by Simone Elise
I couldn't stop myself. Didn't think it through. I forced the door open and her grip on the door broke. I closed the gap between us, the gap she had been forcing us to have since she came back to me. I gently cupped her face, and her eyes were still pinched shut. Why was she saying that? Didn't she know I'd do anything for her?
"What do you want from me?" If she didn't think I'd do anything for her, then she was wrong and I was going to prove it. "Just tell me Chloe, and I'll do it."
"You have already given me enough." She went to pull away from me, but I just held on tighter. She wasn't getting away that easy.
"If you doubt we are in a relationship, then I haven't given you enough." What was she thinking? She was biting her bottom lip and her hands covered mine.
"You don't know me," she bit out and pushed my hands off her face.
That's what she thought? That I didn't know her? My eyes flashed to the mark I had left on her neck; time to remind her just how well I knew her.
I took a step closer to her. "I know your sensitive right here." I kissed my mark and she arched her neck automatically, her grip on my hands tightening, her nails digging in. "I know your dad died when you were five. I know you joined the church when you were six and your mom remarried. I'm guessing the abuse started soon after that." It hurt saying that my Chloe, young and sweet, was put through hell when she was young.
"I know when you were fourteen you got an award for public speaking. It was your first. You were so nervous you tripped up the stairs. Your teachers said it was the beginning of your bright career."
She looked at me as if I couldn't possibly know that. The hours I had spent on the database searching her every record was paying off.
"I know how bright you are; how smart and funny." I dipped my head so she would look me in the eye. "And loyal."
"How do you know…?"
"And I know that you got this," I cut her off and lifted her wrist, "when I wasn't there to protect you, which won't happen again."
She closed her eyes, looking like she was struggling to breathe. "That was before."
"Before what?"
"Before I got all screwed up!" She opened her eyes, and that look I saw earlier in her eyes was there again. Hollow. Distant. "You liked a girl that doesn't exist anymore. You need to move on; I need to move on. Holding on to what could have happened is hurting both of us."
She was speaking the words, but she didn't believe them. I could tell by the hollowness in her voice. The way she was pulling away from me, as if she couldn't think clearly with me touching her.
"Fine. You want to start from the beginning. We'll start from the beginning." I wasn't just holding on to her, I was tying her down until she said she was mine again.
"You don't date." She looked at me as if I was mad.
I shrugged my shoulders. She didn't realize we were past that but, if that's where she wanted to start, then that's where we would start. "You'll be my first." And last. But I was honest. She was right, I didn't date. I saw something I wanted, I took it. I saw women as the same.
"You really want to do this?" She looked at me, as if giving me another chance to get back out.
I couldn't stop myself from leaning forward and kissing her cheek. "You couldn't talk me out of it," I whispered in her ear.
She looked at me, and this time her eyes were light and the shadow of hollowness was gone.
“Okay." Her hands gripped mine. "I guess we can try."
We were past trying. I was so hooked on her it should be illegal. Of course it would be my luck I'd get so hooked on a woman.
"So it's settled. We're dating." I pulled her into my arms and she tucked her head under my chin, her arms wrapping around my back. This was perfect. Her scent hit me hard and fast, right in the chest, suffocating me. I gripped on to her tighter. "Considering we are in a relationship now, I want you to know if you kiss another man, I'll shoot him too."
She pulled away, looking up at me. "Sorry about that, Chase." Regret washed over her face. "I really shouldn't have put you in that position."
"Don't worry about it." I shrugged it off. It wasn't a big deal. Now. At the time, I was fuming and couldn't see straight, which was why I had to make it clear. "You stop kissing strangers and I'll stop shooting them."
"Deal." She smiled, and it reached her eyes. "Might mean I have to turn down some of Oliver's challenges then."
"If he dares asks you again," I muttered.
She frowned, not understanding.
"Come on. I want you in my bed." And away from my brothers. She yawned and nodded her head. She was exhausted. My hands ran down to her hips and I easily lifted her up, her bare legs wrapping around my waist. "God, you are too light."
"This again." She sighed, resting her head on my shoulder.
To have her so close. I didn't want to put her down so I took my time walking to the bedroom. Knowing her reaction last night, she would be keeping to her side of the bed, regardless if we were now dating or not.
She wanted things to move slowly; then I'd slow them down. I pushed open my bedroom door and flicked on the lights.
"I want to change." She lifted her head off my shoulder. "I swear I've basically lived in this top."
I slid her down my body, kissing her head. "Hurry up."
I got a good glimpse of ass in pink lace as she walked into the wardrobe. Darn, I had it bad. It was like I thought earlier - she was wife material. The possibility of me committing to one woman for the rest of my life should scare the shit out of me.
But I couldn't wait for the day that Chloe would be promising to spend the rest of her life with me.
Right now though, I had to take it slow, so it did happen.
I kicked off my boots and pulled down my jeans, dumping my wallet and phone on the bedside table. I walked to the couch and took my vest and holsters off. Looking at the wardrobe, she hadn't come out yet.
I threw the blankets back and sat on my side of the bed.
"I hope you don't mind."
