by Kelly Favor
“No, I’m the lucky one,” he told her, stroking her hair now as he held her tightly against him. “I’m the lucky one.”
It had been a few hours since the altercation with Velcro, and Chase and Faith were watching television together on the couch.
He picked up the remote and hit pause. “Let’s get some takeout for dinner.”
Faith shrugged. “I’m good with that. Like Chinese or something?”
“Sure,” he said. “I could eat a pound of spare ribs right about now.”
“What about…you know…” Faith whispered, nodding up towards the room where Monique had been cloistered ever since the altercation between Velcro and Chase.
“You want to ask her if she’s hungry?” he said.
“Not particularly,” Faith replied, grinning. “But I will.”
They’d been sitting on the couch together, Faith curled up against Chase, his arm around her as Game of Thrones played on the TV. It was nice to forget about the reality of their lives for a few minutes and just be together, watching a silly show that had nothing to do with football.
But life wouldn’t be denied.
Faith got off the couch with a deep sigh, and made her way up the stairs, dreading having to talk to Monique again. She knew the other woman didn’t want to be bothered, didn’t want to discuss what had happened.
As she went upstairs, she glanced one last time at Chase, and he gave her a confident thumb’s up sign.
Easy for him to be optimistic, she thought. I’m the one who has to actually talk to this woman.
Finally, she reached the guest room and knocked a few times.
“Please go away,” came the petulant, almost childlike voice from inside the room.
“Honey, I can’t just go away. You’ve been in here for hours. We need to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk, Faith. I just want to be alone.”
“I know. Let me in for a minute and then I promise I’ll leave you alone.”
There was a long silence and Faith thought she might have to just force her way into the room, but finally Monique opened the door.
She looked as though she’d aged in the few hours since her abusive fiancé had tried to storm his way into the house. Her hair was messy and sticking up in various places, her makeup smudged under her eyes, and her lips looked chapped and raw.
“What do you want to talk about?” Monique said, blocking the doorway, her gaze hostile.
“I want to talk about how you’re feeling. What’s going through your mind?” Faith said.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Well, you came here to get help—“
“Yes, and instead I got to watch your boyfriend put a gun to Steve’s head and threaten to blow his brains out. That sure was helpful.”
Faith grimaced. “I know that was scary—“
“You don’t know shit,” Monique said.
“I know you’re angry. But Chase booked you a private flight to Atlanta that leaves early tomorrow morning, and we’re going to be getting some food now. I needed to see if you’re hungry and to tell you about the flight and all.”
Monique just glared at her. One eyebrow arched dramatically. “I suppose you think I’m being ungrateful, what with all the help Chase is giving me.”
“I don’t think you’re being anything of the sort,” Faith said, which was a bit of a lie. She did feel like Monique was taking her anger out on the wrong person.
Why be mad at the man who stood up on her behalf, rather than the one who’d beaten her within an inch of her life not forty-eight hours ago?
Chase had been protecting Monique when he’d drawn that gun on Velcro earlier. And Faith couldn’t say she blamed him for doing it, either.
Monique’s gaze was furious, but controlled. “What Chase did to Steve was just as bad as what Steve did to me.”
Faith tried not to let this ridiculous assertion bother her. She shook her head. “Except that Steve was trying to unlawfully enter Chase’s home and force his way into seeing a woman whom he’s been abusing. All Chase was did was defend himself, you and me from an attacker.”
The other woman was unmoved. Her expression didn’t change as she replied. “Using a gun is just as bad as hitting someone, and you’re making excuses for it.”
Faith felt more defensive. “He was trying to protect us. And I think you know it.”
“Whatever. I’m not hungry. I’ll see you in the morning.” Monique shut the door hard, right in Faith’s face.
Faith stood there for a second, unable to believe what had occurred.
Did she really just slam the door in my face?
She blinked, then turned on her heel and went downstairs. Chase was back to watching Game of Thrones. “Should I rewind it?” he asked, holding the controller up.
Faith shook her head slowly. “I can’t focus on the show anymore, Chase.”
“Uh-oh,” he said, putting the remote down and turning towards her. “That doesn’t sound good. I suppose she wasn’t in the mood for takeout.”
“No, definitely not,” Faith said, lowering her voice as she walked closer to him.
“What did she say?” he asked, his expression concerned.
“She was pretty angry with you for doing what you did to Velcro.”
He sat back and scratched his jaw. “Shit. Well, can’t say I blame her. She watched me jack her man up pretty hard.”
“Yeah, but you had no choice.”
“If I’d beat the shit out of him, it would’ve been even worse. I used the gun instead of putting his head through the wall.”
Faith rolled her eyes as she sat down close to him and whispered. “She’s busy being pissed at you and me instead of focusing on how to deal with this maniac she’s got in her life.”
“It’s not rational,” Chase said. “We just need to be patient for a few hours. Tomorrow she’ll be on a plane and then safely back with her family. Maybe that distance will help her to start thinking clearly.”
