Chapter 63

I had to touch him, so I laid a palm on his knee, leaned in and pressed a kiss to his smooth cheek. The smile he gave me when I pulled away made me think that the butterflies from the garden had followed us home and taken up residence in my stomach. 8: Levi

Virgo (August 23—September 22)

The fire signs are dominating the skies and you will find ample opportunities to satisfy your needs. Expect to be set on fire by someone close to you and make sure you have something to put it out with in case things get too heated. Something golden will work, if you’re into that. My chosen fire extinguisher is white, sticky, and salty and comes out of a hose. Get it?

* * * *

“I want to kiss you. Can I kiss you?” I’d been dying to kiss Beckett all day, ever since he’d opened the door when I’d picked him up but wanted our first kiss to be in private, not surrounded by families and flying creatures. And now he was so close; the scents from the abundant garden flowers clung to his hair and drew me in as if I’d been one of the butterflies. I couldn’t wait any longer to feel his beard on my face, to touch him for real, and to kiss him until neither of us could breathe.

Beckett’s gaze fell to my mouth and I licked my lips. Slowly and deliberately.

“Yes,” he said, voice low and hoarse.

I leaned in and he gasped as our noses touched. I ran my hand up his arm, over his shoulder, and cupped his cheek. Finally, I had his beard under my fingertips. It was soft and so much silkier than I’d imagined. I ran my fingers through it and his breath stuttered.

“Levi, please,” he whispered, and I couldn’t resist the desperation in his voice. I slid my hand down his neck, closed the distance, and pressed my mouth against his. There was no tongue. No exchange of saliva. Just his warm lips against mine. Our breaths mingling. His hand gripping my waist.

Something fell into place. Righted itself. Something I’d waited for my entire life but not found until this moment when I finally was allowed to touch this amazing man.

When I pulled back, he whimpered. His eyes were closed, and a small smile played in the corners of his mouth. He radiated happiness. I nudged his nose with mine before I kissed him again, with a little more pressure this time.

Tingles raced through my body and my heart fluttered in my chest like a butterfly wing. If this was my reaction to a chaste kiss, what would happen when we introduced tongue or got naked? A ten-alarm fire?

This time Beckett broke the kiss. His eyelids were heavy, and he smiled at me. It was a lazy, sexy smile, one I’d never seen before. I tightened the grip on his neck to stop him from moving away.

“Wow,” he said. “That was some kiss.”

I nodded. “I want to stay the night,” I blurted, but even if I hadn’t planned on doing it so bluntly, I didn’t regret saying it.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

“I’d love that,” he said and then his mouth was on mine again, pressing light kisses on my lips, in the corner of my mouth, on my cheek. His beard on my skin was soft and rough at the same time and sent shivers down my spine. He moved closer until his front was pressed against my side, kissed his way down my neck, and hid his face in my shoulder. I threw my arms around him and rested my cheek on the top of his head.

“Let’s go to bed,” I murmured, and he nodded. We stayed like that for a few more heartbeats until we got off the floor. I grabbed his hand. “Show me your bedroom?”

He nodded again and soon we stood facing each other next to his bed. He made no move to touch me. Instead, he turned his head and stared at the floor as he rubbed his hands on his pants’ legs. Something was clearly wrong.

I took a step closer. Reached out, cradled his face, and nudged his head until he looked at me. “Have you changed your mind? It’s okay, you know.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then what is it? Tell me.” I swept my thumbs over the sensitive skin under his eyes. Nudged his nose with mine. “Whatever it is, it’s okay.”

“It’s just…” He closed his eyes. “You’re so gorgeous, and I’m…”

It dawned on me then. “Also gorgeous.” I let go of his face and skimmed my palms down his neck, his arms, and rested them on his waist for a second before grabbing the hem of his sweater. “Can I take this off?”

“S-sure.” He stretched his arms toward the ceiling and let me pull the garment over his head. I threw it somewhere, before putting my hands on his hips.