Page 70 of Some Kind of Forever
“Go ahead.”
“I’ve had to learn how to do a lot of things on my own. My mom worked long shifts at the hospital, and my great-granny, before she died, needed a lot of help doing things. She could tell me what to do, but she didn’t have the hand strength to do it herself, once her arthritis got bad.”
Chase shifts, leaning back against the headboard, taking me with him so I’m propped up over his chest. “You haven’t told me much about her, besides what you shared at the museum. What was she like?”
“She was a potter who loved making ocean and redwood inspired ceramics. Granny built a name for herself in Northern California, and the pieces you saw at the museum are just the tip of the iceberg. She has installations in museums up and down the coast. She took my mom in at the age of five, and then helped raise me when I came along, teaching me so much.
“Granny was the strongest person I’ve ever known. When she couldn’t move at the end—couldn’t do the things she loved doing—it was devastating. Watching her wither down to nothing put a fire inside of me to always do what I’m capable of doing. I feel like I know my limitations and I ask for help when I need it, but something about accepting help when I’m easily able to do it on my own feels like I’m willingly handing over parts of myself to wither away too.”
He studies my face, our eyes bouncing back and forth as we stare. “I’ve watched you work so hard this summer, and I just want to help lighten the load whenever I see an opportunity. You’re too competent to need saving, Kayla, we both know that. I just…” He pauses, his thumb caressing my cheek. “I want to be the one you want around when something goes wrong. Even if you don’t need help or don’t want me to fix it, I just want to be there. To me, that’s what the tire was about, trying to force my way into that position when I shouldn’t have.”
I nod slowly, appreciating how honest Chase is with his vulnerability. I never have to wonder whether he’s being upfrontwith me, and he never makes me guess what he’s feeling. He’s been himself from the start, and it’s one thing I love most about him.
Love…love?
The word pings around inside my mind as I stare up into his ocean blue eyes. So much has happened this summer. So many things could have given him a reason to say goodbye, but he’s remained constant through it all. Facing everything head on, right next to me, and giving me a boost when needed.My blue pebble.
I sit up, draping my knees on either side of his hips. Running my fingers through his hair, I tug him closer, kissing him feverishly as I try to erase the pain of the last few hours. He grabs my waist, holding me to him like letting go would cause a drop into the deepest abyss. Pulling back briefly, I deliver the message that’s been on my heart since I left my bathroom mirror.
“Baby, I don’t want to run anymore,” I whisper, nuzzling his nose.
He tips his head to mine, and a smile breaks across his lips. “You finally letting me catch up to you?”
Biting my lip, I nod. “Yep. It must be your lucky day…”
I squeal as he swiftly flips me onto the bed, pinning me while his lips dance down my neck. His hands roam over my shoulders and down my sides until they find the skin peeking out from the raised hem of my shirt. I sigh into the feeling of his hands on my body, relief washing over me that I didn’t lose this. Lose him. Just when I melt into his touch, he pauses and looks down at our feet.
“What’s wrong?” I groan, trying to catch my breath.
“Just making sure we don’t have socks on,” he says. With a gleam in his eye, he stretches to open his nightstand.
God, I hope that means what I think it does.I’m ready to put this fight behind us. He’s everything I could ever want.
Tossing the condom on the bed, he wiggles his eyebrows playfully and lowers his body onto mine. His kisses tickle my neck, and giggles turn to delightful moans when he slips a hand under my shirt, brushing his thumb over my pebbled nipple. With a gaspof pleasure, my back arches, fingers clutching the soft strands of his hair as he twists and tugs. I reach to unbutton his jeans, suddenly unable to contain myself.I want him. All of him. Right now.
His whispered breath in my ear sends goosebumps scattering across my skin. “Uh-uh, baby. You come first.” Deft fingers dip into my waistband, sliding rhythmically against my clit.
“Chase,” I whimper, my hips chasing the friction, rocking to match his pace. “Don’t stop…”
“God, you’re beautiful like this, Kayla.” His eyes lock onto mine with a desperate heat that threatens to make me come undone. He slips one finger inside me, pumping slowly before gliding it up to circle my sensitive bud. I cry out his name, and a mischievous smirk slides across his lips as he dips in again. “So fucking beautiful.”
“I’m—oh, God…” My core tightens as his slick fingers twirl around my clit, my eyes squeezing shut so tightly I see fireworks. His kiss devours me, swallowing every single moan as he sends my body spiraling into oblivion.
“I’m so glad you came back,” he whispers in my ear, stroking me slowly while I come down from my high.
“If this is what a reunion is like, maybe I should leave again,” I tease breathlessly.
“Don’t you dare.” He smirks and slides his hand from my pants. Unbuttoning his own, he tosses them on the floor. His shirt goes next, and he grabs the condom before leaning against the headboard. I hurriedly tug off my clothes.
Guiding me onto his lap, he smiles up at me, and I’m struck by how easy it is to be with him. Even after a horrible fight, we were able to work it out.Is this how love is supposed to feel?
He caresses my cheek as he brushes his lips against mine, sighing the same way he did the first time we kissed. We unravel slowly, deeply, in a paradise of our own making, until, at last, we melt together.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHASE
These first few days in San Francisco haven’t been too bad. Trevor, the other manager, and I have been working with the corporate trainers—Mike and Marla—since Friday. We’ve been undergoing leadership training as a team. Besides helping us build our field and office teams, they’re guiding us on conflict management, tracking traveling expenses within the team, and conducting performance reviews. Today, we’re on the second half of an intensive two-day HR training with the six associates.