I looked up at the sound of her voice. I had never been more pleased. She was standing, leaning against the wardrobe door wearing one of my shirts. It was down to her knees. She was chewing her bottom lip, as if she wasn't sure if she had crossed a line or not.
"Come to bed, Chloe."
I expected her to head to her side. Instead, she walked towards me until she was standing in between my legs. I was greedy. I couldn't stop myself from touching her. My hands ran up the outer side of her thighs.
"Move over." She pushed me lightly on the shoulders, giving me a smile.
She was going to sleep on my side? With me? I had been sure she would be keeping to herself.
I didn't give her a chance to change her mind. I slid into the middle of the bed, giving her room, holding the blankets open for her. Her body curved back into mine and the distance she had been keeping was gone.
Her head hit my pillow and she sighed. "This bed is so darn comfortable." Her arm went up underneath the pillow, and I noticed it. This morning she was keeping the same arm up, as if it was tied to the bed.
"Chloe, can I ask you something?" I kissed her shoulder. I didn't want to bring it up, but, at the same time, I had to know the answer.
"Mm?"
My hand was on her hip, and I was watching for her reaction. "What happened to your wrist?"
"You know what happened to it."
"I'm not talking about that." My hand went underneath the pillow, gripping her other wrist. "I'm talking about these marks on your wrist."
I felt her go stiff under my hand, saw her eyes go wide and watched her swallow sharply.
"Chloe?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She was shutting down again. She moved her body so she wasn't pressed against me, heading for the edge of the bed. She pulled her wrist from my grasp and tucked it under her head.
"You're keeping something from me." I wasn't asking her, I was stating it. Something
happened that I didn't know, nor did my brothers, which means it must have happened in the house.
I got up on my elbow to see her face. She had her eyes pinched shut, and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. She moved closer to the edge of the bed, and I had had enough of her running away.
I wrapped my arm around her and dragged her back to me until her back was against my chest.
"Tell me what happened." Should I leave her alone? She didn't want to talk about it. So I found myself adding, "Please."
She turned in my arm, on to her back, opening her eyes. "It's not a big deal." She spoke softly up to me. "You will make it a big deal."
"I won't." So I had to keep my reaction to myself. I could do that. "I promise."
She raised her wrist and looked at it. "You promise not to overreact?" She looked from her wrist to me.
I nodded my head.
"You know how I was on house arrest?"
I nodded my head.
She sighed, dropping her wrist. Her fingers ran up my arm and she started tracing my tattoos. "Well, that wasn't enough for him." She was trying to distract me, her fingers on my skin; like she was trying to calm me down.
I sat up in bed and pulled her over me until she was straddling me. My hands were on her hips, my shirt rising up on her, enough so I could see the lace and how I'd love to peel it off, but right now I had to focus on her.
"How could that not be enough for him?"
"He just wanted to make sure I didn't go anywhere." Her eyes were on my chest, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders and down the side of her face.
Tucking her hair between her ears. He just wanted to make sure I didn't go anywhere. I picked up her wrist, and she let me run my thumb over the bruised imprints. "He tied you to something, didn't he?" Just don't let her see the anger I was feeling.
I waited for her to answer, and then she slowly nodded her head. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I just gripped her hips tighter after her confirmation. Her head snapped up and her eyes widened.
"You said you wouldn't overreact," she said, her hands spread across my chest.
"What did he tie you to?" My voice was calm. I was surprised how calm I sounded and I loosened my grip on her hips and instead started to run circles on her thigh with my thumbs.
"The bed."
"Your bed or his?"
"Mine."
Thank God. "Did he ever..." I started, but the words stopped in my throat. I couldn't say it out loud.
"No." She seemed to know what I was going to say, shaking her head. "Apart from the other night." She sighed, dropping her head "And well, you know how that turned out."
My eyes dropped to her wrist and the massive cut. Her eyes must have dropped to it too, because she was looking down, biting her bottom lip.
She had been distracting me earlier, trying to calm me down and it was my turn to calm her down; to clear her head and the guilt she was struggling with. I let go of her hips and my hands wrapped around her face. I brought her lips to mine.
She was still at first, and then she melted, her lips so sweet and soft.
I pulled back before I lost my self-control. She leaned her forehead against mine.
"You're not mad, are you?" Her voice was low, barely above a whisper.
I couldn't lie to her. I was furious. Anger was rolling through my blood faster by the second. I kissed her forehead, not being able to bring myself to lie to her. "Not at you." I shifted her off me and laid her back on her side. "Time for you to go to sleep."
She curved back into me. "Promise me you won't leave me."
I didn't know if she was talking about leaving her now, or ever. Either way, my answer was the same.
"Never." I kissed the back of her head and leaned over her, turning the lights off.
She settled in my arms and didn't mind the fact I was hugging her so tight.
My arm was under her head and my other arm wrapped around her. I could keep her safe from here and yeah, I could get used to going to sleep with her like this.
Chapter 54
Chloe's Point of View
I rolled over, stretching, and reached out for Chase. My eyes opened when I didn't feel him. It was still dark in the room from the curtains being closed. I doubted they were shut when we came in here last night, which meant Chase had done it when he got up to make sure I slept longer.
