True to his word, and much to our suprise, Reiner fulfilled his vow to spend time with Levi. Although his impromptu announcement and abrupt urgency to become friends with Levi was most likely a ploy to badger him with relationship questions, the raven-haired male returned from the endeavor surprisingly thrilled and without a hint of displeasure in his system. In fact, Levi was quite taken to the blond male, and enjoyed chatting with him over a few drinks.
Everything was settling down again, back to a steady simmer that blended in nicely with the upcoming events. The pace at Brightfield was at an even rhythm, which gave Levi and I more time at home instead of the usual morning to night routine we were pitching before. Mira, as always, was down in the dumps considering her failure at nabbing a decent boyfriend, but that soon passed when piles of work from Erwin were stacked upon her desk each morning.
Phil was seen wandering the expansive halls from time to time on his free afternoons after his classes, and it was a pleasure to speak with him when I had the chance. His bubbly personality brightened my day, and his gushing and fawning over Levi never seemed to dwindle. The boy always had an affinity for Levi and the way he handled his cases, the latter being a sole motivation in Phil's goal of becoming a lawyer. He was a sweet and nurturing character, and it saddened me whenever he would have to depart, seeing as though our partnership as supervisor and assistant was now but a thing of the past.
Domestic qualities were improving at the apartment as well, and things were back on the right track concerning Levi and I. With our sins spilled and worries forgotten, our relationship had never been better, and our intimacy as a couple was at its peak. Considering Thanksgiving was less than a week away, we remained patient with the days, filling our hours at home either packing, cleaning, or simply indulging in each other's company.
"Levi, I think we should go to the bookstore this weekend," I announced in the living room as I was tidying up the remainder of the closed space.
"Hah?" the said male squawked from the couch when I stood on the opposite end of the coffee table, hands on my hips and expression determined.
"I said, I want to go to the bookstore with you," I repeated, relaxing my body position and strolling over to sit on the settee beside him.
"For what reason?" he asked, a bored look in his stormy hues as he curved his head to speak to me.
"I've been meaning to purchase this acclaimed novel," I explained, my right index raised in a clarifying manner. "It's gotten positive reviews from what I hear online, and the plot seems interesting enough. C'mon, Levi, I'm going to need some reading material on the flight, and going to the bookstore wouldn't hurt either of us in the slightest."
Batting my lashes innocently and gazing at Levi with pleading eyes, I scooted closer to the grouchy male, my left thigh pressed to his right when I found our distance appropriate.
"Let's go shopping together," I cooed, invading Levi's personal space inch by inch and linking my arms around his, much to his dismay. "We haven't done it in a while, and we could use the bonding time, considering the whirlwind we've endured this past month alone."
"We spend enough time at home and at work," Levi rebuffed with a indignant grunt. "If you want to go so badly, I'll loan you the keys to my car and you can get whatever it is you so desperately need."
"Oh . . . I see now," I whimpered, loosening my grip on his arm. "You're ashamed to be with me in public . . . "
"That is a fallacy if I ever heard one!" Levi argued, his cheeks stained a vehement shade of pink. "You know damn well I adore having you at my side wherever I go!"
"So, I'm just a trophy girlfriend then?" I questioned, my lips quivering as I stared a the raven-haired male's rainy irises.
"Roxanne, stop twisting my words!" Levi answered, flustered.
"I should have known!" I countered melodramatically, releasing my hold on Levi in order to hold my face in my hands and sniffle. "You were always too good to be true! I knew you had a secret agenda planned out for me, to make yourself look better! Has everything we worked for been meaningless all this time?"
Levi heaved an irritated sigh through grit teeth.
"Now, now, there's no need to go into hysterics over this little thing," he replied as calmly as his temper would allow him. "You're acting like a fussy brat so I'll eventually cave in and go on a date with you, but this time, it's not going to work, young lady."
Halting my faux bawling, I peeked through my fingers and murmured, "Not even a teensy, tiny bit?"
"You're playing a risky game with me," Levi muttered, "and losing terribly."
