First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) (15 page)

“Yeah, it’s a very beautiful area. We’ll have to visit sometime.” Many times.

The waiter returned with the wine, and I slowly tasted it. “Yes, perfect, thank you.”

Allie watched me like she was seeing me for the first time.

After the waiter retreated, I made a toast. “To a truly amazing summer and to many more celebrations.”

I watched her take her first sip. “What do you think?”

She closed her eyes. “Wow, that’s really smooth.”

“I thought it was perfect for tonight.”

She smiled and picked up a menu.

“You don’t need that.” I gently removed the menu from her hands and placed it down on the table. The waiter appeared immediately.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Yes. We’ll start with the huîtres a la Rockefeller and escargot la bordelaise. Then we’ll both have the chateaubriand.”

I waited for Allie to argue. Surely she wasn’t going to let me get away with ordering for her? Surprisingly she didn’t say a word. Allie was always full of surprises.

I refilled her wine glass. Either she was nervous or she really liked the wine.

She sipped the second glass slowly as we waited for the food to arrive.

Allie set her wine glass down when the waiter brought our appetizer to the table. She dug right in.

“Okay, the Oysters Rockefeller are incredible,” she said between bites.

“The dish was invented here.”

“Really? That’s cool.”

She seemed to enjoy the rest of the meal as well. I’d ordered us an entrée designed for sharing, and she appeared to enjoy the intimacy that it created. She wanted to share with me, she wanted us close. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her, and that’s why I was making the right decision—for both of us.

“I have something for you.” I’m sure I was sweating. Confident about my decision or not, there was still the possibility she’d refuse to accept it.

“Really? You didn’t have to get me anything.” She didn’t cover her excitement well. She was eager for a gift.

“It’s actually a family piece, but it was made for you.”

“Levi… I can’t take anything like that.” Her face was a mix of emotions.

“Shh. Just let me enjoy giving it to you, okay?” I’d been waiting for this moment for years.

“Okay.” she smiled.

I pulled out a small black box from my pocket. I wasn’t taking a chance on losing that ring again. I gently opened the box, and pulled out the ring covered in rubies. I slipped the ring on her finger and my heart about stopped seeing it there.

This was right. The ring was where it belonged on her left ring finger. “Perfect.” I was making the right decision I reminded myself. Allie was meant to be mine. She wanted to be mine. She would be safe with me. She’d have everything she’d ever wanted.

She absolutely glowed as she admired the ring. Then her face fell and she started to pull it off. “Levi, it’s beautiful, but I can’t take it.”

I stilled her hand. “It looks perfect, doesn’t it? Do you like it?”

“I love it. Red is my favorite color, you know.”

“I know.” And that was just another reminder of how right we were.

The glow was back. “Thank you. It’s beautiful, and I’ll treasure it.”

“I’m glad.”

“I can’t believe the summer is almost over, it went so fast.”

“Entirely too fast.” I’d planned to have more time. I planned to tell her more about my life first, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have time for everything. I’d have to do things backward.

“So what happens now? Or when I leave?” She winced. Maybe she’d bitten her tongue.

“We’ll make it work.”

“You think?”

“I know.” I glanced at the ring. The ring would fix everything. She’d be with me. She’d be mine.

“I guess at least we don’t have to worry about airfare if you want to come to visit.” She laughed lightly.

“Let’s not even think about it now. Just enjoy tonight.” I took her hand again, running a finger over the small stones of the ring. She’d told her parents she’d consider college in New Orleans. I really hoped she was serious. I wasn’t interested in starting out our life together long distance. She needed to stay in her city.

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Do you want dessert?” I asked after the last of our dishes were cleared.

She paused as though she were considering it. “Maybe later.”

“Good, I agree completely.” I’d get her anything she wanted later, but there was something we both needed first.

I signaled for the waiter without taking my eyes off of her. I paid the check, and we headed back out onto the street.

The usual electricity between us sizzled even stronger as we walked hand in hand through Jackson Square. It was the ring. It had to be the ring.

