"Ms. Flynn?" I looked over at the principal, who was peeking her head in the doorway of my classroom. "May I speak with you for a moment?" She motioned me out into the hallway and I began to nervously chew the inside of my cheek.

"Keep coloring guys. I'll be back in a moment," I told my kindergarten students, before stepping out into the hallway.

"Is everything alright, Principal West?"

Adjusting the glasses resting on the bridge of her nose, she gives me a tight-lipped smile and shakes her head.

"I'm afraid not."

I started to internally panic, hoping I wasn't being fired. I've only had this job for a few weeks now. And it would really suck if I was let go so soon.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed. "A man by the name of Everett called. He told me to tell you that Levi had a heart attack."

"A h-heart attack?"

I'm pretty sure I blacked out after that, because when I woke up I was in the nurse's office and couldn't remember anything after Principal West told me Levi had a heart attack.

When I woke up, I popped up out of the bed I was laying in, the nurse trying to coax me back down. "You have to rest, Ms. Flynn."

I kept shaking my head. "No. I have to get to the hospital." Pushing the nurse's hands away, she watched me with worry as I staggered to the exit. My head was throbbing, but I didn't care. I was determined to get to the hospital and see Levi.

"But Ms. Flynn-"

"I'll be fine," I told her, giving her a dismissive wave of my hand.

Walking out of the office, I spotted Principal West. "I have someone covering your class. So please, take all the time you need."

Thanking her, I made it to my car. I had Everett text me the address to the hospital Levi was occupying. When my phone pinged seconds later, I typed the address into my GPS and took off.

I got honked at, flipped off, and cut off by angry road ragers. I was surprised I hadn't been pulled over by the cops yet as I was speeding and running red lights.

I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles starch white. I kept telling myself to breathe and not panic, but I just kept thinking about the last time someone I cared about suffered from a heart attack.

Despite my grandmother being okay in the end, I didn't eat or sleep for days. Worry and fear had consumed my every being, making it difficult for me to focus on anything.

Levi, I swear if you die on me...

I didn't waste any time parking my car as I pulled up to the curb and sprinted into the building.

My heart was racing, everything seeming to move in slow motion. The hospital smell didn't help. They always make me feel nauseous.

Everett was talking to who I assumed was the doctor. And all I heard was, "he's okay," but it was enough for me to finally breathe again.

Everett rubbed his tear filled eyes, nodding and thanking the doctor. When the doctor left, Everett looked over at me. He didn't say anything. He just pulled me into a hug, which I wasn't expecting him to do at all.

"Levi really needs you right now," he whispered.

"What happened?"

"Natalie finally told him the truth about everything. He thought he would be able to handle it, but I guess not." Pulling away from me, he jerked his chin in the direction of the brightly lit hallway. "Come on. I'll take you to him."

Everett's not a mean guy or anything like that. But I found his kindess towards me odd and slightly suspicious.

I didn't know how to feel about it. Was he really warming up to me, or was this because his bestfriend was lying in a hospital bed?

Itching to unravel the reason behind his overly friendly behavior, I said, "I know you don't like me, but-"

"It's not that I don't like you," he interjected, escorting me to the room Levi was being hospitalized in. "It's the relationship I don't agree with. Levi's not some college fling. He's a man. A man with feelings and a son to think about."

"I know that."

His brow rose. "Really? Because I don't think you do. When Levi loves, he loves hard. He doesn't know how to take things slow. Especially with you."

"What does that mean?"

"He's falling for you. And he's falling hard. He gave you his heart long before he even realized he had."

"I... I don't know what to say to that," I tell him honestly.

"You don't have to say anything. I just need to know that you won't break his heart. It's fragile, you know."

I smiled. I admired how much Everett cared for his friend. Nodding, I said, "you don't have to worry about Levi or Declan. My heart belongs to the both of them and always will."

He smiled, which was a gesture I had yet to see from him. "Good."

My smile dissipated when I saw Natalie standing by Levi's bed.

What is she doing here?

Levi was facing away from Natalie, a look of boredom on his face. She was pleading with him to take her back, but there was nothing she could say or do to get him to listen to the bullshit spewing from her lips.

She reached for his hand and he jerked away from her. "Get out."

"Please, I'll do anything," she cried, desperate to get the family she destroyed back.

"Just take the fucking money and go."

She cursed under her breath, before turning to leave. She paused, rolling her eyes when she saw me.

"You will never be able to make him happy like I can," she growled.

"Actually, I already have," I retorted. "Over and over and over again." Giving her a cheeky smile, I crossed my arms over my chest and she stormed off, snatching the envelope filled with cash out of Everett's hand. "Don't worry," I added with a smirk. "I'll take good care of your son, and even greater care of your husband."

"Laurel?"

My eyes snapped to Levi upon hearing my name on his tongue. My heart beat wildly, the urge to jump into his arms and kiss him stronger than ever.

It seemed Levi's heart rate had spiked as well, the machines beeping uncontrollably beside him.

A nurse rushed in and checked his blood pressure. "Your blood pressure is increasing rapidly, Mr. Isaacs. You have to calm down."

"I am calm," he replied, his eyes still on me.

The nurse stared at him in confusion, trying to figure out what caused his heart rate to spike the way it did.

Everett cleared his throat, snickering immaturely. "Someone's a little excited."

