by Chris Taylor
“I love you, Chase. You. Not your body, not your bike, not your illustrious career. Love isn’t about what you can give me. It’s about how you make me feel. It’s about me wanting to be the best person I can be—to make me worthy; to make you proud.”
He shook his head, unconvinced. “But, you want to be a mother. It was all you used to talk about. You were born to be one. I saw you with the Logan boys and with Riley and Kate’s twins. The yearning’s still there. You can’t tell me any different.”
Frustration surged through her and she tried once again to make him see. “You’re right, I wanted to be a mother. I still want to be a mother and yes, I wanted your babies. I won’t deny it’s true. I dreamed of the day I would hold our child in my arms. A little boy or girl with your emerald eyes and curls of golden brown. I couldn’t wait for it to happen.
“Now, I find it’s not possible, that a child of yours will never be, but it doesn’t change the way I feel about you. You’re so much more to me than a sperm donor and you know what? You’re really starting to piss me off that you continue to think of me so poorly. Child or no child, I’ll love you until I die. Get used to it.”
A tiny glimmer of hope flickered in Chase’s eyes. Josie stared at him and willed him to believe her. The death of her dream of one day carrying Chase’s child was a blow, but she’d mourn the loss of that later. Right now, the question of Chase’s fertility didn’t matter. All that was important was that she convince him she was telling the truth.
A smile broke out across his face. He took a step toward her and then another. Within seconds, she was engulfed within his strong embrace and pressed so tightly against him, she could barely breathe. A moment later, he released her, but only to swing her up in his arms. He strode across the porch, with moonlight and the soft glow from the living room lighting the way. She hadn’t even noticed the evening was fully upon them.
Bending his head, he took her mouth in a kiss so sweet and passionate, it almost brought tears to her eyes once again. His expression was one of love and tenderness as he gazed down at her. “I love you so much, Josie Munro.”
Kicking the door closed behind them, he headed straight down the hall.
“What about the plumber?” she murmured against his neck, suddenly remembering.
Chase came to an abrupt halt and did an about-face. Striding back to the front door, he turned the lock. “The plumber can wait.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Chase opened the door to Josie’s bedroom and walked through the doorway. His arms tightened momentarily around her before he slid her purposefully down the length of his hard body. Her booted feet hit the floor and still he didn’t release her.
His head dipped low and he captured her mouth, unable to get enough. She tasted so sweet and beautiful and familiar. She tasted like his. The thought sent a ray of wonder shooting through his heart. He still couldn’t believe she loved him, had always loved him and that even though he couldn’t give her a much-longed-for child, it didn’t matter; her feelings for him were as strong as ever.
The miracle of it lit him up anew and his heart filled with the sheer joy of it. The feel of her in his arms was every bit as amazing as he remembered and he vowed silently to never again let her go.
With his arms still about her, he walked them to her bed and with one hand switched on the lamp on the nightstand. At once, the room was filled with a soft yellow glow and Chase sighed with pleasure. He wanted to capture every intake of breath, every expression on her beautiful face. He wanted to taste and touch and love every inch of her silky smooth skin. He’d lost ten years. He wasn’t going to lose another second.
Drawing her back hard against him, he recalled from some distant memory how sensitive her ears were to the touch and gently nipped at her earlobe. He was rewarded with a moan and a shudder and she tipped her head back to give him greater access. He eagerly obliged.
His tongue snaked out and traced the intricate whorls and crevices over and over again.
“Oh, Chase, that feels so good. You’ve always known how to turn me on. I can’t believe how many years we’ve wasted.”
“Me neither,” he responded between kisses, “and I’m going to do my best to make up for lost time. Starting right now.”
She smiled and reached up and took his head between her hands and then forced it lower. On tiptoes, she pressed her mouth against his and kissed him until he was breathless. “You and me both,” she murmured with a wicked glint in her eye.
The blood rushed from his head to his groin and his cock hardened almost painfully. He ground his hips against her, letting her feel how much he wanted her. He was rewarded by her sudden intake of breath and the darkening of her beautiful eyes.
“Make love to me, Chase,” she whispered.
His heart pounded and his breath came fast. With hands that weren’t quite steady, he reached for the ends of her T-shirt and eased it over her head. She wore a white lacy scrap of fabric that somehow passed for a bra. His fingers cupped her breasts.
The perfect mounds filled his hands and then spilled right over. Through the lace, he caressed the slightly darker nubs of her nipples with his thumbs until they were pebbled and hard.
Her heart beat hard beneath his palm and a pulse played a rapid staccato in her neck and yet, she stood still and silent and let him touch her and look his fill.
With gentle hands, he reached around behind her and worked at the clasp at her back. With a sigh of relief, he released it and her wondrous breasts sprang free. Hardly even aware of what he was doing, he flung the bra away and stared at her.
Her breasts were high and firm and perfectly proportioned. Her nipples were a delicate shade of pink. He’d been with many women in the last few years and yet, he hadn’t seen anyone so beautiful.
Of course, he was biased. Josie was the only woman he’d ever loved—but still, she looked like an artist’s model, in perfect proportion.
