Ethiopian food was delicious. Not at all what I expected. Thankfully, Dr. Sophisticated ordered for the table because the menu was pure hieroglyphics to Sierra and me. We ate with our hands, made a huge mess, and talked about everything and nothing. Chase told us the little boy hooked up to the KimCore had done really well and was going home in a couple of days. Then he told us about a really tough case he had and even casually admitted Guy was a big help in the OR. Sierra and I recapped some of the latest CJ and Kate drama, wondering why we still hadn’t met him and when she was going to realize she deserved better. I hinted at a possible Asher, Kate introduction. Chase shot my idea down, “Forget it, Blue.” We talked about my dad and Sharon’s upcoming visit and somewhere I found the courage to mention Wrangel’s changing Main Street. Sierra knew fuck-face and family were relocating, but she had no idea Chase now owned the property and evicted them. I kept it quiet for now because even broaching this topic was huge for me. Sierra knew it and so did Chase. Surrounded by the two people who knew me better than anyone, I couldn’t have felt safer or more loved. They both supported me in their own way, the way I needed. Chase scooted his chair a hair closer, entwined our fingers and pressed our hands against his thigh under the table. His eyes never wavered from mine. And Sierra did what Sierra does and changed the subject at the first hint I was getting uncomfortable.
“So who would have guessed?” She slapped her sassy hands on the sides of her plate, drawing us back from the heaviness starting to surround our small table. Her grin was mischievous; her focus on Chase as she picked up her wine glass motioning a toast. It was seltzer all around tonight. Chase was driving, and even though I said I was too tired for wine, that was a lie. Knowing Chase’s demons with drinking and driving, I had no desire. If we were driving, we weren’t drinking. Period.
“Turns out you and my cervix have something in common, or so I’ve heard.”
Ummmm??
Sierra clinked our glasses. “To long and firm!”
Oh my god. Going to kill her.
I turned seventeen shades of red. Sierra twinkled, she was so proud of herself. This was how she aimed to change the subject. Total overshot.
Chase roared. He freaking laughed his ass off. I’d never heard a better sound in my life. Best sound ever. My perma-grin from seeing him so relaxed and carefree reached my eyes, but I was speechless, shaking my head in disbelief. Only Sierra.
Sierra ticked her head at me as if to say, come on, that’s funny. All right. It was. But there was no way in hell I was encouraging her. No telling where she’d go next. And I changed my mind, Leanne was a timid kitty compared to what Sierra just let loose.
Chase’s fit ended with a big exhale, but his smile didn’t budge. Fan-freakin-tastic. “On that note, ladies, let’s get you home.”
27
Awake
A word I would never tire of—home. A simple word that meant the world to me and rolled effortlessly off Chase’s sexy lips. I couldn’t wait. We tucked Sierra into her bed with plenty of magazines and several bottles of water and headed home.
“What do you want to do when your dad and Sharon come next weekend for your birthday?”
“I don’t know, show them around the city. Nothing crazy. I’m not much of a birthday girl.”
He stopped in front of my apartment. We got out and went inside.
“Who said anything about crazy?” Barely inside he made quick work of my clothes. My black shift dress was up and over my head in two seconds flat. He held me at arms’ length, clearly enjoying my black lace bra and matching thong.
“See something you like?” I batted my eyelashes, using his words like he had done to me so many times before.
“More than like, baby. I see my dessert, the only kind I crave.”
Goose bumps rose over my sensitive skin as he took his time running his greedy hands over all my curves. I loved when he talked to me like that, reminding me on a daily basis that I was it for him. I closed my eyes and tipped my head back slightly to relish his touch, as his warm fingertips memorized my body. His soft lips joined the fun his fingers were having in exploring my skin. He began right below my ear and licked and sucked and nibbled down my neck, across my shoulders and over the swell of my breasts. He unclasped my bra and it drifted to the floor. He caressed my breasts before taking one into his mouth. The feeling was exquisite, and my head fell back further. I sort of wished I was flat on my back and not still standing in my three-inch heels for this sexy seduction. I kept quiet though because the last thing I wanted was for him to stop. The ache deep in my core was deliciously intense. I throbbed from head to toe and every spot in between. His labored breath bathed my nipple, and I gasped when his teeth finally tugged the hard pearl into his mouth.
“Oh god, that feels so good.” Did I think that? Did I whisper it? Hell, I could have just wailed it; I was so lost in the feeling I had no idea. None. That’s what this man did to me. I savored every single second.
He continued his silent assault on my other breast before nibbling downward over my ribs and belly. My knees trembled when he dragged my thong down my thighs with his teeth. I steadied myself, gripping his shoulders, and he smiled against my inner thigh. He knew I wasn’t going to last much longer standing. I loved how he read me so well.
I blinked and I was lying on my bed. One swoop, two strides, and I was naked and being devoured by two insatiable grey eyes.
“You are so fucking beautiful. You’re my light, baby.”
He slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Every muscle below my navel spasmed at the sight of his chiseled, bare chest. I had no idea how many muscles there even were down there, but every last fiber was contracting, aching to be filled and stretched. I writhed against the soft sheets, searching for any friction to lessen the ache. I needed release.
Chase dropped his shirt and climbed up my body until we were chest to chest. He kissed my mouth so tenderly, passionately—desperately. I loved how freely he unleashed his emotions on me. We had come so far.
He spoke against my lips. “When all I saw was darkness, when I thought there was nothing left but pitch black, your shining blue eyes rescued me from that hell. I don’t deserve you, baby, not for one fucking second, but the fact that you want me for who I am, the fact that you love me, makes me actually believe that one day I might forgive myself.”
I inhaled a sharp breath as my eyes filled with tears. He ran his hand along my forehead, pushing any loose strands of hair from my face. The love that seeped from his eyes overwhelmed me. My heart heaved against my chest with the magnitude of his words. I never in a million years imagined loving someone this much.
“These tears, Chase, they’re good ones. I promise,” I croaked.
“I know I say it a lot. But you need to know I fucking love you more than life itself. I would return to that hell for you.” His breaths were loud and labored, matching mine.
I knew he would, god, I knew he would.
“Make love to me, Chase. I want you inside me. I want to get so lost in you, please.”
Before my next breath, his jeans vanished and he was pushing inside me, filling me with his limitless love … relieving the pulsing ache.
“Baby, I want you on top. I want to watch you breathe, watch your eyes change color. I want to see what I do to you.” In a single fluid motion I was on top. I straddled his hips and sat up. He immediately cradled my breasts as I continued pushing his length deeper and deeper. I slowed our pace and kept his hard length deep inside me. I felt him pushing up my womb. The intense pressure bordered on painful, but this was the pain I craved. We were one. I never wanted it to end.