While Levi was gone, Sarah finished cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast and watched a few shows on TV, keeping an eye on the time since she was scheduled to work tonight and needed to leave in a few hours. If Levi didnât return soon, she was going to have to figure out where the nearest bus stop was so she wasnât late for her shift. He might have insisted that she call him if she needed anything, but she had no idea what errands he was out doing or how important they were, and she didnât want to be an inconvenience.
Sheâd spent years making it on her own and figuring out ways to improvise in less-than-ideal situations. Lately, her life had become such an upheaval of events, one right after the after, and she was just trying to push through the chaos like she always did. That was one thing she was good at, putting one foot in front of the other despite whatever circumstances or obstacles were set in front of her. And ever since losing her parents, sheâd encountered a lot of stumbling blocks, and endured a wealth of heartache, too.
Sarah curled her legs beneath her on Leviâs soft couch and released a weary sigh. Not because she was physically exhausted, but emotionally she felt utterly wrung out. She was so tired of struggling every single day, of making wrong choices that led to even more misery. The horrible situation with Dylan being her latest bad decision, all because sheâd let down her guard and believed the promises heâd made. Or rather, the lies heâd told her.
And here she was again, falling back into that same familiar pattern with Levi. Yet, even as that thought entered her mind, she had no doubt that he was a man of his word. In the past week alone, heâd proven himself in a multitude of ways, protecting her and keeping her safe when she once again had nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to. Heâd asked nothing in return, and no red flags waved in her face. And, if she had to admit the truth, there always were red flags. No, there was no comparing Levi to any of the guys in her past whoâd taken advantage of her.
She trusted Levi implicitly, and it scared her just how hard and fast she was falling for him, even as she tried to keep her emotions out of the equation, which was becoming more and more difficult with every passing day. Heck, sheâd been fighting her attraction to him since the first day heâd walked into the convenience store and flirted with her. Having spent time with him outside of work, and after everything theyâd shared in the past twenty-four hours, she couldnât deny her feelings for him were intensifying quickly.
He was the kindest, most caring and honorable man sheâd ever met despite his own damaged past, and even though he was helping her right now and seemed willing to let her stay here with him as long as she needed, sheâd learned from experience that nothing this good could last forever. It never did. Something always happened to remind her that she wasnât worthy of being loved, which connected to another deep fear of hers, that she didnât deserve to be happy, not when sheâd been the only one to survive the fire that had killed her entire family. Even after all these years, the guilt and grief still had the ability to consume her and fill her with overwhelming sadness.
The sound of someone entering the house from the garage pulled her out of her dismal thoughts. She glanced down the hall just as Levi walked into the kitchen carrying a flat cardboard box and a plastic grocery sack. She moved off the couch to join him, inhaling the delicious, savory scent of the pizza heâd brought home with him, a treat she hadnât enjoyed in way too long. Her mouth watered when he opened the lid and she saw the pepperoni, mushrooms, and gooey cheese toppings.
She took down two plates, realizing how comfortable she already was in Leviâs kitchen. In his home.
, her subconscious taunted, and she quickly squashed the thought before it could depress her.
She handed him one of the plates and took a slice of the pizza. âWhy is it that Iâm always eating when Iâm around you?â
âIâm just contributing to those extra pounds you need to gain,â he said, reminding her of their conversation this morning and where he preferred those curvesâher hips and butt. âAnd I figured you hadnât had anything for lunch, so this should hold us through the night so we donât have to worry about dinner.â
She was so used to not eating on a regular schedule that skipping meals happened all the time. âIâll definitely have a full belly when I go to work tonight,â she said happily.
He looked at her for a long moment as if he wanted to say something, but instead he glanced away and served himself a few pieces of the savory pie. They both leaned against the counter near one another, content to eat their pizza right there in the kitchen.
After a few bites, she broke the easy silence that had settled between them. âDid you get all your errands done?â
âYes.â He held his plate with one hand and reached into the front pocket of his jeans with the other. Withdrawing a small wad of bills, he handed it to her. âThis is yours.â
Tentatively, she took the money, completely confused. âMine?â She shook her head and frowned, trying to wrap her mind around how he could have gotten the stolen money back. âWhere did you get it?â
âItâs not the money that was missing from your room,â he said, dispelling that notion. âBut I did stop by the motelâs office to report the break-in and get you a refund on the rest of your weekâs payment since youâre not staying there any longer.â
She stared at him in disbelief. âIâm shocked they gave it back to you.â
He shrugged, as if it werenât a big deal. âThe guy needed a little motivation to hand over the cash, and I gave it to him.â
Setting the money aside, she grinned in amusement, certain she knew what the motivating factor had been. âYou flashed your badge and played the big, bad cop, didnât you?â
He chuckled unapologetically. âI might have.â
âWell, thank you,â she said sincerely. âI appreciate it.â It wasnât much money in the scheme of things, certainly not as much as had been stolen, but every dollar made a difference to her and her future.
