Chase kicked the door closed, trapping the rest of the world on the other side. He wasn’t part of my past or my future. Only my present. A stitch in time not tainted by everything that came before. And for once, that was enough.

At the foot of the stairs, Chase’s hands slid to my ass. “Hold on tight, Taryn. Don’t let go.” I slanted my gaze to his and found that same hesitation I saw earlier. Or maybe not, because a second later we were climbing.

As he eased me onto the bed, he pressed a kiss to my lips and then rumbled, “Tell me what you want.”

I didn’t know what I wanted. And why was he asking?

“I … um …”

Palming my breast, his thumb circled my nipple until it rose to a painful peak. “You want my mouth here?”

I nodded, sliding my hand into his hair.

His hand skimmed lower to the juncture of my thighs. After nudging my legs apart, his fingers dipped inside my panties and, ghosting his lips over mine he asked, “What about here?”

I lost the ability to think, let alone speak, when he pushed a finger inside my pussy.

“Say it, Taryn. Tell me you want my mouth right here.”

He added another finger and began to thrust, his thumb grazing my swollen clit.

“I want … Oh … fuck …”

My response died on a moan when Chase claimed my mouth. His kiss was hungry, possessive, and his tongue kept perfect rhythm with his fingers as he stroked.

Molding my hands to his shoulders, I held on tight when he found a spot inside my body that sent all the blood rushing to my head. “Chase … I’m going to …”

He kissed his way to my nipple, and when he scored his teeth along the pebbled peak, I fell to pieces, grinding out my release on his hand.

“Fuck, Taryn,” he growled. “I can feel you coming.”

Embarrassed, I pressed my head into the pillow. I’d never flown apart so easily.

Chase’s mouth continued to explore along my ribs and over my stomach. And then he was there.

I peered down with a hammering heart. “Chase … what are you doing?”

Our eyes locked as he dragged his tongue along my inner thigh. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”

His gaze was all intensity and fire and want. He wanted this. With me.

“Don’t stop.”

The groan that ripped from my chest when his tongue flicked over my clit echoed off every wall. And then Chase dove in, one arm coiled around my leg and those talented fingers thrusting deep inside me again. When I started to soar, his teeth joined the party.

“Oh God … Oh God …”

My back bowed, and I called his name, shattering under his touch. When the euphoric haze receded, I found Chase watching me, a hint of that victory smile curving his lips.

He pressed a kiss to my hip, and then to each breast, and finally to my mouth. “You ready for me?”

Was I?

Don’t think …

His words from this morning quieted my thoughts, and everything outside this room melted away. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I took what he had to offer.

Oblivion.

Chase rolled onto his back, panting, and I heard the snap of latex as he pulled the condom off. I snorted a laugh when he tossed it into the trash. “Good shot.”

I had no filter after sex, and normally that was fine. But I didn’t know Chase, and my brand of humor wasn’t always on point.

He laughed, though, and tugged my arm, urging me toward him.

Sprawled on his chest, I peered up with heavy lids.

“The calm after the storm,” he said, as he ran a lazy hand up and down my spine

“What does that mean?”

Though I didn’t think there was a universe where Chase could pull off shy, that’s just how he looked.

Tucking one arm behind his head, he shrugged. “You remind me of these storms up by where my grandparents used to live. The sky would turn all colors of blue and gray.” Tilting my chin, he smiled. “Like your eyes. And then the rain would come. Warm rain. That’s what you smell like.”

Sifting my fingers through the dusting of baby fine hair on his chest, I sighed. “I guess I can live with that. Where is this magical place?”

“Stonewall. Right off 290. It’s outside of—”

A boulder landed on my back, stealing my breath. “I know where it is.”

As I fought to untangle our limbs, Chase caught my wrist. “What is it?”

Even with the blood pounding a thunderous beat between my ears, I heard myself say in a calm voice, “Nothing. I just … I need the bathroom.”

His eyes stayed on me as I shrugged into my robe and hurried out of the room.

Stumbling to the medicine cabinet, I searched the shelves for the outdated prescription.

I sank onto the side of the tub with the bottle in hand and tried to pry off the safety cap.

“Fuck.”

My trembling fingers wouldn’t cooperate, and I squeezed my eyes shut to regroup.

“Need some help?”

Jerking my gaze to the door where Chase stood propped against the frame, I swallowed hard. “No.”

The word came out as a strangled rasp.

Chase contemplated for a moment before slowly pushing off the wall and walking to where I sat. Crouching in front of me, he curved his hands around my bare thighs. “Let me help you, baby.”

Help? He couldn’t help. Nobody could.

“You can’t,” I whispered.

Deft fingers gently pried the bottle from my grasp, and then Chase pushed to his feet and wandered to the sink while I focused on the swirling patterns in the tile floor.

He returned with a glass of water. “Here.”

I scowled when he popped the cap off the bottle with ease.

“Stupid bottle,” I grumbled.

