Chapter 18 #2
My face burns at the idea of seeing Chase Harper naked, who probably looks like a Greek God.
My feet stop moving when I get to the locker rooms. Suddenly, nerves circle deep within my belly as I wonder what he’d do if I pushed my way inside.
Would he be mad, surprised, turned on?
My cheeks flame as I imagine the way his brows would lift, the way that slow, dangerous smirk would take over his mouth. Just the thought sends a jolt straight to a place no hands have touched me.
Not even my own.
The door swings open, and Chase steps outside. My mouth dries on the spot when I take note of his white fitted T-shirt, gray joggers, and damp hair.
I can smell him.
Fresh air mixed with pine.
A woodland tree trail.
He’s perfect.
The second he spots me, he walks over.
“Hey,” he murmurs, dropping his bag at my feet, and my lip quivers. “Are you okay?” His hand shoots to my face, and I know when I get home I’m going to need a really cold shower because this man sets my entire body on fire. “Talk to me, baby. What happened?”
Baby.
He’s called me that a few times now, and every time he does, those butterflies go off.
I lift the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pen in my hand, and his mouth curves into the boyish grin that makes my knees turn to jelly.
My voice splits. “Why would you do that?”
“You know why.” His voice is hushed and gravelly as he strokes my right cheek with his thumb. His gaze dips to my lips, and I wonder what would happen if I just closed the distance and pressed my lips to his. But of course, I don’t.
“Chase… I have nothing to offer you.”
His arm snakes around my waist, pulling me in closer.
“Don’t ever say something so cruel about my best friend.
” Deep blue eyes with a hint of gray burn into mine.
There’s a storm raging inside them, and it’s staring right at me.
“If you thought the only thing you could give to me for now was a smile a day, I’d be perfectly content with that.
Just being in your orbit and existing in your world is enough for me, Bookworm. ”
“Your money is not what makes me smile,” I whisper.
You do.
“The job at Ink and Print? I’ll admit I was bummed but none of that matters because I understand now that it served its intended purposes,” I say, shaking my head.
“What do you mean?”
“Look at where we are, Chase. Look at where you are,” I say proudly, and I notice the sheen in his eyes the second he understands.
“I don’t think the job came to me because it was meant to be my next move.
It came to me to help get you back to where you belong.
Right here,” I say, gesturing around us.
“You are something special, you know that?” His voice turns hoarse. “I wanted you to be able to do what you love without restriction. I signed a check and made a phone call. No biggie.” He shrugs and gives me a smirk as he uses my own words against me.
Smartass.
“Thank you, Eighty-Seven. This is… I don’t even know what to say.”
He has a habit of making me speechless.
“Say you’ll think about that date.”
He bends to pick up his bag before placing his hand on the small of my back and guiding me to his truck when we exit the building.
The drive is quiet and comfortable. It always is. I stare out the window as I think back on his words.
Say you’ll think about that date.
I shouldn’t but I do.
What would it even look like? Me changing outfits a dozen times? Us sharing burgers and milkshakes? Him walking me home and hovering at my door, wondering if I’ll let him kiss me?
My thoughts come to a halt when he kills the engine and rounds the truck. And because he’s a perfect gentleman, he walks me to my door.
I shove my key into the hole and twist it a few times until it unlocks. Turning around, giving my back to the door, I look up at his handsome face.
“In case I haven’t said it already—thank you.”
“You’ve said it plenty. Your dreams are just as important as mine, and if I can help you reach them, I want to. If you’ll let me.”
“No more money, okay? What you offered is way more than I needed or could have imagined. It’s probably not a huge amount to a hotshot hockey star like you, but that amount is crazy huge to someone like me, and I promise you, I won’t pocket it.”
“You think I’m hot?” he teases, and I close my eyes. “No need to be embarrassed, sweetheart. You tell me at least once every other day.”
I roll my eyes, and he laughs. A dance we seem to easily fall into a few times a day.
His eyes drop to my lips again. When he looks up, his gaze darkens, a burning need swimming in them, and I know he’s caught me looking.
“You can’t look at me like that, baby.” His voice is rough, and then his eyes are back on my mouth again.
“Like what?”
“Like your only desire in this moment is to know exactly what it feels like to be kissed by someone who craves and thinks about you, and only you, every single minute of the day.”
I don’t mean to do it, but I lick my dry lips, and his nostrils flare.
“Chase,” I whisper, pushing past the ache as my pulse hammers through me. And because I’m clearly a glutton for punishment, I say, “I’ve never…”
His forehead drops to mine, and he lets out a tortured groan that vibrates all the way through my body.
“I’ll be your first?” He searches my eyes for a response that answers more than one question, and in a manner I don’t understand, I desperately want him to know the answer.
I should pull away, because being this close to him, being this open and real with him is risky. It’s asking for trouble I say I don’t want, and yet, I ignore the sirens going off in my head that tell me this is a bad idea.
Keeping my eyes locked on his, I nod.
His left hand snakes around my lower back, and he tugs me to him. He shakes his head. Clearly, it’s not satisfying enough. His hand falls from my body, and it’s excruciating—his hands moving from the places I want them to stay.
His voice drops into a ragged and rough tone that I love. “Say it.”
“You’ll be my first.”
He presses his lips to the corner of my mouth. They’re full of promise.
My world tilts.
Lust spirals in my belly, and suddenly, my legs don’t feel like they can hold me up. I’m so turned on, my panties are damp. I’ve never reacted to anyone like this before.
Ever.
My front door clicks open, then he’s stepping back, taking the intimacy of his presence away from my body. With his eyes on mine, he retreats backward to Byrdie, his chest heaving.
“Next time you look at me like that, make sure you’re prepared for what’ll happen next.”