5 - Friday, I'm In Love

“TGIF!”

I looked up as a bunch of my co-workers barrelled through the office that evening, absorbing people into their growing ‘party train’. I couldn’t help envying them right then. I was willing to bet none of them had weird demon stalkers ruining their lives.

“Hey, Bryant!” they yelled, coming up and dragging my chair out of my cubicle - with me still in it. “What do you say? Are you in or out??”

I stared up at them, mulling it over for a moment. After how hard I'd been working lately and all the Levi-related stress going on, I supposed I could use a little fun. “Yeah, sure, why not?”

“Alright!” they hooted, cheering like it was the best news in the world.

I relaxed, laughing along with them.

For the rest of the night, I drank, gossipped and bitched with the rest of them, doing my best to act like nothing was out of the ordinary.

“Jesus, I hate that guy,” someone was saying. “Always treating me like an idiot.”

“You are an idiot,” his friend quipped, downing a shot.

“But he doesn’t have to act like that.”

“Like what?” I asked, curious.

“Like he’s so much fucking smarter than everyone else!”

“I know, right?” I commiserated, nodding enthusiastically. Then, I paused, feeling stupid. “Wait, who are we talking about?”

“That dick Noah Paul, of course.”

“Oh…,” I went, my face heating up. I picked up my glass, hiding my face behind it.

“He’s so hot, though,” Allison murmured, and I wondered if she’d meant to say that out loud or if she was just buzzed. She rested an elbow on the table, looking off with a dreamy sigh. “That hair.”

“Those shoulders,” another woman piped up.

“That ass!” Gay Rob chimed in, and we laughed. Well, at least, they did. I tried to laugh along too but it was more like I gritted my teeth and made the requisite sounds.

“Come on, guys, let’s dance!” I said to change the subject. Thankfully, they went along with it, joining me out on the floor.

I was glad that we had stopped talking about Noah, but now, I couldn't help worrying about Levi possibly lurking in wait for me at home. No matter how much I drank or danced, I wouldn't be able to get rid of that anxiety.

“Come on, guys,” I whined as the group began putting on their coats to leave a few hours later. “It’s not that late.”

“Yeah, it kind of is. Sorry, Olivia. We’re going to call it a night.”

“Ugh, *fine*.” Grumbling to myself, I called an Uber. By the time we got to my building, I was a dread-filled mess.

I trudged up to my apartment, pausing outside the front door of my apartment.

What was that? There was a weird noise coming from inside. It sounded like...Levi...laughing?

I made my way inside, expecting to find…I wasn’t sure what, but definitely something creepy or unsavory.

But all I found was Levi parked on the couch, planted in front of the TV. There were tears in his eyes from laughing. I paused, staring at him in surprise.

“Steve Carell,” he explained, gesturing at the TV with the remote.

“I can see that.”

“So,” he said with a nod as I shut the door behind me. “How was work?”

“Uh, fine, I guess.”

“You had to work late again?”

“No, I went for drinks with my co-workers. Wait, why am I even telling you this?”

“Because I asked?”

“I’m going to bed,” I announced, marching across the floor. Levi stared after me but didn’t say anything.

After locking my bedroom door behind me, I took off my clothes and jumped into the shower. I was feeling hot...restless...and I didn’t like it.

I was hoping that the shower would calm me down, but if anything, it left me feeling more awake.

“Ugh, what is wrong with me?” I said to myself, plopping down on my bed and staring up at the ceiling.

Moments flitted through my mind of Noah and his intense gray eyes, the sound of his deep, commanding voice, the way his shirt pulled taut over his athletic frame.

Then, like an annoying little pop-up, it switched to an image of Levi - or rather, the memory of him and me in that alley as he made me watch him finger me…

I tensed as a twitch started between my legs. No! I wasn’t going to give him the time of day, not even in my thoughts.

I focused on Noah instead, reaching down and beginning to rub myself where it was most sensitive. Little flickers of pleasure spread throughout my body, and I heard the pattern of my breathing change, becoming deep and slow.

But for some reason, I just wouldn’t come.

“Damn it,” I cursed in a whisper, finally giving up. I lay there on my side, closing my eyes. I couldn’t even be bothered to get up and clean myself. I let myself fall asleep....

