“Actually, I think that is the purpose of using the pool. We evolved from the water, dear sister. Clothes are a modern form of decoration and a means to stifle our sexuality. We’re meant to be naked.”

Leaving the bed, I cross the room to the bureau and begin searching the top drawer for a pair of fresh socks. “You’re missing the point. You need to exercise, and it’s my job to make sure that you do.”

“All fun and no play makes Levi a dull boy.”

“And all play makes David Black a very angry man. Come on, Levi. Your dad is going to have my ass if you’re not back on the field at the end of the month.”

Sitting up, Levi props his elbows on his knees and leans into them. “Would it be such a bad thing if I stopped playing?”

Brows knitting together, I ask, “What do you mean? You don’t want to play soccer anymore?”

His shoulders lift. Staring down at his hands, Levi talks to the floor. “I’ve been playing the game for almost as long as I could walk, and I love it. I do. I can’t remember a time when soccer wasn’t a part of my life, but...”

“But what?” I prompt. He said it himself. Levi’s whole life has been soccer. It’s all anyone ever talks about. It’s his career, and a lot of people are depending on him. Including me. If he doesn’t get back out there, what happens to me? Will I still have a job lined up at the end of this?

“Do you know how many bones I’ve broken?” He waits a beat and then answers. “Yeah, me either. I lost count back in high school, but let me tell you, it’s not fun.”

“Yeah, but you’re young and strong. You always bounce back. I’ve seen you.”

“I used to bounce back,” he corrects me. “I’m still young, I know that, but try telling my body that. Every day is a challenge to get out of bed. Have you seen my medicine cabinet?” I shake my head, but he’s not looking at me. “I have to take a cocktail of pills just to function most days because sometimes the pain is just too damn much.”

With my socks in hand, I walk back and sit down beside him. “I had no idea.”

“No one does. My dad makes sure of it,” Levi replies with a bitter edge.

“If you’re so miserable, why don’t you talk to him about it? I’m sure he’d help you find something else to do. With all your experience, you could go back to school and become a trainer or a coach. Something to keep you close to the game without having to be in it.”

“I’ve already talked to him and he doesn’t give a shit. I’m David Black’s cash cow. Do you have any idea how much money we make off endorsements alone? It doesn’t matter if I want out or not. The only way he’s going to let me walk is if it’s in a wheelchair.”

I can’t process what he’s just told me. I don’t know my stepfather well, but I know enough to say that he loves his son. “He’s your dad, Levi. I’m sure if you explained it to him like you just did to me, he’d help you. I doubt he’d be happy knowing you’re not.”

“Then you don’t know my father. You know how he is with your mother. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine living under his thumb your whole life.”

I can’t imagine something I’ve never experienced. David may not be a good husband, but he’s always been kind to me. “Levi—”

“You know what I want to do today?” Popping off the bed, Levi rounds on me, excitement flashing in his eyes.

I frown at the sudden change in his demeanor, but it’s clear that he’s done talking. “What?”

“Something fun. Something that will get our blood pumping.”

“Sounds dangerous,” I muse. Anything that gets Levi Black this amped up is definitely a cause for concern.

“Would you rather sit around here all day and be bored?”

Parting my socks, I gather one up and slide it over my toes. “How about you tell me where you’re going and I’ll have the ambulance meet you there.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Levi chastises. Reaching out, he takes my hands and lifts me to my feet. “If you’re going to live with me, then you have to learn to live.”

“I already lived enough for one day when I agreed to go for a ride on your motorcycle.”

His eyes twinkle with mirth. “Tell me you didn’t enjoy riding on my hog,” he purrs as he loops his arm around my back and pulls me up against his chest.

I ignore the blatant innuendo, but I can’t deny the truth because I definitely enjoyed myself. Being that close to Levi, having the excuse to wrap myself around him and feel every inch of his hard body against mine was the stuff of dreams. The power of that machine combined with his command and confidence behind the wheel still gets me hot under the collar just thinking about it.

If whatever he has up his sleeve is even half as arousing as that, then maybe I should stop struggling and do what he said—live. Relenting, I ask, “What did you have in mind?”

“Oh, princess. If I told you that, it’d ruin the surprise.” Releasing me, he slaps my behind and pushes me toward the bed. “Get ready and meet me downstairs in ten.” He heads for the door, but pauses before passing through it. “Oh, and don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to use those magic fingers today. Just make sure you wear something comfortable. This is going to be the best day ever!”

12

This is the worst day ever.

When Levi said he was going to surprise me, I should have known it’d be something crazy and death defying. He’s insane. A madman. I’m going to kick him in the nuts.

“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to do this,” I yell over the deafening roar of the engines.

We’re flying in a plane I don’t know how many feet up in the air, but it’s enough to see the top of the clouds and that’s not okay with me. My heart is pounding so hard it’s about to leap out of my chest and Levi has the nerve to laugh. I’m glad he finds my terror so amusing. I’ve decided to break his nose, too.

“There’s no turning back now!” he shouts back.

We’re inches apart, and we have to yell to hear one another. How awesome is that? I think I’m going to puke. Worse yet, the instructor claims that the only way to leave the plane is to jump. Ha! I’ll tell Levi what I told him.

“Go fuck yourself. I’m not jumping out of a plane!”

“Then why did you get on in the first place?” He’s still laughing, and I’m getting angrier by the second.

“It wasn’t my choice, asshole!”

When we arrived at the hangar, at few scenarios ran through my head. Maybe we were going to see an air show. Maybe he was learning to fix planes. Maybe he was taking flying lessons. I never minded flying. I just never dreamed Levi was planning to make me jump out of one. When I realized his plan, I spun on my heel with the intention of waiting in the car until he returned. If he returned. I was already planning a eulogy. Something heartfelt. Something a sister would say about her beloved asshole of a stepbrother. Now, all I’m planning is how I’m going to murder him.

As soon as Levi realized where I was going, he chased me down—literally—and threw me over his shoulder. Of all the indignities, being carried off with your underwear exposed for all the world to see has to top the list—he could have at least warned me that a dress was not appropriate attire.

Despite kicking and screaming, no one batted an eyelash. No one offered to rescue me. I guess being the son of a rich and powerful man and being a national heartthrob means you can kidnap people and get away with it.

“Come on, princess, you’re gonna love it,” Levi swears.

I don’t trust a damn word that comes out of his mouth. I’ve heard those words before, and look how things turned out.

“Fuck you, Levi! If you want to be an idiot and risk your life, then go for it. But leave me out of it!” One of the attendants or whatever the hell he is comes up behind me and loops a backpack onto my shoulders. When I look over my shoulder at him, he shouts, “Safety precaution!”