Just as I lay down, my door is opened and Chase comes in. He slides into bed with me and cuddles me close. He kisses my forehead and curls me against his chest.
Normal might be too far gone and I’m loving it.
CHASE
Valerie groans and squirms against me. Since we left the mansion, I’ve been waiting for her to start running. I’ve been waiting for her to say we were too mean, that we were too much, that we embarrassed her. Or worse, demanding to know everything about Stefan
Instead, she rolls me over and spoons me.
“Were we too rough with you earlier? With our words or spanks?” I ask.
“No.”
“You can tell us if we were. We’re not always good at gentle.”
“I’m not that easy to break,” She murmurs. I feel her lips against my shoulder and struggle to keep my heart in check.
I don’t know how Valerie does this; how she makes me feel intense lust and yet she’s taking care of me at the same time. She rubs my side and presses her face against my back. I pull her leg over my hip so I have something of her to touch.
“You make me feel weak and strong at the same time,” I whisper. “I worry about you, but know that you are so much more than what you seem.”
“Don’t tell me you’d die for me again, please,” She says, out of nowhere, completely unrelated. “I don’t want to think about that, Chase. Not for any of you. All three of you … you’re - you’re too important to me. I never want to think of losing you like that.”
“Only like that?”
She hesitates, staying quiet until I almost repeat the question, but then she answers. “At all.”
This time, I manage to manhandle her until I can roll over and meet her eyes. They’re watery, unsure, and more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen. I kiss her forehead. “Valerie, what’s wrong?”
“I care about you three so much. It’s … it’s a mess. I didn’t mean for things to go like this.”
“Is it so terrible?”
“No. It’s not. But you guys are all wrapped up in this Russian mob craziness. You’re dangerous men, there’s three of you, and yet …”
I make myself patient with her. I know that if I give her an opportunity to change the subject, she’ll take it. She takes a shaking breath. “I don’t care about any of the bad stuff when I’m with you. I’ve loved living here which feels like a blow to my independence. I …”
I kiss her hard. She doesn’t have to say it. I know how she feels, I know the words are more difficult than showing it. Because I can’t imagine sleeping at the mansion now. Not when she’s right here. Hell, I don’t even want to sleep in another room. I don’t want to have breakfast without her. I don’t want to imagine her with anyone else. She’s ours.
She squeezes me and draws back. “Sorry. I know you want to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“You’re the first woman I’ve ever trusted, Valerie,” I admit softly. “I’ve liked women. I’ve dated them. I’ve respected them, and I’ve had plenty of good experiences, but trust isn’t easy. Not with my life. My father raised us to question everyone, to never get too close, to never forget how quickly someone can turn on you.”
“All my fucking psychology hacks, I guess.”
“It’s you.” I disagree, stroking the necklace she hasn’t taken off since our aquarium date. “You’re genuine. You don’t hide what you’re feeling or thinking. You’re you all the damn time and … and I don’t have the words to describe the way you make me feel.”
She rubs my back. “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.”
“I appreciate you, every day.”
“Even when I’m sassy?”
I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “Sometimes because you’re sassy. You’re fearless.”
“I’m afraid of losing you three. I’m afraid of meeting Stefan and losing my temper. I’m afraid of getting you guys hurt.”
“You talked a trained killer into letting you go, Valerie. Never minimize who you are or what you’re capable of. You’re a goddess.”