They finished their pizza, and even though she got the impression that other things were on Leviâs mind based on his contemplative expression, he didnât share whatever had him distracted. She helped him wrap up the leftovers in tin foil and put them in the refrigerator. While he took the cardboard box outside to the trash, she set their plates in the dishwasher and wiped down the area, enjoying the domestic chores.
The plastic sack heâd brought in with him earlier was at the far end of the counter, and she grabbed the bag and reached inside to put away whatever heâd bought. She pulled out a black box of Magnum condoms just as she heard Levi walk back into the kitchen.
She glanced up at him with wide eyes and he gave her a sexy grin.
âWhatâs the matter?â he asked, humor lacing his tone as he approached her. âToo presumptuous of me?â
After what had happened this morning between themâin bed and in the shower, she didnât blame him for purchasing the protection. With her staying here under the same roof as him, they both knew that sex was inevitable.
But she raised a brow and couldnât resist teasing him a bit. âPresumptuous because you bought the condoms or because you got the Magnum size?â
His laugh was low and wicked as he pinned her against the counter purposefully, his eyes blazing with heat and desire as he looked down at her parted lips. âSweetheart, you had your hand wrapped around my hard dick this morning, and as much of it as you could handle in your mouth. Maybe you need a reminder of what youâre dealing with?â
The question was more like a salacious dare, and her body responded with a rush of moisture between her thighs. âYeah, maybe I do.â
He dipped his head so his warm breath touched the shell of her ear. âThen letâs get you with the length and width of my dick so thereâs no doubt in your mind about the size.â
Grabbing her hand, he pressed her palm against the fly of his jeans and curled her fingers around the substantial erection already forming. âAnd since your hand and mouth are having a hard time remembering the exact dimensions of my cock, letâs see how it measures up in your tight pussy.â
The manâs mouth was so filthy, his words so obscene, and it made her hot and wet as hell. She wanted everything he was offering, except the timing couldnât be more wrong. âWe canât,â she managed, her disappointment clear in her voice. âI have to leave for work soon.â
The lust in his gaze cooled a few degrees, enough for her to see the uncompromising glint in his eyes as he looked directly into hers. âYouâre not going in tonight.â
She stiffened against him. What the heck was he talking about? âOf course I am.â
âNo, youâre not,â he reiterated, his expression unflinching. âI made a call to the store manager and told him that you quit.â
She gasped, shock rendering her momentarily speechless as she absorbed what heâd just said. She knew he hated where she worked, but she couldnât believe heâd do something so rash that directly affected her livelihood. âLevi, I that job.â Panic immediately settled in, and she tried to move away from him.
He grasped her hips, keeping her right where she was. âCalm down, sweetheart,â he said in a placating tone. âI promise, you have a job. A new one where youâll be safe and you donât have to worry about some prick pointing a gun at your head again. Youâll even make more money than you do at the store.â
Her head was spinning as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. âI donât understand.â
He smiled, though she didnât miss the cautious look in his eyes as he continued to gauge her reaction. âMy brother Clay is hiring you to work at his bar as a cocktail waitress. He pays all his employees way above minimum wage, plus you take home any tips that you make. And heâll give you as many hours as you want or need, and you start night.â
Completely overwhelmed, she stared up at him as the realization of what heâd done sank in. What heâd done . It was such a thoughtful and kind gesture, and it meant so much to her that it was difficult to hold back the tears threatening to emerge. âLeviââ
He pressed a finger to her lips, cutting her off. âPlease donât be mad,â he said in a rush, the look in his gaze so caring it made her heart hurt. âI know I should have asked you first, but I didnât want to give you the chance to argue or say no. I canât stand the thought of you working at that store after what happened to you.â
His intentions were so good and pure, and she wasnât used to anyone being so selfless on her behalf. âIâm not upset,â she said, swallowing back the tightness gathering in her throat. âActually, Iâm very grateful. Thank you.â
He exhaled a deep breath, his relief so profound that the tension in his body eased and he smiled at her again. âItâs a good thing you agreed, because I seriously thought I was going to have to get out the handcuffs and use them to keep you here.â
She didnât miss the devious look in his gaze, and the thought of being bound by Leviâs handcuffs, and letting him have complete control over her pleasure like he had this morning, sent a secret thrill rippling through her. Now that they had all night together, she wanted to take advantage.
