WHISPERS

While Levi sat in the quiet hospital room, watching over Sycamore as she rested, his phone rang in his pocket. It was Kale, his good friend, he groaned because he knew Kale was worried and had lots of questions. Kale had been growing increasingly worried about Levi's recent behavior—his absence at meetings both at the company and at Allure, the upscale club that promoted both their lifestyles owned and managed by Kale, of which Levi was one of the stakeholders. Kale knew Levi often visited the club, not necessarily to indulge in his own pleasure but to observe. To feed his eyes and curiosities, toying with his unspoken fetishes without ever fully satisfying his pleasures. Levi's restraint had always baffled Kale.

"You've been ghosting everyone," Kale teased, his voice light but tinged with concern. "You okay, man? Or has work finally eaten you alive?"

Levi chuckled, his eyes never leaving Sycamore. "I'm fine, Kale. Just... tied up with something else right now.

"Tied up?" Kale probed. "Is it work-related or... extracurricular?"

Before Levi could respond, Sycamore stirred in her sleep, her eyelashes fluttering weakly as she tried to open her eyes. Levi's heart skipped a beat. "Kale, I'll call you back," he said quickly, cutting off whatever snarky remark his friend was about to make.

"Wait, wha—" Kale's voice disappeared as Levi hung up.

Sycamore blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the dim light of the room. Her gaze landed on Levi, seated near the bed, and she immediately felt overwhelmed. The man looked impossibly handsome, like he'd stepped out of her most vivid dreams. It was almost intimidating how someone like him could exist in her reality.

Levi leaned forward, his face softening into a warm smile. "Hey there. How are you feeling?"

Sycamore tried to speak, but her throat felt dry and scratchy. He noticed immediately and poured her a glass of water, holding it to her lips as she sipped. "You've been out for two days," he explained gently. "You needed eight blood transfusions. Your body was severely dehydrated and weak."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Two days?" she croaked. "Blood transfusions?"

Levi nodded, watching as panic crept across her features. He could already guess what she was thinking. "Don't worry about the bill," he said quickly. "It's all taken care of. You don't owe me anything."

Sycamore's lips parted in protest, but he raised a hand to stop her. "If it makes you feel better, here's my personal number." He scribbled it on a piece of paper and handed it to her. "Call me when you're better, and we'll talk about repayment, okay? For now, just focus on getting well."

She stared at the number in her hand, her mind racing. This man—this impossibly kind and gorgeous man—was too good to be true. She felt a lump in her throat, a mix of gratitude and fear. Why was he doing all this for her? What did he want in return?

Her thoughts spiraled into darker territory. She'd been in situations like this before, where men offered help only to demand payment in kind. They'd smile sweetly, only to reveal their true intentions later. Some wanted to use her body to test their crude theories about plus-sized women—whether they were tighter, wetter, or more likely to squirt, as one particularly disgusting man had once suggested.

She shuddered at the memory and glanced at Levi again. Was he the same? Was all this just a setup?

But then she noticed how he looked at her—not with lust or expectation, but with genuine concern. It made her heart ache. She wanted to trust him, but her past kept pulling her back, whispering warnings in her ear.

Levi, on the other hand, was fighting his own battle. Watching Sycamore awaken stirred something primal in him, something he'd kept buried for years. Her timidity, the way she refused to meet his eyes, only made him want to protect her more. She looked at him from beneath her lashes, a habit he found maddeningly attractive.

"Calm down, Levi," he muttered under his breath, but his body didn't listen. Every inch of him wanted to possess her, to claim her in ways he'd never wanted anyone else. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, shield her from the world, and never let go.

Sycamore, meanwhile, was wrestling with emotions she couldn't name. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own, craving his touch, his presence. She wanted to submit to him, to give him everything she had, but fear held her back. Every time she'd come close to trusting a man, they'd thrown her vulnerabilities back in her face, mocking her for wanting to be cared for.

Her mind whispered, Not now. Not now.

"Are you okay?" Levi's voice broke through her thoughts.

She nodded, though she didn't feel okay. "Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. "Why are you helping me? I'm a nobody. I have nothing to give you."

His eyes softened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something deeper in them—something raw and unguarded. "Because I want to," he said simply.

She bit her lip, unconvinced. "People don't just... do things for free."

He leaned closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "I'm not 'people.'"

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Sycamore felt her defenses crumbling, piece by piece. This man was unlike anyone she'd ever met, and that terrified her.

Levi leaned back in his chair, forcing himself to create some distance. If he got too close, he wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself. He needed to take things slow, to earn her trust.

"I'll leave you to rest," he said finally, standing up. "But I'll be back to check on you later."

As he walked out of the room, Sycamore stared after him, her heart pounding. She didn't know what to make of Levi Dako Aldrich, but one thing was certain: was he good ? Was he bad? Very hard man to figure out.