Faith nodded, but she wasn’t sure. “Yeah. I probably just need to stop worrying.”
Chase sighed. “What I’m worried about right now is my grumbling stomach. Let’s order some takeout and we’ll get extra, just in case she changes her mind about being hungry.”
As he took out his cell to call the restaurant, Faith stopped him briefly. She put a hand on his chest, leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You’re the kindest man I’ve ever met, Chase.”
He laughed. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m serious. You have a great heart and you can’t make me forget that.”
“There’s a lot of things about me that you shouldn’t forget,” Chase said. “And they’re not all good things.”
He grabbed the phone and called the restaurant. Chase watched him talking and wondered how one man could contain so many contradictions. But somehow, he did.
They went to bed early and Faith woke up early, too.
It was in that weird time when you didn’t know whether to say it was late night or technically morning—somewhere in that gray period before the sun had even begun to peek above the horizon.
It was still dark in the bedroom, and for a brief moment, she’d forgotten where she was.
But now, as she turned and saw Chase sleeping soundly next to her in bed, she began to smile. Even as tired and groggy as she was, Faith felt a surge of relief and love and thanks that he’d come into her life.
Despite all the drama and uncertainty and craziness, she was definitely in love with him.
And I really do think he loves me too.
That made her smile even wider. She wanted to plant kisses on his face and body, but she didn’t want to wake him up. In fact, she was hoping to get a couple more hours of sleep herself, but as she tried to close her eyes and fall back asleep, her mind raced.
She felt restless. Getting up, she went to the bathroom, leaving the light off, and then came out, yawning.
It wasn
’t even daybreak. There was time to get some shuteye. Monique’s flight would depart at seven o’clock and the private jet was apparently at a smaller airport just about forty minutes away.
Somehow, though, Faith had a strange feeling inside her belly.
I need to go check on Monique and make sure she’s okay.
But she didn’t want to wake her up either.
It was like they’d been saddled with a moody fifteen-year-old for the night, and the last thing Faith wanted to deal with was waking that moody teenager up.
She didn’t know why she was so convinced that something was amiss.
Just forget about it. You’re being neurotic. Leave the girl alone.
Faith stood just inside the bedroom, uncertain. Watching Chase’s chest rise and fall slowly as he lay in bed, unaware of what was going on.
And that’s when Faith heard the distinct sound of a door opening down the hall. Instantly, she knew it was the door to Monique’s room. And then footsteps, going ever so slowly, trying to be quiet so as not to wake anyone up.
But Faith wasn’t going to give Monique the satisfaction of making a quiet getaway. She opened the door to the master bedroom and looked out on Monique as she headed for the stairs.
Monique was fully dressed and walking almost on tiptoe. It was quite clear that she was leaving the house in the dead of night, making her escape.
“Hi there,” Faith said, folding her arms.
Monique looked startled, but quickly composed herself and went on the attack. “What are you doing—stalking me?”
“I’m not the one stalking people around here. I think that would be your fiancé.”
“I have to go,” Monique said, her head hanging slightly as she hesitated at the landing.
“Did he convince you it’s going to be different this time?” Faith asked.
“You don’t know him.”
“I don’t need to. I know he put his hands on you.”
“We both have issues and he’s trying. He’s sorry.”
“Don’t go,” Faith said. “Please, this is a mistake. I know you’re scared—“
Monique’s eyes flashed as she turned her face towards Faith. “You don’t know me, either.” She looked down momentarily, taking a deep breath before looking up once more. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you both so much trouble. And I know I’ve been an unpleasant houseguest.”
“It’s okay. We just want you to be safe.”
“I needed the time away from Steve to really think things through, and he needed it too. But now we’ve decided to give it another try. And I’ve made my decision.”
Faith shook her head. “You’re making a mistake. He’s going to hit you again.”
“I don’t think so. Me leaving really scared him. Even Chase doing what he did helped. I think now Steve knows how I feel sometimes.”
Monique smiled in the semi darkness of the hallway, and Faith could tell it was over. The poor, misguided woman had truly made up her mind.
“If you ever need to talk, I’ll be here,” Faith said.
“Thanks.” Monique gave a sad wave and then she walked downstairs and left out the front door. Faintly and briefly, as she left, she was illuminated in the glare of headlights from a nearby car.
That was Velcro’s car, Faith decided. He was outside waiting for her, ready to entrap her again in his web.
The door shut again and Faith felt like screaming and crying in frustration. Her stomach was in knots.
“Don’t sweat it,” Chase said from inside the bedroom.
She startled a little. “How much did you hear?” she asked, turning and seeing that he was awake now, and sitting up in bed.
“Enough,” he replied simply. He turned the small lamp on next to his bedside.
“I feel angry,” she said. “Like I want to have a fit.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he laughed.
“What’s so funny?” she said, walking back into the room.
“You being so surprised she went back to him,” he said. “That’s what happens ninety-nine percent of the time in these situations.”
“Now what’s going to happen? What do we do?”
