[Legal 01.0] Legal

by Bree Dahlia

  “But you like him enough to be.” I crossed my arms. This was starting off well, but at least Chase wasn’t caught in the crossfire. “Stephen can accept that. Right, sweetie?”

  “No, Stephen can’t,” he said.

  A curvaceous, petite blonde stopped at our table, setting down an order of mozzi sticks. She swayed off, butt cheeks peeking out of her short shorts. Was that sanitary? I snatched a stick and took a bite, burning a layer off the roof of my mouth.

  “God, you guys are both stubborn-ass pigheads. What’s the big fucking deal? She cares for him, and he treats her well. Isn’t that the main thing? And your sister’s finally getting some decent sex for the first time in her life. You should be happy for her.”

  Stephen grimaced, then swung from his chair, stalking away. Maybe he was planning to join another table, one where he didn’t have to be privy to his sister’s sexual history.

  “I shouldn’t have to keep asking you this, but was that really necessary?”

  “Hey, I toned it down. I said decent sex when I could have said ‘knock you flat on your ass and can’t walk for a week’ sex. Because I know that’s what it is based on the shit-eating grin you’re always wearing lately.”

  “I thought we’d be talking wedding stuff tonight.”

  “Nah, plenty of time for that. Oh, which reminds me”—she pulled a card from her bag and handed it to me”—we’re having an official coming out engagement party on September third at the Metro Loft.”

  I eyed it over. “Already? How’d you plan this so fast?”

  “It was mainly Stephen who took care of it. There was a last-minute cancellation on the hall, so he jumped on it.”

  “Okay, I’m there. Consider me RSVPed.” I set the card in my purse.

  She raised her eyebrow. “It’s a plus one, you know.” I didn’t say anything. The party was a day over two weeks away. A lot could happen in that time. “Jills, talk to me.” Her voice grew quieter, and I could barely hear her over the hair band pumping through the speakers. “Why didn’t you bring Chase?”

  “I’m not going to parade him around Stephen, and besides, we do much better when it’s just the two of us.”

  Much better was actually an understatement. We were completely in sync, both inside and outside of the bedroom. When it was just us, the thirty-eight-year-old woman and the twenty-three-year-old man didn’t exist. There was only connection. That wasn’t the case when we ventured out.

  Perry opened her mouth but shut it when Stephen came back to the table, frothy red drink in his hand. “Strawberry daiquiri.”

  “Ooh, thank you,” she said and gave him a kiss. “Look how wonderful he is.” I smiled, already knowing he worshiped the ground she walked on. “He knew my stomach would turn if I had one more sip of beer. If you can find a guy like this, Jills, one who pays attention, never let him go.”

  Her meaning was quite clear, and I sighed, chugging the rest of my cup. If only it were that simple, Perry.

  We spent the next several hours talking random bullshit and avoiding anything Chase-related, thankfully. Being in a state of denial made for a fun night.

  Shortly before I was ready to wrap up the evening, I got a text: Still out?

  Yes, but leaving soon.

  Did you drive or did they pick you up?

  I walked.

  The call came in almost immediately, but I didn’t tab to accept. The band was playing, and unless I went outside, I wouldn’t be able to hear him too well.

  Too noisy to answer. What’s up?

  I’m coming to pick you up.

  No! Shit. Please, you don’t need to. I’m leaving now. I’ll call when I get home.

  Stay there. I mean it. I’m on my way.

  I considered my options. I could leave right this second, and he could pick me up along the way. I could ask for a ride from Stephen, but that would be rude if I was gone when he arrived, and they weren’t ready to go anyway. I’d just wait outside for Chase until he got there, then sneak off without anyone seeing. Perfect.

  I came around to Perry’s side and tried relaying the message in her ear without speaking too loudly.

  “That’s stupid,” she said.

  “No, it’s not. It’s my best option. And I don’t see what the problem is. He acted pretty cavemanish when I told him I was walking home.”

