Page 47 of Havoc
His thick shoulders fill out his T-shirt. I’ve tried not to watch him from the corner of my eye all night, but it’s no use. Levi is the one habit I could never kick. And with this constant tension lately, I’d be lying to myself if I said I don’t want to release some of it.
The sight of him makes my knees unsteady. His voice sets my heart off-kilter. And this close, I can’t think straight.
“Nothing is infinite. You said that, remember?” He tips my chin up and stares into my eyes like there’s still something in them worth looking at. “I didn’t fully understand until you were gone because I never thought I’d actually lose you. But then I did. That moment ended. When those versions of us were gone, I understood.”
Versions of us I wish we could get back in this moment. Versions of us who made promises on innocent tongues. Before we learned everything wasn’t in our control.
“Nothing is infinite,” he repeats, his expression softening. “Do you remember what I said to you after that?”
“You said,except us.”
“Exactly.”
“We aren’t those kids, Levi. I’m not that girl anymore.”
“You’re right.” He brushes his thumb over my chin. “You’re so much more.”
I try to shake my head, but his grip tightens, stopping me.
“You want to know why I got the tattoo, Aimee? Because after you disappeared, everything changed. Through war and blood and life. I saw the beginning and end of a hundred different things, but all that I cared about was that you were gone. And even if I understood why you might have left while I was enlisted, I couldn’t get you out of my head. Out of my heart.You were right, everything ends. Everything is temporary. Except myfeelings for you. Nothing is infiniteexcept us. I meant that. And it got me through.”
Tears sting my eyes as I fight to blink them away.
“Even if you leave me again—which you will because I already see it in your beautiful fucking face—I’ll remember this too. This second chance to set things right and to remind you that no matter how far you run, you’ll always be with me.”
“I don’t have anything good in me left, Levi. I don’t have anything left to give.” I wet my lips, tasting the tear I didn’t realize had fallen.
“I know you hate when I tell you you’re wrong, but that’s just not true. There’s so much good in you. Beauty in your heart and fire in your soul. No one can take that, regardless of what you think. And if you don’t believe me, that’s fine. I’ll believe it for both of us.”
“Stubborn asshole.” I choke out a sad laugh.
“Firecracker.” He steps closer.
Leather and blackberry and broken childhood promises. Except now those teenage fantasies are within reach. A man who had my heart even when I told him he didn’t. A man I refused to even kiss because I knew it would be the end of me for anyone else. A man I’m so damn tired of resisting.
“Well, if we’re baring our souls…” I bite the corner of my lip and reach for the hem of my tank top, peeling it up.
With my other hand, I tug my jeans down just enough to show the only ink that decorates my entire body. While every other mark on my skin represents pain and scars,this coin-sized patch of ink is the only piece of myself that reminds me of the good.
Levi’s dark eyes turn hungry when he takes in the hourglass tattoo low on my hip. It’s more delicate than his. The soft, curved lines swoop and swirl, unlike the sharp edges of his design.
“I know I said I was going to get it to remember to appreciate moments before they pass. But in the end, I got it for you.”
When Levi’s eyes meet mine, the enforcer slips away. He’s just a man I met at a better time in my life. A man who understood me without us needing to have anything in common.
If there’s such a thing as soulmates, that’s what Levi is to me. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised the universe found a way to put us back together.
Levi steps closer, and my senses are flooded with the scent of leather. The promise of hope. With a man I think about at the darkest times because he’s always been my safe space.
“Reagan said she and Legacy are sleeping at the clubhouse tonight.” I swallow hard, shifting closer. “Where does that leave you?”
After all, Levi has been sleeping in their room since they are usually in the neighborhood.
“I don’t know, Aimee. Where does that leave me?”
The tension is so thick I’m going to snap. A razor-sharp line sits between us. I can barely breathe without tasting the whiskey and blackberries.
I could find somewhere else to sleep for the night and give Levi his room back. But I doubt he’d let me. And if I kicked him out of here, I’m sure he would be a gentleman and find somewhere else to go.
