Worth the Chase Page 3

  “Oh, God, you don’t have to—”

  “It’s Jesus, and I want to. Lay back.” I smirk at her as she rolls her eyes, then press the warm compress between her thighs. I sneak a peek at her. Her eyes are now closed. Her cheeks are still flushed, looking like she just got the best ride of her life. I finish cleaning her up and stand, tossing the towel in the corner. “If you’re tired, we can put on a movie and—”

  This time, I’m the one who squeals. She catches me off guard, pouncing on me. “I’m not much for watching TV,” she says, then slams her lips to mine. We almost tumble off the bed, but I find my balance and flip us, bringing her on top of me. “What are you into?” My lips tip up in a playful smile.

  “Do you have any more condoms?”

  Is the Pope Catholic? “I do.”

  “Then I say we make the most of our time together.” She’s back on me, her mouth on mine, her pussy grinding against my cock. My only thought is to pray this night never ends.

  Chapter 2

  Chase

  I’m completely spent. Sore. But I’ve never felt better. I stretch my arms out, basking in the sun against my face from the open hotel blinds. I flip over, ready to eat my angel for breakfast, but she’s gone.

  Sitting up, I peer around the room. Her clothes are no longer scattered around the floor. There’s no trace of her. The only thing left that tells me she was even real is the faint scent of cherries.

  I fall back against the bed, a smile so fucking huge spreading across my face. “Jesus…” I laugh at her nickname. What a pair we were. And what a pleasant surprise she turned out to be. Her being a virgin was unexpected, but her eagerness blew me away. She was a spitfire. And a bit of a masochist if the tattoo of her nails down my back is any indication.

  “Shit…” I laugh again, shaking my head and throwing my legs off the bed. I walk into the bathroom and take a piss. She was so wild. Like an innocent bird finally let out of her cage, using her wings for the first time. Curious. Adventurous. Shy. Bold. Absolutely amazing.

  A frown mars my lips as disappointment sets in. She left without saying goodbye. I want to tie her up and spend the rest of eternity pleasuring every single part of her.

  My phone dings. I head back to the bedroom and pull it out of my jeans.

  Benny: Where you at? Need me to pick you up for the party?

  Party? What party? Who has a party this early in the— “Oh shit!” The Matthews’ barbecue. Levi is proposing. Fuck. I scan the clock. It’s almost ten. The party starts at eleven. Shit, how did I sleep this late? Well…where should we start? Forget it. I text Ben back, telling him to suck my dick and I’ll drive myself.

  I gather my shit and take off, pulling up my app to request an Uber. When I get home, I shower, letting out a mixture of hissing and laughing as the water stings my back, only to find more scratches on my ass cheeks. Damn, that girl was a minx.

  I dress in my Sunday best, jump in my truck, and head over to the Matthews’. A smile on my face, I turn on the radio. As luck would have it, the perfect song comes on. “Wild Angels” by Martina McBride blares through my speakers as I swerve through traffic, trying to remember the last time I felt so…rejuvenated. I beat my fist on the steering wheel, belting the chorus as I pull into the Matthews’ residence.

  Mrs. Bealson, their ancient neighbor, glares at me from her front yard. I wave, offering her a wink, and blow her a kiss. Light on my feet, I skip up the walkway, pushing the doorbell. Man, while those pussy-whipped losers probably sat around holding hands while watching chick flicks, I had a night I can’t wait to brag about.

  I go to hit the doorbell again, seeing a silhouette coming to my rescue. As the door opens, I put my best smile on, ready to greet Mrs. Matthews and charm her off her feet so she gives me the first slice of her famous apple pie—

  “What the fuck?”

  “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”

  “Following you?” I gawk back at Angel standing in the doorway. What the actual fuck?

  “Seriously, you need to leave—”

  “Hey, nice of you to show. Glad you stopped pouting.” Kip leans over her shoulder, addressing me, but I’m too busy picking my chin up off the ground.

  “What…who...she…” I’ve been rendered stupid.

  “Huh? You okay, man? Rough night?” Kip laughs.

