The Rogue (Hideaway Springs #3)

28. Levi

28

T he sun sets and the streetlamps on the road start to look familiar. Each one casts shadows across my face as Noah rolls through yet another town just above the speed limit.

Tessa’s still asleep but restless on my lap. Jerking and whimpering. There’s no doubt she felt the storm brewing inside of me back at the courthouse. And if I don’t pull it together, I’m going to scare her again.

My hand trembles as I run my fingers through her hair. I’m so damn in love with this woman, I can hardly breathe.

I try to focus on the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. But it’s no use.

The worry for her safety has me twisted into something sharp and cold. She fucking threw herself around me and I just stood there.

Blaming myself for all kinds of shit. Angry at her for trying to protect me when it should be the other way around.

“You alright back there?”

“Yeah.”

“We got there in time, bro. You saved the day.”

“ You saved the day. ”

I’ve been too busy making my own assumptions about this woman. Mentally scarred by my ex to see her clearly. Calling her every name in the book. Trying to run her out of town. When all she wanted was a home, some peace…a safe place to hide.

I run a hand down my face. “She’s been suffering silently all this time.”

“Don’t go down that hole, Levi. You know she’ll pick up on it.” He turns the corner onto the ranch. “Then she’ll think you’re mad at her. And you don’t want that. Women get all kinds of crazy when they think you’re mad at them.”

I scoff, remembering Tessa’s reaction in the stables when I accused her of trying to take Willow from us.

His tone shifts. “And I didn’t save the day.” From my seat, I see him swallow hard. “I’m the reason Vince and Eddie found her.”

I glance down at Tessa. My voice low. “What are you talking about?”

"When I was finishing up in the courtroom, Frank practically laughed at me when I assured him we’d keep her safe. He said that was hard to believe when my surveillance cameras were the reason they found her.”

“Fuck.” After a moment, I add, “It’s not your fault. And don’t even think about taking those down. We’ll just be careful.”

Guilt still gnaws at my brother by the time we roll into the driveway.

Thank fuck we’re home.

“You gonna be alright?” Noah asks. “I’m going to go check on Charlie.”

“She okay?”

“I sent her a text on the drive over to close up and head to Pepper’s. Might as well catch them all up.”

“Thanks.”

I lift Tessa into my arms. She moans softly but doesn’t wake.

Dad’s car is in the driveway. He holds the door open as I climb the porch steps and carry her through the threshold .

All I want is to keep her safe. She is. And for now, that has to be enough.

I settle her on the couch in her favorite corner. She barely stirs, her head turning onto a pillow.

“Damn. She’s out .” Dad observes.

I watch her. “Don’t think she’s slept in days.”

He rests a hand on my shoulder. “Neither have you. Sit down. I made soup.”

“I’m not hungry.” I stalk away to the den, pacing in place.

Dad follows me. “Levi, calm down. She’s home. She’s safe.”

“Do you know she didn’t want to come here tonight? She practically begged that FBI agent not to let me take her.”

He sighs. “I know. That’s…why I didn’t tell you that Tessa was in trouble. She left to protect you and Jackson.”

“We’ll be fine. All of us. I’m making sure of it.”

He nods. “Is there something else?”

My gaze drifts to where she’s resting in the other room. “She was scared. When she saw me, she was scared. Not relieved. Not happy. But scared.”

He crosses his arms. “Why am I getting the feeling you think that’s your fault?”

“Because of what I said to her before she left. It was selfish and immature. I used her feelings for me to threaten her.”

He blows out a breath. “Alright, well…every Reeves man deserves one jackass moment. That was yours.”

“I exceeded my limit with her long ago.”

“And yet, here she is, head over heels for you.”

My heart slices at the idea. I’ve already claimed myself hers forever. That marriage certificate is half valid with my signature. She’s yet to hear my vows, but she will .

Starting with my vow to protect her.

“I want to pay you,” I rasp. “For the time Tessa stayed at the Inn. I want to thank you and pay you for keeping her safe. Even if you didn’t know it.”

“Neither are necessary.”

“It is to me,” I snap, then start pacing again. “I’ve— I’ve been the man she dreads facing. The one who forces her to put up her defenses. Ever since I met her…”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do. She knocked on my door to interview with a pros and cons list already drafted for me.”

He chuckles. “Oh, I have to see this.”

I sigh, running a hand down my face. A laugh escaping. “God, I don’t know how she does it.”

“Ask her. When she wakes up, just talk. Tell her you see her strength. How lucky you and Jackson are to have her.”

I nod.

“What did Noah say? What’s our next step?” he asks.

“Frank will be in touch about a guard they’ll relocate here. But we’ll need our own for him to alternate with. Sheriff Bradshaw has a private meeting with his team tomorrow. A selected group he trusts to assign to this.” I chuckle bitterly. “He said it’s the most excitement he’s had in over a decade.”

“Jackson starts school Monday. He’s going to wonder why Tess isn’t taking him. And why she isn't leaving the house.”

“We’ll all take turns with Jackson. He’ll barely notice. We’ll make it work.”

Dad nods. “You’re not alone. And thanks to you, neither is she.”

I wake up in Levi’s bedroom. On his bed.

Water is running in the master bath and I sit up on alert. I’ve been in and out of sleep. First, in the living room, where I was hearing muffled voices.

Then when I was lifted off the couch and brought upstairs.

