Exclusive Excerpt from Leaning Into Forever

by Lane Hayes

I held his hand as we climbed the stairs then led him down a wide hallway toward the master suite. I didn’t stop to wonder if I should choose a different room. I’d gone to a lot of effort to make this mine again, and there was no reason not to invite him in. I unbuttoned my shirt as I moved through the doorway then pulled it over my head. I could feel Levi behind me, eyeing the space as he kicked off his shoes and dealt with his own buttons. I wondered if he was listening for ghosts. I smiled at the fanciful thought and went perfectly still for a moment.

“Are you all right?” Levi asked. He ran his fingers down my spine as he nuzzled my neck and licked a trail along my jaw.

“Yes.” I pushed his shirt off his shoulders then reached for his belt.

“Good. Is it okay to be in here?”

I stilled my fingers and met his gaze. “Yes. I want to be here with you.”

Levi lifted my hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles. Then he nipped playfully at my bottom lip before crashing his mouth over mine in a possessive kiss that went from sweet to hungry in seconds flat. Our tongues twisted and danced in a frenzy, leaving us breathless and panting for more.

“Get naked,” he commanded.

I quickly obeyed then pulled back the white duvet and sat on the edge of the mattress to watch Levi undress. He was so beautiful…and fit. With his broad shoulders, trim waist, muscular thighs, and the perfect amount of fur on his toned chest, it was easy to tell he’d been an athlete. In other words, my complete opposite. I looked like a hairless Chihuahua next to him.

“Don’t let this go to your head, but you’re super sexy,” I commented idly.

Levi stepped out of his jeans and underwear then shot a devilish grin at me before sauntering to stand between my legs.

“Super sexy,” he repeated, cradling my face lovingly. “Are you nervous, baby?”

“I’m not. Well, maybe I am a little bit, but I think that’s normal.”

“We’ll go slow, and we can stop whenever you want. If you have second thoughts at all, I can—”

“I won’t. I want you.”

He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip and lifted my chin. “Say my name.”

I knew what he meant immediately. This wasn’t an idle request or a silly attempt at humor. Quoting a Destiny’s Child song wasn’t really Levi’s style anyway. No, this was something else.

“I want you, Levi. Only you.”

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