By the end of the treatment, I think Levi was just as exhausted as I was. It took a toll on him in ways that I’ll probably never understand. I’ve tried several times to look at the situation through the eyes of my loved ones, but I can’t . . . it’s just different. I know that if the roles were reversed, it would be incredibly hard and I would be devastated. But right now, I can’t fully grasp the depth of what they’re feeling.

  Even after we finished at the treatment center, Levi didn’t leave my side for the rest of the afternoon. He cooked me dinner, washed the dishes and then tucked me in bed, where he climbed right in behind me without saying a word. It was the first time in I-don’t-know-how-many days that I fell asleep without worrying or crying. Being wrapped up in Levi’s arms was so incredibly peaceful, and it was right then that I knew something without a shadow of a doubt. If I didn’t make it through this—if this horrible disease did take me away from this wonderful man—then I would at least die happy.

  “WHAT THE HELL?” LUKE growls when Levi saunters down the hall in nothing but a faded pair of his favorite blue jeans. “Did you stay the night again?”

  “Luke,” I scold, giving him my best stink eye. My lungs tighten and I cough several times, covering my mouth with my arm.

  “You okay?” Luke’s face instantly transforms from annoyance to concern, and I wave him off.

  “I’m fine.”

  “They’re horny humpers,” Mia chimes in. I slap her on the arm and she giggles. “What?” she asks innocently. “It’s true. Why do you think I’ve been sleeping on Benny’s couch the past several weeks?”

  “And you fucking snore. God, do you snore.” Mia shoots Benny a death glare and he shrugs. “You do. It’s very unladylike, Princess,” he says. Mia rolls her eyes and pours herself a cup of coffee. Levi bends down and kisses my nose before walking over to make himself a cup.

  My life feels so full right now. The four most important people in my world are all packed into a tiny kitchen, and despite the words that are being thrown around, I can feel the love. It’s a feeling I wish I could bottle up and store on a shelf for a rainy day.

  Levi brings his cup and sits down next to me. His hand finds my thigh under the table and he rubs it gently several times before settling it above my knee. I look over at him, smiling from behind my mug, and he winks. Luke makes a gagging noise, and I nearly spit my coffee across the table at his childish reaction. But it’s all fun and games—I know he’s happy for me and that he completely approves of Levi.

  I feel like life has been flying by at warp speed ever since the day Levi showed up at my chemotherapy treatment. I’ve been working a ton, Levi and I have been volunteering regularly at the Senior Center, and there are some days that I feel like I barely have time to think, let alone remember what I’m going through.

  Levi even managed to check another thing off my bucket list. He said he’s not happy about it now that he knows the meaning behind it, but he’s promised to keep working on it anyway.

  “Bring a towel,” he whispers into the phone and I smile, wondering who is standing near him that he feels like he has to whisper.

  “Why do I need a towel?”

  “Why do you have to ask so many damn questions?” he fires back, causing me to laugh.

  “Fine, I’ll bring a towel,” I submit, knowing it’ll be easier that way.

  “Good girl,” he answers. “I’ll see you in an hour.” Levi shows up fifteen minutes early, and I run out of my front door when I see his truck pull into the driveway. He hops out to open my door for me and swats me on the ass as he hoists me into my seat.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You have to wait and see,” he says with a smirk, shutting my door and jogging around the front of the truck to climb in the driver’s seat.

  Twenty minutes later, we pull up to the old rock quarry where we used to go swimming after football games. “Levi?” He looks over at me, a shit-eating grin splitting his face. “What are we doing here?”

  “Don’t you trust me, Laney?” He hops out of the truck and comes around to open my door. When my feet are planted firmly on the ground, he reaches for the bottom of my Henley and pulls it over my head.

  “Levi!” I shout, trying to wiggle my shirt back on. “What the heck are you doing?” Frantically, I look around to see if anyone is watching, which is stupid because we are literally in the middle of nowhere.

  “Get naked, Laney.” His demanding voice sends shivers up my spine, but I stand tall, determined to fight him on this.

