Chase Part 1: A New Adult and College Billionaire Romance (Chase Me Billionaire Romance Series) (4 page)

Chase turned off the key in the ignition after they parked at a truck stop in Gila Bend.

“How are you feeling,” he asked as they took off their helmets.

“That ride was exhilarating!” she said. “I feel awesome. And I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”

“I’ll fill up with gas, and you can order us something. How’s that?”

“Good plan. See you inside.”

Meaghan ordered a big lunch for the two of them, and asked the waitress to hold it until Chase got inside. She couldn’t help thinking about how exciting it felt, riding on the back of the bike. When she had first sat on it at Jennifer’s house, she could barely believe how it made the ground tremble underneath them. It was raw power, and Chase was so confident taking control.

As she thought of Chase, the image of them riding together kept resurfacing. Her arms around would reach around his waist, and feel the sharp ridges of his stomach. He was so strong, and so cut. And when her head would sometimes rest on his muscular back, she would breathe in deeply to take in his masculine scent.

What she enjoyed the most was the contact she made with him between her thighs. Several times, she would feel her stomach clench, and heat rise up to her chest from the feel of his body between her legs.

As much as she could see them being together, she knew Chase would never make the first move. He had seen too many failed relationships to even try. His birth mother was somewhere out there, and Meaghan knew he felt abandoned because of it. And now, even with Aunt Jennifer’s encouragement, she knew he still wouldn’t try.

“Hey,” Chase said, sitting opposite her at her window booth. “What are you thinking about so intently?”

“Huh? Nothing, really. Just thoughts.” She wouldn’t dare tell him about what she was really thinking. “Ready to eat?”

“God, yes,” he answered. “What are we having?”

“Your favorite. Bacon double cheeseburgers, fries and lemon soda.”

“I can’t wait.”

Meaghan called the waitress and she brought over their meals. They ate quietly. For some reason, thoughts of home came flooding back.

“Everything okay?” Chase asked.

She nodded, but said nothing for a while. “I think I’ll feel better once we’re settled in San Diego.”

She could feel herself getting teary-eyed and blinked it away before they started. She refused to lose any more tears over what happened.

***

Chase noticed after a while that Meaghan was beginning to pull herself together. It was better to remain quiet and let her work through her feeling than to say anything. Everything that needed to be said had already come out. He knew how hard it was for her. He was leaving behind less than she was. She still had to come to terms with cutting ties to her dad, and would eventually realize it didn’t mean she loved him any less.

As he ate, he looked at her tiny hands poking her burger and picking at the fries. His mind wandered to those hands holding on around his waist. He touch was so soft, yet she gripped onto him so snugly. He could barely think at first when her legs would tighten on his as he rode.

And God, every time she rested her head on his back, he could stop the bike and take her into his arms. Thank goodness she was behind him on the bike, and not in front. There would be no way for him to hide how hard he got through his pants from just her touch.

Somehow, when Jennifer gave them that talk last night, a shift happened in his mind. He would never have tried to change what he and Meaghan had, because of their friendship. But maybe Jennifer was right. Maybe they could be both.

“I’m okay now,” she said, pulling Chase from his thoughts. “I admit, I was second guessing myself again for a minute, but this is the right thing for us to do. I know that. I just…even though the place hasn’t been home for a while, I’m still going to miss it.”

“I know. I am, too.” Chase had no doubt they were doing the right thing, but he understood that believing it didn’t make it any less terrifying. “We can do this as long as we’re together, Meg.”

“Of course we can. The two of us are far better together as a team. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you, Chase, so thank you. I would still be on the porch, clinging to Aunt Jennifer, because I’m not ready for this…and I don’t think I ever will be. This isn’t what I imagined I’d be doing right now. This isn’t what you imagined you’d be doing, either, but you seem all right.”

“You need the support, Meg, so I’m keeping it together for you. I’m probably just as worried, but one thing I’m sure of is we’re heading in the right direction.” He reached over and squeezed her hand gently in reassurance. “Once you’re strong again, you can support me for a little bit, because none of this has been easy for me, either. I thought leaving my dad behind would be a walk in the park, and it’s not. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Because I—I feel like I’m just as bad as my mom. She just upped and left us Meaghan. She left my dad and she left me, her own kid. Just like that. And she was good to us before she left, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah. She was kind and soft-hearted.”