"I can never win when it comes to you, moon cookie," I giggled, unmasking my features as if I were playing a round of cutesy peekaboo with Levi. "You always seem to have the upper hand in these sorts of situations."
Levi rolled his eyes and spared me a microscopic smile, his left hand outstretched to ruffle my cocoa-powder tresses.
"Maybe if you ask me out on a proper date," Levi proposed, "then I'll consider accompanying you to the bookstore this weekend."
"You promise?" I crooned, grinning and raising my hands up to caress his jawline.
"Yes," he replied flatly, almost as if he was growing tedious of our frivolous banter.
"Levi, go on a date with me," I remarked bluntly, my olive hues lax when I stared at his porcelain characteristics.
"How indolent of you to say," he scolded, his thin brows knitted solemnly. "Did you really put no effort into that statement? My, you must not care much about us spending time as a couple if you think such demanding words will make me say yes."
"Levi!," I whined, smooshing his cheeks a bit with my palms. "Don't be so stingy! A date is a date, no matter how you look at it!"
"Try again," he urged, "and if you're nice about it, I'll accept."
Our mindless bickering went on for a full minute or two before on my tenth attempt, Levi finally replied graciously and accepted the terms. However, his attitude left me sour and displeased with the amount of times I had to spout mushy nonsense in order for my persuasion to penetrate his thick skull. Levi noticed this, and in turn, rewarded me with an affectionate smooch and a few tender whispers on how much he loved me.
Breathing a mute sigh, I apologized for my earlier behavior towards my wants, but Levi merely smiled and pressed another kiss to my lips, chuckling that it was perfectly alright. Quirky and unexpected were my most beloved traits, he confessed, and he would have been a downright awful boyfriend if he ultimately rejected my request.
And so, on Saturday morning, Levi and I went to the bookstore downtown as planned, sidling up against the other from the brisk, Autumn gale that periodically infiltrated our warm apparel. For city weather, it was abnormally cold, but neither of us found it bothersome; we were too immersed in the coziness of the other's presence. Levi had insisted on holding my hand until we reached the store, fearing my fingers would go numb from the freezing temperature outside.
The bookstore was located in the city square, a few blocks from where Levi's apartment was. Even though it was only November, the shops dotting the square were decorated with the utmost festivity, and the middle of the rounded area was blocked off for the placement of the annual Christmas tree. I couldn't complain though; it was going to be my first Christmas with Levi, as well as his birthday, so the seasons marked a joyous occasion for the both of us.
However, even at the bookstore, soft Christmas music was playing at a near-mute level, dishing out all the classics and romantic songs regarding the special holiday. Levi seemed unperturbed by the sounds and followed me wherever I trotted, unfazed when I would stop at a different section and filter through the multitudes of hardcovers.
"You're stuck to me like glue," I mumbled as I leafed through the various novels lining the shelves in the suspense and thriller category. "If you're interested in something or a specific genre, you should go check it out, Levi. Even if this is a date, I'm not going to prevent you from restricting your personal desires."
"Alright," Levi quickly responded, followed by his footsteps gradually echoing in the distance behind me.
For a good ten minutes, I remained in the same section, my fingers tipping any of the spines of the mystery and horror books I found interesting along my journey for the novel I was originally searching for. Soon enough, Levi returned with a decent-sized book in his hands, a stoic expression afflicting his poised features.
"I think we should get this," he offered, displaying to me the cover of the material.
Glancing over at the item, my face instantly flared up when I read the title, which was purposely written in a seductive shade of cream pink.
"Go put that back!" I chastised on a whisper, ignoring the fact I was visibly embarrassed with the male's choice of literature. "There is no chance we're buying a copy of the Kama Sutra!"
"But it's really insightful—Here, look at this one," Levi beamed, flipping the hardcover open and flashing me one of the images. "Pretty intimate position, don't you agree?"
"Oh my God, knock it off!" I reprimanded, veering my head back to the bookshelves and shrouding the left half of my peripheral vision with my same-sided hand. "Don't go waving that indecent material out in public! Have you no shame of your actions?"