Meeting his gaze, she gave him a sultry, inviting smile as she lifted up on her toes and brushed her mouth against his in a tempting kiss. âGo ahead and cuff me, ,â she dared in a seductive whisper. âYou know you want to.â
â
,â he said on a low, fierce growl that made her shiver with anticipation.
He grabbed one of her hands in his, then picked up the box of condoms sheâd set on the counter and led her out of the kitchen. She thought for sure they were headed for his bedroom, but he stopped in the living room in front of the soft, plush couch.
âStay right here,â he ordered, tossing the box of protection onto one of the cushions. âIâll be right back.â
She didnât have to wait long for him to return. While in his bedroom, heâd taken off his T-shirt and now only wore his jeans and a wicked-as-sin smile on his gorgeous face. His feet were bare, and a pair of silver shackles dangled from his hand.
. She was going to allow this man to restrain her and take her however he desired. And every part of her him to.
He stood beside her, his dark green eyes searching hers. âAre you sure youâre okay with this?â
She nodded. âYes.â
âThen letâs get you undressed.â He dropped the cuffs next to the box of condoms, then slid his hands beneath the hem of her T-shirt, pushing the material slowly up her body.
She shivered as his fingers skimmed along her bare flesh, and she raised her arms over her head so he could remove the top. Reaching behind her, he unclasped her bra and let that fall to the floor, too. Her breasts swelled beneath his avid gaze, and she bit back a moan when he tugged her nipples into tight, aching points before trailing his fingers down to the button of her jeans. Leisurely, he unfastened them and lowered the zipper. He shoved the denim down to her thighs, then let her take them the rest of the way off.
That left her in just plain, boring cotton panties, but the way his hungry gaze roved down the length of her made Sarah feel incredibly sexy, and even beautiful.
He picked up the handcuffs and turned back toward her.
âAre those real ones?â she asked curiously. They certainly looked like it.
âYes. Theyâre my service handcuffs, and I canât wait to see them on you,â he said gruffly.
She held out her hands, offering herself to him without hesitation. âThen cuff me, Officer Kincaid,â she said huskily. âMake me yours.â
*Â Â Â Â Â *Â Â Â Â Â *
Make me yours. Sarahâs words sparked something hot and possessive in the depths of Leviâs stomach and made him realize in that moment just how much he this woman to be his. And more than just physically.
It was a crazy thought, considering heâd spent his entire adult life avoiding committed relationships and never investing his emotions when it came to sex, or females in general. But as he looked at Sarah now, standing in front of him vulnerable and nearly naked with her arms extended toward him with such sweet acceptance, something inside of him shifted in a way heâd never experienced before because heâd always been too guarded.
Knowing Sarahâs past and her issues with trusting people made this acquiescence of hers all the more humbling, and he saw it for the gift that it was. Her blue eyes were wide and guileless and her body completely relaxed, yielding to him even before he demanded it.
She was fucking perfect for him, in every way.
Heâd restrained other women because of his need for control, but Sarah was the polar opposite of every one of those brief, short-lived encounters. She wasnât one of those uncomplicated, mindless fucks heâd sought out in the past, and he refused to treat her the same way. But he wasnât going to lieâthe thought of his handcuffs dangling around her delicate wrists made him hard as granite. Restricting her ability to use her hands became all about him heightening pleasure in every way imaginable and not about his own personal hang-ups.
She expected him to secure her hands in front of her, but he did the opposite and drew her arms behind her back, where he proceeded to latch the steel loops around her small wrists. He made sure they werenât too tight, then couldnât resist caressing a finger slowly down the indentation of her spine. She shivered, and the soft, delightful moan she released went straight to his already pulsing dick.
She turned her head and tried to look at him. âIs this where you get to frisk me?â she asked breathlessly, playfully.
He smiled. âYou want to be frisked?â
She nodded her head. âYes, please, Officer Kincaid.â
Still standing behind her, he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of her panties and pushed them down her legs until they dropped to her feet. Moving closer to her backside, he nudged his knee between her thighs. âSpread these gorgeous legs for me, dirty girl. I want to make sure I do a very search.â
She widened her stance, then sucked in a quick breath when he reached around and took her breasts in his hands, fondling them and lightly pinching her nipples.
