Chapter 2: 

Luna's Point of View

I awake to the smell of bacon cooking. I slowly sit up and as my eyes adjust, I realize I'm in my studio apartment and in my own bed. 

“What?” I ask in confusion, slowly rising from the bed. At the far end of the apartment, I make out a figure. He’s tall, easily six foot three and sculpted like a god and in his early thirties. His medium length hair is just a shade or two darker than my dirty blonde and his eyes are hazel. My brain takes a moment to wake up and then I realize it's Levi. He’s standing in the kitchen, cooking on the stove. He's stripped out of his vest and shirt and is shirtless except for the apron he put on. 

“What's going on?” I ask, still groggy from sleep. 

“You slept a while. The whole evening and night.”

“But how did we get here?”

“I checked the address on your ID. Guy in the lobby let us up.” 

“You went through my stuff?”

“I only looked at your ID. Bacon and eggs?” He asks. 

“Um, okay.” 

“How do you want the eggs?”

“Can you make an omelet?”

“I can make anything,” he replies. 

I go to sit down at the kitchen table. My head hurts. I've slept too much. “What's with the apron?” I ask. 

“Didn’t want to get my uniform dirty and bacon grease hurts my nips when it splatters.” 

I burst into laughter at his unexpected response. “That's fair.” There's silence as he continues to cook. “You didn't have to spend the night you know.” 

“I know.”

“Did you sleep on the couch?”

“I'm too big for it. Slept on the floor.” 

“The floor? Are you serious?”

“I've slept in worse conditions, Luna.”

“And Jason?” I ask.  

“Taken into custody.”

I sigh in relief.

“I broke his nose.” 

“Really?” 

“Coward deserved it. Where are the plates?” 

I rise from the table and walk into the kitchen. Standing beside him, I open the cabinet to the right side of him. I take down a stack of plates and set them down on the counter beside him. “Thank you.” 

“For what?” 

“For everything,” I reply, gently resting my hand on his arm. 

“It wasn't a problem,” he replies, plating the food. 

“Are you going to eat?” I ask, noticing just the one plate.

“No. I have to go home and shower before work.” 

I feel a little disappointed. “Oh.” 

He unties the apron and hangs it back on the hook on the wall. I can't help but stare at his chiseled chest and the trail of hair that extends below his waistline. 

“You're staring.” 

“Sorry,” I apologize, turning away from him. 

“Your little cat thing has been hiding since I got here. I put out food, but it refused to come out of hiding.” 

“Cat thing? You mean, Rufus? He is a cat,” I say. 

“Half a cat.” 

I laugh. “He's just missing a leg and half his tail. Oh and an eye and the tip of his ear.”

“Yeah, half a cat, like I said.” 

“He's a rescue,” I explain. 

“Yeah, whatever.” 

“Hey, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. Can I take you out somewhere to thank you?” 

“You've already thanked me. And no, that's not necessary.” 

“Can I get your phone number so we can stay in contact?” I ask. 

“No."

“Why not?” I question. 

“Because I don't engage in personal relationships with anyone.” 

“I meant like to take you out to a meal as a thank you. I didn't ask you to fuck or anything,” I grumble. 

“You don't have to thank me at all. I did my job, that's it.” 

“Bringing me back home is not part of the job,” I say. 

“No, it's not,” he agrees.

“So why did you?” I ask.

“To make sure you were safe and would be alright.” 

“I don't think you get paid extra for that.” 

“I don't.” 

“So, you were worried about me then?” 

“No.” 

“You were. I saw you back at Jason's place when you had your gun out and everything. And then you consoled me in the back of your car.” 

“Good bye, Luna.” He suddenly picks up his belongings and walks towards the door. I skirt in front of him and press my back to the door, blocking him. 

“You can't walk out during the middle of a conversation.” 

“I can because I'm done talking.” 

“Tough shit because I'm not.” I cross my arms. 

“I can move you very easily. You weigh nothing.” 

“Well then you're going to have to because I'm not moving on my own.” I spread my arms and legs into a giant X, blocking the doorframe.  