  “God, Jills. That’s not being a caveman; that’s being considerate and protective. You shouldn’t be walking home alone at this hour, no matter how much you like it. I agree with him.”

  “I’m a big girl, Perry.” I hugged her good-bye, then moved on to Stephen.

  “You’re leaving now?” he said. “Let me give you a ride home.”

  “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  “It was one thing walking here before the sun went down, but not now. I’m driving you.”

  Seriously? I wanted to scream. This was not working out right. I looked at Perry, but she just shrugged. I bet she was enjoying this.

  In between our disagreement, the blonde bombshell server delivered us a fresh pitcher, then said loudly, “Chase!”

  All three of us stopped dead and stared at her, shifting to the person who’d joined our little party. My chest went wild for a multitude of reasons.

  “Hi, Amanda.”

  Stephen burned a hole through me, his expression like crystal. It said, ‘I told you so.’

  “What can I get you?” I would have accused her of thrusting out her tits, but she could have been standing on her head, and they would have looked the same.

  “Nothing, thanks. I’m taking off right away.”

  She frowned. “Okay, let me know if you change your mind.”

  After she had sashayed off with an extra twang to her hips, I cleared my throat. The band was on a break, and it was painfully quiet in there. “Um, Chase, you remember Perry and Stephen.” They shook hands, Stephen acting cordial, but the distrust in his eyes was blatant. Time to go. Now. “Okay, well, gotta run. Talk to you later.”

  I turned to hightail it out of there when Stephen caught my arm. “You have a good head on your shoulders, Jillian,” he whispered into my ear. “Do not lose it to this guy.”

  I nodded, not sure how to respond. He didn’t have to worry about me. I could handle this.

  I pulled Chase through the tables and out the door, the air hitting me like a refreshing shower. It was way too hot in there. “How’d you get here so quick?” I asked him. I was counting on more time to weasel my way out of the building.

  “I wasn’t too far away. I can’t believe you were going to walk home wearing that. Alone. At night.”

  I looked down. What the hell was wrong with my dress? “There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing, Chase.” It wasn’t even that short. Nothing even close to what Perry dressed me in for Summerfest.

  “It’s hot as fuck, and if I think that, other men do too.”

  “So?”

  “So, I’m not letting you go down some dark street by yourself, even if you were wearing a parka. And especially not in a dress that shows off your skin. I want to push you against this damn wall right now and make you scream.”

  Okay, full body flush. Breathe it away and focus on the issue at hand. The one where I felt like I was being ganged up on—three against one. What was so bad about taking care of myself?

  “What’s with the girl?” I said, changing the subject. “Amanda.”

  “Just someone I saw a few times.”

  “By saw, you mean fucked.”

  I tried to read his face, but I couldn’t tell if he was pissed off or amused.

  “Yes. Does that bother you? It was years ago.”

  “Yet you two still remember each other.”

  He took my hands. Did he think I needed to be placated? I wasn’t affected by the amount of women swarming the city whom he’d stuck his dick into. I was just curious.

  “I still run into her from time to time when I come here. And by run into, I do not mean fuck.”

  Wh
atever. A little muscle in my eye started twitching, and I took off for the car before he could notice it. He caught up to me before I could get there.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Of course I am.”

  See, this was the kind of thing that happened when we left the house. Pretty young perky things popped up like dandelions all over my spotless yard, reminding me that Chase and I didn’t belong together. Reminding me how easy it would be for the weeds to take over and suffocate whatever we did have together. Liking someone younger a whole fucking lot only worked in a vacuum, not out in the living, breathing world.

  “No, that’s not entirely true, Chase. Can we go to the car now?”

  He nodded and gripped my hand. When we arrived, I leaned against the side, the metal cool against my back. I felt safer out here. It was pitch black, and he hadn’t parked too close to the building.

  “I’m not an insecure woman. Quite the opposite, really.” I paused, thinking of the right words to say. I found that the older I got, the more comfortable with myself I became. I knew without a doubt that I would not be having these issues with a man my age. Yeah, I had a little saggage going on in the boob department, and that annoying forehead line bugged the shit out of me, but otherwise, I felt and looked pretty damn good.

