Lev: a Shot Callers novel (21 page)

I stepped out from behind Lev and stood by his side. “She was an awful woman.”

Laredo looked up at Lev and nodded compassionately. “Yes. She was deeply troubled.”

Sasha had lowered the gun, but still held it in his hand. “Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. It’s your regular family reunion.” He sneered. “What do you want?”

He lifted his hand and pointed to me. “To see her.”

Shit. He
knew
. I reached up and held onto Lev’s hand. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Lev, thinking the same thing I was, gripped my hand tight. “It wasn’t her idea. You’re stealing our customers. We needed to know what we were up against. If you have an issue, take it up with me.”

Laredo laughed then. “I see.
That’s
what you were doing at Aphrodite’s.” He took a step closer, but Lev pulled me away from him. Laredo shook his head but smiled. “I’m sorry. This is rather surreal.” He spoke directly to me. “You look like someone I used to know.”

“I don’t know you.”

He sighed gloomily. “No, I suppose you don’t.” He looked at me then, really looked at me, and whispered, “It’s like looking into the face of a ghost.” I wasn’t prepared for when his eyes took on a faraway look as he uttered a hushed, “Clara.”

My lungs seized.

My mother.

He knew my mother.

Nas was as shocked as I was. “Mina, wasn’t that your mother’s name?”

I nodded, looking into Laredo’s astonished but hopeful face. “Yes. Clara was my mother.”

Laredo stepped forward under the streetlight, and I had the opportunity to look at him. He was average height. Not very attractive, but his smile was lovely. He had average brown eyes with plain brown hair cut into a business do. He wore a nice suit, and had a gold tooth in the bottom right side of his smile.

He looked me in the eye and said genuinely, “I loved your mother very much. She was my world. We were going to get married a few years after my Alina passed away, but…” He shook his head.

Lev asked the question I had wanted to ask since my mother was mentioned. “Are you saying you’re Mina’s father?

Sasha muttered an annoyed, “Figures.”

Laredo chuckled, but shook his head. “No.” He looked me in the eye and he looked sad. “But I wanted to be. I would have given anything to be your father.”

My throat was dry. I was parched. I licked my lips and stuttered, “D-do you know who my father is?”

He smiled, and it looked like something a naughty schoolboy would pull off. “No more.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “No more. Not until you agree to have dinner with me.”

Lev growled, pulling me to his side.

Laredo’s brow rose as he handed me the card. I reached out and took it eagerly. He stated through a smirk, “You chose the right brother, Mina. Lev’s a good boy. Sasha…” He shrugged. “I don’t know Sasha. I thought I did, but…” He looked over at the angry brother. “No, I don’t. Not anymore.”

He walked to stand in front of Nastasia and smiled down at her with fatherly grace. “I’ve missed my
bella boo
. May I have a hug?”

She looked like she would’ve given her right arm to throw herself into his embrace, but being the badass she was, she lowered her face and shook her head.

“No?” He sounded disappointed, but smiled through it. “Perhaps next time then.”

Laredo took my free hand and kissed the back of it before making his way to the street. Halfway there, he turned, snapping his fingers. “Wait, I forgot.” We all waited to hear what he had to say, unknowing that it would change my life forever. He grinned happily. “There’s someone you need to meet. I hope you change your mind and come see us.”

I was confused. “See who?”

His smile softened. “Your brother, of course.”

Satisfied with my stunned silence, he turned around and went on his merry way, unaware that my world had just imploded around me, sucking me into a vortex of white noise.

Chapter Twenty-Six
Mina

“A brother, Lev,” I breathed as I slipped of my dress. “A brother.” Standing in the middle of our room, wearing panties and a strapless bra, I couldn’t hide my delight. “
I
have a brother.”

Lev stepped out of the closet, wearing nothing but his dark grey boxers. “Brothers aren’t always a good thing.”

I snorted, knowing full well he was speaking of experience with his own brother.

He came to a halt, staring blatantly at my near naked body. I was too happy about the discovery of my long lost sibling to notice. “An hour ago, I was alone in the world.”

“You had
me
an hour ago,” Lev cut in, sounding somewhat disgruntled.

God, he was sweet. He was killing me with the
sweet
.

I couldn’t deny it if I tried. I was
so
in love with Lev Leokov.

I made my way over to him and took hold of his hands. “I know, sweetie. And I love that. But…” I shrugged. “This is family. I have
family
.” I could see that he wasn’t sure how to react to this news. I told him, “I’m excited about this. Can we go and see Laredo together, please?” I needed Lev to know that my plans included him. “I won’t go if you don’t come with me.” I squeezed his hands. “You’re important to me, Lev. I want to share this with you. Just you.”

He exhaled through his nose. “Of course I’ll go with you.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and pressed a whisper-soft kiss to my knuckles.

I grinned. “So, we’re dating, right?”

He nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

“And I can call you my boyfriend?” A goofy smile spread across my face.

