Chase (4 page)

Chapter Five

I wake up in an unfamiliar, ridiculously huge, extremely comfortable bed. I’m wrapped up in black satin sheets and Chase is next to me, fast asleep on his stomach. He’s only wearing a pair of black pajama pants; he must have kicked the sheets off him. Holy hell, even his back is sexy. His black hair is covering one of his eyes, giving him an almost boyish appearance, his face turned towards me. He must have carried me from his car to the house. I look down and realize I’m wearing what must be one of his T shirts. I don’t know what to think about that. I glance back down at Chase to see that he is now awake and watching me, his eyes soft, lids heavy.

“Good morning, beautiful girl.” His morning voice is deeper and huskier than last night. My breath hitches.

“Morning.” I mumble. I am not a morning person. And I just remembered that I did not text Nikki. She is going to flay me alive.

“Nikki called and I answered and said you were okay, I hope that’s fine,” he tells me.

“She told me that I could be lying and that you better call her first thing in the morning,” he says, eyes twinkling.

“Umm thanks.” I think.

“I put you in one of my T shirts; I tried not to look as much as I could.” He looks sheepish and I laugh at his honesty. He grins at me and pulls me into his arms, and I can’t help but relax into them.

“Are you okay?” he asks me once I’m wrapped up in his arms, my head resting on his chest.

I nod yes.

“Let me know if you want something, don’t be shy okay.”

I mumble an “mmm hmmm” into his chest.

Chase sighs heavily. “What is it about you?” he asks rhetorically.

I glance up at him and roll my eyes. My eyes land on his lips and seem to linger there.

“When you look at me like that, fuck!” he almost whispers, his tone husky. I stare into his eyes, mine holding an invitation. He pulls me closer, lifting me up higher on his chest.

“Exquisite.” Is all he says, before his lips are on mine. He kisses my lips, and makes his way down my neck, paying extra attention to the juncture between my neck and shoulders. I don’t know how long we have been making out like teenagers for, but here we are. I am so turned on right now, and from the groans Chase is making, and the hardness I can feel through his extremely thin pajama pants, I think he feels the same.

He pulls back suddenly with a curse. We lay down, panting, trying to get ourselves under control.

“I don’t want to rush this Layla. You’re.... different.” He looks serious as he tells me that. “Why don’t you have a quick shower and I’ll start making you some breakfast?” he suggests.

I nod and daringly lean in to give him a kiss.

He moans, “Shit, Layla. If you keep that up my good intentions are going to go right out the window.”

I pull away and smile seductively; before I can leave, he pulls me back and takes my face into his palms, holding me gently.

“I don’t know what this is Layla, but it feels-“

“Right?”

“Yes, right.” He echoes quietly. He kisses me on my nose, which I wrinkle.

With that he stands up and leaves the room, leaving me lost in my thoughts. I go into the bathroom and stare in the mirror. I don’t look too bad, besides some smudged eyeliner. Lucky I didn’t wear much eye makeup last night. He has extra toothbrushes in his cupboard, so I help myself to one. He must have guests over a lot. Ha, I can just imagine what kind of guests, a man like this would be having. I have a long shower, and unfortunately, have to dress back in my dress. Looks like I will be making my first walk of shame, even though I didn’t have sex last night.

I shove my underwear in my bag, tie my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head and walk out Chase’s master bedroom. And when I do I get the shock of my life. “Fuck.” I don’t usually swear but this is definitely a fuck moment.

Holy hell, only I could get into a situation like this.

I walk past the familiar cream walls, straight to the kitchen. I want to die of embarrassment. I flop down onto the stool, with what must be a look of horror on my face. Chase is standing there, eating a Twix chocolate bar and looking like he is enjoying himself, until he sees my face. He then puts down the chocolate and rushes over, taking my face in his hands like he did in the bedroom.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I don’t answer him, because I am mentally yelling at myself for not snooping into the master bed room and bathroom. If I did I would have recognized it.

