by A. C. Bextor
"Chase?" I plead. "Tell me."
For a split second, I think I could be wrong and the times Chase and I shared together since I came home were nothing more than my old feelings of adoration for him coming back as an adult.
Then Chase takes a breath, closes his eyes, and admits, "Being alone with you, out in the middle of goddamn nowhere, meant more to me than being anywhere else with anyone else. And it may make me a dick, but Ryleigh, I swear to God when I touched you, I didn't give any weight that you were his because right then, you were only mine."
I feel those words; he means them. I know he does because I feel the same.
"Now, why'd you come?" he whispers hoarsely.
"I don't know."
"You do," he replies, pressing against me and giving me a small reminder of why I'm here.
His tongue marks my bottom lip first, then moves to the top. His breathing becomes so labored the hair on my neck moves each time he exhales.
"Be with me," I restlessly murmur.
At my words, Chase's body grows tense and solid.
Shit.
"Chase, I didn't…." I start to apologize, but don't get the words out.
Reacting swiftly, he grabs both my hands, positioning them over my head as he pushes my back further into the door. His grip drops down to capture my wrists and he not so gently squeezes before demanding, "Tell me you meant what you just said."
Of course I meant it. How can he think otherwise? I'm here, with him, wanting…
"Ryleigh, say it."
"I meant what I said," I confirm.
His mouth takes mine in a fierce, uncontrollable, unrelenting kiss. His tongue, so warm and inviting, moves in sync with mine as he thrusts his hips into me. I feel his excitement.
Once I've lost my breath and can't take any more, I pull my head as far back as he'll allow. My eyes meet his and knowing the fire I'm about to stoke, I throw out all caution and say again, "Be with me."
Bending slightly, Chase wraps his arms behind my knees and waist as he lifts me and cradles me with care. His head lowers and he nuzzles my neck before he turns us to lock the door. Then, without any second thoughts or delay, he takes us to his bedroom.
Once there, Chase sets me on my feet and moves the rumpled sheets and blankets away. Before long I'm blanketed by Chase's strong body and feeling the one part of him I've never had. Chase possesses my body, etching himself into my heart and imprinting his soul to mine. He gives me something I never imagined I could have.
His hands explore my body, his tongue memorizing every place he feels my reaction. His lips soothe each ache and each longing with grace and care.
This is passion.
This is desire.
This is us.
As our bodies shudder with lasting release, Chase looks down and in the light from the hallway I catch his small smile.
"I knew you were perfect," he murmurs quietly, leaning down to chastely kiss my now well-kissed lips. "Perfect," he repeats as he rolls to the side, taking me with him.
"You didn't know that. You probably say that to all your girls."
His body tenses again. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings, I only wanted to lighten the mood.
"Take a compliment, Ry. I meant it."
"Okay," I concede, but say nothing more.
"Where's Myles?"
"In Everton," I answer simply, not wanting to confess that's exactly what brought me here.
Chase moves his hand from behind his head and reaches for mine, lying against his chest. He entwines our fingers and carelessly massages the ring that forever promises me to his brother. He twists it around twice before breaking the thick silence. "I don't know how to do this," he says. "I still don't know why you're here."
"I came here because it's what I chose to do."
"That's it?" he asks, his tone falsely jovial. "You let me have you, Ryleigh. And you did that as his fiancée. I want to know what happened tonight."
"Why?"
Sitting up, taking me with him, he scoots back and rests his back against the headboard. He reaches over before I'm fully covered with the sheet and tugs at my hand. He looks down, runs his thumb over the top of my ring, as if seeing it for the first time, and says, "Because you owe me that explanation. After what just happened, are you still his?"
"Yes," I blurt. And I am. Until I can talk to Myles and break things off, technically I'm still with him.
Chase doesn't say anything. He drops my hand and sighs. "Thank you for coming," he tells me first. "This…" He hesitates briefly then places his hands in his lap. "I'll always remember how much this meant to me."