"Not really," Levi answered sweetly as he snapped the book shut. "I just wanted to see your flustered reaction, that's all. You're positively adorable when you're frazzled and warm in the face!"
"Great, well you got one," I grumbled, allowing my hand to fall back at my side. "Now go put that back where you found it, you closet pervert."
"Actually, I kind of want it now," he confessed, inspecting the back of the material as he spoke. "Perhaps it'll help us spice things up in the bedroom, hm? You can't beat sexual wisdom like this for fifteen bucks."
"Please stop talking to me . . . " I urged with blazing cheeks, my hands now fumbling to browse the novels occupying my line of sight.
Exhaling a disgruntled sigh, I lifted my lashes to peek back at Levi in order to ascertain whether he was continuing to examine the book or if he had dispersed back to where he had picked it up. Of course, he was still standing beside me, his rainy eyes scanning the inner material as he held the guide with his left hand. Pursing my lips into a thin line, I inhaled a relaxing breath through my nose and shifted my full attention onto the occupied man.
"You're uncomfortable, I know," Levi acknowledged as he closed the book again and propped it up against a row suspense novels. "I'm merely kidding around with you; no need to give me that peeved look."
My expression remained constant.
"No more, I promise," he reassured, pacing closer to me and wrapping his arms around my waist. "So let's be happy for the rest of the day, alright? I want to see your precious smile and hear your airy giggles, okay? So let's be happy . . . happy, happy, happy . . . "
Levi continued to serenade me, eventually gaining a small curl of the lips when his affectionate charade dwindled down. Noticing my change of attitude, Levi graced me with a pleased grin and pecked my cheek, murmuring some apology or another about the lewd guidebook as I slid one of the thriller volumes out from its place. Aside from Levi's incessant, tender words, the muffled chatter of the bookstore seemed to grow quieter, relaxing the two of us to some extent.
"Oh, I found it," I said softly, pushing the first novel into the empty space and extracting the one beside it. "Strangled Affairs by Rosemund Clemmot. A tale of unrequited love, murderous intent, and dangerous obsessions . . . Such literary genius delights me to the very core."
"You have strange taste in literature," Levi remarked, unwinding his arms from my waist and slipping his right hand into the back pocket of my ebony jeans.
"Coming from the one who reads romance novels like they're going out of style," I countered with a coy smirk.
Levi knitted his thin brows, arguing, "I'm a fan of science fiction and fantasy genres too."
"Ooh, then we should go browse those sections too!" I proposed, my olive irises twinkling when I gazed at Levi. "I've been wanting to read that one fantasy series! You know, the one that the television show is based off of!"
"Ah, fine, whatever my darling wants," Levi replied, patting me from inside my pocket discreetly as a signal to start walking.
Humming a jovial giggle, I tightened my grip on the suspense novel and trotted at a leisurely pace, Levi linked to my side the entire way and his hand remaining in my pocket. Although, to some it would have been labeled a public display of affection, considering the fact that other individuals at the bookstore spared us suspicious glances and mothers with children slunk away in another direction. God forbid a couple should be seen touching each other in front of the eyes of a child.
Yet, I confided in Levi that the awkward staring was beginning to humiliate me at one point, but the raven-haired male only rebuffed my claim and stated I wouldn't have to endure it for much longer. To be clear, it wasn't that I found his touch triggering or unwanted, it was the fact that the continuous gaping and gawking from people roaming the store were mingling into an unpleasant feeling within my stomach.
"Humans are so close-minded," Levi disclosed when the two of us reached the fantasy aisle and began scanning its contents. "It's like we're still living in a primitive era."
"Funny you say that, Levi," I added, browsing the A section as I spoke. "I believe you surpassed the people we walked by in age, yet you're much more sensible. Must be the younger generation becoming fools again, huh?"
"Roxanne, you're a member of the younger generation too," Levi chided in response, his hands now stuck in the pockets of his parka. "Might I remind you there is an eleven year age difference between us?"