“Why are you staring?” she whispered, a blush staining her cheeks. He lowered his gaze, but then looked back at her and told her the truth.
“I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful.”
The stain on her cheeks grew darker, but she smiled and leaned up to kiss him. “Thank you. From you, that means a great deal.”
Suddenly eager to see the rest of her, his hands went to her jeans. Making short work of the button and zipper, he slid them down her hips. He got to her feet and remembered her boots and pushed her gently back toward the bed. Smiling her understanding, she sat down and let him tug them off her feet.
Once the way was clear, he finished removing her jeans and tossed them aside. Her white lace panties quickly followed and all of a sudden she was naked. She lay back on the bed and again, he stared at her, unable to tear his gaze away.
She’d always been beautiful, but at eighteen, she’d been in the first blush of womanhood. Her hips had been almost straight, not rounded. Her waist, not quite defined. Ten years down the track and there was nothing girlish about her. Josie Munro was one hundred percent woman and he was going to die if he didn’t have her.
Urgency now tore through him and he dragged his shirt off and threw it to the floor. Perching on the end of the bed, he likewise disposed of his boots. A minute later, his jeans came off and joined the growing pile on the floor. Within moments, he was naked and pressed up against her, skin to skin. With his heart still pounding, he drew in a deep breath and let out a deep sigh of satisfaction and relief.
He was home.
* * *
Josie turned in Chase’s arms and pressed her breasts against his skin, loving the feel of his muscled chest against her. The light scattering of dark hair that covered his pectorals tickled her. As far as she could recall, he hadn’t had chest hair when he was younger. It was only one of the things that had changed since the night they were last together.
Reaching up, she tangled her fingers in the softness of his curls and tugged at them gently. Her hand slid down to cup his cheek and she star
ed into his eyes, hardly daring to believe he was there. For so many years she’d dreamed of this day, when he’d come back into her life and still love her. And here he was. In the flesh. In the very firm flesh.
Heat crept up her neck at the thought and feel of his erection. It pressed insistently against her stomach, demanding attention. Although she wasn’t inexperienced when it came to men, she was far from confident and she could only hope Chase would take charge and show her what he wanted.
As if sensing her insecurity, he tilted her chin upward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Warm and pliant, his mouth moved over hers, seeking, searching, giving. A surge of desire ignited deep inside her and she kissed him back a little frantically. Her tongue danced with his and at last found its way inside and she explored the warm recesses of his mouth.
He groaned against her lips and she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction. This beautiful man loved her and he wanted her for his own.
Chase moved until she was beneath him and his legs straddled hers. Her arms came around his neck and she drew him down for another mindless kiss. His erection pressed more insistently against her stomach and she yearned to have him inside her. Moving against him, she lifted her hips and tried wordlessly to tell him.
“Can you feel how much I want you?” he whispered against her lips.
She nodded and then replied, “I want you, too.”
His arms tightened around her and he bent down to claim yet another fiery kiss. His knee nudged her thighs apart and he settled himself between them.
“Um… Do you want to use a condom?” she murmured and tried to ignore the flames that burned a path to her cheeks.
Chase stilled and then came up on one elbow and looked down at her with tenderness and love. One side of his mouth tilted in a little smile. “Well, we can if you want, but I’m pretty sure we don’t have to worry about the pregnancy angle. We undergo regular medicals in the police force. I’m clean and disease free, but you don’t have to take my word for it. What about you?”
The teasing glint in his eyes took the edge off his question and Josie smiled back at him. “No, all good for me, too.”
“Then, I guess the answer’s no,” he said huskily and sealed it with a kiss.
Desire quickly built again and Josie’s heart thumped in her chest. Her clit throbbed with need and she tingled and burned all over. She wanted him and she wanted him now. She told him as much in as few words as she could manage.
He didn’t take much convincing. Within moments, his cock pressed against her entrance and she held her breath in anticipation. His hips flexed and his cock slid inside her, filling her, stretching her like no other.
She gasped and focused on the feel of him, way deep inside her. Slowly, slowly he withdrew and then plunged inside her again. Over and over, he loved her with his body.
“Oh, God, you feel so good. Oh, Jose, you feel like heaven.”
His words glided over her and heated her desire to a fever pitch. She moved against him and met his thrusts, clinging to his broad shoulders. The feelings inside her continued to grow and the pressure in her core intensified. She tightened her hold on him, just as he tightened his hold on her.
With a cry, she reached her climax and toppled over the other side. A moment later, he joined her and together they found their release.
It seemed like a long while later, but it was probably only a few minutes, when Chase stirred and shifted his weight off her. He lay on his back beside her and gathered her close against him. She listened, sated and replete, as their breathing slowly returned to normal.
“I love you, Josie Munro,” he whispered and pressed a soft kiss against her hair.
“I love you, too, Chase Barrington.” She smiled, her heart alight with the sheer joy of it. This was the way it was meant to be. She and Chase. Together. United, as one. It may have been a decade later than it should have, but as someone far wiser than she had once said, it was better late than never.
