Page 21 of Just A Little Chase

She swallowed hard and let him have his say, even though the words he spoke hurt more than she’d ever admit out loud. But she’d also learned enough about Chase to know that this was his deeply ingrained belief system, that everything in his past influenced how he viewed relationships, or his ability to have one. Being alone was all he knew, and while a part of her couldn’t fault him for trying to protect her, the other part, the woman who desired him, didn’t want his honorable sacrifice. If this short time with Chase was all she could have of him, then she wanted it.

“I’m not asking you for a commitment, or promises,” she said, and despite the nerves suddenly taking hold, she stubbornly held his gaze, her next statement just as raw and honest as his. “All I want is one no-strings-attached weekend with you, Chase. You gave me a small taste of passion that night in your kitchen, and call me greedy, but I want more. We’re two consenting adults who are attracted to one another, so what is the harm in enjoying each other without the expectation of anything more? People hook up all the time.”

His jaw clenched and he pursed his lips, looking torn, but he didn’t say anything more and she had no idea if she’d managed to change his mind, or not.

Grabbing her suitcase, she set it on the upholstered bench at the end of the bed, then opened it up. Feeling his eyes on her, she dug through the contents until she found what she was looking for—her toiletry bag and what she planned to wear to bed.

Swallowing back the emotion gathering in her throat and schooling her features, she turned to face him again, her chin lifting. “I’m going to change and wash my face and brush my teeth, so just think about what I said… and I hope you’ll change your mind by the time I come back out.”

After walking into the adjoining bathroom, she closed the door then leaned back against it, exhaling a deep breath as she clutched her items to her chest, where her heart was beating so hard it echoed in her ears.

She had no idea if she’d managed to change Chase’s mind, but she had one last weapon in her arsenal to try and sway him. One he hopefully wouldn’t be able to resist.

* * *

Feeling as though he was about to let something incredibly special and rare slip through his fingers, Chase watched Lauren head into the en suite, head held high and shoulders straight.

That pride she displayed was nothing less than he’d expect from this woman who’d dared to challenge him more than anyone else ever had. But despite that stubborn and determined façade during her bold speech moments ago, her eyes had spoken the truth. Beneath her bravado he’d seen a vulnerability that made his heart ache and shattered all the defenses he normally had no issues keeping in place when it came to women.

The realization should have scared the shit out of him, but he was tired of fighting his attraction to Lauren when he wanted nothing more than to feel her warm, naked body beneath his and hear his name on her lips when she came all over his cock. He speared his fingers through his hair and groaned at that erotic image playing out in his head. One he’d jerked off to more than a few times since that evening in his kitchen.

She’d taken a huge risk putting herself out there the way she had, knowing he could turn her down once again. But if he was completely honest with himself, he wasn’t immune to Lauren, and out of every argument she’d made there was one statement he couldn’t get out of his head, no matter how hard he tried.

“You gave me a small taste of passion that night in your kitchen, and call me greedy, but I want more.”

Yeah, that. So brazen and genuine and real. Like the woman herself.

If there was one thing Chase could do, it was to give Lauren what she’d asked for, what she’d never experienced with another man. And who was he kidding, anyway? The thought of any guy other than him fucking her until she was limp and sated from multiple orgasms and drunk on passion made him feel more than a little possessive.

She wanted a final answer when she came out, and he was ready to give her an honest one. Between the two of them, rules had already been established. Lauren knew where he stood, and he was prepared to agree to her no-strings-attached request. For just this weekend together, she was his, and he planned to take advantage of the next two days with her, guilt-free.

Decision made, all the tension Chase had been holding on to seemed to drain out of him and his head cleared, so he was able to relax and focus on her pleasure tonight, and nothing else.

He could hear the water running in the bathroom, and while she finished up, Chase stripped down to his boxer briefs, then sat down on the bed to wait for her to come out, his mind already jumping ahead to all the things he planned to do to her for the rest of the night.

A few minutes later the door opened, and he was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Lauren stepped out and walked toward him, a brazen seductress in a skimpy, sheer little nightgown that had all the blood in his body rushing straight to his dick. He boldly looked his fill, taking in her small but pert breasts beneath the translucent red fabric, the curve of her waist and hips he wanted to grab with his hands, and the ridiculously tiny scrap of material posing as panties.

Lust thrummed through his veins and he raised his eyes back to hers, seeing the barest hint of nerves in the way she bit her bottom lip and shifted on her bare feet. Clearly, a part of her was bracing for a second rejection, and he quickly dispelled her misgivings by allowing a smile to lift up the corners of his mouth.

“Were you planning on wearing that to bed?” he asked, tipping his head.

She fiddled with the lacy hem of the nightie, and picking up on his playful demeanor, she responded in an equally teasing manner. “That all depends on what you’ve decided. I’m either going to wear it all night to torture you, or it’s coming off. Your choice.”

He chuckled because he loved this woman’s sass. “I definitely want it off,” he said, giving her the answer she’d been waiting for, and he didn’t miss the relief that flickered across her features.

That was all he needed to know he’d made the right choice. Her.

Chapter Nine

The anticipation and anxiety twisting inside of Lauren vanished at Chase’s agreement. She didn’t ask what changed his mind and didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to her was being with him and getting to experience his brand of seduction. She knew what not to expect from this weekend arrangement, and as long as she managed to keep her heart out of the equation, she’d be fine.

But that same heart mocked her. The deep connection she’d already formed with Chase told her she’d fallen faster than she ever could have predicted. But she couldn’t bring herself to process the depth of her feelings at the moment. What she could do was focus on the immediate moment and what Chase was offering.

“So, if we’re doing this, I insist on giving you the full experience,” he said in a husky drawl, interrupting her thoughts and bringing her back to what they were about to do.

“And what might the full experience be?” she asked, biting her lower lip, being deliberately sexy.

“Orgasms, fucking, and dirty talk, of course,” he said, offering everything she’d dreamed of.

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