Schooled in Love

by Emma Nichols

  “This will change us Paige.” He said in a hoarse tone. “Are you sure?”

  She looked at him in disbelief. “You’re asking me this now?”

  “Yes. My timing sucks.” Chase chuckled the sobered. “But I want there to be no misunderstandings.”

  Paige smiled. “I want this. Want us.” She pinched his side. “And if you ever walk away from a conversation as you did today I will hunt you down and make you sorry. We clear.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Chase stared into her eyes. “You know you’re my one and only right.”

  She inhaled and nodded. “You are that for me too.”

  “Good.” He smiled. “We’ll figure out the secondary stuff like dating after.”

  “Stop talking and take me.” She scowled. “Have me all hot and bothered then want to talk. Is this how our relationship will be?”

  “It’s already that way.” Chase winked. “I get you all bothered with something or other I did then when I want to discuss you want to get to the good stuff. Same thing but this time that is sex.” Chase positioned himself then stroked into her. “You’re so tight. I’m already thinking how good make up sex will be.”

  “You’re already plotting to fight with me to have make up sex.” She laughed then moaned. “You are a weird man, Chase.”

  “I know. Your man.” He kissed her softly then. “My woman.”

  “You sound so cave man.”

  “Hmmm…I could draw a painting with you and I like that.” Chase eyes got the gleam he did when he wanted to create.

  Paige tightened around him and he inhaled. His eyes darkened even more. She smiled pleased to see that. He wasn’t about to leave her in bed and go draw. Chase thrust then again. Paige held on as he moved taking her. She dug her nails into his side and he hissed and increased his movements. She held him and moaned as he moved. Countering his movements, she kissed him as they moved together.

  “Paige.” He moaned.

  Chase’s words spurred her on. She wrapped her legs around him and whimpered as the angle of his taking changed. Holding him she watched his eyes as he focused on her. She always thought that Chase’s focus when he worked was something to see. Now that focus was on her and it left her breathless.

  “Chase…please. More.” She rambled and held on.

  Warmth filled her belly, and she arched. Chase pushed deeper into her and then she stiffened as she came. He shook as he joined her. Paige kissed him and Chase returned it as he moved then went still as he shook under the force of his release. He slumped over her breathing heavy. Paige also tried to catch her breath. She rubbed her hands along his sweat-slick sides.

  “Yeah, we so need to have a fight to try make up sex.” Chase snickered.

  “You are a nut.” She kissed him on the nose.

  “You’re a nut.” Chase snuggled against her.

  He yawned then rolled off and disposed of the condom. Paige went to turn to her side but Chase stopped her. He laid on her again then stared down at her.

  “My spot.” He grinned.

  “So, I’m your bed now.”

  “Yep.” He snuggled down. “Hush I want a nap.”

  Paige pinched him on the side. He flinched then grumbled words that she didn’t catch. She didn’t ask him to say again. Chase breath deepened, and he went to sleep. Paige stifled a laugh. The man could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. She blinked and tiredness filled her.

  * * *

  Waking Paige didn’t know what had made her. She stretched and realized that Chase was no longer over her. She blinked and turned her head. She frowned when she didn’t see him. She sat up and not seeing him she frowned. Sliding out of the bed she went toward the living room. She grabbed a robe from the back of the chair and slid into it before continuing on.

  Immediately as she stepped into the living area, she spotted him. Chase was on the couch with his sketch pad. She turned to go back to bed.

  “Join me.” Chase called.

  Paige glanced at him startled. She thought he was lost in creating. She went to him and he held out his hand. She took it and he pulled her down to his side. Paige glimpsed the sketch and laughed.

  “Cave man and Cave woman featuring us.”

  “Yeah. You inspired me.” He kissed her gently. “Let me finish this then…”

  She smiled at the inferred. Paige snuggled against him. She yawned.

  “Lay down.”

  She slid down and laid on the couch. Chase kissed her on the forehead. She blinked.

  She woke violently aroused.

  Paige arched and groaned. “Chase.”

  She held his head as he kissed along her inner thighs. Chase moved deeper and licked her. She arched under him and moaned. Chase lifted his head and those grey eyes were possessive.

  “Mine.”

  She whimpered. Yes, she was fine with being his.

  Chase glanced at Paige. She winked and went back to her conversation with Irving Buchanan, who had been part of the Gamers Clique at their high school. With them was Walter Haynes III, who’d went to St. Martin’s Academy, the rival high school and from what Chase knew had been a jock. Walter was there for this own high school reunion. St. Martin’s Academy like Linwood High—his alma mater—was having a get together here at The Leaning Pine. They were on the deck while Chase and his classmates were in the private party room.

