Page 111 of Wicked Dares
“I just love seeing young people in love,” she says dreamily.
My heart trips over itself.
Love.
God.
I force a smile anyway. I can’t correct her or anyone else. That horse has run straight through the gates and no one can catch it.
The only ally I have in this is Alexis.
Ellie Mae suddenly squeals again beside me. “Oh! Look, sugar.” She grabs my arm tighter. “Speak of the devil.”
I turn toward the entrance to the beach.
Levi is walking in.
He already looked like the perfect specimen of mankind, but bless my soul, today he looks even better. Sinfully better. And my body gets the memo before my mind can stop it.
The afternoon sun catches on his white linen shirt. The sleeves are rolled up lazily on his forearms while the top buttons sit undone exposing tanned skin.
We’re too far away for me to properly see it, but I already know one of his tattoos is peeking through.
Cream slacks hug his narrow hips perfectly, and somehow, he manages to look like he’s posing for a Hugo Boss advert even though he’s dressed for the beach.
The ocean wind pushes through his dark hair as he walks toward the party. Guests turn as he passes. Women stare openly. Men straighten.
It’s the typical Levi Vale effect.
His eyes find mine, and the effect of him watching me completely knocks the breath from my lungs.
God.
I’m suddenly hot and have difficulty breathing.
“Look at you blushing.” Ellie Mae beams.
I glance back at her, feeling the heat creep into my cheeks. “Oh, I think it’s just the heat.”
“Of course. That’s a good excuse.” She giggles.
I smile back nervously and return my gaze to Levi.
As he gets closer, his eyes darken in a way that immediately sends heat curling low in my stomach.
Ellie Mae lets out another giggle. “Oh, that man is gone for you,” she whispers dramatically, then nudges me lightly with the biggest grin on her face. “Go on, sugar. Go get your man.”
“I’ll… see you later.”
She nods, smiling fondly.
I leave her and set off toward Levi.
We meet in the middle, and he makes a show of looking me up and down in that habitual way of his that makes me feel like I’m some kind of queen.
“Hello, there, Butterfly.”
Did his voice always sound this sexy?
