“Are you going to keep avoiding me forever?”
“Maybe.”
“Hmm. So, you’re going to act like you’re not picturing what’s under this towel?”
“I’m not.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“It’s hot in here.”
“Right.” His hands flex on his hips. “Only, it’s 68 degrees in here.”
“Then maybe I’m getting a fever.” I’m trying my best to keep a scowl on my face, remembering what an ass he can be.
“Sick, huh?”
“Yep.” I fake cough. “Sick.”
“Well, we’ll have to do something about that, won’t we?”
Every fiber in my being, every cell is aware of his movements. He crouches down until his face is level with mine. Those dark stormy eyes of his pin me to the spot and it feels hard to breathe all of a sudden.
His scent invades my space, and I fight the urge to inhale deeply to lock the warm spice fragrance that’s just him away in my brain.
“You probably shouldn’t be so close. I don’t want to get you sick.” The clothes draping over my skin feel too tight. The thin fabric of my gray cotton shirt strains along my ribs as I inhale. He’s just playing with me. Seeing if I’ll make a fool out of myself.
It’s embarrassing how much I want him to close the distance between us. I know I really shouldn’t want that. I’d be jailed in some countries for even entertaining the idea. Maybe that’s what this is. The allure of the forbidden. Knowing it’s wrong on so many levels but wanting it anyways. Oh, fuck. Do I have a crush on Chase Milford?
My eyes trail down his bare chest and catch on the prominent tenting pointing directly at me from behind the white towel. All it would take is just one small movement and the towel would topple to the ground, exposing every bit of him. I bite on my lip warring with myself.
His lips move closer, and line up with the shell of my ear. “What’s stopping you from taking what you want?” His breath is hot on my skin and a shiver runs down my spine as he licks the tip of my ear.
A buzzing comes from my phone, and I scramble to answer.
Chase frowns at me, clearly disappointed at being interrupted. Before I can even utter a hello, he’s striding across the room and closing the door to the bathroom. This time locking it behind him and leaving me emotionally wrecked in his wake.
“Mom?”
“Sweetheart!” Her voice sounds overly cheerful and I’m immediately suspicious of what she could want. “You got the invite to the wedding, right? Or do I need to fire that… what’s her name… for not doing her job?”
“I got it.”
“Well, I hadn’t heard back, so I assumed it was some clerical error, but I guess my daughter was too busy to RSVP to her only mother’s wedding.” The guilt she places on me weighs me down like she’s just put a boulder on my shoulders and asked me to carry it around while keeping a smile on my face.
“I’ve been busy with school.”
“Melody, I need to know if you’re coming, I don’t need your excuses.” She says, sounding exasperated. She hasn’t even asked me how I’m doing.
“I’ll be there.”
“Perfect. I’ll have your name added to the guest list and you can tag along with Chase to get here. He’ll be taking the private jet, so just ask him about it. Must dash, I’m late for a spa appointment.”
“Bye.”
The line goes dead, and I toss my phone on the bed, laying back with a groan.
Going to that wedding is the last thing I want to do, but I guess I don’t have much of a choice. I should go and show my appreciation for her new husband paying for my education.