Chuckling, I withdrew the book I wanted and skipped over to where Levi was browsing, balancing the two novels in my arms carefully when I halted my steps a few inches away from the stoic male.
"Yeah, but that never seemed to bother us, now did it?" I inquired back. "I would love you no matter how old you were, Levi! But when it comes to others, like my parents for instance, I'm unsure how they would interpret the news . . . "
Levi quirked a brow, questioning, "Are they against you having an older partner or something?"
"N-no, not at all!" I squeaked, raising one hand up and waving it frantically at the perplexed male. "Growing up, my mother always told me that if I loved someone and they felt the same towards me, I deserved to be with them. It's more along the lines that, well, no offense to you, but for someone your age, you look quite young, perhaps close to your mid-twenties if seen from afar. My parents nor my brother have asked how old you are, and I fear they might over react when I finally do tell them."
"Looks can be deceiving," Levi commented, a smile twitching onto his lips, "but I'm certain they'll accept me either way. From what you've told me, they sound infatuated with the idea of me being your boyfriend, so I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I replied, bowing my head bashfully and scanning the opulent covers of my novels.
"No guessing, you should be one-hundred percent sure of my words," Levi admonished as he slipped a hardcover on top of the two I was currently holding. "Also, I want this one; do you mind paying for it?"
Peeking through my fringe to glare at the absurd male, I questioned, "Don't you have your own money?"
"Yes," he answered matter-of-factly, "but I want you to purchase it. We rarely get gifts for one another, and I would appreciate it if you bought it for me."
Levi blinked, his rainy irises growing more lachrymose each time his dark lashes fluttered. Jutting his bottom lip out into a subtle pout, he pinched the sleeve of my trench coat and tugged on it childishly, never once breaking his woebegone stare.
"Please?" he begged in the softest, most angelic voice he could muster.
Frowning, I furrowed my brows in a disparaging stance, gritting my teeth nervously in the process. Glancing down at the material he chose, the dust jacket was colored in an array of morose colors, consisting of dark crimsons, off-color whites and bleak hues. From the cover, it was most likely a dystopian, another genre I was quite the fan of.
Sighing, I gazed back at Levi and mumbled, "Fine, but promise me you'll let me read it when you're finished, okay?"
Levi nodded in agreement and instantly switched his gloomy expression into something more gleeful, a radiant smile replacing the dejected pout he disturbingly wore. Perhaps to some his attempts at being adorable would be a success, with his appealing, fragile facial structure and all; however, when you've been with someone like Levi for as long as I have, it becomes an unsettling sight since you're acclimatized to their sullen characteristics and the petulance etched into their features.
"So, I suppose we're done here then?" I questioned, mustering a small smile.
"Yeah," Levi drawled, hands again burrowed in his jacket pockets and mouth shrouded by its tan, furry muffler.
Flashing him a wide grin, I balanced the three novels in my right arm and linked my left with one of Levi's, gradually tugging him along to the check-out counters. There was barely a line for purchases, and the two of us were instantly greeted by a bubbly cashier with lengthy auburn hair tied in a ponytail and slanted eyes. He was gorgeous to say the least, with exotic features mirroring that of a Korean pop idol. As I conversed with him regarding my items, I had to constantly check if I was growing flushed, and thankfully, my temperature was normal throughout the conversation.
Curse me for being too genial with others, I mentally scolded myself as Levi and I bid farewell to our cashier and exited the bookstore.
"Roxanne?" Levi called, his breath foggy and translucent from the chilly air outside. "You've got that anxious look on your face again."
"Huh? I do?" I responded, my eyes similar to that of a doe. "I-I'm sorry, I was preoccupied with my thoughts . . .
"But it doesn't really matter anyway," I added, sidestepping closer to Levi until I was snugly sidled up against his side. "I'm rarely bothered by anything when you're in my presence, Levi."
"That so?" Levi queried inquisitively as he wound an arm around my waist.
"But of course!" I chirped enthusiastically. "You make all of my troubles disappear in the blink of an eye, you know."
