Chase Part 2: A New Adult and College Billionaire Romance (Chase Me Billionaire Romance Series) (4 page)

Chase walked into Meaghan’s bedroom. It was late. She looked like she was fast asleep. He didn’t want to wake her, so he turned to go sleep in his own bed. Before he could step away, the mattress creaked.

She murmured softly, “Hi baby.”

“Hi hun.”

“What time is it?”

“After ten.”

“Where are you going?”

“To bed. Did I wake you when I came home?”

“Of course you did.” Yawning, she sat up in the darkened room. Light from the streets peeked in between the curtains. “How did your shift go?”

“It was weird.” He was going to do everything he could to avoid discussing the auto shop. He didn’t want to get into another disagreement. Things had been going so well. He preferred peace. “Around seven, I started feeling really tired. Now, I’m not tired at all. I feel like I could be up all night.”

“You’ll start feeling tired when you relax. Come here and cuddle me.”

“Do you really want me in your bed?”

“Of course I do. Come here.”

Their eyes met. “I thought I was going to be grilled again.” Without stopping to think about what he was doing, he stripped off his clothes. “After last night, it seemed as though you had to know every little detail about where I work.”

As he slipped into the bed, she sighed. “I do and I don’t.”

She was studying him. He did his best not to squirm.

“I get the sense something’s not right about where you work, hun.”

“What makes you think so?”

“Well the hours, for one. Most mechanic shops don’t open all hours like that place. And the money she gave us. The cars. I don’t know. I’m just worried, I guess.”

“I hear you, Meg. But a month ago, we moved here and had no means of surviving. Now we do.” He paused and thought about the best way to tell her how he felt. “Look. I have my suspicions too, Meg. I just don’t think my mother would put me in the middle of anything illegal.”

She seemed to think about it, and nodded.

Chase didn’t know how to reply. “What would you want me to do if it’s not a legitimate place to work?”

“Quit before it’s too late.” She cuddled close to him. “I was thinking about this last night. I love you, and it may take a while to find another job, but I don’t want anything happening to you.”

The way she looked up at him, Chase felt the urge to kiss her. He reached down and ran a hand over her hair. “It won’t. You know I love you, right?”

Meaghan nodded.

“I promise you if I find anything suspicious going on there, I’ll quit. Okay?” He leaned over and kissed her.

“Sure.”

He stroked her hair away from her face, trying not to let his emotions show too much.

“I hope you’re right, Chase.”

“I hope so too.”

“Because I need you.”

Instead of relying on words, he got under the covers, pulled her in closely and kissed her again. His lips pressed hard against hers, and she seemed to melt and soften against him.

He slipped his hand beneath her pajama top, cupping her breast. “Now let me take care of this hot body of yours.”

Chase slid over her. He liked being on top of her. He could look down into her eyes, and feel her leg wrap around his hips. He stroked his finger over her hipbone. “I’ve been thinking of getting another tattoo.”

“What? I thought you said you were done with them. Why do you want another one?”

“I have no idea. I just want one. I think they look good on me.”

Meghan shook her head. “Yeah, all this summer sun is getting to you. Where do you want it?”

“Below my collarbone. Don’t you think it would be sexy? I was thinking of something Irish on my arm. Did you know that my last name is Irish? Connors means Wolf Kin and we’re supposed to be descendent of King Connaught. We even have a family crest.”

“I never knew that.”

“Me neither. I googled it form my phone on my lunch break today. I was looking at designs online. They can look really good, if you find a good tattoo artist. Not like the hack that did yours at the party.”

“Don’t remind me, honey.”

He held on to her hip near the spot and laughed. “I don’t have to. It’s doing a good job all by itself.”

She huffed, knowing he was joking from the tone in his voice. But she wasn’t sure if he was serious about the tattoo or not. “Well you know you don’t need my permission, honey. How about we talk about it when I’m not so sleepy? I thought we were about to do something else.”

Smiling, he kissed her again. The conversation came to an end, as the two of them focused on each other. He stroked a finger over her stomach and felt her shiver. It was one of the things he knew she liked. He had come to know exactly what to do in order to arouse her. They both had simple tastes, but were always open to new and interesting things.

“Sweetheart?”

“Yes?”

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever set eyes on.”

His thumb found her clit under the sheets, and she moaned as he stroked it.

