Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12 (33 page)

Ava silently cried along with him, her heart breaking for this man who only saw the worst in himself.

“None of this matters,” he said, his tone defeated.

“What?”

“The PBR, the PRCA, bull ridin’. It’s all bullshit.”

“Chase. You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t know what I mean. In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone killed on the back of a bull. Seen them hurt? Yes. Seen them seriously hurt and even paralyzed? Yes. But someone I know, someone killed right in front of me and hundreds of other people? That’s a first. That’s so wrong. So fucking wrong. Ryan’s death, and the tragedy of it, will make papers across the country. But it won’t change anything. It won’t give his mother comfort. Christ. He was her only kid and now she’s alone.”

Chase broke down. His massive shoulders shook as he cried.

When the worst of it passed, and he’d taken the quiet comfort she’d offered, she stood. “Come on. You’re exhausted and need to sleep.” She held out her hands to help him up.

“Ava, I’m not three years old.”

“But you are three sheets to the wind.”

Chase turned his head away. “Sorry I’m such a mess.”

“All the more reason for you to let me help you.”

An eternity passed before something shifted in him. He struggled to his feet by himself, but allowed Ava to guide him back to the bed he’d barely left for two days.

Once she’d settled beside him, he twined his arms around her, tangled his legs with hers. “Don’t go,” he whispered thickly against her throat.

“I’m here. There’s no place I’d rather be than with you, Chase. You know that, right?”

His whole body relaxed as he expelled a deep sigh and passed out.

She trailed her fingers up and down his spine.

Ryan’s death had changed them both. Where did they go from here?

They kept a low profile during Ryan’s funeral. But so many people attended it was easy to blend. All in all, the service was nice. Sad.

Ava ran into Taz as cars loaded up for the trip to the cemetery. She almost hadn’t recognized him without his cowboy hat. His hair was shorter. He wore a sports coat.

He hugged her with a gruff, “Ava.”

“Taz. How you holding up?”

“Not so good.” He glanced at the hearse. “Still can’t believe it.”

“Me either.”

“How’s Chase?”

“About the same as you.” Miserable, blaming himself. Avoiding people.

Silence.

“You been on the road?”
Stupid question, Ava.

“Nope. I’m done.”

“Done?”

“I quit. No more rodeos. No more foolin’ myself. I ain’t been ridin’ good consistently for a couple of years anyway.”

“What are you going to do?”

“A buddy of mine bought some land outside Scottsbluff. He’s been trying to get me to take over, making improvements on it, for the last year. I wasn’t interested until…” He cleared his throat. “I realized I ain’t too old to learn something new.”

“We could all learn something from this.”

Taz glanced around and pulled her off to the side, out of earshot. “Listen, I know you got a lot of footage of Ryan while you were taping Chase. I’d like to see you do something positive with it. Even if it’s just for his mom. The kid deserves that much.”

“I agree. Is it all right if I use footage of you too?”

“Don’t know what for, but sure.”

Ava kissed his cheek. “Take care of yourself, Taz.”

They were sitting in a diner outside Alliance, picking at a meal neither wanted.

“Chase?”

“Yeah.”

“What happens now?”

“I don’t know.” He glanced up from smashing a pile of peas with his fork. “Why? Did you have something on your mind?”

“Yes. And hear me out before you automatically say no.”

“I’m listening.”

“Come to New York City with me. Just for a couple of days. We both could use a break. A little bit of pampering. I’ve spent time in your world, Chase, I’d like for you to spend time in mine.”

“Why New York? Why not LA?”

“My assistant mentioned there’s still paparazzi lurking around my place. We’d be trapped. In New York…we’d probably be anonymous.” She reached for his hand. “Let’s park your truck in Omaha, get on a plane and we’ll be at LaGuardia in three hours. My family has a standing suite at the Cooper Square Hotel. We can stay there as long as we want.”

His eyes searched hers. “Why is this so important to you?”

“I’m not ready to say goodbye. Are you?”

“God no.”

His vehemence surprised her.

“Good. I’ll make the arrangements. We could use a distraction. It’ll be fun.”

