“A fighter. Someone who took no shit from anyone. Who lived life by her own means and ignored the haters. I admired you so fucking much because I was jealous to not be as strong as you. If I was, maybe I would have stood up to my parents right away instead of waiting for them to change. They won’t, but I don’t give a fuck. The fact that we fell in love as virtual friends only prove how we’re meant to be together.”
“That doesn’t count,” she murmurs. “You knew who I was. You didn’t fall in love with a hidden identity.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Languidly, I thrust up into her, but don’t explain. I don’t need to as I rock her into oblivion. When she screams my name, I nip her pulse. “You’re mine. There’s never been another option for you. Hate me for my actions or not; ask anything you want—it doesn’t change the outcome.” I cup her chin and angle her face up, bringing our mouths close for our second kiss, this time without secrets. “You were made for me to protect, Summer Menes. I’ll die for you, do anything for you, as long as you’re by my side for it all.”
“Hunter?” is all she asks. “Made up?”
“My middle name. Levi Hunter Westwood.”
She laughs, her pussy constricting around me. “How did I never know that?”
“Very few people do. Family only, really.”
A shout suddenly comes from further down the beach and has her reaching for her shirt. Considering we’re in the open and her father is still at large, I welcome the distraction. After helping her into it, we stand. Cum drips down her thighs, but she seems unbothered by it.
She stares at the mask I retrieve before we walk away. “Even though I’ve always known, it feels like there are things to ask, but my mind is frazzled.”
“Come to my room, and we’ll talk. I’ll answer anything you want, but it won’t change the fact that you’re my girl.”
I swing her to a stop in front of me and claim her mouth with my own, kissing her with all the possession the monster within has been clawing to display. She whimpers into my mouth and tips her head back, deepening the kiss until I end it with a sigh. Before we start round two, I’d prefer her in my bed.
“Was the kiss the other night a mistake?”
“Not intentionally. Maybe I got tired of the two roles.”
Her smirk is wry. “Me too, which is why I revealed knowing tonight.”
I yank my vibrating phone from my back pocket, cursing whoever’s interrupting what I was about to tell her—that I’m thrilled she unmasked me.
At the head of the security team’s name flashing across my screen, my stomach drops. Without looking her way, I nudge her inside her room and answer the call. “What is it?”
“We have footage of him behind the main building. I’m sending guys now if you wanted to come.”
“Be right there.” I hang up and pocket the device, and before Summer can ask all the expected things, I grasp her face and yank her in for a hard kiss. “Lock the door, and don’t open it for anyone but me.”
When I turn to leave, the monster sheds his claws.
EIGHTEEN
SUMMER
Levi rushes away,so I quickly follow his instructions and lock the door. I triple check the back one and then all the blinds, ending in the middle of the room with my hand on my thumping heart.
Levi.
Hunter.
Dad.
So much is happening at the same time, and my mind moves a mile a minute.
I drop onto the end of the bed with my head in my hands. That went exactly how I envisioned it would. How it needed to.
But realistically, what’s next?
If he’s really willing to go against his family’s plans, it’s a fight between him and them. If it’s me he wants, then I want him in return. I’ve always wanted him.
But will I be able to protect my heart if this goes badly?