Chase & Chloe

by Simone Elise

  "It's just I love your hair." Sammie put the clippers down and stared at me in the mirror. "I don't know how you will look with a number one."

  "Well, he can't walk in there looking like himself, can he?" Marc snatched the clippers off her. "I'll do it."

  I wasn't as attached to my hair as Sammie, but, as Marc put the clippers to it, I wondered if Chloe was attached to how I looked, but then it was only hair and it would grow back. It wasn't like I could walk in there looking like my profile picture.

  "Does anyone else think it's funny we’re actually donating money to the police force?" Oliver was looking at the ticket. "Seriously, five and a half grand. All so you can dine with the best of the city."

  I scoffed at that. Best of the city. The police force was just as bad as us. The only difference was, they got away with it. Chloe had failed to mention her family had money. That stepfather of hers was very well off. Lucky for me, money wasn't a problem and something I could easily match.

  The hotel door burst open and Jess came stumbling in, carrying bags and one large, long black one I wasn't keen on. I had to remember why I was doing this.

  “Okay, I got the makeup. Wait a sec, why does Marc have the clippers?" Jess dumped the bags on the penthouse floor. "Seriously, Sammie!"

  "What? I didn't want to be responsible for it!" Sammie pouted, crossing her arms and stepping away from me.

  "Seriously! We are trying to make Chase look like an upstanding citizen, not more of a criminal!" Jess snatched the clippers off Marc. "No offense, Marc, but you will turn him into looking like the most wanted."

  I groaned. "Will someone just shave my head? It's a number one haircut. Just run the clippers over it."

  Jess rolled her eyes and then looked at me in the mirror. "Do you want Chloe running to you or from you?"

  When I didn't answer, a smug expression captured her face.

  "Exactly." She smiled. "Don't worry Chase, you are in safe hands." She looked around the room. "Now."

  Marc grumbled about her and her unwanted opinions, but walked over to the couch.

  My hair was finally coming off. Jess was taking her sweet ass time while doing it.

  ***

  "I look like a wanker."

  I was in a black suit that had a price tag of over ten grand on it and a black shirt with a black tie. Just that alone was enough for me to hate my reflection, but then add the fact the girls had covered my neck tattoos up with makeup, I looked like a…

  "Rich prick. That's what you look like." Marc stood behind me, finishing off what I was just thinking.

  "Seriously, are those gold cufflinks?" Oliver pulled up my arm.

  "Yes, and he has to look the part." Jess whacked Oliver off me. "Now we have to do the one thing I've been kinda dreading mentioning."

  "What?" I turned around, not really seeing how this could get any worse. I looked like a prick with way too much money. While I might have money, I didn't consider myself a prick.

  "Dancing." Jess grinned at me.

  "Like hell." I walked around her. No way was I dancing. Nope. Not happening. Ever. Period. I needed a drink.

  "Chase, how are you planning on getting Chloe by herself?" This time it was my mom speaking.

  I was at the drink cart pouring myself a whiskey and I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know."

  "Dancing would guarantee a one-on-one." Mom walked up to me with a gentle smile. "Come on, I can show you."

  Oliver burst out laughing, which scored him a glare from me.

  "You know I'd say you wouldn't do it." Marc crossed his arms, looking at me smugly. "But I know what you are missing out on if you don't."

  "I might not look like myself, but I assure you Marc, I can still punch you out." I was gripping my glass tighter to the point I was surprised it hadn't cracked.

  "Come on, put that down. Oliver, put some classical music on." Mom waved them out of our way. "Marc, move the coffee table."

  Marc was still busy challenging me with a smug expression. If he knew what was good for him, he would keep his mouth shut. Mom pried the glass from my hand.

  "Come on, Chase. It won't be that bad." Mom put the glass down. Marc had moved the coffee table and the girls were more eager than normal to watch me suffer.

  "I can't dance."

  "That's what I'm going to teach you." Mom smiled at me, and music started playing from Oliver's phone.

