“A place down on West Fourteenth.” So much for Asher keeping quiet.
“I want to check it out, maybe I can hit a bag for a bit.”
Chase puffed his chest and grounded his teeth together in fury.
“First of all, baby, there is no way in hell I would let you prance around in that gym wearing those tiny ass workout clothes. You nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw you running that day. Every asshole in the place would drool all over himself, wanting what’s mine. Shit.” He banged his hand on the table. “I would definitely have a fucking broken hand.”
I tilted my head and smiled, cringing at his sudden outburst.
“Don’t you smile at me, baby, I’m dead serious. You want to try boxing? You get a private lesson from me.” Oh boy, Dr. Possessive.
“Damn, Chase, settle down. You’re getting all possessive and shit,” Asher chimed in.
Chase sighed. “You find something you want, Ash, you come talk to me.”
My heart skipped another beat, too many more and an arrhythmia was in my future.
“Fine. I get it, C. You’re head over heels.”
Chase pushed his chair out and stood, completely dismissing Asher’s comments. “Be back in a minute.” And he walked away.
“Wow, Lili, I’ve never seen him like this.”
This was the only Chase I knew. “Like what?” I anticipated Asher’s response.
He leaned back in his chair and wrapped his arms across his chest. “He’s determined.”
“Determined to what?” I questioned, shifting uncomfortably in my chair.
“Win you over.”
“Listen, Asher, this is new to us, it hasn’t been that long and we’re just starting to figure stuff out.”
“Well, want some inside scoop? Chase is anything but an open book. If you think he shares easily, you’re sadly mistaken. You wanna know something, you’re gonna have to pry it out.”
I tried to shake the feeling of discomfort constricting my temples.
“He had a pretty shitty life after…” Asher’s eyes snapped up and he stopped mid-thought. “Anyway, he’s a great guy and he’ll treat you like gold.”
I shoved a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling oddly anxious at Asher’s unfinished thought.
“Hope you’re talking nice, prick.” Chase slapped Asher on the back and reclaimed his position next to me.
“Just telling her what a great catch you are.” Asher shot me a sly smile, his green eyes brightened.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Chase interjected. “I’m done sharing and we have a dinner reservation.”
“Okay, ass, I’ll take that as my not-so-subtle cue to get the hell out of here.” Asher laughed. “Let’s split the tab.” He tossed his credit card across the table.
“It’s paid.”
“Damn moneybags, let’s meet for drinks more often.” Asher smiled and stood up.
I glanced at the champagne label, making a mental note to check it out online. I smoothed my dress and joined Chase, standing to say our goodbyes.
“Lili, you’re gorgeous.” I blushed. “Such a pleasure to meet you, hope to see you tomorrow.” He winked and looked toward Chase. “Buddy, as always.” They shook hands. Asher gripped his shoulder.
“See you tomorrow ... now go, asshole, before I change my mind. Oh, and set up a time I can kick your ass. I’ll send you my call schedule next week.”
“Bye, Lili.”
“Bye, Asher.”
He left our table grinning from ear to ear. Chase’s hand found its home on my inner thigh.
“Well, that was fun,” I said.
“Oh, was it? Glad you enjoyed yourself,” he sarcastically clipped.
“What, you didn’t have fun? You and Asher seem to have such a great relationship. It’s really nice to see you interact with a buddy, Chase, or should I say, C.” My lips turned up slightly, only to be rewarded with a soft wet kiss.
Our Lincoln town car whisked us the rest of the short uptown ride, stopping directly in front the Museum of Natural History.
“You still hungry?”
“Starved. Is this the museum?”
He nodded and tucked me into his side, rubbing his hand down my arm. “You chilly? You have goosebumps.”
“Not cold, more like this is what you do to me.” That got me a very public, very passionate kiss on the museum steps. I smiled into his mouth, swirling my tongue to meet his. A deep throaty groan was my reward. I dove deeper, leaving me breathless.
“I’m gonna eat you if we don’t get inside.”
“Hmmm.”
“Don’t hmmm me, let’s go.” Chase dragged me the rest of the way up the steps.
“Are we eating in the museum?”
“You’ll see.”
We pushed through a revolving door to stare up at a giant fossilized dinosaur. My mouth dropped open. I must have looked like the biggest child.
“Dr. Colton, Ms. Porter, would you mind following me through to the Hayden Planetarium?” A gentleman dressed like a waiter ushered us through another set of double doors.
It took me a minute to realize the museum was totally closed. “Oh my god, Chase, you rented the whole museum?”
He snickered.
“Anything for you, let’s eat.” We entered the planetarium to find a small table set for two under a sky full of stars. Tears filled my eyes as my arrhythmia kicked in. Not in my wildest dreams. Ever.
“Chase, oh my, it’s so romantic.”
He pulled my chair out, inviting me to sit down.
“Was going to have sushi sent in, but I saw you eying Asiate’s menu, so I asked your waiter friend to set us up with the tasting menu. We get to sample everything with a wine pairing.”
“That sounds wonderful, everything on the menu looked so yummy.” I giggled. “You trying to get me drunk, mister, and take advantage of me?”
“A man can only try.”
Oh god, please try.
Our server brought us our first course. Six courses later, we stared at the most decadent looking chocolate crémeux with lemon gelato.
“Yum. I’m stuffed. Everything was delicious.”
“Let’s dance.” The soft background music rose several decibels. I was shocked. Music was such a cause of tension for him. He drew me close and buried his face in my neck. Our bodies clung together, swayed and rocked to the sensual beat. He tangled his hands in my hair and feasted on my mouth. He rotated his strong hips to the music creating an inferno that had me lightheaded and breathing hard.
“This dress, Blue.” He ran his hands down the entire length of my body, palming my ass. He snuggled closer, bending his knees to grind his hips into me a little harder. I moaned. And I thought sucking on my lip was sexy. Absolutely no comparison to his rhythmic grinding. “You look so fucking sexy. Your eyes, baby, like the color of the sky.” At that moment, the tiny white twinkling stars above our heads changed to a field of color. “It’s starting, let’s find a seat.”
“What’s starting?”
“The laser light show, special just for us.”
“With music?” I questioned, still surprised.
“I know how much you love it, baby.”
I smiled softly and rested my head against the back of the seat. The narrow beams of colorful light drawing intricate patterns and images across the sky mesmerized me. The light seemed to dance with the music. Its iridescence was choreographed to melodies ranging from rock to classical, but the final song in all its beauty caught my attention. The words were emotionally poignant. They described my life ... my wall ... Chase.
He repeated a line of Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” in my ear.
Take what off? See inside where? My panties were crotchless for a reason or they would have melted off. Crazy hot. I wanted him. I wanted this. He proved to me today that he wanted me. But there was so much left unsaid; this man was a walking mystery. I questioned whether I could ever give my whole self over to someone ever again, physically, emotionally, sexually.