Page 25 of Soul

“I’ll never abandon you, baby,” Chase promises immediately. He turns my face to his and cups my cheek. I lean into it, appreciating his warmth. “We’re going to get past this together. But I can’t say that I’m un-fond of you needing me close.” His grin is sexy but honest.

“That,”—the doctor’s voice inflection rises to one of concern—“on the other hand, we need to get to the bottom of, Mr. Davis.” Dr. Madison uses his stern no nonsense tone.

Chase’s own voice changes, sounding gruffer. “Excuse me?”

“You have an excessive need for control, are habitually possessive and demanding by nature. It’s not all together a healthy way to deal with a woman who’s been victimized in the past. Though, I know it’s those ways of yours that attract our dear Gillian.” He is not wrong. Not by a long shot. I’ve always sought out men who are confident, strong, self-assured. It’s just a lot of times that comes with the downside of those traits which are controlling and demonstrative and the worst of all…abusive. Chase is a lot of things but never abusive.

“He’d never lay a hand on me, Dr. Madison. Of that I am certain. His mother was a victim of domestic violence and Chase abhors a man taking a hand to a woman.” Chase nods at my response.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” the doctor addresses Chase.

“Thank you. It was a long time ago. I’ve moved on. Right now, my focus is on Gillian and her wellbeing, mentally and physically. We’re leaving tomorrow. I plan to spend the next couple weeks or so allowing us to be free. To have her feel safe in her own skin, as well as make her my wife.” Chase adjusts his jacket and leans forward.

“Is there a reason you’re in a rush to get married, Mr. Davis?”

Chase and I both shake our head. “No,” he says with conviction. “It just feels like it’s something that keeps gettingtakenfrom us. To tell you the truth, Doc, I wanted to marry her the day after I proposed.” He turns to me. “I’m regretting letting you talk me out of that.” He grins and his eyes twinkle when he smirks at me. “But then we ended up waiting for her wedding dress to be designed, then it was Phillip and the explosion, and then we finally get to the day and she’s abducted. I’ve wanted nothing more than to claim her as my wife since shortly after we met. I’m tired of waiting to make her mine.”

“Do you feel like she’ll be more yours if you are married?” Dr. Madison asks.

“Yes, I do. Legally, she’ll be connected to me, she’ll wear my ring on her finger for the world to see, have access to my fortune, never want for anything, and I’ll have my own family. With her,” he says matter-of-fact—no mincing words for my guy.

“I see. And you agree with this plan, Gillian?” The doctor looks to me.

I’m still stuck on Chase wanting to be afamilywith me. Ever since my mother’s death, my friends have been the only family I have. When I marry Chase, he’ll be my family. Officially, legally, mentally, and physically. “I can’t imagine anything better than Chase and I becoming our own family.” Chase’s smile is so bright it removes all the dark from the conversation and only let’s in light. It warms my heart and my soul.

“Then I agree. You should have what you desire, because it comes from your love for one another, not from the desire to control a situation in your life. So for that, I issue my congratulations.”

Chase

“I can’t believe we snuck out in the middle of the day, and no one is the wiser.” Gillian laughs clipping her seatbelt in place. The flight attendant hands me, then Gillian, a glass of sparkling pink champagne. “Ooh, it’s pink!” She shimmies in her seat happily. I knew my girl would appreciate the feminine aspect of this champagne.

Holding her hand in my left I hold up my glass, she does the same. “To our future, baby,” I say and she leans close.

“To becoming a family,” she says breathily, while clinking our glasses together. We take a sip and then I lean forward and capture her lips in mine. She tastes of champagne and strawberries, both of which I had ready to go when we arrived at the airport in Sacramento.

I made sure that several of my planes left from San Francisco International, Oakland International, San Jose International and Sacramento International all with our names and the names of the three men accompanying us. When we left the Davis Mansion, Jack had ten, blacked-out escalades at the ready. Two were set to drive to each airport and two just driving around. If McBride was watching the estate, he’d have no idea which one we entered since we loaded up in the underground garage. Not even security knew what the plan was. Only Jack and his two most trusted men. The two men had been flown in from other jobs. One was on leave from his assignment on the presidential detail with the Secret Service, and one who was in the SAS in the UK. Jack had served with both men and gave his word they’d protect us with their lives. We met them on the plane. Both of them were very large, fully equipped with weapons and had an air of authority about them. Instantly, I approved of his choices. Right now, they were discussing our plans in the small office on the plane, giving Gillian and I our privacy.

“So, are you going to tell me where we’re going?” she asks all smiles. I look at my woman and am so taken with her. She has her legs up and under her ass. The blouse she’s wearing is giving me a lovely eyeful of her creamy, white breasts, and her hair...Christ her hair drives me wild. It’s down, curly, like a fiery halo surrounding her. I lift my arm and tunnel my hand through her silken locks. She mewls prettily.

“Do you have any idea how you make me feel?” I ask her. Her green eyes open, and I swear I could lose myself in them.

“Probably similar to how you make me feel.” Her voice is a whisper.

“And how is that?” I turn it around on her.

She smiles shyly still rubbing into my hand. “Safe. Protected. Cherished. Loved.” So softly she kisses the inside of my wrist. I can barely feel the wet imprint of her succulent mouth on my skin, but it’s there, burned into my memory forever.

I suck in a breath and press back the desire to unclip her safety belt, pull her into my lap and show her exactly how I feel. Instead I hold her gaze. “You make me feel whole. It’s as if I’ve been searching for my other half and I no longer have to. I found myself, in you.”

Her eyes fill with unshed tears. “Chase...” She leans forward and kisses me. Her lips are moist and full as I allow her to lead the kiss. When her tongue enters my mouth I groan, pulling her in deeper, taking over. She doesn’t protest. I sip from her mouth for long minutes, sliding my tongue in and out in a slow dance that’s making us both needy for one another. Kissing Gillian is a new experience yet somehow beautifully familiar. Like déjà vu. I’ve been there before, but something makes it slightly different.

I pull away slowly nibbling on her bottom lip, then her top. “I could so easily get carried away.”

“Why don’t you?” she challenges in that voice that makes my dick hard. Then again, everything about this woman makes my dick hard.

Smiling I take a sip of my champagne. It’s magnificent but tastes better secondhand from her mouth. She brings up her glass and drinks. “Anticipation my sweet. I want you so gone for me that we barely make it to our destination before you beg me to take you.”

“And that destination would be?” she requests again. I’ve made a point to avoid telling her. Not because I don’t trust her, but I don’t want her to be disappointed, once again, if our attempt at eloping is thwarted. Now, sitting on my plane I’m confident that, in the next couple days, she will be my wife and we’ll have the honeymoon we deserve.

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