Sugar, Secrets and Upheaval

Chapter 69 - A Poorly Timed Joke ⚣

As we were about to depart to our separate rooms, Levi grabbed me from behind, nuzzled on my shoulder. He murmured near my ear. “Pulla… I miss you so much.”A jolt of surprise, pleasant and unexpected, shot through me. I turned in Levi's embrace, a soft smile spreading across my face. "Hey," I murmured back, my hand finding his cheek. "I miss you too."

He pulled back slightly, his deep blue eyes was clouded with a hint of genuine distress. His brow was furrowed, a childlike frown. “It’s been three days, my stomach hurts, Raphael,” he stated, his voice a low complaint.

“Hm? What are you talking about?” I asked, my brow knitting in bewilderment.

“When we left the beach house, you didn’t… make me… remember?” he murmured.

Oh! He never finished that day.

Three days... the beach house... A pang of guilt mixed with a surge of desire. "Oh, that," I murmured, my thumb gently stroking his cheek. "You're right. I... got distracted." I leaned in closer, my voice low. "My stomach hurts too, now that you mention it."

Levi grimaced, a sheen of perspiration visible on his forehead. "I require a thorough cleansing first," he stated, his voice tight with discomfort. "The combination of the evening's... revelations and the lingering warmth of the night has left me feeling rather unpleasantly flushed and, dare I say, sticky."

"Well, aren't we a pair then?" I chuckled, running a hand down my own slightly damp shirt, feeling the humid cling of the fabric. "Two pigs, wallowing in dirt."

Levi's expression remained firm, his gaze unwavering. "Raphael, for your own well-being, I strongly advise I address this state of... heightened physicality prior to any... further intimacy."

My eyebrows rose in amused challenge, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "Oh? And why is that, Levi?"

He hesitated for a fraction of a second. "My alcohol consumption tonight was... less monitored than usual," he began, his voice dropping to a low, husky murmur. "It has, shall we say, significantly lowered my inhibitions in certain... areas. The resulting... encounter might prove to be... considerably more protracted and... intense than our previous, albeit delightful, experiences. A preliminary shower would, therefore, be a prudent measure for all involved."

"Ah," I murmured, a slow, knowing smile spreading across my face, my heart doing a little flutter. "So you're saying I'm about to experience the uninhibited, possibly prolonged, after-effects of a slightly tipsy Levi? Well, who am I to deny?" I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his temple, inhaling the faint, warm scent of him. "Alright, go shower. But don't take too long."

He nodded, a hint of genuine eagerness in his eyes, a rare glint that made my breath catch. “Yes, Pulla. Come to my room after shower, please?” he asked, his voice softer, almost a plea.

"Of course, Levi," I murmured, my hand finding his, my fingers intertwining with his cool, slender ones.

We both departed to our separate bathrooms. I took my time, enjoying the cool rush of water, loosening and cleaning myself meticulously, letting the day's laughter and revelations wash over me. After the shower, a buoyant energy filled me, and I practically walked to his room with a skip in my step.

The warm air in his room, scented faintly with his usual subtle cologne mingling with the steam from his recent shower, enveloped me as I entered. The sight of him, standing there with a towel in hand, his usually immaculate dark hair adorably tousled and falling across his forehead, did indeed shave years off his typically composed demeanor. He looked disarmingly youthful. A soft smile bloomed on my face as I reached for the towel he held out to me.

He stiffened almost imperceptibly as my fingers brushed his, a fleeting hesitation in his usually decisive movements. But then, slowly, he relaxed, the tension in his broad shoulders easing as I gently took over drying his hair. I took my time, enjoying the rare intimacy of this simple act, the rhythmic motion of the towel against his scalp. He didn't say a word, his eyes closed in quiet contentment.

My gaze, still softened by the intimacy of drying his hair, caught the discoloration on his ankle. A knot of concern tightened in my chest. "Levi," I asked gently, reaching out to lightly touch the purplish mark, "what's this bruise?" My fingers traced the edges of it, the skin slightly tender beneath my touch.

"It's... an old injury that occasionally resurfaces. It's merely superficial."

I nodded slowly, though a sliver of doubt lingered. If he didn't want to talk about it, I wouldn't push. Instead, I shifted closer, my lips finding his in the soft lamplight of his room. The earlier playful mood returned, a gentle warmth spreading between us as our lips met.

