Of course, he can’t. I don’t know what I was thinking. That he would pick up and leave his life behind just to be with me in a world he fled years ago? It doesn’t even make sense.
Clearly, relationships are one more thing I don’t have a fricking clue about.
My heart hurts, and I bury my face in the soft hair of his chest. When his hands slide over my hips, I still feel the heat there. I squirm a little, and I feel him getting hard again underneath me. His strong arms wrap around my body, holding me close, and I’m trying to memorize every detail. The way he feels against my skin. Being wrapped up in his warm, calm presence, knowing he’s here to protect me.
I can’t believe I’m never going to feel him close to me like this again. I’ve finally found the man I want to be with only to lose him. To watch it all slip right through my fingers.
A loud wail of an alarm cuts through the air, and I startle.
“Shit!” Chase jumps from the bed, darting toward the kitchen.
“What is it?” Prickles spread over my skin. I pull the sheet around my body, tugging it from the mattress as I hurry to follow him.
“The perimeter alarm,” he shouts. “Someone’s trying to get inside.”
My heart slams inside my chest. “There’s someone outside?”
He gives me sharp nod. “Get back by the bedroom door and stay low.” His tone is tense—urgent—and I know this is serious. “Keep your head down, got it?”
His eyes are clear, and he’s in control. I nod, scrambling back into the doorway of the bedroom. I wrap the sheet tighter around my body as he silences the alarm, then I watch as he tugs on some pants before grabbing his weapon.
He scans the monitors above the door, and I look to see for myself. On one of the screens, a dark figure slinks along the wall outside. I can see he’s tall and lanky when he rounds the corner toward the front of the house.
“Oh no!” I cover my mouth with my hands.
Chase brings a finger to his lips to shush me, then he gestures for me to move further back into the bedroom, and I do. Then he aims his weapon at the door, his hands steady, and I peek at the monitor once more. The dark figure is closer now. He’s stepping up onto the front porch and peering into the camera, and…
For frick’s sake!
It’s Tony.
“Don’t shoot!” I call out. “It’s just Tony.”
Chase’s eyes are wide. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Ohh, I don’t know,” I grumble. “Management probably sent him after they saw the pictures online.”
“But how would he find you here? At this house?”
I shrug, heading toward the door to let Tony inside, but Chase grabs my hand.
“Don’t open it.”
“Why?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t like it. The way he was sneaking around. Why not come right to the door if he knows you’re in here?”
“Oh.” I roll my eyes. “You don’t know Tony. That’sexactlywhat he would do.” I take another step toward the door, but Chase blocks me with his arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“He must have traced you somehow. With a chip orsomething.” Chase’s eyes search mine, and I cringe.
“My phone. I turned my phone on—just for a minute—to look you up online.”
“When?” There’s no judgment in his eyes. Only focus.
“Right before we—” I point toward the bathroom.
