Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Chase
The sun dips low on the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of oranges and pinks that reflect off the weathered fence posts lining the dusty road.
As we pull up to the ranch, the familiar sight of the old red barn and sprawling pastures greets us, bathed in the warm glow of twilight.
The horses, mere silhouettes, graze peacefully in the distance, their gentle movements a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions I can sense radiating from Bayleigh.
I guide the truck down the winding path that leads to my cottage, set apart from the main house and nestled among a stand of sweetgum trees. Their leaves rustle softly in the evening breeze, whispering secrets of days long past. The cottage comes into view and I park in front.
“I built this place to give my parents some privacy,” I say as I fumble with my seatbelt.
“Privacy for them or you?” She raises an eyebrow at me, which I ignore, and I climb out of the vehicle.
She follows me inside and I pause to turn on the light. She walks into the room and looks around at the sparse furniture. “It’s cozy.”
She takes off her denim jacket and drapes it over the couch.
I take a moment to observe the smudges beneath her eyes.
I know she needs comfort, and I want to be there for her.
Without hesitation, I stride over to her, and she settles into me as I wrap my arms around her back.
Her head rests against my chest, and I inhale the sweet scent of her perfume.
Having her close feels so right—like we’re finally whole again.
Without her, something is always missing.
Her head tilts, her lips searching for mine and we kiss, softly this time.
Our kiss deepens as passion ignites between us. My hands roam over Bayleigh’s back, pulling her closer as she threads her fingers through my hair.
As our lips part, Bayleigh’s eyes meet mine, shimmering with emotion in the dim light. Her fingers trace along my jawline, sending shivers down my spine.
“Chase,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “I’m so sorry. For everything.”
I pull her closer, feeling her body tremble slightly against mine. “Shh, it’s okay,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
She looks up at me, vulnerability etched across her face. “But I hurt you. I left without a word. I pushed you away for so long.”
“We were both hurting,” I say softly. “What happened to Harper . . . it broke all of us. You did what you had to do to survive.”
A tear slips down her cheek, and I gently brush it away with my thumb.
Bayleigh’s eyes glisten with unshed tears as she looks up at me. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Chase. I’ve made so many mistakes.”
I cup her face gently in my hands. “We all make mistakes, Bay. What matters is that you’re here now, trying to make things right.”
She leans into my touch, her eyes closing briefly. When she opens them again, the vulnerability there takes my breath away. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispers. “All these years, no matter who I was with or what I was doing, a part of me was always missing. You were missing.”
My heart swells at her words. I’ve felt the exact same way, like a piece of me left with her all those years ago. Having her here in my arms feels like coming home.
She slowly removes her clothes. Making a sport of it as she watches me watch her.
When she’s finished undressing, I guide her backwards, my hands supporting her as I lift her onto the dining table.
With anticipation shining in her eyes, she willingly spreads her legs for me as I position myself between them.
My eager hands quickly remove her bra, allowing me to take in the sight of her exposed breasts.
As I lean in closer, my hands gently caress her inner thighs, and shivers race over her body.
Our lips meet with an intense and urgent hunger, and I’m no longer concerned with being gentle or sweet.
We press our bodies together, and I need more than just kisses.
I explore Bayleigh’s curves with my hands, reacquainting myself with every dip and curve of her body. She arches into my touch, soft moans escaping her lips as I massage her breasts. Her nipples harden under my touch, and I lower my head to suck on one while swirling my tongue around it.
Her fingers tangle in my hair as I lavish attention on her breasts.
Her hips move against mine, as if they’re seeking friction.
I slide a hand between her thighs and can feel the heat radiating from her core, even through the fabric of her jeans.
When I press against her center, she lets out a whimper and throws her head back in pleasure.
I free myself from my jeans, desperate to be inside of her.
She lays back on the table and opens herself to me.
I guide my erection between her thighs and let out a low groan as the tightness of her heat envelopes me.
Then I am sliding into her depths, slow and long in exactly the way I know she likes it.
I stroke into her once, twice, feeling her body arch as she pants beneath me.
With each thrust, my cock strums her, teasing and taunting her slick folds until she can’t take it anymore.
I savor the feeling of her silky heat enveloping me as I drive into her over and over. Her legs wrap tightly around my waist, pulling me even closer as our hips move in a frenzied rhythm.
“Chase,” she gasps, her nails digging into my shoulders. “Oh God, yes!”
Her inner walls start to quiver and clench around me. Wanting to push her over the edge, I slide a hand between our bodies to rub tight circles on her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her reaction is instant—her back bows and a cry of pleasure escapes her lips.
“That’s it, baby,” I encourage, increasing the pressure and speed of my fingers. “Let go for me.”
Her entire body tenses as waves of ecstasy crash over her. She clamps down on me as she climaxes, her face contorting in pleasure. The sight and sensation of her orgasm quickly pushes me over the edge as well. With a few final deep thrusts, I bury myself inside her and find my own release.
We cling to each other as the aftershocks roll through us, our breathing ragged and bodies slick with sweat. I pepper soft kisses along her neck and shoulder as we slowly come down from our high.
I carefully withdraw from her and help her off the table. Her legs are a bit shaky, so I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to the bathroom. “I’m going to run us a bath,” I say as I put her on her feet and turn on the tap of the large bathtub.
Bayleigh leans against the bathroom counter, watching as I adjust the water temperature and add some lavender-scented bubble bath. The sweet aroma fills the small space as steam begins to rise from the tub.
I turn to her, taking in her tousled hair and flushed cheeks. Even after all these years, she is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I close the distance between us and cup her face gently in my hands.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur, brushing my lips softly against hers.
She smiles up at me, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. “So are you.”
I help her into the tub before climbing in behind her.
She settles back against my chest with a contented sigh as the warm water laps over us.
For a long moment, we just sit in comfortable silence, enjoying the closeness.
We soak for nearly an hour, washing each other’s backs, talking about the concert, the business, my art.
Afterward, I towel her dry and dress her.
“I should probably head back to the hotel,” she responds when I ask if she wants to spend the night. “Tomorrow is a big day.”
How could I forget? After tomorrow, there will be no reason for her to stay with me.
But I push away that thought and focus on enjoying our time together now.
I give her one last kiss, trying to memorize every detail.
Who knows how many more of these moments we will have? “I’ll drive you back to town.”