“I shouldn’t. I try not to eat too much sugar during the hockey season, and I already had the cocoa.”
She nudged him with one shoulder as she cajoled, “C’mon, you know you want some. Also, these are extenuating circumstances, so the food doesn’t count. You know you’re tempted.”
He certainlywastempted, but not by the cookies. Well, notonlyby the cookies. He took two and shoved an entire cookie into his mouth in one bite, relieved when she laughed and sat back against the couch.
This was going to be a long evening.Whyhad he pushed for the Extended Editions?
CHAPTER 9
Harper couldn’t rememberthe last time she’d spent this much time with Chase. And she’d never spent this much time alone with him.
It was surprisingly easy—for the most part. Little flashes of him in the shower kept popping into her brain and she ruthlessly shoved them away.Bad brain. You’re being completely inappropriate.
Sitting with him like this, watching a movie in the quiet coziness of the little cabin surrounded by trees, a blanket of snow outside, felt like a place out of time. Nothing encroached upon them; no demands, no work tasks or emails or to do lists. It didn’t even feel like there was any baggage between them.
She could easily pretend they were a couple on a romantic weekend getaway. That wasn’t anything Chase would ever want, no matter whose name he called in the shower. She was a nearby woman, that’s all.
Harper managed to stay awake until partway through The Return of the King, when her eyelids became too heavy to fight it anymore. But she didn’t want to disturb Chase, so she laid her head back against the couch and dozed.
When she woke, the room was dim, lit only by the dying fire. There was a blanket over her and she was leaning against Chase, who was watching her with a strange expression. He’d worn the same look earlier in the kitchen.
Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes dropped to his mouth. She bit her lip to contain a moan, wanting nothing more than to press her lips against his.
“Harper.” Chase slowly raised a hand to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking slowly, tenderly.
She was afraid to blink and wake up. But when his thumb brushed over her lower lip, she darted the tip of her tongue out and licked it.
He groaned and bent his head, his mouth taking hers demandingly.
Fighting against the blanket trapping her arms, she freed them and clutched the front of his dark blue henley, pulling him closer. When that wasn’t enough, she climbed onto his lap, straddling him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
With a growl, Chase slid one hand into her hair. The other one grasped her hip, his fingers curling possessively. He was warm and smelled of citrus from the shower, along with a woodsy smell that must have been from when hemoved a freaking tree.
She rubbed her nose along the side of his before brushing her mouth lightly over his lips. He gave her lower lip a little nip before using the hand cupping the back of her head to bring her mouth firmly against his own. Harper softly laughed, and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth, stroking it silkily in and out.
Any further thought of laughter fled, and she rubbed herself back and forth along his cock, growing hard beneath her. Chase’s fingers bit into her hip but she didn’t care. She reveled in the wayhe was responding to her, in the power she would never have anticipated having over him.
Harper was nearly dizzy with pleasure when Chase suddenly tore his mouth from hers, panting hard as his hands gripped her shoulders. Confusion was replaced by dismay, then embarrassment. She tried to climb off his lap, but he held her in place.
“Let me go.” She pushed against his chest but he didn’t relent.
“I’m not letting you go, Harper. Not until you understand.”
“I understand, Chase.” She was mortified, but she wouldn’t fall apart in front of him. “If you don’t want to do this, that’s fine with me.”
He released one shoulder so he could take her chin with the gentlest touch, urging her to look at him. She didn’t want to, but he was being so careful and patient, and she knew he wouldn’t let her climb off until he’d had his say.
Steeling herself, she blinked back the urge to cry and met his gaze, those emerald eyes holding both concern and… something that confused her. Something that looked very much like heat.
“I absolutely want to do this. You wouldn’t believe how badly I want you. I’ve wanted you foryears.”
Chase waitedfor Harper’s response.
He was met with the slow tilt of her head to the side, a little wrinkle forming between her brows. She looked like an adorably confused owl. “You have?”
He nodded.
“Then why didn’t you ever say anything? And why did you stop?”
