Played

by Colleen Charles

  Before I could stop him, Chase swung a closed fist toward Grantham. A scuffle ensued that ended in a loud and violent smacking sound that echoed through the air. When I opened my eyes, I saw Grantham lying on the floor, clutching his nose. Chase held his red fist and glared down at Grantham like he wanted to kill him.

  “Get out,” Chase growled. “Get the fuck out of here right now before I beat your ass! I don’t give a flying fuck if your Nolan’s father. Or my boss. Calling out the woman I love, the same woman who was pure when I met her, is so fucking uncalled for, I can’t even breathe.”

  Grantham shakily climbed to his feet. He didn’t look like an empowered lech anymore, he looked like a pathetic little old man who wanted to curl up into a corner and disappear.

  Nolan leapt up and grabbed his father by the collar. “You’re leaving,” Nolan hissed angrily. “And you will never set foot in my house again, never be in the presence of my wife again, if you can’t behave yourself.” He shook his head in disgust. “I should’ve known better than to allow you to come here without mother keeping a watchful eye on you. This is disgusting.”

  Nolan dragged Grantham to the door, opened it, and pushed him out into the hallway. I heard muffled conversation as Grantham argued with his irate son. Tiffani hopped up from her chair, grabbed her bag, and scurried out the door after Grantham.

  Chase pulled me close. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded slowly. “I’m sorry,” I said. I turned to Nolan and Charlie, tears pricking my eyes. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have been calmer. I’m so, so sorry. I’ve ruined everything.”

  “No, you did exactly the right thing,” Nolan said, placing a steady hand on my shoulder. I welcomed the warmth as his calm presence infiltrated my shaky body. “He’s been asking to be tempered for years, and I’ve ignored it for too long. I’m sorry my father treated you like that, Chastity, and I promise you won’t ever have to see him again. Unless you want to. The good thing about my father is he tends to make changes once the error of his ways creates enough turmoil in his life to drive positive change.”

  Chase nodded. “Grantham gets these wild hairs up his ass every time Anne starts making his life miserable. Chastity, you did nothing wrong. You’re only guilty of trying to make a passable living while putting yourself through a great college. You should be proud of yourself and never ashamed of all that you’ve already accomplished. Grantham seems to forget that he came from nothing himself. He’s self-made but only remembers when it’s convenient.”

  I smiled, but it felt like a slight tugging of my dry lips. I blinked about ten times to vanquish the moisture in my eyes. “Thanks. Charlie, I’m sorry I ruined the party.”

  Charlie enveloped me in the safety of her arms and stroked my hair. “You did no such thing. If anything, you made it better.” She looked at Nolan. “Your father sucks. I’m glad Chastity finally called him out.”

  Nolan nodded. “I’m really sorry to have put you through that.” From the tortured look in his blue eyes, I could be assured of his sincerity.

  “Chastity, why didn’t you say anything before?” Chase leaned down to kiss me on the forehead. “You know I would’ve taken that guy out in a heartbeat. Grantham Banks or not.”

  I nodded. “I know, but this was something I had to do on my own.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chastity

  “I’ve never flown first class before,” I whispered to Chase as I glanced around the opulent cabin, complete with sleeping pods. “This is incredible.”

  To tell the truth, I hadn’t actually ever flown before. But I copied Chase’s actions – from taking off his shoes when we were still in the line for security, to pulling my computer out of my bag before it went on the conveyor belt. I still felt like a total rube, but there wasn’t much I could do. And on the plane, it was easy to forget how totally uncomfortable I was. The flight attendants didn’t let five minutes pass without offering me champagne or ice cream or chocolate.

  “It’s worth it,” Chase said. He kicked off his Valentino loafers and reclined his seat until his feet were level with his head. “I’d never do it any other way unless I bought my own plane or leased a private jet. Flying in coach is like being in a cattle pen. You’re basically in your neighbor’s lap the whole time. Not acceptable for a puddle jump, let alone winging it across the entire pond.”