  "I'm not doing anything to that." I pointed at Oliver.

  "What? It was the first thing to come up when I typed in classical music. Anyway, you won't have that on your search record on your phone, will you?" Oliver snapped, not impressed.

  "It's classical music. It will be what's playing. Now Chase. If you are man enough to kill someone, surely you are man enough to dance." Mom stepped back, giving me a challenging expression. It matched the expression Marc was giving me earlier although mom wasn't asking for a facial reconstruction.

  I groaned. "Fine, but if anyone, ANYONE, repeats this to Declan, Dan, or Archie, I'll kill them."

  Marc laughed, walking over and picking up my glass of whiskey. "You and I both know Chloe's worth it." He smugly had the guts to say to me. "Or maybe she is still with the wrong brother."

  Okay, that was it. Too bad if I got blood on the suit.

  "Chase, don't start." Mom snapped her fingers at me. "Come on. Here now."

  When I didn't move, Sammie sighed. "Come on, Chase, we won't let it ruin your reputation."

  "How badly do you want Chloe?" Jess added.

  Badly. I snatched my drink from Marc and threw it down. I wouldn't be doing this completely sober.

  "Fine. Let's do it." Geez, I hope all this is worth it. I knew I couldn't just ride in and steal Chloe from her stepfather, but the option of going in guns blazing was more appealing than this.

  ***

  I had never been so out of place. While I might look the part, I didn't feel it. I was being patted down for weapons as we speak, and I couldn't remember the last time I didn't have my holster on and guns.

  The security guard nodded at me, and I moved into the crowded ballroom. I had never been completely surrounded by rich jerks and cops before. Again, I was feeling uncomfortable. I moved through the room, scanning the crowds. People everywhere.

  Like mom had said, they were playing classical music, and there were people on the dance floor, which was as crowded as this room. I had rocked up late. It was after ten. I hoped I hadn't missed her.

  But seeing as her stepfather was somewhat of a legend at these events, I would be surprised if he left early.

  I headed for the open bar, scanning the room. Why did there have to be so many people at this thing? I ordered a drink and looked over my shoulder, and suddenly I was leaning against the bar for a completely different reason.

  It wasn't fair for her to be that stunning. She was wearing a tight red dress with a v- neckline. She didn't realize that the man talking to her was staring directly at her breasts. No, for her to notice that she would have to be looking at him. Her eyes were glued on the ground. My eyes ran down her, and a gut-retching feeling suffocated me. That ankle monitor didn't belong there. She was standing next to a woman who had short-length blonde hair. She might be older than Chloe, but you could tell they were related.

  So, that was her mother.

  I looked around people as they stepped in my way. It took all my self-control not to walk over there and punch the man openly gawking at her. She was mine.

  Come on baby girl, look up.

  I couldn't walk over there and make her look up. Whatever that guy was saying was boring her to death.

  This was frustrating. I was so close, yet so far.

  Just when I was about to give up and walk over there, her head moved up and she was speaking back to the guy. What was she saying? He actually stopped staring at her breasts. He was nodding his head and stepped in front of her.

  Bastard.

  I was walking alon
g the bar, trying to get a view of her again then she stepped into my eyesight.

  She was talking when her eyes flickered over, and that was all I needed.

  Her deep sea-blues were locked with mine. Come on, baby girl. Come here where you belong. I could see the debate in her eyes. She was debating whether to come here or not. I took a sip of my beer and kept my eyes locked on hers.

  Come on baby girl, give in.

  She finished her wine and looked away from me. Her eyes were back on the guy. Why would she defy me? But then I realized she wasn't. She was just making up an excuse to come here. I watched her wave her empty champagne glass and then say something to her mother.

  Her mother nodded her head and was too busy talking to another woman when Chloe parted ways with them. I watched her body sway as she walked towards me, moving through the crowd. She wasn't looking at me as she made her way to the bar.

