You’re the Reason, стр. 53

“I didn’t. But I knew you’d want to see her.”

Contentment filled my body. Sydney’s mother finally got the truth. And, Chase knew me. And he knew exactly what I needed.

His eyes jumped between the road and me. “You once told me you wanted to be the reason someone did something amazing.”

I nodded.

“I’d say you’ve done something amazing for that family. And, you got Valerie to step up and do the right thing to bring Chantel down. So, I’d say you accomplished your goal.”

My head fell to the side and I stared at Chase, his side profile distinct in the fading evening light. “Take me to your apartment.”

Surprise filled his eyes. “Yeah?”

I nodded.

We fell through his apartment door a little while later, our mouths incapable of disengaging as he kicked the door shut behind us. He walked me backward down his hallway to his bedroom, his lips moving desperately over mine. When the backs of my knees hit the bed, he lowered me down. Only then did he pull away. He stood at the foot of his bed and gazed down at me. My hair must’ve been a mess, my cheeks were beyond pink, and my chest heaved like a marathon runner.

I watched as he pulled his shirt over his head. I drank in the definition he had freaking everywhere. He slipped the button through the slot on his jeans and lowered his zipper. I watched every calculated move he made as he slowly pulled down his jeans and boxers and stepped out of them, standing naked in front of me.

A rush of desire swarmed in my chest. I may have thought I wanted him before. I may have thought I’d never feel more desire than I did when I asked him to sleep with me on my birthday. But I was wrong, and I understood that now. The feelings exuding from me as I lay on his bed with him offering himself to me for the first time couldn’t be replicated. Nerves were a distant memory. This was what was supposed to happen. And, I’d never felt more sure until this moment.

I unzipped my hoodie and pulled it, along with the shirt beneath it, over my head.

Chase’s eyes never wavered from mine. Even seconds later as I reached behind my back and unfastened my bra, letting it fall off my arms, his eyes remained on mine. I unbuttoned my jeans, lifted my ass, and shimmied out of them and my panties, leaving me just as naked as he was—except I still wore my mason jar necklace.

“You sure?” Chase asked.

I nodded, never more sure about anything. I lifted my hand and beckoned him closer with my index finger.

He crawled up the bed until he hovered over me. “I didn’t think I could want you more than I did when you corrected my threat outside the frat house.”

“Liar.”

He shook his head. “And it only doubled when I walked into your room and found you watching football.”

“Doubled, huh?”

“And, then it multiplied when you asked me to take you back here. I’m done.”

“Done?”

He inched down so his lips were a mere breath from mine. “In love.” He closed the distance, pressing his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around him, arching into him and deepening the kiss. Our tongues were in sync, tangling as we explored each other’s mouths. Our lips stayed molded together as our naked bodies found a rhythm.

I pulled out of the kiss, my heart racing and my chest heaving. “I’m ready,”

My breath hitched as his hand slipped between us, his fingers sliding between my folds.

“You are ready,” he mused.

“I guess I missed you.”

“What a nice surprise,” he said.

“There’s that word again,” I said.

“Yeah, well, this is going to be a lot better than nice. I can assure you of that.” He reached for his nightstand and slipped a condom out of the drawer, tearing it with his teeth, and reaching down to roll it on.

My pulse sped. This was happening. We were happening.

Chase braced his weight on his elbows beside my head and gazed down at me. “This means something to me, Soph.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

I nodded.

“I needed to wait to do this until you knew the real me.”

My heart constricted. I didn’t know if I could take any more of his honesty.

“Tell me if I’m hurting you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

He captured my lips in a delicious kiss as his hips began to roll. He shifted slightly so his erection moved between my legs, slipping over my folds. He wasn’t trying to push inside me yet. He was teasing me with the sensations he was creating each time he hit my clit. He didn’t stop kissing me, even when I felt the tip press against my entrance. I sucked in a sharp breath, but he captured it with his lips, deepening the kiss as his hips thrust a little harder. My knees fell open, and that’s all it took. He pushed once, then twice, then one more time before he stretched me wide. I groaned as Chase abandoned my lips and gazed down at me, gauging my expression. “You good?”

I nodded, not sure if it hurt or felt amazing to be connected to him in this way.

“Can I move?” he asked.

I nodded.

He started off slow, likely gauging my face and pinched eyes for pain as he moved in and out of me. Once I was used to the feel of him, I opened my eyes. He stared down at me with hooded eyes. I found myself too lost in those eyes to notice any pain. I slipped my hands behind his back, coasting them up and down his smooth skin. I lowered my hands to his ass, loving the