“We’re just happy we know now.”
Chase stepped up beside me and Mrs. Lane wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Thank you, Officer Shaw. A weight has been lifted from our hearts.”
He stepped out of her arms. “I was just doing my job.”
“Yes, but we know being undercover and spending time with that dreadful girl had to take its toll.”
He glanced to me. “Yeah, well, it led me to someone else.”
She smiled, and Chase and I could see the genuine gratitude she felt for both of us in that moment. And if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was giving us her blessing.
***
I rested my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes.
“What are you thinking?” Chase asked as we drove back to Houston.
“I just can’t shake the look on her face.”
He nodded. “They’ve been waiting for the truth for a long time.”
“How’d you know she’d want to see me?” I asked.
“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