40. Alina
FORTY
ALINA
I’m fixing to snap on Regina. It’s not a good look as her employee, but if she doesn’t take a step away from Chase, I may just lose it. I’ve been standing in the corner of the dance studio, watching them have a “meeting” for the past twenty minutes. Regina told me I could leave for the day, but fat chance of that with the way she’s been eyeing my man since she walked in.
I thought she was married, but she isn’t wearing a wedding ring. I bet she just took it off.
Chase is taking me back to his place tonight for dinner, and instead of going home to freshen up like I originally planned, I’m here watching them like a jealous girlfriend.
I’m too far away to hear the conversation, but it doesn’t matter. I know he’s going over everything they’ve completed for the week. Regina wanted brand-new floor-to-ceiling windows installed in the main dance studio. She said it would help drum up business if people on the street could look right in and see the classes. He installed them today, and of course, she just had to come in and see them. It makes sense, seeing as how this is her place. But did she really need to undo those extra buttons on her blouse beforehand?
I watch her giggle and preen for what feels like hours, until she finally leaves. But not before giving Chase her personal cell number “just in case he thinks of anything else he might need.” Please.
She breezes by, giving me a funny look and walking out the door. Chase stops in front of me, smiling like the cat that got the cream.
I cross my arms and scowl. “What are you lookin’ so pleased about?”
He glances at the front door. Once he sees the coast is clear, his hands go straight to my hips. He squeezes, leaning in and stealing a kiss. “Can’t I be pleased to see my woman?”
Butterflies go crazy in my stomach, but I maintain my glare. “I just don’t think you should encourage her, is all.”
“Who, Regina?” He laughs, backing up a step. “That woman’s been out to get me since day one, Goldi. Hate to break it to you. There’s no encouragement necessary.”
Huh. I guess I was so busy trying to ignore Chase that I missed the signs. Probably for the best. If I had noticed her salivating over him, it would have made me green with jealousy, and honestly, I like her, despite the fact she’s pissing me off.
“Are you ready to go?” I don’t want to think about Regina anymore.
He leans against the wall. “What’s the rush?”
I shrug, my hands out to my sides. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving.” His eyes darken as he straightens.
He stalks toward me.
I take a step back.
He takes another step forward.
I stumble back another step.
I’m against the windows now, my hands pushing against his chest. “You’re gonna smudge the new glass.”
His head lowers and he nips my neck. “Don’t care.”
“Well, maybe I do ,” I say, leaning my head to the side so he has better access.
“Mmm…seems like it.” He presses against me.
His palms move down my sides, his body following their trek. He drops to his knees, running the back of his hand up the inside of my leg. All the way up. My skirt bunches around my hips, and the cool air blows through the red lace of my panties.
Glad I wore my good underwear.
“What are you doin’?” I push on his shoulders half-heartedly.
“Eating.” He leans in and kisses my clit through the lace.
My muscles seize and I bite my lip.
His hands glide along the outside of my underwear, slipping his finger underneath the material until he’s sliding them down my legs. I’m vulnerable. Exposed. At his mercy. And then his tongue is on my clit and he’s all warmth and wet, and I swear when he licks me from bottom to top and swirls around where I need him the most, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to heaven.
“I need… I need…”
His nose brushes against me, and he moves it back and forth. “I know what you need, baby. Fuck , you even smell perfect.”
I can’t find my words, so I grab the back of his head, my fingers tangling through his hair as I pull him into me. He smirks against my skin, the scruff on his jaw scratching the inside of my thighs. Finally, his tongue goes back to where I desperately need him.
“Oh, God.” My eyes close from me being lost in the pleasure. He kisses down to my entrance, licking up my wetness and then dipping his tongue inside of me before going back to my clit and sucking.
One of his hands is on my stomach, pressing me firmly into the window.
His other hand traces down my side, moving between my legs.
“You taste so fucking good, baby. Even better than I remember.” His fingers brush against me, lingering touches that don’t satisfy the ache.
My fingers tighten in his hair. “Chase, please…”
“You sound good when you beg,” he says. One finger dips inside, barely. Teasing. Driving me insane. “Please, what?”
“Make me come… I—I need to come.” My body flushes red hot from my words. I’ve never talked dirty before.
