by J. C. Reed
“Want me to be honest?” His eyes moved down my body and lingered on my ass a bit too long.
My body temperature rose a few degrees and my breathing came labored.
He had been transfixed by my ass?
Oh, God.
“No,” I mumbled. “Don’t say it.”
“In a marriage you shouldn’t have to be hiding things.”
I squealed as he slapped my ass lightly.
“Come on,” Chase said, “I’d kill for an ice cream. Do you think they sell it inside?”
I glanced at the market and the commotion of people flooding in and out. “Let’s find out.”
Back in California, I had often visited markets simply because I loved the atmosphere. This one was the best I had ever seen. It wasn’t just huge, colorful and bubbly, there was so much to see I didn’t know where to look first. My gaze jumped from the gorgeous flower bouquets, to the homemade food, to the handmade pottery, and everything else.
I stopped a stall that sold shirts for only a few pesos. One read, ‘Be calm and let Acapulco handle it.’
“I should get one for Jude,” I said to Chase, my voice dripping with excitement, then pointed to a range of key rings. “And one of those, too.”
He shrugged, seemingly bored by it all. Yeah, guys and shopping. I laughed, elated at the thought that I was here with him.
“I’ll try to find us some ice cream while you have a look.”
Before he could disappear through the crowd, I called after him. “Chase?”
He turned around, the light reflecting in his eyes in a million facets of blue and gray. “Yeah?”
“Just so we’re clear, this is not a date.”
“I got the memo, and discarded it just as quickly.” He grinned and then he winked.
I laughed.
Oh, my God. He was the devil.
And then he disappeared, leaving me to check out everything. My credit cards were maxed out, but I figured, so what?
You didn’t go to Acapulco and came back with nothing?
Almost giggling with excitement, I bought three shirts: one for Jude, and two for me because they were a bargain. And then I decided that I had to get one for Chase, too.
Flicking through the clothes hangers, I settled on one that read ‘Walking Danger’ which sort of described him down to a T.
It was so perfect for him, I couldn’t wait to show it to him.
I let out a giggle as I paid for it, then grabbed my shopping bags and headed through the crowd in search for Chase.
I found him standing in line in front of a stall. I had almost reached him when someone blocked my way. It was the same guy who had followed me. Maybe he hadn’t followed me per se, but I had spotted him on the street outside. Up close, he didn’t look older than eighteen.
He spoke so fast I couldn’t follow.
I smiled apologetically. “Sorry. No hablo espanol.”
“No hay problema.” He returned the smile, then opened his bag, and my heart stopped as I peered inside at the various bags of weed, pills and other drugs.
Holy shit.
He was a drug dealer.
“No, thank you.” I shook my head, making sure to smile politely. But somehow, he didn’t seem to understand. Instead leaving, he reached inside and retrieved a tiny plastic bag containing a single pill.
“Regalo.” He stretched out his hand.
Oh, god.
I shook my head more resolutely. “No, thank you.”
The guy grabbed my hand and squeezed the bag inside my palm, muttering a few more words in Spanish. I shook my head. Before I could protest, I glimpsed over his shoulder and caught Chase storming for us, his face a mask of anger.
My entire body tensed.
I tried to step back, but it was too late.
Chase shoved him. “Get the fuck away from her.” And then he did the unthinkable: he shoved him again, this time way harder, before I could tell him to stop.
The guy’s friendliness was wiped off his face instantly. I stared helplessly as Chase turned to me, asking, “Are you okay, Laurie? Was he bothering you?”
Before I could react, the guy’s fist connected with Chase’s jaw, the impact so hard I could have sworn I heard bones cracking.
Chase’s body lurched forward, his hands going to his lip as blood started to pour between his fingers and drip down his chin. I rushed forward just as the guy took off through the crowd.
“Oh, god. Chase.” I dropped my bags and began to rummage through my handbag in search for a tissue.
“I know I shouldn’t have interfered,” he muttered and wiped a hand over his mouth.
Horrified, I peered at the red stains on his shirt.
“No, you shouldn’t have. It was plain stupid. You’re lucky the guy didn’t pull out a gun.”
While Chase pressed the tissue against his mouth to stop the bleeding, I quickly scrolled through my contact list to find the most recent number I had saved: Kade.
“What are you doing?” Chase asked warily.
“I’m calling your brother.”
He placed his hand on the screen, blocking my view. “Don’t.”
The command came forceful.
I frowned. “Why not? You’re bleeding.” I stared at his split lip and winced. The bit of pressure did nothing to stop the blood flow. “Quite heavily, I might add, and you clearly need medical assistance Besides, I can’t drag you all the way to the hotel all by myself.”
“It’s nothing.” He swatted his hand, as though we were talking about an annoying fly. “It doesn’t even hurt.”
I stared at him, having my doubts. His upper lip, now swollen, looked horrific. His nose didn’t look swollen, but there was blood. I hoped it wasn’t broken. “We should get you a mirror, because in all honesty, it looks like you need stitches.”