Before I can answer James walks out of his room. Could this get any worse? Chase has let go of me by now and is looking at me with a concerned look. James smiles at me warmly, and musses my hair, causing Chase’s face to tighten, and his eyes to cool.

“Morning princess, I see you have met the landlord. How was your night at your friends? We missed you around here,” he says before he turns to Chase.

“Hey bro how was last night? Pick up any hot chicks? Or knowing you, two hot chicks?” James chuckles to himself.

Chase clearly doesn’t like James’s familiarity with me, or the endearment ‘princess’.

Completely oblivious to the tension surrounding him, he continues “I already warned Layla about seeing random girls around the house. They usually leave before breakfast, just like last time.”

Someone please kill me.

Before Chase answers I jump up off the stool, avoiding any eye contact, almost knocking it over, and mumble some excuse and make way to my room. I can feel Chase’s eyes on me, as I retreat hastily. The saying ‘don’t shit where you eat’ keeps coming at me in my head. This can’t be happening. Chase can’t be the same man who was so callous towards that woman, kicking her out of his bed. He has been nothing but sweet and respectful to me, or is that what he’s like until he gets what he wants? I’ve heard about men like that.

I’m not sitting on my bed for even three seconds, before there is a knock on the door. I know it’s him, and I’d rather be anywhere else right now. The door opens without my invitation and Chase comes in and sits on my bed. He hands me over my plate with pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast on it. Why does he have to be so damn sweet? Argh! This is awkward as hell.

“So, you’re the new roomie.” Chase states the obvious.

I sigh. “That would be me. And what are the chances.” I mumble the last part to myself. I think I definitely need some sort of ice cream sundae before I can mentally sort through this.

Or a shot of tequila. Or four.

I look up at Chase to see him grinning. What the hell that man is grinning about I have no freaking idea.

The question must have shown on my face because he says “Now I get to see you every day, whether you like it or not. James mentioned the new girl was hot.” He frowns after he says it, like he doesn’t like James thinking I’m attractive.

I scowl at him, and he gives me a small smile in return. I’m glad he’s enjoying himself. He’s not the one who is going to be homeless whenever he moves onto the next woman.

“Chase, do you realize how messed up this situation is?” I hiss at him.

He turns to look at me, the humor now gone from his eyes. “What’s the problem Layla?” he asks me in a worried tone.

I open my mouth, and then close it. I have no idea how to say this without offending him, so I’m, just going to put it out there.

“I was here. When you were last here, a couple of weeks ago? When you were yelling rudely at some girl to leave your room? Ring any bells?” I ask dryly.

Chase visibly cringes. Yeah I think he can see where I’m going with this.

“Layla, fuck...”

“You treated her like shit Chase, and from what I have heard about you, this is definitely not a good idea.” There I said it.

Chase runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “I’m sorry you heard that Layla. I know it looks bad, and I’m not saying I’m not that person you think I am. But I’m saying that for you- with you, it will be different. I will be different. You are different! I want you to trust me, to take a gamble on me. Just give me a chance Layla. I promise you that I will handle you with care, that I will make it so I’m worthy of you,” he says solemnly.

I know I’m stupid to consider this. But he looks up at me with his eyes, pleading with mine.

“I’m not making any promises Chase, I mean, we can maybe try. But...”

“That’s all I need. I’ll prove myself to you angel.” Chase kisses me on the forehead and says, “Eat baby.”

Then he walks out of my room and goes back into the kitchen.

I sigh, and to think I was so happy when I woke up.

Chapter Six

I get dressed in a pair of black track pants and a tank top and walk back into the kitchen with my empty plate. As I walk in I can see Chase, James and Kade all talking in hushed tones, the conversation intense. Chase does not look happy. In fact, none of them do. He is the tallest at about 6’3, the other two only slightly shorter. He is still shirtless, and I can’t help but admire his lean muscular build, his six pack and heavily indented V’s above his pelvis. His tribal tattoo on his arm is extremely delicious too.

As soon as they see me the conversation comes to a halt.