It was such a tender kiss that basically melted me into a puddle. It wasn’t dominant, exploitative or whatnot. Just a warm kiss that sent heat all over my body, melting away any lingering tension from the day, leaving behind only a soft, yielding desire that resonated through my very being.

I wanted to tease him a little.

“Levi, you like being called ‘master’, is that true?”

He immediately flinched.

“Childhood nickname, you say?" I leaned in closer, my voice a low murmur against his ear. "So, little Levi liked being the master of something, even back then?" I trailed a light finger down his arm, enjoying the almost imperceptible shiver that ran through him. "Interesting… Now, tell me, would you like it if I called you ‘master’, hm?”

Levi's breath hitched slightly. His eyes, usually so direct and unwavering, flickered away for a fleeting moment, a shadow of something unreadable crossing his features.

"Raphael," he began, his voice a low rumble, a hint of a familiar steel returning. "As I stated, it was a childish appellation, devoid of any... significant connotation. To extrapolate such a... preference into our current dynamic would be... inaccurate. While I appreciate your... playful curiosity," he continued, his voice softening slightly, "I believe there are far more... nuanced and mutually agreeable terms of endearment we could explore."

A visible shiver ran through Levi as my breath warmed his ear. His eyes flickered shut for a fleeting moment.

"Raphael," he murmured, his voice a low, slightly unsteady rumble. "Your... methods of persuasion are... remarkably effective. Very well," he conceded, his gaze finally meeting mine, a mixture of exasperation and something akin to... surrender, in their depths. "Indulge your... peculiar fascinations. But do not assume this grants you carte blanche to... excessively utilize this... nomenclature."

“Oh, master? I do not even know half of the words you said. Excuse me for being a little… dirty.”

A low chuckle rumbled in Levi's chest. "Dirty?" he echoed, his voice a low murmur against my ear as I purred. "Your vocabulary, while... direct, is not entirely unfamiliar. However..." His gaze flickered down to my lips. "...I suspect the true meaning lies not in the words themselves, but in the intent behind them." He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my skin. "Enlighten me, pulla."

“You were adorable today, master. You losing your entire composure because I pinched your nose? So, so cute, master.” I said while giggling.

"That was... a momentary lapse in decorum, induced by... unexpected physical contact," he mumbled, his voice regaining some of its usual precision. "And the term is Levi, Raphael. Not... 'master'." He finally met my gaze. "Though I concede, your... amusement was... noted."

“I noted your amusement, too, Levi.”

A visible shiver ran through Levi as my teeth gently grazed his ear. His breath hitched, and his hands, which had been resting on the sheets, clenched slightly. His eyes fluttered shut for a fleeting moment.

I caressed his nipples with my palm, which were always so sensitive. Traced his abdomen, feeling the taut lines of his muscles, and finally wrapped my fingers around his very angry looking cock, which immediately surged and hardened under my touch.

“Levi, why didn’t you just… jerk off?”

A low, guttural groan rumbled deep in his chest as my hand closed around him, his hips instinctively arching slightly towards my palm. "Raphael," he finally managed, his voice a husky whisper, his eyes half-lidded and heavy. "The... physiological imperative... is not always satisfied by... solitary endeavors, particularly when...the prospect of... more... interactive engagement is... readily available."

What a statement. He could have just said, I wanted you, or masturbation wasn’t enough.

His breath hitched and quickened as my hand moved along his shaft, the friction a building heat. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes, though half-closed with desire, held a flicker of something held back, a carefully leashed intensity. It was evident that while my touch was certainly eliciting a reaction, it wasn't quite reaching the fever pitch I knew he was capable of.

I leaned closer, my lips a breath away from his ear in the soft lamplight of his room, the air thick with burgeoning desire. "Not quite hitting the mark, is it, Levi?" I murmured, my fingers slowing their rhythm, teasing him with the near-stillness. "Perhaps... a more direct approach is required?" My gaze dropped to his straining cock, then back up to meet his eyes, a playful challenge in their depths. "Or perhaps... you need a little encouragement to let go?"

“It is… not that… I do not feel close at all… It really, hurts,” he confessed, his voice tight, strained.

