Page 53 of Dark Seduction
"Yes, I've managed to move most of my stuff into my room.”
He cocks his head to the side, a look of confusion passing over his face. "We can share a room now, unless you'd prefer your own space?" he says, making it clear the choice is mine.
I smile, a little sheepishly. "I didn’t want to assume."
Lev looks at me intently, his eyes searching mine. "Well, wearehaving a child together, but what do you want, Dalia?"
The sincerity in his question warms me, and I find myself responding without hesitation. "I'd love to share a bed with you." The words feel so right as they leave my lips.
He steps closer, taking my hands in his and gently kissing them. “Good.”
His kiss sends a flutter through me.
As we share this small, tender moment, Lev breaks away to pour himself a glass of water. I lean against the counter, watching him move.
"You’re looking pretty casual for a day at the office," I tease gently.
He sighs, filling his glass. "I’ve been out in the field mostly, trying to dig up some information about the attack.”
"What have you learned?"
He takes a sip of his water, his gaze distant for a moment as he considers his words. "There are more questions than answers at this point," he admits, setting the glass down. "It's complicated. We’re still piecing things together."
Lev’s expression darkens with determination. “I’m not going to rest until I find out who’s behind what happened.”
I nod, touched by his protectiveness. “I believe you.”
He pauses, his head tilting slightly as if he’s pondering something else.
Curious, I prompt him, “What?”
Lev hesitates, then ventures cautiously, “I couldn’t help noticing you only had a few boxes of clothes.”
I purse my lips, a flood of memories from the past momentarily silencing me.
He picks up on my discomfort and gently prods, “What’s wrong?”
“When I left Chad, I left most of them behind. He ended up throwing them out, and I haven’t had the chance to get more.”
Lev’s brow furrows with concern. “That’s no good. We’ll have to do something about that.”
His response warms me, filling me with a sense of being cared for in a way I hadn’t realized I’d wanted.
As Lev's tenderness washes over me, something else nags at the back of my mind, a part of my past with which I haven’t fully reconciled. But I hesitate, unsure if I want to dive into that just yet. However, Lev, keen as ever, picks up on my hesitance.
"There’s something else."
I sigh. "It’s silly.”
He shakes his head firmly. "If it’s important to you, it’s not silly at all.”
Encouraged by his support, I decide to share. "I used to work part-time for a man named Claude Pascal, a jeweler. Chad was friends with him."
"What did you do for him?"
"I made jewelry," I reply. "I had hopes to maybe open my own store someday."
Lev looks genuinely impressed. "That’s amazing, Dalia."