First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  We passed a waitress on our way out. “Hi Levi.”

  I gave her a curt nod. Had I met the woman before? I didn’t know and didn’t care. The only girl on my mind was currently holding my hand.

  We took seats at a high top table overlooking the river. It was easy to forget that New Orleans was a seaport city in day to day life, but one glance at the river reminded you of the rich history and significance of the Crescent City. I wasn’t exactly a history buff, but I loved my city.

  “You weren’t kidding. This is a great view.” She glanced up at the awning. She seemed grateful for the shade from the intense heat.

  “I thought you would like it. You seem to really like good views.”

  “The usual?” A waiter interrupted.

  “Yes, and a hurricane for her.”

  “All right, be right out with those.” The waiter quickly hurried off.

  “Does everyone who works here know you?” she leaned forward slightly in her chair.

  “Not everyone.” Admittedly almost all of the employees did at least know of me.

  “Well anyway, what did you order me?”

  “You’ll like it. It’s pretty much the signature drink of the city and the specialty drink here, so you need to have it at least once.”

  “Is it as good as the other drink you keep buying me?”

  “Maybe not as good, but you’ll still enjoy it.”

  “What did you get?”

  “Whiskey.”

  “How do you know I wouldn’t prefer that?” There was a challenge in her words.

  “I don’t take you as the type to take your liquor straight.” I watched her, daring her to contradict me. I knew her well enough already to know what she’d want to drink.

  “You’re right. I was just asking.”

  The waiter brought over our drinks, and Allie took a slow sip. She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. “Ah, it’s such a gorgeous afternoon.”

  “I’m glad to see you enjoying yourself.”

  “Is there any chance you’ll take me—” The blare of a barge drowned her out. “Any chance you’ll—” The barge blared again.

  “What were you asking?”

  “Any chance of a repeat performance of last night?”

  “You liked that, huh?” I teased.

  “Yeah, I can’t say I’ve ever had a ride like that before.”

  A middle-aged woman at the table next to us coughed, and I decided to run with the innuendo. “Sure baby, I’ll take you for a ride anytime.”

  Allie hit my leg under the table, and I pretended it hurt. “Ouch.”

  “You so deserved that.”

  “You’re the one that wants the ride.” I unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh.

  “Is that a yes? You’ll take me again?”

  “Of course, I have no intentions of letting you down.”

  Chapter Three

  Bringing Allie back to my place for the second time was a different experience. This visit wasn’t to try to talk her into staying the night; it was about getting her used to my world little by little.

  When I opened the front door, I wasn’t surprised to find Jared and Owen playing video games. They barely acknowledged us when we walked in. I didn’t mind.

  “Can I get you anything?” I noticed Allie eyeing my black and white photography of New Orleans street scenes on the wall. Maybe that was another interest we shared.

  “I’m fine, but thanks.” She was nervous. Not overly so, but being in my home put her on edge. I needed to change that because if I had my way she’d be spending a lot of time there.

  “Want a tour?”

  “A tour? Is there really that much more to see?”

  “Of course there is. You never even saw my room last time.” I headed off down the hall to my room assuming she’d follow.

  “You probably remember that’s Jared’s room,” I pointed, not wanting to bring up the sore subject of Jess more than I had to. “Owen’s is over there and I’m here on the end.” I walked into my room, excited at the thought of her finally entering it.

  “Wow, you don’t see too many beds that big in college apartments.”

  “How many college apartments have you been in? Didn’t you just graduate high school?” Once again I had to tease her.

  “I have older friends…”

  “Older friends who like to show you their bedrooms with inadequately sized beds? Good to know.”

  She glanced around at my room. By the expression on her face I probably should have cleaned up before inviting her in, but it really wasn’t that bad. You could actually see the hardwood floor.

  “So is it Owen who keeps the rest of this place clean? I mean, obviously it’s not you.”

  “You automatically assume it’s Owen?”

  “Yeah… wait, don’t tell me it’s Jared.”

  “Okay, I won’t.”

  “Wow, Jared the neat freak,” she said with surprise.

  “You’re not his biggest fan, are you?”

  “No, not at all.” She could be so honest. It was both refreshing and terrifying.

  “It has something to do with your friend, doesn’t it?”

  A frown marred her face, and I immediately regretted my line of questioning. “I don’t want to talk about Jess, okay?”

  “Sure, but Jared’s not all bad.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do. He’s had my back since we were kids, and I think he kind of grows on you.” I decided to change the subject. “Do you still want to fly?”

  “Yes!” She got giddy. This girl was incredible.

  “All right, let me talk to the guys. I’ll be right back.”

  She was sitting on the edge of my bed when I returned. All I wanted to do was push her down on my bed and kiss every last inch of her body. I refrained. It wasn’t the right time. “All right, they’re in. Owen’s going to call Hailey and have her meet us.”

  “Where are we going exactly?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “What if I don’t like surprises?” She asked.

  “Come on, Al, you like surprises.” I leaned over, placing a hand on either side of her on the bed.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I just know.” I kissed her lightly, forcing myself to break the kiss before it could get heated. By the look on her face I’d left her wanting more. Perfect.