  “Her.” I just point. What the hell is going on? “Her…dad…dead…”

  “Who, Bridget? She’s my little cousin. Remember my dad’s younger brother? The pastor?” No, I certainly fucking do not. She stands there, looking just as confused, making no move to tell her cousin we already know each other.

  “Bridge, this is my best friend, Chase. Chase, Bridge. Oh, and, Chase, don’t even think about it. Again, my uncle is a pastor who’s very much alive. Poor Bridget isn’t even allowed to hold a dude’s hand until she’s twenty-one.”

  He pats his cousin on the shoulder while I choke on my own breath. “She’s how—how—?”

  “Dude, don’t barf on my front step. Come in or not. I gotta find Stace. The baby pooped again.” Kip prepares to turn away from us before coming back to me. “Oh, and Chase? Even wink at her and you’re dead. Hear me?”

  No winking. Got it. How about taking her virginity? Before I can even reply, he walks away.

  Seems like my angel is the devil in disguise after all.

  And I’m on the fast track straight to hell.

  Chapter 3

  Bridget

  Kipley turns to walk away, and I slam the door in his face. The face I never, in a billion years, thought I would see again. My heart hammers against my ribcage, and I wipe my clammy palms down my white cotton summer dress. This can’t be happening. The almighty Lord has officially had it with my shenanigans. This is him punishing me for my unholiness. My father is finally going to follow through on his threats to send me off to a convent where he thinks a bunch of nuns will cleanse my black soul.

  A round of banging resonates from the other side of the door.

  Crap. Crap! What do I do?

  Well, for one, don’t stick around to confront your latest sin.

  I turn on my heel and take off down the hallway. The front door bursts open, and a chill skates down my back. I pick up my pace, my lips strained upward as I smile at Aunt Getty.

  “My dear, you are looking just lovely—”

  “You too, Aunt Getty. Thanks!” I wave and hurry past her, making an escape out the sliding glass door into the backyard. The sun blinds me as I step outside. I cup my hand over my eyes. The pounding of angry footsteps echo from inside, and I throw myself into the sea of relatives and friends, hoping to find a hole to hide in until the ghost of my bad choices is gone. Problem is, he’s not a ghost at all. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the stunt I pulled last night. The fight with my father that had me acting so irrationally. God, I was so angry. All of it finally boiled over, and I stopped thinking clearly. Thinking at all. It pushed me so far, I believed going through with such a crazy plan would fix things.

  Fix me.

  My cheeks flush at the memory of last night. The boldness that took over when I propositioned a complete stranger and let him touch me in a way only one other person ever has. Then I allowed him to take something I’d been foolishly holding on to for a dead person. A naïve belief that you save your virtue for the one you marry. The one you give your heart to. Well, I’d been doing that for three years and that person was taken away from me. I just wanted the pain to go away. The hurt and emptiness to fade. I wanted to stop feeling so alone. And how did giving up your virginity to someone you don’t even know work out? Not good, since he’s no longer a stranger.

  I shake my head in disbelief. I’ve done some crazy things. Rebelled over the years. But this one takes the cake. “Jesus, what was I thinking?” Actually, don’t answer that, Jesus.

  I make the mistake of looking over my shoulder, and there he is, standing in the doorway. I grip my biceps. He’s even more attractive than he was in the low-lit bar. More breathtaking than when he was naked and blanketed over me. I watch as he scans the backyard, the crease around his eyes becoming tight as he makes eye contact with— “Oh, shoot.” I whip around to take off, barreling right into someone.

  “Oh boy!” Hannah, my cousin, squeals as we both attempt to steady one another.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I was just—I was just…uh—”

  “Dodging your dad?”

  When am I not dodging him? “Uh…yeah, him.”

  She gazes at me with sympathetic eyes. “Are you two not seeing eye to eye again?”

  “Not seeing eye to eye? I’m not sure that’s the right phrase. More like a battle zone and we’re on opposite sides.”

  Hannah lays her hand on my shoulder. “It can’t be that bad. I thought you two were starting to get along. I thought he was starting to understand—”

  I let out a harsh laugh. “Understand? The only thing he understands is his way of life is the only way. That we all need to follow the scripture of the almighty Jesus Christ who saves, but when I needed my God most, he was nowhere to be found. I won’t be part of what he preaches. Just another devoted follower who believes in a higher power. I’m done falling for that.”

