“I understand, Sir.”
My voice quivers, and I hate how weak it sounds, but beneath his intense gaze I am a shell of my past. I notice the way he drags his tongue along his teeth before he sighs deeply, and I think he’ll let me scurry out of the room.
“Strip.”
I thought too soon.
I hope I’ve misheard him. I stand there, blinking slowly, hoping he won’t repeat the word that’s haunting me right now as I glimpse over his shoulder once more.
“Levi?” I question, but it’s more of a breathless whisper as he nods to my towel. A gleam of mischief passes in his gaze, and I shiver from the sight of it. “Make your choice, Sasha.”
He wagers with a quirk of his brow and it’s as if the whole room is holding its breath. My heart hammers loudly in my chest, and after a beat of hesitation, I reach for the towel.
He doesn’t shield his surprise when I pull it away from my body – his eyes widen a fraction when I release it from my grip, and I’m left completely bare in a room full hungry men who couldn’t care less about my ‘innocence.’
Levi isn’t modest about his lust.
His gaze sweeps over my face before it travels downward to the voluptuous breasts that bounce slightly with every ragged, anxious breath I drag between my lips. He licks his lips when he takes in my nipples, as if they’re pieces of candy for him to suckle on and enjoy, but he doesn’t touch – not yet.
Not while there’s still so much to see. His gaze continues downward, over my curvy hips, to the puffy mound between my thighs. He inhales a sharp breath, biting his bottom lip as I shift and he get’s a good look at the lips of my pussy.
I don’t expect him to ravage me in front of them.
I’m convinced he’s just admiring the view. The intensity of his stare is enough to cause me to be in disarray – to the point I forget we’re in a room with others. That is, until one places his hand on Levi’s shoulder and steps forward with violent desire in his gaze as he takes in my nudity.
“Oh, fuck, Levi, she’s fucking perfect.” The man whistles, and his brows furrow with yearning. I move to cover myself but stop. I don’t want to anger Levi, and any move I make could be the one that pushes him over the edge. “How much is she?”
I firm my lips, eyes roaming the balding head of the man, and the way he removes his hand from Levi’s shoulder and rubs both of his hands together like he’s getting ready to dig into his favorite meal. Levi appears amused at my discomfort.
“What do you think is a fitting price, Sasha?”
Nothing.
I shiver at the thought of being roughly taken from this home by one of the sleazy men standing behind him. Especially the one bargaining for a taste of me right now. I shake my head, eyes shooting to the towel on the floor. My fingers twitch, legs restless with the urge to scoop it up and shield myself.
“Don’t,” Levi warns, as if he can read my mind.
“I am not for sale,” I reply, surprised at the confidence in my voice as I speak those words. The man guffaws beside Levi, before clucking his tongue and running fingers through the hair he has left.
“There’s always a price, dear,” the man responds. “Let the men do business.”
He settles his gaze back on Levi and clears his throat.
“Please tell me you have a price for her. Otherwise, you’re teasing us,” he comments. He’s silenced as Levi raises his hand.
“You’re owed nothing, Jason,” Levi snarls, before he nods to me. “She’s not for sale.”
Jason scoffs, before stepping forward and capturing my wrist. I inhale a sharp breath, a small gasp leaving my lips as he yanks me into him and wraps a possessive hand around my waist.
“To hell she isn’t. Name your fucking price,” Jason growls as he regards Levi with disgust. His long fingers stroke my back, moving downward to the crack of my ass and I gulp nervously.
“Sasha, step back.”
I only have a second’s warning to pull myself away from Jason’s grip before Levi manages to strike him with his fist and drop him to the ground with a firm hand in the middle of Jason’s chest as he kneels beside him. Jason groans, his eye already swelling from the punch.
“Do I need to remind you who you’re talking to? I don’t give a shit if she’s a tease. You don’t touch her unless I provide you permission. You come into my house and disrespect me – you’re lucky I don’t fucking kill you right here.”
Levi’s voice is gruff and low, and menacing. Jason remains silent, a scowl on his face as Levi removes his hand from on his chest and stands. He turns to address those behind us, who’re looking with wide, alarmed gazes at the scene that’s just unfolded.
Levi widens his arms.
“Would anyone else like to test me today?” He questions. When no one responds, his arms drop down to his sides before he reaches for me and tugs me into his muscular side. My hands reach out, pressing against his abs.
“Just a reminder of who she belongs to,” Levi snarls, before he lifts his hand to his mouth and licks the pad of his thumb before he lowers his hand between my thighs. When I feel the heat of his hands nearing my pussy, I part my thighs, surprised at how eager I am to feel the friction of his hand. I’m unsure if it’s the adrenaline of what just happened, or the fact he basically stuck up for me, but I’m extremely affected by his closeness.
My body aches for him.
My usual self-hatred has dissipated at his chivalry.
When his wet thumb glides down my slit, a soft moan escapes my lips. His eyes narrow and snap to my mouth, and I’m surprised at the low growl that leaves his lips before he yanks me in front of him and picks me up so I have to wrap my legs around his waist.
This side of him is new.
It’s …
Exciting.
Oh god, I need help.
The possessiveness is the gentlest form that is revealed to me. Because when he’s staking claim to me in front of a group of eager men, he proves to them and me just what he can make my body feel.
He leans his head forward, his mouth mere inches from mine.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” He mutters.
“D-done what?” I stammer, unsure of what triggered this.
“Moaned.”
He bites his lip.
“Because now I have to have you.”