Huffing a chuckle, Levi pecked my cheek and held me as we walked, our warm breaths visible and smiles adorning our features. The man was all I wanted and more; no one could possibly compare when it came to Levi.
~*~
The entire journey was exhausting, excruciatingly long, and tiresome. From having to endure the struggle of parking at the airport, to passing security and boarding the flight, then landing and having to sort out our luggage, it was a pleasant spectacle to be greeted by Robin in the arrivals hall. Although, that euphoric happiness withered in the blink of an eye when Robin rushed over to us and proceeded to embrace me in a endearing squeeze, a millisecond away from removing my coffee booties' gravitational place from the pristine tile floor.
"Oh, it's so wonderful to see you again, Roxanne!" the brunet squealed, the stubble dotting his jawline pressing against my soft cheeks. "You look more beautiful than the last I saw you! You have to tell me your secret!"
"Please . . . put me down," I coughed out, my face scrunched up from the inseparable intimacy Robin was suffocating me with.
Robin, who had always been a respectful and chivalrous gent, heeded my needs and released his tight grip from my smaller frame, allowing me to pore over how much he had changed since I had last seen him.
He had gained a few pounds from the looks of it, mainly muscle weight, and his features were as scruffy as ever. Robin was the type who never bothered to shave unless his facial hair was deemed unruly by his standards, but the cocoa-powder stubble complimented his masculine jawline and characteristics perfectly. If people were unaware of our four-year age difference, they would probably mistake us for twins.
"And you must be my sister's amazing boyfriend!" Robin exclaimed to Levi, to which the latter was taken aback by my brother's merry disposition. "Oh, Roxanne can never stop yammering on about you! Every time I call, she has a billion stories about how you're like her knight in shining armor, always doting on her and making her feel like the special little lady she is!"
"Does eagerness run in the family?" Levi queried to me in a hushed tone.
"The Westbrooks are a lively bunch," I answered, all the while gracing Robin with a cordial smile. "Just imagine me on a daily basis, only ten times worse."
"Roxanne is the baby of the family after all," Robin continued, completely oblivious to the exchange between Levi and I, "so when she confessed to us she was bringing her boyfriend for the holidays, we were all in an uproar about the whole ordeal! Never once has Roxanne wanted to introduce us to her partners, no matter how many times we pleaded and begged her to! It must be because of what happened to her in—!"
Robins unnecessary banter was cut short by my elbow coming in contact with his rib cage harshly.
"Let's not dwell on the past, shall we?" I advised. "Levi is caught up to speed with my affairs, so no need to spill the details to him again."
"I second that notion," Levi muttered, his stormy eyes now affixed on viewing the time on his phone.
The raven-haired male proceeded to shield his mouth with his forearm, emitting a dry and scratchy cough after his words. Robin and I shared a worried glance before tilting our head simultaneously in the same gesture as shrugging our shoulders.
"I'm glad to see you're doing better though, Roxanne," Robin murmured, his olive hues twinkling. "You've come a long way, considering your past. For the longest time, I honestly believed you would have given up on relationships altogether."
"So you've noticed too?" I inquired with a genuine giggle. "Well, he's been a great help since we've been together."
I curved my head to acknowledge Levi, who was intermittently coughing and scrolling through articles on his phone. Estranged as he was to the conversation, when he peered up from his illuminated screen and noticed my affectionate ogle, his cheeks glowed a fragile pink and his narrowed eyes enlarged by a meager fraction.
"What?" he asked of Robin and I, a perplexed expression replacing his fatigued one.
"Oh, nothing," I chimed, smiling at the confused male. "We should get going though. Robin has been kind enough to drive us to my parents house, so we shouldn't continue dawdling here spouting reminiscent nonsense, right?"
"Don't forget your luggage!" Robin chirped, his boisterous attitude returning quicker than expected. "Wouldn't want our esteemed guests breaking an awful sweat! It is the holidays after all! And Levi, it sounds like you're coming down with something terrible!"
"You mean my disgusting hacking?" Levi elaborated as he handed his personal suitcase off to Robin. "I brought it upon myself; being addicted to nicotine doesn't prove positive results in the long run."