  There are many activities planned for the weekend, but Chase was willing to forgo them to spend the time with Paige. They're moving their relationship from friendship to a couple was so new. The last few days had been wonderful. Paige was the one who wouldn’t hear of him missing the events planned. Now here it was Friday night at the cocktail party and with more to come. He looked around at the green and gold decorations then the lion mascot and smiled.

  “It’s weird to be back here.” A man said coming up to join him.

  Chase looked at the tall man with the blond hair brown eyes and tried to place him. The man lowered his head and pushed his hair behind his ear and he recognized that gesture.

  “Grady Cox.” Chase studied him.

  Grady lanky frame had changed to a medium build.

  Grady smiled. “Chase.” He chuckled. “I know I changed a lot. But you, you’re still the same.”

  They shook hands. Chase smiled at the man who had been a friend in high school. They had shared many conversations, and he had been there when things had been rough with his mom.

  “How’s your crazy brothers doing?” Grady looked around. “Did they come?”

  “Yes. They are around here somewhere.” Chase didn’t see them at the moment. “How’s things going at the newspaper?”

  Grady was the editor of a newspaper in the small town in Maryland where he lived.

  “Good. Not much action but good.” Grady rolled his eyes then laughed. “This weekend is the most exciting I’ve had for a while. I’m going to the barbeque tomorrow. Are you?”

  “Yeah. Looking forward to some water sports.” Chase chuckled then said, “Are you going to the prom recreation?”

  “I can’t believe they are doing that. Yeah, I know the gym flooded, so we had to have prom on the football field but to do another.” Grady laughed, “Someone really wanted to memorable prom.”

  “Technically that was a memorable one.” Chase shook his head. “Man, my date was pissed about her shoes.”

  “Not as mad as the coach when he saw the football field.”

  They snickered.

  “I’m going.” Grady shrugged. “Dateless since I came to the reunion alone.”

  “I came with an f—" Chase paused then smiled. “My girlfriend.”

  It was the first time he had said the words, and it felt so right. With that thought, Chase looked at Paige. She was looking at him and waved. He returned the gesture. The sound of music starting made him glance toward the small dance area. He turned back to Grady.

  “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Grady nodded. Chase strode toward her. Paige smile wide
ned. She looked at him and in her eyes, he saw his future.

  “Irving.” He shook his hand. “Walter.” He did the same with the other man. “Nice to see you both. Can I steal Paige away?”

  “Only if you promise to bring her back.” Irving said. “She’s fun to talk with. Her eyes don’t glaze over like Walter here when I talk tech.” He laughed.

  “I will.” Chase held out his hand.

  Paige took it and looked at the men. “I’ll be back.”

  They nodded. Chase led her to the dance floor. He turned and Paige came into his arms. Chase stifled a moan at the feel of her against him. Chase tried to recall if there was some place private they could go to be alone for a little while.

  “No, we can’t find a private place for a quickie.” Paige said softly.

  “How’d you know I was thinking that?” He laughed.

  “The look in your eye.” She swayed, with him. “That mischievous I’m about to get you naked look.”

  “Ahhh…I have a look, do I?”

  “Yep.” She pressed against him.

  Chase couldn’t dispute that or what she said. He had planned to find some place to have a quickie. They danced, and he noted others coming onto the floor. His brother, Hunter and Dustin, looked mighty close. It had to be very recent because the times they had spent with them the last few days the men hadn’t seemed so intimate. He looked at Paige.

  “So, there is this prom thing.”

  “I know.” Paige smiled at him a wicked look in her eyes. “Brought this sexy dress that will make you want to find someplace for a quickie.”

  “Really.” Chase thought about it. “Hell, I’m glad we’re together already or I’d have been ready to deck some people for looking at you.”

  “Jealous?” Paige studied him. “I didn’t know you would have been jealous of me.”

  “You didn’t know at the time how I felt. Now you do.” Chase pulled her closer. “And since you’ll be going home with me I’m good.”

  “Yeah, I will be going home with you.” Paige looked at him.

  “You might have thought this was a reunion favor, but it’s so much more.”

  “Yes.” Paige chuckled. “I like this kind of favor.”

  “You won’t be doing this sort of favor for anyone else but me.”

  “I won’t. What happens when we go back home to Rowan?”

  “We continue with us.” He kissed her nose. “So, about the prom, will you be my date?”

  “Like you have to ask.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course, I will.”

  Chase pulled her against him and inhaled her scent. He knew she would but wanted to ask, anyway. He was a lucky man that a reunion favor had led him to the woman he wanted as his. Now she was, and he was looking forward to building their lives together.

  * * *

  The End

  Want to keep updated about more books in the Rowan series or other books by the Taige and/or McKenna join Taige Crenshaw’s newsletter and/or McKenna Jeffries’ newsletter. Also check their sites http://taigecrenshaw.com and/or http://mckennajeffries.com.

