One by one, low lights flicker on, and I hover in the hallway as he tosses his keys in the entryway bowl.
His tidy bachelor pad is a spacious ranch with leather couches, a huge flat screen TV, and beige walls. It’s orderly and well cared for, but not homey. There are no photos of family and friends. No cozy blankets for nights binging on Netflix. No trophies, though I know he must have dozens.
With a father like his, it’s no wonder.
All of a sudden, I know what I want to say. What I need to say. “Chase, I’ll pay you back. Every penny that you give my dad.”
He turns to me, and after a moment, the corner of his mouth tilts up. “Sure. Whatever you want.”
Did he really agree that easily? This is so overwhelming. “Please consider this a loan, one that I’ll repay instead of my father.”
With a sigh, he scrubs his face. “Lo, in case you missed this, I’m not hurting for money. I’ll never miss the winnings from that competition. What do I need? Another car? A new PlayStation? More clothes?” He shrugs. “If I know my father, he’s charged a criminal amount of interest on the money your dad borrowed. It’s okay if you want to think of this as the universe’s way of settling a wrong.”
How did I ever think poorly of this man? My heart overflows with gratitude. I move closer to him and place my hand on his strong chest, my eyes filling with tears. “How can I thank you?” I swallow the fist-sized boulder in my throat. “This is the kindest thing anyone’s ever done for my family.”
Those green eyes rove over my face as he lifts my chin up. “There is one thing you could do.”
“Name it.” Chase could ask me to walk home naked in the rain, and right now I’d do it.
“Think you could make me some of those pumpkin muffins you always sell at the farmer’s market?” He grins. “They’re always sold out by the time I get there.”
I choke and blink back my tears. “You want my muffins?”
“More than you know. I am dying to taste your muffins.” We’re both chuckling as he tugs my hair back and kisses me. Softly at first until he tugs me closer, and then I’m in the air and wrapping my legs around his waist. “But just so we’re clear,” he says between kisses, “I didn’t make this deal with Duke in order to taste your muffins.”
I nip his bottom lip. “How about we not talk about our parents when you have your tongue down my throat.”
“Deal.”
We move through the house, but I’m too busy kissing his neck and clinging to him like a needy koala bear to pay attention. A minute later, we’re tumbling onto his king-sized bed and ripping each other’s clothes off. His jeans. My skirt. His T-shirt. My tank. Until all I have on is a sheer bra and boy shorts and his taut body strains against his gray boxer briefs.
“Why Chase Carter, you look even better than my fantasies.”
And he does. When I saw those abs in the barn, I knew I was a goner, but up close and personal?
Divine.
Not sure what’s making me so bold. I feel buzzed like I’ve been drinking. But I’m buzzed on Chase.
Is this how every girl feels with him when they come here? Like they’re special? Like they mean something to him? Thinking back to how he dated other women over the years smarts, and I can’t deny the jealousy that shoots through me.
I shake my head, refusing to let anything stop me from enjoying tonight. I have no idea if this will go anywhere, if what’s between us is more than just some intense attraction or blowing off steam, but I won’t allow the past or thoughts of what happens tomorrow morning ruin my night.
He slides over me, all muscle and solid man, until we’re pressed chest to chest, and holy crap, he feels amazing. Between gentle sucks and licks to my neck, he whispers, “You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about you, Willow, but I can say that being here with you is definitely better than the fantasy.”
If his goal is to melt me into a puddle, mission accomplished.
I’m slammed with the realization that although I’ve known Chase for years, I don’t really know him. Not like this.
His thick thighs slide between mine, and I moan and writhe against him.
I let my hands wander over his smooth back. Over those wide shoulders. Into his unruly hair.
When our mouths connect, that frenzied feeling intensifies, his slick tongue dueling against mine while he rocks into me, his steely length the perfect counterpoint to the beat hammering between my legs.
“I can feel how wet you are through our underwear.” His gruff voice makes me shiver.
“That’s because I’m about to combust.” I pant. “Why did we wait so long to do this?” I help him unhook my bra, loving how he groans when he grazes my nipple with his teeth.
“No idea, but we’re going to fuck each other silly to make up for lost time. Pencil me in from now to Christmas.”
I gasp, then moan as his hand reaches into my panties and glides against my wet skin, my eyes nearly rolling back in my head as he presses one, then two thick fingers into me.
“Oh God.” I arch my back, my whole body buzzing and tight and so close. “I’m gonna come.”
“That’s right, baby. Fuck my hand.” He thrusts hard while gently circling my clit, and I fly apart, my whole body pulsing.
When he slides out of me a minute later, I’m immediately at a loss and reach for him as he rolls over. I don’t want to break this connection.
His big arms wrap around me, and I try to quell my gasping breaths when I collapse on top of him.
“That was …” Amazing? Life-altering? With just his hand. I don’t have words.
“Hot as hell.” He chuckles, and I grin against his neck that’s slick with sweat and rain and smells so damn good, I have half a mind to bite him.
But there’s something I want to do more.
Chase
My breath catches in my throat when Willow sits astride me and smiles. She’s so fucking beautiful. Her black hair is tangled around her and those blue eyes twinkle back.
She’s smart. Witty. Honest. My ideal woman, honestly. Most of my friends had boners for her growing up.
For me it’s more, though.
I stare at her, feeling like a teenager with his first crush and not caring that I probably have my feelings stamped on my forehead. Yeah, I like this girl. Always have.
So when she leans down to kiss me and rolls her hips against mine, there’s one thing I need to know before we do anything else.
“Lo, can I ask you something?” I plant my hands on her thighs to still her motion.
She nods slowly, clearly caught off guard that I’m throwing on the breaks.
“What was your beef with me in high school? Was it just that my dad was an asshole, so you assumed I was too?”
Sure, I was a cocky little shit, but isn’t every hormonal guy at that age? I just want to make sure there wasn’t anything else. That I didn’t say or do something that really hurt her.
I’m half aware that dredging up old memories doesn’t bode well for reaching that final act tonight, but I’m more interested in making sure we have a shot at more than a one-time hookup.
She pulls the sheet to her chest and looks away, so I tilt her chin toward me.
“It’s okay, Lo. Whatever it is, just tell me. I wanna know.”
A long, quiet moment stretches between us, and finally she sighs.
“Your friends were pretty vile to me in school. Called me trash and all kinds of … other things. When the whole town knows your family’s dirty laundry, I guess that’s par for the course, but it came at a really bad time for me, and I thought you must’ve felt that way too since those guys always followed you around.”
I hear what she’s not saying. “You thought I felt that way? That maybe I instigated them bullying you?”
She nods slowly and tries to slide off me, but I shake my head and pull her closer.
Did I hear some of the rumors our friends said about her? I must’ve, but I never paid them any mind since they talked shit about everyone, even me. But I never let those assholes harass anyone when we hung out.