Lev (Shot Callers 1)

“Does Nas know?” Anika glowered.

Yes, I wanted to yell. Because I would never do that to my friend, you turd!

Rather, I nodded slowly. “Sure does.” I turned to Lev, nibbling on my toast. “On another note…Lev, how would I ask a guy out?”

He swallowed at the wrong time, choking on his orange juice. Coughing, his face turned red and he spluttered in disbelief, “You want to date?”

My head tilted in thought. “I do. I really do. But how would I get his attention?”

My intention was to make Lev jealous, but what he said next had Anika shrinking into herself.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Mina, if the man hasn’t noticed you yet, he’s not worthy of you.”

Light rose up, warming me from the inside. My blush was very real. I swallowed hard. “H-how would I let him know that I liked him? That I wanted to go on a date with him?”

He leaned back against the fridge, looking mildly disappointed. He spoke evenly. “I suppose telling him would be the most straightforward way.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his speech turning into a growl as he spoke through gritted teeth. “Ask him out to dinner.” He straightened and walked out of the kitchen, uttering, “He won’t refuse you, Mina. He wouldn’t be so stupid.”

Oh, my Lord.

He was jealous.

Hallelujah!

My eyes on the open doorway, I heard Anika’s saccharine sympathy. “Mina…Vik won’t date you, honey.”

I laid a glare on her before raising my brow. “Who said anything about Vik?”

I followed Lev upstairs, allowing Anika to find the door on her own as she’d done many times before, and found myself standing outside the en suite in our bedroom. I raised my hand, knocking lightly. “Lev?”

“A moment,” he growled back.

I fought my smile, but my smile won. He opened the door and I jumped back from the force of it. It looked like he had just thrown water on his face, dew droplets still lingered at his jaw, and I wanted to lick them away.

“What is it, Mina? I need to get ready for my run,” he muttered unenthusiastically.

I stepped forward, reaching out with my hand. Lev took the offered hand, his shoulders slumping in relief, and he grasped at it like a lifeline.

I did that to him.

I did that for him.

Not Anika.

Me.

Smiling, I ran my thumb over his, looked up into his cool whiskey eyes, and asked, “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight, Lev?”

For a moment, he looked confused. “We eat dinner together every night.”

I nodded. “I know. I was hoping we could go out to eat. Together, just the two of us. Somewhere nice.” I kept going, because he didn’t seem to understand, just kept staring down at me, his brow low. “I’ll wear something pretty. You’ll wear something dapper.” My smile turned into a soft laugh and I shook my head in dismay. “You’re not making this easy on me, sweetie. Can’t you see I’m asking you out on a date?”

His brows rose. He didn’t speak a while, but then he confirmed, “You’re asking me, not Viktor.”

I blinked innocently. “Why would I ask Vik out? I’m not attracted to Vik.”

“You’re attracted to me,” he uttered, almost to himself, as if he needed the reassurance.

I didn’t bother with a response. I already told him he was the most handsome man I knew. I didn’t tell him he was sexy as hell and that I’d masturbated to the memory of his naked body as he stepped into the shower, but I was sure I would, eventually.

“Yes,” he responded quietly. “I would be honored to have dinner with you, Mina.”

I took our entwined hands apart and held his open palm at my cheek. My smile grew wider as I asked deliberately, “Lev,” I lowered my lashes. “Are you going to kiss me tonight?”

He ran his thumb over my lips. His eyes on the prize, he asked hoarsely, “Do you want me to?”

I landed a light peck to the pad of his thumb and he pressed it gently into my kiss as I whispered huskily, “Yes. Very much.”

“Me too,” he admitted. “And yes, I think I will.”

It was too much. I wanted to squeal from excitement, but had the sudden feeling that I would be sick, so I played it cool. Taking his hand from my cheek, I pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the center of his palm. “Can’t wait. What time?”

For the first time since I’d met him, Lev looked lost for words. “Um…”

“Six?” I prompted.

“Yes. Six.”

“Great.” I beamed and moved to leave the bedroom, stopping at the open door and turning. “Lev?”

He lifted his head to focus on me.

I leaned against the doorframe and admitted, “I’ve been imagining what you’d look like in a pair of jeans.” I straightened and winked. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll wear a pair tonight.” I looked down at his long legs. “For me.”