  I gulped down my beer and turned back to the bar. I watched the bartender notice her as she made her way here. Chloe stood out in a room full of people. It wasn't the dress, it was her.

  "Can I have another sparkling white?" Her voice was soft and low. It could barely be heard over the music but the bartender was leaning in, paying extra special attention. Why did she always attract attention?

  She placed her empty glass next to my beer.

  She was so close I could almost touch her.

  The bartender took her empty and replaced it. "Anything else, miss?"

  "No, thank you." Her fingers wrapped around the stem of the champagne glass.

  I was beginning to think she was going to ignore me when I turned to face her. Her steady eyes were on me, her expression unreadable. Was she angry? She had a right to be angry after what she did for me. Or was she pissed off with how I spoke to her last? Again, she had a right too.

  I should say something to break the ice but with her staring at me, her blue eyes wide and stunning, I was finding myself lost for words. I had so much I wanted to say to her and now nothing. With her beautiful face confronting me, I was speechless.

  Then her cold expression broke.

  "Nice haircut." A smile spread across her lips. I thought she was stunning before, but her smile knocked me back.

  I laughed nervously and nodded, running my hand over my head. I still wasn't used to having no hair. "Jess did it."

  She laughed and it was music to my ears. The laughter lit up her eyes, and she sparkled.

  "Well, lucky enough, you pull it off." She picked up her drink and turned into me. She tilted her head up, and that's when I saw it.

  I didn't stop myself. I reached out and ran my knuckles down the side of her face.

  "So, it's already started?" I was glaring, but not at her, no, at the direction of her mother. How could she be with a man that hit her daughter? I looked back at her, noticing her eyes were on the floor again.

  "It's not that bad."

  "It's bullshit, that’s what it is." I would put a stop it. Clearly I hadn't taught Joe what happens when he hurts someone I love. I would make sure this stopped.

  "You can't do anything, Chase." Her words sliced through my plans. Her eyes came up off the floor and the laughter was completely gone. That serious expression from before was back on her face. It didn't suit her. "It will get better."

  I scoffed. "How?"

  "I'll stay out of his way."

  "Has that worked before?" I challenged her and her stupid idea. "And for six years?"

  She chewed on her bottom lip and then pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "You shouldn't be here, Chase."

  "Yet here I am."

  "Not your smartest move."

  "When it comes to you, I guess I don't think smart." It was true. When it came to her, I was bloody hopeless and I was also bloody stupid which had me in this stupid expensive suit, with makeup over my neck tattoos. If I had seen a guy do this for a girl, I would have laughed.

  She let out a low breath. "I have to get back."

  I looked over at her mother, she still seemed busy. "I don't think you're being watched."

  "No, but I will be missed." She reached for her glass, her eyes running down me. "You look better with your tattoos." A smile captured her face. "You're not you without them. Bye Chase."

  She turned to walk away back to the party she was with but I wasn't ready for our goodbye. My hand wrapped around her hand and I pulled her back and I found myself saying something I promised myself I wouldn't say, no matter how desperate I got.

  "Dance with me."

  My eyes were on her back and her hand was frozen in mine. She didn't pull away. While I was holding on to her, I was really clinging to the last chance to be with her. I wanted more time. I wanted to come up with a solution for this situation and somehow, just touching her had me craving her more.

  Her fingers locked with mine and she turned, staring down at our hands. Her eyes slowly drifted up from my hand, up my arm, and then finally meeting my eyes.

  "You will actually dance?"

  "Baby girl, I'd do a lot more than just dance if it meant I had more time with you."

  I pulled on her hand and she walked in my shadow as we headed for the dance floor, weaving in and out of the crowd. I knew her stepfather was somewhere in this room, so I guided us into the middle of the dance floor through the dancing couples.

  The crowd was thick and, as uncomfortable as I was, it was numbed by the fact that I'd get to touch her.

  "Do you even know how to dance?"

