Guarding Me (3 page)

Levi willed his heart rate to slow to normal. Tia wasn’t kidding. Maya was hurting in all sorts of ways. Her ex, from what Levi had gathered from both her and Maya, was a real piece of work. Maya deserved better, and he’d do his dead-level best to give her what she needed.

“Want to ride along or follow me?” He watched her expression. Sure, she said she wanted a fantasy, but he refused to push too much. She controlled this ride.

“I’ll follow.” She nodded, probably to reassure herself. Beneath the sad and slightly confused exterior was the strong woman he knew she wanted to be.

“I’m in the ’86 Dodge.” He offered his arm. “She’s ugly and beat-up, but she runs like a dream.” He whistled. The truck wasn’t the best looking, but it got him where he wanted to go and once he saved back for a new paint job and some body work, she’d shine.

“I’ve got a Toyota, blue.” She rubbed his arm and walked beside him through the noisy club to the parking lot. When they reached her car, she stopped and let go of him. “I shouldn’t have been so forward at the restaurant. Marty wasn’t pleased. He reprimanded me—again.” She half laughed. “He spends more time reprimanding me for the things that get the customers to come back—treating them like family, talking to them on their level, never letting them know when we’re having a bad day. The little things, you know?”

“I do.” He opened her car door. “If you’d rather not do this, we can say goodbye and part ways.” He had to give her an out. Had to.

“Are you nuts?” She smoothed her hands up his chest, sparking a fire in his veins. “I’ve been waiting on a man who will treat me like I’m in heaven, not in the pits of hell. I think you’re the man.”

Maya leaned forward and stood on her tiptoes. She met him for a kiss, swirling her tongue along his bottom lip. Unable to hold back, he captured her in his arms. Levi caressed her lower back, learning her curves and tasting her sweetness. Good Lord, she was honey in his hands. The sweetest kind. He threaded his hand into her hair enough to massage her scalp with his fingertips. When she moaned, he pushed the kiss farther and tangled his tongue with hers. She rubbed her body along his, grinding on his crotch. His cock throbbed behind his zipper. Oh, shit. They needed to find a bed and soon. He didn’t believe in love at first sight, no way, but he fully bought into the idea of lust at first touch. She was lust in human form.

Maya broke the connection first and wobbled on her feet. He kept her in his arms, unwilling to let her go just yet.

“You know when you eat a spicy bowl of chili how your lips tingle?” she murmured.

“I’m feeling it, too.” He rested his forehead on hers and tapped her nose with his. “I’m glad I walked into the diner.”

“Me, too.”

Music from the club filtered out to the parking lot and she swayed in his arms. Maya stared up at him and kissed him again, this time slower and softer. She continued to rock in his embrace, moving in slow motion to the raucous beat.

Christ, he wanted to explore every inch of her, but being in the parking lot they’d get into trouble. He broke away from her long enough to catch his breath. “I want to bring that sparkle back to your eyes. We need to go somewhere else.”

“We do,” she whispered. “I’ll follow you.” Maya slipped from his arms and climbed behind the wheel of her car. She rolled down the window. “What’s the address?”

“Geddy Street apartments, Building E. I’m on the second floor.” He squatted next to her car door. “I’m right over there.” He nodded over his shoulder. “I’ll follow you.”

Levi strolled to his car, his step lighter and his mind at ease. He’d found one hell of a woman. Maybe not forever, but for now, and that suited him just fine. Forever never quite worked for him.

Fifteen minutes after leaving the club, he pulled into his parking lot. She waited in the row of visitor spots and climbed out when she spotted him. She’d pulled her hair up into a ponytail and wore a jacket. The bulky garment hid some of her curves and turned him on all the more. More to the imagination and oh, how he liked to fill in the blanks.

“Ready?” Levi offered his arm to her once more.

“So ready.” Maya cuddled up beside him and rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. Once they reached his apartment, he held the door for her.

“So this is Chateau Levi. Nothing too fancy.” He closed and locked the door. “The rent’s reasonable and my neighbors are cool. Make yourself at home.”

Maya plopped on the couch and crossed her legs. Sort of at home and mostly guarded. Levi sat opposite her.

“This isn’t your thing, is it? Coming home with a guy?”

She shrugged. “I’m not much of a one-night-stand kind of girl.” She laughed and met his gaze. “It shows, doesn’t it?”

“A little. Want to talk?” Probably not, but she couldn’t hate him for not asking.