“What is it with you women and your tendency to exaggerate? The next thing you’ll be doing is dragging met to a nearby hospital.”
“I was going to suggest that,” I said dryly.
He laughed until he noticed my expression. “This—” He pointed to the split lip “—is nothing. My brother and I fought a lot, so I’m pretty used to a little bit of blood and a bruise or two. Frankly, if we’re being absolutely honest, I let that kid beat me on purpose to get your attention.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and regarded him in mock disbelief. “Yeah, right. That’s what you say.”
“Trust me when I say I could have easily beaten his ass.” He grinned, swollen lip and all, and I couldn’t help but shake my head, marveling at his ego. “The fact that you’re still here makes me think you’re the kind of woman who’s into tough guys. Since you seem more into boxers than lawyers, I could change my profession for you,” Chase said. “For you, I’d do anything.”
“Great,” I muttered. “Now you’re delirious, too. Your head must have been hit.”
He chuckled and fished his phone out of his pocket. “I’m calling the driver to pick us up. We’re having ice cream.”
I stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t.”
I shook my head. “Chase, you can’t run around like this. Tell your driver to pick you up and take you back to your hotel.” I bit my lip, my thoughts a hailstorm as I watched Chase busy himself with his phone.
“Where are you staying, by the way?” I asked as soon as he had finished the call.
“Why are you asking? Are you thinking of paying me a visit?” His eyebrows rose.
“No, Chase.” Emphasis on ‘no’. “I’m definitely not sleeping with you again, if that’s what you’re thinking about.”
“Who said anything about sex? See, you’re the one with the dirty mind.” He smirked and I rolled my eyes. “You just keep mentioning it. It’s like you can’t think of anything else when you’re around me.”
His ego was unbelievable.
“What?”
“I was thinking of my mouth needing some—” he b
abbled something undistinguishable, then pointed to his lip. “Sorry, it’s really hard to speak. On a second thought, it really hurts. Maybe you could help a man out here.”
I inched closer and touched his cheek before I realized it was all a pretense so I’d feel sorry for him.
It was working. But it wasn’t that I felt sorry for him. He hadn’t been completely wrong about the tough guys part.
“You’d better not be trying what I think you’re trying right now,” I said. “You’re not exactly sexy with all that blood on your face.” I scowled which only had him laughing out loud. “Just to be clear, the only reason I’d accompany you to your hotel is to make sure you don’t end up jumped on by someone else.”
His laugh bellowed behind me as we left the marketplace and returned back to the street. Waiting for the limousine, I turned to Chase. “Where are you staying? You never told me.”
His lips twitched. “I’m afraid to disclose that bit of information, but only almost.”
“Almost? Why would you…” I broke off mid-sentence and stared at him.
Why the hell was he smiling? And why the hell did his eyes shimmer like he was up to no good?
Slowly, realization kicked in.
No way.
I closed my eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. “Please don’t tell me you’re camped at the same hotel, Chase.”
Because that was exactly the kind of thing I should have expected from Chase.
“I am,” he said with a smug grin. “The place isn’t so bad. However, I do have some concerns. The walls are so thin I swear I’ll be able to hear you take a shower and that’ll drive me crazy if I can’t join you. And why didn’t you choose a hotel that offers certain bedroom services or adult channels?”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “What for? So you can watch porn?”
“I thought you weren’t jealous.”
“I’m not.” I groaned inwardly as heat traveled up my chest and settled in my face. “Like you were saying, the walls are too thin. No one needs to hear your private business while you’re watching that stuff.”
“I thought you might be into watching it together.”
Hell, no.
The only naked booty I wanted Chase to see was mine.
Jealous?
Hell, yeah. I was.
My cheeks flamed up even more.
“Your face says it all. As long as we’re married, I won’t look at any other woman” Chase said, as though reading my thoughts, and inched just a little bit closer. “I can be a patient man, Laurie, though I don’t think I’ll have to wait particularly long until you’re back in my bed. But to ease your worries, and to be absolutely clear, you do not owe me.”
I stared at him, my blood boiling.
Those were the exact words I had told Jude.
“I think I’m going to kill you.” I muttered. “You did not book yourself into the same hotel. Please tell me you didn’t.”
“Why would you make such a statement when you know you’re wrong.” He winked. “In fact, I went to all the trouble to book the room next to yours. I thought it’d save us time.”
“Save us time in what way?”
“The time you waste between getting that booty call and arriving at the designated meeting place. The quicker you’re there, the faster you can get to the fun part.” He laughed out loud, seemingly pleased with his reasoning.
I stared at him, open-mouthed.
His sexy smile curved into a panty-dropping grin. My heartbeat went through the roof.
He was right, of course. If I were to want to pay him a visit in the middle of the night, the location of his room mattered a great deal. However, as much as the idea appealed to me, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Is your brother staying with you?” I turned away from him, changing the subject.
“Of course not.” He sighed. I could feel his gaze on me. “What? You still don’t believe me that I had no idea he was here?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, I don’t. You’re a liar.”
