by Nikki Ash
Georgia releases a harsh breath. I expect for her to argue, to throw my past in my face, tell me there’s no way I can be faithful, so I’m shocked when she simply says, “Okay, I’d like that… for you to show me.”
I laugh softly. I should’ve known that once again Georgia is different. She’s innocent and trusting and doesn’t play games—just a few of the reasons why I’m attracted to her.
I pull her into my arms and hug her, giving her a kiss on the top of her head and inhaling her vanilla scent. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
She pulls back and smiles. “Does that mean no more clubs to look for the perfect guy?” Her green eyes twinkle with laughter.
“That definitely means no more clubs.” Remembering she was in the hospital only a few short hours ago, I scoop her up into my arms bridal style and stalk into her room. I set her down on the middle of the bed and climb over her. We’re in the same spot we were in before her sister barged in.
“No more clubs,” I repeat, dipping my face down and pressing my lips to the curve of her neck. I nibble lightly and she giggles, so I do it again, loving the sound.
“What the hell was that shit?” Alec barks the second I walk into the station. Everyone stops what they’re doing and the place goes silent. After Alec and Lexi left, and Georgia agreed to give us a shot, we spent the rest of the weekend watching reruns of shows, eating takeout, and in between, making out like teenagers. We created our own little bubble, and it completely slipped my mind I would still have to deal with Alec.
“Georgia and I are dating,” I say nonchalantly.
He gets in my face. “I warned you to stay away from her. You can have any woman you want. We might be best friends, but Georgia is family.”
“And if we get married that’d make us family,” I joke, but then the thought of Georgia and I getting married hits me, and instead of freaking out, I find myself smiling. Sure, it’s way too soon for that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still imagine it. Georgia, dressed in white, walking down the aisle…
“Holy shit,” Alec hisses, “you’re thinking about it.”
“What?”
“You’re actually thinking about what it would be like to marry Georgia.”
“I really like her,” I admit. Actually, I’m in love with her, but I can’t say that yet. It’s too soon. People will think I’m fucking nuts. “We’ve been hanging out a lot and we just click.”
“If you hurt her, I’m going to have to beat your ass,” Alec warns.
“Same,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn around and find Mason and Tristan walking up.
“Just left breakfast with my girls,” Tristan says, sizing me up as he walks over to us. I knew Georgia left early this morning to meet her mom and sister for breakfast. She was gone before I woke up and left me a note that she’d be by later with a new recipe for me to try. But I didn’t realize her dad would also be there, or that we would be the topic of conversation. But I guess I should’ve expected that. I’m just not used to parents interfering. I mean, my mom cares, but she’s not one to make a fuss. And Victoria’s parents were barely around. Nobody ever cared or questioned anything we did.
“Breakfast’s already over?”
“Nah,” Tristan says, shaking his head. “They’re still at the house, eating and gossiping. I overheard Lexi asking her sister about what she walked in on as I was walking out the door… Figured I must’ve misunderstood, because the last I heard, you promised to bring her home and take care of her.” Tristan tilts his head to the side slightly. “Wasn’t aware taking care of her meant almost sleeping with her.”
I stifle a groan. “Nothing happened.”
“Yeah, because Lexi and I showed up,” Alec points out.
“Good job, Son,” Mason says, patting him on the shoulder.
“Look, I get it,” I tell them. “You guys are all protective of Georgia, but I’m not the bad guy here. I didn’t plan for this to happen, but when she said she planned to go back to that club to find the perfect guy—”
“The fuck?” Mason hisses at the same time Tristan barks out, “Like hell.”
“Exactly!” I throw my hands up in the air. “Anyway, she said that shit and it just happened. I kissed her, but nothing more than that happened.” Not much anyway…
“So, you kissed her to stop her from going out?” Tristan eyes me accusingly.
“What? No. Don’t twist my words.” I hit Tristan with a pointed look. Georgia’s father or not, I won’t be accused of shit that isn’t true. “I like her, and when she said that shit, it made me admit it.”
“So what exactly are you two?” Mason asks.
“Dad!” Georgia yells. “I knew it!” She stomps up the station’s driveway, and I can’t help but smile. She’s dressed in light blue skinny jeans that show off her sexy curves and a thin pink tank top. White Vans on her feet. Her hair is straightened, and she’s wearing a little bit of makeup. Not a lot, but enough to make her emerald eyes pop and her lips look all silky and kissable. And I would totally kiss her, if it weren’t for the scary way she’s glaring at her dad as she stalks toward us.
“Georgia, honey, what are you doing here?” Tristan asks, his voice now soft. I’ve been around Georgia and Lexi long enough to know they have their dad wrapped around their fingers.