  “I will not get naked. It’s freaking cold out here. If you want to have sex, we can do it in your truck.” I cross my arms over my chest, covering up my white bra because I’m certain that my nipple is standing at attention.

  “It’s sixty degrees and you’ll be fine . . . a little cold water won’t hurt you.”

  “Cold water?” I screech, backing away from him. “You are out of your mind if you think I’m stepping foot in that quarry.”

  “Laney Jacobs, you have ten seconds to get naked or—so help me God—I will throw you in that water myself.” He’s not joking. I can tell by the look on his face, but I still jut out my chin and straighten my spine. There is no way I’m dipping any part of my body in there.

  “One.” He leans up against his truck and watches me, but I don’t move. “Two.” He cocks an eyebrow, and I fail miserably when I attempt to cock one back. “Three.” I move slowly around the other side of his truck, but he sticks his hand in his pocket and clicks the automatic lock button, thwarting my attempt to seek shelter.

  “Shit,” I hiss.

  “Four.” Levi walks toward me, stopping when we’re toe to toe. His fingers land on the button of my jeans and he pops it open, then lowers the zipper. “Five.” His blue eyes are smoldering.

  “I am not taking my pants off.” My hands disobey my words because I push my jeans over my hips and let them pool on the ground below. Levi’s eyes flash with desire as he takes in my white lace panties. I take several steps backward.

  “Six.” He stalks toward me, nudging me toward the water. I kick off my shoes and rip off my socks. “Seven.”

  “Damn it, Levi. Stop counting. This isn’t funny.” My feet hit the edge of the water and I squeal at how cold it is. “It’s freezing in there, Levi. You’re nuts if you think—”

  “Eight.” He grips the collar of his shirt, lifting it over his head. My eyes land on his toned stomach and my mouth instantly waters. His fingers slide open the button of his pants then lower his zipper before he slips out of his jeans, kicking them to the side. I grumble, but tuck my thumbs into the sides of my panties and shove them down my legs. Levi’s eyes rake hungrily over my nearly naked body and he bites on his lower lip, sucking it into his mouth. I want to suck on that lip.

  “Nine,” he growls, sliding his boxers off. His thick cock springs free and I squeeze my thighs together to suppress the growing need that it is settling between my legs. I flick the front clasp of my bra and let it fall to the ground with a quiet thud. When Levi says “ten,” I squeal and take off running in the opposite direction.

  “What are you thinking about?” Levi’s hot breath against my ear startles me and I jump, my hand flying to my chest.

  “Crap. You scared me.”

  “Please tell me you were thinking about the same thing I was,” he whispers, his teeth nipping my earlobe before he pulls back.

  “I was thinking about the rock quarry,” I whisper back. His eyes sparkle with mischief and he cocks a brow. I smile at the cute look on his face and watch his eyes widen with desire as his mind drifts, presumably to the night in question.

  “What were you thinking about?” I ask, poking a finger into his side. He grabs my hand and brings it to his mouth, nipping at the end of my finger.

  “Last night.”

  “Fucking hell!” Luke’s chair screeches against the tile, nearly toppling over, when he pushes out of it. “Add this to the category of things that I do not want to know, see or hear.” He stalks out of the room and Mia clears her throat.

  “Well, I don’t know about you,” she says, nudging Benny in the arm, “but I found it kind of hot.”

  “Wanna go to the rock quarry?” Benny asks with a smirk. Her jaw drops and she looks at me with a see-this-is-what-I-was-telling-you-about look. Then she turns to Benny, her shoulders back and spine straight.

  “Not a chance in hell.” Mia spins around quickly, flicking her hair over her shoulder, and follows in the direction Luke just left.

  “That woman is more stubborn than a damn mule.” Benny shakes his head and trails after Mia.

  “What’s going on between those two?” Levi asks, picking me up and settling me on his lap.

  “I think they’re throwing rocks.” I giggle when Levi brings his lips to my neck and sucks at the soft spot under my ear.