Her mouth opened, probably to reply, but her mind had gone to another world. He dipped his head under the sheets and raised her pajama top, using his tongue to make contact with her nipple.

“God, I want you, Chase.” She spread her legs underneath him. “I don’t want to wait. Come inside me right now. Please baby.”

He was hard and ready, so he did what she asked. She groaned when he slipped inside her, and gently slid her hand up his chest.

“I love you, Chase.”

“I love you too.”

He felt her wrap her legs tight around him. He was deep inside her now. She seemed unable to stop herself from making that sexy low growl that drove him wild. He picked up his rhythm, staring darkened eyes down into hers, the two of them entwined in a way he never thought was possible, tucked away in their own little world.

Her climax slowly took over her body. For a second, maybe a little longer, her channel clenched around him, and released, and tightened again, and seemed to flutter, as it milked and massaged his shaft. Her body shook as she came again and again. Her legs gave way from around his waist and came to rest on the bed just as he came.

When he collapsed on top of her, she murmured, “That was… wonderful.”

“It felt amazing being inside you, baby.” He lay there as she stroked her fingers over his back. “There is only one bad thing about not using a condom.”

Meaghan giggled weakly. “The cleanup afterward.”

“Yeah.”

“But you know I’m on the pill, so it’s okay.”

He looked at her. “Unless…”

“What are you thinking?”

“Maybe I could carry you to the shower. That would make everything easier.”

Before Meaghan tried to stop him, that was exactly what he did. He was a lot stronger now that he worked every day at the shop. He picked her up with no difficulty. Once they reached the shower, he turned it on, with her still in his arms.

“You can put me down now, big boy.”

“One second.” He stepped into the shower with her. “There we go. Much easier.” Their lips met. “I hope you weren’t planning on going back to sleep.”

***

“How about we do something relaxing together when we have a day off together?” Meaghan asked when they were back in bed. “We could go hiking again.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Interested in having sex outside again?” “You looked so gorgeous up against that tree.”

“Like the pixie I am, right?”

“Well, it’s the truth.”

“Tell you what. I’ll do it again, at night, of course, if we can do it on the Harley.”

“Seriously?” he asked, surprised she would suggest something that risqué.

“Yes. You always look so good when you climb off that bike. And it feels so good, all that power underneath us...”

“Wow.”

“What?” she looked up at him from her fantasy of actually making out on the bike.

“I never knew you’d enjoy riding it that way.”

“Neither did I,” she admitted. “But I heard it’s the best part of owning one.”

“Who’d you hear that from?”

“Debbie.”

“That’s a little too much information, Meg.”

“Well, you asked.”

“I was hoping you’d say it was from some magazine, or an online article or something. Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Never bring up another person’s name in reference to anything to do with sex, especially when we’re in bed. Deal?”

She laughed. “You’re crazy.”

He slid down to her breasts and kissed a nipple. “Promise me,” he said, blowing on it, then nipping it gently.

She hissed. “Okay, baby. I promise.”

“Good. Now flip over.”

“What?”

“I want you on all fours, Meaghan.”

He smacked her ass when she did as he said.

“What are you going to do to me, hun?” she asked in a soft voice, blinking back at him with feigned innocence.

“Make you scream before you fall asleep.” Chase answered.

“I could scream right now and then we can go straight to sleep,” she teased.

“Yes, but then you’d miss out from all this goodness,” he said, pointing back at himself.

“Oh, but I get it all the time. I won’t miss out.”

“Wrong answer.” He lifted her hips up, and she got to her knees.

She let out a low moan. “What’s the right answer, baby?”

“It’s the same as every night. It’s you saying my name on your lips, and begging for more, remember?”

She bit on her lips. “Yes baby.”

“Are you super tired?” he asked as he kneeled behind her. He pressed his cock between her ass cheek, and let it rest there, waiting for her answer.

“I was.” Her voice was husky and hoarse. “But now that you’re there…”

“Yes? Now what?” He slid a hand up her side, and let it come to rest on her ribs,  just inches from one of her breasts. He moved his other hand to her lower stomach, and let a finger circle just above her mound.

She whimpered. “Now I’m tired and horny, baby.”

“Sorry I didn’t hear you.”

“Fuck me, Chase. Come inside me now, please.”

“Okay.”

He flicked her clit and positioned himself. “God, Meg. You’re so wet this time. So hot and ready for me.”

