Perfectly Lonely - Jessica Marin Page 0,37

unconsciously move against my erection. My brain screams at me for the need to get inside of her. If I don’t stop this now, I will soon explode against my pants. I reluctantly pull my hands away and break apart from our kiss. I rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mixing into one as we try to regain our composure.

“If we continue, I’m spending the night and never leaving,” I breathe out, giving her the opportunity to make our decision. She leans back and stares at me, her lustful eyes searching mine as her breathing continues to even out. She releases my neck and her fingers slowly push my hair behind my ears. It is long enough now that it can curl right around the ear. I give her a grateful smile for getting it out of my face. She rubs her thumbs along my cheekbones as her eyes continue to stare into my soul. I see something change in them and when her hands let go of my face, I know I will not like her answer.

“I think it’s late and time for you to head home.”

I swallow my disappointment and nod my head in agreement. I want her to have zero doubts about being with me and as much as it physically pains me to leave right now, I’ll do so if she’s not ready. I help her off my lap, my hands lingering on her skirt as I drag it back down her shapely thighs. Her eyes hover for a moment on the huge bulge in my pants before she turns around and heads toward the kitchen. I stand up and fix myself, trying to mentally think of anything else besides her to help ease my discomfort. She goes to the kitchen and brings us back glasses of water. She takes two big gulps of her drink, places it down on the counter and walks toward her door. I down the rest of my water before joining her. She opens the door and I stop right in front of her, needing to have one last look of her for my dreams tonight.

“Thank you for tonight. It meant a lot to me.” I lean down and kiss her softly on the lips, inhaling her delicious coconut and vanilla sent one more time until tomorrow. I quickly pull away before it gets any deeper and make my way over the threshold of her door.

“Chase?” she calls out to me and I turn around, hoping she has changed her mind about me leaving. She’s struggling with what she has to say, but her words soon stop me from approaching her.

“Don’t fall in love with me, Chase,” she swallows before continuing on. “I really don’t want to hurt you.”

My mind goes blank as her words are like tiny needles to my heart. I thought we made progress tonight, but I realize she has let the ghost of her dead husband come in to haunt her.

“Don’t worry, Layla. You won’t.”

I turn on my heels and leave.

16

Layla

Chase’s words from last night continue to occupy my thoughts this morning as I head to Jenna’s offices to meet up with Robert. I tossed and turned all night long, my body still tingling from his touch, but my mind wide awake with wonder in his confidence that I won’t unintentionally hurt him. Now that I know his past history, I see Chase in a different light. I understand his motives for what he did and I’m relieved that he sees how harmful being a paparazzi can be. But what Chase wants from me is something I’m not ready to give yet, despite my feelings for him starting to change. His kisses completely rob me of my thoughts and the look in his eyes last night confirmed that he wants to consume me, body and soul. I’m not ready to be consumed. I still need to focus on me and making more positive changes in my life.

And then there’s the fact that he’s going back to Vancouver.

I sigh in frustration, wishing that my entry into the dating world could be a little simpler. Why did I have to start becoming interested in someone who was leaving? I shake my head at myself when the ringing of my cell phone interrupts my thoughts and to my disappointment, I see that Robert is calling me instead of Chase.

“I’m on my way,” I answer instead of saying hello so he would know that I’m close by.

“Great, but I need