Life sucked without Crystal close. He missed her body. However, he missed being with her even more. With her engaged to Giovanni, he felt left out of her life. His eyes suddenly shifted to the Christmas tree. Let it go for today.
That was not about to happen. He strolled over to the couple. “Can I talk to her alone?”
“Sure.” Giovanni let Crystal’s hand go. He kissed her cheek and followed them to the kitchen. Then he turned to Valerie. “How can I help?”
Afraid Giovanni would change his mind, Chad tugged Crystal outside quickly. They stood on the back deck. He held her hands tightly and looked her over. Still in her long coat, he couldn’t see her body. He didn’t need to, since he knew every inch by heart.
For a few seconds, he recalled the scene from that morning. When he had seen Giovanni between her legs, he froze. He swore she had cried out in pain. Reality was much worse than that.
Unable to look away, he was sure he had watched them both orgasm. It hurt badly. To end the painful memories, he let her hands go and held her close.
She hugged him back and laid her head on his chest. They had a deep connection. She felt his pain.
She missed their time together as well. Giovanni had filled the void for the most part. However, Chad’s arms had reminded her of what she had lost with him. Her commitment to Giovanni came to mind, and she sighed. It’s just a hug.
“Can I kiss you, baby?” He didn’t want to hold back.
She shook her head. “No more kissing. Sorry.”
“OK.” He sighed then kissed her forehead. The crotch of his pants had tightened with arousal. It kept the cold at bay, at least.
Giovanni knew something was up. Chad had no coat on, so his decision to go outside made no sense. He had been asked to set out glasses and plates. When that was done, he didn’t know what to do with himself. After a glance out back, he decided to check on them.
“Chad, you don’t have to hide that you wanna hug her, just nothing more.” Giovanni worried it was already something more. He swallowed hard to try to shake the jealousy.
Chad let her go automatically. He hated that Giovanni had caught him. He looked down at her and lifted her chin. “I love you, baby and I always will.” He shivered.
“So will I,” she replied. Her love was not the same, though.
Giovanni took a deep breath. It was just innocent on her part. He trusted her. “Can we take this inside?”
“Fine.” Chad knew he couldn’t get close to her in front of his family. They all went back inside. Chad jumped up and down because the cold had finally hit him. “Fuck,” he muttered in the hallway. Then he rushed to the oven, which he knew was on.
Giovanni thought it was funny. He deserves it. To stifle the laugh, he helped Crystal get her coat off. Then he took his off. “I’ll go hang these up.”
As soon as Giovanni was back, Chad’s dad, Luke, put a hand on Giovanni’s shoulder. “I heard you asked our Crystal to marry you and the wedding’s in February.” He glanced at her for a few seconds. “Is there a reason you’re doing it so quickly?”
Crystal closed her eyes and bit her lip. She knew Chad’s father filled in for hers. To gather courage, she took a deep breath. Then she looked up at him.
“Pop, I swear. I’m not pregnant. We’ve been dating longer than you know.” It was only partly a lie, just the dating part.
Luke squeezed Giovanni’s shoulder. “You better take care of her, or I’ll send my boys after you.” He was quite serious. If anyone hurt her, he would be furious.
“I’ll treat her like a princess, sir,” Giovanni assured him.
Chad’s mom ventured over to the group. “Leave the boy alone. You like him.” She looked at Giovanni. “He doesn’t think anyone’s good enough for her. Don’t worry, Giovanni, he’ll get over himself. I think it’s great you guys are getting married.”
Crystal felt something. She looked up and found Chad staring. Heartbreak was written all over his face. She turned back to Valerie. “Thanks.”
Chad had never outright told anyone in his family he was in love with Crystal. He assumed some of them knew, though.
It hurt that his mother was happy for them. He planned to fake it for Crystal, though. She needed him to.
After a few deep breaths and a good scrub of his face with his hands, he stepped away from the hot oven. He forced a smile, which made Crystal do the same. That helped his mood.