His brow rose, but his eyes smiled. “I’m hardly a boy.”

Oh, baby, don’t I know it.

“And I don’t have to wear my jammies to bed anymore?” I asked innocently.

He stilled, feigning disinterest. “Not if you don’t want to.”

I sighed in relief. “Thank God.” I went over to the dresser, brought out a white tank top, slid it over my head, and then went about removing my bra, pulling it through my armhole. How great did it feel to take off your bra? “Ugh.
Freedom
.”

Lev locked the bedroom door and we slid into bed, leaving the lamp by my side of the bed on. I turned to look at him, resting my head on my hand. “How’s your head?”

He sat up in bed, his broad back against the headboard. “Better. The massage took the bite out of it. Thank you.”

“My mom used to do that for me whenever I had a headache. It always worked.” I smiled, moving to kneel on the bed, shuffling closer to him. “And now that you’re better…” I lifted my leg and maneuvered myself to straddle his thighs. His hands gripped my hips tightly. “I would like another shot at that first kiss, if you please,” I requested, my hands resting on his wide shoulders as I lowered my face to his.

He kissed my smile until it melted away and all that was left was raw hunger. I moaned low in my throat when the hands at my hips coaxed me down to sit on his thick erection. His stubble scratched lightly while his full lips soothed the burn with kisses that rocked the foundation of my world.

Unconsciously, my hips began a dance on their own, grinding my panty-covered sex over his rigid length. He groaned into my mouth, and I panted into his. It wasn’t long before he used his hands to guide me in a slow rhythm that had my panties in a knot.

I wanted to play.

I breathed into his mouth. “Take off your boxers.”

The hands at my hips stilled and he pulled back to look at me. “Wait.”

“
No
!” I was sexually frustrated. I needed his cock inside me now! “No, I’m tired of waiting. I’ve wanted this for weeks.” I kissed him, pushing my chest into his. “I’m not waiting anymore, Lev. Now.”

He kissed me back with all he had then pecked my lips. “I’m sorry to put a kink in your plans, but…” His brow rose. “Don’t you have your period?”

“Oh.” Well that freaking sucked. I buried my face into the space where shoulder meets neck and I mock sobbed. “
No
.”

He ran his hands down my back tenderly. “We can wait.”

I lifted my face and shot him a look of disbelief. “For a week? A
whole
week?”

He kissed my nose. “I would wait ten years if you asked me, Mina.” His eyes softened. “I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for you. A week is nothing in comparison.”

Shit.

I was going to cry. For real.

My throat thick, I whispered, “Shit.”

His expression turned panicked at the sight of my wet lashes. “I’m sorry. I told you I’m not good with words.”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pressed my lips to his and spoke against them, “You are perfect, Lev. Your words are honest and colored beautifully. You make me feel things I thought were lost to me. And I’m in danger of losing my heart to you.”

I didn’t add ‘and that scares the bejeezus out of me’.

He squeezed my hips with his big hands. “One day at a time.”

I nodded. He was right. One day at a time.

Reaching across the bed, I turned off the lamp and lay in the center of the bed, waiting for Lev to take his place behind me. He fitted my body to his, spooning me sweetly, but the erection in the center of my back was hot and bothered. I could feel its anger.

In the dark, I whispered, “Want me to take care of that bad boy for you?”

The arm he had around me tightened and he repeated his previous words, “One week, Mina.”

One week, indeed. One week of hell.

“Okay,” I spoke quietly. “Night, Lev.”

He moved my hair and kissed the base of my neck. “Goodnight, mouse.”

I needed a glass of water. My mouth was drier than the Sahara.

On nights like this, I could walk all the way down to the kitchen in the middle of the night, or I could go into the en suite, run the faucet, and stick my mouth under it.

I chose the easy option, obviously.

Flinging back the covers, I slid out of bed, shuffled over to the en suite, and noticed a little too late that the light inside was already on.

I opened the door carelessly, unaware that I was about to walk in on something private.
Very
private.

My sleepy eyes widened and my lips parted as I took in Lev, leaning against the vanity, boxers off, his head thrown back in bliss as he tugged on his thick cock with a firm hand. 

And what a cock it was.

A small squeak escaped me.

Lev’s eyes snapped to me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off his furious erection. It was long, and thick, and it looked as though Lev had manscaped. I was petite. I stood there a moment wondering how on earth it was going to fit inside me. Clearly, we’d have to take it slow.

“That looks painful,” I mumbled sleepily, my hand still on the handle. It took a moment before I realized this was not a dream, regardless of how hot it was. I gasped, covering my face with a hand. “Shoot, I’m sorry! I didn’t know anyone was in here. I’ll…” I slipped back out and closed the door behind me. “I’ll leave you to it.”

I rushed back into bed, but my body was hot and bothered. I couldn’t cover myself.

Five or so minutes passed, and finally, Lev came out of the bathroom. He slid into bed and we lay in a long silence.

