Tennessee Heat Page 10

  He tested her with little tastes of her lips before diving in, until she was wrapped in his arms tight with their lips fused together. Their hearts beat together as their lips clung.

  Chase reminded himself that it was the middle of the day and he was standing in his parents’ backyard. Only then was he able to pull away and rest his forehead against hers.

  It wasn’t long before he went back for more, only lifting his head enough to let her breathe. “You’re so soft baby. How are you so soft? Do you know how perfect you are?” He said all of this against her lips, each syllable sending shockwaves throughout her body, from head to toe.

  Just then his sister called out for him and he eased away much slower than she’d expect. She thought for sure he’d rush to get way before anyone saw them together.

  As if reading her mind, he tweaked her nose. “What exactly is going through your head this time?”

  “Who says anything is?”

  “You have a very expressive face angel. Either that or I’ve come to know you very well. Spill it! what put that look on your face just now?”

  She forgot to be coy and her usual truthfulness won out. “I was thinking how strange it was that you didn’t pull away at the sound of your sister’s voice. I can’t imagine that you’d want to be caught with me like this.”

  Her cheeks were a fiery red by the time the last word left her lips. He laughed outright at her words. “Well, sweet Belle,” he went on, “seeing as how I’m about to kiss you again, with her footsteps coming up fast, I’m guessing you thought wrong.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to pull away or evade his arms and mouth. This time he pulled her in even closer and didn’t lift his head until they heard the gasp behind them.

  When she took in the sight behind his shoulder, the smirk on Kim’s face and look of shocked horror on Lisa’s she was sure that Kimberly had done it on purpose.

  “Hey big brother, can you pull yourself away from your girlfriend long enough to help me blow up the swan for the pool? I can’t seem to find dad’s air thingy.”

  It was Annabelle’s natural instinct to tug her hand from his, but he countered by holding on tighter and kept her hand in his as he turned to follow his sister back down the path. He didn’t even acknowledge Lisa.

  After he blew up the six foot swan for his sister to float on in the pool he took Annabelle who’d been talking to a few of the less hostile girls who’d shown up at the house, off to the side.

  She looked back nervously but he turned her face back to his with a finger under her chin. “Why so jumpy? Is it because of that Lisa girl? She’s not going to bother you.”

  Annabelle didn’t know where she got the nerve, but before she could stop herself she heard herself saying something very cheeky to him in response.

  “Honestly, I would’ve thought she was more your type.”

  He stared at her without speaking for longer than was comfortable.

  “What? Is there something on my face?”

  “No, I’m trying to decide if that’s an insult.”

  She swallowed hard at the look in his eyes. “You know what, I think it is. The best thing you can do to make it up to me is to kiss me.” Her eyes went wide and she knew she was going to pass out if he even tried kissing her there in front of everybody.

  He read her expression correctly and pulled her into his chest laughing, but didn’t try to kiss her. She knew all eyes were on them and though no one dared say anything, she was only too aware of Lisa’s presence and could practically feel the other girl’s venom.

  “Come my little shy Belle.” He took her hand and led her over to a lounger, which he dragged away from the others and under the shade of the only beechnut tree in the backyard.

  She sat stiff as a board when he sat and pulled her down between his spread thighs on the lounger. “Relax, I won’t bite. Not with all these eyes on us anyway.” He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. “But I am going to kiss you to within an inch of your life though.”

  He turned her head and pulled her back into his chest as his mouth came down on hers. She heard the hushed whispers behind them, some of them loud enough to hear and was tempted to pull away.

  She ignored it though, and for once let herself enjoy his attention. And it was all for her. He didn’t even seem to know that the others were there or he just didn’t care.

  Each time she thought he was done he’d pull away and whisper something naughty in her ear before stealing her lips again. “We’d better stop before I can’t.” He whispered the words against her lips but still couldn’t bring himself to stop, to let her go.

  She didn’t know what he meant until she felt his hardness against her side. She moved to pull away but he held her still. “No, don’t run away from me. You shouldn’t be afraid of him anyway, since he’s yours.”

  Annabelle didn’t know if to swoon or get up and make a run for it. Her poor body was hot one minute and cold the next and there was something approaching fear growing in her tummy.

  She wanted so badly to reach out and grab what he was offering her, but she was too terrified to take that step forward. She was afraid that once she gave in too easily he’d take what he wanted and then leave, for someone better.

  She knew it was unreasonable to judge him according to the men her mother usually brought home, but they were the only real examples she had after all.

  So even though his words made her want and his touch made her burn, she couldn’t…

  “I can practically hear your thoughts Belle. But you know what? I don’t care that you’re scared, it’s my job to make you unafraid. I just need you to do me one favor.”

  He turned her face up to his oblivious of the others whom he’d forgotten were even there. “Just watch what I do, don’t compare me to anything that’s in your head, it’s not fair.”

