Page 58 of The Save

I lifted from the mattress and threw my leg over his waist, settling my thighs against his hips. I slid my other hand beneath his shirt and lifted it, drinking in the sight of his stomach and chest. He was thicker now, more filled out, and I liked it. A lot.

Without thinking, I curled over him, tossing my curls to one side and dropped my lips to the dip between his pecs. He didn’t have much chest hair, and I wondered if he shaved.

I kissed him again and again, rolling his shirt up centimetre by centimetre. And it wasn’t about whether I was doing it right. I kissed him because I wanted him to know that he was good. That I was sorry he had to live like that. I wanted to pull him into my arms and hold him, but since he was nearly twice my size, this was the best I could do.

Chase lifted his arms and pulled his shirt over his head, then reached for mine. I dipped my head so he could pull it off, sucking in a breath as his hands splayed across my bare back, catching on my bra strap.

Yeah. I was done touching him slowly.

I curled my hands under his arms and pulled myself flush against him, then kissed him. Lights flashed behind my eyes as we came together, and I pulled back, our lips barely touching as I worked to catch my breath. When I was mostly sure I wasn’t going to pass out, I pressed in, pulling his lower lip between mine.

Where was this coming from? I’d never kissed anyone like this, never been the one to instigate or take charge. But it felt so natural with Chase. There was no performance, no proving myself. Just simple want. Curiosity.

I slipped my tongue past his lips, and his fingertips pressed into my back, pulling me hard against him. Everything was quiet and loud all at once. The hum in my ears. The pulse in my throat. The low, rough sound Chase made when I shifted my weight and felt him react beneath me.

Chase looped his hand in my hair and tugged my head to the side, kissing down my jaw, my neck.

I pulled my hands out from underneath him, needing to touch him, to?—

He rolled, taking me with him, and caged me against the bed. His weight dropped over me, and I gasped.

“Did I hurt you?” he rasped.

I didn’t answer, just wrapped my legs over his and pulled his lips to mine. “Chase.”

“Maddie.”

I arched into him, curling my fingers into his back, needing to be closer, desperate for?—

A knock exploded against the door, and I yelped. We froze, our chests heaving.

Another knock. Louder this time. “Coach Wilson?” Blakely’s voice was unmistakable. “You decent?”

Chase cursed under his breath and dropped his head, then pulled himself off me, adjusting his pants. I searched for my shirt, but he was already walking to the door. I dropped to the floor, hiding behind the bed.

The door clicked. “Yeah?”

“Hey, coach. Ah . . . sorry to bother you when you were . . . sleeping.”

“Mmhmm.”

I stuffed my fist against my mouth to keep from laughing.

Blakely cleared his throat. “I know it’s late, but there’s a player in the lobby. Currently with Vancouver. He played at the invitational and wanted to have a word. Since you’re leaving in the morning?—”

“Right. Yeah. I can come down in a minute.”

My heart thudded in my throat. I swallowed hard. Rational thought slowly formed through the haze of the last fifteen minutes. What was I doing? Had I come up here knowing it would go this far? If Blakely wouldn’t have come to the door, would I have stopped?Did I want to stop?

The door clicked shut. I waited until I heard his footsteps returning, then peeked out from my hiding spot.

Chase stood at the foot of the bed. He ran a hand over his face. He noted the hesitation in my face instantly. “You okay?”

I nodded, tucking my hair behind my ears. “You have to go.”

He blew out a frustrated breath. “Just for a minute.”

I looked at the clock. It was already past ten. “You have to get up early.” I pushed up from the floor and finally found my shirt between the bed and the nightstand.

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