Page 124 of Thorns and Ashes
“Except for maybe the electrician my father’s contractor hired out,” Callie grumbles. “Looks like I may be needing Jerry’s servicessoon. In the meantime, while we rebuild, you two need a place to stay.”
I frown, and Callie must understand why.
“Even if your place didn’t have much damage, Chief says it’s not safe until we get inspectors in there. You can grab your things this weekend and stay at one of our places.”
I look at Levi to gauge his reaction and see what he wants to do.
“What place?” he asks, running his hand over his beard and across his jaw.
“At this point, any of them. The insurance will cover everything, so take your pick. Frosty Mountain Resort, The Cozy Cottage, Cozy Pines Inn, Turtle Bay Hotel?” She lists off all the locations her family owns and waits for us to pick one.
“What do you think?” I ask Levi.
“Whatever you want.”
I think about it, and my lip slowly twitches up. “Turtle Bay Hotel is close to both our jobs.” I pause. “And room service sounds pretty nice.”
He chuckles and kisses my head. “Turtle Bay Hotel, it is.”
Aknock at the door wakes me. “Room service,” someone calls from the hall.
I roll over, reaching for Levi, but he isn’t there. Slowly, I open my eyes as he walks back into the room, shirtless in all his glory, Ellie padding along beside him while he carries a tray toward the bed. The smell of bacon drifts through the air, and if my mouth wasn’t already watering, it definitely is now. Before his knee even touches the mattress, I’m sitting up with grabby hands.
“Yes!” I snatch a piece of bacon and bite into it greedily as Levi laughs.
“I can see why you like room service so much.” He takes a bite of what looks like Taylor ham, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel before sipping one of the two coffees he brought in. “I could get used to this.”
“Not bad, right?” I chuckle, reaching for the other cup.
We finish eating, and I fall back onto the bed, happy and satisfied. The fluffy down comforter surrounds me, like I’m floating on a cloud, and I sigh.
“Maybe I did die yesterday, because this feels like heaven.”
Levi stills beside me, swallowing hard before looking away.
“Hey.” I sit up, grabbing his face with my hand, forcing him to look at me, to be present with me. There’s a haunted look in his eyes that makes him seem far away and makes my heart hurt. “I’m right here. I’m okay.”
“I know,” he rasps, trying not to notice the small cut still on my head.
I drop my hand and trail my fingers down his neck to his bare chest, tracing the outline of scars that break across his skin like slow waves. He closes his eyes, his breath turning heavy as I push him slowly onto his back against the bed.
Hooking my leg over so I’m straddling him, I lean in, pressing kisses over every inch of scarring, every painful memory I know yesterday dragged back to the surface. Every new nightmare I know will now haunt his dreams... and mine too.
“I am so in love with you,” I murmur, pulling back, desperate that he sees how much I mean it. “I love you so much, and I never wanted to.”
He laughs, but it gets stuck in his throat.
“I thought you were homeless, and you pegged me for a bitch,” I say with a laugh, but a tear falls down my cheek and lands on his chest. “We found love in the last place either of us expected it, and I will never take that for granted. You saved me, Levi.”
“I thought I was going to lose you. I thought I was too late.” His voice cracks as we take a beat, letting the reality of yesterday catch up and settle around us. As it does, he stares at the ceiling, the tears that he’s fought off finally falling.
“Look at me, baby,” I ask gently, waiting until he does to continue. “You. Saved. Me.” I enunciate every word slowly, allowing them to sink in, willing to say it over and over until it gets through his thick head.
Something behind his eyes seems to shift. Sitting up, he wraps his arms around me and captures me in an all-consuming kiss that leaves me breathless and dizzy when he pulls away.
“You’re wrong,” he says, a small smile tugging at his lips as I frown. “I didn’t save you, baby. You saved me.”
My lips press together as his words land, a rush of emotion hitting me all at once, stealing the air from my lungs. I look away, rolling my eyes at how mushy this man makes me as I try to fight my smile.
