices get absorbed by my taste buds.

  She smiles sweetly back at me. "Thank you."

  She replaces the flowers I picked her last week with the new flowers and I take a huge bite out of my burger. "And no, it's not weird. I send him pictures of my food, too. He also texted me the grade on his vocab test yesterday, a picture of him and Colton goofing around before practice last week, and a spider crawling up his bedroom wall before he killed it. Oh, and do you know about Brittany from school? I guess he's had a crush on her since last year so I told him I wanted to see a picture and he took a picture of the back of her head. I mean, how does that help me? I can't tell what she looks like from the back of her head. I told him he needs to get sneaky with his camera skills."

  She eats a few fries before taking a sip of her shake and I can't help gawking at her in surprise. I had no idea Brody and her were talking this much. I like that they're close, but the closer they get the harder this will be on Brody if things don't work out.

  "I didn't know Brody told you about Brittany. He hasn't even told Colton about Brittany."

  "That's because he thinks Colton will make fun of him. Colton doesn't like girls yet. He only cares about baseball. Speaking of baseball, I'm supposed to Google some guy named Curtis Pride. Apparently, he's the best baseball player who ever lived."

  I smile at her, amused by how little she knows the game but also at how cute it is that she wants to look up a player because of Brody. "Brody thinks he's the best, but he's not even close. Don’t get me wrong; the guy is a great ballplayer. Anyone who makes it to the pros is amazing, but Brody loves him because he's deaf. They share that connection. Curtis Pride played in the outfield but now he coaches at Gallaudet. Brody hopes he's still coaching there when he gets to college so that he can play under him."

  "Wow, that's really interesting. I get why he looks up to him."

  "Yeah, and now that I've told you about him you don't have to look him up. I just saved you some time."

  "Oh, I'm still researching him. If he means that much to Brody I want to learn as much about him as I can."

  "That's sweet, Kendall, but you don't have to."

  "Hey." She puts what's left of her burger down and places her palm on top of my hand. With her other hand she reaches up to cup my cheek, and when my eyes land on hers she has my full attention. "I know I don't have to. I want to. I really like Brody. He's a great kid. When will you get that I never do anything I don't want to do? If I'm talking to Brody or texting Brody or looking something up because Brody asked me to, it's because I genuinely want to do it. He's important to me. You're important to me."

  I love this woman. Just thinking those words should scare me, but they don't.

  Abandoning all thoughts of Brody and our food, I kiss her. I fucking kiss her with all of the love and passion that is overwhelming me in this moment. She kisses me back and it's rushed. She's expressing the same urgent need I feel and neither of us have the patience to slow down. Both of us need the other to satiate the desire that's building at record speed.

  I grab her waist and pull her on top of me. She straddles my hips and I push her down on me so she can feel how hard my dick is. She moves against me, trying to feel my cock just where she needs it but her skirt is too restraining.

  With no fluidity I lift her skirt up to her waist and she unbuckles my belt. When she unzips my pants I move my mouth to her neck and taste her skin as she frees my cock from the prison of cotton and polyester. I trail my hand down her body, feeling the curves of her tits and her smooth stomach before sliding my right hand between her legs. I almost come when my fingers meet her slit and I feel how wet she is for me–her lips and clit swollen with desire. My thumb moves to her clit and I play with her, circling the aroused nub as she groans in pleasure. She holds on to my shoulders as her nails dig into my back and she arches her back in pleasure. I kiss down her neck and to the front of her chest, but it's not enough. I want to kiss her everywhere.

  She circles her hips against my hand and her rhythm becomes messy and frantic, as she chases a release she so desperately needs. She moves a hand from my shoulder and fists my cock, sliding her palm up and down my length. Her urgency lacks finesse and it feels so good. Knowing she's frisky at work and acting it out with me, not caring that anyone could walk in on us having sex, brings the excitement to a higher level. I won't last long and I want to come buried in her warmth.

  I abandon her clit, slide her thong to the side, and I thrust inside her.