“Hey, Crystal.” Will winked when he walked into the room. Then his eyes landed on Giovanni. He was terrified of the larger man, much more so than his little brother, Chad. “Uh…”
She was glad that Will had rushed to the kitchen. A fistfight was not a good way to start brunch off. When Josh came downstairs, she smiled. “You made it!”
Josh grinned. “Yeah.” He had almost gotten stuck with his girlfriend’s family for the holidays. “Couldn’t stay away.” He lifted Crystal with a hug. “He better be good to you.”
“Will you stop?” She shook her head. “Put me down.”
Giovanni had seen Josh treat her like his sister before. He had expected it. Months prior, he had gotten the third degree from Josh.
It bothered him that he wouldn’t meet her actual brothers, Cameron and Gavin, until Vegas. At least she has Chad’s family. He knew that meant she would always be close to Chad, even if Chad really moved on.
“Brunch is ready!” Valerie shouted from the kitchen.
Crystal pulled Giovanni to the table. “Come on.”
Besides French toast, bacon and sausage, there were other breakfast items: fruit, muffins with jam and scrambled eggs. Then of course, there were some lunch options like ham and turkey with rolls. Most normally went the breakfast route.
Giovanni had never actually had brunch before. He had thought it would be lunch. Crystal’s mention of French toast earlier had confused him. It was different, for sure. He planned to try everything and enjoy it.
CHAPTER THREE
While Chad helped set out desert, his mind started to wander. Christmas the year before, Crystal had been a free agent, and they had been lovers. He had also believed that she was falling for him.
Every time they had made love, he was sure it was about to happen. She had always responded as if it meant something to her.
He badly wanted to be deep inside her again. It had only been three days since she had said she loved him as they screwed. Granted, he had begged her to say it, but she had. It made him feel like he was right. They had something she had with no one else.
Absently, he washed and dried a platter that had not been used in a long time. Dainty hands on his waist made him suck in a breath through his teeth. He knew those hands. They had given him pleasure beyond his wildest dreams.
He tried to will her right hand to slip into his jeans, so his half-hard cock would finally rest. No such luck. However, she did wrap her arms around him. He looked up at the kitchen cabinets in front of him.
His breath sped up when she laid her head on his back. I’m gonna explode if she runs her hands up. He loved when she hugged him then explored his body unconsciously.
“What’s wrong?” She knew he was troubled but was also sure he wouldn’t tell her why without prompting. “You know I can feel it.” Their connection scared her some days. She wished she had that with Giovanni.
He put the platter and towel on the counter next to him and sighed. “The usual.” If they had been alone, he would have forced one of her hands down his pants.
His promise that their physical relationship had ended permanently three days ago came to mind. He groaned. I can’t break that. She needs me to fight it.
“I wish things had gone differently,” she whispered.
It wasn’t that she wished she had never met Giovanni. She wished she had fallen in love with Chad first. He had been the habit she couldn’t break until three days ago. No matter what, she had been drawn to him.
“Maybe then…” Her voice trailed off as painful memories came to her. Every time she
had broken his heart, hers had broken as well. After a while, the ache never went away.
Chad laid his hands over hers. “Don’t.” He swallowed hard. “You chose him. You can’t take it back. Things don’t work that way.” He hated when she gave him hope, although he knew she didn’t mean to hurt him more.
It wasn’t easy to hold back the tears. Crystal regretted many things. Most of all, she regretted not being able to fall in love with him. He was an amazing guy. Why’d I fall for Giovanni instead? She took in a shaky breath. I just did.
“Can we go up to my room and talk?”
She shook her head. “You know that can lead to more. We’re not having a repeat of last year.”
He groaned loudly. She had encouraged the memory he had tried to shake. His eyes closed as he imagined last Christmas. They could barely keep their hands off each other then. The scene played in his mind.
*** ♫♪♫♪ ***
She moaned as he thrust slowly. “Chad, damn you’re the best.”
He loved when she said that. It was an ego boost and told him she felt his love. He put his all into every time they were together.
Suddenly, she gripped his arms tightly and tensed within. He felt her struggle to stay silent. A cry would definitely get someone’s attention.
