Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Kinsley
As soon as we stepped inside my apartment, I pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and told him to sit down while I went to the freezer and filled two small Ziploc bags with ice.
“This might hurt a little.” I smiled as I put the bag of ice over his eye.
“Ouch.” He flinched.
“Hold that while I tend to your hand.”
I placed the second bag of ice over his swollen knuckles and held it there.
“What’s your dad going to say when he sees you?” I asked.
“The same thing he always does. ‘Get your shit together, son. You’re thirty years old. You’re disgracing the Calloway name.’”
I brought a chair up in front of him and sat down while I kept the ice bag on his hand. Our eyes met, and a feeling washed over me.
“My dad died of a heroin overdose when I was six, and my mother is an alcoholic.”
“Kinsley, you don’t have to—”
“I do. I had to grow up fast. Faster than any child should ever have to. I’ve taken care of her and myself since I was a kid.
Not only was she an alcoholic, but she was a stripper, so she worked nights and slept all day.
I got ready for school, made my own lunch, and got on the bus.
When I’d come home, she’d already had a few drinks in her and would be passed out on the couch.
I’d have to wake her up to get ready for work.
We never had any money because once she paid the few bills she had, she’d blow the rest of it on alcohol. ”
“Kinsley, I had no idea. Was she ever violent?”
“No. She never cared enough to get violent. In fact, she never cared about me, period. She forgot about my birthday several times because she was too drunk or passed out. And when she did remember, she’d throw ten dollars at me and tell me to go buy myself something nice.
She missed my high school graduation because she was too hungover and couldn’t get out of bed.
Even though she promised me, she’d be there. ”
Chase took the bag of ice off his eye and set it on the table.
“Why did you wait so long to leave?”
“It took me years of working to save up enough money. I started working at the antique shop when I was sixteen and saved every dime I could. After a month of walking to work, because I didn’t have any other way of getting there, Mrs. Buckley gave me her husband’s car because she said she it was time to give it away and I could use it. ”
“Mrs. Buckley sounds like a very sweet woman.”
“She was.” I smiled. “She was very generous and the kindest person I’d ever met.
She wished she could pay me more, but the truth was the antique shop wasn’t doing that good, and she was in a lot of debt.
After she passed away, I found I had enough money saved to at least get me here and get a place, and I’d figure out the rest when I got here.
But then I met Henry, and I had this vision of the two of us living this perfectly happy life in California.
I wanted him to come with me, but he and his dad owned a roofing company, and he couldn’t leave.
So, like an idiot, I stayed and worked as a waitress in a greasy diner. ”
“Of course, you stayed. You loved him.”
“I thought I did. But looking back on it, I fell in love with the idea that someone could actually love me.” I looked down.
“Before I left, I tried waking up my mom, who was passed out on the couch. She stirred and mumbled, ‘Not now, Kinsley.’ So, I’m sorry if you think that I’m a coward for leaving a note. ”
He placed his finger under my chin and slowly lifted it until our eyes met.
“Don’t apologize. You’re not a coward. I had no idea your life was like that.
And don’t you ever doubt that someone could love you.
You fought your way through life because you knew you deserved better.
And now look.” A smile graced his face. “You’re here in California, living in this nice apartment, and you’ve made great friends.
This is your life now, Kinsley, and you made it.
You! Nobody else, and you should be so proud of yourself. ”
“Thanks, Chase.”
He brought his hand up to my face and lightly stroked my cheek as he stared into my eyes.
He slowly leaned forward until his lips were pressed against mine.
I closed my eyes and let the sensation of warmth run through me.
He slightly pulled back and cupped my face with his hands, and I smiled, letting him know I didn’t want him to stop.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as his lips met mine again.
Our tender and unsure kiss turned passionate as our lips moved in sync with each other’s, and his tongue met mine.
A rush of excitement jolted me down below, and even though this was the last thing I wanted, I didn’t care.
We both stood up from our chairs, our lips never leaving one another’s as he swept me up in his strong arms and carried me to the bedroom.
He lay me down on the bed as his mouth devoured my neck while he fumbled with the buttons on my shirt until he unbuttoned the last one.
A soft moan escaped me as his tongue slid over my lips, down to my collarbone, and between my breasts.
He wasted no time as my hands tangled in his hair, making his way down to the waistband of my pants, unbuttoning them, and sliding them off me, exposing my black lace panties.
A growl erupted inside his chest as he stood up and stripped out of his clothes, revealing his perfect God-given package that made me swallow hard.
He took a condom from his wallet, tore the corner of the wrapper with his teeth, and slid it over his hard cock.
The corners of my mouth curved upward as he leaned over and kissed my lips.
He placed his hand underneath my back, unhooked my bra, sat me up, and removed it.
He stared at my breasts for a moment before laying me back down and taking each one in his mouth as I softly moaned.
Making his way down to my panties, he gripped their sides with his fingers and seductively pulled them off as his tongue explored my most sensitive area.
I arched my back in ecstasy at the skill this man possessed.
With one finger dipped inside me and his tongue exploring my clit, he brought his other hand up to my breast, gently squeezing it and taking my hardened nipple between his fingers.
Several moans escaped me as I was on the brink of a fantastic orgasm.
“Come for me, darling,” he spoke in a low tone.
The sensation was incredible. I was lost in a world of euphoria as my body trembled and warmth rushed through me. Something I’d never felt before with Henry.
“God, that’s beautiful,” Chase whispered.
My heart rapidly beat as he crawled up me until his lips reached mine.
His muscular body against me was overwhelming, as was the feel of his hard cock at my opening.
With one swift movement, he was inside, and my body willingly opened itself up to him, welcoming him in every way possible.
A moan escaped his lips as he pushed deeper until he was buried inside me.
He slowly moved in and out, preserving our moment and giving me the greatest pleasure of my life.
As I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, his thrusts became faster and harder, satisfying us with each stroke.
Our lips danced together until I threw my head back and vocally let him know that he once again pleasured me in a way no other man had before.
“Yes. Fuck yes!” he shouted as he slowed down and brought his mouth to mine while he came.
We both lay there as his body collapsed on mine and the warmth of his breath swept across my neck. Once we both regained our breath, he pulled out of me with a horrified look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The fucking condom broke. Look. Please tell me you’re on birth control.”
“Shit. No. I’m not. I took the last of my pills a few weeks ago and haven’t seen a doctor here yet. But don’t worry. I’ll go first thing tomorrow and get the morning-after pill. I have up to seventy-two hours to take it.”
“So, you’ve taken it before?” he asked.
“Once, and trust me, it works.”
He climbed off the bed and went into the bathroom. I slipped into my robe and headed to the kitchen for a glass of wine. God knew I desperately needed it after that, and I wasn’t talking about the condom breaking.
“I should get going,” Chase spoke as he walked into the kitchen, buttoning up his shirt.
“Yeah. I think you should.”
I set down my wine and walked over to him, lightly running my finger across his bruised eye.
“Does it hurt?” I asked.
“A little bit, but I’ll be fine.” He smiled. “I’ll pick you up around seven forty-five tomorrow since we need to stop at the drug store. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine.” I lightly smiled.
He leaned over and kissed my forehead.
“I hope this doesn’t make things awkward between us,” he spoke.
“Nah. It was just sex. No big deal. Look at it this way,” I spoke to lighten the mood. “When I want it, I know whom to call.”
“You can give me a booty call anytime.” He winked. “I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well.”
“You too.”