âWhat are you hoping to find?â she asked oh-so-innocently.
âA soaking-wet pussy,â he breathed into her ear as his splayed hands slid down her stomach toward his destination. âItâs my job to make sure that this body is ready to be fucked, Magnum style.â
She laughed softly, then moaned when his fingers delved into her soft folds of flesh, already slick with desire. âAm I wet enough for you?â
âNot yet.â He bit the bare curve of her neck, drawing a startled gasp from her that made him smile. âBut you will be after I make you come.â
He released her and stepped away, and she made a sound of protest at the loss of his touch.
âDonât worry, sweetheart,â he said as he walked around in front of her and gently trailed the backs of his fingers along her flushed cheek. âIâm not going to leave you hanging for long.â
Initially, heâd had every intention of bending her over the couch so he could drive into her from behind, hard and deep, but he quickly changed his mind because everything about being with Sarah was different.
was different, and when he pushed his cock into her this first time, he wanted to see her face as her tight pussy gradually stretched to accommodate all of him. He wanted to watch as she unraveled just for him and wanted to feel her internal muscles clench around him as she came all over every inch of his shaft, right before he let go of his own release.
He quickly shucked his jeans and briefs, then sat down on the sofa in front of where Sarah was still standing. Her glazed eyes took in the hard, thick length of his erection as he tore open a condom and sheathed himself. She licked her lips, and as much as heâd love to have her delectable mouth on him again, he wanted deep inside her more.
âCome here and straddle me,â he ordered softly, and when she stepped forward, he grabbed her waist and helped her to kneel above his lap. She started to lower herself, but he shook his head and kept her poised above his thighs.
âNot yet,â he said, smoothing his hands down her hips and along the creases of her thighs, until his thumbs were spreading her pussy open so he could see all the pretty folds in between. âI want you wetter than you already are so you can take all of me.â
He pushed two long fingers inside of her, rubbed his thumb against her swollen, needy clit, and she dropped her head back on a shuddering moan. He continued to stroke her, slow and deep, enjoying the front-row seat he had to watch her uninhibited response to every seductive touch, every intimate caress that brought her closer and closer to where he needed her to be. With her hands cuffed behind her back and her knees braced apart, there wasnât much she could do except rock her hips back and forth and ride his hand in an attempt to chase her elusive release.
His dick twitched impatiently, and then he finally felt what heâd been waiting for . . . the fluttering sensation around his fingers, the fresh rush of moisture that coated his hand, and the inarticulate sounds she made as an orgasm started to roll through her.
An orgasm that belonged to . He wanted it. Needed to be a part of it, and a part of her. Knowing he had to act fast, he pulled out his fingers, aligned the head of his cock to the entrance of her body, then took hold of her waist and pulled her down hard at the same time he bucked his hips upward, burying himself to the hilt. She cried out at the initial deep, endless thrust that filled her completely and literally stole his breath from his lungs.
And before he could recover, his sweet, sexy, beautiful Sarah went wild on him, her pretty breasts bouncing enticingly as she slid up and down his throbbing shaft in jerky movements. Her thighs clenched against his as she undulated her hips while grinding her pussy hard against his pubic bone for added friction, for both of them.
It was all too much. Sensory fucking overload.
Belatedly, Levi realized why he didnât normally care for this position, why heâd always avoided it in other encounters. Because despite Sarah having her hands restrained, she was still able to strip him of control, and for the first time in his life, he didnât try and take it back. He let her have it. He fucking encouraged her to .
He tunneled his fingers into her hair, cupping the back of her head and forcing her dark blue gaze to meet his. âFuck me, Sarah,â he commanded gruffly. âHowever you want. Whatever it takes to make you come.â
She whimpered as she moved more rhythmically on top of him, then leaned into him and brought her lips close to his. âKiss me, Levi,â she said, her voice ragged with need.
Tightening his fingers in those silky strands, he slanted his mouth across hers. She welcomed the thrust of his tongue, sucking on it and making him groan low in his throat. Perspiration slickened their bodies as they strained against one another, but it still wasnât close enough. Hard enough. Deep enough.
He feared it never would be.
He released her hair and grabbed her ass in his hands, hauling her forward in a way that scraped across her clit and made her entire body quake. Desire, lust, and need collided inside of him, sending Levi over the edge as Sarahâs inner walls gripped him tight, squeezing every ounce of pleasure out of him and milking his cock until he had nothing left to give. Until he knew heâd never be the same.
Sarah had no idea, but she fucking him.