Chasing Clouds

by Annabelle Knight

  “I don’t think so, maybe another time.” She glanced at the door, and in that moment Trent had risen from his seat and was by her side. Once again his hand was placed on her shoulder: this no longer felt protective and comforting and now seemed predatory and creepy.

  “You can’t go yet,” he said, squeezing her shoulder slightly. Elodie resisted and tried to escape his grasp. The smile on his face faltered and Elodie saw a look she really didn’t like replace it: he was no longer good- looking, and instead of the warmth he had shown earlier a cold, menacing expression now seemed to dance behind his eyes. Elodie drew herself up to her full height and didn’t argue or protest.

  “I said, no thank you. The gentlemanly thing to do would be to accept that.”

  Confrontation was not Elodie’s forte and she wasn’t surprised when her voice wavered and cheeks began to flush. She didn’t give him a chance to answer back and before she knew it was tumbling out into the street, which was considerably quieter than she would have liked. Trent followed her. She expected this; he was proving to be a tenacious little bastard.

  “I’d really appreciate it if you’d just leave me alone,” Elodie said, spinning on her heel and turning to face him. Her previous uncertainty had begun to give way to anger, he was practically harassing her now and she didn’t care for it one bit.

  “And I’d really appreciate a little co- operation. I thought we were having a nice time?” His tone softened. “Look, I’m sorry. Just come back inside, let’s start over?” He gave her a look akin to a puppy that had just been kicked and for a moment Elodie felt pity. Maybe she had got it all wrong and was over- reacting. She hadn’t even given him a chance to explain himself. “Come on Elodie, let’s finish our drinks at least, you owe me that much.”

  “I owe you?” Elodie asked. “I don’t owe you anything. You bought the drinks, you didn’t buy me,” she said, channelling Carla now. “I saw you get me a double and I know you’re not drinking whisky. Why would you do that?”

  “Well, excuse me for trying to get you to loosen up a little,” Trent said indignantly. “You British chicks are so frigging uptight. I knew you’d be a challenge, but this is just ridiculous. Come on...”

  He reached out for Elodie who managed to step back just in time. She absolutely wasn’t going anywhere with him. He fixed her with a look of pure disdain, his lip curled in a silent snarl. Taking another step backwards Elodie wheeled round, she had bumped into someone and was awash with relief. The presence of another person seemed to shrink Trent, especially when Elodie realised just who that person was.

  “Are you alright?” Chase said, his voice thin. Elodie met his gaze and saw a stony resolution there, which somehow instantly made her feel safe. She nodded, finding herself unable to speak, the words seemingly stolen from her.

  “You’re welcome to her, I’m out.” Trent stalked off, offering them a cursory look before he rounded the corner.

  Elodie hadn’t realised that up until that point she had been holding her breath, she gasped as she watched him disappear out of sight and for some inexplicable reason found that she was fighting back tears. Chase placed his hand on her shoulder: the gesture, although practically identical, was worlds away from how she had felt when Trent had done the same.

  “Are you OK?” Chase asked concernedly. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you go with him. He was too, too arrogant.”

  “I’m fine,” Elodie replied after some time, feeling silly now. “How did you know?”

  “I asked the front desk where you had ordered a taxi to, said I was meeting you there and had lost the name of the bar.”

  “I meant how did you know that, well that I needed…?” she trailed off. The how didn’t matter.

  “I know men like him. He certainly wasn’t good enough for you.”

  She stared at him, taken aback and wondering if she had just heard him right.