Chase’s eyes sizzle and his fingers dive into me, curling in and hitting that spot. He sucks my clit into his mouth. Not licks. Sucks.
My head slams against the window and I bite my lip to stop the scream. Pressure builds low in my belly until I can’t focus on anything other than what he’s doing to me.
Just a little more.
His fingers scissor inside me and my hips jolt forward. I’m so far gone I ride his face. I can’t help it. He groans again, the vibration sending ripples of pleasure spiraling up my body.
The coil inside me tightens.
“You think people are watching you fall apart right now?” he murmurs against my skin. “Staring through the window and seeing what I do to you?”
I moan, the thought sending heat flaring down my spine and settling between my legs.
“You like that, don’t you?” he asks.
His touch disappears. I’m about to protest, but before I can, he grabs my hips, hoisting me up. My legs drape over his shoulders and just like that, he’s pinning me to the glass. His hands underneath me and his face between my thighs.
“Better give them a good show, then,” he says before diving back in and feasting on me.
My head shakes back and forth, my body trembling. I’m so close. So close. He doesn’t put his fingers back inside me, but he doesn’t need to. One more pass of his tongue and I unravel.
The sensation shoots through me and my thighs tighten around his head. I feel him dive down, drinking up my juices. It’s dirty and perfect and makes me feel so, so hot.
Chase lowers my legs and settles back on his heels, grinning wide and licking his lips as I slowly come back to earth. His face is glossy from my orgasm, and I have the strongest urge to kiss it off his face. So I do. I launch off the window and into his arms, making him fall back from the force. I can feel how hard he is, his thickness pressing against me. Between that and the taste of my pleasure on his tongue, I’m ready for round two.
He palms my ass and moans into my mouth, but eventually, I have to stop to catch my breath. Reason filters through me as I lie against his chest on the dance studio floor. I just let Chase eat me out against Regina’s brand-new window, in broad daylight.
I don’t regret it. I’d let him do that to me anywhere.
My legs are still shaky as I stand and then bend to pick my panties up off the floor. I slip them back on and rearrange my skirt, finger-brushing my hair as I smirk at Chase. “Well, that was unexpected.”
“Best damn meal I’ve ever had.” He winks. “You ready to go? It’s my turn to feed you .”
I’m sure he means dinner, but the double entendre in his words has me thinking wicked thoughts. I imagine him in my mouth and a tingle shoots through me.
I clear my throat. “Lead the way, Boy Scout.”
I’m more than ready to go.
Chase’s place is on the edge of town, a two-bed, two-bath, one-story house. I’m not sure what I expected. A bachelor pad, maybe? This definitely isn’t that. It’s manly, but also homey. Comfortable. Filled with solid oak furniture and dark brown leather.
I spin around and survey the open floor plan. The living room opens to the kitchen, a granite island separating the spaces.
“Surprised?” Chase is standing in front of the fridge, popping the top off a beer.
“Yeah. This isn’t what I expected.” I look around. This feels like a home. How did he do this so fast? “Did you hire a decorator?”
He chokes on his drink, coughing and sputtering. My eyes narrow.
“Uhh…kind of. Not really. My ex-girlfriend is an interior designer.”
Hello, floor, meet my heart. Ex-girlfriend.
I shouldn’t care. We’ve been apart for years. It’s unrealistic to think he wouldn’t have moved on in that time, but it still burns. As mad as I’ve been, as much as I thought I hated him, I was never able to give myself to another person that way. Hookups with no strings attached? Sure. But a relationship means there were feelings . Feelings that once only belonged to me. For the second time today, jealousy pricks at my insides.
“Oh.” Great job acting unaffected, Lee. “So she was down here with you and decorated? That was…nice of her.”
He shakes his head. “No, she just ordered the furniture. Helped out a bit. She didn’t spend much time here.” He gulps down another mouthful of beer.
“Was that the woman on the phone?” I blurt.
He cocks his head. “You’ll need to be more specific.”
“That night—the night you came and helped me with Daddy. There was a woman’s voice in the background.”
“There was,” he agrees.
“Was that her?” I’m not thinking straight, and I know it. I have no right to ask him these things.
“Would it bother you if it was?”
