“Hi,” he greets sleepily.
“Hi,” I reply, continuing to caress my fingers in his hair. “I should have known I’d find you in here,” I say with amusement. “You had a hard-on the minute you stepped into the man cave.”
His eyes roam our surroundings, and he gives out a rough chuckle. “This place is like my version of the Magic Kingdom,” he tells me, yawning.
I reluctantly pull my hand away as he sits up a little. “You doing okay?”
He gives a little nod. “Yes. I was just feeling tired. Your mom told me to put my head down in your room, but when I passed the basement door, I couldn’t resist.”
My eyes trace over him until they come to a stop on his left hand and the gold ring I didn’t notice until Jace mentioned it earlier. It glints under the low lights of the basement.
How did I miss that?
“You’re wearing your ring,” I say.
He lifts his hand to examine it before letting out a long sigh. “I put it on this morning. I came across it by accident, and with it being Christmas, I just wanted to feel closer to her, you know? Just for a little while. So, I slipped it on. I forgot I was wearing it, and then I saw Jace noticed it. Probably the reason for his hostility. He didn’t give you a hard time when you were washing the dishes, did he?”
“Oh, no,” I say mockingly. “He just thought I was having an affair with a married man.”
I grin, and he grimaces.
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s his own fault for assuming he thought he knew the full picture because of a ring. I…um…” I begin, struggling to form my words. “I told him. About everything. I had to make him understand.”
He grasps hold of my hand, interlinking our fingers after hearing the underlying apology in my words. “It’s okay. I told you that you could tell your family. What did he say?”
“Honestly, not much, but he did feel bad for being a dick to you earlier.”
Chase just nods with understanding. Then, he smiles. “Thank you for inviting me today. Your family is really great.”
I match his grin. “Yeah, they’re all right,” I say nonchalantly but with a laughing tone to my voice.
“No, they’re amazing. They’re the kind of family I always dreamed of having, so today is kind of a dream come true.”
“Oh my God, is Chase Henderson getting soft on me? Where’s the bad boy gone?” I ask teasingly.
He lifts a brow with amusement while slipping his hand out from mine. “Oh, he’s still here all right,” he says in a cocky voice. “He just likes to wait for the perfect opportunity before unleashing himself.”
“And what perfect opportunity would that be?”
“This,” is all he replies.
Then, he proceeds to tickle the shit out of me. I shriek out with laughter as we both fall seamlessly to the floor. His grin is wicked as he climbs over me, his fingers instinctively going to my most sensitive spots—my armpits and my sides. My arms flail with hysteria, my eyes welling up with tears of laughter.
“Oh my God, stop it! No! Chase, stop it.” I giggle as his hand relentlessly tickles me. I laugh so hard that I’m afraid that I might actually pee myself. “Chase,” I screech through loud laughter, trying to claw him away from me. “I’m… gonna… pee…” I stammer through my ragged breathing. “Please… stop…it.”
My stomach muscles contract with my cackles. He chuckles along with me, and then obviously, he takes pity on me because his fingers stop their tormenting.
“Oh my God,” I holler, still breathlessly laughing.
I wipe under my running tears, and once I can see again, my stomach flips at the sudden intensity of his gaze. Gone is the playful smile. Instead, it’s replaced with pure want. I quietly grunt when I feel him grow hard against my thigh, and the air around us grows thick with sexual need, so thick that I struggle to catch my breath. Everything around me blurs, and all I can focus on is Chase and his hard dick growing even harder against me.
His eyes roam my face, and I lick my lips with anticipation when his eyes land on my mouth.
I want him to kiss me so much. I desperately crave it. I crave him.
“Chase,” I whisper, my hands coming up to his arms. I wanted them to go the other way, to feel the shape of him between my fingers, to listen to the hiss I’d expect at my mere touch, but at the last second, I changed my mind. The thought of finally touching him in a way I’ve yearned for so long quite honestly scares the crap out of me. I’ve never felt so vulnerable with a person until I met Chase.