  Elodie had no idea that it was possible for something to happen so quickly, yet in slow motion. Chase took one step forward and held both of Elodie’s hands in his before pulling her towards him. She allowed herself to dissolve into him as everything around her seemed to fade, she was vaguely aware of his hands, now on the small of her back pulling her in closer, She moved her hands upwards and she felt his muscular form beneath his shirt. Her stomach flipped. Chase bent lower, their faces now barely an inch apart. Elodie closed her eyes, his masculine scent invaded her senses and she found herself overcome by the irresistible desire to be taken. Finally, his lips were on hers and they shared a kiss, which Elodie would later find herself describing as otherworldly. Chase’s warmth enveloped her and it was in that moment in which she felt herself falling for him. He had been her knight in shining armour: Elodie could now see that every little thing that had happened between them had been building up to this very instant, and she realised that, try as she might to fight it, she was powerless to resist. Elodie parted her lips a little, allowing him to kiss her more deeply. He accepted her invitation with pleasure and his tongue probed hers, tentatively at first but intensifying with every beat of her heart. When they broke apart Elodie was almost breathless. The kiss had come from nowhere and had taken her by complete surprise, she opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again: it would seem that Chase had temporarily stolen her words, as well as her heart.

  They had caught a cab back to the hotel and with purpose journeyed straight up to Chase’s suite. He had offered her a drink, which she refused, thinking that she had had quite enough for one evening already. Chase didn’t press her and instead poured himself a drink before they settled themselves in the living area of his chambers. Elodie kicked off her heels and placed them on the floor next to a black leather case with silver detailing and Chase’s initials embossed on the top. ‘Fancy luggage,’ she thought to herself as she rubbed the sole of one foot with one hand.

  “Let me,” Chase said, undoing the top button of his shirt and kneeling on the floor in front of her. Elodie pulled her foot away, feeling self- conscious, but Chase took it in his hands anyway and began to massage its sole. Elodie glanced down and found that his eyes were already locked onto her: he appeared to be looking into her, searching her expression for some hidden meaning. Whatever it was he was searching for, he seemed to find it. He raised her foot to his mouth and kissed it, never letting his gaze slip from hers. He leaned in closer and kissed the inside of her calf. Elodie slid forward in her seat and allowed her head to fall backwards. Lengths of her walnut- coloured hair fell down the back of the chair as her head came to rest. Chase was gliding up her leg, administering soft butterfly kisses intermittently. Elodie revelled at the feeling of his lips on her skin and basked in the attention that he lavished upon her. She was broken from her abstraction only when he paused. She looked down at him, her lips slightly parted, short soft breaths escaping from them.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Chase asked.

  Elodie nodded: at that moment in time she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. His broad hands were on her in seconds: they scooped her up as though she were no more than a wisp of cloud. The drink she had only sipped half of fell to the floor; the glass landed onto the plush carpet with a dull thud that Elodie was only marginally aware of. He carried her to the bed and set her down. Elodie’s heart was beating so strongly she was sure he’d be able to hear it. Her breath caught in her throat as she sat up to meet him. He reached forward, and taking the waistline of her dress pulled it up and over her head in one swift movement. He pulled back, drinking in the sight of her. A look of pure, unrestrained desire filled his eyes.

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured as he climbed onto the bed.

  He knelt before her and unbuttoned his shirt fully. Elodie reached out for him and slid the cool cotton material down past his shoulders. She allowed her fingers to trace his bare skin and felt a shiver of anticipation wash over her. Chase wore his masculinity like a badge of honour. He
was svelte with a body befitting an athlete; his smooth, tanned skin felt utterly delicious beneath her fingertips. Chase undid his belt and freed himself. Elodie gasped. Beneath the white cotton of his briefs, she could make out a generous bulge. She felt a deep longing for him and reached out, he gently pushed her back down, and after hooking a finger on each side of her underwear pulled them down. She raised her hips from the bed and, finding herself completely naked, allowed him to part her thighs with his strong hands. He nestled between her legs and inhaled, the smell of her seemed to spur him on and before she knew it he was running his warm, wet tongue over the essence of her femininity. She gasped as he moved in delectable circles, each time homing in on her most sensitive spot. A moan escaped her lips as Chase took one finger and ran it over her delicate folds. He was teasing her, bringing her to the peak of pleasure and then withdrawing before she could fully let herself go. She lifted her hips to him, begging with her body for more, but each time he pushed her back down. He was going to do this on his terms, and this prospect filled Elodie with excitement. She settled back down and gave herself to him: she was at his mercy and knew that there was nothing to be done that could change this. Elodie cried out huskily as he repeatedly brought her to the edge of absolute gratification, she ached for her release and at the point where she thought that she could take no more was rewarded. Chase slipped two fingers inside her; his digits entered her easily and, with expert precision, located her internal sweet spot effortlessly. Elodie was powerless to resist: a hedonistic swell burned within as she felt herself convulse under his attentions. In that moment nothing else mattered. Elodie clutched at the bedsheets, the cool material a stark contrast to the all- consuming sensation she felt building between her legs. As she reached the apex of unbridled pleasure, Elodie reached for Chase: her fingers brushed his skin and immediately gripped him as tightly as she could, anchoring herself to him in an effort not to be swept away in the sea of satisfaction that she now found herself in. Her climax hit her hard and Elodie felt a release akin to nothing she had felt before.