  I fight back the tears, the angry waves of emotion that flow through me day and night. Ever since the night I lost the one person who owned my heart. An accident took Jax, and my God ignored my pleas while I begged him to save him.

  “Bridge, I’m so sorry. These past two years couldn’t have been easy for you.”

  Shaking my head, I rid myself of the memories. The fight between Jax and my father. His constant disapproval. Jax’s willingness to let me go if it meant me not losing the love and support of my father. The last night I saw him. The last time he told me he loved me.

  “You can’t do this. I don’t care what my father says, I love you.”

  “And I love you, baby girl, but it would forever be us against them. They’re your family—”

  “You’re my family! I don’t care what he thinks. You show me more love than he ever has. I won’t survive if you leave me. You told me we were forever.”

  His large hand cups my cheek. “We are. Just not the way we planned. I would never leave you, but I have to step back and let your dad calm down. He needs time. Maybe this was too soon—”

  “Too soon? How long do two people who are in love have to wait to get engaged? It’s been three years. And I’m an adult. He has no say in what I do.”

  His eyes become sullen. Pain in my stomach explodes. “I know, babe, but without his approval, I won’t go through with it. I have too much respect for him.”

  I slap his hand away. “Then you know we’ll never be together. Because he’ll never agree.” He reaches back to catch the tears that flow, but I step away. “You leave here tonight, you can take this with you.” I snatch off the diamond ring he placed on my finger days before and toss it at him. “You know what? Just leave.”

  “Bridge—”

  “No, I get it. You’re not willing to fight for us. For me—”

  “Dammit, you know that’s not true. I’ve fought for you ever since the day you landed in my life. Every single day. And I’ll continue to fight until there’s nothing left inside me. But this? I need to do this the right way. I want to scoop you up in my arms and give you your happily ever after. Make you mine in ways I’ve been dreaming of since the first day I laid eyes on you. But I don’t want there ever to be doubts.”

  “There wouldn’t.”

  “There would. They’re your parents.”

  Tears fall in violent waves down my face. He bends down to pick up the ring and attempts to hand it back to me, but I turn away. “Bridge, I love you. Just give him time. We have our entire lives.” I don’t budge at his words. Eventually, he gives up and hops on his motorcycle. With one final gaze, his eyes memorizing every part of me, he nods and takes off down my street.

  I never saw Jax again.

  “It doesn’t matter. My dad got his way. No bad boy troubled kid from the wrong side of the tracks stealing his daughter’s virtue and kidnapping her to live in the woods like a bunch of hoodlums.” Hannah’s eyes crease at the harshness of my reply. “Shoot, I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time—”

  “Stop. You don’t need to explain to me. I may never know the pain you’re going through, but I’m here for you. For anything. I know our parents rarely see each other, but that doesn’t mean we can’t. Call me. Anytime.”

  She wraps her arms around me. Hannah has always been such a light in our family. “I wish my dad was more like yours.”

  Hannah chuckles and pulls away. “What do you mean? You wish your dad was ridiculously overprotective of his grill and won’t let anyone help in fear they may steal his master status?” We both burst out in laughter. “I have no idea what the future holds, but I have faith it will get better. Your happily ever after is out there.”

  My happily ever after died in a car wreck two years ago.

  I offer her a smile to help ease some of her concern. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Now, let’s go have some fun. Oh! Speaking of fun…” Her eyes dart over my shoulder. “Bridge, have you met my brother’s best friend, Chase? Not sure if you two met at Kip’s wedding—oh wait, you were sick.”

  Nerves explode inside me. Please don’t let him be behind me. There’s a chance Kip has more than one friend named—

  “S’up, Hannah Banana.” Nope. That’s him. “No, actually I haven’t, but I’d love to meet your cousin.” Crap. His tone is less seductive than I remember. Possibly a bit of anger in there.

  “You having a bad day? Geez. Put the fangs away. Chase, this is my cousin, Bridget. I’m not sure if you two have met.”

