Page 128 of Web of Lies
The boulder of numbness sits in the hollow confines of my chest, pressing into my heart and lungs. My breaths come in labored pants, panic sitting on the precipice. But I still feel—nothing. My emotions rest in the middle of an ice cube, left in the freezer, and freezer-burned after six months.
Water drips from my trembling body into a puddle on the ground while my teeth chatter as my body rocks from side to side. My numb fist pounds on Chase’s apartment door, hoping he’s there. His practice ended an hour ago unless he hung out with the other guys from the team. They are getting ready for the state championship coming up, hoping to make it into the final bracket or something. I never got football. I’ll cheer for them until my throat is raw. But I don’t get it.
The door swings open, and if I wasn’t so cold, I’d appreciate the sight before me. His California sun-kissed skin, thick with moisture from a warm shower, damp tousled blonde hair, standing on end from the towel running through it. His toned stomach is covered in nothing but a small pair of gray boxer briefs, leaving little imagination.
“Kace,” his gray eyes round in surprise, roaming my soaking wet appearance. Shit—I probably look like a drowning cat with my wild hair and thin clothes assaulted by the icy rain.
“Hi,” I whisper through chattering teeth.
He reaches out without another word, pulling me into his chest. “Shit, Sunshine, you’re freezing cold. What the hell were you doing out there? I could have come to you.” His warm hands run up and down my arms, barely warming me with his touch.
“Didn’t think, just needed you.” I chatter out again, laying my cheek on his chest. He slams his apartment door shut, holding me tight against him. I soak up his warmth, but it barely dulls the aching cold freezing my limbs.
“Shit,” he curses again, moving his hands faster. “I like the sound of you needing me, I do, but you’re so cold.” He drags me toward the bathroom, flipping on the light.
“What are you doing?” I shiver violently.
He waves a hand, running the water into the tub. “You’re taking a hot bath to warm up,” he says like a stern mother, constantly checking the water temperature with his fingers. Warm steam floats above the water, warming the entire bathroom, and fogging over the large mirror above the vanity. My shivers slow, but the chill from the icy rain pours through me into my bones.
“Can I?” Chase whispers, his fingers brushing against the bottom of my thin t-shirt.
A sharp shiver shakes me from head to toe, but not because of the cold—oh, no. Chase’s warm fingers linger on my abdomen. My tongue darts out to wet my lips, and I nod, giving him the permission he asked for. Whoever said high school boys were non-consent taking assholes was wrong about mine. They’ve respected me every step of the way, only taking when I say yes. These boys will be the death of me one day.
With arms raised above my head, Chase takes his time peeling my soaking wet shirt off. He throws it to the ground, keeping his eyes on mine. His fingers drift across my flesh again, in between my bra-covered breasts, down my abdomen, finally stopping at the yoga pants sitting on my hips. He visibly swallows, having an internal battle with himself. I nod again before he can ask. The same with my shirt, my yoga pants want to stick to every inch of me. Chase finally peels them off with a grunt of effort, sending them into a heap with my shirt. His warm fingers make circles on my hips, only covered by a tiny black thong.
His forehead rests against mine. “Get in. I’ll find you something warm to wear when you get out.” Tension lines his words, and without thinking, my lips connect with his. Chase’s lips are sunshine personified, heaven encasing me. Every ounce of his good nature pours into his kisses like he wants to lend some to me. Breathless, I pull away.
“Stay?” I question because Lord knows I don’t want to be alone right now. I can’t deal with my thoughts, not when the gnawing monster of sadness will eat me from the inside out, consuming me until I’m nothing.
He swallows again, nodding. “If that’s what you want, absolutely.” His words come out in soothing whispers, wrapping me in the comfort I know is all him.
“I do. I-um-can you—” averting my eyes, I try to think about how I should put this. He’s respectable as hell, but I know how it is having these raging hormones
“What’s wrong?” He asks, his eyebrows dipping low, crinkling his perfect forehead.
“Will you-um-get in with me? Hold me? I—” I sigh as his fingers grasp my chin, forcing my eyes to connect with his.
“If that’s what you want. We can keep these on.” He points down to me standing in my underwear and the boxer-briefs he answered the door in.
Nodding, I whisper, “Please.” Leaning in, my lips rest on him, relaxing into a slow kiss. “I can’t be alone right now.” He nods in understanding, leading me to the warmth of the steam-filled bathtub. With his hand extended, he helps me into the blazing water. My numb toes slowly unfreeze, stinging and burning. But ah—it feels so good to halt the shivers running through my body. My fists finally unclench, and I sigh.
“You coming?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
My eyes focus on the bulging blue veins on his forearms. Damn—football really is good for the body. It must be all the weight training and the running doing this boy’s body good. Actually, all their bodies are too good for me. Too hot for my raging hormones, and I don’t know how much longer I can stop myself from climbing them and letting them have me. I mean—nothing has held me back. I want to do it, there’s no—
“If you keep staring at me like that, I won’t be such a gentleman.” Chase’s signature lop-sided grin beams back at me. I wet my lips, picking my jaw up off the floor—because that happened.
“Sorry.” I grin sheepishly. “I can’t help myself. You’re just so… amazing.” Yeah good, save Kace. Amazing. Hot. Wonderful. “So, come on.” I wave him into the tub with me, clothes and all. He reluctantly steps into the tub, wrapping me in his arms, and we sink into the heated water.
“Sorry,” he clears his throat, adjusting the growing bulge in his boxers. “He has a mind of his own, even though I’m trying to convince him this is to keep you warm…” My head leans against his shoulder, a dopey smile plays on my lips. His fingers continue drawing tiny shapes on my hip, cuddling me closer to him.
“So, did something happen?” Chase asks through the silence. My chest heaves with a loud sigh, and I nod. I suppose this is the part of a relationship I must get used to, sharing my thoughts and concerns with someone else besides my over-active brain.
“Yeah,” I whisper, snuggling my face into the crook of his neck.
“You want to talk about it?” He whispers, lightly splashing the scorching water up my arm and rubbing the heat into my skin. “No one hurt you, did they?” Concern tightens his voice, and I shake my head.
“Not in the sense you’re thinking, no. But I am hurt, just—”
