An Indecent Proposal(53)

“What?”

“I don’t want you to think you owe me for something I want to do for you. I don’t want to take. I want to give.”

I raised my eyebrows, an amused smile on my lips. “So what did you want from me, then?”

“Nothing that matters now.” He smiled and stood, pulling me up with him. “Come on. Let me give you a grand tour of my place.”





Chapter 19





Chase showed me around his place and told me repeatedly that I was welcome to stay as long as I wanted. Eventually, his words had the desired effect, and I began to feel safe. It was a little after midnight when I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a fluffy towel around my naked body.

“Thanks for letting me stay. I hope it’s not too much trouble for you and your girlfriend,” I said, standing in the doorway and eyeing the leather couch, which was now covered with pillows and a bedspread. Wearing clean clothes—a long T-shirt and boxer shorts Chase had lent me for the night—and with my teeth brushed with his spare brush, I felt composed and was back to my usual self again.

“Sure. And I don’t have a girlfriend, Laurie. I think I established that already, but I appreciate the thought.” Chase tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans as his eyes scanned my naked legs. “You look nice.”

“Oh, please.” I could feel the telltale signs of an oncoming blush and wished I could stop my body from giving me away every time Chase said something that got to me.

“I mean it.” He grinned and stepped in front of me to brush a wet strand of hair behind my ear. “Wearing my clothes suits you. You know what was in those shorts? Now they’re brushing your skin. It’s almost like I’m touching you…down there.”

My jaw dropped. Talk about mortifyingly frank. I should have bolted out the door. Slapped him. Anything but…smile like an idiot and think about what his fingers would feel like…down there.

His face inched closer, and his hot breath grazed my ear. “It’s such a shame you don’t see how beautiful you are.”

Whoa.

I inhaled a shaky breath and put some distance between us before he took the next step in whatever plan he was pursuing.

“Maybe I don’t want to.” I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could and settled on the sofa, covering my legs with a blanket as I changed the subject. “Most people get so superficial and materialistic, they forget what life is all about.”

“That might be true,” he said. “But sometimes people are stuck in a state of stagnation, not living or expanding their potential. They forget that both their soul and their body have needs.”

“What are you saying?” I bit my lip and regarded him intently.

“Whatever you want to make of it. My words are always open to interpretation.” He gave me a mysterious smile and then winked at me to follow. I remained seated.

“So you think I’m not reaching my full potential.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement lined with pure, sweet venom. I tried my best to be my best self. I always explored possibilities and opportunities. Having a man tell me otherwise made my blood boil.

“I said no such thing.” He drew a long breath and let it out slowly. I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting, wondering. People were criticizing me all the time and I didn’t give a monkey’s ass about it, so why was it so hard to take coming from him?

“You did.” I raised my chin defiantly. “And I very much beg to differ. Whatever you think I’m not doing with my life, it’s a choice.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the floor. For a moment, we avoided each other’s gaze, the tension palpable in the air. And then Chase reached me in two long strides and cupped my face between his hands, forcing me to look him into those impossibly strange eyes.

“You’re scared of intimacy. I get it. But that doesn’t make me want to fuck you less. That’s all I’ll say.” And with that he let go of me and turned around, calling over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”

My mouth went dry, and all the blood drained from my face.

Coming where? I felt like asking, but the words remained stuck in my throat in a blubbering mess. I followed him into his lavish bedroom with its beautiful dark damask wallpaper and crystal lamps on either side of the bed. My gaze instantly focused on the bed covered with silk sheets the color of chocolate and countless pillows. I swallowed hard, unsure whether to proceed. This felt intimate. Too intimate. Even from where I stood, I could smell that the sheets had been changed recently, as though in preparation for a female visitor.

“I made your room ready,” Chase said, and pointed at the bed, which managed to make the entire situation even more awkward.