He slowly begins to lean forward until our mouths are barely an inch apart. A heavy pressure beneath my panties begins to throb, and I can feel myself growing wet, especially now that his cock is pressed against my pussy.
Oh God. Kiss me. Please. Kiss me.
I want him so much, but I don’t move, I don’t breathe, I don’t blink as I wait for him to graze his lips against mine.
Before that can happen, reality comes crashing down on us at the sound of heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. In a daze, we don’t even attempt to move as Nate comes out of the shadow of the stairs.
“Shit, sorry guys,” he says, but instead of his previous teasing, his face remains serious. That’s when I know something is up because Nate never looks serious, only when, well, you know, it’s serious.
Chase jumps off me, and with his back to us, he walks a few feet away, no doubt to sort out that huge erection of his.
“We weren’t—it wasn’t…” I stutter, all flustered, as I stand and smooth down my sweater. Then, after a deep breath, I finally settle with, “What’s up?” I clear my throat, trying to pretend my entire body isn’t still sizzling by that near kiss.
Holy shit.
His hand comes up to his neck. “A buddy from the fire department just called me. They were called to a fire, and he happened to recognize the address because he’s dropped me off there on more than one occasion. There’s been a fire at your house, and it’s bad, Kaelyn.”
Unable to verbalize a response, my knees buckle beneath me, and before I fall to the floor, strong arms catch me. I glance up to see it’s Chase who saved me from falling.
“Are you sure it’s my place?” I ask in a state of shock, knowing it’s a completely stupid question.
Nate nods. “Yes, I’m sure. They managed to put it out, but it looks like everything in the living room and kitchen is completely destroyed. I told him we’ve all been drinking, so the chief is going to swing by to pick us up and take us over there. He’ll be here soon.”
Out of everything he tells me, all I can focus on is “fire,” “your house,” and “living room and kitchen is completely destroyed.”
My veins turn cold, and anything I was feeling earlier just freezes over.
The next thirty minutes are just a blur, but the only thing I’m able to be grateful for throughout my anxiety is the warm hand enclosed in mine. Chase’s warm hand. I barely registered putting on a jacket, meeting Nate’s chief, or even getting into his truck, but before I know it, we’re pulling up in front of my house.
I exit the truck, only letting go of Chase’s hand for a split second while I get out before instinctively seeking it again. I spot a fire engine out front with several firefighters standing idle around it. Nate greets them all, but I’m barely able to wave a hello. My attention is on my home, and instead of the horror of billowing smoke and collapsed debris that I was building up in my head, not a single thing seems out of place. I actually let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps it isn’t as bad as what Nate first thought.
A firefighter comes over to Nate, and he introduces him as James, the captain and the chief’s second-in-command.
He leads us up the steps to the porch, speaking as we follow, “Good news: the fire was contained in the living room and kitchen with only minimal damage to the hallway. It could have been a lot worse if we had gotten here a few minutes later, but your neighbor heard your fire alarm going off and called us immediately.”
/>
He leads us through the threshold, and instantly, the heavy smell of smoke irritates my nostrils. I tighten my hand around Chase’s when my eyes lock on to the black tar coating the ceiling in the hallway.
James comes to a stop just before we enter the living room and turns to us. “Bad news: the damage in both the living room and kitchen is extensive. We’re still not sure how the fire started, but the tar buildup at the power outlet near the kitchen gives us a good clue that that’s where the fire started. Do you remember having anything plugged in near that area?”
I look off into the distance, thinking hard, and I remember I had a Glade Plugin Air Freshener. I recently changed the filter to a Christmas scent. You know, to be all festive.
“I had an air freshener plugged in there.”
He just nods. “Well, it could have come from that, but more than likely, it might have been a faulty fuse. Are you ready to see the damage?”
I breathe in deeply before letting it out on a long sigh. “Yeah, okay,” I say with a shake to my voice, not ready in the slightest.