"Hurts?" I echoed softly, my hand immediately stilling on his shaft. "What hurts, Levi? Where?" My eyes scanned his face, searching for any sign of discomfort beyond the obvious tension of arousal.

"It is... undeniably distracting," he admitted, his voice tight with a mixture of discomfort and thwarted desire. "The... persistent ache... is not conducive to... relaxation." He finally met my gaze, a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Perhaps... a less... physically demanding form of intimacy would be more... advisable at this juncture?"

"Oh, Levi," I murmured, my hand gently stroking his cheek, my thumb brushing away a stray lock of dark hair. "You're right. I was being thoughtless." I leaned down and kissed him softly on the forehead, the skin warm beneath my lips. "We can absolutely find other ways to... alleviate that discomfort."

My hand, reaching for the condom, faltered. A cold barrier wasn't what he needed right now. I set it aside, deciding on a different approach.

A generous amount of lubricant slicked my fingers as I coated the length of his straining cock, the wetness reflecting the soft lamplight. Then, with a deliberate slowness, I crawled on top of him, straddling his hips. Positioning myself carefully, I lowered onto him, inch by inch, until just the very tip slid inside. The sharp, involuntary cry that ripped from Levi's throat echoed. His hands clenched the sheets beneath him, his body rigid beneath mine, a taut bowstring ready to snap.

As I was lowering myself, Levi was tightly gripping the sheets, his knuckles white against the crisp linen. Each shallow breath he drew seemed to catch in his throat, a visible tremor running through his taut body beneath mine. His eyes were squeezed shut, his brow furrowed in a mixture of intense sensation and barely suppressed discomfort.

I could disregard the clear signals his body was sending, succumb to my own desire and the insistent pull between us, and sink down fully. But the memory of his earlier admission, the raw cry that had just escaped him, stayed my hand.

Instead, I remained poised just at the precipice, the intimate connection already intense, yet holding back from the full depth. I focused on the subtle shifts in his breathing, the clench of his jaw, the tremor in his hands. My movements were glacial, each fraction of an inch a careful negotiation, a silent question of what he could bear. I could feel the slick heat surrounding me, the undeniable evidence of his arousal, yet the discomfort radiating from him was a palpable barrier.

But, Levi looked directly at me. “You can move, it is fine. This… is even worse.”

"Worse?" I murmured, my movements faltering. "But I thought..."

"The anticipation... the constant awareness... it is a different kind of ache," he explained, his voice a low, strained whisper, his eyes never leaving mine. "Please, Raphael. Do not... hold back on my account." A faint tremor ran through his body, an almost desperate plea. "Perhaps... the rhythm... will distract from the... initial discomfort." He clenched his jaw, a muscle ticking in his temple. "Just... do not be gentle."

A thrill, sharp and undeniable, shot through me. The unexpected permission, the raw vulnerability in his eyes, ignited a fire within me. Gone was the tentative gentleness. My hips began to move, the slow, deliberate slides deepening with each press. I focused on the feel of him inside me, the slick heat and the rigid strength that filled me. I watched his face, the play of emotions – the initial wince, the tightening around his eyes, quickly overtaken by a flush that spread across his cheeks and forehead. His breath hitched and quickened, mirroring my own growing urgency. I leaned down, my lips finding his.

The soft lamplight in his room painted our entwined bodies in a warm glow as the rhythm intensified. Each upward slide stretched me, a delicious friction building with every descent. I reveled in the sensation of him filling me completely, the solid press against my deepest core. His hands, no longer gripping the sheets with white knuckles, now clenched my hips, guiding and urging me deeper with a primal need that mirrored my own escalating desire.

My movements became more insistent, a deliberate grinding that elicited a low growl from deep within his chest. I could feel the answering throb of his cock against my inner walls, a potent reminder of the pleasure we were both seeking. I arched my back, wanting to take him even further inside, to feel every inch of him stretching me, claiming me.

The friction built relentlessly, each stroke sending waves of heat through me. I focused on the feel of him, the tautness of his muscles beneath my hands, the increasing urgency of his thrusts as he began to meet my rhythm.

“Raphael… Please tell me… What is the most comfortable position for you?” he gasped, his voice raspy.

