Chase
* * *
Pushing the sleeves of my hoodie up, I move toward the keg, my body and head facing forward, but my eyes on her.
Or maybe they’re on him.
Why does he keep trying to touch her? I swear, every time I look over, he’s got his hands an inch away from her.
Where the fuck is Mason?
Why isn’t he jumping on this fucker like he always does?
Like he would me.
The dick runs his fingers along the length of her hair and my skin heats.
Liquid splashes over me and I jolt, looking down to find my cup crushed in my palm, the contents overflowing onto my damn shoes.
“Fuck.” I jump back, flinging my hand to rid it of the cheap beer.
Brady scoffs somewhere nearby and I whip my head around to find him sitting on a boulder not three feet away, his eyes on me. He pulls his cup to his lips, glancing toward Arianna and back. Leisurely, he climbs to his feet, fills a cup, and holds it out with a firm frown. “Her hands are empty.”
The inquisition in his tone has my pulse jumping, and my eyes dart away with guilt.
But why?
What do I have to feel guilty for?
I’m just keeping an eye on her, and that’s because I care.
I’ve always cared. Shit, I care as much as him, as much as Mason.
Mason.
My muscles clench and I look back to the brown-haired girl at the edge of the party.
With my mind spinning like this, I shouldn’t make my way to her, I really fucking shouldn’t, but I do, and before she’s even spotted me, I’m speaking.
“You two seemed comfortable.”
Her eyes flash to mine, confusion bringing creases to their corners.
Confusion I feel just the same because that’s not why I came over here.
That’s not what I meant to say.
“We just met,” she hesitantly defends.
“Didn’t seem like it.”
She blanches and all I can think is what the fuck is wrong with me?
Slowly, Arianna tips her head. “Okay…” She drags out. “I’m not really sure what to say to that so… if there’s something you want to say… you can.”
Her tone is gentle and curious, and I find myself swallowing.
“No, no, uh…” I clear my throat, backtracking, torn by the irritation burning through me and refusing to think on the reason for it. “I’m sorry, it’s just I hear you were out of town, hanging with this Trey dude, and then Noah shows up, gets one look at you and—” I cut myself off, my mouth clamping shut as I look to her.
She slips closer. “And… what?”
My chest lifts and falls with a full breath and I frown. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
Her eyes fall, and I tip my head, catching the small curve of her lips she tries to veil.
Why’s that make her smile?
Is it him?
Is it me?
Why the fuck does it matter?
“He might as well have asked you out right there in front of us all.”
“He didn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“The fact that he wanted to.” I frown. “You know that, right? That he wanted to?”
Arianna steps forward, grabs the drink I brought over from my hand. As she goes to step past, her gaze lifts to mine, and with a hidden smile, she whispers, “I know… that he’s gone.”
“Do you wish he weren’t?”
Her lips part and I tense, rushing to speak before she can.
“Don’t answer that.”
“What if I want to?” she rasps, peeking up beneath her full lashes.
“Arianna.”
“Chase.”
I glare and she grins.
A low giggle follows, and she steps past me. “I’m going to check on Cam.”
She smiles at the sand, and I’m about ready to bury myself beneath it.
I don’t know what in the fuck is wrong with me right now, but it better be right by tomorrow.
If not, who the hell knows what’ll happen.
I sure as fuck don’t.
Chapter 6
Arianna
* * *
The five of us are up early the following morning, but only for long enough to finish cleaning up from the night before. After that, Cam and I tuck ourselves beneath the covers, eating chips and dip for breakfast. We’re on episode three of Emily in Paris when she presses pause with a sigh.
I already know what she’s going to say, and to be honest, it took a little longer than I expected.
“Mason shook his hand,” she rasps, and our eyes meet. “He shook his hand…”
My smile is sad because we both know what it means.
Mason didn’t feel threatened by Trey, no jealousy or anger.
He didn’t pull a Mason and make a scene, knock Trey on his ass and dare him to rise to his feet.
My brother shook Trey’s hand.
It was the first time my brother’s feelings have been truly clear.
He loves Cameron, but not the way she wants him to.
“You know what’s weird,” she whispers, tears brimming her eyes as they meet mine. “It doesn’t hurt the way I thought it would. It stings, but I kind of thought I’d feel like I was dying.” She chuckles through her sniffles. “Does that even make sense?”
“Of course it does.” I curl onto my side, tucking my hands beneath my head.
“I’m sad, but I don’t know, I’m also kind of happy Trey’s here.”
“As you should be. We said we’re having fun, boys be damned, remember? So damn them. You’ve now got a fine ass man willing to turn your nights from a five into a ten. That’s more than I can say.”
“True.” Her laugh is laced with a sob, but she shakes her head. “I can’t believe Trey’s actually here.”
“Maybe it’s a sign.”
“A sign I need to get laid.”
I grin, and Cameron’s famous smirk comes back.
“Atta girl.”
With that, she presses play, and we binge the rest of the season, eating the same thing we did for breakfast, for dinner. We don’t leave the room once.
