Chase & Chloe

by Simone Elise

  She was stunning.

  "I thought you had left." I let go of the door handle and stared at her.

  A guilty expression crossed her face as she walked towards me. "I was going to."

  "But?"

  "It didn't feel right." She stopped in the living room and glanced at the fire. "Sorry about that, I don't know how to keep a fire going."

  So, she was going to leave but she didn't. That had to mean something. She must like me somewhat to not go. Didn't she?

  I noticed too that she had put makeup over her bruise.

  "It's just a fire. I can get it going again." I moved around her and went to the fireplace.

  "Chase?"

  "Yeah?"

  "I'm sorry about last night too."

  I put the wood in the fire and turned to face her. "What about?"

  She looked down at the floor. "You know, nearly kissing you. I know that you are just helping me out and that's it. I guess I should have just kept to myself."

  So, she thought that last night was all on her? I'm sure I was the one taking her top off.

  "I'm the one who took it too far." I dipped my head, trying to make eye contact with her, but she was hell bent on staring at the ground.

  She was young and I should have known better. She would have regretted it this morning if she kissed or did what I had planned on doing to her.

  "Chloe?"

  Her eyes bounced up. Those sea-blue eyes stared through me.

  "We'll forget it ever happened. Okay?" Did I want to forget it? No. Just thinking about it stirred something in me. The feeling of lust and that dress she was wearing wasn't helping any.

  Her head tilted to the left as she watched me. "Is that what you want?" She shook her head and scoffed. "I guess you get this all the time. What am I, just one of the many? Actually, don't answer that."

  "Chloe…"

  "Don't." She cut me off. "I have embarrassed myself enough. It won't happen again. Now, I'll be in my bedroom if you need me."

  She turned and walked back up the hall. She hadn't given me a chance to explain or even defend myself. Sure, I had been with women, but I had never felt this way about a woman before, wanting to protect her and wanting her so bad to gasp my name as I took her. She might be young, but she was doing deadly things to my body.

  Chloe's Point of View

  I was so stupid, so unbelievably stupid. I had stayed in the bedroom all day. I hadn't eaten breakfast, lunch, and now I couldn't go to bed without eating something for dinner.

  I hovered around the bedroom door, building up the courage to open it and get something to eat.

  I opened the door, only to come face to face with Chase. He had his fist up and it looked like he was about to knock.

  "Hey." I exhaled.

  The corner of his lips twitched into a smile, but it didn't meet his eyes. "I was just coming to get you for dinner."

  "And I was just coming out for something to eat." I felt stupid again.

  "Well, they have sent us a roast over, so come on." Chase turned and walked back the way he came. I slowly followed then the smell hit me. God, it smelled amazing.

  I noticed the large dining table had two places set, and I wondered if he had set them. The two plates full of hot food looked so good.

  "So, did you cook this?" I looked at the tidy kitchen.

  "No, mom did." Chase pulled a chair out for me, and I couldn't help but smile at how nice he really is.

  "So, are they all having roast?"

  "Yep."

  "You could have eaten with them." I felt bad getting in the way of a family dinner.

  "Well, I thought you must be hungry since you haven't eaten all day." The disapproval in his voice was clear. "And I knew you would feel uncomfortable eating in front of them all. We can be overwhelming to new people."

  He was so sweet. I just stared at him in amazement, and it wasn't until he took his seat that I spoke again.

  "Thank you." I was thankful for the meal, for him blowing off his family and for making sure I ate something. "You really didn't need to go to this much trouble."

  He poured me a glass of wine. I hadn't drunk wine with dinner ever. My stepfather was the only one allowed to drink in our house.

  "You're welcome, Chloe." His words were warm and from the heart. I picked up my knife and fork and began cutting the meat.

  "So, what did you do this afternoon? After I yelled at you." I asked, feeling guilty.

  "You didn't yell at me." He sipped his wine, watching me. "You just said what you thought... which is wrong, by the way."

