On the boat the wind had been rushing at all directions, but as we walk to Levi’s car it’s calm, too calm. The gravel crunches beneath our feet until we come to a stop in front of his shiny car. Levi opens my door for me and sneak a peak at him before I slide into the back seat. When the door doesn’t slam shut I look to where he stands. He lifts his hand to his face and exhales before he leans down.
When our eyes lock he nods his head for me to make room and I scoot in. He slides in and his smell fills my nose. A sound very much like a purr starts in my throat as he pulls me into his arms. I lean my head on his chest and he slides me onto his lap. I shouldn’t be okay with this, but I can’t find anything wrong with it and I don’t want to question it. When I lift my eyes up to his face, his jaw is set and his gaze is on the front seat.
“Drive,” he orders.
The driver doesn’t answer, I didn’t even know anyone else was here. That’s how focused I was on Levi. The power he has over me should be unsettling and yet it isn’t. It wasn’t always like this. When did it happen? When was the switch from being my childhood friend to being the person I’m comfortable with? Was it that day in the dark classroom? Or all those times he looked at me, but remained silent? Or was it when I asked to go home with him?
The car glides forward and I turned to see who it is, but Levi stops me. His fingers grip both sides of my jaw and he slides my face so that I’m facing him. His brown eyes are distant as he looks into my eyes. A playful idea comes to mind as I register what he’s doing. He’s trying to keep me at arms length emotionally. He’s trying to hold himself back and hide his thoughts from me.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and adjust myself over him so that I’m straddling him. His lips part as he leans back against the seat. He peers down his nose at me. He can act like he isn’t affected by me or my closeness, but I know him. He doesn’t try to warm me like he did the night before, he doesn’t hesitate either. He just sits there, staring at me, waiting to see what I’ll do next. That takes it up a notch and the playfulness starts bleeding into a seriousness I’m not sure the two of us are ready for.
“Why are you upset?” I asked.
The need to drop that notch back down to playfulness. Levi blows out a puff of air and his mask slips ever so slightly. I get a look into what my best friend’s hiding. His hands slide up my thighs and my back straightens as they rest on my hips. I swallow and try to hide just how nervous I am right now. I don’t know where the confidence came from to bring forth this idea, nor the audacity when I decided to straddle him, but here I am. It’s too late to back out now and I’m not a quitter. I’ll just have to commit.
“Who says I’m upset?” Levi asked gruffly.
“Mm,” I hummed.
I leaned back to exaggerate getting a better look at his face, his posture, and looked up at him through my eyelashes. I’ve seen girls do that a lot and I’ve always wanted to try. Hopefully I don’t look like an idiot. His hands run up and tightened on my waist. His fingers dug into my skin and I liked the bite of being in his hold. I liked that he kept me close. Lowering one hand down his shoulder to his chest I squinted my eyes and nodded. His chest rose as he inhaled sharply, my touch had a reaction. No matter how passive he attempted to be I loved that he couldn’t hide it from me. Leaning forward, I slid my hand up his neck to his face.
“Well.. it could be this,” I murmured. My finger grazed over his furrowed brown and trailed down his nose to the corner of his down turned lip. “Or this.” I stifled a giggle. He was probably just as stubborn as I was. I don’t know what what was wrong with me, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Levi’s fingers dug deeper and I cried out. The sound was a mix of a cry and a moan. My cheeks warmed and I was thankful the sun had set. My face was cast in shadows while his was under the moonlight.
“I’m glad you find this funny,” Levi growled.
Playful tier: unlocked.
“What? You don’t want me to laugh?” I asked with mock innocence. His shoulders relaxed and his brow evened out. A tiny smile pulled at one corner of his lip and I swear his eyes warmed.
“You know that isn’t it. I’d do anything to make you laugh,” Levi said honestly. The warmth held a bit of sadness in them. “Does he make you happy?” I just about forgot to breathe. Was he seriously asking me if Andrius made me happy? I only just met him, but we had a good time. There was definitely a pull there and I had agreed to stay with him for a little. It was getting way to serious again.
“He’s a friend and let’s not get off topic. You’re the one who went all alpha male out there and tried to pretend like he wasn’t upset as soon as we got in the car. Look at you,” I giggle. Unable to hold it in anymore. His eyebrow arched and I poked it.
“I actually like this topic and look at what? At me in all my glory?” Levi teased.
“No! At your alphaholeness! I didn’t know you had it in you” I teased back.