4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Chase
I check the address Millie sent me one more time before stepping out of the Uber.
The sun’s setting, casting a warm glow over her neighborhood. It’s a cozy part of Chicago, lined with brownstones and tree-shaded sidewalks.
I tug at my black shirt and smooth down my matching pants, feeling a bit more nervous than usual. The bottle of wine and bouquet of flowers I’m holding don’t seem like enough all of a sudden.
As I walk up to her door, I notice her house is charming. It’s a brick townhouse with a small front yard filled with blooming flowers. There’s a wreath on the door, and fairy lights are strung around the windows, giving it a welcoming vibe. I ring the doorbell, my heart pounding slightly.
The door opens and Millie stands there in a soft blue dress that flows down to her knees. Her brunette hair is down, framing her face perfectly, and her hazel eyes light up when she sees me. She’s breathtaking.
“Hey, Chase,” she greets me with a warm smile.
“Hey, Millie. You look beautiful.” I hand her the bouquet and the red wine.
“Thank you. You look handsome yourself.” She steps aside to let me in. “Come on in.”
I walk into her living room, which is cozy and stylish. The walls are painted a soft cream color, and there’s a mix of modern and vintage furniture. There are a few photos and art pieces on the walls and the whole place smells like fresh-baked cookies. I notice a small dog bed in the corner and some dog toys scattered around.
“Your place is really nice,” I say, looking around.
“Thank you,” she says, placing the flowers in a vase and the wine on the kitchen counter. “I hope you like Italian. I made pasta.”
“I love Italian,” I reply, taking in the delicious smell wafting from the kitchen. “Need any help?”
“Nope, just need you to relax and enjoy.” She smiles at me, and I feel a warm flutter in my chest.
“Where’s the puppy?”
“He’s been running around since three. He finally fell asleep half an hour before you came in.”
“Nice. I hope he is not giving you too much trouble.”
“He’s perfect!”
We sit down at the small dining table and she serves the pasta. It’s delicious, and we talk easily, the conversation flowing naturally.
“So, did you get into trouble with your boss for helping the puppy?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
I chuckle. “Actually, I didn’t, because I own the clinic.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You own Elite Paws?”
“Yeah. It’s my baby,” I say, feeling a bit proud. “I’m just happy I could help you and the little guy.”
She smiles, and there’s a moment of silence as we eat. I watch her, noticing how she enjoys the food and the way her eyes light up when she talks about her baking.
“So, what did you name the puppy?” I ask, curious.
“Peanut.”
“Peanut?”
“Peanut just seemed right, you know? He’s small and kind of nutty, but sweet as hell. Did I tell you that he already chewed on the little toy you bought? He tore right into it!”
I grin, enjoying her playful explanation. “Yeah, he’s definitely got that puppy energy.”
She nods, her fingers absentmindedly playing with her fork. “So, Chase, did you have a pet growing up?”
I lean back in my chair, considering her question. “Yeah. I’ve always loved animals. When I was a kid, I used to bring home stray animals all the time. My mom wasn’t too happy about that, but it was worth it.”
Millie laughs. It’s a warm sound that fills the room. “Sounds like you were a handful.”
“Maybe still am,” I tease, earning a chuckle from her. “What about you? How did you get into baking and all the social media stuff?”
She sets her fork down, leaning forward a bit. “Well, baking has always been my thing. It’s like therapy for me. And the social media...that just kind of happened. Someone I knew once encouraged me to get started on it. I started posting my baking experiments online and people liked it. Now, here I am.”
I nod, genuinely interested. “That’s pretty cool. You must have a big following.”
She blushes, a hint of pride in her smile. “Yeah, it’s been...unexpected, but fun. I get to share what I love with people all over the world.”
“That’s awesome,” I say, genuinely impressed. “You seem really passionate about it.”
“I am,” she admits, her gaze softening. “I took a little break from it, but I’m getting back into it. It’s one of the few things that keeps me sane these days.”
I notice a flicker of something in her eyes, like a shadow that crosses her face briefly. “Everything okay?”
She hesitates, then nods slowly. “Yeah, just...going through some stuff. Messy relationship stuff, you know?”
“Relationships? You mentioned an ex yesterday…”
“That’s the messy relationship I’m talking about actually.”
I nod sympathetically, my heart going out to her. “I get it. Relationships can be...complicated.”
She lets out a sigh, looking down at her plate. “I just don’t want to drag you into it.”
I reach across the table, gently touching her hand. “Millie, you’re not dragging me into anything. I’m here because I think you’re very beautiful and interesting to talk to. And if I didn’t make it clear earlier, I’m interested in you. Not just because of Peanut or dinner tonight.”
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine for a moment. “Chase...”
“If you’re not ready or if this isn’t what you want, I understand,” I say quietly, giving her space to decide. “I will still help you with Peanut if you let me.”
She hesitates, chewing her lip for a moment. Then, with a soft smile, she squeezes my hand. “Please don’t leave.”
Relief washes over me and I can’t help but smile back at her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She exhales softly, her shoulders relaxing. “Good.”
We sit there for a moment, the air between us charged with something unspoken yet palpable. I want to lean in, to kiss her and feel her lips against mine, but I hold back, respecting her space.