“The second the door closed, I knew where you were going!” She steps in front of me and turns around to face her dad. I can’t see her facial expression since I’m now standing behind her, but I can see the way her arms cross over her chest and hear her humph in aggravation.
“Georgia, why don’t you just let the men talk?” Mason says.
“Excuse me?” Georgia shrieks, making me snort out a laugh. Is he crazy? “This is my business, not any of yours.”
“Well, it’s kind of mine, too,” I point out playfully, placing a reassuring hand on her hip and ignoring the way all three guys glare down at the gesture.
“Mine and Chase’s,” she corrects, glancing back at me with a soft smile. My stomach knots and it takes everything in me not to crush my mouth to hers right this second.
“You were drugged a few days ago,” Tristan says, his eyes darting between Georgia and me. “You can’t blame me for wanting to protect you.”
“I get that,” Georgia says. “And I appreciate your concern, but maybe next time talk to me.”
Tristan nods and Georgia hugs him and then Mason. Lastly, she hugs Alec. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“I don’t care if we work together, or that he’s my friend,” he says to her, making sure I can hear. “If he hurts you—”
“Then I get hurt,” she says. “I won’t allow it to affect your friendship. I know Chase’s past, but I believe him when he says I’m his future.” Fuck, and there she goes again, squeezing the hell out of my heart.
Alec looks like he wants to argue but instead nods. “All right.” He hugs her again. “I need to get going on my chores.” He hugs his stepdad and shakes Tristan’s hand before disappearing inside.
“I’ve got my eye on you,” Mason says, moving his pointer and middle finger back and forth between him and me. “Treat my goddaughter right.”
“Uncle Mason,” Georgia groans.
Mason pops his palms up in surrender.
“Let’s do dinner soon,” Tristan says, extending his hand out for me to take. “I’ve gotten to know a little about you as my daughter’s roommate, but I’d like to get to know you now as her…”
“Friend,” Georgia says before I can answer. “We’re friends, Dad.” Like hell we’re just friends, I think but don’t say out loud. She probably doesn’t want her dad to give her a hard time, but we’ll definitely be clearing that shit up when we’re alone and I’m not at work. Georgia and I are more than friends. We might be in the early stages of this relationship, but she’s mine.
“Let me know when you want to get together and I’m there,” I tell him, shaking his hand.
Once he�
�s gone, Georgia sighs. “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about.” I tug on the front of her tank so she’s forced to come closer. “You have a lot of people who care about you.”
“I do,” she says. “I better get going…”
“Yeah.” I cup the side of her face and she looks up at me. “But first, I need to do this…” I dip down and capture her bottom lip with my own, then her top. She moans into my mouth, parting her lips slightly, and I push my tongue inside, quickly tasting her, before pulling back.
When I open my eyes, hers are still closed. I press one more soft kiss to her perfect mouth and then her eyes flutter open. “I really like kissing you,” she admits.
“I really like kissing you too.” I tuck a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear. I need to get inside, but fuck it’s hard to let go of her.
“I better go,” she says.
“Yeah,” I reluctantly agree. “I’ll see you later with dinner, right?” I couldn’t give a fuck about the food. I just want an excuse to see her.
“Definitely.”
After I watch her get into her massive truck and take off, I head into the station. The guys are all standing around bullshitting, but when they see me, like the assholes they are, they start hooting and hollering.
“So, it’s true?” Luke asks. “Is Mr. Manwhore officially a one-woman man?”
I can see Alec standing in the corner, staring at me and waiting for my reply. I look over at him and our eyes meet. “Yeah, as far as I’m concerned, I’m off the market.”
The guys all cheer and laugh—everyone except Alec—but I don’t take it personal. Just like I told Georgia, actions speak louder than words. Once Alec sees through my actions how serious I am about Georgia, he’ll come around.
Georgia
Chase: I have to stay late for a meeting. When I get home I was thinking we could do something.
Me: Sounds good.
“Who are you texting with?” Lexi asks, a sly smirk on her lips. “Your boyfriend?” She scoops a bit of oatmeal up and feeds it to Abigail, who opens her mouth like a cute little birdy.
I was surprised to find Lexi, with Abigail on her hip and breakfast in her hand, standing on my doorstep first thing this morning. But since I’m always down for spending time with my sister and niece, it was a pleasant surprise.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I correct her, popping a piece of blueberry muffin into my mouth. “We’re just… talking… hanging out,” I say, hoping I come across nonchalant. The truth is, I don’t know what we are, and I don’t want to get hurt thinking we’re more while Chase is assuming we’re less.
“Really? Does he know that?” She swipes up on her phone and types something quickly, then turns it around.
I stare at her screen to see what she’s showing me, but I’m not sure what I’m looking at. “Is that his profile pic?” I look at a smiling Chase, dressed in his work uniform. His arms are crossed over his chest and his muscular forearms are bulging slightly. He’s so damn sexy without even trying.
