Page 6 of Worth the Chase

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls,” I tossed over my shoulder.

“Don’t have to say that to any girl,” he responded, and my resolve weakened because I knew it was the truth. “I’m dying to wake up next to you, Bells. To open my eyes and see your naked body lying on top of mine.”

I swallowed hard as my heart raced, making my knees a little weak. “Can’t do that. I’m not a one-night-stand kind of girl.”

There. That should shut him up.

“Bells …”

His voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and before I could process what was even happening, his fingertips were grazing my waist. I spun around to see his body leaning halfway over the bar in order to reach me. I stayed in that position, refusing to inch closer to him, but his fingertips were now firmly resting on my hip bone.

I liked the way it felt. His fingers were huge, easily wrapping around me with a force that shouldn’t be so effortless.

“One night would never be enough for me,” he said, and I almost believed him.

Pressing my lips together in a firm line, I shook my head and removed myself from his grasp. “You don’t know anything about me anymore. I’m not the fifteen-year-old girl you left behind.”

His eyes roved the length of my body slowly. So slow that it was almost uncomfortable. I felt the weight of that stare, each part of me heating in response.

“Trust me, I’m very aware that you are no longer fifteen, Bells,” he said as he licked his lips.

HE.

LICKED.

HIS.

LIPS.

Why is the universe tormenting me this way?

“You’re drunk,” I reminded him.

“So you keep saying,” he countered.

“You won’t mean all this in the morning,” I said.

He probably wouldn’t even remember saying it to me at all.

He smirked before tapping the side of his head with his index finger. “Taking mental notes, Bells. Tell you how much I want you when I’m sober. Show you exactly what you do to me every time I look at you.”

My chest heaved. My heart raced. I inhaled a breath, hoping it might steady me, but it refused.

“Okay, lover boy, it’s time for you to go.” I stepped closer to where he stood, reached across the bar that separated us, and gave his shoulder a little shove, but of course, he didn’t even budge. “Maybe go dance with your niece one last time before the night ends.”

At the mention of Clarabel, his face lit up. “You’re right. I should probably go do that,” he agreed, and I watched as helooked around the room, in search of the one girl who was always happy to see him.

As soon as he spotted her, he raced off, swept her into his arms, and spun her around the dance floor. If I thought for one second that seeing Matthew with his niece would stifle the desire flickering to life inside of me, I was dead wrong. Because watching him with that little girl made my ovaries do indescribable things.

I really needed to keep him at a distance.

BEING ALONE SUCKS

MATTHEW

Bells never caved.

Never gave in.

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