“I know it’s been a long time since she left. But what kind of mother does that? What kind of kid could I have been for her to leave me like that, huh?”

He put his head in his hands. He didn’t think he could still feel this upset after all those years, but those feelings made it seem like it was yesterday.

“Come on, Chase. Don’t say those things. You know your mom was struggling with some other demons.”

“Yes, maybe,” he answered, looking out the window.

“We talked about this in first year, remember? She was depressed. It’s a disease, and no one knew how to help her. Maybe it’s better that she left. Maybe she made it somewhere and got herself some help.”

“You’re right, I guess. But what about my dad? I just gunned it outta there, and I’m sure he doesn’t even realize I’m gone. I keep wondering if I could have done more to help them. Could I have dragged him out of the alcohol-induced stupor long enough to get him to understand what he’s still doing to himself?”

“No, Chase. People like your parents—and my dad too, for that matter—need to decide they want help. They’re the adults who should have cared for us. But they’re sick—just like my mom. Yes, I know she died of breast cancer, but alcoholism and depression are just as much of a sickness. In fact, it’s worse, because society expects alcoholics and people with depression to just snap out of it.

“No one expected my mom to snap out of her cancer. The hospital worked hard to treat her. But I don’t know one place in Oro Valley that your mom and dad could have gone to for help. Not even one place, Chase. And it’s just because of how stupid society is. We want to label everything and judge it, and put it into boxes of good and bad.

“Then, we focus on the good and neglect the bad. Or worse, we create horrible rumors about things labelled bad or wrong. Can you remember when your mom divorced your dad and married the guy next door, what the people in town would call her? Even their kids would follow us around in school, and call her a whore and a slut. And they would call you a freak. For what? Because she stopped loving one man and started loving someone else? For trying to be happy?

“And even if she did something wrong, what did
you
ever do wrong, Chase? Why were
you
suddenly a freak? Why did they like to snicker and whisper about you being a bastard. Why was it okay for those kids in town to label
you
in the process, just for being their kids? That’s why I say society is stupid. They create labels and judge people, and give ignorant people a reason to hate. So no, Chase, I don’t blame your parents for the past. And you shouldn’t either.

“The only thing I’m sometimes disappointed about is they didn’t grow up enough to figure all this out. My dad included. And maybe I’m upset about how they’re handling the present. Now that
we’re
adults, we don’t have to go the same route. There’s also more help available for them. Now,
they
can reach out. But we can’t force them. If they wanted to change, they would have to find the strength to get up and raise their hands.”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

“You’re my best friend, Chase. We’ve done the right thing. It’s the right thing for us.” She placed her napkin on her plate and stood up, her hand outstretched toward him.

“And one more thing.” She stepped out of the booth and went around to his side. Getting on her tiptoes, she placed her hands on his chest, and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

“What was that for?” Chase asked, still giddy from her surprising move.

“It’s to remind you how much you mean to me. Now let’s get back on that bike. And this time, I want to hear
you
roar.”

***

The stop in Mexicali was uneventful, and just as they planned, they hit the San Diego city limits after two in the afternoon. They rode to the motel that was ten minutes away from their college campus, and rented the cheapest room. If they were going to find a decent place, they would need to hang on to as much of the cash Jennifer had given them.

“The room has a single queen bed with a fold out couch,” the motel attendant said. “There’s a toaster oven and minibar fridge too. And it has its own bathroom with shower.”

“Fine,” Meaghan said, turning to Chase to make sure he was in agreement. “We’ll take it.”

They paid and got two key cards from the attendant, and went back to the bike to park closer to their rooms.

“We can take turns on the couch,” she said to him.

“Definitely not. I’ll take the couch until we find a two bedroom apartment.”

“Come on. It’s only fair,” she said as they unlocked the room door and walked in.

“No, Meaghan. You’re not sleeping on a couch. Not when I’m around.”

They looked around, and the place wasn’t too bad. They took off their riding jackets and she hung them up in the closet close to the bathroom.