  She lay there, her breath laboured, her skin glistening and her body quaking. Chase came up to join her; her essence still visible on his flushed lips, which were parted in a small, but very satisfied smile. Chase was eager for his own release now. He removed his underwear and Elodie couldn’t help but stare greedily at his impressive manhood. Chase pinned her hands above her head and Elodie heard the rustle of a packet of protection.

  “Tell me you want me,” he instructed huskily.

  Elodie obliged and without another word he guided himself into her. She felt the head of his swollen shaft part the entrance to her sex and felt so alive she wondered just how much more she could take. He slid into her slowly; she was wet and inviting and Chase wanted to make the most of every single moment. Elodie could feel him mustering every modicum of control that he had, and that made her feel incredibly sexy. He moved inside her with ease, pausing every now and then to watch her as she lay beneath him, enraptured by the journey of desire she was on. Chase was the master of pleasure suspension; he wanted to make her wait. It was as though her desperation turned him on more than anything else. Elodie knew that the longer she was made to wait the more powerful her climax would be. She was right; the orgasm hit her like a freight train and shook her to her very core. She moaned throatily, crying out in adulation and shaking from tip to toe. This sight was too much for Chase and he joined her, his body tensed and she felt him spasm inside her.

  Elodie lost count of the number of times she climaxed that night. They lay awake for hours, trading lazy conversation for indulgent lovemaking, peppered with sensual moments that made Elodie quiver. She had never felt sexier, more wanted, or more fulfilled in her entire life.

  Chapter 15

  The time Elodie spent in New York positively flew by and the long weekend slipped by in the blink of an eye. Elodie’s tightly packed schedule had fallen into disarray since she had fallen for Chase. He had told her that they needed to keep this between them and that if anyone at work found out it would be curtains for both of them. Elodie understood the rules when it came to inter- staff dating; still, she couldn’t help but confide in Carla and Steph upon her return. Both of them were completely shocked but for very different reasons.

  “But he’s basically your boss,” Steph said in a tone of disbelief. Elodie had explained that Chase wasn’t her boss; sure, he was her senior, but boss was a bit far- fetched. Carla, on the other hand, was ecstatic with her news and had said that it was high time she got over Tom by getting under someone else.

  “So, have you spoken to him since?” Carla asked excitedly as she positioned herself on the sofa next to Elodie. Elodie shook her head.

  “He’s got an absolutely packed schedule and I don’t want to look too keen, especially since...” She trailed off as her cheeks began to colour.

  “Go on,” Steph probed.

  Elodie looked at her friends and stammered something that neither could decipher. Steph fixed Elodie with a stare that Elodie knew meant that she wouldn’t rest until she heard the truth from her.

  “You’re going to think I’m mad, or desperate, or maybe both. But,” she took a deep breath, “I, well I think I’m falling for him.”

  “Pffft,” Carla made a dismissive noise and waved Elodie’s words away. “You are not. You barely know him and, besides, it was only ten minutes ago you were all gaga over Aaron. What you’re feeling, my dear, is pure, unadulterated lust.”

