Chapter Thirteen

Lauren

The waning moon peeks through the thin wisp of clouds, the scattered stars around it sharing the task of illuminating the night sky.

It’s a beautiful night but I feel terrible. The wind blows through my hair as I walk slowly back to the house, my feet weighing a ton, and I feel a chill from both inside and out.

I feel like I’m the one lying at the bottom of a deep, dark ditch, alone and afraid.

I still remember that exact moment when Chase came out of the barn, swinging the hoe and hitting those men without hesitation. He could have killed them. Worse, though, he could have missed or not hit him hard enough and they could have killed him. That guy in the hooded gray sweatshirt could have shot him. He could have died right before my eyes.

Just the thought of it sends a shiver up my spine and makes my heart feel like crumpling, aching.

I place my hand over it, hoping to relieve the ache but in vain.

The house comes in sight, light spilling out through some of the downstairs windows but none of the upstairs. Likely, my dad has drunk one bottle of beer too many and fallen asleep again on the couch while waiting for me, Smoke on the tattered rug beside him.

Behind me, Chase stops walking.

“You should be all right now. I’ll head back to the barn.”

I nod, stepping forward.

“Good night,” he adds.

“Good night.”

I glance back at him one last time before walking on. After a few steps, though, I stop, unable to continue.

I can’t leave him. Not when I almost lost him.

I whirl around, a twig snapping beneath my feet. Running, I throw myself into his arms, wrapping my arms around him.

“Hold me.” The plea escapes my lips as I clutch his shirt.

Chase goes still.

For a moment, I fear that he hasn’t heard my request or that he’s not planning on granting it. Then he grips my chin, his lips sealing mine as his tongue delves inside my mouth.

I place my hands around his neck, standing on the tips of my toes as I let my tongue play with his. I know we’re only a few feet away from the house and my father could easily see us from the living room window but I no longer care. Right now, my dad is the least of my worries.

Chase must think so, too, because he pulls me closer, his hands gripping my backside as his body grinds against mine. I push against him as I run my hands across his back, feeling his throbbing erection. It makes my sex pound in turn, burning, leaking.

Suddenly, he pulls away.

Grabbing my wrist, he leads me away from the house, both of us running under the moonlight, trampling the grass in our path. He takes me to the vineyard, which is less than fifty feet from the house. There, amidst the rows of the curly vines with their saw-edged leaves and the bunches of green grapes dangling from them, Chase pulls me into his arms and kisses me again. And the madness begins anew.

Every nerve in my body is tingling, every vein suddenly on fire. My tongue becomes entangled with his, our breaths mingling and our bodies pressed together as we’re wrapped up in each other’s arms. My breasts and my sex swell, yearning to be free of their cotton confines. The grapes around me may not yet be ready for harvest but my body is ripe and ready, maybe even more so than it was last time.

Indeed, last time, I was afraid but now, even though I was deathly scared just moments ago, I no longer am. I just want to be with him. I want to feel him, to have him carve himself into my body so that I can know without a doubt that he’s alive.

“Touch me.” I grab his wrist and place his hand on one of my breasts.

He squeezes it through the layers of clothing as he gives me another deep kiss, making me moan into his mouth.

Then Chase grips the hem of my blouse, lifts it, and pulls the piece of clothing off me. The air caresses my back and I shiver from the chill.

He pushes my bra up and out of the way, his hand closing around my bare breast as he leaves a trail of kisses from my ear to the hollow of my throat. My nipple pokes against his palm, my breast flooding with heat. He gently squeezes the sensitive mound of flesh then takes my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rubbing it and making me gasp. Moments later, he takes the other between his lips and playfully tugs before sucking on it.

My knees buckle and I place my hands on the back of his head, fingers pulling at his curls. I squeeze my eyes shut and throw my head back, more gasps escaping my lips.

His mouth moves to my other breast, his tongue circling my nipple before rubbing against it, the friction turning my mind and my body to mush. I grip his shoulders, afraid I might fall if I don’t.

Leaving my breasts warm and wet, my nipples stiff as pebbles, Chase moves lower, planting ticklish, feather light kisses down the soft curve of my abdomen. His tongue dips into my bellybutton and I giggle.