“Only when I have no other choice. Unfortunately, your trust issues are beginning to turn into a problem. I’ll sign us up for therapy as soon as we’re back home.”
What?
“What do we need a therapy for?” I asked.
“We need to build trust if we want to save this relationship.”
This relationship.
“We don’t have a relationship, Chase.” Hopefully, if I said it often enough, my stupid heart would stop skipping beats at every single meaningless word of his.
“On paper, we do.” He grinned. “I’m still your husband, aren’t I? That should count for something.”
“Fake husband,” I stated the obvious.
“No one would agree with you now that we’ve consummated the marriage.” He was smiling, but his tone was serious. I sensed we were entering that gray legal area of his again.
“It was a mistake,” I mumbled.
“I don’t think that’s the way you feel.” His eyebrows shot up. “I think, given the chance, you’d repeat the experience in a heartbeat. You know how I know?”
I knew I should take the bait and yet I couldn’t help myself. “How?”
“You’re wet. A man has his ways of telling.”
“You’re unbelievable and the kind of jerk my mother would have warned me about.” I stared at him as the limo pulled up next to us, his laughter strangely intoxicating. Heat settled between my legs. I pressed them together, realizing that I was wet. Very much so.
“Maybe,” Chase whispered. “But I actually think she would have given you her blessing.”
Chapter 16
Throughout the drive back to the hotel, my mind kept wandering back to his words about my mom and the way he had looked when he spoke them. However, as much as I would have liked to talk about it, we had more pressing issues to attend to.
Such as his split lip and the fact that he had just taken a beating for me.
“Why didn’t you tell your brother that we got married?” I asked back at the hotel.
Chase was sitting on my bed. I was kneeling at his feet, wiping caked blood off his lips. Every touch sent my heart racing. Strangely, in spite of the intimacy, the gesture felt natural—as if I had always done little things for him.
His lip was still swollen, but at least he was clean.
“I thought you guys were close,” I added, my gaze focused on his beautiful face.
“We are,” he said. “That’s the thing. He’s my best friend.”
“Didn’t look that way when you two met in the hall.”
“That’s because we got in a fight before you and I married.” The way he said it made me stop and listen up.
“About what?” I put away the wet towel and sat down on the bed, eyeing him in the silence of the room. He looked exhausted, but more than that, he had a wild glint in his eyes that didn’t escape me.
It must have been a taxing fight.
“About you,” he mumbled.
“Hmm.”
The heaviness of the situation was oppressing. Unsure what to do with myself, I decided that I needed to keep both my hands and my mind busy—anything, just not look at him.
Resuming my position, I dived the towel into the bowl of alcohol and wrung it, then pressed it back against his wound.
“Why?” My voice came low, strangled.
His eyes remained glued to me for a few seconds. At last, he sighed. “I don’t know.”
I frowned. “You don’t know?”
“Okay, I know why we fought. I don’t get why he acted the way he did. It’s like he doesn’t get it.”
“Get what?”
His fingers circled around mine, and he pulled me onto his lap, his body close, his scent irresistible. “Would you believe me if I told you that I’m starting to fall in love with you?”
My breath died in my throat. My vision swam. My knees grew weak. His honesty surprised me, shocked me, confused me.
My words remained lod
ged inside my brain.
“You…” I shook my head, frowning. “Why?”
“Why? Really? You’re asking me the same thing he did?” He groaned. “I told him that I had feelings for you. His response was that it’s impossible to fall in love with someone so quickly and that I shouldn’t let my feelings interfere with our plan.” His grip on my fingers tightened, as though unconsciously he was trying to hold on to me. “He was afraid I wouldn’t go through with the wedding to get the inheritance.”
“But you did,” I said.
“Yeah, but…” He looked up. His eyes met mine in something deep and intimate. “I also did it because I like you. And because I cannot bear you dating anyone else but me. Particularly not my brother.”
“I don’t know why you keep saying that. He isn’t even my type.” I blurted out the words before I could stop to think what I was saying.
“He isn’t?” Chase asked, his gloomy expression slowly lifting.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then who is?”
I looked away, but not before a smile tugged at my lips.
We both knew it. No point in denying it. But I didn’t want to spell out the obvious either.
“Then why would you want to go out with someone other than me?” he asked.
My attention turned back to him, my breath coming out shallow. “Maybe because I was trying hard to move on from you.”
“Do you still want to, now that you know the truth?”
I swallowed.
Did I?
“Probably, yes,” I whispered. Was it the truth? I didn’t know. “But it doesn’t mean I haven’t developed feelings for you, too.”
His hand moved to the nape of my neck. Slowly, he leaned forward and his lips met mine.
Closing my eyes, I surrendered to his kiss.
He kissed me as if I was a delicate flower.
As if time had stopped.
As if he and I were the only people in the world.
His lips parted gently, silently urging me to deepen the kiss. And I did so willingly, letting his tongue explore my mouth.
I lay down on the bed, and his body moved between my parted legs. His hands began to roam over my body, trailing up the naked skin of my thighs as he pulled up my dress.
I stopped his hand, but only for a second. “Chase?”