I needed her and couldn’t wait any longer. I pulled her into Pirates Alley with me and pushed her up against the bars of the railing. I moved gently as I pinned one of her arms above her head. She held onto a bar with her other hand as if to steady herself. I used my hand to pull her body toward mine.

She shivered underneath me, but her eyes never left mine.

I threw out any attempt to be gentle. I smashed my lips into hers. I held her closely, unwilling to let go as I took over her mouth again. She opened up to me. She opened up more than ever, and I knew she wanted exactly what I wanted. I used my free hand to roam her body. She wasn’t shy about letting me know she liked my touch. She closed her eyes. Still, there was far too much material between us. I reluctantly broke the kiss, and she opened those beautiful green eyes.

I asked her the question with my eyes because I was unwilling to break the spell with my words. She answered the same way, and I quickly discarded my dress shirt. I returned my lips to hers before taking off. I’d never kissed her in flight before, but it was definitely an experience I would have again. It brought things to a new level of intensity.

We landed on her balcony. Without letting her go, I opened her door and moved us inside. I closed the door with my foot before leading her toward her bedroom.

My lips moved to her ear, and I gently ran my tongue over her earlobe. Her body responded as she slipped off her shoes and dropped her purse. She was ready. She was ready for me.

Never taking my eyes off her, I unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. I kissed her neck as my fingers found the clasp of her bra. She disrupted my view as she pulled my shirt over my head, but it was worth it to have my bare skin against hers.

Her breasts teased me as I held her close. I tilted her head up toward me, kissing her hard on the mouth. Her perfect mouth that went with her perfect body.

She wound her arms around my neck. I intensified the kiss and picked her up. She wrapped her long legs around my waist as I carried her over to her bed.

I pulled down the comforter, placing her gently on the sheets.

She looked like an angel. Her entire body was finally on display for me, and I didn’t know where to start. I’d waited so long for her. So long to see and explore every inch of the most beautiful body that I’d ever seen.

I lay down next to her, letting my eyes soak in every inch of her before my hands and mouth got their chance. Her body was even more incredible than I imagined. I cupped one of her breasts, marveling in how well it fit into my hand. Designed for me. The mate I was always meant to have. She rested her head back and closed her eyes. She was giving me full access—letting me enjoy her in any way I wanted. But I needed her to look at me. I needed to know she wanted everything I did. “Open your eyes.”

“The first time you told me to do that we were hurtling through the sky.”

“I do plan to give you quite the experience, Al, but this one will be a different sort of flight.”

“Ok.” Her lashes opened, revealing her eyes to me.

I replaced my hand with my mouth, grazing my teeth over her nipple to see how sensitive she was. I could tell she was already struggling to keep her eyes open, and I liked knowing how easily I could make her lose control.

I ran my hand down her stomach and further down. She opened up to me, letting me slip my hand between those amazing legs of hers. She was ready for me. That knowledge only turned me on more.

She took me in her hand, but before long I had to stop her. I moved over her, taking another long look at her absolutely breathtaking body. “Do you want to be mine?” I had to ask. Maybe I wasn’t telling her everything, but I was still letting her choose whether or not she wanted to be with me.

“Aren’t I yours already?” Her eyes were big and her breathing heavy.

“You’re amazing Allie Davis.” I thrust into her. She welcomed me home to the place I’d been waiting forever to find. Never in a million years had I prepared myself for the pleasure that being with her could bring.

She was so responsive, her body moving perfectly with mine as I sped things up, always careful to make sure she was comfortable. Everything felt different—I’d never experienced sex like it before, because it wasn’t just sex, it was so much more.

Her breathing further picked up, and she moaned my name. Her nails dug into my back, and I groaned. Everything was so primal and perfect with her. She yelled out, before closing her eyes and rolling her head back. I shuddered, never more fulfilled than when I reached release.

I stayed on top of her, unwilling to pull out until I absolutely had to. Her body was home, it was mine. She was mine, and she was going to be mine forever.