I’m cold and a little weak.

The water shuts off.

“Hey.” Levi steps out of the bath and comes to me, sweeping strands of curls from my face. His voice is gentle. Not like before.

I blink up at him. “Hi.” I look around the room. “Are we alone?”

He smirks. “Is that okay?”

“I’ve been hearing voices all night.”

He nods and strokes my head. “It’s just us now. Dad and Noah left.”

I groan. “God, they must think I’m so weak. I can’t even fight my own battles.”

Anger flashes in Levi’s eyes but it fades quickly as he leans in and kisses my forehead. “I don’t know if you heard this, but before my dad left, he said, 'I spent a lot of years in the ring. I thought I knew real strength. But after seeing hers, nothing could ever compare to the kind of fight she’s had in her all along' .”

My eyes sting. I clear my throat, turning away from the compliment I don’t deserve.

“You’re still shivering." His hand brushes my arm briefly before he stands and moves to the door. "I’ve started a warm bath for you. Get in while I heat up some soup.”

I nod, grateful for the breathing room when he’s gone.

Slipping out of bed, I cross the hall to my bedroom for clean clothes, stopping short when I see the door has been replaced on its hinges.

Well, that didn’t take long.

I turn the knob and step inside. Something is different. It feels empty. My clothes aren’t on the bed where I left them. The drawers of the nightstand are empty. For a second, I think he might have moved them into the wardrobe but—it’s gone.

“D’you lose something?”

I jump and turn at his voice. I glance at the empty space where the standing unit used to be. “You found the story.”

He steps inside and takes my hand. Silently, he leads me back to his bedroom door and kisses my cheek. “Everything you need is in here. Be right back.”

He’s gone again before I can ask questions.

I step into the warm, soapy bath, letting it do its job. Calm me. Settle me.

Settled.

It doesn’t feel real. There's still so much more weighing on me.

Like where we stand.

I can sense how angry Levi is. I know he’s holding back on confronting me until I’m feeling better. But I’m more than ready to talk now. Not about what he read in that old article, but what it’s done to me. What it can still do to me.

Why he has to let me leave his house.

I wrap a white towel around myself, feeling refreshed and alert. I step into his massive closet for a T-shirt and freeze. One side has all my new clothes. Oddly, they are well organized. The drawers are stacked with new, clean underwear and even socks.

I gasp at his voice. “Pepper takes credit for this.”

“You’re moving me in?”

He steps inside. “You’re my wife. Of course, you’re moving in.”

I step back, my spine hitting the back wall. “It’s not real.”

“It may not be valid .” He cages me in, raising my chin. “But it’s very real, Tessa.”

Like he can’t help himself, his eyes throw fire again.

I swallow. “Levi, I—”

“How could you not tell me your life was in danger? How could you think I’d leave you in anyone’s hands but mine?” His voice is as sharp as his blue eyes. His hand dips under my towel, finding my wet center instantly. Without warning, he parts my legs and slides his fingers inside me.

My lips part with a moan.

“That’s not a real question. I don’t want you to speak. Not yet, Tessa.”

I whimper at his touch, his breath on the side of my face. And the bite in the way he says my name.

“That’s right, I’m angry. And there are no horses in this room to save you.”

Holy fuck, I’m dripping.

He pulls out slowly and rubs my clit, teasingly. I moan pleadingly, leaning into his touch. He shocks me with a deep thrust of those expert fingers. I gasp, arching my back. “I promised myself I’d be gentle, but why should I go easy on you when you scared the shit out of me?”

He strokes almost punishingly, and I welcome it, gripping his biceps, chasing my release. The son of a bitch pulls out again.

“You’re mine to protect, Tessa. Do you hear me?”

"Yes, yes. Just please don't stop."

He plunges deep with each word. “My woman.” Thrust . “My wife.” Thrust . “My love.”

I come hard on his fingers, screaming and trembling. I'm shattering with emotion. I don't even try to hold back my tears. I'll cry for this man if that's what it takes to show my affection.

His strokes turn slow and gentle, drawing out my orgasm as I press my palm to his chest, feeling his racing heartbeat.

His forehead drops to mine, his defenses crashing. “I love you,” he breathes.

A wave of warmth washes over me.

“Stay. You're not alone anymore. You have me, a little boy who adores you. This ranch, my family, my heart. You have it all. Don’t walk out on us again, Whiskey."

"I won't," I cry out. Sucking in a sharp breath, I bring my hands up to his face, the towel falling loose around my ankles. “I won’t, I promise. I love you, Indie. With my whole heart, I want to be yours. I want to be your wife.”

He releases a breath with a smile I’ve longed to see all day. Then crushes my lips with desperate kisses. “We’ll make it official. Big wedding.”

“Small.”

“ Small wedding,” he laughs.

Tears stream down my face. “I’ll never leave you or Jackson. You have all of me. All of my heart, all of my love.”

He swipes his thumbs under my eyes, kissing my tear-stained face.

“I’m sorry I lied— ”

He lifts my chin, his eyes flashing with guilt. “You didn't really think I'd hold it against you, did you, sweetheart?”

My stomach buzzes. "You should."

He drops his hand and sighs like he's prepared to hear something else I've been keeping from him. "And why's that?"

I grip his biceps and flip him against the wall. "Because." I tug on his drawstrings and drop to my knees. "Number five works both ways.”