“We could always share the bed, too,” she suggested shyly. They had slept in the same bed many times when they were kids, and even as teenagers. Nothing ever happened then, so she didn’t think it would be too big of a deal. Even if she did feel a strong pull of attraction to him now. That kiss was just the beginning.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” he said.

“Why not?”

“Um—I—I don’t know. Well maybe. Let’s see if it’s comfortable.”

“I’m too tired to think!” she said loudly, walking to the bathroom to check it out. “I’m wired and exhausted at the same time. And I still feel like my butt is rumbling from the motorcycle engine. Feel like a nap? We could get up later and get started on the apartment hunt.”

“Yeah, sure. Let’s sleep it off a little.”

Meaghan smiled. She could get used to it being just her and Chase. She used the bathroom and came out to find Chase already sleeping on one side of the bed. She crawled in beside him and snuggled into his arms. Soon, she too was asleep.

***

“Mmmm.” Chase heard Meaghan moan in her sleep as he woke up. He was still on his back. She had coiled her arms around his neck and chest, and was turned toward him. He could feel her breasts pressed up against his ribs, and one of her legs had made its way over and rested on his cock. She was intoxicating. She looked amazing, but she was asleep.

He tried to gently pull himself out of bed without disturbing her. He had almost made it, but she stirred when her leg dropped to the bed. She turned on her back and slowly opened her eyes.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” he said.

“Hey,” she answered, reaching her arms out to stretch. “What time is it?”

“A little after five. We haven’t been sleeping long.”

“We should probably get started with apartment hunting,” she said sleepily. “And while we’re out, we can do dinner.”

“Yeah, we could do that, but before we do, I packed us a little surprise.”

“What?”

“I brought one of the game consoles. I figured it would give us a fun distraction from everything.”

“Really? You’re a genius, Chase!” She jumped out of bed and kissed him on the cheek.

“Now you’re being melodramatic,” he teased.

“I’m not. I haven’t played since before we left for college. Which game did you bring?”

As she created her character in the fantasy role-playing game, she thought back to the summer evenings the two of them used to spend playing it.

“This brings back memories,” she said.

She remembered how they’d spent hours honing their skills to fight the biggest bad-asses, and were then forced to switch their focus to school. Chase had put the game away. She hadn’t complained, as her urge to play for hours on end faded with the amount of homework she was given. One day, she’d stopped thinking about it altogether. The following summer, instead of playing videogames, they’d discovered a love for hiking.

“This was one of my favorite games to play with you. I couldn’t get rid of it.” He glanced at her. “You were so competitive with everything else, but we were always able to play this game cooperatively.”

“I admit, I was a pain in the ass.”

“Yeah, that’s why you ended up breaking one of my controllers.” He shook his head, and she found herself blushing. “That’s one of the reasons I like you so much, Meg, and don’t ask the silly question that’s going through your head. I know what you’re thinking. I liked your competitiveness. I liked how involved you got with everything. I brought this game because I thought it would be a good way for us to let go some of the tension, and go back to the few good times, that summer when we didn’t have to worry about anything monumental.”

“Remember how we crushed that evil wizard in the first part of the game?” She asked.

“Only to find there was a bigger, more cruel one after him.”

“We could have annihilated the evil dragon dude. You were just scared we were going to die, and that’s why you insisted we turn tail instead of trying to fight it.”

Meaghan was finished creating her character, a sorceress. Chase was still working on his character, and she sighed.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Do you have that memory card our old game was on?”

“Sorry. I thought it was in the bag. I checked three times. I must have left it in our stuff. I’m sorry I can’t find it now.”

“It’s okay.” She reached over and squeezed his thigh. “Starting from the beginning won’t be that bad.”

“Of course it won’t. We can relive the experience, and I’ll find the memory card later on.”

“Going over the storyline again will be helpful.”

Once Chase was finished, they sat back.

“
Welcome, brave adventurers. It’s is a pleasure to meet you. I am a wizard. I wish I could say I was a wizard of great prominence, but, sadly, I am just a wizard, nothing more. I don’t dare to go out into the world, because I know I don’t have the skills to survive
.”

Meaghan felt Chase’s arm wrap around her, and she cuddled closer to him.