“Georgia, focus,” Lexi says. “Yes, it’s his profile picture and yours.” I realize then, my picture is next to his. “He updated his status this morning, putting that he’s in a relationship with you.” Her eyes go wide. “Nothing says more serious than making it Facebook official.”
I crack up laughing. “Does anyone even go on Facebook anymore?”
Lexi groans. “I don’t know. Who cares. The point is he did, and when he did, he publicly announced that he’s in a relationship with you. Didn’t you get the notification?”
“I don’t even have the app on my phone. I only go on it to see the photos Grandma and Grandpa post while they’re traveling.”
Lexi rolls her eyes and feeds Abigail another bite of her food. “Well, everyone saw this. Mom… Dad… All your guys’ friends and family.”
My heart pitter-patters at the thought. When I was dating Robert, I could barely get him to take me to a work function. Yet, Chase just announced to the entire Facebook population that he’s in a relationship with me.
“I see that look on your face.” She points an oatmeal-covered spoon at me. “You’ve totally fallen for him.”
I nod, not even wanting to deny it. “I have, Lex. I mean, it’s too soon, but…”
“Time doesn’t determine anything. Look how quickly Alec and I got married once we finally gave in to our feelings.”
They were married within three months, but… “You guys were in love with each other for years and just wouldn’t admit it. Up until recently, I couldn’t stand Chase, and I don’t think he even noticed me.”
Lexi snorts. “Oh, trust me, he noticed you. Alec is super pissed about all this. Apparently Chase wanted to ask you out a long time ago and Alec told him you were off-limits.”
“What?” I shriek, shocked as hell.
“Yep. He didn’t want to take a chance of you getting hurt by Chase. They got into it yesterday.” She wipes Abigail’s mouth with a wet-wipe, then hands her her sippy cup, helping her take a sip of water from it.
“I don’t want Alec and him to be on bad terms. I’m a big girl and can make my own decisions.”
“That’s what I told him,” Lexi agrees. “Plus, if Chase hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”
She lifts Abigail from her mini high chair I keep here for when they come over and hands her to me. Abigail grins and giggles as I place kisses all over her cheeks. The sound wraps around my heart like the most beautiful rose covered vines.
I’m still giving her kisses when the door opens and Chase walks inside. His eyes meet mine, and those same vines tighten, forcing my heart to clench in my chest.
“Hey,” he says, a small smile splaying across his face.
“Hey,” I say back.
“Oh Lord.” Lexi groans. “I’m getting out of here before I end up pregnant by just being in the same room as you two.”
Chase snorts a laugh, but otherwise ignores her, coming over and giving Abigail a kiss to her cheek and then giving me a kiss to mine. “I’m going to jump in the shower,” he says. My eyes stay trained on his body—on his ass—as he saunters down the hall and disappears into the bathroom.
“Oh em gee,” Lexi says once he’s gone. “You’re totally going to F.U.C.K. him.”
I bark out a laugh. “You know she doesn’t know the word yet, right? And you could just say sex and it wouldn’t be a bad word.”
“Don’t you change the subject.” She wags her finger at me. “What happened to waiting until you’re in love?”
I swallow thickly. “We’re not going to have sex. We’re just getting to know each other.” But even as I say the words, I know if Chase wanted to, I totally would. I want him that badly.
“I gotta go,” she says. “Have fun being in denial and call me afterward so we can talk deets. Bye!” She grabs her diaper bag and her daughter and flits out of the condo, slamming the door behind her.
I clean up the dining room table and kitchen, then head to my room so I can get changed and be ready to go when Chase gets out of the shower.
As I’m walking down the hall, Chase steps out of the steamy bathroom in nothing but a towel hanging low on his hips. He halts in place to let me pass by, but I’m flustered at seeing him half naked and dripping wet, and I stumble over my own two feet. He reaches out to catch me, and I would be thankful that he’s the reason I’m not going to land face first on the wood floor, except when I go to grab a hold of him, my hands slide down his slick chest and abs and tug on his towel. The material drops to the ground, leaving him naked as the day he was born.
“Shit,” he says, grasping my shoulders. “That was close.”
Before I can stop myself, my eyes descend to where the towel was… to where it no longer is, and catch a glimpse of his dick.
He clears his throat and bends to scoop up his towel. My gaze goes back up to his face and he’s sporting a knowing smirk.
Embarrassed, I scurry to my room and clos
e the door, leaning against it once I do. Holy shit, I just saw my first dick… and it was Chase’s. I didn’t stare at it long enough to catch too many details, but the area above it was neatly trimmed and it was dangling between his legs. I drop to the ground and my head bangs slightly against the door. I close my eyes, trying to calm my erratic heart and start counting.
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.