  “Throwing rocks?” he asks, looking up at me in confusion.

  “Yeah. You know when you’re in elementary school and you pick on the kid you have a crush on,” I clarify, lifting my chin and tapping a finger to my neck, gesturing for him to put his mouth back on me.

  “Gotcha.” His soft lips sprinkle kisses up my neck, across my jaw and land firmly on my mouth. His tongue pushes between my lips for a searing kiss, and when he pulls back, my mouth follows his, begging for more. “Meet me at Blue in one hour.” Levi lifts me off his lap, sits me in the chair and takes off down the hall.

  “What? No.” I scurry after him. “It’s my day off. I don’t want to go in on my day off.” By the time I make it to my room, Levi has already pulled his shirt on and is tying his shoes.

  “Okay. I guess you misunderstood because I wasn’t asking you to meet me there, I was telling you.”

  I huff, my hands planted firmly on my hips. “You know your alpha tendencies aren’t nearly as cute as they used to be.”

  Levi lets out a throaty laugh and then stands up, grips the back of my head and pulls me in for one last kiss.

  “You love it, babe. I guarantee that if I dip my fingers into your panties, you’d be fucking soaked.” He ends that declaration with a swat on the butt and then he’s out the door. I fall back onto the bed just as Mia comes barreling into the room. She plops down next to me and stretches her arms above her.

  “What are you doing today?” she asks.

  “Well, according to Levi, I’m going to Blue.” My chest heaves on the last word and I break into a coughing fit. When I stop coughing, I roll my head in Mia’s direction to find her staring at me.

  “What’s with the cough?”

  “Nothing. It’s just a tickle in my throat. I’ll be fine, keep going.” She purses her lips at me but I raise my eyebrows, urging her to continue. She sighs and grins.

  “You and Levi are so damn cute together.” Her smile fades, and she looks at me with a longing in her eyes that I’ve never seen before. “I’m a little jealous. I want what you have.”

  “You’ll get there, Mia.” My hand wraps around hers and she laces our fingers together.

  “I hope you’re right.” A soft smile plays at her lips. “I want a family. I want babies.” Mia looks back over at me. “Don’t you want babies?”

  “Of course I do. And you will have babies, Mia. They’ll be perfect and beautiful, just like their mama.” I smack a kiss on her cheek and push up from the bed as Mia props herself up on her elbows. “Now, as much as I’d like to sit here and talk babies, I’ve got to get cleaned up or I’ll never make it to Blue on time. And you know how Levi is about punctuality.”

  “By all means”—she waves a hand in the air—“go clean your dirty self.” I pull my t-shirt off and fling it at Mia, smacking her in the face. “Take it all off!” she calls after me, and I laugh all the way to the bathroom.

  Forty-five minutes later, I’m pulling up to Blue to find that the parking lot is surprisingly empty. There are several vehicles in front of Flame, but not a single car in front of Blue. Glancing down at my watch, I look at the time. Noon. Hmmm . . . that’s odd. What in the world is Levi up to?

  Throwing my car in park, I open the door and slide out. When I get to the entrance, I push the door but it doesn’t budge. Weird. Pulling my phone out of my purse, I shoot Levi a quick text.

  Me: you have ten seconds to open this door or I’m breaking in ;)

  I mentally count to seven when the door flies open and a strong arm shoots out, hooking around my waist and hauling me inside. Levi gathers me in close. “I missed you.” He nudges my head to the side and his lips descend on my neck as he walks us backward. He’s nipping and sucking, and it’s driving me absolutely wild. My back bumps into the bar and Levi’s fingers find the button of my pants. Before I’m able to comprehend what he’s doing, he’s divested me of both my jeans and panties.

  “Levi—”

  “No one’s here, babe.” He grips my hips firmly and hoists me up onto the cool wood. He plants his ass firmly on a stool, putting himself at eye level with my lady parts. I can’t find it in me to be uncomfortable because the look on Levi’s face is turning me inside out. His lips are parted, eyes clouded, and when I spread my legs, he sucks in a sharp breath through his gritted teeth. His large hands make their way up my thighs, and just when they get to where I want them most, he stops and turns his face up to mine. “Take your shirt off.”