I never wanted to leave her bed. The night before had hands down been the best night of my life. I’d had her twice and had wanted her more, but she’d fallen asleep and there wasn’t a chance I was disturbing her. Instead I contented myself by holding her and making plans. I’d need to find a new place. For the remainder of the summer we could stay in her hotel room, but afterwards I didn’t want to subject her to my roommates. Pterons had incredible hearing, and I definitely didn’t want her holding back when we were alone. Besides, I wanted her all to myself. I wanted showers, and half naked breakfasts, and all those things intimate couples have.

I needed to tell her. I had to explain to her that she’d just become Pteron royalty. I couldn’t tell her everything at once. I needed to do it slowly. Hopefully she’d feel just as euphoric as I did.

She moaned lightly and moved in my arms. I kissed the top of her head.

She rolled over to look at me.

“Good morning, beautiful.” I played with a few stands of her long brown hair that were splayed out on the pillow.

“Good morning.” She smiled, confirming my hopes. There was no awkwardness, no regrets.

“You are so beautiful when you sleep.”

“You watched me sleep?” She leaned up on one elbow.

“Yeah, I couldn’t resist. It’s not often I’m around you when you aren’t being all feisty and defensive. It was nice to see you completely peaceful for a change.”

“I didn’t get to see you sleep… too bad.” She wrapped her hand around my wrist.

“You can always watch tonight.”

“Tonight? What makes you think this is ever going to happen again?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Sweetheart, you and I both know that there was nothing one time about last night.”

She said nothing. Her expression said it all. She’d be lying in my arms in exactly the same position the next morning, and every morning after. I got hard just thinking about it.

“How about we just stay here all day?” I pulled her on top of me.

She rolled off of me. “Very funny. You know I have to meet Hailey for brunch.” She glanced at the clock on the bed stand. “Wow, I need to meet her soon, we slept late.”

“Yeah, I guess we did. You could always call and cancel.” I ran a hand down her side. Her skin was so soft and smooth.

“Cancel on Hailey?” She asked incredulously.

“Okay, maybe not. She’ll blame me and I’ll be the one dealing with it.” I laughed even though all I wanted to do was spend more time exploring her. I needed to calm down. Allie staying friends with Hailey was important for both of us.

As if sensing my less than pure thoughts she shifted away. “Besides, you have plans this morning too, don’t you?”

“As if I would choose basketball with the guys over this?” I cupped her breast to make it clear exactly what I was talking about.

She bit her lip. “Well, either way I’m going, so you need to leave.” She was struggling. She wanted me again.

I decided to run with it. Leaving her wanting more was just a guarantee she’d be ready later. “Fine. But we’re having dinner tonight. I have something to talk to you about.” Something major.

“Dinner sounds good, but what do you need to tell me?”

“Relax, it’s a good thing.” I touched the ruby ring. “This looks good on you.”

“Thanks, I like it.” She studied the ring with a smile.

“I’m glad.” I enjoyed the view as she walked across her room to find some clothes. I was never going to get tired of watching her.

“If you’re done staring, get dressed.” She tossed my pants to me. I caught them in one hand and grudgingly got out of the bed and started dressing. “Okay, okay. Are you always this bossy in the morning?”

“I’m not exactly used to having company this early.”

“Too bad, you’re going to have to get used to it.” I winked before picking up my shirt off the floor. I didn’t mind bossy when it came from Allie. I pulled her into my arms and trailed feather light kisses from her ear down to her neck. She could be late. I needed her and considering that I had the evidence of my arousal pressed against her, she knew it too.

She pushed my chest “You better stop that, or we’re never getting out of here.”

“My thoughts exactly.” I let my heated gaze say it all.

“Levi, come on.” She was asking me to be the strong one. She wanted more, but she didn’t want to disappoint a friend. Allie was principled. It was one of the things I loved about her, so I forced myself to back up. “All right, I’m going. How about I meet you around six?”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.” She walked me to the door.

I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “For the record, that was the best night ever. I’m going to spend the day thinking of ways to make tonight even better.”