by Sweet, Izzy
Chase… Chase is in the zone. Dale pushes him through several different weight lifting machines. He has him working his arms, his shoulders and his legs. There’s even some kind of weird squatting machine that looks like it hurts. When he’s done, I’m flabbergasted to hear that was just the warmup.
I’m exhausted just watching him.
Once Dale breaks out the fighting mitts and starts yelling things at Chase like “That’s all ya got, big boy?” and “Suck it up, Buttercup!” I decide it’s time to grab some lunch.
Grabbing up my things, I wave over at Chase, getting his attention and motion that I’m leaving. He nods and I turn to walk away.
I hear a loud thump then Chase grunts in pain. I turn back around just in time to see Dale yelling at Chase, “Eyes on me.”
Hurrying out the door, I hop into the driver’s seat of the Jeep then have to do some serious adjustments. At first my feet don’t even touch the floor. Once I’m comfortable and have the mirrors pointing the way I need them, I pull out and drive just up the street to grab coffee from my favorite coffee shop. Chase told me to order him double of what I order so I return to the gym after picking up four giant meatball subs.
Chase and Dale break for lunch when I return. And since I picked up enough subs for everyone, the three of us sit down at a table and eat together.
“So, do you train like this every day?” I ask Chase before shoving a meatball in my mouth.
Chase grins at me and shakes his head. “No, these are nightmare days. I do the nightmare days twice a week, then three medium days, then one light day and one day off while I’m training for a fight.”
“Sounds exhausting,” I remark while watching him devour a large chunk of his sub in one bite.
Chase only shrugs and chews.
“Do you do this for the entire three months?”
Chase nods.
“Why do you do it?” I ask.
Chase blinks at me, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Why do you fight? Why put yourself through all of this?”
Dale starts chuckling and excuses himself from the table to take a call.
“Because I like it,” Chase answers and leans over the table towards me. “Because it’s fun.”
“It’s fun? Seriously?”
“Yes,” Chase grins and I can’t help but squirm in my chair the way he looks at me, like he’d like to eat me up. I have flashes of last night. Did it get hot in here?
“It’s fun,” he goes on. “I could probably spout off some philosophical bullshit about Zen and shit, but the truth is I enjoy it. I fucking love it. It’s almost as good as pizza. Almost as good as sex. And I get paid to do it.”
“Almost as good as sex?” I ask with a smirk.
“Out of all that, that’s what you focus on, huh?” he asks.
I bite my lip and shrug my shoulders. How can I not think about sex whenever I’m around him? He has supernatural pheromones. Even as sweaty as he, even as stinky as he is right now, I’d so jump his bones.
Chase shakes his head as if he can’t believe me and picks up his second sub, taking another huge bite.
“You can’t do this forever, though, right? You’ll have to retire at some point.”
Chase nods and continues to chew.
“When do you plan to retire?”
He doesn’t answer and I get the hint he doesn’t intend to. I guess that’s secret or something.
“Do you have plans to do something if and when you retire? Like something else?”
“Yep,” Chase answers easily. “I’ll put my real estate license to use and take over some of the reins from my dad.”
I nod, remembering he told me his dad was in the real estate business.
“That sounds cool,” I say and glance down at my phone. I’ve been checking it all day hoping I’d get a call about the internship. I only have three more paid weeks off before I have to take Ethan up on his offer.
“What about you, Avery?” Chase asks, balling up his sandwich wrapper. “What do you want to do? What are you going to school for?”
“I want to help people,” I say and look up from my phone, smiling. “I’m working on my human services degree. I would like to get involved in a program or start a program that helps troubled youth.”
“Oh?” Chase asks with interest. “Why troubled youth?”
I sigh and glance at my phone. “I guess because I was one? I mean, I kind of know how much it sucks to feel like the world is just out to get you. And it’s not like you asked for any of it…. You didn’t ask to be born.”
“That sounds very admirable,” Chase says quietly.
I shrug, feeling incredibly self-conscious. I’m not doing it to be admirable or to have people think that of me. “Sometimes, and I know this from personal experience, it just helps knowing someone else out there gives a fuck.”
Dale returns from his call and Chase has to get back to work. I clean up our mess then head back to my bench. I alternate between checking my phone and watching Chase.
The way he pushes himself, the way he challenges himself, there’s so much inner and outer strength to it. I can only admire him for it. I know I couldn’t do that to my body. I’d cry like a little baby if I tried to.
But then another part of me is weary. He’s training so hard, pushing himself because he wants to hurt Ethan. This situation is so fucked up, I keep pushing it to the back of my mind, not sure how to deal.
When I hooked up with Chase, I had no idea he and Ethan were up for a rematch. If he didn’t seem so surprised that I didn’t know, I may have even believed he deliberately kept the information from me. If he wasn’t so considerate, wasn’t so obviously into me, I may even worry he’s just with me to fuck with Ethan. But I’m fairly confident that’s not the case.
At least I certainly hope it’s not.
If I knew Chase was going to fight Ethan, would I have agreed to go on a date with him? I’m not sure. Probably not.