The nurse and I both followed Everett's eyes, realizing why his blood pressure had suddenly reached such dangerous levels. He was as hard as a rock, the blanket on his lap pitching a tent.

Blushing, I bit my lip and averted my gaze. "I can step out for a minute," I offered.

"Or... nurse Penelope can step out and you and I can make up for lost time."

"Levi!" I scolded, blushing harder.

"I can't do that, Mr. Isaacs. Not only will that get me fired, but participating in such a strenuous activity will negatively impact your blood pressure."

"I'll pay you triple of whatever the hospital bill cost."

"Take all the time you need," the nurse replied with a smile, hugging the clipboard to her chest and leaving the room.

"I guess I'll call Haley and let her know we are keeping Declan a little longer," Everett said with a sigh, unsurprised by his bestfriend's lewd behavior.

Leaving us alone, the door was closed, silence lingering in the air. We just stared at each other, not sure who should make the first move.

Levi spoke first. "I missed you."

"You missed me, and yet, you're the one who pushed me away." The words came out angrier than expected.

Levi nodded and swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing up and down in his partially tatted throat.

"You have a right to be upset. I deserve that."

"I'm not upset, Levi. What I am is hurt. You didn't just push me away- no. You abandoned me."

"I'm sorry, baby. That wasn't my intention."

"Maybe not, but you really hurt me. I cried myself to sleep every night missing you, wanting you. You ripped my heart from my chest and crushed it like it meant nothing to you. Like I meant nothing to you."

I didn't know where all these emotions were coming from. I hadn't necessarily moved on during the time we spent apart. In fact, my feelings for him only grew. But I thought that I had finally accepted it.

"I'm sorry," he apologized again, sadness evident in his tone. "I was scared. I still am scared." He sighed. "I know you're not Natalie. I knew that from the day I saw you with my son at the grocery store."

He ripped the needle connected to his IV out of his arm. Sitting himself up, he shifted to the edge of the bed and patted his lap.

"Come here."

"I'm not having sex with you, Levi. Not in a hospital. Knowing Victor heard us in your limo was enough."

He chuckled. "I just want to hold you, sweetheart." Making note of my reluctance, he offered his hand for me to take. "I promise to keep my hands to myself."

Inching towards him, I shyly took his hand and stepped in between his legs. My lips curled up into a smile when I saw my scrunchie still on his wrist.

"You still have that?" I asked in astonishment.

"Of course I do. Unfortunately, it no longer smells like you, but it still helps me with my anxiety."

Tugging the scrunchie off his wrist, I put my hair up and took his hand in mine. I looked down at his wrist, then back up at him.

"Is that...?"

"Mhm." I stared at the little tattoo of a scrunchie he got permanently inked onto his wrist, my name written in cursive on the inside.

"It's beautiful." Kissing his wrist, I asked, "did it hurt?"

"No."

I don't know if it was because he was sitting here in his hospital gown looking so sexy and mouthwatering- which I didn't think was possible, or if his new tattoo dedicated to me was turning me on.

Maybe it was both. Who knows. All I know is suddenly I'm in the mood. Swiping my tongue over his tattoo, he hissed, caught off guard by my actions.

Pushing his index finger into my mouth, I made sure he was watching me as I swirled my tongue around his finger.

Withdrawing his finger from my mouth, I got down on my knees. Grabbing his cock, I gave him no warning as I took him in my mouth.

He fell back, leaning on propped up elbows. I kept a steady pace, moaning every once in a while to let him know how much I was enjoying the taste of him in my mouth.

Stopping just before he came, I stood back up, but only to climb onto his lap and hike up my skirt. Using the scrunchie I took from him and put in my hair, I tied him to the bed's railing.

I'm about to ride the shit out of him.

Sitting down on him, I moaned, feeling him fill me up entirely. "What's your safe word?"

He responded with a laugh and a scoff. "I don't need a safe word, babygirl."

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle this pussy without one?"

He growled, flexing the muscle in his jaw. "This pussy belongs to me. Or have you forgotten?"

"N-No," I stammered with a blush, losing all my confidence as the memory of our time in the hotel came rushing back.

"That's what I thought," he replied with a sexy lick of his lips. "Now go ahead and show me just how good you ride daddy's dick."

Pushing on his chest, I drove my hips forward, whimpering when I felt the head of his cock tease my spot.

"There you go, baby," he groaned lowly. "Ride it just like that."

I was losing stamina fast. Grinding as hard and fast as I could, I huffed in exhaustion.

"Levi," I breathed, dipping my head down. "I'm about to come."

"Hold on, baby. I'm not through with you yet."

I held on as long as I could. Panting with each rock of my hips, I clenched around him, determined to show him just how much of a good girl I can be for him.

I thought he was going to continue delaying my release until he took control and started pounding into me.

"Fuck! Levi!"

Freeing his hands easily, he cupped the back of my head and pushed my head down into the crook of his neck just as I screamed. I moaned loudly, the space between his neck and shoulder muffling my cries.

"You did so good, baby," he praised, kissing my shoulder.

Enjoying each other's embrace in silence, I waited a moment before speaking again. "Levi?"

"Mm?" He hummed sleepily.

"I want to go home."

Understanding which home I was referring to, he nodded his head and continued to hold me. "I'll take you home, but only if you promise me one thing."

"I promise."

"I didn't even say what it was."

"You don't need to. My answer will always be the same."