Chapter 139

***Kenya.***

***Tuesday, 12 hours later***

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in our room in the Pent house. Levi lay beside me, watching me like a hawk. I smiled weakly, wondering if he had slept a wink.

We returned from the hospital eight hours ago. I had fallen asleep immediately in Levi's arms. Too exhausted. I had heard his soothing words as I drifted to sleep. Lured into sleep by his voice.

The bomb got deactivated.

In those few seconds Levi asked I trusted him, I had seen only him. The entire world had faded and only us remained. I had allowed his eyes encourage me, the sounds of tools and heavy breathing around us, insignificant.

When his friend, Albert eventually announced we were safe, it was then I breathed.

Levi had pulled me in for a kiss the minute my ropes were cut. I had welcomed it, drinking him in. My elixir of life.

I got introduced to Albert Bethel, my husband's childhood friend, who had come to my rescue. A very handsome man as well, who I realized too late, hated handshakes. When I had extended him one, he had looked at me, guardedly. Although he had allowed a hug.

The rest of Albert's men and Levi's men had stayed back to handle the clean-up with the authorities, while Albert accompanied us to the hospital. On the way, I had drifted in and out of sleep.

In my semi-conscious state, I had deduced that Albert had high connections with the authorities, who had been fully aware of the entire operation to rescue me and take down the domestic terrorist, Crompton.

At the hospital, I had been thankful to God for the baby's safety. Levi hadn't left my side one bit. Staring at me, his fingers laced in mine. Explicit joy in his face at our wellbeing.

"What time is it?" I asked, sitting upright. I was in an ivory silk night dress.

Levi's eyes danced with mischief. His hair and bare torso, wet. Fresh from the shower, he still looked hot. How unfair.

"11:40am." Levi gave. A smile in his eyes.

I gasped in surprise. "What? Did I sleep that long?"

He broke into a laugh. The sound drawing joy from me.

Pulling me into his arms, Levi growled low in my ear. Grazing my ear.

"I asked everyone to let you sleep, when the calls kept coming. They were all worried about you, as soon as news broke." A kiss followed those words, trailing down my neck. I moaned deeply, my nipples already aching.

*Oh I missed this. Him. How did I ever breathe without him?*

"Who has been calling?" I asked, through the haze.

He maneuvered us, until he was on top of me this time. Kissing my jawline. My neck. Avoiding the part of me that ached for him.

*My lips*.

"Your mum, Amanda, Andrea, Kirsten"

At Amanda's name, I suddenly grew cold. Like ice bucket over my head. I tried pulling away, but Levi stalled me.

"What is it?" Levi asked, concerned.

A drop of water from his hair fell into my face. He kissed it away.

"Amanda." I breathed.

His tender green eyes stayed on me. His sigh, deep.

*Was that a good sigh, or a bad one?*

"After Belle died, I felt all degrees of emotions. Warring within myself. Questioning my choices. Dragged to that exclusive club by my friends, just to get a girl I could bang. A girl that could distract me. Back then Possess hadn't arrived New York. I paid for your sister, but I didn't sleep with her. I was too traditional to take her virginity," Levi earnestly said.

There was no sugar coating it. It was either I accepted that part of him, or I didn't. Just like he was willing to accept Alec and I in bed that night he abducted us.

I wanted to hate him again. But we had endured too much for that in the last few hours.

"And your past? How do we walk over it?" I slipped out, regretfully.

*Pause.*

"We don't." He sighed, sorrowfully. I watched him struggle. "It would always be there. Hanging. The only thing is that you trust me. Trust that I wouldn't hurt you. I wouldn't hurt our family. Trust that I'm capable of love, because I am." He had tears in his eyes.

*Levi, had tears?*

I ached, kissing his eyes. He watched me, profoundly. Waiting eagerly for my validation.

I needed to give him that; tell him we will be fine. We will sail through this. His past, his present. The future.

Instead I suddenly felt nauseous and ran for the bathroom.

For the next few seconds, Levi was my anchor as I suffered morning sickness. I felt so sick in the stomach, so unsexy.

After Levi helped me clean up, he carried me to bed.

He lay me down gently, about leaving the bed, to order me breakfast, when I held him back.

"Make love to me." I requested.

My voice low, my eyes pleading. He stared at me.

"Would that stop the morning sickness?" He teased, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes and lips.

I nodded, laughing.

"Alright, My love." I liked that he called me his love.

He slid on top of me.

Kissing me.

No need for further preamble. I was as horny as fuck; from the moment I saw his bare torso.

As I neared a climax, Levi stalled me, his eyes boring into me. "Tell me we'd be together forever, Baby." I was deep in the throes of an ecstasy. But at this moment, my words meant life to him. Hope.

As coherent as I could muster, I whispered.

"Am yours, forever, Levi." I promised.

His eyes on me held onto those words.

One final thrust and he crashed us in a wave of ecstasy.

Breathing, our gazes locked; Levi began rocking me again, kissing me.

Another round.

"Am yours, forever, Kenya."