Chasing Bliss (8 page)

It was sexy, but it was also one of the sweetest things Bliss had ever heard in her life. She
touched his face. “I’m real, Chase.”

“I don’t believe you. Let me see.” He went in for a kiss.

Bliss giggled and pushed him back. “This is crazy! Don’t you think it’s crazy?”

“Crazy? Says who?
Who
makes the rules to this shit? Not me. I told you, I don’t care about stuff
like that. I can only tell you how I feel.”

She tried a very weak argument. “Yeah, but Chase—”

He shut her up by putting his lips on hers. It wasn’t like that first kiss, soft and chaste. His arms
went around her like he’d been dying to put them there. Bliss’s hands went around his waist and
up his back, luxuriating in the manly feel of his tight muscles until each one was on one of his
shoulder blades. She drew him in as close as he could get.

When Chase’s tongue slid over hers, Bliss could have sworn she heard the fire he’d started
in her when it ignited. It popped her ears and curled her toes. His kiss was hot and passionate,
delicious and thorough. He kissed her like he was enjoying the way she tasted, and it was blowing
Bliss’s mind.
Where did this man come from?

She kissed him back with just as much heat and abandon.
To hell with it.
Her back arched when
he ran his teeth over her tongue. Bliss shivered and pushed her breasts into his chest. Chase’s lips
left hers and left a blazing trail along her jaw and down to her neck. He kissed the hollow of her
throat as his hand slid up her side. Chase’s thumb grazed the bottom of her breast as he kissed her
collarbone.

Bliss hands slipped under his shirt, and
he
shivered, too, as her fingers found the six-pack she
knew was there. She ran her fingertips over his muscles as Chase kissed her high over her left
breast.

He sat straight up suddenly and pulled Bliss up with him, looking a little surprised. “Damn,
baby. I think we forgot where we were.”

Bliss sat in stunned silence, blushing furiously. The whole thing was rather embarrassing. She
wondered how many people had seen that public display of affection. She’d never completely
forgotten herself like that.
What got into me?
she wondered.
Hell, Chase almost did!

“Bliss, you okay?”

She was sitting there with her mouth open, mortified.
What must he think of me?
But she had loved
every minute of it. It thrilled her, letting Chase kiss on her like that.
I like him.
Bliss was conflicted.
One part of her wanted Chase to rip her pretty new dress off and break her down until she couldn’t
walk. The other part of her—a much smaller part—wanted to jump up, slap his handsome face,
and get the hell outta there.

She looked at him. He was watching her with his eyebrows slightly raised, not like he thought
she was loose. Instead, he looked concerned.

Chase took her hand. “Look, I’m sorry, Bliss…well, not really, ‘cause I
really
wanted to feel
you like that, but I guess I got carried away, and I’m sorry for that. Do you want me to take you
home?”

“That’s probably the smart thing to do—to get out of here, anyway.” She hadn’t even finished
her champagne, but she felt tipsy, and she knew it wasn’t the bubbly that had her feeling that
way.

“Okay,” Chase said. He took his wallet out and dropped money on the table.

They didn’t speak again until they were outside standing by his bike. Bliss stared at the sidewalk.
Chase was taking her home, but she didn’t want to leave him. It was stupid, and she was beating
herself up for things that were pretty much out of her hands. The bottom line was that she didn’t
want to be good. She wanted to be with Chase. She could sit for hours and listen to him talk and
watch him smile. Bliss felt like she could look at him forever, and she thought she’d die if she
couldn’t feel his mouth and his hands on her again.
Who says that’s bad?
When she looked at him,
she saw that he was looking back at her patiently, wearing a straight face, but his eyes were saying
something different. His eyes were telling her to let go, daring her to take that crazy ride with him.
A smile curved the corner of his mouth, and his eyes sparkled. He looked incredibly handsome.

“I
know
, Bliss, but it’s what you call a leap of faith. Are you willing to jump off the cliff with
me and see where we end up? This is serious, no games. Look how we feel about each other
already.”

She closed the distance between them and touched his face. “This is really crazy. I’m kind of
scared, Chase.”

Chase smiled at her. “Don’t be. I’ll be right here.”

Bliss took her hand away. “God, I really shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Bliss—”

Bliss jumped off the cliff. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him like she was
starving for him. Chase returned her kiss like he could eat her up. They stood by his bike, kissing
on the sidewalk, oblivious of the passersby. When they came up for air, they were breathless,
smiling, and unwilling to let go of each other.

Chase kissed her again, and Bliss giggled. “I’m still not sleeping with you tonight, Chase. I
don’t care how
well
you kiss me.”

He laughed and kissed her neck. “Damn. How about tomorrow?”

She laughed again. “Let’s play it by ear.”

He let her go after giving her one last squeeze. “That’s fair. I’m gonna take you home now,
before I convince you to change your mind.”

Bliss put her helmet on and put the visor up, and Chase did the same. “You think you can do
that, huh?”

He smiled at her with complete confidence. “I know I can, but I’m not even gonna try. I’ll get it
when you give it to me. I can wait.” Chase got on his Ducati and leaned it over for her.

