I’ve lost track of what number I’m on for the millionth time when there’s a knock on my door. “Georgia, you ever going to come out?”
“I thought I would just die of embarrassment in here.”
Chase laughs. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m the one who should be embarrassed. You saw my dick when it wasn’t at its best.”
“What?” I say through a confused laugh.
“Can I come in?”
I get to my feet and stand, slowly pulling the door open.
“There she is,” he says, thankfully now fully dressed. I mean, I also enjoyed him without any clothes on, but… “You’re blushing again,” he points out. “Are you imagining me still naked?” He hits me with a cocky smirk.
“Oh God. Kill me now.”
“Eh, then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He entwines his fingers through my hair and crashes his mouth down on mine. I gasp and his tongue delves past my parted lips. It takes me a second to catch up, but once I do, I kiss him back. My belly flip-flops and butterflies soar in my chest. Nobody has ever made me feel the way Chase does with a single kiss.
He pulls back slightly, ending the kiss, and his hands palm the sides of my face. “That’s much better,” he says, his tongue swiping across his bottom lip like he’s trying to savor my taste. “I’ve been dying to do that since I got home. Working twenty-four-hour shifts sucks.” He presses his lips to mine for another brief kiss, and I sigh into him, not wanting it to end.
“You kissed me last night when I brought you dinner,” I point out, playfully rolling my eyes, but deep down secretly loving that he’s implying he missed me while he was gone.
“And then I had to go sixteen hours without doing it.” His hazel eyes lock with mine. “A couple friends of mine are barbecuing at the beach. I think Alec and Lexi might swing by later. Wanna go?”
“Sure, just let me change into my swimsuit and then I’ll be ready to go.”
After stopping by the store to pick up some drinks and snacks, we head over to Venice Beach. It’s a beautiful day, but hot, so I’m thankful I snagged Lexi’s umbrella she left at the condo when she moved out. I strip out of my cover-up and shorts, leaving me in only my pink and black striped bikini, while Chase digs a hole and sets up the umbrella. Once he’s done, I lay a blanket under it. He introduces me to a couple of his friends I haven’t met yet, but most of them I already know from the fire station, and then we settle on the blanket in the shade. He removes his shirt and I notice, unlike his friends, he doesn’t have a single tattoo on him.
“What?” he asks, when he catches me checking him out.
“You don’t have any tattoos.”
“Neither do you.” He takes my hand in his and absently plays around with my fingers.
“I want one.”
“Yeah? What would you get?” His fingers trail over my palm and up the inside of my wrist. I’ve noticed that when we’re together he likes to touch me. His hands are always on me in some way. And when I’m talking, he always pays full attention to me. I like that.
“I don’t know. Something meaningful since it’ll be on my body forever.”
“That’s why I haven’t gotten one. Growing up everyone in my neighborhood was covered in them. Usually shitty ones done in dirty basements.” He cringes. “I told myself I wouldn’t get one until I had a damn good reason to. Guess I just never had one.”
“That makes sense.”
His phone dings with a notification, which reminds me… “Lexi showed me something earlier… on Facebook.”
He doesn’t even look at his phone, instead focusing on me. “Oh yeah? What did she show you?” The way one side of his mouth is quirked up tells me he knows exactly what she showed me.
“Your relationship status.”
Chase’s grin widens. “That I’m in a relationship with you.”
“Is that what we are? In a relationship?”
“Damn right, we are.” He pulls my face close to his, and his mouth connects with my own. “You’re mine,” he growls against my lips. “And I’m yours.” He closes his mouth over mine in a searing kiss that matches the tone of his words.
I’m his.
And he’s mine.
I like the sound of that.
“Get a room!” someone shouts, forcing us to break apart.
“Go on a date with me tonight,” he says, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. He’s still holding me, refusing to let go, and my mind is all over the place.
“Why?” I blurt out.
His brows furl. “I thought we just covered this… we’re in a relationship. That means you’re my girlfriend and I’m your boyfriend.” His face breaks out into a sexy boyish grin and I laugh, realizing he has me so all over the place I didn’t finish my question out loud.