She fisted the bedsheets with both hands, pushing back on his cock as he eased inside. She rocked her hips to feel him move deeper each time he ground into her.

“Oh God…” she groaned.

Chase gripped her hips with both hands and picked up the pace. She was already close to coming. Meaghan’s body shuddered under him when her first orgasm ripped through her. She dipped her head down to the pillow. The new angle of impact must have hit her g-spot. She wailed into the pillow when she came again. Her body clenched so tightly around his cock this time, it awakened his beast. With two deep penetrations, he erupted his release deep within her.

He pulled out slowly, and fell to the bed beside her.

“Sleep, baby,” she said softly.

“Good night,” he answered, kissing her cheek one last time before he closed his eyes.

Chase entered the auto shop and got to work. There was a customer already sitting in the waiting area. As he changed the oil in a Subaru, he thought about what Meaghan said, about being careful here. So far, he had not seen anything too suspicious, but he knew there was more going on that he had been shown.

There were nights a new detail of workers would show up as he was leaving. Some of them he had never met before. They looked mean, and never smiled or looked him right in the eye. And once, there was an exotic car dropped off just as he was about to wrap up for the day. The manager had told him it only needed a tune-up, and he could take care of it the next day. But when he had shown up for work the next morning—and he was the first one in, coming to think of it—it wasn’t there anymore.

After he finished the oil change, he carefully pulled the car out of the garage and parked it, so the customer would be able to access it easily once she’d paid the front counter staff.

A moment later, David called out across the garage, “Chase, got a job for you.”

“What do you need?”

“You got a couple of belts here that need replacing. Then I want you to test the alternator, just in case there’s a problem. I’ve got to take care of something, so Oliver will cover for me today.”

Because this particular job was so easy, and came so naturally to him, he found his mind wandering to Meaghan. He had not expected his wage to be as high as it ended up. He wondered if his mother had anything to do with it. Sighing, he picked up another wrench. He needed an explanation.

Jose approached came into work just before the lunch hour. Their schedules often overlapped during the week. He was curious whether Jose knew more than he let on when he had first told him about the job. The last thing he had wanted was a position as a chop shop mechanic. Tearing down stolen cars rather than fixing them for their rightful owners? It wasn’t an attractive prospect, even for the high pay.

“You want to work in a burger joint, Chase?” That was Jose’s question when he asked about what happened late at night at the shop. “Because I’m telling you, you’ll make shit.”

Jose took a long swig from his coffee mug and put his feet up on the small coffee table in the staff lounge. He was wearing his scuffed steel-toed boots, but the laces were undone. His shift wasn’t to start for another twenty minutes.

“I’m telling you, this job is great. You already know I’ve been working there for over a year. My buddy David hooked you up. Your own mom is married to the owner. What else do you need to know?”

“I just don’t want to end up paying for being in the dark, is all.” Chase retorted. He flopped down on the armchair in the room. “I wish you would have been straight up with me, man.”

“Oh, come on. You would have been hunting for work all summer if you didn’t get this gig. Or worse, flipping burgers or putting out someone’s trash.”

“Maybe so, but I wouldn’t stand the chance of a prison term, just for being guilty by association.”

“You need to think things through, man. Maybe you should go talk to your mom—” When Chase didn’t reply, he continued. “Look, I see where you’re coming from. You don’t want to do something illegal. I don’t blame you. But in your case…” Jose shook his head. “Sometimes beggars can’t be choosers. Working here isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty fucking close. Besides, what other choice do you have? Think about it. The people are great. It pays well. All you have to know is to do what’s asked of you and if you see anything weird, you keep your mouth shut.”

“So it’s a chop shop at night, then.”

“You’re missing the point. Think about the income.”

“Not everything’s about money, Jose.”

“Come tell me that when you have none.” Jose stood up from his chair. “Anyway. I gotta start my shift. Talk to your mom.”

If Chase had to confront her for the truth, he would. He needed to know.

***

A voice startled Chase when he was working on a car the next day.

“Hey! Sorry to surprise you, dude.” Oliver, one of the other mechanics, smiled at him. “David isn’t here today. He told me to see how you were doing.”

Oliver appeared to be middle-aged, with light brown hair and a handlebar mustache.

“No problem,” Chase answered.

“How long have you been working on cars?”

“I think I was ten when I undid my first bolt.” Chase shrugged. “Cars were one of the few things Dad and I could bond over, so I made the most of it. Now it’s just something I enjoy doing.”