Chase smiled for the first time in days. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to New York City. The local time is three p.m.” Ava glanced out the airplane window as the flight attendant rattled off the usual spiel. She was anxious to get out of the plane and into the city.

Chase leaned across the armrest. “You all right?”

Ava faced him and frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I dunno. I expect you’ll be different now that the city mouse is back in her element.”

“What about you?” she countered. “Will you become the country mouse? Afraid of taxis, sirens and the crush of people?”

“I ain’t skeered of nothin’.” Chase pressed his lips to hers. She’d expected a quick peck, but he cranked the kiss to hot and teasing as his thumb discreetly rubbed the stiff point of her nipple.

She pulled back. “Chase—”

“I missed touching you the last few days,” he murmured.

“I missed it too.” Ava rested her forehead to his. “Hold that thought, okay?”

“Okay.” He gave her a lingering smooch. “Bear in mind that just because we’re on your turf don’t mean you get to call the shots.”

That forceful statement delivered in his masculine growl sent a curl of heat through her. Yes, she’d missed this sexual part of Chase because it was such an important part of who he was. “I wouldn’t dream of horning in on your territory.”

They exited the plane and wended through the crowd at baggage claim. After Chase hefted their luggage, Ava led him to the area where private transportation companies waited. A man in a black sports coat stepped in front of another guy wearing a gray pinstriped suit. “Miss Cooper?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Gino. I hope your flight was enjoyable.”

The young man attempted to take the duffel bags from Chase, earning a dark scowl as Chase increased his grip on the luggage. “I’ve got it.”

“That’s fine, sir. The car is this way, please.”

The heat and stench assaulted her as they left the cool comfort of the terminal. God. The noise didn’t bother her, but somehow she’d forgotten how rank the city smelled in the summer months—garbage, urine, grease and exhaust fumes.

Gino popped the trunk on a black limo at the curb.

Chase stopped by the rear passenger door and looked at her as Gino snuck in and grabbed the bags. “A limo, Ava? Really?”

“It’s a compact size, not a stretch limo, and it was the same price as a car service. I thought you’d be happy I comparison shopped.”

“I am. But I’m surprised you used that name to book it. What happened to us laying low?”

She bristled. “That name happens to be my name, and it’s on the credit card I used. What’s the big deal?”

“Forget it.” He stepped aside to open the car door for her, only to scowl again when Gino beat him to the punch.

Ava crawled in first and slid across the bench seat. Naturally, Chase didn’t allow the distance and scooped her up, settling her on his lap. “Chase.”

“What? I changed my mind. I’m scared in the big city.”

She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move.

Gino took the wheel and said, “Cooper Square Hotel?”

“Yep. And Gino, buddy, I’d appreciate it if you’d engage the privacy screen and take the long way,” Chase drawled.

He nodded and the black glass separated them.

“Not your first time in a limo, is it, McKay?”

“Nope. But it’ll be my first time fucking in one.” Chase placed a kiss on the center of her throat. “I’m dyin’ for you, my Ava Rose.”

The man could be so sweet.

“Undo your bra. I want them sugar tits in my mouth.”

And…not so sweet. Not that she was complaining. Chase had already untied the bow at the neckline of her sundress and slipped the loosened material down her biceps. She twisted the front closure of her bra and his rough-skinned hands were there, knocking hers away.

“Arch back.” As soon as she complied, Chase’s hot mouth surrounded her left nipple. He suckled strongly. Purposefully.

That familiar, delicious heat spread. Ava gave herself over to it. Over to him. Reveling in the act of surrender.

Chase knew exactly how to eek out each sigh and moan. He expertly toyed with her mouth, his kisses so maddeningly arousing, so ripe and sensual, so unbearably erotic, she wanted to beg him to stop. Or to never stop.

He whispered gruffly, “Hang tight,” below her ear and rolled her, dropping to his knees on the floor of the limo.

Breathing hard, dizzy, wet and achy, Ava rested her back against the plush center cushion. She watched as Chase shimmied her sundress up around her waist. Then he tugged her so far forward her butt cheeks were barely on the edge of the seat. “I’m falling.”

“I’ve got ya.” He stretched her left arm to the safety strap on the left side of the car roof, curling her fingers around the leather as he dragged kisses from the cup of her shoulder, across the sensitive bend in her elbow, to her fingertips. And back, to repeat the process on the right side.

