The message ends, and I pull the phone away from my face. The next message is from three months later. I guess she took her therapist’s advice for a while at least.
“I got into grad school. And my first thought was to tell you.”
The bad feeling is back in my stomach, and I curse myself—again—for listening to these messages. I lock my phone, set it on the table, and strip out of my clothes to shower. I’m about to turn the water on when someone knocks on the door.
I roll my eyes. I should have known better than to leave Josh tonight. I wrap a white towel around my waist and stride to the door, yanking it open. Josh isn’t standing in the threshold.
Sierra is.
Her mouth opens and her eyes widen. She runs her eyes over me then looks away, only to turn right back.
“Chase. Wow. I mean hi.”
“Hey. What are you doing here?” I ask. “Not that I’m not happy to see you or anything. I wasn’t expecting it.”
She blinks a few times in a row, following the line of hair that goes down my stomach to my cock, before looking me in the eye again. It’s turning me on to know she’s enjoying what she’s seeing, and now is not the time to get a hard-on. I’m only wearing a towel.
“Lisa wanted to go out for drinks, and I thought I’d come see you. Your brother said you just left and thought you were up here.”
I step back, letting Sierra come inside, and shut the door behind her. “Yeah, I was going to get in the shower then call you and say I got out early.” I hold the towel at my hip with one hand and reach for Sierra with the other. The moment my fingers sweep across the silky fabric of her dress, I’m a goner. My heart speeds up and my lips part. I need to feel her. All of her.
She hooks her arms around my shoulders, and her finger instantly goes to the scar on my back. I press my lips to hers, softly, knowing that if the kiss turns into anything more, I won’t be able to stop myself.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her. She’s wearing a red dress with white polka dots, a red bow in her hair, and yellow heels. “Your outfit looks familiar, which is weird to say, I know.”
She shakes her head, smiling. “It’s not weird, and it should be familiar.” She runs her hand along the dress. “Minnie Mouse.”
I use it as an excuse to slowly check her out again. Her large breasts are hidden away, which makes her outfit all the more sexy for some reason. I know what’s under there, but I can’t directly see it, like a present waiting to be unwrapped.
“Right. I see it now. It’s subtle, but I like it.”
“Thanks. I like to dress like characters but in normal clothing to see if anyone picks up on it. I have fun coming up with the concepts. Most people think it’s strange.”
I run my fingers through her hair. “I like strange.” I kiss her again. “I like you.”
She kisses me back, hands running up and down my back. I push my tongue into her mouth knowing I shouldn’t because once I get started, I won’t be able to stop. Sierra’s hands fall down my back, over my hips, and onto the towel. She slips her fingers inside, slowly, just half an inch, teasing me in the best and worst way possible.
I kiss her harder, dipping her back. Sierra moans when I run my hand down her back and onto her ass, giving it a squeeze.
The someone calls her name, voice muffled through the closed door.
“Sierra? Are you up here?”
I stop kissing her, but I don’t let go.
“It’s Lisa,” she sighs. “She didn’t like me going up here alone.”
“She’s smart.”
“I know,” she agrees but seems annoyed. Hell, I’m annoyed. But if Sierra is going to cut me off again, this is a good stopping point. I won’t push her to do anything she’s not ready for.
“You should let her know you’re fine.”
Sierra nods, sliding her hands back up to my shoulders. I stand her upright and look at the door, keeping one hand on Sierra’s waist. I know it’s crazy, but it feels like if I let go, if I stop touching her, she’ll slip away and disappear forever.
Or maybe I will.
I re-tuck the towel around my waist the best I can one-handed. Sierra turns, pulling out of my arm. She opens the door a foot and sticks her head out.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Did you find Chase?” Lisa stops by the door, eyebrows raised as she looks me up and down.
“Yeah. I found him.”
Lisa blinks, cocking her head to stare down Sierra. “And you stripped him naked?”
“I was already naked,” I quip, giving Lisa a smirk.
“Well then,” she replies. “I guess I’m not needed here. Have fun.”
Sierra makes a face. “I feel bad not getting a drink with you. That’s why we came, after all.”
Lisa shakes her head. “I’d feel worse knowing you left that for me. We can get drinks another time. Like tomorrow. When you give me details.”
“I don’t kiss and tell.” Sierra purses her lips and tries not to smile.
Lisa turns to me and puts her hand next to her mouth. “Yes, she does,” she whisper-talks. “So give her something to talk about.”
“Now two people have told you that,” I say to Sierra. “Maybe you’ll take her advice at least.”
“She better,” Lisa says. “Don’t disappoint me, Si.”
Sierra rolls her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get a drink with you?”
Lisa checks the time on her phone. “I’m gonna call Rob. He gets off in twenty minutes so he’ll be here in thirty. I can play a game of pool with Wyatt until then.”
“Let him win,” Sierra teases.
Lisa grimaces. “I physically can’t do anything bad on purpose. Wyatt can just grow a pair and deal with it.”
Sierra laughs, emerald eyes glimmering. “Then don’t complain to me when he stomps around work annoying the shit out of you for it.”
Lisa huffs. “Fine. Call me in the morning.”
“I will.” Sierra moves away to give Lisa a hug goodbye. Lisa eyes me up and down once more, then whispers, “not fair” to Sierra before leaving.
“So,” Sierra starts, closing the door.
“So,” I echo. “Are you hungry? We could get something to eat.”
“I am, actually. I was going to get something here with Lisa. You?”
“I’m always hungry.”
She bites her lip and I notice her eyes keep dropping down to the V-line of muscle above my hips.
“I’ll take a quick shower,” I go on. “And then you can tell me which of the two sit-down restaurants in this town to take you to.”
“I like that plan.”
“Do you want the TV on or something?”
She reaches into her yellow bag and pulls out her Kindle. “I’m good.”
“I’m sorry,” the waitress says, coming over to our table, bill in hand. “We’re closing in five minutes.”
I tear my eyes away from Sierra and look around. The tables around us are empty and cleared. We’re the only ones here.
“Oh, sorry,” Sierra says, looking just as shocked as I am. “I lost track of the time.”