He moves lower still, his hands on my hips. Looking up to meet my gaze and hold it, his sapphire eyes gleaming with mischief and promise, he plants a lingering kiss on the front of my skirt. I feel it through the layers of cotton, one of which gets wet as my sex rages, my thighs quivering.

He reaches for my ankles, then with his eyes still holding mine, his hands climb up my legs, tickling the back of my shaking knees before going up my thighs, slipping beneath the blue pleats of my skirt. They reach all the way to my damp underwear, cupping my backside. Then long fingers pull down the garter.

The tiny piece of clothing falls to my knees and down to my ankles where I step out of them, kicking off my shoes as well so that I feel the cool, hard ground beneath my feet.

Chase kneels between them, his hands seizing my thighs, his head disappearing under my skirt. I hold my breath as I clutch his shoulders, feeling his own warm breath tickling my most delicate skin.

Then I feel something warmer, wetter, and I let out a sound between a gasp and a whimper as I desperately try to grab his curls through the cotton.

His tongue grazes my clit, with each strum making it harder and harder for me to breathe or to stand. My toes curl, digging into the soil.

“Shit,” I gasp out loud, trembling.

Chase’s tongue brushes against the dripping folds of my sex and I’m at a loss for words entirely. My hands move to his shoulders and grip them as I nearly lose my balance.

I haven’t had a drop of alcohol to drink and yet I feel intoxicated by his tongue and the evening air, another breeze sweeping through me and sending my hair across my face, some strands caught between my lips that are parted to let air in and moans out.

His tongue slips in and out, eating me up, lapping up the wetness I feel oozing from inside me.

I feel weak and dizzy. It’s just my sex that he’s savoring, but it’s as if he’s sucking every coherent thought and every ounce of strength I have in me.

Just when I think I’m about to burst, he stops. Sitting on the ground, he pulls me into his lap, my back against his chest. Then his mouth finds mine.

I taste myself on him, a little bit like semen but slightly sweeter. It’s strange but not at all unpleasant and I open my mouth wider, welcoming every bit of his tongue.

As Chase claims and explores my mouth anew, his hands unhook my bra, its straps sliding down my arms and off my hands. Then one hand cups my breast, the other slipping between my legs.

His finger brushes against my clit before sliding in, making my sex throb even as his cock throbs behind me. Another finger joins moments later.

The fingers continue the work his tongue has done, weaving their magic spell on me. As they move in and out, I feel myself getting closer and closer to the edge. I move my hips in my desire to speed the process up even more and as I do, I grind against his erection, drawing a moan from him.

That sound propels me to the height of pleasure only so I can tumble off it, my breath robbed, my entire body shaking and shattering into a thousand pieces.

Chase breaks the kiss to let me breathe but even then, I slump against him, panting, my feverish skin covered in a fresh layer of sweat.

I don’t know how long I remain seated on his lap, staring at the moon and catching my breath. It seems as if time has stopped.

“Are you all right?” Chase asks.

I nod, still unable to speak as I rest my head against his shoulder.

“Better?”

I turn around so I can look at him, straddling his lap.

I do feel better but I’m not quite satisfied.

“I want you,” I whisper in his ear, licking the lobe. “All of you.”

To let my point come across even more, I reach for his crotch, pressing my palm against the bulge there, which immediately throbs in response.

He places his hands on my cheeks and gives me a long, fierce kiss, one that sends my mind reeling and robs me entirely of what breath I’ve managed to catch.

“You asked for it.”

Chase lowers me on the ground. The soil is hard and coarse, the blades of grass tickling my skin but I don’t mind. I watch him as he takes off his shirt and unzips his jeans. The button comes off with one pop then he pulls his cock out, its tip engorged and glistening, the thick shaft pulsing.

I don’t take my eyes off it – I can’t – as Chase pulls my skirt off, leaving me completely naked. Then he settles between my legs, clenches my thighs, and enters me with one thrust.

I throw my head back, my mouth opening in a silent scream of triumph and pleasure as his thick, hard cock stretches me and fills me to the brim. I squeeze my eyes shut, my fingers pulling at the grass.