  "How so?" I said before chewing on a piece of roast. God, it was amazing.

  "I've never had a serious relationship. You were right about that. I don't go from girl to girl, but I'm no saint either."

  "So, you have never had a girlfriend?" I didn't believe that.

  "No." He cut up his meat, and I wanted him to look up so I could stare into those green eyes of his. "How about you?" This time he did look up, and our eyes locked with each other's.

  "I don't trust men." I didn't see the point in lying to him. "Plus my stepfather and mother would never have it."

  "Maybe you haven't met the right one yet."

  "Men all want the same thing. Use you one day, hit you the next, and leave the following."

  "You shouldn't believe that all men are like that." Chase's eyes reflected honesty. "I'd never hurt you."

  I pointed to my left cheek. "That is from someone who should have never hurt me." I stood up, lifting up the dress so he could see my left side. "That is also from someone that should never hurt me."

  Before I could pull my dress back down, he was pulling me into his lap running a hand down the bruise.

  "I'm sure whoever did this to you will get what they deserve."

  I felt safe in his arms, so I didn't pull away. I didn't climb off his lap and I didn't pull my dress down. Instead, I found myself throwing an arm around his neck and twisted into him.

  "My stepfather is a well-protected man. He won't ever get what is coming to him but I'll live with that." I looked into his eyes. "I should really let you eat your food." I went to move, but his hand went to my thigh, keeping me in place.

  "Trust me. I'm enjoying this much more." He then planted a small kiss on my bare arm, causing shivers to run down my spine. Why did his touch have such an effect on me?

  "But your food will get cold," I blew out, unable to keep my breathing steady or my heart from pounding outside my chest.

  He planted another kiss on my arm and then with ease, he lifted me up and put me back down, so I was straddling him. My dress was still up, and my underwear rubbed against his groin.

  My fingers ran through his hair and then down his neck until they locked together behind his head.

  "Your sisters or brothers might come in," I blew out, just below a whisper against his lips.

  "I locked the door." His hands ran down my sides until he reached my hips, where they stilled.

  I cracked a smirk. "Thinking ahead?"

  "Just didn't want to get interrupted by anyone again."

  So, no one was going to interrupt us and we had this whole house to ourselves and Chase had a passionate look in his eyes, like he was losing his self-control. I had already lost my self-control as I leaned forward, my lips so close to his. What would he taste like? I had only been kissed once and it was behind the canteen in high school, and I didn't feel like this.

  I didn't feel like my stomach was in a tight knot. I didn't feel the heat between my legs, wanting more. I had never felt the desire to connect with another person like this.

  "Chloe?" His hot breath swirled across my lips.

  "Yes?"

  "Will you regret this?"

  Would I? I was sure I had been saved last night; now it was all I wanted.

  I leaned forward, silencing him with my lips. I was soft and gentle, and it had only been a peck.


  "No," I said.

  His eyes were painted with lust as he stood up, holding me by my thighs, and I linked my legs behind his back. He drove forward, his lips smashing against mine. It was hot and passionate and lived up to everything I was expecting.

  I kissed back with just as much force and ran my hands over his tight shoulders.

  He balanced me with one hand while the other cupped my face, keeping me still.

  Then there was banging on the door. I withdrew from kissing him, taking in a deep breath. "You should get that," I stuttered, out of breath.

  "Fuck no." He leaned forward, but I turned my head so his lips landed on my cheek.

  "Really, Chase, it could be important. They haven't stopped banging."

  He groaned but lowered me to the floor. I heard him grumbling something under his breath as he stormed across the room to the front door.

  "What!" He opened it. I could see Sammie slightly from here.

  "It's mom, she's passed out. We called the ambulance, but she isn't coming to." Sammie rushed the words out, panicking.

  I pulled my dress down and grabbed Chase's sweater off the couch. I was at the door just as fast.

