Scrubbing at his beard and gathering his next words carefully, he moved closer and spoke in a low, mellow tone. “That woman you saw me with was Carmela.” He took a deep breath and Eden relaxed a tad. “She heard about my father’s death. I told her she was not welcome and to get out. She threatened to go to my mother with the papers, the ones that she blackmailed my father with. She thinks that she can blackmail me now, but she’s sadly mistaken. Eden, give me a fucking chance here.”
“What do you mean mistaken? Did you threaten to hurt her or something?” Eden asked, with an intense desire for answers, but not wanting to appear too officious. She highly doubted that Chase could harm a hair on this Carmela bitch’s head. As much as she had caused him and his father grief, he wasn’t the type to take revenge against a woman.
“God, no! I would never harm a woman, you know that Eden.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I didn’t hurt her. She’s reckless, and she needed to be stopped. I may have been a bit rough, but…look at me!” he pleaded. “Do you honestly think I would have hurt her?”
Eden shook her head. “Of course not. When I saw her crying and your hands on her…I’m sorry.”
“I told her not to waste her time, since I had already discussed the blackmail attempt with my mother, and she was well aware of Carmela and who she was. She tried to make advances to squirm her way back into my life. I told her just how much I despised her and she has no place in my life. I was malicious, I’ll admit that.”
“Ergo, the tears,” Eden concluded, slightly embarrassed from the ideas that had swum around in her head. She felt like such a fool, hoping to god that he would forgive her stupidity.
“Not even real tears. She was always very good at turning them on and off when she wanted something. I was always a fool to fall for them.” His shame showed on his face with no strife to hide it.
“So, she won’t be back?” Eden asked. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. I know you’d never harm her.”
“Eden, I just want that part of my past to stay just that, in the past. You’re my present and my future. That’s all I want, baby.” This time when he took her hand in his and opened it, she didn’t pull away, and he kissed her palm lovingly.
“You may not be my girlfriend…but you could be.” He laughed, mocking her silly comment, and she instantly wished that she could tear up the floor and slip under it.
She laughed, red-faced, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to embrace him. He held her tight, content to just stand and hold her close.
Chase arrived just before eight for their dinner date at Locke-Ober. He was very pleased to see that she wore the red wraparound dress she’d worn to their first business dinner at 49 Social. It seemed like forever ago. Her red stilettos set him ablaze the moment his eyes caught sight. He smiled as he helped her into his car, noting a group of interested men outside of Pulse observing the alluring view. He was one very lucky son-of-a-bitch indeed.
He held her hand in his lap as they drove to the restaurant. She surveyed him, admiring his choice in suits. Wearing an Italian charcoal-grey, pinstriped, single-breast wool suit, with a red shirt, a red and grey paisley and striped tie, and matching hanky tucked in his breast pocket, it was almost too much. The suit befit him to a tee and gave the right amount of kick-ass power with sexy charm and affluence; he simply looked hot. She imagined peeling him out of it with a look of hunger and demand on his face.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he teased, knowing that she had been staring at him for the majority of the ride.
“Just thinking,” she said her, brows raised in an unsullied expression.
“You, my dear, are transparent to me. You know this?” He squeezed her hand playfully.
Eden laughed. “Not totally I hope…a little mystery can be very enthralling.”
They were shown to their table in a far corner of the restaurant. Chase sat beside her. She liked the intimacy and the heat from his thigh touching against hers. The waiter handed them menus and asked for their drink order. Chase ordered a bottle of 1926 Chateau LaFite. Eden seemed pleased.
“What looks good to you?” Chase asked her, as he glanced over the menu. She ran her hand up his thigh, and he nearly jumped out of his seat, looking at her biting the inside of her lip with a mischievous look. He had a smile in the corner of his mouth, obviously enjoying her roguishness.
“You choose for me,” she said in a breathy tone, her eyes heavy and dark with heat.
“Not that I don’t like it, because believe me, baby, when I say I do…but if you keep your hand there, we’re going to have a very embarrassing walk out of here later.” He took her hand and held it in his and took a much-needed sip of water from the glass that the waiter had filled.
“Can’t blame a girl,” she said with a wanton grin.
“Why, Miss Fox, are you coming on to me?”
“Maybe.” She grinned impishly.
The waiter approached with the wine and trickled a small amount into Chase’s glass, waiting for him to sample before filling both their glasses. With a towel draped over his arm, he waited for Chase to place his order.
“We will have the Boston-cut ‘club’ steak, medium-well, the Nett Lake wild rice, and the grilled asparagus with hollandaise. Thank you.” He handed the menus to the waiter who bowed and walked away.
“Are you enjoying our first date so far?” Chase asked Eden, as he played with the butterfly ring she wore.
“I am, very much so. This is a beautiful restaurant. Have you been here before?”
“No, actually, I never have. I hear that lots of stars dine here though. It is beautiful, but not nearly as beautiful as you look tonight.” His eyes traced over her body, and she blushed, choosing not to shelter it from him.
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and gave her one simple kiss. It felt new, refreshing, like no other he had ever given her. In that one moment, there was an awareness of contentment. She was happy, truly happy.