  Holy shit. The intensity of his voice leaves me no option but to submit and obey . . . which I do. One by one, my fingers unbutton my blouse, and Levi’s eyes swirl with lust as the front of my body becomes exposed. I shrug my shoulders and the flimsy material pools around my bottom on the bar. Then my fingers move to the clasp of my bra, and with my eyes locked firmly on his, I flick it open and toss it to the side. My body is now on full display and I’m finding it extremely erotic that Levi is still fully dressed. His hands slide under my thighs and he tugs me forward until my butt is nearly hanging off the edge of the bar. His fingers skate down my calves and then he props each foot on a barstool on either side of him.

  “Gorgeous.” His rough voice glides over my skin, infusing me with a need that I didn’t even know existed. My body is humming with desire, and if he doesn’t touch me soon, I may actually combust. Callused hands slowly make their way up my thighs, and when two fingers thrust inside of me, my head drops back between my shoulders, a soft moan falling from my lips. “Look at me, Laney.” My head is heavy, but I manage to lift it. His fingers are pumping inside of me and with each pass he twists them, causing me to jerk off the bar. “How many men have you been with, Laney?”

  “Wh-what?” I stammer, too engrossed in what his magical fingers are doing to my body to actually have a conversation.

  “I asked how many men you’ve been with.” The pads of his fingers hit a swollen spot deep inside of me and my eyes drift shut.

  “Oh, God.” Small bolts of electricity start sparking low in my spine when his thumb hits my clit. “Levi—” His name is an urgent plea, and just when his fingers should once again plunge inside of me, he completely removes his hands and my eyes jolt open. My chest is heaving and I lick a slow path along my bottom lip. “What’s wrong?” I pant, tempted to put my foot down and demand that he give me back his fingers.

  “I asked you a question. I expect an answer.” His voice is steady and strong, but I can see the uncertainty floating in his eyes. Whatever the question was, my answer matters.

  “What was the question?” I ask, slightly out of breath.

  “How many men have you been with?” His jaw clenches, his eyes bouncing between mine. I’ve been waiting for him to ask me this—or more importantly, I’ve been waiting to give him this answer.

  “I’ve only been with one man,” I state with a smile. His eyes light up and he tilts his head to the side.

  “You’ve only been with one man since me? Wow.” He rubs a hand over his shaven head.

  “No,” I correct him, shaking my head. “I’ve only been with one man . . . ever.”

  “WHAT?” HE STANDS UP between my legs and places a hand on each side of my neck. “You haven’t been with another man . . . ever?” I wish he didn’t sound so shocked. If I could somehow show him my soul and the imprint that he’s made on it, then maybe he would understand why. I shake my head and he takes a deep breath, blowing it out, nice and slow.

  “Just me,” he clarifies. “You’ve only been with me?” The look of hope and longing in his eyes is almost too much to handle. I nod my head and Levi tugs my face in close to his and drops his forehead to mine. His thumbs glide along my jaw, and he’s holding me and looking at me like I’m a fragile doll. The moment is intimate so I don’t move because I’m trying memorize every last touch and sound and smell and—

  “I love you, Laney,” he chokes out, completely catching me by surprise.

  “What?” I gasp, fisting my hand in the front of his shirt. A pained look overcomes his face and his lips find mine. This kiss isn’t heated and passionate, and it isn’t sweet and innocent. It’s the kiss of a man and woman who are vowing to love each other; it’s the kiss of two souls who have come together after a lifetime of searching. It’s a kiss to end all other kisses.

  Levi’s lips are molded to mine, our tongues sliding and twirling and tasting, and tears are falling from my eyes at a rapid pace. “I love you so much,” he mumbles in between kisses. His words are infused with passion, and I feel like my heart literally just lifted from my chest and laid itself in his lap. It may as well have because he owns it.