Not getting a good feeling at all, I straighten and lean in his direction. "Chase?"
"Now I need you to go and don't ever say my name again."
Chapter Eleven
RYLEIGH
"You've kept yourself cooped up in here for two days now, Ryleigh Ann. Dad's losing patience and now even your sister is threatening an intervention," my mother informs me. When I keep quiet and don't offer a comedic response as I normally would, she lowers her voice to gentle and asks, "Please, baby. Won't you talk to me?"
When I turn over in bed enough to see her, I find her standing just inside the door with her arms crossed over her chest. Her look of concern is alarming, considering I haven't even told her all that's happened.
"I just need some time, Mom," I vaguely explain. "I just… tell Dad to have some patience."
"Ryleigh Ann, I'm your mother," she says tersely. I turn my head back and stare at the wall of my old room. A few minutes pass before I hear her stepping in closer. I know she's picking up random things to put into different places. Mom cleans when she's nervous. "You're my daughter. I think I know you better than you give me credit for."
"It's not that," I voice through a raw throat and stuffy nose. My eyes hurt from constant tears and my body aches from wretched sobs. "Mom, I'm sad."
For the last two days, I've led myself through a gambit of emotions. Denial, anger, sadness, bitterness… you name it, I've felt it.
As I brokenly stood outside Chase's front door, waiting for Kate to arrive, the events of the evening started to take a toll. By the time she pulled up in the driveway, I was pissed. Being made a fool of by my fiancé, then being rejected by the man I thought I was safe in going to, stung like nothing I've ever felt. Not only was Myles's betrayal a hit to my ego, Chase completely broke my heart and he did it out of self-preservation. I hurt him.
By the time Kate and I made our way back to the bar in Everton, Myles had his hands not only on the same blonde's ass, but they were on it skin to skin. Not a patron in the bar made a sound after I barged in, threw my ring in his face, and told him we were over. It was done.
I was done.
And I didn't even care.
I feel the bed dip, then Mom's hand touches my hip and as she did when I was a child, she pats it softly for reassurance. I start to cry again, feeling physical contact for the first time in days.
"God, Mom," I sob. "What have I done?"
"I don't know, honey," she answers softly. "What have you done?"
Sitting up, I bunch my blanket and use it as a shield to cover me from the neck down. I've never been so scared for my mother to pass judgment. Inevitably she will; I only hope it's in my favor.
"I broke up with Myles," I confess quickly, to get it out. "The wedding's off."
My mom's smile is small, but there in its most tasteful form. She's never been one to gloat, and if she were, this would be as close as she's ever come to it.
"Yes. I had heard you…." She waits, but now the small smile turns into a grin. "I had heard you ended things in a way Myles couldn't misinterpret."
"Oh, God," I cry. "Rumors have already started."
"Indeed." She laughs then pats my knee, squeezing it once before sitting back and straightening her posture. Her big blue eyes come to mine before she says, "He deserved the humiliation, Ryleigh. If I heard things correctly, he wasn't acting like any
man I'd want marrying my daughter."
"What will you do about the wedding? I mean, it's all set."
"I've already canceled what needs canceled."
"Thank you," I whisper.
"Things happen for a reason," she supplies confidently.
I know I have to tell her about Chase. Even though I'm now a grown woman, discussing the details of my sex life with her won't come easy.
I go for vague. "Chase and me," I start, then take a breath so I don't screw this up and have to explain in detail. "I, um, stayed the night with him."
Mom sucks in her lips as her cheeks turn pink. I'm sure mine do as well and I find myself smiling at the memory of being with him for the first time since it happened.
"I know this, too," she whispers as she bends to me.
"What? How?" I have no idea how she'd know, unless, "Did Kate tell you?"
She shakes her head, her face getting serious. "What did I tell you about your father, and if he was forced to wait even a day without seeing me. What would he do?"