By seven, Cam retired to her room, and we both passed out. It was a fantastic day, but too early to go to bed, especially when we basically took mini naps all day.
Now I’m wide awake and my room is dark, despite the curtains being drawn, and when I look to the clock, I find it’s only one in the morning, still a crap ton of hours left in the night.
I try finding another show, but after thirty minutes of watching trailers, I give up and tiptoe down the stairs for something to drink, careful not to wake the others.
Snagging a water bottle from the fridge, I step up to the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the ocean beyond it.
The glow of the moon against the dark waters is unreal, and one of my favorite sights. It’s peaceful, scary as shit after a horror movie marathon, but peaceful any other time.
“Hey.”
I scream, but a large hand quickly wraps around my mouth, and I spin, coming face to face with Chase.
“Shit.” My shoulders settle, a huffed laugh leaving me. “You almost caught a water bottle to the face.”
He grins, slowly letting me go as he looks around the room. “Walking around in the dark?”
I rub my lips together, tipping my head at him. “That’s where all the fun happens.”
A scowl forms along his face, and I bite back a laugh.
He says nothing for a several seconds, so I nod. “I’m going back to bed.” But before I can slip away, Chase gently grips my wrist, so I look over my shoulder, into his green eyes.
“I got a smoothie earlier. It sucked,” he tells me randomly.
I suppress a grin. “That’s too bad.”
“It was Brady’s fault.”
I chuckle and his smile slips free.
“I’m craving
a sundae.” His eyes search mine. “You know you want one, too.”
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“So.” He shrugs.
“So…” I glance around the room, having no idea why I’m trying to escape. “I’ll get the spoons?”
“That’s my girl.” He turns to the freezer, and I pretend he meant that in a far more literal way. He moves over to the cupboard for toppings, quickly setting them on the counter to his left.
With his eyes on the floor beneath his feet, he heads my way. Assuming he’s coming for the spoons, I slip to the side, but Chase shocks the shit out of me when his left arm darts out, caging me in.
My eyes slice up to meet his, and his palms find my hips. He lifts me, slowly lowering me onto the kitchen island.
The unexpected chill of the granite has me squealing, my body lurching forward, right against Chase’s chest.
He chuckles as my hands latch on to his shoulder, and I ease my ass down.
As I look up, my breath hitches. His mouth is no more than an inch from mine, and I’m not the only one who noticed.
All I would have to do, all either of us would have to do, is tilt our heads the smallest bit, and our lips would be touching, but I tried that once, and we both know how that turned out.
I won’t try again, even if, since that night, something’s shifted. I can see it in his eyes, in his words.
I can sense it in his touch.
It’s almost as if, for the first time, he’s testing the feel of my skin. His hands have grabbed hold of me thousands of times, but not with a firm grip, and never did they linger. Not like now.
Chase is frozen, standing completely still as he stares at my mouth, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s replayed our kiss, as fleeting as it might have been, in his head as many times as I have.
Heat spreads through my abdomen, so in effort not to embarrass myself more than I already have this week, I avert my gaze. The second I look down, I jerk with realization.
I climbed straight out of bed, and only came down for a quick drink, maybe a snack… in nothing but a T-shirt cut around the collar and a thong—the countertop freezing my ass cheeks should have reminded me of this.
Chase follows my line of sight to where my tangled shirt rides high over my hips, to the bright yellow V of my underwear, currently getting cozy with his abs.
He jumps, swings around and gets right back to his original task.
“You want caramel syrup?” he rasps, promptly clearing his throat.
“Chocolate.” I curse myself for sounding all breathy, but son of biznatch!
Who is this man and can I keep him?
I scoff internally, because yeah right. He’s just high on summer. Or something like that.
Whatever, I’m not about a wasted opportunity, so I sit back and watch the way his muscles move as he works.
Did I mention he’s shirtless? ‘Cause it’s glorious.
His brown hair is perfectly messy, his skin tan from spending as much time as possible beneath the sun, and so smooth. He’s been talking about getting a tattoo for years, but as of right now, he’s still all-natural.
I lick my lips.
So fine.
“I can feel you checking me out.” He doesn’t bother turning to confirm.
“Yeah, well.” I grip the countertop and lean forward a little. “When the man above blessed us with wine, we indulged. It’s only fair his other masterpieces get the same treatment.”
Chase sets the ice cream scooper down, and spins with a smirk. He leans his ass against the granite, one leg crossed in front of the other, and holds his arms out wide. “Then by all means.” He surprises me for the third time in three days, encouraging me to openly gawk.
He’s being playful, and I’m so here for it.
So I take his unexpected invitation before he comes to his senses.
For the first time I have no time limit, no need to peek beneath my lashes or hide behind shades. I look my fill, unabashedly taking him in from the tips of his brown hair to the bottoms of his bare feet.
At first, it’s a quick run of his body, and then I start over. I trace the firmness of his jaw down his neck, noting the way it thickens, widening into his broad shoulders, courtesy of years of football. I move to his arms, and the deep cuts that disappear behind him, roaming over every ridge of his abs, daring myself to travel farther south.
