Levi stopped walking, pulling me back with the hand holding onto mine. The rest of my sentence was pulled from my lungs when he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. He was measured in letting go of my hand so he could grab both sides of my face—as if I’d stop him or pull away—to hold me still. His fingers wove their way through my hair, and I let myself get lost in the embrace, closing my eyes and drowning myself in everything that was him.
His musky, manly scent that I couldn’t describe but recognized. The way his lips melded against mine, taking everything I had to give. How soft his hands were on my cheeks, how the fingers in my hair tugged slightly, pulling gently.
I leaned into him, weakly holding onto his arms. The world spun, and he…he was everything to me. He would be my strength when I had none. He’d catch me when I fell, and he’d sure as shit tell me pointblank when I was doing something stupid.
The kiss lasted forever, but at the same time it was over just like that, leaving me breathless and hungry for more.
His breath was hot on my face, his lips brushing against mine as he whispered, “I love you too, Kelsey. I’ve never wanted to be a better man before, but all of that changed the moment I met you.” Levi was slow to drop his hands from my face, and my skin felt the loss immediately. The air was too cold outside, the dawn too brisk.
I needed to be under covers, and I needed Levi with me.
“Oh, shut up,” I told him, smiling. “You’re just saying that to get on my good side.”
Levi grinned, something he didn’t do often enough. “You love me. I’m already on your good side.”
“Oh, Blue, if you think just because I love you you can’t get on my bad side, you’ve got another thing coming,” I told him as we resumed our pace, holding hands once again. “I can hate you and love you at the same time, you know. It’s not an automatic gold star.”
“It’s not? Then what’s the benefit?”
I thought on that, instantly saying the first thing that came to mind: “Sex?”
Levi leveled a blue-eyed stare at me. His come on look was right, of course. He’d had sex with me before real feelings got involved. Sex was really nothing new, but I wasn’t sure what else I could bring to the table.
“Cuddling?” I spoke the word with a disgusted expression on my face. Never was one for cuddling. The past few years, to cuddle after sex was to admit that feelings might be involved, and until Levi, I’d steered clear of that. No real feelings for me, thanks.
And then this bastard came into my life, the sneaky little shit.
Levi debated this. “I don’t know. I still got you to cuddle that first night, even though you didn’t want to.”
“Then what do you want, Blue?” My dorm building neared, its tall towers growing even taller the closer we came.
“Hmm. Will you make me a sandwich anytime I ask?” That comment earned him a jab of my elbow on his side, and he winced. “You are stronger than you look, aren’t you? That’s going to bruise.”
“Don’t say stupid things, then,” I told him, forcing out a frown as we arrived at the side entrance to the building. With the door propped open by my foot, I stopped, glancing back at Levi. He’d let go of my hand, and he stood there, looking…conflicted.
I was conflicted too, but I knew, without a doubt, I didn’t want to be alone up there. Not with Mel gone.
“Stay with me,” I said, more of a command than a question asking him if he even wanted to. I didn’t need to ask. That one would jump whenever I said jump. We were each wrapped around each other’s fingers, honestly.
Levi nodded, following me inside.
The halls were quiet. No one else was up. It was way too early, even for the ones who had eight A.M. classes. The closer we came to my room, the more my stomach sank. I really didn’t want to go in there, but there was no way I could avoid it. It’s where I freaking lived, where all of my clothes were, my books, my notebooks.
My bed.
Oh, God. How the hell was I supposed to get any sleep when Mel was still in the hospital? This fucking sucked.
I unlocked the door, letting us both inside. The room felt vacant, empty. Stupid, considering I’d spent time in here alone before, without Mel. Mel wasn’t always around, but right now I knew where she was, and that she wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon—and that was a depressing thing to think.
Levi stepped inside after me, closing and locking the door. I went to my desk, tossing my keys and wriggling out of my hoodie, dropping it on the chair. He watched me in silence as I slipped off my shoes.
That stupid thing in my chest felt heavy; it was almost hard to breathe. “I’m going to shower,” I said, moving past him, needing to take my clothes off and wash away the stench of the last day. I grabbed my shower caddy and towel and slipped on my flipflops, heading down the hall like a girl on a mission.
The bathroom was completely empty, not that I expected to see anyone there. My footsteps echoed in the space, and I chose the last shower stall, exhaling a long sigh. After starting the shower, I shed my clothes, leaving them on the small ledge on the