“A toast to a perfect first date…and our future.” He raised his glass, and Eden contemplated what he said before lifting her glass and clanking it to his.
“Can I ask you a question?” she asked, swirling her wine in her glass, watching it form a tornado. “What exactly do you want? I mean for us, do you just want to pick up where we left off?”
Chase looked at her and thought for a moment. “No. I think that would be a great injustice to us both. I’m hoping that tonight marks a new beginning. I still want to care for you and I’m always going to be the man you know that likes control. That’s never going to go away. You can’t simply tame this beast.”
“But what do you want, Chase?” she asked, again wishing him to say that he wanted more.
“You really want to know what I want? I don’t want to scare you with what I want. I don’t want to risk you leaving me. Let’s just enjoy getting to know each other again.” There was almost a fear in his voice.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going to walk away…I just need to hear it from you.” She ran the back of her hand across his bearded chin with pleading eyes. He broke at the sight of her.
“I want to commit totally to only you…and I want the same commitment from you. I want a real relationship, baby.” He watched her as a glowing smile unfurled and she snuggled tight to his side.
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to hear you say those words.” She held tight to him.
“I thought you were against the whole idea of a relationship. You said it wasn’t for you. I thought if I…the first time I looked into your eyes and touched your skin, I knew I wanted so much more,” he acquiesced. “I honestly didn’t think I did. The more we shared, the more I knew I wanted a relationship, not just sex.”
“Me too.”
“But the sex was very, very good, baby.” He lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
“Yes, very good.” She faced him, deciding that now was the time to broach the subject that plagued her mind. “Chase? I don’t want you to t
each me to submit,” she blurted out.
He tilted his head to the side, not quite understanding what she was saying to him. His initial reaction was shock. Was she telling him that she couldn’t handle the sex, being dominated by him?
“You don’t understand, do you? It’s not that I don’t want to submit. Sex with you is amazing. It’s just that, the control thing, it works for me now,” she said, hoping that her explanation made sense to him. “I like your control. I want to be controlled by you.”
“You enjoy my dominance...well that’s good because I still want to do things to you, bad things, baby…to make you feel so good.” His voice was gruff and sexy. He raised his brow and bit his bottom lip with a wicked little smile, making her giggle.
“I like that idea. But…” She smirked,.“I want to do bad things to you, too. I want you to submit to me now and then.”
“I think I can handle that.” He smiled, and they shared a long, seething kiss.
Dinner was served, and they enjoyed the food and conversation. A tension had lifted between them, and the relaxed banter was new and revitalizing. Chase ordered them coffee and a single scoop of mango sorbet for dessert. He spoon-fed her, enjoying the sight of her tongue as it licked across her lips after the frosty treat.
When they arrived back at Pulse, they playfully necked and fondled each other in the car, steaming up the windows, while Tony the club bouncer looked on. Chase walked her up the stairs to Mikala’s apartment and kissed her fondly against the door for many long minutes.
“Night cap?” Eden asked, reaching for the door handle.
“No.” He looked at her longingly with a sigh as he ran his thumb across her cheek. “If I come in, I won’t want to leave, and I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you on our first date.”
“I would have never pictured you as the chivalrous type, but thank you for thinking of my reputation, Mr. Dean,” she said jokingly. “Then, this is goodbye.”
He stood, shaking his head, a serious look on his face. “No, baby, I’ll never say goodbye to you again.” His vow touched her heart. He kissed her a few more times and then left her at the door. She beamed, watching him descend the stairs.
A very real happiness encircled her heart, warmth spread over her body, and she knew this was going to be the beginning of something extraordinary. No need to rush, no need to speed into anything; slow and deliberate was on the agenda.
She changed into her pj’s and robe after setting the coffeemaker for morning. She checked messages on the message service, all for Mikala, and took her cell from her purse to check it for messages, too. She smiled when she saw a text from Chase.
I miss you already baby, sleep well! C.
She quickly texted a reply.
I miss you too! Dream of me because I’ll be dreaming of you! E.
I’ve never stopped dreaming of you. C.
You make me blush. E.
You know how I love it when you blush. C.
Eden bit her lip and giggled to herself as she typed her reply.
I wish you had stayed tonight. E.
In time we’ll be together, let’s enjoy the moments and take it slow. C.
She was a little shocked at his reply. He really did want to start fresh. She felt a stirring at the thought of dating and getting to know each other, from the first kiss to the moment he would take her completely as his own.
I look forward to it. E.
Until I see you again xxx’s. C.
xxx’s. E.
Mikala came in from a long night and threw herself onto the sofa beside Eden. She stretched her arms above her head to release the tension that running a night club filled with half-snapped, rowdy, horny, and sexually frustrated customers caused her. She’d quit, but then she’d miss it all.
“You alone? How did the date go?” Mikala asked.
“It was great. We went to dinner at Locke-Ober. The food was fabulous.”
Mikala stripped down to her bra and underwear as they carried on their conversation. “Ok, the food was good, but what about the date? Did you work everything out? Did you tell him how you feel, and better yet did he?”