  I nodded. I’d seen the price of the tickets – they were astronomically expensive. How would I ever repay him? A grin tugged at my lips at the thought of dropping to my knees and sucking him deep into the back of my throat. That was one way.

  “And now we relax,” Chase added. He closed his eyes. “You think you can sleep? We’re gonna be on this thing for about seven hours.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t even sleep in cars. I doubt this will make any difference.” I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My head swam with everything that had happened in the last couple of weeks, and I didn’t know how to calm down. So when I felt my eyes start to get tired, I allowed them to flutter closed with gratitude. I’ll just nap for a little bit, I thought. Don’t want to miss dinner or anything.

  When I woke up, the sun streamed in through the cracks in the window shades. A flight attendant reached down and handed me a breakfast platter as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

  “You were snoring,” Chase teased. “It was cute, though. More of a rubbing of sandpaper than a freight train.” He pointed out the window. “What do you think? We’re almost there.”

  I gaped. “You’re serious?”

  Chase nodded and scooped up a bite of his scrambled eggs. Damn it. I hadn’t even had a chance to get in his pants. Later.

  The plane touched down in Schiphol Airport just after ten in the morning, local time. I was pretty tired. I’d slept the whole night, but jetlag made my body feel like it was still close to midnight. As Chase hustled us through the airport and baggage claim, I felt like I was halfway to falling asleep just from following him.

  I dozed off again in the cab. Chase had to gently shake me awake when we arrived at the Hotel Sofitel Legend. It was the most beautiful hotel I’d ever seen. The luxurious accommodations combined with the long flight made me feel like I was dreaming. As I followed Chase up to our room, I couldn’t get over the wonder of being in another country.

  “I have a confession to make. I’ve never even been outside of the tristate area,” I muttered to Chase as we stepped out of the elevator. “How the hell am I supposed to get used to being in Europe?”

  “You’ll get used to it,” Chase said, rubbing my shoulders. I melted into his strong hands and purred. “Feel like a nap? I mean, alone?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  We crawled into bed together. I’d planned on falling straight asleep, but seeing Chase’s shirtless chest filled my stomach with nervous butterflies. And his smell. Lord almighty, the man’s scent was like nirvana. I pulled off my top and jeans and got into bed wearing just my panties, anxious to feel his naked skin against my own. Even the scrap of lace felt constrictive against the tingles of desire flooding them with wetness.

  “I don’t think I can sleep next to you,” Chase murmured in a husky voice. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me close. “At least, not unless you want to give me blue balls for the rest of the trip.”

  The sensation of the silky sheets and Chase’s warm skin against my body stirred something primal in me. Our lips met. Because of my studying and his work, it had been too damn long. It seemed we didn’t get enough alone time. Until now. Chase’s tongue slipped into my mouth, eagerly exploring. A damp mess developed between my legs by the time he reached under the sheets and gently stroked the crotch of my panties.

  “There seems to be an issue with your panties, Chastity.”

  “An issue?”

  “They’re in my fucking way, and they need to go. Now.”

  This time, I wanted to take control. I desired him like I never had before. As quic
kly as I could, I ripped the silk material off and straddled his muscular body. Chase’s boxer briefs prevented me from getting as close as I wanted, and he ground against my hips, keeping his eyes locked with mine. My skin flushed with heated desire as Chase slid a hand down my body, cupping my breasts and pinching at my stiff nipples with his thumb and finger.

  “This isn’t why I brought you on vacation,” Chase said on a moan. “But I’m not going to say no to your perfect body, tempting me at every turn.”

  As I gyrated my hips on top of his cloth-covered erection, Chase’s eyes rolled back in his head. Reaching underneath my body, I pulled his cock through the opening of his briefs. Chase was so hard that he could barely fit in my hand. I moaned as I rocked my hips on top of him, easing just the head of his erection inside.

