Page 106 of Master of My Heart

“Only because I’m sad that you believe you need to ask such a question.”

She looked up. “Really?”

He nodded and stroked her cheek again, breathing in her scent. “I’ve dreamed of seeing you again for so long...” He swallowed hard. So many thoughts and emotions filled his heart and mind at that moment, he felt overwhelmed. He hardly knew what to say. “Thank you for talking to me yesterday,” he said finally. Start in the present and move backward. He wanted to hear her story from the time she got home, but he knew he had to be patient.

Her cheeks darkened again.

He took a breath to tell her what happened in Martin’s office yesterday, but Jayson spoke from the doorway. “You guys finally awake?”

Chase turned to see his friend watching them with raised brows. He resented the intrusion until he realized Jayson was probably trying to help him avert temptation, as he’d asked him to. “Yeah,” he said, looking back at Sabrina. “I’m gonna go out into the living room. Why don’t you get dressed and then we can keep talking?”

Sabrina nodded and watched him with furrowed brows as he stood and left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Can I use your bathroom?” Chase asked.

“Sure,” Jayson replied.

Chase made his way through his friend’s messy room and into his equally messy bathroom. Jayson wasn’t exactly a pig, but he didn’t pick up after himself, either. Then again, Chase’s place might look the same if he didn’t have a housekeeper.

He splashed cold water on his face and over his stubbly chin, then looked at himself in the mirror. Sabrina didn’t seem to be afraid of him anymore. That was a good thing. Now he just had to figure out how to get her to open up to him about her past.

*****

Sabrina couldn’t hide her surprise when Chase stood and walked out of her room. He really wasn’t going to have sex with her? Everyone had sex with her. Even Jayson had done it the first morning she was there. When Chase had said he was sad she felt the need to ask, she believed him, but she still figured they’d get around to sex sooner or later.

But then he left!

What a strange man.

It made her warm inside, though.

She stood and stretched, closing her eyes and reaching up to the ceiling before leaning down to touch the floor. She felt completely healed, both inside and out. Her body healing itself during sleep was normal, but there was something about Chase’s presence that soothed her aching heart.

How could just being with a man do such a thing? As far as she knew, he was just a normal man. But was he really? Why had she opened up and told him about Aiden when she’d fought telling Jayson and Liz? He wasn’t like Richard, commanding her to answer his questions. He just sat next to her and asked, prying open her heart with a feather, and she’d told him everything.

She sat down on her bed, staring at the wooden floor. Talking was dangerous. Why had she done such a thing? Why had she told Chase what had happened? Now the girls were all in danger. Aiden would be so angry at her.

At the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to regret opening up to him. She didn’t understand why.

And it scared her.

Yes, he’d seemed to understand what she’d done with Aiden, but would he understand what she’d done at Ramon’s? Would he be as understanding if he found out she’d killed men? What man would want a murderer in their life?

She sighed. But she liked him. His presence was so comforting.

She walked over to her dresser and pulled out his ring. It was warm and heavy, as always. How had this ring captured his presence and comforted her for so many years? There were so many things she didn’t understand. Did he know what she was? If so, why didn’t he use her? And how did he know? Richard seemed to know that he could control her, and he knew Chase in some capacity. Had Richard told Chase?

She rubbed her face, feeling incredibly confused. Would she ever have any answers?

Voices carried from the kitchen. She remembered Chase still wanted to talk some more. Maybe she’d be brave enough to ask.

Maybe.

She dressed quickly and went out to the living room. The smile Chase gave her made her heart flutter. He patted the couch next to him and she hurried over, longing to be in his presence again. Jayson smiled and gave an approving nod when she glanced at him.

“I’m not taking that back,” Chase said, nodding to her thumb where she’d put his ring.

“But it’s yours,” she protested.

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