He suddenly had trouble focusing on anything past killing the men who had touched her.
But he stayed still. She was cupping his face with her soft hands. And the main reason he didn’t bolt from the bed and go after her attackers that instant was because…he didn’t want to leave her.
He hadn’t had enough of her. He craved her. He wanted to spend one whole day with her before he let the shit of the world take back over.
“Let’s get out of here,” he croaked.
He didn’t need to say it twice.
Sara launched from the bed with a quick smile, her laughter floating in the air, and Levi followed her into the shower.
Much later, they emerged and dressed, he in his clothes from last night and she in blue jeans and a silky top with sneakers.
“Go out that way.” She shoved him toward the balcony doors.
“Why?” He caught the edge of the door and gazed at her.
Her lips pouted. “Because I promised Mandy I wouldn’t bring home strange men.”
“Strange?” he huffed with a chuckle. “Technically, you didn’t bring me home.” He felt the need to point out, but she was pushing him again and he caved.
Launching over the railing, Levi dropped to the ground below and gave her a cocky salute. She laughed from above and disappeared inside.
Several minutes later, she emerged from the house and he caught her close, kissed her lips, and linked their hands.
They ended up at the beach with him wearing his tux from last night and her in blue jeans.
They made it in time to watch the tail end of the sunrise shooting orange across the Pacific Ocean.
He carried his shoes in one hand and her sneakers in the other. She stopped to roll up the bottoms of his tux pants before folding her own jean bottoms. From there, she ran to the ocean to wander in the waves.
Tucking her shoes beneath one arm, he caught her hand and linked their fingers.
“Do you have family?” Sara asked out of the blue.
“I do,” he nodded. “Parents and siblings.”
She cocked her head, her eyes alight with curiosity, and while he didn’t want to share about his family, he didn’t want to see that light extinguished. He wasn’t one for sharing, but for her, he made an exception.
“I’m not what my parents want me to be.”
“Oh?” She looked him up and down. “Too much muscle?”
He shook his head with a grin when she giggled.
“Among other things,” he said.
She tugged away from his hand, and he reluctantly released her. The slight wind molded the silky cream-colored blouse to her breasts and curvy form, and her long hair whipped around her head, flowing over her shoulders.
She was a vision, and he couldn’t look away.
“What other things?” She spun in the small crest of water that slid up the sandy surface.
“A bodyguard.”
Something in her eyes flashed, and he wondered about it before she turned away and threw her arms up high. The sun glinted off her dark hair, pulling red fire from some of the strands, and he steeled himself to keep from reaching for her.
“And your siblings?”