Leveled: A Novella (Saints of Denver #0.5)(59)

He knew it was coming. How could he not? I took the check between my fingers and tore it straight down the middle.

Fuming, I stood and walked toward the door, pausing as I opened it. “How does it feel, Sasha? How does it feel that the homeless chick, the woman who has nothing, wouldn’t take your money?” I looked him up and down, shaking my head in revulsion. “Your brother is ten times the man you’ll ever be, and if you want me gone, you’ll have to take me away in a body bag.”

He grinned, amused at my sudden stand. “Calm yourself, viper. That won’t be necessary.”

I lifted my nose. “Is that all, Mr. Leokov?”

He waved me off. “That will be all.”




It was hard to concentrate after Sasha’s intervention on my relationship with his brother. Why was it any of his business anyway? What happened between Lev and me should stay between the two of us. It was none of his concern.

As the night came to an end, Birdie and I finished loading up the dirty glasses onto trays and took them into the back area to load up the industrial dishwasher. We wiped down the countertops and tables and lifted the non-slip mats for the cleaners, who would come in after we had left. We chatted amongst ourselves and waited for the others to be done so we could leave as a group.

Anika had disappeared halfway through service and I didn’t see her again. My guess was that she’d taken ill.

Birdie and I chatted away. I laughed at something she’d said when I heard, “Mina?”

Lev stood behind me. I smiled back at him. “Just a second, sweetie.”

Birdie continued her story and I listened intently.

“Mina?”

I turned around and bunched my nose. “Hold on, Lev. The story’s almost done.”

Birdie took me to the crescendo of her tale and we both burst into laughter. Then suddenly I squeaked as I was being lifted off the ground and my ass hit the bar counter.

I was quickly coming to realize that if Lev wanted your attention, he’d fight for it. I blinked, face-to-face with Lev, his hands on either side of my thighs. “Hi.”

He winced. “Hello.”

It was then that I noticed he was in pain and my heart panged. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head but spoke through gritted teeth. “Headache. I’d like to leave now.”

“Okay.” I lifted my hands and touched his neck lightly while running the other over his forehead. He was a little warm. “But first, can I try something?” I ran my hands through his hair, gently using my thumbs to circle along his temples. He groaned out loud. When I thought he could stand more pressure, I pressed harder. His eyes closed and his lips parted as I massaged his temples.

Without warning, he stepped closer, a frown at his brow, fitting himself into the space between my knees, snaking his arms around my waist and resting his forehead in the center of my chest, moaning as I went about my ministrations.

He greedily snatched my attention, and I loved every moment of it. I loved that he took what he needed from me.

I placed soft kisses at the crown of his head and held onto him, my legs wrapping around his waist. After five minutes of massage, I released his temples and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, trying not to think about his crotch being so close to mine.

We stayed in that embrace for a long while after, just relishing in the warm glow we had created in each other.

After a minute, Lev lifted his head, his arms still holding me. His eyes sleepy and his hair messy, I couldn’t wait anymore. There would be no other moment as perfect as now. “Better?”

He grunted while nodding.

I smiled, cupping his cheeks. “Good.” Then I drew his face toward me, meeting him halfway and pressing my lips to his in a soft but deep kiss.

The arms around me tightened and pulled me closer. Our places of desire met full force.

I moaned, sliding my arms around his neck and pressing myself up against him, needing more of him. My head was swimming. This was the kiss I was hoping for and so much more. It was Lev in his purest form.

His hand came up and he gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting my face to take more of my lips. His tongue, warm and sweet, dipped into my mouth and met mine in a delicious greeting.

That was when the wolf whistle sounded, followed by a rowdy bunch of hoots and chuckles.

We parted, looking around us, finding almost everyone looking over at us from all around the room, laughing at our private show. Including Anika. And she looked ready to burst into tears.

My cheeks flamed and, burying my face into Lev’s collar, I groaned in discomfiture. Lev’s chest shook in what I did not believe to be silent laughter as he ran his large hands soothingly down my back. After all, Lev didn’t laugh.

Hell, he barely smiled.

“Can we go home yet?” I muffled into his shirt.

Strong hands at my waist lifted me down to the ground, and I wrapped an arm around Lev’s waist, still embarrassed. We made our way to the car, saying goodbye to the people around us, when someone stepped out of the shadows.

Lev pushed me behind him in a harsh way and it frightened me. “Laredo,” he growled.

Sasha rushed forward, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a pistol. My eyes widened. Sasha barked, “You got some nerve, old man.”

Vik came rushing over, ever the peacekeeper, throwing his arm in front of Sasha. “Put that away. You’re going to kill someone.”