Chapter 12: Conflicting Emotions

KIANA

“You did surprisingly well for our first outing,” Chase commended once we were settled in his SUV. “I had no idea Joanna would approach you like that. She didn’t say or do anything to upset you, did she?” he asked, a flicker of concern flittering across his features as he spoke.

“N-no,” I stuttered in reply, mentally chastising myself for my constant nervousness around him tonight.

~Get a grip, Kiana!~

I took a breath. “If anything, I think she may be the one needing a shoulder to cry on. Crystal didn’t hold back. I can tell she’s not a fan.”

Chase released a breathy laugh. “You can say that again.”

“Can I assume she’s an ex?” I asked, immediately regretting the question. I didn’t want him to think I was prying or that I cared.

“Yeah. A recent ex,” he finished, hinting that he didn’t want to elaborate.

I peered out the window, noticing the unfamiliar streets. “I think your driver took a wrong turn. This isn’t the way to my place.”

“I’m taking you back to mine for the night. It’s late, and your first weekend at mine begins tomorrow. I thought it would make sense for you to come over tonight and spend tomorrow getting familiar with the penthouse,” he said casually.

He was a man accustomed to getting his way without needing to ask twice.

“I can’t! I have lectures tomorrow morning. Missing school wasn’t part of the deal,” I began, rattled at the idea of missing a lesson. I hadn’t done that, ever, and I wasn’t about to start now.

“Can you attend online?” he asked.

“Yeah, I can, but—” I began.

“Good,” he interrupted. “You can use my home office. I’ll be out all day tomorrow.” His tone said the discussion was over.

I thought about arguing, but I was tired, and I had a feeling he would prevail just out of sheer stubbornness.

Plus, Mia would have been asleep by now. I knew she had early lessons tomorrow, and I didn’t want to risk waking her. She could be a cranky so-and-so when woken early without reason.

I also realized I couldn’t shake off the urge to let him have his way this time—particularly after his brief compliment had given me an unexpected sense of pride. To my surprise, I had actually enjoyed myself despite the earlier moment of silly panic.

“Fine. I’ll stay the night,” I conceded.

At least I’d be alone for most of the day. Something told me I wouldn’t be able to concentrate with Chase around me all day.

***

“We’re here.” Chase stepped out of the car before guiding me out with a helping hand.

I nodded my thanks but was instantly struck with the sight before me.

~This is where he lives?!~

The building was at least twenty stories high, and a doorman stood at the entrance to the large glass double doors.

Chase guided me inside, his hand hovering over my lower back. I attempted to ignore the warmth radiating from his palm as I took in the opulent lobby.

Even the lift featured a cushioned seat of golden silk on one side, where residents could relax during their journey to their destination.

Chase scanned his key card, and the lift climbed until it reached the pinnacle of the building.

The doors opened onto a small hallway bathed in dim lighting. He unlocked the penthouse door with another swipe, and what awaited inside took my breath away.

The open-plan layout featured glass walls separating the balcony from the interior. The contemporary palette of gray, white, and black was simple and tasteful. But like his office, it highlighted his lack of personal touch.

The room embodied a typical man cave atmosphere, but it felt barely utilized.

To the right was a polished marble kitchen, with a descending step that provided a subtle division between the kitchen and the living area. A sleek kitchen island, surrounded by a few dining stools, stood empty except for a bowl of mixed fruit at its center.

We walked just beyond the kitchen, where a long, spacious hallway awaited, flanked by several doors.

“Your room is at the end of the hall. You can explore the rest of the place tomorrow. For now, you should get some sleep. If you need me, I’m just through here,” were his final words before he walked toward the nearest door and disappeared behind it.

I followed his instructions and opened the door at the end of the hall.

The room was simple but beautifully decorated, with a similar atmosphere to the rest of the place. It was exactly what you’d expect from a guest room. Yet, it was still larger than I knew what to do with.

The bed was generous and comfortable. The adjoining bathroom was spacious, adorned with white marble and light-brown oak.

I kicked off my heels as I set my purse on the vanity and fished out my phone. I texted Mia to let her know I was here for the weekend. She wouldn’t see it until morning. But she would probably fret about my whereabouts after waking up to find I hadn’t returned home.

A gentle tap against my door puzzled me for a moment. “Come in,” I called.

Chase entered, holding what looked to be a soft T-shirt. “I realized you didn’t have anything to sleep in. Wear my shirt for tonight. Tomorrow, you can send my driver to pick up whatever you need for this weekend.”

“Thank you,” I said, reaching for the shirt. Our fingers brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through me, and I hesitated. The shirt drifted to the floor.

I quickly bent down to pick it up, only Chase reacted just as fast. We knelt silently on the floor—so close that I could inhale his breath if I were able to breathe.