“Everything okay?” I ask as I slide past them and wash and dry my plate.

Chase stands behind me and plays with my hair with one hand, the other possessively on my hip.

“Thanks for breakfast Chase, it was delicious.”

“You’re welcome, and everything is fine. Just chatting with my brothers.” He whispers in my ear, making my hair stand on end.

I spin around, my eyes searching behind him to James and Kade, who are both still scowling in our direction.

“They are both your brothers?” The only resemblance is the blue eyes, except theirs are paler. Well James and Kade certainly look like brothers, but Chase looks like the odd one out. Chase grabs my hips and lifts me up to sit on the countertop, inserting himself between my legs. Okay that was hot.

“Yeah those two are my baby brothers.” He grins fondly as he replies, and I can see they must be close.

“James, I definitely owe you, bro.” Chase grins at James, who is still scowling.

Kade steps forward, “I don’t think this is such a good idea, when shit doesn’t work out, it’s going to be awkward for everyone..”

The only thing I picked up on, was the ‘when’ it doesn’t work out. He said when, not if. I sure know how to pick them. I squirm to jump down from the counter, but Chase’s hands keep me put. The look on his face definitely keeps me put.

He looks pissed. “Kade, I told you to stay out of it.” I can see an argument starting and I really don’t want to be the cause of these brothers fighting.

“Look, Chase, maybe they are right.” I regret the words as soon as they come out of my mouth, because Chase looks both pissed and hurt.

“Fuck this,” he says stiffly, leaning away from me and leaving the kitchen without a word. We all watch him leave, then our eyes land on each other.

“Layla..” They both start at the same time, but I put my hand up to signal that I don’t want to hear it. I brush past them and go towards my room. So much for not making things awkward.

Before I make it to my room, I decide to change directions and head to Chase’s room. The door is slightly open, and when my knock goes unanswered I open the door and peer in. I can hear the shower on, so I go in and sit on his bed. His phone beeps and my eyes automatically go to it. A girl named Aubrey is calling him. Interesting. Very interesting.

The bathroom door opens and he steps out, black hair wet and disheveled, water droplets dripping down his towel clad body. I’m pretty sure my mouth is hanging open.

“Hey,” he looks surprised to see me. I mentally gather myself.

“Hey yourself. I’m sorry about before. I didn’t want to be the cause of all you guys fighting.”

He sits down on the bed and pulls me onto his lap.

“Hey! I’m going to get wet!” I fake indignation.

“Yes, yes you are.” He nuzzles my neck, then pulls back and looks into my eyes. “Layla, don’t worry about any of that shit. You either want me or you don’t. And I think that you do, so we are going to make this work. Okay? One step at a time.”

Before I can answer his lips are on mine and I forget to protest. I’m straddling his hips, while he still sits on the end of his bed, and we are kissing like it’s our last day on earth. I push him back so he’s lying back on his bed, me on top, but then he flips me so he’s the one on top. I can feel that he is hard through his towel, and it gets me even more excited.

“Fuck, Layla,” he groans as he kisses his way down my neck. His phone beeps again, and he stops torturing my neck. He leans his head in the crook of my neck and shoulder. “I have to get to work baby,” He whispers regretfully. He reluctantly moves away, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

Oh yeah, normal people have to work.

“Chase...”

“Yeah?” he says softly.

“If this doesn’t work out, it’s going to be awkward and I’m going to have to move out, you know that right,” I tell him honestly.

He gazes directly into my eyes and says “Just trust me Layla.”

I reluctantly nod.

He stands up and turns to his wardrobe, and drops his towel on the floor. He turns around and gives me a cheeky grin, then walks into the bathroom. That tease. I laugh and leave his room, leaving with my handbag that I had left in there. I check my phone, seeing five calls from Nikki and one text. She is going to kill me.

N: I’m going to kill you! Answer your phone. Better yet, text me your address because I’m coming over!

I laugh and text her the address. My phone beeps instantly.

N: Leaving now. Bringing food.