"But you're sober now, I take it?" Robin queried, his attention mainly focused on grappling our luggage.
"Two months," Levi replied as he pinched the fabric of his inky scarf up to his nose. "I found the need for them unnecessary, and they were slowly killing me anyway . . . Plus, I was fretting over Roxanne's health."
"Isn't he the sweetest?" I squeaked, throwing my arms around Levi and nuzzling my cheek against his silky tresses. "Levi, you're positively perfect!"
Levi growled at my outward display of love, causing Robin to meekly chuckle at our shenanigans. However, Levi soon pried me off of him and followed after Robin, who was silently trotting off to the entrance of the airport and to the parking lot. Sighing, I trailed in the same direction, smiling at Levi's backside all the while.
Even in the backseat of the car, I couldn't help myself from scooting closer to Levi and curling up next to him as best as my seat belt would allow me. Growing tired of my playful charade, Levi finally gave in to my demands and returned the fond actions, realizing I was only trying to release any pent-up excitement about visiting my family.
Levi, who was exceedingly anxious about the whole ordeal, seemed to find comfort from my kittenish antics. Although, Robin was continuously having to chastise us for all the giggling and array of squeaking noises coming from behind him. Levi and I would mumble an apology, proceeded by us returning to whatever mindless activity we were doing beforehand.
However, his nervousness escalated when we reached the house, and we were both bombarded by my parents in the living room.
A cozy flame was roaring in the fireplace, considering the temperature outside was chillier than back in New York. My father and mother were chatting to one another when Robin burst in through the front door, exclaiming jubilantly that we arrived safe and sound. My mother, a shorter woman than myself, instantly sprang from her seat and rushed over to her children, her bright brown irises mesmerized by the ambush of people in her home.
"If it isn't my precious daughter!" she squealed, her palms pressed to her cheeks in order to contain her visible joy. "For living in the city, you look as radiant as ever! You would think the metropolitan pollution would wreck your health, now wouldn't it?
"And you said your boyfriend was handsome, but I wasn't expecting him to be this attractive!" my mother added, gazing at Levi with sparkling, fawning eyes. "My goodness, you may be in competition with my own husband!"
Levi blushed a furious shade of red, incredibly embarrassed from both my comments about him and my mother's fangirling behavior over him. My father, a lanky man with curled locks and rectangular spectacles, was gravitated by the onslaught of human activity and slunk over to our lively group, a weary smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Dorothy," he cooed to my mother, placing a hand on her petite shoulder, "I think you just broke my heart with that statement."
"Richard!" my mother yelped in response, her face burning a livid salmon hue. "I-I was just kidding around! You know you're my one and only! Forever and ever until the end of time!"
Levi's grizzly expression was enough for me to realize that he finally understood where my hopeless romantic-esque speech originated from.
"Mom, please, calm yourself," Robin urged, his hands raised and pushing the air in a ceasing gesture.
"Told you they're ten times worse than me," I teased to Levi, whose eyes were shut in a wincing manner and figure rigid.
"Shh," Levi susurrated through clenched teeth. "Give me some time to acclimatize to this . . . raucous setting."
Indeed, he would, considering we planned on staying with the rambunctious unit for three whole days. Although, it was pleasant seeing him make an attempt to get used to my family, despite their clamorous attitudes and squirrely behaviors.
"Well, there's no denying his looks are appealing," my father commented, his other hand cupping his chin in a thoughtful manner, "but, don't you suppose he's a bit on the short side for Roxanne?"
"Dad!" I interjected, having to ignore the despondent air radiating off Levi. "That's a sensitive subject for him! A-and I love him regardless! Just because you're taller than mom, doesn't mean my boyfriend has to be twice my size!"
Robin struck a flirtatious pose, his middle and index fingers poised femininely to his lips when he crooned, "Yeah, but if you found a guy with my height and build, you'd jump into his arms in a heartbeat!"
"I-I don't have a brother complex, you idiot!" I reprimanded, promptly joining the flustered party accumulating within our jumbled conversations. "Even if I did, it wouldn't be for a scrub like you!"
