“Like no dating or sleeping with others.”
“I thought you weren’t the commitment type.”
“I’m not,” Chase said, his smile still in place. “But I take care of my health and needs. Seeing that we’ll be dating, I only want to ensure that whatever we’ll be doing we’ll only do with each other. And there’s a lot I’ll be teaching you.”
Oh, god.
I looked away before he could glimpse the major blush scorching my cheeks.
“What makes you think I’ll sleep with you?” I asked, barely able to control the sudden tremor in my voice.
He bent forward, and his hand closed around mine. “Isn’t that what you’ve been wanting ever since setting your eyes on me?”
Was that a question or a statement?
Still avoiding his gaze, I bit my lip hard until I thought I might just draw blood.
“No. Of course not.”
He laughed at my unconvincing attempt to disguise the truth.
“There’s nothing wrong about wanting someone, Laurie,” he whispered, and his thumb began to circle the sensitive skin on my hand.
Oh, for crying out loud.
Did he have to be so full of himself?
“I need to use the restroom.” Without waiting for his answer, I jumped up, ready to dash for the exit, when his reply came.
“You can run away from me all you want now. Soon enough, you’ll be heading in the opposite direction, and I’ll be there.”
That stopped me in mid-stride. Slowly, I turned around to face him, my blood boiling in my veins. It began to boil even hotter when I met the naughty glimpse in his eyes, which were the color of storm clouds and hurricanes.
“What makes you so sure about that?”
“I see it in your eyes, Laurie.” He got up and closed the space between us.
Ready to sweep me off my feet.
Ready to drown me in the lust I was beginning to feel for his hard body.
Luckily, our booth was shielded from prying eyes.
“You’ll have to get used to your needs,” he whispered. “If you don’t listen to your body, your passion will make you unhappy, and I can’t afford that.”
“Maybe I want you just a little bit,” I said through gritted teeth. “But you can’t force me to give in.”
“I would never impose myself on you,” Chase said, his hard voice matching mine in determination. “You’ll be the one begging me for more.”
I laughed, but the tone sounded fake and choked. “I doubt that.”
His sexy lips curled up into a gorgeous smile. “Well, that’s because you haven’t had me inside you…yet.”
The sudden heat between my legs almost immobilized me. Holding my head up high, I stormed for the bathroom and slammed the door behind me, unsure whether I was angry with myself for hiding my attraction to him so badly, or with Chase for being so brutally honest and ungentlemanly about it.
In the end, I decided to be angry with Jude for bringing him into my life. It was easier to hide behind a wall of pretense-anger than to admit that I had never felt so intrigued in my entire life.
Chapter 18
The moon shimmered against the black night sky, bathing the street in a silvery stream. As we exited the restaurant, Chase’s arm was wrapped around me, and he pulled me to him possessively. We walked down the stairs, huddled close together, my head spinning from so much good food, alcohol…and Chase’s intoxicating presence.
The visit to the restroom had helped me gain my composure, after which I even managed to have a drink. Chase acted as if nothing had happened, and then we ordered dinner and engaged in small talk—nothing too heavy. As it turned out, we shared many interests and hobbies. I tried hard to listen when he talked about his taste in music, but my mind kept swaying back to his last words and the possibility of us getting intimate, and I found myself wondering what would happen and what it would mean for me.
I didn’t know what made me think that, but there was something interesting about him. Maybe not interesting so much as intriguing, as if his mere presence stirred me deep inside, awakening parts of me I never knew existed.
“One day I’ll take you to see them live in concert. What do you think?” Chase said as we reached his car.
See whom in concert?
My attention snapped back to him, and I realized I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Laurie?” Chase prompted, his hand lingering on the passenger door, one or two inches from my hip. The way he regarded me made me painfully aware of just how close we were standing and how easy it would have been to tangle my fingers in his hair and invite him to take charge.
“What’s so great about them?” I moistened my suddenly parched lips as my brain fought to remember our train of conversation.