"You—you really think it'll help?"

He hummed absently. "Yeah, I think if we both go down there and show her what life in Crimson Creek would be like, it would help fight the fear she must be feeling."

"And… what would life look like?" Jewel asked, her voice hesitant.

Chase settled both hands under her breasts, feeling her heartbeat racing as he thumbed her nipples slowly.

"Have you found a place to live yet?" he asked.

She jerked in his arms, whether from his hands or from the topic change, he didn't care. He groaned at the feel of her ass pressing against his dick.

"N—no, not yet. I told Destini we'd probably end up in an apartment," she gasped, her ass setting up a soft, gentle rhythm on his dick, trapping it between her cheeks and teasing him as much as it teased her.

"Fuck," he whispered into her ear, rubbing his nose along her jawline.Stay on topic, get her to agree to this outrageous plan.

"Chase," she whimpered.

"The thing is," he said, trying to maintain a casual tone. "I bought a house from Jade. The McDonald house on Tenth?"

She paused in her movements, processing his words. "The one that's several acres of woods behind the big Victorian, the back yard butting up against the green belt that is Crimson Creek?"

"Yeah, that one," he said, thrusting his hips shallowly and making her melt in his arms with a moan. With his hands on her rib cage, he adjusted her, sliding her down on his dick.

With each inch, they moaned together, her pussy clenching on him, her hands gripping the edges of the tub.

"Fuck, yes," she hissed, fully seated. He didn't move, but shifted his hands back to her breasts, this time rolling her nipples between thumbs and forefingers. "I—I wanted to look at that house, but it was way out of my budget."

"I know," he whispered in her ear. "I asked Jade which house you wanted the most, and I picked that one. Why don't you and Destini move in with me?"

"What? Are you insane?" she asked, partially spinning in his arms and starting to rise, the conversation taking her attention away from their lovemaking.

He pinched her nipples harder and thrust deeper, making her moan and sink onto him with a shiver. "Roll your hips, my Jewel. Use my dick for your pleasure, but don't splash the water, love."

He thrust on the last word, making her gasp and clench.

"Oh, God," she moaned, pressing her ass back against him and setting up a slow rhythm again, rolling her ass in a gentle circle so as not to slosh the water.

The steam swirled around them, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where their bodies moved together, and their conversation hung suspended between intimacy and negotiation. Chase knew he was taking a massive risk—proposing they all live together was bold, possibly crazy. But something in his gut told him this was exactly what they all needed.

"Think about it," he murmured against her neck, one hand sliding down to where they were joined, fingers exploring her clit and making her buck. "Destini gets an entire house with woods behind it. Space to breathe. A mom and a dad under one roof like an actual family. A home base while she finishes high school. And you get stability. Security."

He punctuated each short sentence with a thrust, and Jewel's breath caught with each one.

"Are you—" she gasped as he hit deeper, "—seriously discussing living arrangements while inside me?"

"Best time to negotiate." He chuckled, his hand rubbing circles around her clit and making her gasp. "When you're most agreeable."

Her laugh transformed into a moan as his fingers began to rub back and forth harder. "You're impossible."

"I'm practical," he corrected, his touch increasing in pressure.

Her hips stuttered in their rhythm. "You can't just solve everything with sex," she whispered, but her body was betraying her words, pushing back against him and taking him deeper.

"Who says I'm solving anything?" His fingers played her clit like an instrument and his other hand rolled her nipple, making her thrash on his dick and sending water over the side. He ignored it, for now, as her body began to shake.

She was close. The tension in her body spoke volumes—muscles drawing tight, breath catching, tiny whimpers escaping her lips.

"Let go. Trust me. I've got you. Come for me now," he whispered in her ear, his voice rough with desire, his touch precise and knowing.