“We’re going to keep dating. He told me he wants a relationship. We each thought that the other didn’t want that. He was scared to tell me in case I bolted…I seem to be famous for that. I just needed to hear him say it,” Eden explained.
“That’s really nice, honey. I’m glad for you, and you’re happy, girl?” Mikala patted her on the knee before standing.
“I’m really happy, Mik.”
“And you deserve to be, honey.”
Mikala put her arms out for a hug. Eden hugged her friend back, glad that Mikala was there for her. She could be such a mother hen, always concerned with her happiness and well-being, which Eden appreciated, but at times she could also be smothering and domineering, and Eden loved her for all of that.
“I guess I’ll have to start looking for an apartment soon.” Eden put it out there, waiting for the battle.
Mikala gathered up her clothes and disconnected herself slightly from the conversation before going on. “Honey, you can stay here for as long as you need. You have a lot on your plate right now with the new job. Relax,” Mikala ordered, not revealing that she secretly loved having Eden around and the idea of her leaving again made her blue.
“Well sooner or later, I’ll have to,” Eden said seriously.
“I know, honey, but for now you’re here for me to take care of.” Mikala laughed and gave her a big sloppy kiss on the cheek, a silly gesture to break the serious conversation that she liked to avoid at all costs.
“Want to go shopping tomorrow?” Eden asked.
“Would I turn down an excuse to spend money? What are we shopping for?”
“I need to get a present for Chase. I missed his birthday on the seventeenth,” she announced.
“What are you planning to get him? You going to do a party? You can use one of the private rooms if you want,” Mikala offered.
“No thanks. No party, I’m thinking of something a little more personal.” Eden grinned to her friend.
“Oh, I get it. You don’t want anyone cramping your style! I don’t like parties, anyway. Well, goodnight, and you have fun with your planning.” Mikala gave her another hug and laughed as she headed off down the hall to her room, humming the happy birthday song to razz her.
“Goodnight, smart ass.” Eden laughed and checked her phone again just in case, pouting when she discovered there was nothing more.
***
“Hey, man, you back already? How did it go?” Mason asked as he flipped through a fitness magazine at the kitchen table, only looking up for a second.
“It went well. Dinner was nice.”
“That’s all you’re giving me? Nice?” Mason asked, throwing the magazine aside to give his undivided attention to his best friend. He wasn’t for a minute letting him get away with a casual nice or otherwise. He wanted the dirt, and he was going to get it.
“What? We’re going to keep seeing each other,” Chase told him casually.
“That’s great, man. She’s good? You’re good?” Mason got up from the table, grabbed two glasses, set a bottle of Jack Daniel’s on the table, and slapped Chase on the shoulder.
“I’m good.”
“Nice, good, that’s it?” He waited patiently, but nothing more was being revealed. In fact, Chase seemed strangely unnerved. “So why so quiet? Sulking cause you didn’t get laid?” Mason laughed.
Chase poured himself at least four fingers of Jack, an unusual amount for him, and sat at the table across from Mason, who watched with amusement. He took a slow sip and swished it around his mouth before swallowing the warm liquid. He felt its warmth as it moved down his throat, then downed the remains of the glass and poured another, shooting it back and feeling the welcome burn.
“How do I tell her I love her…without scaring her away?” Chase asked, taking Mason by total surprise. Shocked all to shit would have been an understa
tement for what Mason was thinking. He knew Chase had strong feelings for Eden, but to hear him say it so coolly, like he was telling him tomorrow was just another day, was beyond shocking.
“Fuck me.” Mason rubbed at his face with both hands and downed his own glass in one large mouthful.
“Don’t act all stunned, jackass.” Chase poured them both a fresh shot and tapped his glass to Mason’s.
“I’m more surprised that you said it out loud…look, Eden rocks. Just tell her. She might surprise you. You know women live for that shit, the lovey dovey crap.” Mason cleared his throat. “Feelings and girly bullshit, you can have it man. It’s so not my style.”
Chase raised his eyebrows to his friend. “I know that that’s bullshit. You were in love once, you remember how it feels.” Chase emptied his glass and set up a few more rounds while Mason momentarily lost himself in thought.
“I still love my wife…I always will.” The painful truth tore at his heart. He was happy for his friend, happy for them both. He almost wished he could find that kind of love again, then the moment passed as swiftly as it came. “You’re not goingto scare Eden away.”
“You sound so sure. How would you know?” Chase asked, starting to feel the effects of the strong liquor.
“I just do.” Mason cleared away the bottle and glasses and came back to lean his elbows on the table to talk to his friend, knowing the secret that he shared with Eden, but remembering his promise to her. He would never break the trust that they shared, not even for his best friend.
“Go to bed, man.”
“I’m going…love you, man!” Chase blurted, leaving the room.
“You seriously need to get laid.” Mason laughed. He watched Chase as he headed to his office, sadly with no intentions of going near his bedroom.
***
“Mr. Dean asked me to remind you that there’s a board meeting at ten this morning, and just bring yourself and a pen,” Amanda relayed, putting Eden’s coffee and messages on the desk.
Eden's Pleasure (Pulse Book 1) Page 29