I stood, needing to break away from the contact. He was distracting me.
“I don’t know, Chase, it’s all so confusing. When I’m with you, it’s what I want. I know you know that, you can feel it.” I turned toward him to see a smile reach his eyes. “But it’s more complicated than you even know. We can’t be together. I can’t risk it, and you don’t understand, I know that. Part of itisGage, I think it would make things difficult at work, but he’s not the only reason.”
Chase’s brows came together once I finished. His mouth opened to talk but closed before any words came out. He avoided looking at me, choosing instead to walk to the window and look out onto the street. He was quiet for several minutes. Long enough that it got awkward. Turning around, he took off his jacket and placed it on the small chair by the window, which was a surprise. He planned on staying, even after what I’d said. He took measured steps until he was in front of me, reached for my hand, and pulled me close.
“So, what I got out of that is you want to be with me.” His sly smile made me laugh out loud. “Most good things in life come with risks, babe. If we don’t take the risk, we don’t reap the reward.” He pulled me into him, our bodies flush against one another. “You are definitely a reward worth fighting for.”
His fingers lifted my chin as his mouth lowered to mine. There was no fighting on my end.
I didn’t want to.
The chaos in my brain battled the emotions within my heart. I fought my brain, really hard, because my heart wanted to win today.
Our mouths connected, our lips touched, our tongues intertwined.
I breathed him in as his hands wrapped around my waist, my ass, pulling me closer.
“The question is,” he continued, “do you want me to fight for you?”
CHAPTER 10
Chase
Iheld her against me and waited for her answer, getting lost in the feel of her body. Even in the loose sweats and T-shirt, she was sexy as hell. Her hair was down, which was rare for me to see. I moved the hair from her shoulder, to gain access to her neck, and her scent filled the air.
Everything about her intoxicated me.
Her scent, something woodsy with a hint of something floral.
The feel of her skin was velvet against my fingers.
The fall of her silken hair down her back.
Her body. There was so much about this body. The curve of her waist into her hips, the swell of her breasts, the fullness of her ass in my hands, the delicacy of her shoulders.
“Chase…” she whispered against my chest.
I reached for her face, holding it in my hands. Our eyes connected, her desire easy to read.
“Mare, let’s not talk anymore.” My mouth found hers again, our lips touching gently. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I walked away earlier today. Let’s forget everything keeping us apart just for a while.”
“But…” she said. Then she stopped talking.
My finger landed on her plump lips. Her blue doe-like eyes stared up at me under her long lashes as I pushed my finger between her lips. Her tongue swirled around my finger, sucking on it. My other hand slowly lifted the hem of her shirt, making sure she was on board. She pulled away, my thumb dropping from her mouth, as her hands crossed in front of her, lifting the white cotton over her head.
I stood back to get a better view. Her long locks fell to her breasts, the hair almost reaching the tips. The cool air of the room caused her skin to tighten and bumps to rise, her nipples hardening. I moved her hair behind her shoulders, my fingers trailing against the skin of her collarbone as I did. Her head fell back and her eyes closed as my touch lingered on her skin, moving to cup her breast. As my hand massaged her breast, my thumb grazed her pebbled nipple. She gripped my shirt, twisting it in her hands as my fingers pinched the hardened nub. Tiny moans emerged from deep in her throat, sounds that made my dick twitch and swell in my pants.
Maryellen’s hands reached for the band of my jeans, fumbling with both the button and the zipper. I resorted to taking off my jeans while she pushed her sweats to the floor. After I dragged my sweater over my head, the sight in front of me was mind-boggling. The black lace thong she wore curved around her hip bones, accentuating her thighs. I loved that her shape was full, not scrawny or too thin.
She gave me something to hold on to.
And I wanted to hold on to all of it.
My hands went around her body, feeling the cool skin of her ass as I held her against me. I lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. We were nose to nose as I walked us to her bed.
“I love the feel of you in my arms,” I told her. “Your skin is magical.”
Her smile lit up her face.