He sighs. “You're ridiculous but whatever.” He drops his stuff and picks me up effortlessly, throwing me over his shoulder. 

“Put me down!” I want to be put down immediately, but I'm scared of falling and so I grip onto him tightly. He carries me over to the bed. 

“Will you just shut up already?!” he shouts, slapping me on the ass. I squeal in surprise more than anything. He throws me down on the bed. 

“Look, I'm not being unreasonable!” I say picking myself up from the mattress. “Is it weird to want to see you again after you helped me out? I feel indebted to you.” 

“I don't stick around Luna and you'll just get attached to me.” 

“But I don't have anyone else. I don't have any friends or family. You're the closest to it.” 

“Fuck. Don't pull that shit. Don't guilt trip me.” 

“I wasn't trying to. It's just the truth.” 

“I've got to go, I'll be late for work.” 

“Fine! Go!” I shout angrily as he walks over to the door to collect his belongings. 

“What's the matter, Luna? Aren't you into men that treat you like shit?” 

Anger wells up inside me and I pick up the nearest object, an empty coffee mug, from the bedside table and chuck it at him. It lands at his feet and shatters. I immediately regret it. “I'm sorry,” I apologize, covering my mouth with my hands.

He drops his stuff and slowly turns around. I want to disappear. “Levi, I...,” I trail off as he strides over to the bed with a murderous gleam in his eyes. With a shriek, I scurry under the covers and pillows of the bed, trying to hide. 

He rips all the bedding away, takes hold of my arms and pins them into the mattress above my head. Then with his free hand he turns my face so that I have no choice but to look at him. 

“You're a fiery little one, aren't you?” he asks. There's anger in his eyes, but something else too. Is it excitement? Desire? 

“I said I was sorry,” I struggle against his grip. 

“No, don't go back on it now. If you're angry then be angry. Let it out.” 

I struggle against his grip further, but he holds me down firmly. “Let me fucking go!” I yell, kicking at him. He catches my ankle easily and so I kick him in the face with my other foot. 

To my surprise, he chuckles. 

“What's so fucking funny?” I shout, still struggling in his grip. 

“This is pointless. You're not going anywhere and I'm not letting go.” 

I kick against his chest and he releases his grip on my arms, only to take both hands and force my legs together. He then pulls me down so my butt is against his crotch and my legs are draped over his shoulder. 

“Let go of me!” I reach for a pillow and hit him with it. Suddenly, I pause as the realization hits me. His hard on is pressed up against me. A look of confusion crosses my face. 

“What?” I ask, but he shoves my legs away and comes down on top of me. He wraps his hand around my throat and pulls my head up as his comes down. Our lips come crashing together. The momentary shock surprises me, but in the next second, I'm clawing at him, pulling him closer to me. I grip his face with one hand and bury the other into his hair, gripping it tightly. 

He forces his tongue into my mouth as he deepens the kiss. I moan against him. Suddenly he pulls away. “I didn't come here for this.” 

He climbs off the bed without another word, retrieves his belongings from the floor and leaves, letting the door slam shut behind him. 

I slowly sit up in bed. “What just happened?” I ask aloud. I'm more confused now than ever. 

Three days have passed since Levi was in my apartment, but I've been unable to get him off my mind. Him, our kiss or his hard on. Even though I'd only felt it briefly, it was enough time to ascertain that he's well built and packing. I've imagined him, how it looks, and what he can do with it. I've even gotten myself off to it these past two nights. 

Finally, I decide it's time to get out of the apartment and to get some fresh air to get him off my mind. I go for a jog and the next thing I know, I'm four miles away from my apartment and standing in front of the café where I’d met Levi. I hadn't consciously come here. I just went where my feet took me. 

I see his SUV parked out front and I turn back in the direction I came. I don't want to meet up with him, not like this. I'm not dressed for it. 

I hear the door open and then a familiar voice. “Coffee?” 

I turn around to see Levi and he offers me a cup. “How did you....?” I trail off. 