  “If you have fears and worries, then figure out a way to work around them. If your fear is me using you and then casting you aside, don’t. I’m telling you in plain words, that’s not gonna happen. But you won’t know until we try and that’s what you fear most.” He understood her so well and his words made her want to believe. But did she dare?

  All eyes were on the scene being played out before them. Though they couldn’t hear what was being said. It was hard to miss the tender look he gave her and they certainly hadn’t missed those hot kisses. There were more than a few whispers and questions going around.

  Everyone except Lisa was smiling, and Kimberly wore the biggest smile of all as she watched her brother and best friend. She felt genuinely happy for two of her favorite people.

  When Chase got up some time later and went into the house to get a cool drink and only brought enough for him and her, his sister scolded him playfully. But there was no mistaking the unholy gleam in her eyes.

  Annabelle couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun, and all she’d done was sit out by the pool next to him. She didn’t even go in the water, she hadn’t brought a suit.

  But she thought it was very telling that Chase never looked at any of the other girls, not even when they went out of their way to gain his attention.

  All in all she thought it was a nice day and she felt a little bit more comfortable with whatever was transpiring between them. She still wasn’t ready to jump the gun yet and call it anything resembling a relationship. But she felt like there was something there at least. Something more than they’d shared before.

  When it came time to take her home Chase found himself once again torn. “Will you come home with me?” She kept her head down and played with her skirt’s hem as she shook her head no.

  “Even if I promise not to touch you? Well beyond a kiss or two anyway?” Annabelle was more tempted than she’d like to admit, but her old companion called fear was nipping at her heels.

  She could never get away from the dark cloud of her past. Past hell, it was her present and most likely her future. “Do you know how hard it is for me to put my head down
in the comfort of my high rise condo knowing that you’re living in the midst of danger?”

  She curled her fingers into her palm and warned herself to go slow, not to rush into anything that she’d regret later. Right now her whole life was already up in the air.

  She still wanted to go to college, still wanted out of her dead end neighborhood, and a pregnancy right now would be a disaster she was sure not to come back from.

  That thought gave her the courage to deny him and though he was obviously disappointed, he did not pressure her as he drove her home. Thankfully no one was about. Or no one that she could see anyway, for which she was grateful.

  She wished that he would just drive off before anyone noticed the fancy car, but of course he sat there with the car idling until she opened the door and walked in, with one last wave over her shoulder.

  She regretted her decision to come home as soon as she saw the condition of her mother who was passed out on the couch, her clothes soiled from where she’d vomited all over herself.

  Annabelle felt shame and horror of what would’ve happened had he walked her to the door. It was scenes like this that held her back from hoping.

  How could she believe that she could go from this to his place? Or even a place like his parents’? As much as she told herself she should leave the other woman where she was, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  “Annabelle?”

  “Yeah mom, it’s me.” She helped her mother up and into the bathroom where she had the unenviable task of getting her undressed and under the stingy stream of tepid water that came from the showerhead.

  Of course Ms. Scacci didn’t appreciate her daughter’s efforts, and instead chose to complain about the coldness of the water and being awakened out of a sound sleep.

  Never mind that had her daughter left her as she was she could very well have choked on her own throw-up in the night and died.

  Annabelle ignored her mother’s ranting, it’s not like she hadn’t expected it. So once she got the other woman settled in her bed she took a quick shower and headed off to bed to dream about Chase.

  14

  She didn’t hear from him for even longer this time and decided that he must’ve taken offense to her refusal to go home with him. Her mind was filled with all manner of thoughts, most of them involving him moving on and out of her life with any number of more suitable women. Namely, Lisa.

  Until the night he called and told her he had to leave for a while. He explained that he was part of the reserves and his search and rescue unit were heading to Texas, then she understood why he’d been so preoccupied.

  She’d seen news of the hurricane on the little personal TV her boss kept at the shop and felt panic at him heading into that catastrophe. She almost asked him not to go until she realized how selfish that was and that she had no right anyway.

  “How long will you be gone?” He heard the sound of tears in her voice even though she’d tried her darnedest to hide them.

  “I’m coming to you. Pack a bag, you’re spending the night.”

  He hung up before she could say yes or no and she sat there for the next five minutes wondering what she should do. She wasn’t ready to go to bed with him, but if she accepted his invitation would he see that as acceptance on her part?

  She wasn’t quite sure what to do, but one thing was certain, she didn’t want him sitting out front in his car, not with her neighbors milling around out there.

  So she hopped up off the bed and grabbed something for work the next day along with the limited toiletries she had in the bathroom cabinet.

  She worried about what to say to her mother, but a search of the little apartment turned up no sign of the older woman, so she left a note she was sure would go unseen.

  He was there twenty minutes later and she ran out the door and locked it, keeping her head averted so that she didn’t see anyone. She had no doubt that they were looking.