  About the Authors

  USA Today Bestselling Author Taige Crenshaw has been enthralled with the written word from the time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. Her novels are set in the modern day between people who know what they want and how to get it. Taige also sets her stories in the future with vast universes between beautiful, strange and unique beings with lots of spice and sensuality added to her work.

  Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun and frolic, with interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels.

  * * *

  USA Today Bestselling Author McKenna Jeffries has loved the written word from time she picked up her first book. Soon she was creating tales of love and family. Although McKenna used to make up stories, she never thought to put them on paper until....she realized the stories would keep filling her until they were written. Since then she's been writing and sharing her interracial/multicultural books. There is always some new story floating around her head. An itchy feeling in her fingers fills her until she can get a piece of paper to write it down. She writes because it's a love affair. Writing is in her blood and she enjoys taking readers on a journey.

  With so many ideas filling her, McKenna is always hard at work.

  Read More from Taige Crenshaw and McKenna Jeffries

  http://www.taigecrenshaw.com

  http://mckennajeffries.com

  Return to Me

  A McClintock Security Novella

  Rebecca Norinne

  Copyright © 2018 by Rebecca Norinne. All rights reserved.

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental or meant to lend credibility and authenticity in the story. The use of brand names and locations should not be read as an endorsement of this author’s work.

  Return to Me

  She was my best friend. My only friend. From the moment we met, there was an undeniable connection. Over time, she became my everything. But then life happened, and we went our separate ways. For ten years, I’ve tried to forget the way she made me feel. But there’s no forgetting someone who’s stamped on your soul, so here I am at our high school reunion, ready to try again. I just pray she feels the same.

  He was my best friend. My only friend. First, I gave him my heart; then I gave him my body. Now, ten years later, I've returned to the town that nearly broke me to attend our high school reunion. I hadn't planned on coming, but when I heard he might be here too, nothing could have kept me away. I've tried to move on, but no one compares to the way he made me feel. Cherished. Adored. Heard. I just pray he feels the same.

  Then

  1

  James

  With a knot forming low in my gut, I followed the portly school secretary into the classroom, ducking my head as I passed through the door. A few giant knots on my skull over the years—and one unfortunate black eye—had taught me that safe was better than sorry.

  The teacher, a balding man with a giant belly, conferred with the secretary for a few brief seconds, and then looked up at me with a kindly smile. He stretched out his arm in welcome, and I stepped further into the classroom. No matter how many times I’d been through these introductions, it never got any easier. Thankfully, this was my senior year, and my old man had promised it would be my last time having to switch schools. I didn’t know if I believed him or not, but it didn’t much matter. Once graduation came, I was out of here.

  “Hello, I’m Mr. Harrison. Welcome to Linwood High.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered, staring down at the scuffed industrial gray tiles at my feet. God, I hated this. Sometimes I wished they wouldn’t bother introducing me at all. The result would be nearly the same.

  “Class, please give—” Mr. Harrison peeked down at the paperwork the secretary had passed him when we’d first entered “—James Irving a proud Lion welcome.”

  I raised my face back up to meet my classmates’ curious stares. This was usually the part where, in unison, twenty or thirty bored voices parroted back the teacher’s forced greeting, but the room stayed silent. Probably because they were too busy gawking at me. At six-foot-six, I was somewhat used to curious glances—you didn’t see too many seventeen-year-olds my height—but these stares went beyond what I normally got. This was mouth-hanging-open eyes-wide-as-saucers stuff. I k
new I was probably taller than everyone else in this building, but from the looks on their faces, you’d have thought I was some sort of fucking circus freak. I forced myself not to roll my eyes and stomp out of the room. I didn’t need my dad getting called away from his new job at the plant on his first day.

  When a guy at the front of the room wearing a gold and green varsity jacket mouthed ‘oh my god,’ I wondered if the reaction was about more than my height. Suddenly, I flashed back to the time in eighth grade I’d been forced to wear paint-stained sweatpants to school when the weather had turned unseasonably cold, and I couldn’t find anything else that would fit. That time, there’d been laughing and pointing, which was when I’d realized that in addition to the green splatters, there was also a silver-dollar-sized hole in the ass, showing off my tighty whities.

  With a quick flick of my eyes, I took inventory of what I had on. Scuffed work boots that could pass for trendy; clean but worn jeans; and a black sweater I’d picked up at the Salvation Army when the temperature had dropped in the last town we’d lived over a white v-neck undershirt. I wouldn’t win any beauty pageants, but I didn’t look like a filthy interloper either. At least not this time. Now that I was old enough to pick out my own clothes, I made sure of that.

  While most people had nightmares about showing up to school naked, my fears were completely different—I was terrified people would find out how poor I was. I’d learned the hard way my sophomore year that catching a glimpse of my dick in the showers was less of a surprise to my male classmates than finding out my dad and I shared a run-down one-bedroom apartment that probably should have been condemned sometime during the eighties.