Bliss was a lot less afraid this time, and she smiled as she settled in behind him. She flipped
her faceplate down and wrapped her arms around his body as he gunned the motor. Bliss put her
face against his strong back, still smiling as Chase pulled out. She was feeling Chase so hard she
couldn’t stop grinning. She believed she’d just fallen in love.
Love? Could it be love already?

Chapter 6

C
hase met Corey and J.T. for lunch the next day. He was running late, as usual, but this time
it was for a good reason: Bliss Riley. Dee woke him up like an alarm clock, screaming at
him and demanding to know why he’d been unreachable for half the night. He didn’t tell her any
details because she’d meet Bliss soon enough, and for the time being, he wanted to keep what had
started between them close to his vest for as long as he could—for a whole lot of reasons.

Chase had the feeling he wouldn’t be able to though. Bliss was right: This shit between them
was crazy. He’d called her that morning, and they’d stayed on the phone for two hours. Two hours!
Chase couldn’t remember ever staying on the phone that long with anyone in his life, and even
then, he didn’t want to hang up. He wanted to be with her right that minute. He could still smell
her perfume.

Chase had a flashback as he rode his bike down Lenox Avenue. He saw her clearly in his mind’s
eye, walking into his office in that little black trench coat and that little purple dress. She’d totally
fucked his head up. Bliss might have thought he was joking when he said he thought his heart had
stopped, but he was telling the damn truth: His heart literally stuttered in his chest—something that
hadn’t happened to him since Pandora Sheridan put her hand in his pants in the seventh grade.

The first time he saw Bliss, he started to flip on her because she was making such a big deal
over her ruined outfit, but even if she hadn’t walked away, his words would have died in his throat.
She was the prettiest woman Chase had ever laid eyes on. Bliss just pushed past being truly petite.
She was small boned and naturally thin, but she had full, round breasts and an apple booty. Chase
hadn’t seen a set of legs like that in a long time. Her face was beautiful, too, like someone should
paint a picture of her. Her hair, a rich mahogany brown cut into fluffy bangs above her eyes, hung
just past her shoulders. Her eyes, which were already large and brown, seemed even larger because
her face was so small and finely featured. Her mouth was small, but her lips had that bee-stung
look about them, full and ripe. Her skin looked like she’d been dipped in honey—a lovely, even,
golden brown.

Chase got off his bike and walked into the café, removing his helmet as he went. He didn’t mind meeting
Corey and J.T., but he really wanted to be meeting Bliss. Chase smiled as he approached their table.

“Here he comes now, the late motherfucker,” J.T. said loudly, waving him over.

Corey laughed and turned his beer up as Chase sat down.

Chase put his helmet on the floor and looked at his brother. “What the hell you laughin’ at,
knucklehead?” Chase dapped J.T. quick, and J.T. ordered him a beer.

“I’m laughin’ at your ass, Smoke, slidin’ up in here all late. Couldn’t nobody find your ass last
night and shit. J.T. says you were with that chick, Bliss. What’s up, Chase? Tell us all about it.”

Chase drank some of his beer and sat back in his chair. He looked first at Corey, then at J.T.,
trying to look irritated, but he was having a hard time shaking his smile. A frown wouldn’t even get
it to move. He made one more attempt to look mean or serious, but it didn’t work. His smile won
out. “Damn,” Chase said in defeat, and the three of them burst out laughing.

Corey shook his head. “I knew you was tappin’ that the minute I saw her. I just knew it.”

“Naw. I ain’t tapping nothin’.”

Corey looked shocked. “Get the fuck outta here! I don’t believe a damn worda that shit.”

Chase drank some more of his beer, aware of J.T.’s eyes on him. “I’m serious, Corey. I ain’t
getting no skins—swear to God. I didn’t even really push up like that.”

“Why not? Fuckin’ girl is beautiful. What happened? She turn your ass down?”

Chase nodded, and the oddest thing happened: He felt heat creep into his face when he discussed
Bliss with those two clowns. Chase tried to bite back his smile and averted his eyes by looking into
his beer. “Yeah, Corey. She told me no.”

“Oh, shit!” came from J.T. with his loud ass. “Look at this shit, Corey. This negro is sittin’ here
fuckin’ blushing.”

Corey’s mouth dropped open comically.

“Close your mouth, Corey,” Chase said with a laugh.

“What you blushin’ for, Chase? What’s up with that?”

“I’m not…and ain’t nothin’ up. I like her, that’s all.”

Corey shrugged. “Well, hell, I knew you liked when you came in the office talkin’ about how
fine she was. But I thought you said you didn’t think you stood a chance in Hell with her after you
wrecked her suit?”

“I didn’t think I did, but it turns out she’s feelin’ me too. Some shit you just can’t control, Corey.
Believe that.”

J.T. hit him in the arm. “Your mack that strong, Chase?”

Chase laughed in spite of himself. “Nah, man.
Her
mack’s that strong…and she didn’t even do
anything.”

J.T. smiled. “Damn, son. Looks like your ass is goin’ under.”

Chase sipped his beer. “Maybe, but I can think of worse things.”

Chase looked at his brother, who was staring at him like he was witnessing a miracle. “
What
,
Corey?”