  "When did you call the ambulance?" I asked while Chase just stood there, frozen.

  "About ten minutes ago, but everyone always gets lost on the property." She looked at me. Her skin was very pale and she looked like she was about to pass out.

  "Someone should go and wait for them at the gate. In fact Sammie, you go do that and we will go to the house." My hand slid into Chase's. "Chase, we have to go." I handed him his sweater.

  "Right." He seemed to snap back to it, taking the sweater and letting go of my hand. He slid it on and then reached for my hand again. We were walking down the porch steps when he stopped.

  "You okay, Sammie?" He was worried about his sister, who was about to jump on his motorbike to meet the ambulance at the gate.

  "I'll be better when they get here. Jess will fill you in on what happened." Sammie kicked the bike to life and took off.

  Chase watched her disappear into the trees up the small road.

  "Come on Chase, we need to get to your mom." I pulled on his hand and he nodded his head.

  "This way." He took off up a dirt path and I half ran to keep up with him. I guess this meant I was about to meet the family - all of them. I swallowed hard at that.

  Chapter 6

  Alberts Hospital was one of the best hospitals in the state. It was a half hour drive from Cardigan. I hadn't been introduced to his brothers yet, as we were the first to arrive at the hospital and now, well, now I just felt out of place.

  Chase's brothers were here and, apart from giving me a once over, they all asked Chase the same question, how's mom, and the answer was, we don't know.

  We knew the ambulance had gotten here. We knew she was in the hospital. Chase was pacing, and the other five brothers were walking around the waiting room. I, however, was sitting on a cold plastic seat, wishing I could do something other than say that she is in the best hands.

  "That's it, I'm fucking demanding answers." Chase stopped pacing. "It's been two hours!"

  "Sometimes it takes that long." I said. "They know we are here and I'm sure they will come with news soon." I kept my voice calm and reassuring.

  "Fuck that, we want answers now." One of the brothers walked over to us. "Where are Sammie and Jess?"

  "Canteen." I answered for him.

  "Of course they could eat at a time like this," said another brother.

  I was overwhelmed by how good-looking Chase's brothers were. Each had individual looks that set them apart from the rest, but they all had those green eyes.

  "How about I go?" I said. Every face in the waiting room was on me.

  "And how are you going to get answers?" This came from Marc.

  "I'm not as worked up as you lot. They might…" I shut my mouth as I stared out of the waiting room, seeing one of the last people I expected to see.

  I could take this as an opportunity.

  "I'll be right back," I said and moved around the lot of them and out the waiting room to the nurses’ desk, where I had seen Max.

  "Keeping everyone in line, Doctor Kingly?" I asked behind him.

  He turned around with a confused look before he spotted me, and immediate delight spread across his face.

  "Chloe!" He engulfed me in a hug, leaving his clipboard on the bench.

  "Don't break any ribs," I muttered as we broke apart.

  "What are you doing here? So far away from home? Are your parents here?"

  Awkward questions came first, it seemed.

  "I'm here with some friends. I was actually hoping you could help them." I pointed to the waiting room.

  Max nodded his head and followed me back into the waiting room.

  My eyes landed on Chase's as soon as I entered, and fury was covering his face. He was angry? With who? And why? But, by the look in his eyes, it was all directed at me.

  "Um…everyone, this Doctor Kingly, he is an attending doctor." The silence in the room was deadly. "We were hoping that you could check on their mother for us. Her name is Alice, last name..." I looked back at Chase. I didn't know his last name.

  "McKenzie." Chase answered.

  "She came by ambulance about two hours ago and we haven't heard anything," I added.

  Max looked at me, then back at Chase. Chase had his sweater rolled up to his elbows, showing off his arm tattoos and looking like a big scary monster. His brothers were just as threatening.

  "I'll look into it. Chloe, if you would come with me for a minute." Max smiled at them, but I knew he had a million questions and they were all directed at me.

  "I'll be back," I said to Chase and followed Max out.