...and into a really weird, vivid dream.

At least, I figured it was a dream. A dream where someone warm and strong was pressed up against my back, arms roving across my body like it was all theirs for the taking.

A pair of warm lips brushed my shoulder, cool and soft, making me shiver.

*Noah?*

I felt him wrap an arm around me, caressing me through the fabric. Then he lowered his hand, tickling my thighs.

It wasn’t enough. I grasped his wrist, nudging his hand between my legs. That was all he needed, as the next thing I knew, his fingers were in my underwear, playing, searching. When he went in, I let out a murmur of pleasure.

I used my hand to guide him, lifting my hips as the pleasure crested inside me.

*Yes, yes…*

What finally did it was the sensation of his hot tongue flicking against my ear. I came hard, jerking against him a few times. The feeling slowly faded, but he didn’t stop.

“Olivia…,” I heard a husky voice in my ear as he quickened his movements, making me come a second time. Even then, he didn’t stop, sensing from my whimpers that I wanted more.

Finally, after the third time, he went still, relishing the way my muscles clenched around his fingers. For a long time, I let my hand rest on top of his, and he didn’t seem to mind.

Finally, he pulled away, and I let myself relax as sleep took hold of me again.

When I awoke the next morning, it took me a while to come out of that long, heavy sleep. Thank God it was Saturday, I thought.

I didn’t have any plans today, except for…

Levi. Right. I still had him to deal with. I still wasn’t sure what he expected me to do with all this witches-and-spells stuff.

I got to my feet, grabbing my towel. After coming out of the shower, I stood in front of my closet, pondering for a long moment. Should I dress up or dress down? Why did I even care? The only one around was Levi, and I didn’t care what he thought. Much.

Finally, I decided on a T-shirt and sweatpants, pulling my long, dark hair into a ponytail. I could hear light clattering sounds coming from the kitchen and thought to myself, *Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if he made me breakfast or something? Yeah, right.*

Just as I was about to step out into the living room, I realized something.

*My door...it’s not locked.

But I know I locked it last night.*

I went numb for a long moment, remembering the sensation of someone making me climax again and again last night…

*Did he…?*

I yanked open the door roughly, marching outside. Sure enough, there was Levi in my kitchen, pawing through my cupboards. He turned to look at me as I walked up, saying, “You’re going to have to stock up on groceries.”

Instead of answering, I gave him a hard shove. He doubled back, knocking against the fridge and causing a bunch of magnets to clatter to the floor.

“You son of a bitch,” I hissed at him.

“Well...good morning to you too, Olivia,” he said dryly.

“I thought we had a deal. You said you wouldn’t touch me.”

“I never said that. Besides, you should be thanking me.”

“Thanking you??”

“You and I both know you were in need of a little ‘help’ last night.”

I drew back, feeling my face flush as I realized his meaning. “How did you know - ?”

“Come on, I’m an incubus. And I’m bound to you now, so it’s kind of hard to miss this stuff. But really, this is all your fault.”

“My fault? You - !” I moved to slap him, but he was quicker. He grabbed hold of my wrists, pushing me back and down onto the kitchen table. “N-no!”

Levi climbed on top of me, eyes gazing down into mine. “So...you think you can do what you want without consequences? You think you can touch me and I can’t touch you?”

“Levi, stop!”

“You’re the most arrogant human I’ve ever come across. And I’ve seen all kinds.”

“You’re calling *me* arrogant?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Get off me, Levi.”

“You weren’t like this last night.”

I gaped for a moment, the blush on my face deepening. “I thought I was dreaming. And for the record, I was dreaming of somebody else!”

“Who?”

“None of your business.”

“Your boss Noah?”

“Fuck you.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “That just might happen.”

I looked away, swallowing tightly. I knew I was at his mercy right now. “Fine,” I muttered. “Just hurry up and get it over with so I can get on with my life.”

Levi blinked down at me, not speaking for a long time. He bent down, lips meeting mine in a kiss.

Even though it was unwanted, I somehow found myself falling into the momentum of it, parting my lips to let him in. Maybe I wasn’t as weak-willed as my co-worker Alison or that man on the bus who’d given up his seat to Levi. But I wondered if maybe I wasn’t as immune to Levi as I thought I was.