Amidst all of our bickering and squabbling, Levi had silently maneuvered his way out of the the crowded room, taking our suitcases with him as he most likely searched for the bedrooms. Robin, who had noticed the smaller male leave his line of vision, embarked to locate him while I was preoccupied with lessening the rowdy atmosphere between my parents and I.
Much to Levi's dismay, Robin immediately clung to him for the day, chatting up a storm with the stoic man whenever he found the chance. I, on the other hand, was comfortable lying down in the guest bedroom under the covers, extremely exhausted from the lengthy flight and praying to get some rest for a few hours before dinner. With such a jaded and tedious flight, the last thing on my mind was anything pertaining to food at that given moment.
Levi joined me an hour after I fell asleep, clocking out around the time I woke up to check the time. With the bed sheets warmer with Levi in them and his arms around me, I eventually slept again, not once awakening until Robin so abruptly crashed into the room to announce dinner was ready in the dining room.
The first night, although filled with turbulent conversations and quarreling, ended peacefully with a satisfying meal made by my mother and more logs tossed into ember-ridden fireplace. Granted that Levi and I were nocturnal rascals, we decided that after everyone had retired to their own bedrooms for the night, we snuck out into the living room and sat by the fire, throwing another piece of wood in to keep the flames burning strong.
"Lively day, huh?" I asked the raven-haired male when I returned from fetching a flannel blanket.
Levi outstretched his arms when I deposited the blanket onto him, replying, "Never before had I endured a headache from people making idle chit-cat with another."
"You want some aspirin?" I inquired, preferring not to sit down until I earned an answer from him.
"No need for medication," he said softly as he patted the empty spot beside him. "Just being with you will make all my pain subside."
"Oh, how you make me swoon," I jeered, proceeding to occupy the cold and lonely spot next to Levi.
With a smile, the doting male grabbed the blanket and fanned it out behind him like a pair of wings or a cape, luring me in closer to him with one end and the other wrapping around the opposite side of his body. Bringing my knees up to my chest, I inhaled the toasty air and gripped my piece of the blanket, situating myself into a snug position with Levi.
His stormy irises were affixed to the lapping flames, each roaring blaze flickering their gorgeous hues of vermilion, tiger, and marigold onto Levi's ivory features. Gazing at the aloof man, I absentmindedly brought a hand up and caressed his jawline, admiring how valiant his features looked against the timeless flames.
"What do you think you're doing?" he teased, peering at me with inquisitive and tender eyes.
"I-I'm not sure," I stammered, another heat creeping across my face. "I had the sudden urge to touch you and establish that you're a reality in my life."
"Are you looking for proof?" he queried with a twinge of devilish intentions lingering in his gruff voice. "If so, I can assist you gaining some . . . "
The affectionate male smirked before craning closer to my face, one of his hands trailing towards my neck and the other palming my side accordingly. Embarrassed as I was by his impish banter and endearing actions, I allowed myself to fall lax in his embrace and accept his romantic gestures of love.
For a brief second, his lips ghosted over mine, his breathing languid and gentle before he pressed a ginger kiss to the sensitive area. My lashes instinctively fluttered shut, and the rhythmic beating in my chest thumped in a captivated manner, along with my entire being gradually falling submissive to Levi's touch.
He pulled back, only to shower me with plentiful, numbing kisses until my back was eased down to the carpet and Levi stared down at me with enchanted eyes. The flourishing waves from the fire still shone off the contours of his face, and a charming smile had replaced his reticent smirk.
"You don't know how happy I am to have met you," Levi murmured as he thumbed my cheek winsomely.
"Then show me," I breathed, hooking my fingers around his collar and gravitating him to me once more.
Levi graced me with another genuine smile and leaned in again, continuing to present me with a flurry of amorous kisses and feather-like touches to the unclothed areas of my body. All the while, the fireplace crackled and snapped in the soothing silence of the night, enveloping the two of us in its warmth and security for the remainder of our fervent evening together.