  Chase cozied up to me, trapping my body to the car. I loved it. I’d never get used to his strength hard against me. The way he was always ready and willing to give me the best orgasm of my life over and over and over again.

  But again, that was so not the issue at hand….

  “I’m not insecure, but I am realistic. Why be with me when you could be with the Amandas of the world?”

  I didn’t try to bring it to mind, but once more the thought of my father running off with an Amanda after he’d damaged my mother slammed in front and center.

  Chase moved back, forcing me to instantly crave him. The air against me was just not the same. “Fuck, Jillian. Give me a little credit to know what I want. I’ve always followed my passion, and it’s worked out well for me so far. Doesn’t that tell you anything?”

  I wasn’t sure, but I was already sick of arguing about it. I couldn’t understand why I kept bringing up things that wouldn’t even be relevant months from now. I needed to savor this time with him, because when we were clicking, it was tight and unbreakable. I was fulfilled and happy, and I adored those feelings enough to keep pursuing them. I’d already accepted that I wanted him for more than just sex, but we had to be more careful. We couldn’t put ourselves in situations that would destroy the moment.

  “I’m sorry, Chase.” I drew him back to me and snuggled against his chest. “I’m not doubting you want me.” At least not for today, and today was all we had. “Let’s just focus on the now, okay? I’ll do my best not to let our age difference make me crazy.”

  I took his hands and put them on my thighs. Once I started moving them up, I knew I had him. He wanted to fight just as much as I did. He wanted to make up just as much too.

  His body crushed to me, and I felt that bond again. Hands groping through my dress, moving up over my breasts, squeezing my nipples until I lost breath. Lips all over my neck, fingers gripping my hair and molding me whichever way he wanted me.

  I needed it hard. I encouraged him to be rougher, to take everything from me. To possess a woman who didn’t want to be possessed. I wished we were home so I could be even more at his mercy, but I didn’t want to break away long enough to get there.

  I heard people in the background, but they weren’t close enough for me to care. It was dark enough to be spotted but not detected. We were two bodies together, but no one knew whose two bodies they belonged to.

  “Fuck me, Chase. I want it hard.”

  He opened the car door and tossed me into the back seat. My dress flew up, exposing my wet panties. He ripped them off as if they were made of tissue paper. Holy fuck. I wished I could see exactly what color his eyes were because I wanted to know what matched with feral animal. There was a primal fire in him that made my pussy gush and my head whirl. His vigor meshed with mine perfectly. Fast and furious.

  “You want it hard, Wild Horses?”

  “Yes.” God, yes. Oh, God… no. “Wait,” I panted out before his cock touched me. I dumped my purse upside down, the contents spilling all over the floor. “We need a condom.” I was too close to ovulation. Knowing him, he probably had super sperm with double the shelf life. It wasn’t safe.

  I felt around blindly for one of the wrappers I always kept well-stocked in my purse ever since Chase. He was busy gripping his fingers deep into my inner thighs and spreading me wide. I took a deep breath. Focus, Jillian. His mouth was right there, the stubble along his jaw scratching me and adding to the intensity.

  My hand closed around one, and I heard the crinkle just as he bit down on my clit, sending my hips bucking against his face. Then his fingers were inside, caressing me deeply, not giving me a chance to even gasp before I was purring again.

  He grabbed hold of my calves and pushed them past my shoulders, folding me in two. I was compressed into the seat and against myself, locked into a tiny space. Taking both ankles into one hand, he held me in place while he took the condom from me, ripping it open with his teeth and rolling it on.

  “Tell me again you want it hard. Rough.” I felt the tip enter me slightly. “I need to hear it again before I give you what you want.”

  I was pulsing inside, the skin on my top inner thighs cool from the air kissing the dampness. “I want it as hard as you can give me.” I looked into his eyes. “Take it all, Chase.”