When I follow him through, I gasp, and my eyes widen as they take in what used to be my living room, but instead, it’s all filled with black soot, smoke rising from what used to be my sofa. Everything else has turned to dust. When I left this morning for my parents’, it was clean, pretty, and one of my favorite places to be. Now, it’s become my worst nightmare.
“Oh my God,” I cry out, my entire body shaking with the shock of seeing my beautiful home practically burned to the ground.
Chase pulls me into his arms, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Shh, it’s gonna be okay,” he says against my head.
But his words do nothing to provide any comfort whatsoever. All they do is make me continue to cry.
“Hey…” I hear my brother say, and I turn to him, unable to catch my breath. He bends to my eye-level. “It’s okay. We can fix this. Everything is replaceable, okay? I’m just glad you didn’t get caught up in this. I’m thankful you weren’t home.”
His words strike a chord with me, more specifically “everything is replaceable.” My stomach drops, and I rush over to what is left of my storage cabinet, desperately searching for the box in there. I blindly reach for it, and when I feel it with my fingers, I grip on to it. A spotlight from behind appears in front of me, and as I rip off the fire-damaged lid, I break out into a sob as I look down to see the first eighteen years of my life gone. My first ever ballet shoes, my last pair of pointe shoes, pictures, and other trinkets I’ve saved over time, all just gone. No, not all gone, but reduced to ash. As if that part of my life had never happened.
A second sob rips from me, and I drop the box and then lower myself to the floor, not caring that it’s covered with black dirt and ash. I cry harder than I’ve ever cried before. Suddenly, I’m being lifted up to my feet and pulled into the arms of the man I’m falling in love with. The man I want but can’t have, and that just makes me cry even harder.
“Hey, let’s get out of here. Nate’s going to pack up some of your stuff, so you can stay at your parents’. Let’s just go.”
I nod through my heart-wrenching cries and let him lead me from my house, the place I paid for with every penny earned, designed and decorated myself, and made into a perfect haven. The place I called home.
All I Can Dream About
Chase
The chief drives us back to Kaelyn’s parents’ house, and for the entire drive back, my heart cracks in half at the sound of Kaelyn sobbing against my chest, utterly inconsolable. I’m not sure if it’s crying over the fire or over the barely there box she scrambled to find. I mean, she was already upset, but that box sent her over the edge. I have no idea what was in it before it turned to charcoal, but it had to have been something important. If today wasn’t already bad enough with the news I received, the fire just adds to the worst day in the history of Christmas Days.
When we arrive back at Kaelyn’s parents’, I guide her inside, and immediately, she’s snatched from my side by her mom and engulfed in her arms. Kaelyn cries hard against her chest, and Lyn ushers her in the direction of the stairs, murmuring about running Kaelyn a bath. I watch them both ascend the stairs until a sturdy hand pats me on the back. It’s Nate.
“C’mon, let’s grab a drink.”
A drink sounds perfect right about now.
I follow Nate into the kitchen where their dad, Jace, and Blake sit at the kitchen table, playing a game of cards.
“Hey,” Jace is the first speak and stands. “How is she?”
Nate and I just look at each other before focusing back on Jace.
“She’s a mess, man,” Nate tells him. “She cried from the minute we arrived, and she’s still crying now.”
“How bad is the damage?” George asks.
Nate grabs a bottle of whiskey from an overhead cupboard along with two tumblers and sets them down.
“It’s bad, but thankfully, the fire didn’t hit the entire house, but the living room, kitchen, and hallway need a full renovation that could take months.”
He hands me a freshly poured whiskey, and I accept it with a thanks before pounding it back, desperately needing it to ease the nerves of a shitty day. He smirks a little before pouring me another. This time, when he hands it to me, I sip it like a gentleman.
“Did they say what caused the fire?” Blake asks.
