Page 55 of This Baby Business
Levi pressed his forehead to hers. “You still with me?”
Not sure about that, I simply nodded and fought to catch my breath. Feeling my heart rate come down from cardiac-event levels, I forced in an even breath. Levi took his weight off me but didn’t move from his position braced above me. Still inside me. He grazed my jaw before he kissed my lips again and again.
“I like kissing you.”
He moved off me, rolled and tucked me beside him. I lay in his arms, eyes wide-open, wondering if this was normal for him. Did he always wreck women like this, or was I just particularly weak?
When I shifted in his arms to get up, his grip tightened, and he grazed my neck with his lips.
“Not yet.”
I relaxed into his arms, a smile tugging at my lips. “You’re a cuddler, Levi. Color me shocked.”
“What? I don’t look like a cuddler?” He smiled against my forehead.
No. He didn’t. More like the guy who would take what he wanted and let himself out the back door. I knew I wasn’t being fair to label Levi. Just because what little I knew of his history with women was less than monk-like didn’t mean he’d never been tender. Loving. He’d proved that tonight.
“Hmm.” I let my fingers graze down his pecs to his abs and back again, gratified when his muscles tightened in response. “I appreciate you not ordering me around.”
“You weren’t ready.” He chuckled softly. “But the night is still young.”
He was right about that. I didn’t need to limit fun to the hours before midnight. No, I was in charge of my own life and had all night with Levi if I wanted it. I’d sleep tomorrow.
CHAPTER22
Carly
Iwoke tomorning light filtering through the bedroom window and blinked. It was morning, but I still didn’t want to get up. I’d been having such a great dream…
Who knew orders could be such a turn-on? But when they involved my pleasure, I wasn’t going to argue with the man. I snuggled closer to the star and reason behind my erotic dream, only to find a pillow in his place. No Levi. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, one thing became clear. I’d overslept. In Levi’s bed! My plans, hatched sometime during the wee hours of the night, had been to wake just before dawn broke. I’d write him a sweet note, something to the effect of “thanks for the memories” but much better than that. Oh, I’d come up with the right words. Just give me a few hours and a deadline. After composing the perfect note, I’d planned to quietly slip next door so when he woke up he could miss me.
Not…notthis.
Levi was missing from his own bed. What did that mean? He wanted me to go? A note—which I certainly hoped was his grocery list—sat on the nightstand, tucked partially under the baby monitor. I sat up, tucking the sheets around my naked body, and read the note.
Went for a run with Digger. Be back soon. —Levi
So…damn.He’d outwitted me in the note department. Kept it short. That was certainly one way to go. Wouldn’t have been my choice, because he’d left out details. Should I wait for him here? Go next door and try again for the “miss-me” approach?
Was there coffee?
All the important stuff. Missing. I climbed out of bed and picked up my jeans and shirt off the floor. My panties had to be stuck somewhere in the covers, but after struggling with sheets and blankets for several minutes, I found nothing. Fine. More underwear was waiting for me next door. It wouldn’t kill me to go commando.
But then I heard the front door open. Levi was back. And I was naked and still here, since he’d ruined my grand exit. He owed me a grand exit. And something told me that morning sex would be off-the-charts hot with Levi. Might as well not waste my presence here. One more time with him ought to do it and then I’d get this ridiculous crush out of my system for good.
I wrapped the top sheet around me, smoothed my hair into place and stepped outside the bedroom door. There, I turned my backside in his direction and dropped the sheet, bracing one arm in the doorframe. À la Marilyn Monroe, I tossed my hair back and gave him a full moon.
“I’m ready for more orders, Airman!”
“Carly?”
I froze because that wasnotLevi’s voice. I quickly picked up the sheet and turned to see Cassie, a huge smile plastered on her face as she held Grace and covered the baby’s eyes.
“Sorry!”
I’d traumatized the poor, motherless child. Great job, nanny of the year.
I backtracked, tripped over the sheet, and hit my head on the bedroom door frame. “I’ll be right with you.”
