She laughed loud. This time, the smile reached her eyes, making them appear to sparkle. “Way too many to count. But…if you must know. There’s a reason I brought you here and not just anywhere else. More than one reason.”
“I’m listening.”
“Remember when I told you how I wanted to do things other kids were able to do? Well this place helped. This was the school trip I had really wanted to go on. The reason I sucked up my fear and found a way to cope. She looked over at him and pursed her lips. “The other reason is…” Larke sighed loudly. “I don’t want to offend you, but from everything you’ve told me, it sounds as if you’ve had a pretty horrible childhood. I don’t pity you, Chase but I don’t see anything wrong with us spending the day together, not being soadult.” She raised one brow. “What do you say? My treat. All day long.”
His throat tightened. “Sounds good,” he said, trying to act normal when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms, bury his face in her neck and never let up.
Once inside it was plain to see the amusement park was much bigger than it seemed from the outside. Then again, he’d didn’t know what he’d really expected since he had never been to one before. It was also packed despite being a weekday. Now he understood why Larke didn’t want them to go on a weekend.
Strolling hand in hand they made their way through a throng of people and nearing a play area with sprinklers and water fountains. Chase noticed Larke staring at the toddlers running around giggling and screaming, each time the water sprayed up and hit them.
Did she like children? She had to, he guessed, if she wrote books for them. He stared at her again as her smile widened. Chase doubted she even realized what she was doing. But he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering. Him and Larke were going to be together forever, if things went the way he wanted. The way he hoped they would after he proved to her that he really was a changed man, despite what he’d told her weeks ago.
Let Larke see how much he wanted a life with her. Her alone. And one that included giving her all the children she wanted. Because from the way her eyes softened at the sight of those kids, he was almost sure she’d want a bunch. His cock twitched and his balls drew up as his gaze washed over her. Chase was already picturing her curvy body filling out, growing rounder, with her breasts so damn ripe and belly swollen with his kid.
Damn.
His mouth went dry as he watched her again, struck by how even in the middle of an amusement park he was thinking about being intimate with her. Chase sucked in a breath, burying those thoughts for now. He held her close, glad she had chosen this place to bring him. Allowing him to be around people being sonormal. Tofeelnormal.
* * *
Larke clutchedher stomach while eyeing the roller coaster they’d ridden minutes ago. She glared at Chase, knowing he’d chosen it as payback because she’d dragged him into the drop tower ride. Although her heart had been inside her throat, she’d almost burst out laughing at the muffled expletive he’d muttered when the gondola dropped without warning.
“This is what you like?” he’d asked, gaping at her in awe and horror once they’d left that ride.
Her ensuing laughter had prompted Chase to glance at the monstrous roller coaster that dominated the backdrop of the park and declare it their next stop. Slightly nauseous, she held on to Chase’s hand while scowling at the smug grin on his face. Behind the scowl, however, Larke was beyond happy that he was enjoying this silly gift of hers.
After riding the majority of the attractions, they exited the park as more and more people trickled in. She turned to Chase who had two cheesy teddy bears in his hand, which he’d won for her in a game of darts. He placed the bears on the backseat of the car.
“Ready for round two?” she asked, standing beside him in the parking lot.
He arched an eyebrow. “As long as it doesn’t involve any more thrill rides.”
“You forced me on that roller coaster. You don’t get any sympathy from me.”
He grinned and stepped in front of her, grazing his knuckles across her cheek. “Sympathy ain’t what I want from you, Larke. But if you’re mad at me you can always let me make it up to you real good tonight.”
She swept her tongue across her lip. “How good?”
“The—I haven’t been inside my girl for two days and that’s way too long for me—type of good. Can’t get enough of you because of how much I love you and the way you treat me.”
Her breath hitched, moisture seeped into her panties. But most of all, her heart thumped wildly inside her chest, bursting with love for him. “I’m not opposed to any of that,” she whispered, reaching up on her toes to kiss him.
She moaned softly as Chase’s large hand cupped the back of her head, kissing her hard. They both pulled back, drawing in air. Larke found her voice, shaky as it was. “Come on, let’s go.”
“You want me to drive?”
“No. I’m in charge today, remember?” She flashed him a grin then went around to the driver’s side.
Larke loved the look on his face when they got out. Surprise then a slow shake of his head followed by a small grin. “You’re really giving me the treatment today huh, angel?”
“I sure am. I figured this would be another place you’d never been or come to as a grown man.”
He nodded. “You’re right on both counts.”
They were at an ice cream parlor. Ridiculous as it might seem taking a card-carrying white supremacist out for frozen treats, it actuallywasn’t. Today she had once again witnessed Chase showing the side of him that was straying farther and farther away from his long-held beliefs. Caught in a rush of people walking by, a man clearly Hispanic and brown, though much lighter than herself had accidentally bumped into Chase. For a brief moment Larke had kept her breath held, half afraid of how Chase would react.
He’d nodded at the man’s apology, assuring the man it was fine. Larke hadn’t said anything because she hadn’t wanted him to feel awkward. Instead, they’d continued along as if nothing had happened. And so in her mind, that was also a good reason to sit down for ice cream with the man she adored. Adoredandadmired for attempting to become a better person.