Chase seals my mouth, our tongues entwined as his hips start to move. My back rubs against the ground, which is abrasive against my soft skin, but I ignore it as I wrap my arms around Chase, clinging to him.

He moves faster, rocking my body with his as he deepens the kiss. Then his mouth pull away as he starts going at an even more furious pace, stoking the flames deep within me.

I wrap my legs around him as well, crossing my ankles, which dig into his back.

I steal a peek under heavy eyelids, finding Chase with his eyes narrowed but his pupils dilated, his nostrils flaring, and his jaw clenched. His curls bounce, a bead of sweat rolling down the bridge of his nose.

Suddenly, he shouts my name, his thrusts turning into jerks of his hips.

“Lauren!”

“Chase!” I, too, scream out his name as his cock moves faster and throbs inside me, causing me to unravel with him.

Moments later, it explodes, filling me with warmth. My body bursts with it, shattering again as wave after wave of pleasure goes through me, each one stealing my breath. Even with my eyes closed, I can see stars, the real ones blurred specks of silver when my eyelids finally flutter open.

Panting, Chase plants a tender kiss on my forehead then pulls out and lies down beside me, both of us staring up at the starry sky from the cold ground. I reach for his hand, my fingers entwining with his. A breeze sweeps by to cool our sweat-drenched skin.

It’s a beautiful night and now, I feel beautiful and amazing.

Chase squeezes my hand. “Feel better?”

I nod, staring at him, his hair gleaming under the moonlight.

He turns his head, his eyes meeting mine. “Any other requests?”

I blush as I remember the ones I’ve made then look away.

He gives my hand another squeeze. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, I swear.”

“I’m more worried something bad might happen to you,” I tell him.

“A lot of bad things have happened to me. But hey, I’m glad they did. Because of all those things, I met you.”

I shake my head. “Don’t say that. Nobody should have to live like a fugitive.”

He falls silent.

“Tell me…” I rub his hand. “About how your life used to be.”

Chase shrugs. “Good, I guess. I could do whatever I wanted. I could buy whatever I wanted. I could eat whatever I wanted.”

“Chefs?”

“Yeah. We had a few.”

“Wow. Sounds like a dream.”

He touches my cheek. “They don’t cook as well as you do, though.”

“Really?” I turn on my side, propping my head on my elbow. “I bet they cooked all sorts of fancy dishes.”

“They did,” he says. “But sometimes, simple hearty dishes that are thoughtfully prepared are more satisfying than fancy dishes.”

I purse my lips, running my fingers through the grass in front of me.

Chase grabs my hand, and I lift my gaze to receive his.

“I had a good life, yes. I had much but at the same time, it felt empty.”

Hearing the sadness in his voice and seeing it in his eyes, I feel a knot form in my throat. At the same time, I feel warmth swell in my chest, aware that this is the first time he’s told me anything about his past.

I lift his hand to my lips, planting a tender kiss on his knuckles.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” I ask him.

“You mean where to swing a hoe like that?”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I can’t imagine that you have a lot of hoes in the mansion.”

“Not one. But I used to play baseball so I’m good at swinging.”

“I see.”

“I used to do some rowing, too. It helped me develop some strength in my arms.”

To demonstrate, he props himself up and starts an arm wrestle with me, one that I lose within seconds.

I frown. Then again, I knew I didn’t stand a chance against those muscles.

I clench and unclench my fingers. “Maybe you can teach me to row sometime?”

“Maybe.”

I grin but frown again as I notice the blood on my arm.

Did I scrape my arm just now? No. The blood is already dry. Also, it doesn’t seem to be mine, which is even more terrifying, bringing back memories of the unexpected events earlier in the evening.

I let go of Chase’s hand and sit up, thinking of washing the dried blood off in the sink of the nearby shed. And maybe my hair, which I realize has flecks of soil tangled with it now as I try to comb some sense into it. In vain.

“What’s wrong?” Chase asks, lifting his head.

Why? Why do I look like a mess again when he looks like a reclined Roman sculpture even though both of us just had sex on the ground in the middle of the vineyard?

“I’ll be right back,” I tell him as I give him a quick peck on the cheek.

I reach for my underwear, get on my feet, and sprint toward the shed.