  No. I had an hour lesson with mom. I was totally unprepared for this. She most likely had been dancing since she was little. Instead of admitting I was out of my league, I turned around to face her. Pulling her closer, I put my hand on her bare lower back. Time to put my one lesson to work.

  Just touching her naked skin had my skin crawling with desire. I pulled her in closer to me, and the thin gap that was between us was gone. I took her hand and we slowly swayed to the music.

  Her eyes lit up with amazement, and she looked up at me as if she had witnessed a miracle.

  "So you can dance."

  "Poorly," I admitted. I could tell by the way she moved that she had experience. Another new thing I learned about her.

  "A biker that can dance. I didn't know that was possible." Her hand stilled on my shoulder. "Then again, you are full of surprises."

  "So are you. What you did for me…"

  "It was nothing."

  "It's costing you six years, Chloe. That's not nothing." My hand left her back as I pushed her blonde hair from the side of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "I'll somehow make this right." My hand then ran down her bare back until it stopped on her lower back.

  "Six years is nothing compared to life which is what you would have got." Her hands locked around my neck. "You don't owe me anything."

  I owed her everything.

  Her eyes flashed to my lips, and I knew what she was asking for. She then looked me in the eyes, and they were painted with lust. I let go of her hand and ran my hands down her sides, gripping her. Her arms locked around my neck, pulling my head down.

  Her lips were soft, moist and tasted of wine. My grip on her tightened and I wanted more. As her tongue slipped into my mouth, I had to remind myself we were in a crowded room and somewhere, her stepfather was here.

  As much as it killed me, I pulled away and gripped her hand, dragging her through the dance floor. She was nearly half running to keep up with my pace.

  I pushed the emergency door open, not even caring if an alarm went off. I had her back in my arms before the door closed and then my lips were back where they belonged – on her. I kissed her hard, as if I'd never get to again.

  Her arms wrapped around my neck. Gripping her hips, I lifted her legs around my waist and backed her against a wall.

  Then she was pinned between me and the wall. This is how I liked her. All mine.

  She bit my bottom lip, making my mouth open up.
Her tongue slipped in while her hands gripped my face, holding me in place. I couldn't take my hands off her, touching her every curve. The feel of her breasts against me fired my passion.

  She moaned in my mouth. I pulled away and kissed down her neck slowly, my hand still running up and down her body, feeling every inch.

  "Chase."

  I kissed her along her collarbone and even though she was tapping on my shoulder, I didn't stop.

  "Chase, you have to stop." She was breathless and she had me completely under her spell. "Chase, stop. Please." She literally groaned.

  "Why?" The only reason I was pulling away from her right now was because she was asking me to.

  "I have to go. They'll be looking for me. My flight leaves soon. I guess it is a good thing we are a block from the airport.."

  This was it? Having her so close, feeling every inch of her body, and now being told she was leaving? I wouldn't let her go. I couldn't let her go. She had got inside me. She consumed me and I was desperate to keep her; to have her.

  "Run with me? Just run away with me." I cupped the side of her face, holding her face close to mine while still having her pinned against the wall. "Screw the probation, I'll protect you."

  "I can't." She frowned, and her fingers ran down the side of my face. "But I would if I could. I would run with you." She unlocked her legs from around me and slid down. "I have to go."

  My hands cupped her face, bringing it back to mine, kissing her softly. Her hands wrapped around mine, and she pried them from her face.

  The look in her eyes sent cold ice through my blood. It was as if I was breaking her heart.

  "You actually have a good family, Chase. Look after them." She held my hand while backing away from me towards the door. Watching the tears slide down her cheeks pulled at me.

  "This isn't goodbye." I shook my head, not accepting it. I wasn't about to let the only woman I fell in love with walk away from me.

  "Yeah it is, Chase. I won't ever see you again." Her hand was on the door.

  What do I do? Something. I needed to do something. I couldn't let her fly away with that monster.

  "Six years isn't forever," I forced out. "I will come for you."