But now it’s too late to take last night back. I told Chase I’m his and I meant it. I just don’t know how all of this is going to work out.
When he’s done, Chase hits the shower before walking up to me and pulling me against his side.
“Up for coming back to my place?” he asks as we walk out of the gym.
“I’d love to,” I tell him regretfully. “But I hate leaving Sebby alone two nights in a row. Want to hang at my place?”
Chase shakes his head, unlocks my door for me and holds it open for me. “Nah. Why don’t you just bring him back to my place? We can swing by and pick him up.”
“Seriously?” I ask, completely surprised he’d be willing to do that.
Chase nods, “Seriously,” and shuts my door.
I buckle up. Chase pulls open the driver’s door then curses as he tries to squeeze in. “What the fuck? Did a munchkin drive my car?”
Chapter Sixteen
Chase
We pull into my driveway and I look over at Avery and Sebastian. They are both sitting next to me, staring at my house. I want it to be our home instead of my house. I want to share it with them already, and it’s odd to have that feeling so quickly for me but I know it’s right, and I am going to go with my head and my heart here.
Sebastian lets out a quiet meow as Avery shifts him somewhat to give him a better look out the window. “What do you think Sebastian? Think this can work for the night?” she asks.
I slow down for a quick stop to let him see the front of the house before I pull us into the garage.
Yes, and for much longer, I think to myself and smile at the two of them. A pure black cat and a beautiful raven-haired goddess. Fuck, I am getting far too mushy right now. I need to get them inside and settled before I make an ass of myself.
“Ready to go in?” I ask as I put my hand on the door handle.
“Yes,” Avery says softly before wrapping a tight arm around Sebastian and opening her door.
We walk in through the garage. As I push the
button to shut the door, I still can't fucking quit smiling.
Sebastian does a quick tour of the house before finding us snuggled on the couch, watching the news. He meows once and then plops himself down on the arm.
“I think he likes it here," I say, tightening my arms around her.
“Yeah, I think so too,” she says and I can’t tell if she wants to smile or frown.
My hand slowly slides down from around her shoulder until it’s right above her breast. I turn my head and take in a deep breath of her hair. Her hair smells really good. She has some kind of natural scent to her that keeps my hormones in an active state of overdrive. Right now, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of her scent. It’s fucking intoxicating.
“Mmm, you smell like the gym,” I say quietly, trying hard not to smile.
She pulls away and grabs a chuck of her hair. She lifts the chunk of hair to her nose and smells it.
“No, I don't,” she says in confusion.
Leaning my head down, I sniff the shoulder of her shirt. Scrunching up my nose, I frown. “This shirt smells really bad, too.” I smile as I start to lift the shirt over her stomach.
Turning her head to the side, she sniffs right where I just sniffed. I have the shirt above her bra as she exclaims, “I don't smell anything at all!”
“I bet your pants smell horrible too. And your bra and panties. I bet everything you’re wearing stinks.”
Her confusion is turning to hurt as she looks at me.
“But I just put these clothes on...” I have the shirt under her chin.
“Woof, you need a good shower too.” I say as I start to grin.
Then the confusion disappears and she growls at me. Her hands tug down her shirt. “You are just trying to get me naked, you big meanie! I smell fine!”
Raising my hands in the air defensively, I say, “Hey, I just wanted to help wash your back.”
She shakes her head and stares at the TV while crossing her legs one over the other. “No way, you said I smell bad.”
Sometimes I really do like being as big as I am. I mean I can do all sorts of things to people who are much smaller and more delicate than me. Like what I do when I stand up.
I lean down, swooping Avery up and into my arms and carry her towards the stairs. She yelps loudly as I switch from a threshold carry and toss her over my shoulder. I give her delicious ass cheeks a light slap and start climbing the stairs.
“You know...” I say as I lightly swat her hands away because she’s trying to cover her butt. “You have a delicious ass. I mean it's probably one of the top asses in the world.”
“You're an ass,” she growls. Out of nowhere I feel her teeth through my shirt, biting at my back.
“What are you doing back there?” I ask.
“You, sir, are a brute,” she declares then I feel a sharp pinch as she gooses my ass cheek.
“Ouch!” I gripe as I pull her over my shoulder and toss her onto the bed.
“Who said I was going to get in the shower with you?”
“Sebastian and I had a talk, dear. It’s been decided since you can't be counted to wash yourself completely, I need to join in and help.”
I pull one of her shoes off then begin to work on the second.
“Excuse me?” she squeals as I begin brushing the soles of her feet. “No way would he take your side over mine.”
“I may have promised him a couple of cans of salmon if he switched over.”
Pulling her towards the end of the bed, I stand her up. My hands pull her shirt up and over her head then I toss it across the room to my dirty clothes hamper. I unfasten her bra and try to keep my mind on the job ahead, but I can't help taking a couple swipes with my tongue on her nipple just as I push her pants down around her ankles. Her panties follow and now I have her completely naked. She was truly built to fuck.