Circling his thick fingers around each ankle, he pushed her legs wide, almost in straddle splits and hooked the edges of her low heels into the plastic lip that housed the door handle.

Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he took a condom out of his wallet and held the package in his teeth as he yanked his briefs and jeans to his knees.

“Want me to put that on?” she asked, her focus on his fully erect cock.

He lifted a brow and smiled briefly before his teeth tore open the square package. “You’re stretched a little thin.” Once he had the condom on, he worked himself inside her, his mouth busy on her throat.

Ava’s head fell back and she groaned. So full. So hot. So good, every time.

Then Chase started to move. Endlessly long, deliciously slow, completely thorough strokes of his hot, hard flesh into hers. His cock buried so deeply inside her she felt his balls resting against her ass.

For being in the back of a limo, in New York City, during rush hour, there was no rushing Chase. He made love to her with his usual passion, but this tryst also served as a reminder that he’d have her, his way, no matter where, no matter when.

The rhythm of Chase’s strokes increased and he slipped his hand between their bodies to manipulate her clit.

“Yes. Like that. You know just how… God…don’t stop.”

“I love watching you come,” he growled, his eyes on her face as he pumped into her. “You’re mine, Ava. No man has ever known you like this. No man but me will ever know this side of you.”

No declaration of love, just possession, which maybe was the closest Chase came to admitting love. She smashed her mouth to his, matching the kiss to the brutal intensity of the way he fucked her.

He bottomed out with every thrust. One hand gripping her ass, the other rubbing her clit as he mastered her body with his. As Chase came undone.

Those teasing tingles tightened, coalesced into full power. The orgasm swamped her. She felt the pulses in her clit, in her pussy muscles spasming around Chase’s cock, in her nipples. Even her lips throbbed as Chase turned the kiss into a sensual tease.

His body might’ve stopped moving, but his hands didn’t. His mouth didn’t. He nuzzled and caressed every section of her exposed skin. This was another thing she loved about him—his reluctance to release her after such an explosive interlude. He uncurled her fingers from the straps, sweetly kissing each knuckle. He unhooked her shoes, massaging her calves, her quads and her inner thighs. He ditched the condom and straightened her clothes before he bothered with his own. Then he gathered her in his arms and held her, like she was precious. Fragile. Like she was his.

And Ava let him.

The intercom buzzed twice, then Gino’s voice came on. “We’re about four blocks from the Cooper Square Hotel.”

They remained wrapped together until the limo stopped. The rear door opened and Ava watched Chase’s face as he caught his first glimpse of her family’s hotel.

Yeah, he wore the holy-crap expression.

The hotel, situated in the Bowery section of Manhattan was quite impressive, with its seemingly twisted tower, a modern architectural work of art, twenty-one stories tall, comprised of glass on all sides.

The bags were whisked from the car trunk directly inside. Ava waited while Chase shook Gino’s hand and slipped him a folded bill.

Chase placed his hand in the small of Ava’s back. “Ah yeah, Hollywood, you were definitely slumming with the places we’ve been staying.”

The front door, at least fifteen feet tall and nine feet wide, swung open and she had her personal welcoming committee ushering her inside the postmodern, oriental-themed lobby.

“Miss Cooper! We’re so happy to have you back in New York.”

“Thank you, Jason.” She gestured to Chase. “Jason, this is my companion.” Ava purposely allowed Chase to introduce himself, not knowing if he intended to keep up his Bill Chase persona or not. Either way, it was his decision.

He thrust out his hand. “Good to meet you, Jason. Chase McKay.”

Ava relaxed slightly. “Jason is the evening manager. The man who can make anything happen.”

Jason, a slight man in his early thirties, smiled at Ava after shaking Chase’s hand. “The pleasure is mine. We have you set up in the family suite on the fourteenth floor. Chef Delacorte has asked if you have any specifics requests for in-room dining?”

“I’d love a sampler of his latest appetizers, since I’m not sure what our dinner plans are for later this evening.”

“Consider it done. Delivery time?”

Ava glanced at Chase. “Are you hungry?”