“We can always use good mechanics, and David is talking about getting you trained up. That way, if anything does happen to the shop, you’ll be able to move on to somewhere else.”

“What do you mean? What could happen to the shop?”

Oliver looked between Chase and the car. “Keep working hard,” he said, not answering his question, “and no one will want you to leave. Even after the summer ends, there can be a place for you here.”

“I can’t stay any longer than that. It’ll be too intense at school.”

“You only want a summer job? Well don’t think too much about it, then.”

“Cool.” Chase decided to take the direct approach. “So what happens here late at night?”

Oliver smoothed his thick, calloused fingers down his mustache. “Only worry about that if you want to work here long term.”

“Okay.” Chase sighed heavily.

Oliver crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re lucky with David. He won’t push if you decide to leave, but keep asking questions about what happens at night, and those above him might not let you. Don’t forget that, buddy. They don’t like it when people leave. And they like you even less when you go sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You may have to disappear if you push too hard, so be prepared.”

The hair on Chase’s neck stood on edge. “I guess as long as I don’t end up dead.”

Oliver shook his head, and paused as if deep in thought. “I never knew anybody who worked here and ended up dead. They might if they talk to the wrong person…but I know you’re not that stupid. Right?”

“Yeah. Right.”

“Now, come on.” Oliver gestured toward the other side of the garage. “I need your help installing this new transmission.”

Chase loved fixing cars. He wished he could push all of those thoughts aside. He had to. Pushing back the anxiety from his mind, he got to work.

One of the things he had noticed was how strong he was becoming. Oliver was having problems with his back that day, so Chase was able to carry most of the weight. Together, they worked until sweat beaded on their skin. The heat of the day was a little overwhelming, but the industrial sized fans helped cool them off. While the car was lifted in the air, they used a heavy-duty jack to lift the new transmission into place. Chase let out a grunt as he jostled the thing into the empty space beside the engine.

“If you get it into place, I’ll go underneath and bolt it in,” Oliver said. He was already reaching behind to rub his lower back.

Once Chase was finished positioning it, he held it in place while Oliver grabbed his socket wrench and inserted all the bolts.

A while later, both men looked up at their work. Oliver nodded, pleased. “We make a good team.” He clapped the younger man on the shoulder. “Great job, buddy.”

***

Chase sent Meaghan a text message, telling her that he’d have to work until seven thirty. Oliver had told him they were short-staffed that evening, and there was a big job they needed to finish for a customer.

He had no doubt now that the place was a chop shop. From what Jose and Oliver had said—and from what they had not said—it was clear. Now that he knew, all he needed to do was make sure Meaghan never found out.

He hated lying to her, but he saw it as his only option. Telling her anything would lead to questions, and before long she’d end up knowing too much. He knew a lot about lying from his dad. Lying could become complicated. This lie was a simple one—a lie he could handle, and one for Meaghan’s own good. Even so, the guilt didn’t let up.

His father had often lied about where he’d been, when it was obvious he was out drinking. Dad had turned lying into an art form.
Am I becoming my father
? He asked himself, and shuddered at the thought.

He stared at the text he’d just sent, not expecting a reply until later. Meaghan was probably working. Even so, knowing why she wasn’t replying didn’t make waiting any easier. He kept imagining she was tied up at work, or hiding something from him. It drove him crazy.

After working all day, Chase felt like he’d accomplished something. He drove right home and cleaned up as soon as he got in. Meaghan wasn’t home yet, so he stretched out on his bed and thought about his job. It was almost perfect—but that little part about what happened there late at night, well, it wasn’t so little.

His body aching, he forced himself off the mattress. The best way to take his mind off it, and to not start worrying about Meaghan, was to have some dinner and relax. There was pasta leftovers in the fridge, so he warmed it up and had it all. He realized they had to go food shopping. He dug through the cupboards, made a quick shopping list, and tucked it into his pocket.

His phone buzzed. It was a text message from Meaghan. She was finishing up and would be home soon. All of a sudden he thought about what he was keeping from her.
It’s not that big of a lie,
he tried to rationalize it, but the guilt refused to leave him.

A lump rose in his throat, and he found himself wanting to phone her and tell her everything. She was his best friend, and the woman he loved more than anything. He tried to forget about it. He pushed the thoughts away and did the dishes. A moment later, the front door opened and Meaghan walked in.