Fire lit in her eyes. “After.” Maya scooted across the couch and straddled his lap. “This good girl wants to go bad for a while.” Mons to groin, chest to chest and eye to eye, she cuddled against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and bit his bottom lip, then kissed him.

Holy Christ. Stars burst behind his eyelids. He wanted—no, needed more of her. Levi palmed her ass, hooking his thumbs in her belt loops. The more he tasted of her, the more he appreciated walking into the diner.

Maya sucked on his tongue, moaning just a little with each tug. She rocked her hips. The move put delicious pressure on his engorged cock.

Lust flowed through his body. He craved her. Wanted to feel her silken heat surrounding him.

Maya broke the connection first. “You’re dangerous.”

He wasn’t sure how. He’d barely done anything.

She grabbed the hem of her shirt and whipped the garment over her head. The white lace bra cupped her breasts, accentuating the taut little nipples. Her hair settled around her shoulders.

“Like what you see?” she whispered.

“I do.” He tipped her forward and shoved one of her bra straps off her shoulders. The lace dipped, revealing more of her breast. “Love this.” He sucked her nipple into his mouth and scraped his teeth over the dark skin. She tasted as sweet and sinful as she looked.

She ground her hips. “I want my soldier to fuck me.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he said around her nipple. Levi flicked the catch on her bra. The lingerie plopped on his lower belly and he shoved the lace out of the way. He rubbed one hand over her belly. He’d seen plenty of pregnant tummies in his time, but hers captivated him. So smooth and perfect, even with a bit of fullness.

“So sexy.” He buried his face between her boobs and breathed her in.

“Levi,” she panted. “Fuck me.”

Instead of answering her in words, he stood with her in his arms and then laid her out on the couch. She might be in control, but he needed to taste her pussy first. Levi removed her high-heeled shoes, then kissed his way down her jean-clad leg. She gripped the edge of the couch cushion and watched him.

“Tease,” she murmured.

“You have no idea. I’m just getting started.”

Levi licked his lips. Tasting her only whetted his appetite for her. Was it possible to want a woman too much? Probably, but he didn’t care. Yes, things were moving at light speed, but if fate wanted them together, he’d go along with the plan.

Once he reached the zipper of her pants, he popped the button and tugged. Her skimpy panties clung to her hips. “I dreamed I’d find a woman like you.” He grabbed the cuffs of her jeans and pulled.

“Didn’t have to look far.” Maya shoved her panties down to her ankles, exposing herself to him. Her cream glistened on her cunt lips. He marveled at the smooth skin. So pretty and brown.

“I like you bare.” With his gaze fixed on hers, he nipped at her ankle. He trailed his fingers along her inner thigh and then spread open her pussy lips. Her juices slid down her cunt to the crack of her ass.

“I like feeling sexy,” she replied. She grasped the backs of her knees and spread her legs even more.

“You’re doing a very, very good job.” Using the tip of his tongue, he traced the line of her labia, then tapped her clit. She cried out, but didn’t squeeze her legs together. Hell, she opened herself up more.

“Yes, baby. Do that.” Maya closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. “Feels so good.”

Oh, yeah? This time he blew cool air over her fevered skin. When he reached her clit, he scraped his teeth over the tight bud. She shivered, but didn’t pull away. Levi grinned. He eased her pussy lips apart with his thumbs. He flattened his tongue along the mocha skin. Her juices exploded on his tongue. He moaned, vibrating her clit.

“Oh, wow.” She let go of her knees and grasped his head.

For a moment, he missed having hair. He loved the feel of a woman yanking on his hair during oral sex to tell him she liked what he was doing. She dug her nails into his scalp. Not quite the same, but still hot as fuck.

He slid one finger into her cunt and pumped, all while licking her labia. Her taste, like no other, imprinted itself on his brain. She shuddered and moaned, wrapping her legs around his shoulders. Maya rolled her hips and fucked herself on his finger.

“More,” she cried. “More.”

Then more she’d get. He added a second finger, then a third. She clenched around him like a fist. Her liquid excitement drenched him. Levi sucked hard on her clit and stroked her pussy.

“Oh, my God.” Maya tensed and arched her back. Her knees trembled.

Her muscles relaxed and she let go of his fingers. Levi licked her as she sagged against the cushions.

“I want more.” She opened her eyes. “That was good.” She let go of his head. “But I want to feel you inside me.”