  Oh, we have. In a lot of ways.

  I suck in a breath and turn around. “Nice to meet you.” I start to turn back around, but he reaches out, captures my hand, and shakes it. And by shaking, I think he’s trying to dislocate my arm.

  “Oh no, it’s nice to meet you. Do tell, who exactly are you again?”

  Chase and I hold one another’s heated glare. Unlike last night, when our gazes were filled with passion, this one is loaded with anger, confusion, and a tiny bit of I’m in deep trouble. The last one is mainly coming from me. We’re in a stand off until Hannah speaks up, reminding me she’s been witnessing our strange interaction.

  “Chase, chill out. I know you lack in manners, but maybe show a tiny bit.” We don’t budge. “Yeah, okay…so, you can probably let go of her—shoot, Levi’s waiving me over. You two get to know one another. I’ll be back.” Hannah scurries off across the lawn to Levi’s side without another word. We, on the other hand, don’t move a muscle.

  “So, Angel, ready to confess? Or are you going to admit what I already know? You’re exactly what I thought—the devil.”

  I hiss, snatching my hand back. “Oh, give me a break.” Rolling my eyes, I turn on my heel to put as much space between us as possible. Preferably an entire planet. He captures my bicep, stopping me.

  “I don’t think so. We’re not done talking. You’re going to explain to me why you tricked me. How’d you even get into that bar last night? You’re not even—”

  “It’s called a fake ID. And please, tricked you? There wasn’t anything that happened you weren’t on board with. Well…except our lack of talking.”

  He hisses back at me. “I didn’t want to talk.”

  “Really? You only offered a million times. And for the record, I’m not in the market for a bestie, so if you’re wanting to make friendship bracelets, curl each other’s hair, and talk until I slice my ears off, you can buzz off.”

  His eyes widen to the size of saucers. “You—I’ve never—”

  “Met me? I know, because I’ve never met you either. Glad we’re on the same page. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to look for better company.” His lips part in shock. He drops my hand, and I take the opportunity to race as far as I can from a man who has awoken every single nerve-ending in my body…and maybe my dormant heart.

  Chapter 4

  Chase

  I’m not a talker. I’m not a fucking talker! “And I don’t listen,” I mutter to myself as I chug my beer, my eyes darting directly across the pool to my new nemesis. Legs that go on for days. Hair that feels velvety smooth wrapped around my fist. Those little pouty lips I can still feel buzzing around my cock. No good, lying, sexy little minx. And I swear, if Ben doesn’t stop flirting with her, I’m going to go knock him out.

  “Dude, what’s up with the scowl? You still in a pissy mood?” I turn to Levi and take another pull of my beer. “I’ve told you a million times, Kip doesn’t care.”

  I shrug. “Well, he should. How do you know she even likes you? Gonna put a ring on her finger? Let her take all your money? Next, she’s gonna make you talk and listen all the time. Chicks do that.”

  Levi chuckles next to me. “Well, for one, I enjoy listening to her. And I’m pretty sure she’s just as in love with me as I am with her.”

  I shrug again. Another gulp. “Whatever. Your funeral.” Did Ben just touch her shoulder? Cocksucker!

  “You know, maybe if you stopped being so against love and tried it out, you might find yourself enjoying it. There’s more to chicks than just sex, man.”

  Yeah. Lying. Deceiving. The devil in an angel suit. “Whatever you say.” I finish my beer and fight not to whip it across the pool at Ben’s big ass nose. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I walk away, leaving Levi and his annoying smirk to seek out one of Mr. Matthews’ burgers. If anything will make me feel better, it’s his damn good grilling.

  Bridget

  I can’t stop wiping away at my tears. That may have been the most beautiful proposal I’ve ever witnessed. It was nothing compared to the simple moment when Jax proposed to me. Us laying in the valley like we did most nights because I didn’t want to go home, staring up at the stars, sharing dreams. He held my hand and bolted up, straddling me. His grin was so infectious, I couldn’t fathom how lucky I had been knowing I got to spend the rest of eternity staring at that smile. My smile.