“It’s likely it was an electrical fault, but the fire department will be doing a full investigation into it.” He lets out a deep breath before knocking back the rest of his whiskey. “I’m just so glad she was here with us when the fire started. I can’t even begin to imagine if she had been there when it happened. I’ve seen some nasty shit, and I…”
I put my drink down on the countertop and set a hand on Nate’s arm. “Hey, she’s fine, and that’s all that matters.”
He just nods and lets out a breath. “Yeah, you’re right.” He smooths a hand over his face. “Jesus, it’s been a crappy-ass day,” he complains, making his way over to the table and collapsing into a seat. “Some Christmas this has turned out to be.”
My eyes collide with Jace’s, and the sympathy in his eyes suffocates me a little. Finishing off my second drink, I point to the patio doors. “Does that lead to the backyard?” I ask no one in particular.
George answers with a simple, “Yes.”
“I’m just going to get a little air.”
“Sure thing, son,” he replies.
I have to say, being called son feels pretty good. It’s been a long time since I’ve been anyone’s son.
I head to the patio doors, and once I step outside into the chill night, I’m able to breathe more easily. I look around my surroundings, and though it’s dark out, the LED lights lined along the edge of the patio give just enough light to see out into the backyard. Considering it’s winter, the garden has been neatly groomed with perfectly trimmed bushes and winter flowers. Further into the garden, I spot a wooden bench. I walk down the few steps, over the grass, into the darkness, and then I take a seat.
The quiet of the night quickly begins to calm the chaos inside my head, and I tilt my head and gaze up to the stars, taking a few minutes for myself.
Today’s been such a tough day, and honestly, if it wasn’t for Kaelyn, I’d struggle to be grateful for anything in my life. Kaelyn and my kids are the only reason I’ve been able to keep sane, and without them, I’d hate to think how emotionally unstable I would be. Then, just when I thought this day was going to pull through for me, it unequivocally got worse.
While I muse on this shitastic day a little more, footsteps bring me out of my thoughts, and I see Jace approaching with two shots of whiskey in his hands.
“Hey,” he greets softly, handing me a whiskey. “I thought you might like another drink.”
“Thanks.” I accept the drink and take a sip of the amber liquid, enjoying the burn as it goes down my throat.
“Do you mind if I sit with you?”
“Sure.”
<
br /> I mean, it’s his parents’ house; it’s not like he needs to ask. We sit in awkward silence for a moment, and then the apology I could see in his eyes earlier finally comes out.
“I’m sorry for being a dick earlier. I saw the ring and thought I was adding two and two together; instead, I came up with a hundred and two. For a guy who has a PhD, I sure got my math wrong.”
I snigger a little at that, and I turn to him. “Don’t worry about it. Kaelyn told me she told you everything.”
He nods, taking a sip of his drink. “Yes. Just so you know, she didn’t tell me voluntarily. I had to pretty much fight her on giving me an inch.”
This time, I laugh. “Yeah, she’s stubborn as hell.”
He chuckles with me. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” He pauses for a moment before going in for the kill. “I’m really sorry about your wife. It can’t be easy.”
“No…but I’m coping. I think. I…don’t know. It’s tough, but Kaelyn’s helping me through it. In fact, I probably don’t deserve her. No, I know I don’t deserve her.”
“No, you definitely don’t,” he tells me honestly, and it makes me smile. It’s like I’m talking to her twin. “I know you’ve got your crap to deal with, and I can only imagine how messed up it’s making you, but I need you to promise me that you won’t hurt Kaelyn. She likes you—a lot—and for some crazy-ass reason, she’s willing to wait for you. Just don’t hurt her, okay?”
She told him she’d wait for me?
I don’t have long to dwell on his words before he continues, “Or I will beat your ass, and I don’t care if you’re this hotshot, retired NHL player. You hurt her; I hurt you. And that’s coming from the tame brother.” His words sound humorous, but I know, without a shadow of a doubt, he means every word.
My Forever (Our Forever Book 3) Page 21