He could do whatever she wanted. Levi hiked his shirt over his head and tossed the garment out of sight. He stood and shucked his pants. His boxers slid down his hips, and the kiss of cool air on his dick felt like heaven. His balls ached, but he wanted her too much to go slow.

“You take too long.” Maya stood, then nudged him onto the couch. She flipped her hair over her shoulder. Her dark skin glistened with a fine sheen of sweat. “Where’s the protection?”

Oh, shit. He’d forgotten the damned condoms. “Bathroom,” he finally muttered. Christ. She had him so far out on edge, he could barely talk. “Whole box under the sink.”

Maya strode away from him, her ass wiggling with each step. He wondered if she liked spanking. She definitely had an ass made for swatting. When she emerged from the bathroom, she held the foil packet in her hand. She didn’t say a word, just dropped to her knees and engulfed him in her mouth. In one swift move, she took him to the back of her throat.

“Damn,” he said, drawing out the word. She swallowed, and he saw stars for the second time. He’d go off in a moment if she kept him in her mouth much longer. Maya flicked her tongue along the underside of his dick, then released him. Precum sparkled on her lips. She rolled the condom over his cock.

“Want to ride?” He opened his arms for her.

She shook her head. “I want it rougher.” Maya dragged him to his feet and kissed him. “Use one of those big hands on my ass. Make me remember this.” She slid from his arms. “Make it sting.”

She propped her hands on the back of the couch . She settled on her knees and waved her ass at him. The tight pucker of her asshole tensed. Did she get into anal? Maybe one day he’d find out. Levi stroked his balls, then slipped one hand between her legs. Her pussy juices coated her labia and smeared on her inner thighs. Perfect. He wrapped his hand around his erection and guided himself into her heat. The moment he joined his body with hers, he wobbled on his feet. Being in her felt almost like coming home. He sank balls-deep into her cunt, then opened his hands on her ass.

“You fill me up.” She shifted her hips from side to side. “More.”

Levi nodded, although he knew she couldn’t see his reaction. He spread his feet for better stability. The change in angle gave him better leverage as he worked his dick in and out of her. On each insertion, he tapped her ass.

“Harder. You know what to do,” she ordered.

He did know what to do, but he preferred to find her boundaries. He increased his speed and fucked her with more gusto. When he spanked her, the crack resounded in the room.

She gripped the back of the couch with tense hands. “Baby, yeah.” Maya met him thrust for thrust. Each time he spanked her, she cried out and more of her juices covered his dick. Her feet trembled.

“Levi,” she moaned. “Feels so good.”

“Yeah.” He groaned. The flutters in his belly increased and heat enveloped his body. He came closer and closer to the ragged edge. Maya tensed around him again, like before. Levi opened his palm on her butt, leaving a ruddy print. She whimpered.

“I need to come.” Maya glanced over her shoulder. A feral light danced in her eyes. “Please.”

His breath caught. Holy fuck. “Come for me, Maya. Come apart and drench me.” He pistoned into her. “Oh, Christ, come.”

“Levi.” Maya screamed his name and pushed against him.

Levi grasped her hips and emptied his seed into the rubber. From his head to his toes, he shivered. He closed his eyes long enough to regain his bearings, then opened them and pulled out of her. Every bit of energy drained from his body. He flopped onto the couch and tugged her onto his lap. He’d worry about ditching the rubber in a moment.

“You made me come twice.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Twice is good.”

“It’s even better in my bed.” He trailed his fingers down her arm. “Stay with me tonight. I want to see your beautiful face when I wake up.” Maybe he sounded too mushy. He spoke from the heart. Mush didn’t matter.

“You’ll have to carry me.” She draped her arm around his shoulders. “My knees are boneless.” She kissed his cheek. “You’re that good.”

His heart swelled. Her words filled him with hope. Things could work out with her and damn it, he wanted them to work out. Levi scooped her into his arms once more, then carried her across the apartment to his bedroom.

“I might not be the man you need,” he said as he laid her on his bed, “but I’ll try my hardest to make you happy.”

Maya smiled and closed her eyes. He doubted she’d heard a word he said. She snuggled in the blankets. For a moment, he watched her drift to sleep. He envisioned her beside him for always, like she belonged in his bed and life. Levi removed the used condom, then chucked it into the garbage. Maybe the other men in her life hadn’t been what she needed. God knew, he sucked at relationships, but he meant what he’d said. He wanted things to work between them. Even if loving Maya broke his heart, he’d give her his best. He eased into bed beside her, then cuddled his body to hers and succumbed to sleep. What a great night.