  "Okay, what's going on?" Max stopped just outside the waiting room, and I knew Chase would be able to hear.

  The clear glass windows weren't helping the situation. Not only would he be able to hear me, he could see me too. Maybe that's why he was so mad? He saw me hug Max and I didn't push him away.

  "I'm here with friends, like I said."

  "Do your parents know you are hanging out with those types of friends?" Max crossed his arms.

  Max and I were meant to get married. Our parents had planned it. He was five years older than me, and we never wanted that but, once I turned eighteen, it was all they could talk about.

  "I left." I admitted. "Stole his car and drove to Cardigan, which is where I met Chase."

  "So, these people are strangers!"

  "No. I know Chase." I crossed my arms. "And you don't get a say on who I hang out with; you just have to accept that."

  "I asked you to come with me but you wouldn't. Now I find you months later with a bunch of tattooed-looking bikers!" Max's hand reached out and cupped my cheek. "Did your Chase do this to you?"

  The bruise.

  "No." I swiped his hand off my face. "Could you just do your job and find out about his mother?"

  "I will, but not for them, for you." Max crossed his arms. "Are you safe with them?"

  "Safer with them than at home." I tilted my head up to stare Max in the eyes. "You can't tell my parents that you saw me."

  "Why?"

  "Because I'm planning on them never knowing where I live."

  "So, you are living with this Chase fellow?"

  "No."

  "So what then? You're his fling?"

  "No."

  "Then what is it?"

  I groaned. Max always had a need to know every detail. "He's a friend, a good friend so if you could just please find out about his mom."

  "Okay. Do you want to come with me, or do you want to wait with this Chase guy?"

  "I'll wait. I don't want to get in the way." I uncrossed my arms. "Thanks Max."

  "Anything for you, Chloe. You know that." He began to walk away when I found myself with my own question.

  "Max?"

  "Y
ep." He turned back.

  "How did you end up at Alberts Hospital? I thought you were going to the States."

  That was the plan at Christmas, which was the last time I saw him. He was moving overseas and asked for me to come. I said no and then history was history.

  "Plans change." A smile graced his lips.

  "So, what's her name?" I added, knowing him well enough.

  "Andy."

  I nodded my head. "I'm happy for you."

  "Yeah, well, we will see how it goes. I'll go check on Alice McKenzie."

  "Thank you!" I waved at him, and then walked back into the waiting room. Well, if I thought eyes were on me before, I was wrong - now they were on me.

  I stood frozen in the doorway as Chase and his threatening-looking brothers stared at me.

  "Max has gone to find out about your mother." I stuttered out and then looked from pair of eyes to eyes until I reached Chase's. "He's a good doctor. I'm sure if he wasn't caring for your mom, he will be now."

  "What's your name?" One of the brothers stepped out from the rest. He looked younger than the others.

  "Everyone, this is Chloe." Chase introduced me. "Chloe, these are my brothers, Oliver, Dan, Declan, Archie and Marc."

  "Hi." I stood awkwardly in front of them.

  "Thanks for helping, Chloe." Oliver smiled at me.

  I nodded my head and then took a plastic seat. Sitting was better than standing because my legs felt like they were going to fold under.

  "So, how do you know him?" A brother I believed to be Dan asked. He stood in front of me, crossed arms and an unwelcoming look on his face.

  "Family friend," I muttered.

  "I thought you said she was on the run from her family." Dan cocked his neck in Chase's direction. So they did know about me. Great. I wondered how much Chase had told them.

  I looked up from my shoes to look at Chase. He was staring at me. His green eyes were still holding anger, and I knew it had to do with me hugging Max.

  So I decided the best decision to do was to open up more.

  "Doctor Kingly and I grew up together. His mother was friends with mine. He is older than me though. Last time I saw him, he was heading overseas until he met a girl and decided to stay." I kept eye contact with Chase. "We have only ever been good friends."