"Comfortable for me?" I echoed softly, my hands still on his face. "Right now, Levi, with you like this, inside me... this is pretty damn comfortable." I shifted slightly, just enough to emphasize the intimate connection between us. "But if you're still feeling any pain, we can absolutely adjust. Let’s try missionary, okay?”

I carefully shifted my weight, easing off him slightly to allow us to settle into the more traditional position. As we rearranged ourselves, I kept my gaze locked with his, a gentle reassurance in my eyes.

A gasp escaped my lips as Levi thrust into me with a sudden, breathtaking force. The intensity of his entry stole the air from my lungs for a fleeting moment. "I am sorry. Just kick me or punch me if I go overboard," he repeated, his pace already escalating with a relentless energy that stretched me with each powerful thrust. My hands instinctively gripped his shoulders, my body arching to meet his forceful rhythm, a mixture of exhilaration and a touch of breathless apprehension swirling within me.

It was the unguarded Levi I had longed for, yet amplified to a degree I hadn't fully anticipated. His pace was so brutal and forceful, the sounds of our bodies clashing, ringing in my ears. Each thrust drove deeper, stretching me in ways that bordered on painful, yet held an exhilarating edge. A knot of something akin to fear, mixed with an undeniable arousal, tightened in my chest with each relentless pound.

His hands gripped my hips with a fierce intensity, his fingers digging into my flesh as he drove into me again and again, each thrust a raw, demanding claim. The controlled precision he usually exuded was gone, replaced by a primal urgency that bordered on frantic. Sweat slicked his brow, his dark hair falling across his face as he plunged deeper, stretching my limits with a breathtaking disregard for anything but the immediate, visceral connection between us.

His breath came in ragged gasps against my ear, each exhale hot and heavy with exertion. The rhythm he established was brutal, unforgiving, leaving little room for breath or thought. My own responses were involuntary – sharp cries that were swallowed by the intensity of the moment, my body arching to meet his advances, a desperate plea for purchase against the relentless tide of sensation. The friction was becoming almost unbearable, a searing heat building deep within me with each savage thrust.

There was a wildness in his eyes, a primal hunger that both thrilled and slightly terrified me. It was as if a dam had finally broken, unleashing a torrent of pent-up desire that had been carefully leashed for so long.

Levi let go of my hips only to drape my knees over his shoulder. The sudden elevation of my legs over his shoulders exposed me in a new, vulnerable way, allowing him to penetrate even further, deeper than before. A sharp intake of breath shuddered through me as he thrust into my core with renewed intensity, stretching muscles I didn't even know I had.

The intense, relentless rhythm Levi had established quickly brought me to the edge. A series of sharp gasps escaped my lips, my body clenching around him in a desperate, involuntary spasm as waves of pleasure washed over me. My vision swam for a moment.

As the aftershocks of my orgasm subsided, I became acutely aware of Levi's stillness. His pace hadn't faltered, his breathing remained ragged and focused, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond me, lost in a haze of pure sensation. The usual playful smirk, the teasing remark that would typically follow my release, was absent.

“Levi… Are you… alright?” I snapped my finger close to his face, the sound a sharp, almost desperate attempt to break through his haze.

His gaze, still heavy with a primal intensity, finally locked onto mine. “Raphael… I am merely at the start.”

“Start?” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper of disbelief.

“Yes. I am sorry.”

A gasp escaped my lips as Levi resumed his relentless tempo. The raw, unapologetic force of his movements left me breathless. "Levi, slow down a bit," I pleaded, my hands tightening on his shoulders, trying to physically slow his relentless pace.

"I... can't," he grunted, his voice strained, raw with exertion, his eyes fixed on some distant point above me.

The relentless pounding abruptly ceased, leaving a void filled only by our ragged breaths. Levi’s teeth were clenched, a muscle twitching in his jaw as he inhaled deeply, the effort visible in the rise and fall of his chest. He finally released his grip on my thighs, a visible tremor running through his hands as he gestured vaguely with one hand, his eyes averted. "Please," he managed, his voice a low, strained rumble. "Take a breather. I am... sorry about..."

"Are you alright, Levi?" I asked softly, reaching out to gently touch his face. My brow was furrowed with concern as I looked into his eyes. "You seemed... completely lost in it." My thumb gently stroked his cheek, searching for any lingering tension.