  The next thing I saw was stars. He had slammed into me with such force, making me feel like I’d left my body for a moment. The initial ache was intense. So deep, so deep… My breath grew heavy. I was in such a helpless position, angled for penetration that pushed me just beyond the limit.

  He rubbed his body against mine, grinding into me, teetering the boundaries between pleasure and pain. We’d fucked hard before, but this was as primal as it got. I was blown away, and I never wanted it to stop.

  My moans must have provoked him further because he was relentless, never slowing, giving me exactly what I’d asked for. I craved him deeper than was physically possible. As I was staring into his face, the orgasm blindsided me out of nowhere, coming at me when I wasn’t expecting it. There was no build-up, no warning; it just hit me head-on, knocking me senseless. I screamed as I felt myself rip apart, and moments later, his body shook and collapsed on top of mine.

  Chase was right there in the aftermath, his hard muscles pressing against my chest, my legs returned to horizontal. Our sweat mingled together, and I felt like a delicious, crumpled mess. My everything throbbed, an ache that radiated from the inside out, letting me know just how well my body had been used in its entirety.

  We were in the backseat of a fucking car. I had never done anything like that before, losing control like a couple of horny teenagers. I’d been so swept away I hadn’t even had the ability to make it home first. What had ever possessed me to act like that?

  His chest rose and fell above mine, his lips resting over my neck. He’d consumed my body and took ownership.

  Chase. That’s what had possessed me.

  “Are you ready for dinner?”

  His arms were tight around me as I wiggled in his lap. “You’re always hungry.”

  “What can I say? I have a voracious appetite.” He nuzzled his jaw against my neck, both tickling and making me squirm.

  Another perfect night. We’d been having a lot of those lately. Not every single day with each other, but close. Making spicy meals together, long conversations about music and living the life you love, singing in melody to his guitar, feeling like I’d died and gone to Heaven. I’d never in my life laughed so hard nor came so frequently. Chase was the almost-ideal man. Almost.

  It was the last day of August. Soon to be a new month. Soon to be another month, then another. At least when we did break off, it’d be on top. My
heart would take a huge blow, but I was strong enough to recover. I was just making it harder for myself by extending our time until the very last moment, but I was willing to take that risk. I felt too good around Chase not to.

  He was young and damn near perfect. He’d move on as well, easier than I would. I felt a slight twinge over who would have him next, but I shook it off. I didn’t want to destroy this time while I had him now.

  “Do you want to make something with your other secret ingredient?” I asked. He’d brought over a bottle of apple cider vinegar today. Another item from his fajita recipe. I still wasn’t close to having the full thing, but maybe I’d get it as a going-away present.

  “We could dye Easter eggs.”

  “That’s white vinegar, silly. And we’re seven months early.” My gut tightened. I’d no longer be with him then. I hopped off his lap. God, Jillian, stop being so frickin’ dramatic.

  I went into the kitchen. And to think that I almost asked him to temporarily move in with me. For practical reasons, but still. I was concerned about him living in the same house as Trevor after what happened. More freaked out that Chase would do something stupid and have to pay the price for Trevor’s assholeness. But it’d all worked out. Trevor cleared out early, and Chase assured me that everything was good, nothing to worry about anymore. Thank God. If I thought my heart was strained now, what would happen to it if I’d gone to bed with him every night and woke up beside him every morning? It would have snapped back and broken completely.

  I opened the fridge, debating if I wanted to take that last Spotted Cow. There was one left from the six-pack he’d given me on our first official non-date. Nah, I’d keep it around for a while yet. I grabbed an Apple Ale instead, taking one for him too.

  Chase was right behind me, hugging my waist. I shut the fridge and set the bottles on the counter, then turned to face him. After a long kiss, I asked, “So, what do you have in your goodie bag today?”

  He usually brought over the food for our dinners. A variety of this and that. Sometimes he had a plan and sometimes we created something out of a mishmash of ingredients. It was always delicious.