Corey laughed. “Nothin’, man. Nothin’. I mean, hey, I like Bliss. Maybe she might make your
ass less intense. You’re my brother, Chase, and I want you to be happy.”

“Don’t send me off to the chapel just yet.”

J.T. leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “I heard, Smoke, and I ain’t mad at ya. But
what you gon’ do when Cyrus finds out you’re fuckin’ his new manager? He’s gonna shit a brick,
son.”

Chase scowled at him and felt anger start to rise up. “You ain’t got no class, man. I ain’t sleepin’
with Bliss. And don’t call me Smoke.”

“Yeah, not yet. I mean, not right now at this very moment, at this table, but the day ain’t over,” Corey said,
laughing rakishly.

“Shut up, Corey,” Chase replied and finished his beer. He pushed the empty bottle away with a
fair amount of insolence. He couldn’t understand why Cyrus had to creep his shifty ass into every
conversation he had. He couldn’t be happy for two seconds without hearing his damn brother’s
name brought up.

“For what? I saw y’all lookin’ at each other. That’s a done deal. It’s goin’ down, and you know
J.T. is right, Chase. When Cyrus finds out Bliss is your girlfriend—”

He frowned at Corey. “She’s not my girlfriend, Corey.”

Corey waved him off. “Okay, Chase, whatever. Like I said, not yet. As we were sayin’, Cyrus
is gonna be damn straight pissed when he finds out.”

Chase sat back in his seat in exasperation. “Why would he even care? Why?”

J.T. folded his arms across his chest and looked at the table. “Because he begrudges you things.
We know it and you know it. It’s the most horrible, outlandish, over-the-top game of sibling rivalry
I have ever witnessed in my entire existence. It’s a God-awful shame, if I do say so myself.”

They both stared at him, and Corey gawked in disbelief. “Yo, J.T., man, are you for fuckin’
real?”

“Very. See?” He reached out and tousled his hair. Corey took it like he was
his
little brother, too,
and he may as well have been.

It was kind of funny, but Chase was too busy ruminating to laugh. He signaled for another beer.
“Man, fuck Cyrus and his bullshit.” Right on cue, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket
and looked at it reluctantly.
Yep. It’s him.
Chase turned it off and put it back in his pocket.

“Ain’t gotta ask who that was,” J.T. commented.

Corey’s cell phone started ringing, and J.T. smiled.

“Don’t answer it, Corey,” Chase said menacingly.

Corey ignored him and took his cell phone out.

“If you answer it, I’m gonna punch you, you little ass kisser.”

Corey rolled his eyes and answered the call. “Hello?”

Holding true to his threat, Chase reached across the table and punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow! Nah, Cyrus, I ain’t seen him. Nah, I tried to call him, but that nigga’s MIA. Can’t find him
nowhere. Maybe he’s laid up with some bitch.”

Chase kicked him in the shin.

“Ow! Nah, it’s nothin’. I’m getting somethin’ to eat with J.T., and you know how that nigga
likes to beat up on me. Yeah, okay. If I see him, I’ll tell him to holler at you. See you later, Cyrus.”
He hung up and turned to Chase. “Man, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Corey rubbed his shin,
looking for blood.

J.T. laughed. “You curse too much. I mean, we all curse, but you curse too much. And don’t be
puttin’ me in your family business, little man.”

“You are our family, man.”

“Why, thank you,” he said and ordered another beer.

Corey looked at Chase. “What’s wrong with you?”

J.T swallowed the last of his first beer. “I think we pissed him off.”

Chase shook his head. “No…
Cyrus
pissed me off. What’s he lookin’ for me so hard for?”

Corey looked at the table, but J.T. rubbed his goatee, looking Chase hard in the eye. “I don’t
know, Chase. Let me think…”

“Shut up, J.T.,” Corey mumbled.

“I won’t shut up, youngster. You know what that asshole is callin’ him for.”

Corey shot him an angry look.

“What? You mad ‘cause I called Cyrus a name?”

“You curse too much. I’m gonna take a leak,” Corey said before he got up and walked away.

J.T. smiled at Chase. “Don’t nobody better be sayin’ nothin’ bad ‘bout Master Cyrus now.”

Chase smiled back at him. “Leave him alone, J.T.”

J.T. drank some of his beer. “All I can say is that I agree with you, Chase. Fuck Cyrus.”

Chase sighed and finished his beer. He thought about having another one, but he had his bike
with him. He looked down at the empty bottle dejectedly. “I know what he wants, J.T. Whenever
Cyrus knocks this hard, I know what that fool wants.”

J.T. let out a sigh of his own. “Yeah, ol’ Cy ain’t exactly the Avon lady.”

Chase shook his head. “He damn sure ain’t. What do I do, J.T.?”

“If you don’t wanna do what he’s telling you to do, tell him to go fuck himself, my friend.”

Chase mulled it over. He was so tired of Cyrus. If he never saw him again, he’d be okay, even if
it hurt for a little while. He’d
told
him he was tired, but it never made any difference to Cyrus, the
selfish, manipulative bastard. “I already paid him what I owed him,” he said out loud.