  She inhales deeply and her body trembles as I fill her completely, and then we fuck. I push inside her over and over again, and she meets me with each punishing thrust. Both of her hands are back on my shoulders and she buries her head in my neck, screaming out each time I fill her cunt. Her walls tighten around me and it feels incredible. My cock swells, begging me to come inside her, but I hold off. She needs to come first. She should always come first.

  Her ear is near my mouth so I grunt out commands, making sure to tease her skin with my lips. "That's it, baby. Fuck me. Fuck me until you come all over my dick. I want to feel how wet you get."

  She bites my neck. I pull her hair. We're brutal and wild, and it's the best fucking sex of my life. I pull her hair again until her head tilts back and her lips are in front of me. Then I kiss her. I fucking devour her lips, claiming her mouth and worshiping her with my tongue. It's simple and we have no restraints or rules–both of us trusting the other completely. When she screams out her release and comes all over my dick I'm in heaven. I come for her, too–filling her with my seed as I pump out my release.

  When we're both finished, we stay embraced like this for a while. I love being inside her, even if we're not fucking. Every once in a while, I kiss her head, her shoulder, basically any body part my lips can reach. She stays snuggled on top of me, not wanting to leave the little bit of paradise we've created on top of this chair.

  The phone rings several times but neither of us answer. If we answer, we'll have to leave our little bubble and go back to work. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and when my cell rings the evening comes to a halt. It's Noah. I have to pick up.

  "Yeah, boss."

  "I've given you several breaks because you're my friend and Kendall is my wife's best friend, but what the fuck am I paying you for, Levi? You're my best man. Security runs great when you're doing your job. I can't have you wasting company time fucking Kendall in the office across the street."

  I glance over at the camera in the corner of the room and I know the other guys in security caught the whole show. In the heat of the moment we forgot to cover the camera again. Kendall watches me with interest so I point over to the camera and she laughs.

  "You're right, Noah. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

  Kendall disagrees and yells loud enough for Noah to hear, "Yes, it will!"

  Ignoring her I continue to apologize. "I'll be down in a few minutes and I promise to focus solely on work."

  "Sounds good, man. See you in a few. And tell Kendall I need her to email me Gino's monthly invoice. He's behind on payment so until he pays up he can't come back into the club."

  "Will do, boss." I hang up just as Kendall stands up, faces the camera, and salutes it with her middle finger. When she turns back around my eyes appraise her just fucked look. Her shirt is a mess, her skirt is now covering her ass but still bunched up a lot higher than it
should be, and I spot a few drops of my cum on her inner thigh.

  Fuck, that's hot.

  Sliding two fingers along her thigh I wipe up my cum and lift my fingers up to her mouth to show her. "You should probably clean yourself up before going back to work."

  She scrunches up her nose and sticks out her tongue. Then she surprises me by taking my fingers and sucking them in her mouth. When she releases my fingers she whispers seductively, "Mmmm. Yummy."

  I kiss her quickly and bite down on her lower lip. "If we weren't working right now I'd fuck that mouth to teach you a lesson for teasing me."

  "Maybe after work then. I want to feel your cum as it slides down my throat."

  Fuck, this girl is such a tease.

  I press down on my erection that never seems to go away when I'm around her, and then I fasten my pants back up so I can get back to the club. "You want to come over tonight?" I ask her as I grab my shake and take a sip.

  "I thought sleepovers were off-limits."

  "I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I changed my mind. Things are starting to get serious and I want to give us a real try. Besides, Brody never actually believed you were just my friend."

  "I know." She winks. "He told me."

  Shaking my head in disbelief I ask, "So what do you say? Want to come home with me after work?"

  "I'd really like that."

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Kendall

  Brody: r u watching Yankees play?

  Me: I'm trying to but I'm also studying. ASL is hard.

  I watch the dots move in the gray bubble. He's working on a response but it usually takes him several minutes to respond each time I text. He told me once how frustrating texting is for him with a hearing person but I think he does really well. When I was eight I was struggling to read and my writing was illegible. He reads at a fifth grade level and his writing skills are advanced even for a hearing person–even if he does text without spelling out all the words.