“I saw you in the window.” 

I take the paper cup and the warmth of it is welcomed in this cold winter air. “Thank you.”

“Walk with me.” He heads towards his vehicle and I reluctantly follow him. He unlocks the door and places his coffee down in the cupholder and sets down his bag that probably has those donuts that he likes in them. 

I stand awkwardly as he turns back around to look at me. “Get in.” 

“I'm fine.” 

“You're freezing. Get in.” 

I sigh and walk over to the passenger door and climb in. He gets in and turns the heat on. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realize my cheeks are red from the cold. 

We sit in silence and I take a sip of the coffee. 

He shifts in his seat before finally speaking up. “I'm sorry,” he says gruffly. 

I gasp in mock surprise. “I didn't realize that was part of your vocabulary.” 

He sighs, clearly irritated. And instead of saying anything more, just slowly sips on his coffee and stares out the window at people walking past. 

“What for?” I ask in an attempt to further the conversation.

“What do you mean what for?” 

“What are you sorry for?” I clarify. 

“I took things too far.” 

“You mean not far enough,” I mumble under my breath, but he hears me anyway. 

“Hmm,” he just replies, still looking out the window. 

“Do you have a girl? Or a guy? Is that why?” 

“Stop asking me that.” 

“It's 2025, Levi. Everyone dates everyone else these days and people are cats now, apparently.” 

He just shakes his head in response and takes another sip of his coffee. 

“You didn't answer my question, so that must mean you have a girlfriend or a wife.” 

“It's complicated,” he replies. 

“You do? Really?! Oh my gosh, I'm so gonna get murdered,” I groan. 

“You won't. My wife died three years ago.” 

I freeze, feeling a pang of guilt and pain for him. “I-I'm so sorry.” 

“Wasn't your fault, so don't be.” 

“Do you have children?” I ask. 

“No,” he replied curtly. 

“Have you been with anyone else since?” 

“No.” 

“Not even flings?” I ask.

“No.”

“Fuck me,” I say aloud, surprised and taken completely off guard by his admission. 

“I want to,” he replies, turning to look at me. 

“What?” I ask, pretty sure I must have heard him wrong. 

“I said I want to fuck you.” 

I blush at his bold admission. “Oh.” 

“So can we?” he asks. 

“Just like that?” I question. 

“Just like that,” he replies.

“I'm going to need more information.” 

“Why?” he asks. 

“Because I want to know. Like, what are your intentions? Are you trying to see where things go or is it just sex?” 

“Just sex.” 

“Like a one time thing?” I ask. 

“I don't know yet. I haven't figured it out yet.”

“What do you know?” I ask in frustration. 

He takes hold of my chin and leans forward. “I want you.” 

I blush and my glasses fog. I pull away from him and take them off, wiping the lenses clean with the hem of my shirt before putting them back on. 

“And when did you have that in mind?” I ask, staring out the window. 

“Tonight, when I get off. I can come to your place around eight o'clock.” 

“I have a show tonight.” 

“A show?” 

“Art show, to sell some of my paintings,” I reply. 

“Oh.” 

“But I'll be home around nine, if you want to come over then,” I offer. 

“I'd like that.” 

“Okay, cool. Well, I'll see you later tonight then.” I grab hold of the door handle to leave.

“Stay.” 

“Am I a dog or something?” I ask, turning to look at him. 

He doesn't respond, instead he curls his fingers around my neck and pulls me close as his lips come into contact with mine. The kiss is hot and demanding. I scramble to set the coffee down in the cup holder as he tugs me into his lap. He leans his seat back and we continue to kiss. 

His hands drift over my body and then he slips one beneath my shirt and the other between my legs. “You'll get a citation,” I groan against his lips, although I don't want him to stop. However, we are on a very public street. 

He pauses and pulls away without a word. I climb off his lap and make a beeline for the door. “I'll see you tonight. Thanks again for the coffee.” I shut the door behind me as I climb out. I walk away with a sense of satisfaction.