I glance at the open door. Anyone could walk by and see this. The thought sends a shot of arousal through me, my legs becoming unsteady from the rush. His thumbs brush over my nipples. The ghost of his touch tortures me. I wish he’d just rip off my blouse so I could feel him on my skin. He leans down, the tips of his hair tickling my shoulder as he bites my neck, gently. The thought that he might leave a mark makes a moan slip through my lips.
“Fuck, Goldi.” He rests his forehead on my back, his breathing deep and ragged. I push back against him, desperate to feel how much I affect him. He groans, pressing his thick length into me, thrusting slightly. I’m slick between my thighs. I press my legs together, worried my wetness will drip down them from how turned on I am.
Footsteps make us break apart. I lean forward, grabbing a napkin to look like I’m cleaning up the forgotten spill. Chase moves to my side, cocking his hip against the countertop.
Jack and a couple of other guys walk into the room. Suddenly the air is stifling. I can feel the heat in my cheeks, my excitement at Chase’s touch still surging through me, and I wonder if everyone else can feel the tension. I don’t dare look up to see.
Chase, on the other hand, is unperturbed. I sneak a glance at him and his dimples tease me with how freaking lickable they are.
There’s muffled conversation, but for the life of me, I can’t tell what’s being said over the pounding in my ears. I take deep breaths, my fingers tightening on the soggy napkin I’m still holding. Jack and the guys are sitting at the small round table in the middle of the room. Chase has his arms crossed. Smirking at me.
“What?” I try to scowl.
Chase’s smile widens. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.” I narrow my eyes, a grin taking over my face.
“Mmmm,” he hums. He steps closer, grabbing a mug and the coffee pot. His arm brushes against mine with the movement, and I suck in a breath. The fire in my body rages, still lit up from his earlier touch.
“You going to your dad’s tonight?”
I frown. I don’t want to think about Daddy or Eli right now. I’d much rather stay lost in my Chase bubble. “Nope. He’s got Eli here, what’s he need me for?”
Chase eyes me over the rim of his mug.
My throat tightens painfully. Eli hasn’t even tried to talk to me. I know he’s busy with Sarah and Daddy, but I thought he’d at least reach out. It’s sad—realizing you don’t know your own flesh and blood. His words from last night briefly run through my mind, but I brush them away. It’s not my fault I don’t know him. I won’t let him place blame on me for his distance.
Chase levels me with a knowing look. “I’ll be at Sam and Anna’s for most of the night, but call me if you need anything. Or if you just want to talk. Say hi. Let me hear your voice.”
I grin and his eyes spark. He leans in close, placing his coffee mug on the counter. “I better get back to work.”
I glance at his cup. He didn’t even drink any of it. His hand brushes against my side, squeezing. He walks away, smacking one of the guys playfully on the head on his way out.
It’s not until I get home from work that I find the courage to listen to Jax’s voicemail.
“Hey, sweetheart. Sorry I’m just returning your calls. I’ve been… well, you know. Anyway—” He clears his throat. “I miss you, girl. I was hoping you were free tonight and maybe I could swing by to talk? I don’t know. Let me know.”
I fumble with my phone, trying to get my fingers to work properly long enough to call him back, but he doesn’t answer. Of course. We’re forever playing phone tag. I send him a text instead.
Me: Yes! I’ll be home all night. You can stop by whenever. I miss you, too.
He doesn’t write back, but there’s a knock at the door a few hours later. I’m in pajamas—at the beginning stages of a movie marathon—a tub of ice cream in my hands. I jump up, nerves making me jittery.
I swing open the door. Jax is smiling. The sight of him makes my panic dissipate, and I sigh in relief. “Hiya, Teeth.”
“Hey, sweetheart. Big night planned?” He quirks a brow at my attire and I look down. There may or may not be a chocolate ice cream stain on my holey Sugarlake High dance team shirt, and I know my hair is a knotted mess on my head.
I shrug. “Ya get what ya get. Take it or leave it, buster. Wanna come in?” I open the door wider and he walks through, going straight to the couch and making himself comfortable. Good. This is a good sign.
I watch him closely as I sit down, folding my legs underneath me. He stares, his leg crossed over his knee, his arm thrown on the back of the couch. He seems relaxed. I chew on my lip, waiting for him to say something.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You’re making me tense, sweetheart. Cut it out. I’m not mad.”
I look up from where I’m picking at my fingers. “You’re not?”
“No. I mean… I was. I was pissed you’ve been spending time with Chase. But I just needed a few days to lick my wounds. Once I calmed down, I realized how much of a dick I was.”
“Jax, I was the one who said things to you I can’t take back. You’ve been everything to me for so long, and I’ve taken you for granted. And I’m sorry—” My voice breaks. “I’m so sorry for how