Eventually, Levi broke our kiss, and I gasped softly for breath. He moved downward, lips catching me on my collarbone, then my neck. His kisses danced over my T-shirt, moving to cup my nipple through my T-shirt.

“No…,” I trailed off, and yet, I couldn’t help arching my back to him.

As if sensing my weakening resolve, he let go of my wrists, pushing up my T-shirt and setting warm, wet lips to my skin.

“Levi, please,” I begged, trying unsuccessfully to push him away. Then, I felt his hand around my neck, not holding tightly but keeping me still. He shot me a stern look, as if daring me to challenge him. “You forget what I am, Olivia.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“You might enjoy it, you know.”

“How can I?”

“By shutting up and letting me do what I do best.”

“But - ”

“No buts, witch.”

“I’m not a - !” I was interrupted by loud music coming from my bedroom. Both of us turned to look.

“What’s that?” Levi asked.

“It's my phone. Someone’s calling me. Will you please let me get that?”

Levi tsked, but reluctantly got up off of me. “I suppose I can always finish this later.”

I leapt off the table, racing to my bedroom. The name ‘Mom’ flashed on-screen.

“Hello? Mom?” I greeted.

“Hello, Olivia. I wasn’t sure if you were awake yet.”

“Uh, yeah, I was just…” I glanced out the door, catching Levi’s eye as he breezed past. “...on the table. I-I mean, at the table. Having breakfast. Breakfast.” I silently cursed myself. “Is everything OK, Mom?”

“Yeah, I just wanted to remind you about tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Our anniversary dinner.”

Shoot. I had completely forgotten, like the idiot that I was. Mom and Dad always had a big get-together every year to celebrate. “Right, of course. Thanks for reminding me.”

“I thought you’d need it. So? Will you be bringing a date this year?”

“No.”

“I thought there was a guy at work that you were really into?”

I pursed my lips, regretting that one time last year I'd had one too many drinks and ended up gushing all about Noah to my parents.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t like me that way.”

“How do you know? It’s 2019. Why don’t you just ask him to come?”

“He’s my boss, Mom.”

“Oh...hmm. Well, you know, there are other jobs.”

“Mom, I like my job. Well, OK, no, I don’t, but it’s a good job.”

Mom sighed. “OK, well, don’t worry. I think we have a few divorcees coming this year.”

“Mom! Please promise me you won’t try to set me up like you did last year. And the year before that. And every year for as long as I can remember.”

“Ooh, I have to go, honey. I’ve got a delivery at the door.”

“Mom!” She hung up and I could just imagine her giggling gleefully to herself. “Damn it. I’ve got to go get something to wear.”

“What about that pink dress?” Levi’s voice gave me a start. I turned to see him leaning casually in the doorway.

“Were you eavesdropping?”

“The one you were wearing that night,” he continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “You know, the night we…? In the alley? Well, you know.”

“I can’t wear that! It's short and tight and - Mom would have a fit.”

“Well, what does it matter, anyway? You’d look good in anything,” Levi said off-handedly.

I blinked at him in surprise. *Did he just pay me a compliment?* “You don’t know my mom. She’s always commenting on how I wear ‘the same old crap’. Ergo, I’m going to go buy a new dress. Something totally different.”

I grabbed my purse, heading towards the front door. “As for you, stay here and don’t cause any trouble.”

Levi didn’t say anything, staring at me as I left. Just before I closed the door on him, I got this weird feeling like I was abandoning him or something.

*Why should I feel bad for him? He almost raped me twice now! I can’t get rid of him, I can’t reason with him…*

*I have to figure things out soon.*

An hour later, I stood in a changing room, turning this way and that as I observed the way the daisy-yellow piece sat on my frame. Cute. Pretty. Modest. It looked like something that would get Mom’s seal of approval.

‘You’d look good in anything,’ Levi’s words echoed in my head.

“Asshole,” I said under my breath.

I changed out of the dress, stepping out of the changing room area. And bumped straight into a man’s hard, lean chest. Someone grasped my upper arms, holding fast, setting off alarms in my head.

*What the hell?? *