100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 159: The Proposition II

"You are offering me sexual intercourse, are you not?" Sam asked patiently like she was speaking to a four-year-old wanting to cut papers with an electric saw.

"Very much so, but I’d rather have all of you." He said, eyes remained on hers. His sincerity made her cower within herself again; what he was saying was getting too real. The voice in her head saying he was just pranking her again was starting to shut up.

The flash of dread in her green eyes Levi saw, and he took another step forward. "I’m not asking you to love me. I’m not even saying I love you," he said; he wasn’t even sure if he loved her. What is love, after all? But he was sure he cared for her more than he ever cared for anyone, even himself. Most people would call that love. But he himself had not been entirely convinced yet, and he wouldn’t dare say it if he wasn’t sure of it. Especially to her who never forgets.

"Have you not considered the results of this?" She asked, trying to give him a sense of reason. Their roles had switched; she was now the logical one in the group.

"Newton’s Third Law," she added, for effect. ’For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.’

"I’m not stupid, Sam," he said, recognizing her tone. "I didn’t just come up with this today. I have thought about it for quite some time." He admitted, and Sam gave him a look mixed with concern and surprise.

"And you’d be the last person I thought would disregard my feelings," he said, almost choking at the word. He knew what she was doing; she wasn’t even thinking about it; worse, she wasn’t even acknowledging it. "I’m not asking you to give me an answer right now. But I am going to insist that you consider it," he said, jaw clenched. Sam’s eyes widened; it hit home. He was absolutely right, she had been avoiding it the whole time, and she doesn’t know what to say.

"Regarding your question, I propose that you consider the advantages of this. For one, it will be advantageous to you since you will have full access to me at all times except when I’m working a case, of course."

"Of course," Sam repeated in a patronizing manner, Levi noticed. "It will save you both time and effort from coming to one place and another. Since your lover and I are one person... you’ll most likely be less annoyed with me since you will be sexually satiated at all times." Levi started and continued with his list of reasons. Sam inwardly screamed. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Your concern flatters me, but what will it do for you?" She asked; maybe that will cause him to think it over. His personal gain had always been a primary concern of his.

"Simple, I want you. And I will have you, intercourse just increases my chances of having you permanently" he said in a duh tone, then he shrugged, "But since you clearly don’t want to hear that part. It’s advantageous as well on my part since you will be spending more time with me, and as we both know, your presence has been my constant mental stimulation--- and will also prevent you from being late during Game Night like the other times." He reasoned.

"That was one time." she reminded him. "Two," he shot back; he did not lose count. It was two times, earning an exasperated sigh from the redhead. "Nicely put. But you forgot the big flaw in your proposition." Sam said, her expression tired; she felt emotionally drained suddenly. He was offering her sex, sex she needed badly; the problem was her feelings for him will always win over her carnal needs. And she’d hate to mix business with pleasure.

"What?"

"You are my friend." she said.

Levi opened his mouth to say, and she knew he was about to say ’you are not just a friend to me,’ but she interrupted him, "I value you, dearly. I don’t want to make a drastic move to ruin what we have, what already works and functions properly. Something I know will be close to impossible to find on someone else---for my mere physical need."

Sam confessed, moved by his concern. But still---

"It’s not just a mere physical need for me," he said, reminding her of his confession just minutes ago. Something she had been refusing to acknowledge fully. His feelings she neither denied nor accepted, how could she when she wasnt even considering it in her mind.

She refused to listen, the locked door in her mind shaking. "To add up, Statistics proved this proposition wouldn’t work. I won’t risk it, I’m sorry. I appreciate--" She decided.

"Statistics?" He asked.

"A study had been done with couples under this arrangement Levi, in a year 31% had nothing to do with each other, 28% went back to being friends, and 26% continued with ’business’" Sam elaborated, that’s why she never did do it with people she cared about. It made things complicated, and she didn’t like complications in her relationships. She had enough complications in her complicated job.

"Ah.. yes, but let’s not forget to mention the 15 %?" he said, knowing this study. He had read on it years before.

"The 15% doesn’t matter." She insisted, almost annoyed, knowing the 15% resulted in a romantic relationship.

Romantic relations involved being responsible for someone else’s feelings. That was too much responsibility.

"What matters is, it’s not right." She added, determined at her stand.

Levi frowned, both insulted and hurt by her rejection; clearly, she didn’t think him good enough to even have casual sex with. She sighed, noticing the expression he made; she never wanted to nick his ego.

"I’m a selfish woman. I use men for sex, and I only use them for sex. I don’t continue relationships with these men. I manipulate them into giving me what I need, which is sex, and when I’m done, I leave. When I get bored, I leave. I don’t stick around--" Sam confessed, wanting to add ’I don’t want to be responsible for anybody’s feelings,’ naive at the reality that they had been both responsible for each other’s feelings, for a very long time.

"The point is, normal people don’t just sleep with their friends, Levi," Sam said, trying to make a point, unaware that he was now standing a foot from her. Simultaneously, she leaned against the kitchen isle with a bottle and glass of champagne by her side.

Levi leaned in closer, and she couldn’t help but hold her breath with the proximity. His hand found its way around her wrist, and her eyes followed his hand, her body tensing under his touch.

He started reading her; her pulse rate was elevated, her cheeks flushed, and he knew it wasn’t just from the alcohol she had been consuming the whole night. Shortness of breath and her eyes dilated as she gazed up at him towering over hers. All these are signs of arousal.

Satisfied that sexual arousal wasn’t a problem, he spoke with an argument of his own.

"You have a photographic memory, possibly the only one in the World. 3 PhDs and considered the Best Forensic Pathologist to have ever lived." he started.

"I’m an expert criminal psychologist who refused to get his Ph.D. simply because I don’t wanna be called Doctor. I help solve crimes cause I enjoy solving puzzles. I’ve built a business out of invading people’s privacy and revealing their most hidden secrets. Not to mention the fact that I have a gambling problem."

He paused, looking straight to her green eyes, "Sam, we both know, we’re far....from normal." Levi stated with conviction, trying to make a point himself. The hand around her wrist started to brush upwards to her arm chastely, forming goosebumps on its trail.

His touch burned her skin, and for the first time, she felt scared because she wanted it. She needed it. Her heart raised, pounding against her chest. Her lungs ached for air--what do I do?

But she was drawing a blank, his scent overwhelming her senses to the point that she could hear her heart beating in her ears and her body growing warm.

Levi saw her inner battle, but he took her silence as a maybe. "I will never force you; I know you can easily knock me out if you want to," he said, and she knew that was true. Yes, he was bigger, and he could fight, but she had training compared to him.

"But I want you to give me a chance; you don’t have to give me an answer right away. You can take all the time in the World. And if you don’t develop the same feelings, I’ll accept. But for now, allow me to challenge your Autonomic Nervous System. If you don’t respond, I’ll take it as a No," he continued, leaning in painstakingly slowly, slow enough that if she wanted, she could refuse him by turning away to avoid his lips.

"We don’t have to speak of this ever. We can pretend it never happened--it’s your choice." He offered softly, burdened by the possibility.

Sam didn’t say anything, and she did nothing.

Too afraid to say yes, too weak to say no.

"Tell me to stop." He whispered, lips brushing hers as he spoke.