“Yes. No…maybe? I don’t know, Chase. It shouldn’t bother me ’cause you weren’t mine, but I won’t lie and say it doesn’t sting.”
He walks around the counter and cups my face in his hands. His eyes are dark, his brows drawn. “I’ve always been yours.”
I bite my cheek to stop myself from saying things I have no right saying.
“You don’t think it drives me crazy to know you’ve been with Jax?” He growls Jax’s name and my stomach jumps into my throat.
My head jerks back, surprised by his words. He thinks I was with Jax?
He crosses his arms. “Does he know about us yet, Goldi? Is he someone I need to worry about?”
“Where did you even get that idea? I was never with Jax.”
His forehead creases. “What? That’s not… I was sure.”
I shake my head, stepping into him and running my hands over his arms. “He’s my best friend, and yeah, he wants more.” Guilt swims around my veins. “But I’ve never felt that way about him. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. Only you.”
“Are you saying you’ve never been with anyone else?”
My mind goes to Logan. “I’m not sayin’ that…but you’re the only relationship I’ve ever had.” I shrug like that fact doesn’t make me sound completely pathetic.
A grin creeps up his face. “Does it make me an asshole to say that I fucking love that?”
“Yes. But you’ve always been an asshole.” I smile, leaning up to kiss him. “So, how long has this ex been an ex? If she?—”
“I don’t want to talk about her.” He’s quick to cut me off. “I want to focus on us.” He walks me backward until I hit the arm of the sofa. His tongue traces my lips before he dips it into my mouth, kissing me deep. I whimper. What was I talkin’ about, anyway?
He breaks the kiss, taking my hand, and leading me to the kitchen. “Contrary to what you may believe from what I’ve whipped up at your dad’s house, I’m not a culinary genius by any stretch of the imagination. I hope you’re good with pasta.” He kisses his fingers like he’s a chef.
“That depends. Will there be garlic bread?”
He grabs his chest. “I’m offended you even asked that.”
Smiling, I watch him move around the kitchen while he makes dinner. Chase can act like he hasn’t learned how to cook, but compared to the skills he had growing up, things have vastly improved. Honestly, he could have ordered pizza and I would have thought it was a gourmet meal as long as I was having it next to him. But it’s truly delicious.
I lean back in my chair, patting my belly. “I ate way too much. I feel like I’m gonna explode.”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t save room for dessert.” He’s clearing the plates, walking them to the sink.
“Depends.” I rest my chin on my hand, watching him. “What’s on the menu?”
A shrill noise interrupts the conversation, and the blood in my veins turns to ice. I know that ringtone.
“Daddy must be at The Watering Hole.” I frown.
Chase stops doing the dishes and turns toward me. “How do you know?”
“Because that’s the ringtone I set for when they call. It’s the only one that wakes me up if it’s the middle of the night.” I grind my teeth, grabbing my phone out of my purse. “Hey, Johnny. Let me guess.”
“Lee…the cops are here. I’m sorry, there was nothin’ I could do. My owner’s here tonight and wasn’t havin’ it.”
I rub my forehead, the headache growing strong behind my eyes. “Don’t worry about it. Should I head there or the station?”
Chase stands straighter at my words.
“The station. I’m sorry, Lee. My hands are tied.”
“Stop apologizin’, Johnny. The only one who should be sorry is Daddy. Thanks for the call.”
I hang up, my tears of frustration boiling over. Chase rushes to me, kneeling between my legs. His hands squeeze my knees and I focus on his touch to keep me grounded.
“I’m so sorry. Our date is ruined and I was so lookin’ forward—” My voice chokes, my hand coming up to cover my mouth.
“Hey, hey…it’s okay, baby.” He brushes my hair back. “Our date isn’t ruined. We’ll go take care of this, and then you’re gonna come right back here. With me. Where you belong. Okay?”
I hiccup. “Okay.”
He doesn’t ask any more questions. Not until we’re on the road and he needs to know where to go. The whole drive, he touches me, rubbing my knee, stroking the back of my hand. He’s just there. Supporting. Letting me know I’m not alone. That he’s in it with me now.
I don’t remember when I fell in love with Chase Adams the first time around. It was mixed in somewhere with all the other feelings of growing up.
But this time? This time, I’ll remember.