“
This world is dangerous. You must remember that, and you will need some guidance. That’s what I’m here for
.”

“It’s aged well.” Chase sounded pleased. “This is just like I remember it, even though the game is well over a decade old.”

“Some games only seem to get better.” She tried not to notice how nice he smelled, because that wasn’t going to do her any good. The memory of the kiss she gave him resurfaced. She pushed away the thought.  “I remember this game being rather long.”

“We can’t skip the intro, can we? I pressed all the buttons I could think of, trying to get past it, and there was nothing I could do, so we had to watch it. I remember now.”

“Oh, and the wizard got angry with us, didn’t he? I think they actually programmed him differently, depending on how the players dealt with having to spend five very long minutes watching this.”

“In that case, I’m not touching any buttons. Maybe we’ll get something nice from him for being patient. That would be cool.”

“Your first sword!” She laughed. “Do you remember how useless it was? I think I remember your character, Rex, making the decision he’d be better off with a stick.”

“He would have been. That sword was terrible. I’ve never been given something that awful, and it was probably due to our impatience.”

The whole time they watched the wizard explaining the game, Meaghan was distracted by Chase’s scent, and how warm he was. The desire to kiss him again was growing. She didn’t understand it.
Why do I want to kiss him so badly
?

She was glad the beginning scene didn’t last anywhere near as long as it had when the two of them first watched it. She was soon on the other side of the sofa, working on improving her sorceress character. Despite the distraction, she found herself looking at Chase far more often than she should be. She wondered if she should give in to her desire.

As time passed, she thought about it more and more. It wasn’t until they got past the first of the mini bosses, and he embraced her in a celebratory hug, that she gave in and kissed him. When he kissed her back, she forced herself not to think too much about what she was doing. Thinking about it would end the kiss, and she didn’t want that.

She ran her hands along his chest as he parted her lips and slipped his tongue inside. He was wearing a t-shirt she’d bought him one Christmas. She was in a blouse he’d gotten her for a birthday. Chase seemed to decide she didn’t need it anymore. He parted from the kiss. Soon, their shirts were on the floor. For a moment, before they resumed the kiss, she stared at his bare chest. She had seen it for a long time. He was ripped, and so strong.

As they kissed again, their bodies pressing hard together, Meaghan realized how much she wanted him. She focused on the sensation rising from between her legs and spreading through her. Neither of them was in a rush to remove the rest of their clothes. It seemed he wanted to make the most of their connection. She felt the same. Knowing she was arousing him was tantalizing in itself.

This was so different than her other sexual experiences, and she especially tried not to think about her first time. The second time had been better. The third time was sort of between the two. Maybe it was because she’d never known anyone as well as she knew Chase. Being with him made sense. She reminded herself she could live in the moment, and make the most of every second.

He stood up and led her to the bed. They stretched out, caressing each other, the videogame forgotten.

He undid the button on her jeans. “Is this okay?”

“It’s better than okay, Chase. Are you okay with it?”

“Yes, Meg, I am.” He kissed her, his tongue darting into her mouth. He withdrew for a moment, gazing into her eyes. “God, you’re so…you’re beautiful, Meaghan. I’ve wanted to be with you for so long.”

He stroked some strands of hair away from her face. “I never thought anything like this could or should happen between us, though. But now, I just want to please you.”

His kissed her again, drawing her body tight against his. There was no going back now.

***

The certainty in her eyes was a relief. Chase loved the sight of her nearly bare breasts, and her lips, swollen with his kisses. She felt great in his arms. He wanted to take it slowly, but raw need was building faster than he could control it.

He kissed her again, undoing the zipper on her jeans. He tugged them off until she was wearing only her underwear. She blushed.

“My bra and panties don’t match.”

“So what?”

“So…I don’t know.” She fidgeted as though it bothered her. Maybe she wanted him to see her only at her best, but he didn’t care.

“I like it, Meg. It’s you. Your socks never match, so I never expected you to have matching underwear.”

She laughed. “I have some, for special occasions, but I’ll make sure I never wear them for you. It might confuse you.”

He poked her in the shoulder. “It probably would.” He undid his belt, being careful, because he didn’t want the cold metal to touch Meaghan’s soft, warm skin. “Are you going to help me with these?”