  Being locked together with Chase was the most incredible feeling in the world. As he began to thrust and move his body beneath mine, I shivered and shuddered and groaned with pleasure. My lower belly quivered, taut with arousal, and I threw my head back and moaned as Chase slipped a finger beneath my body and found my hard clit. His thumb rubbed slow, lazy circles over my nub of pleasure until I let out a throaty groan of ecstasy. The sensations rocketing through my body were the strongest I’d ever felt, and I knew that I couldn’t last much longer. Just as I was about to explode with the most powerful orgasm I’d ever had, Chase pulled his hand away.

  I groaned. Chase looked at me and grinned.

  “I’m not done… yet,” Chase growled.

  He grabbed my hips and pulled me off his cock, throwing me down on the bed. I squealed as I landed on my belly. Before I could roll over onto my back and demand the eye contact I craved, Chase crawled on top of me. He nipped at the back of my neck, sending delicious shivers of pleasure down my spine. I cried out as Chase’s hot tongue licked over my skin. He slid his hands down my back, between the cheeks of my ass until my face was bright red. Being on my stomach like this, unable to see what might come next added a whole new level to my arousal. I felt exposed, slutty – vulnerable.

  Claimed.

  But I trusted Chase, and I trusted that he loved me and would never do anything to hurt me.

  Chase slid his hands under my body, cupping my breasts. He knelt between my spread legs and pushed his cock deep inside me. While we’d always felt perfect together before, having Chase take me from behind was a whole new level of pleasure. He felt even bigger, and I moaned as he buried his cock deep inside of my pussy. Chase grabbed onto my ass and began to rock back and forth. He groaned, thrusting harder and harder with each movement. Soon, our bodies flowed together, and it was as if we’d become one.

  “Damn,” Chase grunted, thrusting deep.

  He tangled his fingers in my hair and yanked my head back. The light ache mixed with the pleasure, and I couldn’t tell where one sensation ended and the other began. Little pants of pleasure flowed through my body and flew out my mouth as I inhaled against the plush mattress. I arched my back and shoved my ass back to meet Chase’s thrusts. Each time his cock penetrated me, I could feel myself being pushed closer to the brink.

  Chase dug his fingers into my ass, kneading the tender skin. He ground his hips against my body, and I could imagine the look of rapture on his handsome face although I couldn’t see him. But holy shit, could I feel him.

  I buried my face in the sheets, moaning louder than ever as shockwaves of orgasmic pleasure radiated through my limbs. Chase slipped a hand under me to find my swollen clit and one touch sent me into orbit. I spread my legs under his body and ground eagerly against his hand. I tensed and relaxed, and I cried out as a powerful tsunami of an orgasm washed over me. It was so powerful that my eyes screwed shut, and I felt saliva drip onto the pillows below my face.

  “God,” Chase groaned. His cock pulsed and twitched inside of me, indicating his own release. My heart pounded a frantic rhythm that began to slow just a bit as Chase pulled out of me and flopped down on the bed, pulling me on top of him. I nestled into his strong shoulder and exhaled, still reeling from the most powerful release of my life.

  I’d come so hard that my limbs trembled. Chase wrapped an arm around me and pulled the silky sheet over our entwined bodies.

  “Now I think I can sleep,” Chase murmured. “What about you?”

  But I’d already dozed off, sated and feeling blissful and perfectly content with the world.

  When I woke up, the setting sun signaled late afternoon. Chase sat perched by the window, his nose buried in a Michelin guide.

  “I always eat street food when I’m here, but I think we should celebrate,” Chase said. “How do you feel about De Kas? Mediterranean food. Sound good?”

  I yawned. I felt lazy and sloppy, not worthy of dining out at such a posh restaurant. I wondered if I’d ever get used to his taste for all things luxurious.

  “Can we just get room service tonight and go out tomorrow?”

  Chase gave me a glimpse of his sexy smile. “Perfect.” He tossed me a heavy leather-bound menu. “Let me know what you want, and I’ll call it in.”

  After Chase ordered our dinner, I took a long, hot shower, washing all traces of travel and hot sex from my exhausted body. By the time I toweled dry, I felt halfway to human again.