For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze as his eyes locked onto mine. An odd desire washed over me to lean in and taste the fresh peppermint mingling with whiskey emanating from his lips.

“Here.” He lifted the shirt, presenting it to me once more.

“Thanks.” I took the shirt more firmly this time, mirroring his action of standing. “See you tomorrow.” I smiled shyly, trying to break the awkwardness of the moment and his lack of reaction.

He wasn’t interested in me. This was all an act. He thought I wasn’t attracted to him, either, which must remain the case. Otherwise, he might want to terminate my “employment.”

He cleared his throat, his eyes averting from mine as he motioned toward the bathroom. “There’s a spare toothbrush in there. If you need anything else in the morning, don’t hesitate to check my room. I’ll most likely be gone by the time you wake up.”

That was his final remark before he left me alone in the room.

My breath rushed out of me the second the door closed.

I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and cleaned my face before stripping off the dress, unhooking my bra, and changing into the T-shirt he had given me.

I was immediately engulfed by the spicy, woody scent of his cologne.

~Damn, he smelled good.~

It was a scent that screamed masculinity and sex appeal. Unexpectedly, the thought of engaging in anything outside the scope of platonic with him didn’t make me cringe. I didn’t know what was different about him, but I’d never reacted to a man this way before.

I climbed into bed, switched off the light beside me, and closed my eyes. The previous wave of fatigue had faded, now replaced by fluttering sensations in my stomach at the thought of Chase being in the other room.

The evening’s events flooded my mind. Each touch against my skin, every gentle stroke of his fingers, and every possessive display of feigned affection.

I grabbed the pillow beside me, smashing the soft, pricey fabric against my face in hopes of slapping these thoughts and emotions away from my mind.

~What was happening to me?~

CHASE

“Chase…” The soft, sultry tone of the woman I couldn’t seem to shake from my mind called to me in the dark.

“Kiana?”

Even though I couldn’t see her, I could picture her wearing just my shirt, her teeth nibbling at her bottom lip as her hands fumbled in front of her.

“I…I can’t sleep. Would you mind if I stayed with you for the night?” Her delicate tone made it difficult to deny.

Before I could respond, the bed dipped beside me as a body pushed against my side. It was only then I realized I was naked, as I always was when I slept. I contemplated sliding on some pants so she’d feel more comfortable.

Warm, silky fingers reached out for me, gliding along my chest, drifting lower. I tensed just as her fingers brushed perilously close to my member, which had seemed to grow taller with each passing second.

I grabbed her wrist in a forceful grip. “Kiana,” I mumbled, barely able to restrain myself.

I knew I shouldn’t do this. If we did, everything could change.

“But you need me, don’t you?” Her voice, laced with virgin innocence, nearly took my reason over the edge.

I grunted as blood instantly rushed to my cock. I closed my eyes, trying to rein myself in.

In the next instant, a hand wrapped around my fully hardened length, squeezing and encouraging my spill of pre-cum to dampen the sheets above us.

I lost control, seizing her wrists and pinning them to the bed beside her head as I positioned myself above her.

My pelvis nestled between her thighs, her legs encircling me, inviting me closer. The only thing stopping me from thrusting forward was the thin scrap of fabric I had handed her in a moment of harmless chivalry.

She thrust her hips forward, grinding against my painfully hard cock. I groaned, liking the feeling a little too much.

I pushed her wrists deeper into the mattress, returning the gesture with a leisurely thrust of my own. Her head fell backward with a seductive moan, and her golden-brown waves tumbled haphazardly around her.

“I want you, Chase.” Her lips parted as the delicate plea slipped from her tongue.

I lost all sense of rationality as I did the one thing I had envisioned all evening: closing the remaining gap between us and taking her lips in one swift movement.

I needed to taste her once more. That harmless kiss in the car had merely been a teaser of what awaited. Part of me didn’t believe how much I wanted to take her like this. Some may say the effect she had on me was somewhat unhealthy.

Right now, I couldn’t care about any of that.

This was what I desired—to steal another kiss, to entwine my tongue with hers, to claim her as I should have when all eyes were locked on us tonight—and apparently, so did she.

I caught a hint of my scent surrounding her as if it were natural.

She was locked in my embrace as though this were exactly where she belonged.

My hands slipped from her wrists, weaving through her hair and caressing her sculpted face. She molded perfectly to me, even as she wrapped her arms around my neck, fisting my hair with slight force, making me release a rough groan.

My hand slipped from her cheek, caressing downward, smoothly passing the shirt’s hem and sliding the material up past her waist.

“Give it to me, Chase,” she panted against my lips.

I couldn’t hold back, pinning her hips to the bed and finding incomprehensible relief that she wasn’t wearing panties.

I readied myself, lining up with her heat, both of us unwilling to wait for the building pleasure any longer…