“Maybe.”

Her face was bright red. She studied him as he struggled to get his jeans off. Then, she helped him, not caring his boxers came off with them. She became bold and slipped her hands around to cup his ass. It shocked him. He wasn’t entirely certain what his next move should be. For some reason, it was so different with her. He felt as though he were covering new territory.

She seemed to have noticed his hesitation. “Don’t be scared, Chase. I want this. You want this. Just touch me. We’ll be fine.”

He couldn’t seem to get us that almost made him lose his mind. Her hands wrapped around his cock. She stroked up and down his shaft. And he couldn’t stop himself after that. He gripped the sides of her panties and pulled them off. The moan she let out was enough to drive him wild.

She was so wet when he slid his thumb over her clit, and then two fingers inside her. Her hot breath caressed his cheek when she moaned, gently rubbing her fingers against his pulsing manhood. He kept asking himself if it was really happening, and he wanted to make the most of the moment. Intimacy felt so different with her.

“Are you okay?” Meaghan studied him. “You seem distracted.”

“That’s what happens when a man is trying to stop himself from coming too soon.” He gasped, feathering kisses along her jawline.

“So you like how I’m touching you, Chase?” She giggled, as he sucked gently on the sweet flesh of her neck. “I can stop, if it makes things easier.”

“You’re sweet, but I really don’t think it will. I want you so bad.” He slid his tongue out and licked her skin. He couldn’t get enough of the way she tasted. “I want to be inside you.”

“Mmmm,” she moaned, pressing her lips against his. “I want you too, Chase,” she added breathlessly.

“Really?” He knew he had a condom somewhere in one compartment of their backpack, which he’d left by the bed. He hunted for it, hating that it meant leaving her embrace.
Yes!
Once he had the packet in his hand, she snatched it away from him.

“What are you doing, Meaghan?”

“Come here.”

As he stood at the edge of the bed, she sat up and rolled the condom over his cockhead and up his thick, hard shaft. He gasped at her delicate touch, and sank against the mattress.

Slipping on top of her, he pressed his body against her. With one thrust, he was deep inside. She moaned, digging her fingernails into the flesh of his back.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he whispered.

“No.” Her eyelids fluttered. “Oh my God, no…It feels so good.”

“I had to check.”

“Don’t worry so much. Now fuck me, Chase. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

He moved slowly. He wanted to pound into her, hard, but didn’t want to hurt her. Every time she gasped with pleasure and bucked her hips for more contact with his cock, he felt more sure of himself. She was enjoying it.

A sense of possessiveness overcame him. It was a feeling that she was
his
. He refused to overthink it. It was raw, hot, primal, feeling her tight against his cock. She stroked her hands down his back, and squeezed his ass, pulling him as close to her as he could get.

“Fuck me harder, Chase. I promise you I won’t break baby. You feel so good inside me.”

She arched her back and pressed the back of her head against the pillow, moaning out her pleasure as he picked up the pace. He thrust deep inside her, hard, and the noises she made urged him on. She gripped his ass with one hand, running the other hand through his hair. She curled her legs tight around him. Reaching between them, he pressed his thumb over her clit, causing her to moan louder. When she clenched around him, tightening her legs and pulling him closer, he couldn’t stop his own climax.

For a long while, he didn’t move. She stroked his back, not pushing him away. Finally, he drew himself up and gazed into her eyes. Meaghan smiled up at him.

“Hi baby,” she murmured.

“Hi.” He rolled on to his back beside her.

“That was wonderful.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

She yawned. “I hope you don’t mind, but I think I want to go to sleep now.”

“Tired?”

“Yeah.” Their eyes met.

“It’s probably not even eight at night,” Chase mentioned.

“Tell that to my body. And by the way.”

“Yes?”

“Please stay with me. Share the bed with me.”

“Alright. One sec.” He went to the bathroom and flushed the condom down the toilet. When he returned, he flopped back on the bed and kissed her softly on the lips. “Good night, Meaghan.”

“Night, baby.”

He drifted off to sleep thinking of the way she’d felt against him, replaying her tender kisses and her legs wrapped around his hips in his mind—almost as if he was worried it would never happen again.