"Raphael," he murmured, his voice still slightly rough around the edges, "I believe the evening's libations have... significantly eroded my usual self-restraint. The intensity of that... encounter... it was far more... primal than I intended. I apologize if my... animalistic behavior caused you any discomfort. I have... lost track of my own limits, and I fear... regaining control may take some time."

“Yeah, it was something. But it is okay. Two pigs, Levi, remember? I will make sure you understand if it becomes too much.”

“You do not understand. I do not know how long it might take.”

“It’s fine, Levi. I am a grown man. It’s alright.”

“I hope you hold your word,” he said, a flicker of something assessing in his gaze, and positioned himself between my legs once again. He was a little gentler this time, his movements more deliberate, his gaze more focused on mine. But the underlying force, the raw hunger that had been unleashed earlier, still simmered beneath the surface. There was a power in his thrusts, a commanding presence that filled me completely, even as he attempted to temper his intensity.

A familiar tension gripped me as Levi's eyes glazed over, his focus drifting away from mine. The earlier attempt at gentleness vanished, replaced by the same relentless, almost brutal rhythm that had overwhelmed him before. Each thrust became a forceful invasion, bordering on painful in its intensity.

"Levi," I gasped, my hands tightening on his shoulders, trying to physically slow his pace. "You need... to be... slower." But his gaze remained distant, unfocused, his body moving with a driven intensity that seemed to block out everything else. The relentless pounding faltered, a subtle change in his rhythm. His unfocused gaze sharpened, the distant haze receding to reveal his familiar half-lidded stare. A slow, arrogant smirk curled his lips. It was as if a switch had flipped. 

But, one must never forget, he was the Devil.

The brief respite, the small allowance for me to catch my breath, was a calculated move. Then, with a renewed focus, Levi resumed his torrent. The brutal, almost frantic energy had been replaced by a deliberate precision, each thrust aimed and executed with a knowing intent. He moved within me with a masterful control, still deep and demanding, but now laced with a subtle awareness of my responses.

“Raphael. You took it so well,” he stated, his voice a low, satisfied growl. He then lifted my leg to his shoulder, an act of possessive claim. “So, so good, Pulla,” he murmured, his voice laced with dark pleasure, and bit my calf, a sharp, exhilarating nip.

The possessive bite, coupled with his words, sent a shiver of both pleasure and a touch of primal submission through me. "Did I?" I murmured, my voice slightly breathy as he lifted my leg higher onto his shoulder, deepening his penetration once more.

“Yes, you did. You are so tight, and warm, Pulla,” he purred, his voice a low vibration against my skin.

A flush crept up my neck, spreading a heated sensation across my cheeks.

"Take a deep breath, for me," he ordered, and a thrill coursed through me at his possessive tone. As his pace intensified once more, his mouth trailed a searing path down my leg, from the tender flesh of my calf to the sensitive skin of my thigh, each graze of his teeth, each flick of his tongue, sending jolts of pure sensation through me. The anticipation built with each slow, deliberate descent, culminating in a sharp intake of breath as his lips finally reached my ankle, his hot breath and insistent licking igniting a fire deep within me.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips as the sound of his hand striking my chest echoed in the room. The unexpected impact sent a jolt of sensation through me, every nerve ending suddenly alive and tingling. My breath hitched, and my eyes widened.

Before the initial shock could fully register, another hand connected with my chest, this time with a force that stole my breath. A sharp cry escaped my lips as the impact reverberated through my body, every nerve ending screaming in response. A gasp for air hitched in my throat, a confusing mix of pain and a disorienting arousal flooding my senses.

“You will obey my pace. Do you understand?” he ordered, his voice low and laced with an icy command.

“Levi? What-”

Before I could speak, he placed his palm firmly over my mouth, silencing me abruptly.

“Do. You. Understand?”

My breath hitched in my throat. His low, commanding voice, the intensity in his half-lidded eyes, held a raw dominance I hadn't fully encountered before. My eyes flickered between his, a silent acknowledgment of the shift in power, a helpless tremor running through me.

His blue eyes, now holding a glint of hunger, fixed upon my countenance with an unsettling clarity that sent a shiver through me. “,” he murmured, his voice a low, caressing vibration, “What a good boy, you are.”