His body shuddered as she gripped and released his shaft again and again. Pleasure consumed him for minutes on end while she rode out the powerful orgasm.
As soon as she relaxed again, his pace picked up. She moved with him, which always drove him up a wall. Sweat covered his back. His hips moved furiously at that point. Good thing his bed didn’t squeak.
The possibility of being caught had morphed into the thrill of doing something they shouldn’t. He had always wanted to fuck her in a public place. However, they still hid their sexual relationship from everyone. Only his brother Will knew.
“Fuck. It’s too hot for this,” he muttered then tossed the blanket to the floor. He held her as close as he could in that position. “Baby, this is turning me on so much I’m gonna cum soon. Sorry.”
She caressed his back and sides. “It’s OK.” Then she gripped him hard while her back arched. “Chad, oh!”
“Ssh!” he warned her. “Someone’ll hear you.” His eyes closed as she rhythmically squeezed his cock. “Uh… I love how you cum.” His hips slammed into hers faster. “Baby… Getting close.”
She dug her nails into his side while she scratched his other side. “Chad? Chad? Hello, Chad.”
He didn’t understand why she was calling him like that. He looked down at her and her lips were closed. What the hell?
*** ♫♪♫♪ ***
“Where’d you go?” Crystal nuzzled Chad’s back. He hadn’t said a word in a long while.
Chad jumped when he realized he was still in the kitchen and not buried in Crystal. “Uh… Just thinkin’.” He glanced down and groaned when he noticed his erection was quite visible. “Help me think of my mom and not you.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “What?” Then she got his meaning. Slowly, she reached down and felt his erection. “Oh. Wow. OK. Hard to hide that.”
“I know.” He slumped forward slightly. “Wish I had underwear on.”
That comment made her core clench. She missed his body, too. “Want an apron? That would hide it.”
“Good thinking.” He smiled when she wrapped a black one around his waist and tied it for him. “Thanks.”
She patted his ass lightly. “Think about anything but me. Please.”
Giovanni smiled when Crystal walked back into the living room. “Hey.” He clasped her hand in his. “I was just talking to Sam here. Chad’s grandma is a wild one.”
“Oh God.” She sat and shook her head. “Did he tell you they met in Vegas? I don’t wanna hear about her sex life.”
Taken aback, his eyes opened wide. “I meant…” He tried not to imagine the couple in bed. To let it go, he shook his head. “I meant that they go out and party a lot.”
Sam winked at Crystal. “Don’t worry. She’s a minx in bed, too.”
“Ugh!” Crystal’s face heated up. “You’re as bad as her. You deserve each other.”
Valerie soon walked into the room. “Desert anyone?” After everyone had again filled their plate, they all sat in the living room, wherever there was space. “Since Crystal and Giovanni have to go soon, how about we give out gifts?”
“Sounds good.” Luke set his plate on the coffee table and grabbed the first package he could reach under the tree. “This one’s for Crystal.”
She took the wrapped box and smiled. “Thanks.”
The card told her it was from her parents. She hadn’t expected anything. That meant her mother had lied when she said her gift would be late.
In the box was a pair of silver chandelier skull earrings, a matching necklace, a Gasoline t-shirt and a pair of black tights. She stared at the contents, in shock. Her mother hated her style. She usually pushed bright colors on her. It was progress, for sure.
“Nice.” Giovanni lifted the chandelier skull and rose earrings. “Careful Chad don’t steal them.” He chuckled and bumped her arm. When she didn’t respond, he leaned against her. “What’s up?”
She turned to him. “Maybe this is really from Gavin.” She double-checked the tag. It was truly from her parents. “She never gets me things I’ll wear.”
“Maybe she finally accepted who you are.” He threw an arm over her shoulders. “You’re 23. She must realize you’re not gonna change.”
Chad knelt at her feet. “You OK?”
“Yeah.” She looked up. “My mom actually got me a cool gift.”
He smiled widely when he saw the earrings. “Hope she got me a pair of those, too.” He winked at her. “You know I could rock those.”
