Page 80 of When the Fake Snow Falls

Chase shakes his head with a beautifully relaxed smile. “She’ll manage.”

I tilt my head, my curiosity getting the best of me. “Has anything ever happened between you two?”

His eyes stay fixed on his glass as he swirls its content. “The short answer is no, but that’s not for her lack of trying.” He points a finger at me. “She did land a kiss on me at last year’s party. But other than that, she just sends ridiculous emails or calls me late at night, claiming it’s about work when it’s not.”

“Okay.” I nod and hope the relief I feel isn’t too obvious. “Ridiculous emails?” My voice comes out small when I ask. I’m not sure how much he’s comfortable telling me.

Chase rolls his shoulders before rubbing the back of his neck. “She likes to comment on how I look and what I’m wearing. Sometimes she asks me to wear certain shirts she knows I own, or to button them a certain way.”

Bybutton,I can’t help but wonder if he really meansunbutton.A frown pulls at my lips as I study him, but before I can say more, he continues.

With a shake of his head, he adds, “But nothing physical. I would never sleep with someone I work with, and I’ve told her that. That’s a good way to make things awkward and . . .” His eyes lock with mine. “Messy.”

I smile at his use of the word. “Avoiding messes is good.”

“I know. That’s why I’m standing over here,” he says before holding up a finger and walking to the furthest corner of thekitchen, where he leans his back against the cabinets. “Actually, this is probably safer.”

Laughter tumbles out of me, and I try not to think about how good he looks, gripping the edge of the counter with one hand while he holds a glass of wine in the other. “You haven’t been that far from me all night. What’s different now?” As soon as the words are out, I swallow down the fear of him being done with our agreement. The Christmas party is over. He was able to use me to put Nicolette in her place. Maybe this is his playful way of making sure nothing else happens between us. Sure, he invited me back here, but that might be because he feels bad that I just got berated in front of a room full of people. It doesn’t mean he wants anything more. He might not even want another kiss. My heart sinks, but I guess there would be no need for it now. We’ve done everything we’ve agreed to do.

“The difference now is that I know you aren’t wearing anything under that dress, and if you think I’ve stopped thinking about it for a single second, you’d be severely overestimating my self-control.” His eyes trail over me. “And you’re still wearing my jacket, which somehow makes you look small and innocent even though you’re not wearing any panties, and the whole thing . . .” He shakes his head. “I’ve never wanted to mess you up more.”

My entire body stills, and heat flushes to the surface of my skin. “That’s why you’re standing over there?” I ask quietly.

“That’s why I’m standing over here.”

I hold his gaze. Everything I’ve learned about him over the past few weeks has made me like him more. I like him too much to casually sleep with him, and I like him too much tonotsleep with him. The thought of never being with him is already heartbreaking. The thought of tonight being the last time I’m sitting in his kitchen, watching him drink wine has me missing what’s right in front of me. At this point, the damage is done,and I don’t want to miss a single opportunity this night gives me. Getting to my feet, I make my way toward him. “Because you’re afraid I’ll say Jack Frost?”

He tracks my every movement. “Terrified.”

When I reach him, I’m careful to leave some space between us. “Want to know something?”

His eyes dip to my mouth for a fraction of a second before meeting my stare again. “When it comes to you, I want to know everything.”

My lips pull into a smile as I set my glass down and reach for his tie. My fingers slide over the silk-like fabric as I delicately loosen it. “I won’t.”

He doesn’t move. He just watches me as I undo his tie and place it neatly on the counter next to him. “Two days ago, you said you would.”

My fingers work to undo the buttons of his dress shirt. “Two days ago, you were against getting a Christmas tree.” I shrug. “Things change.”

His eyes stay steady on mine, but the hunger in them is unmistakable.

With the last of his buttons undone, I push up on my toes and press my lips to his. Chase’s body relaxes at my touch, and without hesitation, he takes control of the kiss. He sets down his glass and weaves his hands into my hair as he walks me backward through his apartment. I would have been happy to stay in the kitchen, but I let him lead. I’d let him do anything.

thirty-seven

That hungerin his eyes matches the intensity of his mouth claiming mine. At this moment, he’s everywhere and everything. He’s taken over all five senses, and even though my body is in overload from the kiss alone, I need more. I won’t be satisfied until I have all of him, and finally giving into the temptation has me feeling more buzzed than any of the wine I’ve had tonight. I let out a soft moan when his tongue drags over mine. I thought he would tear my dress off in a matter of seconds, but he hasn’t. The way he’s kissing me makes my legs weak, and it isn’t until he turns and pulls me toward the bed that I finally look up.

He sits on the edge of a large bed, and I stand between his legs, my hands running through his hair as he looks up at me. God, I love seeing him like this. Holding me in place with one hand, his other grazes up my leg and slips into the slit of my dress. His touch is slow and teasing, yet bold at the same time. When he reaches the top of the slit, he slides under until his whole hand can grip my bare hip, and I have to fight the urge to widen my stance to give him easier access.

“Candace.”

My eyes fly open, and I hadn’t even realized I’d shut them.

“You are gorgeous. You know that?”

I smile because those words leave a warm bubbly feeling in my chest.

Chase returns the gesture, and in one swift motion, he pulls me onto the bed next to him and props himself up on his elbow to look at me. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

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