The weight of his palm lifted from my mouth, leaving my lips tingling and my breath coming in shallow gasps. I waited, my gaze locked with his, a mixture of apprehension and a strange, burgeoning curiosity swirling within me. He then tightened his grip on my hips, his fingers digging slightly into my flesh. “Now, Pulla… tell me how good this feels.”

"You know how good it feels," I replied, meeting his intense gaze. A slight arch of my brow accompanied the words, a flicker of both arousal and a hint of playful defiance in my eyes, a challenge despite the lingering fear.

“Silence!”

A sharp intake of breath hitched in my throat. The playful defiance in my eyes must have been the wrong response, because the shift in Levi was immediate and chilling. And then I saw it – the cold, hard fury that had been lurking beneath the surface, now fully unleashed in his gaze. This was a side of Levi I had glimpsed before, but never directed at me with such intensity.

He completely lost it.

A knot of genuine fear tightened in my chest. "Levi...?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, barely a breath.

His gaze remained locked with mine, that chilling fury still present, yet… something else flickered beneath the surface. He began to move again, his pace slow and deliberate. A wave of relief washed over me, tinged with a lingering unease. He was still there, somewhere beneath the anger, a sliver of his usual control reasserting itself.

...

Levi's journey through the night was a turbulent one, a relentless cycle of shifting intensities and unfulfilled urges. He moved through phases of raw, almost brutal need, to moments of a more controlled, deliberate exploration, but the ultimate release remained elusive for him. I lost count of the times my own body shuddered with the sweet release, each wave leaving me more drained, more thoroughly sated, while he pressed on, driven by a frustration I could only begin to comprehend. His relentless pursuit of release manifested in a constant barrage of sensation – the deep, insistent pounding, the fervent suction of his mouth, the sharp sting of his teeth, the slick slide of his tongue – a desperate symphony of touch that seemed to bring him no closer to the edge. By the time the first rays of sunlight touched the room, I lay beside him, utterly exhausted, my body humming with the afterglow of multiple climaxes, while he remained coiled and tense, a storm still raging within him.

Then his phone rang.

A frustrated groan rumbled deep in Levi's chest. He snatched his phone from the bedside table, his fingers tight around the device, and brought it to his ear. "Yes. I am listening," he bit out, his voice rough with sleep and an edge of irritation, eyes half-closed. He remained inside me, an absentminded rhythm continuing as he listened to the voice on the other end. A long silence stretched, punctuated only by his uneven breathing and the soft sounds of our bodies moving together. Finally, he spoke again, his tone clipped and decisive. "I will not come to the office today. Please resume your duties." He ended the call abruptly, and tossed the phone back onto the table, his gaze distant and unfocused, already retreating into his own thoughts.

One might reasonably assume, after hours of relentless sucking and pounding, that the intensity would finally subside. Just over. But no. It was never over.

“Levi, I am gonna pass out. I am actually surprised that I didn’t till now,” I mumbled, my voice thick with exhaustion, my body heavy and sated.

"I warned you. I do not even remember half of it." His gaze seemed distant, unfocused, as if he were trying to piece together the fragmented, dreamlike memories of the long night.

"You don't?" I murmured, my voice a mere whisper, laced with sleepiness and a touch of surprise.

"Not necessarily, no. I remember some pieces... flashes, sensations... but there's no real chronological order to it. It's all a bit... hazy." He looked down at me. "Did I... did I hurt you, Raphael?"

“You kinda lost your shit, like completely lost it. Like in that council room,” I said, the memory of his raw fury from hours ago still sharp in my mind.

“Did I? I… I truly don’t remember. That’s not good… I apologize,” he said, a troubled frown deepening on his brow.

“It was kinda weird. You flipped instantly. At first you were dazed, then anger, then fury, then daze again…” I explained, tracing the line of his jaw, trying to make sense of the erratic shifts.

"The daze... the anger... the fury... all cycling like that? I... I have no recollection of that progression. It's like... pieces of a broken mirror, reflecting distorted images." A shiver seemed to run through him. "That council room incident... that was about a specific trigger. This... this sounds more... unhinged. God, Raphael... that sounds... deeply concerning. To lose control like that... especially with you… I am truly sorry.”

"It's okay, Levi," I reassured him gently, my hand reaching out to caress his cheek, feeling the slight dampness of his skin. "You really weren't yourself. Like I said, you were mostly in a daze, lost somewhere else."