“Hey, how about we take Peanut for a little walk after dinner?” I suggest, trying to lighten the mood.
Millie nods, grateful for the change of topic. “That sounds nice. It’s a beautiful evening.”
Her puppy must sense that we need some levity in the room because he comes running in. He looks happier and healthier despite being in her care for less than twenty-four hours.
“Hey buddy,” I rub his little belly and then watch as she lifts him into her lap. She plays with him as we continue talking. She tells me about her father’s chicken farm in Alabama, her best friend Jade who is studying to be a physical therapist and her love for everything mint chocolate chip.
We finish our meal, clearing the table together.
“I can help you with the dishes,” I tell her.
“I’ll handle them later.” She smiles at me.
Millie grabs a leash and we head out into the cool evening air, Peanut bouncing happily at our feet.
As we walk through her neighborhood, I steal glances at Millie, admiring the way the setting sun lights up her face. She looks relaxed, a small smile playing on her lips as she talks about random things like her favorite spots in the city, her love for romance novels, her plans for upcoming baking projects, even her guilty pleasure reality TV shows.
“I can’t believe you watch that trash,” I tease, nudging her playfully.
She laughs, nudging me back. “Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve watched the ones I like.”
We walk in comfortable silence for a while, Peanut tugging at the leash every now and then to sniff something interesting. The tension from earlier has eased, replaced by a sense of peace and connection.
When we return to Millie’s place, Peanut is happily worn out and curls up on his bed with a contented sigh. Millie pours us glasses of wine and we settle on her couch.
As I glance at Millie, her eyes sparkling with laughter, I realize how glad I am that I didn’t walk away.
There’s something special here, something worth exploring.
We sip our drinks in silence for a moment before she asks, “So, what’s it like owning a vet clinic?”
“It’s great,” I say, leaning back. “Challenging, but rewarding. Never a dull moment.”
“What’s the wildest thing you’ve had to treat?” she asks, curiosity lighting up her eyes.
I chuckle. “Oh, there have been some crazy ones. Like this one time, a guy brought in his pet iguana that had swallowed a bunch of marbles. We had to do surgery to get them all out. Or the time a woman came in with her ferret that had gotten into her stash of edibles. That ferret was high as a kite.”
She laughs, a beautiful sound that makes my chest tighten. “You have a beautiful laugh, you know that?”
She blushes, biting her lower lip again. My gaze locks onto her mouth and I feel a rush of desire.
“Do you have any appointments tomorrow?” she asks, her voice soft.
“Nope,” I reply, shaking my head.
She smiles, clinking her glass against mine. “Then stay the night.”
We sip our drinks, the atmosphere shifting. She stands up, swaying slightly. “I’m getting another bottle.”
“Let me,” I stand too.
“No. I’ve got it.”
I watch as she heads to the kitchen, admiring the way her dress hugs her curves. When she returns, she’s holding a bottle of wine. She sets it down and then, surprising me, stands on her tiptoes and kisses me.
The kiss is soft at first, tentative. But then it deepens, her lips parting to let me in. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer. She moans softly against my mouth and I can’t get enough of her.
Our kisses grow more intense, more desperate. I lift her easily and she wraps her legs around my waist. “Bedroom,” she whispers, breathless.
She guides me to her bedroom, the door creaking open. “Keep it open in case Peanut wants to come in,” she says, her voice husky.
I lay her down on the bed, my hands trembling as I undress her. Her skin is soft and warm under my touch. I kiss my way down her body, taking my time, savoring every moment.
“Chase,” she moans as I reach her thighs. I part her legs, kissing her inner thighs, making my way to her core. I taste her, my tongue swirling around her clit. She gasps, her hips arching towards me.
“Oh, fuck,” she breathes, her hands tangling in my hair. I lick and suck, driving her wild. She’s so responsive, so perfect. I can feel her getting close, her body trembling.
“Chase, please,” she begs, and I know she’s on the edge. I oblige and push her over, feeling her climax against my mouth. Her cries are soft, muffled as she tries not to cause Peanut to jump on the bed. I feel a pang of regret that she’s stifling herself. I have this crazy desire to see her wild with pleasure, to hear her screaming my name loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
I move back up, kissing her deeply. She’s still trembling, her body flushed. She starts undressing me, her hands working quickly. “I want you,” she whispers, her eyes dark with desire.
I grab a condom from my wallet, rolling it on. She wraps her legs around me again, pulling me closer. “Make love to me,” she whispers, and I’m lost.
I slide into her slowly, savoring the feel of her around me. She’s so tight, so wet. We move together, our bodies in sync. Her nails dig into my back, her moans driving me wild.
I have the thought that I should savor this, slow us down, but the way she’s moving is making it hard for me to stick to that promise.
Something about the slick tightness of her around my cock and the way her silky skin feels on my body is too good for me to slow down.
I follow her lead, allowing us to rush toward fulfillment at breakneck speed.
“Chase, oh, God!” she gasps, her hips meeting mine sharply over and over again. I cover her mouth with my hand, muffling her cries as she comes again, her body tightening around me.
I lose myself in her, my own release hitting me hard. We collapse together, panting and trembling. I kiss her softly, my heart racing.
She smiles up at me, her eyes shining. “Stay,” she whispers, and I know I’m exactly where I want to be.