My cheeks flamed. It couldn’t be avoided. We needed to talk about it or it would become ‘that awkward incident that shall never be named’. “I’m sorry.”

He reached out and took my hand in his. “It’s okay.”

“Did…”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask
! “Did you finish?”

He ran his thumb over my palm, hesitation clear. “Uh, no.”

My stomach coiled in distress.

He didn’t finish, and it was all my fault. I gave him stage fright. I was the reason he couldn’t take care of business.

I sat up and scooched over to him. Feeling around, I found his jaw and cupped his face between my hands, lowering my face to press slow, wet kisses onto his mouth.

He growled. “Mina, that’s not really helping, baby.”

Baby.

My heart sighed dreamily.

He called me baby.

I shushed him and kissed him deeper. “Let me help you.” Without waiting for his opinion on the matter, I turned to face his feet and straddled him, sitting on his stomach, my legs open and out on either side of his.

His voice hoarse, he croaked, “You don’t need to. It’s okay”

God, he wanted it so bad. I could hear it in his tone. He was just playing it cool. I understood
need
. I spoke huskily, “I’ve been dying to touch you, Lev, and now that I’ve seen it, I don’t think I can keep my hands off you.”

That was the truth.

Running my hands down his thighs, I brought them back up slowly in a light massage. I did this over and over again until I heard Lev sigh in pleasure. I slid my hands up to either side of his length and held them there. With delicate care, my fingertips grazed the elastic of his boxers before slipping leisurely inside. The moment I came into contact with his hot, hard tool, Lev let out a long groan, and I wrapped the fingers of both my hands around it. It didn’t surprise me that the fingers of both hands weren’t able to meet. My hands were small, and he was
big
.

I let go of him a second to slide my thumbs under the waistband of his boxers and, thankfully, he took the hint, lifting his hips, allowing me to push them down to his knees. I quickly took him in my hands once more, worked him slowly in an up-down motion, and asked, “Lotion?”

“Don’t have any,” he rasped.

I slid back so that my rump was in the center of his chest and bent at the waist, stroking him all the way. I wanted to put my mouth on him. I tested the waters by gently licking around the head of his shaft and was rewarded when Lev convulsed in a way that almost threw me off.

Panting, he gripped my hips and thrust up into my hands. “Yeah, baby. That’s good.
So
good.”

I had to agree. He tasted clean with a tinge of saltiness, and every time my tongue passed over his slit, I was pleased to hear the sounds of his pleasure.

Opening my mouth, I held him straight and gradually took the head of him into my mouth, sucking lightly, feeling bolder and braver with every second.

Lowering onto him, I managed to take half of his length into my mouth before deeming myself at risk of gagging. My lips around him, I started an up-down motion again and sucked him deep as I could. His low groans and panting drove me.

He tasted so good that I moaned with him. I wanted to tell him that I was enjoying this as much as he was. “You taste so good, baby.”

That seemed to drive him over the edge. His hips began to thrust fitfully, driving him farther into my mouth. A growl escaped his throat and he pulled my mouth away from him. I knew what was coming, pun intended.

My hands worked him in long, hard strokes until finally, his stomach clenched, his body went rigid under me, and he shouted his release. I felt it all. His cock throbbed furiously, sending warm spurts of cum shooting out onto my hands.

I held onto his softening dick, waiting for his body to catch up with the bliss his mind was experiencing. I was horny as hell, and although I could very well rub myself into an identical ecstasy, I chose not to. I felt powerful from what I had just done. I was high on the feeling. That was enough for me.

The moment I felt Lev’s body melt into the bed, I moved off him and made my way to the bathroom to wash my hands and face. Before I washed it off, I examined the sticky white goop on my hands. I touched a finger to it and rubbed it between my thumb and finger. Just as Lev walked into the en suite—buck-naked—I touched that finger to my tongue, meeting his eye in the mirror.

It didn’t taste bad. It was different. A little bitter and salty, but it wasn’t something I would
hate
to have in my mouth.

He watched me carefully, and it forced a smile from me as I washed my hands and mouth. “It doesn’t taste so bad, you know.” I told him, “Maybe next time you won’t have to pull out.”

And still, he watched me, his soft cock larger than any I’d ever seen. I stepped toward him, reached up, and cupped his cheeks. “Better?”

He blinked sleepily. “Much. Thank you.”

He was so polite, even in situations that didn’t call for it. He was so silly. It made me smile. I pulled his face down to mine so I could kiss his lips. “You’re welcome, sweetie. The pleasure was all mine.” His brow rose. I rolled my eyes. “Okay, well, maybe not
all
mine, but it sure was fun.”

After Lev washed up, he came to bed naked as the day he was born and pulled me into his side, sighing contentedly.

One dinner date, and so many things had changed. I should have been freaked out, but I wasn’t. It felt like a natural progression. It might have seemed it, but it didn’t feel rushed. It felt expected.