His brow remained furrowed as he sat up, finally separating our bodies. "No, Raphael, it's not alright," he insisted, his voice laced with self-reproach, as he ran a distracted hand through his already disheveled dark hair. "I should have been more aware, more in control. My apologies, again."

He looked down at his still-erect member with a mixture of confusion and frustration in his eyes. "How can this still be... active?" he muttered, more to himself than to me, his voice barely audible. "I truly do not understand. Perhaps... perhaps I should call a physician."

"Physician for morning wood? C'mon, Levi," I repeated, a teasing lilt in my voice, my eyes twinkling with mirth.

He sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair again, the strands springing back stubbornly. "I will pursue other ways then... your body it appears," he muttered, his gaze still troubled as he looked down.

My amusement faded, replaced by a sudden jolt of confusion, a cold knot tightening in my stomach. "Wait, what? Like with someone else?" I asked, my voice sharp.

His head snapped up, his eyes widening in what looked like genuine offense, his jaw dropping slightly. "What? Raphael, how dare you even suggest that?" he exclaimed, his voice rising in indignation, a clear note of hurt in his tone. "I am truly offended that you even considered that."

"But... you said you'd pursue other ways... and then you looked..." I trailed off, a knot of uncertainty tightening in my chest.

Levi's expression softened from offense to something akin to exasperation, a slight weary sigh escaping him. He reached out, taking my hand in his, his fingers intertwining with mine. "Raphael," he said, his voice gentler, earnest, "I meant... other ways to deal with this," he gestured pointedly downwards, a hint of a wry smile finally touching his lips, "as in... perhaps a cold shower. Or... some vigorous exercise. Not... not another person. Gods, Raphael. After last night... the thought of anyone else..." He shuddered dramatically, a genuine tremor running through him, squeezing my hand in reassurance. "You are quite enough, believe me. More than enough."

A wave of relief washed over me, like cool water over heated skin. "Oh," I murmured, a sheepish smile touching my own lips. "Right. Of course." The events of the night had clearly left me a little more sensitive and prone to misinterpretation. I watched as he gave me a reassuring nod, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment before he finally turned and headed towards the sound of running water in the en suite bathroom.

I drifted in and out of sleep, the exhaustion from the long night clinging to me like a heavy blanket. Through the haze, I caught glimpses of Levi, a restless energy still emanating from him. I saw him shaking his legs vigorously, a frustrated grimace on his face, his movements agitated. Then came the sight of an ice pack precariously balanced on his crotch, followed by the sharp hiss of the shower running cold. At one point, a strange, medicinal scent filled the air, and I saw him applying some sort of spray to his lower body. Despite his efforts, the persistent tension remained, a coiled spring within him, and the next thing I knew, the hushed tones of a phone call filled the room, and shortly after, the quiet murmur of unfamiliar voices. A physician had indeed been summoned to the house.

Since Levi did his best but nothing worked, they were going to drain the blood with a syringe.

A wave of nausea rolled through me, chasing away the last vestiges of sleep, replacing it with a cold dread. The image of a syringe, its needle glinting, sent shudders wracking my body. Over and over again, the involuntary tremors coursed through me.

The procedure was surprisingly swift. Less than a minute passed, and then Levi’s sharp, guttural gasp echoed through the room. His body convulsed against the chair, a violent thrashing that spoke volumes of the agony and frustration he had endured, finally dissipating in that single, raw cry.

“Gods… Finally. Finally,” he rasped, the words laced with profound relief.

A serene air surrounded him as he fully relaxed into the chair, the tension visibly draining from his frame. He closed his eyes, a peaceful sigh escaping him, and muttered, “Raphael. It is over.”

"Yeah, Levi," I murmured softly, my gaze drifting downwards, noting the visible change. "'He definitely looks less... agitated."

The corner of my mouth twitched slightly at the understatement. The aggressive rigidity was gone, replaced by a more appearance.

“I. Will. Never. Ever. Let. Alcohol. Do. That. To. Me. Again,” Levi vowed, each word delivered with a low, fervent intensity, his gaze fixed on some unseen point as he punctuated his solemn promise with a deliberate kiss to his ring finger.

"Vow on a ring finger, huh?" I murmured, my voice laced with a teasing affection. "Duke Blake making an appearance again?"

