she settled over him. They took their time, slowly deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that before he rolled her onto her back and began slowly moving against her with teasing strokes that had her moaning.
When she felt him push inside her, Sloane wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes as he kissed his way down her neck while she savored every touch, kiss, and caress, burning each one of them to memory. All too soon, he was groaning her name and she realized that it was time to go.
She waited until he’d closed his eyes and his breaths were soft and even before she slipped from the bed and headed to the closet. She grabbed her bag and headed to the bathroom, making sure to close the door quietly behind her and forced herself to move. She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth and hair, got dressed, and double-checked her bag to make sure that she had everything before she found herself standing in the middle of the bathroom, staring at the door.
Releasing a shaky breath and telling herself that it was better just to get this over with, Sloane forced herself to walk the short distance to the door and once she managed to do that, she forced herself to keep going, refusing to look at the bed as she walked out of the bathroom, knowing that one look at Chase would break her. She just needed to leave so that she could clear her head and figure out what she needed to–
“What’s this?” Chase asked when she stepped into the living room to find him sitting on the couch, holding the letter that should have explained everything in his hand.
“I got another job,” Sloane said, forcing the lie that she’d come up with last night when her world came crashing down around her.
“Yeah, I see that,” Chase said, sighing heavily as he tossed the letter on the coffee table so that he could rub his hands over his face.
“I didn’t know how to tell you,” she said quietly.
“And you thought telling me in a fucking letter was the best way to do that?” Chase asked, dropping his hands away as he shook his head in disbelief.
When she didn’t answer, he got to his feet and gestured to the bedroom. “Give me ten minutes to get dressed and I’ll drive you to the airport,” Chase said, not sounding happy about it.
“I’ve already got a ride,” she lied because she couldn’t tell him the truth.
“I’m going,” Chase said firmly, heading toward the bathroom only to stop when she said, “I don’t want you to.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Pookie?” Chase demanded, sighing heavily as he turned around to face her.
“I just don’t think it would be a good idea,” Sloane said, knowing that if she didn’t walk out that door right now that she wouldn’t be able to do this.
For a moment, he looked like he was going to argue, and then, with a resigned sigh, he said, “Fine. Then tell me where you’re going.”
“Washington. It’s a temporary position, shouldn’t last more than two months,” she said hollowly, repeating the same lie that she’d told her family last night as she watched him absently nod while he grabbed his phone off the coffee table.
“We’ll have to figure out what days you have off so that I can come see you,” Chase murmured absently as he checked something on his phone. “Thank god for Facetime and text messages,” he said, shooting her a wink before adding. “We’ll put them to good use.”
“No.”
“What?” Chase asked, frowning as he glanced up from his phone.
“I can’t do this,” Sloane said, shaking her head as her grip tightened around the handle of her suitcase.
“What are you talking about, Pookie?” Chase asked, dropping his hand.