* * *
Chase came awake with a start, frowning at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. Morning sun drifted in through the window. Josie stirred in her sleep and all at once, their night of lovemaking came back to him. He couldn’t contain the smile or the surge of joy deep inside him when he thought of all that they’d said and all that they’d shared and all that was yet to come.
Unable to help himself, he reached for her and drew her into his arms. She sighed softly, still mostly asleep, and snuggled against him. Content to lie there all day with her in his arms, he resisted the urge to look at his watch. Five minutes. Ten. It was all he could last. With reluctance, he checked the time.
Five past eight. His heart sank. It was well past time to get up. His shift started at eight-thirty and he could hardly explain to Riley why he was late. Somehow, he didn’t think his boss would take kindly to his explanation. As gently as he could manage, he shook Josie awake.
“Hey, Jose. Wake up, sweetheart. It’s time to get up. We have to go to work.” She mumbled something unintelligible under her breath and he smiled at her reluctance. He’d never slept with her until morning. It was a unique experience for both of them, but much as he wanted to savor the moment, they were both required at work. Knowing he had to wake her, he tried again.
“Josie, it’s me. Chase. It’s getting late, honey. It’s already way past eight. I, for one, have to get going and I’m sure you probably do, too.”
This time he got a response: A single eye came open. “Chase? It can’t be morning already.”
He smiled down at her, his heart filling with tenderness at the reluctance on her face. “I’m afraid it is, babe and what’s more, if we don’t get up and get going, we’re both going to be late.”
“What time is it?” she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow.
“It’s well after eight. You need to get up and so do I.” There was a full three seconds of delay and then his words seemed to find their mark. She sat up in such a hurry, the pillow went flying.
“Did you say it’s already past eight? Oh, my goodness! I have a patient coming in at eight-thirty. Why didn’t you wake me earlier? I need to shower and wash my hair. I need to—”
The last of her words were cut off when she closed the bathroom door. Chase bit back a chuckle and reached for his clothes. His shower would have to wait.
A shriek from the bathroom gave him pause and he frowned and walked over to the closed door.
“Jose, are you all right in there? What’s the matter?”
“I forgot the toilet wasn’t working in here. Darn, I’ll have to use the one in the main bathroom.” Wrapped in a towel, she emerged and made her way quickly across the room toward the door that led into the hall.
“You might need to re-book the plumber. I hope he didn’t turn up last night and expect to come in,” he said. She threw him a dark look and stalked through the doorway. Chase chuckled all over again. Damn, he loved that she wasn’t a morning person. Neither was he.
* * *
As soon as Chase had a moment to spare at the station, he dialed Josie’s office number and spoke to a woman who identified herself as Moira. As politely as he could manage, he asked to speak to Josie.
“I’m sorry, Detective Barrington, she has a patient with her. She doesn’t like to be disturbed while she’s with a patient.”
Disappointment surged through him. It had been hours since he’d spoken to her. He needed to hear her voice. He tried again.
“Moira, I understand, but it’s really important that I speak with her. It’s… It’s about a case she’s been working on. Do you think you could interrupt her? I promise, it won’t take long.”
The woman sighed, but agreed to put him through. A moment later, Josie answered the phone.
“Detective Barrington, how nice of you to call, but I’m kind of busy right now.”
“I know. The dragon lady told me.”
“Moira’s a sweetheart. I hope you weren’t mean to her.”
“O
f course not, but she wasn’t going to put me through and I really needed to speak with you.”
Josie’s tone sharpened with concern. “Is there something wrong? Are the Logan boys okay?”
“Yes, of course. At least, I assume so.” He paused and then added softly, “I just wanted to hear your voice. I wanted to remind myself that it was real. That last night was real. That you and I…”
“It was real, Chase,” she whispered, “and it was magical. I can’t wait to do it all over again. And again. And again.”
Chase groaned and his cock pulsed with blood. Stealing a look around him, he became aware of the other officers in the room. A couple of them shot him curious looks. He held the phone closer to his mouth and lowered his voice.
“What time do you finish today?”
“My last appointment’s at five. With a bit of luck, I’ll be out of here a little after six.”
“Dinner?”
“Sounds lovely.” She sighed.
“How about we meet at The Bullet as soon as you finish?”
“But I’ll still be in my work clothes.”
“Why do you think I care what clothes you’re wearing? I’m only going to take them off you the minute I get you alone.”
She laughed softly and his heart filled with quiet joy. “You’re a bad man, Chase Barrington.”
“Yes, but you love me anyway.”
“You’re right,” she said solemnly. “I do.”
“See you at The Bullet.”
“I’ll be there.”
* * *
A day had never dragged on for so long, but finally Josie closed the door on her last patient. She’d spent the day fighting hard to concentrate. All her mind wanted to do was to replay the previous night she’d spent with Chase and to look forward to many more nights to come.
She still couldn’t believe the reason he’d disappeared a decade ago. Even now, after she’d had some time to process it, she was still a little stunned. He’d had cancer; surgery; chemo and radiation and he’d done it all alone. Well, his parents had probably been with him, but he’d done it without her by his side.