“Hard to go wrong with Bruce Willis,” she replies.
I let the movie and exhaustion wash over me, and when the food is finished and the tray is outside the door, we squash together under the covers, her feet resting on mine, my arm around her. The soft rise and fall of her breathing teases me with the nearness of everything I want and don’t know if I should have. If I can. Desire and comfort tangle together inside me, until I don’t know where one ends and the other begins.
And then I open my mouth and ruin everything.
TWENTY-SIX
SERENA
The soft hum of the hotel’s heater is the only sound in the room as Chase takes me into his arms, holding me tight. There’s a stretch of light from the lamps by the lake slipping in through the thin curtains, enough to light the room in shadows and silhouettes.
Chase turns his head, scooping a lock of my hair away from my face, staring at me like he’s drinking in every detail.
“You can’t fix me, Serena. You know that, right? I am who I am.”
The words hit like ice water. I freeze, heart thudding. “You think you’re broken?”
“I feel it. I feel like there’s a crack in my soul, and nothing is ever gonna change that. I don’t want you to waste your time trying to fix me.”
I pull away, pulse racing, and I’m not sure why. I prop myself onto my elbow and stare at the shadows of Chase’s face. “For the record, I’ve never tried to change you and never thought for a second you need fixing, and I’m not going to start thinking differently now.”
Even in the dim light, I see the turmoil and anger flash in his eyes. “Why did you come with me?”
“Because I’m your best friend and you shouldn’t be facing this alone.”
“There’s nothing anyone can do to help. I didn’t know this woman. I’m just here to collect her things and drive them home.” It’s a lie and we both know it. He could’ve let Mama do this. Could’ve hired someone. But he jumped in his truck without hesitation. He’s here for answers. I just hope he finds the ones he’s looking for.
I sit up. “If you’re wishing I wasn’t here or wanting me to leave, then too bad, because I’m not going anywhere. I’m not scared of your mess, Chase. I never have been.” His jaw tenses. He opens his mouth to say something, but I get there first. “Don’t even think about pushing me away, Sullivan. You think I don’t remember the time in high school when you weren’t chosen for quarterback, and you stormed out of practice, and nearly got suspended for mouthing off to Coach Reynolds? You tried to act like you didn’t care. But I found you behind the bleachers, punching the fence until your knuckles bled. You were hurting and you didn’t want anyone to see it. But I did. I always see you, and right now, you’re trying to push me away. I’m not going anywhere.”
We stare at each other in the dark, our breathing shallow, the air humming with tension. Then something shifts. His jaw tightens, his eyes darken, and it’s no longer anger I see burning in them. It’s desire. I feel it too, heat pulsing through my body.
“Tell me what you need,” I say.
His reply is rough-edged and gritted. “Just you.”
Then his hands are on my hips, firm and steady, guiding me onto his lap. My knees slide on either side of him, my thighs pressing against taut muscle as he pulls me flush against him. The hardness of him is already there, pressing hot and insistent between my legs, and the contact sends a rush of heat through me so fast I almost gasp. I’m so hot for this man.
His hands slide higher, brushing the edge of my tee. He tugs it up, slow at first, then impatient, until I lift my arms and let him strip it away in one smooth motion, letting it fall somewhere to the side. The cool air brushes my bare skin, goose bumps scattering across me, my nipples pebbling hard. But it’s nothing compared to the fire in Chase’s eyes as they roam over me with a hunger so intense it feels like he’s devouring every inch of me, leaving me trembling, wearing nothing but the flimsy cotton of my panties.
“Are you asking me to stay?” I whisper.
“Yes.”
I press myself against his length. “Say it,” I whisper as I move my face closer to his.
“I want you to stay. I want you to fuck me. I want you.” He cups my face, closing the gap between us, and then we’re kissing, hard and slow, all tongues and teeth and emotion, pouring every ounce of love and frustration and need into it.
“Fuck, Serena,” he murmurs as I draw back from our kiss. He slides firm hands up my thighs and over my center. “You’re so wet already. So ready for me.”
His thumb presses against me in a tight circle, sending heat scorching through my body. A moan escapes my lips as Chase keeps the movement going with one hand and reaches up with the other to trail over my breasts, squeezing each nipple and sending shots of pleasure straight to my core.
“I need to be inside you.” The urgency in his voice unravels me.
In one movement, he’s moving my panties aside and pulling me onto the hard length of him. And fuck it feels so good. He’s filling me up, stretching me in the most delicious ways.
Chase lets out a low groan as I take him all the way to the hilt. “Good girl. Fuck, you’re such a good girl.”
We move slowly at first, building a rhythm as I rock against him, drawing up to his tip then pushing all the way back down. Each time feeling deeper than the last. Over and over, all-consuming.