My knees meet each other as I trace the sharp lines of his hips, his pajama pants sitting loose and perfectly low. I suck my cheek between my teeth, fearing I might make an incredibly embarrassing sound as I do my best to conjure up the shape of the bulge pressing against the thick, striped cotton.
My eyes dart up and the look in his…
It’s new.
Dark.
Desperate?
Chase’s throat bobs with a heavy swallow and my core throbs. I drop my left shoulder, aware my T-shirt will slide with it, and it does. The gaping neck allows it to continue down my skin, and it only pauses when the material meets the hallow of my chest, outlining the swell of my breast.
Just a tease… just enough.
His gaze slices to mine, narrowing. “What are you doing?”
“That seems to be your question of choice this week…”
His frown is small. “Maybe I should wonder a little less.”
My stomach hollows. “Maybe you should.”
Feeling brave, I allow my hands to slide farther back, willing him closer, trying to make it as clear as possible, just in case he’s not getting it.
I want you.
Instantly, his gaze drops to my mouth, so with nerves running through me, I glide my tongue across my lips.
That does it.
Chase pushes off the counter, and like an animal after his next meal, he makes his way to me.
Three more steps.
His fists flex at his sides.
One more…
He reaches me.
I push up.
My brother appears.
Shit!
I jerk upright, and Mason’s sharp eyes fly between us.
“What the fuck is this?” Mason shouts, the patio door slamming him in the ass as he’s frozen halfway through it.
I damn near jump and run, but my body went from flight to frozen in two-point-five seconds.
I’m once again teen me who got pulled onstage at a One Direction concert and threw up all over Zayn Malik’s shoes, while he was still wearing them.
Thank god Chase isn’t wide-eyed and tongue-tied like me.
“Nothing, man, just getting some ice cream. You want?” Chase asks him, as he casually reaches behind me, finding something to grab from the cupboard, and moves back to the forgotten ice cream cartons.
“Ari, go to bed.”
That snaps me out of it.
“I’m having ice cream.” I don’t bother trying to hide my annoyance.
“Have it in your room,” he demands, his nostrils flaring.
“Maybe I don’t want… wait.” I look him over, finding he’s still in jeans and a hoodie, and he just came through the back door. “Where were you?”
“Go. Now.”
Dramatically rolling my eyes, purely to annoy him, I snag my water bottle and hop off the counter, my brother’s glare burning into my back as I curve around the countertop.
I bump Mason’s shoulder as I walk past him and he’s quick to grab my arm. His hold is gentle, but his eyes are hard and pointed at his best friend. “You have pajamas for a reason, Arianna. Wear them,” he grits out.
“Tell you what, when you start wearing a shirt in the gym, I’ll consider it.”
He frowns and I slip past him.
Mase can have his little tantrum all he wants. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to muster up all the control I can find to keep from skipping my way up to my room, but the minute I’m inside it, I do a little happy dance.
Holy. Shit.
He couldn’t look away.
He couldn’t stay
away.
I don’t even know that he realized it.
Maybe it was best Mason slipped in when he did. Had it been fifteen seconds later, he might have walked in on something else entirely.
Because Chase can’t pretend tonight was all me. It wasn’t.
He asked me to stay.
He stalked toward me.
He—
My door is pushed open, and I jump, spinning around.
“Chase,” I breathe.
“Forgot your ice cream.” His brows are drawn tight, and he blindly sets the treat down on the desk near my door.
I glance at the bowl, layered in caramel. “That’s yours.”
“Right.”
He spins, stepping out into the hall.
Frowning, I push it closed, but before it clicks, he’s there again, and then his hand is sinking into my hair, I’m spun and pressed into the frame.
He glares, his hand shaking, and then he says, “Fuck it.”
His mouth crashes down on mine and I gasp around him.
He presses closer, holds tighter, and when my mouth opens, allowing his inside, he groans.
And then he pulls away, his retreat is as quick as his kiss, and I’m left frozen, my hand in the air.
“Bitch!” is hissed, and my head jerks right.
Cameron peeks from the shadows, stepping out of the joining bathroom, her jaw dropped in awe.
I face her and we both quietly squeal, jumping onto my bed top.
My smile couldn’t be wider because I finally got a sign I’d hoped to find.
One that can’t be denied.
Chase Harper isn’t as immune to me as he would like me to believe… or had liked me to believe.
This was all him.
Where this man came from, I don’t know, and I don’t care.
His eyes are open and that’s more than I could have expected.
I smirk, burying myself under the covers.
Cam sighs. “Maybe we’ll both have a hottie to hump this summer.”
We look to each other and laugh.
May-freaking-be.
Today is one of those summer days in Southern California where the warm sun decides to pop out after lunch and disappears before you’ve even gotten the chance to eat. So Cam and I put our towels away and met Lolli and Payton downtown for tacos, while the boys stayed behind watching football highlights on YouTube.
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