“Nothing, that’s what,” Chase said. He was in boxers and nothing else. “But the good news is, we don’t have to make that drive to the airport anymore.”
“You keep making jokes but it’s not very funny. She’s back with that monster.”
“It’s not my problem. Or yours. Time to let it go.”
“But we can’t let him get away with it. We need to go to the media or something.”
Chase raised his eyebrows. “If she won’t leave him, there’s nothing left to do. I can’t fight this battle all by myself. The press will have a field day if I make an accusation and even Monique denies it.”
“You don’t know that she’d deny he hit her,” Faith said.
“Yeah, I do.”
She felt suddenly angry, looking into his emotionless eyes. “You might even be relieved she went back with him.”
“Why’s that?” he asked, his voice hardening.
“Because, now you don’t have to go out on a limb. You can go back to pretending everything’s normal even though you know what’s happening to her. Go back to your life guilt free.”
“Don’t blame me,” he said. “This isn’t my fault.”
“We should’ve done more,” Faith said.
“You can’t save Monique,” he told her. “Hell, why don’t you try and save yourself before worrying about everyone else?”
Faith flinched. “Save myself from what?”
“You sit in judgment of me and Monique and everyone else.” He shook his head. “But tell me one risk you’ve ever taken, one risk that could’ve cost you anything.”
“I trusted you,” she said, but instantly knew that was the wrong response.
Chase made a sarcastic face. “So now we’re going to score cheap points?”
“It’s not a cheap point,” she shot back. “You’ve done nothing but warn me how bad you are for me in every way. But I still keep trying to believe in you.”
“You keep trying to make this about me,” he told her. “But you know this has nothing to with me and everything to do with you avoiding the truth.”
“And what’s the truth?”
“That you need to get your own damn life before you can judge mine.”
She stared at him until the tears filled her eyes, and she was consumed by anger and hurt and a sense of devastation. “So that’s what you really think of me,” she said, looking away and wiping her eyes. “That I have no life. That I sit in judgment of everyone else.”
“I’m just being honest,” he said. “It’s not fun when the shoe’s on the other foot, is it?”
“You’re just being cruel,” she whispered.
“Come on,” he said, laughing a little. “I was just getting you to look at yourself instead of always putting that high-powered microscope on me.”
“I hate you,” she said, turning to face him again. “I really do hate you, Chase Winters.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” she continued, feeling that she was losing control. “I hate your arrogance, and your cruelty, your self-centeredness. I don’t give a shit about football. And I don’t—“
“Stop it,” he commanded.
She did stop talking briefly, because she realized that for the first time, she might have truly pushed him too far. But now that the feelings were churning in her body, she didn’t really want to stop pushing. She wanted to see him break down the way he’d broken her down so effortlessly, dismantling her like a child’s toy.
“What if I don’t want to stop?” she asked, smirking defiantly. “What if I keep going?”
Chase’s expression was dark and cold. “I don’t think you want to go there,” he said softly.
“I do, though. I want to go there, but you’re too scared to go with me,” she said. “Every time something real comes up, you’re the one who runs
away, Chase.”
He smiled bitterly. “This is pathetic,” he said, getting off the bed and walking past her.
She chased after him. “You’re pathetic!” she said, getting in his way as he attempted to leave the room. “You accuse me of being afraid. You ran away from your past and your still running, still hiding. You don’t want to deal with anything but your stupid football career.”
Chase nodded. “So now we’re even. Two cowards trying to hide together. Maybe we shouldn’t bother anymore.”
“Good riddance,” she yelled, trying to hurt him now. “This wasn’t real. This was all just pretend and we both know it.”
But as she looked up at him, she realized that quite the opposite was true.
He gripped her wrists and pulled her towards him, until her body was pressed tightly against his. She could feel his cock through his boxers, erect and insistent against her stomach. “I don’t believe you,” he growled. His eyes gleamed intensely. “I think you’re terrified that what we have is real and now you have to deal with that reality. And it can be ugly and you want to push me away and run back to your simple little world where everything’s easy.”
She breathed out a shuddering breath. “You don’t know a thing about me,” she lied.
He grinned knowingly. “I know how badly you want me to kiss you right now,” he said.
“Fuck. You.” She said. But she was still lying and they both knew it.
Her nipples were stiff and tender, her pussy was already soaking wet. And her entire body was gravitating towards him as if she was the moon and he was the earth.
She couldn’t hope to resist the pull of him, the magnetism that he had was like a force of nature—and she didn’t want to resist anymore.
His dark eyes radiated hunger and depths that she couldn’t fathom, she just wanted to fall into them and lose herself forever.
But he didn’t kiss her. Instead, he took her t-shirt in his large hands and slowly pulled it over her head, while he maintained eye contact.
Her entire body shivered and broke into gooseflesh. When her shirt was off her torso but still hanging on her arms, Chase pulled it down to her wrists and then pushed them together tightly, twisting her shirt until it bound her wrists together.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