  I pulled off my t-shirt and grabbed a hoodie sweatshirt for her. “First I can’t get you into my room, and now I can’t get you out of it?”

  “Shut up.” She followed me into the hallway.

  Owen and Jared were waiting for us by the open front door.

  “Put this on.” I tossed her the sweatshirt so she wouldn’t get cold.

  “You want me to wear something that was in a ball on the floor?”

  “It’s clean. I just did laundry.” Clearly the girl was the neat freak type. I’d have to work on that.

  “So why was it on the floor?”

  Owen laughed.

  “Just put it on. We’re not going high, but it’s a longer flight and it’s going to be cold.”

  She shook her head. “No thanks.”

  “Fine, suit yourself. But at least bring it with you. You’ll thank me when you’re freezing later.” Hopefully I’d get the chance to warm her up.

  “Somehow I doubt that, but I’ll bring it.”

  “All right, you ready?” If she was going to be stubborn there was nothing I could do.

  “Definitely.” Her whole face glowed.

  I laughed. Her excitement had me amped up as well. “Wow, you really are pumped up for this.”

  “Why? Do most girls not react this way?”

  “Most girls? How many girls do you think I’ve flown before?”

  “I’d assume quite a few.” There was a jealous tone to her voice I didn’t mind.

  “Naw, Allie, you’re his first. Isn’t that sweet? Okay, end of story, let’s go,” Jared said impatiently.


  “Seriously? Then why’d you take me?” Her eyes widened.

  “It felt right. Let’s get out of here.” I wasn’t ready to tell her just how special she was to me. First, I needed to show her just how impossible it would be for her to resist me. “Oh, you might want to hold those flip-flops.”

  She enfolded her flip-flops in the sweatshirt after following us outside. I hoped the second flight didn’t disappoint.

  I wrapped my arms around her waist. Once again her body fit perfectly. “Have fun.”

  I purposely flew low enough to keep the skyline in view. I wanted her to have the real experience. I held her tight, hoping she knew just how securely I had her.

  The lights of the city disappeared as the ocean came into view. I fell back, wanting to give her more time to enjoy herself. Her body was relaxed, but I could nearly feel the excitement flowing through her. This was a girl who was born to fly. She was born to be with me.

  I flew along the shore until her shivering outweighed her excitement. I landed gently on the sand.

  I set her down carefully, and she immediately began trying to warm up her arms. I wanted to take over that job myself, but I held back and just smiled. Her body language would let on if she wanted my help.

  “Why don’t you get cold when you fly?” Her eyes lingered on my bare chest.

  “My body’s designed for it, yours isn’t.” But her body was designed for me.

  “Oh, I guess that makes sense.” She took in a deep breath and buried her toes in the sand. “I can’t believe you brought me to a beach.”

  “You like it?”

  “I love it. But where are we?”

  “Grand Isle.”

  “I’ve never heard of it, but it’s nice to know there’s a beach so close.”

  I led her over to join my friends.

  Hailey added kindling to a roaring bonfire. “I’m so glad you weren’t scared away.” She gave Allie a friendly smile.

  “Me too.” Allie craned her neck to watch the stars.

  “Be honest, you love it.” I slipped an arm around her waist. “You’re the one who asked me to take you flying again.”

  “Nice, it’s pretty cool right?” Hailey’s face lit up. She really cared about Allie, and I knew she’d be an important ally.

  “Very. It’s, uh, definitely different, but I like different.”

  I hoped she kept that attitude.

  ***

  We sat by the fire for an hour or so. I enjoyed the feeling of her body snuggled right next to mine, but I needed some time alone with her. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Want to take a walk?”

  “Sounds good.” She stood immediately and waved to Hailey.

  We walked off into the darkness, and I held her hand firmly in my own. I’d never been a big hand holder, but it’s like I needed to have hers in mine. I needed to touch her constantly, and I wanted her to know she was always safe with me—even if I was far from safe to most anyone else.

  She tugged on my hand, and I gladly followed her down closer to the water.

  She took in another deep breath. “There is nothing like the beach at night.”

  “You like it at night, too? I was worried you wouldn’t like it without the sun.” I wondered if I was unique in craving the quiet shadows of the dark beach.

  “I like the beach during the day, but I love it at night. There is just something about listening to the waves in the darkness and the soft glow of the stars reflecting off the water.”

  “Yeah. It’s nice.” I moved behind her, and she leaned into me. We stood that way for several minutes before I turned her to look at me.

  She looked like a dream standing there in the glimmering of the moonlight. I studied her face, looking for a sign that she was something more than the beautiful human that had attracted me from the moment we met. Every part of me knew how significant she was to me, but I wanted more proof. “You’re so beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful…” I trailed off as my lips gave in to what they had wanted to do all day.

  I started the kiss off gentle, but it didn’t stay that way for long. The second she responded I deepened the kiss, not bothering to hold back like I had at the bar. I tightened my arms around her while my tongue explored every corner of her mouth.

  She let out a moan, and I lowered her down into the sand.

