Page 155 of Master of My Heart

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

“Good.” He kissed her gently once more, then she turned and opened the door. Once she was inside, he gave one last smile and turned and walked away. She stepped back and closed the door, a silly smile on her face.

*****

Chase walked into his bedroom and flopped down on the bed, his cock straining against his dress pants. God, kissing Sabrina had been everything he’d ever imagined and more. She tasted like wine and passion and he really wanted to carry her to the bedroom and make love to her.

But he had to wait. He could do that. She was worth it.

He rolled onto his back and unzipped his pants, taking his rock-hard cock in his hands and stroking it slowly. He imagined kissing Sabrina, running his fingers through her hair, his tongue in her mouth, tasting her.

He briefly wondered if she were doing the same thing at that moment, touching herself and thinking of him. The thought pushed him over the edge. He groaned and stiffened as he exploded in his hand.

Sticky, he fell asleep, still tasting Sabrina on his lips.

Chapter Fifty-One

Oh, Chase. It’s beautiful!” Sabrina exclaimed as they reached the top of the footbridge that led to what he called “The Esplanade,” which was a park that ran along the Charles River. Huge trees spread out before her, their leaves a color riot of orange, red, and yellow.

She pulled her sweater tighter around her as a breeze picked up. She narrowed her eyes at Chase when he laughed. He wore a short-sleeved polo shirt and shorts, while she huddled in jeans and a sweater. And another sweater. He put his arm around her and pulled her close as they began the descent on the park-side of the bridge.

“This is one of my favorite places to come when I need to think,” Chase said, pointing toward a bench near the river. “I can get some amazing pictures, too, if I’m out at the right time.”

“You like to take pictures?” Sabrina asked.

Chase nodded. “I’ve taken some photography classes in the past, but it’s just a hobby. Nothing serious. It helps me clear my mind when there’s too much going on.”

“I’d love to see them.”

Chase looked out over the river as they walked. “I don’t show them to many people.” He smiled down at her. “But I’ll show them to you.”

Sabrina beamed and looked down the path in front of them. “I can’t get over the colors.”

“Leaves don’t change where you’re from?”

She shrugged and stopped to look at a particularly bright red leaf. “Not really. I mean, some do, but they usually just turn brown and die. Most stay green the whole time.”

“You mean the cactuses don’t change colors?”

“Cacti,” she corrected. “And they don’t have leaves. They have needles. But we do have trees in Arizona. Just...” She laughed. “A lot of pine trees.”

Chase stared. “Pine trees?” He looked thoroughly confused and tilted his head. “Pine trees?”

Sabrina nodded. “Yup. But there are desert trees, too, and they shed all the time. Don’t change colors, though. Except brown when they die.” She bent and picked up a yellow leaf. “We get wildflowers when the summer storms come through. They bloom fast—purples, oranges, yellows. It’s really pretty.” She let the leaf drop from her hand and watched as it slowly drifted to the ground. “It doesn’t last, though. They die as fast as they bloom.” She looked up at Chase. “We have to have extensive watering systems to have grass. If we didn’t, everything would just be dirt and gravel.” She motioned around her. “This is beautiful.”

Chase smiled and took her hand. They started walking down the path again, fingers intertwined. Her hand felt so small in his and she liked it. He was tall and strong, and not just physically. Mentally, emotionally. He had a business, had a home, a car, had traveled. She sometimes felt like a child next to him, but not because of anything he said. Just because of her inexperience with the world.

“Chase, do you ever want to travel again?”

“I travel a lot already.”

“I mean for fun.” She glanced up and saw him watching her. “Have you ever traveled for fun?”

He shook his head. “Everything I’ve done was either for the army or my work. I’ve seen a lot of things, but traveling just for the fun of it? No.”

“Would you ever want to?”

He was quiet for a few minutes as they walked. “I think it would be fun to take someone who hasn’t been places and see their reaction.” He looked down. “I’ve been in this park a hundred times and I guess I take it for granted. New England is naturally green. But compared to where you grew up, compared to the Middle East... I’ve never thought about its beauty like you see it.”

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