“Old habits die hard. I am seriously considering donating my entire reserve.”

“What? No. I am also drinking that. And… last night was kinda my fault. I mean we pressured you into drinking.”

A soft sigh escaped Levi's lips, a subtle softening of his stern expression. "Perhaps not the entire reserve," he conceded, a small smile finally touching his lips. "But maybe... a significant portion. A reminder to exercise more restraint in the future." He looked at me, his gaze softening with affection in the warm morning light, a genuine warmth radiating from him. "And you're right, Raphael. We were all a bit too enthusiastic last night." He squeezed my hand gently, his touch firm and reassuring. "Lesson learned, for all of us, I think."

“Levi, the only lesson I learned was how cute and adorable you were last night.”

"Oh, is it?" he murmured, his voice laced with a fond amusement, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Yeah. And one other thing, ‘master’.”

Levi visibly jolted from his chair, as if struck by an invisible force. “Please refrain from using that word.”

A surprised laugh escaped me at Levi's sudden, dramatic reaction. "Aw," I teased gently, unable to resist the urge. "Do you even remember what Finn said? He said you basically 'purred' last night."

"Purred? Good gods. Remind me to have a very serious conversation with Finn later. And you... you're enjoying this far too much."

"Of course I'm enjoying it," I admitted with a playful shrug, a wide grin spreading across my face. "It's not every day the stoic Levi lets his... inner kitten out." I sobered slightly, my gaze softening as I looked at him. "And don’t scare Finn too much. But you're right. There were... many other things that happened last night. Things you should probably piece together on your own, in your own time."

Levi's sudden shift from embarrassed amusement to a dramatic plea caught me off guard. He sat forward, a hand pressed earnestly to his chest, his posture one of exaggerated sincerity. "Raphael," he implored, his voice laced with mock solemnity, "I am being utterly humble when I say this. For the sake of... the stability of this nation, please explain in excruciating detail the events of last night." A theatrical sigh escaped his lips, a performance for my benefit. "My memory is... fragmented, as you know. And the potential implications of me purring..."

As I recounted the events of the previous night, a kaleidoscope of images and emotions flickered through my mind. I described the unexpected vulnerability he had shown, his passionate food aversions, and the surprising candor with which he had spoken about his marriage to Julia. I touched upon how he opened up about his nature, and the almost childlike earnestness with which he had... well, pleaded for those ridiculous heart stickers.

He buried his face in his hands, a groan of pure mortification rumbling from deep within his chest. "Gods. Please tell me I didn't actually for heart stickers."

A nervous laugh escaped my lips, a slight tremor in my voice. “Well..." I hesitated, choosing my words carefully, "you did. Quite enthusiastically, actually. Ask Finn; he was thoroughly amused."

Levi's head snapped up.

"," he said, his voice dangerously low, each syllable enunciated with chilling precision, "fetch me my revolver from the study."

My amusement faded instantly, replaced by a sharp pang of concern that iced through my veins. "Levi," I said, my voice losing its playful edge and becoming genuinely worried, "are you... are you serious?" My gaze searched his face, looking for any hint of distress beyond the mortification over the heart stickers. "What's really going on?"

A forced chuckle escaped Levi, a hollow sound that didn't reach his eyes. His gaze didn't quite meet mine and held a flicker of something unreadable, a fleeting shadow. "You wound me, Raphael," he said, the sarcasm in his voice not quite reaching the usual sharp edge, sounding strained. "Do you truly think I'd resort to such melodrama over a few childish affections?" He gave a short, insincere laugh, then abruptly stood and walked towards the door, his movements stiff, almost hurried.

Levi's hand was already on the doorknob. "This has been... illuminating," he stated, his tone clipped, the earlier warmth completely absent. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have pressing matters to attend to."

"Where are you going?" I asked, a knot of unease tightening in my chest. "You specifically said you were taking the day off."

He paused, his hand still on the cool metal. Without turning to face me, he said, "I will go to my study, Raphael. It was a poorly timed joke, nothing serious."

One moment Levi was there, a strained dismissal in his voice, and the next, he was gone. I stared at the closed door, a sense of bewilderment washing over me. The speed of his exit, the abruptness of his departure, left me feeling slightly adrift. The fact that I didn't know the pass code to his study...