Shaking my head, I do what I can to help my mother through the loss of Chase and me ever being together. "It's not like that, Mom. I'm sorry. Chase won't forgive me. I was wrong in..." Dear God, this is painful. "In spending the night with him."
"Having shared a night with him," she corrects.
"Yeah." I roll my eyes. "That."
"Oh, Ryleigh. You're beating yourself up for the wrong reasons."
Clearly not appreciating or understanding her possible point, I ask, "What?"
"You weren't happy with Myles. Surely you'll admit this now."
"Yes, in a way I wasn't happy."
"So, why are you sitting here sulking about what was never supposed to be and not out there fighting for what is?"
She doesn't get it. "Mom, Chase told me to leave. Never come back. Those were his words. Not mine."
"He said those things because you told him you were still with Myles," she tells me.
It takes a few seconds for me to realize what she just said. "How do you know that?"
She hesitates, staring at her hands. She says nothing. "Mom?"
"Because he's been downstairs waiting for you to get out of this bed and get a move on, sister." A new voice joins the conversation. "Don't make him wait already. Get a move on!"
I tear my eyes off my nervous mother and look at Maggie standing in the doorway. She's bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"He's here? Right now?" I ask whoever will answer.
Maggie sighs dramatically. "Well, yeah. He's been sleeping on the couch the last two nights. He said he didn't want to 'pressure' you 'cause then you'd make a rash decision and blah blah blah." She makes talking gestures with her hand, mocking Chase's mouth moving.
"I was so awful to him," I say, more to myself than them.
"You weren't," Mom assures. "I'm going to send him home. I'll tell him you'll talk to him tomorrow. It's late. Maybe take some time to sleep on it before you do anything without thought."
My mom's right. But I want to see his face, feel his heartbeat, just to know I've not broken it.
"I'll tell him," Maggie informs me. "He's gotta go. My shows are coming on soon and I highly doubt the man wants to watch hot vamps chasing their women."
"Maggie, enough," Mom clips, and turns to me. She caresses my face. "You're okay?"
I nod, a tear escaping. "Yeah, I'll be okay."
"You will," she agrees before she stands and closely follows Mags out the door.
Chapter Twelve
CHASE
"I ruined it. Not you," Myles confesses quietly as he sits on my couch.
I came back home at the insistent request of Maggie, who informed me her shows were ready to start and she had no intention of watching her favorite vampires fight crime with me sitting beside her making fun. She nearly threatened bodily harm. She had me sold on the idea of leaving once she said Ryleigh had finally perked up with enough interest to drag her ass out of bed and shower.
So, when I walked in my front door, I found Myles had packed his bags and was waiting for me to arrive.
"I didn't want to get married. But how do you tell a girl as sweet as Ryleigh she's enough for any man and make her believe it? It wasn't her fault."
"You're an idiot," I tell him for the third time since I got here.
"Maybe," he returns. He stretches before heading to the door. "I'm going to stay at Devon's for a while until shit settles. Are we okay?"
I told Myles about Ryleigh and me. He was pissed at first but not for the reason I had expected. He told me if I'd come clean that morning in the kitchen about how I felt about her instead of lashing out and slamming him against the refrigerator, things would've gone much differently. It figures he'd think that, always relying on someone else to make excuses for him and pave his way.
"Yeah, we're good," I reply.
"Think she'll come here? I mean, to see you, not me."
Hating the concern on his face, I slap his shoulder. "I have no idea, but I think if she does, then you and I probably shouldn't talk about what happens ever again."
Extending his arm, Myles smiles. "I'll be the best man at your wedding," he promises.
"No one said marriage, Myles."
"I'd throw my big brother one hell of a bachelor party," he adds.
I laugh, grab him for a brotherly hug and squeeze tightly. "And that's the exact reason she'll cut that shit off before it starts."
"Give her my best," he tells me before turning to walk out the door, bags in hand and, according to him, the monkey off his back.