  “Travel really takes it out of you,” I said as I wrapped myself in a plush robe. “I feel like I just ran a marathon.”

  Chase smirked. “We should go on a walk later, stop in a coffee shop. Maybe take a canal cruise. What do you think about that?”

  I yawned. “One step at a time. I don’t know how much I can handle today.”

  A sharp rap rang out, and Chase stepped away to answer it. When he returned, pushing a large metal trolley, my stomach rumbled with hunger.

  “Before we eat,” Chase said. “I’ve got something for you.” I stared at him through narrowed eyes as he lifted the lid off the biggest tray. He grinned as he reached in, then handed me a small porcelain cup.

  “You got me an egg?” I stared. “I didn’t order eggs.”

  “Open it,” he said with another sexy smirk, as if he’d known all along a surprise would arrive along with our meal.

  Carefully, I opened the small porcelain cup. Inside, nestled in some tissue, lay a key on a pink ribbon.

  “Chastity Marie Sexe,” Chase said in his formal voice, getting down on one knee. “Would you do me the honor of moving into my condo once we return from Amsterdam?”

  My jaw dropped, and tears pricked my eyes. I pulled out the key and stared at it. The shiny metal hypnotized me. It reflected everything I felt – all of my hopes, all of my dreams for the future.

  Everything. In the shiny gold metal and in the eyes of the man who knelt before me. How had I gotten so lucky?

  “Are you sure?” I stared, waiting for any hesitation, anything at all that might cause me to refuse the perfection of his offer.

  Chase grinned. “I would have asked before, but I had a feeling I’d freak you out. Things were so volatile after Angela… and Grantham. It just wasn’t the right time, and I wanted you to know I didn’t have any ulterior motive. My only motive is to build a life with you. I love you, Chastity,” he vowed. “So, will you?”

  Chase reached out and took one of my hands in his, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. I couldn’t speak and just kept swallowing. The lump in my throat refused to go down.

  “I know the danger is over. This isn’t about protecting you, Chastity. Although I want to do that, I know you’re a strong, independent woman. I’m not asking because I feel obligated to protect you. I’m asking because I love you from the bottom of my heart and because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Since you’ve indicated a need to graduate, get on your feet career-wise, and take things slow, I figured this was a good start.”

  My throat felt too tight to speak, but I managed to nod my head. “Yes,” I whispered. “I’ll move in with you. I love you too. So much.”

  Chase pulled me into his arms and kissed me, the softness of his
lips sealing our promise with the gentle pressure of love. And hope. On his lips, I tasted an offer of happiness, of what I’d always wanted.

  “I love you, Chastity,” Chase said. “I love everything about you. You’re smart and gorgeous and funny, and you’ve impressed me and shown me new things. I never thought anyone could do that. But you can… and that’s why I love you.”

  The tears that had threatened to spill now waterfalled down my cheeks. I buried my face in Chase’s neck, inhaling his essence.

  “I love you, Chase,” I whispered again. “And I always will.”

  As we embraced, I knew that the storybook ending I’d never known I wanted hovered right within reach of my fingertips. All I had to do was to reach out and clasp it and it would be mine. Chase was everything I’d ever wanted, and I loved that he loved me as a woman, not for some plastic Barbie who said and did whatever he wanted. I felt like I’d won the lottery and somehow become Queen of the World with the strength of one heartfelt gift.

  “I always want things to be like this,” I murmured. “Even though I probably didn’t do a good job of articulating it.”

  Chase chuckled. He pulled away, squeezing my hand one last time. “I can’t promise things will always be exactly like this, but I can do you one better. I promise to always love you and support you, no matter what.” His eyes shone with love as he talked. I wanted to look at his face for the rest of my days. No matter how many we both had.

  “I promise the same,” I said in a shaky voice. “For the rest of my life, Chase.”

  Chase’s lips captured mine and provided the only answer I’d ever need.

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