Harley
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the ache.
Every inch of me throbbed, a dull, pulsing soreness that reminded me of every moment from the night before. My thighs ached, my hips, my core—God, even my arms felt heavy from gripping him like he was the only thing tethering me to earth.
I tried to sit up.
Big mistake.
A hiss of pain slipped through my teeth, and I flopped back onto the bed, groaning into the pillow. My body felt like it had been hit by a train. A delicious, relentless, filthy train named Levi.
I turned my head slowly. He wasn't there.
The space beside me was cool, the sheets rumpled but empty. My eyes found the clock on the nightstand.
9:00 a.m.
Damn.
Panic rose in my chest. I had meetings. Designing. A full schedule I couldn't afford to miss—and here I was, naked, sore, and completely useless.
Just as I was about to reach for my phone, the bedroom door opened.
Levi walked in.
Freshly showered, his dark curls damp and messy, his jaw clean-shaven, wearing a crisp black shirt rolled up at the sleeves and gray slacks that hugged his hips just right. There was a calm in his eyes, a softness I hadn't seen before.
"You're up," he said with a half-smile.
"Barely," I muttered.
He walked over to my side of the bed and leaned down, brushing a hand gently over my hair. "How do you feel?"
I blinked up at him, too tired to lie. "Like I got hit by a train."
Levi chuckled. The sound was low, deep, rich. "I'll take that as a compliment."
I rolled my eyes, but the heat flushed back into my face. The memories flooded in all at once—his mouth, his hands, the way he growled my name, the way he worshipped and ruined me in the same breath.
"I ran you a bath," he said, and before I could respond, he was pulling the sheets away and scooping me up in his arms.
"Levi—" I squeaked.
"You can barely move," he said, smirking. "Let me take care of you."
My arms looped around his neck, and I let my head rest against his shoulder. He smelled like cedarwood and heat and something distinctly him. He carried me down the hallway, into the bathroom that now smelled like lavender and honey.
Steam curled through the air. The bathtub was filled, warm and inviting, petals floating on the surface, bath oils shimmering under the water.
"You've outdone yourself," I whispered.
He grinned. "Only the best for the woman I broke last night."
I smacked his chest lightly, and he laughed as he lowered me into the water. The second the warmth enveloped my body, I groaned.
"Better?"
"Much."
He kissed my temple. "I'll give you a minute. I'm making breakfast."
"Levi…" I called as he turned to go.
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Thank you."
His eyes lingered on me for a moment, a softness spreading across his face that made something flutter in my chest.
"You're welcome"
He left, and I sank deeper into the water.
My body was still tender, but the bath eased some of the soreness. My mind, though? That was a different story. I couldn't stop replaying the way he touched me, the way he looked at me like I was his whole world, the way he lost himself in me like nothing else mattered.
I was in deep.
Too deep.
By the time I stepped out of the tub, wrapped in a warm towel he must've left by the side, I found a fresh set of soft clothes folded on the counter. A tank top, boy shorts, and an oversized shirt that smelled like him.
I dressed quickly and padded barefoot into the kitchen.
Levi was at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. There were already plates stacked with eggs, fruit, and toast on the counter.
He looked up when he saw me. "Hey, beautiful."
I blushed.
He handed me a mug of coffee exactly how I liked it, and I took a long sip, humming as the heat hit my throat.
"You didn't have to do all this," I said.
He shrugged. "Wanted to. Also, I moved your meetings to noon."
I blinked. "You what?"
He smirked. "Called your assistant. Told her you weren't feeling well. Which isn't a lie, by the way."
I narrowed my eyes. "I could've handled it."
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"You don't always have to handle everything on your own, Harley."
My throat tightened.
We sat down to eat together, talking in soft tones about nothing and everything. He fed me strawberries, teased me about how wrecked I looked, and I let him, because for once… it felt good to just be.
No pressure. No performance.
Just him and me.
And something in the space between us that felt dangerously like falling.
After the warm bath and breakfast, my body finally stopped screaming at me. The soreness was still there, a dull echo of the night before, but the warmth of Levi's care dulled the ache. He tucked me into bed like I was made of glass, kissed my forehead, and told me I needed rest before the meeting. I didn't argue—I just let myself melt into the pillows, limbs heavy, heart full.
I dozed off with the scent of him still lingering on my skin, soft and addictive.
The next time I opened my eyes, sunlight was streaming through the sheer curtains. My lashes fluttered against the brightness, and the bedroom clock read 11:30.
"Harley," his voice came softly, low and coaxing, like velvet against my ears. I turned my head to find Levi standing beside the bed, dressed in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show the veins along his forearms. His hair was styled like always, sharp and sexy, and his mouth curved in that way that made my stomach flutter.
"You need to get up, baby. Meeting's in thirty."
I groaned lightly, stretching before pulling the covers up to my chin. "Five more minutes."
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. "We don't have five minutes. I already pushed it to twelve. Now be a good girl and get dressed."
Somehow, that last part made my legs weak all over again.
I forced myself up and into my clothes—a silky blouse and wide-legged slacks that didn't cling too tightly, thank God. Levi waited patiently, then walked me down to the car. I sat in the passenger seat with my fingers fidgeting in my lap. The engine purred to life, and the city buzzed around us. But in the quiet of that car, with Levi's hand resting lightly on the gear shift and his profile so beautifully focused, I found peace.
He didn't speak much, just glanced at me every now and then like he could still taste me on his tongue. And I felt it too. The tingling aftermath. The quiet knowing.
When we reached the venue, I stepped out into a crisp breeze. Levi walked around the car to hold the door open for me, then placed a hand on my lower back as we headed in. His touch was like fire, even through layers of clothing.
And then came the teasing.
As soon as I walked in, Gabrielle gave me a slow once-over and smirked. "Well, well," she whispered, just low enough that Levi couldn't hear. "Someone's glowing like she finally got some of that ..."
My cheeks flamed instantly. "Shut up," I whispered, elbowing her gently.
"Oh, don't be shy. It's written all over your face. You look like you had three orgasms and a good night's sleep. Who knew you had it in you? Which one is it huh, your bodyguard or someone else?"
I glanced over at Levi. He was standing near the door, talking to someone on his phone, but his eyes were on me. Watching me like he always did—possessive, quiet, intense.
"Maybe I did, let us leave that last part a mystery" I whispered back.
Gabrielle blinked, then broke into a huge grin. "Oh my God. I was joking but now I'm dying. Tell me everything later."
"I will not."
"You will. Or I'll just assume he's hung like a god and rocked your world."
I said nothing. But I didn't have to.
Because I was glowing. And I didn't want to hide it.
" Well I guess he's taken now" Gabrielle sigh