  The sand was damp below us, but neither of us cared, all that mattered was our closeness. My doubts were gone. It was her. After all those years, I’d found her.

  I tried to control myself. I struggled to calm myself down when all I wanted to do was have her completely. Instead I kept the pace slow, satisfying my need to touch her body by tracing my fingers over her stomach. I pushed up the bottom of her tank top, eagerly exposing more of her lightly sun kissed skin. Her body was so responsive. She enjoyed my touch as much as I enjoyed hers, and I kept my body above hers, cutting out the wind.

  She closed her eyes, moaning again as she ran her fingers down my back. She paused on the nearly invisible lines that served as the only clue to what I really was. She moved her fingers lower, and I groaned. Her cool hands felt so good on my warm skin.

  I needed to see more of her. I shifted her so I could pull off her tank top. I marveled at the tops of her breasts peeking out over her light pink bra.

  I trailed kisses from her ear down to her neck. I started to slip one of her bra straps down her shoulder, ready to expose more of her body to me.

  I heard footsteps but ignored them. It was just Hailey, and I didn’t care. I needed Allie, and Hailey was just going to have to wait.

  Unfortunately she didn’t turn away before interrupting our moment. “Are you guys ever coming back? Oh wow, leaving now,” she stammered.

  Allie sat up, quickly covering her chest with her arms. I choked down my groan, but it was going to take a moment to calm the rest of my body. I would have another chance. She’d been so responsive, her eyes so full of longing. This wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.

  “Wait, no Hailey. It’s not what you think.” Allie pulled on her tank top and stood up. She turned to look at me.

  I was still working to calm myself as I waited on the sand. “If it wasn’t what she thought, then what was it?”

  “Almost a mistake,” she mumbled before hurrying after Hailey.

  I didn’t let her words get to me. Her true feelings were the ones she’d been showing me before we were interrupted. “It didn’t seem like you were worried about that a minute ago!”

  She didn’t answer.

  I listened in on her conversation with Hailey. I wondered when Allie would realize just how well I could hear.

  “I’m really sorry you had to see that.”

  Hailey smiled at her. “You don’t have to explain. I actually think it’s kind of cute.”

  “Cute?”

  “Yeah… I don’t know, I think you guys work together…” Hailey trailed off as I caught up with them, and we walked the remaining distance to the fire.

  “Nice of you two to join us,” Owen jested.

  “It would have been nicer had we not, but what can you do?” I shrugged, still trying to swallow back my frustration. Being angry at Hailey wasn’t going to help my cause.

  Allie groaned, making us all laugh.

  “Relax, no one cares that you are finally done playing hard to get.” Jared seemed to like pushing her buttons as much as I did. She seemed like the type of girl who liked to stand up for herself, so I let it ride, but I’d be ready to step in if it got out of line. “Oh, I wasn’t playing at anything.” She glared at him. “What’s your problem?”

  “My problem?” he asked with mock innocence. Jared was quite the character when he wanted to be.

  “Yeah. Why can’t you go five minutes without saying something obnoxious to me?”

  Owen snorted.

  Allie glanced at me, probably waiting to see what I would do. I did nothing. She had this, and I was enjoying the show. I’d never seen a girl stand up to Jared that way.
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br />   “Like you’re any better. You can’t even look me in the eye tonight.”

  “Yes, I can.” She walked over to him, stopping only inches away, and stared him down. “See. I can look you in the eye.”

  “Levi, can you tell your girl to heel?” Jared said dryly before turning away and disappearing down the beach.

  “Arggh! What the hell is his problem?” She yelled.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Owen answered.

  She turned to look at him. “What’s obvious?”

  “You took his wing man away.”

  “Oh, please!” Hailey laughed. “Jared is just being his annoying self.”

  Allie looked at me, and I only shrugged. “I’ll talk to him if you want, but you seem perfectly capable of handling it yourself.”

  “Yes, I am. And anyway, I should really be getting back.”

  “Already?” I wasn’t ready to say goodnight. Maybe this was just code to get me alone again? A guy could hope.

  “Yeah, it’s getting late. I have something called work tomorrow. Ever heard of it?” She snapped.

  “What, you think I don’t have a job?” Did she think I was lazy or something?

  “Do you?”

  I went with evasive honesty. “I work for my father too.”

  “Oh.”

  “See, we have even more in common than you thought.” I smiled. Allie looked so damn sexy when she was angry. That only reminded me of what had just been interrupted. “All right, I’ll take you home.”

  “Good seeing you.” Hailey tossed Allie’s flip-flops over to her. She held them in one hand and took my advice this time. She looked adorable in my oversized sweatshirt. “You look too good in that.” I moved behind her and pulled her into my arms.

  “Bye!” she called to Hailey and Owen just as I took off.

  I enjoyed the flight just as much this time. Having my hands on her was always nice, but the best part was that I knew she loved flying—she loved doing something that other guys couldn’t give her.

  We landed on her balcony, and I jimmied her door open. “This was an interesting night.”

  “Did you just break into my room?” she asked from behind me.

  I pushed open the door. “Yeah, but the lock will still work, I promise.”

  “Except for one key problem.”