  He had that tic in his cheek when she got into the passenger seat and she busied herself pulling the seatbelt across her chest while he peeled away from the curb and raced out of the neighborhood.

  Her heart warmed and melted into a puddle when he reached for her hand, holding it in his as he drove. When he turned his head and smiled at her she figured the danger had passed.

  It was still early in the evening, just past seven in fact, and though night was falling fast, there was still some light left in the sky. She noticed that he didn’t take the turnoff to his place but kept her peace.

  She was pleasantly surprised when he pulled into the parking lot of one of the better restaurants in the city and parked. “What’re we doing here?” She looked out her window.

  “This is my favorite place to eat out, I didn’t want to leave without filling up, and I wanted you to try it. If you don’t like it I’ll have to look for a new favorite place once I get back.”

  He dropped her hand and walked around the car to help her out, keeping her hand in his as they walked into the building and even while they waited to be seated.

  It was her first time in a restaurant that didn’t have an arch in the parking lot and she was afraid of making a complete ass of herself. Then she was worried that the jeans and tee she wore weren’t quite up to snuff.

  Chase saw the changing emotions as they crossed her face and guessed correctly at what was going through her head. He never stopped to question any of those things, they never crossed his mind.

  Now he took her hand in his, drawing her attention back to him. “Just focus on me, no one else. I think you’re beautiful. So beautiful that if you wore a sack to a state dinner no one would notice. Because they’d be too busy looking at your beautiful eyes.”

  His words had the desired effect and she was able to relax by the time their server arrived with the basket of warm bread and menus with an offer of getting them something to drink while they decided.

  Dinner was fun and light as they both shared a little more about themselves. “So how long have you been part of the reserves?”

  “Since I graduated High School.”

  “And have you been to many storm damaged areas?”

  “This will be my fourth or fifth.” He reached across the table, taking her hand.

  “There’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m always careful and besides, the worst is over. I’m just going there to help the people who need it.” He was recalling the hint of tears in her voice earlier.

  She nodded her head too choked up to talk. He was making light of it but she’d seen more than enough footage of what could happen in those situations.

  “Come on let’s get you out of here.” He paid the bill and once again led her out of the restaurant with her hand held firmly in his, and again, all the way on the drive to his home.

  She felt that same nervousness again as he led her to his door and led her inside. Chase, knowing that the young girl was still nervous, made his movements as carefree and nonthreatening as he could. They’d just finished dinner and about a gallon of sweet tea between them so there was no need to offer her something to drink.

  So, with that excuse taken, he took her hand and led her into the living room to watch TV. Of course he had no intentions of watching anything. Though he’d made up his mind not to take her to his bed just yet, there was no reason they couldn’t make out on his couch.

  He didn’t pounce on her right away, choosing instead to give her time to get used to sitting close with his arm around her as they both pretended to be watching the screen.

  It wasn’t long before he started gently caressing her shoulder, holding his breath in case she balked. He felt like a damn creep and decided to use the straightforward approach instead.

  Turning her face to his with a finger under her chin, he studied her eyes. He didn’t see fear there, just some level of anxiety. “I’m going to kiss you for say,” He took a look at his watch. “The next three hours. Then I’m going to put you to bed, in my bed, where I am sure to spend a sleepless night because I wil
l not touch you no matter how you tempt me. I’ve made up my mind so don’t even beg.”

  After making light of it, he went ahead and put his words into action. He started out slow enough, nibbling along her ear, making his movements soft and gentle to keep her from being skittish.

  By the time he reached her lips she was the one impatient to feel his lips against hers. She held her breath for the first few seconds, almost not daring to breathe lest she break the spell.

  Chase felt the tension in her, the slight tremble in her limbs, and set about soothing her. “You don’t have anything to be nervous about my Belle, I made you a promise that I mean to keep. If I don’t keep this one, how can I expect you to trust any others I make in the future?”

  She’s never known anyone quite like him. Never been spoken to so frankly so openly. But somehow she knew she could trust him. It was almost innate this sudden trust in him.

  And with the realization came a kind of freedom. The freedom to let go, to enjoy, to explore. Because she knew, that even if she was tempted to go farther that he wouldn’t break his word.

  He felt the change in her, the sudden acceptance, and instead of pouncing and showing his prowess, that he’d won, he grew even gentler with the girl he had come to think of as his love.

  So for the next three hours or more, they sat on his couch facing the double glass doors that looked onto the balcony that looked out onto the city skyline, and got lost in each other.

  “It’s time I put you to bed. We both have an early start Tomorrow.” Her eyes were just a little dazed when she tried to focus on him. He found it so charming he drew her in close and kissed the tip of her nose.

  “Come on love.” He lifted her from the couch and carried her into his suite, past the master bedroom and into the bathroom where he sat her on the marble top counter and unwrapped the new toothbrush he’d bought just for her.

  They both stood at the his and her sinks brushing their teeth and getting washed up before he left the room to come back a few minutes later.