“I...” she starts but my mouth latches down on her breast. Sucking in the nipple, I swirl my tongue against it. I feel her arms wrap around my head and she holds me while a quiet moan flows from her lips.
Grinning, I pull away and stand up, quickly tearing off my clothes. Standing in front of her naked, I lean down and just have to kiss her lips.
I pull her into the shower and set the water to almost too hot. Washing her down, I take the time to ensure each spot on her luscious, fuckable body is squeaky clean. Sometime during the cleaning we end up with me pressing her against the glass wall and I kneel down to eat her beautiful pussy through a couple of orgasms. Her body goes limp after the second one, she’s tired and I want to get her in my bed, so I sit her down on the bench and I quickly wash myself off.
Lifting her up in my arms, I carry her robed body to the bed and snuggle up behind her. When her breathing deepens, I wrap her up and pull the blankets tight around us.
***
The next day, after I finish in the gym, I pick her up from school and bring her back home.
She sits across from me at the bar in the kitchen as I prepare our dinner.
Frowning, she says, “I was really hoping I would hear back about the internship by now. This sucks. If I don’t find something else, I’ll have to work for Ethan.”
I almost slip and stab my hand as I cut open the roll of ground beef. “You could let me take care of you,” I say while dumping the contents into the frying pan. It’s a spaghetti night.
“Absolutely not!” she says with some heat.
I'm not exactly sure why she's upset, but I know it has something to do with me suggesting I’d take care of her.
“Why not? I mean it’s not like you’re a gold digger. I have the money and I want to make sure you don't have to be near that little prick.”
She closes her eyes for a moment and I can see her taking long, deep breaths then exhaling them. “Thank you for the offer Chase, but I don't want you or anyone taking care of me like that. I would feel like a whore.”
“But that is not...” I try to say but she shakes her head.
“I know that, and you know that, but no, please understand, I don't want you to. I like where we are heading with our relationship. But I don't want that to happen, okay?”
I nod my head but I am so not fucking happy right now. I don't want her anywhere near that fuckhead, and I know her complaint wasn't a plea for me to pay her way but I wouldn't mind. But I also don’t’ want to scare her away by forcing the issue. Lord knows the last thing I need is her thinking I’m as big as a fuckwad as Ethan is.
I stop browning the burger and look her straight in the eyes. “I am in this for the long haul Avery, you need to know that.”
“So am I,” she says and gives me a tight but meaningful smile.
Chapter Seventeen
Avery
My paid sick leave is up and if a miracle doesn’t happen soon, I’ll have to accept Ethan’s job offer. I don’t want to. I feel like it’s going to screw things up with Chase if I do, but I’m out of options.
The internship hasn’t come through. I talked to my instructor after class yesterday and he told me he wasn’t sure what was going on with the internship but as soon as he heard something he’d let me know. Until then, Ethan let my old position get eliminated. So it’s either work for Ethan as his personal assistant or be jobless and penniless.
I can’t risk truly being down and out.
When Chase offered to help me, to take care of me, a part of me really wanted to accept his offer. I swear something inside me started screaming and crying when I turned him down. It would be so easy to just let him take over, to let him solve my problems for me. But if he gave me money I would owe him. I know I would feel like I owe him, like I’m indebted to him, and it could completely change the dynamic of our relationship.
I like Chase a lot. Too much, even. I want to see where things go with us and I want to keep money out of it. Sure, I’m staying at his place with my cat but it’s because he likes his place better than mine. I’m not living with him. I’m just sleeping with him. We’re not that official.
>
I’m afraid that if I let Chase give me money, if I start to feel indebted to him, I may resent him for it. I resent Ethan a little bit. I feel stuck to Ethan, even though all he’s done is help me out. But with Chase it could turn out to be so much worse.
What if he felt like he was stuck to me?
I’m still getting to know Chase, getting to know what makes him tick, what his motivations are. So far it feels like we’re a good match. But what if things don’t work out between us? What if the flames die down? Then what? I could end up on the streets. I don’t think he’d do that to me, throw me out… but would I just want him to take care of me out of a sense of obligation? Fuck no.
I want things to work with Chase, I need things to work with him. He’s so amazing…. He’s everything I want that I didn’t know I wanted. He’s everything I need. And what we have is pure, it’s real. I don’t want anything, especially money to tarnish it.
I feel like I need to protect what we have from the dirty outside world.
So I’m going to work for Ethan if nothing else comes through. I’m going to swallow my pride and accept his offer and hope it doesn’t fuck things up with Chase too much. Because everyone deserves a second chance, right?
And I don’t know what else to do.
Chase
I have to ask around the campus where the Financial Aid office is after I drop off Avery for class, I haven't been here before and it is turning out to be a bit of an issue. You’d think it would be in the main building but no, it’s all the way on the other fucking side.
I spy a few girls as I walk across the campus and if the looks I have earned are any indication, the bruises must be in the ugly green stage.
“Hey there, I need some help if you have a moment,” I say to the cute little blonde behind the counter of the office when I finally find my way in.
Hmm, cute as hell but couldn't even touch Avery with how insanely hot she is.