Bound Beneath His Pain (Dirty Little Secrets 1)

I note the pride in Levi’s voice. Part of me wonders if his loyalty to Micah comes from the money Levi makes. The other part of me wonders if they have a friendship that goes beyond a professional one. “Including picking up his dates,” I say, dryly.

Levi, smartly, doesn’t respond.

When we reach California Center, Levi parks the car at the curb. He glances over his shoulders at me, his eyes stern. “Please stay in the car until I open the door. I want to sweep the area.”

I watch him leave, and while embarrassment begins to warm my face, I appreciate Levi’s care to ensure I won’t be photographed. I can see why Micah pays him well. Levi is good at his job.

Only a minute passes before my door opens. “All clear, ma’am.”

“Thank you.” I exit the car, finding that I’m standing in front of Phoenix.

“Please follow me,” Levi says, striding forward.

I stare at his strong back, following behind him as we enter the left tower of the hotel. Passing beneath crystal chandeliers and stepping across marble floors, I follow Levi toward an elevator at the back, behind the lobby.

Once inside, Levi hits the button for the top floor and soon I’m exiting the elevator and Levi is leading me down the hallway, finally stopping at a door with gold trim. “You’ll find Micah on the balcony.” He opens the door for me.

I instantly regret my decision to ask for a private dinner instead of a very public one. I’m not sure I trust myself alone with Micah with a bed nearby. The epic mistake of our date might be me jumping him. I turn to Levi and smile. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy your evening, ma’am.” Levi grins kindly, warming his stern eyes, yet strength lives there, too. I oddly like it. He makes me feel safe. “Micah will call me to take you home whenever you’re ready.”

“Perfect, and please call me Allie.”

Levi hesitates and then his smile softens. “Okay, Allie.”

I leave him behind and enter the hotel room, feeling proud that I broke through the well-trained soldier to the more personal side of him. My heels click against the marble floors as Levi closes the door behind me.

Soft piano music is playing through the speakers in the living room as I enter the space. I notice personal items laying about the suite, like a laptop and cellphone on the coffee table. Which isn’t much of a surprise since Micah already told me he stays here because it’s close to Holt.

Straight ahead, I see two open French doors, the curtains are waving in the wind, and I move toward them. The moment I pass through the threshold, my breath becomes stuck in my throat, instant arousal tightening my stomach and setting me ablaze.

Standing by the steel railing of the balcony, Micah’s not wearing his jacket or his vest that I usually see him in, he’s wearing black dress pants and a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up. He’s not wearing a tie, the few buttons open showing a bit of his bare chest.

In a suit, Micah wows me.

A little disheveled, he blows my friggin’ mind.

The heat he conjures inside me roars like flames through my veins, pumping swiftly, settling right between my thighs, where all my logical thoughts are stolen and only my carnal desires remain.

“Allie.” His haughty smile tells me he knows I like what I see.

“Micah.” I step toward him, taking in the view around me.

A table is set up next to Micah with candles lit. The San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and the surrounding city sparkling in the dark night are all visible from this patio.

Everything is perfect.

The view. The powerful man. The glamour. It’s everything a woman should want.

Yet it’s everything I don’t.

Micah

The wind picks up the second Allie steps out onto the patio and her long hair waves around her face. So much beauty stands before me I can barely contain my desire to claim it. Inside, I’m being pulled to her. I can’t refuse the call. Her spirit shines bright. She exudes warmth. I want to bottle up what she has to offer me and keep it for myself.

She draws closer, and with each step I begin to take note of her stiff posture and my body becomes equally weighted with my own disappointment. I know women, inside and out. I understand them. Just as I know now that Allie wants to be anywhere but here with me.

One second I have her lusting over me.