Page 65 of Chasing Lyric
“Just don’t make me regret it.”
He leans forward, planting a quick, tender kiss on my lips.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
He pulls back, smiling at me as he takes my hand in his and stands, taking me with him. “Leave this, I’ll clean it up.” He reaches into the pocket inside his jacket, grabbing something. “I also brought a gift for Polly.” Chase pulls out an apple for my overlord hell-parrot.
But my chest swells, my entire body lighting up like a damn Christmas tree. “Swoon.” I slap my hand over my mouth, realizing I’ve said that out loud.
Chase grins from ear to ear as he starts walking. “Did you just swoon out loud?” he jests as he walks past me to Polly’s cage, smirking wildly.
Sighing, I shrug it off and just roll with it. “It is what it is.”
He chuckles, glancing over his shoulder back at me. “And you thinkI’mthe one living the Hallmark movie?” he teases, stepping up to the cage. When Polly sees Chase, he flaps his wings as if he’s waving hello.
It’s so freaking cute.
After placing my flowers in a vase, I grab a knife from the kitchen as Chase pets Polly while he sits on his perch. I bring the knife over for Chase to cut up the apple, and he hands a slice to Polly with ease.
“It’s crazy he’ll eat the apple for you, but not for anyone else. After you left, I tried, but no cigar.”
Chase grins. “Some guys havealltherightmoves.”
“You want to be known as the guy who has the moves… for a male parrot?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Smartass.”
“Hey, you said it, not me.”
Chase reaches out, grabbing me. His arms circle my waist without hesitation. Our bodies collide before my hands wrap around his neck. I stare into his eyes, and we simply stare at each other. His eyes seem intense tonight, sparkling in the dim light of the sunroom. The stars are twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making it seem like we’re outside, standing under the stars.
He unleashes that smile.
God, that smile.
All charm and heat, like he knows exactly what it does to me. It pulls the air from my lungs and sends a ripple of electricity right through my chest.
And the way he’s looking at me right now?
Like I’m the only thing he sees.
Like Imatter.
There’s still so much unsaid between us, but in this moment, the weight of words fades into the background. The pull between us tightens, thick, magnetic, impossible to ignore.
I rise on my toes, closing the distance, and I brush my lips to his. Soft. Testing. And he doesn’t hesitate. He kisses me back like he’s been waiting for this—for me.His hand finds my waist, fingers tightening gently as he pulls me closer, anchoring me to him. The press of our bodies is firm, but not rushed. This kiss is slow and deliberate, heat simmering beneath every breath.
When his mouth parts and our tongues meet, the kiss deepens. My heart pounds like a drumbeat against my ribs, each thud echoing with everything I haven’t said out loud. My fingers slip into his hair, and he hums low in his throat, the sound curling around my spine and lighting up every nerve ending.
His other hand glides to my cheek, his thumb sweeping tenderly along my jaw as if he’s memorizing the shape of me. My knees weaken at the contrast—his strength, his softness—and the way he holds me like I’m something rare.
“Chase…” I whisper his name without thinking.
He pulls back just a sliver, just long enough to breathe against my lips. “You have no idea how good you taste.”
I smile because I was thinking the same thing about him.