I rolled onto my back. Why did he have to be so bloody perfect? And caring? It was getting harder and harder to keep the rest of my heart from jumping out of my chest and laying itself at his feet.
I threw the blankets back and got up, my feet sinking into the soft, comfortable carpet. I walked to the wardrobe, flicking on the light. I noticed my bag on the ottoman. I opened it up. It still had everything I had packed for the gym that day in it.
I moved my pants and saw my phone. There was something that had been running through my mind. I knew I shouldn't and Chase would frown upon it, but I couldn't stop myself from turning the phone on.
I wasn't surprised when I had numerous missed calls and messages. All from Jenkins.
I dialed his number, chewing my bottom lip.
"CHLOE?"
"Hey Jenkins." I kept my voice light. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
"You kidding me? You've been missing for days. The police won't leave me the hell alone."
"Sorry." I didn't want the police nagging him. Jenkins didn't have any answers.
Jenkins groaned into the phone. "You okay?"
"Yes, and you can tell the police you have heard from me. I don't want you lying."
"Fuck the police. All I care about is you. Are you sure you’re okay? Where are you?" Jenkins’ voice tightened as he spoke.
"I can't say where I am because I honestly don't know." I paused and added. "I'm fine. I'm with a friend." Chase wasn't a friend; he was so much more than that. He said we were dating. I was dating The Chase McKenzie. It didn't seem real.
"You aren't going to give me any more information, are you?" Jenkins pointed out a fact.
"No."
He went silent and I was going to hang up. He knew I was alive, he could stop worrying. If he was worrying.
"You been training?" He brought up a subject I wasn't expecting.
"Um no." I looked at my wrist. "I'm injured."
"How bad?"
"I guess I could get back into it. What do you recommend for someone who has an arm injury?" I sat down on the ottoman.
"First workout?"
"Yep."
"Something light, like yoga. When you go back to weights, take ten kilograms off what you usually lift. As for running, you should be fine, but a few days of yoga first. Ease your body into it."
I smiled. "Thanks, Jenkins."
"You keeping this number?"
"No," I answered simply. "But when I get a new one, I'll let you know it."
"Promise?"
"Always. Bye Jenkins." I pulled the phone from my ear and hung up.
I felt better knowing he knew I was okay. He had been the one who had warned me that night.
I turned the phone off. I really needed to get rid of it. I picked it up and walked out of the wardrobe and into the bathroom. Putting the plug in the sink, I filled it with water and dropped the phone in it.
I looked up in the mirror. I really needed to cover these bruises on my jaw. My fingers ran over my jaw and down my neck, stopping right where Chase had marked. I clenched my eyes shut. I really shouldn't be letting him in.
Was I going to regret it? I couldn't see us having a future. I couldn't even see us having a tomorrow. Maybe I should just enjoy today. We had today. Day-by-day. I could do that.
I emptied the sink and pulled out the soaked phone. Knowing that it was fried now, I could put it back in my bag or in a bin.
Chase's Point of View
"So they accepted my offer?" I inhaled on my cigarette.
"Yes, and they accepted the th
ree-day settlement so the properties should be yours by Friday," Massie, the Real Estate agent said back to me. "They were rather blown away about the extra money you were giving them to settle early."
"Good." I had thrown them the extra twenty grand, hoping they would give up on their firm decision for a sixty-day settlement. I got my way and would be able to start building the clubhouse next week.
"Was there anything else I can help you with, Chase?" Massie extended an offer she had already asked me yesterday. She always took my calls, even my ones after midnight when I had made my mind up and wanted the properties.
"Nah, all good, Massie. You have the funds, right?"
"Yes, I do. Your lawyer has already passed them on. Come settlement day, there shouldn't be anything stopping us."
"Good." I needed everything moving forward and quickly.
"So, what's on for your day?" Massie asked, and I knew that tone when it came to women. We had only met half a dozen times, and she always made an effort to touch my arm, shoulder, or back.
"Got a lot to organize for the clubhouse I'm planning on putting on the motel's vacant land. You?" I had to be polite.
"So you are planning on staying in the city then?"
"Well, I wouldn't really call where I'm setting up `the city`."
She laughed. "No, I guess not, but it's not far."
"No, it's not, Massie." It was close enough to the city for the members to still get a good dose of city life.
"Can you drop by the office, say lunchtime, so we can get your signature on the final contracts?" Massie was asking like it was business, but something was telling me was personal.
"Sure, what time?" Those contracts had to be signed.
"I'm on lunch at one. Meet me at the office and then we can have lunch. I know the best restaurant. So, say one?"
It was business, right? "Sure. See you at one." Those contracts would get signed and then there wouldn't be a reason to meet again.
I hung up, walking out of the office and up the hallway into the lounge room.
"What are you lot doing?" I glanced up from my phone to see all of them staring out of the window. I walked towards them, still focused on my phone, coming to a stop next to Marc. I was waiting for Shawn to get back to me of when I was getting the rest of my members.