Walking through the lounge to pick up my check, I felt an instant disconnect and the world felt peculiarly off. Turning my vision over to the bar, Levi wasn't there. 

But who I did see nearly scared me out of my dress.

"Rochelle?" I asked in the most puzzled tone and expression.

Staring up to me after taking a customer's order, she was making it herself for the first time I'd ever seen since we met. I was in pure astonishment. She was doing a great job, don't get me wrong. But the fact of the matter was that I hadn't seen Levi too far from his bar well...ever. Definitely not used to someone else touching his favorite cocktail shaker too.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. You think I was never taught how to do work, myself?" She noticed my disbelief while pouring the next drink.

I shyly grinned and shrugged. I didn't say anything. But it was quite an odd sight to see.

"U-u-uh I think ya doing swell." I honestly confessed. She smiled and nodded. "Where's Levi though? It's not usually like him to leave his post for hardly any reason unless it's to perform...or pee." I pointed out.

She snickered, agreeing. "Trust me sweetheart, I completely understand. Fella's never missed a day of work in his life for as long as he's been with me. Even when ill, he came in here half conscious and still knew how to make a Tom Collins without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile I feel like I'm becoming such a palooka over here."

Well that only just made it seem more strange. If he never missed a day, then why now not show up?

Oh god, I hope I didn't scare him away with my feelings from our breakthrough a few days ago. Maybe he figured it all out and thought it was best to never want to see me again.

"Is there any way I can help, then?" I wondered—my check far out of my mind anymore.

Staring at me closely, she nodded slowly and smirked. "Yeah. How about you pay the man a visit? After all, I gave him the day off because he just called off his engagement."

What?! He seemed so destined to marry Heather. What happened? How did it get so bad?! Oh no, was this really all my fault and she realized what I had felt too for him from the last time we spoke?

All those questions and more just wouldn't shake away.

So gratefully complying with her request, knowing I fully wanted to do so anyway after hearing something so outlandish as that...I raced back out of the bar.

He needed to know someone truly did love him.

He needed to know somehow it was always me.

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

Running through the streets of Levi's neighborhood as the crisp evening hour fast approached, the sunset was going down. It looked so beautiful, I could cry.

But the most important thing right now once I saw him again, was how my best friend could use some love and comfort after the terrible news I'd just heard. Now to me, it was a bit of a sigh of relief I didn't have to compete with another woman any longer—not that I was trying.

But I'd be lying if I said I was ashamed of even thinking like that.

Though for Levi, I knew it couldn't have been easy letting go of someone you loved. The poor man must be heartbroken. Crushed. Pummeled—if he really did love her as much as his ring stated.

I just had to listen and be the ear he would want someone to lend him.

Once I finally managed to make it past his front desk lobby and being let in by another tenant, I ran to the elevator and soon up to his apartment door. Knocking while standing directly in front, quickly and without hesitation...the door swung open.

But to my surprise, under the impression I'd be seeing how distraught he might've been, he appeared to me rather...normal.

So normal, the man was freakin' shirtless with only a pair of casual slacks on.

And my oh my—did I love it very much. It was like nearly every woman's wild fantasy.

I couldn't stop staring at every inch of his sharp and toned muscles on his body. I wanted to touch them so much. Each pec was like a rippling wave falling further into my heart. And the more I kept gazing at him like he was the sexiest piece of cake at the party, I could faintly hear him chuckling slightly to himself. Whoops.

"Why am I not surprised to see ya here, little doll?" He asked kindly.

Now he had to throw in the nickname he gave me too with a vision like his?!

I shyly grinned apologetically. "Levi! I heard what happened about ya wedding. Let me just be the first to say, I am so sorry! If I had anything to do with any of this, please tell me and I will do whatever ya want to make it right! I'll fix it!" I kept ranting on without breaking for a breath.

Chuckling again, he simply shook his head with a sweet grin. "Ivy. Ivy. It's okay. Please. For my sake, can ya just come in already first? Ya kinda causing a draft."

Stopping myself, he was surely right. I needed to take a moment in and regroup. What could I say though? I could never learn when to just stop talking when I was so passionate about something so much.

Agreeing to his wishes, I entered as he closed the door and spun back toward me. "Ya don't mind, do ya? I just got out of the shower—so I didn't have time to fully get dressed before some ankle biter knocked on my door." He then let out, sounding playfully annoyed.

I let out a small giggle, but quickly shook my head overall.

He didn't have to be so cheerful just because I was here. I understood if he didn't want to be. Besides, when given a delectable gift like him in this manner...I'd be a bigger fool into not taking full advantage of the view.

"N-n-no, it's fine. I-I-I mean, you're fine. So fine. I mean, you're fine with wearing whatever ya like. After all, I'm the one who came uninvited now, right?" I asked, becoming flustered and tilting my head down respectfully—but secretly looking up.

Unfortunately he just kept noticing my every move, but my eyes couldn't help it.

Biting his bottom lip down, he shyly blushed moving closer to me. Uh oh. Not the closeness. This ain't what I had come here for.