  Elodie sighed and sat down, feeling a little wounded at Carla’s words. It wasn’t just lust; Carla hadn’t felt the connection between them, the inexplicable way he knew her and knew her body. It was like nothing she’d felt before, more powerful and more consuming than anything she’d had with Tom. He was a dominating force and she was happy to be dominated.

  ‘No,’ thought Elodie to herself. ‘Carla doesn’t know what she’s talking about because she’s never felt what I have.’

  “Well, it sure feels like it,” Elodie said in defence, irritated beyond belief that she had to justify her feelings to her best friend, “but I’m not going to say anything because, like I said, he’s too busy for a girlfriend. His schedule’s absolutely packed and after what happened with his ex, is it any wonder he’s cautious?”

  “You’ve got to take what you want in this life, El,” Carla said, switching tack. “Look, if you want him, tell him. Honestly, he’d be mad to turn you down and he must like you too otherwise, he wouldn’t have, you know…” She made a circle with her finger and thumb on one hand and pushed her outstretched finger from the other hand through it several times.

  “That’s enough,” Steph said, looking around as if they were in a public place and may have offended someone.

  Carla rolled her eyes but said nothing as she let her hands fall back down.

  “So with Aaron well and truly out of the picture, when are you going to ask Chase out properly?” Carla asked.

  Elodie hadn’t thought of this. She’d never asked someone out before and wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t make an absolute fool of herself.

  “I’ll just wait for him. I’ve told you, he’s busy and I’ll just look like a stalker or something.”

  “Don’t be daft, you’ll look fabulous because you are fabulous and if you want to see him again then you better make it known, but not in an obvious way. You need to be yourself, but not completely; you still need some mystery. But don’t come on too keen: you should just flirt, but only a little; not too much, but just enough. Oh and you need to leave his messages a bit before you answer them and never ever text him first, to play the game, you know?” Carla advised sagely.

  Elodie’s head spun. That was way too much information to take in all in one go.

  “Well, I’ve got to say that’s the worst dating advice ever. Don’t listen to ‘Miss One Night Wonder’ over here. Just be honest with him. Acting cool, playing games, making h
im wait... all code for immaturity. Game- playing isn’t attractive and just comes across as juvenile, and you don’t want that, especially as you’re already worried about the age gap between you.” Steph added, “But, and I’ve got to say this, I think it was wrong of you to have ignored Aaron without finding out some cold hard facts first. He was very nice to you and you should have at least given him a chance.”

  Elodie happened to agree with Steph on the latter point, Aaron had seemed pretty perfect. He was relaxed, funny and had made such an effort on their date. But he had gone cold, been photographed with another woman and had barely tried to contact her since. If this showed anything, it was that he was the game player, not her. Elodie decided to sleep on it for a night or two.

  ‘Who knows?’ she thought to herself. ‘Chase might come to me first.’

  Two days passed. Elodie had an extremely brief but busy couple of shifts where she flew to Copenhagen and back in one day. Chase hadn’t piloted either flight; instead, it had been Amelia and a co- pilot Elodie hadn’t worked with before. Grace had been marginally less unpleasant towards her, which had been nice, and Gareth had been his usual flamboyant self, which certainly helped to pass the time.

  Upon landing, Elodie went through the usual checks and as she walked through the terminal, her heels clicking against the marble floor, she pulled out her phone to message her driver Mr Bosford to let him know that she had arrived. Out of nowhere, she had collided with a fellow traveller; the phone flew from her hand and clattered to the floor.

  “Woah, you wanna watch where you’re going,” a familiar voice said.

  Elodie looked up and saw Aaron’s face smiling down at her, “You alright? Didn’t hurt you, did I?” Elodie shook her head and felt her stomach lurch. She had successfully put off seeing Aaron for weeks and hadn’t expected to quite literally bump into him. “I haven’t heard from you much, well at all really,” Aaron added, his smile faltering a little.