Page 30 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
Chase shuffled his foot. “Okay, well—”
“Let me drive you home.”
Chase’s mouth snapped shut.
“I know you have your car here. I can pick you up in the morning. I just…” That same twitch went off in Auston’s jaw.
Chase didn’t even think about it, relief unknotting the tight thing that had tangled in his stomach. “Okay.”
There was no real reason to have Auston drive him—like the Alpha said, he’d have to leave his car there overnight.
And yet he couldn’t stand the thought of not checking Auston more thoroughly. Of not at least trying to figure out what the hell had happened on the ice.
Quiet fell as they got into the SUV and Auston began to drive. It was dark and still and if Chase could smell pheromones, he’d probably be overwhelmed with the inside of the car. It had to be saturated with Auston’s scent—this was his territory.
Chase clenched his hands in his lap. They were trembling with adrenalin. There was something hunting him, breathing on his neck, even in the calm silence of the night.
Time warped. It was a second and an age before they reached Chase’s apartment. Auston parked outside, the engine still running.
“Thank you,” Chase whispered. He should get out, put some distance between them.
He stayed still.
He couldn’t move.
“Chase.”
Chase lifted his gaze. Auston was painted with shadow—the ones cast by his brow, the tangle of still-damp hair. His eyes were blacker still, pits of intent.
Chase couldn’t move as they stared at each other. Auston was sitting in his seat, not even leaning forwards, but the space between them was minuscule, pulsing with heat.
Slowly, cutting through the dreamlike air, Auston’s hand lifted. Got closer, landing on Chase’s cheek. Chase forced himself still as the touch rested there, a thumb stroking his skin.
Chase shut his eyes for a moment. The world spun.
“You promise me you’re okay?” Auston asked, voice a scrape.
“I’m okay,” Chase promised.
“But if you get a concussion symptom later—you’ll call me? Or call someone?”
“Yeah. I-I can call you.” It wouldn’t make any sense to do that, but in that instant, Chase would do anything to wash that expression from Auston’s face—drawn in. Desperate.
The seconds ticked. Chase breathed. His mouth was hot from the closeness of Auston’s palm.
This was all there was, and then, from another universe, a loud laugh broke the silence.
The spell shattered. Auston drew away.
Chase swayed, lungs tight. He swallowed down the urge to plead,No.
“I should go,” Chase whispered.
“Okay.”
A few beats more and Chase turned away, slipping out of the car, shaking as he made it through the veil between worlds and back to reality.
CHAPTER FIVE