He didn’t care that his bandmates thought it was weird that he wore slightly dangling earrings sometimes.
“But they’d look hotter on you.” He felt her sadness. Automatically, he pulled her into his arms. “They’ll be here next year. Or we’ll go out to California.” She shook with a sob, and he kissed the top of her head. “I’m right here, my baby girl.”
Giovanni stared, annoyed. Chad had forced his arm to drop from her shoulders. Then he saw tears on her cheeks. Why can’t I sense her feelings like he can? Guilt filled him. He had no idea she was so upset that her parents weren’t there.
Chad knew without words that she needed to be comforted. Their connection always made Giovanni feel inadequate. He wanted that with her.
She clung to Chad as if he could heal her pain. It made Giovanni wonder if he could be the man she needed. I have to be, or she’ll run back to him again. That fear plagued him anytime he messed up.
When he had found out that she and Chad had become lovers again after she had left him that past summer, it had broken his heart. He hoped they really did end things after that. Some days he doubted it, but she had promised they had.
As he watched Chad continue to console her, his chest constricted with jealousy. He took a few deep breaths to let it go. Then he slid his arm over her back and leaned toward her. “You’ll see them for the wedding.”
“Yeah,” she muttered. Then she took in a shaky breath. Sure her reaction upset Giovanni, she pulled away from Chad and turned to Giovanni. “I miss them.”
Giovanni tried not to grin as he held her close. “I know. At least you still have them.” He swallowed hard. It reminded him that his father was not there either and never would be. “I’m here.” His voice broke as he tried to hide the emotion that built.
“I’m so sorry.” Crystal had realized she was being selfish. “I know your dad’s not here either. I didn’t mean to remind you.”
A single tear fell from his eye. He gritted his teeth and forced the memories away. “We need to leave soon.”
“We do.” Crystal accepted a tissue from Valerie and sat up straight. “I’m sorry. I’m fine.” She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Then she brushed a tear from Giovanni’s cheek.
“It’s Christmas. Let’s think happy thoughts.”
Grandma Joan handed Giovanni a wrapped package. “I should’ve gotten you a Speedo, so you could model it for me.” She snickered when he blushed. “Crystal, he’s fun to tease.”
“Is she always like this?” Giovanni whispered.
Crystal giggled. “Pretty much.” She took his hand in hers. “You get used to it.” She was glad that Chad’s family accepted him as one of their own as well. “Open it. We need to get to your mom’s.”
On the floor near her, Chad watched as Crystal and Giovanni opened a few more gifts. Then they gave out the ones they had brought. He didn’t want her to leave.
Time was soon to run out. He was sure they wouldn’t see each other for a few days, although he had some hope.
“I’m sorry.” Giovanni got to his feet. “My mom needs help with dinner. Thank you for everything.” He tugged Crystal up.
She smiled at Chad. “Call me after your date and tell me how it went.” She hoped he didn’t give her too many details, but she wanted to support him. When he also stood, she threw her arms around him. “Wear something nice.”
“I will.” He walked them to the door. “Wait, before you leave. I need to ask you something, Crystal.” Chad glanced around. “It’s something I don’t think you’ll want anyone to hear.”
Giovanni cocked an eyebrow. “Why can’t I hear about it?”
“It’s about the thing with Amy.” Chad frowned when Giovanni smirked. He should have known that would make Giovanni more curious. “I just need to know if something is true.”
Suspicious, Giovanni shook his head. “I have a right to know, too.”
“I can’t break Amy’s trust like that,” Crystal insisted. “If I knew how to ask her, I would.” She had looked her up on multiple social sites, but she had not found her at all. “We won’t be long.”
She followed Chad to the bathroom. It was the only room they knew they could be alone on that floor. “Just talking.”
Chad sighed. “I know. I won’t try anything. I promised you.” He leaned on the sink and stared at the floor. “I know I was drunk, but I do remember some things from that night. I’m not sure what part of it is real and what’s my imagination.”
Chasing Chad Page 2