“Hey.” I try to sit up but he stops me.
“Don’t move, you’re not going anywhere.”
“But Ru and Nate,” I say, trying again to push myself up.
“They’ve gone home, you’re in no state to see them. I’m going to undress you and you’re going to climb into bed and stay there until I say so.” I feel too tired to put up any resistance. He gently takes off my clothes and pulls the covers over me. A few minutes later I feel the mattress dip and he joins me. He pulls me close so my back is plastered to his chest and locks his arm around me. He kisses the back of my shoulder.
“You said we needed to talk,” I whisper into the darkness.
“Shhh, not now. When you’ve rested.” He adds another kiss.
“I thought you might want to break up with me,” I croak, and I feel him stiffen behind me. Does that mean I’m right? Ican’t stand the not knowing, the agony of it. “You don’t have to let me down gently. You can just tell me.”
“Noah,” he says in a low voice that has me immediately shuffling around to face him.
“Sweetheart.” His voice cracks as he reaches up to cup my cheek and brushes a thumb across my lips. “I don’t want to break up with you. Far from it. I love you and want you in my life.”
“You love me?” It wasn’t the answer I was expecting.
“Yes, for far longer than I care to admit. But we need to make some changes. We can’t go on like this. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
He gathers me in his arms and I nuzzle into his neck, and although I still feel worried about what he wants to talk about, the warmth of his words wash over me.
“Chase?”
“Hmmm,” he murmurs.
“I love you too,” I whisper against his skin. He kisses the top of my head and holds me tighter as I drift off to sleep.
I fidgetas the car speeds along the motorway.
“Are we going to the castle?” I say, and Chase smiles in that annoying way he has been all morning.
“Nope.”
I twist a little to try to see and guess where we are. Chase grabs my hand, pulling it into his lap. He strokes his thumb across the back of my hand. It’s soothing and distracting.This morning hasn’t been the best so far. I’m used to being in control, and so far Chase has told me we’re going away but not where.
“Why won’t you tell me?” I whine.
“Because I want it to be a surprise.” His smug expression doesn’t change.
“I’d planned to work this morning,” I grumble.
“I know, and that’s why we’re going away for a few days.”
“But you made me leave my laptop behind.” I remember he actually took it out of my hand.
“I’ve left mine too. No work for either of us.”
I stare out of the window. I guess I could manage a few days. It’s the weekend, so surely we’ll be back by Monday. Yes, I can do that.
The car pulls into a small airstrip and right up to a plane waiting for us.
“Is that yours?” I ask, climbing out of the car.
Chase looks proud as he puts a hand on the small of my back and guides me up the steps.
It’s amazing. I’ve never been in a private jet before, and it’s not at all what I expected. It looks like a living room with comfortable sofas. I go investigating and find a bathroom with a shower as well as a bedroom with a king-size bed.