"Look, I-I-I just want ya know that if ya need someone to talk to during this crucial time, I'm here for ya. I've always been here for ya Levi Janson and I get it. You're hurting, you're emotional, and probably don't even want to see anyone—especially me. Ya know what? I'll come back-" I tried again to confess.

"No, no. Please stay. I'm actually really glad you're here..." He only uttered in a more sultry tone.

What?! What was he trying to do to me now?! This was already becoming a lot harder than I thought. Focus Ivy, focus, focus.

"Really?" I genuinely became curious. He nodded slowly again, not stopping our distance at all. "Well, good. B-b-because Janson...I-I-I mean, Levi, we're partners and friends. A-a-and I would never want to pry ya on anything if ya don't want to. Ya know? I'm sure ya may need some time for yourself right now to truly understand, and know what ya want-"

"What if I already know?" He then inquired. What was that supposed to mean?

Standing still in place however, I couldn't even find the means to move my feet as our bodies were now only meters away from our hands touching.

"Well that's good too. B-b-because if Heather can't see what an incredible and amazing man ya truly are, then it's her loss. Not yours. Just know that someday you'll find a woman who will always make ya feel deservingly loved. And reminds ya everyday that the sun rises and sets with ya. No matter what." I continued to pour out, dipping my own internal opinions toward the matter.

If only he knew how much I meant every word.

Pausing for a moment though to just eye every area of my body down, his sly grin turned into a wonderful smile—gently tugging a piece of fabric from my shirt toward him as I didn't hesitate to fall right into his bare naked chest.

Oh no. No, no, he shouldn't have done that. I couldn't. I wouldn't. I was craving this so much deep within. Was I becoming so transparent?

"Thank ya for the kind words Ivy. But...for right now, I just want it to be your turn."

With a bit of a mystified look while being sucked into his gleaming eyes, I was at a loss.

"Turn? My turn for what?" I breathlessly let out.

"To tell me how ya want to be taken care of tonight instead, little doll..." He raised his hand toward my cheeks.

Caressing one side so soft and warmly as I soon felt his mouth brushing against mine, he continued to eye me in a sensual manner. Swiftly fluttering my eyes closed in pure bliss, I wanted to say everything I had been refusing to admit out loud—while the warmth of our breaths kept hitching loudly.

My hands then found their way onto his exposed front, working my way up and down as the sound of his short but subtle wimpers let out.

Was this really happening? Just a dream again?

But the moment I couldn't help but to feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins more and more...it definitely was proving to be real.

All of it.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to do something now or I would probably regret it for the rest of my life. This was what this new era of life and prosperity was all about now, right?

Taking risks. Being with someone you truly loved for all they were.

"Tell me what Ivy Hart wants." He pleaded.

And that was all I needed.

Staring at him once more intently, I replied. "You."

And in an instant, he lunged his mouth onto mine as I didn't even hesitate to react. Locking our lips together like a pair of magnets, we began going into each other more roughly, passionately—full of energy and power. Groaning and moaning through every wonderful and sensual touch we did to each other, he began roaming his palms so freely and tight in all the right places that he somehow simply just knew would make my entire body go wild.

But I couldn't just stop here.

I hungered for whatever our minds and hearts wanted to do from this moment on.

Yes, this was all that I wanted for him to do for me right now.

Jumping onto him, I wrapped my legs around his torso effortlessly as we stumbled back on the couch behind him as it didn't just stop there either. As the seconds passed, I felt his incredible lips making contact with my open skin in an urgent and steady motion—trailing kisses down from my lips to my neck while I tugged on his silky hair that was still a bit damped, but I didn't care—panting happily like a nut as he did the same.

Oh wow. Oh my.

I couldn't believe I'd been missing this exhilarating feeling for so long. The way we were going at it like a pack of wolves—it was most incredible thing ever.

"Oh Levi..." I breathlessly uttered, feeling him now smiling through every intense peck further down, as I guided his gripping hands and clinging lips to anywhere on me I wanted him to take control over—which surprisingly was a lot I didn't even know could excite me so much.

Bringing his head back up, he bit my bottom lip for me gently as I urged myself into our deepening kiss more as another loud and delightful sound escaped from him. Now it was my turn to smile back before our mouths locked once more after, opening our eyes up for a minute at the same time.

"Is that all from me, Miss Hart?" Levi smirked in the the sexiest way.

With all that he just showed me, I smirked back. "Maybe I should show ya better than I can tell."

He let out a soft chuckle as I giggled too—pressing forward with his lips on mine again, until our bodies found a harmonic groove that just didn't stop.

This was way better than I could even try to imagine before. But one thing was definitely for certain after it all.

After tonight, he would never think of me as any ankle biter again...

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

And they FINALLY kissed!! Whoo! I'm so happy for them! 

Tell me your thoughts though, because I would LOVE to know what do you think as always too! 

BIG things are coming still even after this but until then...see ya in 2023!! :)