He pressed an orange pill into my palm and knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry,” he said, brushing the hair out of my eyes. “I know the accident was on 290. I just … I wasn’t thinking. I forgot.”

Swallowing the pill, I nodded. “So did I.”

And I had. For a minute, or ten, I’d forgotten the one thing that was always with me. I’d forgotten Paige. And that could never happen.

When I got up the courage, I met Chase’s concerned gaze. “It’s been a long day. I think I should get some rest.”

I waited for him to exercise the out clause, but instead, he started rooting through the bottles of scented bubble bath on the ledge surrounding the garden tub.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he turned on the faucet.

“Drawing you a bath. Warm, hot, or extra hot?”

“Um … hot, I guess.”

After pouring a liberal amount of thick, purple liquid under the stream, Chase stood up and looked around. “Towels?”

The medication calmed my nerves but did nothing for the embarrassment. I didn’t want Chase’s pity. The sooner I got into that tub, the faster he’d leave.

“I’ll get it,” I said, as I wobbled to my feet.

When I returned from the linen closet, Chase was seated on the edge of the tub, a smile tugging his lips. “Are we going to share that, or are you expecting me to air dry?”

“Huh?”

He stalked toward me. “I guess we’ll share.”

Slipping an arm around my waist, he urged me toward the tub. Lingering above the sweet smell of gardenia wafting from the frothy bubbles, I could smell Chase all around me.

He smelled new.

New?

Fucking pill, messing with my head.

“Do you need help with that?” Chase asked, dropping his gaze to my fingers coiled tightly around the sash on my robe.

“No. I got it.”

Fumbling with the tie, I stole glances at Chase’s Adonis-like frame when he turned to adjust the water. Mesmerized by the Celtic knot inked on his shoulder, I shuffled forward.

His stilled as I traced my finger over the script woven inside the intricate design.

Soul Bound.

Hope Drowned.

Redemption Found.

“Who said that?” I asked.

He slid his boxers off his hips and then stepped into the tub, sinking into the cloud of bubbles. “I did. Now come here.”

I pondered for a moment, staring at his outstretched hand, and then I slipped my robe from my shoulders and joined him.

“Fuck.”

The audible groan tumbled out unbidden, and Chase laughed, pulling me flush against him, my back to his chest.

“I like your dirty mouth.”

I snorted, my head dropping to his shoulder. “You think I’m bad? You should hear Belle.”

Soft lips brushed my temple. “I have no idea who that is.”

Shocked, I sat up and slanted my gaze to his. “Really?” He shook his head. “Oh … it’s uh … Tori.”

He nodded, and rather than pepper me with questions, which I kind of expected, he shifted his focus to my shoulder and smiled. “This is beautiful.” He ran his palm over the tribute etched on my skin—two birds soaring above a pale gray sky toward a brilliant sun. “Does it mean anything?”

It meant everything.

“It’s for … them.”

I waited the requisite three seconds to see if Chase needed further explanation before slumping into my former spot. The steady rise and fall of his chest loosened the stone over the place where my deepest thoughts resided, and a silent tear slid down my face, falling into a cloud of bubbles.

“Do you think death has a quota?”

“A quota?” Confusion laced his tone. “I don’t understand.”

“I was supposed to be on the bus that night, did you know that?”

I heard him swallow, absorbing the news, the thing they never published in the papers.

“No,” he said quietly.

“So if three people were supposed to die that night,” I continued, “maybe if I had been there, Paige would’ve lived. Or Rhenn.”

Chase’s arms tightened around me. “There is no quota. It was their time. Their destiny.”

Tears clogged my throat, but surprisingly, I controlled the torrent. “Do you believe in heaven?”

Chase blew out a breath. “I suppose I have to. Since I know there’s a hell, there’s got to be a heaven.”

Inclining my head, I looked up at him. “If there is a heaven, do you think they’re together?”

He tucked a strand of wet hair behind my ear. “I think so, baby.”

Nodding, I turned my cheek into his chest. “Me too.”

After a long moment, Chase ran his hands over the goose bumps on my arms. “You cold?”

Numb, that’s what I was, thanks to the pill. After a time, I began to drift and Chase brushed his lips over my ear. “Let’s get you out of here.”

I let him pull me up, and then swayed in my spot while he made quick work of patting me down with the fluffy towel.

After my robe was securely in place, I mumbled, “Thank you … I’m going to go to bed now.”

Someone really needed to write a manual on the proper way to say goodbye after a one-night stand, because this was awkward as hell.

Tucked under the covers, I waited for Chase to emerge from the bathroom. But my heavy lids had other ideas.

When I finally heard him rooting around for his clothes, I murmured. “Th-thanks for everything, Lock … lock the door when you leave, okay?”

After a long moment, the mattress dipped, and strong arms banded around me.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

No.

But all I could manage was a sigh.

Soft lips brushed my shoulder. “Sleep, pretty girl.”

And even though I knew it was probably some sense of misguided chivalry that kept Chase here, that’s just what I did.