When I grab my phone, I check for a text or call, anything at all that tells me what Ryleigh's doing. But there's nothing. I'm not sure what I'll possibly have to say even if she does show.
I consider briefly calling her sister but think better of interrupting and pissing her off.
Not able to sit idly around for much longer, I grab a beer and try to find something to watch.
Nothing keeps my interest.
Chapter Thirteen
RYLEIGH
"Dear God, we're here again," Kate breathes, sitting beside me in her car and looking up at Chase's closed door. The lights are off and understandably so, as it's nearing midnight.
"You're not complaining," I hiss. My hands shake as they sit in my lap.
Kate's head tilts to the side. With a sweetness she rarely allows, she says, "No, my little Annie. I'm not complaining. I just wish you two would stop the back and forth."
"I'm not going over this again," I vent. "I've told you this is it. Right here, right now. Chase accepts my apology or he doesn't."
"He will," she assures. "You'll see." She shrugs and smirks. "If not, I hear his brother is available. I'm sure Myles—"
"You did not just say that!" I snap. "If you tell me I've picked the wrong brother, Kate, I—"
Laughing loudly then leaning over and slapping my hand, she returns, "No way. This time, my friend, you did the right thing. Now go. I'll see you two later."
"What? You don't want details?"
"If you have them, but now that you're with Chase, I'm thinking what you tell me will only make me depressed. With Myles…." She trails off and the smart in her voice tells me a jab is coming. "With Myles it was more of an 'eh' reaction. He couldn't possibly hold a candle to Chase."
"I love you. Thank you for hanging in there."
"Thank you, too," she tells me before I can continue telling her how great a friend she is.
"For what?"
"For getting your ass out of bed and showering. Goodness, I really thought when you told me part of you died you meant it."
"Shut up," I snap. "Have a good night."
"You too," she answers before starting her car.
Once I'm standing at Chase's door I look back to find her waiting. She's parked at the side of the street and looking at me through her window, giving me a thumbs-up, and I roll my eyes as I ring the bell—again.
I hadn't thought what would happen
if he didn't answer, and I didn't want to think about it now. Since getting out of bed, I've been only focused on what to say.
When he still doesn't come to the door, I look back at Kate again and shrug. Deciding to exhaust all efforts, I test the lock and find the door open.
I offer a small wave good-bye to Kate as I step inside.
When I look around his living room, I see his work boots next to the table, an open bottle of beer, but not Chase. Just as I'm about to head down the hall, I see him. He's standing just outside the bathroom door wearing only a towel. He doesn't even look surprised when he finds me gawking at him, two bags in hand.
"You're out of bed," he utters quietly, coming toward me slowly. "And you're here."
"I was going to call," I admit, though I didn't think I could find the words over the phone. "I thought instead I'd stop over and see what you're doing."
"At eleven thirty at night?" he suspiciously questions.
"Maybe?"
Smiling, he leans his shoulder into the wall and crosses his arms over his tanned chest. He's blocking my view and it's all I can do to keep quiet and not let him see the piercing effect he has on me.
"If I said I was sorry, would you accept?"
"Yes, though I have no clue what it is you're apologizing for."
"I've ignored you. I didn't know you were downstairs when I was sulking," I tell him. "If I'd known, maybe I would've…."
"That's why your dad didn't tell you. You had to come here on your own, Ry. I couldn't persuade you. That wouldn't have been fair."
"But you're so good at it." I blush, hearing myself say it. "Persuading me, I mean."
The relaxing sound of his laugh eases my nervous tension. "How's it you're over here? Your parents?"
"Mom said an act born from love is instinctive. My instinct led me here."
Chase sighs and looks me up and down, the jovial tone in his voice gone and replaced with the hoarse whisper I was hoping I'd find. "I've always loved your mother," he comments. "Now come here."
"One condition," I declare, as serious as I've ever been.