His question echoed in my mind. What did I want? I wanted to save Chase from the demon. Not just because he was a client. Because he was kind, compassionate, and funny. Because even though I knew I shouldn’t, I liked him. A lot.
I’d never been infatuated with someone until now. I’d always been too busy with providing for my family, or studying, or working to fall in love.
Was that what this was? Love? Or was it just a crush—a flurry of hormones and emotions leading me astray from my path?
As I stared at Chase, my gaze trailed down to his lips. I’d kissed him once when we first met to fulfill his bribe. And then he’d kissed me again the other evening, in the serene glow of the aquarium light.
We were even. I should’ve let it go.
But against my better judgment, I tipped the scales.
My fingers grasped the front of Chase’s hoodie, pulling him down, and I brushed our lips together.
He dropped the bag of sex toys on the ground.
A soft, startled noise escaped him, but it fizzled out when he kissed me back. He angled his head, dragging his mouth across mine in a soft explosion of sensation. Then the wet tip of his tongue teased my lower lip. I bit back a whimper at how good it felt. Within seconds, I was dizzy from the warmth of Chase’s breath and my own pulse roaring in my ears.
Yet I didn’t pull back. I pushed past my dizziness, desperate to remain in this moment. My chest pressed into Chase and I used his firm body as leverage to stay upright. His hand cautiously rested on my back. As he moved, the scent of him floated up from his clothes, enveloping me just as his lips did.
I felt... safe.
And, unfortunately, aroused.
A thrill ran down my spine. Being turned on was one thing, but for it to happen in public? Anyone could’ve turned the corner and seen us, or watched us from security cameras that no doubt surveyed the garages.
We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here, not now, not at all.
But I didn’t want to stop. Succumbing to my desire was like stepping foot in a bog; once I’d given in, it was already too late. The greed sucked me down and refused to let go.
I grew hungrier. My teeth gently pinched Chase’s bottom lip and he made a soft sound of pleasure. His fingers dug into the small of my back like claws tugging me closer. I rested my full weight against his broad chest. Being so close to him scratched an itch I didn’t know I had.
My mind melted into an indulgent haze. Every doubt and anxiety and concern was shoved aside as I gave in to my base urges.
Kissing Chase just felt so fucking good.
A second hand joined his first. Both his palms roamed up and down my back, like he was petting me.
That made me remember the dog collar that he bought. I pulled away just in time to laugh.
“What?” Chase asked, breathless and flushed. “Did I do something weird?”
“No, I was thinking about the collar. I can’t believe you bought that.”
He flashed a lopsided grin. “Hey, I only put it in the basket. You paid for it. So technically,youbought the collar.”
I rolled my eyes, but another chuckle tumbled out of me. I felt giddy and light, like my body was made of cotton fluff. It was a strange new feeling. So different than anything I’d experienced before.
“I didn’t know you, um... felt like that about me,” Chase said, his cheeks burning pink.
I swallowed the thickness in my throat. “Me neither.”
Sunlight danced in the sky blue of his eyes. Up close, I saw the tawny colour of his eyelashes, the sprinkle of gold hairs in his brows.
On top of being a good person, he was stupidly handsome. How was he still single?
Now that we weren’t in the middle of making out, my doubts flung to the forefront of my mind again. Was there something wrong with him that I didn’t know about? Was he some kind of playboy?
“When’s the last time you dated?” I demanded.
